The Hotel End

Weather and Covid permitting the Cobblers host the Gills on Tuesday night, a 1945 kickoff. The game will be played behind closed doors once again.

Gillingham won their last game before Christmas and saw their fixture today (Boxing Day) fall foul due to opponents Covid outbreaks so both sides will be well rested. Gills had lost three games prior to that 4-1 win at Rochdale, and they are without a draw in 8 games. They have also won away at Crewe, Wigan and Bristol Rovers.

Leading league goalscorer is Jordan Graham with 5 in 13, but overall leading scorer is our old striker Vadaine Oliver who has notched 7 goals, four of them in the league. The Gills have a relatively small squad, they have only used 23 players so far this campaign, John Akinde and Alex McDonald started their last game up front with Oliver left on the bench as an unused substitute.

Steve Evans manages the team, he has been in charge of 70 Gills games and has 26 wins (37.1%) alongside 23 defeats with 21 draws.

Head to head, many meetings over the years between the sides, 112 in fact, with the Cobblers holding the upper hand with 52 wins to Gills 41. The Cobblers have not won any of the last 4 meetings at Sixfields, the last time we met on 13th February 2018 the Gills walked off with a 2-1 win thanks to two early goals, Cobblers substitute Hildeberto Perreira was sent off in that game. The result levelled the 2-1 win we had got at Priestfield earlier in the season.
33 wins for us, 11 draws and 11 defeats over the years at Northampton.

Scheduled ref is Carl Boyeson, in 15 games this season he has dished out 56 yellow cards....no reds yet though. He hasn't officiated us since our 3-1 win at AFC Wimbledon back in February 18, and only a couple of months before that was his last visit to Sixfields where he was in the middle for the goalless draw with Bury.

Our extended break will have little impact & yet again we won't turn up!

0-3 Oliver hat trick

I'm hoping we are buoyed by christmas spirit.

1-0 Oliver (og) :)

0-4

Gills are supposedly long ball as well, so this isnt going to be a classic.

0-4 Gills (if played)

Come on you miserable lot. Where's your enthusiasm?

1-0 Cobblers.

Also, why do people keep saying "if it's played"? Any reason why it won't be played?

One persons miserable is another persons realism

They play our style but with better personal and signed our play off winning target man who is hitting the net for them whilst our strikers have been found out as nowhere near league one standard.

Rather than brand anyone with an ounce of realism as miserable can anyone give reasons why on current form they think we will beat (or have a shot) against Gillingham??

Because it's a football match played with 11 against 11 and anything can happen on the night. Surely, we've all watched football long enough to know that?

Shoey, I don't think Gillingham have better personal but they might have better personnel.

Water logged pitch?

Maybe, our pitch is a bit of a state at the best of times.

There is no rain forecast between now and kick-off, possibly a little snow midday tomorrow.

I really want to be positive TP but it just pi5ses me off more when they lose.

No motivation whatsover.
0-3

Still Curle remains..

We might beat them in a ploughing contest (best thing to do with our pitch) but certainly not a football match.

;)

It might be a very stupid statement but how about selecting players in their natural positions?

                   Mitchell

Harriman Bolger Horsfall Sheehan

          McWilliams Sowerby

                      Hoskins

              Holmes Rose Korboa

It is just a novel idea!!!

Official Stats: 

Gillingham last game v Rochdale (W 4-1) played 296 passes of which 70 were long passes (23.6%)
Gillingham previous last game v Accrington (L 0-2) played 323 passes of which 80 were long (24.7%)

We last game Lincoln (L 0-4) played 278 passes of which 108 were long passes (38.8%).... Lincoln 78 from 279 (27.9%)
Previous game v Oxford (L 0-4) played 234 passes of which 72 were long passes (30.8%).... Oxford 58 from 408 (14.2%)

So the Gills are nowhere near as long ball as us, and are less long ball than Lincoln but more long ball than Oxford!!

