Look back at August, forward to September

[shoddycollins]

As the first month of the season comes to an end, how do people feel they've done, and what are their expectations for September.

Never in a million years did I think we'd win three in a row and be in 4th place, our matches in August were pretty much as you might expect from a mid-table team, which is a big improvement on what I expected from us this season. We were well beaten in our opening game against a strong Exeter side, while we drew with a Northampton side who haven't really got going and then beat slow starters Cheltenham, Vale and Crewe. None of our performances have been particularly amazing though we look more solid than I expected and there have been some good individual performances from players.

September will be a lot tougher, starting at Mansfield. After then playing Cambridge, Tranmere, Bury and Stevenage I imagine we might pick up a couple of good results but struggle against the fancied teams out of that lot, we've lost our keeper Joe Fryer to a broken leg as well, which will be problematic, Collin looked shaky when he came on.

I'd expect that come the end of September we'll be mid-table, which I would have bitten your arm off for had it been offered at the start of the season. We look like we're going to grind out a lot of results, particularly against the bottom half of the table and I feel positive enough to amend my prediction from a relegation battle to mid-table safety.

 

[GodsGift]

13 points from 15 from Northampton, Swindon, Grimsby, Bury and Notts County is a superb return. Much better than anyone really anticipated. September looks pretty tough and I think we might pick up a couple of losses.

September:

Exeter (a) - L
Crawley (h) - W
Macclesfield (a) - W
MK Dons (h) - D
Cheltenham (a) - L

7/15

 

[Conker]

Undefeated but only won once, September is likely to be the month to show we are the real deal or not.

Carlisle at home is going to be huge, anything other than a win and you will start to see some of the crowd turning against Flitcroft (Prematurely) in my opinion


Carlisle (h)
Crewe (a)
Exeter (h)
Cambridge (a)
Northampton (h)

Exeter and Northampton are two of the better sides in the league, although we have already played one in Colchester and it took a disaster from our goalkeeper not to win that at home

It's hard to say, we need to win that Carlisle game though. Will probably draw at Crewe and Cambridge.

I imagine personally my mind will be made up regarding Flitcroft by the end of September.

 

[Dan_Macclad]

No wins and fans starting to implode already.

 

[Optipez]

Short of the chairman and owner pulling out of the club August couldn't have gone much worse.
I've never known us to have our hopes raised so high and dashed so quickly as this season.
As for September, I just want some points on the board and to feel confident of us not going down. Automatics already out the window for me, play offs would be a welcome bonus after this start with this set of defensive and midfield players.

 

[hold'um Oldham]

Solid if unspectacular is the way I describe our start. Predictable defeat off mk with half the first 11 out the only zero return. Undefeated away from home in three is a positive and only outside The playoffs in gd.
We haven't set the world alight but at the same time we don't look like relegation fodder either. It's probably been the perfect start in regards bringing the polar opposites in the terraces together. Those who thought we would walk the league and those who thought we are gunna double drop. 8th is about right imo

 

[valefan16]

Win at home, lose away has been the start, impressive first game but injuries and away form have seen us stutter although better off than this time last year.

Newport at home and FGR Away are winnable although tough assuming Manny is back then a few toughies, Northampton and Exeter visit before the month is out sandwiching a trip to an unpredictable Crewe Alex (although that fixture tends to benefit the away team).

A couple of new faces before deadline day are likely let’s hope they answer the key issues we have in a lack of cover for Manny and lack of pace out wide.

 

[Andy Proctor]

We have more points than at this stage last season but we are still a poor team. We dont score many goals dont create much lack pace all over the team and cant buy a win away from home.

 

[hellogregory]

Results wise August has been better than any Carlisle fan could have imagined. Anthony Gerrard has certainly improved us defensively, but we’ll still get roasted by a bit more pace and efficiency.

As shoddy says, September is going to be much tougher and I fear for us unless Sheridan puts an extra midfielder in to give us more control and to protect the back 4 a bit more.

Mansfield - A
Cambridge - A
Tranmere - H
Bury - A
Stevenage - H

If we can get 7 points from those 4 fixtures it would be amazing, but realistically I’m expecting 2 or 3 points.

Unlike shoddy, I still think we’ll be in a relegation battle, particularly as injuries mount up and we get more and more down to the bare bones. But the start we’ve had has given me a bit of optimism that we have a chance to actually survive in the relegation battle.

 

[Boz]

Rovers more than held our own in August. September’s fixtures look trickier, trips to Northampton, Carlisle and the Franchise straddle homes with Colchester and Newport. If we can keep the strongest xi fit and available should do ok, but there is no strength in depth.

 

[RLC]

Rovers more than held our own in August. September’s fixtures look trickier, trips to Northampton, Carlisle and the Franchise straddle homes with Colchester and Newport. If we can keep the strongest xi fit and available should do ok, but there is no strength in depth.

I would not say we have got no strength in depth. We currently have five defenders injured but we can still put a good back four out. Similarly, we have got plenty of cover in the wide areas.

