Mansfield (h)

[A view from the east]

That was a tough opening fixture and we came through it well. Mansfield will give some of the others in L2 a hard time this season and the lads matched them physically and mentally.
We looked most dangerous with the ball on the floor , hence the two missed chances. Another day and they would have been put away and we would have won comfortably.
Very encouraging start but still don't like one up top at home and agree with the Rico / Toney partnership. Also not sure where John Jo is going to fit into this team.

[The 12th Marquis of Sixfields]

We've not scored many against teams in higher leagues, we've thrashed a couple of local non league sides...ok, we only got a goal a game at the Scottish team and Eastleigh but they were both played away.

Wellingboro' and Sileby 

[DrillingCobbler]

Wellingboro' and Sileby 
[/quote

Look at our players mate, individually. I said there were no goals in the team this time last season, and couldn't understand why people thought there were. This time around it's the opposite.

Anyway. Football divides opinion like nothing else. We will see!

[The 12th Marquis of Sixfields]

I'm looking at them individually but they play as a team. Hopefully give it a few matches and they'll find some form but at the moment and for the pre-season games there's not been much in the way of goal threat.

Fantastic save from Duke anyway

[ntfclad]

Disagree, thought there was a lot of goal threat out there today. Could have been 3 or 4.

[DrillingCobbler]

Duke was my mom. Agreed.

My only concern is that we don't try and build a team around JJ. We were differ gravy when Toney came on and we reverted to 4-4-2. JJ has a huge role to play but not in the hole at home. Thankfully Wilder gave up on that after about 55 minutes and that bodes well. During pre-season he persisted with that in the 'balanced games opponents wise', he will score goals but the team will struggle to as a whole. I wouldn't be adverse to today's starting line up being used in away games though...

[cricketside]

The previous home game in a 3 sided ground was...

Tuesday, October 12th 1994, saw the last ever league match to be played at the County Ground. This saw a 1-0 defeat for the Cobblers, at the hands of Mansfield Town (attendance 4,993).

[DL2]

Disagree, thought there was a lot of goal threat out there today. Could SHOULD have been 3 or 4.

[Coolcat]

Blimey was expecting a sell out - plenty spare seats in North and West Stand  
Although only 1-0 the better side won  - not much to moan about except O'Toole had an indifferent game.
Altogether 8 Stags evicted from Ground including 3 from West Stand.

I'd mirror that..JJT looked quite frankly a bit of a lazy bastard, though did get stuck in on the odd tackle towards the end.
Duke barely troubled throughout.
We will be visiting Mansfield!

[HertsCobbler]

I think JJOT will work better in away games.

At home would like to see us play both Rico and Toney.  Toney appears to have added wind up merchant to his trick and could well have got a penalty when their number 2 decided to grab his shirt.

We did have a couple of very nervy moments at the back though.  Last season those would have gone in though so I am not complaining, it was also good to see Wilder make early changes which would never have happened under Boothroyd.

[lodgeadam]

My view of the game...

Duke made a massive one handed save in the first half and apart from a couple of indecisive moments had a good game.
Defensively we were pretty solid, Diamon and Collins made few errors, Alfei was great down the right with Hackett. Robertson I'm not a fan of, can't seem to clear that well and his inability to use his right foot is painful at times, but still an okay performance.
Midfield were impressive even without O'Toole getting much of the ball, RR and Coach Carts did well one the ball with Hackett & Mohammed playing as well as any wide players I've seen at Sixfields, some great corners/free kicks too.
Strikers played some fantastic little passes/touches and knockdowns with Richards & Toney looking lively together, was surprised to see how quick Richards was on his feet second half actually. Toney seems to have it all, usually with a raw talent you see pace and skill but no ability to see a pass or play a clever flick on but with this lad he was doing it all; fantastic first touch, close control and his accurate little passes were a joy to watch. Also him being a complete and utter f***iing nuisance to their defence was fantastic, well done to the lad for keeping his cool!

