Just Back

Battling performance full of fight, grit and pride.

We limited a good side, to 1 shot on target, soaked up lots of pressure, and did our jobs to a man.

The back 5 were outstanding, Tharne looks a really good signing, alogside 2 ive been so critical of in Mullarkey and Rodgers.

Obikwu battled and fought for every ball that went up to him and scored the chance that came his way.

Ive seen some appaling refs at Grimsby Town, this man was the worst. He was, from minute 1, horrific. Shame on him and the league


But well done town, a massive massive 3 points, very proud of them tonight

We wondered if Artell could get a tune out of this lot. Tonight he showed he could and has done so for the last 5 games.

Huge credit must go to ‘Dopey Dave’ for turning this around, we look a completely different team defensively.

Really enjoyed tonight, no good for the heart rate but we’ve limited yet another side to barely having a sniff.

It’s a shame FGR won but that’s another game down, 10 more to go and the way we’re playing I’d imagine we’re going to be absolutely fine.

Great battling performance to a man.
We have gone from a side that can't defend to the best defensive side on the league  
We done to all including the fantastic support tonight.
Oh and the Ref was a buffoon
UTM

We've gone from shipping a goal a minute to conceding 2 in 5 games (one of them being that pen). Big credit to everyone!

Fantastic performance. Shape first half with a high press worked well....midfield worked their socks off against a very tidy MK side....concentration levels tremendous.
Penalty miss the only blot but probably galvanised them for the rest of the game.

UTM

Great result. Well done all.

Only one goal conceded from open play in the last four games.

No reason we need fear a trip to Gillingham on Saturday and we must be in with a chance of winning it.

I’ve been one of DAs most ardent critics but tbf he swallowed his pride and ditched his total football fiasco and has found a system that works. All I’ll say for now is I hope he builds a team around this formation next season and doesn’t try to rekindle his inner Pep

I have no words for how bad that ref was- an embarrassment

A team performance to feel proud about- franchise utd looked like a solid proposition as well as being game players

Not left the ground feeling this way for a long time

Onwards

Quoted from louth_in_the_south

I’ve been one of DAs most ardent critics but tbf he swallowed his pride and ditched his total football fiasco and has found a system that works. All I’ll say for now is I hope he builds a team around this formation next season and doesn’t try to rekindle his inner Pep

I’m not sure that’ll happen, he obviously wants to play football long term.

I’ve heard a lot say he tried to do too much too soon, I think it’s a case of the opposite. He tried to get us into an attacking outfit quickly and completely neglected the defensive side (something he admitted himself) we’ve now seen the result of him putting his efforts into making us more solid and it’s worked almost immediately.

I think over the coming months we’ll see a shift into a balance between the two, because I’m not sure digging in every week like this is sustainable long term and questions will quickly start to be asked if we tried to.

Terrific result, whatever was said post Donny needs bottling and saving if we ever get ‘basket case itis’ again.

Tharme, Rodgers and Mullarkey were excellent and Obikwu tireless. A bit of quality around Thompson next season and we will look different gravy. Happy days.

Thought we still played good football this evening. The match stats will send neutrals and franchise fans who weren’t there into a spin as they don’t paint the full picture.

Really like the back 5, Cartwright looks a very dependable keeper (albeit didn’t have much to do), Thompson looks an astute signing and Obikwu filled in for Rose very well.

Thought Andrews, Wood and Green were excellent and brought in at the right time. Pyke didn’t as much but very big performance to follow.

Magnificent backs to the wall performance again, and Harvey didn't have a save to make for the second home game running.

I do despair at times with our seeming inability to control and pass a football, but we were much better without the ball than we were with it, so it all came good in the end.

That was more of a Shaun Pearson type performance again, and I wonder what influence he has had in the change of direction.

P1ssed off that Bradford couldn't do us a favour so we could shake of FGR, but we can only control our own destiny and that is now 9 points from 5 games, and really should be 11 considering what happened at Sutton. That is promotion form and with games running out, it's good to see.

Really enjoyed the battling performance and could even have been 2 or 3 despite not having too much of the ball. 100% effort by everyone. Tharme is class and the back 5 change has sorted it right out. Forest Green will stay up. We have to make sure we are above Colchester, which I believe we will be.

