Matchday thread 21/11/15

[Gibber_McGee]

I don't think either Cheltenham or FGR will win the league. Barnet were thereabouts all season last year but in most years we've been down here teams at the top over Xmas and in Jan/Feb rarely seem to finish top at the end of the season, and a team from the pack often goes on a good run to bag the promotion spot. We've unfortunately been in the top position a few times at he turn of the year and ended up missing out.

I actually think being a few points behind the leaders in Jan/Feb would be no bad thing.

 

[EnglishRed]

You can be run away leaders before Christmas. Means nothing in the long run. It's very tight this year. No stand out teams and a good half dozen potential winners.

 

[Reginald Fodstain]

Wasn't there yesterday[which might account for the win], but have read some of the Cowsheds stuff. Seems to be a split between those who think the win gets us back on track and those who think that we were largely gifted the win by the way Guiseley played after taking the lead. Also McNulty was either awesome or awful. I do think that Brabin is still struggling, but he doesn't help himself by treating certain players as un-droppable and not giving others a chance.

I rarely ever post on the Cowsheds, it's too depressing even reading it. A bit of both's probably true tbh - if Guiseley hadn't sat off us so much, I doubt we'd have got back in the game, but having said that, we created plenty of chances and did deserve the win. It was considerably better than last week, not that that says much... And I've have said McNulty generally played well - decent in possession, but made a couple of howlers in the first half that nearly cost a goal apiece. Mekki was easily the best player on the pitch.

 

[Tom Fgr]

Just watched the highlights. There were way more than 804 FGR fans! That stand holds 1100 and there are barely 100 empty seats?

 

[BarnwoodCTFC]

I don't think either Cheltenham or FGR will win the league. Barnet were thereabouts all season last year but in most years we've been down here teams at the top over Xmas and in Jan/Feb rarely seem to finish top at the end of the season, and a team from the pack often goes on a good run to bag the promotion spot. We've unfortunately been in the top position a few times at he turn of the year and ended up missing out.

I actually think being a few points behind the leaders in Jan/Feb would be no bad thing.

It's certainly tight but no team has looked better than ourselves or Forest Green over the first half of the season. Wrexham, Grimsby and Eastleigh all looked good but not quite as good. I accept the point that nothing is won yet but I would be very surprised if we are not both top three at the end.

Just watched the highlights. There were way more than 804 FGR fans! That stand holds 1100 and there are barely 100 empty seats?

While the left side (as you face the pitch) was very busy there were a lot of empty seats on the right side of the stand, it looked around 3/4 full from the home areas.

 

[Mr Scooty]

It's certainly tight but no team has looked better than ourselves or Forest Green over the first half of the season. Wrexham, Grimsby and Eastleigh all looked good but not quite as good. I accept the point that nothing is won yet but I would be very surprised if we are not both top three at the end.

Will your loan keeper be staying with you for the whole season? He was superb against us.

 

[Gibber_McGee]

It's certainly tight but no team has looked better than ourselves or Forest Green over the first half of the season. Wrexham, Grimsby and Eastleigh all looked good but not quite as good. I accept the point that nothing is won yet but I would be very surprised if we are not both top three at the end.

It's all ifs and buts. No team has really stood out for me or is likely to run away with it. The team at the top going into the last 10 games is therefore seen as a target for everyone in the top 6 or 8 and easily catchable. We'll see next April/May.

 

[Southern Shayman]

I genuinely think Grimsby will win it. Cheltenham to be comfortably in the play offs and I'm really not sure about Forest Green

 

[BarnwoodCTFC]

Will your loan keeper be staying with you for the whole season? He was superb against us.

Yes, Dillon has made a lot of progress during his time here and has said he will only go back to Charlton if he's first choice there. I believe it's just a formality that he stays for the season, we only agreed six months last summer because we had two other permanent keepers and didn't want to over commit on the budget.

 

[BarnwoodCTFC]

I genuinely think Grimsby will win it. Cheltenham to be comfortably in the play offs and I'm really not sure about Forest Green

I think Grimsby will run us close but they've played both ourselves and Forest Green at home and only managed one point. Other than a 20 minute spell at their place we were very comfortable which gives me hope we just have that extra bit of quality to finish above them.

