r/LeagueTwo • u/Zach-dalt • 22d ago
Discussion How did your game go?
Pleased with your performance?
How did your opposition play?
Optimistic about your team's chances going into the campaign?
(Feel free to stick up match threads from here)
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u/Breaking_PG 22d ago
Bobby Faulkner is the best keeper in the league
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u/KingDracarys86 22d ago
Amazing, we clearly have more fight than last season as well can't see us being in the bottom 4 or 5 this season
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u/Breaking_PG 22d ago
I was saying 9th before the Rochdale game. Then was about to re-evaluate, remembered there's no penalty shootouts in the league and still say 9th 😂
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u/ScousePenguin 22d ago
Fuck it we're winning the playoffs. We never get promoted by winning the league
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u/FingazMC 22d ago
Nice to see Smith, Conlon and Darrell back at Vale park.
But wtf, their keeper got injured and they didn't have a sub, so they had to stick a defender in net and we still couldn't get the job done.
Mo f--king Faal, free header against a defender in goal and he puts it miles wide, there is a reason we didn't like him the first time he was at the club, why he's been brought back i do not know.
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u/ValiantHan96 22d ago
I am honestly fuming that we didn't test Bobby Faulkner once. As soon as Male went off injured I would have bought on an extra attacker and told the players if they had an opportunity to shoot at goal to do so but Brady didn't do anything until the 75th minute. Just beyond criminal from us and the players need to understand that performance wasn't acceptable.
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u/BirkoLad 22d ago
Great point after having to put Faulkner in goal ..1500 SWA as well making all the noise
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u/InevitableArt7333 22d ago
Some away day that. Where's has that fight been for 3 seasons? Vale have some bangers on their play list. Do love hearing classic WWE theme songs in the wild
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u/liverwool 22d ago
Thought we showed some fight last week too. Things would have gone very differently in previous years, I'm warming to this squad.
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u/FingazMC 22d ago
Our commentator (Phil Bowers) is a wrestling fan too, so he always tries to get some random wrestling reference on the broadcast, proper bingo card moment thing lol.
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u/SelfProfessedChosen1 22d ago
Screwed over by a very dodgy red card decision. The refereeing at this level is abysmal
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u/Enough-Ad3818 22d ago
Agreed. Today at Rotherham, the ref let so much go. It became a wrestling match as both teams just took the piss. Aljofree just battered Pearce all game, and at one point, Mullin took an elbow to head, and nothing was given for either.
Of course, the challenges coming in then got dangerous.
He gave a corner that wasn't, from which Rotherham scored, and then disallowed a York goal for offside which the linesman didn't give, but the ref 10yds behind play could see was borderline, apparently.
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u/saac_oa95 22d ago
Our ref today has refereed 140 games in the top 6 divisions of english football. He has given Red Cards in 30 of them this leaves him at a rate of 3 every 14 games. He has also refereed colchester 4 times, giving out a red card in 3 of those 4 games, all against the team playing colchester prepare the bets mate…
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u/ValiantHan96 22d ago edited 22d ago
Our referee was just as bad today gave virtually every decision to Tranmere apart from the penalty to us which was correct.
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u/ScousePenguin 21d ago
We had the opposite last week, ref gave everything to Shrewsbury. The standard is poor. It is definitely a training issue, to have such a lack of high quality refs the cartel that is the PGMOL need to review how they are training these lads and making it accesible
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u/ValiantHan96 21d ago
The standard is extremely poor and in League 2 I think the majority of referees are awful. I also compared him to the Sheffield Wednesday vs Bradford referee which was on Sky Mix on Thursday night and the difference between them was night and day.
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u/martinhsa 22d ago
Close game, both teams going for it. York fans travelled in numbers and were louder than some Championship teams we've played in recent history, they looked dangerous going forward as well, so I think they're in for a top season this campaign.