Another thing to cheer you all up.. we’re the only team in League Two that hasn’t lost in the last 5.

Great battling performance. Crazy how we didn't get at least one more pen and some of the decisions were bizarre.

The transformation from the run of heavy defeats is astounding.

Great result against a good MK side and whilst battling yet another dodgy ref. To book 5 town players for next to nothing and not hand out a single card to a Dons player sums his night up

Tharme and Rodgers were mammoth at the back tonight with credit also to Thompson and Obikwu who had run himself into the ground pressing from the front.

Shame Forest Green Won as that would have put icing on the cake when Sutton and Swindon both lost whilst Colchester drop into the relegation trap door.

Next 2 or 3 games are going to be tough but credit to Artell and his staff / clear the air convo as we are really fighting hard for the cause and hard to beat. Long may it continue

I'm still baffled how we got so many yellows and I can't remember them getting one.

The ref certainly wasn't a homer, that's for sure.

Quoted from ginnywings

I'm still baffled how we got so many yellows and I can't remember them getting one.

The ref certainly wasn't a homer, that's for sure.

No, he was a cnt.

Quoted from pontoonlew

I’m not sure that’ll happen, he obviously wants to play football long term.

I’ve heard a lot say he tried to do too much too soon, I think it’s a case of the opposite. He tried to get us into an attacking outfit quickly and completely neglected the defensive side (something he admitted himself) we’ve now seen the result of him putting his efforts into making us more solid and it’s worked almost immediately.

I think over the coming months we’ll see a shift into a balance between the two, because I’m not sure digging in every week like this is sustainable long term and questions will quickly start to be asked if we tried to.

With a few decent additions to the squad I feel this formation has got the defensive stability to build on and offer a more technical and attacking style. Keeping Hume would be a really good start to his recruitment

I'll give Artell credit yes, but I'd give him more if he had been able to see what had to be told to him by staff and players at the clear the air meeting post Donny. He certainly got us into quite a mess with his zealotry about playing it out from the back. It's just lucky we had time to turn it around although we certainly aren't safe yet - it wouldn't surprise me if FG's improvement keeps going.

His attitude up until Donny was certainly complacent, not a good look. I do think he has shown he has in game management capability with his subs though, which we haven't had in a while.

Ultimately, even if he keeps us up, the jury is still out - will he return to type the following season or has he developed as manager and learned?

Forget about FGR. It’s Colchester, Salford and doomed Sutton in the mix now.

Really, really enjoyed that one. I think just what we all needed at BP; to see a hard fought, battling performance with plenty of pride, grit and determination and boy, did the fans respond in kind. I forgot what it could be like at BP when the crowd get going, but it was just like a cauldron. It helps when the opposition do their best to cheat (They had clearly done their homework on these officials) their way through the game, coupled with inept (being polite!) officials. The crowd soon got behind the players and the players all put in a performance any GTFC supporter would want to see. Well done to the staff, players and fans, for a great nights entertainment. Buzzing.

Quoted from ginnywings

I'm still baffled how we got so many yellows and I can't remember them getting one.

The ref certainly wasn't a homer, that's for sure.

Well two of them were yellows in fairness...Hulme in particular and Mullarkeys as well...the other three though...fck.me

Quoted from Stew0_0

Great result against a good MK side and whilst battling yet another dodgy ref. To book 5 town players for next to nothing and not hand out a single card to a Dons player sums his night up.

I'm not sure if day that Hume's booking was for next to nothing, but I agree that at least a couple of their players should have been booked as well.

Such an important win given FGR’s win at Bradford as well.

Make no mistake, MK Dons are a very good side and we played the only game that would get us a result tonight and played it well.

Its not pretty and we don’t want to watch it next season being dominated like this, but credit to Artel for showing us that he can set up a team from the back to make us hard to break down.

A great foundation for next season to build on if we stick with it this year.

Our back 3 and keeper are superb at mo and I really do like Hume.