 

[Son of Cod]

I think Grimsby will run us close but they've played both ourselves and Forest Green at home and only managed one point. Other than a 20 minute spell at their place we were very comfortable which gives me hope we just have that extra bit of quality to finish above them.

Like I said before, you just came to win a point and smash and grabbed all three. Fair play on that, but I'm not sure I agree with this notion of sticking 8 players behind the ball and claiming it was comfortable. Hopefully, we'll perform much better at the Smiley World of Happy Times Stadium later in the season. FGR set off like a rocket, but have been woeful as far as title contenders for the past quarter of the season. 4 wins out the last 12, is it?

I'm not overly concerned about not picking up a load of points against the top sides at the moment. We have done very well on that front over the past few seasons and it didn't benefit us enough to gain promotion.

Still two open bets further up the thread for you and Chris FGR to put your money where your mouths are, by the way.

 

[Clarkey_GTFC]

I'll still be quite surprised if we don't end up pissing it, just depends on whether Hurst finds a reason to drop Amond again or not.

 

[PaulHaddock]

Agree that Cheltenham will finish top 3, they're good enough to. Lol at the Cheltenham fan thinking its between them and FGR for the title; the league this season is dreadful and anyone of those 2, us, Eastleigh, Wrexham or Tranmere could go on a run to win it. Forest Green probably end up 3rd even after that amazing start.

 

[Si Robin]

Like I said before, you just came to win a point and smash and grabbed all three. Fair play on that, but I'm not sure I agree with this notion of sticking 8 players behind the ball and claiming it was comfortable. Hopefully, we'll perform much better at the Smiley World of Happy Times Stadium later in the season. FGR set off like a rocket, but have been woeful as far as title contenders for the past quarter of the season. 4 wins out the last 12, is it?

I'm not overly concerned about not picking up a load of points against the top sides at the moment. We have done very well on that front over the past few seasons and it didn't benefit us enough to gain promotion.

Still two open bets further up the thread for you and Chris FGR to put your money where your mouths are, by the way.

We did not come for point, we did what we have been doing all season. Soaking up pressure and riding our luck and then when we've worked out what you're likely to throw at us, turned it around. We were the better team for the last 10 mins of the 1st half and the vast majority of the 2nd, only being threatened really in the last 10 mins.

I'm not going to say that we're going to win the league or who's going up, etc... but I will say that we are in the driving seat and that I've seen nothing to make me believe we're in any real danger. A few injuries though and that could change dramatically.

 

[CTFCfan99]

Agree that Cheltenham will finish top 3, they're good enough to. Lol at the Cheltenham fan thinking its between them and FGR for the title; the league this season is dreadful and anyone of those 2, us, Eastleigh, Wrexham or Tranmere could go on a run to win it. Forest Green probably end up 3rd even after that amazing start.

Is the league really dreadful? Seems to me like the top sides are generally seeing off the weaker teams with ease and mainly dropping points against each other. Think the majority of the top 8 would be comfortable in League 2.

 

[CrazyImp]

I'm not going to say that we're going to win the league or who's going up, etc... but I will say that we are in the driving seat and that I've seen nothing to make me believe we're in any real danger. A few injuries though and that could change dramatically.

That's the thing though, you don't need to think you're in danger, it'll still go to the wire regardless.

Barnet were 11-12 points in front going into New Year last season - in the end, they were one minute away from going into Game 46 in second place.

No-one will pull away to win it, because no-one is of sufficient quality, yourselves included. You can come back to this in March/April as well if you like.

 

[Clarkey_GTFC]

We did not come for point, we did what we have been doing all season. Soaking up pressure and riding our luck and then when we've worked out what you're likely to throw at us, turned it around. We were the better team for the last 10 mins of the 1st half and the vast majority of the 2nd, only being threatened really in the last 10 mins.

I'm not going to say that we're going to win the league or who's going up, etc... but I will say that we are in the driving seat and that I've seen nothing to make me believe we're in any real danger. A few injuries though and that could change dramatically.

