[cite]Posted By: Red_Pete[/cite]Excerllent team performance today. I thought Burton was magnificent. The way he set up Sam for our 3rd was just so clever. And great credit to Youga for clearing that shot off the line. If that had gone in we may have struggled to come back from 2-0 down. That moment could prove to be the turning point of the whole season! Well played to everybody & real kudos to Parky too. His record is now just 3 defeats in our last 24 league games. You will struggle to find many better than that.
Burton's close control and laying off was top drawer today especially in the first half. I'm glad he scored because a goal was just reward for a lot of unheralded quality today.
Weird game, quite comical at times, probably due to the wind. Our defence seemed dodgy in the first half, with Youga at fault in the buildup for their first goal, which was a terrific wind assisted long shot. Then Youga redeemed himself with that great goal line clearance. Their defence was really dire. I wish we could play them every week. Ikeme made a great save so it could have been 1 - 3 at half time. Sam's goal was the pick. He just skipped past a defender and whacked it into the back of the net, an instinctive strike. Wish he would do that more often. Was puzzled when Sodje came on because I didn't know we had signed him. This win helped to give us our appetite for football back. Crowd looked a lot smaller than the reputed 17k.
[cite]Posted By: christian da valiant[/cite]How as the atmosphere today fellas?
I would understand if the crowd were a little nervous to begin with.
After they scored first, was there murmers of discontent, or did the faithfull raise there voices and help the boys on?
I don't get to many games, this was only my second live this season, and I thought the crowd were excellent especially given the recent run of results. Of course it helped that we equalised fairly quickly, but heads never dropped, and the Upper North went on a sustained barrage of chanting when it was still 2-1 and in the balance.
I too liked the ref because he was decisive. Lino in the second half gave some bad and very late offsides.
Excellent result today. Thought Mooney and Burton were good together today. Very pleasing that both scored. Bailey seemed to really enjoy being back in the centre of midfield.
Mk Dons were the mirror image of their manager today - constantly in the refs face.
Relieved we have bounced back, this was an extremely important win today against decent opposition. Helps to erase the cup defeat a little. More of the same please.
Thought Bailey was very influential and had an outstanding game in the middle with Semedo back to the form when we started the season.
Burton showed better form than of late and used his experience well to bring Mooney & Sam in to the game.
Great to see the goals have returned and could well have been more.
Overall defence were shaky in the first half but got to grips better in the 2nd.
The 3rd goal settled us down and gave my nerves a break.
Striker Firmani observed: ''Overall defence were shaky in the first half but got to grips better in the 2nd.''
Partly because Basey - who was the subject of some disgraceful comments on here over the last week - was today better than Richardson, who, perfectly understandably, struggled a little after his absence.
As said before, if Richardson did incur another serious injury today, switching Youga and playing Basey gives us a much more reliable full-back pairing than any defence that includes Omo.
One win does not make a season, but the pessimism of last week has now been turned and optimism comes to the fore. Next week will be no push over and they will have to apply the same grit, determination and skill as they did today. Yeovill in my mind are a pushover team, so I was surprised to see they had only lost once at home this season, maybe not such a pushover with our recent away record. Get that one out of the way and with our sudden abundance of richs up front we could seriously cement our automatic promotion place.
I could't go today. I am really delighted by the result and the performance against a strong side was clearly good. The block on the line at 1-0 was clearly crucial. Well done to Parky after all the criticism, even from me. What is clear and what I have been saying for a while is that we do have a strong squad. Basey is not the poor player that many have said, and Bailey was back on form, playing in the middle as many feel, including me, is his better position. All in all a great improvement and now to kick on again.
Fantastic result and a very open game. Have to give some credit to MK for their part in the game, although they were completely rattled. What the hell was that 20 man brawl about?
Anyway, as others have mentioned, the goal line clearance when we were 1 nil down was a real turning point as within a minute we were level.
Must say, Mooney looked great today - his movement and reading of the game looked world class in comparison to some of the forwards we have had of late. A joy to watch.
