Nice and prompt this week, now we have emerged from a somewhat stressful January transfer window relatively unscathed, with Lisbie, Tovide and Mbick (amongst others) all staying. We also had the unexpected addition of three loans as well: midfielder Fin Barbrook from Ipsh’t, defender Fin Back from Wycscum, and midfielder Romeo Akachukwu from Southampton. The Fins already have an appearance under their belt, at Crewe last Saturday, and I thought they both looked very good additions. Credit to Fin Back too, he met his new team mates for the first time on the coach up to Crewe.
Before we consider the visit of Gavin Cowan’s Shrewsbury Town on Saturday, a reflection on my trip to Crewe first. Incredibly frustrating is the sentiment that immediately springs to mind. Against Grimsby we were second best for the majority of the first half, dominated the second half only because of the red card, but just didn’t have enough invention to unlock a dogged and determined defence. It was largely more of the same against Crewe, only this time we were in control pretty much the entire game (62% possession, 20 attempts to their three etc.), just again couldn’t find the goal(s) we deserved. Crewe, on the other hand, scored with their only bit of quality all match.
What both games have demonstrated is just how much we are missing Mbick. I don’t want to be too hard on Goodwin, it’s kind of not fair to try and compare him with an estimated £5m worth of unbridled pure talent, but he isn’t our goal-scoring solution at present. To be honest, despite the dominance, not many at Crewe had what I’d say were truly excellent games. The loanees did very well, Gape was okay (and maybe getting better), Tucker and Araujo were solid (apart from the goal, but I’m not certain that was really down to them), Lisbie and Edwards were running around a lot, but lacking final balls too often, Payne seemed to be playing the entire midfield trying to make something happen, and the aforementioned Goodwin worked hard but without really having any influence on the game (and not much more with Tovide when he replaced him). As I said, frustrating, but it was good to meet up with Martin of the Swedish Branch.
And so on to Saturday, where we need to get back to winning ways after two defeats on the bounce, and now seven points outside the play-offs (albeit with at least one game in hand on most of those above us). Although one of the sides relegated from League 1, Shrewsbury have found life this season very difficult indeed, with only five wins so far all season, and not surprisingly manager Michael Appleton has been let go, though the timing just as the transfer window was closing was odd. If they want to avoid a second successive relegation, they might just have to rely on there being two teams worse than them, but Cowan did earn a commendable home draw against promotion-chasing Barnet in his first game in charge, so maybe there’s still hope in Salop.
Assuming he’s come through Tuesday night’s draw against Barnet unscathed, we should see the return of Anthony Scully on Saturday. Others in the ‘they played for both’ category include Abo Eisa, who I saw score on his U’s debut score at Northampton, and of course our currently crocked and former U’sual shirt sponsor recipient, Tom Flanagan. Bradley Ihionvien was on loan at Shrewsbury as well, but suffered a knee injury in training in October, and is probably out for the rest of the season (and presumably as a result back at Posh?). I’m sure there must be plenty more as well, anyone for others?
As for Saturday’s line-up, your guess is as good as mine. We’re currently waiting to hear whether Read and KVY have recovered from the knocks that kept them out of the game at Crewe, Bishop has been reported as nearly there for a while now, and no news so far yet on Mbick. I’m banking on Read and Mbick returning, Samson to go out to the right again and Lisbie on the left, and Fin and Fin to keep their places. Romeo Akachukwu to be on the bench as well. If Mbick doesn’t make it, time to give Williams a go I reckon. Thanks also to Daniel for showing me where the Team Selector option is on the U'sual.
MaceyBackTuckerAraujoHuntBarbrookTovidePayneReadLisbieMbick Substitutes: Smith Gordon Terry Williams Goodwin Edwards Akachukwu
The weather looks to remain wet all the way from now through to the weekend, so no danger of frozen pipes, just a question as to whether our improved drainage will cope – I’m sure it will. In a moderate breeze from the south-east, the relatively mild 10 degrees will feel a few degrees cooler.
After witnessing our 2-0 win on my first visit to the New Meadow back in August, this will be an excellent chance for the U’s to register our first double of the season. The U’s to tame the Shrews 4-1 with Lisbie opening the scoring and Samson finally amongst the goals as well.
Up the U’s |  |
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