The Hotel End

Above us in the table therefore we once again systematically take them apart

;D let’s hope so, don’t think they are anything special.

Without wanting to build them into something they’re probably not, they look pretty useful this season - on a good run and have got a very decent striker in Lubala who can’t stop scoring. Ollie Palmer is a handful on his day too - a big, physical lump. We’ll have to match the performances of the last couple of home games to get the 3 points.

Looking forward to tomorrows game.

IF we were to win, that's 16 points from the first 10 games. I doubt anyone would have realistically expected more before a ball was kicked back in August, given we'd put together a completely new team, slashed the wage bill and sold our best player from last season, Aaron Pierre.

IF we win, Id say that's a very fine start and testament to our managers work throughout the summer. If we win and 'entertain' Id go as far to say he's done a fabulous job so far, given it would be 3 on the spin at home of cracking performances.

A defeat and its lower mid table, 13 points from 10 and we will all be fcuking moaning again!  ;D ;D

I predict a 2-0 win, my confidence in my clairvoyant “advisor” has returned. Apparently, the 1-4 us message I got against Stevenage was actually 1 for us! Apologies to Baldy and everyone who lost money, normal service has resumed.

What's the wise money saying about Brexit, Melbourne ??

I'm going for a 52% vote in favour...just a hunch!

Let’s hope we don’t manage to go top at any point then

Crawley is one of the least attractive fixtures in my book. There's nothing about them that interests me. However I'm looking forward to the game and seeing if we can maintain our improved form or improve further.
A tentative prediction of a 3-1 win.

Does anyone in Westminister or Brussels have a relative passed to the other side named John, Jack (Jacques) or James? Well he says don’t worry, it will probably work out for the best. I think it will be neither particularly beneficial or detrimental, there will be initial turmoil and then things will remain pretty much the same making the whole thing a waste of time. A bit like most Cobblers managers tenures.

Will KC go 4-4-2 from the start today?

I reckon he’ll stick with what has worked in the last two home games.

Is Harry Smith suspended for today?

Yes he is.

Jean-Jacques says......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIX_6EVf7pI

Pretty apt.. most of the time on here...

So do I, but I just wanted someone to talk about football...  ;)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EE_W_jQX4AE7OPa.jpg)

We're getting a bit of a settled side, with only enforced changes being made.
Looking to continue our home winning run today...

Our last home game against Crawley was the most dull match I've ever witnessed, a mind-numbing 0-0 with virtually no chances. Here's hoping today is a vast improvement!

Never had Lewis Young down as a captain.

PEN to US

Get in!

1-0 Linesy from the spot...

Get in there!!!

Did you check the table yet Baldy? I haven't bothered...

The Goodemeister is having a stormer..

Watford 5 down after 18mins. Poor old Deano.

Blimey we're 6th. We've got this league in the bag!!!

Willo and The Hoskemeister would rip Man City to shreds

Games getting a bit scrappy. I'll start the ironing..

Dallison-Lisbon
Grego-Cox
Enigbokan-Bloomfield
Nathaniel-George
Sendles-White.
Must be infectious.

How many garments?

Yep, they will do when we play them in the cup later this season.

Jack Bridge follows Harry with a goal and a red card

Ffs give it to Willo.

That saved pen has given me a very bad feeling

Only 4 today my tweed jacket went to the cleaners

Olly on for Adams

Really need a second here they're getting closer..
That Lubby fella is a menace

Good decision. Safety first. Anything can happen to tweed jackets.

Get in there!!!

Yessss!

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS McWillo

Time to go for the kill:

I truly believe there's a 3rd goal in us..

Has the great Soothsayer and his sidekick Acorah done it again??

I don't

Curle out

Sack 'em all!!!

I wish you hadn't said that DC.

20mins of hell now.

Its never easy is it..

Willo off for the Kajmeister

In Keith we trust.

Is that McWilliams' first goal for the first team?

Tim O thinks so yes.

Yes
The others so far are
Willo 4
Watson 2
Goode 1
Smith 1
Turnbull 1
The Hoskemeister 1

6 mins added

I've got a very bad feeling about these 6 minutes.

I take full responsibility.

FFS 2-2

FFS.

So obvious

Two points dropped today. Curle will not be happy.

Ffs. Chumps

What a kick in the teeth.

so do I, fcuk it

You're bad, and you should feel bad. You've let a lot of people down. Now I want you to go to your room and think about that.

;D

I thought the same.  But came across very upbeat in the post match interview.

He did didn't he.
Perhaps he's happy not to raise the bar too much this season.
It's a journey not a spin round the block we are all going on afterall.

I'll quote you when I hand my betting slip in at Ladbrookes come the end of the season. I'm sure they'll see your point of view.

