[The Earl of Chesterfield]

..I don't think we've too much to worry about.

I spoke to a very good friend pre-game, and we agreed there'll probably be times this season we'll simply have to accept being second best to bigger, better financed outfits. That's how it appeared for the first ten or so minutes, too, as Franchise attacked with a tempo and intensity that had us pinned in our own half. But we slowly got our passing game going, gradually took control with some terrific football, then could've - perhaps should've - gone in to the break one, maybe two in front.

We just lacked that extra ten percent of quality around the visitor's goal, an area populated by defenders desperately hurling themselves in front of the ball at times.

The opener we deserved may so easily have arrived early in the second period when the hard-running but lightweight Doyle shot wide when through one-on-one. Proact punters exchanged rueful looks, wondering if these missed opportunities would come back to haunt us; then sure enough a hesitant Town defence allowed the MK striker an almost carbon-copy run on goal before netting.

However it was followed by some pretty profligate attempts on his, and his side's part as the half went on.

Town huffed and puffed, pressing back opponents who relied on breaks as we committed men forward. O'Shea and Roberts toyed with defenders, ably supported by Jones and Darikwa, yet no one connected with crosses. Then when the introduction of Banks and Gnanduillet added height to our forward line it seemed we couldn't find a blue head in the box. The equaliser wouldn't come, infact the brutal truth was that for all our effort we never really had the substitute 'keeper sweating (becoming a goalies graveyard, our ground) until Evatt nodded over in the final minute.

A galling defeat, especially in front of a pathetic away following who only opened their gloating gobs after scoring, though my overriding feeling was we'd more than matched a play off contender for much of the ninety minutes. Our work ethic is unquestionable, as is the amount of thoroughly entertaining football on display. That said I'd repeat my call for a genuine goalscorer (Doyle might have four in four but was all too easily snubbed out last evening - and why does Cook refuse to sub him regardless of sense or circumstance?) whilst the only question surrounding Morsy is how much over a million the bidding starts at?

This post has been edited by MDCCCLXVI: 20 August 2014 - 04:42 PM

[Wooden Spoon]

MDCCCLXVI, on 20 August 2014 - 04:16 PM, said:

when the hard-running but lightweight Doyle shot wide when through one-on-one.

[martatcross]

MDCCCLXVI, on 20 August 2014 - 04:16 PM, said:

..I don't think we've too much to worry about.

I spoke to a very good friend pre-game, and we agreed there'll probably be times this season we'll simply have to accept being second best to bigger, better financed outfits. That's how it appeared for the first ten or so minutes, too, as Franchise attacked with a tempo and intensity that had us pinned in our own half. But we slowly got our passing game going, gradually took control with some terrific football, then could've - perhaps should've - gone in to the break one, maybe two in front.

We just lacked that extra ten percent of quality around the visitor's goal, an area populated by defenders desperately hurling themselves in front of the ball.
The opener we deserved may so easily have arrived early in the second period when the hard-running but lightweight Doyle shot wide when through one-on-one. Proact punters exchanged rueful looks, wondering if these missed opportunities would come back to haunt us; then sure enough a hesitant Town defence allowed the MK striker an almost carbon-copy run on goal before netting.

However it was followed by some pretty profligate attempts on his, and his side's part as the half went on.

Town huffed and puffed, pressing back opponents who relied on breaks as we committed men forward. O'Shea and Roberts toyed with defenders, ably supported by Jones and Darikwa, yet no one connected with crosses. Then when the introduction of Banks and Gnanduillet added height to our forward line it seemed we couldn't find a blue head in the box. The equaliser wouldn't come, infact the brutal truth was that for all our effort we never really had the substitute 'keeper sweating (becoming a goalies graveyard, our ground) until Evatt nodded over in the final minute.

A galling defeat, especially in front of a pathetic away following who only opened their gloating gobs after scoring, though my overriding feeling was we'd more than matched a play off contender for much of the ninety minutes. Our work ethic is unquestionable, as is the amount of thoroughly entertaining football on display. That said I'd repeat my call for a genuine goalscorer (Doyle might have four in four but was all too easily snubbed out last evening - and why does Cook refuse to sub him regardless of sense or circumstance?) whilst the only question surrounding Morsy is how much over a million the bidding starts at?

and if we lose to teams that do that we could be in trouble

[Spireite-Karl]

Dale was too easy and even then we only won with two penalties. MK, despite all the terrific football we failed to really test either keeper and we have very poor depth to our squad.

What if 80% of the teams in this league have a really solid shape and defend well like MK? A couple of good big lads at the back and Doyle is going to struggle, unless we find the right service to him.
Basically what I'm saying is, if we can't score we are always going to be in trouble, no matter how sexy our football is, plus the lightweight squad etc.