Nope, Hoskins at CB please

Despite the rumours on here that we did not offer Vadaine Oliver enough to keep him Steve Evans says we offered more money than Gillingham but Oliver wanted to move to a club established in division 1. So it appears there was little we could have done to persuade him to stay.

When he lives in Sheffield ? I find that a bit hard to believe, a "journeyman" lower league player turns down more money at a club within travelling distance of his home to sign for a similar sized club, an extra 120 miles away, on less money  ???

Carton - believe what you want to believe but if you want to see the article it is in the Kent Messanger and repeated on the division 1 transfer rumours site. Personally I cannot see why Evans would fabricate the story.

I'm not doubting your quotes at all, I'm just doubting if they are true. We all know Evans likes to "big up" everything he's involved with, it wouldn't surprise me that he's trying to make the Gills look "an established League 1 club" in some peoples eyes.
   As I've said lots of times, players look at football a lot differently to the likes of us, they see it as a job, which it is to them. Lower league players don't earn enough to live on for the rest of their lives, so I find it very hard to believe that a player would commit to a contract that would cost him extra hotel or rent down in Kent and to be away from his family when he could have stayed at NTFC, travelled home each night and earned more money. If that is the case, you would question the players intelligence, OK the Gills have been in League 1 for a couple of years but they are not a Pompey, Sunderland or Ipswich are they ? the only way the Gills will get out of League 1 is downward.

Maybe we offered him more if you include those performance related bonuses favoured by KC/KT but his guaranteed wage at Gillingham is higher.

Even when he was spanking all the money in the world with Crawley, he always downplayed how much he had spent on wages and that players were just moving to a non-league team with less than 2000 fans because they were uncontrolably ambitious like him. I don't believe a word of it. Don't think Gillingham have resources to do a Crawley of course, but there's no wany in existance they were offering less than us and he jumped.

Absolutely priceless, Steven Evans lied, never.  ;D
I bet you believe everything you watch on the BBC as well 😂😂😂😂

I certainly don't believe some of the cr@p a minority of posters write on the forum

Or maybe Oliver’s agent was playing both clubs off against each other? Assume neither manager knows exactly what each club offered the player for fact.

Think Oliver was attracted by the environment. Kent is the 'Garden of England', Royal Tunbridge Wells, Canterbury...One can see on immediately exiting Gillingham station, the wealth and opportunities which simply oozes!

Don't blame the money grabbing b*****d at all!  :D

Pointless debate that we will probably never know the truth of.

Only five of the twelve matches in our Division still on...  ::)

Very true but all the logic points to the Gills paying significantly more, to make up for the extra 4 hours and 250 miles on each round trip from his home. ;)

Quite surprised ours is one of the survivors given Medways case rates.

As I said a week ago, I’m amazed the league hasn’t been suspended, surely just a matter of time.

Plagurist...  ;D

Maybe he moved house?

😉👍

There is a slight difference in house prices between South Yorkshire and Kent but it is possible, but again, highly unlikely.

That doesn't happen does it?
People moving away from the area that they were born in?  ;D 8)

The Seal starts. Get ready for goals...

Team :

Mitchell; Jones, Bolger, Sheehan; Adams, McWilliams, Watson, Sowerby, Hoskins; Rose, Ashley-Seal.

Subs: Arnold, Harriman, Horsfall, Holmes, Missilou, Chukwuemeka, Marshall.

With the defenders all fit tonight, I'm not surprised Horsfall is finally dropped. Been a while coming but with injuries and suspensions he's always remained in the side.

I hope that’s 3 in midfield with Hoskins at wing back and not Hoskins as part of a front 3 with McWilliams at wing back

Renting in Gillingham would not be at the top of my list. Not unless you want a sofa in your front garden. And your high street to stink of p1ss. He could catch the train or drive, but that would breach Hong Kong fluey regulations. So hes in a Travelodge. For the forseeable future. Unlucky son. If youre fortunate they may serve breakfast.

Someone remind me please, is Smith injured suspended or just out of favour?

Injured I assume.

Not suspended and it would be strange for him to fall that far out of favour.

I was thinking that. This game is not going to be played on the floor.