UTM

You’d expect FGR to beat Sutton at the weekend , so we need a point at worst I think against Gills

Not the most ‘pleasant on the eye’ advert for a football match, but, my god did town fight for that win. Every player left the pitch blowing out their ars3s having put in one hell of a shift. Some appalling decisions from the ref, but that shouldn't take anything away from the performance. There seemed to be more than a touch of fortune with the goal, but how many times has that happened to us. Tharme was so solid at the back and good communication from all of the  back 5 throughout the game was great to see

Perfectly capable of getting a point on Saturday.  We are actually in better form than Gillingham over the last six games. We recently got a point at Wimbledon who are above them in the table. So why not?

If we could win the game, which is not impossible, i think we can all start feeling a far less stressed. But I think we now just need to keep on picking up draws here and there them chalk up a few wins from our easier April fixtures.

I can see us beating Bradford and Swindon at home. Three more draws and that takes us to 47 points which will be a tough target for others to catch us.    

Quoted from ginnywings

I'm still baffled how we got so many yellows and I can't remember them getting one.

The ref certainly wasn't a homer, that's for sure.

Their goalie.

Quoted from The Yard Dog

Their goalie.

He didn't get booked. None of their players did, I've just checked.

Quoted from toontown

I'll give Artell credit yes, but I'd give him more if he had been able to see what had to be told to him by staff and players at the clear the air meeting post Donny. He certainly got us into quite a mess with his zealotry about playing it out from the back. It's just lucky we had time to turn it around although we certainly aren't safe yet - it wouldn't surprise me if FG's improvement keeps going.

His attitude up until Donny was certainly complacent, not a good look. I do think he has shown he has in game management capability with his subs though, which we haven't had in a while.

Ultimately, even if he keeps us up, the jury is still out - will he return to type the following season or has he developed as manager and learned?

Maybe you can enlighten us all as to exactly what the players and coaching staff said to DA at that meeting?  

Quoted from heppy88

Really, really enjoyed that one. I think just what we all needed at BP; to see a hard fought, battling performance with plenty of pride, grit and determination and boy, did the fans respond in kind. I forgot what it could be like at BP when the crowd get going, but it was just like a cauldron. It helps when the opposition do their best to cheat (They had clearly done their homework on these officials) their way through the game, coupled with inept (being polite!) officials. The crowd soon got behind the players and the players all put in a performance any GTFC supporter would want to see. Well done to the staff, players and fans, for a great nights entertainment. Buzzing.

DA was certainly buzzing in the post-match - was like a big kid talking about the fans - probably struggle to sleep tonight. The thing is he’s not really experienced fans getting behind his team before, having only managed Crewe…

I am sure I am in the minority, but I love matches like that. Always interested in the tactical battles,  the whole defence v attack scenario. As others have said, Artell set us up perfectly. For all their short passing and little triangles, apart from one shot off the line, they had no clear chances. Says a bit about wanting to play that way all the time. Sure, it looks good, but I am not convinced you can be consistently good at it at our level and get results.

Defence was fantastic. I was far from convinced at first, but Tharme is looking better and better with every game. Shows you should not judge a player after a couple of games. In fact, all Artells signings are impressing. I think we all thought Obikwu was going to be another Dickson-Peters, but he has been excellent. Credit to Artell or the recruitment team for finding him. Thompson impressive as well.

Rodgers back to early season form and Clifton deserves credit for how easily he has adapted to right back/ right wing back. Does not look out of place at all.

Yes, we do need some new players in the summer  but I have seen enough over the past 5 matches to suggest a complete overhaul is not required. Many individuals now showing just how good they are. Finally, one thing you can't throw at them is a lack of commitment. Since Doncaster, it is clear they are playing for the manager/club. Look at the celebrations at the end. Yes, you can question ability at times, but commitment to the cause can not be questioned. From where we were a month ago, it's some turn around, and Artell, the coaching staff and players all deserve great credit for that.

Great performance. Tactical masterclass from Artell in keeping our shape tight but also pressing at exactly the right times. And huge credit to the players as it takes a lot of concentration and discipline to be able to perform like that for 90 minutes. Thompson is fantastic, he reads and understands the game so well and you can hear him marshalling the rest of the team. Also a big shout out to Tharme who has barely made a mistake since we've gone to five at the back. Still a bit of a way to go but if we keep it up we'll be fine. Great to see the fans really back the team tonight and the players really respond to it too.

