Halloween Not-So-Special Match Thread

[Pablosammy]

Didn't read the majority of the thread. Who is Chris FGR whinging about this week? Us or them?

I'm not really sure. I think he's got a gripe with both of you.

 

[B2TF]

These 2 sides are shit. When do we get to play them?

 

[Si Robin]

Definite pen for the handball, but we've done what we've been doing all season which is soaking up the pressure (riding our luck as well) and demoralising the opposition before getting back into the game and getting ahead.

This could be a very long 10 minutes though, and we've conceded a lot of late goals this season.

 

[PaulHaddock]

Never realised what a wanker Harry Pell is.

 

[EnglishRed]

Boom. Cheltenham keep rolling on.

I was dismissive of them at the start of the season, and I still think their squad looks decidedly ordinary (not bad but not anything exciting either) on paper but they are showing what a good manager and a strong team ethic carried out by capable players can achieve.

The league isnt looking that strong this year. They are starting to look like serious contenders.

 

[FishyMackem]

We did well for the first 25 minutes and lost the game after that when they changed formation. We looked strong on the wings and were getting good balls in but we just couldn't convert.

 

[Son of Cod]

Definite pen for the handball, but we've done what we've been doing all season which is soaking up the pressure (riding our luck as well) and demoralising the opposition before getting back into the game and getting ahead.

This could be a very long 10 minutes though, and we've conceded a lot of late goals this season.

Yep fair play. We couldn't break you down. We shouldn't be relying on penalty decisions. I hate Cheltenham, though. Really frustrating club. That nerdy kid who is right about everything and has a toy that you wanna play with but all the other kids will take the piss out of you if try to make friends.

 

[CrazyImp]

Grimsby still look short to me in terms of winning promotion. Can't quite put my finger on what it is besides the manager, but I don't think this team will do it for them regardless.

 

[Si Robin]

Yep fair play. We couldn't break you down. We shouldn't be relying on penalty decisions. I hate Cheltenham, though. Really frustrating club. That nerdy kid who is right about everything and has a toy that you wanna play with but all the other kids will take the piss out of you if try to make friends.

We're that sort of club that no-one, apart from the fans of the club, care about.

For a club of our size and history, our 16 year stint in the Football League was remarkable but did we get any TV exposure? No. Did we have people fawning over our underdog status in League One? No. We went completely unnoticed.

Do I care? Do I bollocks. I don't understand these fans of clubs who demand credit when they achieve something. Everyone can slate us for not being very good, or for having shite support, or even the geekiest of fans (we have some right sorts). I'll just enjoy watching my team win.

 

[Chris FGR]

For all their big talk and pre-season bullishness, Grimsby are actually looking a very average side. Not good enough to beat any of the main contenders at home, the likes of Amond and Bogle, despite the hype, aren't good enough up against quality defences.

Cheltenham are looking real contenders, they've got that organisation and resilience you need, which comes from having a top manager. Good professional performance tonight.

 

[Davidimp]

Just need to get the job done tomorrow. We're in a strong position going into the winter months if we do.

Yeah we need to get that win now after tonight's result.

 

[Master D]

I didn't see the game but it still takes a good team to beat Grimsby and Cheltenham are certainly looking that. It's weird because even though Grimsby have scored the most in the division there's no doubt they play in a conservative 'must not lose' manner and it costs them from time to time when they don't get the breakthrough. Let's not jump to silly conclusions like writing them off, they'll still easily be top 5 at the end and will more than likely be challenging for the title. People forget just how many shite sides are in this league and there's no way there will be 5 better teams than Grimsby over 46 games.

 

[pontoonlew]

For all their big talk and pre-season bullishness, Grimsby are actually looking a very average side. Not good enough to beat any of the main contenders at home, the likes of Amond and Bogle, despite the hype, aren't good enough up against quality defences.

Cheltenham are looking real contenders, they've got that organisation and resilience you need, which comes from having a top manager. Good professional performance tonight.

How many times have you seen us this season?! A very average side that have scored the most goals this season and have far and away the best goal difference. Amond and Bogle are the highest scoring partnership this season. Also, Barnet struggled to beat any of the top sides last season yet won the league.

