[Zigsuk]

I think we?ve almost seen enough now to form a view on how the season will pan out. Firstly auto promotion seems extremely remote as does relegation (despite the doomsayers ). Mid table seems most likely with an outside chance of the play offs. The bookies were way out for once making us pre season title favourites which was just ridiculous, presumably based on us romping the league below, although of course we also beat a couple of league 1 teams in the cup.
I think much depends on if we can stay relatively injury free. Also how Madden and Fleck perform. They are somewhat of an unknown quantity to us at present. One thing is certain is that at their age and injuries they won?t improve, but may improve us. It?s always a bit of a gamble when you take an aging player who has played at a higher level. Will he still cut it? Geoff Salmons was brilliant for us back in the day but others have stepped down and failed to live up to their reputations.

[MrTall]

I've not seen any 'doomsayers' as you call them predict relegation on here. Not even Walton. There's always extremes, but I think most people have seen enough now to realise this season is likely to be a season of consolidation. That's fine with me.

[azul]

MrTall, on 21 September 2024 - 01:58 PM, said:

I've not seen any 'doomsayers' as you call them predict relegation on here. Not even Walton. There's always extremes, but I think most people have seen enough now to realise this season is likely to be a season of consolidation. That's fine with me.

Hope not, the crowds will drift away.

Still think we are good enough for the playoffs.

[Brookie]

There were a lot of youngsters in that team today with very little experience, players who you would prefer to introduce gradually.
Apart from a horrendous goal we were still in the game and are still unbeaten at home.
It?s a marathon, not a sprint and with the return to fitness of senior players I would expect a few more games won at home.
Play-offs are a possibility but automatic promotion maybe just out of reach but who knows.

[gordon_brittas]

Main disappointment for me is that we?ve given away 6 points to 3 poor sides at home who have literally come for a point, shut up shop early and either scored from a wonder goal or a mistake from us.

If we?d have lost to sides that played up off the park I?d probably be less bothered.

[Zigsuk]

Of course there is always the possibility of a team well outside the play offs having a tremendously late run as Doncaster did. Remember at one point they looked like relegation candidates. So nothing can be ruled out. Although this isn?t common.

[warfey is a spireite]

Cooks choice to play 2 virtually no experience at once and playing Naylor right back ,,,?? What's that all about,get grimes back in,and get experience back win the game then take the comeback guys off and put the likes of Drummond another wasted game

[metallilad]

warfey is a spireite, on 21 September 2024 - 02:52 PM, said:

Cooks choice to play 2 virtually no experience at once and playing Naylor right back ,,,?? What's that all about,get grimes back in,and get experience back win the game then take the comeback guys off and put the likes of Drummond another wasted game

Naylor wasn't right back.

[Mr Mercury]

I saw enough in the last 20minutes to know we?ll be fine this season and certainly pushing for a play off spot. No offence to Drummond but he?s no where near ready enough for a start at this level and Madded caused more problems in 10 mins than Drummond did all game. Coco was superb when he came on and we?ve missed him. Also I?d be tempted to start Araujo with Dunkley, he looks mightily assured, and move Naylor back into the middle. Is Grimes injured again, he seemed to have some sort of boot on when he came onto the pitch at the end. And to finish on a controversial note, I think missing out on Tyrer for another year is a big big miss!

[hilly81]

Mr Mercury, on 21 September 2024 - 04:03 PM, said:

I saw enough in the last 20minutes to know we?ll be fine this season and certainly pushing for a play off spot. No offence to Drummond but he?s no where near ready enough for a start at this level and Madded caused more problems in 10 mins than Drummond did all game. Coco was superb when he came on and we?ve missed him. Also I?d be tempted to start Araujo with Dunkley, he looks mightily assured, and move Naylor back into the middle. Is Grimes injured again, he seemed to have some sort of boot on when he came onto the pitch at the end. And to finish on a controversial note, I think missing out on Tyrer for another year is a big big miss!

A sensible post. I?d agree, it wasn?t a great performance today but we did more than enough to win the game and there are plenty of positive signs. Things just aren?t clicking at the moment but they will. I?d bring Thompson in for Boot personally.

[dim view]

Mr Mercury, on 21 September 2024 - 04:03 PM, said:

I saw enough in the last 20minutes to know we?ll be fine this season and certainly pushing for a play off spot. No offence to Drummond but he?s no where near ready enough for a start at this level and Madded caused more problems in 10 mins than Drummond did all game. Coco was superb when he came on and we?ve missed him. Also I?d be tempted to start Araujo with Dunkley, he looks mightily assured, and move Naylor back into the middle. Is Grimes injured again, he seemed to have some sort of boot on when he came onto the pitch at the end. And to finish on a controversial note, I think missing out on Tyrer for another year is a big big miss!