That was the worst refereeing performance I've ever seen though. He was beyond hopeless. Started off horrendously with the yellow for Gnahoua who had taken the ball cleanly ahead of their defender who had kicked the bottom of Arthur's boot. And that was just the start. So many awful, awful decisions and you really have to question whether that ref actually understands the game at all.

Quoted from Maringer

I'm not sure if day that Hume's booking was for next to nothing, but I agree that at least a couple of their players should have been booked as well.

Humes was a definite booking, he nearly chopped there winger in half. I love his intensity, he’s always straight out to his winger and always leaves something on him.. has that nastiness about him you like to see in a defender.. can’t see him being here next season but i’d be giving him whatever he wanted to make sure he is.

Gillingham next?  Lowest scorers in the Division.  They lost tonight and had a player sent off.  Change of manager not helped.  Fans want a complete clear out at the end of the season.  They were not good at BP.

We have another good chance.  

Quoted from rancido

Maybe you can enlighten us all as to exactly what the players and coaching staff said to DA at that meeting?  

Well I sure can tell you one thing, although it should be obvious to anybody with eyes. He was told that the obsession with starting each and every goal kick with 2 CBs playing along the 6 yard box had to go.

Remember how he went mental not all that long ago at Cartwright when, after we were struggling with it yet again, he decided to kick the ball out from a goal kick instead. That isn't a manager that wanted his goalie to mix it up and sometimes go long, or use his own judgement, that's a manager that's trying to impose his philosophy on to players regardless of ability or results.

We never play that way now, ever. That was clearly part of the discussion, and rightly so. But he had to be told by others what should have been obvious. Whether it will come back if we find ourselves safe, and to what degree, hopefully we will find out cos that means we've done enough with the new way of playing to be safe.

Like I say, I hope he's learned and realised football has to be pragmatic sometimes and not all players can play in the Crewe way.

Quoted from mariner91

That was the worst refereeing performance I've ever seen though. He was beyond hopeless. Started off horrendously with the yellow for Gnahoua who had taken the ball cleanly ahead of their defender who had kicked the bottom of Arthur's boot. And that was just the start. So many awful, awful decisions and you really have to question whether that ref actually understands the game at all.

Astonishing comment considering you’ve seen me ref more than once.

You are correct though.

can't add much more to that, a massive, massive win.

Tharme improves every game as he gets fitter and more confident. Getting 2 x 90 minutes out of Thompson is a big, big win - he is absolutely superb. Thought Eisa, Arthur n Obikwu put in massive shifts,poor old Gav had an absolute stinker.
Word for Andrews who I thought came on and did lots of good things. Hume is just so good, would be amazed if he's here next season, whist Mullarky n Rodgers just look like different players.
Harvey didn't have a save to make, but 1 observation, i think he could be more decisive and commanding coming off his line , he looks a bit dithery sometimes.
Green's little cameo was interesting, as for the 2nd game on the trot he's actually looked quite competent with the ball at his feet, rather  his previous incarnation as the 100% committed destroyer with the touch of  a Sunday morning player

Quoted from toontown

Well I sure can tell you one thing, although it should be obvious to anybody with eyes. He was told that the obsession with starting each and every goal kick with 2 CBs playing along the 6 yard box had to go.

Remember how he went mental not all that long ago at Cartwright when, after we were struggling with it yet again, he decided to kick the ball out from a goal kick instead. That isn't a manager that wanted his goalie to mix it up and sometimes go long, or use his own judgement, that's a manager that's trying to impose his philosophy on to players regardless of ability or results.

We never play that way now, ever. That was clearly part of the discussion, and rightly so. But he had to be told by others what should have been obvious. Whether it will come back if we find ourselves safe, and to what degree, hopefully we will find out cos that means we've done enough with the new way of playing to be safe.

Like I say, I hope he's learned and realised football has to be pragmatic sometimes and not all players can play in the Crewe way.

