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After the disappointing end to the U's unbeaten run on Tuesday, Danny Cowley takes his charges to Gresty Road for what already feels like another six-pointer.
Crewe sit 12th in the table - two points and two places below the U's - and come into the game with a mixed bag of recent results: two wins, two defeats and two draws from their last six. Their most recent outing was a 2–2 draw away at league-leaders Bromley on Tuesday night, sealing a point with an injury time equaliser.
At home, Crewe have quietly put together a strong run. They haven't lost at Gresty Road since their FA Cup first round defeat to Doncaster Rovers, and their last league loss there was against Bromley back in October. It's becoming a bit of a fortress for them, and I don't anticipate this being an easy game for us.
There's been limited team news for the U's, other than a new signing; midfielder Finley Barbrook joining on loan from Ips**** Town until the end of the season. DC recently said in an interview that Ellis Iandolo could be back playing by the end of February and at the same time quoted Micah Mbick on the injury list, so it looks like we're going to be without the Charlton loanee again this weekend.
Will Goodwin didn't deliver as the lone striker against Grimsby on Tuesday night and I even heard some people comparing him (unfavourably!) to Tom Hopper. I wouldn't start him again Crewe and would change the attack to Samson Tovide up top, with Kyreece Lisbie and Owura Edwards on the flanks. I'm not much of a fan of a lone Tovide, but if I recall correctly, he does have good form against Crewe, with two goals and an assist in six games.
At some stage I intend to offer a "what else is there to see" commentary on our away games. With my transport and social history interests you can guess what it might encompass. However ahead of the match at Crewe, if you have an hour or so, then visit the Crewe Railway Museum. As such go its pretty nondescript BUT wait till you visit the signal box, manned by a small group who work to a timetable which is computer generated and all the signal and point levers must be pulled by hand before they can continue. It's a joy to watch and then come away recognising how dull life in Crewe can be
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U's Steam Into Railwaymen Territory on 14:12 - Jan 30 with 1063 views
U's Steam Into Railwaymen Territory on 13:57 - Jan 30 by Witham
At some stage I intend to offer a "what else is there to see" commentary on our away games. With my transport and social history interests you can guess what it might encompass. However ahead of the match at Crewe, if you have an hour or so, then visit the Crewe Railway Museum. As such go its pretty nondescript BUT wait till you visit the signal box, manned by a small group who work to a timetable which is computer generated and all the signal and point levers must be pulled by hand before they can continue. It's a joy to watch and then come away recognising how dull life in Crewe can be
I don’t know if Benny’s chip shop is still going, opposite the ground?
It used to be worth the queue.
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U's Steam Into Railwaymen Territory on 14:48 - Jan 30 with 1029 views
U's Steam Into Railwaymen Territory on 14:12 - Jan 30 by TAFKAT
I don’t know if Benny’s chip shop is still going, opposite the ground?
It used to be worth the queue.
It was last time I went to Crewe, and I have photo of my youngest Alfie from many years ago enjoying battered sausage and chips stood outside. I might even pop in again tomorrow if I have time.
U's Steam Into Railwaymen Territory on 14:48 - Jan 30 by wessex_exile
It was last time I went to Crewe, and I have photo of my youngest Alfie from many years ago enjoying battered sausage and chips stood outside. I might even pop in again tomorrow if I have time.
That's a shame - I'm surprised no one else has taken it up. On the edge of a large residential area and right next to the football ground, I'd have thought it would be a good prospect.
Line-up announced, and Read finally gets a chance to rest his injury, Samson on the bench and Goodwin starting, no sign of Mbick yet though. The big news I suppose is that both of the Flying Fin’s must have been signed in time and both start. Loving Lisbie and Edwards on the wings, just hope we’ve got someone in the middle to finish things off.
Have we signed another Lisbie? We seem by BBC to have one on the pitch and another on the bench..with different squad numbers. Am I missing something here?
U's Steam Into Railwaymen Territory on 21:44 - Jan 31 by wessex_exile
100% that Noah, but it shows how much we need Mbick leading the line.
Agreed, but MBick is an U20 international destined to be elsewhere come 1st August (or earlier).
I think I am correct in saying that Tovide has scored 4 in his last 30 appearances. My opinion is that Goodwin is inferior to Tom Hopper (frankly, Goodwin is the worst player to lead the line since Sunday Wazoo). So, once we lose MBick, we are struggling. We must recruit a proper Centre forward.
Gape had a better game, and like Flanaghan (who was awful in his first few games), might find his feet. The two Fins were encouraging. But what’s the value of getting promoted using temporary loanees when we don’t have the cash resources to replace them.
What also struck me was how deep Payne was playing. He is more effective at the front point of the diamond not the rear.