Burton seemed once again back to himself, so maybe well done to Parky for resting him as much as possible. He looked refreshed and we look so much better with him in the team.
Nice to see Parkinson also make changes and use a 4-4-2. Early on I felt that MK were perhaps a shade better than us, hence the importance of the goal line clearance and our goal. There are still a few question marls about how teams seem to cut through us at times, but one way or the other, we got the upper hand, and once in charge we looked the better team. Just goes to show how important confidence is.
Sam looked lively and his goal was brilliantly taken. Ikeme made a great save at some point but their keeper also had to make a fantastic save to prevent an own goal.
Agree with the earlier comment that we looked better without Shelvey. It just doesn't seemed to have really worked for him so far this season but I'm sure he still has a key role to play at some point.
Bailey was immense in the middle of the park. His dead ball delivery was also much more effective than most we have seen of late.
Thought the atmosphere was pretty good today - for a spell in the second half the crowd were really behind the team and this seemed to lift the players even more. Thought it dropped off a bit after we scored 5.
Thought the ref did well overall though I can understand the MK fans being irate as, at last, we had a bit of a homer. We seemed to be caught offside a fair bit though, but from where I was I couldn't see if they were good calls.
I hope that the players have regained their confidence. Sam was even doing a jig at the end and looked well happy. However, one game doesn't make a season. Hope we can build on this performance otherwise it counts for little. Delighted with the outcome though. Could have been six if that shot didn't trickle just wide of the post.
[cite]Posted By: chablis addick[/cite]
Thought the atmosphere was pretty good today - for a spell in the second half the crowd were really behind the team and this seemed to lift the players even more. Thought it dropped off a bit after we scored 5.
.
That's because they had to leave early ......"to beat the traffic" ;o)
Seriously though, good analysis in your post, Chablis.
Burton - awesome
Mooney - Andy hunt anyone?? Smart running, available and someone I'd love us to sign
back 4 solid including basey
Midfield much better balance. Sam looked up for it, semedo was everywhere, bailey MOM covered evry blade and racon is a good outlet but wasn't perfect today
all round loved it - made mkdons look very average.
Akpo looks useful - bloody fast too!
Can anyone in this league boast a forward line as strong as burton, mckenzie, sodge, mooney and I guess Macleod too? Suddenly we look much stronger up front and balanced elsewhere. Hope we can keep some of those strikers for good
[cite]Posted By: PragueAddick[/cite]I thought the crowd were excellent especially given the recent run of results. Of course it helped that we equalised fairly quickly, but heads never dropped, and the Upper North went on a sustained barrage of chanting when it was still 2-1 and in the balance.
This is a point which I think is worth highlighting. I wasn't there today, unfortunately, but I would concur that however negative it's got on the internet message boards recently the spirit has remained pretty patient and supportive in the crowds at the games.
[cite]Posted By: bingaddick[/cite]I could't go today. I am really delighted by the result and the performance against a strong side was clearly good. The block on the line at 1-0 was clearly crucial. Well done to Parky after all the criticism, even from me. What is clear and what I have been saying for a while is that we do have a strong squad. Basey is not the poor player that many have said, and Bailey was back on form, playing in the middle as many feel, including me, is his better position. All in all a great improvement and now to kick on again.
The thing with the squad is it wasn't strong when McKenzie was out injured, we didn't have Akpo and Mooney probably wasn't match fit. We were rotating Burton, Shelvey and McLeod. Add to that Holden looking like he's at least as useful as Wagstaff, the squad looks better than it did a few weeks ago.
Looks like we're the main match today on the Football League Show. It's on in a minute on BBC1.
Can anyone in this league boast a forward line as strong as burton, mckenzie, sodge, mooney and I guess Macleod too? Suddenly we look much stronger up front and balanced elsewhere. Hope we can keep some of those strikers for good
I think this goes to show that the team building is still a work in progress as far as Parky is concerned.
At the beginning of the season, he must have felt that he'd got his defence right, and the best midfield combination to suit the wealth of talent in those positions - but only Burton, of all his forwards then at his disposal, was really up to scratch.
