JamesB
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Post by JamesB on Sept 18, 2013 14:44:21 GMT
As well as marking the 10th game of the season, the visit of Cheltenham should itself be an interesting barometer. Though they were many people's favourites for the title at the start of the season, like us they have won just 1 of their 7 league games so far. They have also only kept 1 clean sheet this season, leaking a total of 15 goals in 7 League Two matches, and 23 in their 10 games in all competitions - basically, if we can't score against this lot, we're going to struggle scoring against anyone. They have also scored in nearly all those matches as well, though - they are a good team playing badly and making lots of small errors that have been mounting up, putting Mark Yates under considerable pressure from their expectant fans and no doubt from a board that has sunk a fair bit in order to nudge them across the line into League One
We've had a fair few match-ups with Cheltenham of late, with 2 last year and 5 the year before. Across that 7, we won just 1, the midweek game at Whaddon Road in February 2012 when Ian Morris scored the only goal. Since then, Cheltenham have won the 2 play-off semi-final legs and their home game last season, while the match at Plainmoor finished 2-2 thanks to a late equaliser from Chris Zebroski. That said, in the longer term (well, since 2000), the record between the teams is fairly even - 9 wins for Cheltenham, 8 for us, 6 draws; in the league, it's even closer, with 6 wins for both teams and 6 draws. That symmetry will be broken this weekend
Line-up against Oxford:
GK Scott Brown
Def Keith Lowe
Def Steve Elliott
Def Sido Jombati
Def James Wilson
Mid Jermaine McGlashan
Mid Matt Richards
Mid Russ Penn
Mid David Noble
For Byron Harrison
For Terry Gornell
Subs: Connor Roberts (GK), Jason Taylor (Mid), Sam Deering (Mid), Ashley Vincent (Mid), Steven Gillespie (For), Zack Kotwica (For)
In contrast to the Rochdale side, there are plenty of familiar names here, partly because we've played Cheltenham so many times but also because the likes of Gornell, Penn, Noble and Harrison have been around the leagues we've been in a fair bit. Evidently it's not quite clicking for them at the moment, but I don't think we should rule them out of a potential promotion push later in the season - the ability is there
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2013 19:46:54 GMT
Woo hoo, I'm actually coming down for this one...leaving at 0400 tomorrow morning so making a very long weekend of it. Going for a 4:1 win to us for no other reason than that was the score the last time I managed to get to TQ1. Yes, I know, it was a bloody long time ago that we've actually won a game by that margin...or indeed, actually won a game! One of the main reasons I'm coming down this weekend is because I doubt we'll be playing many teams this season that are actually BELOW us in the league!
See you there!
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chelstongull
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Post by chelstongull on Sept 18, 2013 19:55:45 GMT
Going for a 4:1 win to us for no other reason than that was the score the last time I managed to get to TQ1. Yes, I know, it was a bloody long time ago that we've actually won a game by that margin...or indeed, actually won a game! We thrashed the mighty Ilfracombe last night by the very same score. |
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Post by stuartB on Sept 18, 2013 19:57:50 GMT
please start with Sullivan and Cruise and shake thing up
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Sept 18, 2013 20:06:38 GMT
Thanks for putting this up nice and early James.
I must say, I'm really surprised that they are below us as definitely got the players to challenge for promotion. Like James, I think they are just having a few gelling problems and will come good but not for one match yet with a bit of luck.
I bet McGlashan is licking his lips at the thought of renewing his acquaintance with Nico, could that be the schwerpunkt of their attack?
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chelstongull
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Post by chelstongull on Sept 18, 2013 20:09:14 GMT
please start with Sullivan and Cruise and shake thing up Why have you seen them in training?  |
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Post by stuartB on Sept 18, 2013 20:19:15 GMT
please start with Sullivan and Cruise and shake thing up Why have you seen them in training? maybe  |
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Sept 18, 2013 22:35:25 GMT
please start with Sullivan and Cruise and shake thing up Nah, putting Gilbert up front with Sullivan will see us cruising.... |
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Post by bristolgull on Sept 19, 2013 10:27:52 GMT
So Saturday fast approaching and another chance to get the season back on track. Two teams who have started poorly, maybe a draw on the cards? I really hope Knill changes things for this one but not convinced that he will. Give Benyon, Cruise and Lathrope a start and please Mr Knill if things aren't going well give the subs more than 10 minutes to change things! I believe a good manager is often a brave one, not afraid to change things around, both with tactics and personnel, if things are not right. Knill has not been willing to do this much to date but surely that has to change if the current run of form and results continue?!
