Mansfield Town (H)

[Lostock Whites]

I think the phrase, "don't get too high, don't get too low" is definitely a good phrase to stick by.

There's a long time to go and Schumacher will certainly need more than 1 window to get us where we need to get. But Wanderers fans patience is being tested and rightly so, 5 years in League one now.

It seems like we're forever being tarnished as that giant football club with huge gates, good players and a good football team, but just never getting it over the line.

What's frustrating is we're seeing Lincoln & Bradford now doing what Wrexham did last season and Derby the year before, hardly conceding and just getting it done. 

I would say unlike those 2 teams and also Stockport, Schumacher has hardly had much time to build his team properly, their managers have all been there for years. Cardiff are an exception but essentially have a Championship squad that can get goals from nothing.

But we gotta look at ourselves and in January we have got to invest as some are just not upto it. The keeper is on loan, not ours and has cost us at least 10 points this season from mistakes. Tried to get behind him but that's that's pretty much a fact.

Centre backs have been good and the midfield also. It's right at the top and right at the back that's costing us, both penalty boxes.

Burstow has completely gone off the boil. He came on and had a great chance right at the end inside the box, but he took an extra touch and lost the ball. I don't think a striker with a good goalscoring instinct does that. They take the shot on quickly.

It's those fine margins that's costing us, all the play in the middle is good.

Our home form was never going to last forever, we all know that we have to address the away form and be more ruthless. We really need to be beating Doncaster. 

Edited December 30, 2025 by Lostock Whites

[Johnnyrotten]

2 hours ago, marple whites said:

if we have their man mountain of a centre half in our team - we don’t concede half the crap goals we do.

 

I'm struggling to think of the last league goal we conceded when a CB was at fault?  Arguably someone may have cleared the corner at Huddersfield?  We can't count GJ giving a corner away, every defender in the country gives away a needless corner routinely.  2 slips at Wycombe, scramble at Luton after our LB was beaten, TSL calamities v Exeter and Mansfield, Christie mistake v Rotherham.

We could have 3 mountains of CBs and they are all goals.  The clean sheets and wins are forgotten, because we gave a corner away.  GJ has been outstanding this season.

[Zog1]

Said months ago this none stop cutting inside from the wingers especially to try to score would be the death of us as its too inconsistant and teams have finally figured it out, put 2 men on ACD and while we might still attack it has no cut through. Loads of essentially fake opportunities. 

People are talking about poor finishing, from the likes of Dalby and while it might have gone in with a better finisher, the quality of the supply up front is diabolical. 

People blaming the defence and the goalkeeper etc but not the likes of ACD who hasnt had a good game in almost 2 months need a reality check. I'm not blaming ACD either the tactics have to react to this.

The problem is the tactics, coupled with the lack of variation. 

Edited December 30, 2025 by Zog1

[Mounts Kipper]

Why Simons starts ahead of Erahon baffles me. 

Edited December 30, 2025 by Mounts Kipper

[Johnnyrotten]

2 hours ago, Stig said:

I said it after the last game but Randall's running, getting into space and showing for the ball is fine. He definitely doesn't go hiding. But the issue is once he has the ball he offers nothing. No goal or assist threat from him at all. 

Added to his general lack of physicality that's why I'd always have Dempsey or Forss starting ahead of him in that 10. Or even McAtee when fit.

Fair comments on the lack of goal threat, I've said on here before I can't believe how poor he is at executing a shot.  But he's not alone in that respect and last night wasn't an example of that, I could be wrong but wasn't it him who "assisted" Dalby's miss?  Not his fault it wasn't a goal.  He set up Forss with great run and vision v Rotherham, he did his bit.  Header off the line too, I'm not disputing his output is below par, I'm disputing what the alternatives are and it still amazes me that Forss is allowed to be anonymous and weak but Randall isn't, when he clearly does everything else better. 

