Post-Match Thread and Ratings Northampton Town 2-1 Southend United

[Ricey]

Please post reports and ratings.

Fair play to all 377 of you that had to endure that shower of ****.

 

[bazzashrimper]

Yep - well done to everyone who traveled. I suspect you earn higher ratings than any of the players

 

[Tinks]

I didn't do this one tonight - and I am flipping glad now.

 

[Jam_Man]

Easy to say with hindsight, but thought it at the beginning. 3 at the back ?

Lacking in confidence and form and we change to a totally different formation? Guess the reasoning was lack of defenders but surely we should be keeping it simple and getting back to basics.

Dropping Hurst for me is absurd, he may be out of form but he is the one creative player we have, let him play himself back into form, he wont do that from the bench.

Brown now has to prove his managerial credentials, he couldnt turn around Sturrocks team, he really needs to be able to do so with his own .

 

[meerkat54]

same *****, just a different day!.

 

[Smiffy]

What a shock. Watch out for Plymouth...

 

[RobB11]

God help us when we go to an actual good team in Scunthorpe in a couple of weeks. Be surprised if we win again this season, absolutely pathetic.

 

[Blues 'n twos]

Gutless 2nd half, what was worse hoofball or crab ball? all we do is pass sideways!

 

[shrimperjon]

Desperate, another **** poor performance against another struggling outfit that we then make look good. Four points is dreadful from games against Northampton, Mansfield, Exeter, Newport, Hartlepool, Daggers and York. Even with tonight's win they are still 5 points from safety that's how bad they have been. Mansfield no win at home since September, Exeter no win since before Christmas etc etc etc. how has it all gone so wrong. Yes we are still in a play off place and lucky enough those around us are also struggling, but that makes it even worse to be dropping all these points. Defence looks vulnerable and we can't score, not a great recipe for success. Limited resources yes, but no one was complaining before the hull game! and since then rapidly down hill. Confidence drained from the team and PB doesn't seem to have the answers at present.

 

[Shrimper]

Deja vu really.

 

[Boreham Shrimper]

If only Brown had conducted a motivational team talk on the pitch at half time :unsure:

 

[ntfcfan]

We were awesome first 15, you came back into it and had most of the pressure. Second half we were better, and deserved the win. Well done for travelling all those who did, great effort. Loud until the second half when you weren't really. Sixfields rocking at the end, all of the Cobblers fans in the ground bopping along to 'Chrissy Wilder's Barmy Army'. Good luck for the rest of the year.

 

[rlb999]

Pretty bad really. Again, no real chances created. It's been the same on the road all season. It was compounded this time by taking off Laird first (who was surely our best midfielder) and then Straker (who was doing a better job at picking passes than anyone else). Somehow we ended up with the left footed Timlin ending up playing towards the right of midfield. I'd also add (and I await the onslaught) that Ryan Leonard needs too long on the ball to play in a midfield role. He's done well this season but I still think he's a full back or a centre half.
I seem to remember Brown lost the dressing room at Hull around Christmas and didn't win another game all season. That won't happen here, but you all know where I'm going.

 

[davewebbsbrain]

If only Brown had conducted a motivational team talk on the pitch at half time :unsure:

We need to be 4-0 down for that to happen. Scunthorpe then

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Pretty bad really. Again, no real chances created. It's been the same on the road all season. It was compounded this time by taking off Laird first (who was surely our best midfielder) and then Straker (who was doing a better job at picking passes than anyone else). Somehow we ended up with the left footed Timlin ending up playing towards the right of midfield. I'd also add (and I await the onslaught) that Ryan Leonard needs too long on the ball to play in a midfield role. He's done well this season but I still think he's a full back or a centre half.
I seem to remember Brown lost the dressing room at Hull around Christmas and didn't win another game all season. That won't happen here, but you all know where I'm going.

:stunned: Are you getting him confused with Atkinson?

 

[bazzashrimper]

Brown now has to prove his managerial credentials, he couldnt turn around Sturrocks team, he really needs to be able to do so with his own .

Most of the best players are Sturrocks

 

[Uncle Leo]

Well at least I got home nice and quickly; only got in to the car an hour ago. But that's pretty much where the positives end. A few thoughts:

I read in the programme that Northampton are planning to increase their capacity to 10,000. If they can only get a crowd that big for their cup final, good luck filling it against anyone else.

Our total inability to test Duke in the second half was immensely frustrating. Lots of misplaced passes, no penetration.

Northampton seemed lively enough to be fair. On that evidence they should stay up.

