Playoffs? That's a ****ing joke. We've been **** for the past 5 weeks, no pace, one dimensional, Gaffney's crap since he signed, Matty's confidence is gone, signing Fallon was a total joke and waste of money. No shot on target is unacceptable. Sort it out DC. I'm sick to death of this club underachieving.
I know we lost and not played that well but scoring just then could give us some confidence. Yes clutching at straws.
After beating Oxford, we were 2 points away from 3rd. Now we are 8 points behind 3rd and they got a game in hand on us.
Portsmouth apparently not playing that well before today anyway so if they can put three past us how many are Northampton going to score. We have had three strikers on the pitch today and our only goal was scored by the fullback, maybe we should look to sign some defenders then maybe we will score more goals
Ok lets be realistic about things. Portsmouth were by far the clear favourites to win this league at the start of the season and despite their recent slump in form, they are a very good team. We have exceeded most of our pre-season hopes and expectations so far and we need to avoid getting too carried away with our success. We struggle to score goals or even create chances most of the time, and when we play any half-decent team, we are usually exposed and found out. If we struggle against the better teams in this division, just think what will happen if by some fluke, we scrape up via the play-offs. DC has done amazingly well with what he had with fairly restricted resources and all credit to him. We should accept that until the squad is significantly strengthened, we are never going to be more than a good, top half of the table, 2nd division team and thats fine for now, especially when you remember we were non league this time last year.Lets consolidate for this season, and hopefully we can push on next season when we hopefully, wont have such an appalling start to the season and give ourselves a mountain to climb from the start. Before anyone yells at me, I'm not being negative and this isn't a knee jerk reaction to today's result,its merely an observation about our current capabilities.
What bothers me the most, is how many of our players will leave in the summer on free transfers, we could quite easily lose Brown, Parkes, Lockyer, Leadbitter, Clarkes O & J, Taylor. That would be the heart of the team gone with Lockyer being the only one we get a fee for. If that were to happen we would then have to find a new set of players who would embrace the work ethic that DC requires and that could mean a prolonged stay in the present division or if the type of players that he wants are not available then we could be involved in a relegation battle. I agree that we are probably exceeding expectations at the moment but a couple of quality signings in the window could have least given thoseout of contract the belief that the club were trying to progress and give them a reason for staying if they were offered teams for the next season or two
This is so frustrating as we thought our scoring problems were over when Taylor started knocking them in and Gaffney looked really sharp when on loan, now neither of them can find the net.
I said mid table to top half of the table at the start and build from that. I didnt expect play offs though. But when we beat Oxford and was 4th just 2 points behind 3rd, I was on cloud 9 but still had feet firmly on the ground as I believe in taking 1 game at a time. Then we have gone on a bad run while others around us are finding form. I think a lot of us including myself is disappointed because we have done so well and was so close to the top 3 but then see us collapse. We may well end up exactly where I predicted at the start. But its the 'what if' feeling that im struggling to shake off. How do we improve on the pitch? Easter to me now is a waste of space. Taylor has forgotten how to score. Harrison is out on loan and injured and out of form. Lucas not being given a chance. Gaffney sounded like he really battled today but cant do it on his own and he is struggling for goals too. Lawrence was poor on the wing today but sounded quality when he got moved to CM. He created a lot then. Keep him here I say. But you cant play him and Mansell together. 353 with the 3 CM's of Lawrence, Lines and Sinclair would be my choice. But the front 2 need to find the net more and asap before the chance of a top 7 is gone completely.
Very honest interview with DC on you tube, stated that if the players were not prepared to work then they would be on their way
....and that's the truth! When everyone is on their game and giving 100% we look good. Anything less than that and we come unstuck. I went yesterday and we were VERY poor. Of the back five Mildenhall was very good, Brown and Parkes had 'mares, Lockyer was the best defensively but still has to work on distribution; and Ledbetter was ok. Lawrence looks past it and Easter contributes little. Sinclair did his Duracell bunny act and Mansell tried to hold things together: I was surprised when he went off. Bodin was 'little boy lost'. Gaffney tried hard but their CBs had him in their pockets. We've got no-one who makes things happen from midfield. Too many balls yesterday were lumped upfield.