Apparently not injured, just not selected in the 18  :o

Strange.
Holmes benched again, to come on for another 6 minute cameo?
Arnold dropped for Mitchell...I would have hoped Keith would have known who his number one was by now, irrespective of performance in the previous game.

Arnold is the better keeper, just.
Why BAS starting?
On a positive note back three looks better.

Agree Manwork, what exactly has Seal done to warrant a place? Think we will be harder to beat but not sure where goals will come from, I’m no Smith fan but his confidence will now be shot to pieces and in reality he has seen little of the ball.

Agree on Arnold, just. Why not Holmes instead of Hoskins behind the front two.
If a 5 at back why not Harriman (I know you dont rate him),
Because he's got new boots, Chuks wont sign, and Smith is 'ill'?

Well played CJ.

Lloyd Jones, you'll have to excuse me being old but have I missed something.

Free agent, signed for us today, last played a game last March for us when on loan.....released by Luton in the summer, has been training with us for a few weeks....

Thanks GPC

Hoskins 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 w@nk.

It must be soul destroying playing up front for us; you can make all the clever positional runs you like, you'll end up mindlessly chasing after an aimless hoof up the pitch anyway...

43% possession....we're bossing this!!

Wigan leading 4-3 at Burton now, have gone above us in the table.
MK leading at Swindon 3-1, Oxford trailing at rejuvenated Plymouth, and the Shrews goalless with Blackpool.

We've got this game in the bag!!!

Get in HOSKINS

Sammy on the spot.....

Get in!!

Yessss!!!

The Hoskmeister!!!

He's the greatest!!!

Never in doubt

Well taken pen, slightly dubious award though because I think Rose had lost control there!

2-0 rose

Get the fook in.

We're on fire!!

Dash for the playoffs......

Great play from BAS

The Rosemiester!!!

Ashley-Seal is looking decent tonight. Did someone buy him some boots with proper studs for Christmas?

hes the greatest

Seal did really well to control the ball on the pitch. Great instinctive strike from Rose. We are playing much better and look more secure at the back

Curles a top Manager...

What’s Kevin Wilkins link to Gillingham?

Turned the sound off now

Toggle Tim was prattling on about blowing 2-0 leads

Much improved performance...Sheehan makes a big difference

2-1 bollox.

Curle out!!!

He's got to go!!!

Mitchell  :P

Straight through the fcuking wall. Jones turned his back.

Wtf was Mitchell doing??

2-1 HT

This is going to be a loooong second half as I bet we'll go backs to the wall now.

Standing in the wrong place watching unfortunately.

Jones fouled by Akinde before free kick but then the wall disintegrated >:(

If there was going to be one signing and one signing alone this window, I think it should be on a quality keeper.

We dont have a very good history in defending a two goal lead. Im not looking forward to the second half.

Next goal key

MK Dons doing us a favour hammering Swindon. Burton have a mountain to climb.

Gillingham have got this game in the bag!!!

Ref decisions even, soft penalty for us and looked poor decision for their free kick

This.

Did the DJ get an eighties CD for christmas?

Not Mitchell's fault. It was the bloody wall for separating.

Dont have a very good feeling about the 2nd half..

Olivers on for the Gills.

His Brackley team beat Gillingham in the FA Cup.

I do

Sheens!!!!

I have a very good feeling about the 2nd half

YYYYEEEESSSSSSSSSS.

Get in there!!!

Sheehan!!

I truly believe theres a 4th goal in us..

Great start to the second half!

I don't...

BAS has got a lot of stick this year, but he's younger than McWilliams and would definitley expect him to improve before his contract finishes in two years time.

Hopefully

I don't

He's the greatest.....

I don't

Regan Poole on the scoresheet for MK, finished 4-1, Wigan claimed the win in a 7 goal thriller over Burton. Shrews are winning and Poxford drawing. We need to hang on to the win.....

I think I’ve worked out there’s 3 commentating. No.3 seems to have the Gills knowledge.

