Matchday thread 15/08/2015

[Southern Shayman]

Fair enough. I wasn't sure how today was going to go as I expect you to finish around where we will be (10th-15th), so it's pleasing to get the points. Cox has a huge advantage over Hargreaves in that he can prepare a side to see a game out. We did it with relative ease against Macc, and although it sounded like we were under the cosh a bit today, we've held on. 6 from 9 is much better than I anticipated.

For the record I'll be shocked if you do end up struggling massively - it just seemed a strange comment to make that we didn't show anything yet scored three times. It's never going to be the prettiest football under Cox but as long as it is effective in this league, I don't care. The problem will be if/when the results start turning for the worse and fans start moaning - the poor style of play will be used against Cox (but lets hope that doesn't happen anytime soon!).

Yeah probably a poor choice of words on my part. Seemed from the (admittedly slightly biased) local radio that you didn't trouble us from open play and we just shat ourselves when you got a throw in or set piece.

I think Cox is perfect for you right now. It's effective and given the recent take over, you just need the stability of staying in this league and he will provide that.

 

[appletablepenny]

I think we're fooked already. I shudder when I think of what Grimsby could do to us on Tuesday.

 

[Boz]

Never being confident again

I made the mistake of predicting Stockton would score in the Prediction League, though not totally surprised with the result.
Time to give Margetts a go?

 

[Master D]

We were dreadful today. Totally outclassed from kickoff until the end. 3-0 in no way flattered Wrexham who could have had 5 or 6. I think it was about 70 minutes before we even had an attempt on goal.

Rhys Browne was ok but not as good as he was in the last 2 games. That said he didnt have a lot to work with.

Really hope Wrexham will be up there fighting for the title, otherwise we are doomed.

Our biggest problem so far is our defending from set pieces. 5 goals conceded this season so far and all from set pieces, we have defended ok in open play but terribly from corners or free kicks near the area

I think you were obviously very poor today but I think we were also really good as well. Mills was waxing lyrical after the game in the interview. I would be amazed if we can continue to play that sort of football without teams at least doing something tactically to stop us playing, after all it's no secret the way Mills plays.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Alfreton 1 (Austin (OG) 39 1 Brackley Town Sam Smith 69

We will very good first half today. Andi Thanoj ran the show and should have scored a hat trick and picked up a third MOTM out of 3.

Second half however we were awful and Brackley deservedly got an equalizer after Sam Smith head past Matt Duke with 20 minutes left. Pity however that the ref missed the blatant push in the back in the lead up to the goal.

3 Goals scored for us, A Pen, A Freekick and a OG. We have nothing in open play as yet

 

[White Army]

I made the mistake of predicting Stockton would score in the Prediction League, though not totally surprised with the result.
Time to give Margetts a go?

I would say so now, but don't blame Brabin for not wanting to change a winning team. Plus stockton played quite well at gateshead. Would like to see Maynard in a more advanced role as well as he clearly has something that he hasn't yet shown.

 

[Gibber_McGee]

After today I'm pretty confident that Wrexham will be challenging for the title. The style of football was sublime. We could easily have won 8-0. The team Mills has put together is playing total football and will pass most teams off the park.

I realise this probably all sounds OTT but really that was the best performance and best style of play since we were relegated from the football league.

There is such a lot of optimism round the club too. A crowd of 5,000 there today.

 

[B2TF]

Alfreton 1 (Austin (OG) 39 1 Brackley Town Sam Smith 69

We will very good first half today. Andi Thanoj ran the show and should have scored a hat trick and picked up a third MOTM out of 3.

Second half however we were awful and Brackley deservedly got an equalizer after Sam Smith head past Matt Duke with 20 minutes left. Pity however that the ref missed the blatant push in the back in the lead up to the goal.

3 Goals scored for us, A Pen, A Freekick and a OG. We have nothing in open play as yet

Hate to tell you this but nobody cares about Alfreton any more, people just say "oh yeah, they once had a spell in the Conference you know, they were never very good though".