Dempsey - no problem with him but arguably inconsistent.  Agree on McAtee, the most likely to score or assist of any of our no.9's and no.10's, but another who folk have made up their mind on before he plays.

[Johnnyrotten]

1 hour ago, Stig said:

Not sure where that certainty has come from. We're not comparing Maldini to Forino. They're both league 1 standard defenders of similar overall ability but Forino is far better in the air, but a bit clumsy at times, while Johnston is left footed so helps the balance of the team.

For me, I'd give Forino a chance as we're conceding every game at the moment.

Not disagreeing with Forino playing on the right of the CBs because he's got decent quality, but we're conceding every home game because of blatant errors by TSL and Christie, not because the CBs aren't doing their jobs, they've both been superb.  The logic is to get rid of the players making the errors, not those that are defending well (and I'm not having GJ gets dropped for giving a corner away).

[Ani]

Any replays of the penalty shouts ?

[desperado]

Two emotions after last night. Frustration which is absolutely massive. And concern, which at the moment is slight. 

How those 3 chances aren’t put away is baffling.

Get some better quality crosses in! 9/51 is just ridiculous. Those calling for a switch of wingers may have a point. Or at least go on the outside a bit more. 

One of the forwards needs one to go in off his arse - confidence is massive with strikers, and if this isn’t gained quickly we need to get another in. 

Get Erhahon and Dempsey in for Doncaster - although midfield wasnt the problem yesterday. 

I’m not sure conceding one goal, in the way that we did, when everything else was contained and dealt with, should lead to massive changes or over-criticism at the back.

Tutu and Sheehan were very good.

The response in the next couple of games will determine for me whether my concerns move from slight to very.

[Wanderlust]

48 minutes ago, wakey said:

Your post seems contradictory to me.

Having possession but doing fuck all with it was Evatt-ball. The fact that we have the highest XG (and probably well up there on shots / shots on target / crosses etc) says we're doing plenty with it.

 

Semantics mate.

We’ve scored 30 goals in 22 games.

Evatt-ball produced an average of 1.63 goals per game - 36 goals by now.

So we may be “doing plenty with it”  but whatever it is it ain’t sticking the ball in the net.

[masi 51]

1 hour ago, worthy10 said:

It was the perfect away day for Mansfield, park the bus, two or 3 good saves from the Goalie, persistent time wasting, including the injury/tactical break. Maximum subs.... 5 mins injury time!

Said many times, but this league is a poor standard this year. Next season there will likely be Sheffield Wed, Norwich and Oxford, that tough for us, we then become play off fodder at best....

 

Would not be worrying if those three came down next season Sheff Wed could be on -15 with a transfer embargo

Norwich are over 100m in Debt and will be cutting costs and Oxford will be this seasons Plymouth.

This league is poor but Huddersfield and Luton are starting to wake up and teams like Bradford, Cardiff and Lincoln are finding a way to win

[kent_white]

51 minutes ago, Mounts Kipper said:

Why Simons starts ahead of Erahon baffles me. 

He had to go off with cramp the game before didn't he? And it was only after 70 mins or so. Maybe he's still not properly fit.

[Tombwfc]

10 hours ago, Lostock Whites said:

It's frustrating because there's clear a good team there capable. I don't believe for one second that Lincoln & Bradford are better sides than us, but they're more solid and get the job done.

 

"I don't for one second believe they are better sides than us"... as they move six and seven points clear.

The arrogance of how we overrate our players is bizarre at times. 

[Wanderlust]

58 minutes ago, Mounts Kipper said:

Why Simons starts ahead of Erahon baffles me. 

He’s a better option at times as he wins possession as often as Erhahon does, but is more willing to risk a forward pass than Erhahon who tends to play safe.

[Wanderlust]

7 minutes ago, Tombwfc said:

 

"I don't for one second believe they are better sides than us"... as they move six and seven points clear.

The arrogance of how we overrate our players is bizarre at times. 

