Let's talk about the Mansfield Town game

[selby]

  After a good result against Exeter we go to near neighbours Mansfield which has always been a hard place for us to go, where in the past we have had some of our most memorable games especially that game that set us off on probably our best period since the 1950's.
  Mansfield fielded six new signings at Burton Albion on Saturday and ended up on the wrong end of a 2-1 game that was a good quality game with Mansfield at the end regretting missing two very good chances in the game right at the start of the game and in the closing minutes.
  In Nigel Clough they have one of the best managers in the lower divisions, who takes time to mould teams to play the way he demands, and to his credit don't cost the earth to cobble together and with Grant must be right up there among the best in the game as far as their chairmen are concerned.
   After watching his teams over the years one of the things I have picked up is that he always takes into consideration the style of play of the opposition to nullify it, has in games I have watched one memorable one was against our side when he won the game altering tactics and the team line up during the game to pull off a good win, so as well as the team on the field we are up against a clever tactician in charge of their side.
  So a lot to interest the crowd with two of the better progressive managers as well as the players up against each other and an expected large crowd hopefully generating a good atmosphere.
  We looked in our game on Saturday a good side in periods and expectedly in the first game of the season at times work in progress. Grants use of substitutes again came up trumps the game now very much progressing to more than the traditional eleven a side game it used to be.
  If we looked short in an area to me it was centrally up front as a strike force when on the attack getting in front of goal, probably because our strikers are now expected to work very hard closing down defenders when not being in possession which they did all the game but can't be everywhere on a pitch. Getting players in there for balls in the box means others might have to make those runs more often than in the past.
  Our work rate was very good, as for any changes apart from injury or tactical  will be minimal I would expect and am expecting much the same line up to start the game, What do you think?
   With last seasons results at the end of the season being added to our opening day win we are in great form against some good sides and can approach the game with confidence, in a game that will possibly really signify just where we are at more than the opening game.
    All the time Honoured questions to this game,
    Are you going to the game?
    What side would you pick?
    Will we change our game to suit the opposition?
    Can we get away to a great start to the season?
   As ever please have your say, your opinion is important in a discussion  any Mansfield readers welcome to comment.

[Barmby Rover]

A week of working with Hanlon to get on the end of Middleton crosses and our worries are over. Or even stick Bailey further forward with Nixon coming in for Sterry (get well soon Jamie!) and we have goals to match the defence. A win for Rovers.

[Padge_DRFC]

Nixon will come in for sure

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Too early for a Mansfield moment but another good marker and likely a sterner test than Exeter.

Our away form was very good often playing on the break which I think will suit us at Mansfield. Just a shame Sterry will be out, as we'll miss his guile and link up with Moly. Nixon looked good in pre season but less familiar with playing with Pearson and O'Riordon. The back 4 likely to be put under more pressure than v Exeter but they looked like they coped well throughout.

Another week on the training pitch to refine things from Saturday so we should go into the game with cautious optimism.

[ravenrover]

On another thread people were talking about goading other fans. At this game it will go to another level we will see as we always do at Mansfield half of their main stand and half of our supporters hurling abuse and threats to each other for most of the game. Our fans will at some point respond with Scab Scab etc without knowing a thing about it

[Jimmydee]

On another thread people were talking about goading other fans. At this game it will go to another level we will see as we always do at Mansfield half of their main stand and half of our supporters hurling abuse and threats to each other for most of the game. Our fans will at some point respond with Scab Scab etc without knowing a thing about it

It’s still raw, even after 41 years have passed.

[Chris Black come back]

Didn't have amazing home league form last season. Only two sides lost more games than them at home and only three sides conceded more goals at home. They lost almost exactly every other home league game.

[steve@dcfd]

We will come up against another team that generally play 352 we have to look at our tactics to overcome this. We can’t be leaving Hanlon or who ever plays centre forward on their own.

