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| 'Marvin Goals' |
Tonight let's just have some more of last week. There's been loads of talk about quality, tactics, signings, recruitment strategies and all that but we hammered Wigan by getting the ball forward quickly, showing a bit of desire, mixing it up and the likes of Virtue and Bez keeping going, regardless of the technical merits of their last pass or cross. Character wins games as well as skill on paper and we showed some - lets show some more. I wonder if the crisis of fitness and flue-like symptoms is a blessing in disguise as it's forced us to really show what the squad is made of and just do what we can. Maybe life without choice is kind of a freedom? Remember when Barton went on a mad rant about Marxism cos he had some injuries? Sorry, I digress.
Northampton will come and try and be ugly and difficult but if we can ask enough questions they'll run out of answers. If we fanny about politely requesting an answer at a time of their convenience, the game will be trickier.
A Critch team is always an unexpected team and tonight's spin of the roulette wheel is a vintage WTF? selection with presumably some additional knocks having an impact. There's no Gary Goalmachine Goals Madine. Deep breath. Simms looks decent (but he's not Gary Goals... another deep breath for good measure) Also Sullay is back. Anyone have that down on their Critch selection bingo card? Me neither.
Thorniley continues playing despite (the probably not quite ready) Ballard making the bench suggesting he might genuinely be making a miraculous recovery from first team football leprosy. Stewart and Dougall form a midfield that will certainly not shirk a tackle and Matty V presumably continues to not be a winger but play on the wing anyway. The bench is either thin or exciting depending how you look at it and aside from the never dull Demi the chaos engine, I really fancy seeing a bit of Apter, Shaw and Antwi.
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Chissy is in the chair and gets Thorniley's name wrong even before we've kicked off. It's wor Jordan (not Jacob) who has the first chance, Sullay dinking a nice free kick in and Pool's no 4 running on to it at the far post, but only really succeeding in shinning it wide. It's an electric start for both teams, as the Cobblers force Maxwell into a characteristically athletic stop, springing high to his right to beat the ball out from the top corner in response to a smart snapshot on the turn from the edge of the box.
It is, to use a technical term, pissing down. but it has to be said, our pitch looks like a carpet. A bowling green in comparison to Wigan's tribute to the Oyston era groundskeeping they were kind enough to lay on for us. Chissy is bleating about late offside flags as usual. As 'hobby horses' go, it's hardly the end of global inequality and a commitment to ripping up economic norms to save the environment, but you've got to admire his commitment to a cause. Simms has a good chance, picking up a simple pass, showing real intent and just floating past his marker and driving at the near post, drawing a decent if routine save.
Pool are really getting a grip. Thorniley spreads it well to Sullay. Sullay does the best little trick he's done for weeks and then crosses into the groin of his marker to win a corner. Maybe it was revenge for getting clattered several times in the first few minutes? The corner is swung in, headed away and Stewart loops it hopelessly wide.... but... Sullay makes it to the ball, keeping it in right on the goal line, he looks up, takes a step infield and teases a dangerous ball in, as much as an effort on goal as a shot and the keeper has to palm it out from under the bar. He succeeds, but only flicks it straight to the newly lethal Ekpiteta (the Goal Machine is dead* long live the Goal Machine!) who cannot miss as the ball just bounces off his frame into the goal.
*out with a knock...
Chissy wishes some people well as he likes to do as if he's a minor royal, (This particular salutation is notable for including the very broad category of 'youngsters') as the game falls into a bit of a midfield battle. The Cobblers work a ball across goal but an acrobatic air kick at the end of the move is a let off. Sims and Virtue link nicely at the other end but the corner they create with some very purposeful passing only leads to a shot from distance, Stewart on the half volley from fully 30 yards that smacks another Cobblers defender a painful blow. They're not sitting back though and barely a minute passes till they work a shooting chance from the left hand side of the box, a good effort that strikes a 'Pool jersey and skims wide.
Dougall gets a ball in the face. Ekpiteta makes a great interception at the near post from a corner, heading it up, then charging out and winning the second ball. Simms races forward with it, Sullay charges down the middle. The Everton man finds him with a lovely pass and Sullay stings the palms of the keeper with a smart effort from the edge of the D. I'm surprised how open the game is so far.
It is, to use a technical term, pissing down. but it has to be said, our pitch looks like a carpet. A bowling green in comparison to Wigan's tribute to the Oyston era groundskeeping they were kind enough to lay on for us. Chissy is bleating about late offside flags as usual. As 'hobby horses' go, it's hardly the end of global inequality and a commitment to ripping up economic norms to save the environment, but you've got to admire his commitment to a cause. Simms has a good chance, picking up a simple pass, showing real intent and just floating past his marker and driving at the near post, drawing a decent if routine save.
