{"id":15229,"date":"2017-09-26T16:00:26","date_gmt":"2017-09-26T15:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thehighertempopress.com\/?p=15229"},"modified":"2017-09-26T12:42:38","modified_gmt":"2017-09-26T11:42:38","slug":"wandering-eagle-part-4-2-january-17","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thehighertempopress.com\/2017\/09\/wandering-eagle-part-4-2-january-17\/","title":{"rendered":"The Wandering Eagle Part 4.2: January ’17"},"content":{"rendered":"

We get the opportunity to break the unhelpful habit of not converting our chances when we face Northampton Town, the big surprise of the season at 6th<\/sup> place. They play a revolutionary strikerless formation, which is almost unheard of at this level. Manager Robert Page is either a visionary or an evil madman bent on destroying all the fine traditions the English hold so dearly. We face The Cobblers with a new face at left wing back: Scotsman Scott Laird has returned from his loan spell at Walsall and will be given a chance to cement his place in the starting line-up.<\/p>\n

\"\"The habit of creating our own bad luck seems to be broken when we open the score with the most unlikely of events. Robbed of any meaningful passing options, Smallwood tries his luck from 30 metres out. A daft choice, of course, where it not for Zakuani\u2019s shoulder hitting the ball and leaving \u2018keeper Smith with no chance at all: 0-1. We don\u2019t give Northampton a chance to fight back, with Madden and Gijzen failing to double our lead. During half time I choose to switch to a more defensive mentality. \u00a0It is a very tense second half, with Northampton pressing our defence and we creating chances through counter attacks. Northampton are limited to firing shots from a long distance which fail to trouble Daniels. With The Cobblers adopting a similar 5-3-2 approach, we cancel each other out and at the end it is Smallwood\u2019s fluke goal which grant us the full three points. Finally, Lady Luck has smiled upon us.<\/p>\n

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Meanwhile, I scour the transfer market to add some more options to the squad. In keeping with that age old English tradition, I raid the bloated squads of the top teams. The first fish I\u2019m able to reel in is 22 year old goalkeeper Matt Macey from Arsenal. With both new signing Davies and third choice Anyon injured, I have only one fit goalkeeper. Macey will rectify this situation.<\/p>\n

Hopefully, Lady Luck continues to shine her light on us, because our next match is against 2nd<\/sup> placed Charlton Athletic, who have recently been toppled by Millwall. Loanee Matt Macey is better than Luke Daniels (on paper) and will start between the sticks. A big loss is the absence of Hopper with a chest injury. He\u2019ll be replaced by Van Veen.<\/p>\n

\"\"I can\u2019t believe my eyes when we take the game to Charlton Athletic. The Addicks are forced into the role of spectator as we run circles around them. In a refreshing change of narrative we actually reward ourselves. And how! Ness plays a deep pass down the right to Wiseman, who crosses it back to Ness with his left leg after a lovely turn, Ness heads the back to Gijzen, Gijzen performs a casual first touch flick on to Madden and the Irishman casually lifts the ball to the underside of the bar, where it comes down behind the line. It is such a lovely move I uploaded it to YouTube for your pleasure:<\/p>\n