 

[Master D]

After today I'm pretty confident that Wrexham will be challenging for the title. The style of football was sublime. We could easily have won 8-0. The team Mills has put together is playing total football and will pass most teams off the park.

I realise this probably all sounds OTT but really that was the best performance and best style of play since we were relegated from the football league.

There is such a lot of optimism round the club too. A crowd of 5,000 there today.

It was only Aldershot though, I would urge a lot of caution. And I'm not sure how we will be able to play that sort of football through the winter on the mud baths of Braintree and the like. At home on our excellent playing surface, we are going to be strong up until those months, no question about it.

 

[Limerick Mariner]

We have 7 points too, but have been a bit less sure footed getting there! Must admit, Grimsby have set their stall... they're probably the team to beat.

I think you need to look at the league table - surely Forest Green are the team to beat? You can ignore Grimsby we won't be a threat to top spot...

 

[CrazyImp]

Christ alive, the Wrexham fans have officially spaffed themselves. It's mid-August boys. At home to a side that will probably be in the bottom third of the table.

I'm going to put it down to post-Wilkin exuberance.

 

[EnglishRed]

Christ alive, the Wrexham fans have officially spaffed themselves. It's mid-August boys. At home to a side that will probably be in the bottom third of the table.

I'm going to put it down to post-Wilkin exuberance.

Beating Aldershot is not the reason, it was the manner of the victory. We've played shit football for two seasons so to watch us boss a game in the way we did is exhilarating.

 

[CrazyImp]

Beating Aldershot is not the reason, it was the manner of the victory. We've played shit football for two seasons so to watch us boss a game in the way we did is exhilarating.

We'll see if you feel the same in November sport. Best of luck to you if so.

 

[The_Boss]

We could do with beating Macc on Tuesday as we have Forest Green (A), Grimsby (H), Gateshead (A) and Wrexham (H) coming up after.

That's a given.

 

[Dan_Macclad]

Much improved performance today, still a lot of work to do.

 

[slaphead]

. And I'm not sure how we will be able to play that sort of football through the winter on the mud baths of Braintree and the like. At home on our excellent playing surface, we are going to be strong up until those months, no question about it.

Have you relaid your pitch then? Because when we played you last November it was a swamp. Do you still have the egg chasers on it fucking it up because you wont be playing any football from then onwards. Be interesting to see what Mills does then.

 

[EnglishRed]

We'll see if you feel the same in November sport. Best of luck to you if so.

I've seen enough conference football over the last few seasons not to get too carried away. We are still some way off being contenders. Losing at Bromley demonstated that.

 

[Master D]

Have you relaid your pitch then? Because when we played you last November it was a swamp. Do you still have the egg chasers on it fucking it up because you wont be playing any football from then onwards. Be interesting to see what Mills does then.

It's great at the moment but egg chasers are due on tomorrow. We will have a few months on a decent pitch though, then everyone's will go to shit anyway basically.

 

[PaulHaddock]

For the first 30 minutes today, we were fucking exceptional. Not many teams would have dealt with us in that period. However, afterwards we took our foot off the gas and Bromley came at us in the second half (without actually having any decent effort on goal). Soft goal (again) to concede but if you score four goals then it doesn't matter. Don't know how the defence will cope with the better teams though. Not convinced by Danny East yet as most of our goals have come from his side. Keeping the tempo of the first 30 minutes up for longer is the challenge. If we can, we'll be pretty ominous. Still wary of teams like Forest Green and Eastleigh as they look currently pretty strong. PS Bogle is the new Akinde.

 

[Gibber_McGee]

Have you relaid your pitch then? Because when we played you last November it was a swamp. Do you still have the egg chasers on it fucking it up because you wont be playing any football from then onwards. Be interesting to see what Mills does then.

Yes the pitch was relaid (again) over the summer. The company who did it last year messed it up so had to do it again for free.

I hope it stays in good shape this time round as Mills type football on a decent pitch is bloody beautiful.

 

[slaphead]

I.... then everyone's will go to shit anyway basically.

