rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Jan 22, 2012 22:12:46 GMT
Even though it is a Tuesday night match in January, a decent run and two offers, (a discount if you buy both tickets for the next two matches or pop-side entry for a tenner if you can get a special match voucher off a STH) could see a reasonable attendance for this postponed match due to D & R playing in the third round of the FA Cup. After a decent run of results around Christmas for Dagenham - wins over Gillingham and Barnet and draws against Southend, Burton and Millwall, they have dipped in form losing 0-1 at home to Hereford, 5-0 away to Millwall and 4-1 away to Crewe. So with our confidence up and also having played two games less than them this month, it could be a good time for this fixture but nothing should ever be taken for granted! Due to their perilous league position, the Daggers have been active in the market getting in three players on loan from nearby West Ham in the form of Eoin Wearen (u19 RoI), Ahmed Abdulla (recently on loan to Swindon) and extending the loan for the third and final month of striker Christian Montano. After a successful loan spell, they have also signed Brentford defender Michael Spiller on a permanent basis. All four played in their previous match against Crewe although Wearen was a 65th minute substitute. Players to look out for are Nurse with seven goals and Woodall with six. I have been slightly surprised at how Dagenham have struggled this season but then again we have never coped well with relegation from the third tier and it takes time to rebuild. I think they miss their former striker Benson who is now knocking them in for Swindon after that great season he had when we first got back into the league. This match is a great opportunity for us as we are the only team playing a mid week match in the top half of the table and although we can't improve our league position this would really cement our place in the play offs as well as putting us within touching distance of both Swindon and Shrewsbury and only FIVE points off the very top of the table! I am still unsure as to whether Ling will start with Howe or Atenio but I think the rest of the side is a given. Even without Bodin, our bench is starting to look surprisingly strong and hopefully we will have enough to keep this amazing run going!
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Post by Ditmar van Nostrilboy on Jan 23, 2012 9:52:44 GMT
Is it really 3 weeks since Ive seen them? How time flies I know that Howe is probably the better striker of the two but it would still be unfair on Atieno to drop to the bench after yet another win. Never change a winning team should be the mantra here. I'm not that sure that Dagenham know how to come away and put up a wall looking for a point so we should outplay them and win by 2 or 3 goals, given the way we're playing.
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Post by register on Jan 23, 2012 11:04:39 GMT
Why is it that when we play any club in the relegation zone I get the jitters, I suppose it's because of our past record against such clubs...Hereford last season comes to mind! The Daggers have had a few heavy defeats recently, let's hope we can inflict another one!
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Post by Ditmar van Nostrilboy on Jan 23, 2012 14:05:26 GMT
Why is it that when we play any club in the relegation zone I get the jitters, I suppose it's because of our past record against such clubs...Hereford last season comes to mind! The Daggers have had a few heavy defeats recently, let's hope we can inflict another one! Perhaps its because they usually come here with the intent of stopping us scoring with a solid, physical midfield and hoping to catch us on the break. That's the type of team we have traditionally had problems breaking down over the last few years. It still happens this season as well, Oxford set up solidly seemingly with the primary aim of preventing us scoring, Barnet tried the same (but eventually failed ) as did the Gargs for 45 minutes (twice )
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Post by lambrettagull on Jan 23, 2012 14:28:43 GMT
This and the Northampton game are the games for me that will now determine how our season will go. Win both and we will have confidence to approach the next run of very difficult games. Reaching 50 points is the safety mark and the pressure of failure will dissipate. Do badly and we will struggle in those next difficult games. I would fear the season would peter out to mid table. Thats ok for me anyway, as I`ve been supporting TUFC long enough to be realistic. But the effect on attendances and finances would not be good. Also it will start off the moaners! I will view the next two games as a bench mark. It will be a good indicator just how far Lingo has brought these players on, how the team has matured and whether old habits of losing games we should have won are history. Maccs and Morecombe were great results because historically we lose the long hauls to half empty stadiums on a cold and blustery day. If we get 6/6 next two games I would have real hope that Lingo has cracked it. The top teams we are playing over the next few games will better look out as I reckon it will be a push for promotion that Lingo will insist on. Good luck lads!! COYY
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Post by lucy6lucy on Jan 23, 2012 20:03:54 GMT
Potential league survival by 5pm this Saturday and still in January would have been laughed at in June. But why do we still think we are going to be relegated. Surely now we are at least going to finish top 12 at a minimum. And why not aim for playoffs and above, this league is so open, it was only a few months ago Morecambe thrashed Crawley and the gas at cheltenham. This league requires team spirit and luck, having big budgets does not buy anything in this league, if it did look at Bradford, Bristol, rotherham etc, the only thing that we should fear is our belief and at the moment we are rocking. Ling is quite right why buy r bring in loan signings when the current crop is winning!!! Look what happened when Keegan bought Asprilla many years ago when they where cruising to throw it all away. The point being dont change what aint broken
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Post by lucy6lucy on Jan 23, 2012 20:27:02 GMT
Skybet seem to think promotion is looking good for us as they now have us 3/1. Point being relegation should not even be an agenda / up for discussion on this forum for the remainder of this season
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chelstongull
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Post by chelstongull on Jan 23, 2012 20:38:55 GMT
Get that Fax Machine working:
"Out-of-favour striker Charles Ademeno has had his contract cancelled so he can find another club."
