The crucial game in hand.

Win on Saturday then this is an opportunity we need to not let slip.

3-1, Dion to finally get a couple against his old club & hammer a huge nail in the coffin and help shift Accy back into League 2. Andy Holt will be livid.

9 hours ago, DazBob said:

Each of the substitutions last night seemed to make us weaker.

On the evidence so far we'd have been better off keeping Bakayoko and not signing one of Jerome or Victor.

Really hope JDB can find his way to some fitness for the play-off games.

 

 

Agree with all that, Baka took some stick here but he's streets ahead of Adebayajo in general play and scored 13 last season despite never being a regular.  

And when we were scouting Nlundulu at Cheltenham, a pity we didn't get Alfie May.  He's scored 18 goals in a struggling team and none were penalties.  Dan scored 5 in 27 games for them, another mystery January signing.

8 hours ago, Mantra said:

Guaranteed squad for next year

GK: none

DEF: Jones, Santos, Johnston, Toal

WBs: Iredale, John, R. Williams

MID: Morley, Dempsey, Thomason

FWDs: Charles, Victor, Jerome, Sadlier

 

There’s problems to rebuilding in this division and in the division above.

The squad currently is very much built for 3-5-2 but in games like last night I really wish we would play a 4-3-3, so if we could get some wingers that can also play as an attacking midfielder that would be helpful to give us more flexibility.

We are “stuck” with Jerome for one more year and Victor for 3 more. So it limits us in who we can bring in for the forward line and if we sign Bodvarsson or another we basically have to play a 2 striker system to have enough rotation, or we end up leaving someone in the cold or loaning out our 500k signing Victor.

There’s 14 contracted players leaving 7 or 8 spots for next year to take us to the next level.

If we stay down then there’s big decisions to be made on Lee, Sheehan, Bodvarsson, Kachunga. We also might have our better players targeted by Championship clubs.

If we go up then we probably don’t re-sign any of the out of contract players (maybe Sheehan?) but it gives us a higher quality loan pool to shop in. 

Good summary.  The wingers that can also play as an attacking midfielder - we had 2 excellent one's in Dapo and Sadlier and they had to leave because the system didn't suit.  It would be a waste of budget to sign similar.

20 hours ago, Farnywhite said:

Had a good game at Charlton that’s been it . Sadlier was more of a threat and we were told the lad was an upgrade. Prefare Lee playing there with what we have available 

It’s an odd one because he looks like there’s some proper talent in there but he’s lacking the effort/confidence and physicality 

7 hours ago, bolton va va said:

Absolutely this. Losing Trafford & Bradley, maybe Santos, there's no guarantee at all that we'd walk Div 1 next season, look at MK this season.

We should grab any chance of going up, work on strengthening in the summer if we make it & accept that we'll be playing for survival. It can be done, Parky kept us up with a weaker squad & the club is now in a stronger position than then !!

 

Sorry for repeating this, but whilst losing Bradley is significant, because he's one of our best 2 or 3 players and influences how we play, Trafford has virtually no impact on most games.  He had 2 saves to make last night, 1 he made a smart save from Hamilton (2nd half) and the other, was a disappointing effort where he didn't move his feet at all, and seemed to dive in slow motion.  Its becoming a bit odd how overrated he is, he's OK but we could replace him with any of the keepers we've come up against recently, whereas I haven't seen many opposition players come close to Bradley, Santos or even Dempsey this season.

10 hours ago, royal white said:

Sick of fans saying we aren’t ready to go up. That’s the job of the manager and the board pre season to make sure we are ready. That’s why we have transfer windows. 

Couldn’t agree more. All this ‘we’re not ready’ shite. I’d worry about our squad more staying in this division. We go up and we can get better players, prioritise staying up/mid table and build a more sustainable team. 

Let’s see though. In Evatt we trust

Not often these days I'll have a sulk after a bad result but I did last night/today. Fair play to Accrington. They punch above their weight generally and they did it again last night. However they been getting humped home and away in recent months and to fail to score against them was almost unbelievable.

One of the teams who hammered them lately was Fleetwood who put five past them. Throughout the season as a whole we've not quite been clinical enough and our achilles heel has been duff results against bottom of the table sides - Accrington (H), Morecambe (A), Cambridge (home and away), Cheltenham and Forest Green (a), Oxford (h). 

