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prmotion bet update:

backed at 150/1 now 14/1

£71 cash out

COYWM

£45 cash out on my 66/1

You aren’t in a false position in the league after 32-34 games. 
 

They were nice and tidy playing through midfield (which we didn’t help ourselves with by the way) but they were very light up top. Didn’t really cause any issues and they were poor at the back. 
 

first 10-15 minutes they tried to play out but we pressed really high. They must’ve just kicked the ball out of play half a dozen times? Then for some reason we stopped. No press, our build up was slow, ponderous and with Dapo and Fossey stood level with the 2 front men our midfield 2 just got passed round and overrun. 
 

2nd half the intent was better the pressure was better, Sadlier immediately gave an additional body in midfield, Jones seemed to wake up and we got a grip of the game. 
 

don’t get me wrong they came with some intent but we made the night more difficult than it could have been

special mention to Aimson by the way. Was slightly concerned before the game with him in the middle of the 3 but thought it was his best game. Won everything and didn’t put a foot wrong 

46 minutes ago, boltondiver said:

Hopefully he’ll get the opportunity to show he can keep up as we continue to improve.

He was much better second half when we went to a back 4, took the ball of the back 4 and dictated the play, have to agree with Burnden Bogs, he’s not a guaranteed starter any more, similar situation to Lee, both useful squad players rather than mainstays. Just shows how far we have come. 

Edited February 23, 20224 yr by Mounts Kipper

Thought, apart from the first 10 mins or so, we were pretty poor first half.  We seemed to have no presence in the middle of the park and they could stroll forward pretty much unopposed.  2nd half we improved a bit, but it seemed only when they got to 1-1 that we started to control it.

Morley was outstanding again.  What an absolute steal he was and without doubt now our 'undroppable' midfielder.  Charles is like a Jack Russell on whizz ... with some real quality thrown in for good measure.

What a difference it makes to now have someone who can take a set-piece.  What is that?  3 goals from them in 4 games?  I know we've all banged on about being shit at them for ages, but now knowing we actually have a decent chance at scoring from them makes a huge difference.

We also now have a bench that can affect a game.  It wasn't long ago we were looking at our bench and wondering who could come on and have a big impact.  There wasn't anyone.  We now have subs coming on, when their team is tired and regularly scoring and/or assisting.

Gonna be an exciting last few weeks of the season.

21 minutes ago, L/H White said:

prmotion bet update:

backed at 150/1 now 14/1

£71 cash out

COYWM

It’s still a tall order but we’ve got teams looking over their shoulder, Sunderland look like they’ve cracked, hopefully one or 2 more might crack if we keep winning. 

How well does Jones do (think it’s him?) with the flick-on and then Johnstone with the low header on that first one.

The other 2 don’t look too shabby either. 😊

2 minutes ago, Mounts Kipper said:

It’s still a tall order but we’ve got teams looking over their shoulder, Sunderland look like they’ve cracked, hopefully one or 2 more might crack if we keep winning. 

Yep. 

Snap your hand off for a point at MK

Just now, L/H White said:

Yep. 

Snap your hand off for a point at MK

Just looked at Plymouth fixtures, March & April they’ve some tough games, the home game against them is a must win. 

48 minutes ago, Traf said:

Sadly, when we get into full flow and we're looking to attack quickly like the second half last night, MJ slows the play right down, he wasn't looking for the forward pass and runners were straying offside and having to track back whilst he rolled it to Aimson who then rolled it back to him.

I've not seen MJ turn and pass backwards so much for ages. I'm not criticising a good performance but it really slowed our attacks down when we could have had them on the ropes.

To caveat this before I start - I rate MJ, I think he’s still got a role in the team and I’ve got a feeling he’s just bang out of form at the moment.

He excelled in a team that was for the most part, slow, methodical, and tended to wear teams down by passing side to side (death by a million cuts). He’s great in that type of game because he doesn’t lose the ball but he doesn’t have to be too agile.

We’re a different team now, there’s pace all over the team, we move back to front within 2 or 3 passes, there’s runners all over the place that are dying for an early pass - I really don’t think this suits MJ (and is far more suited to Morley who has been ridiculously good so far). There were a few occasions last night where we’d stolen the ball in our final third and the break was on, but MJ slowed it down, turned back and played it to the right/left centre back - which is exactly what we’d have done last year as it’s not as though Sarce/Doyle were bursting past markers into open space.

The bit that makes me think he is just out of form though was watching him hide last night. He never usually does that. Pace of his play is one thing, but he always shows for the ball and is never bothered about opposition midfielders pressing around him. Last night though, after the first 15 minutes they pushed 2 centre mids up and onto MJ and Morley and he just accepted it with very little effort to get away from them and pick the ball up of our defenders. He also seemed to be 1 step behind the play out of possession.

