FGR v Oldham

[Chris FGR]

Thought I'd start this seeing as no fucker has bothered up till this point, clearly both sets of fans on here are excited about the new season...

Lots of new players on both sides, plus a manager who's never managed over here before, so no idea how this will go. Shouldn't be too much of a culture shock for their foreign legion though, cos we hardly play the typical English lower league style, and the pitch looks great for once so should be lots of pretty passing.

We're without Winchester who's suspended (and injured) and Shephard who's still not fit from his knee op, two big misses. Hopefully Smith and McGinley are back otherwise we won't be able to fill the bench. If Smith is fit then I would think he'll start in goal, despite not exactly convincing so far but Thomas is very inexperienced so out of the two I'd pick Smith. Shame we couldn't get the keeper we wanted during the week, seems the triallist that started v Bath didn't do enough, plus our new gk coach buggered off which didn't help, given it's usually down to them to sign our keepers.

Can see there being goals, I'm going fore a 3-3. We've got goals in us, but with our new system giving little protection to our back 3 we'll probably concede a few as well.

 

[Stripes]

A disruptive preparation, so many good coaches have come and gone in the close season, that must have made an impact. Plus a big lack of experience in our side, relying on the expeirience of the Mills brothers, Faz and Dawson. Expect today to go similar to our first ever football league game against Barnet, started off on fire only to wilt second half. That's very pessimistic granted, but hopefully our recruitment has continued the upward trend and the new Boys will tear it up, that's possible too. After a pint that's where my mind set will be. COYS

 

[FGR Stroud]

On the pitch I'm confident of doing the job but off pitch is my chief concern and that could be the stumbling block towards promotion.
Half the faces within the playing staff have changed and we currently don't have a dedicated first team goalkeeping coach. Pat Mountain who was arguably the best in division has moved upwards to the Championship and his replacement lasted a month before he left to coach the England youngsters.
Goalkeeping errors was the prime reason that FGR did not finishing last season in an automatic promotion spot and now NO goalkeeper coach ...................

 

[Simpo]

No idea.

Apparently we've been really really bad in pre-season. Lets see if David Wheater can provide much-needed organisation and leadership...

A side-note, Laurent Banide is head coach rather than manager, he can ask for certain types of players to be signed, but isn't choosing or signing them himself...

 

[Attila the hun]

600 tics expected would rip your hand off with a point don’t normally win on opening day team is a work in progress hope wheater galvanises the defence.

 

[The Jovial Forester]

George Williams crocked in the second minute, tried to play on ended up strechered off.

 

[The Jovial Forester]

Scrappy half, we had decent possession but only really started to do anything with it late and that half chances; not sure why Oldham's goalie's been allowed to play in a green strip!

 

[The Jovial Forester]

Ahead with a belter from super sub Allen.

 

[Chris FGR]

That'll do. Two sides that never looked like scoring (until we did) but lots of possession and a clean sheet will be good for Thomas' confidence. We're pretty much an under 23 side bar 3 players and looked it. Lightweight af. Taylor Allen looks a prospect, Millsy and Dawson done well. Stevens looks a tough little bloke should do well.

Heard Williams broke his ankle, how's that for luck 2 bloody minutes into the season.

 

[jbet]

Oldham will go down. Technically gifted but ultimately sideways passing foreigners will get you nowhere in this shit show of a league.

 

[Stripes]

Dire first half, with hindsight our new young guns were still bedding in, because we did improve quite a bit in the second half. It helped that Oldham were all at sea, and looking like a side without any leaders. Difficult to take much from this, our goal was only marginally tested towards the end. Oldham could easily have got the equaliser in the last few minutes with clear shot on goal from about 8 yards, but it was fluffed wide.

Our defence is yet to be seriously tested, as is our very young goalkeeper, but a clean sheet will do no harm. It was a good game for the kids to adjust to hurly burly of League 2. We have promise and the players will be encouraged after that one. Three points at home from the off is a great start given our poor home record last term. Best not to mention our stars today, at least until the transfer deadline is passed.

Walsall will be more difficult you suspect next week.

 

[Greenacres]

Best not to mention our stars today, at least until the transfer deadline is passed.

Who was it said that you won't win anything with kids, they were right, we have a team of inexperienced youth who can barely pass the ball to each other...they should have stayed at home today, played on the x-box and updated their profiles on social media. The defence looked flakey, the midfield at sea and as for the forwards, the goal was a fluke...doubt if he will hit a barn door most weeks, definitely flattering to deceive.

If you believe any of that then all fool you...I'm pretty happy tonight, hadn't seen more than half the team play before today...most of them did just fine, some a little better than fine, I'm happy with the summer's recruits.

 

[Chris FGR]

Confirmed that Williams has broken his leg.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1157744173929418753

Hard luck on the lad, was hoping this would be the season where he stayed injury free and could really show his talent.

 

[Chris FGR]

Highlights.

Looking at that tackle again, I'm surprised the ref didn't even book Mills (commentary was wrong). At the time I didn't think it was a red tbf, so can maybe forgive the ref for that, but to not even book a player for a reckless scissor tackle that's ended up breaking the blokes leg is ridiculous. Some of the other yellows he gave were much softer then that. It being the 2nd min should be irrelevant.

Just think of the two reds we had in the playoffs and compare them to that, totally different level. Games gone.

 

[SELatic]

Thought it was an even game up until half way. Neither team looked dangerous and I thought we played some ok stuff in the middle third. Second half FGR stepped it up a level we had no answers.

I understand setting up defensively away from home but Wilson up front was left so isolated. No shots on target or corners is worrying and whilst defensively we look okay, goals win games and with our current squad I don’t see where they’re coming from.

On a side note, I assume I’d forgotten how bad officiating is down at our level because I couldn’t get my head round some of the decisions yesterday.

Going to be a long hard season for us without reinforcements and a change in mindset.