Crewe vs Swindon

[Crewelad87]

Two teams that are probably alot better going forward than at the back. Infact were now the top scorers in the league and every outfield player in our normal team has scored this season. But Doyle and Yates is probably as good a strike partnership there is on this league.

Swindon will be sad to hear Lancashire isn't getting in our team, he's been pretty much useless so far. Team will be

Jaaskelainen

Ng Nolan Hunt Pickering

Green Wintle Lowery

Powell Porter Kirk

Crewe 2-2 Swindon (Porter, Kirk, Doyle, Anderson) 5,650 (600 Robins)

 

[Agombar stool]

A month ago I would have been confident going into this game, but as Crewe have motored on nicely to the top of the league, we have spluttered down to 7th after a tough run of games and some injuries.

Dion Conroy, our ball playing centre back is out for 6 months with a knee injury and has had to be hastily replaced with muscle merchant Gabriel Zakuani. Based on what I saw in the Plymouth game, he is NOT going to enjoy playing against the quick pass and move that Crewe adopt. We also had to hastily sign Dion Donohue who was decent at LB. Keshi Anderson and Lloyd Isgrove have been playing with knocks and this has affected our output. It also hasn't helped that Michael Doughty's body language is appalling and a languid second half display on Saturday was concerning. Yates and Doyle have goals in them and their work rate and movement is excellent.

That said, I think Crewe will out-football us on Saturday. Anthony Grant has been pivotal in midfield, the guy is a monster in midfield and another performance like Saturday is needed.

I'm going on Saturday, getting into Crewe at 1:10 and looking forward to a couple of pre-match beers and an entertaining contest. Sadly I think Crewe will out-football us and we'll fall to a 3-1 defeat.

 

[lordofthepies]

Two teams that are probably alot better going forward than at the back. Infact were now the top scorers in the league and every outfield player in our normal team has scored this season. But Doyle and Yates is probably as good a strike partnership there is on this league.

Swindon will be sad to hear Lancashire isn't getting in our team, he's been pretty much useless so far. Team will be

Jaaskelainen

Ng Nolan Hunt Pickering

Green Wintle Lowery

Powell Porter Kirk

Crewe 2-2 Swindon (Porter, Kirk, Doyle, Anderson) 5,650 (600 Robins)

Perry Ng has not scored.

 

[Indian Dan]

So, Ng stands for no goals?

 

[JJ1532]

Tricky game this. Those front 2 will be a real test for our defence, which still looks ropey. Grant in midfield will be a tough one, although hopefully our trio can pass around him. Got to fancy scoring a couple against their defence though.

I'd take a point to be honest, same as the Cheltenham and Exeter games.

 

[Jigsaw]

Really looking forward to this one... Read a few times that Swindon have been playing really good football this season so should make a very entertaining, attacking game. Having said that, it'll probably finish 0-1 now haha!

It's another tricky game as we continue playing through what has been a tough 4/5 games, with Colchester providing another test on Tuesday. Right now I would take a point, but I also feel we need to start beating the teams around us too if we are genuine contenders for the play-offs this season.

Think the team will largely be unchanged so hoping Powell will continue his good form from the last couple of games. Yates and Doyle look a very good partnership and I completely forgot Anthony Grant has signed for Swindon, I'm sure he'll be very much up for this one.

 

[Big Bird]

No idea how this goes.

Crewe 2-3 Swindon based on nothing but wishful thinking.

 

[The Alex]

Need to win the midfield battle in this one. We can’t shirk away and let Anthony Grantony get a foot hold in the game. Does he still win about 30 soft free kicks a game?

We’ve been pretty poor at home compared to last year, and absolutely abysmal in the 1st half at home, it’s baffling as to why. If Swindon have their shooting boots on they could well win this at a canter in the first 45, something Exeter failed to do and Plymouth did.

How many away fans?

 

[Crewelad87]

Not looking forward to us going up against Grant. He's brilliant if he's in your team for wining cheap free kicks but it's going to be infuriating being on the other side of that. I'm just hoping for a solid 1st half, we've been pretty much terrible in every home game in the 1st 45 mins, we can't keep giving ourselves a mountain to climb as it will catch up on us, and Swindon look like the clinical sort of side that could do that to us.

Also hoping our crowd beats the 5300 odd Vs Exeter. Swindon will bring more away fans so hopefully we will break 5500 today.