Pool are really getting a grip. Thorniley spreads it well to Sullay. Sullay does the best little trick he's done for weeks and then crosses into the groin of his marker to win a corner. Maybe it was revenge for getting clattered several times in the first few minutes? The corner is swung in, headed away and Stewart loops it hopelessly wide.... but... Sullay makes it to the ball, keeping it in right on the goal line, he looks up, takes a step infield and teases a dangerous ball in, as much as an effort on goal as a shot and the keeper has to palm it out from under the bar. He succeeds, but only flicks it straight to the newly lethal Ekpiteta (the Goal Machine is dead* long live the Goal Machine!) who cannot miss as the ball just bounces off his frame into the goal.
*out with a knock...
Chissy wishes some people well as he likes to do as if he's a minor royal, (This particular salutation is notable for including the very broad category of 'youngsters') as the game falls into a bit of a midfield battle. The Cobblers work a ball across goal but an acrobatic air kick at the end of the move is a let off. Sims and Virtue link nicely at the other end but the corner they create with some very purposeful passing only leads to a shot from distance, Stewart on the half volley from fully 30 yards that smacks another Cobblers defender a painful blow. They're not sitting back though and barely a minute passes till they work a shooting chance from the left hand side of the box, a good effort that strikes a 'Pool jersey and skims wide.
Dougall gets a ball in the face. Ekpiteta makes a great interception at the near post from a corner, heading it up, then charging out and winning the second ball. Simms races forward with it, Sullay charges down the middle. The Everton man finds him with a lovely pass and Sullay stings the palms of the keeper with a smart effort from the edge of the D. I'm surprised how open the game is so far.
It doesn't last. What was quite engaging back and forth attack quickly falls into quite bitty play, neither side convincing in their attacking attempts. There's a Sullay run into traffic where it seems for a second he might get through but doesn't and a lovely turn to make space and nice pass that doesn't quite come off by Stewart. Northampton summon an effort that Maxwell deals with easily enough, going to ground and clutching the ball to his chest but it's Watson's mazy run past 4 Pool players that catches the eye as opposed to his tame finish.
It's stopped raining but the concrete in front of the wet dugouts is shimmering like a waxed dancefloor. Diffused reflections of the coaching staff sit at their feet, like pastel sketched versions of reality. Husband, Kaikai and Yates all combine neatly to fashion a drive from Husband that the ref does his best to block. Sullay slips over and gets a mystery concussion that lasts 30 seconds then vanishes as quickly as it threatened his very life. Simms links well with Virtue who crosses well but no one can reach it. There's an offside goal, neatly but pointlessly finished by Hoskins then the whistle blows...
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It's been odd in that it started really open then fell apart a bit. It's patently obvious that we've got an imbalance. Like him or not, Sullay has been far more likely that Matty V on the other side to provide an outlet. Virtue is doing ok at being Matty Virtue but he isn't a winger. It's lookng very 'needs must.' and we're struggling to stretch them, which I think is key with the players we have up front. Simms has looked very good in little spells but there's nothing like the presence of Madine up front and shirtless Jerry has been a little elusive. I wonder why Ewan Bange wasn't amongst the subs for that option of height and presence...
It's a nervy one in some ways as we've been easily better but not really carved out that many clear cut chances and you get the feeling that fitness (Stewart, Dougall in particular) could be an issue as the game goes on. I'm tempted to put on Apter on the right flank and try and win it in the first twenty minutes by attacking both sides..... It's not like we've got that many options on the bench is it? Ok, in no sane world is that going to happen, but it's what I'd do...
I've like what I've seen of Stewart, it's easy to see he's at very least a higher level version of MJ Williams. There's a crispness and balance in his play and him and wor Kenny could be absolutely dominant when fully fit. With two such players, you need width though to my mind, to really bring the creativity and we've not really got it...
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It's been odd in that it started really open then fell apart a bit. It's patently obvious that we've got an imbalance. Like him or not, Sullay has been far more likely that Matty V on the other side to provide an outlet. Virtue is doing ok at being Matty Virtue but he isn't a winger. It's lookng very 'needs must.' and we're struggling to stretch them, which I think is key with the players we have up front. Simms has looked very good in little spells but there's nothing like the presence of Madine up front and shirtless Jerry has been a little elusive. I wonder why Ewan Bange wasn't amongst the subs for that option of height and presence...
It's a nervy one in some ways as we've been easily better but not really carved out that many clear cut chances and you get the feeling that fitness (Stewart, Dougall in particular) could be an issue as the game goes on. I'm tempted to put on Apter on the right flank and try and win it in the first twenty minutes by attacking both sides..... It's not like we've got that many options on the bench is it? Ok, in no sane world is that going to happen, but it's what I'd do...
