10:03

1 minute ago, masi 51 said:

Again i disagree, he will become a big player for us in the next couple of seasons.

I cannot believe we are chasing Kenny and then only play one of Dalby/Burstow/Kenny

And again i cannot believe he is going to play Cogley   Two of Toal/Johnson/Firino and one of Mcatee/Randal all season.

Hence why after Saturday i think he will change formation for the rest of the season

I think we're still quite a few starting options short (up top, right back, centre half) but understand that Rome wasn't built in a day. 

Tomorrow could be a big day for us, we get a convincing performance and result and we may very well have lift off. We roll over once again to a team in poor form missing a couple of key players and i think serious questions will be raised. We'll probably have another meltdown on here. 

It's still early days for me but it's about time we started seeing something more convincing. We've looked good in spells in games so far, but have also looked just as vulnerable as last season in others.

It's been shite now since around Jan/Feb of the Oxford season. I just hope we can put a few results together back to back to really start to push on. 

The writing off of Simons and Erhahon as a midfield pairing already is fucking bonkers.

We haven’t had a competent midfield for years. We’ve now more than got one. We’ve got all sorts of good options and combinations and XS/EE will absolutely be one of them. They had a slightly ineffective half against when our plans went out the window in minute 1 and now we’re questioning why we bought EE 😂.

We’ve had to put up with combinations of GT, Matete, Sheehan, Morley, Dempsey and god knows how many other also rans for years. Just be grateful we’ve actually got some proper centre mids in.

simons and airhorn should be our midfield 2 away from home, especially at grounds were we find it tough going.

1 hour ago, Eddie said:

The writing off of Simons and Erhahon as a midfield pairing already is fucking bonkers.

We haven’t had a competent midfield for years. We’ve now more than got one. We’ve got all sorts of good options and combinations and XS/EE will absolutely be one of them. They had a slightly ineffective half against when our plans went out the window in minute 1 and now we’re questioning why we bought EE 😂.

We’ve had to put up with combinations of GT, Matete, Sheehan, Morley, Dempsey and god knows how many other also rans for years. Just be grateful we’ve actually got some proper centre mids in.

Bipolar ways in full effect again. 
 

Sheehan was the scapegoat last season, deemed not good enough and in many people’s eyes a favourite to be out the door in the closed season. After 1 mediocre 45 minutes from 2 players who were fantastic 3 days before, Sheehan should be in, can play No 10 and can probably resolve the Israel / Palestine conflict. 
 

there will be a horses for courses approach during the season with that midfield 4 and so it should be

1 hour ago, Eddie said:

The writing off of Simons and Erhahon as a midfield pairing already is fucking bonkers.

We haven’t had a competent midfield for years. We’ve now more than got one. We’ve got all sorts of good options and combinations and XS/EE will absolutely be one of them. They had a slightly ineffective half against when our plans went out the window in minute 1 and now we’re questioning why we bought EE 😂.

We’ve had to put up with combinations of GT, Matete, Sheehan, Morley, Dempsey and god knows how many other also rans for years. Just be grateful we’ve actually got some proper centre mids in.

Nobody is writing them off ha ha

Its just looked a bit industrial at times but it's early days and I hope it works. 

If it doesn't, like it wasn't on Sat he will change it. Like he did on Sat.

If that's carries on it may be that, at times,  Erahahon and possibly Simons could find themselves not starting or playing together at times.

Nobody has written them off. 

16 minutes ago, barrycowdrill said:

Bipolar ways in full effect again. 
 

Sheehan was the scapegoat last season, deemed not good enough and in many people’s eyes a favourite to be out the door in the closed season. After 1 mediocre 45 minutes from 2 players who were fantastic 3 days before, Sheehan should be in, can play No 10 and can probably resolve the Israel / Palestine conflict. 
 

there will be a horses for courses approach during the season with that midfield 4 and so it should be

Sheehan was not good enough taking the ball time after time from the keeper and not having another midfielder showing

That tactic was worked out two years ago.

Having players who are equally comfortable on the ball as Simons and Erhahon will bring the best out of Sheehan just like when he is away with Wales.

Those three would start every game for me, we simply do not have a ten so why play with one

5 minutes ago, masi 51 said:

Sheehan was not good enough taking the ball time after time from the keeper and not having another midfielder showing

That tactic was worked out two years ago.