So he picked a team and tactics to try and get the best out of what he already had.
Now with McKenzie almost ready to play a major part, Mooney groomed for a role - and now A Sodje here to add the physical pace and aerial power - he's suddenly got character and experience to add to Burton's abilities up front.
And with a much better balance.
He evidently still has a problem covering Richardson with Solly out long term, and it would be interesting to hear what Parky says about his keeper cover, with Elliot still out injured.
But more pieces of the jigsaw are being considered and putting in place.
Rob's not ready. He's done exceptionally well this week and his handling is no problem, it's just his kicking because of the groin problem. He'll be back before long, hopefully in a week or so."
That was from yesterday
As for right back, is Omozusi being judged a bit early? Not every player settles straight away and he's probably lacking match fitness. Unlike Mooney, he was thrown straight into the team from the start.
Good point about Omo, Sco ....... when first signed, Parky said it was with a view to permanent transfer - so there must be qualities to his game that impressed Parky. Not least that he's had a run of Prem and CCC experience.
Maybe most of us are too hasty in our judgement of him ?
It all goes to show that there are good loans and poor loans - and it's not only about the quality (or lack of quality) of the player coming in : it's also about the impact on the existing squad.
Ikeme seems very unfair on Randolph to me.
And Omo is just a joke, when Basey can slot in so well on the left and Youga is versatile enough to switch to the right.
But Mooney and Sodje are clearly an improvement on McLeod and Tuna -in the case of one because he's had his chance and doesn't look good enough and in the case of the other becuase he's not yet ready and his time will surely come.
Overall, though, I can't help feeling five - Ikeme, Omo, Holden, Mooney and Sodje - is too many and is too reminiscent of last season's horror show ( I think at one point shortly after Parky took over we had SEVEN loanees...)
So with Elliot nearly fit again and Basey more than capable, I'd like to see Omo and Ikeme on their way sooner rather than later....
As long as Elliot and Randolph are both fit, Ikeme surely won't be here much longer.
Omozusi came in when Richardson and Solly were both out, I can kind of understand that. He wasn't even in the squad today so he's obviously got a lot to prove, he came here looking for a permanent move
Holden is a cheap gamble, he's here for his chance to play full time, and Sodje is apparently here with a view to a permanent move. Mooney who knows, all depends what Readings plans are for him.
So I don't think it's too bad at the moment, agree with the point though. Loaning a player in doesn't always improve things. The problem the last few seasons was when we had players on loan we didn't need. Likes of Soares and Sinclair, then others like Cook who were a long way of being fit enough. Having 3/4 loans that clearly strengthen the squad, offer something different, and most of them potential permanent signings isn't a problem for me.
But each of the loans Nigel, are to address specific problem areas - in some cases, not to cover for injury but to provide qualities and abilities deemed to be missing.
With McKenzie very gingerly working his way back to fitness, and Burton feeling the effects of the hernia tear - it made sense to bring in Mooney. Parky said back in August that he was trying to bring in a big man up front, and was hoping to get back Kandol, so there was a recognised gap in the squad there - A Sodje has been pursued for a month before he signed today, and of course McLeod is suspended. It's better balanced front line options than we had starting the season.
But covering for injury, he's basically only brought in 2 players. With only 2 keepers, once Robbie was injured Parky had to get another keeper in, regardless of whether he considered Randolph to be up to standard or not.
With Richardson and Solly both being injured in the same week, and Youga playing out of his skin at LB and adding attacking thrust - Parky may well have initially preferred not to move Youga across. In any case, supposing Youga or Basey also got injured, Parky would still have needed to bring some cover in. Omo's out of contract, so he's a cheap option.
And Holden remember, was signed as the wild card long term prospect, brought in to see if he could eventually prove his worth. And he'd also be cheap, no risk.
Comments
Burton's close control and laying off was top drawer today especially in the first half. I'm glad he scored because a goal was just reward for a lot of unheralded quality today.
We always slag 'em off when they are hopeless (which seems to be the standard in div 3). But let's speak up when they do a good job.
