Very late post, I've had an absolute nightmare today with my camera.
On to the game! A really enjoyable day out. Lovely weather, nice atmosphere, and 3 points to go with it.
I felt although we were fluffing chances, and our crossing was poor, we look so tough to beat, and honestly, after the crap served up these last few years, I'll take it. Not many teams will beat us I imagine.
Special mentions to Ramsay (motm) and Lloyd Jones, two very impressive performances from the pair. Also thought Coventry, Docherty, A.Mitchell, and of course, the match winner Berry, all had quietly good games, and looked fairly comfortable.
I like the look of newboy Gassan, reckon with a proper striker partner, he will be a problem, and I feel Mannion may be really decent business. He has the benefit of a good defence infront of him, but he looks very assured.
Roll on Bolton, which I feel is a real acid test for this team.
Happy Sunday addicks!
Thanks for the video as couldn't make it down there yesterday so was glad to get a flavor of the atmosphere and game, cheers! And well done on the 5 for £5, nice idea. Did you keep a special eye out for Coventry like you mentioned before, and if you did what did you think?
My pleasure,
I was really excited to do the 5 for 5, been thinking of ideas like this all summer to keep the vlog ticking, unfortunately, I think the execution was a little poor. Audio and a weird camera angle, I need to start getting to the Valley earlier and making a real day of it!
I did, he looked solid, everytime he received the ball, he got himself out of trouble, or found a pass. His corners were woeful, but he had a decent game. I still think we are really missing a creative spark, someone who can just run past a man in the middle. We don't have anyone like that imo.
It can't be that easy though to get the video and audio perfect as a one-man operation, must be a lot to think about.
I like Coventry and think he'll get better with more games under his belt. What was with his corners then? I saw an earlier comment that he put one into the side netting which is poor, I do just wish we were better at creating genuine chances from set pieces, if that happened I think we would score our fair share of goals.
As you say, we don't seem that good so far at running past people in the middle of the park. TC has genuine pace but in preseason I haven't seen much sign of hard-to-catch speed from Ahadme, Chuks, Godden, Doherty, Anderson, DK or Berry..?
A wonderful end to the game and a deserved 3 points for our second half showing.
Such a happy outcome seemed unlikely during a turgid and low quality first half, with Campbell’s electric pace the only real threat to the Orient backline. We were unable - and, indeed, didn’t actually try - to put any combination play together in midfield and the repeated long balls were comfortably dealt with by Orient. Our sole tactic appeared to be to play the ball down the left channel or, alternatively, to lump a long diagonal towards Ahadme and hope for a favourable knockdown.
We had a much better start in the second half, putting some real pressure on Orient, with Small and Ramsey getting forward down the flanks to good effect. It looked as if our opponents had weathered the storm but, with their players dropping like flies and generally flagging, we turned the screw in the last 20 minutes, without really looking as if a goal was imminent - that was until Chuks caused a bit of chaos and Berry showed real composure to sweep home the winner.
Positives:
once again, we looked really solid defensively, with Lloyd Jones dominant and well supported by Mitchell and Gillesphey.
our wing backs, Ramsey and Small got forward to really good effect in the second half and were pivotal in pushing Orient back.
Tyreece Campbell looked very dangerous and, whilst he is learning a new position, his pace makes him favourite if we can expose opposition defenders to one-on-ones.
the benefits of a strong bench came to fruition in the latter stages.
our general level of fitness, energy and commitment
notwithstanding some reduction in numbers by virtue of the 12:30 kick-off and Sky coverage, the atmosphere was very good and our supporters really got behind the side. Good also to see the new Standing Areas at the back of the North Upper, for which the club are to be congratulated.
A few negatives:
- the injury to Josh Edwards, which we all desperately hope isn’t too serious
-our corners, which continue to be poor - as, indeed, are many of our throw ins. On occasions, we won throw ons halfway inside the opponent’s half and ending up passing back to our goalie
- the referee - although we should be used to it by now
- a lack of composure in midfield, although I thought that Coventry did well again.