[selby]

  Steve@dcfd, if we do play our striker or anyone else up front by himself he needs to get in the area in front of goal when the ball is played wide more than we did v Exeter.
  Coupled with this when we are in possession someone has to have the legs from mid field to get up there with him and commit forward.
  I felt too many times our mid fielders inside were drawn wide to  play the little triangle  when we looked much more threatening when the wingers got the ball and took the defenders to the line and got a cross in.
  Unfortunately we didn't have the numbers in front of goal when the ball was crossed.

[moses]

I think the midfielders will adapt to Middleton. I think they were are shocked as us how often he went outside and crossed first time. They have been used to the winger cutting in and crossing with his inside foot. So there was no incentive to break their neck to hit the box as they would have been in front of the ball. They got better second half with more players in the box.

[drfchound]

Having trained with him for a few weeks now I doubt that they were shocked about how often Middleton crossed the ball.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

To be fair, Clifton got on the end of a cross in the first half,which looped over the angle of crossbar and post. Gotts got on the end of one in the second half.

Broadly agree though, we need to anticipate those crosses better with midfielders getting into the box. That may happen more if Bailey is restored to midfield who scored three of four arriving late at the back post.

I think we'd just like to see Hanlan a bit more mobile in general play, trying to pull centre halves out of their comfort zone and possibly creating space for others to run into. Mix it up a bit more. It worked very well last season with Street making runs from inside to out and outside to in.

[steve@dcfd]

  Steve@dcfd, if we do play our striker or anyone else up front by himself he needs to get in the area in front of goal when the ball is played wide more than we did v Exeter.
  Coupled with this when we are in possession someone has to have the legs from mid field to get up there with him and commit forward.
  I felt too many times our mid fielders inside were drawn wide to  play the little triangle  when we looked much more threatening when the wingers got the ball and took the defenders to the line and got a cross in.
  Unfortunately we didn't have the numbers in front of goal when the ball was crossed.

Totally agree with that we need at least 1/2 midfielders breaking into the box as well as the centre forward. But this has not been our game and tactical it should change. The other thing is we haven’t got midfielders used to breaking forward and getting their head on the bal apart from occasional Bailey . It’s always to feet as you say.
Games will show if Hanlon can do what Street did last season.

[Alan Southstand]

DBR:

I think we'd just like to see Hanlan a bit more mobile in general play, trying to pull centre halves out of their comfort zone and possibly creating space for others to run into. Mix it up a bit more. It worked very well last season with Street making runs from inside to out and outside to in.

That last sentence says it all, for me. Street was right up - well - our street, when it came to Grant’s preferred way of playing. If we can’t get him back, by whatever means, then we need to find the nearest thing to him that’s out there and available. I’m just not sure Hanlan fits the blueprint.

[CJK]

Lincoln's first goal on Saturday was proper Rob Street. Goalkeeper plays a long diagnol ball from the edge of the area, Street in acres of space on the right runs on to it, controls it, then looks to square the ball but if deflects off the defender and in to the net. Direct, pace and power.

[steve@dcfd]

Street did have the space consistent 5 at the back by Exeter there was no space

[DRFC_AjA]

On another thread people were talking about goading other fans. At this game it will go to another level we will see as we always do at Mansfield half of their main stand and half of our supporters hurling abuse and threats to each other for most of the game. Our fans will at some point respond with Scab Scab etc without knowing a thing about it

Made the same point myself loads. If people put half the effort into songs to support the team that they do being a caveman to a ref or singing  b*** to goad the opposition there'd actually be a half decent atmosphere. Here's your bingo card for Saturday ill be there offering tuppence a line...

After 60 seconds...do do do football in a library

15 mins....you scab ba****

30 mins....Mansfields a *** i wanna go home

40 mins....refs a w****

Know what's better than all that....whole stand singing something to support the team

[Ian Nimmo]

If Grant feels they may play 3-5-2 just wonder with Sterry being out if he will consider matching them with a back 3?
Maybe with maxwell moving forward into midfield, but being available to make the 4 at the back if required.
Will be interesting to see what Grant does, but guess it’s going to be a guessing game for us throughout the season.