Yep we were exactly the same in 2012/13, we were excellent at sitting back and letting the opposition think they're in control before exposing their gaps and hitting them on the break when they let their guard down. It worked for a while and after a thrilling 6 pointer with Wrexham we ended up sitting top at Christmas. Before we knew it both of us plummeted and barely made playoffs. Things can change so quickly in this league, it only takes a few poor results.

There's always multiple teams who have an excellent patch and look like they're the ones to run away with it but they very rarely do. It's just about keeping up at this stage.

 

[BarnwoodCTFC]

We have played half a season and only lost twice, both injury time goals totally against the run of play in those games. I don't believe I have seen any side who has looked better than us so far this season either. Not too mention we have the best away record and the best defensive record. Yet there have been a few opposition fans on here saying it won't last or we look really average.

Of course that does not confirm we will win it, we should probably be further ahead if anything, but I do feel we have every right to be optimistic at this point. I would also state if the top three is not CTFC, FGR and Grimsby I would be very surprised.

To finish a number of Grimsby fans wanted their manager sacked after we beat them and I said they are a good side and will run us close, a few wins and now they think they will win the league with ease such a fickle attitude.

 

[Chris FGR]

No chance of Wrexham winning it, Mills' type of football doesn't win this league and Vose will soon be on his way. Grimsby have looked average against most half decent teams, the only reason they've scored so many is because they've smashed the shite teams. Eastleigh have improved a lot under Todd, but the question is how well will he deal with a bad run given his inexperience?

Gary Johnson is by far the best manager in the league, which is why Cheltenham will be top 2 and are the favourites to win it imo. They've also built a good squad which has gelled quickly and will only get better, plus they've got the funds to strengthen.

We've done better then I expected and I'm starting to believe we could finally be genuine contenders. I've not seen anyone who look better then us, and we'll probably be strengthening in January as well, the money is there.

Still two open bets further up the thread for you and Chris FGR to put your money where your mouths are, by the way.

Go on then, your on.

 

[The_Boss]

We've done better then I expected and I'm starting to believe we could finally be genuine contenders. I've not seen anyone who look better then us, and we'll probably be strengthening in January as well, the money is there.

Presume you didn't come the Moss earlier in the season then? bama:

 

[Chris FGR]

FFS I've been trying to forget about that game.

Macc to win it easily then.

 

[Luke Imp]

Gary Johnson is by far the best manager in the league, which is why Cheltenham will be top 2 and are the favourites to win it imo. They've also built a good squad which has gelled quickly and will only get better, plus they've got the funds to strengthen.

They haven't got the funds for the current squad apparently (Johnson's comments about being over budget a few weeks ago but still sign more players(?)).

 

[Gibber_McGee]

Cheltenham I presume are only able to fund their current squad and manager on their comparatively low crowds because of football league parachute payments. It'll be interesting to see what happens to them if they don't go up at the first time of asking. Do they have a sugar daddy type owner like FGR?

 

[Semi-skimmed Silk]

Haven't seen any side yet that has looked as good as what I saw in Barnet last year, Cambridge pre-Xmas and Mansfield post-xmas in the years before that. Obviously none of those teams were able to be so dominant for the entire season which shows anything could happen in the next 5 or so months.

However, I did miss the Cheltenham game where we soundly beaten, and we haven't played Wrexham or Tranmere (or Halifax!) yet.

I'm expecting Wrexham to beat us on Saturday, especially as they have several ex-Macc players. Taylor will save a minimum of 3 penalties, Moke will suddenly display an end-product and Jennings will undoubtedly score because that's just what he does against us.

 

[Gibber_McGee]

It'll be a tough game for us on Saturday.

Moke has been a revelation in midfield - he has definitely developed an end product! Vose gets the headlines but Moke is the engine of our team and has been our best player so far this season.

 

[Semi-skimmed Silk]

I'm glad he's doing well because he's a really nice guy and always worked hard. He was good for the first half of last year and caused teams trouble with his pace, but had no confidence (and at times ability) to do anything with the ball in and around the area. I'm not the only one who wasn't overly fussed we lost him in the summer and actually saw Bailey-Jones as an upgrade (incidentally he has disappeared of the face of the earth).