So angry with the result today 2-0 up at home missed pen and we fcuk it up after such a good run of results. On the plus side we didn't lose but It feels like a loss

Not Wilderesque but getting there, we seem to be missing the goalscoring  feature of Wilders team in not being able to finish teams off .Too much negativity about last years performance at Morecambe look at the bigger picture, Curles track record in the North West last season was very impressive.

Apologies R, the message was 2 to Northampton vrs Crawley. Having touched base again with my “informant” the actual message was 2-2 Northampton vrs Crawley apologies once again whilst I get the hang of this.

I keep telling myself that if we were offered 7 points in the week before the Newport game we probably would have all taken it - it’s still a bitter pill to swallow though.

Due to the conditions, we were not able to do our pressing game, and we gave Crawley far too much time and space to play.
Our second goal was class .... And for most of the game Williams struggled upfront on his own - we looked a different team when Oliver came on to support him.

Would have won if Smith played - Williams very easy to handle

Been at the sherry again  ;D

Scrappy horrible goal to concede at the death. Reasonably good performance for the most part so I don't feel too downbeat. McWilliams MOM for me, Williams again got through a lot of work and some lovely touches to create something out if nothing. Hoskins full of endeavour again. Kana looked more threatening than Adams. A goo week, 7 points from 9 ands some winnable fixtures coming up,

I thought Williams did well, but could have used some support. Unfortunately I think he more or less became exhausted and had to be subbed.

Oliver was very good again though, I'm impressed with him more each time I see him.

Very difficult to criticise the lads today despite throwing away the lead .
The endeavour was evident throughout and we should have killed them off in the first half when we were totally dominant.
The problem is that our game is based upon a high tempo and we badly tired in the second half. So many players just ran out of steam and spaces were created . I thought Macwilliams , turnbull and Williams really suffered . As a result we looked like we sat back .
Really enjoyed the game though .

I think you are getting as blinkered as others on here. I thought you was above that,

It takes a while to get the fine tuning right Mr C.

what conditions were they then

You'll always take 7 points from 9 so I won't moan too much about chucking 2 points away yesterday. I thought we played some good stuff and looked very comfortable defensively until Oliver came on. That's not a dig at him at all, it's just the slight change of shape that came with the substitution meant we were very narrow in midfield with no one protecting the full backs at all. The first Crawley goal I think was mostly down to that, although the time allowed to pick the (very good) finish was also criminal. I think Curle fixed the formation problem when Kaja came on for Williams but then we sat back too much in the last 10 or 15 minutes. If only the second penalty had gone in...

Just a few random observations after watching the highlights: our first penalty was never a penalty, it looked more like a foul to them if anything. I thought we possibly “scored too early” and slightly sat on the lead, the midfield dropped too deep at times leaving Williams exposed - he ran himself into the ground. I don’t know if it’s the case but it almost looked as if we possibly relaxed when they took their best/most dangerous player (Lubala) off, letting the sub onto his right foot for the first. It’s a shame for the equaliser that warburton got turned far too easily in the box but I suppose that’s the danger in coming on so late and having to pick up the pace immediately. On a side note, I noticed Steve Morison in the west stand - I know he’s a local lad but it’s a bit strange as Shrewsbury had a game - he was sitting next to mick harford who I assume was scouting Lubala for Luton.

The highlights show how badly we tired . For the first goal ,players were struggling to close down from the beginning of the move. As soon as Adams went off we were exposed down our right side and Harriman had little protection .
The change of shape with the subs really didn’t help us at all .
It’s harsh to be critical though - I thought we played well overall.

It was hot 25/27c - did you not notice?

1

Replacing Lines with Warburton was not a very clever move by Curle - striker for midfielder. Williams needs to stop trying to arm grapple with defenders and concentrate on trying to win the header. He’ll get more fouls that way. Oliver is much better at winning the ball.

In my opinion the problem yet again was with the substitutions. At 2-0 we should have brought on some extra strength in midfield but using Scott Pollock instead of Kaja. Williams has put in a good shift but should have stayed on the pitch. I had no problem with Oliver replacing Adams who I still think is underperforming. The changes that should have been made should therefore have been Oliver for Adams and Pollock for Lines and these should both have happened on about 70 minutes. If a final change was really necessary it should have been a bit earlier than the 88th minute and Warburton certainly wouldn't have been my choice. I would have preferred Jay Williams who could add some defensive strength to help us see the game out. Warburton is pretty lightweight and at that stage you need someone who can put in a tackle.

I said it after the first game of the season, and I stick by it, we are not as fit as we should be. I know it was hot yesterday, but it was hot for Crawley as well. I know it could be the way we are playing, certainly so in Williams' case, but we seem knackered after 75 minutes and let in late goals as a result.