Might be worth a 'pay-as-you-play' contract!!
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Post by stuartB on Jan 23, 2012 20:43:31 GMT
Get that Fax Machine working: "Out-of-favour striker Charles Ademeno has had his contract cancelled so he can find another club." Might be worth a 'pay-as-you-play' contract!! do you get free texts with that?
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Post by loyalgull on Jan 23, 2012 21:11:43 GMT
3/1 is very skinny odds for us even at this stage of the season,but its a fair reflection on our current form and togetherness as a team,sure has been some money lumped on us to go to those odds though
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davethegull
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Post by davethegull on Jan 24, 2012 8:25:19 GMT
I'm really tempted to stay up and listen to this one. If we win the next 2 we're safe with only 28 games played. Even if we don't Ling and the team deserve massive credit and support from the fans on a job brilliantly done so far. Can we do it? Well by my rather ropey predictions I reckon we'll win 9 draw 5 and lose 6 of the next 20 which will give us 76 points and a playofff berth! Easy this football lark. Seriously, hoping for 2/3 - 0 wins for both the next 2.
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Jan 24, 2012 10:27:49 GMT
Hmm, think I can see as to why they have had a dip in form since Christmas. Out injured are Sam Williams, Luke Howell, Peter Gain, Kevin Maher with Josh Scott not ready for a return to first team action. In addition Woodall and Green were injured against Crewe and are out today with Nurse, nursing a knock (excuse the pun) and hopeful of passing a last minute fitness test!
As I said above, could be a good time to play them....
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Post by register on Jan 24, 2012 11:00:42 GMT
Hmm, think I can see as to why they have had a dip in form since Christmas. Out injured are Sam Williams, Luke Howell, Peter Gain, Kevin Maher with Josh Scott not ready for a return to first team action. In addition Woodall and Green were injured against Crewe and are out today with Nurse, nursing a knock (excuse the pun) and hopeful of passing a last minute fitness test! As I said above, could be a good time to play them.... That's more than half their first team out injured...a good time to play them indeed. ;D
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Post by milber on Jan 24, 2012 13:37:21 GMT
I don`t like all this optimism, confidence and thought of 3 pts.... makes me feel very nervous about the outcome tonight. battering away for 80 mins then lose possession cheaply midfield and wollop caught on the break I can see it clear as day.
feel much happier with the underdog mentality. ML is doing his best to put across the difficulty of these 2 games. As tough as the last few games have been, the next 2 are the toughest. doesn`t matter how we play, if we can grind out wins against teams who will be looking to destroy rather than create it will be massive.
so its everything crossed, lucky underpants, avoiding the BBC 2 min updates and clenched buttocks in hope for the right result.
;D ;D
Milber
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Jon
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Post by Jon on Jan 24, 2012 13:47:12 GMT
I don`t like all this optimism, confidence and thought of 3 pts.... As tough as the last few games have been, the next 2 are the toughest. Indeed. I could see us losing both games. That would plunge Argyle back to the foot of the table. Every cloud ......
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