Plagiarist  ;D

;D

Doing that sitting deep thing again

4-3 to them then.

Seals boots still not good enough for him.
That or his brains too quick for his feet.

f*** it! That's 15 minutes to hang on without Sheehan there to tell the other idiots what to do!!

No3 is from BBC Kent. Presumably, his back up team could not travel, as they are in tier four.

Mcwillow and BAS booked

Hoskins starts right wing back and ends up playing inside out?

Chucks on for Rose, Harriman on for Adams and Horsfall for Sheehan, no cameo for Holmes tonight....

Seems like KC is buying himself some time with the win tonight, unlike Burton manager Jake Buxton who has departed following their defeat tonight.

Oxford still lead at Plymouth, 3-2 now...and the Shrews still hold the lead over Blackpool.

Theres some fruity language coming from the touchline.  ;D

Seal off Holmes on

one minute for Ricky tonight.
Curles way of making it known who's in charge.
3 needed points but wont do Holmes chances any good and we need him to feature longer term.

90+1

Bolger is solid tonight..

3-1 FT

Curle in this week

There's no stopping us now!!!

Championship football beckons.....

Credit where credit is due......we won....we scored 3......we're out of the bottom four!!

Or another money for old rope payday for Ricky CJ?

https://youtu.be/DY0tsKCB4lc

We’ve got this league in the bag.

Not sure which but the young man had a good game tonight

Thought the defence was pretty solid tonight, probably would have lost that without Sheehan and Jones in the back 3. Seal started to show some promise tonight. Danny Rose worked really hard all game. Happy this eve and something to build on for Sat

Great result given our recent trials. Bit annoyed at Sheehan and Rose coming off, whilst no damage done the changes often seem to benefit the opposition more than us? Again started to sit too deep and it made uncomfortable viewing for the last half an hour. Still that’s being picky, job well done and this will do us the world of good. 2 Shots on target for the Gills shows we pretty much controlled the game? Well done chaps.

Amazing how we can play when we want too. In Keith we trust.

Great result tonight, well done the lads, especially Sheehan.

Keith's actually doing Ricky a favour. Ricky gets his match fee.

I wouldn't think that's what anyone wants, he wants to play I'd say, and I can't see KC/KT being that charitable?

Second balls still too often shockers...as was Sowerby for most of the game.
Nice to see a bit more pressing in the 2nd half, hats off to a very good performance from BAS!

Couldn't agree more Horsham. :)

Good result and great battling performance. Created the best chances in the first hour, the midfield three pushed us up the pitch and BAS and Rose worked so hard.
Later in the game we defended really well and never gave the Gills a sight of our goal.
Sheehan seemed to be hobbling slightly when he came off, let's hope he's ok he makes such a difference.

If we can take the confidence out of this win and continue to improve then we have hope for the rest of the season. UTC.

Some thoughts.

1. IMO, wing-back is Hoskins' best position. His pace, his capacity to carry the ball and his ability to harry and press from a defensive perspective are are all attributes which are best deployed at WB. His final ball and decision making still leaves a lot to be desired at times, but this is less of an issue when playing at WB.

2. Playing Hoskins at WB means that Curle picked three genuine central midfielders for perhaps the first time this season. It was really refreshing to see us line up in a coherent, recognisable system (3-5-2/5-3-2) rather than the strange pseudo-3-4-3 bollocks we've seen far too often this year. Everyone was playing more or less in their favoured position, with no real square pegs in round holes. You could see the difference that this kind of tactical simplicity makes in the vastly improved performances of players like Seal, Rose and Watson. Seal and Rose looked so much better as a conventional partnership rather than running the channels as wide forwards in a three. Curle needs to stick with the proper 3-5-2 and sign some more quality in key positions such as wing-back, central midfield and up front. I thought Jones had a good game. At 25 he still has time to develop.


3. Having said that, we STILL sat back far too much in the second half. A better side that Gillingham would have punished us. We lack composure in midfield and we lack an 'out ball' other than hoofs into the channels - both of which are problems which Curle needs to address in the window.