Agreed, except that you missed out Mandeville. When Mandeville and Colclough play, the little triangular patterns suddenly take shape and we look dangerous on both the left and the right. Our first choice '3' must include them both.

[Mr Mercury]

dim view, on 21 September 2024 - 04:25 PM, said:

Agreed, except that you missed out Mandeville. When Mandeville and Colclough play, the little triangular patterns suddenly take shape and we look dangerous on both the left and the right. Our first choice '3' must include them both.

Yes even better.

[Fit as a Nelson]

dim view, on 21 September 2024 - 04:25 PM, said:

Agreed, except that you missed out Mandeville. When Mandeville and Colclough play, the little triangular patterns suddenly take shape and we look dangerous on both the left and the right. Our first choice '3' must include them both.

Who is the other?

[azul]

Mr Mercury, on 21 September 2024 - 04:03 PM, said:

I saw enough in the last 20minutes to know we?ll be fine this season and certainly pushing for a play off spot. No offence to Drummond but he?s no where near ready enough for a start at this level and Madded caused more problems in 10 mins than Drummond did all game. Coco was superb when he came on and we?ve missed him. Also I?d be tempted to start Araujo with Dunkley, he looks mightily assured, and move Naylor back into the middle. Is Grimes injured again, he seemed to have some sort of boot on when he came onto the pitch at the end. And to finish on a controversial note, I think missing out on Tyrer for another year is a big big miss!

Too much bull about consolidating for three years

Think PC has got it in his head that Naylor is playing at CB and that's that leaving no room Grimes. I'd like to see Grimes back in contention for a starting lineup. He might change his mind after today as Naylor gave us some drive coming forward with the ball. I think all these loanees has confused his thinking. We'll see what happens now Colclough, Madden and hopefully Grigg are back in and around the squad.

[ralspireite1866]

gordon_brittas, on 21 September 2024 - 02:30 PM, said:

Main disappointment for me is that we?ve given away 6 points to 3 poor sides at home who have literally come for a point, shut up shop early and either scored from a wonder goal or a mistake from us.

If we?d have lost to sides that played up off the park I?d probably be less bothered.

I would argue that the wonder goals were caused by us not competing/closing down. Vs Swindon, no one came out from defence to close their player down, Vs Grimsby the midfield lost the ball and part of that midfield (Oldaker) showed no desire to run with their man and try to prevent the goal (though it didn?t cost us in the end)

[ralspireite1866]

azul, on 21 September 2024 - 04:39 PM, said:

Too much bull about consolidating for three years

Think PC has got it in his head that Naylor is playing at CB and that's that leaving no room Grimes. I'd like to see Grimes back in contention for a starting lineup. He might change his mind after today as Naylor gave us some drive coming forward with the ball. I think all these loanees has confused his thinking. We'll see what happens now Colclough, Madden and hopefully Grigg are back in and around the squad.

Naylor needs to give some drive in midfield (i.e. further up the pitch). Araujo hit some peaches of balls from defence and needs to be starting

[dim view]

Fit as a Nelson, on 21 September 2024 - 04:38 PM, said:

Who is the other?

Good question. I think I'd pick Madden but leaving out Dobra and Berry seems a bit ridiculous.

[azul]

Zigsuk, on 21 September 2024 - 02:47 PM, said:

Of course there is always the possibility of a team well outside the play offs having a tremendously late run as Doncaster did. Remember at one point they looked like relegation candidates. So nothing can be ruled out. Although this isn?t common.

This must be a pish take. We are 4 points off four points off 7th place occupied by a team we beat 5-0

[Fit as a Nelson]

dim view, on 21 September 2024 - 04:46 PM, said:

Good question. I think I'd pick Madden but leaving out Dobra and Berry seems a bit ridiculous.

If you are picking Colclough, leaving out Berry goes without saying. I am wanting to see more from Markanday.

[azul]

dim view, on 21 September 2024 - 04:25 PM, said:

Agreed, except that you missed out Mandeville. When Mandeville and Colclough play, the little triangular patterns suddenly take shape and we look dangerous on both the left and the right. Our first choice '3' must include them both.

Little triangles? Colclough generally played on opposite sides of the pitch to Mandeville.