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U's Steam Into Railwaymen Territory on 09:07 - Feb 1 with 447 views
U's Steam Into Railwaymen Territory on 22:53 - Jan 31 by noah4x4
Agreed, but MBick is an U20 international destined to be elsewhere come 1st August (or earlier).
I think I am correct in saying that Tovide has scored 4 in his last 30 appearances. My opinion is that Goodwin is inferior to Tom Hopper (frankly, Goodwin is the worst player to lead the line since Sunday Wazoo). So, once we lose MBick, we are struggling. We must recruit a proper Centre forward.
Gape had a better game, and like Flanaghan (who was awful in his first few games), might find his feet. The two Fins were encouraging. But what’s the value of getting promoted using temporary loanees when we don’t have the cash resources to replace them.
What also struck me was how deep Payne was playing. He is more effective at the front point of the diamond not the rear.
Comparing Goodwin to Hopper and Tovide's four in 30 is in my preview at the start of this thread 😆
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U's Steam Into Railwaymen Territory on 09:09 - Feb 1 with 445 views
U's Steam Into Railwaymen Territory on 09:07 - Feb 1 by Daniel
Comparing Goodwin to Hopper and Tovide's four in 30 is in my preview at the start of this thread 😆
I knew I had read it somewhere.
Hopper (IMHO) was a country mile better than Goodwin. Frankly, Hopper’s contribution was arguably better than Tovide. Whilst punching above his ability in L2, Hopper was never lacking in effort and was an honest player, not constantly fouling and trying to fool referees. Nobody has since come in with a chequebook for Tovide, so I guess we are stuck with him until his contract expires. We urgently need a striker, notably for when we lose MBick.
My observation was that the better comparison was Akanni-Sunday Wasiu (2008-9) who hadn’t a clue what he was doing, which in some respects fooled defences. Goodwin with his flicks that never produce results is as comedic.
Frankly, I’d play Jack Payne in the #9 position. Small, yes, but so were Cureton and Scott McGleish. We need a fox in the box alongside Anderson (when fit) and Lisbie or Edwards. Yesterday we massively missed Bishop as it dragged Payne into a more defensive role. He needs to be doing his magic in the forwards, not in defence.
[Post edited 1 Feb 11:15]
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U's Steam Into Railwaymen Territory on 09:00 - Feb 2 with 235 views
U's Steam Into Railwaymen Territory on 11:07 - Feb 1 by noah4x4
I knew I had read it somewhere.
Hopper (IMHO) was a country mile better than Goodwin. Frankly, Hopper’s contribution was arguably better than Tovide. Whilst punching above his ability in L2, Hopper was never lacking in effort and was an honest player, not constantly fouling and trying to fool referees. Nobody has since come in with a chequebook for Tovide, so I guess we are stuck with him until his contract expires. We urgently need a striker, notably for when we lose MBick.
My observation was that the better comparison was Akanni-Sunday Wasiu (2008-9) who hadn’t a clue what he was doing, which in some respects fooled defences. Goodwin with his flicks that never produce results is as comedic.
Frankly, I’d play Jack Payne in the #9 position. Small, yes, but so were Cureton and Scott McGleish. We need a fox in the box alongside Anderson (when fit) and Lisbie or Edwards. Yesterday we massively missed Bishop as it dragged Payne into a more defensive role. He needs to be doing his magic in the forwards, not in defence.
[Post edited 1 Feb 11:15]
Goodwin has been ineffective whenever I've seen him. I'd like to see Williams given a go through the middle.
I think the criticism of Goodwin is a little unfair. The life a striker is a difficult one.
Mbick is one of the best loan signings we have ever had. His game intelligence is absolutely outrageous for a player of his age. Charlton are seriously onto a winner with that one and any striker we get we will obviously compare him to.
Personally, I felt Goodwin had a much better game at Crewe than he did on Tuesday night. It's been a tough loan for him, getting injured in pre season and then barely getting any minutes thereafter due to the form and ability of Micah.
Striker's needs to get minutes in their legs to get sharp and I think Grimsby's performance was telling at how far away he is.
But against Crewe, he worked the channels nicely and showed some neat touches to link the play. The problem for me is that we was far too negative in the final third. We didn't push bodies forward until it was too late. DC was constantly trying to get Gape/Barbrook to push further forward and we didn't really get any overlaps with Hunt and Back. We looked like a jigsaw puzzle with several pieces missing, which is exactly what we are with the injuries.
Let's not forget that the service into hasn't been great either. Where Mbick can carve out chances for himself, Goodwin is a different sort of striker, certainly not as good with his movement or positioning. But more worrying for me was Lisbie and Edward's inability to put a decent ball into the box. Akande another coming back from injury seems to have his boots on the wrong feet as he also cannot seem to put the ball into the box effectively.
I think even Mbick would have struggled out there.
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