[ Tue 8th Jan ] v Rushden & Higham KO 7:45pm UCL1 HOME

[Trek]

I think our midfield will be more creative when Dent returns. He's been a big miss and a real shame that he carried only playing when injured in the away match at Olney which clearly caused him to be unavailable for so long. I agree that Harris looks more like a central defender and don't know what to make of Gilsenan's prolonged abscence from the squad.

[FOOTYMAN]

The quote about whether the 3 times as many fans will win us the league sounds rather 'half empty'. The 12th man is a massive incentive to a team, 'half full' is what I say.

COYD

[FOOTYMAN]

I heard this morning Elliot Dent is back, ready to train and can't wait to get playing. And hopefully Joe Merrill will be ready as well. 2 quality players for Starms to consider.

[Formic]

I've added Mal's pics to the match report on the OWS.

[Bobos]

FWIW, here's my opinion. The team came out ready to put in a good performance, got an early goal and pushed hard for a second. When it didn't come, it dropped onto the back foot and invited R & H to come at it. Midfield seems to have lost its creativity and width, with the two wingers dropping deep into too defensive a role which means the only "out ball" is long to the forwards and into the channels, with little support it's a lost cause. We miss Gilsenan's experience & quality in the centre of midfield and Wiz's forward wing play. I agree that some of our decision making in & around the 18 yard box is poor. Two or three times Jake tried to score from impossible angles when Gearing was free at the far post.
I thought Chukky did ok, put in a good shift and it was good to see him get a full ninety minutes, it'll build his fitness and he's been out for a long time but he didn't have the pace to go past players (Lance has the pace and the ball control but holds onto possession for too long then gives it away too easily).
On the positive side, we kept going when it looked like we'd concede in heavy conditions. Goal difference is good, but three points is the main objective of any match. Job done.

A really good assessment

I think what people fail to take into account is the fact that Oadby are an unknown in this league, and they have no rivals either, so they have "sneaked up" on clubs, whereas, we have the disadvantage of being labelled the "Big Club" in the league and have a lot of local teams that feel we are their rivals.

R&H would not have raised their game for Oadby as they did for us, so we have to be twice as good 8-)

[Rushdenjim]

This is in the match report:

Diamonds manager Mark Starmer was forced into a late change when Quincy Shorunmu declared himself unfit a few minutes before kick-off, due to the groin injury he received on Saturday, despite having assured the manager he was ready for the game on several occasions

I would be slightly pissed off if i was Starms and from the wording it sounds like he might of be?

[SouthRushdenJFC]

This is in the match report:

Diamonds manager Mark Starmer was forced into a late change when Quincy Shorunmu declared himself unfit a few minutes before kick-off, due to the groin injury he received on Saturday, despite having assured the manager he was ready for the game on several occasions

I would be slightly pissed off if i was Starms and from the wording it sounds like he might of be?

That was certainly the impression I got when I asked him about it in the post match interviews

[UttoDiamond]

That said, thought Ash had a superb game. Good handling and distribution was good too. Also made a few good stops. Should keep his place for Saturday.

[Bobos]

That would also show that our Youth policy is working 8-)

[Bob's Bitch]

FWIW, here's my opinion. The team came out ready to put in a good performance, got an early goal and pushed hard for a second. When it didn't come, it dropped onto the back foot and invited R & H to come at it. Midfield seems to have lost its creativity and width, with the two wingers dropping deep into too defensive a role which means the only "out ball" is long to the forwards and into the channels, with little support it's a lost cause. We miss Gilsenan's experience & quality in the centre of midfield and Wiz's forward wing play. I agree that some of our decision making in & around the 18 yard box is poor. Two or three times Jake tried to score from impossible angles when Gearing was free at the far post.
I thought Chukky did ok, put in a good shift and it was good to see him get a full ninety minutes, it'll build his fitness and he's been out for a long time but he didn't have the pace to go past players (Lance has the pace and the ball control but holds onto possession for too long then gives it away too easily).
On the positive side, we kept going when it looked like we'd concede in heavy conditions. Goal difference is good, but three points is the main objective of any match. Job done.

Presactly. We were very unlucky not to get a second in the second half as well, with a couple of point blank saves from their keeper at the far post and a Taylor shot that hit the inside of the post and bounced back out. The most important thing in the next three games is just to win them and then see what we can do against Sileby. I agree about Ash, I thought he dealt well with corners and I liked his distribution, it might be something that could benefit us on the counter-attack.