Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: selby on October 13, 2025, 10:57:54 am
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What could well be one of the most important games of the season for both sides, with them both looking over their shoulder at the threat of slipping into the lower half of the league and the trials and tribulations that brings to clubs and their supporters..
Some will say it is an over reaction but we have dropped into a shadow of the team we were just last month ago, don't look to have a solid base at the back, and are finding putting the ball in the onion bag very sporadic.
Leyton Orient ( our Richie) had obviously come to the conclusion that playing two up front, and counter attacking our high press with our lack of pace in central defence left a lot of lovely wide open spaces behind two nippy forwards could exploit. Even he will have been surprised by how quickly that worked out and scoring two goals in a game is at the moment not our forte, so happy days.
Northampton meanwhile gave fast improving Rotherham the joy of their first away win of the season moving them up to have a fair chance of getting out of the bottom four. and having Northampton looking behind them with a lot of sides bunched just behind them, but looking forward to playing us the current rock bottom of division one's form league over the last six games.
After the comments of Grant after the Orient game I think it is fair to say we will be watching some different players making the side up and will leave the speculation of who to others, but O'Riordon who had his first poor game for us I would pair with Pearson or Bailey or choose the latter two together and try and replicate the good pairing Bailey had with the experienced Anderson last season.
So an important game, Northampion who have won 1 drawn 1 and lost 3 of their away games will be looking to improve their meagre away goals record of just 2 goals against our defence, and I suppose we will be looking to just get back to scoring a couple.
Lots on the game and not for just this game probably for both sides who will be desperate not to lose, and the managers to have something to build on and keep out of trouble.
Lot's to discuss, lots of speculation about our team, one we need to get behind and help as supporters, and lots of side issues to talk about, please have your say.
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The way GM's been talking about changes, I'd say that Pearson, Maxwell, Gotts, and Middleton must be near certainties to start on Saturday.
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I'd still keep faith will Molls, he's still got credit in the bank from my point of view, he's also been suffering from a lack of good quick quality passes (albeit he hasn't performed well enough).
TLT, Maxwell, Pearson, Middleton and Broadbent all to start.
Please Rovers. Saturday was my first live game in person for a long time and it was a shocker, next home game is my last one of the season so make it a good one for your Canadian contingency too.
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We can't underestimate how much we're missing Sterry here, particularly in relation to how he and Mols link up on the right. I think that's a big factor in Moly's recent form. Having said that, professional players must be able to adapt to the situation.
I'd agree with above, TLT, Maxwell, Pearson, Gotts and Middleton all to come in. I'm tempted to throw Hanlon in up top with Billy but that changes the shape.
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How .. has it got to this point . Was all the pieces all in place from the start of the season ? Performances were positive and results attainable. Bradford was the best performance seen at home for a long while . But what went wrong . Have we been punching above our limits and simply covering over the cracks as certain players are not now putting in the shift required to keep things moving forward. It’s hard to tell where things need to be improved as it looks like form has dipped throughout but one thing is certain some players are now coasting in games and it’s costing results ..
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Absolutely agree re Sterry and Mols. Mols can’t do his thing without Sterry coming forward and giving the opposition something else to think about. Love Nixon but he just doesn’t give the opposition players as much to think about as Sterry does.
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Absolutely agree re Sterry and Mols. Mols can’t do his thing without Sterry coming forward and giving the opposition something else to think about. Love Nixon but he just doesn’t give the opposition players as much to think about as Sterry does.
If one man’s absence has caused this total collapse of our form then McCann has to take responsibility for this . Sterry is missed but it shouldn’t have been so emphatic a collapse in form and results !!
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The Sterry one is an interesting one. We're a lot better when he plays and so is Molyneux. The season Molyneux had here before Sterry joined he was dire as well.
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There’s got to be more to it than just Sterry! Discussions and stats have also shown what has happened to our performances since Clifton’s injury at Wigan. Grant has an appetite for tinkering as well, which doesn’t appear to be helping.
This is going to be quite some challenge just to get back on track!
There are a few players who are being found out in this division and some who, arguably, should never have been given the chance to test themselves at this level. Some errors were also possibly made with our recruitment in the summer, particularly with the strikers.
