The Lounge

[Singapore Don]

Glad you saw that Cobblers bogey beaten WD. Phew. Thanks to that single goal, Neal lives to fight another day. Pleased for him. But not out of the woods by any stretch of the imagination. Four points from next two games needed.

[Colum]

One word. Phew! I don’t want Ardley to leave either, but fear that results must go in our favour for this not to happen. Don’t read too much into this game though. We scored on goal, not two or three, and could have easily drawn or lost the game. Northampton are an awful team, who like us are struggling. 1-0 doesn’t seem like a great result, but I’ll take it.

So onto Tuesday, where you’d expect us to lose. If we could sneak a result it would be great, but I can’t see it. If we lose heavily, I fear the home crowd could turn against the team and management again. I hate hearing boos at the end of games, but they’ve appeared recently. If players try but fail, I don’t mind as much. In these scenarios, booing is totally uncalled for.

One word of caution about changing managers. You have to question who we’d get in as a replacement. Maybe a dynamic young manager who gets what we’re about. Like Neal Ardley perhaps. Or maybe we get a celebrity name with a big character. Like Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink perhaps. Yes that’s just the ticket 🙂

[liamwimbo]

I reckon that was a very early 6-pointer and very happy the Dons got the job done. Is it possible that fan pressure got Ardley to play Forrester from the start with LTB up front (if that is what happened).
The big question is whether the players can keep it going from here in the next couple of games. 4 (or 6) points would be welcome and probably see us climb out of the relegation zone. I think it’s very important not to get sucked into that bottom four.
It’s very tight at the moment at the bottom, so the next few games will be crucial.
And for what it’s worth, I still believe in Neal Ardley.
COYDs

[Windlesham Don]

Saturday was all about the win and the 3 points, and on that criteria it was ‘job done’. However, there was little to get excited about in the change of formation or the style of play.

Many of us had been calling for a change of formation to 4-2-3-1, and remarkably that is exactly how NA put the team out on Saturday. McDonald was dropped to the bench, with Taylor moved up to play as a lone striker. Behind him, Barcham, Forrester and Kaja played as advanced midfielders, with Forrester given a free role to support Barcham (left) and Kaja (right), whilst also occupying the hole behind Taylor. The two holding midfielders were Soares and Trotter, in front of a normal back four with Charles restored ahead of Oshilaja.

We dominated possession and territory for most of the game against a woeful Cobblers’ team – if we thought that we were lacking in confidence it is nothing compared to them! However, despite a dominant performance we failed to create a single clear cut chance until Forrester’s moment of class created the single goal that was always liable to settle the tie.

IMO despite the change of formation we still have the fundamental problem of lumping the ball forward to a small target man, and it is pretty irrelevant if that man is Taylor or McDonald as neither will win the ball in the air against bigger centre backs. The reason for aimlessly lumping the ball forward is in my view down to the lack of movement in midfield, specifically the two ‘Mister Blobbys’ in the holding role – Soares and Trotter!

I can just about cope with Soares, as he does tackle and can do a holding job, but Trotter in my opinion is simply doing the minimum he can to take his wages – why we recruited him I have idea and why NA continues to play him I have even less idea! Until we play two in the holding role who have energy and can initiate attacks with passes in the direction of the opposition goal, then we will struggle regardless of formation – surely NA must see this?! To see Abdou and Hartigan warming the bench while Trotter ambled and lumbered around the pitch was disappointing to say the least…

However, there were some good points to come out of the match (apart from the 3 points, of course). For 60 minutes Forrester showed the speed and guile sadly missing from the aforementioned players, Barcham and Kaja were also lively when given the ball at their feet. Sadly Taylor was as much use as McDonald up top, and NA must be hoping for the quick return of Appiah as at least he still possesses an eye for goal and a little imagination – he could work well with Forrester if they ever get to play together.

At the back, Darius was imperious on his return to the defence and slotted in seamlessly next to Nightingale who also had another solid game. Bas seems to have regained a little of his mojo on the right, but with Oshilaja and Kennedy on the bench I cannot understand how Francomb still occupies the LB spot – he did nothing wrong, but Deji would offer physicality and pace, and Callum would offer a natural left foot…

On to Tuesday, and what promises to be a tough evening against a hard, physical and free-scoring Rotherham team. We will need to up our game if we are to get anything out of this, or hope that the opposition have an ‘off’ night.

At least Saturday’s result has kept us in touch with the other strugglers above us…

COYD!!

[Devon Womble]

So… I come home to find we’ve won 3-1 and in convincing style…. As much as I want to believe the team formation and strategy was all NA, I beg to believe he’s been reading the recommendations of others. e.g. LTB FINALLY gets to play in his best role…
Let’s see what he’s learned on Saturday, which, on this form, really should be another three points.

[liamwimbo]

Wonderful news to wake up to on a Wednesday morning. And the table shows what winning two in a row can do at this stage of the season. Obviously the change in tactics that many people had been crying out for worked. But also having Darius Charles back and Forrester hitting form has helped as well. Well done to LTB for becoming the first AFCW player to get a Football League hat trick. Onwards and upwards!

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