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Post by frankfurt gull on Aug 24, 2013 15:35:07 GMT
1-1
.... thy Kingdom come!
2-1
Im going to try this every week!
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Aug 24, 2013 15:35:53 GMT
1-1 been dominent this half. Keep praying Frankfurt and keep the faith. Chappell gets his second, first time we are in the lead this season! |
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Post by bristolgull on Aug 24, 2013 15:37:48 GMT
Chappell again, get in!!
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Post by hullgull on Aug 24, 2013 15:38:56 GMT
Get in....yesssssssssssssssssssssssssss
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Aug 24, 2013 15:48:11 GMT
6 minutes of injury time to try and play out...
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paulr
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Post by paulr on Aug 24, 2013 15:50:17 GMT
Where do you get 6 mins from....thats "Fergie" time surely!!
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Post by hullgull on Aug 24, 2013 15:50:37 GMT
Where they get 6 mins from..... Come on u gulls,,,,,,,
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Aug 24, 2013 15:55:40 GMT
1-1 .... thy Kingdom come! 2-1 Im going to try this every week! And the glory, Amen. First win of the season. Happy days! |
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Post by bristolgull on Aug 24, 2013 15:57:14 GMT
Fantastic win! Have you ever considered a career in the church Frankfurt??!
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Post by frankfurt gull on Aug 24, 2013 15:57:43 GMT
For ever and ever.
Amen.
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Post by hullgull on Aug 24, 2013 16:03:30 GMT
Great result.....and hull fc got beat at wembley........cant wait for the pessimists to come on ha ha ha......si
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Aug 24, 2013 16:04:06 GMT
Looking at the stats, 8 shots on target compared to just 2 for Northampton and suggests we deserved to win. Wind played a factor in both halves and helped us come back strongly. This was the sort of fixture that Knill wanted us to be strong enough to win.
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JamesB
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Post by JamesB on Aug 24, 2013 18:13:31 GMT
Strange one, that. In the first half we were pretty awful and looked like we'd get tanked. Northampton were opening us up with ease, especially down their right - targeting Nicholson, as every team who plays us does. The goal itself stemmed from one of those, with Nicholson beaten and Pearce (who was all over the shop, along with Downes) standing there gawping at the ball while Blyth leaped above him unchallenged to head in. They had already missed a couple of point blank headers and put a few poor crosses in. As against Oxford, we were fortunate that we were playing a sloppy side - we were fortunate not been a few down at half time again
However, the wind was swirling around the ground and we benefited from that in the second half. But it would be wrong to put the turn-around just down to that, even though it would make a nice easy narrative that would deflect blame away from certain players. We looked a totally different team because we completely changed the way we were playing. In the first half, our one and only tactic had been to lump it up to Hawley (all 5 ft 8 of him) and predictably he was being swallowed up time and again by the big centre-backs around him. In the second half, we actually got it down on the ground and started to play to our strengths
Not only did we bring Chapell into the game more, which ultimately proved crucial as he tore Joe Widdowson apart (his second goal was genuinely brilliant - he and Hawley are classly players and we're lucky to have them), but Ball was a completely changed player. He had done nothing in the first half with the ball flying around in the air, but after the break, with the ball at his feet, he looked genuinely dangerous, and put in better crosses while out wide left than Cameron had - I honestly think he's better as a winger than as a striker despite his appearance. Harding got stuck in and Tonge surged forward a few times down the right. Even Bodin floated a beautiful ball across for Chapell's second
So it was a much-improved second half performance as at Morecambe - I wasn't at that game but from listening on the radio to that, it sounds like it was a carbon copy of that. And that's pleasing because it shows we aren't too bad at the moment IF we play to our potential. If we play as we did in the second half in every half, we can beat anyone. The question is why we're starting so slowly and playing such dire football early in games. It wasn't just the wind - we completely changed the way we played and that's not a coincidence. We've gone behind in every game and it has been deserved every time. Despite the fact that in 3 of the 4 we've at least prevented a defeat, it's still concerning that it's taking going behind before we starting playing well and to our strengths. I don't know if it's tactical or motivational but there's something not quite right there
Also, I'd add that before the season started, the consensus was we would be solid at the back but struggle to score goals. Having seen us play in 3 of the 4 league games so far, I'd say it's completely the opposite - Pearce and Downes again looked vulnerable today, and while some of that can be put down to the conditions, not all of it can. Downes is good in the air but vulnerable when the attacker's got the ball at feet. Pearce is the opposite. The lack of a ball-winner in midfield isn't helping, but this is different to the last two years - again we seemed to miss the calming presence and quiet hard work of Saah. Also, Nicholson was once again out of his depth defensively, even if he had no help from Cameron - surely Knill has to go with Cruise in that position now
As for Northampton, they also looked half-decent going forward and vulnerable at the back. I really wasn't impressed with them. Morris did OK on the left but most of their attacks went down the right with Amankwaah and Emerton, who both lacked the consistency in their deliveries. They're no great shakes and I'd be surprised if they're at the sharp end this season
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Post by geddingtongull on Aug 24, 2013 19:06:38 GMT
There's not a lot I could disagree with in James B report.