We have to keep plugging away and hope we can make further reinforcements in January, which could see us turn our season around.
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I would bailey in a back 4 next to Pearson ,crew and
broadbent in midfield mols and gidson outside and I'd drop lawlor he does not give the defenders any confidence
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Agreed with Lawlor!
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I would bailey in a back 4 next to Pearson ,crew and
broadbent in midfield mols and gidson outside and I'd drop lawlor he does not give the defenders any confidence
I don’t think we need to move our best player to a different position. Grehan, C O’R and Pearson have been generally fine a centre half.
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As frustrating as Mollyneux has been I think he's worth a go in the 10 role with Gibson & Middleton out wide, that could also be flexible giving us more potency going forward.
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Funny how everyone is saying Sterry but our form has dipped ever since Clifton got injured.
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I would bailey in a back 4 next to Pearson ,crew and
broadbent in midfield mols and gidson outside and I'd drop lawlor he does not give the defenders any confidence
I don’t think we need to move our best player to a different position. Grehan, C O’R and Pearson have been generally fine a centre half.
Agreed. We need Bailey further forward where he can hopefully continue scoring.
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They are poor away from home. This season 5 away league games with 3 losses, a draw and a win. Probably more importantly they rarely score away from home. In those 5 away league games they have failed to score in 3 of them, and only scored a single goal in the other 2 games. They are currently on a goalless away run of over 200 minutes since their last away league goal on 30 August.
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TLT, Maxwell, Pearson (alongside O’Riordan), Broadbent (despite him having ‘drifted back’ to giving the ball away in last couple of games) with Gotts & Bailey in that midfield three.
I’d play Middleton for his crossing abilities & Mols on the right. Mols just needs a goal or an assist to lift him & he won’t get a better chance on Saturday with some tough away games coming up.
I’ll reiterate what I said last month (despite his lack of goals & that glaring miss against Burton) I have fingers & toes crossed that Billy doesn’t pick up an injury because to steal someone else’s line ‘There’s more to leading the line than scoring goals’.
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They are poor away from home. This season 5 away league games with 3 losses, a draw and a win. Probably more importantly they rarely score away from home. In those 5 away league games they have failed to score in 3 of them, and only scored a single goal in the other 2 games. They are currently on a goalless away run of over 200 minutes since their last away league goal on 30 August.
Sounds like we’re in for a classic then.
8/1 for a 0-0 draw.
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O'Riordon has been our best and consistent defender up to Saturdays game and has partnered Pearson in games we played well in.
Everyone has the poorish odd game even the best it would be harsh to drop him for that one under par performance, especially when those around him also underperformed on the day.
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I would bailey in a back 4 next to Pearson ,crew and
broadbent in midfield mols and gidson outside and I'd drop lawlor he does not give the defenders any confidence
Why put Bailey back in defence its been the best part of the team, especially when ORiordan partners Pearson (Not McGrath).
Bailey has scored 5 goals out of the 11 for the team.
I don’t see this obsession with Crew the games he’s played he’s been non existent. I watched play for Wales U21 against Belgium he strolled in the middle area of the pitch his defensive qualities were poor and he hardly got into an attacking position. He won’t be back at the club until till Thursday any way so he won’t be playing against Northampton. Unless things change he should go back to Leeds in January.
Nothing wrong with the Bailey Broadbent partnership it’s the third player that’s the problem with Clifton being injured.
We come to the problem area the forwards who can have good parts of games then become poor. Billy is the only consistent player yet he’s not scoring.
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I would bailey in a back 4 next to Pearson ,crew and
broadbent in midfield mols and gidson outside and I'd drop lawlor he does not give the defenders any confidence
Why put Bailey back in defence its been the best part of the team, especially when ORiordan partners Pearson (Not McGrath).
Bailey has scored 5 goals out of the 11 for the team.
I don’t see this obsession with Crew the games he’s played he’s been non existent. I watched play for Wales U21 against Belgium he strolled in the middle area of the pitch his defensive qualities were poor and he hardly got into an attacking position. He won’t be back at the club until till Thursday any way so he won’t be playing against Northampton. Unless things change he should go back to Leeds in January.
