Defeat Incoming

nothing to complain about so you have to make doom and groom predictions. can't you just be happy for once that we might just get promotion?

it's called having a good defence! and a goalkeeper that actually saves the ball. then being able to put away the few chances we get.

 

I actually agree.

Well lets hope the 'overdue' defeat happens tonight instead of Saturday then.

Stockport rock up on Saturday having lost every single away game. We are unbeaten at home. You just know Stockport will be really up for it on Saturday backed by over 2000 fans. Away win very much on the cards then

 

Remember the opening game of our promotion season to the Prem?

Whilst I agree we've not dominated a game we are still only 11 games into the season with a team still being molded into an effective unit. The telling thing is that we've got enough ability in the squad to still win games.

Winning breeds winners. So let's keep the run of good form going and not wish for a so called 'enivatable' defeat in any game we've yet to play.

 

Its a league of fine margins.
We beat Tranmere the other week and deservedly so.
They call for the managers head.
Next thing they beat Salford, Walsall and Barrow and are flying.
Wimbledon on a bad run get a point against us then win their next game.
Stockport who we play couldn't beat Harrogate or Walsall who we beat.
Newport who were awful at VP, beat Orient away who were looking unbeatable.

The thing that we have got going for us this season is genuine pace.
A keeper who can pull of wonder saves.
We have a striker who is full of confidence.
We have a manger who instils confidence and doesn't get flustered by anything.
We have a crowd bigger than anyone in the league who get behind the team and make VP a daunting place, 10 unbeaten at home is it??
There is nothing to say that all these things are gonna bring the inevitable defeat.
Quite the opposite imo.
Every team has spells of pressure and chances.
None have taken those chances and Stockport are no different.

 

Of course when you're unbeaten in seven, the next defeat becomes more likely, i.e. just around the corner.

WOAP were discussing this and pointing out how our minds play tricks on us, as to what a promotion team look like vs the reality - simply because we haven't had much practice lately.

No-one is going to dominate games from start to finish in L2 - the physicality of the league means that's inevitable that brawn will work for periods of every match, it's how we manage it that is the key.

The "higher gears" comment that I hear from many, seems a myth to me. As I said this is L2. Most teams simply don't allow anyone to play that type of footie against them.

We also forget that someone like Walker is a big big miss. He knitted the link between midfield and attack far better than anyone I've seen in years. I've simply no worries. I think our attacking options are better than everyone else's and we've got a very good defence / keeper.

But Stockport will be a toughie. Looking at all their reports, they've not really played that badly and have lost all their matches by just the one goal.

 

I think we have struggled more against direct teams. Especially Crichlow.
Teams who like to get it down and play and we look better.
Stockport play the same formation as we do.
Madden up top by himself isn't gonna be receiving long balls.
Crankshaw is now a holding midfielder so he will be up against Chapman, Wright and maybe Banks.
I think as long as we respect what they are about whilst knowing that man for man we are stronger then we really should be looking at a good win.

 

Cranky playing holding midfield……? So they have realised he’s not a winger either?
Sounds like Gilly’s second coming?

 

Looking through their team reports, they've been playing 442 for the last 5 league matches with Wooton and Madden up front after starting with a 352/532 wing back setup. Also from the looks of their match reports from their website, Crankshaw has only ever played on the wing. Looks like they've abandoned trying to play out from the back and are going direct with quick wingers.

 

I don't think the Stockport Board agree with your last comment if last night's speculation comes true. Thre is a common belief in the Manchester suburb that they would / will skate promotion, echoed in the media pre season and so far it isn't happening. Barrow beat them on the first day and the Harrogate Chairman told me Saturday he thought Stockport were very average.
All this seems reflected in the fact that Challinor could well be sacked before Saturday as the view is he is not up to the higher standards from National League. If not sacked, clearly on borrowed time as they are already looking over their shoulders at potential relegation which, given what they are spending on the likes of Sarcevic and Madden is not good.
New Manager bounce anyone?

 

He hasn't played midfield once for Stockport. Looks like weasel has looked at transfermarkt who copy BBC Sport who often get teams and formations incorrect in L1 & 2 if they dont have a man at the game, but they put out crankshaw played DM in a 4231.

Looking at their actual match reports from the Stockport website...."whilst there was a first league start of the season for Summer signing Connor Evans, who would go on to be named as the sponsors’ Man of the Match. He and Ollie Crankshaw were selected on the flanks, with Kyle Wootton partnering Paddy Madden up top."

Transfermarkt/BBC Sport also say he went off injured but there's no mention of an injury in the Stockport or Walsall match reports.

 

Thanks that seems to clarify the misconception.

 

Nice to be looking at 'where's our next defeat coming from?' after seasons upon seasons of 'where's our next victory coming from?'

 

I think we can see off Stockport then there is the little matter of Salford

 

Form would suggest a home win but when has that ever been a perfect barometer for results? Like most of the games in our unbeaten run the result could have easily been different. Pretty much like 2013 when it was often Nahkis goals that made the difference, it's Andy Cook doing the same thing. If he gets injured then I might start to worry.

 

Sounds like if they dont win the manager will be sacked, and they've yet to even take a point away from home so far. Going to be one of them games where either they rally in the new 2 up top system and try go for it, or it will become obvious the players want a change and play within themselves once more. Seems like they have been very average at best.

May be some slight false positioning with Stockport, they have the goal records of the sides around 14th/15th but not had luck with the odd goals. Still, like to think we've got enough in us to put these lot away.

 

Its a fair question to ask. There are times when we've looked bang average and our keeper has pulled out of the mire. And there are moments in games that have gone our way such as Lewis saving the penalty which could have seen the game go in a different direction if scored. Nothing urgently worrying stands out though like it did under Adams, more of fine tuning the front six so we create more chances for our on form striker. Last two games we created next to nothing for him and at times the attack looks flat and lethargic bar Wright and flashes from Chapman and Banks.

 

BL its going to happen but we are Bratfud mate. Go with the flow we have been superb for up to 10 minutes sometimes enjoy and chill.................

 

Our performances are yet to be convincing as whole. I can't decide whether we're riding our luck or waiting to click.