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Post by djs230480 on Apr 21, 2024 6:59:25 GMT
Anther game plenty of effort but with a lack of quality and cutting edge. Albeit against a team practically promoted. One error cost us.
The defence seems more than up to the job. Some good experience and finally some younger players coming through with Jobe and Rossi adding to Liam. Maybe Monk can get Okedina playing and another one to add.
As we all know midfield and forward is the issue. Too old, too slow, too limited technically.
That half of the team needs a complete refresh. The question is can we get the players, can we afford them and what league will we be in come next season
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belly77
Reserve team substitute
Posts: 2,722
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Post by belly77 on Apr 21, 2024 8:36:24 GMT
You can see why Derby have the best defensive record. Their 3 centre backs are all excellent. Number 5 literally won everything. I do have to question why we didn't play with wingers and try and get around those three beasts. I also thought Bonne looks like he's playing a level above where he should be, surprised he stayed on and Taylor wasn't bought on earlier. Really frustrating that Rossi was outstanding bar that terrible head that launched their counter attack.
One other thing. Everyone is talking like we are safe, we are not! Cheltenham and Burton could easily win their remaining games whilst we have a tricky match against Wycombe on a dreaded Tuesday night. Port Vale as we saw with Carlisle after their confirmed relegation could easily have that little relegation bounce and play with freedom. I'm nervous as hell.
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belly77
Reserve team substitute
Posts: 2,722
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Post by belly77 on Apr 21, 2024 8:38:10 GMT
Oh and Cousins is like two players. Really good off the ball and out of possession. Really bad on the ball. His match was summed up for me when in the dying seconds a simple pass to Kaikai would have set him down the wing for one final cross into the box. He passed it straight out for a throw to Derby.
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Sandypants
Reserve team star
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Favourite CUFC player: Harrison Dunk
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Post by Sandypants on Apr 21, 2024 8:39:38 GMT
What is going on with the pitch then? Seems to be an assumption that its poorer state is tactical on our part? We are witnessing the beginning of an urban myth. One of the Derby forums quoted Nathan Jones' moans about the pitch. They even copied the 'Dry Pitch' thread from this forum. Apparently Monk has made the pitch even smaller and has ensured it hasn't been watered in 8-10 years. Which is quite an achievement. This monster of a myth has now got its own momentum and will run and run. I'm sure Bloomfield will have a view after Tuesday's match. You're not even allowed to change the dimensions of the pitch partway through a season, are you? Silly people. Feel really happy for Zeno yesterday. He's not had much to go on here and Jobe was rightfully getting all the plaudits on his return. But yesterday he was great and the crowd showed their love for him. We might be happy to see the back of a number of players at the end of this season, but these final games since the international break have also given us something to be excited about. Lennet, Jobe, Rossi, Mannion can compete with anyone in this division on their day.
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Sandypants
Reserve team star
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Favourite CUFC player: Harrison Dunk
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Post by Sandypants on Apr 21, 2024 8:47:50 GMT
I also thought Bonne looks like he's playing a level above where he should be, /quote] Honestly, despite all my positivity about yesterday, I think you're giving Bonne too much credit. Conference at best.
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Post by El Goodo on Apr 21, 2024 9:54:12 GMT
Thought we were fairly decent yesterday, played our part in an absorbing game & were worth a point overall but, as has often been the case these past few games & throughout the season, we just didn't create enough going forward.
The goal was criminal though, it really was. Appalling header from Ibsen Rossi (about the only thing he got wrong all afternoon) 5 yards backwards to their best player but even so that should be fairly defendable or at the very least not end up with an open goal for Mendez-Laing... but what on earth Mannion is up to there who knows. Total rush of blood. Awful individual errors from those 2 & it's ended up costing us the game unfortunately. Same as Bristol, 1 passage of sloppy play punished – we should have had 2 points from these 2 games.
Thought Lankester did OK In the deeper midfield role – kept the ball moving & gave us someone willing to turn out. The Brophy sub for Bennett was... odd. Also a little surprised we took off Ahadme when we did as he & Taylor would likely have caused some problems for their (very good) backline. Bonne... I don't like singling players out particularly but he really is just not good enough is he? Works hard but he just... can't really do anything. He'd probably look better & more effective in an overall better team but... deary me. There's a reason he ended up in L2 having been hounded out of Charlton & Ipswich & it's quite plain to see what it is.