 

No better time to go up off the field

Great response to season tickets, crowds on the rise there’s a real buzz about the place go up a league will add to this, bigger uptake on visiting supporters, hospitality, hotel etc it all goes hand in hand

Good risk of languishing around in this league if we don’t take our opportunity which could undo the good work

 

23 minutes ago, radcliffe white said:

No better time to go up off the field

Great response to season tickets, crowds on the rise there’s a real buzz about the place go up a league will add to this, bigger uptake on visiting supporters, hospitality, hotel etc it all goes hand in hand

Good risk of languishing around in this league if we don’t take our opportunity which could undo the good work

 

That’s pretty much where I am.

But I’m happy to use @barrycowdrill‘s perspective as a positive back up. But it would take me to July to start looking ahead with optimism! 

As for last nights game, I’m still pissed off - just with the result. Not Evatt or the players. Since Wembley Evatt has reacted to injuries, rested and rotated the squad well and kept us on a good run. I think I lot of the criticism is wide of the mark and an overreaction to one bad result.

I bet over the last month every club in the top half has written their side off and dissected their “form” and weaknesses concluding that they are not good enough, suggesting a raft of things the manager should or shouldn’t have done.

@gonzo made a very good point this morning “Every team in the league is susceptible to nights like that last night. It happens.”

I’ve just looked at all the chances we had last night - Im surprised how many really good chances we had. Yes that’s 3 on the trot where we’ve not put games to bed (and i don’t deny that’s a concern). But at least we are creating them and dominating games, expressing ourselves in the way we know best. If Charles finds his scoring boots again and is assisted by one or two others, we’ll be fine. 

47 minutes ago, desperado said:

If Charles finds his scoring boots again and is assisted by one or two others, we’ll be fine. 

This has been our problem all season.

3 minutes ago, Traf said:

This has been our problem all season.

Just not been consistent has it?

Our midfielders are the same. Sheehan and Dempsey have scored some good goals this month. Then last night both had really good chances and for whatever reason didn’t take them.

It’s just where we are at the minute.

But my positive outlook sees those players finding the back of the next in the next 2-5 games! Keep creating the chances and the tide will turn

I think we may have seen next seasons keeper last night

His ott celebrations at the end wont have helped, mind

7 minutes ago, Casino said:

I think we may have seen next seasons keeper last night

His ott celebrations at the end wont have helped, mind

I’d prefer the Shrewsbury keeper. Just checked the Accy keeper played on loan for us in 2021. 

Edited April 26, 20233 yr by Mounts Kipper

18 minutes ago, Mounts Kipper said:

I’d prefer the Shrewsbury keeper. Just checked the Accy keeper played on loan for us in 2021. 

Wasn't he the loan keeper from Burnley 

He was

Still at burnley

Still played very few games

Looking at the last game of the season my concern is that if both Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday are out of the automatic promotion race I think both clubs rest players we would need to beat Bristol Rovers and Barton will have his side well prepared for it. 
I know is hypothetical at the moment but it is a distinct possibility , 

@woolliyou raise a very valid point re our results against the “dead men”.  Facts don’t lie & I’m amazed by the responses tbh.

In isolation that result & performance against Accrington was horrific, especially considering their recent form.

However results since Wembley (not performances) have been generally good, so allowances have been made.

Anyway if we achieve the play-offs, it will be clear progress.

If we don’t it will be a real kick in the bollocks and we can only blame ourselves.

2 big games will define our season,  because 7th is hardly better than last years 9th, especially when comparing the squads.

2 hours ago, captainmed said:

@woolliyou raise a very valid point re our results against the “dead men”.  Facts don’t lie & I’m amazed by the responses tbh.

In isolation that result & performance against Accrington was horrific, especially considering their recent form.

However results since Wembley (not performances) have been generally good, so allowances have been made.

Anyway if we achieve the play-offs, it will be clear progress.

If we don’t it will be a real kick in the bollocks and we can only blame ourselves.

2 big games will define our season,  because 7th is hardly better than last years 9th, especially when comparing the squads.

We were only in 5th place because Posh got beaten by "dead men" and Derby have struggled - not because we've been particularly brilliant. It always happens when teams are fighting for their lives and not just to us. Cambridge for example are 23rd but this month they beat Posh and Fleetwood and drew with us. Oxford have pulled 3 points clear by stuffing Cheltenham 4 nil and drawing with Posh, Pompey and Wednesday. Burton have pulled clear and Morecambe have won their last two including beating Wycombe. League position and past performances just become less relevant.