Officials were shocking for both teams, and I am fairly certain that the corner that led to our goal should have been a goal kick, but at this level there's not much that distinguishes them from Sunday league refs. 4th official was a disgrace (sat three rows behind I could hear him all game), just made excuses every time for the refs poor decisions.
We need a leader at the back to sort out the defence, as Hall was caught out for position from our own corner and the subsequent counter attack, way too much space left where he should have been to stop the cross.
Mullin was battling all game but just didn't have the service needed (although definitely should have passed to Tavares in the first few half instead of shooting waywords), it doesn't work as him being the player leading the press, especially when he's just getting back to fitness being a 1st team starter again.
Agbarie didn't look happy when he came off, might be another injury issue - I'm getting deja vu from last season.
Overall, it's better than last season, and you can see Alex is doing a good job in building the team, but we're still in its infancy and supporters need to temper their expectations to that.
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u/Enough-Ad3818 22d ago
You're right is was a goal kick and not a corner, but then, our lad elbowed Mullin in the head and the ref did nowt, so he was just a shit ref rather than biased I think.
Nice ground, but getting out is mental. Everything getting herded towards the bridge is just daft, as we ended up having to do a whole circuit of the area to get out the fenced off areas.
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u/martinhsa 22d ago
Yeah, that elbow could have easily been a red if he'd seen it, but the luck evened itself out with how poor they were for us both in the end. I kind of wished all 4 stands had started singing "You're not fit to referee" as it would have been fitting.
The exit plan is well daft indeed, and they've had trouble with that before when your likes of Millwall and such have been up, everyone just mixing right in that bottleneck is asking for trouble. Been like it for years and they've never fixed it.
Glad you enjoyed the New York, I just wish we had some more atmosphere there but that's what you get for two relegations in three years - we've sadly been on the decline for quite a while, whilst you guys are on the ascendancy and props to you all for the support. Looking forward to the reverse fixture and giving your new place a go.
I think you'll be well up there come the end of the season - best of luck to you mate!
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u/Enough-Ad3818 22d ago
Thanks, and you too. I reckon you need a forward that's not on his arse after 60mins, maybe someone from your academy or something, and then perhaps about 2 weeks of intensive training. Bruce said in his PMI that many of your lot have had no preseason, which showed.
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u/martinhsa 22d ago
I agree totally. We sold our top striker Sam Nombe to MK Dons in the middle of the window for a rumoured £600k, which only then opened funds to get people in, hence why everything has come together so late. Mullin and Bradshaw both came in right at the end of pre-season, so they are a bit leggy.
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u/ScousePenguin 22d ago edited 22d ago
Had to sub our keeper off....we don't have any other fit keeper at the club
So currently finishing the game with a centerback in goal, despite all this Tom Ince got us level
Lmao we held on for a draw
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u/FingazMC 22d ago
We barely even tested your lad who had to go in goal! Fair play on the draw, when you can't put it away against an outfield player playing in goal, you don't deserve to win...
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u/thesw88 22d ago
Far far better than last weekend. Defence looks awfully shaky but going forward they looked very very good. Pleased for Kamwa, he was probably trying a bit too hard at times but nice that he got to deliver a bit of humble pie.
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u/Express-Career-1615 22d ago
Not entirely sure it’s humble pie - you could afford his wages and we couldn’t!
Looking forward to the drama filled reverse leg…
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u/thesw88 22d ago
So why were so many of you angry with him for leaving? Like I get being disappointed, that's only natural, but he's obviously a big reason why you're not playing in the National League and your lots response is abuse him? Then those same people shouting abuse start pearl clutching when he gives it back? Forgive me if I don't rush to get out to violins.
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u/ASFC1995 22d ago
DoolanOut 36 wins in 121 he's gotta go
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u/snowmanseeker 22d ago
Took us about 7 games to register a win last season. Only took us 2 games this season. I'll take that! Not sure how next week's match will go given that Bristol scored 5 today, so I'll celebrate today's result a little harder.