Their opener was an abysmal one to concede. So sloppy.

Some of our fans really are berks. A selection of quotes overheard today:

• as Corr failed to reach a ball that Theo Walcott would have struggled to get on the end of, someone said "Unlucky Barry, youll get a move to Ebbsfeleet soon". this guy seemed delighted every time something went wrong for BBBC
• with 65 mins gone - Why are we bothering with all this 'passing' - HOOF IT
• An 'oh bloody hell' as leading scorer Hurst came off the bench

All told, I enjoyed that rather less than the 5-2 two years ago.

 

[cobblers]

Delighted with another 3 points, just a pain the teams around us learned how to win also. An enjoyable game from our perspective and a pretty good atmosphere i thought.

Thought we started far better, its clear that you have injuries at the back, the defensive line was really bad early doors. Always good to score from a set piece but disappointing from your point of view. A good run from midfield for your goal, would like to see back to see if offside, but nevertheless for the rest of the half thought you probably shaded it.

Second half thought we were the better team, a good team goal to get us 2-1 up with Hackett getting his first this season after great work from Sinclair.

I was really surprised we never really faced a barrage towards the end, I was nervy as the time was ticking down, but we didnt really have to soak up loads of pressure. Thought you kept the ball well at the back, but then would send the longer ball down after a few passes rendering the possession fairly useless. Thought Sinclair was fantastic tonight, hassled from the front and caused real problems (second goal setup) with his pace, how you could do with a similar style striker! Thought we had a solid shape and a lot of solid performances, battling qualities we need to stay up! Id be interested to get your opinions on our performance, but appreciate you will be frustrated at the loss!

Final word on the ref.... was the whistle attractive or something because he was tonguing it all night, so petty!

Anyways all the best for the rest of the season!

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

Delighted with another 3 points, just a pain the teams around us learned how to win also. An enjoyable game from our perspective and a pretty good atmosphere i thought.

Thought we started far better, its clear that you have injuries at the back, the defensive line was really bad early doors. Always good to score from a set piece but disappointing from your point of view. A good run from midfield for your goal, would like to see back to see if offside, but nevertheless for the rest of the half thought you probably shaded it.

Second half thought we were the better team, a good team goal to get us 2-1 up with Hackett getting his first this season after great work from Sinclair.

I was really surprised we never really faced a barrage towards the end, I was nervy as the time was ticking down, but we didnt really have to soak up loads of pressure. Thought you kept the ball well at the back, but then would send the longer ball down after a few passes rendering the possession fairly useless. Thought Sinclair was fantastic tonight, hassled from the front and caused real problems (second goal setup) with his pace, how you could do with a similar style striker! Thought we had a solid shape and a lot of solid performances, battling qualities we need to stay up! Id be interested to get your opinions on our performance, but appreciate you will be frustrated at the loss!

Final word on the ref.... was the whistle attractive or something because he was tonguing it all night, so petty!

Anyways all the best for the rest of the season!

Even an opposition fan can see some of our problems.

 

[ms brush]

So very glad i ignored my fleeting thoughts about heading over there tonight - was working in Luton so not far to travel. Thankfully, I remembered how bad it can be driving home from an away game on a Tuesday night, on your own, when you have lost...! I ruled it out because it is Tuesday, and its an 80 mile trip home, and i have to go back to Luton tomorrow morning - and with the level of injuries and on our current form a defeat was pretty inevitable. I am not knocking any of our team, or assuming that Northampton are a pushover, but I had a bad feeling.

Overall, yet again, the lack of money has derailed our season, as we clearly don't have any depth or any real cover, so it's no surprise we are out of options and ideas. Whilst we looked promising in January, at this rate if we make the play offs it would be a minor miracle. We have been unlucky with the two loanees, we are seriously missing Prosser and As a consequence, our defence is in turmoil. The midfield has been our powerhouse, but Hurst needs a week or two off to recuperate, and recover some of his sparkle, but this hasn't really been possible because he is so influential - basically an Under performing Hurst is a better option than him not being on the team sheet at all . Then we have BBBC struggling on up front on his own, Freddy's days are numbered and Barney is either carrying an injury or is seriously out of shape. I don't think things are any different under Brown as they were under Sturrock, mainly because the underlying problem still exists. Basically, until we have a bigger squad that allows us to cope with a few injuries, we will always struggle to get out of this league. I don't like this thought at all, but being poverty stricken and being forced to live hand to mouth is the reality for us, and lots of other clubs in this league.