Back to work - Rest of January League Two fixtures (1 Viewer)

covcity4life · Jan 8, 2018

Exeter
Swindon
Wycombe
Cambridge

3 promotion rivals and a team that beat us already this season. very tough month!

We simply must take the hard work and confidence from stoke performance into these games. cannot go back to not creating chances. if we can create 5 or 6 good chances vs stoke then we can do same vs these teams

2 wins 1 draw and a loss would keep us in auto mix

my predictions would be:

D
W
L
W

Otis · Jan 8, 2018

covcity4life said:
Exeter
Swindon
Wycombe
Cambridge

3 promotion rivals and a team that beat us already this season. very tough month!

We simply must take the hard work and confidence from stoke performance into these games. cannot go back to not creating chances. if we can create 5 or 6 good chances vs stoke then we can do same vs these teams

2 wins 1 draw and a loss would keep us in auto mix

my predictions would be:

D
W
L
W

Wycombe one is postponed. 4th round of the FA Cup.

covcity4life · Jan 8, 2018

Otis said:
Wycombe one is postponed. 4th round of the FA Cup.

oh nice. lets hope we can have an nice unbeaten run going into february then

Esoterica · Jan 8, 2018

They really are tough games, Exeter have won the last 4 at home. Swindon have won 5 of 6 away. There's a break with the Wycombe postponement and then Cambridge who have not won away in 9 games and have only scored in 5 of their 13 away games, with the joint worst attack in the league.... but they beat us away and troubled us with their size/physicality.

Nick · Jan 8, 2018

Esoterica said:
They really are tough games, Exeter have won the last 4 at home. Swindon have won 5 of 6 away. There's a break with the Wycombe postponement and then Cambridge who have not won away in 9 games and have only scored in 5 of their 13 away games, with the joint worst attack in the league.... but they beat us away and troubled us with their size/physicality.

Hopefully Davies will help with Cambridge.

Skyblueweeman · Jan 8, 2018

To be fair, we seem to do better against the better teams (ignoring the Stoke result completely). Weirdly...if we were playing the bottom 3 the next 3 games, I think I'd feel less confident than I do now!

Sky Blue Harry H · Jan 8, 2018

Nick said:
Hopefully Davies will help with Cambridge.

.....and the last minute signings of Alexis Sanchez and Andy Carroll should help swing the other games in our favour.

Sky Blue Harry H · Jan 8, 2018

Seriously though, we seem to have regained confidence at home - is that 5 consecutive wins now (?), and will battle on our pitch (as tippy tappy stuff is a no no for the foreseeable future), With regard to the tough away games - MR just has to point out the Stoke game (no opposing team will carry the same threat). We have the new youngsters, a back four with options and cover, and Tom Bayliss, who is currently playing on another level and helping us create.

Esoterica · Jan 8, 2018

Sky Blue Harry H said:
.....and the last minute signings of Alexis Sanchez and Andy Carroll should help swing the other games in our favour.

I can see Sanchez signing - the Ricoh pitch will remind him of the plains of Patagonia but not Carroll - not enough grass for him to graze on.

Esoterica · Jan 8, 2018

Sky Blue Harry H said:
Seriously though, we seem to have regained confidence at home - is that 5 consecutive wins now (?), and will battle on our pitch (as tippy tappy stuff is a no no for the foreseeable future), With regard to the tough away games - MR just has to point out the Stoke game (no opposing team will carry the same threat). We have the new youngsters, a back four with options and cover, and Tom Bayliss, who is currently playing on another level and helping us create.

Unbeaten in 4 (won the last 3 at home). Scored 7, conceded 4.
However the most important stat, that has been plagueing our season, is buried in those results:

Before those 3 consecutive wins, we had only scored 3 first half goals at home all season. In the last 3 home games however we have scored in each game within the first 15 minutes and in total scored 4 first half goals. Makes a big difference compared to getting to 60 minutes at 0-0 and having to break down teams happy for a point.

Covstu · Jan 8, 2018

Again another make or break month. One slip and you drop 5 places so the pace needs to be kept up. Knowing our season, we will go and get a result at Exeter and then drop points at home! Hopefully our tails are up but I think people may come back to the ground with a huge bump in Jan!

