Northampton Town (A) F A Cup 2nd Round Saturday 1/12/07.

[yoda]

wow. You must have been sitting practically next to me. Thats exactly where we sat

[SaigonSaddler]

Great day watching the lads. Looked comfortable all game really with Cobblers huffing and puffing. Once that tall freak went off that had very little. Finished strongly and fancy us for the home tie.

Pathetic home support. They should be embarrassed.

[philthesaddler]

Ref was poor - 2 needless bookings in the first half for nothing, then in the 2nd, with nasty challenges flying around he did nothing :shock:

Ricketts was very poor for me, so was Ishy. Defence solid.

Just shows when any of our midfielders have an off day we struggle

[yoda]

That ref was appalling. Ishy got clattered then got booked - was it for diving?

[Plastic Hawk]

That ref was appalling. Ishy got clattered then got booked - was it for diving?

It was for a late (possibly retaliatory) tackle wasn't it? Their defender hoofed the ball clear, I watched it and about two seconds later the ref blew up, I looked back and the defender was on the ground with Ishmel getting up from a sliding tackle and looking a bit shifty. I assumed that he'd clattered the defender late. If so, then it would have been so late to make a booking guaranteed.

[yoda]

I watched ishy and he cleared the ball and the guy ploughed into him from behind

[Plastic Hawk]

I think you're being a bit harsh on Wrack if I'm honest. He wasn't amongst out best players, but wasn't any worse than Bradley who struggled to get into the game just as much.
The problem today was that we were playing against one of those sides who look like they need reminding of that green stuff the game was supposed to be played on. They say games are won and lost in midfield. That explains the draw we ended up with because as much as we tried, we couldn't get ours into the game and they simply bypassed theirs completely.

Maybe, but last week I thought that played into our hands: because they didn't play the ball through midfield they were unable to exploit our lack of tackling in there, whereas all of our midfielders looked comfortable on the ball when we got it back and so we were able to put some good moves together. I think that they had learned a bit from last week and they certainly got about us a bit more and occasionally thought about breaking through midfield rather than just lumping it forwards at the first opportunity. I thought that the biggest difference, though, was that we just didn't play as well with the ball as we did last week - we just kept giving it away even under no pressure.

Burnside, maybe you are right about Wrack being the busiest midfielder, but I didn't think he was at all effective. I could go out there and look effective. However, the main thing (whoever played better than the rest in the middle) is that unless they're on absolute top form our midfield just isn't up to scratch without a ball winner in there. We struggle to get the ball back when we lose it and we don't have enough options to pass to when our defenders have it (that's especially true when Sonko has one of his many off days). We need Dobson back as soon as possible.

Incidentally, whoever wanted to see a replay of the goal, I think it may turn out that Fox was at least as culpable as Weston. While he may not have blocked the cross, he did put the guy off enough that he scuffed in what looked a pretty harmless ball, but Fox just seemed to watch as it bounced past him (maybe a greasy surface?) and the guy at the back post had the simplest of tap-ins.

[Wyrley_saddler]

wow. You must have been sitting practically next to me. Thats exactly where we sat

what row & seat number where you on?

[Plastic Hawk]

I watched ishy and he cleared the ball and the guy ploughed into him from behind

Are you sure? The booking was deep in Northampton's half, so what was Ishmel doing clearing it?

As I say, I didn't actually see the incident, so you may well be correct that he did nothing. In any case, the ref was appalling. Apparently we automatically get him for the replay - so that should be fun... :roll:

[yoda]

wow. You must have been sitting practically next to me. Thats exactly where we sat

what row & seat number where you on?

Couldnt tell you. We just grabbed a seat. But I had that exact view

[Percie]

A draw was the fair result today, I said at half time that I would take a replay so I've come away happy enough. I just hope we can now draw a big team away and turn Northampton over.

We look a completely different side without Dobson though, I hope more people will start to appricaiate how good he actually is!

