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Post by hatter_in_macc on Nov 2, 2017 13:35:27 GMT
Oops... Thursday already! Covering a match on a Wednesday night has completely thrown me - leaving it later than usual before the weekend's match thread has gone up.
Anyway, better late than never! You know what to do...
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Post by bringbacklenwhite on Nov 2, 2017 13:58:14 GMT
After the Lord Mayor's Show  ?? |
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Nov 3, 2017 13:01:44 GMT
Here - a little belatedly, following a busy week! - is my 'Take Five' piece for COWS:
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TAKE FIVE… FC United of Manchester
By Hatter in Macc
1. Goodness me - are those ‘Red Rebels’ coming to Edgeley again? That’s thrice this year!
Quite correct. And, of course, it will be our fourth meeting of 2017 in all, when last month’s FA Cup replay at Broadhurst Park is added - although, by the time the year is out, FC will have to share the accolade of ‘most frequently met team’ with Brackley and Curzon Ashton, both of whom we are scheduled to visit next month.
2. Yet another opposing club born in the 21st Century, too.
Yes - and the only one of the four (after Nuneaton, Spennymoor and Telford) that we have have yet to meet in the National League North this term. Technically speaking, the Red Rebels - formed in 2005 and three years before Nuneaton Town rose from the ashes of the liquidated ‘Boro’ - are not the youngest among the quartet, although, in a footballing sense, they may be considered the newest, given that the other three have followed in the footsteps, and continue to play at the same grounds as those, of clubs that have folded.
3. So - by ‘new’, you mean a protest-club, set up to counter Malcolm Glazer’s takeover at Old Trafford?
The failure to repel Glazer was certainly a key factor in the mind of those disaffected Manchester United fans when it came to setting up a supporter-owned, not-for-profit club - and, indeed, the idea had first been mooted during the late 1990s when a similar approach by Rupert Murdoch was successfully kept at bay - but there were additional, pre-existing reasons, borne out of the experience of following a Premier League outfit. Irritation over ticket prices, the lack of atmosphere in new, all-seater grounds, over-zealous stewards and the constant tinkering of kick-off times to accommodate live television all played their part, too.
The Red Rebels do follow the lead of the ‘Red Devils’ when it comes to sporting club colours of red, white and black, and their supporters chant songs once favoured by the other United - but FC’s shirts never carry the names of sponsors. And, on the pitch, the team has climbed four tiers of the non-league pyramid since beginning life in the Second Division of the North West Counties Football League. Three of them, in fact, were successfully negotiated in FC’s first three seasons, which yielded two NWCFL titles and promotion, through the 2008 play-offs, from the Northern Premier League First Division North. Seven seasons of competing in the NPL Premier Division followed, and included three consecutive near-misses as beaten play-off finalists between 2010/11 and 2012/13, before FC’s efforts were eventually rewarded two years ago with the championship and automatic promotion to the NLN - where, to date, the club has, unluckily or otherwise, finished 13th on both occasions.
4. Broadhurst Park’s opening coincided with that last promotion, didn’t it?
Well remembered - albeit quite easily, as the Hatters were the first visitors for a competitive match there! Second-half goals from Calum Dyson and Kay Odejayi spoiled the party in Moston on 11 August 2015, to secure three points for County after the hosts had taken a lead before the break.
For the first nine years of FC’s life, the club plied much of its trade at Bury - although delays in the construction of Broadhurst Park during 2014/15 saw the Red Rebels having to call Staybridge Celtic’s Bower Fold and Curzon Ashton’s Tameside Stadium their temporary homes after leaving Gigg Lane. At various times before that, fixture clashes with Bury had also seen them play at Altrincham, Hyde and Radcliffe Borough.
5. And what of players who have turned out for both clubs?
Between them, they could fill most of the positions required in a squad. Goalkeeper James Spencer (at County from 2001 to 2007) could go between the sticks - protected by defenders Tom Eckersley (2012), Kyle Jacobs (2013/14 and 2015), Dale Tonge (2015/16) and current Red Rebel, Jordan Fagbola (2012-16).
Our own Harry Winter (who joined us from Moston earlier this year) would be accompanied in midfield by Richie Baker (2014/15), Sam Sheridan (2011/12), Andy Welsh (2001-04) and Greg Wilkinson (2015), while the attack might include Micah Evans (2015/16), Tom Fisher (2009-11), Glynn Hurst (2001) and, finally, Sefton Gonzales (2015 and 2017), who has just this week left Broadhurst Park less than a month after arriving.
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Post by hermannsays on Nov 3, 2017 13:09:22 GMT
A 'funny' October where getting 4 draws may have seemed 'not so bad' given the opposition. However, gaining the same 4 points return while losing 2 games against playoff rivals left a feeling of disappointment. The manner of both defeats (losing in the 90th minute+) made it doubly hard to stomach.
On that note, and although we're still conceding too many, I think just 1 of the 7 league goals against us last month in came in the 1st half. That's quite a swing in pattern from what we were seeing early in the season and a good reflection on JG's preparation work bearing fruit.
As also to be expected of JG, I thought he was very astute to highlight the lack of confidence in our subs bench to make an impact and to challenge those playing against Cheadle Town to step it up. Blyth and Kidderminster's subs greatly impacted the game and it was those teams who changed drawing positions into wins.
