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…………and so it continues. The rollercoaster ride, consistently inconsistent, our Jekyll and Hyde season. How do we play so well against high flying Cambridge and yet so bad against Barrow and Chesterfield?
It was only a few months since we gave Chesterfield a 6-2 pasting at the JCS, recently they had managed only a point from their last two games and with our two goalscorers back from injury, there was every reason to be positive, the squad should have been up for this one, but no, it was another shocker. Once again we were on the ropes for much of the game and on 70 mins our season hit the canvas. With 36 points still to play for, the cruellest of all emotions, hope, will continue to torment us, but we are getting close to requiring a miracle.
We can make all kinds of excuses, but after 34 games, the table doesn’t lie. If we are to be honest, our hopes of the play-offs were always laced with delusion, we are not good enough and that is painful, because we should be.
DC and his backroom team worked wonders to sign some good players to replace the ones we lost (and all on a reduced budget). We managed to keep hold of assets in the transfer window, and although there are positives, so many players have just not performed this season, others that have been given a chance have not taken it. Once again, the Cat 2 Academy (that should be providing at least 4 or 5 first team players) cannot offer any help. It is a shame and you have to wonder how much longer DC/NC can stay positive, especially as next season they will most likely need to rebuild the squad again. I think their cult status will stay strong, but I fear that someone will offer them a job sooner or later. There are mangers with much worse records that are offered employment every month.
Whilst it would take Durhamesque positivity to think we can still make the play-offs, there are many reasons to stay happy. Many teams in our position, where the owner wants out, fall out of the league into administration or worse, but here we are treading water, mid-table, players wages are still being paid and we are even turning down offers for our players. Despite the bleak years that seem to go on for ever, there is a very long list of clubs that have suffered much worse than us and we can at least look forward to another season of league football.
If we think back to Etherington’s last games, non-league looked a foregone conclusion as we waited for the next hopeless managerial appointment. The main man receiving ‘see you next Tuesday’ chants and gates falling towards 2000. It was on the verge of turning very ugly. We can only image what would have happened if Mr. C hadn’t have pulled off the masterstroke of signing DC/NC. It certainly bought him time to look for a new owner while simultaneously re-energising the club.
Changing subject, how in this age, can we play two games with only one goalkeeper in the squad? Do we have a first rate stand-in keeper in the squad? Our own Phil Jagielka? There’s no doubt that Samson has mastered diving, but in all seriousness, how can a League club find itself in this position? It needs to be addressed before Saturday.
So, after two disappointing games, we need an easy game against a relegation certainty and right on queue we have Newport County, but oh no, just our luck Newport have found some form and are no longer the lost cause they were a few weeks ago. Their last four games include decent wins against Tranmere and Salford and a respectable draw away to Fleetwood.
Whilst the next game is always the ‘must win’, this one does seem like it will shape the rest of our season. It is going to be difficult, but what will our reaction be? Do we want this or have we already thrown in the towel, has DC lost it? If we don’t get something from this one, then surely it’s over, Michael Caine, Little Voice style. (Google that at your peril).
Our record against Newport is good, since our first meeting in 1950, we have played them 65 times with 29 wins, 17 draws and 19 defeats, but we are haunted by the 5-0 thumping back in October 2023 when post-match, captain fantastic Connor Hall thought it would be a good idea to get trappy with the faithful. Read the room Connor FFS, our lads and lasses had just spent a fortune and literally travelled to another country to watch you play like clueless amateurs, roll over and let County tickle your tummies!!!! The wheels may have come off, but at least we have some pride under DC and don’t capitulate.
Like the U’s, Newport have a vocal support, so hopefully there will be a good atmosphere come 3pm.
I’m not sure if there were any injuries from Tuesday, but I’m going with what must be our best team (apart from Hunt in for the injured Iandolo):
Macey
KVY Tucker Araujo Hunt
Read Bishop
Lisbie Payne Anderson
Mbick
Subs: Emergency Goalkeeper, Barbrook, Flanagan, Akachukwu, Williams, Tovide, Gordon
There’s more chance of predicting the results of a lucky dip than knowing how we will perform on Saturday, but in the spirit of our old friend, I’m going for a 1-3 win, with 2 goals for Mbick and one for Lisbie.
The weather for Saturday is forecast to be light wind, light cloud and 12 degrees. Rodney Parade is quite some journey from Colchester and will test the loyalty of the faithful, who last saw the U’s win away at the Gas in mid-January. Safe journey to all who travel and here’s hoping that you witness another win in the west.
