Big game

[Paul Cooper]

Every game is a pretty big one, but I feel that tomorrow's is big in the context of the season.

Ok we lost to Chesterfield which was hardly a disgrace.

But we need to kick on again. We need to be tougher than last season (no runs of defeats).

There are injuries and suspensions. But even then in an away game especially, having Potter, Rigg and Smalley fit (let's hope they are), we should have enough to win if we play well enough. So to me the injuries and suspensions can not be used as an excuse (if Smalley had to go off injured early that may be a little different).

A win and things will look pretty good again (with the injured players getting fitter hopefully and Kitson due back next weekend.

A loss and we will probably all be a little concerned.

[Dr Bob]

Agreed. With memories of the bad runs last season still fresh, I think it is imperative psychologically to get something from the game. In the past, there has been precious little evidence of mental strength when the going has got tough. I fear two defeats back to back, after the decent start, could affect what still appears to me to be fairly brittle confidence. Slippery slopes and all that...

[Brahma Bull]

I think the first eleven will be what we have become accustomed to when we go away, a midfield comprising of Hall and Davis. Torquay is sticking out for me, the front three were Rigg, Potter and Smalley and tomorrow the front three should be those three lads again.

With the addition of Rose, Davis and Hall we have three very experienced midfielders, one of which has hardly featured. I'd be happy with a 4-5-1 or a 4-3-2-1 formation but the first eleven is more than capable of winning and is hardly different to the side we put out at Plainmoor.

The bench is going to be full of kids and perhaps some will shine when they get given the opportunity. A winner from COD or Raynes is my bet. 2-1.

[Mooro]

Every game is a pretty big one, but I feel that tomorrow's is big in the context of the season.

Ok we lost to Chesterfield which was hardly a disgrace.

But we need to kick on again. We need to be tougher than last season (no runs of defeats).

There are injuries and suspensions. But even then in an away game especially, having Potter, Rigg and Smalley fit (let's hope they are), we should have enough to win if we play well enough. So to me the injuries and suspensions can not be used as an excuse (if Smalley had to go off injured early that may be a little different).

A win and things will look pretty good again (with the injured players getting fitter hopefully and Kitson due back next weekend.

A loss and we will probably all be a little concerned.

This is the crucial thing for me, if these three can get properly involved and last the 90 minutes (or long enough to get us comfortable), then we should be OK, but I will be a lot more comfortable with Marsh fit. If he isn't then there is no-one to replace Smalley if he has to go off (Shama is more of an attacking midfielder/'in the hole' player than a centre forward and by all accounts has been struggling to find his feet in the devs so far), so then it would become a challenge to keep the pressure on up front. It is not as if we have a spare centre-back to push up ( a la Worley) so we'd probably end up with Hall pushed up with Rigg and Potter in a three.....

A couple of early goals (in our favour) would certainly take the pressure off and hopefully allow a few changes later on...

[Dr Bob]

Swallows, summers, etc, but I feel relieved and happy after that win. Just need to see if we can start playing well at home now.

[OUFC4eva]

..and no injuries or suspensions from yesterday.

The likes of Constable, Meades and Rigg can get another good week's
training into their systems. Jake Wright - I don't know how he is coming along
after that incision into his groin three weeks ago.

Did you see Michael "Johan Cruyff" Raynes at Victoria Park.

Total Football.

[recordmeister]

I've somehow managed to miss out on the news of what exactly was wrong with jake wright. Can anyone enlighten me?

Also, nearest. I'd totally forgotten about him! Amazing player and we'll be so much stronger with him in the side.

[slappy]

so how many games have featured a red card this season? or would it be easier to ask how many haven't?

we really should have put that game to bed a lot earlier. after the early lead we were on top, but somehow let the Pools back into the game.
my first visit to this ground, nice and compact, close to the town centre and train station, and Hartlepool good for a cheap night out.

[Brahma Bull]

Whatever the circumstances and/or performance, that is a wonderdul result. Well done Wilder and the Management, especially playing some youth

The side certainly were/are down to the bare bones and despite that there are so many positives, notably Constable and Marsh returning to the bench, a third 'performance' in a row from Raynsey and a side that showed some bouncebackability. Well done to all.