Orient were a poor side and Bolton next week will give us a clearer idea of where we are. For now, though, 6 points is an excellent start.
Alfie May has 2 in 2 league games for Brum. Our strikers have zero from 2. Only time will tell if decision to sell May was right. Incidentally one paper this morning described the fee as a snip so we let him go for too little as well. Repeating my point we need to score 75 to 80 goals to make play offs - must be a doubt about that. Somebody said win all games 1 -0 just not possible.
Alfie May has 2 in 2 league games for Brum. Our strikers have zero from 2. Only time will tell if decision to sell May was right. Incidentally one paper this morning described the fee as a snip so we let him go for too little as well. Repeating my point we need to score 75 to 80 goals to make play offs - must be a doubt about that. Somebody said win all games 1 -0 just not possible.
Could we play the same way with Alfie May? I couldn't see him getting on the end of those long diagonals and muscling himself in front of the defender.
Alfie May has 2 in 2 league games for Brum. Our strikers have zero from 2. Only time will tell if decision to sell May was right. Incidentally one paper this morning described the fee as a snip so we let him go for too little as well. Repeating my point we need to score 75 to 80 goals to make play offs - must be a doubt about that. Somebody said win all games 1 -0 just not possible.
Ideally we would score 75+ goals, but it's not a guarantee either way. We need to get around 75 points minimum. If from 46 games we only score 46 goals, but get even 75 points we'll have achieved the play offs and I doubt anyone will give a hoot that we haven't scored 80 goals. # 2023-2024: 76 points (Barnsley) 2022-2023: 77 points (Peterborough United) 2021-2022: 83 points (Wycombe Wanderers) 2020-2021: 74 points (Oxford United) 2019-2020: 60 points (Wycombe Wanderers) (season curtailed due to COVID-19, points per game basis) 2018-2019: 73 points (Doncaster Rovers) 2017-2018: 71 points (Charlton Athletic) 2016-2017: 73 points (Millwall) 2015-2016: 74 points (Barnsley) 2014-2015: 69 points (Chesterfield)
To put things simply we have a defence that should comfortably see us in the tops six but an attack which is not of the same standard and (at present), is only worthy of around mid table.
Alfie May has 2 in 2 league games for Brum. Our strikers have zero from 2. Only time will tell if decision to sell May was right. Incidentally one paper this morning described the fee as a snip so we let him go for too little as well. Repeating my point we need to score 75 to 80 goals to make play offs - must be a doubt about that. Somebody said win all games 1 -0 just not possible.
Alfie’s 2 goals have helped Birmingham get 4 points with 3 goals conceded. Our strikers 0 goals have helped Charlton get 6 points with 0 goals conceded. I’ve no problem with that gameplan continuing
To put things simply we have a defence that should comfortably see us in the tops six but an attack which is not of the same standard and (at present), is only worthy of around mid table.
I equally feel like you can work on the attacking aspect... Failure to get the Defence right straight away can lead to problems - Especially if you start chopping and changing personnel to try and resolve issues.
At the moment the back six picks itself, with changes purely to rest individuals
Alfie May has 2 in 2 league games for Brum. Our strikers have zero from 2. Only time will tell if decision to sell May was right. Incidentally one paper this morning described the fee as a snip so we let him go for too little as well. Repeating my point we need to score 75 to 80 goals to make play offs - must be a doubt about that. Somebody said win all games 1 -0 just not possible.
Could we play the same way with Alfie May? I couldn't see him getting on the end of those long diagonals and muscling himself in front of the defender.
Not to derail the thread about May, as I am over him to an extent, but I do find it odd that we have sold a striker who doesn't 'suit' Jones system, and are now trying to force a player who rarely scores into a striker, who is no stronger than May, or any quicker. May was the missing piece I felt at times yesterday.
I think with May though, the club saw an opportunity for some cash and took it. My biggest gripe is we gifted Birmingham a golden ticket out of the league. That's my main issue still with that sale, wouldn't be bothered as much if we sold him a league above or below.