And with Stevenage a point behind with a game in hand on us we can’t even be confident about retaining a playoff place ATM.

I don’t mind fans bigging up our players tbh but I do get annoyed when the players themselves start believing their own hype - and I am convinced that has happened more than once this season.

[wakey]

42 minutes ago, Wanderlust said:

Semantics mate.

We’ve scored 30 goals in 22 games.

Evatt-ball produced an average of 1.63 goals per game - 36 goals by now.

So we may be “doing plenty with it”  but whatever it is it ain’t sticking the ball in the net.

that's what I said 😁

[Didledee]

That Dalby miss is still playing on my mind, like it just brings memories of Dion's misses away to Portsmouth and Leyton orient 2 year ago and we know how costly they ended up being, I know without him we'd not have scored the winner vs Rotherham, but that was unreal, unmarked from that range and you hit keeper!!??!?!?

[kent_white]

I thought Conway was MOM for us yesterday. Absolutely all over the pitch and was unlucky not to score. I'd find it hard to criticise any of the defnders to be honest. Really like him and Gale down that left side.

Keeper should have been stronger for the goal.

Midfield - meh. A very Ian Evatt like performance. 

Up front - I felt a bit sorry for Sam Dalby. Thought some of his link up play was superb first half but he really needed to bag that chance. ACD seems jaded to me and I think he could do with a rest maybe?

As for Sheehan watch. He kept things ticking over well - although he did have a ridiculous amount of space which (as usual) I think he should be doing more with. Had a decent shot first half - albeit at a good height for the keeper and too central (but at least he hit the target) and played a few good through balls. His set pieces were woeful though, including one corner where he managed to hit the side netting and another which he over hit so badly that it went out for a throw in on the other side of the pitch. Another game where I expect more from a senior player and international - but appreciate I'm in the minority. I tend to overanalyse him now, I know that! 

Randall was no better or worse than last week's outing - but time seems to be running out for him with the amount of chances he's been given but not thoroughly seizing. But I was glad that his substitution wasn't cheered like last week. 

Subs didn't  really affect the game in the way I'd hoped them to. 

All in all - it was a classic, sucker punch performance from a team that only really turned up with the intention of staying tight and nicking a goal from a set piece. How many times have we seen this happen in football? 

So another 6.5/10 performance for me. Should have been 2 or 3 nil would have been a fair reflection - but some days it's just not to be. 

I'm satisfied (but not elated) with where we are at the end of the year - and I'll be very interested to see what SS does in the transfer window. Suspect there might be more outs than ins - and there's no position I'm looking at that's screaming out for change which always makes things tough. Bit more competition at RB and LB maybe? Maybe a really experienced keeper on loan if we can find one knocking about. 

I'm scratching my head tbh. 

[Zico]

2 hours ago, barrycowdrill said:

The last 3 home games have followed the same pattern. All the territory, all the possession, getting in to decent areas but not really translating that in to a good number of decent chances and when those decent chances do come along not taking them. Then, either a mistake or poor decision making at the back results in the opposition nicking a goal

 

you could say about 7 or 8 games this season, if not more (including ones we have won) - certainly at the start of the season

[desperado]

2 hours ago, Zog1 said:

Said months ago this none stop cutting inside from the wingers especially to try to score would be the death of us as its too inconsistant and teams have finally figured it out, put 2 men on ACD and while we might still attack it has no cut through. Loads of essentially fake opportunities. 

People are talking about poor finishing, from the likes of Dalby and while it might have gone in with a better finisher, the quality of the supply up front is diabolical. 

People blaming the defence and the goalkeeper etc but not the likes of ACD who hasnt had a good game in almost 2 months need a reality check. I'm not blaming ACD either the tactics have to react to this.

The problem is the tactics, coupled with the lack of variation. 

Credit where it’s due - I called out your  last post with criticism.

I think that one is more accurate and explains your concerns better, even though I think it’s slightly OTT, especially with ACD. 

