Crewe vs Morecambe

[Crewelad87]

Probably a tougher game than it looks on paper. Morecambe are always very organised and never give anything cheap away. Fully expecting them to park the bus and go for the 0-0. Not really sure how there summer business has gone bar they signed a former academy graduate of ours Jason Oswell.

I'm hoping we can hit the ground running mainly because unlike most teams we've not changed much and we're in good form before the summer.

Crewe 2-1 Morecambe (Bowery, Kirk, Ellison) 3,844 (210 Shrimps)

 

[The Globule]

We seem to have a lot more attacking options this coming season and I hope JB is a lot more adventurous. However we did resort to lumping it to Oliver for the bulk of the match in our final friendly, against a very uncompromising Fleetwood. Maybe with a bit more time on the ball we'll be allowed to play. Depends who he starts with. If it's mostly last season's players then we will play not to lose.

But it's the time of the year to be optimistic so I'll go for an exciting 3-2 away win ..............

 

[Son of Cod]

New season, same old absolutely jam packed Crewe match day threads.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

New season, same old absolutely jam packed Crewe match day threads.

Well the forum has been down for a couple of days.

On a serious note. Haven't won our first home league game in a decade. 3 opening day wins home or away since we beat Stockport in 1996. An abysmal record on our part. It's got to change this year.

I think Morecambe will do what they always do here. 11 behind the ball and look to catch us on the break. Their squad looks a lot weaker than the one that played us in April, whereas our squad is very much the same bar the end of loan periods for McKirdy and Sterry and the additions of Nicholls and Hunt, the former will start today as well with Miller injured.

This game will be horrible and scrappy but I back us to win 2-0 with 2 late second half goals. We can't underestimate Morecambe but we do always seem to get a result against them...

 

[TimeyWimey]

I think our fans are vastly over confident this summer. Not seen much to suggest a major improvement on last season. Expecting the usual half/half season where we improve late on. Anything upwards of 16th will be a good season, including not flirting with the bottom two.

Draw today.

 

[JJ1532]

I wouldn't say people are over confident. Yeah, there is the usual promotion stuff, but it feels like lip service than genuine expectation. It's hard to say how we'll do. We didn't suffer back to back defeats in our final 16 games of last season and put up top half form from February onwards. But we saw that in 16-17 and it didn't translate over. What we're relying on is development of several big players, plus the consistent veterans Nolan, Green and Miller to keep the youngsters ticking along.

If this fixture was in November or March, I'd feel confident of winning. But the opening game always throws us off. Wouldn't surprise me to see us struggle and lose 1-0/2-1. With some tricky fixtures coming up after this one(long trips to Newport, Colchester and Carlisle, plus MK Dons at home), we could do with winning this one and getting the confidence up.

 

[Crewelad87]

Great start, 2 up at half time, but captain George Ray has gone off injured. Very worrying if it's anything long term.

 

[TimeyWimey]

Hopefully my first post is completely wrong.

Sounding brilliant. 4-0. Hopefully a sign of things to come.

 

[Crewelad87]

Well that escalated quickly.................

 

[ShrimpsMeltdown]

Nice knowing you League 2.

 

[The Globule]

Shitblankets

 

[Buxton Vale]

Result of the day. I expected more from Morecambe this season though given some half decent signings.

 

[ShrimpsMeltdown]

No words can describe how bad that was.

 

[Conker]

No words can describe how bad that was.

Very apt username mate!

 

[Buxton Vale]

No words can describe how bad that was.

Have a go......

 

[JJ1532]

Early goal was huge, settled us down nicely and then to get the 2nd quickly after meant we could relax. Should have 3 or 4 up by half time. 2nd half, we actually got a bit ropey in defence, they hit the post and could have had 1 or 2 on another day. But our attacking was superb and the finishing was brilliant, Jones' 2nd was pinpoint. Nicholls, Kirk and Wintle were excellent. Defence was a bit iffy after Ray went off, Ng and Nolan were shaky. But hard to not be happy.