The fact that a) he's been so outstanding and b) has been playing a more holding/central role, is bewildering more than anything!

I'm looking forward to Saturday because it should be between two decent sides and we've had some cracking games over recent years; but I think this time you'll have too much for us (Vose was brilliant against us in a shocking Welling side last year and I anticpate the same).

 

[BarnwoodCTFC]

Cheltenham I presume are only able to fund their current squad and manager on their comparatively low crowds because of football league parachute payments. It'll be interesting to see what happens to them if they don't go up at the first time of asking. Do they have a sugar daddy type owner like FGR?

Our crowds are some of the highest in the division, not sure how we compare overall but I think our average is around 2700 which will only grow if we stay near the top. We also have a billionaire majority shareholder but unlike Vince he does not believe in throwing money at it and invests prudently.

If we fail to go up we will certainly cut our budget from one of the largest in the league to something probably on a par with top ten.

 

[Gibber_McGee]

Our crowds are some of the highest in the division, not sure how we compare overall but I think our average is around 2700 which will only grow if we stay near the top. We also have a billionaire majority shareholder but unlike Vince he does not believe in throwing money at it and invests prudently.

If we fail to go up we will certainly cut our budget from one of the largest in the league to something probably on a par with top ten.

I wasn't aware of your billionaire owner so that explains how you can afford your squad/manager on your crowds, in conjunction with parachute payments.

Regarding how you compare overall, average home attendances in the league so far are:

1 Tranmere Rovers 5,365
2 Wrexham 5,156
3 Grimsby Town 4,426
4 Lincoln City 3,371
5 Cheltenham Town 2,762
6 Kidderminster Harriers 2,253
7 Chester 2,036
8 Torquay United 1,809
9 Aldershot Town 1,642
10 Barrow 1,572
11 Eastleigh 1,561
12 Woking 1,526
13 Forest Green Rovers 1,522
14 Macclesfield Town 1,489
15 Altrincham 1,330
16 FC Halifax Town 1,295
17 Southport 1,282
18 Bromley 1,255
19 Gateshead 1,015
20 Guiseley 718
21 Braintree Town 671
22 Welling United 585
23 Boreham Wood 492
24 Dover Athletic n/a

 

[Andy Harrier]

I wasn't aware of your billionaire owner so that explains how you can afford your squad/manager on your crowds, in conjunction with parachute payments.

Regarding how you compare overall, average home attendances in the league so far are:

1 Tranmere Rovers 5,365
2 Wrexham 5,156
3 Grimsby Town 4,426
4 Lincoln City 3,371
5 Cheltenham Town 2,762
6 Kidderminster Harriers 2,253
7 Chester 2,036
8 Torquay United 1,809
9 Aldershot Town 1,642
10 Barrow 1,572
11 Eastleigh 1,561
12 Woking 1,526
13 Forest Green Rovers 1,522
14 Macclesfield Town 1,489
15 Altrincham 1,330
16 FC Halifax Town 1,295
17 Southport 1,282
18 Bromley 1,255
19 Gateshead 1,015
20 Guiseley 718
21 Braintree Town 671
22 Welling United 585
23 Boreham Wood 492
24 Dover Athletic n/a

Wow, I wasn't expecting to see us that high on that list.

 

[Southern Shayman]

I'm glad he's doing well because he's a really nice guy and always worked hard. He was good for the first half of last year and caused teams trouble with his pace, but had no confidence (and at times ability) to do anything with the ball in and around the area. I'm not the only one who wasn't overly fussed we lost him in the summer and actually saw Bailey-Jones as an upgrade (incidentally he has disappeared of the face of the earth).

The fact that a) he's been so outstanding and b) has been playing a more holding/central role, is bewildering more than anything!

I'm looking forward to Saturday because it should be between two decent sides and we've had some cracking games over recent years; but I think this time you'll have too much for us (Vose was brilliant against us in a shocking Welling side last year and I anticpate the same).

I'm just as bewildered as you! We released him in Conf North as he appeared to be your run of the mill more miss than hit winger!

To see him run a game from deep in midfield was just astounding.

But fair play to him, because as you say - a thoroughly likeable guy!