[Tha Knows...]

Newport were competitive and had pace up front. Decent game and a deserved win.

[dim view]

Exharboroughspireite, on 08 March 2025 - 10:48 PM, said:

Agree with everything there bar Naylor. He looks yards off the pace.

Shows what I know. I thought he played with purpose for the first time in a long time.

Virtuoso performance from Oldaker anawl, in patches. Superb left footed cross for Pepple to head over (again), and at the apex of lots of triangles with Banks and Mandeville. We have to find a system and a contract that suits 'cos he's got the skillset.
Heading and long range shooting at this standard are dire.

[clarevoyant.]

dim view, on 09 March 2025 - 09:07 AM, said:

Shows what I know. I thought he played with purpose for the first time in a long time.

Virtuoso performance from Oldaker anawl, in patches. Superb left footed cross for Pepple to head over (again), and at the apex of lots of triangles with Banks and Mandeville. We have to find a system and a contract that suits 'cos he's got the skillset.
Heading and long range shooting at this standard are dire.

I agree re Naylor, we must have a different 'view' compared to others. His best game for ages and the general consensus over post match beverages he was MOM

[dtp]

dart in the crossbar, on 08 March 2025 - 09:27 PM, said:

At the risk of lowering the tone.

In the first half they were poor and we weren't a whole lot better. Their big CF won just about everything in the air v our CHs.

We had no attempts on goal. We had a few shots which were fairly lame. Dobra looked a handful. Naylor worked hard, as he does. Sparkes looked bright, as he does. Mandeville worked hard for the team; as he does. Oldaker and Banks strolled about a bit; as they tend to do.

Moving on, their boys seemed to run out of ideas and pressed less in the second half. We got better and they got worse.

A few random incidents over the 90. Pepple looked lost when we ran the ball towards him for a good part of the game... until he scored and then he looked half decent. Palmer did well for our goal but he missed his lad and then (I think) brought him down in / close to our box. They had a fairly sketchy offside called against them when our CHs lost their position (again).

Naylor, Mandeville, Dobra and Sparkes combined effort with quality. Our CHs worked hard but looked vulnerable over the 90. Banks did well when things were in his favour. When he lost the ball he didn't seem especially interested. When he was in the box he wasn't overly keen to use his left foot and slowed a decent attempt to just about nothing. That said, he did some good stuff at times. Just not enough times IMHO. Sheckleford did better than midweek thankfully. Things went well for Boot when they broke through v him. It went in his favour but could have just as easily gone badly.

IMHO we need to put down the rose coloured specs today. They were yet another mediocre side. We won - which is great. With a couple of different outcome we could have very easily lost. We won, which is great

That said, IMHO a rebuild is needed.

MOTM was Dobra for ability and effort. It could have been Naylor or Mandeville. Highlight of the afternoon was the applause. Big thanks to the ref and their boys too.

3 points. We move on. But lets not kid ourselves that that was quality from us... it just wasn't. And sorry for dropping the mood

Conversely, we needed to get the monkey off our backs of successive defeats and we did.

Yes, they looked dangerous at times with their long ball, route one, approach from their keeper to their speedster cutting out 9 of their outfield players. They may not have been the best team in the league but neither are a number of others including us. We needed the points and at times like that I would have taken a scruffy 1-0 win. But, it was not a scruffy win. It was a team effort with every player giving their all whilst not as a team, and personally, being in good form.

Now, whether or not, the win brings about a confidence to go on a little run remains to be seen. I never expected this season to be easy going but with all the injury problems etc we have had a mid-table finish is not to be sneezed at.

[Blue95]

Amazing how quiet this board is after a win compared to a loss
Just going off the extended highlights, looked like both Sheckleford and Grimes had big contributions, good on them to bounce back after some disappointing recent weeks.

[NOFX]

I expected us to concede every time they played a quick ball to their pacy striker,had he squared it for a colleague in the first half it would have been a tap in. I could have seen the wheels coming off our team if we'd gone 2 down first half. As it wound up we could have run out 4-1 winners. Oh well onto Salford.

[Brookie]

I think one factor was that the team, apart from Pepple and Sparkes, was last year?s and they were all familiar with each other and it showed in patches of linkup play.
The amount of injuries we have had this year have made it practically impossible for new recruits to gel with the squad.

[Westbars Spireite]

Brookie, on 09 March 2025 - 09:48 AM, said:

I think one factor was that the team, apart from Pepple and Sparkes, was last year?s and they were all familiar with each other and it showed in patches of linkup play.
The amount of injuries we have had this year have made it practically impossible for new recruits to gel with the squad.

You're not wrong with that thought. Sheckleford, Mandeville & Banks especially down the right.

Has anyone mentioned the West Stand lino and his quite amusing sh*thousing? Fair play to the Newport player who took it further and got a round of applause for it. We need more humour!

This post has been edited by Westbars Spireite: 09 March 2025 - 09:55 AM

[born in 1866]

Ernie Ernie Ernie, on 08 March 2025 - 06:08 PM, said:

He?d have to be hating it enough to take a wage cut.