And before anyone says it, I am not just saying that because we won ... (at least, that's not the only reason!)
Well apart from this guy, who's ''foobing' hilarious
http://www.moocamp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=34408
Fully agreee.
I don't get to many games, this was only my second live this season, and I thought the crowd were excellent especially given the recent run of results. Of course it helped that we equalised fairly quickly, but heads never dropped, and the Upper North went on a sustained barrage of chanting when it was still 2-1 and in the balance.
I too liked the ref because he was decisive. Lino in the second half gave some bad and very late offsides.
Bailey seemed to really enjoy being back in the centre of midfield.
Mk Dons were the mirror image of their manager today - constantly in the refs face.
Thought Bailey was very influential and had an outstanding game in the middle with Semedo back to the form when we started the season.
Burton showed better form than of late and used his experience well to bring Mooney & Sam in to the game.
Great to see the goals have returned and could well have been more.
Overall defence were shaky in the first half but got to grips better in the 2nd.
The 3rd goal settled us down and gave my nerves a break.
Come all the way to qatar to watch a shit match, get in a fight cos some local numpty tried to nick my flag and I miss a 5 1 win, grr
Partly because Basey - who was the subject of some disgraceful comments on here over the last week - was today better than Richardson, who, perfectly understandably, struggled a little after his absence.
As said before, if Richardson did incur another serious injury today, switching Youga and playing Basey gives us a much more reliable full-back pairing than any defence that includes Omo.
also balance of team looked better with Bailey in the middle and Racon out wide left
couple more of results like that and we can put a bit of breathing space between us and 3rd place.
Up the Addicks !!!!!!!
A relief.
The wind was quite comical.
NU in the 2nd half were top notch.
Come on, Golfie ..... don't let us down.
There must have been something to criticize ....?
(Just kidding)
;o)
Racon still looks poor though, surely needs to be dropped to show he hasn't got an automatic starting place.
Anyway, as others have mentioned, the goal line clearance when we were 1 nil down was a real turning point as within a minute we were level.
Must say, Mooney looked great today - his movement and reading of the game looked world class in comparison to some of the forwards we have had of late. A joy to watch.
Burton seemed once again back to himself, so maybe well done to Parky for resting him as much as possible. He looked refreshed and we look so much better with him in the team.
Nice to see Parkinson also make changes and use a 4-4-2. Early on I felt that MK were perhaps a shade better than us, hence the importance of the goal line clearance and our goal. There are still a few question marls about how teams seem to cut through us at times, but one way or the other, we got the upper hand, and once in charge we looked the better team. Just goes to show how important confidence is.
Sam looked lively and his goal was brilliantly taken. Ikeme made a great save at some point but their keeper also had to make a fantastic save to prevent an own goal.
Agree with the earlier comment that we looked better without Shelvey. It just doesn't seemed to have really worked for him so far this season but I'm sure he still has a key role to play at some point.
Bailey was immense in the middle of the park. His dead ball delivery was also much more effective than most we have seen of late.
Thought the atmosphere was pretty good today - for a spell in the second half the crowd were really behind the team and this seemed to lift the players even more. Thought it dropped off a bit after we scored 5.
Thought the ref did well overall though I can understand the MK fans being irate as, at last, we had a bit of a homer. We seemed to be caught offside a fair bit though, but from where I was I couldn't see if they were good calls.
I hope that the players have regained their confidence. Sam was even doing a jig at the end and looked well happy. However, one game doesn't make a season. Hope we can build on this performance otherwise it counts for little. Delighted with the outcome though. Could have been six if that shot didn't trickle just wide of the post.
One swallow doesn't make a summer and all that, but equally if a swallow flies out of your garden it doesn't mean that winters coming.
That's because they had to leave early ......"to beat the traffic" ;o)
Seriously though, good analysis in your post, Chablis.
Mooney - Andy hunt anyone?? Smart running, available and someone I'd love us to sign
back 4 solid including basey
Midfield much better balance. Sam looked up for it, semedo was everywhere, bailey MOM covered evry blade and racon is a good outlet but wasn't perfect today
all round loved it - made mkdons look very average.
