Let's talk about the Northampton Town game

[Campsall rover]

As hound said earlier right back will be a very important position for us, if Knoyle is not fit then it could be an issue if the management don't have enough faith in Seaman, who could still be short of match fitness and sharpness from his early and pre season woes.

If this is the case then a loan may be on the cards, with a possible loan spell for Seaman.

If a loan does come in then i'm hoping its someone who can challenge Knoyle for a starting berth because he his a conundrum, he should be a big player for us, his general play is very good,neat and tidy, he has a decent turn of pace and he can get up and down well so has a good engine. It's just that after all the good work his end product has always been questionable, his shots never seem to be hit clean and he tends to snatch at the ball, his crossing should be very much better because of his good build up play we never seem to see a good final ball.

I'll not comment too much on his defending suffice to say he gets squared up too often and never stops a cross getting in.

I don't know if its nerves or lack of confidence because he has all the very good attributes you would want from a full back. When he's back i'm hoping  that some confidence in his game will show him in a better light.

He has been much better this season imo. He looks much more confident to me. Yes his crossing can improve.

[ForsolongaRover]

Of course Northampton have not played any of the promotion favourites - unless you count Crewe, and the games they have won have only been by a single goal. But perhaps I am being naive in thinking that on this seemingly simplistic basis we ought to at least draw!

[GazLaz]

Northampton are another team that have picked up more points than their performances deserve.

[selby]

  Tomlin, Rowe, and Clayton look to be relishing the challenge to me, surrounded by some young players who are visibly getting more accustomed to what is required from them, both as a unit and individually.
  Add a management team with tactical nous, a team spirit, and youngsters looking to and grasping the chance to be involved in games when it is presented and if we carry on, give our best, and learn from any mistakes we will be a team that can improve and have no fear of anyone at this level.

[selby]

  Meant to mention Agard in that post who has impressed me, has a low centre of gravity, upper body strength and experience and luckily for us looks to know where to be in the area at the right time and takes the ball early first time when he is in there.
  He looks now to have been a big miss for us at the end of last season, if he had been fit we might have survived.
 

[glosterred]

From Steve Jones on Twitter

Tom Anderson to miss this weekend’s game for #DRFC. Appointment with a specialist next week. Kyle Knoyle and Adam Long do have a chance of playing, Gary McSheffrey confirms. More to follow.


COYR

[5minstogo]

Anderson out, will see a specialist. Knoyle and Long have a chance of playing........

[steve@dcfd]

Can see Seaman and Faulkner being in the starting eleven because that’s what we have. I hope Knoyle can start and Long at least on the bench.

[Alan Southstand]

It’s unbelievable - we started the season with more cb’s than you could shake a stick at and, here we are a few weeks later, we’re down to the last 2. You couldn’t make it up!

I seriously hope Knoyle is ok.

[GazLaz]

Hasn’t GM pretty much said Long And KK are fit? Shouldn’t be an issue.

[steve@dcfd]

Hasn’t GM pretty much said Long And KK are fit? Shouldn’t be an issue.

did he actually say that or in the interview he said we give them ever chance and see tomorrow let’s hope they are fit

[Avsuptem]

I can remember when Norman Whiteside burst on to the scene and my wishing I had his talent. Young Bobby Faulkner reminds me of him. Seems well capable to get a regular start.

[danumdon]

I can remember when Norman Whiteside burst on to the scene and my wishing I had his talent. Young Bobby Faulkner reminds me of him. Seems well capable to get a regular start.

He is a very good. young and exciting talent for us. I'd have no qualms in putting him straight back in, better to have a fit and rearing to go youngster who's up for it rather than a player coming back, possibly too soon after an injury scare.
The momentum he would get from being first up could be season defining for him, it's that important.

The full back positions will be interesting, Maxwell will want to impose himself back into the side after getting a very rude welcome to the English professional game. Knoyle needs to build on his early season form, i sense confidence is a big thing for him.

[Sammy Chung was King]

It’s important the club is known as one that gives opportunities to young players if they are good enough. This helps with recruiting players when it’s between us and other clubs who they sign for. It also helps with potential loan signings if we need them.