Esoterica · Jan 8, 2018

I posted on another thread that the next 10 games is likely to make or break the season. And although the league table has changed slightly in the couple of games since, we play all our promtion rivals bar Notts County in the next 10 games:

smileycov · Jan 8, 2018

Esoterica said:
They really are tough games, Exeter have won the last 4 at home. Swindon have won 5 of 6 away. There's a break with the Wycombe postponement and then Cambridge who have not won away in 9 games and have only scored in 5 of their 13 away games, with the joint worst attack in the league.... but they beat us away and troubled us with their size/physicality.

I was at the Cambs game, thought we were the better side and very unlucky to not score 2/3 tbf. Swindon at Home is tough but fancy us sneaking it I think Exeter bringing the game to us will help. I believe we are getting stronger and consistent - be interesting to see how we do, may be a massive clue to how the season will pan out.

pastythegreat · Jan 8, 2018

Nick said:
Hopefully Davies will help with Cambridge.

Will he still be in the team by then? McDonald is back in training today. Although I think Davies has done outstanding and shouldn't vacate the shirt without McDonald fighting for it, will MR see it that way?

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Nick · Jan 8, 2018

pastythegreat said:
Will he still be in the team by then? McDonald is back in training today. Although I think Davies has done outstanding and shouldn't vacate the shirt without McDonald fighting for it, will MR see it that way?

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I think when it comes to physicality then Davies edges it for what we saw against Cambridge to be able to deal with them.

Stoke didn't want to play anything in the air until Crouch came on as they won nothing.

Esoterica · Jan 8, 2018

pastythegreat said:
Will he still be in the team by then? McDonald is back in training today. Although I think Davies has done outstanding and shouldn't vacate the shirt without McDonald fighting for it, will MR see it that way?

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I think MR tends to be a very straight forward manager for this kind of thing - if you've played well in the previous game you tend to keep the shirt til you have a bad game or make a clear mistake.

Esoterica · Jan 8, 2018

Exeter have recently re-signed Danny Seaborne though whch gives me hope! Having not played for anyone since being released by Hamilton in the summer, he was at fault for both the goals WBA scored against them in the cup. Can't see him getting close to McNulty if he plays.

pastythegreat · Jan 8, 2018

Nick said:
I think when it comes to physicality then Davies edges it for what we saw against Cambridge to be able to deal with them.

Stoke didn't want to play anything in the air until Crouch came on as they won nothing.

Completely agree. Davies has easily been the stand out player for me over a busy Xmas period.
When people have said how much shit we'd be in if Willis and/or McDonald were to be sold/get injures, I've said for a long time now that Davies (and Hyam) from what I've seen are more than capable of filling in for them. And he's stepped in and proven it.
To think we've had the likes of Turnbull, McPake, Elliot Ward, Webster (I could go on) as automatics on our team sheets yet we've got 2 players benching for us better than all of the above, it says something about our strength in depth in defence. Just wish we had the same luxuries at the other end of the pitch!
The only query I have is that MR bought Davies in as back up, he's done that job now! McDonald is our main CH and once he's fit will he be straight back in or not? 3 weeks between now and Cambridge! Will Davies still have the shirt by then? I hope so, but we'll see.

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mrtrench · Jan 8, 2018

Otis said:
Wycombe one is postponed. 4th round of the FA Cup.

Bugger. We've planned a weekend away to Wycombe that weekend on the back of it. Just have to hope we draw them in the cup now.

Otis · Jan 8, 2018

mrtrench said:
Bugger. We've planned a weekend away to Wycombe that weekend on the back of it. Just have to hope we draw them in the cup now.

The cup they were knocked out of?

mrtrench · Jan 8, 2018

Otis said:
The cup they were knocked out of?

Yep. Any views on the probability of it working out?

Probably for the best - it's supposed to be a celebration weekend with the wife.

Esoterica · Jan 8, 2018

mrtrench said:
Yep. Any views on the probability of it working out?

Probably for the best - it's supposed to be a celebration weekend with the wife.

