Johnnyrotten

Does anyone seriously take any notice of the Thursday night Euros games? Fair enough if your a small Scots or Irish team desperate for any recognition/income, but surely its embarrassing for a Prem team to be arsed until it gets to at least the Q-Fs. The managers are on a hiding to nothing, a defeat will be evidence against them but a win surely doesn't buy them any credit.

Forgot about Matheson too, certain starter if eligible as suggested by @desperado

So Baxter then. Also hopefully a couple from CMG, Forrester and Jones. Also Matete, Collins and McAtee assuming none start on Saturday, that's virtually the 11 starters. No game for ages after so its going to be very much a team full of 1st teamers, I'd be surprised if any youngsters get a look in other than from the bench.

Forrester will be happy (in the nicest way), he was probably 6th choice CB. 5th probably puts him on the bench. Maybe Jones will be an option at RWB now that there's more CB competition with Johnston fit.

I've not seen the goal but I think the answer is "when its v Bayern Munich". Everything is bound to be exaggerated. Well done Villa but I can't get engaged in champions league when there's no jeopardy for half the teams. I watched 10 minutes but the outcome is of no consequence, Bayern Munich will have forgotten about it already. And anyway Kompany's football bores me, pass pass pass like at Burnley.

They've got Harborough Town away on 12th Oct, in the "North" half of the draw! Curzon Ashton playing Kings Lynn. There's definitely a lack of Northern non league clubs still in the cup, loads from south of Birmingham. Here's the draw if anyone's interested: https://www.thefa.com/news/2024/sep/30/emirates-fa-cup-fourth-qualifying-round-draw-20243009

😀

Last year the perception was a great 1st half of season, which it was in the end, but after 11 games upto Carlisle we only had 20 points. So not unreasonable to aim for the same again. Although we did win 6 on the trot after that 😀

I know a few S/T holders in ESL who are missing this to watch Leigh. Crowd could be decimated 😀

I was thinking I'd seen that Tomo goal somewhere before. Remembered now - a night match away in October, at Wycombe. Santos pass to Sheehan, Tomo bursts through the middle and Sheehan picks him out with a lofted ball over the defence. Keeper comes out, lobs it over him superbly. Won 4-2 for our 2nd win in 4 days (the other last year was v Northampton). And Toal scored our 3rd goal from a corner in front of the Bolton fans.

Exactly. Different game usually at our place. Last season Charles benefitted (superbly) at Reading and Port Vale to name two, we hardly get those situations in home games, where one pass gives him a chance to take them on for pace. That goal at Vale was one of his best for us, virtually a year to the day.

He's looked brilliant last 2 games (even if its only about 90 minutes total). I can't remember him having the same impact on home matches in terms of getting in behind them and playing towards goal as much, we get used to seeing him 10 yards inside their half with his back to goal, bouncing off a 6 foot defender. I really think it makes a difference how the teams set up, we all know what it will be like on Saturday, with Shrewsbury camped in our half while its 0-0. Charles won't get half the space we've seen in last 2 games until maybe we are leading and the gaps open up. 3 consecutive games where we've been 1 up inside about 10 minutes has been perfect for us, I'd love all games to be like that 😀

I'm glad you mentioned the Hudds 1st half because upto the goal he was playing them on his own (although Toal was good too). All this "he was crap till Crawley, now he's great" tries to make it all black & white, the truth is usually somewhere in between. Outstanding for much of the Huddersfield game, I think the "switching off" is harsh for the 1st goal - great cross and movement, good finish, Santos is allowed to be beaten once in a while especially in a game we were very much 2nd best. He's played well last 2 games but the genuine attacks from the opposition have been sporadic to say the least, he's hardly been tested, its all routine for him. He was 7 out of 10 maybe last night because he didn't need to be any better, that's not him at his best, he didn't need to be, just as he's not been shit all season pre-Crawley.

I think if we want the benefits of Charles in our attack we have to accept he's only interested in goals. Next time that situation comes up, he'll shoot, even if he's had an earful off Arfield etc. He's in the team to score goals and he knows that, I think McAtee has a similar "greed", if there's half a chance to shoot, they don't see anyone else. Collins is a different type of player and would have squared it, as would any of our midfielders. As fans we are guilty of lauding the scorer - if a player beats 2 men and sets up Charles for a tap in we all sing Charles name, and we all count up goals (including pens 😀) at the end of the season. Assists are disregarded.

I must admit, the relative failures of Huddersfield, Rotherham and Peterboro so far have given me renewed hope (along with us turning the corner obviously). Of those teams you mention I think Stockport and Wrexham will be competing because they'll spend in January no doubt. But I don't think Blackpool's run will continue, its got new manager syndrome written all over it and they probably don't have the squad depth to maintain it throughout winter. Just keep winning the winnable games for now and we'll be up there.

With my admittedly dodgy eyesight, I thought he assisted for Charles goal

A statement would be just to carry on winning, I'll take 4-2 every game. And for all folk are describing their goals as sloppy, Eaves header was top quality for this league, we won't come up against anyone that's harder to beat in the air this season, we could work on it all week but how do we stop that? I'd rather concede them than the 3 goals gifted from fannying around we've seen previously.

I do think goal difference is over rated. How often does a team's end of season fate get decided by goal difference? We could be -30 but we only need 1 more point than 3rd place, there's 38 games to go and we have to play 8 of the current top 9 twice yet!

If you'd given me 100/1 on us being above Hudds on 1st October, after the 0-4 game, I wouldn't have taken it. Evatt must be having a smile thinking who's getting sacked in the morning now?

Our 2 fouls for yellows were bad challenges. I'd be happy to replace Tomo and Schon at H-T with Matete & Williams to protect them. A rest before Saturday won't do them any harm either.

That Northampton player trying to get Tomo a 2nd yellow seemed to make a quick recovery from his fractured jaw and broken eye socket, what a relief

Great stuff, this has been quality so far.

Me too, I was wrong. Charles and Vic nailed on to start Saturday....possibly.

Matete has been both the worst and best of our midfielders. When he's played well he looks like our best midfielder and I would have had him as first pick upto Reading. But his version of bad in that game was extreme, like he just wasn't at the races. So I'd be surprised if Sheehan was dropped for him any time soon.

He perfected the art of receiving the ball on the left wing around the half way line, going forward a few strides, then turning back and passing it to a defender. A bit of a pioneer really. He played in those back to back 5-0 wins v Posh and MK Dons, and scored a header from a corner (as did most of our defenders in that game).