Another decent performance yesterday, shame about conceding at the death, it’s always hard to take, especially the manner of the goal as well. McWilliams was easily MOM in my eyes , an energetic, tackling display capped with a fine goal , scouts will be watching in abundance if he has a good run in the team and doesn’t get injured. Although it should have been 9 points from 9, like has been said ,most would have accepted 7 from 9. If we are going to progress up the league, the next 3 games are all winnable against teams struggling, 7 from 9 though would put us in a good position to have a successful season.

Semi decent crowd who were clearly expecting more! As for Crawley thought they were very ordinary with misplaced passes a plenty. Late PS why is the North Stand so poorly attended for the last two home games.
Pity Lines missed the penalty straight at the goalie with a weak shot compared with the first. Defensively ok until the last 20 mins. Big lesson from Crawley who never gave up and who went searching for goals which were not necessarily there. Why on earth we had to surrender the midfield as we did in the last 20 mins.  Personally I thought that Lines had a so so game seemed to go awol at times. Turnbull was quiet with one or two good moments. No big drives from him which has been such a feature in recent games. Very disappointed by Harriman who back tracked more quickly than Monty Python on judgement day when faced by their winger. Inevitable goal followed. Should Cornell have saved it based on his current form - probably not? Certainly the second goal should have been avoided; a result of timid defending in the last quarter. To be quite honest Williams gives me the abdabs; he showed what he can do with a dribble into their penalty area (2nd half) and it took 3 players to dispossess him. Why cant he do this more often? He also needs to be bolder when trying to win headers - after all he is 6' plus! True he did win some headers but was not closely challenged.
Hoskins was Sammy - bit of a bridesmaid although I thought McW was more worthy of MOM accolade. Adams still over hits some of his crosses. About time McC was fit and ready for action too; we are definitely missing Watson with his upfield drives. Can appreciate Lines sub' if it was Warburton can understand if it was made to give impetus to a tiring midfield.
For Morecambe would draft in McC and push Turnbull further upfield and replaces Harriman with McW! Certainly bring in Smith together with Williams to terrorize a shaky Morecambe defence....I hope!

so we're playing a type of football that we are unable up play for around a third of the season?
Handy.

A third of a season? Christ Climate change has taken a hold!

Totally agree. I thought that was Seans best ever game for us and that was before he scored.

You get a better view from the East.

 ;)

I agree Harriman didn't get much protection for the last 15 mins, but got to say it. I thought their left-winger had him on toast. I really think Harriman went to pieces, he didn't no whether to go tight on him, he didn't show him down the line once, the lad just cut inside every time. It was an accident waiting happen and it did! Still got to say 7 points from a possible 9 in a week is a very decent return.

I think Harriman is suffering late on due to the lack of a proper pre-season but will keep improving.

Yet again Hoskins had 3 shots and ALL 3 were off target but his general play has improved.

Williams, Oliver and Smith are too similar and we are suffering because we have no pacey athletic forward to stretch a defence.

We are improving but I would like to see more game time, from the bench, for our youngsters like Pollock and Roberts!

Just the first sentence I'm responding to;
Absolutely gutted coming out of the ground yesterday - felt of course like a defeat! Did think though, Crawley were very good. Fast, physical (if not a little dirty at times) and on reflection, a draw about the right result on balance of play if not outright chances.
Thought Harriman did well, linking up with Adams.

Also, regarding the North Stand - credit where due, first time in a while outsinging the Upper West and maintaining throughout.
Put that down to it being Dan's birthday and consumption of whisky playing its part!  ;D

And the West. There is nothing to stop people changing stands these days, so as long as we aren’t playing in front of sellouts there are plenty of seats free in the West.
£249 for a North Stand season ticket and spend most of the season in the West or East.....

I agree . We should have put on more defensive players that could close down . Jay Williams should certainly have come on when lines went off . Crawley were very good on the counter and I enjoyed watching them but we should have closed ranks .
People are being a bit harsh on Harriman . He is solid but lacks game time . He has definitely improved us defensively but admittedly didn’t deal with their attackers coming into his left side side very well .

Swapping stands? Oooh, you cheeky monkey.

 ;D ;D ;D Yes I'd put it down to that reasoning too.

Away games always appear quieter when you are absent as well.  I assume that the falling down water is involved in that as well...  ;D

Quite so Dan - you have a lot of accountability for the eerie silence which followed you days of the big sulk  8)

Sadly away for Morecambe but will be at Sunny Scunny   :-*  ;)

Maybe not so bad a result after all!  ;)

In sunny Bristol...
#northants