I agree that the opportunities we create with crosses need to be better and that we need more variation - then we need some players with confidence to put them away! 

[desperado]

1 hour ago, kent_white said:

I thought Conway was MOM for us yesterday. Absolutely all over the pitch and was unlucky not to score. I'd find it hard to criticise any of the defnders to be honest. Really like him and Gale down that left side.

Keeper should have been stronger for the goal.

Midfield - meh. A very Ian Evatt like performance. 

Up front - I felt a bit sorry for Sam Dalby. Thought some of his link up play was superb first half but he really needed to bag that chance. ACD seems jaded to me and I think he could do with a rest maybe?

As for Sheehan watch. He kept things ticking over well - although he did have a ridiculous amount of space which (as usual) I think he should be doing more with. Had a decent shot first half - albeit at a good height for the keeper and too central (but at least he hit the target) and played a few good through balls. His set pieces were woeful though, including one corner where he managed to hit the side netting and another which he over hit so badly that it went out for a throw in on the other side of the pitch. Another game where I expect more from a senior player and international - but appreciate I'm in the minority. I tend to overanalyse him now, I know that! 

Randall was no better or worse than last week's outing - but time seems to be running out for him with the amount of chances he's been given but not thoroughly seizing. But I was glad that his substitution wasn't cheered like last week. 

Subs didn't  really affect the game in the way I'd hoped them to. 

All in all - it was a classic, sucker punch performance from a team that only really turned up with the intention of staying tight and nicking a goal from a set piece. How many times have we seen this happen in football? 

So another 6.5/10 performance for me. Should have been 2 or 3 nil would have been a fair reflection - but some days it's just not to be. 

I'm satisfied (but not elated) with where we are at the end of the year - and I'll be very interested to see what SS does in the transfer window. Suspect there might be more outs than ins - and there's no position I'm looking at that's screaming out for change which always makes things tough. Bit more competition at RB and LB maybe? Maybe a really experienced keeper on loan if we can find one knocking about. 

I'm scratching my head tbh. 

Other than your personal vendetta against Sheehan 😂

…that’s a really good post.

I like your satisfied but not elated comment. (In terms of where we sit at the moment - not with last night!!)

Edited December 30, 2025 by desperado

[London Wanderer]

Really poor that yesterday. Just can't be losing those games & have missed some excellent opportunities lately to push ourselves into the automatics.

It has felt like we're on the brink of a really good run over the past couple of months, but we just can't find that consistency. Don't quite understand the constant rotation unless it's a pizza cup game. No reason not to create a consistent team for the second half of the season. Burstow should have had more of chance to get his tally back up for me. 

It's only going to be harder next season, such a great opportunity this year. Would like to see a bit of risk taking form the board this window and some investment put in place. A proper creative midfielder would be a priority for me. Another striker would be great, but not if it just adds to this new striker every game rotation nonsense. 

[Rizlar]

SS is committed to the number 10 role but it’s not working either because we do not posses a player who can play the role or our tactics don’t help for this role either way this needs sorting. 

[burnden]

Didn't realise we played their weakened side last night, according to the Bolton News they had 12 players out injured.

[L/H White]

2 minutes ago, burnden said:

Didn't realise we played their weakened side last night, according to the Bolton News they had 12 players out injured.

Not a shock result really, they were the better team with 10 men at their place the other week 

[Stig]

2 hours ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Not disagreeing with Forino playing on the right of the CBs because he's got decent quality, but we're conceding every home game because of blatant errors by TSL and Christie, not because the CBs aren't doing their jobs, they've both been superb.  The logic is to get rid of the players making the errors, not those that are defending well (and I'm not having GJ gets dropped for giving a corner away).

It's a fair point, but does Forino clear that corner, rather than allowing TSL to get swamped?

Obviously we don't know but I'm not having it that Johnston is un-droppable when we're conceding every game.