Otherwise I thought Ibsen Rossi, Bennett, Bennett, Gibbons & Cousins all had good games, & Digby was alright too. Ahadme another of his anonymous ones, which is what's happened throughout the season when he comes up against the very top-level defenders in this league & Kachunga was his usual neat & tidy without achieving very much.
At least no damage done with the other results & I'll be very surprised if we aren't safe, one way or the other (likely "the other"), come the final whistle on Tuesday but we really are limping our way to the finish line here. Want to see us pick a braver line-up on Tuesday – we need at least one of Kaikai, Lankester or Brophy in the forward line/behind the striker because that line-up yesterday is just so, so slow. I don't want to see Bonne start another game for us & I wouldn't mind if Kachunga doesn't either.
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imp566
Cult hero
Posts: 16,059
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Post by imp566 on Apr 21, 2024 10:09:20 GMT
Fancy Taylor to start on Tuesday with Ahadme - if only for the pantomime villain impact on the Wycombe fans. Can't wait for him to score at the NRE and then gallop all the way down to the SS to give them some!
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danielcufc
First team star
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Favourite CUFC match: Peterborough 1, Cambridge 5 London Road 3.1.1989
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Post by danielcufc on Apr 21, 2024 10:26:50 GMT
The back 5 are fine but we look like we are playing 5-2-3 at times as Kachunga pushes on and isnt really linking play. That then leaves us a problem as its up to Digby/Cousins to be the creators which just isnt their game. I wonder if Bonne is playing because he is the only fully fit striker. Gassan seemed to tire yesterday and I don't know if Taylor is up for 90. It would be interesting to see him and Gassan together and with the options then of Kachunga, Bonne and even Fejiri from the bench. Someone has to be able to be that link player in midfield. I would probably sway with going for Lankester.
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imp566
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Post by imp566 on Apr 21, 2024 10:34:32 GMT
\I'm surprised Fejiri hasn't really featured since coming back from injury - might be an indicator that these are his last days at the club.
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Post by flouncingarburyboy on Apr 21, 2024 10:39:55 GMT
I guess Monk is trying to play a fairly difficult balancing act …ensure our League One status for next season while getting an opportunity to see who is worth retaining through actual match day experience. As others have said, I think we’re going to be fine but I certainly don’t envy him over these next 2 games ….well Tuesday anyway.
EDIT: although I’m sure his mind is already made up about many of the players
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danboyb
Youth team substitute
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Post by danboyb on Apr 21, 2024 10:46:46 GMT
Taylor was going to come on around 10 minutes earlier than he actually did yesterday. He then sat back down again. Could possibly be Monk managing his minutes and he opted for 70 on Tuesday instead of an hour had he come on earlier yesterday. Either way I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t start.
Fej has offered very little in his brief appearances. When he returned last season he looked sharp and keen to prove a point. He looks exactly the opposite this season. Probably knows his time is up here. Njoku will be available as Peterborough Sports season has finished. I think I’d prefer the option of him on the bench ahead of Bonne or Fej. (It will be Bonne though)
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Post by milesfenton on Apr 21, 2024 10:51:04 GMT
Fej has made a 3 minute and a 12 minute sub appearance since his injury. How can you possibly conclude he should be written off based on that?
I'd agree that we can't keep him next season, but I think if he's actually fit enough he deserves a place ahead of Bonne easily for what's left of this season, and possibly ahead of Taylor too.
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danboyb
Youth team substitute
Posts: 507
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Post by danboyb on Apr 21, 2024 10:53:54 GMT
He looks to be carrying a bit of extra weight and although he’s had very limited time he’s looked way short of fitness. Which probably explains his absence from the squad completely yesterday.
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Post by El Goodo on Apr 21, 2024 11:05:34 GMT
\I'm surprised Fejiri hasn't really featured since coming back from injury - might be an indicator that these are his last days at the club. I'd be amazed if we offered him a contract. We'd be mad to do so.
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Post by funkymonk on Apr 21, 2024 11:06:19 GMT
Fancy Taylor to start on Tuesday with Ahadme - if only for the pantomime villain impact on the Wycombe fans. Can't wait for him to score at the NRE and then gallop all the way down to the SS to give them some! If it works, we're going to have to sign 23 strikers next year and only play them against their former clubs. Take that, Pep.
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