Northampton Town (A)

[desperado]

FWIW, taking stats completely out of the equation and going off my own judgement, the best midfield partnership I’ve seen is XS/EE. 

At their best (which I don’t think any of our players have been consistently - surprise surprise in L1) They do seem to work well together, there’s an understanding and chemistry there and the ball moves forward quicker.

But it’s not been perfect and there are lots of anomalies to counter this, which is why I still think we’ll see other combinations throughout the season.

Maybe more time together will help this - I’d be surprised if they don’t start together next Saturday. 

[boltonboris]

The selection of the midfielders is not the reason we lost this game. 
 

Forwards missing sitters (both of them. One of them numerous times), inability to defend a cross and a keeper with breadsticks for fingers are the reason 

[gonzo]

Anyone would think we didn't create enough chances to win and Sheehan was in nets.

[boltonboris]

Yes. If the players at the ends of the pitch do their job, we’re talking about how nicely Sheehan knitted the ball and was around the play all the time. Much more effective than his teammate beside him 

[L/H White]

13 hours ago, gonzo said:

First defeat since the opening day and the knives are being sharpened.

Fickle old business isn't it

Good way to try and dress a shit start up 

We've won 3 games 

Edited September 29, 2025 by L/H White

[masi 51]

19 minutes ago, L/H White said:

Good way to try and dress a shit start up 

We've won 3 games 

And your answer would be?

[L/H White]

5 minutes ago, masi 51 said:

And your answer would be?

convert draws to wins 

won't be going anywhere without winning 

[gonzo]

32 minutes ago, L/H White said:

Good way to try and dress a shit start up 

We've won 3 games 

Think it's been far from a shit start.

I'd have it average with clear potential.

It's a brand new set up, a brand new set of lads, it's very rare all that leads to instant success.

I'd be more concerned if we weren't creating, but we create by the bucket load.

There's just no panic for me. We could bob a long like this for a while yet whilst we get the system drilled and we'd still be in within a shout of making a push with a decent run of form.

We are still in September. No need to be in panic mode yet.

[Stig]

Finally got round to watching the highlights and I can't work out how Sharman Lowe hasn't saved the first goal. He seemed to save it but fall into the net and the ball spun in. Doesn't look great.

10 games in and I can't remember a good save from him.

[DazBob]

1 hour ago, Stig said:

Finally got round to watching the highlights and I can't work out how Sharman Lowe hasn't saved the first goal. He seemed to save it but fall into the net and the ball spun in. Doesn't look great.

10 games in and I can't remember a good save from him.

His penalty save wasn't too bad.

[Stig]

40 minutes ago, DazBob said:

His penalty save wasn't too bad.

Not really. He's pushed that right back into the danger area. A good save isn't just getting to the ball but where you send the ball 

[boltonboris]

7 hours ago, gonzo said:

Think it's been far from a shit start.

I'd have it average with clear potential.

It's a brand new set up, a brand new set of lads, it's very rare all that leads to instant success.

I'd be more concerned if we weren't creating, but we create by the bucket load.

There's just no panic for me. We could bob a long like this for a while yet whilst we get the system drilled and we'd still be in within a shout of making a push with a decent run of form.

We are still in September. No need to be in panic mode yet.

No knives being sharpened here, but our player turnover is not much higher than the average in this division. If we're too new and still gelling, then so is everyone else.

We cannot excuse the number of points on the board as anything other than disappointing. 

[boltonboris]

6 hours ago, Stig said:

Finally got round to watching the highlights and I can't work out how Sharman Lowe hasn't saved the first goal. He seemed to save it but fall into the net and the ball spun in. Doesn't look great.

10 games in and I can't remember a good save from him.

10 goals conceded from 16 attempts on target. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt as most of the goals we've conceded seem to be from close range, or deflections, but that's as bad as it gets, that

[Casino]

6 minutes ago, boltonboris said:

10 goals conceded from 16 attempts on target. 

only 16 attempts on goal in 10 games

with shit cogley, shit forino and shit johnston

conway really most be the new cafu

 

come on lusty/sincey, what do the doncaster forums make of TSL

[Zog1]

Having watched it a few times it looks like TSL got stuck in two minds between catching it and saving it so that it went out for a corner. In the end he kind of tried to do a bit of both both and it went in, it's just a bit of inexperience, remember he's only a kid really. Was a good penalty save, shame it was in open play and they could get the rebound. 

This whole cutting inside to shoot on sight from the wingers is ruining our opportunities, it's so wasteful, i thought we'd gotten over this at Wigan, but we're back to doing it again. 

Worried this is bad tactics not bad decision making, our team isn't set up anything like how SS had Plymouth or Stoke set up, same formation totally different tactics. 

 

[Ani]

Be interested when people post about games to know who was either there or watched the whole game live and who is going of reports and highlights. 

For me the shitest thing on Saturday was after about 15 minutes Northampton were on top. We did create the odd thing such as the Forss shot that was saved, but we were hardly in the game. Most people on here will have seen many times and it was just another game where we did not offer enough. Everything that was working v Wigan was not working Saturday. Against Wigan people were surprised their manager did not change things sooner, you could say the same about SS on. Saturday.

Before Cogley went off they were starting to play more down that side, once he went off it just built up more and more. 
 

I like SS and on the way down we were all saying the same but it was clear from early one it was not working, if we can not have a view on that and question the managers decision then might as well just not read or comment on here. Just because you think he got this call wrong does not make him useless or lucky to still have a job, but if are playing against a team with 3 or 4 players in midfield it is not a game that suits Sheehan. Do much second ball just picked up by them. 
 