Morecambe were awful, defensively they were a shambles, with some better finishing we could have scored more. Can see why their primary tactic is to defend for 0-0s if that is how they play open expansive football. Should have scored, but even after 1 game, you worry for them. That front line won't cut it, we've seen enough evidence to know Oliver isn't a League Two striker and the 39 year old Ellison can't do it all himself. And if a Crewe team that will probably still finish mid-table can put 6 past them, I'd hate to see what the promotion contenders do.

Nice start, I'm off to stare at the League Two table for the next week.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Top of the league for the first time in my lifetime it's time to savour such a fine moment.

That said, played very well yesterday, attacking and midfield play superb. Nicholls looks a fantastic signing. The movement of our players off the ball caused Morecambe all sorts of problems.

Vadaine Oliver isn't good enough for the demands of league football. He's only getting contracts because of his height and work rate. His ability is Conference North standard at an absolute maximum.

This league is generous with the two relegation places. There'll be so many basket cases this season down at the bottom that Morecambe still have a chance to stay up. Onwards to Newport next week and let's keep staying at the top of the table!

 

[Crewelad87]

Never mind top of the league, when was the last time we had a +6 goal difference??

We can't get carried away though, much tougher tasks ahead starting in Wales next week. I'm very confident on a much more successful season though.

 

[rudebwoyben]

Top of the league for the first time in my lifetime it's time to savour such a fine moment.

That said, played very well yesterday, attacking and midfield play superb. Nicholls looks a fantastic signing. The movement of our players off the ball caused Morecambe all sorts of problems.

Vadaine Oliver isn't good enough for the demands of league football. He's only getting contracts because of his height and work rate. His ability is Conference North standard at an absolute maximum.

This league is generous with the two relegation places. There'll be so many basket cases this season down at the bottom that Morecambe still have a chance to stay up. Onwards to Newport next week and let's keep staying at the top of the table!

I have a feeling that if he had been for us on Saturday, we would have won that match rather than hit the woodwork 3 times and spurn numerous chances.,,

 

[Douglas_Valley_Reds]

I have a feeling that if he had been for us on Saturday, we would have won that match rather than hit the woodwork 3 times and spurn numerous chances.,,

I remember you hitting the woodwork once, when we were 4-0 up, and I remember in the first half a header that just went wide when we were 2-0 up. I must have nipped the bog and missed the other 2 efforts that hit the woodwork and these numerous chances. However, I did notice that if he we had taken all our chances we would have been in double figures goals wise, and it would not have flattered us either. Good luck for the rest of the season.

 

[rudebwoyben]

I remember you hitting the woodwork once, when we were 4-0 up, and I remember in the first half a header that just went wide when we were 2-0 up. I must have nipped the bog and missed the other 2 efforts that hit the woodwork and these numerous chances. However, I did notice that if he we had taken all our chances we would have been in double figures goals wise, and it would not have flattered us either. Good luck for the rest of the season.

I'm a Barnet fan, not a Morecambe one! I was referring to our match at Aldershot Town on Saturday, which by all accounts we dominated without having that clinical edge, something Nicholls was very good at providing for us last season.

 

[Douglas_Valley_Reds]

I'm a Barnet fan, not a Morecambe one! I was referring to our match at Aldershot Town on Saturday, which by all accounts we dominated without having that clinical edge, something Nicholls was very good at providing for us last season.

Ha, sorry for the confusion pal, I was trying to remember how many drinks I had on Saturday as for the life of me I could not remember these other chances and the woodwork being rattled, now I know why! My first post of the season was a bit like Morecambe's first performance of the season!

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

I have a feeling that if he had been for us on Saturday, we would have won that match rather than hit the woodwork 3 times and spurn numerous chances.,,

His finish for his second goal was excellent, the first touch to lift it up in the air then finishing perfectly shows how capable he is and that's what we need in front of goal, a bit more ruthlessness. I just hope he can stay fit because we've got a good player on our hands if so.

Shaun Miller will have a lot of work to do to displace him if he keeps it up. I remember Nicholls from his Walsall and Northampton days. Until a nasty leg break, he looked like he was going to make a big name for himself in the lower leagues and he's had a lot of time out the game due to injuries since. If we can keep him fit though there'll certainly be a player there.