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Post by hatter_in_macc on Mar 2, 2024 9:40:06 GMT
With a game-free day now upon us, might as well get this set up.
Unlike Colchester, we do have a Groundsman - and a very good one at that - so next Saturday's coming together of two Countys should be good to go.
Post it all here...
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Post by autistichatter on Mar 3, 2024 15:54:55 GMT
Hmm, so a little over 3 months since County's winning run stumbled to an end in Wales, we meet the Exiles again, at EP. So what can we tell about them?
Well, they sit 12th, with a record of W 14 D 7 L 14 F 51 A 54. Their goals F puts them right in the middle of the pack but their goals A is beaten only by 8 sides including Swindon, Notts County and the bottom 6. Their A record is more modest, W 6 D 1 L 10 F 21 A 30, putting them in 15th in l2.
The Ws are Donny (h) 4-0, FGR (a) 0-3, Sutton (h) 3-1, Cole U (h) 2-1, Gillingham (a) 0-2, County (h) 2-1, Morecambe (a) 1-2, FGR (h) 4-2, Donny (a) 0-1, Wrexham (h) 1-0, Swindon (h) 2-1, Walsall (a) 0-3, Gillingham (h) 1-0 and Harrogate (a) 1-4. The Ds are AFC Wombles (h) 2-2, Barrow (h) 1-1, Walsall (h) 3-3, MKD (h) 0-0, Grimsby (h) 1-1, Crewe (h) 1-1 and Sutton (a) 1-1. The Ls are Accy Stanley (a) 3-0 on opening day, Crewe (a) 4-2, Crawley (a) 4-1, Bratfut (h) 1-4, Salford (a) 2-1, Harrogate (h) 1-2, Swindon (a) 2-0, Notts (a) 3-0, Mansfield (a) 2-0, Tranmere (a) 2-1, Wrexham (a) 2-0, Notts (h) 1-3, MKD (a) 3-0 and Mansfield (h) 0-1.
When they beat County back in Nov that was only their 6th W, with 4 Ds and 9 Ls. So since that W they are W 8 D 3 and L 5 which is not such a bad record. Although they have had recent defeats to Mansfield (twice), MKD, Wrexham and Notts. Their recent Ws have been mostly against mid or lower level sides so maybe their record is more modest than it might appear.
Their top scorer is winger cum forward Will Evans on 20, (24 incl cups), he has scored 22 in 80 apps since signing last season, having previously played for Bala Town and Cardiff Metropolitan University. Next up on 7 is 6ft 3 F Omar Bogle, he's scored 24 times in 66 apps since signing in 2022, He previously played for a clutch of L 1 or 2 teams including Donny, Charlton and Grimsby. He is expected to be out until March with a training ground injury. He's followed by Seb Palmer Houlden on 6, on season long loan from Bristol City, he missed three months with a hamstring injury. MF Bryn Morris has 5, two other players have 3 apiece, one more has 2 and three more have scored once.
In the January window they were more focussed on keeping the players they had, particularly Evans, than bringing in new ones although they did sign St Johnstone striker Luke Jephcott. He previously scored 33 times in 103 league games for Plymouth Gargoyles, and 7 more in 32 apps for Swindon. Manager Graham Coughlan says that, following the completion of the takeover of a majority stake by former Swansea Chairman Huw Jenkins, he wants to build his squad, although he's also said some of his players are not trying hard enough so read the tea leaves on that....
All in all, they look fairly modest and County, at their best, should win this but as we all know County are not at their best, although the injury list is starting to clear a bit. I remain convinced that, as I said at the start of the season, County are a side playing badly rather then a bad side. I expect normal (winning) service to resume although exactly when and where is anyone's guess. So a full Banana Skin Alert is in effect but I'm hopeful....
Meanwhile, elsewhere in L2 on Sat:
Barrow (8th) v Cole U (22nd)
Donny (20th) v Crewe 4th)
FGR (23rd) v Walsall (6th, yes, 6th)
Gillingham (7th) v Tranmere (18th)
Mansfield v Swindon (17th)
MKD (5th) v Salford (19th)
Morecambe (9th) v Wrexham (3rd)
Notts County (14th) v AFC Wombles (10th)
Fingers crossed....
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Post by gazz on Mar 9, 2024 16:59:14 GMT
Get in, Paddy!
Jesus Christ we left that late!
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Post by harrogatehatter on Mar 9, 2024 18:51:15 GMT
At this stage of the season it’s all about the result. 3 points, no matter how it comes, is all that counts!
I wasn’t at the game and my nerves are shredded, can’t have been fun in the ground.
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Post by ceefer on Mar 10, 2024 10:14:18 GMT
The change of mood from a 0-0 to sheer elation of a 1-0 win was something else. County wouldn't be County without the roller coaster ride. Great the team never gave up but please can we get out of first gear more?
Shocking referee, where do they get them from?
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Post by gazz on Mar 10, 2024 10:49:19 GMT
That was a huge win, which now gives us the opportunity to use the two games in hand we have on MKDonalds who are 2 points behind us in 4th place, and the one game in hand we have on Crewe who are 5 points behind us in 5th - we HAVE to make the most of this now.
We can't keep relying on others dropping points.
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Post by harrogatehatter on Mar 10, 2024 11:25:25 GMT
I don’t wish to be critical of Paddy Madden but is he genuinely the best penalty taker at the club? I do t know what he record is but he seems to miss quite a few. His technique seems to be to send the keeper the wrong way. But when this doesn’t work it’s an easy save for the keeper.
I don’t like this technique. Just my thoughts
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Post by gazz on Mar 10, 2024 11:58:14 GMT
I don’t wish to be critical of Paddy Madden but is he genuinely the best penalty taker at the club? I do t know what he record is but he seems to miss quite a few. His technique seems to be to send the keeper the wrong way. But when this doesn’t work it’s an easy save for the keeper. I don’t like this technique. Just my thoughts I have to agree with this, trying to outsmart the keeper just complicates things. I'm all for picking your spot and hitting it as hard and true as you can, and if the keeper saves it, fair play. |
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Mar 10, 2024 14:20:41 GMT
Yep - easy to be wise after the event, but what was really needed yesterday was a Sarce thunderbolt down the middle and in off the underside of the bar!
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Post by hermannsays on Mar 11, 2024 18:43:34 GMT
Watching Madden warm up pre-match over these years, he's always looked such a quality finisher compared to others, and obviously he's done his fair share of that in the games too! Perhaps it's just when it's not instinctive that he looks weaker.
As long as it's a controlled wallop (technical, I know) you surely never walk away thinking something was easy to save or weak, and those are my favourites - the Sarcevic one as said but even Hinchliffe's!
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