Mansfield Town (H)

[Chrisj]

I think away from home we should play at back three.  We have Conway and Tutu that are good wing backs and comfortable.  We have Johnston Forino and Toal even JDC that can cover the three.  We need to try it and two wingers doesn’t work often enough on these right grounds.  

[Heywoodwite]

1 hour ago, noxid said:

If you multiply the full length of our pitch by that extra 4m width and add the full width of the pitch by that extra 1m length, that's how much extra space there is, which is considerable 

Can't be bothered working it out though, as I've not had my coffee yet 

I agree. It makes a difference overall for 90 mins

[Ratwhite]

Expect to see another Rotherham type game.

its all about results.

COYWM

[Johnnyrotten]

5 hours ago, noxid said:

If you multiply the full length of our pitch by that extra 4m width and add the full width of the pitch by that extra 1m length, that's how much extra space there is, which is considerable 

Don't forget to build in a factor to take into account that there will (probably) be 22 players on the pitch instead of 21 so there's about 5% less space for each player 😀

[Traf]

5 hours ago, noxid said:

If you multiply the full length of our pitch by that extra 4m width and add the full width of the pitch by that extra 1m length, that's how much extra space there is, which is considerable 

Can't be bothered working it out though, as I've not had my coffee yet 

484 square metres or 7.27%

Mansfield's pitch is 104m x 64m
Ours is 105m x 68m

[desperado]

Some good words of advice if our in game drama queen posters are getting a bit frustrated tonight 😊

“We all have to stay patient,” he told the Bolton News. “If it takes to the last minute of the game, the last minute of the first half, then so be it.

“As long as we find a way to win then that is all that really matters.

“I know from the fans’ perspective it isn’t easy and you want to see your team playing forwards but it’s not that easy. You don’t want to keep giving the ball back to the opposition unnecessarily.

“You have to wear them down at times. And we are finding ways to do that.”

[Stig]

Would like to see:

TSL

JDC (not sure why he's dropped below Tutu at RB, can understand Christy being first choice but can't play every game), Toal, Johnston, Conway

Sheehan, Simons (save EE for Donny away and play all 3 in midfield)

ACD, Dempsey, Cissoko (don't risk Gale on so many quick fire games after an injury)

Dalby (deserves a chance)

[desperado]

37 minutes ago, Stig said:

Would like to see:

TSL

JDC (not sure why he's dropped below Tutu at RB, can understand Christy being first choice but can't play every game), Toal, Johnston, Conway

Sheehan, Simons (save EE for Donny away and play all 3 in midfield)

ACD, Dempsey, Cissoko (don't risk Gale on so many quick fire games after an injury)

Dalby (deserves a chance)

Yeh, I’m not far away from that, considering we’ll mix it up again on NYD.

I’m thinking Tutu and Burstow start 

Edited December 29, 2025 by desperado

[Eddie]

6 minutes ago, desperado said:

Yeh, I’m not far away from that, considering we’ll mix it up again on NYD.

I’m thinking Tutu and Burstow start 

I’d also have Burstow in for this one - more likely to find a goal today than on NYD - and would actually give Randall another run out. Dempsey isn’t great in that 10 slot in tight home games where they just set up with a low block and Randall did enough to have another shot at it.

Dalby up top for NYD with Dempsey running off him and using the additional space.

Gale on the left today, Tutu start on NYD. ACD starts both

[Traf]

45 minutes ago, Stig said:

Would like to see:

TSL

JDC (not sure why he's dropped below Tutu at RB, can understand Christy being first choice but can't play every game), Toal, Johnston, Conway

Sheehan, Simons (save EE for Donny away and play all 3 in midfield)

ACD, Dempsey, Cissoko (don't risk Gale on so many quick fire games after an injury)

Dalby (deserves a chance)

There's no point Dalby ever starting unless our 'wingers' are going to start putting decent crosses in from out wide.

[Whitesince63]

No Sky TV coverage tonight then!

[Zico]

16 minutes ago, Traf said:

There's no point Dalby ever starting unless our 'wingers' are going to start putting decent crosses in from out wide.

Balls in the box like ACD gave Sheehan to score v Rotherham are fine if Dalby is in the right place like he was v Exeter 

[Eddie]

11 minutes ago, Whitesince63 said:

No Sky TV coverage tonight then!