However, if Norwood or Banks got injured we would be in trouble.

 

[Chris FGR]

7/15 from a tough start, will take that. If we can keep averaging just over a point a game through September we should stay clear of the bottom 2.

 

[Franchisor]

Defensively we are the best in the league and think that will continue for the rest of the season if the likes of JMT, Walsh and Cargill stay fit. Just lacking in the goal scoring department. Should probably have picked up 3 points against Grimsby (who were also the best team we've faced so far).

Looking ahead to September:

Swindon (A) - D
Yeovil (A) - W
Forest Green (H) - W
Lincoln (A) - L
Tranmere (H) - W

10 pts out of possible 15 I reckon.

 

[The Jovial Forester]

7/15 from a tough start, will take that. If we can keep averaging just over a point a game through September we should stay clear of the bottom 2.

Agree, and the multiple draws were mainly more like points dropped by us than lucky escapes so we might well push on to upper mid-table obscurity fairly comfortably.

 

[Indian Dan]

8/15 is OK-ish. Played some great stuff going forward and some real shite defensively. Sid Nelson has looked good at CB after his loan from Millwall - no finesse, head it, boot it. Still waiting to get Conroy fit and firing to pair up with him.

Doughty is a star at this level and Diagouraga will be important for us. Sort the defending out and we’ll be in for a decent season.

Franchise
Morecambe
Bury
Yeovil
Oldham in September

Piece of piss!

 

[Boz]

I would not say we have got no strength in depth. We currently have five defenders injured but we can still put a good back four out. Similarly, we have got plenty of cover in the wide areas.

However, if Norwood or Banks got injured we would be in trouble.

Think Bakayogo is a couple of weeks away from being able to play and Buxton a bit longer, no idea about the other trio of absentee defenders. That means that for the next few games we’re an injury or suspension away from fielding an untried kid in defence. Agree re Norwood and Banks.

 

[JJ1532]

2 seemingly good home games, 3 awful road games. Comprehensively beat Morecambe and stood up well against a good MK side. But we were toss at Newport, beyond abysmal at Colchester and clearly weren't good enough against Carlisle. Need to hope the home form holds whilst the management works out a way of playing away from home.

We've had a few injury concerns, namely to George Ray and now Paul Green. We haven't scored or won in our last 4. Haven't seen the last few games, so not sure why, but the issues are mounting. Plus we've got some tricky games coming up in September, so the pressure is very much on Artell to get this sorted and fast.

 

[Dave-Vale]

Newport
Forest Green
Northampton
Crewe
Exeter

Looks a tough month based on the first 5 games. 3 away games where we will no doubt set up not to lose and probably lose. 2 home games where we can hopefully try to get some points on the board.

I’d be happy with 6 points from those games.

 

[Luke Imp]

A good return for us in a very tough month albeit probably more than our performances deserved.

Another toughie coming up with Mansfield, Exeter and MK Dons thrown in there.

 

[PaulHaddock]

3 good performances sandwiched between 2 rubbish ones. If we were more clinical, we’d be on 9 points by now.

Yeovil (H)
Bury (A)
Oldham (H)
Stevenage (A)
Morecambe (H)

On paper, it’s an easier month, but Yeovil have started well and Oldham and Stevenage have players who can hurt us. If we can play like we did against Lincoln and MK, we’ll do alright.

 

[T.A]

There are more games? Fgs

 

[MrGloverLover]

Our game next Saturday against MK Dons has been postponed because we have 3 players on international duty.

 

[Si Robin]

First club in the division to sack our manager without an adequate replacement lined up and sold our best player in the summer without an adequate replacement lined up.

Been awful for at least 45 mins in every single game and somehow (before yesterday) managed to get away without conceding more than a goal in a game.

Look set to give the job to a caretaker who has one win in three (albeit one was against a Championship team) and who has failed twice in the hotseat before. We also look set to finish below another Gloucestershire team for the first time in my lifetime (and I'm well into my 30s).

I fucking love football.

 

[AdamStag]

Do Northampton count in the East Midlands table?

Given we’ve lost chesterfield to the conference (cracking 5 losses in a row there btw ha) we must find a replacement

Guessing atm
Lincoln p3 w 2 d1 l0 - 7
Grimsby p1 w0 d1 l0 - 1
Mansfield p0 w0 d0 l0 -0
Notts p1 w0 d0 l1 - 0
Northampton p1 w0 d0 l1 - 0

This accurate to date?

 

[northstandexile]

Do Northampton count in the East Midlands table?

Given we’ve lost chesterfield to the conference (cracking 5 losses in a row there btw ha) we must find a replacement

Guessing atm
Lincoln p3 w 1 d1 l0 - 7
Grimsby p1 w0 d1 l0 - 1
Mansfield p0 w0 d0 l0 -0
Notts p1 w0 d0 l1 - 0
Northampton p1 w0 d0 l1 - 0

This accurate to date?

No
Lincoln won 2

 

[AdamStag]

No
Lincoln won 2

Ha. Can’t count to 3.

Mansfield education system for ya.!