[Padge_DRFC]

324 tickets left. General sale wednesday and probably gone by Wednesday

[scawsby steve]

I think Charlie's signing will have the phones busy from 9.00 am onwards tomorrow.

[DearneValleyRover]

 Nice headache for Grant picking the team on Saturday now

[danumdon]

  Steve@dcfd, if we do play our striker or anyone else up front by himself he needs to get in the area in front of goal when the ball is played wide more than we did v Exeter.
  Coupled with this when we are in possession someone has to have the legs from mid field to get up there with him and commit forward.
  I felt too many times our mid fielders inside were drawn wide to  play the little triangle  when we looked much more threatening when the wingers got the ball and took the defenders to the line and got a cross in.
  Unfortunately we didn't have the numbers in front of goal when the ball was crossed.

Totally agree with that we need at least 1/2 midfielders breaking into the box as well as the centre forward. But this has not been our game and tactical it should change. The other thing is we haven’t got midfielders used to breaking forward and getting their head on the bal apart from occasional Bailey . It’s always to feet as you say.
Games will show if Hanlon can do what Street did last season.

Its amazing isn't it, for all the modern and new fangled ways of playing football, all the playing out from the back, triangles in the middle and wingers being inverted nonsense.

It took just one match last sat with an experienced "real winger" to show that footballs a very simple game.

Get the ball to said winger, let him do his thing, get your forwards to follow up and get into the box, wait for the inch perfect ball to head into the net.

To anyone new to football this would look like a revolution in the making, what's the old saying, keep it simple stupid.

Works every time, if we invested in a player who can do this it would seem a big waste to not give him  players who can finish off his moves?

[philsky]

Looks like 175 tickets left

[selby]

  Ever thought that we might have one in Ironside who thrived on exactly that the season before last.
  The biggest example in Premiership football was Woods at Nottingham  Forest, always giggled when the match of the day shouted Woods as if he had no right to be scoring all those goals.     
 Always remember Scott Parker taking the p**s about Mickey Quinn and his drinking and eating pies but scoring loads of goals at Newcastle.
  The next question was about his time at Fulham under Tigana  and his introduction of diet and tactics and how he built Fulham to nearly qualifying for Europe in more than one season just missing out.
  The next question was why not The answer we didn't have a Mickey Quinn scoring thirty goals a season on pies and beer.
  My theory you have it to be great or don't especially as a striker.

[karldew]

324 tickets left. General sale wednesday and probably gone by Wednesday

It might get the points system rejigged when tickets are general sale so close to a game. Not knowing if you’re getting a ticket or not until 3 days before a game isn’t great, especially in the holidays.

[Padge_DRFC]

125 left. Potentially none sell out.

Mansfield still made more cash than selling at £25 and a sell out though.

[Alan Southstand]

324 tickets left. General sale wednesday and probably gone by Wednesday

It might get the points system rejigged when tickets are general sale so close to a game. Not knowing if you’re getting a ticket or not until 3 days before a game isn’t great, especially in the holidays.

Good point but Mansfield were late putting tickets out!

[karldew]

324 tickets left. General sale wednesday and probably gone by Wednesday

It might get the points system rejigged when tickets are general sale so close to a game. Not knowing if you’re getting a ticket or not until 3 days before a game isn’t great, especially in the holidays.

Good point but Mansfield were late putting tickets out!

We could have still adjusted to allow general sale to be a bit longer, even if it was just for this game.
I know the club have only just brought the longer sale process in with the points though through people moaning, so it’s hard to keep everyone happy.

[steve@dcfd]

Just checked ticket sales 79 left that’s 1619 sold as we got an allocation of 1698 that’s okay as a lot of people quite rightly said their prices were expensive

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Will be interesting to see the result from tonight's game Vale v Cardiff. If Vale get any sort of positive result, maybe it suggests Cardiff aren't the sure fire promotion candidates many have predicted and the League might be more competitive.

Of course, very early yet to judge but, a win for us on Saturday will definitely stir the interest.