Again, I’m not writing him off and he’s definitely still got a role in the team and hopefully his form improves - but there’s definitely a shift in how the team now plays and I’m not sure it suits him as much as our previous style. 
 

edit - that sounds like I’ve picked up one negative from another solid win. It’s not that, I thought we were very good in the second half and once again picked our heads up after conceding and straight away looked like we knew we’d score again! I’ve just thought that MJ has looked out of sorts for a few games now and others have mentioned it.

Edited February 23, 20224 yr by Eddie

Trafford is gonna be a good un

 

Also, think Le Fondre scored past time we won 3-1 in the league🤔

4 minutes ago, desperado said:

How well does Jones do (think it’s him?) with the flick-on and then Johnstone with the low header on that first one.

The other 2 don’t look too shabby either. 😊

For all three goals DC is making himself a nuisance, and was impossible to mark.

1 minute ago, Eddie said:

To caveat this before I start - I rate MJ, I think he’s still got a role in the team and I’ve got a feeling he’s just bang out of form at the moment.

He excelled in a team that was for the most part, slow, methodical, and tended to wear teams down by passing side to side (death by a million cuts). He’s great in that type of game because he doesn’t lose the ball but he doesn’t have to be too agile.

We’re a different team now, there’s pace all over the team, we move back to front within 2 or 3 passes, there’s runners all over the place that are dying for an early pass - I really don’t think this suits MJ (and is far more suited to Morley who has been ridiculously good so far). There were a few occasions last night where we’d stolen the ball in our final third and the break was on, but MJ slowed it down, turned back and played it to the right/left centre back - which is exactly what we’d have done last year as it’s not as though Sarce/Doyle were bursting past markers into open space.

The bit that makes me think he is just out of form though was watching him hide last night. He never usually does that. Pace of his play is one thing, but he always shows for the ball and is never bothered about opposition midfielders pressing around him. Last night though, after the first 15 minutes they pushed 2 centre mids up and onto MJ and Morley and he just accepted it with very little effort to get away from them and pick the ball up of our defenders. He also seemed to be 1 step behind the play out of possession.

Again, I’m not writing him off and he’s definitely still got a role in the team and hopefully his form improves - but there’s definitely a shift in how the team now plays and I’m not sure it suits him as much as our previous style. 

I completely agree.  MJ still has a role to play for us but I just think we've improved and evolved so much since he came in that we now have better options.

As usual though, the usual morons will see this as unfair criticism of a player, when it's not even a criticism.

To get the best from MJ, he needs help in midfield.

Remember earlier in the season when he was playing with Sarc and Sheehan.

Opponents would be happy to let us push on gradually, then win the ball back and move quickly. The attacking lads would be up field leaving MJ isolated.

Fair play to Lincoln to work out how to nullify us, and fair play to Evatt for changing things.

3 minutes ago, Francis Fogarty said:

For all three goals DC is making himself a nuisance, and was impossible to mark.

I reckon on that first one, Charles is intimating that someone needs to peel off on the back post, in anticipation of a flick-on - Johnstone duly took note. Who’d have thought it - a well thought out and executed set-piece 😊

4 minutes ago, DazBob said:

I completely agree.  MJ still has a role to play for us but I just think we've improved and evolved so much since he came in that we now have better options.

As usual though, the usual morons will see this as unfair criticism of a player, when it's not even a criticism.

No I don’t think people will, it’s a fair debate and I’m one of his biggest fans. 

FWIW I think he’ll start against MK. See my comments further up, he’s better with Santos (who will return) and better with a less attacking number 10, or Two 8’s, which is what I think IE will go with Saturday. I expect to see MJ, Morley and Dempsey start.

 

Have to agree with @Eddie re MJ. 

 

MJ is the best in a 3 to break the play down.

I think playing him last night is an indication of who he’ll go with on Saturday. I think he’ll go Dempsey and Morley myself. Bring him on if we’re up against it and winning. 

15 minutes ago, desperado said:

I reckon on that first one, Charles is intimating that someone needs to peel off on the back post, in anticipation of a flick-on - Johnstone duly took note. Who’d have thought it - a well thought out and executed set-piece 😊

I noticed last night there actually seemed to be a plan and some movement when we had a corner.  Dare I say it, it looks like we now actually work on them in training ... and we're reaping the rewards.

Just now, DazBob said:

I noticed last night there actually seemed to be a plan and some movement when we had a corner.  Dare I say it, it looks like we now actually work on them in training ... and we're reaping the rewards.

We’ve got a set piece coach and analyst now

5 minutes ago, Rudy said:

MJ is the best in a 3 to break the play down.

I think playing him last night is an indication of who he’ll go with on Saturday. I think he’ll go Dempsey and Morley myself. Bring him on if we’re up against it and winning. 

Reckon we'll have a midfield three on Saturday. 

Just now, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Reckon we'll have a midfield three on Saturday. 

Probably the safest bet. 
 

Bit of a headache with Bod playing so well and Baka keep scoring as well 

Good to see Uriah Rennie returning back to the game last night 

1 minute ago, Rudy said:

Good to see Uriah Rennie returning back to the game last night 

He isn't as good as he used to be.