I can't make this one but will be at Newport next week, I'm dragging a friend along to that one too with the promise of goals and fast flowing attacking football....but didn't say from which side!!
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Post by valgull on Sept 19, 2013 12:10:06 GMT
Thanks for putting this up nice and early James. I must say, I'm really surprised that they are below us as definitely got the players to challenge for promotion. Like James, I think they are just having a few gelling problems and will come good but not for one match yet with a bit of luck. I bet McGlashan is licking his lips at the thought of renewing his acquaintance with Nico, could that be the schwerpunkt of their attack? No hope for me in the quiz then. Just had to Google schwerpunkt. |
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Post by Ditmar van Nostrilboy on Sept 19, 2013 12:44:21 GMT
Thanks for putting this up nice and early James. I must say, I'm really surprised that they are below us as definitely got the players to challenge for promotion. Like James, I think they are just having a few gelling problems and will come good but not for one match yet with a bit of luck. I bet McGlashan is licking his lips at the thought of renewing his acquaintance with Nico, could that be the schwerpunkt of their attack? As he probably should, as I cant see Nico getting much assistance from Bilbo Baggins in trying to contain him... |
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chelstongull
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Post by chelstongull on Sept 19, 2013 13:05:00 GMT
Thanks for putting this up nice and early James. I must say, I'm really surprised that they are below us as definitely got the players to challenge for promotion. Like James, I think they are just having a few gelling problems and will come good but not for one match yet with a bit of luck. I bet McGlashan is licking his lips at the thought of renewing his acquaintance with Nico, could that be the schwerpunkt of their attack? No hope for me in the quiz then. Just had to Google schwerpunkt. I do believe this should be moved to the Grammar Snobs thread as no Secondary Modern educated (?) person would have a fec**ng clue as to what it was about. |
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Post by gullone on Sept 19, 2013 16:12:31 GMT
I certainly think that this is a big game for Knill and Co. Whichever way you want to dress it up, it has been a very poor start to the season. For me im not quite sure what hes trying to do and how hes trying to achieve it. Theres still a large dose of Emperors New Clothes syndrome affecting some fans in my opinion...
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Post by stefano on Sept 19, 2013 16:44:06 GMT
I certainly think that this is a big game for Knill and Co. Whichever way you want to dress it up, it has been a very poor start to the season. For me im not quite sure what hes trying to do and how hes trying to achieve it. Theres still a large dose of Emperors New Clothes syndrome affecting some fans in my opinion... I think there are lots of ways of presenting things at this early stage. As always there will be teams near the top of our division at the moment who will be struggling at the bottom end come March, and there will be teams in the lower third now who will be up pushing for promotion (Cheltenham probably being one of them!). We have lost 3 of our first 7 games. Not brilliant but not abysmal. Swindon 12th in League 1 have lost 3 as well and Port Vale 14th in League 1 have lost 4. We have played very well at times and at other times have looked dodgy as hell. Lots of questions are being asked about Mr Knill's selection and the players he seems to leave out on a regular basis. As a supporter I just think that Mr Knill sees these people every day in training. He knows what they can produce, what they are capable of, what their attitude is, whether they can follow instructions, whether they have a niggly injury or family worries. He is certainly better placed than me to pick the team. We were miles better than both Hartlepool and apparently Rochdale and played very well but only picked up 1 point from those 2 games. The roll of the dice in football often turns out that way, how different we would be feeling with 5 more points. I see 3 winnable games coming up so time for Mr Knill's plans to click and then 15 points from 10 games will make the garden look rosy!  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2013 16:49:08 GMT
No hope for me in the quiz then. Just had to Google schwerpunkt. I do believe this should be moved to the Grammar Snobs thread as no Secondary Modern educated (?) person would have a fec**ng clue as to what it was about. Fear not, Chelston, I had no idea either. Will it be on the menu at that place you know in Newport? |
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