Northampton Town (H)

[Tonge moor green jacket]

I agree there, but we never know!

Remember a player for City, called Gérard Wiekens?

For a time the fans didn't rate him, and said he couldn't control the ball or pass it very well.

For some reason, by dad ended up with some tickets for Maine Road, shortly after Keegan arrived.

The player was reborn, stroking the ball about with aplomb. The regulars around us were in awe and gobsmacked. 

In our case Sheehan's talent with the ball is recognised, so who knows, a new man may get him fettled. 

[Zico]

1 hour ago, Ratwhite said:

Soon as he cut inside it was a goal

angle from my seat in WSL south side - was behind it all the way and knew soon as it left his foot it was going in

[Mantra]

If I had known before the Huddersfield and Northampton games that Julian Darby would just strip away Ian Evatts tactics completely and go back to basics, I would have assumed that we would struggle to break out of such an ingrained tactic. 

On those two performances, it does look as if the players had stopped playing for Evatt. Or they were just so worn down by the robotic tactics that they couldn’t see the wood for the trees. The players have been accused by the fans and even by Evatt of being weak mentally, but I think the last two games we have seen another side to them and perhaps it was Evatts mentality that was weak to refuse to adapt.

I am sure Ian will look at the own goal from last night and think why he never had any luck like that, but I think this was a case of you make your own luck. It is a real shame that he was so wedded to those tactics because it’s clear that if we had just been a bit more pragmatic at times, he could have built a real legacy. 
 

Edited January 29, 2025 by Mantra

[Johnnyrotten]

26 minutes ago, Zico said:

angle from my seat in WSL south side - was behind it all the way and knew soon as it left his foot it was going in

Same certainty it was going in as I felt for his goal v Port Vale

 

[Cheese]

29 minutes ago, Zico said:

angle from my seat in WSL south side - was behind it all the way and knew soon as it left his foot it was going in

From my angle in NSL, I reckon it would've hit me full in the face if there was no net. A sublime strike.

[Steejay]

12 minutes ago, Mantra said:

If I had known before the Huddersfield and Northampton games that Julian Darby would just strip away Ian Evatts tactics completely and go back to basics, I would have assumed that we would struggle to break out of such an ingrained tactic. 

On those two performances, it does look as if the players had stopped playing for Evatt. Or they were just so worn down by the robotic tactics that they couldn’t see the wood for the trees. The players have been accused by the fans and even by Evatt of being weak mentally, but I think the last two games we have seen another side to them and perhaps it was Evatts mentality that was weak to refuse to adapt.

I am sure Ian will look at the own goal from last night and think why he never had any luck like that, but I think this was a case of you make your own luck. It is a real shame that he was so wedded to those tactics because it’s clear that if we had just been a bit more pragmatic at times, he could have built a real legacy. 
 

Yeah, but he did have that luck, just a couple of games ago against Cambridge, with a last minute OG equalizer that probably prolonged his tenure for a few more days.

[Mantra]

2 minutes ago, Steejay said:

Yeah, but he did have that luck, just a couple of games ago against Cambridge, with a last minute OG equalizer that probably prolonged his tenure for a few more days.

True tbf, I felt I came away from many games under Evatt feeling we were on the “wrong side” of luck. Cant recall each one but many big misses in front of goal. Or just knocking on the door of teams for ages, never scoring, then conceding a cheap goal.

Suppose it started off feeling more like bad luck then developed into a discernible pattern under him.  

[Mantra]

Like the look of Alex Murphy 

Wanted to see more of him but we didn’t get the ball to him that much sadly

The few passes he made were crisp and he was calm under the pressure.

looks a unit too for a left back

[Ani]

27 minutes ago, Mantra said:

If I had known before the Huddersfield and Northampton games that Julian Darby would just strip away Ian Evatts tactics completely and go back to basics, I would have assumed that we would struggle to break out of such an ingrained tactic. 

On those two performances, it does look as if the players had stopped playing for Evatt. Or they were just so worn down by the robotic tactics that they couldn’t see the wood for the trees. The players have been accused by the fans and even by Evatt of being weak mentally, but I think the last two games we have seen another side to them and perhaps it was Evatts mentality that was weak to refuse to adapt.

I am sure Ian will look at the own goal from last night and think why he never had any luck like that, but I think this was a case of you make your own luck. It is a real shame that he was so wedded to those tactics because it’s clear that if we had just been a bit more pragmatic at times, he could have built a real legacy. 
 

On the own goal, we have missed easier chances than that in 3 or 4 games this season. Collins v Barnsley, Dion at Rotherham and Mansfield plus Schon v Wigan. 

[Tonge moor green jacket]

8 minutes ago, Mantra said:

Like the look of Alex Murphy 

Wanted to see more of him but we didn’t get the ball to him that much sadly

The few passes he made were crisp and he was calm under the pressure.

looks a unit too for a left back

Wouldn't mind seeing him get a go from the off.

Not sure what to expect from Reading as they're on a bad run but still vying like we are for the play offs.

Would strengthen the defence you'd think. 

Not a bad option if we did fancy 4 at the back. 