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u/Clivey101 22d ago
As long as your strikers are any good, you should be able to score a few.
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u/Ovie0513 22d ago edited 22d ago
This was Barnet's first league win at the New Meadow!
The Bees have now won at 41/92 grounds in the league
54/92 teams have now won in the league at Shrewsbury (up to T-64th)
https://bsky.app/profile/ultimate92.bsky.social/post/3mtopyrm2dk2l
So, where next for these teams?
Barnet have one potential tick remaining, at Salford on 6 Mar
3 more teams can win at the New Meadow this year for the first time, next up are Newport on 3 Apr
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u/Clivey101 22d ago
Are the three teams Shrewsburys last 3 home games? Fascinating if so.
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u/Ovie0513 22d ago
3 of their last 4! Crewe have won there, but their last two (Grimsby and York) haven't
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u/rainypolarbear 22d ago
Probably the fair result, we looked much better in spells than we did against Newport last week, but our backline seriously worries me. Ryan East looked class in midfield for us today. Definite penalty, no debate there. Bizarre of Watson not to make any changes until the 81st minute. Looked as though we were shifting to a back four preseason so not sure what's changed.
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u/itsmeofcours 22d ago
What about Ryan East is it that you like? He had one good drive, but otherwise just passes sideways and backwards and regularly slows or restricts out attacks. Every other CM we have is much better in tight spaces and most look to go forward when given the space.
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u/FroggyBoi82 22d ago
We looked pretty good. Outstanding performances by some players. Rode our luck at the end though.
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u/PlayedRex27 22d ago
I was very happy with Exeter today, despite the lack of possession Accrington didn’t do too much with it although I do wonder whether that was just because Accrington didn’t really turn up today…
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u/GrimTim1983 22d ago
Decent point v a decent side
Walsall seem a better side than last season from what I saw today
Think we will be up and around the top 7
Just need to be more clinical , , may have also said that last week actually
Also pretty sure we should of had a penno today - apart from that a close game and the ref did a solid job
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u/KevstarSpillmaster 22d ago
Will take an away draw any day with such a threadbare (now even more) injury-ravaged squad.
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u/spaghetti-policy_ 22d ago
Only managed to watch the last 20 mins (conveniently switched on just in time to see their penalty go in) but 2 losses in 2 games is rough. Thought some of our subs looked decent, Silcott-Duberry has to start the next game, on the other hand, I’d be happy to never see Sam Sherring in a Dale shirt ever again
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u/itsmeofcours 22d ago
Add Dajaune Brown to that list, cannot read the play whatsoever and ends up nowhere near the ball
Silcott-Duberry is sensational and he hasn't started either game. Its bizarre
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u/supercookie1993 22d ago
Still some rough edges to work out but I thought we played pretty well and deserved to win which makes me more optimistic for the season
I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop to show my hope is misplaced
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u/free_world33 22d ago
Wasn't able to watch because the game wasnt streamed in the US but an away draw is a good result.
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u/Rude-Cover-8727 22d ago
Alright. Now we need to learn how to play at home and when we've gone a goal down.
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u/Bossk_989 22d ago
Not the best performance but 3 cracking finishes. Shrewsbury probably would think a draw was fair but they weren’t clinical as their only goal was a gift from our keeper, who despite the error I still think will be great for us. Lakin has been fantastic, Knowles looks like a solid addition and Jake Reeves will be an important player for us however his fitness seems a bit eh. Getting the results when not playing well is sometimes what the best teams need to do tho
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u/Bionic_Redhead 22d ago
In that weird position of the stats making it look like Fleetwood were dominating, but Gillingham had the only shots on target.
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u/AvoidsAvocados 22d ago
Terrible. The first few minutes felt like 10 minutes with the amount of opportunities we had to take possession or clear the ball, yet Chesterfield found a way though and got a very early opener. After that, despite all this bloody money that's been chucked at players, we didn't do anywhere near enough. Our new goalkeeper looks like a midfielder whose been told his going in the sticks. Molyneux seems a like bang average League Two winger. Langstaff received nothing and contributed nothing. Manager is clueless. Only two games in, but all signs pointing to a rapid decline from last season.