Priority signings for me are:

1. Composed midfielder/playmaker type who can put his foot on the ball and enable us to keep possession
2. Wing-back with pace who can carry the ball and provide an 'out-ball' in addition to a bit of defensive nous (hopefully Mills will eventually prove to be the answer on the left, but we probably need a right-sided equivalent to challenge Hoskins)

Is it the case that he gets paid when he comes on or is it just necessary to be on the bench, I’m not entirely sure?

I’d agree with all of that Bungle, it’s about time radio Noddy got you in the commentary box I reckon? Rather listen to you any old day of the week.

I dont know Melbourne. Maybe TP is correct and Curle is doing him a favour by putting him on at the end so he can claim his match fee. If that is the case though I fear we might not see Ricky on the New Year?

Maybe he gets paid by the minute!! I'd be surprised if he got a "match fee" for coming on in the 91st minute....... don't see that as good "housekeeping"......

As per the transfer rumours thread, we need to get rid of someone if we want to get someone else in.....when its like that you start looking at players who seem "surplus".....it would appear he's far from a first team regular at this stage.

Before points one and two Bungle you first need to decide if Hoskins deserves a place in the eleven, it's not compulsory play him?

Which for me is a travesty. He's proved his fitness, if we can afford his wages, him and Sheehan should be the first two names on the team sheet.

Thing is that Holmes is in no way a "Curle type of player".......yes he was first on the teamsheet under Wilder and his style of play suited ours. Holmes would be chastised by this manager for going on a mazy run taking on players and firing into the top corner from 25 yards ala Stevenage away!

Ricky went in the Chron and said he was ready to take the shackles off and show us more of his 2015/16 style of play.....seems that Curle has stuck a few more padlocks on those shackles since!!

He certainly did 8)

He is a footballer. I believe they're on above the national average.

Your judgement is amiss CJ - Holmes has not played well enough imo to justify inclusion in the starting X1 let alone the bench.

I thought we played well tonight, even Benny played well, and I have to say I have not been impressed by him in game's past, hopefully he is now finding his feet in L1. Lloyd Jones slotted in well, and Sheehan made a big difference too, although I am not sure why he came off, unless it was to preserve him for Saturday and the challenge of Sunderland.

I was also disappointed to see Rose come off as he was working his socks off in both attack and defence, he should have had two more goals though.

As for Oliver, I didn't really notice him.

Let's hope we can play like that Saturday, Sunderland may be a big club but they are no great shakes.

Those querying Mitchells positioning for the FK, where should he have been standing?

Didn't someone say that Sheehan hobbled/limped off?

View from the opposition. Apologies for the photos...not so much the Fat Lady singing as screaming down the touchline!

Kent Online: Northampton 3 Gillingham 1: Gills lose out to strugglers.
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/sport/northampton-town-v-gillingham-match-report-239905/

Sheehan is the new Macca .
He holds the side together and is the leader .
He won’t let players like Bolger coast and we look a different proposition with him in the side .
Great win tonight and Curle must be relieved .

Win when there's no fans, we only win when there's no fans, win when there's nooooo fans.....

It looked to me like he was struggling with his left knee just before he came off, but he also had his wrist bandaged.

It does doesnt it  :(

I disagree Mr Curle  ;)

both of us cannot be right ;D

Agree with most of this and some genuine thought has gone into the message. The identification of giving the ball away so cheaply/often, a right sided player and good standard fwd to compliment/imrove the goals scored ratio are decent practical comments.

For the first time all 3 team units performed in the same match.

The back 3 communicated well (especially Sheehan) and did the simple things well.

The 3 midfielders (especially McWilliams) harried and then carried on occasions to the front two.

For the first time this season the 2 strikers combined with good movement and used the service provided well.

Now the hardest aspect, be consistant and repeat the performance against Sunderland!

If all fit , please KC select the same team, without any tinkering!

Well summarised by Boring Bar, I thought it was probably our best performance of the season. If we could just get Mills back and keep Sheehan fit then we could have a chance with hopefully some additions to come.