This was our first game of the season as we try to avoid the 500 mile round trip on summer Saturdays!
I hope readers will excuse me if I state the obvious about certain things.
Also many of the players I had yet to see.
At half time I said to my good lady wife that if we could keep the defeat respectable we would lucky.
We were truly awful in the first half. We had no shape, no game plan and looked as though the players had never seen each other before.
The goal was just waiting to happen and in fact if Northampton had taken their numerous chances we would have been 4 or 5 down at half time. The defence was a shambles and the midfield non existance. The only player who could walk off at half time with his head up was Martin Rice.
The first ten to fifteen minutes of the second half was the same.
Then we had a ten minute spell where we suddenly looked like a football team. Their goalkeeper brought off one great save.
We then started to pass the ball instead of hoof it up the field. Bodin came on and did make a difference.
Ball and Hawley looked totally different players. Chappell played with more purpose. The defence was passing the ball out.
A great passing movement led to the first goal. The Northampton defence suddenly looked suspect.
A great ball from Bodin led to a sublime finish by Chappell.
Despite all their effort Northampton didn't look the team they were in the first half. They were so rattled one of their players tried to drag Hawley off the pitch when he was substituted!!!
A great result and the first time in all my many visits to Sixfields That I have seen us win. The last victory ten years ago I was on Holiday and missed!
Well done on a great second half performance. We have the makings of a good side as long as we play to our strengths and tighten the defence.
And of course the best part is always when the home fans say to you on the way out well you've got a long trip home and I can smile and think I will probably be home as quick as them, although maybe I secretly wish I did have the long journey home to my hometown.
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Aug 24, 2013 22:16:45 GMT
Northampton away needs to be an August fixture every season. First half we were very disjointed, as has been covered, and totally agree that Nico is being targeted - and effectively so, as our weakest defensive link - by the opposition. The cross for the opening goal coming from our weak spot and hovering across nastily in the wind. Not an easy ball to defend by any means and certainly not after it had bypassed Downes.
Unlike James, I was reasonably happy with Pearce's performance in both the first and second half. He gives himself more time than most by decent positional play and natural athleticism and can pick a pass. For me, he was the only plus point after 45 minutes, although Rice looked ok.
That second half, though. Once we started playing it around and on the floor, we were quite brilliant. Some great movement and in Chapell, Ball and Hawley we have three very intelligent decent players. Hadn't realised Bodin was on for both our goals - Is that right? He looked good while he was on, mind and have to say I was surprised at the start to hear he had been dropped rather than Cameron.
Two very well made goals and some real composure shown with both finishes. Enjoy the second on the Football League Show, folks. Nice one, Chapell.
Rice 6
Tonge 6.5 (Poor first half - not alone. Good second half.)
Downes 6.5 (Solid)
Pearce 7.5 ( He's going to be very good for us)
Nico 3 (Shame, but now shot and I don't like seeing it. Rather remember him for what he has been that what he now appears to be. He's bounced back before now. Hope he can again, but would rather it was with a juicy 2 and a half year deal back at FGR that he's chuffed to bits at getting. Cruise to start, please.)
Chapell 8 (very very very good player)
Mansell 5 ( It's an area I'd love to see us able to strengthen, but gets the odd good tackle in, and, as with Nico, a dressing room choice for the gaffer. I hate saying this and hope he enjoyed his 350th appearance.)
Harding 7 (overworked due to his less able, though hard-workig, partner in centre-mid, but composed - saw a fair bit of him as an Aldershot player and never seen him have a bad game yet)
Cameron 6 (flashes of decent, needs a bit of time - I'd go Bodin for now, but good that Bodin knows what'll happen if he doesn't fight for it each match)
Ball 7 (Intelligent. Good on the deck for a big lad. Pace will probably mean he'll be cutting out a decent career in League 1 and 2, rather than higher, but who knows, he's still young. Like him.)
Hawley 8 (Between him and Chapell for my MOTM. What an 'orrible player to defend against. Nice.)
Subs used:
Bodin - looked good to me. Benyon - couldn't understand why he came on, really. Chased down and cut out some clearances late on, so job done, though. Thompson - didn't notice too much, but a bit of defensive work won't harm his development.
Hope Manse and Nico have me eating my words. Can't see going forward being a problem for us this season on today's showing. Pearce will be good and already is pretty good. Tonge an improvement. Harding an improvement. The Lathrope of two seasons ago would allow him to effect games more. A Craig Stanley - but not the current version at Aldershot - or a Labadie next to him would see us up the top end of the table most of the season. Anyway - enough sweeping statements from me for the evening. We'll be just fine. there's another one.
For the first time in 10 years, am glad I made the trip to that soulless hole.
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