 

[JJ1532]

Oh the difference a clinical finisher makes. Can't remember the last time we had one of those. Ironic that this was probably our best first half of the season at home. Still concede first and go in trailing, what else is new?

All the possession, all the territory, keeper has had one difficult save to make. Not good enough in front of goal, has to improve. Dale swings from outclassed and clueless one minute to a potential superstar the next. Frustrating, but hopefully it will improve with age and maturity.

Play like that in the 2nd half and I'd fancy us to get a result. Although with Lancashire in defence, perhaps not.

 

[JJ1532]

Well, we did play like that in the 2nd half and we did get a result. More than deserved, simply ground them down and got the winner, plus added a little gloss as well. Credit to Swindon, they were determined and organised for the most part, but we had too much in the end.

Performance of the season for me, given we did well in both halfs. A club well and truly on the rise right now, great times to be an Alex supporter.

 

[The Alex]

That’s what you get for being mean to Olly Lancashire!

Up the reds.

 

[HoxxySoxxyOxxy]

Get in there lads!

 

[Agombar stool]

Can’t really say that Crewe didn’t deserve that. We had a 10/15 minute spell in the second half but Crewe all over the pitch the best side. Ng is a superb player and you played some wonderful football that had us chasing shadows a lot of the game. Wonderful finish by Doyle for our one chance but otherwise your keeper had bigger all to do.

No point trying to deny that today was men v boys yet on the pitch it looked like we were the side of men and Crewe the boys. Fair play to Artell, he’s blessed with a talented bunch.

 

[TimeyWimey]

Absolutely dominant throughout. Not sure how we ended up 1-0 down but result was never really in doubt imo.

Table looks beautiful tonight.

 

[Crewelad87]

These stats tell the story of the game. We actually turned up for the 1st half for once, played Swindon off the park and still found ourselves one down. Once we equalised I was always pretty confident we would go on to win. The way we play we just wear teams down, it's very hard to keep us out for 90 minutes. Lowery, Ng and Wintle I thought were levels above once again. Still our centre backs take a few to many risks and nearly got caught. I don't rate Lancashire but I was happy for him today, he got slot of stick from the Swindon fans but he along with Nolan kept Yates and Doyle very quiet for the most part. I don't blame Olly for celebrating Infront of the Swindon fans tbh.

 

[Agombar stool]

Yates was well below par today. I didn’t actually notice Lancashire celebrate in front of us today. Fans give him stick and if he gives it back then fair enough.

Your club deserves more than 4K fans based on what I saw today

 

[JJ1532]

We have never been a massively supported club, we have a small town and rely on a fair few exiles and freebies to prop up numbers. I mean, at our peak we were only attracting 6k home fans on average.

And lets also remember we only got 3.1, 3.1, 3.3k home fans for our 2nd, 3rd and 4th home games of the season. To jump from that 4.2, 4.8 and 4.2 in our last 3 is good enough for me. Keep winning and more will come.

 

[Agombar stool]

We have never been a massively supported club, we have a small town and rely on a fair few exiles and freebies to prop up numbers. I mean, at our peak we were only attracting 6k home fans on average.

And lets also remember we only got 3.1, 3.1, 3.3k home fans for our 2nd, 3rd and 4th home games of the season. To jump from that 4.2, 4.8 and 4.2 in our last 3 is good enough for me. Keep winning and more will come.

It wasn’t really meant as a snide insult and hopefully Crewe fans don’t take it that way. I’m well aware of the geography and size of your town and therefore it’s unfair to expect crowds of 8k+ (for example, just plucked a figure out of the air)

It was more of a compliment really that the football you play should be watched by bigger crowds.

Conversely we have been awful at home for about 4 years now and still manage to get 6k + through the gates, loyal/stupid etc!

 

[JJ1532]

Oh I know it wasn't meant as an insult. I just don't think it's fair to ask for more than what we currently get right now. We've got the Vale in a few weeks, that should hopefully get the masses down.

 

[Agombar stool]

Oh I know it wasn't meant as an insult. I just don't think it's fair to ask for more than what we currently get right now. We've got the Vale in a few weeks, that should hopefully get the masses down.

Fair play, good luck until we meet again in January.

 

[Indian Dan]

Best team I’ve seen this season - by miles. Great passing and a shit load of crosses into the box.