Really, why?

[W.cramp]

59 minutes ago, Stig said:

Would like to see:

TSL

JDC (not sure why he's dropped below Tutu at RB, can understand Christy being first choice but can't play every game), Toal, Johnston, Conway

Sheehan, Simons (save EE for Donny away and play all 3 in midfield)

ACD, Dempsey, Cissoko (don't risk Gale on so many quick fire games after an injury)

Dalby (deserves a chance)

I wouldn't start cissoko if we only had 6 players available.    He causes more problems down the left and you could see that in the way Conway played against was it exeter (cissoko last start).   Yeah bring him on last 10 mins if needed against a knackered right back but that should be it.   

[Lostock Whites]

1 hour ago, desperado said:

Some good words of advice if our in game drama queen posters are getting a bit frustrated tonight 😊

“We all have to stay patient,” he told the Bolton News. “If it takes to the last minute of the game, the last minute of the first half, then so be it.

“As long as we find a way to win then that is all that really matters.

“I know from the fans’ perspective it isn’t easy and you want to see your team playing forwards but it’s not that easy. You don’t want to keep giving the ball back to the opposition unnecessarily.

“You have to wear them down at times. And we are finding ways to do that.”

Yeah too right. I've said it before, but already this season this team at home has shown countless times of getting it done, whether it being the more comfortable wins (4-1 Wigan, 4-0 Port Vale, 3-0 Wimbledon) or all those last minute goals to clinch it.

What absolutely doesn't help is say going a goal down or even at 0-0 and it's been 20 minutes and not much has happened or they have had a slight chance and some supporters start groaning and shout, "just get it forward!"

It's literally infuriating.

I can get it if we are playing terribly and are losing with the game coming to close but honestly, the bloke next to me was yelling at Johnston and Toal to get it up after 15 minutes.

There's no world where yelling at the players early in the game or in the 1st half and making them pressured is a good thing.

As they say, patience is a virtue. 

[CambridgeBWFC]

I would like to see Randall keep his place, but start with Dalby up top rather than Forss. Only other change would be JDC (or Tutu) for Christie as i dont think he can play two in a short space and was crap on Friday.

[gonzo]

21 minutes ago, Lostock Whites said:

Yeah too right. I've said it before, but already this season this team at home has shown countless times of getting it done, whether it being the more comfortable wins (4-1 Wigan, 4-0 Port Vale, 3-0 Wimbledon) or all those last minute goals to clinch it.

What absolutely doesn't help is say going a goal down or even at 0-0 and it's been 20 minutes and not much has happened or they have had a slight chance and some supporters start groaning and shout, "just get it forward!"

It's literally infuriating.

I can get it if we are playing terribly and are losing with the game coming to close but honestly, the bloke next to me was yelling at Johnston and Toal to get it up after 15 minutes.

There's no world where yelling at the players early in the game or in the 1st half and making them pressured is a good thing.

As they say, patience is a virtue. 

Anything that isnt a long ball is now tippy tappy Evatt-Ball.

Gerrit forward.

[Mounts Kipper]

Adult & Under 21 ticket availabile , first come first served… I’m boarding flight now so might need to send when I land. 

[Whitesince63]

36 minutes ago, Eddie said:

Really, why?

Apparently only covering 3 games as it’s a switch over from a full Saturday fixture list but sadly we ain’t one of them. Full coverage of New Year though!

[desperado]

26 minutes ago, Lostock Whites said:

Yeah too right. I've said it before, but already this season this team at home has shown countless times of getting it done, whether it being the more comfortable wins (4-1 Wigan, 4-0 Port Vale, 3-0 Wimbledon) or all those last minute goals to clinch it.

What absolutely doesn't help is say going a goal down or even at 0-0 and it's been 20 minutes and not much has happened or they have had a slight chance and some supporters start groaning and shout, "just get it forward!"

It's literally infuriating.

I can get it if we are playing terribly and are losing with the game coming to close but honestly, the bloke next to me was yelling at Johnston and Toal to get it up after 15 minutes.

There's no world where yelling at the players early in the game or in the 1st half and making them pressured is a good thing.

As they say, patience is a virtue. 

Great post.

