Lincoln City (H)

[Lostock Whites]

Collins has been really quite poor this season (in the league), but he's just one of those dynamos that you have to play, especially at this level. 

He can play shit for the majority of a game but then get a goal out of nothing.

He does really need to improve those games where he doesn't grab a rabbit out of the hat, because when he doesn't, he's quite ineffective and it's usually just the simple things. He has a tendency to overcomplicate the final ball on many occasions.

I might be being harsh on him but that purely because of what we know he's capable of doing. He's arguably our best and strongest player to win us a game.

We need him firing and to have as much confidence as possible.

Regardless of the manager and his position, get that going up top, and a consistent back 3 with more clean sheets to come. Then it's really not impossible to get promoted out of this league.

Just get the basics done in this league, tight at the back, bit of quality up top. It's actually not as insurmountable as we might all believe.  Wycombe and Wrexham are right up there, Derby last season too, Rotherham before them, all horrid horrid football teams but do the basics well.

But we won't get anywhere without some consistency. Today could be the start of a long long road to win the fans back over again.

Or just a repeat of an endless cycle of despair.

Mansfield, Exeter & Rotherham all away next in succession will define which of the two paths we take.

Edited December 30, 2024 by Lostock Whites

[FrancisFogarty]

3 hours ago, Casino said:

On the other end of the see saw, couldve easily been 3 or 4 before the sending off

And yes, we havent shown we can be that good in those positions but nice to see us getting there

We need to take the hand brake off when we hit the oppo box

That’s right, the handbrake is so far on it’s taking that long to attack the whole play is condensed into 20 yards so there’s no room to get a decent shot in. I thought we could have had a couple more if we’d quickened the play and caught them on the break.

[Tombwfc]

1 hour ago, Lostock Whites said:

Collins has been really quite poor this season (in the league), but he's just one of those dynamos that you have to play, especially at this level. 

He can play shit for the majority of a game but then get a goal out of nothing.

He does really need to improve those games where he doesn't grab a rabbit out of the hat, because when he doesn't, he's quite ineffective and it's usually just the simple things. He has a tendency to overcomplicate the final ball on many occasions.

I might be being harsh on him but that purely because of what we know he's capable of doing. He's arguably our best and strongest player to win us a game.

We need him firing and to have as much confidence as possible.

Regardless of the manager and his position, get that going up top, and a consistent back 3 with more clean sheets to come. Then it's really not impossible to get promoted out of this league.

Just get the basics done in this league, tight at the back, bit of quality up top. It's actually not as insurmountable as we might all believe.  Wycombe and Wrexham are right up there, Derby last season too, Rotherham before them, all horrid horrid football teams but do the basics well.

But we won't get anywhere without some consistency. Today could be the start of a long long road to win the fans back over again.

Or just a repeat of an endless cycle of despair.

Mansfield, Exeter & Rotherham all away next in succession will define which of the two paths we take.

 

Because of our investment in him and our options, we don't have much of a choice. But I think he's exactly the type of player who'll cost you promotion over the course of a season.

Just enough magic moments to make you think he has to be on the field. But not enough to make up for his lack of contribution overall. And some shocking misses thrown in to boot.

[tomski]

6 hours ago, Tombwfc said:

 

Because of our investment in him and our options, we don't have much of a choice. But I think he's exactly the type of player who'll cost you promotion over the course of a season.

Just enough magic moments to make you think he has to be on the field. But not enough to make up for his lack of contribution overall. And some shocking misses thrown in to boot.

I know we all see things differently but I think he’s ace. I know he has his faults etc. But that goal yesterday, only him is scoring it. These are the moments I sign up for. 

[marple whites]

The starting defence with the options of Williams and tutu is strong for this division and I think will see us get more points second half of the season if they all stay fit.

with the other players coming back (Morley, Dempsey, cmg) and throw in a new striker once Charles goes and we have a half decent team.

this month is going to be very telling as to how it’s going to shape up tho with 4 tough aways.

anyway, 3 points, clean sheet, only downside being we should have scored more.

[Eddie]

10 minutes ago, tomski said:

I know we all see things differently but I think he’s ace. I know he has his faults etc. But that goal yesterday, only him is scoring it. These are the moments I sign up for. 

I agree, he’s the player that can do something from nothing and win you a game, like Dapo used to.

I don’t think we’re even close to trying to get the best out of him though. For me it’s an either / or with Charles - they’d both benefit from playing up alongside a big man that’s occupying defenders, winning headers, doing the running, causing defenders to leave weak clearing headers dropping to them etc..

If we do get rid of Charles (and preferably Vic) then I’d love to see us get a proper big man up top and put Collins alongside him week in week out. His best run was the 2nd half of last season when he was playing every game. 

If Dempsey can stay fit and play the top of the midfield behind him, and you’ve got a big grafter alongside him then I think he’s the type of player to win you promotion. At the moment though he either looks way too good for this league (albeit very briefly) or like he’s been taken from the pub league.

[tomski]

5 minutes ago, Eddie said:

I agree, he’s the player that can do something from nothing and win you a game, like Dapo used to.

I don’t think we’re even close to trying to get the best out of him though. For me it’s an either / or with Charles - they’d both benefit from playing up alongside a big man that’s occupying defenders, winning headers, doing the running, causing defenders to leave weak clearing headers dropping to them etc..

If we do get rid of Charles (and preferably Vic) then I’d love to see us get a proper big man up top and put Collins alongside him week in week out. His best run was the 2nd half of last season when he was playing every game. 

If Dempsey can stay fit and play the top of the midfield behind him, and you’ve got a big grafter alongside him then I think he’s the type of player to win you promotion. At the moment though he either looks way too good for this league (albeit very briefly) or like he’s been taken from the pub league.