So the argument about us finishing low with the likes of May (which I've seen on social media), this season is nowhere near over, and we can't say how either of us will do 44 games from now, that said, I have little doubt that May would have been an asset to us.
We would look so much stronger with CBT, May and Dobbo at the very least as options. I am still hoping we can sign players of similar quality before the window closes to give us a proper chance of autos.
Alfie May has 2 in 2 league games for Brum. Our strikers have zero from 2. Only time will tell if decision to sell May was right. Incidentally one paper this morning described the fee as a snip so we let him go for too little as well. Repeating my point we need to score 75 to 80 goals to make play offs - must be a doubt about that. Somebody said win all games 1 -0 just not possible.
Could we play the same way with Alfie May? I couldn't see him getting on the end of those long diagonals and muscling himself in front of the defender.
Alfie May is very good at playing on the last shoulder and running in behind, timing his runs. It’s how he scored a lot of his goals at Cheltenham so he’d have been fine. But he didn’t seem to want to do much of that last season, and kept dropping in to get on the ball which I think frustrated Jones a lot, and he preferred Kanu who was prepared to run the channels. I think he got a little big for his boots, playing as a 10 for Appleton and still scoring but also being a lot more involved in the build up, so wanted to still do that when Jones had different tactics
I think Campbell was good yesterday and in pre-season, but I also think it’s silly to suggest he’s better than May would be there. He’d get in behind but also be a lot better at finishing off those chances and any others that fall to him in the box
Alfie May has 2 in 2 league games for Brum. Our strikers have zero from 2. Only time will tell if decision to sell May was right. Incidentally one paper this morning described the fee as a snip so we let him go for too little as well. Repeating my point we need to score 75 to 80 goals to make play offs - must be a doubt about that. Somebody said win all games 1 -0 just not possible.
Could we play the same way with Alfie May? I couldn't see him getting on the end of those long diagonals and muscling himself in front of the defender.
Not to derail the thread about May, as I am over him to an extent, but I do find it odd that we have sold a striker who doesn't 'suit' Jones system, and are now trying to force a player who rarely scores into a striker, who is no stronger than May, or any quicker. May was the missing piece I felt at times yesterday.
I think with May though, the club saw an opportunity for some cash and took it. My biggest gripe is we gifted Birmingham a golden ticket out of the league. That's my main issue still with that sale, wouldn't be bothered as much if we sold him a league above or below.
So the argument about us finishing low with the likes of May (which I've seen on social media), this season is nowhere near over, and we can't say how either of us will do 44 games from now, that said, I have little doubt that May would have been an asset to us.
We would look so much stronger with CBT, May and Dobbo at the very least as options. I am still hoping we can sign players of similar quality before the window closes to give us a proper chance of autos.
Agree with a lot of that but Campbell is way quicker than May
Alfie May has 2 in 2 league games for Brum. Our strikers have zero from 2. Only time will tell if decision to sell May was right. Incidentally one paper this morning described the fee as a snip so we let him go for too little as well. Repeating my point we need to score 75 to 80 goals to make play offs - must be a doubt about that. Somebody said win all games 1 -0 just not possible.
Could we play the same way with Alfie May? I couldn't see him getting on the end of those long diagonals and muscling himself in front of the defender.
Not to derail the thread about May, as I am over him to an extent, but I do find it odd that we have sold a striker who doesn't 'suit' Jones system, and are now trying to force a player who rarely scores into a striker, who is no stronger than May, or any quicker. May was the missing piece I felt at times yesterday.
I think with May though, the club saw an opportunity for some cash and took it. My biggest gripe is we gifted Birmingham a golden ticket out of the league. That's my main issue still with that sale, wouldn't be bothered as much if we sold him a league above or below.
So the argument about us finishing low with the likes of May (which I've seen on social media), this season is nowhere near over, and we can't say how either of us will do 44 games from now, that said, I have little doubt that May would have been an asset to us.