Nothing wrong with the Bailey Broadbent partnership it’s the third player that’s the problem with Clifton being injured.
We come to the problem area the forwards who can have good parts of games then become poor. Billy is the only consistent player yet he’s not scoring.
I just think it allows us to be more expensive from the back as he plays it out from there and also gives us the extra person in midfield that we need ,It allows crew to play in a more advanced role to unlock defences ,close is slow negative with the ball alot of the times
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I watched a bit of them last week as they were the early game, they look handy. Physical and quick putting a fair few crosses over from either side.
Hope I’m wrong but this is will be a tricky game.
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allows crew to play in a more advanced role to unlock defences ,close is slow negative with the ball alot of the times
Crew is playing again in centre midfield for wales U21 it’s halftime they are winning 1. 0
It’s in iplayer channel S4C agin he still strolls about in midfield does not win a tackle and has hardly got on the ball
Second half better got on the ball wales had to defend nearly all second half Charlie brought off in the 83rd minute
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Not sure Grehan deserves to lose his place in the starting line up
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Pick our best side and stick with them even if we lose. Build a bit of consistency around the 11 and don’t make subs just because they are there! And yes give Hanlan a run of games Billy isn’t going to do much starting week in week out.
For me I’d go with below assuming Sterry is unfit
TLT
Nixon CO’R Pearson Maxwell
Bailey Broadbent Gotts
Molly Hanlan Middleton or Gibson
No reason to play weaker players for the sake of it so Sbarra, Senior, McGarth etc need to wait for a genuine opening before playing. We’ve a decent squad depth that doesn’t mean they take it in turn playing every week.
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I'd still keep faith will Molls, he's still got credit in the bank from my point of view, he's also been suffering from a lack of good quick quality passes (albeit he hasn't performed well enough).
TLT, Maxwell, Pearson, Middleton and Broadbent all to start.
Please Rovers. Saturday was my first live game in person for a long time and it was a shocker, next home game is my last one of the season so make it a good one for your Canadian contingency too.
Molyneux is the one who should be providing good passes/crosses, he is a winger not a centre forward. That is where Middleton out-performs him, and with Gotts/Billy and maybe Hanlan waiting in the middle to convert them things could be improved.
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Pick our best side and stick with them even if we lose. Build a bit of consistency around the 11 and don’t make subs just because they are there! And yes give Hanlan a run of games Billy isn’t going to do much starting week in week out.
For me I’d go with below assuming Sterry is unfit
TLT
Nixon CO’R Pearson Maxwell
Bailey Broadbent Gotts
Molly Hanlan Middleton or Gibson
No reason to play weaker players for the sake of it so Sbarra, Senior, McGarth etc need to wait for a genuine opening before playing. We’ve a decent squad depth that doesn’t mean they take it in turn playing every week.
I’m reading your post & mentally ticking off your choices….keeper yep…back 4 yep….midfield…yep… wide men, I’d go for Middleton before Gibbo but ok, either maybe, AND THEN, Hanlon!!!
WHY? Has Billy picked up an injury I’m not aware of? Please…..explain that choice of yours to me up front in case I’m missing something.
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Pick our best side and stick with them even if we lose. Build a bit of consistency around the 11 and don’t make subs just because they are there! And yes give Hanlan a run of games Billy isn’t going to do much starting week in week out.
For me I’d go with below assuming Sterry is unfit
TLT
Nixon CO’R Pearson Maxwell
Bailey Broadbent Gotts
Molly Hanlan Middleton or Gibson
No reason to play weaker players for the sake of it so Sbarra, Senior, McGarth etc need to wait for a genuine opening before playing. We’ve a decent squad depth that doesn’t mean they take it in turn playing every week.
I’m reading your post & mentally ticking off your choices….keeper yep…back 4 yep….midfield…yep… wide men, I’d go for Middleton before Gibbo but ok, either maybe, AND THEN, Hanlon!!!
WHY? Has Billy picked up an injury I’m not aware of? Please…..explain that choice of yours to me up front in case I’m missing something.
