You can say it as much as you like, I'm never going to agree with you.

We were better after being gifted the goal, that was what changed the game, not the substitutions.

Agreed Marvo.

Nothing wrong with you having a different opinion Larry. But it won’t alter the fact that a few of us differ.

For the record whichever team gets picked on Tuesday gets the full support of everyone in the fan base, and hopefully there won’t be any daft comments about “haters”.

For the record I’d be happy making 11 changes tomorrow if it guaranteed a win on Tuesday.

Fancy us though to beat them even though they’ve clearly improved under Jones.

Not quite sure I'd refer to Charters as a 'boozer'...hence the pun! 

I enjoyed it. Maybe we will get boated there 😉

Where are people drinking before this? Any recommendations?

Some at Charters I'd imagine...if you are able to barge your way in!

What Rob said. Good boozer and close to the ground.

Do you believe this to be a decision by the club, or the local plod?

Posh.

Tit for tat is exactly what’s happened.

On the subject of tit for tat, hopefully we reciprocate next year with the ticket pricing.

It’s a fcuk you to us and Cambridge for our measly away offerings I’d expect.

Absolutely agree Nigel. To back up the more avenues of distribution, since Sam’s injury at Portsmouth, these are the goals and assists.

Pompey - Leonard
Bolton - Bowie
Orient - Leonard (A Hondy), Bowie (A Pinnock), Simpson
Rovers - Brough, Pinnock (A Brough), Leonard (A Pinnock)
Oxford - Hondy (A Leonard), Springett (A Hoskins)
Burton - Leonard (A Pinnock), Pinnock.

That is a very nice mix and demonstrates that more players are involved in the attacking half. It is also very good that Sam does feature, and so Brady will need to work out how to get similar outcomes, with him in the team.

Look at the transformation of Hondermarck in that time. He’s playing more advanced and easily performing at his highest level since joining the club.

Leonard and Mitch are having opportunities to have a few more  shots because Sam isn’t shooting on sight.

For me personally, I’d keep Sam on the bench currently and get him hungry to earn back his place. When he does get it back, it needs to have been earned and not simply because he is back fit. Again, that can be only be a good thing for the club as it means performance levels are higher.

the talk of hoskins / pinnock and with or without etc comes down brady having to get his best 11 out on the pitch.

leonard is our best number 10, so he must play there, usually brady has stuck pinnock in there to get hoskins in the team, so we lose out with both pinnock and leonard not in their best positions (IMO).

at the minute, if simpson starts CF, then its a straight shoot out between pinnock, hoskins and bowie for the 2 other forward roles....................if bowie starts CF, then both hoskins and pinnock can play in the front 3.

Absolutely right about Leonard and Mitch’s positions 👍🏽👍🏽

[As other have stated, the aim has to be to incorporate Hoskins in the side without changing the way we play when he's missing. Brady knows what he's doing, I'm sure he can work out a way to do that.]

I've delved a bit deeper into Hoskins stats as many of you have said the 9 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats in the 13 games he's missed since Brady took over wasn't a big enough sample.

Since he signed for the club in 2015, a period that has seen three promotions and 2 relegations,

Hoskins had played in 323 League games. With him playing, the team have managed to secure 126 wins, 87 draws and 110 defeats, scoring 418 and conceding 404. There have been 70 games when he hasn't played in which we won 31, drew 16 and lost 23, scoring 95, conceding 92.

So with Sam we've secured points at a rate of 1.44 per match and scored at 1.29.
Without Sam it’s 1.56pts per match and 1.36 goals.

So while we've done better without him in the team, there's not too much in it. You could say it hasn't mattered much whether he's played or not.

The difference since Brady took over is amazing though, especially when you consider that these last two seasons have been Hoskins purple patch. 2.23pts per game without him, 1.53pts with. That's a massive difference. We've also scored at 1.85 goals per game without him as opposed to 1.3 with, so an extra goal every two games. Finally and I admit, this surprised me. We've conceded at a rate of 1.08 with him in the side but only 0.92 without him. I know some people have said we've missed him defensively.

