menzinho

Well, I don’t know where to start. Grateful we got a point I guess! After the disappointment of last week where we should’ve won, this a game we probably should have lost. Three proper last ditch tackles a ball cleared off the line. Port Vale were wasteful and midway through the 2nd half it just felt like we were waiting for them to score. Kewell didn’t change anything and whilst we were okay in the first half it was the same old problems, standing off and anytime Port Vale got the ball in the box players were free and we panicked as per usual. We’ve pretty much got a new defence but the organisation is still not good. Alessandra and Dennis never got into the game today but it didn’t help that we gave the ball away too often. Also 3 centre backs on the bench and two kids? Where are Jones, Husin, Crawford, Kellet and Hawkridge? 2 points off the relegation zone… 50 points looking miles away right now. Can we start the season again?

I listened to the game yesterday and I've now caught up on the highlights (what highlights?!) and it's not good. We were so deep they were practically walking the ball into the net, they literally did for the 2nd goal which might be the most pathetic goal we've conceded all season. Fitz has gone back to standing under his crossbar, does Crossley seriously coach him to do this? The tactics were wrong, 4-1-4-1 away from home! We're not playing Rolls-Royce factory boys here, it was pretty much 5 attackers and one midfielder. We were so, so, so open in the midfield Bury could literally pass it out of defence and into their attackers. After the game Harry Kewell said of the tactics it was going to be hard to pull it off, but he's supposedly all for simple football isn't he? And he said part of the plan was to allow the wide players to get crosses in? I don't get it. I thought things were on the up, but to lose 4-0, it really knocks us right back down. I'm not looking forward to Tuesday...

It's a tough one to call, will the week off have given Kewell more time to work on his style and tactics for the Bury game? Or will we look a bit sluggish, will the time off have impacted that winning momentum? I don't think we'll be able to get away with playing Brisley in CM against a team like Bury. It kind of feels like we've only got two CMs at the minute in Hewitt and Milsom as Kewell is reluctant to use any of the others so it's anyone's guess who gets the nod really. The defence and keeper have improved and we've got players who can score and create goals in good form at the moment. I'm just worried about the middle of pitch. I think we'll miss Milsom. So I'll go right down the middle and take a draw. 1-1. Enzio for us.

Hmm... like most I've got no interest in the competition, but I was at least expecting a better performance considering the players we put out. They were only up against a Newcastle youth side, it was a chance for the likes of Dennis, Vaughan, Husin, Thomas, Patching and Kellet to make an impression and by the sounds of it they didn't. A bit of a missed opportunity there...

I was only able to listen today but I was incredibly surprised to hear Brisley in centre mid. I get that he's big and he'll win headers but his passing and general skill level is pretty low, on his good day he's your basic, kick it, head it, win type of defender. I can only guess he was a kind of stopper and I can't imagine he really helped build any attacks. It's also not exactly a vote of confidence for the likes of Vaughan and Husin. My only tiny gripe with Kewell would be substitutions, when we went a man down against Crawley I was surprised he didn't get fresher legs on quicker, we waited for about 20 minutes, they should have been on much sooner in my opinion. Likewise today, we didn't really have many opportunities until the pen, but he chose to keep it as it was. Why bring Dennis on with about 5 mins left, what is he supposed to achieve? He's proved can be very effective in this league, give him a bit more time. That all said, not really complaining 9 points from the last 3 games is fantastic, unbeaten in 5 as well. On the whole it's a big improvement and it finally feels like our season has started!

I did not think after 10 games of the season we'd be in a kind of must win situation. I think the next two games against Crewe and Macclesfield are massive. If we come away with 0/2 points we are seriously in for a relegation battle this season. If we get two wins I'll feel comfortable we're in for a season of mid-table obscurity. The performances have been better; Stevenage are a good side, Northampton are (no disrespect) not so much, but we were away from home. Crewe are a real Jekyll and Hyde team, on their day they play well and get a good result to go with it. Luckily they don't have good days too often. I think if we start well and score first we'll win it. (Please God let us win it) 2-1. Hemmings and Ward.

Not conceeding 3 goals would be a start, maybe it's time to try something other than 4-4-2? You can vary formations when you have and haven't go the ball 3-5-2 to a 5-3-2 or 4-3-3 to a 4-5-1. We haven't really adapted to stop the opposition so far this season. Last weekend was better but I've still got doubts about our defending. 2-2 (and that's being hopeful!)

I'm hopeful Stevenage will underestimate us (rightfully so) and we'll see the results from a proper week of training with Kewell; that being play like Barca and ease to a 3-0 win! However if recent form is anything to go by Stevenage will probably score a late winner and beat us 2-1. I can see it now; a hopeful ball into the box finds their striker in plenty of space unmarked and 6 yards out. His attempt is fumbled by Fitzsimons who drops it. Our defenders in a panic try to clear it but get in each others way and can only watch as the ball is scuffed into the back of the net. I know we're only 7 games in, but we really need a positive result tomorrow!

Right, the positives... Well that's one of the long trips done. Erm, Enzio can bang them in when he gets the chance. And; that's it. Maybe I'll switch the England game on, they're good at the minute I bet they're winning... Oh...

Doidge has gone! Pretty fantastic news for us, he's one of the best strikers in the league in my opinion. If we play Hewitt at RB with Husin and Vaughan in CM again I'll go for a 2-1 loss. If we play Hewitt in the middle, I'll go for a 1-1 draw. Hoping for a win (obviously) but I'm just not feeling confident. Kewell was at Notts' training session today and hopefully got them together to gee them up!

I didn't make the trip up to Middlesbrough myself (credit to the guys and girls who did though), but I did catch the goals on Sky Sports. Nice free-kick from us and Stead... He does the business in the cup competitions. Like you say Chris I too am pleased for younger players like Crawford and Bird who sounded like they had good games. As for the goals against us could Fitzsimmons have done more for the first two? Was he blocked a bit from the corner, could he have got to the cross? I'm not sure but he just seems to stand under his posts too much for my liking. I'm not complaining though, a 3-3 away at a Championship club with no Hemmings, Dennis, Boldewijn or Vaughan is a pretty impressive result. Hopefully we'll go into Friday with a bit of a good vibe!