Akpo looks useful - bloody fast too!
Can anyone in this league boast a forward line as strong as burton, mckenzie, sodge, mooney and I guess Macleod too? Suddenly we look much stronger up front and balanced elsewhere. Hope we can keep some of those strikers for good
This is a point which I think is worth highlighting. I wasn't there today, unfortunately, but I would concur that however negative it's got on the internet message boards recently the spirit has remained pretty patient and supportive in the crowds at the games.
Looks like we're the main match today on the Football League Show. It's on in a minute on BBC1.
I think this goes to show that the team building is still a work in progress as far as Parky is concerned.
At the beginning of the season, he must have felt that he'd got his defence right, and the best midfield combination to suit the wealth of talent in those positions - but only Burton, of all his forwards then at his disposal, was really up to scratch.
So he picked a team and tactics to try and get the best out of what he already had.
Now with McKenzie almost ready to play a major part, Mooney groomed for a role - and now A Sodje here to add the physical pace and aerial power - he's suddenly got character and experience to add to Burton's abilities up front.
And with a much better balance.
He evidently still has a problem covering Richardson with Solly out long term, and it would be interesting to hear what Parky says about his keeper cover, with Elliot still out injured.
But more pieces of the jigsaw are being considered and putting in place.
That was from yesterday
As for right back, is Omozusi being judged a bit early? Not every player settles straight away and he's probably lacking match fitness. Unlike Mooney, he was thrown straight into the team from the start.
Maybe most of us are too hasty in our judgement of him ?
Ikeme seems very unfair on Randolph to me.
And Omo is just a joke, when Basey can slot in so well on the left and Youga is versatile enough to switch to the right.
But Mooney and Sodje are clearly an improvement on McLeod and Tuna -in the case of one because he's had his chance and doesn't look good enough and in the case of the other becuase he's not yet ready and his time will surely come.
Overall, though, I can't help feeling five - Ikeme, Omo, Holden, Mooney and Sodje - is too many and is too reminiscent of last season's horror show ( I think at one point shortly after Parky took over we had SEVEN loanees...)
So with Elliot nearly fit again and Basey more than capable, I'd like to see Omo and Ikeme on their way sooner rather than later....
Omozusi came in when Richardson and Solly were both out, I can kind of understand that. He wasn't even in the squad today so he's obviously got a lot to prove, he came here looking for a permanent move
Holden is a cheap gamble, he's here for his chance to play full time, and Sodje is apparently here with a view to a permanent move. Mooney who knows, all depends what Readings plans are for him.
So I don't think it's too bad at the moment, agree with the point though. Loaning a player in doesn't always improve things. The problem the last few seasons was when we had players on loan we didn't need. Likes of Soares and Sinclair, then others like Cook who were a long way of being fit enough. Having 3/4 loans that clearly strengthen the squad, offer something different, and most of them potential permanent signings isn't a problem for me.
With McKenzie very gingerly working his way back to fitness, and Burton feeling the effects of the hernia tear - it made sense to bring in Mooney. Parky said back in August that he was trying to bring in a big man up front, and was hoping to get back Kandol, so there was a recognised gap in the squad there - A Sodje has been pursued for a month before he signed today, and of course McLeod is suspended. It's better balanced front line options than we had starting the season.
But covering for injury, he's basically only brought in 2 players. With only 2 keepers, once Robbie was injured Parky had to get another keeper in, regardless of whether he considered Randolph to be up to standard or not.
With Richardson and Solly both being injured in the same week, and Youga playing out of his skin at LB and adding attacking thrust - Parky may well have initially preferred not to move Youga across. In any case, supposing Youga or Basey also got injured, Parky would still have needed to bring some cover in. Omo's out of contract, so he's a cheap option.
And Holden remember, was signed as the wild card long term prospect, brought in to see if he could eventually prove his worth. And he'd also be cheap, no risk.
Blimey, GA - you feeling alright? :-)
Great match. Haven't enjoyed one so much for ages. Nice to have two forwards chasing everything.