Bobby seems to have a very sound mentality. He has an experience in him that belies his years. He deserves the chance if players aren’t fit, to show what he can do.

[selby]

  Avoid defeat in this game and I think we will be seen in a completely different light by supporters of other teams, but more importantly by some of our own supporters who set off the season being very critical of both the team management and the club management, but have been fed very little to back up their fears since the beginning of August.
   It also looks like a game that will test the strength of some of our back up players like Faulkner who could well get his first start at first team level, and was a complete unknown to the majority of our supporters just eight weeks ago, and our subs bench could well contain one or two especially in defence of players from the junior ranks if not for this game the one v Newcastle.
  To my mind it is great to see, at last the club look to be going forward at every level of the playing staff, and pathways have been opened up and as a club we are no longer just rushing out and taking on board players from other clubs who apart from some outstanding exceptions have disappointed especially under the leadership of Moore, the majority showing no feeling towards the club or its supporters, just using the club to showcase themselves, and in most cases failing to do even that.
  Win lose or draw we are in a better place,play well against another fancied side and it could confirm our progress from the depths we plunged to, another win might be beyond us being competitive and playing well should not be, the latter I want to see, the former I am hoping for.
   

[Panda]

According to NTFC, the south car park (largely gravel) that i have previously used on visits to Sixfields is now closed but fans are able to park in the North car park ( top end of the stadium) for £4.

The North car park didn't exist last time i went to Sixfields so i've no idea how big it is.

Parking on the adjacent leisure park will get you a ticket in all probability too so hopefully our fans will find suitable places to park.

[selby]

  Mitchell the keeper i have no doubt will want to have a blinder tomorrow against his old side, its always nice for players to play well against their old club.
  Hopefully Knoyle is fit to play and Long fit enough to take up one of the substitutes places on the bench to give cover to Williams and Faulkner who played well together last week and looked Physically robust in their play, as well as settled when on the ball.
  Knoyle if fit will allow us to play our normal  side further up field and in mid field where we have our more experienced players and wide and up front we have players who can run past defenders and get behind.  Tomlin and Clayton will be pivotal for us to gain some control of the game as they have been in our past games, and I hope Tomlin can again keep a lid on his tantrums and just enjoy the game without getting too involved in the silly stuff.
  All in all I am happy we are now a team to be reckoned with, and have also shown we can adapt to different tactics employed during a game. We rarely have easy games, and this will certainly not be one, we will have to be at it and on top of our game as a team and individually to get anything out of the game at all.
  For those who are going, have a great day, any young players involved on the bench be ready to do your best if required and enjoy the day and experience.

[Mustapha-Dump]

Would take a score draw as of right now, I think they key in away games is just try not to get beat, if we can manage that it’ll take us quite far in this league. I’ve a feeling Long and Knoyle will be absolutely fine and it’ll be not all that far from our strongest team, got a feeling Molyneux may get his first start but absolutely no idea who you drop in this team.

[RoversAlias]

Mitchell will be in for some stick tomorrow, Northampton fans thought he was atrocious for them season before last.

[DearneValleyRover]

Mitchell will be in for some stick tomorrow, Northampton fans thought he was atrocious for them season before last.

Every time we’ve given an opposition keeper dogs abuse they’ve gone on to play a blinder, let’s hope the same thing works for us tomorrow

[Northants Nomad]

Would pick North Dakota or North Carolina over North 'ampton though

I'd rather go to the North Pole than Northampton, and I live in the flipping county!  Northamptonshire - lovely villages, not so much the towns!

[Panda]

Went to Kettering v Torquay about 12 years ago and we went into the town. My God. See what you mean about not so much the towns.

Wicksteed Park was ok though a few years back when we took the kid. Not sure what it is like now though.

[les@donr]

Need someone to man mark Hoskins as he is on fire at the .moment.

[Mustapha-Dump]

Would pick North Dakota or North Carolina over North 'ampton though

I'd rather go to the North Pole than Northampton, and I live in the flipping county!  Northamptonshire - lovely villages, not so much the towns!

As the son in law of a resident of Wellingborough, you are completely and utterly correct.