The best one I hear on occasions is “it’s no different to Evatt ball, sideways and backwards“ 

Then they get their wish, the ball is lumped forward into a sea of defenders and they then moan we’ve lost possession.

All teams need a period of possession which involves passes that don’t go forward, how that turns into “Evatt ball” is unintelligent nonsense. 

The piece Craig Bellamy did about how important keeping possession is, is brilliant. 

With our wingers we’re a million miles away from Evatt ball. That team at the end of its tenure was a bunch of one-paced clones whose only option was sideways and backwards.

[masi 51]

10 minutes ago, desperado said:

Great post.

The best one I hear on occasions is “it’s no different to Evatt ball, sideways and backwards“ 

Then they get their wish, the ball is lumped forward into a sea of defenders and they then moan we’ve lost possession.

All teams need a period of possession which involves passes that don’t go forward, how that turns into “Evatt ball” is unintelligent nonsense. 

The piece Craig Bellamy did about how important keeping possession is, is brilliant. 

With our wingers we’re a million miles away from Evatt ball. That team at the end of its tenure was a bunch of one-paced clones whose only option was sideways and backwards.

We are certainly nowhere near the way we played under Evatt...Teams now play a low block against us and allow us the ball. Under Evatt teams worked out that pressing up onto Sheehan who would take the ball from the keeper would result in errors.

The problem we have now is when teams have this low block Toal and Johnston have too much possession and our wingers are sandwiched between two banks of four.

SS  needs our better footballers to get on the ball ie Sheehan and Randall to try and get our wingers into the game. I think you will now see Randall starting against teams who are going to set up this way

[desperado]

5 minutes ago, masi 51 said:

We are certainly nowhere near the way we played under Evatt...Teams now play a low block against us and allow us the ball. Under Evatt teams worked out that pressing up onto Sheehan who would take the ball from the keeper would result in errors.

The problem we have now is when teams have this low block Toal and Johnston have too much possession and our wingers are sandwiched between two banks of four.

SS  needs our better footballers to get on the ball ie Sheehan and Randall to try and get our wingers into the game. I think you will now see Randall starting against teams who are going to set up this way

I agree! 😂👍

[Lostock Whites]

22 minutes ago, desperado said:

Great post.

The best one I hear on occasions is “it’s no different to Evatt ball, sideways and backwards“ 

Then they get their wish, the ball is lumped forward into a sea of defenders and they then moan we’ve lost possession.

All teams need a period of possession which involves passes that don’t go forward, how that turns into “Evatt ball” is unintelligent nonsense. 

The piece Craig Bellamy did about how important keeping possession is, is brilliant. 

With our wingers we’re a million miles away from Evatt ball. That team at the end of its tenure was a bunch of one-paced clones whose only option was sideways and backwards.

Yeah exactly. It's interesting that our possession stats (60%) are as high as they ever were under Evatt, but the style is completely different.

Like you say, our wingers are our main threat and opposition teams now particularly at home, don't want to go toe to toe with us because they know they will get picked apart just like Wigan did earlier this season.

You don't need more proof than the Leyton Orient away game. Ritchie Wellness notably likes his teams to control the games and have lots of possession. He said after the game that he even abandoned his formation and philosophy to instead play a back five, sit and put 2 on Duberry.

I was having this conversation with somebody the other day, I honestly think Schumacher's setup would suit us better against the better sides and hopefully when we get to the Championship.

Schuey made it obvious what he wants in his team. We've got so much pace and athleticism(hence all the late goals).

We would be an excellent counter attacking/transition side. It's no coincidence that under Schuey that we have beaten a fair few top passing sides, (Birmingham & Cardiff).

[burnden]

Feeling rough today so sacking this off.

[Ani]

I do think at times the frustration does have some sense though. How many times do Toal and Johnston pass the ball behind the player   Just means there is no momentum. Then the midfield drop deeper and we have a back 6.
 

When we play that bit quicker we give the wingers some space and time and they create chances. It is the old ‘risk and reward’ debate. Playing quickly naturally comes with more risk. Where the frustration becomes OTT is when we are controlling the game and making the opposition work hard which eventually leads to more space as they tire. 
 

It does seem that a few people have realised that when JDC is missing we do miss his energy.