Fanny about at the back a bit too much, but unless Crewe lose 2 or 3 players in January they must be a shoe in for autos.

 

[The Alex]

Our current side has been playing together for a few years now, and they’ve really got used to each other and the game. I can’t see us holding on til the end of the season without someone being sold, sadly, then the process starts again. There’s some real value there but we won’t see much being reinvested into the squad, not our style.

This is an enjoyable video, I’ve seen quite a bit of his stuff so it’s a surprise to see he was at our game..

 

[JJ1532]

That is the problem though, we almost certainly will do. Ng and Lowery are my bets, they are in incredible form. Wintle is another that is bound to draw the eye.

And it's not even like we can reject bids as we are desperate for cash and pledge never to stand in a players way. I just hope a PL or Championship team signs them and lets us loan them back for the rest of the season. Or we agree deals in principle and then let them move next summer. Let this group finish what they've started.

 

[JJ1532]

Props to the kids in the video giving the finger and wanker signs to the whole ground. Probably the calmest I've ever seen someone do that.

Also love them catching the end of Lancashire's run in front of the Swindon fans. He may be a pretty shit defender but he's gone up in my estimation after that. Got to laugh at grown men offering to fight another grown man over a game of football. Love what sport does to normally rational people.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

I know we don't stand in a players way when we leave but I know exactly what Dave Artell will tell every player who has interest in them. And he'll recommend they stay, get a promotion on their CV and then they'll leave the club for an even better price and possibly an even bigger club?

I don't want any of this crop to end up at Peterborough where they'll be replaced 6 months down the line when DMAC announces another glut of signings. I want them to end up at the best club for them. But right now, we'll take each game as it comes and love every minute of it.

As for the game yesterday we were absolutely dominant. So, so, unlucky to go a goal down but it didn't bother us and we got our just rewards in the end. I've never rated Richie Wellens as a player and manager. A very arrogant individual. Spent too much time trying to get into Charlie Kirk's head than noticing his players didn't look match-fit and his fullbacks were all at sea. Dion Donohue is the worst opposing player I've seen at Gresty Road since Ryan Boot for the Vale. I've seen some Swindon fans call for Wellens head yesterday and, whilst I think that does look ridiculous given Swindon are in the playoff mix right now, I can see him not lasting the season. Swindon are an expectant fanbase and even Flitcroft got a lot of shit when he didn't look that bad from the outside looking in.

Every player who played for us had a great performance yesterday except the nervous Lancashire who didn't look fully fit. But I'm glad he had his moment at the end. Always love fans who give out shit then lose it when they get it given back to them. Even when it happens to your own club you just have to laugh.

 

[lordofthepies]

Best team I’ve seen this season - by miles. Great passing and a shit load of crosses into the box.

Fanny about at the back a bit too much, but unless Crewe lose 2 or 3 players in January they must be a shoe in for autos.

Playing out from the back has caused us a few nervous moments (and it cost us a goal at Orient) but I think the risks are outweighed by the rewards, it gives us a good base for our attacks and we've already scored a couple of good goals which started from us playing our from the back.

 

[The Alex]

I can’t see Lowery going as soon as people think, height is a factor for people looking at signing players, people will sleep on him for a bit.

Obviously NG, but Wintle is the man I am very confident will get snapped up. Box to box midfielder who has been putting in 8/10 performances every week, barely ever misplacing a pass. He was being watched a lot last season.

 

[lordofthepies]

I can’t see Lowery going as soon as people think, height is a factor for people looking at signing players, people will sleep on him for a bit.

There must have been a lot of scouts at our games over the last few months and anyone who has seen Miniesta play in the last year or so could not help but be impressed. I'm pretty sure there will be a hell of a lot of interest in him. I reckon we've got at least 5 players who are 23 or under who are ready to play in a higher league right now. Hope we can keep hold of them for the rest of this season though...

 

[Wooderson]

Well, we did play like that in the 2nd half and we did get a result. More than deserved, simply ground them down and got the winner, plus added a little gloss as well. Credit to Swindon, they were determined and organised for the most part, but we had too much in the end.

Performance of the season for me, given we did well in both halfs. A club well and truly on the rise right now, great times to be an Alex supporter.

I’m sure this time last year Crewe fans were doom and gloom and there was barely a good word for Artell. What’s changed?