So, into November we go, and it's a month which provides a good opportunity for at least 7 points from the 9 on offer. Stephenson had his run out on Wednesday and, as one of the 3 attackers JG says he's invested heavily in, it does feel like he needs to start showing more now he's been given a break from playing, from the bench or otherwise.
A win for County.
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Post by hermannsays on Nov 3, 2017 13:14:56 GMT
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Nov 4, 2017 9:38:20 GMT
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Post by another_ruined_saturday on Nov 4, 2017 16:28:57 GMT
yeah county. you just would.  |
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Post by ceefer on Nov 4, 2017 20:13:37 GMT
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bluejon
Random Canadian Substitute
Posts: 17 
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Post by bluejon on Nov 4, 2017 20:22:30 GMT
Ah! So that's the idea!work every Saturday an listen on the radio! well done lads!
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Post by hermannsays on Nov 4, 2017 20:56:42 GMT
Another bright start saw us go into a commanding 2-0 lead within 10 minutes. Dixon, playing in the #10 role, found Warburton who escaped the defender and drilled home. About 5 minutes later, Warburton crossed for Oswell who finished nicely. The instruction from JG to get the ball in accurately and without unnecessary delay is absolutely paying dividends.
The game changed 20 minutes in due to one of their two main thugs, Connor, nailing Stopforth late. Although it led to Stopforth having to go off, apparently it didn't warrant a booking. Bizarrely, given Stopforth was in agony, we took a quick free kick with him lying in the middle of the park?!
Walker was able to replace Stopforth in terms of position but it was Mantack who got the nod to come on. What a great tactical move this proved to be. He provided support on the left for Duxbury (they had a decent right side of the pitch), allowed Warburton to play his favoured #10 and meant Dixon could drop to help out Ball.
Connor nailed Ball within 10 minutes of 'doing' Stopforth, getting himself booked in the process (should therefore have been his second) as well as injured. Back to football... Warburton was now increasingly involved through the middle and, on 40 minutes, Mantack nipped in to slot away the third after a parry from an Oswell shot.
Ball's best moment was when he showed his attacking midfield qualities and played a one-two with McKenna (from memory) before launching an excellent run down the right. His lovely ball infield almost created a goal. However, FCUM should have capitalised on his overplaying - there's a time and a place for dribbling and it's not in our box with your back to play! Anyhow, 3-0, 4-1, 5-2... any of those would have been fair enough reflections of the chances in the first half as McKenna had also worked the 'keeper twice, Warburton had got off shots he created out of nothing and FCUM had danger on the break.
The lads came out with their usual warm-up drills before the second half but it was FCUM on the front foot once the whistle blew, passing relatively freely around the pitch. Most of the time it wasn't troubling us as we were staying in a decent enough defensive shape to deal with it. However, when we did get it back we were increasingly losing it too easily through Oswell. Eventually their possession was leading to corners and throws and it did feel like something was going to go in for them soon.
We also became a bit sloppy in our work - one pass was so poor it wasn't clear whether it was for Hinchliffe or Clarke and it left the former rushing out and clearing to the Main Stand under pressure. JG had Thomas stripped at this point but waited for the throw to be taken. It was worked down the right, Duxbury was left on the floor claiming a foul, the ball was crossed in and they had a goal back.
Within 3 minutes of Thomas coming on, he had made his impact - the 2nd sub of the day to do so. His run was somewhat halted by a clear foul. Although we called for a foul in the stands, thankfully the ref played on - well done on this occasion! Thomas persisted, got the ball over to Oswell and... penalty. Warburton converted it well.
The game played out with FCUM still having a lot of the ball, Warburton still looking the most threatening for us, sloppy moments from us and anything up to a 6-3 score looking possible. Kay, who had somehow managed not to break someone's leg today but had spoiled for a fight all game, ended his 'performance' by not wanting to shake JG's hand.
One 'big call' today was Dixon. After being less than impressed with him in recent times, I'm happy to say that he absolutely warranted the selection as he put in some effort, got himself involved and made a difference. That's the player we need to see. Let's forget the other version, thanks!
Perhaps the other 'big call' was Hinchliffe. He made the saves you would expect along with one that looked very good. He fisted away when he could and generally it felt 'safer' back there with him. An unusual error for him was tipping a ball for a corner that was harmlessly going for a goal kick, well wide of the net. And the down side was his kicking again although JG didn't really bother to say anything - except for when he had missed the 'on' ball centre right to put us in through on goal and JG had to tell him. Cue an attempt to do it but it was overkicked. JG's absolutely wanting him to get it right and he's absolutely wanting to get it right... but, at the moment, it's not going right. Shakespeare would have written something wonderful about it, I'm sure.
To conclude (if anyone's crazy enough to still be reading this nonsense!) better teams would have punished us today for some of our play and so there's no point pretending we've just beaten a good side. Issues such as giving the ball away were on show etcetc... but there's still good credit to take from this win. The lads were professional when other teams would have lost 1 or 2 players getting involved with such antics from FCUM. The first half was again impressive and we were moving the ball well, opening them up and hit the target plenty of times. There was a simplicity to our shape out of possession and, although individuals will always make mistakes, it never looked like there was anyone unsure of who their man was or where their space to defend was. And we had Warburton, who was fantastic today.
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Post by hermannsays on Nov 4, 2017 21:20:58 GMT
(It was good to see Clarke and others not standing for the guy's errant ways while on the pitch... does sum it up well though - joke)
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