This, in bucketloads (and look at the number of times BFS got into trouble tonight by trying to do that self same thing)

Quoted from TownSNAFU5

Gillingham next?  Lowest scorers in the Division.  They lost tonight and had a player sent off.  Change of manager not helped.  Fans want a complete clear out at the end of the season.  They were not good at BP.

We have another good chance.  

Their suspended player is their main centre half and top scorer!

Quoted from forza ivano

can't add much more to that, a massive, massive win.

Tharme improves every game as he gets fitter and more confident. Getting 2 x 90 minutes out of Thompson is a big, big win - he is absolutely superb. Thought Eisa, Arthur n Obikwu put in massive shifts,poor old Gav had an absolute stinker.
Word for Andrews who I thought came on and did lots of good things. Hume is just so good, would be amazed if he's here next season, whist Mullarky n Rodgers just look like different players.
Harvey didn't have a save to make, but 1 observation, i think he could be more decisive and commanding coming off his line , he looks a bit dithery sometimes.
Green's little cameo was interesting, as for the 2nd game on the trot he's actually looked quite competent with the ball at his feet, rather  his previous incarnation as the 100% committed destroyer with the touch of  a Sunday morning player

I’ve never had the downer about Green that others have. We didn’t sign him to be our main creative midfielder, he probably isn’t on big money and you get full on from him every time. Quite happy to see him here next season as an occasional starter if we have an injury or two, and on the bench if not starting.

First game I've watched in a while due to usually playing / training at times Grimsby are.

The game had an FA cup tie feel about it.

MK Dons played some lovely football but created next to nothing due to towns set up and you have to give DA credit for that. Fantastic 3 points.  

Thompson motm.

The fourth official will be going for a hearing test in his right ear this morning . Artell certainly gets passionate during a game so different to PH

Fantastic game last night. I can’t remember the last time we stuck to a game plan so resolutely and executed it with such perfection. If I had to I’d give Tharme motm but in truth they all deserve a sip of the champagne.

No luck involved and it didn’t even feel like we were particularly hanging on. It was nervy, but everyone defended so well right to the end and despite 20% possession we still carried the bigger goal threat.

Buzzing today.

Has there been an update on Rose

Quoted from supertown

Has there been an update on Rose

Artell saying it’s a short to medium time out as opposed to medium to long
Sounds like maybe he misses Saturday but back for Wrexham

Quoted from lukeo

First game I've watched in a while due to usually playing / training at times Grimsby are.

The game had an FA cup tie feel about it.

MK Dons played some lovely football but created next to nothing due to towns set up and you have to give DA credit for that. Fantastic 3 points.  

Thompson motm.

There were two systems played last night. MKD played smooth triangles in 2/3 of the pitch, playing out the back mostly, it was easy on the eye. Town played up and at em style, kicked long from the GK mostly and the passing was "grinding-gears" type, a bit stuttery, the 21% 79% ball possession showed a lot, but meant little as Town in the last 1/3 Town was the more dangerous. Could have been 3-0 at the end.
One strange issue, whilst there were 17 -16 fouls committed, Town had 5 yellows and MKD 0. It's time Town restarted the old tradition of giving away boxes of fish to the 4 officials

Brilliant last night, although very nervy. Think Green will start on Saturday as Gav was off form. Saturday is another huge one Forest Green are likely to beat Sutton and it would not surprise me if Colchester beat Walsall as we have proved teams at the bottom fight hard. We may need a few more points than average to stay up this season ,depends on how Colchester hit the run in .Forest Green are on promotion form. The best thing, for me is that you watch now with expectation of getting a decent result, compare this to 3 weeks ago and even walking into the Doncaster game, I fully expected us to lose. Really looking forward to watching a mid table team. This is way too stressful.

Think the issue with Holohan last night is that he had Thompson showing him how its done, so anything Gav did (which was urine poor all night really) looked even worse.
Gotta say, the back 3 have really made a massive change, Rogers & Tharme really understand each other and Mullarkey is in his favoured position and it shows.

MK looked pleasing on the eye, moved the ball really slickly but were relatively toothless in the final third tbh.

Also thought Gnahoua looked lost most of the game, kept forever leaving Clifton exposed as he kept floating into midfield chasing the ball too much.

