Dan

Coventry 1.64 Huddersfield 1.02 Cardiff 1.70 Rotherham 1.40 It wasn't 'good' but it wasn't as concerning as that. Not a single chance created from open play and worryingly we gave a pretty good one away - something you could see happening a lot with these defenders as well if they're playing how Martin instructs. Maybe the difference is Martin will realise this and address it. Cifuentes never did.

It wasn't good under him early doors but at least we were creating chances. My expectations of this team aren't as high as most but **** me I thought we'd create a bit more than that. This is a Northampton side that have just fallen to pieces in the very league we're in. If that is our level I don't think we'll be going up. Heavily contingent on the new signings (and we need a few more) being gamechangers and Martin being ruthless enough to get rid of the wasters. That performance was reminiscent of so much wrong with us in recent years. Even if we'd lost today and actually really managed to create a few chances (take a look at some of the other teams of a similar levels stats today) where you could say we'd been unlucky I think I'd feel better than that. Wasn't hugely confident beforehand. I admittedly hadn't managed to watch a single friendly of ours but there is too much water under the bridge for me to overlook this type of performance. If I'm Notts County I'm licking my lips at that today. The positives of course are Braybrooke and Joseph. I've definitely overlooked Joseph a bit thinking Aluko would have it locked down. We look good at right back.

It's a win but ****ing hell it don't half remind me of that Wednesday game a year ago. Dire opposition at home and we've scraped past with barely a decent chance created in 90 minutes.

Eight? **** all has happened.

Wait is he? Where?

true.

Mods, can we introduce a feature on here where AI detects moaning about moaning so we can automatically filter them out? Would donate a bit each month for it.

Our games are going to be a seriously tough watch.

No surprise to see that the usual wasters are absolutely useless as we all know and comfortably look worse than the younger players. Lets see how Martin responds to that.

Christ you can see why these have lost about 20 in a row.

You can't play Martin's type of football with dodgy CBs on the ball. We will concede loads of stupid goals this season.

The good news is even despite some of the shirt stealers in the side Northampton have been an absolute horror show in 2026 so we should win it.

Yep. Lets park the McCarron praise until we've done more than 50% of what needs doing at least.

I've bought him. He's a channel forward. Possibly second striker too but prefer the former.

I really hope McFarlane and Watson are just not 100% rather than second choice.

Horrid line up.

I've seen some ridiculous player mispositions before, but this is just... A centre half? He's basically a budget Vardy.

I'd imagine he will start there tomorrow. It's what I'd do. Already though now a competitive game has come around you're seeing the lack of round pegs in round holes again when it comes to actually naming an XI.

No centre forward available for the first competitive game. It's not good enough.

I'm a bit more sympathetic as we're in a crap position on him now. I'm not convinced he will sign for a reduced contract because he will probably get other offers. But then again the management of him was pretty dreadful before this. It's a really quite miserable situation. I fail to see how his last 12 months could've gone any worse.

I'd completely forgotten this tbh. I remember him not having great reviews from Watford or a loan at Birmingham. I'd also never realised he'd ended up at Burnley.

The more I think about it the more I see the parallels between this and Watford signing Lloyd Dyer. He'd had a similar impact to us to what Burns has had at Ipswich. Similar style of player, direct winger. We'd just been promoted to the Premier League and he left us because we only offered a year while Watford offered him three at a lower level. Now the difference is we're a league lower than Watford. Lets just hope it doesn't work out the same way.

Yeah but muuh bandwagon

He looks quite odd

It's absolutely unbelievable how many we get and so often to our better young players. And so often in pre-season.