Match Thread Home V Mansfield Tue 2nd March. 7pm kick off.

Another winnable game.

The next 4 games will show just how competitive we are. Playing some teams in good form and good league position. Going unbeaten in these games will really put us in the mix.

Back to Mansfield I am expecting another Leyton Orient type game-we just need one piece of magic to break the deadlock.

Our defence is up there with the best in this league right now.

Really looking forward to a tight game. Think it will end up 2-0 to us.

 

Charge..... to 3rd spot! It's happening.

 

Providing only cook is the only one unavailable from Saturday then Rowe comes in and we go same team and burell on the bench.

I expect this game to be a very cagey affair Mansfield need wins to have any chance of a play off push themselves but I am confident we will get more pts on the board. Would take 4pts from next 2 games.

 

Without wanting to tempt fate, on this form I’d be surprised if we didn’t finish Top 3 now.

 

I see ex City player Jake Wright as signed for Mansfield after stints with Sheffield United and Oxford.
Expect Clough to have his troops well organised,another tough game for sure.

 

This'll be an interesting challenge for T&S. Clough likes to work things around tactically throughout a game, as do our tyros. Could be a good battle of wits.

 

I don't fear Mansfield, and i certainly don't fear Clough or his tactics. If he was tactically a good manager he wouldn't be plying his trade at Mansfield. He's had opportunities at a much higher level and failed. I think we pay him too much respect.

 

TBF think the guy did a good job at Burton on zilch budget at a ground that looked more Camberwick Green than Championship. As for managers who had opportunities at a much higher level and failed, perm him from, currently about 30 or 40 who are still in work in Lgs 1 and 2. We could have had Hurst! That's why T&S are such a breath of fresh air.

 

I’d like us to start with a quicker tempo than the last home game. We won the game which is good but we were quite pedestrian.

 

Managers who had opportunities at a higher level and failed, failed for a reason. Hindsight is a wonderful thing . Just wonder where the next stop is for Clough.

 

I think we now may see teams coming to VP and parking the bus by stifling midfield and packing the defensive line hoping to catch us on the break or just plain getting lucky. Watching teams will have seen what Orient did, rather successfully, I may add. However they were zilch up top.

All teams will see that game and think they can also make us look pedestrian by putting 9 behind the ball. I think it’s something we may have to get used to in the run in?

 

At first thought this would be a tough game, but Mansfield current form is poor, so a 3-1 win to the mighty Bradford City is on the cards. Onwards and upwards.

 

Exactly my point about managers, who are legion, failing for a reason. Ex-pro footballers who rock up into management with same old same old ideas from their careers out on the training pitch and hardly ever upgrade/update their views on new thinking and fresh football ideas. It amazes me that the same old names bounce around from club to club, generally being very mediocre indeed but still continue to get management jobs. Re. Clough - if Mansfield don't get in the play offs, he'll end up as a summariser somewhere. Perchance because of that surname...

 

That’s true, it will be something we’ll see both home and away. If Rowe is to start as the lone striker, it’s going to be a compact midfield area with very little flow to the game. It could come down to the odd chance here and there.

 

Appreciate this is the Mansfield thread but with Saturday's Bolton match also mentioned, perhaps we shouldn't be too wowed by their current form: whilst there might not be any easy games, take a look at the teams they've beaten in their 5-match winning run.

 

I'd like to bet that the stats show quick, off the front foot starts and early goals tend to win most games in this league - and you're dead right, playing at a quicker tempo ( from the off) scares the life out of teams who come to sit back. This is such a poor league, currently. And I think T&S are becoming pretty astute at working out the mediocre teams tactically - and one or two of the better ones. It's often not been pretty - but right now, I'd prefer a committed grind if it means another three points.

 

You're suggesting playing Clarke though. Going forward he's contributed far less than CD this term.

Hopefully though, Cooke or even Evans is fit and neither starts.

 

If teams come to park the bus then it would be great if Bryce Hosannah can get fit as quick as possible to get him and woods down the sides of teams and putting the crosses in for Rowe or cook