There must be a reason why Hanlan has played pretty much his entire career at League One level, and why McCann brought him in on a 2 year deal. Admittedly we’ve not really seen it yet, but he’s played the equivalent of less than 3 games in the league and only started twice so he’s not had the opportunity to demonstrate it.
Billy’s working hard but he’s not scoring goals either. He only has 2 having played way more than Hanlan.
It might not be the answer but I’d be willing to give Hanlan a run of games, either with or instead of Billy, to see what he’s capable of. Things surely cant get worse than the 1 goal we’ve scored in the last 5!
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I'd be brave and play a real '10' - get Hanlan (or even Olusanya) on with Billy. It's a really important game to get us back on track, we need to come out all guns blazing. Moly and Gibson / Middleton both drop in to provide cover so we don't need three in holding against a team which shouldn't have loads of the ball. We're blaming the personnel but perhaps it's the formation / tactics that aren't working - we aren't creating enough chances or putting teams under enough pressure.
TLT or Lawlor // Nixon / Pearson / O'Riordan or Grehan / Senior // Close / Bailey / Moly / Middleton or Gibson // Hanlan / Sharp
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Close was his usual not in the game last week, and part as always as easy to play against.
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The quicker we accept we only have a hand full of out and out Division 1 class players at the club that other clubs might want to sign, the quicker the frustration and expectations will level off.
We need the collective of the team to function and the players included in the team to play near or to their maximum both physically and technically, and we have players who can do that more often than others who only hit their ceiling in games sporadically.
We need to identify that and play those players that perform regularly, sentiment doesn't come into it, and that is where Gaz and his stats are the driving force for improvement all round.
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They are poor away from home. This season 5 away league games with 3 losses, a draw and a win. Probably more importantly they rarely score away from home. In those 5 away league games they have failed to score in 3 of them, and only scored a single goal in the other 2 games. They are currently on a goalless away run of over 200 minutes since their last away league goal on 30 August.
They have taken the lead in an away league game once in their last 7 games. Given how difficult we find scoring goals, if the other side scores first we are usually in trouble. Currently on a run of scoring 2 goals in our last 5 games, both interestingly at home and both were the first goal, leading to a loss and a draw. So even scoring first doesn't help us at present.
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For me we are better when TLT and Pearson play. We had an alright team early on so go back to it with Maxwell at left back and maybe Grehan back in.
We for some reason just don't perform as well with Close in the team. I'd go Broadbent, Bailey and one other in midfield.
I can't see why you'd not stick with Molyneux. Yes his form has dropped a little but for me he is still our best player and most likely to get winning goals.
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For me we are better when TLT and Pearson play. We had an alright team early on so go back to it with Maxwell at left back and maybe Grehan back in.
We for some reason just don't perform as well with Close in the team. I'd go Broadbent, Bailey and one other in midfield.
I can't see why you'd not stick with Molyneux. Yes his form has dropped a little but for me he is still our best player and most likely to get winning goals.
Generally agree with all that. I think with Moly though, he needs to be helped out of the rut and just changing things short term can't do any harm so, I'd be tempted to bench him with a view to coming on fresh and give him a licence to roam. He's probably suffering with brain fog so needs to clear that and be free of the pressure of expectation.
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For me we are better when TLT and Pearson play. We had an alright team early on so go back to it with Maxwell at left back and maybe Grehan back in.
We for some reason just don't perform as well with Close in the team. I'd go Broadbent, Bailey and one other in midfield.
I can't see why you'd not stick with Molyneux. Yes his form has dropped a little but for me he is still our best player and most likely to get winning goals.
Generally agree with all that. I think with Moly though, he needs to be helped out of the rut and just changing things short term can't do any harm so, I'd be tempted to bench him with a view to coming on fresh and give him a licence to roam. He's probably suffering with brain fog so needs to clear that and be free of the pressure of expectation.
I’d agree about Molly DBR (although it appears ‘strange’ to have a player worth £1 million plus on the bench) he needs to perhaps be able to watch how a game is unfolding & areas he feels he could exploit then bring him on fresh to do what he does best, ‘torture’ defenders.
An assist or better still a goal will shed all that anxiety & pressure to feel he has to replicate or better (which he’s more than capable of doing in this division) what he achieved last season.