Having players who are equally comfortable on the ball as Simons and Erhahon will bring the best out of Sheehan just like when he is away with Wales.

Those three would start every game for me, we simply do not have a ten so why play with one

A slight revision to 4-3-3 would make more sense than shoe horning a midfielder in to the 10 position or playing ineffective ones 

Staggering isn't it that we get two decent players who carry aggression and heart in their toolkit, what we've known all along was a missing piece & they're being questioned.

Mind you, Paris Maghoma was described as 'bang average'.

2 hours ago, Eddie said:

The writing off of Simons and Erhahon as a midfield pairing already is fucking bonkers.

We haven’t had a competent midfield for years. We’ve now more than got one. We’ve got all sorts of good options and combinations and XS/EE will absolutely be one of them. They had a slightly ineffective half against when our plans went out the window in minute 1 and now we’re questioning why we bought EE 😂.

We’ve had to put up with combinations of GT, Matete, Sheehan, Morley, Dempsey and god knows how many other also rans for years. Just be grateful we’ve actually got some proper centre mids in.

Mad Init. I'm assuming they're doing a spot of pissed typing.

22 minutes ago, gonzo said:

Nobody is writing them off ha ha

Its just looked a bit industrial at times but it's early days and I hope it works. 

If it doesn't, like it wasn't on Sat he will change it. Like he did on Sat.

If that's carries on it may be that, at times,  Erahahon and possibly Simons could find themselves not starting or playing together at times.

Nobody has written them off. 

Industrial: like it.

We've been too arty previously. 

A bit of both please. 😁

32 minutes ago, gonzo said:

Nobody is writing them off ha ha

Its just looked a bit industrial at times but it's early days and I hope it works. 

If it doesn't, like it wasn't on Sat he will change it. Like he did on Sat.

If that's carries on it may be that, at times,  Erahahon and possibly Simons could find themselves not starting or playing together at times.

Nobody has written them off. 

I’m usually in agreement with you to be fair mate (not sure if that’s a good thing), and I’m not going to go full on inspector Cheese on you (he’s suspiciously quiet), but I’m sure you said after the Lincoln game something quite definitive like “they can’t play together in home games because neither are ball carriers”.

Apologies if I’m wrong or over exaggerated it. You have however just said that you think the EE signing was unnecessary, which kind of again suggests the same thing - albeit appreciate you could just mean that you don’t think we needed him, rather than you’re not happy that he’s here.

Anyway, difference of opinion. I think they’re our first choice centre mid partnership although swapping for Sheehan/Morley in some situations will be likely and no bad thing. I also think they’ll be a big (possibly main) part in why we’ll be promoted and consider them to be a massive upgrade on what we’ve had for the past few years.

Here’s to beating Blackpool with a bit of steel in centre mid for once.

2 hours ago, Eddie said:

The writing off of Simons and Erhahon as a midfield pairing already is fucking bonkers.

We haven’t had a competent midfield for years. We’ve now more than got one. We’ve got all sorts of good options and combinations and XS/EE will absolutely be one of them. They had a slightly ineffective half against when our plans went out the window in minute 1 and now we’re questioning why we bought EE 😂.

We’ve had to put up with combinations of GT, Matete, Sheehan, Morley, Dempsey and god knows how many other also rans for years. Just be grateful we’ve actually got some proper centre mids in.

Last time we owt like a decent midfield, Gary Speed was playing in it.

Dont think Midfield is a problem......Would not swop it for any other in the league......Going away from home i would rather go with  Sheehan just in front of Simons and Erehahon with  Taylor at left back letting Conway to push further up instead of of either Gale/Cissoko.......We do not have a 10 so why keep picking out of form players.

 

At home we can go more attacking taking Either Simons/Erahon out of the team and dropping Conway slightly back to let ACD  have a free role with both Dalby and Burstow up top.

I am convinced Schumacher will not play 4/2/3/1 as a given

Good point in moving Conway a touch further forward. Gives us a bit more solidity at some places and his delivery is great. 
 