We would look so much stronger with CBT, May and Dobbo at the very least as options. I am still hoping we can sign players of similar quality before the window closes to give us a proper chance of autos.
Agree with a lot of that but Campbell is way quicker than May
Maybe Lancs should add May to the players marks thread, 'cos there seems to be people on here who think he still plays for us, and can't seem to let him go...🤦♂️
Alfie May has 2 in 2 league games for Brum. Our strikers have zero from 2. Only time will tell if decision to sell May was right. Incidentally one paper this morning described the fee as a snip so we let him go for too little as well. Repeating my point we need to score 75 to 80 goals to make play offs - must be a doubt about that. Somebody said win all games 1 -0 just not possible.
Could we play the same way with Alfie May? I couldn't see him getting on the end of those long diagonals and muscling himself in front of the defender.
Not to derail the thread about May, as I am over him to an extent, but I do find it odd that we have sold a striker who doesn't 'suit' Jones system, and are now trying to force a player who rarely scores into a striker, who is no stronger than May, or any quicker. May was the missing piece I felt at times yesterday.
I think with May though, the club saw an opportunity for some cash and took it. My biggest gripe is we gifted Birmingham a golden ticket out of the league. That's my main issue still with that sale, wouldn't be bothered as much if we sold him a league above or below.
So the argument about us finishing low with the likes of May (which I've seen on social media), this season is nowhere near over, and we can't say how either of us will do 44 games from now, that said, I have little doubt that May would have been an asset to us.
We would look so much stronger with CBT, May and Dobbo at the very least as options. I am still hoping we can sign players of similar quality before the window closes to give us a proper chance of autos.
Would we look stronger with spending the wages requested on CBT and Dobson? I’m not sure, as it would then take away money from elsewhere. We don’t even play with wingers so you’d be paying CBT probably £7k+ a week and he wouldn’t even start. Jones preferred Coventry in the holding role, is Dobson worth £7k a week in a box to box role or as a backup holding mid?
With May I think it’s pretty clear that we funded the Ahadme signing with that money. He’s not a better player but it’s clear that he fits the style which is arguably more important. Think that is the debatable one as maybe we could have found a cheaper Ahadme alternative
Ideally we’d have kept them all and strengthened but that isn’t realistic unless you have a Birmingham budget. If you’re spending £7k a week on a player they’ve got to be a guaranteed starter
Maybe Lancs should add May to the players marks thread, 'cos there seems to be people on here who think he still plays for us, and can't seem to let him go...🤦♂️
Personally I think it’s not such a bad thing to watch how Alfie and Birmingham get on to understand our gameplan a little better. It’s an easy point of view to take to think we should have kept him but despite his goals last season we flirted with relegation and, somebody correct me if I’m wrong, but also despite his goals for Cheltenham for the two previous campaigns that club didn’t exactly have much better respective seasons than we did in the last campaign. Having an outstanding goal scorer might not necessarily be the answer we all think it is if the team is rooted to the wrong end of the table
Alfie May has 2 in 2 league games for Brum. Our strikers have zero from 2. Only time will tell if decision to sell May was right. Incidentally one paper this morning described the fee as a snip so we let him go for too little as well. Repeating my point we need to score 75 to 80 goals to make play offs - must be a doubt about that. Somebody said win all games 1 -0 just not possible.
Could we play the same way with Alfie May? I couldn't see him getting on the end of those long diagonals and muscling himself in front of the defender.
Not to derail the thread about May, as I am over him to an extent, but I do find it odd that we have sold a striker who doesn't 'suit' Jones system, and are now trying to force a player who rarely scores into a striker, who is no stronger than May, or any quicker. May was the missing piece I felt at times yesterday.
I think with May though, the club saw an opportunity for some cash and took it. My biggest gripe is we gifted Birmingham a golden ticket out of the league. That's my main issue still with that sale, wouldn't be bothered as much if we sold him a league above or below.
So the argument about us finishing low with the likes of May (which I've seen on social media), this season is nowhere near over, and we can't say how either of us will do 44 games from now, that said, I have little doubt that May would have been an asset to us.
