Northampton Match Thread

[Dan]

I fancy him to actually go 3-5-2. No point binning something off because you've not looked great in pre-season friendlies. Takes time.

[LCFC FOX]

With the 3 central midfielders that are likely to play in it, they're all very good passers.

Drinkwater, Knockaert, Marshall are the better passers. But I doubt they would play over King and James

[HoustonFox]

Anyone who thinks we played badly from listening to Stringer on RL needs to watch the first 30s of the highlights of this game. Woods collects the ball by the 6yd going AWAY from goal, jinks past the goalie but tightens the angle and 2, no 3 defenders have blocked and I quote Stringer, "he SHOULD score..." What a shit commentator. Sorry, I used to defend him for PASHUNN but come on. You are on the radio so at least tell us what is really happening not your opinion of what might or should happen based on pure fantasy.

Sorry, rant over. Just spent 3 hours in a taxi trying to watch a game at the Maracana and was defeated by traffic.

Watching rest of highlights, we didn't look too bad. Don't feel like watching full game though to give a better opinion. Like they give you the option an long may it continue. FP getting better.

Ok, update. First goal conceded was dogshit. Awful and I blame Schmeichel for it. How anyone can blame Pearson for that is a joke. I think I am beginning to agree what has started to be said by others. Corners getting conceded is Kasper's fault. He cannot pick when to call for the ball and chooses wrongly. What was the crap tip he attempted? Defenders had no clue what he was doing.

[Dan]

We were shit. I was there and no papering over that display from me, we were shite and looked no more threatening than a League Two side managed by Boothroyd.

 

I hope to god Pearson genuinely is doing his work on the training pitch and using these as glorified training sessions (although it does seem a waste) rather than just saying he is to cover it up. He sounds surprisingly confident so only time will tell I guess.

[Dan]

Drinkwater, Knockaert, Marshall are the better passers. But I doubt they would play over King and James

 

None of them are better passers than King or James except Knockaert arguably, think he's very under-rated at it, can almost effortlessly play an inch perfect 30 yard ball.

[Monsell1976]

I tend to agree who have concerns about the performances, and not so much the results preseason, and to a certain extent with those who say we can tell nothing, as it's not a competitive game, and they are not giving it 100 per cent.

But come Saturday I would expect nothing less than a accomplished performance, as all this talk of gelling cannot be used anymore, as they are the same group that had a season together last time out.

Being away from home a win is not a give me, but they should give everything for the cause, and not look as lacklustre, like they have, and should be aiming to come away with a least a draw.

Nigel has had the summer to work on new systems, and get his squad up to speed, if we look out of sorts he has to be responsible for that, but Saturday is not here yet, so we need to forget preseason and praise or be critical when the important games start.

My gut feeling says we will start very slow, and the pressure will build on Pearson, but that's my gut feeling, hope I'm wrong we need a solid promotion winning season.

[Dan]

Should go for the win in all 46 league games this year regardless. There really isn't much separating the best and the worst. Truly amazes me when teams sit back and defend in this league.

[Guest ttfn]

Should go for the win in all 46 league games this year regardless. There really isn't much separating the best and the worst. Truly amazes me when teams sit back and defend in this league.

Agree entirely. Better to win one and lose one than draw 2.

[Monsell1976]

Should go for the win in all 46 league games this year regardless. There really isn't much separating the best and the worst. Truly amazes me when teams sit back and defend in this league.

I would expect them to set up to win, but a draw would be a good result, first game of the season, and away from home.

I think the away form is a major issue under Pearson and he does in my opinion struggle away from home, wether that's his tactics or the players, but quite alot of away games I saw last season we appeared negative, and at times didn't look to go for the win. If he can maintain the home form of last season, but vastly improve the away results we could be there or there abouts come the promotion shake up, but this is an area to me that is Pearsons biggest downfall, and he needs to work on it to be a successful.

[MGLCFC]

_{I think our away performances at the beginning of last season were good, yet results weren't. The football was attractive and very positive. However, as football is a results driven profession, you can probably understand why Pearson felt he needed to tighten up. Nonetheless, some of the away performances after Christmas were just woeful.}

[marbelladave]

_{I think our away performances at the beginning of last season were good, yet results weren't. The football was attractive and very positive. However, as football is a results driven profession, you can probably understand why Pearson felt he needed to tighten up. Nonetheless, some of the away performances after Christmas were just woeful.}

 

This is, arguably,not true.

 

In the first 15 games we lost just 3 away games, Blackburn and Charlton early doors when we were still sorting ourselves out and before we brought Knockeart in to start and later at Wolves where we completely destroyed them second half, but failed to pull back from 2-0 at half time.

 

Apart from one draw, we won the rest and went top of the league, more than satisfactory and NFP's attempts to tighten us up robbed us of our attacking edge which, apart from a couple of games in january, never returned.

[5waller5]

Should go for the win in all 46 league games this year regardless. There really isn't much separating the best and the worst. Truly amazes me when teams sit back and defend in this league.

 

Win lose or draw, if we went for it and played attacking positive football throughout I can't see many people being disappointed by that.

[MGLCFC]

This is, arguably,not true.

