Niall Mason

[POD]

He made a bad mistake when we were 1-0 up which almost cost an equaliser, which could have changed the game.
Within a minute, he was down the other end banging in an excellent penalty.
What a difference a minute can make in a game!

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Other than that mistake, he was very good. Took the penalty very well. Overlapped quite well and was careful with the ball.

Thought Garratt had another good game although going forward, I think there's more he could do.
 

[dknward2]

The mistake from mason set off the save from Lawlor in which got cleared to marquis who drew the foul hence the penalty. It was a fine margin that we got on the right side of.

[RedJ]

Other than that mistake, he was very good. Took the penalty very well. Overlapped quite well and was careful with the ball.

Thought Garratt had another good game although going forward, I think there's more he could do.
 

Aye, true. But if he can get the basics as a defender right then he can work on the attacking stuff as he goes on. He's certainly improving, just like Joe Wright, with more experience.

[mushRTID]

He’s a really good player, can’t believe the stick he’s got at times.

[Geoff Blakesley]

He's a man possessed at the moment. Fair play to him telling cops he should take the pen - especially as cops has chickened out previously

[drfchound]

Copps has scored two out of two as well this season.
I don’t know when he chickened out of taking one though?

[glosterred]

Why change the pen taker after he scored the last one


COYR

[The Red Baron]

Copps has scored two out of two as well this season.
I don’t know when he chickened out of taking one though?

Nothing to do with chickening out. Your penalty taker stays on. In any case, Copps has a patchy record and probably took on the job because no-one fancied it.

[The Red Baron]

I thought overall Mason and Garratt did well. That's easily the best I've seen Garratt play, although I understand he was good at Bristol.

[Chris Black come back]

They were allowed to play as full backs, rather than wing backs. As a result they looked comfortable. 

[dickos1]

They've played as full backs previously and struggled, but I think Garratt is improving game on game and I've always rated mason.

[Chris Black come back]

They are clearly more comfortable as full backs. In same manner that Blair is more comfortable as a wing back. The flat back four worked well yesterday and while it may be necessary to change at times, the personnel fit better in this than in to a 5/3. You can play a four at back while also playing the favoured diamond of our manager - as shown yesterday.

[dickos1]

Only last week people were moaning about him playing the diamond, we've just got to realise different formations suit different opposition.

The last two games, the lineups haven't been received well but we've won both games

[Dutch Uncle]

Agree Dickos. In addition, I would suggest that in response to people saying Northampton were poor that there may be an element of us making them look poor by the manager doing his homework, and choosing the right players, formation and tactics. Northampton’s last two matches were a win against Walsall and a draw against Blackburn - not so shoddy.

Credit to DF when it’s due.

[dickos1]

Exactly Dutch, I've said elsewhere it may have been down to us making them look poor.
People's view would carry much more weight if they also praised him when it was merited rather than looking for excuses as to why we won instead of praising him.
 
I know the response will be the opposite towards me but I have been critical and then it's thrown back at me months and years later.

[graingrover]

If DF continues to rotate for the next two games in this spell of 4 games in 9 days then Mason is due a break . Since he came in as a loanee from Villa his application and adaptability to play in different positions has been good . I think he has made the right back spot his now leaving Matty Blair to forage forward if they get played together instead of the Kongolo Mason duo.

[since-1969]

He made a bad mistake when we were 1-0 up which almost cost an equaliser, which could have changed the game.
Within a minute, he was down the other end banging in an excellent penalty.
What a difference a minute can make in a game!

This season is riddled with mistakes , from being too weak up front to not being able to keep a lead and see games out that’s why we’re playing catch up.

[Jonathan]

Smart stop from Lawlor that prevented it from going to one all just before Mason put away the penalty. Have to say Lawlor is looking increasingly assured and it’s easy to forget how young he is. If he keeps on improving in the way he has lately then we have quite a prospect there.

Good to see young players developing in the team. Garratt is another that’s noticeably growing in confidence.

[Chris Black come back]

Only last week people were moaning about him playing the diamond, we've just got to realise different formations suit different opposition.

The last two games, the lineups haven't been received well but we've won both games

Nobody on this thread has criticised the diamond.

[drfchound]

Agree Dickos. In addition, I would suggest that in response to people saying Northampton were poor that there may be an element of us making them look poor by the manager doing his homework, and choosing the right players, formation and tactics. Northampton’s last two matches were a win against Walsall and a draw against Blackburn - not so shoddy.