Agree on all that mate.

[ianofcleveleys]

9 hours ago, Traf said:

Lolos seems to be getting some flak. Still early days for him here, but I like him. He looks to get us going forward all the time.

For arguably the lowest profile of our recent signings he could turn out to be decent value. Looks a bit ungainly at times but direct, can shift a bit and cover ground quickly, does physical donkey work and occupy defenders, knows where the goals are. He's alright.

[Big E]

People need to forget Dempsey. He shouldn’t play again. Pointless having someone made of rice paper 

[ianofcleveleys]

44 minutes ago, tomski said:

I know we all see things differently but I think he’s ace. I know he has his faults etc. But that goal yesterday, only him is scoring it. These are the moments I sign up for. 

A headscratcher of a player for me, a big lad that doesn't really head it or like the physical stuff and needs a physical partner, can't really hold it up, isn't up for chasing long balls, but when he finds little spaces and is facing the goal can produce finishes of real high class. 

In recent games he's looked really good when he's drifted out wide and linked with the wing back or dropped into that '10' sort of area as he did yesterday. 

[FrancisFogarty]

What Collins needs is a constant strike partner and 90 minute games. We can’t afford to keep playing him or Charles and only for 70 minutes then swap them over. Remember Worthington and Gowling, Reeves and Philliskirk, Walker and McGinley. It wasn’t one or t’other.

Get that sorted out and the rest will come.

[dusan nikolic]

6 hours ago, marple whites said:

The starting defence with the options of Williams and tutu is strong for this division and I think will see us get more points second half of the season if they all stay fit.

with the other players coming back (Morley, Dempsey, cmg) and throw in a new striker once Charles goes and we have a half decent team.

this month is going to be very telling as to how it’s going to shape up tho with 4 tough aways.

anyway, 3 points, clean sheet, only downside being we should have scored more.

I think we will  have a better team with Charles in it to be honest , the chances of picking up a 20 goal a season striker is unlikely at this window and then you factor in Evatt alternating the front 2 or being binned at 60 minutes if you do start  which makes it hard for any goalscorer to build up any form .

 

Edited December 30, 2024 by dusan nikolic

[gonzo]

42 minutes ago, ianofcleveleys said:

A headscratcher of a player for me, a big lad that doesn't really head it or like the physical stuff and needs a physical partner, can't really hold it up, isn't up for chasing long balls, 

Tbf, He's not on the pitch for any of that.

[Tonge moor green jacket]

10 minutes ago, gonzo said:

Tbf, He's not on the pitch for any of that.

Aye.

We knew he wasn't a lump when we signed him, but he does have a touch of magic about him. 

I'm not sure he needs a big man alongside- he's not necessarily a fox in the box type- he just needs a more solid unit behind him. Winning the ball back quickly, and using it quickly. 

When we do pass yhe ball and move with intensity, we can be very good.

[Tonge moor green jacket]

An alternative view- really was a barnstorming "armchair" tackle by Matete to set it off.

https://fb.watch/wOabhr8WIw/?mibextid=z4kJoQ

 

Edited December 30, 2024 by Tonge moor green jacket

[Zico]

1 hour ago, Eddie said:

lthey’d both benefit from playing up alongside a big man that’s occupying defenders, winning headers, doing the running, causing defenders to leave weak clearing headers dropping to them etc..

Can that player not be McAtee? 

[desperado]

That Charles goal at the end wasn’t offside

[Tombwfc]

2 hours ago, tomski said:

I know we all see things differently but I think he’s ace. I know he has his faults etc. But that goal yesterday, only him is scoring it. These are the moments I sign up for. 

 

I definitely see that point of view. Christ knows we've needed some entertainment and he does offer that. I just think 4 goals and 2 assists in 21 matches isn't going to get it done when the goal is to get 92+ points. 

On his day/in moments he's great, but the standards need to be higher than that in this league.

 

[Lt. Aldo Raine]

I think it's true for all four of our main striking options that their form has been hampered by the regular rotation of the front line

[tomski]

19 minutes ago, Tombwfc said:

 

I definitely see that point of view. Christ knows we've needed some entertainment and he does offer that. I just think 4 goals and 2 assists in 21 matches isn't going to get it done when the goal is to get 92+ points. 

On his day/in moments he's great, but the standards need to be higher than that in this league.

 

Defo agree. Either he and others aren’t playing for the manager or the manager doesn’t know how to utilise him. First name on the team sheet for me though still.

[itdiddidit?]

45 minutes ago, desperado said:

That Charles goal at the end wasn’t offside

That linesman down that side was a bottler and not at the races from the off.

If the crowd weren't as apathetic as they were he'd have got right pelters

[Zico]

5 minutes ago, itdiddidit? said:

That linesman down that side was a bottler and not at the races from the off.

If the crowd weren't as apathetic as they were he'd have got right pelters

What crowd?

[Casino]

55 minutes ago, desperado said:

That Charles goal at the end wasn’t offside

I think its given for the initial ball in

[FrancisFogarty]

58 minutes ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

I think it's true for all four of our main striking options that their form has been hampered by the regular rotation of the front line

The regular and often pointless rotation. If a lad is not up to a big game at 3:00 he's not going to have improved 70 minutes later having sat and stewed on the bench thinking 'I'd have scored that.' 

Meanwhile the lad on the pitch is thinking 'I should have had that' so I'll be off shortly.

Let's be honest, we're third division team with third sivision players. Standardwise there's bugger all between any of them, apart from confidence. Which comes from playing.

 

Edited December 30, 2024 by FrancisFogarty

[FrancisFogarty]

1 hour ago, desperado said:

That Charles goal at the end wasn’t offside

3 - 0 up at this stage 22,300 on ?