I've like what I've seen of Stewart, it's easy to see he's at very least a higher level version of MJ Williams. There's a crispness and balance in his play and him and wor Kenny could be absolutely dominant when fully fit. With two such players, you need width though to my mind, to really bring the creativity and we've not really got it...
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Sullay tests the keeper from a free kick on the edge of the box, the goalie spilling it and claiming it at the second attempt. Virtue has a belt as Virtue does but it clatters into the Kop. Dougall gets on the end of a good counter attacking move and drills it low but past the far post into the hoardings. Stewart has a barreling run and wins a free kick just right of centre about 28 yards out. Sullay shapes for a booming drive but plays a joker as he chips a sand wedge to no one and it's headed away. He walks away like a magician disgusted at fucking up a card trick.
I'm feeling anxious about this. It's all a bit 'us early in the season' as we're not turning dominance of the run of play into goals. It feel a bit like every other Steve McMahon game...
But here we go, Sullay is sprinting away, he's streaking clear at first but then he's being reeled in. Fear not, as Sullay is calm, composed and aware and just as he's caught, he slides a beauty of a ball for Stewart who is racing up the middle, he takes in his stride, hits it hard - it cracks the inside of the post and loops away, the keeper beaten but the post vibrating with denial.
Big Marv survives a massive collision with a Cobblers sub after Dougall plays a hospital pass that Marvin is brilliantly alert to. His timing is almost inhuman. Northampton score from a corner but a foul is declared comfortably early enough for me not to worry about it. Demi comes on for tired Kenny. Simms heads over. Thorniley heads wide. iFollow warns me not to show it in a pub as if there any pubs to show it in. Demi runs very quickly towards the box but forget the bit about taking the ball with him.
Critch really grabs the game by the scruff of the neck by bringing on Ollie Turton for Simms. Nothing says 'cut throat' like bringing on Ollie Turton instead of a striker... Demi shows his excitement at the substitution by bursting through the middle and wellying it into the stand. We bang it to the edge of their box a bit and try and fail to pass up the pitch a bit. Sullay finds a little pocket of space, looks like he might slips through as he can but stumbles and Virtue takes over with a side foot effort that lands in the steps between block C+B.
I'm getting anxious. it's not helped by the fact we can't keep possession and they lump it in and get a flick header which Maxwell is down to but hits him on the arm instead of sitting nicely in his grasp. It leaves him scrambling to grab it amidst feet, which happily, he does. Two moments of Thorniley please me amidst my anxiety. One is a diving header away where he makes contact about a foot above the turf and the other is a lovely bit of vision where he lofts a ball for Demi to chase. Nothing comes of it, it's just obvious that he can pass.
I'm awakened from dreaming about such things as they belt through the middle and win a corner from a charged down effort. From the corner, we break. Sullay spots Demi and plays it, but Demi is fouled and the ref does nothing and they come again. This is looking dicey. I'm fuming about the injustice in advance when I notice nothing has actually come of their attack and Chris Maxwell has it. He throws it out to shirtless Jerry who is wide left, on the half way line, a position from which he runs and he runs and runs. He twists, he turns. Where the fuck is he going now? He spins again, he looks to have forgotten the ball but he drags it back to him at the last minute. He's sold three defenders, got free, he's bearing down on goal and he's only fucking slipped it home into the bottom corner.
What a goal.
Breathe out.
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This wasn't a classic football masterclass from either side but Pool were miles better than the opposition. Northampton looked incoherent to be honest. They started quite open, then seemed to spoil the game when a goal behind and there wasn't really an obvious player that stood out for them as dangerous. We scored at the start and the end and in between there wasn't an awful lot to really get excited about in between. To be fair, there wasn't that much to worry about either aside from the nagging doubt that we usually ship two goals in a minute against this sort of team and lose games we should win.
It's another worthy 3 points and again, another game to praise those filling in or playing without full fitness. I liked the potential of Stewart who seemed to both able to shield defense and get forward and drive down the middle. Jerry keeps making me eat my words as I always seem to write that he's anonymous and then he scores. Long may he continue to do so and this weeks moment of glory was anything but a tap in. Big Marvin is possibly the best player in the world and Jordan Thorniley ain't bad for a 4th choice.
Sullay tests the keeper from a free kick on the edge of the box, the goalie spilling it and claiming it at the second attempt. Virtue has a belt as Virtue does but it clatters into the Kop. Dougall gets on the end of a good counter attacking move and drills it low but past the far post into the hoardings. Stewart has a barreling run and wins a free kick just right of centre about 28 yards out. Sullay shapes for a booming drive but plays a joker as he chips a sand wedge to no one and it's headed away. He walks away like a magician disgusted at fucking up a card trick.