So it's shit or get off the pan time for us now and nobody can be under any illusions that if we don't give everything against Fleetwood and Bristol we'll not only be out of it but there'll be a massive sense of underachievement given the position we're in and the fact that we've all seen the team play much better than recently.

Ian Evatt and the players know what they have to do and we just have to have faith that they'll bring it.

15 hours ago, woolli said:

Here are some facts.

Of all the top 7 Accrington have won 1 drew 1 lost 12. You all know who they beat!

Previous to last night they had lost NINE league games on the bounce. FACT

The point i am trying to make is the top teams do not drop points to shit teams. OPINION 

We have also dropped 20 points against the bottom 8! FACT

If this is not addressed we will never win promotion. We cant keep making excuses that these teams sit back etc, we need to find a way to win, the problem is, and its been a problem for a few years now, Evatt doesnt know how to change it. Sometimes you need to get the ball in the mixer, shoot more etc, but Evatt is stuck in his ways. He actually said we played well yesterday, which is really concerning. I think it was up there with the worst home performance of the season. OPINION

And by the way, Fleetwood, Saturdays opponents, beat Accy 5-2 away two weeks ago. FACT

Happy Wednesday everyone, off to catch some rays now.

You are really getting my dander up you grotty little Oik !

Thank fuck you dont sit near me . its you and your species that send fans loopy cos you talk incessant shite no matter what . You are the same fan that complained about the hoofball Allardyce played , the same fan that screamed "get in the fuckin game Brannigan " whilst 3-0 up with 10 minutes to go . 

In summary sir , you are a fuckin toilet , now how do I block this cunt ? 

🍿

6 hours ago, Krimzon said:

You are really getting my dander up you grotty little Oik !

Thank fuck you dont sit near me . its you and your species that send fans loopy cos you talk incessant shite no matter what . You are the same fan that complained about the hoofball Allardyce played , the same fan that screamed "get in the fuckin game Brannigan " whilst 3-0 up with 10 minutes to go . 

In summary sir , you are a fuckin toilet , now how do I block this cunt ? 

Species

6 hours ago, Krimzon said:

You are really getting my dander up you grotty little Oik !

Thank fuck you dont sit near me . its you and your species that send fans loopy cos you talk incessant shite no matter what . You are the same fan that complained about the hoofball Allardyce played , the same fan that screamed "get in the fuckin game Brannigan " whilst 3-0 up with 10 minutes to go . 

In summary sir , you are a fuckin toilet , now how do I block this cunt ? 

So you posted that at 3.30am, yes? Sounds like you have been on the brave juice? Oik Oik! Some folks dont like facts, you being one of them. I still think we will make the play offs, but now we have made it more difficult. Now fuck off and block me!

22 hours ago, Ani said:

Wonder if MK Dons and Oxford fans were saying at end of last season , 'we will be able to build from here' ?? 

Fair point that, not easy to shake yourselves down, fill all the gaps and go again after a near miss. 

Most clubs below Prem are reliant on 2-3 loans at least to help their push, maybe one of our issues is, because we've essentially started from scratch at all levels since nearly going busy, we haven't got the depth and longevity of our own players to come through, establish themselves and place a bit less emphasis on the wheeler dealing we've done in the last few windows. 

Ideally Evatt would have a squad ready to go again in L1 (if we have to) that just needed a 2-3 good loans and maybe 2-3 signings rather than another big rebuild. We're a fair way off that as things stand and it might take time to build a bottom up structure that sees more home grown talent form a bigger part of the first team on matchdays. 

Problem with all that, I know, is time isn't something anyone has in football, at any level

13 hours ago, Krimzon said:

You are really getting my dander up you grotty little Oik !

Thank fuck you dont sit near me . its you and your species that send fans loopy cos you talk incessant shite no matter what . You are the same fan that complained about the hoofball Allardyce played , the same fan that screamed "get in the fuckin game Brannigan " whilst 3-0 up with 10 minutes to go . 

In summary sir , you are a fuckin toilet , now how do I block this cunt ? 

Thank fuck I don't sit near you, bet you stink of alcohol.