Ours won't...

I was disappointed to hear how we played today, given the attacking intent we showed at Cheltenham, which I thought would be the harder game. I couldn't go, had the choice of Chelts or Wrexham, so had to suffer it on the radio at work and it sounded like we were clueless, and the pain in the commentators voices was clear to see. No idea why we didn't turn up, maybe Barry Smith totally got the game plan wrong, by the sounds of it we stood off and left you come on to us so we could play on the counter like we did at Cheltenham. That goes to ratshit when you concede early though, and from another set piece. Dover is now massive for us or our season could well fizzle out by the time the leaves turn brown.

 

[MTFC_07]

Good to get our first win today. Particularly important since I could see us getting nothing from our next 4 games (Lincoln, Eastleigh, Chester, Grimsby).
It does make me laugh how people think they're going to win the league after winning the first couple of games or they are going to get relegated because they haven't won in the first couple of games. No-one really has any clue how there season is going to pan out until 10-15 games and then you have a better idea.

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

I think we're fooked already. I shudder when I think of what Grimsby could do to us on Tuesday.

I predicted relegation for Alty before the season and after seeing you on the opening day I feared the worst. Midfield is a huge worry - nowhere near good enough from what I saw.

 

[Vanni]

Hate to tell you this but nobody cares about Alfreton any more, people just say "oh yeah, they once had a spell in the Conference you know, they were never very good though".

Give it a rest mate. You're just like a stuck record.

 

[FGRJC]

Amazing performance today, many teams will struggle to handle marsh-brown, frear, O'Conner and Guthrie up top that's not even including parkin! Very exciting times!

 

[Davidimp]

A good point for us.
Very poor crowd, were they all watching the Saints?

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

Three wins out of three for us (and me on pure commentary) but it was far from convincing - Telford deserved at least a point.
We started well and took the lead after an excellent Dyson finish, but after the goal Telford took control and put us under pressure for long periods. They played some really nice football and we struggled big time to keep control of their attacking full backs in Reid and Clancy. For all their pressure though the final shot/cross was often poor and In terms of clear cut chances, it was actually pretty even, Odejayi nearly made it 0-2 on the break, Clancy with a fantastic clearance on the line to deny him. Speaking of Clancy, he was extremely lucky not to be sent off for an awful challenge on substitute Micah Evans.

 

[Harrier94]

No idea how we lost today, by far the better team and typical that another ex Harrier to score against us again. Wrexham fans is fowler playing for you? Cos if he is he'll probably score too.
Snedker - Again very good couldn't do much about their goal was a very good header
Hodgkiss - Didn't look like himself still played alright but some of his crosses were poor
Tunnicliffe - Amazing again in defence it amazes me how he's only 21 and one of the best CB's ive seen in recent years
LRT - Awful today off the pace, kept missing the ball and if he did have the ball it went to the opposition.
Green - Played very well solid defensively looks like he's nailed down that left back spot
Dawson - Very frustrating to watch has bags of talent but is very lazy and can be selfish
Maxwell - My MOTM bossed the midfield him and Clarke look like they've made a good partnership
Clarke - See above
Campbell - Has a lot of potential to be really good for us just needs a better final product
Reid - Held the ball up well and looked good today but his finishing is still awful
Styche - Should've had a hattrick but came away with nothing he always puts in a shift but needs to finish his chances

Subs
Singh - looked a handful and has silenced some pre-season critics (Including myself)

 

[Master D]

Fowler hasn't played a minute, even though he's fit and was initially made the captain. It's mad to think it and I don't know if he's ever done it before but Adriano Moke is playing out of his skin in a holding midfield role, as is captain Jennings a bit further forward.

 

[Gibber_McGee]

Fowler hasn't played a minute, even though he's fit and was initially made the captain. It's mad to think it and I don't know if he's ever done it before but Adriano Moke is playing out of his skin in a holding midfield role, as is captain Jennings a bit further forward.

Moke is a revelation so far. He's been awesome. There's no way he could be dropped.