Cissoko I would question away from home, tracking back might not be his forte and Gale is going to take some time to get up to speed. Might see glimpses of his capability but I think his form will be patchy at best initially 

21 hours ago, kent_white said:

Massive long shot but I live in hope. 

I'm trying to find one adult and one child's ticket for Saturday. Our lad is desperate to go - he's only 10 and I missed the ticket deadline. 

Happy to pay face value of course and even give you a reach around as long as you wear a balaclava! 😁

I have one adult ticket going. Son can’t make it and just wants face value.

23 minutes ago, bwdavefc said:

I have one adult ticket going. Son can’t make it and just wants face value.

@kent_white

2 hours ago, Eddie said:

I’m usually in agreement with you to be fair mate (not sure if that’s a good thing), and I’m not going to go full on inspector Cheese on you (he’s suspiciously quiet), but I’m sure you said after the Lincoln game something quite definitive like “they can’t play together in home games because neither are ball carriers”.

Apologies if I’m wrong or over exaggerated it. You have however just said that you think the EE signing was unnecessary, which kind of again suggests the same thing - albeit appreciate you could just mean that you don’t think we needed him, rather than you’re not happy that he’s here.

Anyway, difference of opinion. I think they’re our first choice centre mid partnership although swapping for Sheehan/Morley in some situations will be likely and no bad thing. I also think they’ll be a big (possibly main) part in why we’ll be promoted and consider them to be a massive upgrade on what we’ve had for the past few years.

Here’s to beating Blackpool with a bit of steel in centre mid for once.

I think EE is a great player, Simons even better, but just feel having those two deeper with Randall at 10 just isn't as creative as we might need, especially at home vs a low block shit-house team like Lincoln who were 1 up.

For me the ball wasn't being carried from that area of the field and Randall wasn't coming deep for it. There was zero ball retention and the wingers were getting the ball 3 passes too late.

The manager changed it and pretty much said why in his post match comments, so it's not just all in my mind

They could settle in and be a dream pairing if the front end of the pitch click into place and a bit of coaching. It's mega early days.

I'm not writing them off. Just we might need a little bit more in certain games. Which with Sheehan and Morley we have.

I have to say that I thought `Sheehan looked brilliant when he came on further forward against Lincoln but I’m wondering if that was only because Lincoln dropped off so far?

1 hour ago, bwdavefc said:

I have one adult ticket going. Son can’t make it and just wants face value.

Ill have it if kent doesnt, please

@kent_white

@bwdavefc

16 minutes ago, Whitesince63 said:

I have to say that I thought `Sheehan looked brilliant when he came on further forward against Lincoln but I’m wondering if that was only because Lincoln dropped off so far?

As SS intimated, the game situation suited Sheehan, he wasn't receiving balls in his own third with someone rattling into him, just sat inside their half recycling and restarting every time they hoofed it clear. 

Back in the day, Tugay was a master at it for Blackburn. 

Sheehan was allowed to prompt and probe where he's better, in their third of the pitch. With Simons and Erhahon as the double pivots, he could link between them and the forwards perfectly well. Neither Randall or McAtee have shown any real aptitude for the 10 role (or CAM, or whatever), we could do a lot worse than try it for a few games.

Horsefall deffo fit for them. That's a shitter, the lad who's been covering has been calamity as well their keeper. 

 

45 minutes ago, gonzo said:

Horsefall deffo fit for them. That's a shitter, the lad who's been covering has been calamity as well their keeper. 

It was him responsible for some of the balls ups on the first day v Stevenage. I spoke to a Stockport fan about him and his response was "decent but slow". Stockport did let him go. I hope we put him to the test on what will be a skiddy surface in the rain along with all the rest of their cloggers.

3 hours ago, Casino said:

Ill have it if kent doesnt, please

@kent_white

@bwdavefc

Go for it Casino - and thanks for the offer Dave. My lad wanted to go to the sandcastle first and then to the match after. 

I'm looking forward to the day when he can just meet me in the pub instead! 😂

1 minute ago, kent_white said:

Go for it Casino - and thanks for the offer Dave. My lad wanted to go to the sandcastle first and then to the match after. 

I'm looking forward to the day when he can just meet me in the pub instead! 😂

While it’s great - it costs a fucking fortune. 😂

All 3 of mine in tow for this one - all 3 of them drinking too.