Basically, you're talking shite (again).

 

[Sparrow]

For all their big talk and pre-season bullishness, Grimsby are actually looking a very average side. Not good enough to beat any of the main contenders at home, the likes of Amond and Bogle, despite the hype, aren't good enough up against quality defences.

Cheltenham are looking real contenders, they've got that organisation and resilience you need, which comes from having a top manager. Good professional performance tonight.

I'm not massively surprised. After all, who wouldn't get complacent after winning the league in pre-season?

 

[pontoonlew]

Oh and for the record I blame Hurst for tonight (there's a surprise) absolutely outclassed by a manager who knew exactly what to do after we started well. Whereas our manager didn't have a fucking clue.

I like how we've played lately and I believe we've a title winning side that he's built. But he's not the guy to take that good side to a league title, tonight and other games this season show that. We've scored a lot of goals and absolutely destroyed a few sides, totally blown them away. But he has this knack of holding us back far too often, I just can't see him winning a league title.

 

[PaulHaddock]

Game tonight pretty much confirms were playoff bound; just not good enough across the pitch. When we find a balance between forwards and defence, we lose the midfield. Goal came from awful defending but Cheltenham were solid all over. How a lineman can see a handball from 10 yards but not the fact it was in the box is beyond me. Only if we go on a similar run to like last season (7 wins in 8?) can we have real hopes of the title.

For all their big talk and pre-season bullishness, Grimsby are actually looking a very average side. Not good enough to beat any of the main contenders at home, the likes of Amond and Bogle, despite the hype, aren't good enough up against quality defences.

Cheltenham are looking real contenders, they've got that organisation and resilience you need, which comes from having a top manager. Good professional performance tonight.

Stop trying to make us look shit. Which title rivals have you actually beaten?
And who are these quality defences? Cheltenham, yourselves, Tranmere and Braintree? Amond has only started against Cheltenham of those 4.

 

[AÐALSTEINN]

We will now start top till the end of the season.
We are far superior team

 

[Chris FGR]

How many times have you seen us this season?! A very average side that have scored the most goals this season and have far and away the best goal difference. Amond and Bogle are the highest scoring partnership this season. Also, Barnet struggled to beat any of the top sides last season yet won the league.

Basically, you're talking shite (again).

I've seen you 3 times, at home to us, Tranmere and Cheltenham. All 3 times you've been bang average, and haven't really threatened defences enough. You've only scored a lot of goals against weak sides, hence the gd and gs columns looking good. when it comes to the real tests, you've floundered (excuse the pun).

Massive improvement needed, as despite us being shite recently and you having an 11 match unbeaten run you could well still be 8 points behind after tomorrow. You're also 7 behind Cheltenham, who started with a big disadvantage to you given they had to completely rebuild their squad. They're only going to get stronger imo.

As things stand I can't see you finishing above 4th, which would be a big failure given your budget and hype surrounding your amazing squad.

Stop trying to make us look shit. Which title rivals have you actually beaten?
And who are these quality defences? Cheltenham, yourselves, Tranmere and Braintree? Amond has only started against Cheltenham of those 4.

I'm not trying to make you look shit, you're managing that quite well by yourselves.

We haven't beaten any of the top sides yet, and because of that I don't think we'll win it either. We have at least been doing enough in other games to be top for most of the season so far though.

Amond was on the bench against us, but was obviously deemed not good enough to even bother letting him try to do anything against our defence, and he did very little last night.

 

[CTFCfan99]

We're so fucking good.

 

[CTFCfan99]

GARY JOHNSON'S RED AND WHITE ARMY!

 

[GodsGift]

'Accounts show another loss'

John Fenty definitely wrote that himself.

 

[BarnwoodCTFC]

Watched the game on TV rather than braving the five hour trip up to Cleethorpes. I thought we were noticeably the better team other than a 25 minute spell in the first half. I disagree with the Grimsby claims for a penalty that is ball to hand rather than hand ball, clearly not deliberate or motion towards the ball.

I think we will probably win this league as we are better than Grimsby and Forest Green but we do need to be more clinical. Last night again I thought missed chances may cost us and once again the officials seemed to favour Grimsby with a number of decisions.