[moaning saddler]

The best part of the day was the 2nd half selection of chants from Ray Shaw's Geriatric Army in the side stand. There was also a fantastic discussion about the day they ran Chelsea out of Fellows Park. I considered asking where they all were when Millwall came to town in 1967, but thought better of it.

Regarding the comments about Nicholls - at least he tried to get into the game and contribute something, unlike Sonko, who is in danger of becoming a damp squib following his initial rave reviews.

[AshleyWalsall14]

Great Today, Not as good as last week performance wise but overall i am pleased.

Away support brilliant as usual, Took the train today with about 15 of my mates. Messed up the train and was chanting since 9 in the morning. Just got back as we stayed in Northampton for a bit, Had a pizza hut, 80 quids worth, And Ran off, Lmaooo.

Gonna see it on match of the day in a minute, To have a closer look at the performance, As i was too messed up to pay any attention at the game.

[PT]

Just back - long day from up here, but always worth it.

Football-wise we were a class above Northampton today, but other than the goal we couldn't find that killer pass after we had worked several very good positions. Gerrard and Dann were excellent, Sonko not so.

Good following from us, their support pathetic.

Why British Transport Police felt that our train back to Brum needed two coppers in every carriage was beyond me. Absolute waste of our money.

[AshleyWalsall14]

Just back - long day from up here, but always worth it.

Football-wise we were a class above Northampton today, but other than the goal we couldn't find that killer pass after we had worked several very good positions. Gerrard and Dann were excellent, Sonko not so.

Good following from us, their support pathetic.

Why British Transport Police felt that our train back to Brum needed two coppers in every carriage was beyond me. Absolute waste of our money.

What time did you get the train, We went at 7:00 and we had no police, And messed up the train.

[jnks]

In any case, the ref was appalling. Apparently we automatically get him for the replay - so that should be fun... :roll:

Are you sure? I've just checked and in the first round Luton v Brentford had a different ref for the replay. (Andy D'urso in the original tie and Darren Drysdale for the replay) I honestly don't know the rule, so not saying you're wrong, just thought I'd check! I wasn't there today, so can't comment on the ref, but if he was as bad as you say, hopefully it won't be him for the replay!

[yoda]

You cant say our fans dont have a sense of humour. Chants like "its just like watching the bill" made me laugh.

Shame i didnt hear one single song from the cobblers

[Exile]

Just back - long day from up here, but always worth it.

Why British Transport Police felt that our train back to Brum needed two coppers in every carriage was beyond me. Absolute waste of our money.

PT, suggest the post above yours may shed some light.

Away support brilliant as usual, Took the train today with about 15 of my mates. Messed up the train and was chanting since 9 in the morning. Just got back as we stayed in Northampton for a bit, Had a pizza hut, 80 quids worth, And Ran off, Lmaooo.

What a twonk

Well done the lads on a draw - a money-spinning replay with their massive away crowd beckons.

[BathSaddler]

Great Today, Not as good as last week performance wise but overall i am pleased.

Away support brilliant as usual, Took the train today with about 15 of my mates. Messed up the train and was chanting since 9 in the morning. Just got back as we stayed in Northampton for a bit, Had a pizza hut, 80 quids worth, And Ran off, Lmaooo.

Gonna see it on match of the day in a minute, To have a closer look at the performance, As i was too messed up to pay any attention at the game.

That's what supporting a team is all about - running off and not paying the bill :roll:

Even if it was PizzaHut.

[yoda]

- a money-spinning replay with their massive away crowd beckons.

After seeing their home crowd for a cup final (they seemed chuffed to draw to us), I'm dreading seeing their away crowd on a wet tuesday night!

[moaning saddler]

Great Today, Not as good as last week performance wise but overall i am pleased.

Away support brilliant as usual, Took the train today with about 15 of my mates. Messed up the train and was chanting since 9 in the morning. Just got back as we stayed in Northampton for a bit, Had a pizza hut, 80 quids worth, And Ran off, Lmaooo.