'a wife weekend' is an exact anagram of 'Akinfenwa' - I can see what you were really planning.

Otis · Jan 8, 2018

Esoterica said:
I posted on another thread that the next 10 games is likely to make or break the season. And although the league table has changed slightly in the couple of games since, we play all our promtion rivals bar Notts County in the next 10 games:

View attachment 8753

Thing is, that 10 game stretch takes us all the way to the beginning of March and teams have purple patches and poor runs, so those league positions could change drastically and those on a good run couple well be in a slump by the time we play them.

I do think 10 games is a bit far ahead to start looking towards and making analysis and predictions.

Sky Blue Harry H · Jan 8, 2018

mrtrench said:
Bugger. We've planned a weekend away to Wycombe that weekend on the back of it. Just have to hope we draw them in the cup now.

You could do with Spurs away in the next round then mate - on same train line

covcity4life · Jan 8, 2018

damn 8 out of next 10 vs rivals

would take 4 wins 2 draws and 2 losses out of those 8

Sky Blue Harry H · Jan 8, 2018

covcity4life said:
damn 8 out of next 10 vs rivals

would take 4 wins 2 draws and 2 losses out of those 8

....unless we win the first four !!

Johhny Blue · Jan 8, 2018

We found out in the Stoke game that we CAN be a two half team. The Exeter game will be a huge benchmark to see if this can continue. The most important thing is not to have an F.A. cup hangover and get the same 100% from everyone. With that attitude we can pick up the points. Even the moaners can't complain about 100% effort from the boys.

skyblueinBaku · Jan 8, 2018

Johhny Blue said:
Even the moaners can't complain about 100% effort from the boys.

The moaners will say that it should have been 110%.

steve82 · Jan 8, 2018

pastythegreat said:
Completely agree. Davies has easily been the stand out player for me over a busy Xmas period.
When people have said how much shit we'd be in if Willis and/or McDonald were to be sold/get injures, I've said for a long time now that Davies (and Hyam) from what I've seen are more than capable of filling in for them. And he's stepped in and proven it.
To think we've had the likes of Turnbull, McPake, Elliot Ward, Webster (I could go on) as automatics on our team sheets yet we've got 2 players benching for us better than all of the above, it says something about our strength in depth in defence. Just wish we had the same luxuries at the other end of the pitch!
The only query I have is that MR bought Davies in as back up, he's done that job now! McDonald is our main CH and once he's fit will he be straight back in or not? 3 weeks between now and Cambridge! Will Davies still have the shirt by then? I hope so, but we'll see.

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Davies has been excellent and generally has done his job prior to being called upon again recently and should remain in the side as the pitches are getting poor generally, surprisingly more so here at the Ricoh.

The next 8/12 weeks sides will go long and direct and passing on the deck brings its own problems as a few stoke players found when the ball stuck under there feet as the pitch deteriorated and got sticky. Davies just mops up and clears anything in the air with ease at this level and as I've said before he offers a threat at set pieces so gives that bit more to the side. He's shown his value to retain the shirt but then so has Jordan Willis recently.

To me the decision has to be between Willis or Mcdonald to partner Davies till march time when the pitches improve a little.

stevefloyd · Jan 8, 2018

Sky Blue Harry H said:
.....and the last minute signings of Alexis Sanchez and Andy Carroll should help swing the other games in our favour.

More like Andy Sanchez and Alexis Carroll

stevefloyd · Jan 8, 2018

Esoterica said:
'a wife weekend' is an exact anagram of 'Akinfenwa' - I can see what you were really planning.

Theres only 1 N

Mucca Mad Boys · Jan 8, 2018

Esoterica said:
They really are tough games, Exeter have won the last 4 at home. Swindon have won 5 of 6 away. There's a break with the Wycombe postponement and then Cambridge who have not won away in 9 games and have only scored in 5 of their 13 away games, with the joint worst attack in the league.... but they beat us away and troubled us with their size/physicality.

Right then, it’s settled, winning the next two followed by a loss to Cambridge.

I’d play Davies and McDonald at centre back against Cambridge - as a unit I think they’d cope better against their front men.

Back to work - Rest of January League Two fixtures (1 Viewer)

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