Up the U’s
[Post edited 4 Mar 11:33]
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Exiles to be Banished into Non-League Obscurity. on 13:54 - Mar 4 with 1293 views
Brutal, but 100% correct unfortunately - cheers TAFKAT. I'm actually happier Newport have finally found some form, we'd have been nailed on certainties to lose if Newport came into the game on 6+ defeats in a row. I'm happy to stand corrected, but I don't think we can sign an emergency keeper, because we haven't lost our no. 1 choice. I think our only option is anyone who isn't currently signed up, but surely anyone is better than no one? I think I read elsewhere that we had a triallist keeper in a recent reserves game - so maybe plans are in place?
He talks about requirements to reach play-offs and the fact that we have reached that number of points in a sequence already this season.
Also mentions the fact that when you add up the total of points we have accumulated already this season against the teams we have left to play, then if we can replicate the same point tally, then that should be good enough for a play-off place!
Has anyone been to the match today? What happened to Mbick. Nine minutes delay sound extremely serious. A young got news. It was good to see him at Chessie on Tuesday but was he actually back to fitness as he didn't make his mark on the game? Good result today though the U's still seem to give their supporters heart heart failure late on in games.
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Exiles to be Banished into Non-League Obscurity. on 17:57 - Mar 7 with 813 views
Exiles to be Banished into Non-League Obscurity. on 17:42 - Mar 7 by gerry_us
Has anyone been to the match today? What happened to Mbick. Nine minutes delay sound extremely serious. A young got news. It was good to see him at Chessie on Tuesday but was he actually back to fitness as he didn't make his mark on the game? Good result today though the U's still seem to give their supporters heart heart failure late on in games.
I was, as was Noah. I didn’t see it clearly, looked like an innocuous clash of legs/ knees, but it is definitely serious. I doubt we’ll see him again this season, might even be a break. Our physio team must have still been with him in the treatment room when Samson caught a flailing arm in the eye, so their physios came on to tend to him.
Exiles to be Banished into Non-League Obscurity. on 17:57 - Mar 7 by wessex_exile
I was, as was Noah. I didn’t see it clearly, looked like an innocuous clash of legs/ knees, but it is definitely serious. I doubt we’ll see him again this season, might even be a break. Our physio team must have still been with him in the treatment room when Samson caught a flailing arm in the eye, so their physios came on to tend to him.
Incidentally, yes Samson goes down too easily, and he really riles the opposition supporters, but that injury was genuine, even if several others were less so. But he had a good game, was a constant source of trouble for the Exiles, and made our second with his strength. What I particularly enjoyed though was when he was subbed late on he too took the time to applaud all sides of the ground - that really incensed the few County fans still there.
Edit: and I forgot to mention the PA announcement to the main stand opposite to remind them that unacceptable (and presumably racist?) comments are not permitted. I hope they can identify the perpetrators and deal with them appropriately, but I doubt it.
Appalling tackle on MBick. Chopped down, knee high, studs showing, but referee didn’t even award a free kick. The word on the street is it is an ACL injury and his season is finished. Frankly, the referee was generally appalling for both sides.
I’m hoping Newport stay up, and Harrogate and Barrow exit the EFL. There is a decent welcome in the Newport away bar, from friendly staff and stewards. The latter showed great patience and common sense when our usual idiots caused grief. I’ve acquired a rotator cuff injury after they poured forward after the first goal and one clown somersaulted over my back and shoulder.
Was a deserved win, but how does + 5 additional minutes announced by the fourth official become + 8. Their goal being as late as 90+ 7.
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Exiles to be Banished into Non-League Obscurity. on 16:32 - Mar 10 with 416 views
Exiles to be Banished into Non-League Obscurity. on 13:44 - Mar 11 by RSCOSWORTH
Not really a fan of Crawley but it's looking like being a pretty northern division again next season so could probably do with them sticking around.
Funnily I was looking at potential newcomers to League 2 this morning and thinking the same, what a northern based league it would be next season at current standings
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Exiles to be Banished into Non-League Obscurity. on 18:59 - Mar 12 with 77 views
Newport County have warned supporters over their conduct following what the League Two club called "serious incidents of unacceptable behaviour" during recent home games.
Newport say they will consider closing the area behind the dugouts at their Rodney Parade should further incidents occur.
In a club statement, they also stressed that fans responsible for "abusive, discriminatory or threatening behaviour" will face sanctions.
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