We would look so much stronger with CBT, May and Dobbo at the very least as options. I am still hoping we can sign players of similar quality before the window closes to give us a proper chance of autos.
Clearly no champ club wanted May and he’d have never drop to league 2, so whilst I agree selling May is a huge risk, once NJ decided he wasn’t needed, I’m not sure what other choice the club had other than to sell to Brum.
I’m just as apprehensive as everyone else that goals might be hard to come by but ultimately it’ll be points not goals that decide our season. Unless everything goes down to goal difference which is unlikely then 1 - 0 is just as good as 3 - 0
4th in the league after two games and two clean sheets, that'll do nicely, and as for 1-0 wins, the more the merrier...roll on Bolton next Saturday...
Surely with 2 clean sheets we should be top.......or is the truth that scoring goals does actually matter in the end.
I am not looking forward to June, when all we have to look back on after another dull league one season is 138 points, a +46 goal difference and the beatification of Saint Lloyd Jones.
Maybe Lancs should add May to the players marks thread, 'cos there seems to be people on here who think he still plays for us, and can't seem to let him go...🤦♂️
Personally I think it’s not such a bad thing to watch how Alfie and Birmingham get on to understand our gameplan a little better. It’s an easy point of view to take to think we should have kept him but despite his goals last season we flirted with relegation and, somebody correct me if I’m wrong, but also despite his goals for Cheltenham for the two previous campaigns that club didn’t exactly have much better respective seasons than we did in the last campaign. Having an outstanding goal scorer might not necessarily be the answer we all think it is if the team is rooted to the wrong end of the table
Without his goals we would now be in Division 4 & I dare say that the same would possibly have been said about Cheltenham. Maybe Cheltenham like us last season had a shit defence with goal keepers who maybe just weren't up to it ?
Alfie May has 2 in 2 league games for Brum. Our strikers have zero from 2. Only time will tell if decision to sell May was right. Incidentally one paper this morning described the fee as a snip so we let him go for too little as well. Repeating my point we need to score 75 to 80 goals to make play offs - must be a doubt about that. Somebody said win all games 1 -0 just not possible.
Could we play the same way with Alfie May? I couldn't see him getting on the end of those long diagonals and muscling himself in front of the defender.
Alfie May is very good at playing on the last shoulder and running in behind, timing his runs. It’s how he scored a lot of his goals at Cheltenham so he’d have been fine. But he didn’t seem to want to do much of that last season, and kept dropping in to get on the ball which I think frustrated Jones a lot, and he preferred Kanu who was prepared to run the channels. I think he got a little big for his boots, playing as a 10 for Appleton and still scoring but also being a lot more involved in the build up, so wanted to still do that when Jones had different tactics
I think Campbell was good yesterday and in pre-season, but I also think it’s silly to suggest he’s better than May would be there. He’d get in behind but also be a lot better at finishing off those chances and any others that fall to him in the box
Hmm. I'm not sure we're really playing those balls to get in behind in the same way Cheltenham did. They were trying to put Alfie through on goal. We're trying to turn the oppo defence around and win possession/second balls higher up the pitch.
Obviously I'd rather have kept Alfie but you can see why NJ seemed unbothered given the way we've set up so far this season.
Maybe Lancs should add May to the players marks thread, 'cos there seems to be people on here who think he still plays for us, and can't seem to let him go...🤦♂️
Personally I think it’s not such a bad thing to watch how Alfie and Birmingham get on to understand our gameplan a little better. It’s an easy point of view to take to think we should have kept him but despite his goals last season we flirted with relegation and, somebody correct me if I’m wrong, but also despite his goals for Cheltenham for the two previous campaigns that club didn’t exactly have much better respective seasons than we did in the last campaign. Having an outstanding goal scorer might not necessarily be the answer we all think it is if the team is rooted to the wrong end of the table
Without his goals we would now be in Division 4 & I dare say that the same would possibly have been said about Cheltenham. Maybe Cheltenham like us last season had a shit defence with goal keepers who maybe just weren't up to it ?