Is that because you think that his contract might not be extended?

I have been wondering whether it is Holmes himself who's said he won't renew.

Think about how it would look for KC if he opted against the extension of a contract for our talisman, given our performance levels?

I will be pleasantly surprised if Sir Ricky of Holmes signs.
Sheehan made a huge difference at the back organising, as did getting Horsfall out of the team.
Good win last night.

Was the 3rd guy on the commentary REALLY from Radio Kent, I thought he had dropped in from Barcelona, when he was describing all this cultured football being played by the team in blue. The game I watched was 2 teams playing a very similar style and, of course, we had the usual from the opposition "Northampton are a big physical team" when only Jones, Bolger and BAS would actually be described as "big"
     

2 things going forward, maybe it was a one off last night but I’d at least like to see us try:
1) continue with 3 in midfield
2) not have to have a ‘big lump’ at top.

Yeah he was. his name is Paul lloyd. He was the summariser providing the info. I have to agree with you though, some of his comments were a little odd. And monotone, he sounds like Holly off Red Dwarf. At least Terry Angus showed enthusiasm.

Other than losing his footing too much I think some of the criticism of BAS has been a bit OTT. I think KC signed him seeing a future potential but with the Nuttall situation he has had to play him more than he intended. Remember before joining us his only league experience was 5 games on loan at Accrington. Against Lincoln he was probably the best of a bad bunch with several times turning and getting away from his marker which he repeated last night and put himself about physically and made some good driving runs at their defense. I thought he and Rose both did well up front.
The defense was a lot more secure with Sheehan's return and Jones had a pretty good game. Pity about the wall for their goal but they were limited to only one other shot on target and when we restored our 2 goal lead they offered little threat. Also good to see McWilliams back breaking up play and driving forward through the midfield.

Very good point CJ. I'm making the assumption that Curle regards Hoskins as undroppable - an assumption which has been born out during the whole of his tenure so far.

I think Curle looks at Hoskins' superior work rate, pace and capacity to press and thinks 'I've got to shoehorn that guy in somewhere'.

However, often this shoehorning has been at the detriment of our overall tactical coherence. As I've said, for me, Hoskins doesn't work as an attacking midfielder at the top of a three in a 3-5-2; playing him there means we get overrun in midfield far too often because his passing isn't tight enough to maintain possession. We've seen that there are a lot of very strong, possession-based midfields in this division and last night showed that we clearly need three proper central midfielders to avoid being overrun.

Neither does Hoskins work as a wide forward in the 3-4-3 formation which KC has attempted to implement this year.

In my view, as I said, he should be used 1. a wing-back 2. in the three behind a striker in a 4-2-3-1 or 3. as a very decent utility option of the bench.

IMO, he just about deserves his place as a right-sided wing-back for now. If I was Curle I would be challenging him to improve his crossing and decision making when in possession. If he can do this then he could yet develop into a very effective player in this position because he has all the other attributes to succeed. However, I would also be looking to bring in another RWB in January to give him some competition.

Hoskins is a puzzle, as he had pace, work ethic, can dribble a bit and even finish which used to be his big weakness... but his crosses never beat the first man which makes him a waste out wide for how we play, and he's never going to win a ball in the air which makes him a waste in the centre for how we play.

One big positive with Hoskins is that his penalty taking is above Premier League class. The number of dismal attempts I've seen this season from Premier League performers is staggering.

Yes, but I hadn't considered Holmes choosing not to extend.
My guess is he wants to play first and foremost, provided the money on offer is not derisory, so yeah if he gets another offer that matches what we pay and he thinks he'll get more football.

He actually does win a remarkable number of headers for a man of his size and while his crossing is inconsistent he puts in some very good ones as well as those that don't beat the first man. By the way, he's probably also the best penalty taker we've had for many years and is our best player at moving into threatening attacking spaces, as well as the other advantages you mention.