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For me we are better when TLT and Pearson play. We had an alright team early on so go back to it with Maxwell at left back and maybe Grehan back in.
We for some reason just don't perform as well with Close in the team. I'd go Broadbent, Bailey and one other in midfield.
I can't see why you'd not stick with Molyneux. Yes his form has dropped a little but for me he is still our best player and most likely to get winning goals.
Lawler has to drop back to the bench on Saturday. The weird experiment has to stop.
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Is it just the TLT mistakes that had him dropped, or is McCann trying to get us up the field quicker and Lawlor has better distribution?
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Is it just the TLT mistakes that had him dropped, or is McCann trying to get us up the field quicker and Lawlor has better distribution?
Can’t sign TLT then drop him because his distribution is poor. We knew that when we signed him.
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Any streams for Northampton game?
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Is it just the TLT mistakes that had him dropped, or is McCann trying to get us up the field quicker and Lawlor has better distribution?
well it's not worked how many have we won since he has played
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Is it just the TLT mistakes that had him dropped, or is McCann trying to get us up the field quicker and Lawlor has better distribution?
Do we have players at the top end of the pitch to make that work?
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Is it just the TLT mistakes that had him dropped, or is McCann trying to get us up the field quicker and Lawlor has better distribution?
Do we have players at the top end of the pitch to make that work?
Olusanya only real quick lad isn't there
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Poor handling, concentration & decision making leading to a drop in confidence led to TLT being benched not just poor distribution.
I trust he will have addressed those ‘issues’ because his instinctive shot stopping is very good.
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Crowd needs to play it's part today.
Black bank horrific since the Bradford game. Drummer may as well have no arms.
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All we need is a win.
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Ticket sales especially in the east stand are surprisingly decent compared to the Burton game.
Good performance and win today and get 9k home fans in for Dingles on the 8th November
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All games are difficult but this one comes at a good time, not one of the best sides in the division and at home gives us the opportunity to start and select what may be a settled side instead of all the changes.
Start with the defence and play Grehan, COR and Pearson as a back 3, with Maxwell moving forward into a more midfield role.
We must include Bailey and Broadbent and possibly Gotts.
The forward players are the problem, but I would like to see Mols playing in a more central role rather than be forced out wide by the usual multiple defenders. We have got to get more shots from Mols, crossing from wide areas is a waste of time because currently we don’t have anyone getting on the end of them.
If Mols comes in more centrally it may also help Billy to operate in the box, who on his day is a master.
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3-0 win incoming…
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We live in hope.
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3-0 win incoming…
I hope you're right but I'd take a scruffy 1-0 right now.
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Is it just the TLT mistakes that had him dropped, or is McCann trying to get us up the field quicker and Lawlor has better distribution?
Do we have players at the top end of the pitch to make that work?
Olusanya only real quick lad isn't there
Allegedly, we’ve yet to see it
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Is it just the TLT mistakes that had him dropped, or is McCann trying to get us up the field quicker and Lawlor has better distribution?
Do we have players at the top end of the pitch to make that work?
Olusanya only real quick lad isn't there
Allegedly, we’ve yet to see it
Reminds me of my dog. He's quick, but runs past the ball every time I throw it and zero control
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Nixon and Hanlan the injured duo by the looks of the squad today. Neither are in the match day group. Lasagne makes it on to the bench. Unclear who is playing right back, as O'Riordan is on bench.
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Is it just the TLT mistakes that had him dropped, or is McCann trying to get us up the field quicker and Lawlor has better distribution?
Do we have players at the top end of the pitch to make that work?
Olusanya only real quick lad isn't there
As others have said he hasn’t put it to any use yet. Hanlan is meant to be quick as well.
Olusanya had his defender 1v1 with space behind against Burton down the left side and he passed it backwards.
Hanlan may yet show it, but we also don’t have an attacker who can win headers and receive long balls under physical pressure anymore.
This and the lack of pace at the moment leaves us stuck with slow build up and an inability to play over a good press.
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Nixon and Hanlan the injured duo by the looks of the squad today. Neither are in the match day group. Lasagne makes it on to the bench. Unclear who is playing right back, as O'Riordan is on bench.
don't think Broadbent is in the squad either?