I'm feeling anxious about this. It's all a bit 'us early in the season' as we're not turning dominance of the run of play into goals. It feel a bit like every other Steve McMahon game...
But here we go, Sullay is sprinting away, he's streaking clear at first but then he's being reeled in. Fear not, as Sullay is calm, composed and aware and just as he's caught, he slides a beauty of a ball for Stewart who is racing up the middle, he takes in his stride, hits it hard - it cracks the inside of the post and loops away, the keeper beaten but the post vibrating with denial.
Big Marv survives a massive collision with a Cobblers sub after Dougall plays a hospital pass that Marvin is brilliantly alert to. His timing is almost inhuman. Northampton score from a corner but a foul is declared comfortably early enough for me not to worry about it. Demi comes on for tired Kenny. Simms heads over. Thorniley heads wide. iFollow warns me not to show it in a pub as if there any pubs to show it in. Demi runs very quickly towards the box but forget the bit about taking the ball with him.
Critch really grabs the game by the scruff of the neck by bringing on Ollie Turton for Simms. Nothing says 'cut throat' like bringing on Ollie Turton instead of a striker... Demi shows his excitement at the substitution by bursting through the middle and wellying it into the stand. We bang it to the edge of their box a bit and try and fail to pass up the pitch a bit. Sullay finds a little pocket of space, looks like he might slips through as he can but stumbles and Virtue takes over with a side foot effort that lands in the steps between block C+B.
I'm getting anxious. it's not helped by the fact we can't keep possession and they lump it in and get a flick header which Maxwell is down to but hits him on the arm instead of sitting nicely in his grasp. It leaves him scrambling to grab it amidst feet, which happily, he does. Two moments of Thorniley please me amidst my anxiety. One is a diving header away where he makes contact about a foot above the turf and the other is a lovely bit of vision where he lofts a ball for Demi to chase. Nothing comes of it, it's just obvious that he can pass.
I'm awakened from dreaming about such things as they belt through the middle and win a corner from a charged down effort. From the corner, we break. Sullay spots Demi and plays it, but Demi is fouled and the ref does nothing and they come again. This is looking dicey. I'm fuming about the injustice in advance when I notice nothing has actually come of their attack and Chris Maxwell has it. He throws it out to shirtless Jerry who is wide left, on the half way line, a position from which he runs and he runs and runs. He twists, he turns. Where the fuck is he going now? He spins again, he looks to have forgotten the ball but he drags it back to him at the last minute. He's sold three defenders, got free, he's bearing down on goal and he's only fucking slipped it home into the bottom corner.
What a goal.
Breathe out.
---
This wasn't a classic football masterclass from either side but Pool were miles better than the opposition. Northampton looked incoherent to be honest. They started quite open, then seemed to spoil the game when a goal behind and there wasn't really an obvious player that stood out for them as dangerous. We scored at the start and the end and in between there wasn't an awful lot to really get excited about in between. To be fair, there wasn't that much to worry about either aside from the nagging doubt that we usually ship two goals in a minute against this sort of team and lose games we should win.
It's another worthy 3 points and again, another game to praise those filling in or playing without full fitness. I liked the potential of Stewart who seemed to both able to shield defense and get forward and drive down the middle. Jerry keeps making me eat my words as I always seem to write that he's anonymous and then he scores. Long may he continue to do so and this weeks moment of glory was anything but a tap in. Big Marvin is possibly the best player in the world and Jordan Thorniley ain't bad for a 4th choice.
Simms looks more than a leggy kid and though his inexperience was evident at times, I thought he worked hard if not always effectively to give us a presence and he's definitely got something in and around the edge of the box. Sullay I thought (awaits to be told otherwise) did ok and looked a bit more like Sullay can look though still not his best. Virtue I cannot criticise simply because he gives his all and his character is everything on nights like this. If Sullay is all skill and frustration, Virtue is the yin to that yang especially when poorly Kenny visibly tired and was looking a bit ghostly under the aussie tan (spray on? sunbed at home?) when he went off.
But Chris Maxwell. He made a great stop, did everything else tidily and what a throw for Yates. An inch perfect curling ball that's as good as any pass we've seen this year. He's not bad that lad. It's a second relatively comfortable win against the sort of side that's tripped us up many a time before over the last few years and that really can't be bad.
But Chris Maxwell. He made a great stop, did everything else tidily and what a throw for Yates. An inch perfect curling ball that's as good as any pass we've seen this year. He's not bad that lad. It's a second relatively comfortable win against the sort of side that's tripped us up many a time before over the last few years and that really can't be bad.
Onwards!
utmp
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