Gonna see it on match of the day in a minute, To have a closer look at the performance, As i was too messed up to pay any attention at the game.

Cracking. Think I may have been standing next to you at the match - were you the guy dribbling down your shirt with your back to the game and telling the guy in front of you that you were going to shag his brains out.

[Sadders]

- a money-spinning replay with their massive away crowd beckons.

After seeing their home crowd for a cup final (they seemed chuffed to draw to us), I'm dreading seeing their away crowd on a wet tuesday night!

Bets for less then 200 anyone. :shock:

[Welsh_Saddler]

Does the nametag "AshleyWalsall14" refer to his IQ or the number of brain cells he possesses?

I hope he's really proud of doing a runner from Pizza Hut - bear in mind that the young lady (or boy) who had the misfortune to serve him will probably have to make up the Company's loss out of his or her wages.

Nice one Ashley - you're a real plonker, so go and support someone else as you're not wanted here :roll:

[THE_BURNING_RED]

i was in the side and some of the diehards behind me held a little contest to find the oldest chant plus had a little dig at the saddlers in the away end magic

[1966]

Great - Messed up the train Had a pizza hut, 80 quids worth, And Ran off, Lmaooo, i was too messed up to pay any attention at the game.

Why bother going then.... you dont represent my club!!

[Exile]

Great - Messed up the train Had a pizza hut, 80 quids worth, And Ran off, Lmaooo, i was too messed up to pay any attention at the game.

Why bother going then.... you dont represent my club!!

Don't worry. We know the Transport police read the site every now and again, as does our Banks's community bobbie, and clueless Ash has his own photo in his avatar. Good luck at the next home game, mate. :lol:

[Duke]

Downside another game to fit into an already busy December
upside we are in the draw fior the 3rd round .

BRING ON FOREST

[Mike T.]

That ref was appalling. Ishy got clattered then got booked - was it for diving?

It was for a late (possibly retaliatory) tackle wasn't it? Their defender hoofed the ball clear, I watched it and about two seconds later the ref blew up, I looked back and the defender was on the ground with Ishmel getting up from a sliding tackle and looking a bit shifty. I assumed that he'd clattered the defender late. If so, then it would have been so late to make a booking guaranteed.

It was as you state resulting from a sliding tackle just a couple of seconds late after the defender had cleared the ball. It wasn't a clattering though - that description fitts their sub Jones (on loan from the Dingles) running full pelt into Weston after he (Jones) had lost the ball. I still dont understand why Weston was booked and they had a free kick!!

Pleased to be in the hat for the draw for the next round. Gerrard and Dann top drawer for me - and I am in the pro Bradley camp, thought he had an excellent second half. Somebody said above the substitutions seemed to result in us passing the ball better, Alex provided a good "release ball" outlet wide right and I never felt we were in danger of losing it in the last 30 minutes.

I think the management need to decide if Alex is going to play as a striker or wide right. If he has only got a one year contract he needs a run of games in the one position to decide if he has a future.

[King Crimson]

Good to see Money saw what I said to MMF at half time - basically that defensively our wingers were awful, and offering no protection to the back four at all. Ishmel showed why he is an 'impact player' - after the first 25 minutes he was spent, and quite simply awful. Sonko was terrible.

MOM for me was Gerrard, simply for the fact he wanted to win as much as the Northants team. Unlike a number of others alongside him. A draw was a fair result. We'll have em at Banks's.

[Pedagogue]

I'm finding it difficult to recall the game as I am, along with Linda, Rachel, Willy-Nilly, OldPenkSaddler and several non-UTSers, battling to overcome the psychological trauma of witnessing a somewhat inebriated, stark-naked Asps dancing to "Vindaloo" in the mini-bus, on the homeward journey. Not a pretty sight and definitely X-certificate stuff!

I will be seeking counselling if the memories do not fade, soon. Still, at least it reminded Linda that she had got sausage for tea! :D




(By the way, Linda - what WERE you and Steve doing on the floor of the minibus, as we left Northampton???)