Just hearing reports and watching highlights won’t get across how inevitable it all felt. Northampton deserved to win. The keeper other than the goal had a decent game and I have seen an angle that clearly shows if he should done better with the goal. 
 

3 points in 5 away games is not good enough, the form table I checked is based on last 6 away games so one from last year, we are 14th. Surely it is time to look at some type of tweak? How long do you stick with something that ain’t working ?

On Sheehan , does anyone here really think he is going to be effective playing in what is basically a two in midfield with 2 wide players ? 

[boltonboris]

14 minutes ago, Ani said:

On Sheehan , does anyone here really think he is going to be effective playing in what is basically a two in midfield with 2 wide players ? 

As I said earlier, if our strikers and goalkeeper do their jobs, we're talking about Sheehan being a pivotal part of a good away result. As it stands, for some reason he's the one people talk about. I don't get it. We created 3-4 absolutely golden chances and we conceded from a long cross from left to right that bypassed the midfield completely and conceded a penalty from a clumsy wingers tackle.

The shape was poor. Simons didn't know whether he was coming or going and the tactics of him being a single pivot with with JS playing as a high 8/10 really exposed Sheehan, like it would have exposed Morley, Simons, Erhahon or anybody else playing in midfield on their own.

[masi 51]

1 hour ago, Ani said:

Be interested when people post about games to know who was either there or watched the whole game live and who is going of reports and highlights. 

For me the shitest thing on Saturday was after about 15 minutes Northampton were on top. We did create the odd thing such as the Forss shot that was saved, but we were hardly in the game. Most people on here will have seen many times and it was just another game where we did not offer enough. Everything that was working v Wigan was not working Saturday. Against Wigan people were surprised their manager did not change things sooner, you could say the same about SS on. Saturday.

Before Cogley went off they were starting to play more down that side, once he went off it just built up more and more. 
 

I like SS and on the way down we were all saying the same but it was clear from early one it was not working, if we can not have a view on that and question the managers decision then might as well just not read or comment on here. Just because you think he got this call wrong does not make him useless or lucky to still have a job, but if are playing against a team with 3 or 4 players in midfield it is not a game that suits Sheehan. Do much second ball just picked up by them. 
 

Just hearing reports and watching highlights won’t get across how inevitable it all felt. Northampton deserved to win. The keeper other than the goal had a decent game and I have seen an angle that clearly shows if he should done better with the goal. 
 

3 points in 5 away games is not good enough, the form table I checked is based on last 6 away games so one from last year, we are 14th. Surely it is time to look at some type of tweak? How long do you stick with something that ain’t working ?

On Sheehan , does anyone here really think he is going to be effective playing in what is basically a two in midfield with 2 wide players ? 

No,and well done for picking this out.......Sheehan and Morley are decent lge1 Midfielders even top end Midfielders in a four.

Schumacher is playing with two wingers so Sheehan and Morley do not fit in.

If SS goes to a 4/3/3  one of those two gets in, if he goes to a 4/4/2  one  would still only get in because you would still play ACD wide in a midfield four

[tomski]

We will still finish 2nd

[gonzo]

2 hours ago, boltonboris said:

No knives being sharpened here, but our player turnover is not much higher than the average in this division. If we're too new and still gelling, then so is everyone else.

We cannot excuse the number of points on the board as anything other than disappointing. 

I'd be more disappointed if we hadn't played so well in parts.

Days like Saturday will happen. Every team gets beat. Even Brum last season.

I'm glad we aren't peaking too early tbf. 

[marple whites]

Not won in 5 away games.

if you want to finish top 2, you need to be winning 10 aways, so we now need to win 10 out of 18 nearly 1 in 2 - can we see that happening ?……

[Tombwfc]

1 hour ago, gonzo said:

I'd be more disappointed if we hadn't played so well in parts.

Days like Saturday will happen. Every team gets beat. Even Brum last season.

I'm glad we aren't peaking too early tbf. 

 

Birmingham won 8 out of their first 10 games last season. 15 out of the first 20. So we could win all of our next ten and still be nowhere near what they were doing.

You can afford not to win the odd game if you're winning the rest. Not if you're only winning 30% of them.

[JimmyRiddle]

4 hours ago, Ani said:

For me the shitest thing on Saturday was after about 15 minutes Northampton were on top. We did create the odd thing such as the Forss shot that was saved, but we were hardly in the game. Most people on here will have seen many times and it was just another game where we did not offer enough. Everything that was working v Wigan was not working Saturday. Against Wigan people were surprised their manager did not change things sooner, you could say the same about SS on. Saturday

I agree, and this is the first time I didn't feel SS post match comments bore no-relation to what we all witnessed. We were poor and didn't create much at all, albeit those we did we should have scored!

I've been refreshed by his honesty previously but he seemed more defensive and telling us what he thinks should have happened rather than what actually did, very Evattesque which is a worry! 

[Krimzon]

9 hours ago, Stig said:

Not really. He's pushed that right back into the danger area. A good save isn't just getting to the ball but where you send the ball 

I think that is overly harsh . IMO any penalty save is a good one and you trust your defence to react quicker than their players . 

By your logic Brannigans penalty save at Wembley wasnt a good save . 

[Ani]

52 minutes ago, Krimzon said:

I think that is overly harsh . IMO any penalty save is a good one and you trust your defence to react quicker than their players . 

By your logic Brannigans penalty save at Wembley wasnt a good save . 

We were talking to lads in front of us and were joking that JSL would save it  given he has hardly saved anything. There is no such thing as a bad penalty save.