As other have stated, the aim has to be to incorporate Hoskins in the side without changing the way we play when he's missing. Brady knows what he's doing, I'm sure he can work out a way to do that.

Thanks Marvo for doing the homework and for rightly adding the bottom paragraph.This isn’t something that’s Anti Hoskins. It’s just that there is evidence under Brady we currently perform better without him.

So find a way to play this way with him, and we will be even better. That’s a positive surely?

No dilemma whatsoever. Its his ticket to do what he wants with. And very rarely is the ground completely sold out, there are always tickets available somewhere within. Its more a case of you trying to make him feel guilty for not doing so.
Thats a bit naughty Evers. 

Have to say I thought similar.

[how fluid we are now playing without him]

I am astounded by the opinions surfacing on Hoskins that we play better without him some even quoting that how fluid we are now playing without him. Arguments or at best a difference in opinion on our prize asset! People seem to forget that Bowie and Leonard are loan players so when they are gone....they have gone. We have no
sugar Daddy to pay the Transfer fees to enable us to buy these capable players. Memories are short when Bowie was developing as a player last season and Hoskins was scoring for fun! This season he is our top scorer with 14 goals and none of our forwards is as yet near achieving 14 goals.
Seems to me that some are on a self damaging voyage based on a false premise.

We are. Thanks for supporting my quote 👍🏽☺️

That's a poor comment Dan - Burge was very good for us last season and his loss of form this season is fairly recent and probably due to injuries!

I don’t think it’s a poor comment personally but respect your opinion Evers.

His injury record as you’ve rightly alluded to is dreadful for a goalkeeper and will not be missed.

It's also a fact that it coincides with Burge's absence

Good contribution. On him though, I’ll be happy when he’s binned off in the summer 👍🏽

As has recently been said and apologies to other for regurgitating it.

We play differently currently and it’s much more fluid in attack. It’s weird that they can’t get this tune with Sam in the team, but we don’t. Mitch is one of the players thriving the most from it. IMO Sam needs to earn his place back in the side. I personally wouldn’t put him back any time soon based on recent performances.

In your opinion.

I never once said he’s unable to.

But he is playing very well currently, scoring and assisting plenty, and it’s fact that it coincides with Hoskins out.

Completely agree! With Bowie, Pinnock, Leonard and Simpson all playing well and contributing I think Super Sam needs to bide his time. Can still make an impact off the bench ala Oxford.

Me too. Pinnock is noticeably playing better. It could be a coincidence, but I don’t think it is.

I should add that Derby home clashes with an international fixture, so expect a final switcharoo to the end blocks 😱

Someone needs to edit his blocks. It’s either JB or Dan. 

I think Dan is better at maths.
Maybe JB meant that they have already hit their target of 7 points after 4 games?

Or maybe 4 games and 1 point in to block 3, they declared it didnt count and started again.

It definitely isn’t me who didn’t forget the change to the Oxford block position 😂😂 sort yourself out Jonny boy!!

But go on, here’s the latest.

Block 7
Leyton Orient 3-4
Bristol Rovers 3-1
Oxford United 2-2
Burton Albion 2-0
Charlton H (W3-2)

So far, 7 points from 12 and a good chance to make that 10 on Saturday.

Most pleasingly, look at all those lovely goals scored in the block. Averaging 2.5 per game, that’s what the fans want to see.

I really like Louis, and at the start of the season predicted that he would thrive in this league.

Sadly that hasn’t happened at all. I do think he could yet succeed, but don’t see it being with us. I would also let him go.

Unless he scores the winner at Posh next week, in which case I’d give him a life contract.

Probably the best player to ever play for the club.

Leonard.

I’ve been going to Cobblers games for just shy of 30 years.

I’m honestly struggling to remember many easier wins that today.

He’s a face that I’d think every reader/ poster of the forum would recognise.

Rest in peace Mark. Genuinely very sad.Rest in peace Mark.