Final Position Saturday 27th April 2024

It's an odd one. Dads army once again with Cook who turns 33 this season, Oliver turns 32 along with Derbyshire and Sharp who'll turn 38 this season. Screams summer rebuild 2024, which I dont think Hughes minds as I get the feeling he sees this season as the one shot and he's off if we dont go up.

Must be fairly close to being spent up I'd imagine too? If Hendrie and Young leave, I doubt that leaves enough in the self sustainable kitty for a Sharp type, or anyone with a record of notching 15+ a season. Guessing a U21 loanee? Knowing us we will take any young forward they feature against us tonight.

 

It's difficult to make a prediction until the transfer window shuts and you can assess everyone with the tools they have. Right now I'll go for 9th after a poor start of 16 points from our first 16 games.

 

When did we sign Sharp ?

 

Paul Mullin out for up to 2.5 months with a punctured lung after a challenge from the Man Utd keeper in last night's friendly.
Big blow to their start to the season.

 

We were the leagues 6th top scorers last season - so goals wasn't really an issue considering Orent and Northampton scored the same amount? A fully fit Walker and Pattison can hopefully add to last seasons tally.

I think McDonald and Taylor are capable of adding a few themselves.

 

Yes but the promoted teams would have won more games 2-1 than drawing 1-1
That’s the big difference. The ability to get that 2nd goal to kill the game

 

Is Pointon a striker? Given the game time he’s had in preseason and the good write ups I wonder if he will feature this season.

I still can’t figure out how we fit Walker into the team. The midfield / wing backs don’t scream creativity to me so I worry about where the assists will come from. Granted I don’t know much about Pattison, but based on last seasons players, Walker is the only one who has creative instincts and I don’t see how he fits into the 3 man central midfield.

 

I really don't understand why a benchmark for goals scored is set? Its absolute nonsense. You don't get promoted for scoring the most goals - you get promoted for scoring the most points. Orient scored 61 goals last season and walked promotion.

Goals win games, clean sheets win titles.

 

Or maybe if we could defend and not make silly errors in injury time we would have beaten or got points against Swindon, Mansfield, Crewe etc etc etc

 

There are 2 teams playing in a game of football, both trying their best to score a goal.
When you’re only 1 nil up there’s always a risk the oppo might score.
Don’t blame the defenders or goalkeeper if forwards keep missing sitters or don’t get enough chances to score.

 

Who else do you blame ? It's the defenders and keeper who have failed to defend the goal lead we had. Win every game 1.0, by having a solid defence and you walk the league. Arsenal went a whole season unbeaten by having a sound defence and only conceding 26. Ok, they scored 73, but they could still have done the same by scoring 53, because they had 15 clean sheets.

 

No but I will blame them for clumsy tackles and hand balls that give away injury time penalties.

 

Goals win games. Clean sheets win titles.

Sir Alex.

 

You’re right, we could piss the league by scoring only 30 goals.
30 x 1-0 wins but how likely is that?
You give yourself the best chance of winning a game by scoring more goals and that should be the emphasis for any team in every game.

 

Come on then who do we blame for our playoff defeat? We won the home game 1-0 and the golden clean sheet.
We lost the return leg 1-0 in normal time.
Had we scored just 1 more goal at home we’d have gone to Wembley.

 

Stop trying to downplay the fact we don’t score enough goals.
It’s shit to watch, barely any goal threat in 90 mins which on many many occasions last season prevented us winning, especially at home.
Go to the game tonight and I’ll bet you it won’t be much different

 

Or conceded 1 less at Brunton....

 

Are you MH? Putting all the emphasis on defending and keeping it tight rather than attacking / entertaining the paying public ?

 

Yeah, we're playing Middlesbrough tonight.

I'm with you that we probably won't score 6.

 

Looking at the starting XI tonight, and what’s on the bench, we look weaker than last season. And it looks like a cost cutting job to me.