Onto Saturday with a much renewed confidence we'll be ok this season.

They had the ball, we created the chances.  Their fan must've been screaming for them to take a few shots from around the edge of our box. Holohan's booking for turning their player and keeping possession was one of the strangest things I've seen on the pitch.

Thought Thompson had another good game and Mullarkey owes Clifton a few drinks for all the cover he gives. Everyone did well and though backs to the wall at times, no panicking.

Wouldn't mind seeing their number 50 (Bate on loan from Leeds) here next season; always looking to take the ball off the defence, move it up the pitch and rarely gave it away.

Quoted from bedders78

They had the ball, we created the chances.  Their fan must've been screaming for them to take a few shots from around the edge of our box. Holohan's booking for turning their player and keeping possession was one of the strangest things I've seen on the pitch.

Thought Thompson had another good game and Mullarkey owes Clifton a few drinks for all the cover he gives. Everyone did well and though backs to the wall at times, no panicking.

Wouldn't mind seeing their number 50 (Bate on loan from Leeds) here next season; always looking to take the ball off the defence, move it up the pitch and rarely gave it away.

Thompson looks a pest ,almost a hybrid Terry Fleming & Stacy Caldicott .A good player to build a team around .

Quoted from Marinerdeano

Their suspended player is their main centre half and top scorer!

With 6 goals. I hadn’t realised that Gillingham were the division’s lowest scorers with 35 goals from 38 games (we’ve got 47 from 36 for comparison).

Certainly seems another resolute performance will give us a good chance of at least a point.

Quoted from Northbank Mariner

Think the issue with Holohan last night is that he had Thompson showing him how its done, so anything Gav did (which was urine poor all night really) looked even worse.
Gotta say, the back 3 have really made a massive change, Rogers & Tharme really understand each other and Mullarkey is in his favoured position and it shows.

MK looked pleasing on the eye, moved the ball really slickly but were relatively toothless in the final third tbh.

Also thought Gnahoua looked lost most of the game, kept forever leaving Clifton exposed as he kept floating into midfield chasing the ball too much.

Onto Saturday with a much renewed confidence we'll be ok this season.

Re: the bit in bold

I actually think that was quite deliberate. I think we were playing 5221 last night rather than 523 like it looked on paper (and at times when we had the ball). The 5221 - wing backs and then a box midfield - was a system Hurst used a few times last season, particularly in some cup games.

Gnahoua and Eisa (and then their replacements when they came off) looked more central to me. Which actually made sense as a tactic out of possession because how many times did MK cross the ball into our box? Not many. They don't put crosses in and risk losing it, they try to patiently build and try to find a way to play through you, so the 2 lines of 2 midfielders prevented them from being able to play through us centrally. Obviously we had to have players shuffle across out wide to help the wingbacks, but there wasn't too much danger there as they'd come back inside rather than just look to cross it.
Another subtle but clever move from Artell last night I thought.

Quoted from Tommy

Re: the bit in bold

I actually think that was quite deliberate. I think we were playing 5221 last night rather than 523 like it looked on paper (and at times when we had the ball). The 5221 - wing backs and then a box midfield - was a system Hurst used a few times last season, particularly in some cup games.

Gnahoua and Eisa (and then their replacements when they came off) looked more central to me. Which actually made sense as a tactic out of possession because how many times did MK cross the ball into our box? Not many. They don't put crosses in and risk losing it, they try to patiently build and try to find a way to play through you, so the 2 lines of 2 midfielders prevented them from being able to play through us centrally. Obviously we had to have players shuffle across out wide to help the wingbacks, but there wasn't too much danger there as they'd come back inside rather than just look to cross it.
Another subtle but clever move from Artell last night I thought.

We were playing a 5 1 3 1 with Thompson sitting in front of a very much back 5. I do think eisa and gnouha were tucked in a bit rather than sitting out wide though,.we were very narrow and reliant on Clifton/Hume pushing forward when the opportunity allowed from full backs to get any width.

Last Saturday at Sutton just got better.......

.....full refund of train tickets as delayed two hours getting home.

Will take the same against Gillingham. One point and a refund again.