 

[Clarkey_GTFC]

Sad thing is we can finish 2nd and lose in the play-off final again and some would still consider it enough improvement to keep Hurst in the job. We should be 1st, anything less is crap and should we actually manage to win the play-offs this time, Hurst should still go. I'd fear for us in League 2 otherwise.

 

[BarnwoodCTFC]

If you keep sacking your manager you will not get out of this league, build a solid foundation and promotion will come. You have no divine right to be 1st in this league, there are clubs with bigger budgets and better players. I thought you were a good side for this level and can win the play-offs perhaps even the league but you need to be realistic.

 

[Pablosammy]

We should be 1st, anything less is crap

Why should you? What have you got that other teams don't?

 

[BeesKnees]

How many times have you seen us this season?! A very average side that have scored the most goals this season and have far and away the best goal difference. Amond and Bogle are the highest scoring partnership this season. Also, Barnet struggled to beat any of the top sides last season yet won the league.

Basically, you're talking shite (again).

http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/conference/2014-2015/versus-top-third
Only second best I'm afraid

Doesn't really matter who you beat, average over 2 points a game and you are almost certain to go up.

 

[appletablepenny]

I am filled with the usual trepidation at playing a bottom-four side this afternoon.

 

[pontoonlew]

If you keep sacking your manager you will not get out of this league, build a solid foundation and promotion will come. You have no divine right to be 1st in this league, there are clubs with bigger budgets and better players. I thought you were a good side for this level and can win the play-offs perhaps even the league but you need to be realistic.

We've built this 'solid foundation' for over 3 years now and despite having a much better squad, we're still a way off winning the title. I've absolutely no doubts we have the squad to do it but I've said for a long time we do not have the manager.

We shouldn't be behind any of the sides in this league with the exception of potentially Forest Green given the masses of £ they've chucked at it. But we've got a lot of experience in the league and a good budget each year. We should've cracked it by now, take Cheltenham as the example. Lower budget, first season in the conference. Everything about that screams needing a couple of seasons, yet they're better than us and yet again we're getting left behind because we're 'rebuilding'. Our fans just accept shite, it's a shame Frealaf isn't around lately as you could see a prime example of how easily our fans accept things. Hurst has failed here, purely and simply failed because his task must've been promotion each season.

In Bogle and Amond we have the best partnership in this league (that's a fact) yet Hurst spent 3-4 games clown arsing about putting them on the bench. The guy is holding this club back, I've said it for over a year and I'll still say it if we win our next 5 games. We should've been promoted with the opportunities he's had, after this long and this much support, yes, anything but a title challenge isn't good enough.

 

[BarnwoodCTFC]

Sorry to dampen your fires but you need a reality check. Don't you think Cheltenham, Wrexham, Tranmere all feel we should be challenging for the title too? Without knowing any figures I suspect the respective budgets for each of us are not poles apart. Add in the money that Forest Green and Eastleigh are throwing about and clearly it's not going to be easy to win this league.

 

[pontoonlew]

Sorry to dampen your fires but you need a reality check. Don't you think Cheltenham, Wrexham, Tranmere all feel we should be challenging for the title too? Without knowing any figures I suspect the respective budgets for each of us are not poles apart. Add in the money that Forest Green and Eastleigh are throwing about and clearly it's not going to be easy to win this league.

Yes they should of course, but we are better set than all 3 of you to do that. That's what I'm saying. You and Tranmere are fresh into this league, history tells us (with the exception of Bristol Rovers) that it usually takes at least a year or so of adjustment to even get near the title. With Wrexham they've obviously struggled financially down here, despite them spending a fair bit these couple of years, we've certainly had it easier in that aspect and we've been relatively un disturbed in our rebuild unlike Wrexham.

I'm not saying we have a Devine right to win this league, it's a matter of expectations. I've not expected a title challenge ever. This year I do, because of the reasons listed above. As a brand new side to this league like yourselves, the first mission is stability with the hope of play-offs. If I'd have given you that at the start of the season you'd have taken it. As would we 4-5 years ago, but after so long of 'play offs will do' there comes a time where your expectations rise and we're at that stage now.