Blyth Spartans

[John H]

On to Blyth after picking up maximum points over the Christmas period. With current league positions, it is a game where we can hopefully get a good result. Will of course need to be weary, as we know it doesn’t always go that way.
Assuming that Aaron Jones will be suspended and Omotayo out, still recovering from the injury on Sunday. How far away is Ponticelli from featuring?, hopefully it’s not too far away. Guess that means that Stephens and Charles are likely to start up front, which is ok mind.

[Mallard]

We should be wary of this one after defeats at lowly Kettering and Farsley.  Can’t afford to undo some of the hard work done over the festive period. 

[dillydilly]

Kettering and Farsley indeed.  I pray TW doesn’t go all defensively safety first with his selection, as he did in those two matches.  So important to put the pressure on them, as that is defending too. 

[Wingwizzard]

Totally agree Dilly - as Brian clough use to say  if we have the ball up there end,  they arent down  are end  and we are better going foward at present

[Mallard]

Did Clough say this before or after he signed Peter Shilton, at the time one of the top
Keepers in the World ?

[rod]

Two of many from the great Brian Clough......

"Peter Shilton was absolutely brilliant that season. He won us the title, but I didn’t dare tell him. One big head at our club was quite enough."

"If God had wanted us to play football in the clouds he’d have put grass up there.’ – on the importance of passing to feet. "

[dillydilly]

Thanks and agree with Wingwizzard and Rod.  But football in this country has been taken over by pundits talking total defensive tosh, like “winning fouls” !!!  I just hope TW doesn’t get one of his “Away match” wobbles and picks about 6 or 7 defenders.  It never works - hence Kettering and Farsley.  COYL….

[Jono]

Could be a banana skin, but hopefully will come away with all the points. With Darlington playing Chorley and Brackley playing Chester the results could go our way and back to top spot with 4 games in hand.

[John H]

Dilly, playing against second from bottom, whether home or away, you would hope for a more attacking approach. This is a game that we would hope to win, but we still need to respect Blyth and not be complacent.
I know you very much favour an attacking line up, but sometimes that isn’t always wise and you have to be able to defend against good sides. Our best performance to date, this season is our 1-0 win away at League 2 Doncaster. The result was great, the overall performance for 90 minutes was fantastic. Tommy’s starting 11 only had one forward, Ponticelli. Barrett is a midfielder, so that line up was defensively minded, but did exceptionally well.
But, I think we can afford to start with two forwards (Stephens and Charles) tomorrow. Imagine that Tommy Hughes will get some minutes too, I think he looks to be a good addition.

[m a hill]

The best form of defence is too Attack

[Mallard]

Ali v Foreman in the ‘rope a dope’ fight.  Don’t think Ali worked on that philosophy Malc 

[rod]

In my experience the most successful teams are usually the hardest working.

You need to match 'inferior opposition' for effort, then your superior skill will.likely bring with it the desired result.

[John H]

Very well put Rod.

[dillydilly]

John H, I agree that Barrett should be part of a midfield,.  I don’t agree that the line-up vs Doncaster was at all defensive, indeed it was arguably the most attacking line-up of the season, because, by attackers, I don’t just mean the striker(s).  There were only 4 defenders in that side, the rest were all capable of attacking in numbers.  All opinions though, so Happy New Year, and, of course, COYL!

[pc627]

No commentary on BBC as advertised!