Or maybe, Charlton and Cheltenham were creating a defensive gap by giving Alfie a free rein to go out and score goals ?
Comments
Better to start with wins and improve than be looking up the table like we have done in previous seasons
I like Coventry and think he'll get better with more games under his belt. What was with his corners then? I saw an earlier comment that he put one into the side netting which is poor, I do just wish we were better at creating genuine chances from set pieces, if that happened I think we would score our fair share of goals.
As you say, we don't seem that good so far at running past people in the middle of the park. TC has genuine pace but in preseason I haven't seen much sign of hard-to-catch speed from Ahadme, Chuks, Godden, Doherty, Anderson, DK or Berry..?
A wonderful end to the game and a deserved 3 points for our second half showing.
Such a happy outcome seemed unlikely during a turgid and low quality first half, with Campbell’s electric pace the only real threat to the Orient backline. We were unable - and, indeed, didn’t actually try - to put any combination play together in midfield and the repeated long balls were comfortably dealt with by Orient. Our sole tactic appeared to be to play the ball down the left channel or, alternatively, to lump a long diagonal towards Ahadme and hope for a favourable knockdown.
We had a much better start in the second half, putting some real pressure on Orient, with Small and Ramsey getting forward down the flanks to good effect. It looked as if our opponents had weathered the storm but, with their players dropping like flies and generally flagging, we turned the screw in the last 20 minutes, without really looking as if a goal was imminent - that was until Chuks caused a bit of chaos and Berry showed real composure to sweep home the winner.
Positives:
A few negatives:
- the injury to Josh Edwards, which we all desperately hope isn’t too serious
-our corners, which continue to be poor - as, indeed, are many of our throw ins. On occasions, we won throw ons halfway inside the opponent’s half and ending up passing back to our goalie
- the referee - although we should be used to it by now
- a lack of composure in midfield, although I thought that Coventry did well again.Orient were a poor side and Bolton next week will give us a clearer idea of where we are. For now, though, 6 points is an excellent start.
What is done is done
Give it time and get behind the lads
2023-2024: 76 points (Barnsley)
2022-2023: 77 points (Peterborough United)
2021-2022: 83 points (Wycombe Wanderers)
2020-2021: 74 points (Oxford United)
2019-2020: 60 points (Wycombe Wanderers) (season curtailed due to COVID-19, points per game basis)
2018-2019: 73 points (Doncaster Rovers)
2017-2018: 71 points (Charlton Athletic)
2016-2017: 73 points (Millwall)
2015-2016: 74 points (Barnsley)
2014-2015: 69 points (Chesterfield)
At the moment the back six picks itself, with changes purely to rest individuals
I think with May though, the club saw an opportunity for some cash and took it. My biggest gripe is we gifted Birmingham a golden ticket out of the league. That's my main issue still with that sale, wouldn't be bothered as much if we sold him a league above or below.
So the argument about us finishing low with the likes of May (which I've seen on social media), this season is nowhere near over, and we can't say how either of us will do 44 games from now, that said, I have little doubt that May would have been an asset to us.
We would look so much stronger with CBT, May and Dobbo at the very least as options. I am still hoping we can sign players of similar quality before the window closes to give us a proper chance of autos.
I think Campbell was good yesterday and in pre-season, but I also think it’s silly to suggest he’s better than May would be there. He’d get in behind but also be a lot better at finishing off those chances and any others that fall to him in the box
With May I think it’s pretty clear that we funded the Ahadme signing with that money. He’s not a better player but it’s clear that he fits the style which is arguably more important. Think that is the debatable one as maybe we could have found a cheaper Ahadme alternative
Ideally we’d have kept them all and strengthened but that isn’t realistic unless you have a Birmingham budget. If you’re spending £7k a week on a player they’ve got to be a guaranteed starter
Obviously I'd rather have kept Alfie but you can see why NJ seemed unbothered given the way we've set up so far this season.