He has a lot of attributes and a couple of defects, which of course his detractors constantly cling on to. It's actually quite pathetic to see how some on here can't wait to see him do something wrong to jump on his back. He makes mistakes but often when he's created an opportunity that wouldn't have been there for another slower or less positionally aware player.

I seem to be one of the few that actually agree with KC - as things stand he'd be on my teamsheet every game, though I'll admitt Sheehan would be the first name on it.

Hoskins winning headers   ;D Your having a laugh he jumps a good 2 or 3 seconds too early it’s hilarious.
I admit he is a lot better than he used to be, do you remember his shot last night that nearly went for a throw?
It’s all about opinions and mine is he can only be truly effective playing behind the front two, I also think he can fill in as a right sided wing back but only as cover when injury’s dictate.
If we brought in the correct players in Jan, Super Sam would be on the bench for me for the simple fact his abject lack of quality in the final third.

Think most Cobblers would agree with you; so don't be misled by a few who as you say who enthusiastically promote negativity against Hoppo'.

Your judgement (and eyesight) is amiss IMO

Good win against Mr Evans’ crew - well done KC and the entire squad.
It’s been said already, but I think we are following the same pattern as last year ...
If Goode and/or McCormack didn’t play we struggled. Replace that with Sheehan and McWilliams for this season - so far!
Holmes, Adams and Sammy will blow hot and cold but without the leadership, guts and determination of our 2 talisman we look a push over. With them, we look like we can compete at this level.

I can remember quite a few games were his crosses certainly passed over the first man for example against Swindon, Oldham, Bradford, WBA etc . Can also remember Smudger taking corners which failed to beat the first man (rare but it did happen against Huddersfield x 2).

 ;D Well you know what you can do with your opinion ;)

For those that complain about Tim O if you view the Gillingham board you will see several comments saying it was a good balanced coverage of last nights game.

On a different topic has anybody wondered why our league results this season are awful on Saturday afternoons but good on Tuesday evenings?
Saturday afternoons - played 7, won 0, drawn 1, lost 6, goals 2-15, points 1 from a possible 21.
Tuesday evenings     - played 4, won 3, drawn 1, lost 0, goals 6-2, points 10 from a possible 12.
Additionally on Tuesday evenings in the Papa Johns we beat Southampton U21's easily and Stevenage on pens.
Our only Saturday afternoon victory was on 5th September against Cardiff in the Carabao cup.
We have not scored at home in the league since the first game when we drew 2-2 with AFC Wimbledon on 12th September which will be 16 weeks this Saturday. Perhaps it might help if we get the Sunderland game put back to Saturday evening.

Only the 2nd time this season in the league, where we've 'looked like a proper league1 team'. The other time of course was at Burton, and they are very poor. So I think its fair to say that the game against Gills was our best performance of the season...

Sheehan, as has been pointed out, really does make all the difference. He helps us actually play the ball to the midfielders...without him in the team, its hoof all the way. This is why i have constantly defended KC, because you've got to have the quality to go toe to toe with passing teams, otherwise you've got to find another way at getting at them. Put simply, you cant expect a back 3 consisting of Horsefall, Bolger and Racic/Joe Martin to 'Alan Hansen their way out of defence'! It was much the same last season, with McCormack dropping back and carrying the ball forward before picking out a team mate. When he didn't play, we were much more direct and often less effective.

Basically, any improvements we make in January need to be (as KC calls them), 'technicians'. OR, and in order to implement hoof ball strategy to better effect, a big upgrade on Smith. Gills aside, in recent games, we've hoofed it up to a bloke who isn't good enough to play that role for us. Or if Im being kinder, his attributes don't suit that tactic.

Either way, we've got a template in place now to go forward with. Really enjoyed the match, only criticism would be that after we somehow didn't score to make it 4-1, we noticeably dropped back. No issues doing that in the last 15 minutes, but it was more like 30 minutes. If Gills had of found a goal from somewhere, the end result could have been very different. Id say that was purely tactically given we've done it so many times (last season) before, rather than a confidence issue! 

https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/football/curle-praises-ashley-seal-and-explains-smiths-absence-against-gillingham-3083143