Ghost of Clough

It's great at times isn't it? JThompson sets the tone with pin point passes to anywhere on the field. Only turned 17 just before Christmas, but already one of our best players at this level. Definitely settling in now. Results have improved since he's been fit which is always a positive. It also helps that his size makes up for the rest of our youthful squad. He's looking to be a good summer signing. Agreed. The minimum he should be getting is a few minutes at the end of games. He's a very likeable person. Needs to bulk up a bit, but that'll come with age - he's another of our 2nd yesr scholars stepping up early I dont believe so 17? A 2nd year scholar so moves up full time to the U21s next season

YouTube link not currently working. Here's the FB one https://fb.watch/pTHZSJpEly/

I would say the opposite. If we were trying to look him out, would we risk an injury just days before the window closes? He hasn't had much football for months, so this game (several days before our next fixture) is thr perfect time for him to build up some fitness. He also played a couple of weeks ago, alongside Fornah and Sibley. I would hedge my bets on Fornah being on the way out. Less than 30 minutes of league football since Christmas. Started 1 other game in thr Cup and brought off at half time. Not even named in the first team squad 4 times. The fact he isn't in this U21 game to build up much needed fitness suggests something is up

More or less what I expected tbh, but great to see Bardell on the bench. He's had a torrid time with injuries. He's only played twice this season, on the back of only 4 games last season (including an appearance in thr FA Cup). Gibson-Hammond will be desperate to get off our bench and make a point against his former employers - he was a regular in their U21 swaud over the last 2 seasons. This'll be his 2nd game since returned from his loan at Buxton.

On the other hand, we have only picked up 3 wins this year (7 games) - 2 of those against sides in the relegation zone and the other is only 5 points clear. We also lost to 1 of the other sides in the relegation zone and a L2 side during that 7 game spell.

You could field these 10 as your outfielders from all of those to have featured for the U18s that season. Festy Cashin Buchanan Archie Knight Bird Thompson Whittaker Delap Sibley

With the first team not playing until Saturday, I expect a couple of first team players to feature - Ward should be one of them due to his lack of first team minutes

My recollection is of Mark Thomas being on his notice period at Oxford until the summer started (a quick browse couldn't confirm this). I therefore think it's reasonable to assume the majority of the summer signings were 'Warne signings'. The likes of Bradley, Elder, etc. would have been lined up very quickly, and most liekly before Thomas had officially started working for us. I therefore have confidence that the success rate of our signigns will improve going forward. However, it is a concern how so many signings aren't playing as much as we had liked - whether through injury or performance. When weighing up value for money (availability/minutes played vs wages), it's signings from this season who come out of it worst - Ward, Bradley, Elder, Embleton, John-Jules, Washington.. It's clear we can't afford to have another summer like last.

Vickers is now on -2.6 goals prevented vs Wildsmith's +0.6. It's the equivalent to us conceding 11 goals more than we already have done if Vickers had played in every game. That's also not taking into account the goal line clearance to help us out by the Cheltenham player.

According to Transfermarkt, it's 10 points gained from losing positions and 10 lost from winning positions. Portsmouth have a net gain of 10 points, Bolton just 1, and Peterborough a net loss of 1.

I think that's 4 goals and 4 assists in his last 6 U18 games. We should see him step up to the U21s in the 2nd half of the season as we typically see with the top performing U18s at this stage of the season. Even though he's still only 16, he's already over 6 foot tall. A step up in level will ensure he continues to develop the technical side of his game and decision making. He'll mostly be used on the wing for thr U21s this season, but I see his long term position as a CM. However, we have DRobinson Radcliffe, Fapetu, Hawkins and Allen, so we'll need to see a few players out on loan for him to get a chance there.

I'm guessing you didn't watch it since you state "It sounds like Cheltenham made it very difficult..." If you had actually watched it, I doubt you would be "thrilled". Anyone thrilled with watching that game needs to check in to the nearest psychiatric unit.

Since Warne insists on a front 2, even with only 1 fit CF in the squad, the answer seems predictable

Finished 5-1. Still 4th in the table

No. Some players left and some coaches moved on too. We have replaced most of the staff members and still have players who are capable of ome day playing for our first team If a manager isn't willing to give them game time, they need loans...

Crowdfund?

Good fora few minutes leading up to our goal. Then made the triple sub and looked a bit shaky for a while, before finally regaining some control.

At least he shoots. I wish others on the team would too

Sibley and Mendez-Laing the best of a bad bunch IMO. At least theyre both making an effort to drive forward when on the ball. Absolutely garbage performance by everyone though.

Which would be a problem if we could pass that far up the pitch

Played 68 mins in the last U21 game. Based on the warm-ups, the tactics for today are: pass to Hourihane, get it out to the right, cross to Collins. In positive news, Barkhuizen's finishing looked sharp.

Mendez-Laing CF. What's Weston got to do to get on the bench? 4 CMs and no wingers or CFs on there 🤔

Correction: it's Khace Gordon. 2-1 down - McAndrew assisted by Gordon

Team news: Price IGordon Banks Osayande Gill Eames McAndrew Osong Allen Gough Oguntolu Subs: Hardy, Canoville, Tola, Green, Augustien