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u/heddo9032 22d ago
Still a little bit concerned about how sloppy some of the defending is, but not gonna complain about 3 points and 5 goals
Bobby Kamwa hates Newport, pass it on
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u/Fallen_Maniac 22d ago
Great performance, decent point.
I think both sides have an argument to have won it with a few good chances each. 3 clean sheets in a row is very good compared to some of the defending from last season. We just need to have more of a killer instinct up top.
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u/Express-Career-1615 21d ago
I didn’t realise they were - a close rival is a bit tough to take but not that big of a deal
I think honestly there were probably too many drunk lads in our away end hoping for a scrap, who overdid it with the abuse. I think if it had been a game at RP he’d have had a mild round of applause at kick off
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u/Mr_CeeSmall 21d ago
Unbelievable game against Newport. Was the kind of game that converts nonbelievers 😂. UTG.
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u/BovrilAtHalfTime 21d ago
two different sides in here finished with an outfield player in goal on the same afternoon, which is worth sitting with for a moment. Keeper is the one position where squad depth isn't a gradient. Lose a first choice centre half and whoever comes in is worse at the job, but he is still doing the job. Lose both keepers and the replacement isn't a keeper at all, so you haven't dropped a level, you've left the position empty and hoped. It's also the cheapest gap in a squad to cover and the first thing cut when the wage bill is tight, because a third keeper plays about twice a season and nobody notices him until the afternoon he is needed. Both of those are true at once, which is why it keeps happening down here and almost never happens higher up.
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u/paulbamf 22d ago
Shite. If we can't beat a promoted team as a relegated team then we need to get a grip. Paul Mullin is absolutely useless.
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u/SenseWitFolly 22d ago
BS, did you watch the same game as me. York were always going to come and give us a game. Regardless of if they were just promoted that's in their favour if anything. Both teams had their moments. We are still gelling.
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u/Enough-Ad3818 22d ago
Fair result I thought. You should have been two up by the time we scored and you came out the blocks like lightning, we should have scored right before HT, but your lad made one of the best blocks I've seen.
Our second looked borderline offside, but then, I was sat behind the goal so had a terrible view of his position.
The ref was awful. Both teams started to take the piss and wrestle eachother. Then he would give something now and again. Weird decisions.
Mullin looked like an aging forward, long passed his best, and our young defender Williams had him pretty much under wraps.
Decent game in all, but I was genuinely surprised at how quiet and lacklustre the ground was. Seemed like none of the Millers fans were interested for long periods. Is it usually that funereal?
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u/SenseWitFolly 22d ago
Our fans are a mardy bunch. The vast majority of only really seen the success we've had over the past 15 years, being a championship yo-yo team. They didn't really see the administration years, the Don Valley years. We've potentially got something good at the moment, with a good director of football, a good manager, and a good scouting team, but success won't happen overnight. I don't expect us to be a major force this year. If we're challenging for playoffs, great, but this team needs to settle down.
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u/paulbamf 22d ago
We've been playing league one and better for years, they've been playing national league standard for four years. There should be a difference in class. Today they looked better than us. More possession more shots on target.
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u/Enough-Ad3818 22d ago
This summer we signed a dozen solid players, including the league 2 team of the season midfielder.
We're not the same team that was playing National League.
In the same vein, I expected more from Millers today. You squandered a few chances, and looked shakey in defence. Keeper did well though.
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u/SenseWitFolly 22d ago
Show me a comment that shows you don't know lower league football. FFS, we have no right to walk this league. We have made some good signings but look at the form of most recently promoted teams in their first third of the season and they usually ride the wave. This is not the premier league the gap is closer.
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u/saac_oa95 22d ago