[Johnnyrotten]

17 minutes ago, Mantra said:

I am sure Ian will look at the own goal from last night and think why he never had any luck like that, but I think this was a case of you make your own luck. It is a real shame that he was so wedded to those tactics because it’s clear that if we had just been a bit more pragmatic at times, he could have built a real legacy. 
 

IE had plenty luck this season - the 3 sendings off that seemed inexplicable by the opposition, the injury time winners, the Cambridge OG not much worse than last night's, keeper handing us a goal at Orient, those 2 late goals at Exeter.  Last season it was us who had a few sendings off, thankfully we've avoided that so far.  We've had more than our fair share of luck (without it we may have got a new manager sooner).

Anyway if the opposition want to implode that's upto them, long may it continue.

[Johnnyrotten]

14 minutes ago, Mantra said:

True tbf, I felt I came away from many games under Evatt feeling we were on the “wrong side” of luck. Cant recall each one but many big misses in front of goal. Or just knocking on the door of teams for ages, never scoring, then conceding a cheap goal.

Suppose it started off feeling more like bad luck then developed into a discernible pattern under him.  

I think that was previous seasons, definitely not this season.

[FrancisFogarty]

16 minutes ago, Mantra said:

Like the look of Alex Murphy 

Wanted to see more of him but we didn’t get the ball to him that much sadly

The few passes he made were crisp and he was calm under the pressure.

looks a unit too for a left back

He does too. A couple of theirs were jogging up and down the touchline but they got out of his way when he started.

He looked the part when he came on but I'd like to see him start, see what he's made of. Hopefully he'd have the back of one or two of our sometimes lightweight midfield. Sheehan could have done with a minder last night.

Edited January 29, 2025 by FrancisFogarty

[Take Hunt Off]

Good shout from Jules bringing on Murphy for Schon who was having a quiet game , shifting the goalkeepers distribution to a six footer in the left wing position.Alleviating & varying the short pass routine that seems to add the wrong sort of pressure  when moving the ball forward.

Cogley was also a good shout at the time as Tutu is a defensive liability although of course much better going forward. I thought Northampton targeted that side all game , much unlike most teams who tend to play down the other side.

[Stig]

51 minutes ago, Mantra said:

True tbf, I felt I came away from many games under Evatt feeling we were on the “wrong side” of luck. Cant recall each one but many big misses in front of goal. Or just knocking on the door of teams for ages, never scoring, then conceding a cheap goal.

Suppose it started off feeling more like bad luck then developed into a discernible pattern under him.  

Previous seasons I'd agree. This season we gained more lucky points than we lost I'd say. All prolonged Evatt's tenure when it shouldn't have

[Zico]

1 hour ago, Mantra said:

 

1 hour ago, Mantra said:

I am sure Ian will look at the own goal from last night and think why he never had any luck like that,
 

He probably got one extra game in charge due to that own goal by Cambridge

[Steejay]

1 hour ago, Steejay said:

Yeah, but he did have that luck, just a couple of games ago against Cambridge, with a last minute OG equalizer that probably prolonged his tenure for a few more days.

 

21 minutes ago, Zico said:

 

He probably got one extra game in charge due to that own goal by Cambridge

Do keep up. 😉

[Zico]

10 minutes ago, Steejay said:

 

Do keep up. 😉

I'll delete your posts later when I get round to it

[Gonk]

56 minutes ago, Zico said:

I'll delete your posts later when I get round to it

How about the account as well whilst you're at it 🙂

[Steejay]

27 minutes ago, Gonk said:

How about the account as well whilst you're at it 🙂

Fuckin ell, have I upset you, pal?😉

Edited January 29, 2025 by Steejay

[Casino]

7 minutes ago, Steejay said:

Fuckin ell, have I upset you, pal?

Everybody loves you ❤ 

[bolty58]

13 hours ago, masi 51 said:

I did when i first looked at the team on Saturday, but i loved how the players wanted to play for the shirts. Never a big fan of rotation and never a big fan of Cogley but he never deserved to be dropped.

I enjoyed a lot from Saturday and last night

JD was never going to change the system he has a mandate to steady the ship nothing else.

Onwards and upwards

Halls Soothers and Carrs pasties.....None of your convict food for me

My Filipino next door neighbours favourite snack. Imported.

Nil satis nisi optimum.

[Gonk]

16 minutes ago, Steejay said:

Fuckin ell, have I upset you, pal?😉

Nah,just a bit of top bantz 

[Traf]

Amongst this growing clamour for a back four, there seems to be little recognition of the fact that we don't have one decent actual full back on the books. Murphy might be good, he might not, but (a) we don't know and (b) he's not ours.

[ianofcleveleys]

25 minutes ago, Traf said:

Amongst this growing clamour for a back four, there seems to be little recognition of the fact that we don't have one decent actual full back on the books. Murphy might be good, he might not, but (a) we don't know and (b) he's not ours.

Murphy would be comfortable at LB in a 4 (Newcastle play that) or at LCB in a 4. How he'd be as LCB in a 3 is a different question, but I suspect he'd be more than alright at L1 level