1622
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: The 'Clare Balding' POTS: Bristol Rovers (h), 01/03/2014
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on: March 01, 2014, 23:18:15 pm
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McSweeney impressed me today - very assured in defence, good distribution and gets up well in support of Hackett - a natural athlete.
Diamond again very good though Doumbe almost cost us the game at the end.
Dickenson (struggled and invariably failed to beat his Full Back) and Connell disappointing and Sinclair not at his best. Marquis was excellent when he came on and must start - he really does upset defenders and thereby creates things.
Did Duke put a foot wrong ? I didn't see it. Back to his reliable best.
Ravenhill and Carter - better than Guttridge and Harding ? Just about.
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1624
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Bristol Rovers (H)
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on: February 28, 2014, 14:55:12 pm
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A real 6 pointer this one. We win and it drags them into the mire with games running out.
We ought to be too good for them especially at home with all our attacking options but it would be just like us to suddenly put in a poor performance after playing so well against two sides higher up the table than BR.
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1625
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Aidy Boothroyd for England???
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on: February 28, 2014, 14:34:51 pm
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Astonished really.
Perverse almost.
I thought AB'S negative, hoof ball tactics with us (denigrated by so many other L2 managers, commentators, fans etc) were the very opposite of what England's plans were for the future - emphasis on technique and progressive, passing football with Germany and Spain the particular models to follow (or at least learn from). That's even before noting that they were not a success.
The proof of the pudding will be in it's eating.
He must interview extraordinarily well.
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1626
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Where would we finish if the season started on Saturday?
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on: February 27, 2014, 14:36:09 pm
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I think we have a TOP 3 squad and would be able to make appropriate arrangements for changes on account of loss of form or injury given the current set up (I'd like to see what Connell would make of the creative midfield position if Carter wasn't available. We have good cover otherwise).
I would be interested to know what the on going players salary budget cost is of the current squad as against the original budget. If we are now incurring an additional £400k (annualised) then that represents something like the need for an additional 25,000 to 30,000 through the gates (very roughly) over a season. With this squad I reckon we would achieve this (good, winning football). As a potential massive bonus we might go further in the Cups and actually receive substantial offers on players.
I'm probably far too optimistic but ...........
nb The £400k figure is pure guesswork.
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1627
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Very Superstitious
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on: February 26, 2014, 13:18:29 pm
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I didn't renew my season ticket this time around and have missed the worst season in recent history. Does that count?
I don't buy into superstition at all. If you are run properly and your team is good enough you stay up. If the team keep winning and win half their remaining games I think they'll stay up. Even if I walk under a ladder,run over a black cat or renew a season ticket!!
Your certainly right about the Boothroyd era of this season but if I was you I'd be getting myself down to a home game soon. The Cobblers are playing a better brand of football than they have for a long time. There are very few weak links in the current side and they are winning and look dangerous going forward.
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1628
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Disappearing Punters?
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on: February 25, 2014, 23:54:08 pm
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The message needs to go out that we are playing football again and have some decent players being allowed to fulfil their potential - Hackett, Connell and Sinclair are all capable of turning it on. Diamond is a real Central Defender (Tony Adams like in his marshalling skills) and we defend like a unit, all of whose members look like they know what they are doing (individually and collectively). Duke is capable of some quality saves as well. Even the central midfield area looks more than competent now.
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1629
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Southend (H)
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on: February 25, 2014, 23:31:51 pm
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Just some thoughts;
1) Entertaining game. Credit to both teams wanting to play the game on the ground (mostly). 2) Sinclair was excellent 2nd half running their Centre halves ragged and creating the goal for Hackett (credit also to Connell for keeping the ball in and knocking it up towards Sinclair) though I thought he was quiet in the 1st half. 3) Marquis was running the risk of getting sent off as Wilder acknowledged in his post-match interview. 4) I thought the referee had a good game overall (pedantic about taking throws and free kicks from the right place but those are the rules) - it appears their goal was onside. I think he kept the lid on things quite well.
The transformation in our team in just 3 or 4 weeks is astonishing. We look thoroughly professional, have quality in every department and (in my view) look a Top 6 side. The last two performances have been our best performances this season (at least at home). I think we have finally "gelled" !
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1630
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Luke Gutteridge
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on: February 25, 2014, 23:12:54 pm
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wasteful, painful and distressing but we have maintain 7,000+ crowds. Seriously, this lot we have now are good, very good.
I can see you going straight through League 2 and thereafter League 1 as well with all that momentum. Is there any news on a new ground or has that all died a death now ?
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1631
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Southend (H)
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on: February 24, 2014, 19:02:19 pm
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Their supporters on their forum don't appear at all confident with regard to their prospects in this one. Looks like we are playing them at the right time.
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1633
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Carter and Deegan
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on: February 23, 2014, 13:04:49 pm
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With regard to Carter I lean towards the view that he plays better when others provide him with the platform (Ravenhill in particular but yesterday's defence was very solid) and he has players of the likes of Marquis, Sinclair, Connell and the wingers to aim for. He still looked ponderous for me but much improved - that run at the end of the game when he beat their Right Back was most unlike him.
Deegan is a just about adequate substitute for Ravenhill (if/when the latter tires).
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1635
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Wilder negativity.
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on: February 17, 2014, 11:29:13 am
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Wilder has loaded his signings with forwards (Connell, Sinclair, Marquis and keeping German), a left winger (Dickenson) and McSweeney is clearly an overlapping Full Back brought in to add to Hackett's threat. I believe the intent is clear.
With 10 home games and only 6 away games left and a week to prepare for a run of 3 consecutive games at home I would be amazed if we don't display a really positive, attacking approach starting against Hartlepool on Saturday. We are playing catch up to get back into the mix of sides with potential to avoid the drop. Playing with half an eye on a draw (especially at home) is not pragmatic. We must start winning and winning well to get some confidence into the team.
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1636
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Rumour - Lee Collins
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on: February 14, 2014, 23:42:13 pm
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Out for the season....................another injury!!! Get well soon Kelvin!!!!!
BBC website is saying Lee's foot injury is being assessed later today before the game to determine whether he plays or not so presumably back soon.
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1638
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Duke
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on: February 10, 2014, 13:29:16 pm
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Can you remember the dedicated goalkeeping coach we had for Bryan Harvey or Alan Starling. I wonder what was the name of the dedicated goalkeeping coach Gordon Banks and Peter Shilton had?
I suppose you believe that had Flowers still been here then Duke would have saved that first goal on Saturday? I'm sorry but this run of poor form goes much, much further back than when Flowers left. Don't offer footballers excuses, they'll bite your hand off for them.
I believe that if you are used to having a dedicated coach that you rely on to keep you up to scratch (or on your mettle) then you will miss him. I agree that in Utopia you would not need a coach.
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