Most liked posts in thread: Home vs Mansfield Sun Dec 29th

We have to do something in Jan about Doyle. Lee Power might be stubborn, but Swindon cannot afford to not retain Doyle. He is the difference between them possibly winning the league and finishing midtable. We should recall him and I would expect them to make a cash offer that we should consider.

I've only been able to make it to a few games this season, but I can't quite understand the negativity from today. We weren't great, neither were they. Very few chances, Connollybwas the difference today. We played better against Salford but didn't win, we can't always have it both ways.
I think fans need some perspective on what we've achieved. We are very difficult to beat. We are doing better than all the other teams relegated from lg1 last season. We have a much worse budget than some fans believe (eg. Mansfields is bigger than ours) and bowyer has in 1 window managed to build a competitive squad despite money being tied up in existing contracts (Akpan, Riley etc).
The league is wide open, a good January and players returning from injury/illness and we are in a very good position going into the second half

 

They were both nailed on penalties,possibly a third at the Kop end when Connolly was booked for diving, you guys in the Kop would have got a better view, as you say they were doing all they could to nullify Connolly's pace.
No arguing it was difficult to watch at times but you don't get any more than 3 points for scoring goals in open play,
I'm beginning to think some on here would rather us lose when playing poorly so they can have a good old moan.
We gained points on Swindon, Exeter , Colchester, Cheltenham and Northampton, yes I'd be delighted if we were playing great flowing football but we've taken 5 points from a possible 9 and thrown the other 4 points away with poor defending against Salford and a very poor missed chance the other end, ironically on both occasions by Paudie.
We have Morecombe at home on Wednesday 3 more points and another defeat at Plymouth for Swindon and we could be 3 points behind Swindon with a game in hand when we turn up at the County Ground on the 4th January, yes bronco will be more than happy if that is the case.

 

They were at least attempting to pass the ball around, whereas we were mostly hoofing it long.
I accept that injuries and illness have clearly had an effect, but that's only part of the story. We've just played a succession of games against bottom half teams, home and away, but have set up as though they were all tough away games against free scoring top six sides. At Orient we had plenty of creative options on the bench but never used them. We're playing five at the back and three defensive midfielders with a massive gap to our two up front, and just launching hopeful balls at them. It worked today but we've dropped points against eminently beatable teams using these tactics. I can't see this approach working against the better sides in the division.
I'd like to believe that Bowyer will set us up more creatively when we get others back but I'm not convinced he will. I think he's happy to play packed defence and try to nick narrow wins. At least when Donaldson is back the ball will stick up top more, but I think we'll continue to pack the defence and launch long balls at him. I hope I'm wrong.

 

This is my opinion for what it's worth .
Bowyer makes definite player moves in the January transfer window.
Now this can go one of two ways.
He makes the right signings and we progress or his new signings have little impact and we languish in midtable mediocrity.
Bowyer loses his job and we start all over again in the summer.Sounds familiar doesn't it and once again we search for stability.
The damage Edin did to our club was huge both on and off the pitch.
I haven't forgotten and I never expected great things this season but to be fifth in the table instead of being in Macclesfield Towns plight is enough to keep faith with what we have untill after the window shuts.
Then and only then will Bowyers fate be sealed.
It's his decision and one of the biggest he will make.The squad needs beefing up make no mistake about that.
What is it they say "Live or Die by the sword"
Very apt in Bowyers predicament.

 

Yes a boring game where the back five were magnificent who despite Mansfield possession never brought a save from our keeper.
In contrast to the home match before where we completely dominated a good team like Salford (look at their Easter results) and should have had four and yet only took a point.
Today considering that the team have been struck with this bug( which I can confirm is nasty because I have been down with it over Christmas ) was a good win putting us in a great position going into new year. We spoke to Donaldson pre match and he is back in a fortnight and then we can get back to 442.
We are in a much better position than most of us forecasted in the summer and on course for a very good season.
As for Doyle you would have been lucky to find anyone on here saying we should have kept him in the summer but now with hindsight everybody is on the bandwagon wanting him back. We don’t want a player back who is going to sulk and spoil the spirit of the team

 

Fantastic Think you're thinking of the wrong player Bronco.

 

A strange feeling walking out the ground, we've won but most people around us can't wait to get away. Hard to describe really. I should be happy but I'm glad it was over. Like 90minutes of watching paint dry. You couldn't tell who was 4th from top and who was 4th from bottom. 3 points but jeez it's hard to watch, makes Parky's football look positive.

 

Yet you haven't been employed as a professional football manager, interesting

 

My team for Sun

OD
Mellor, AOC, BRE/Paudie, Wood

Connolly, Reeves, Cooke, Pritchard,

Vaughan, McCarten

 

Bit harsh that, Bronco.

 

I think you mean nous.......

 

Abysmal performance from start to finish. We got absolutely battered and were camped on the edge of our box for 90 minutes. Created absolutely nothing and needed 2 pens to win the game. Embarrassing tactics from boring boring Bowyer yet again.

 

Some people on here expect the perfect performance, and they are seriously deluded!

We’re in the 4th division, it’s not going to be great, in this league you need to grind out results and be solid at the back and that’s exactly what we are.

No team has won League 2 playing beautiful attacking football, it’s a harsh physical league.

 

There seemed to be no point playing the midfielders today. Hoof after hoof from O'Connor and the other centre backs. It just came straight back. We need to play through the thirds more and keep possession.

3 points and closer to our objective of going up, but we need to improve.

 

Don't know if mentioned earlier but a Mansfield fan collapsed after the game and was taken to hospital reports coming out he sadly passed away. If that is the case may he RIP

 

I too thought the midfield three were poor today, even reeves who some people think has turned into iniesta since his injury, constantly gave the ball away and committed needless fouls. Im sorry aswell, as no one will convince me palmer and taylor are any better than akpan, devine or anderson. Neither player has done anything of note and if funds are needed to free up cap space or to recruit elsewhere then both their deals can be ended for me.

Another player who seems to have been stunted by the formation change is connor wood, theroetically you'd have thought he would have had more freedom in the wingback role however im sure its no coincidence his worst run of performances have been whilst playing there.

Thought the front two impressed today against an albeit limited defence. Simple old fashioned tactic of getting in behind terrified mansfield. Im not a fan of connolly upfront but today it worked.

Overall its three points, its an hard watch but if it gets us up then i suppose we will be happy. Obvious statement but we need to start winning away at some point to give us a boost in the points tally. Its alright setting up for draws etc and Bowyer might press on about unbeaten runs and clean sheets etc but over each two games a win and a loss is better than two draws pointswise so lets have a go.

 

I thought Vaughan was superb yesterday. Ran his socks off, challenged every header, got in the ears of their centre backs (maybe a bit too much sometimes) and played some nice passes. Took his first penalty with aplomb, and taking a second pen is never easy, but tucked it away comfortably. His best performance in a City shirt for quite some time.

 

FOUR. FOUR. TWO.