| “Looks like battered cod is back on the menu boys” 14:06 - Jan 23 with 647 views | wessex_exile |
After our trip to the West Country, the U’s finally return to the JobServe on Saturday for the first of two home games in quick succession, with Pete Wild’s Fleetwood Town the visitors. Before we get to that though, a few words on last Saturday’s win at the Memorial Stadium. Being one of my easier awaydays this season, I didn’t miss the opportunity to join the 600+ faithful to watch a dominant U’s easily control most of the game. Southwood’s fingertips prevented Samson from giving the U’s a first half lead, Mbick’s audacious deft flick onto the inside of the post deserved more, and Samson should have nailed his chance after that.
The reality though was that despite our control, with the clock ticking down I had a nagging feeling we weren’t going to get the goal we deserved. However, cometh the hour cometh the man, and with five minutes to go Owura Edwards reminded us of the talent we know he has, cutting in from the left and blasting an unstoppable effort into the far corner – top bins indeed. The celebrations were insane!
The real downside though was Iandolo’s injury early in the game, which I fear will keep him out for a while. Credit to Frankie Terry, he did a fine job replacing him considering he’s more of a centre-back filling in, but there’s no glossing over it, for now at least we’ve lost one of the best left-backs in the league. More on that later.
Fleetwood Town are currently 15th in the league, five points behind the U’s, but with only one point from their last four games, and only 12 points from their last ten games (compared to our 21 points). Most seasons that would be borderline relegation form, but with the bottom six already adrift and in such poor form I don’t think there’s any chance they’ll join that party. They’ve conducted a bit of business so far in the transfer window, with Ryan Graydon going to Salford for a fee (who then scored a brace on his home debut in their FA Cup win over Swindon), and their second choice goalkeeper David Harrington also sold for a fee to Bolton Wanderers. However, probably the most notable move in relation to the U’s is loaning recalled Josh Powell from Forest after he struggled to break into the U’s starting XI. Ironically, Josh is a left-back, and could have been seen as decent cover for Iandolo – the benefit of hindsight being a wonderful thing I suppose? They generally play a 3-5-2 formation, or variations thereof, so it’ll be interesting to see if our pace down the flanks can take advantage of that.
As to our line-up for Saturday, apart from Iandolo’s replacement, the big question mark will be over Mbick. Brighton have made at least two offers to Charlton, the most recent reportedly £3.5m with add-ons. We all know that even if they do sign him, there’s only two teams he can play for this season, loaned back to us or loaned back to Charlton. However, I’m not certain Charlton will sell him, and Managing Director Jim Rodwell, in charge of transfer activity at the Valley, said as much at an online forum this week.
“I’m not going to particularly comment on who bid what and for who. No-one will leave unless the deal suits Charlton. There is no pressure to sell our assets. There is always a number where someone comes with an offer for a player where you go ‘crikey, let’s get a car – let’s go’. We’ve not been anywhere near that point. We’re hopeful of Micah being in the first-team at Charlton Athletic in the Championship scoring goals for us. That is where the real value is.”
That’s reassuring to hear, and gives me hope he’ll stay, despite his apparent absence from training during the week. As a result, I’m going to stick with broadly the same line-up as last Saturday, with Frankie Terry slotting into left-back in place of Iandolo. Alternatively, if not Frankie Terry, I guess it’s possible that Jack Baldwin or even Sam Kuffour Jr could fill in, but that’s still trying to fit a centre-back shaped peg into a left-back hole.
Fleetwood are one of those sides who win a few, lose a few, never quite hitting the right form to challenge for the play-offs, but avoiding the sort of calamitous runs to drop into the danger zone. We should also bear in mind that Fleetwood have the chance to do the double over the U’s, after our 4-2 walloping at Highbury back in September. That being said, we really should have enough about us tomorrow to register our third win on the bounce, and potentially, depending on results elsewhere, even sneak into the play-offs.
The U’s to win 3-0, with Jack Payne getting the party started in the first half, and Tovide and Edwards off the bench wrapping things up.
The weather forecast for tomorrow looks very fair, with sunny intervals and no rain expected. The temperature will be about 7-8 degrees, though in a moderate breeze from the east-south east whipping in through the corners, it’ll feel a few degrees colder than that.
Up the U’s! |  |
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| “Looks like battered cod is back on the menu boys” on 19:10 - Jan 23 with 509 views | RSCOSWORTH |
Nice one wessex.
Just our luck that Powell goes back to Forest and Iandolo then gets injured. Will be a massive miss and we seem to struggle when he doesn't play. Feel like we've been really unlucky with injuries to key players this season. |  |
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| “Looks like battered cod is back on the menu boys” on 13:58 - Jan 24 with 392 views | wessex_exile |
| “Looks like battered cod is back on the menu boys” on 19:10 - Jan 23 by RSCOSWORTH |
Nice one wessex.
Just our luck that Powell goes back to Forest and Iandolo then gets injured. Will be a massive miss and we seem to struggle when he doesn't play. Feel like we've been really unlucky with injuries to key players this season. |
First XI as predicted, just Akande instead of Gordon on the bench. | |
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| “Looks like battered cod is back on the menu boys” on 15:19 - Jan 24 with 346 views | wessex_exile |
Stupid free-kick to give away, and Payne to Lisbie make them pay.
1-0 to the U's! | |
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| “Looks like battered cod is back on the menu boys” on 15:42 - Jan 24 with 311 views | wessex_exile |
Mbick puts another million on his value, great work by Samson as well.
2-0 to the U's! | |
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| “Looks like battered cod is back on the menu boys” on 16:24 - Jan 24 with 280 views | wessex_exile |
Goodwin on for Mbick, have we had a call from Charlton? | |
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| “Looks like battered cod is back on the menu boys” on 16:41 - Jan 24 with 257 views | gerry_us |
| “Looks like battered cod is back on the menu boys” on 16:24 - Jan 24 by wessex_exile |
Goodwin on for Mbick, have we had a call from Charlton? |
Òòooh, squeaky bum time.
Phew 2-1 U's and Chessie lose at Newport. [Post edited 24 Jan 17:01]
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| “Looks like battered cod is back on the menu boys” on 17:01 - Jan 24 with 232 views | wessex_exile |
| “Looks like battered cod is back on the menu boys” on 16:41 - Jan 24 by gerry_us |
Òòooh, squeaky bum time.
Phew 2-1 U's and Chessie lose at Newport. [Post edited 24 Jan 17:01]
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Much harder second half than I was expecting, but that's Fleetwood, hard to beat - but beat them we did. 2-1 to the U's, three wins on the bounce.
Onwards and upwards. | |
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| “Looks like battered cod is back on the menu boys” on 18:46 - Jan 24 with 158 views | bwildered |
Almost a game of two half’s, looked comfortable and in control by half time but looks like the visitors swamped midfield in the second half which made it difficult to get the same time and space.
After scoring at the second attempt , we managed the game better with several subs.
Could have made it safe if Payne’s free kick had gone in than rattle the cross bar.
Vital home wins now though with another required mid week. [Post edited 24 Jan 18:47]
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