 

In the first 15 games we lost just 3 away games, Blackburn and Charlton early doors when we were still sorting ourselves out and before we brought Knockeart in to start and later at Wolves where we completely destroyed them second half, but failed to pull back from 2-0 at half time.

 

Apart from one draw, we won the rest and went top of the league, more than satisfactory and NFP's attempts to tighten us up robbed us of our attacking edge which, apart from a couple of games in january, never returned.

I take your point, but what I'm suggesting is that the negative style of play didn't seem to happen until after Christmas - I thought both home and away we played some really attractive football, but upon the arrival of Wood (and I'm not saying he was the problem) we seemed to play a different style, particularly away from home.

[Dan]

Agree entirely. Better to win one and lose one than draw 2.

 

I personally think people have got playing for a draw and taking a draw mixed up. Very different. There are certain games where I wouldn't be disappointed with a draw but if I was manager I'd be going all out to win every game, especially in a league as even as this. It's not like setting up for a draw guarantees you one either.

 

I would expect them to set up to win, but a draw would be a good result, first game of the season, and away from home.

I think the away form is a major issue under Pearson and he does in my opinion struggle away from home, wether that's his tactics or the players, but quite alot of away games I saw last season we appeared negative, and at times didn't look to go for the win. If he can maintain the home form of last season, but vastly improve the away results we could be there or there abouts come the promotion shake up, but this is an area to me that is Pearsons biggest downfall, and he needs to work on it to be a successful.

 

Aye that's what I'm saying. Set up to win every game, but wouldn't complain at an away draw first game.

 

The away form has been an absolute joke since the start of 10/11. We must've lost about as many away games in the past three seasons as any other side in this league and I'm not exaggerrating either, I'd honestly be curious to see if anyone's been worse. Baffles me because Pearson used to be very efficient on the road for us and I thought it'd be one of the things he'd sort out, but he hasn't, at all. 6 away wins is dreadful for a promotion chasing side.

 

The thing that was annoying is that at the start of last year, we were going to sides and going for it, yet luck just totally decieved us. I'm thinking of Wolves, Charlton & Blackburn. Three away games in a row, we dominated and lost 2-1. On another day any one of them could've been 0-3, we were just wasteful. Same as when we went to Birmingham, Brighton, Palace, Bolton, Peterborough too etc...

 

Forest away proved what can be done when we have no choice but to go for it. 2-3 flattered them, we absolutely thumped them for most of that game.

 

I'd honestly rather go attacking and lose on Saturday than sit back and draw.

Win lose or draw, if we went for it and played attacking positive football throughout I can't see many people being disappointed by that.

 

Same here. Nothing is worse in football from a performance perspective than setting up for a draw and losing.

[Dan]

This is, arguably,not true.

 

In the first 15 games we lost just 3 away games, Blackburn and Charlton early doors when we were still sorting ourselves out and before we brought Knockeart in to start and later at Wolves where we completely destroyed them second half, but failed to pull back from 2-0 at half time.

 

Apart from one draw, we won the rest and went top of the league, more than satisfactory and NFP's attempts to tighten us up robbed us of our attacking edge which, apart from a couple of games in january, never returned.

 

I agree with you but it did return towards the end. We should've won at Brighton, should've won at Palace, and did win at Forest. I hope he looks at those three games, three away games against sides who were chasing promotion (one who got it) and we were comfortably the better side in all three. If he doesn't learn from that then I'll lose a lot of faith in the bloke.

[marbelladave]

I take your point, but what I'm suggesting is that the negative style of play didn't seem to happen until after Christmas - I thought both home and away we played some really attractive football, but upon the arrival of Wood (and I'm not saying he was the problem) we seemed to play a different style, particularly away from home.

 

Our negative style started as early as the Palace game at the KP at the end of October and became commonplace in the away games that followed, Watford, Millwall, Leeds etc. After January it became the norm home and away, the worse we played, the more defensive we bacame, it was self fulfilling.

 

I agree with you but it did return towards the end. We should've won at Brighton, should've won at Palace, and did win at Forest. I hope he looks at those three games, three away games against sides who were chasing promotion (one who got it) and we were comfortably the better side in all three. If he doesn't learn from that then I'll lose a lot of faith in the bloke.

 

I don't think so. We really played very little football in those last few games, it was all about effort and we fought hard for the second ball, and got a bit of luck as sometimes happens in those sort of games. They could probably have gone either way.

 

NFP has a simple choice, get us playing as we did early last season or prepare for a very tough season.

[Guest Col city fan]

This is, arguably,not true.

In the first 15 games we lost just 3 away games, Blackburn and Charlton early doors when we were still sorting ourselves out and before we brought Knockeart in to start and later at Wolves where we completely destroyed them second half, but failed to pull back from 2-0 at half time.

Apart from one draw, we won the rest and went top of the league, more than satisfactory and NFP's attempts to tighten us up robbed us of our attacking edge which, apart from a couple of games in january, never returned.

You know what I'm gonna say Dave (long time no hear by the way)... We got found out. Pearson reverted to type and the rest is history.

Add to this the young squad which, I think, lost confidence.

You can't play smooth attacking football every week Dave. You gotta mix it..