We only need to lose Morsy and we’d be in trouble for me as I can’t see Ryan running the midfield without him. He had a poor second half last night and I wasn’t surprised when he was subbed.
The only thing I can get out of keeping Doyle on is that it’s been said that Boco tires in the second half and Doyle will run all night... if so seems a very sensible sub if you ask me.

Far too early for me to see how we are going to fair yet. So far so good, but we've only played three games and one of those was against a team that came up with us. Let the league settle down a little and let's see what a few more sides have to offer of not whatever the case may be before we start saying things like we have nothing to worry about in this division.

This post has been edited by Spireite-Karl: 20 August 2014 - 04:53 PM

[spireitetoo]

Tbh I thought their striker was a no better finisher than doyle....an off day for him? I don't know. .but he missed some easy chances and at least one that really should have been too easy to score....pretty much doyle-esque....who himself needs about 5 attempts to score.....if anything last nite proved we are missing 1 more piece of quality.....Unfortunately its the most expensive (usually) piece.

This post has been edited by spireitetoo: 20 August 2014 - 04:58 PM

[azul]

Summary totally spoiled again by continual digs at Doyle

This post has been edited by azul: 20 August 2014 - 05:16 PM

[spireman]

I'm not sure who you were watching ok he missed two but scored one, doyle seems to need many more chances to score one.
I thought doyle had a poor game last night, as poor as he wad good saturday. I cant remember any ball to him that stuck and was laid off properly. This is were the arsenal lad showed much better.
The lone striker role is difficult but when they receive the ball they have to shield and pass, I didn't think that doyle was any where as good as the mk dons lad at this. Doyle looked quite weak all night.

[Goku]

spireitetoo, on 20 August 2014 - 04:57 PM, said:

Tbh I thought their striker was a no better finisher than doyle....an off day for him? I don't know. .but he missed some easy chances and at least one that really should have been too easy to score....pretty much doyle-esque....who himself needs about 5 attempts to score.....if anything last nite proved we are missing 1 more piece of quality.....Unfortunately its the most expensive (usually) piece.

Tbf Doyle would never have scored a goal like Afobe did. He can't hit a ball that hard and if he does it ends up in Row Z. Afobe missed a couple but he mixed it well with Evo and Hird imo. Would love him at Town.

This post has been edited by Goku: 20 August 2014 - 05:28 PM

[60s 70s Spireite]

Interesting to note that their website announces the postponement of their game on 6 September due a 'number of call ups for Dons players'. Puts into a better light our efforts to match them.

[metallilad]

Doyle did have a poor match last night only because he managed a few chances. He normally gets a shed load of chances which he creates.
I like Doyle because he can tie a defender in knots but unfortunately we know what's going to happen before he shoots. I can see why Mr Cook perseveres with him but unfortunately he is gonna come a cropper if he continuously misses the chances he creates for himself.
It's good to see though that even if it was only for that 25 minute first half display we can play like a championship bound team. We played a so called footballing side and we handed them their ar*es on a plate but is there anybody on this board that didn't see that result coming at halftime?

[The Peoples Champion]

MDCCCLXVI, on 20 August 2014 - 04:16 PM, said:

..I don't think we've too much to worry about.

I spoke to a very good friend pre-game, and we agreed there'll probably be times this season we'll simply have to accept being second best to bigger, better financed outfits. That's how it appeared for the first ten or so minutes, too, as Franchise attacked with a tempo and intensity that had us pinned in our own half. But we slowly got our passing game going, gradually took control with some terrific football, then could've - perhaps should've - gone in to the break one, maybe two in front.

We just lacked that extra ten percent of quality around the visitor's goal, an area populated by defenders desperately hurling themselves in front of the ball at times.

The opener we deserved may so easily have arrived early in the second period when the hard-running but lightweight Doyle shot wide when through one-on-one. Proact punters exchanged rueful looks, wondering if these missed opportunities would come back to haunt us; then sure enough a hesitant Town defence allowed the MK striker an almost carbon-copy run on goal before netting.

However it was followed by some pretty profligate attempts on his, and his side's part as the half went on.

Town huffed and puffed, pressing back opponents who relied on breaks as we committed men forward. O'Shea and Roberts toyed with defenders, ably supported by Jones and Darikwa, yet no one connected with crosses. Then when the introduction of Banks and Gnanduillet added height to our forward line it seemed we couldn't find a blue head in the box. The equaliser wouldn't come, infact the brutal truth was that for all our effort we never really had the substitute 'keeper sweating (becoming a goalies graveyard, our ground) until Evatt nodded over in the final minute.

