Phew!

[Blade58]

Struggled for large parts of the game

Can't tell whether it's credit to the opposition, or whether our form is tapering off.

Some players definately not on their game again today

They fought to the end so well done

3 MASSIVE fkin points

GTFI

 

[knowsnowt]

I'll be avin a phew tonight.

 

[itsinyerblood]

Struggled for large parts of the game

Can't tell whether it's credit to the opposition, or whether our form is tapering off.

Some players definately not on their game again today

They fought to the end so well done

3 MASSIVE fkin points

GTFI

You said MASSIVE, hang your head in shame........nicely deserved yes, but MASSIVE? Never sir, UTMB

 

[Weasel]

Sometimes its all about the result and not how you get it. If we are having a massive promotion party in April we wont give a flying about a few shoddy workmanlike performances back in december.

Glad the january window is about to open again though as i think we could do with an injection of quality and a freshen up to really try and bomb on now. Sir Christopher of Bramall knows what hes doing.

 

[DifferentClass]

We need a decent partner for Sharp up front. Hopefully CW will finally realise that Clarke isn't cutting it for the full 90 and should be an impact sub only.

 

[Danny_Boy]

Struggled for large parts of the game

Can't tell whether it's credit to the opposition, or whether our form is tapering off.

Some players definately not on their game again today

They fought to the end so well done

3 MASSIVE fkin points

GTFI

Definitely.

Agree in theory but I wonder if it's just a cutting edge we lack, I know stats can be deceiving but we had over 20 shots and 60% possession but we had to wait for a fullback to score and in the 89th minute.

 

[Blade58]

Definitely.

Agree in theory but I wonder if it's just a cutting edge we lack, I know stats can be deceiving but we had over 20 shots and 60% possession but we had to wait for a fullback to score and in the 89th minute.

20 shots? Wow they must have all gone wide cos I can't remember their keeper having a decent save to make

I kept urging players to have a go and make the GK work, but the players kept passing square and then back. For some reason it looked like they lacked confidence around the opposition box. I couldn't work out why they gave me that impression because this side should be brimming

 

[Danny_Boy]

20 shots? Wow they must have all gone wide cos I can't remember their keeper having a decent save to make

I kept urging players to have a go and make the GK work, but the players kept passing square and then back. For some reason it looked like they lacked confidence around the opposition box. I couldn't work out why they gave me that impression because this side should be brimming

We rely on Duffy to create, think in the JTW we need a striker a creative player and a defender as cover.

 

[blader]

Left winger first priority for me.

 

[coaxingstar71]

Few players had 'off' days by their own standards. Fleck and Duffy for starters. Fleck has been quiet for last couple but he'll come back. Just didn't happen for Duffy either...

The good thing is that we still won! Some nob in the South Stand was shouting at Coutts to hit it forward when clearly there was nothing on for him, fkin footie no nowts rayt annoy me! Had to laugh when Coutts made some space for himself 2 minutes later with some lovely play and put that great ball in which Freeman smashed home. Bet no nowt shut the fk up then!

 

[Broomhall Blade]

Forget striker or wing back its a proper winger we need someone who can take a player on and beat them hopefully with a bit of pace.
We are relying to much on Duffy.

 

[Ricky]

As has been the case quite often recently, we performed quite well in most departments, but just lacked a little bit extra to cut teams open. We're dominating but we're struggling to break teams down at home too often for my liking.

We were solid and assured at the back, passed it accurately and confidently, kept possession well in every area of the pitch and were patient in waiting for openings rather than simply chucking it in the box, as many of the intelligent fans on the Kop urge the players to do. But too often things aren't done quickly enough, and we lack a bit of pace to get behind teams - especially as opponents are increasingly crowding the defence and playing for a point.

You can't call a performance like today's anything like poor. We were dominant, in control and superior. It's just the finer margins that are stopping us from getting the goals our play generally deserves.

As for individuals, Fleck just wasn't on it today, and he didn't really have any excuses. How he plays makes a massive difference to us. It shows what high stanards he's set for me to be saying this. Duffy on the other hand was mainly just a bit unfortunate in terms of the options he had in the final third but carried on getting on the ball as usual, which is admirable, and why for me he's pretty much above criticism.

 

[Iceybabey]

To play against a well organised team full of big lumps is very difficult. Northampton got men behind the ball very quickly. We kept trying to put high crosses into the box but what we needed was low hard crosses, like the one Freeman put in for Clarke. I'll let Clarke off a little as I was bang in line with it and the defender caught his leg which then made him kick the ground and miss the ball. Anyway, Coutts with the 'low and hard' and it worked unsuprisingly.

 

[zablade]

It was difficult because both Duffy and Fleck had off days and they are two of our best passes of a ball Coutts however had his best game in the last four and attempted to get us moving forward.

