Londonboy

Changed my mind.... Finish 17th!!!?

Assuming AL takes control of the club at some stage over the next few weeks, what should we expect/prioritise for the 2nd half of the season? IMO 1. We should really make a push in the Checkatrade trouphy. If we can beat Leicesters kids (plus Iheanacho) I'd fancy us against anyone left in and a trip to Wembley would be a massive lift and great financially for the club. 2. If we can hold onto the loanees - Bryan and Byrne in particular, and maintain our form under Wellens - (22 points from 12 games), we can realistically finish with around 72 points....which might just squeeze into the play-offs....why not? 3. Don't be tempted to sell anyone! (unless we want to get rid!!) The current matchday squad needs to form the basis of our team for next season wherever we end up.

Nothing wrong with that starting 11.....

Bit of a goal drought at the moment for us....do we think it's time to switch things around a bit and give Holloway a couple of starts? He's looked decent when he has come on and Davies has only scored 1 in his last 8 and looks devoid of confidence. I'm not his biggest fan but I'd give Holloway a go at Bradford and at home v Northampton on Saturday. Thoughts?

Have we lost in tangerine yet this year in the league?? Can't recall but not 100%. I know we lost at Carlisle in the Cup.

I was there today and it really wasn't that bad. Yes we were not at our best and I agree our play in the final 3rd was a bit slow and deliberate. Byrne was slow to see the passes today and held our play up occasionally. He also gave up a few times and spat his dummy out after play broke down around the Gillingham box which left us exposed on the break. However he was still our most creative player by miles and I'd rather him play than be rested. Eves was a handful in the second half and looked a good player. Gerrard needed all his experience to keep him in check as he was clearly outpaced a number of times. Agree he was our Mom today. Bryan was also excellent and Fane broke up play numerous times in midfield. We looked completely knackered at the end which is part of the problem I think. Our best 11 is a good match for anyone, and that's why Richie is reluctant to change things I think. But without Bryan, Byrne and Doyle we will really struggle against decent teams so we need to hope they will stay after Christmas. 7 days off will do us good, then a tough trip to Southend where we usually do well to get things rolling again. Plenty of dross on here from folk who clearly were not at the game. KTF

Long trip for most I know but are many going down on Saturday? Usually a good ground for us. Last 8 games there we have won 4 drawn 2 and lost 2 so could be worth the trip. Should be a few OASIS crew there...

Carry on at 2 points per game and we get to 79 points....that'll do for me and should see us comfortably in the play offs!!

Outscore Oxford and we could be the divisions top scorers!!

OK cheers Dave

Dave... Sorry random question... Did you live in Chadderton when you were 9/10 years old? Used to be best mates with a Dave Ogden when I was a kid...

IMO the key reason for the difference between last season and this is the formation. Sheridan played with one up top in the main. On occasions when he played Holloway and Erwin, Holloway played a deeper holding role. He also played 5 at the back in the main either 5 4 1 or 5 3 1 1, which is mush more defensive than our current 4 4 2 offensive game with attacking full backs. In our first 16 games we conceded 18 goals last season v 35 this season. As we know the goals scored is also polar opposite to last year. After 16 league games last season we had scored 9 I think v 27 this season. Granted Ripley was exceptional last season but the goals conceded this year v last have far more to do with formation and tactics than personnel. Need to find a happy medium which Wellens eluded to after Carlisle debacle. What this looks like....down to Richie! As I've said previously attacking formations are very entertaining but do have consequences and you never win much.....unless you are Citee!

Today's performance doing nothing to change my original posts viewpoint.... ?

57 in pinch me season and 53 in Championship winning season.

Agreed he's a big improvement. We do need to win ugly though sometimes....and keep a few clean sheets. By playing 4 at the back with 2 attacking wing backs, as entertaining as it is, my view is we will still concede too many to get much above halfway up the table. Reality is we could easily end up back in the bottom 4 after the Southend game! Not sure what the answer is with the player we have so perhaps we should just enjoy seeing plenty of goals at both ends.

Don't get me wrong, I'm loving it under Richie Wellens and the way we play. I'm just being realistic. To get into the top 6 historically you need to concede less than 60 goals in a season maximum. Think Posh are the only exception where one year when they conceded loads but scored over 100 goals and went up via the playoffs. Anyway we have 30 games left, 35 goals conceded so far... You do the maths! I guess it's all about what we want this year. Playing as we do I'm sure we will finish top half but short of top 6. We will outscore most of the division but our goals conceded will be the difference. As I said in the thread topic there are consequences in playing the way we do. Perhaps we just accept it like at MK or on Saturday.

I just noticed that amazingly we are the joint second top scores in League 1 on 27 goals (only 4 behind out total goals scored last season!)...and just 2 behind Wigan and Rotherham. We also have the worst defence by some way having conceded 35 goals already...only 9 behind last seasons 44 conceded! Next worst is Brizzle Rovers with 29. Whilst the entertainment, particularly over the past 7 or 8 games has been great, I cant help but think that unless we tighten up in defence and quickly, then we will not challenge the top 6. You simply cant concede more than 2 goals per game and continue to win games on a regular basis, as shown by our league record this year where we have conceded 2 or more. W3 D2 L8. If we are not challenging then I think the consequence will be we lose the likes of Doyle, Bryan and Byrne to other clubs who are up there (the only way they will stay is if we stump up to buy them..unlikely at this stage...or they think we are genuinely challenging for the play offs) It's a difficult conundrum I know, and a while its a whole lot better than in recent years, I think if we can make a slight tactical change to be a bit more solid at the back we can really go places this season. Interesting to get everyones thoughts on this and what we do?

Lol....

Agree. I've seen some knobheads supporting us over the past 40 years and was a bit of one myself in my youth, but if this fella carries on like he does he's either gonna get a right kicking or incite some serious trouble. He's at all the away games and by the look of his eyes he's taking more than paracetamol!!

Just noticed 4 of our next 5 league games are at home...and all 5 games are winable. Bury H Scunny H Southend A...where we usually do well Dale H Wimbledon H 10 points minimum I recon and we are well in the mix for the playoffs!! Then Gillingham A where again we seem to do well and Northampton H so Happy Days (I hope)

We'll be fine tomorrow and win comfortably!! We love a Tuesday night!! Shame we can't wear the Tangerine kit....think we are undefeated in it?? Can anyone verify?

It's not difficult.... Because we had 4pts from our first 9 games!! ?

To put it simply, today we saw absolute brilliance with our opening goal, utter garbage conceding the first equaliser.... And everything in between!! Can't believe people are complaining. The difference between today and Rotherham is colossal. Another 11 points from our next 5 games and people will no doubt still be moaning! Disappointed... Yes but that will be gone on an hour or 2 and we can look forward to Bury.

Agreed but who cared!! When you score a goal nearly every other game you can afford to be arrogant!

Ffs what a bunch of nutter owners! Not like ours eh! ?