A galling defeat, especially in front of a pathetic away following who only opened their gloating gobs after scoring, though my overriding feeling was we'd more than matched a play off contender for much of the ninety minutes. Our work ethic is unquestionable, as is the amount of thoroughly entertaining football on display. That said I'd repeat my call for a genuine goalscorer (Doyle might have four in four but was all too easily snubbed out last evening - and why does Cook refuse to sub him regardless of sense or circumstance?) whilst the only question surrounding Morsy is how much over a million the bidding starts at?

Good evening chris

Pretty much agree with all of that and Morsy well there will not be any messing around with initial bids under a million! Simply sublime and will play Premiership no problem.

What i dont understand that even though Doyle has started well and love his movement its Championship quality, however we need an out and out get down and dirty striker.

That match reminded me of the jpt final last year we dominated, the better team over the ninety but oh for that finisher and nowt much has changed!

As we are mid table at best, with a striker who knows my friend

Cheers John

[Wooden Spoon]

azul, on 20 August 2014 - 05:15 PM, said:

Summary totally spoiled again by continual digs at Doyle

Doyle is what he is - a tidy footballer but not a clinical finisher.

Its not having digs, its simply how it is.

Colin Larkin played for years at this level, by moving out wide and playing more as a winger - he also had very similar attributes to Doyle.

[azul]

a kick in the balls, on 20 August 2014 - 05:52 PM, said:

Doyle is what he is - a tidy footballer but not a clinical finisher.

Its not having digs, its simply how it is.

Colin Larkin played for years at this level, by moving out wide and playing more as a winger - he also had very similar attributes to Doyle.

Sorry at least 2 digs at Doyle in OP and it has become a habit from that poster

[lindave]

spireman, on 20 August 2014 - 05:16 PM, said:

I'm not sure who you were watching ok he missed two but scored one, doyle seems to need many more chances to score one.
I thought doyle had a poor game last night, as poor as he wad good saturday. I cant remember any ball to him that stuck and was laid off properly. This is were the arsenal lad showed much better.
The lone striker role is difficult but when they receive the ball they have to shield and pass, I didn't think that doyle was any where as good as the mk dons lad at this. Doyle looked quite weak all night.

Doyle was brilliant on Saturday but very poor last night.I wish we could toughen him up a bit in the gym he's so lightweight and Bocco showed him how it should be done when going up to head the ball. I don't blame him for our undesered loss, but he must improve his goals ratio if we can only rely on him a the main striker,I'd still loe to see him paired up with a decent target man type and watch them both thrive.

[azul]

lindave, on 20 August 2014 - 06:17 PM, said:

Doyle was brilliant on Saturday but very poor last night.I wish we could toughen him up a bit in the gym he's so lightweight and Bocco showed him how it should be done when going up to head the ball. I don't blame him for our undesered loss, but he must improve his goals ratio if we can only rely on him a the main striker,I'd still loe to see him paired up with a decent target man type and watch them both thrive.

If Doyle plays the majority of games he'll probably get 20 goals

If Afobe is so superior and playing on such a great attacking team (as may on here seem to think) and plays the majoroty of games, then he'll be nailed on for 30+ goals, we'll see

[Goku]

azul, on 20 August 2014 - 06:28 PM, said:

If Doyle plays the majority of games he'll probably get 20 goals

If Afobe is so superior and playing on such a great attacking team (as may on here seem to think) and plays the majoroty of games, then he'll be nailed on for 30+ goals, we'll see

That's a bit unfair on Afobe. MK have Grigg and a couple of other pure strikers who will get games and seeing as they play one up front Afobe won't play every game. No chance he'll bag 30, 15 max.

[azul]

Goku, on 20 August 2014 - 06:33 PM, said:

That's a bit unfair on Afobe. MK have Grigg and a couple of other pure strikers who will get games and seeing as they play one up front Afobe won't play every game. No chance he'll bag 30, 15 max.

I did put if he played the majority of games!!!

[Goku]

azul, on 20 August 2014 - 06:36 PM, said:

I did put if he played the majority of games!!!

bah. so you did, so you did.

[Paul Fisher]

lindave, on 20 August 2014 - 06:17 PM, said:

Doyle was brilliant on Saturday but very poor last night.I wish we could toughen him up a bit in the gym he's so lightweight and Bocco showed him how it should be done when going up to head the ball. I don't blame him for our undesered loss, but he must improve his goals ratio if we can only rely on him a the main striker,I'd still loe to see him paired up with a decent target man type and watch them both thrive.

We are only ever going to play one upfront, you need to adapt to that otherwise I'm afraid, you're just p.ssing in the wind, as for Doyle improving his goals ratio??? He's got 4 in 4 matches, do you mean his chances into goals? if so, then maybe, but all strikers miss chances, all of them.

[azul]

Goku, on 20 August 2014 - 06:37 PM, said:

bah. so you did, so you did.

Actually given the bull I have read about Afobe, I'd actually expect him to score at least double what Doyle scores on a pro rata basis, we'll see