By the end though we had them camped on the edge of their box playing a flat back nine at times. Deserved to win but we need a bit of extra creatively bringing in.

Chapman is being missed, a cruel blow for him to get injured when he did.

 

[Caseh]

People keep saying we need a partner for Sharp, but Lavery keeps coming on and causing problems...

 

[Bladesman]

It was like watching paint dry for 80 minutes and then thankfully someone decided to put the ball in the net.

Also if I was a Northampton fan I would have been pissed off to travel and watch my team sit back like that.

A win is a win but I think this idea of Clarke and Sharp playing up front together needs to be put in the bin.

 

[Punk Blade]

We've seen that the best option we have after Duffy for beating a man, pace, creativity is Lavery. He deserves a few starts now I reckon.

 

[alcoblade]

We need a decent partner for Sharp up front. Hopefully CW will finally realise that Clarke isn't cutting it for the full 90 and should be an impact sub only.

Can we rule Lavery out yet?

I doubt we have the money to get a guaranteed better striker.

UTB

 

[Harry's Game]

People keep saying we need a partner for Sharp, but Lavery keeps coming on and causing problems...

Lavery is deserving of a start at Bury but with the best will in the world I don't think he is 15 goal striker from now until the end of the season.

 

[PokerBlade]

Just me who quite enjoyed the game then? Nothing but another team who couldn't handle us for a full ninety.

 

[curly]

I know a striker who would love to come (back) here. Anyway, if today was poor then what was last seasons abominations? Granted we are looking a bit jaded but we are halfway there now and i'm sure the gaffer will keep urging the lads on.

 

[Bladesman]

Just me who quite enjoyed the game then? Nothing but another team who couldn't handle us for a full ninety.

I found it mind numbingly frustrating til the final 10 minutes when we decided to finally show up.

It coincided with Clarke fucking off as well. Funny that.

 

[Ricky]

Just me who quite enjoyed the game then? Nothing but another team who couldn't handle us for a full ninety.

It's good to watch but often frustrating at the same time.

I do like games like today's where it's a case of gradually grinding the opposition down - as long as we do get the goal!

 

[HillmortonBlade]

It's good to watch but often frustrating at the same time.

I do like games like today's where it's a case of gradually grinding the opposition down - as long as we do get the goal!

Agreed, I thought we were solid today and dominant. Maybe not sparkling, but good and it matters not when we score, as long as we do.

 

[grafikhaus]

Just me who quite enjoyed the game then? Nothing but another team who couldn't handle us for a full ninety.

If I was a NTFC fan, I'd be pissed off with their lack of ambition. Up against a clearly jaded United whose laboured attacking was going nowhere fast, I think they will regret not having more of a go at us.

 

[PokerBlade]

I found it mind numbingly frustrating til the final 10 minutes when we decided to finally show up.

It coincided with Clarke fucking off as well. Funny that.

Yeah, it's frustrating when we aren't carving teams open, but I thought Northampton at least came out of their box a bit and tried to put us under pressure. A few key players didn't have one of their better days (Clarke, Fleck, Duffy) but a recurring theme now is us gaining control and increasing the pressure. While the opposition are fading we seem to be getting stronger. Good subs by Wilder and a switch of formation to create something different that they couldn't handle.

 

[PokerBlade]

If I was a NTFC fan, I'd be pissed off with their lack of ambition. Up against a clearly jaded United whose laboured attacking was going nowhere fast, I think they will regret not having more of a go at us.

I think it's an impossible balancing act for teams like them at the moment. Can't defend for ninety minutes, can't attack too much and leave gaps. Basically, we're just a lot better than they are.

 

[Bladesman]

Yeah, it's frustrating when we aren't carving teams open, but I thought Northampton at least came out of their box a bit and tried to put us under pressure. A few key players didn't have one of their better days (Clarke, Fleck, Duffy) but a recurring theme now is us gaining control and increasing the pressure. While the opposition are fading we seem to be getting stronger. Good subs by Wilder and a switch of formation to create something different that they couldn't handle.

They barely moved out of their own half and when they did have a chance to catch us on the break they did bugger all.

 

[PokerBlade]

They barely moved out of their own half and when they did have a chance to catch us on the break they did bugger all.

Don't think that's fair to them early on. I mean, largely they were playing on the break but they still got forward and nearly caught us out in the first half. As the game went on they got deeper and deeper, but I don't imagine that was entirely by choice.

 

[grafikhaus]

Yeah, it's frustrating when we aren't carving teams open, but I thought Northampton at least came out of their box a bit and tried to put us under pressure. A few key players didn't have one of their better days (Clarke, Fleck, Duffy) but a recurring theme now is us gaining control and increasing the pressure. While the opposition are fading we seem to be getting stronger. Good subs by Wilder and a switch of formation to create something different that they couldn't handle.

We've scored over 2/3rds of our goals after half-time.