As Blackburn pay his wages, why would he have taken a wage cut?

[MrTall]

clarevoyant., on 09 March 2025 - 09:23 AM, said:

I agree re Naylor, we must have a different 'view' compared to others. His best game for ages and the general consensus over post match beverages he was MOM

I agree too. Thought he had his best games for ages.

[60s 70s Spireite]

clarevoyant., on 09 March 2025 - 09:23 AM, said:

I agree re Naylor, we must have a different 'view' compared to others. His best game for ages and the general consensus over post match beverages he was MOM

Good to see Naylor (and Webb?) revive the McGuigan routine this season- of a flick on of a corner at the near post. Puts the keeper in no mans land and drops invitingly for attackers at the far post. Plus of course he has scored from there also.
Naylor, to my mind, had his best game this season.

[PYB]

danblue, on 08 March 2025 - 05:21 PM, said:

MOM for me was probably Palmer. Thought he was outstanding.
Set up a goal and defended well.
Not sure about the peno shout, which was waved away.

BTW, what a decent referee we had today. Best I've seen this season

Indeed, who was the ref, didn?t notice him until he blew the final whistle!

Always a sign of a top ref, let the game breath and let the players showcase their talents, instead of trying to take centre stage.

[azul]

Blue95, on 09 March 2025 - 09:25 AM, said:

Amazing how quiet this board is after a win compared to a loss
Just going off the extended highlights, looked like both Sheckleford and Grimes had big contributions, good on them to bounce back after some disappointing recent weeks.

Sheckleford was up against their number 7 who was seriously speedy and did well. He lost him once for the one-on-one straight form a corner although I'm surprise we only had one back to mark him, brave if not a bit risky. Amazed the highlights didn't show that.

[Westbars Spireite]

Also, who was the odd looking chap who walked round to attend to Sparkes after he went into the pitch side hoardings? I thought I was going to turn into stone if I'd accidentally made eye contact with him.

[azul]

dtp, on 09 March 2025 - 09:24 AM, said:

Conversely, we needed to get the monkey off our backs of successive defeats and we did.

Yes, they looked dangerous at times with their long ball, route one, approach from their keeper to their speedster cutting out 9 of their outfield players. They may not have been the best team in the league but neither are a number of others including us. We needed the points and at times like that I would have taken a scruffy 1-0 win. But, it was not a scruffy win. It was a team effort with every player giving their all whilst not as a team, and personally, being in good form.

Now, whether or not, the win brings about a confidence to go on a little run remains to be seen. I never expected this season to be easy going but with all the injury problems etc we have had a mid-table finish is not to be sneezed at.

Two difficult away games to start a run off although both teams out of form; in fact the Notts fans are fuming that they are only in the playoff positions

[Painted Wagon]

Football fans have long memories. As Chesterfield supporters we will never forget Mr David Elleray on that day in 97 and the actions of Brighton fans a few years later. On the flip side, huge respect to Mr Michael Barlow and Newport players, staff and supporters in the 58th minute yesterday. A very moving moment which brought a lump to my throat

[clarevoyant.]

Painted Wagon, on 09 March 2025 - 11:36 AM, said:

Football fans have long memories. As Chesterfield supporters we will never forget Mr David Elleray on that day in 97 and the actions of Brighton fans a few years later. On the flip side, huge respect to Mr Michael Barlow and Newport players, staff and supporters in the 58th minute yesterday. A very moving moment which brought a lump to my throat

Agree with all that.Its a pity PC was serving a touch line ban, he would have had hassle free time in the dug out. My only gripe with the ref was his lack managing their p'ing about taking time out the game 1st half and then only adding 5 minutes. We had 3 time out injuries at nearly 2 mins each + 3goals should have
been 8/9 added. Fortunately their taking time out the game didn't happen 2nd half surprisingly. And in the context of the game I thought our bookings were a bit harsh.

[rodney]

Westbars Spireite, on 09 March 2025 - 10:55 AM, said:

Also, who was the odd looking chap who walked round to attend to Sparkes after he went into the pitch side hoardings? I thought I was going to turn into stone if I'd accidentally made eye contact with him.

Club doctor!! I agree with you?. He was bizarre!!

[Johnnyspireite7]

Westbars Spireite, on 09 March 2025 - 10:55 AM, said:

Also, who was the odd looking chap who walked round to attend to Sparkes after he went into the pitch side hoardings? I thought I was going to turn into stone if I'd accidentally made eye contact with him.

Not Dr Nikolas Van Helsing from The Cannonball Run is he?

This post has been edited by Johnnyspireite7: 09 March 2025 - 12:43 PM

[Westbars Spireite]

rodney, on 09 March 2025 - 11:55 AM, said:

Club doctor!! I agree with you?. He was bizarre!!

I was somewhere between jealous and confused by his barnet. I'm sure he's a lovely chap and I shouldn't be unkind.