[slappy]

http://experimental361.com/league-2-reg ... lisations/

even more languidly clinical than the last time the table was updated.

[Kernow Yellow]

http://experimental361.com/league-2-reg ... lisations/

even more languidly clinical than the last time the table was updated.

Interesting that, despite being the most shot-shy team in the entire division, we're top-scorers - and by some distance. Clinical indeed!

[Mooro]

http://experimental361.com/league-2-reg ... lisations/

even more languidly clinical than the last time the table was updated.

So either we are going to plummet when our strike rate drops slightly or power clear when our chance creation rate increases.....

[Dr Bob]

http://experimental361.com/league-2-reg ... lisations/

even more languidly clinical than the last time the table was updated.

So either we are going to plummet when our strike rate drops slightly or power clear when our chance creation rate increases.....

I am hoping any negative possbile shift here is offset by our defence stopping "avoiding the issue"

[A-Ro]

despite being the most shot-shy team in the entire division

Close but not quite.

Code: Select all

Pos	Team          	P	Shots (F)	Shots (A)	Target % (F)	Target% (A)	Goal% (F)	Goal% (A)	  	
4  	Fleetwood Town	9	13.89    	7.22     	40          	38.46      	32       	40       	1 	
1  	Chesterfield  	9	12.11    	8.78     	44.04       	40.51      	29.17    	12.5     	2 	
7  	AFC Wimbledon 	9	11.56    	10.44    	47.12       	37.23      	24.49    	25.71    	3 	
18 	Torquay       	9	10.56    	9.78     	46.32       	42.05      	25       	40.54    	4 	
9  	Morecambe     	9	10.44    	8.67     	44.68       	38.46      	30.95    	36.67    	5 	
21 	York          	9	10.33    	7.33     	41.94       	45.45      	25.64    	46.67    	6 	
5  	Rochdale      	9	10.22    	9.67     	38.04       	40.23      	37.14    	22.86    	7 	
11 	Scunthorpe    	9	9.89     	11.44    	44.94       	37.86      	27.5     	20.51    	8 	
13 	Burton        	9	9.78     	9        	30.68       	41.98      	48.15    	44.12    	9 	
6  	Exeter        	9	9.67     	11.78    	34.48       	36.79      	36.67    	23.08    	10	
14 	Southend      	9	9.67     	7.56     	35.63       	48.53      	29.03    	30.3     	11	
8  	Newport County	9	9.56     	8.56     	43.02       	54.55      	40.54    	26.19    	12	
3  	Mansfield     	9	9.33     	10.56    	40.48       	35.79      	38.24    	17.65    	13	
19 	Cheltenham    	9	9.33     	9.78     	41.67       	45.45      	34.29    	47.5     	14	
23 	Northampton   	9	9.22     	11.67    	36.14       	38.1       	20       	32.5     	15	
15 	Plymouth      	9	8.56     	8        	40.26       	44.44      	19.35    	31.25    	16	
17 	Portsmouth    	9	8.56     	9.22     	42.86       	42.17      	42.42    	51.43    	17	
22 	Hartlepool    	9	8.44     	9.67     	40.79       	35.63      	19.35    	41.94    	18	
12 	Dag and Red   	9	8.11     	11.67    	43.84       	45.71      	37.5     	25       	19	
2  	Oxford        	9	7.89     	7.78     	54.93       	44.29      	48.72    	32.26    	20	
16 	Bristol Rvs   	9	7.78     	10.33    	32.86       	34.41      	34.78    	34.38    	21	
20 	Bury          	9	7.67     	8.22     	50.72       	37.84      	37.14    	46.43    	22	
24 	Accrington    	9	7.22     	10.78    	29.23       	46.39      	26.32    	35.56    	23	
10 	Wycombe       	9	7.11     	9        	48.44       	46.91      	41.94    	26.32    	24	

[Kernow Yellow]

despite being the most shot-shy team in the entire division

Close but not quite.

Hmm, your figures don't seem to tally with that 'visualisation', which shows us furthest left on the chart with about 8.1 shots per game. Maybe one or the other set of data includes cup games, or they get their stats from separate sources.

Nice table insertion, by the way.