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That's true, the three of them out. Quite something that Hanlan and Broadbent only came on as subs yet are both not even fit enough to make the bench.
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How on earth has McGrath kept his place?
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Ran out of steam and needs to except he’s a L2 manager at best !!
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Ran out of steam and needs to except he’s a L2 manager at best !!
A manager who's won a league 1 title previously, is a league 2 manager at best?
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Knives will be out tonight
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That was worse than last week ! Truly awful, both centre half’s both at sea, and absolutely nothing up front at all !
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Too easy for an average Northampton side. We were lacklustre, lacking ideas and sloppy in defence.
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Not sure how McCann can say what he said last week and then keep McGarth in the team. He needs a spell out the side
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The final ball terrible. Plenty of decent positions and chances to cross wasted.
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Everything on show to back up the reasons we are the bottom side in the six game form side of the division.
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That selection felt Iike he just threw a set of dice.
This formation and style of inviting the press and trying to play through it just does not work without Clifton.
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I know Molly is out of form but the young man from Spurs clearly isn’t the answer, he needs to go back to his parent club asap ! Then get some quality in the new year !
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No one worry, were 12th and I'm sure we would have taken that at the beginning of the season.
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We’re getting worse!
Total lack of quality all over the pitch.
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First time Northampton Town have scored more than once away from home this season.
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The team is bereft of skills and intelligence to play through a harrying team like we're now coming up against.
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Grant is better than a L2 manager.
However over the weekend he needs have a long hard think how he can get out of this total mess.
His favoured formation and way of playing is just not working, and for me I am struggling to see any easy way out of the current situation.
Seems like we are now hitting problems with injuries, plus quite a number of the players who don’t seem to want to take responsibility to take shots.
Very difficult at present to see where goals are going to come from, even our goal took an awkward deflection for their keeper.
Nothing to do with our performance, but thought the ref was terrible today, worst one this season?
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Grant is better than a L2 manager.
However over the weekend he needs have a long hard think how he can get out of this total mess.
His favoured formation and way of playing is just not working, and for me I am struggling to see any easy way out of the current situation.
Seems like we are now hitting problems with injuries, plus quite a number of the players who don’t seem to want to take responsibility to take shots.
Very difficult at present to see where goals are going to come from, even our goal took an awkward deflection for their keeper.
Nothing to do with our performance, but thought the ref was terrible today, worst one this season?
100% agree with this. Grant has tried multiple players this season but nothing is working.
Still sticks with the same formation and tactic. Lets try something new
Grehan at right back just did not work for me.
And the frustration when we are in and around the box to always look to lay it off to someone else is really grinding on me. Wide players having the chance to step inside and test the keeper but choose not too.
Gibson towards the end had a perfect chance but chose to loft it into the back post straight into the keepers hands. Pathetic
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It’s a huge drop in confidence on display and unless McCann and Co solve this it could be Taxi time !!
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We are conceding too many goals. IMO we need to firm up at the back.
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Not sure how McCann can say what he said last week and then keep McGarth in the team. He needs a spell out the side
Yep needs to spell out his side
M-c-G-r-a-t-h
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We are conceding too many goals. IMO we need to firm up at the back.
Pearson and Grehan are our best centre half pairing I think and Maxwell potentially our actual best player. Those three plus whoever is fit at right back.
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And that's the problem, McGrath wouldn't have played if we had a fit right back. I liked McCann's points on McGrath. He's a good player having a tough time, happens often and we shouldn't forget his age.
Thought actually we looked more solid with TLT back in the goal but no doubt McGrath struggled and Grehan tired out at right back.
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If Nixon is injured and Sterry is not ready who can play RB there is only Grehan
ORiordan and Pearson CHs
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O'Riordan played there earlier this season and did well, admittedly just a single game of evidence.
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If Nixon is injured and Sterry is not ready who can play RB there is only Grehan
ORiordan and Pearson CHs
Why play C’OR there before when we had injuries but a different centre half today? I know SG was on international duty for the Bradford game but he was fine in that position that day.
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So Hanlan was fit and not selected today? Can’t find mention of an injury.