Credit to DF when it’s due.

Dutch, as you know, you can only beat the team you are up against.
However, just look at the league table.
It shows how bad Northampton are, bottom four and the worst goal difference by a street.
Okay, their last two results have been good for them but what about the previous twenty odd matches.
Don’t forget that we beat Blackburn away. (Dickos, don’t bother reminding me about Walsall because WE were awful that day).

I agree that the manager set up in a way to make things tough for them and it worked well, credit to him for that.
You have to be honest though and say that Northampton had nothing to offer in return.
They were very poor.

[GazLaz]

He made a bad mistake when we were 1-0 up which almost cost an equaliser, which could have changed the game.
Within a minute, he was down the other end banging in an excellent penalty.
What a difference a minute can make in a game!

This season is riddled with mistakes , from being too weak up front to not being able to keep a lead and see games out that’s why we’re playing catch up.

We are a young side, if we learn from the mistakes we will be more then fine.

[dickos1]

Only last week people were moaning about him playing the diamond, we've just got to realise different formations suit different opposition.

The last two games, the lineups haven't been received well but we've won both games

Nobody on this thread has criticised the diamond.

You like to show me where I suggested anybody had?

Some readers wouldn't have gone a miss for your letter to santa

[dickos1]

Agree Dickos. In addition, I would suggest that in response to people saying Northampton were poor that there may be an element of us making them look poor by the manager doing his homework, and choosing the right players, formation and tactics. Northampton’s last two matches were a win against Walsall and a draw against Blackburn - not so shoddy.

Credit to DF when it’s due.

Dutch, as you know, you can only beat the team you are up against.
However, just look at the league table.
It shows how bad Northampton are, bottom four and the worst goal difference by a street.
Okay, their last two results have been good for them but what about the previous twenty odd matches.
Don’t forget that we beat Blackburn away. (Dickos, don’t bother reminding me about Walsall because WE were awful that day).

I agree that the manager set up in a way to make things tough for them and it worked well, credit to him for that.
You have to be honest though and say that Northampton had nothing to offer in return.
They were very poor.

But you don't think it might be because we made them look poor, no?

[Lesonthewest]

The lad is a talent, & he is getting better at this level each game, yes he made a mistake yesterday but give another 12 months experience he will be a top player for us in my opinion.

[RoversAlias]

Your glass seems to be less than half empty at the moment and I don't understand why.

A couple of months ago we lost to a well out-of-town Northampton side. Now we've played them off the park 3-0 and could've had 6 or 7.

[dickos1]

Your glass seems to be less than half empty at the moment and I don't understand why.

A couple of months ago we lost to a well out-of-town Northampton side. Now we've played them off the park 3-0 and could've had 6 or 7.

I know,
It seems the more we win the more some on here are trying to give excuses as to why it's happening.

Must be an awful predicament to be in, not being able to simply enjoy your football team winning

[RoversAlias]

For the record, my last post was aimed at Hound which I thought I'd noted but clearly didn't. Although it could definitely apply to a few different people on here of late.

[drfchound]

Your glass seems to be less than half empty at the moment and I don't understand why.

A couple of months ago we lost to a well out-of-town Northampton side. Now we've played them off the park 3-0 and could've had 6 or 7.

I know,
It seems the more we win the more some on here are trying to give excuses as to why it's happening.

Must be an awful predicament to be in, not being able to simply enjoy your football team winning

I enjoy the team playing well and winning as much as anyone but try to avoid getting carried away with things just yet.
I don’t think I have said that we didn’t deserve the win and I did also say that we could have had five or six goals.
How is that not acknowledging or putting down the team.
I also try to have an objective view about both teams on the pitch and have a view on why the results turn out the way they do.
I honestly think that Northampton were really poor and yes, our team had an influence on that, it has to doesn’t it.
Saying that the opponents are poor doesn’t in any way detract from a good team performance by us.
I am a long way from being critical of everything we do and my previous posts very often stick up for players when they get slated on here, again there are often many reasons why a player doesn’t perform at his best.
TBH though there are some posters who would swear that everything is rosy on the pitch and do the very opposite of what I am being accused of.

[dickos1]

If you mean me, then I've criticised when needed. I said Ferguson got it wrong at Wigan, I've said Williams is dreadful, marquis and may are struggling in front of goal, baudry has been poor.

The arguement of me being positive all the time is just something used when I point out all the constantnegativity on here.

I'm glad there's many others now pointing this out