A very pleasing opening game of the season, if it were a 0-0 however the finishing may have concerned me!

[Coolcat]

Duke was my mom. Agreed.

My only concern is that we don't try and build a team around JJ. We were differ gravy when Toney came on and we reverted to 4-4-2. JJ has a huge role to play but not in the hole at home. Thankfully Wilder gave up on that after about 55 minutes and that bodes well. During pre-season he persisted with that in the 'balanced games opponents wise', he will score goals but the team will struggle to as a whole. I wouldn't be adverse to today's starting line up being used in away games though...

Duke mom...are you on this planet??? Had absoluetly nothing to do whole match...you must have been sitting with the match sponsors!
Agree with ntfclad...could have been 3 or 4...had 'he's one of our own' done the easy bit and slipped it in on a few occasions!

[Cobbler78]

Well, I thought we looked really good, the defence looked solid, Duke still makes me nervous when he has time to think about what he is doing but kept a clean sheet, the front 4 of K-Mo, JJ, Richards and Hackett looked a threat and Ravenhill and Carter looked OK.

Richards looked a little isolated in the 4-2-3-1 formation, but Toney and him linked up really well when he came on. JJ looked skillful but a little slow at times and K-Mo looked both good going forward and also, surprisingly for a winger, not afraid to get stuck in and has some good strength.

A sign of a good team is to look at the bench and we had Toney and Horwood there who would get into most League Two teams, plus Morris and Tozer are solid with Langmead and Nicholls to come. Remains to be seen what will happen with Sinclair

Dont want to get too carried away, but I think we will do more than ok this season.....Sod it, we are gonna win the league!!!!!!

[tcobb]

 I thought MOM for Duke was a bit strange. Good performance, 3 points on the board, team looks like it should and will improve. O'Toole looked out of sorts, hopefully he will improve.

[lodgeadam]

I thought MOM for Duke was a bit strange. Good performance, 3 points on the board, team looks like it should and will improve. O'Toole looked out of sorts, hopefully he will improve.

I think the 'problem' with O'Toole is that he is so calm on the ball he looks like he's not trying, think he can be a massive presence this season.

[Alwaysdark]

Hi AD what's your opinion of the game and what did you think of the sound system? Just asking.

Both very poor quality. Was also very disappointed with the pre game music, the run out music, our fans were very quiet, no starlings, the ball boys, the sun in my eyes, the low turnout, only one goal, the toilets, the referee and his officials, the away fans, the football, the home kit, the pitch, Clive Platt, the substitutions, the dragons choice of instrument, Clive Platt, the total lack of support from the east stand, the owls, the half time entertainment, Clive Platt, the formation, Artlenock Cobbler's seat, the smell of shite, No ring of fire, the club shop, the litter, Clive Platt, Marvo and we still haven't resigned Bayo.  

[guest47]

I think the 'problem' with O'Toole is that he is so calm on the ball he looks like he's not trying, think he can be a massive presence this season.

I agree, he looked like a quality player having an off day - shame it had to be on his debut. Compare that with the excellent first game by Kaid Mohamed, virtually everything went right for him today.

[Alwaysdark]

I think the 'problem' with O'Toole is that he is so calm on the ball he looks like he's not trying, think he can be a massive presence this season.

Clive Platt ?

[everbrite]

Both very poor quality. Was also very disappointed with the pre game music, the run out music, our fans were very quiet, no starlings, the ball boys, the sun in my eyes, the low turnout, only one goal, the toilets, the referee and his officials, the away fans, the football, the home kit, the pitch, Clive Platt, the substitutions, the dragons choice of instrument, Clive Platt, the total lack of support from the east stand, the owls, the half time entertainment, Clive Platt, the formation, Artlenock Cobbler's seat, the smell of shite, No ring of fire, the club shop, the litter, Clive Platt, Marvo and we still haven't resigned Bayo.  

That's all very well AD but what did you think of the game?

[Alwaysdark]

That's all very well AD but what did you think of the game?

Do you need some help?