Shrewsbury Home 29th January

Agree, I think if he could sharpen up his reaction time, it would be like having a new player, just a bit slow to pick up on loose balls, and knowing when to tackle. Hopefully his fitness will improve all of that.

 

In his defence he is only now at full fitness after a series of injuries and has got a game or two under his belt

 

First 20 minutes last night he looked like a different player, great on the ball, he tackled, ran with the ball and looked a unit in the middle but then for the next 50 minutes he kind of went missing. It was definitely one of his better games for us this season.

 

Have to disagree NM thought Akpan played pretty well last night - indeed it was a topic of conversation around where we sit - the improvement of his performance compared to the Southend one. Is he a luxury based on his inconsistency - based on his season so far - yes and perhaps a better replacement can be found in the summer but I am quite happy for him to try to persuade us otherwise. One factor is him been available to play rather than been on the injury list.

 

just paid for Wycombe,

tough game

 

What's great is, Bradford City, Oxford United and Bristol Rovers all conceded late equalisers. We must have all been gutted.

Only one went on to win the game courtesy of a great reaction

If fine margins will settle the relegation battle, hopefully moments like that will make the difference!

 

RE Akpan, I thought he had a solid enough game last night. We competed well enough in midfield, not like against Southend when we were regularly overrun.

When Akpan plays well, so do City, as it frees up the three infront of him to roam forward and create.

I am still not sure what it is with Akpan. He started the season badly. Was that due to a lack of fitness? he then had a great run of form in our revival around December, but then his form dipped again earlier this month. Was that fitness again? or a lack of competition for places spurring him on? Or is he just another inconsistent character by nature?

In this system Hopkin plays we need him to be on it every week and if he's not then we need a reliable alternative to bring in. Caddis played in there against Barnsley and it didn't work at all and also disputed several positions as DH shuffled the pack.

 

I think he is too weighty. Very large frame. A little like Scannell.

 

Southend fan here.

Just seen the goals. Thought you had "thrown it away" at 3-3 .................. what a great come back! Can't believe that the first goal was credited as an own goal (interesting for me that both Grant and Payne are good ex-Southend players). That result could mean a lot .......... a result at Wycombe is needed to!

Brings you right back into the mix - my word, is it tight down there. Good luck for the rest of the season.

 

Wycombe really is a vital match for us now.It won't define our season but once again we've managed to claw our way back to a point where we can really get clear if we win a few on the bounce.If we lose, it will hurt as apart from Wimbledon who are adrift now,the rest are fighting like we are.

It's really important to keep the momentum now,someone needs to lose heart and we have to inflict that feeling on others while seeing reward for our efforts by climbing the table.

It's up to us,let's do it!

 

You can politely suggest anything you like. My opinion on him was that apart from his first tackle that was ridiculously adjudged to have been a foul he never put a foot in all game. For the most part he looks disinterested and lazy and e lost the vast majority of aerial challenges while generally plodding about not contributing anything of note. Oh and he also clumsily bundled into the lad for the free kick that led to the goal (even if it was harsh).

 

I agree with that entirely. We were talking about him in the second half and don't think he touched the ball for the first 30 mins after half time. Funny how we can all see the game and particularly individual players so differently

 

It's not just 'tight down there' though. Fleetwood, who are 10 th in the league, are just 8 points away from all those teams that are on 31. Any one of those teams that are 'up there' could find themselves in a league 1 survival battle - certainly if they have a run like Bradford had from December/January last season.

 

Just watching the goals again, the first one neither O'Connor or NKP were aware of the player between them, I questioned last night if it had an element of off side about it but on seeing it again it was a great ball for the lad Okenabirhie to judge his run and he was onside .
If you watch the video as Okenabirhie is about to strike the ball one of there players knocks Cadiss out of the way and gives the lad that extra area to aim at, it could/should have been a foul as the referee was looking straight at the indecent. The video is better to se the foul around 01:05 into video https://www.skysports.com/watch/vid...s/league-one/11621913/bradford-4-3-shrewsbury

And although the first goal was given to Grant OG it was defiantly going in from Payne's shot.

 

I'll take a point now .

 

I agree I said the other day it was right up to Burton with regards teams getting drawn into a relegation scrap, but as you say possibly Fleetwood, but as someone said we do our business and let other teams worry about themselves.

 

Bronco any signing rumours on da grape deviney?

 

Only the McGowan rumour, hope Hopkin has someone in mind.

 

I thought akpan had a decent game

 

Now Wright's out of the side, some hold Akpan solely responsible for our terrible start. I mean he was terrible - but then so were all the other