National League Fixtures - 21/4/2018

[Ronaldo to Wrexham]

Does anyone else think Macclesfield will come straight back down again.

I can't believe they've been promoted from here with Shwan Jalal in goal nevermind wondering how he'd do in League Two. Whitaker, Pilkington, Lowe etc have a combined age of 250 and the likes of Blissett and Durrell are not good enough for L2.

WHOLESALE changes needed. I expect 90% of their squad to be playing for us next season anyway.

Yep but they win instantly revert from ronaldo standard performances they put in this season, and turn into the next michael bakare the minute they pull on a red shirt.

 

[Luke Imp]

I'm sure I'll get castigated for this but I see a massive struggle for us next season. Fully agree on the names you mention (barring Durrell who I think will easily step up). Add to that Blissett who is apparently already signed up for next season and the fact everyone will most likely be offered a contract out of loyalty/reward or whatever you want to call it, we have some serious strengthening to do.

Let's put it this way, FGR seemed to keep most of their squad and had to have a mini overhaul in January because they struggled really badly.

Our split of old and new was about 50/50 come August, then we brought in more new players in, in January. Got to be ruthless. Most promoted sides seem to want to keep the same players and end up struggling but you can't do that.

Macclesfield fans seem to be talking about the 'keeper dropping a bollock most weeks and that's the biggest difference you'll find. Farman was dropped pretty sharpish and when first choice Vickers got injured, Cowley chose to bring in another 'keeper, effectively relegating Farman to third choice. Even the likes of Rhead, Habergham and Waterfall have had time on the bench this season, more so in the first half of it.

 

[The_Boss]

I guess our problem will be that we will still be paying next to nothing in wages so can see why the vast majority of this squad are the most likely candidates to make up the majority of next season's. Will be very interesting to see what happens over the summer in terms of club ownership/day to day running. The feeling I got from seeing the owner on Tele yesterday was him thinking that's a few more quid on the value of the club, making it harder to sell it on despite it being a more attractive proposition now.

 

[Mark kavanagh]

Hope not, i think askey is astute enough to get the right bodies in and find a system that works. Wouldnt mind seeing mitch hancox getting moved on though

 

[Railway Blue]

Congratulations Macclesfield.
I felt really nervous for you lot at 12.28 yesterday, but your boy Marsh steadied my nerves. Good luck next season and don't come down here again ... ever!

 

[Tranmerewhite]

I guess our problem will be that we will still be paying next to nothing in wages so can see why the vast majority of this squad are the most likely candidates to make up the majority of next season's. Will be very interesting to see what happens over the summer in terms of club ownership/day to day running. The feeling I got from seeing the owner on Tele yesterday was him thinking that's a few more quid on the value of the club, making it harder to sell it on despite it being a more attractive proposition now.

Staying up would be an even bigger miracle than winning this league for Macclesfield. FGR have struggled with a better side and slightly higher wage allowance from FFP.

Would imagine if anyone other than us won the playoffs they’d be struggling too. We’d have a top 5 budget in league two.

I’d be curious what miraculously dodgy accountancy was done to allow Boreham Wood or Dover to employ more than 5 players under FFP though if they went up.

 

[saltpie]

Staying up would be an even bigger miracle than winning this league for Macclesfield. FGR have struggled with a better side and slightly higher wage allowance from FFP.

Would imagine if anyone other than us won the playoffs they’d be struggling too. We’d have a top 5 budget in league two.

I’d be curious what miraculously dodgy accountancy was done to allow Boreham Wood or Dover to employ more than 5 players under FFP though if they went up.

I suppose that Accrington Stanley could defeat the budget argument. I remember the last time we got promoted to the Football League thinking that if we finished third from bottom it would be an achievement, we got promoted again, so who knows?

 

[getoutofit]

Well, macclesfield players and fans alike seem to think they've already won the title. I think this loss of focus and complacency could come back to haunt them come the end of the season. That hancox is gonna look a right plonker, well even more of one, when we're parading the trophy at prenton park on the 28th.

Well done on securing 2nd though.

 

[Habbinalan]

I guess our problem will be that we will still be paying next to nothing in wages so can see why the vast majority of this squad are the most likely candidates to make up the majority of next season's. Will be very interesting to see what happens over the summer in terms of club ownership/day to day running. The feeling I got from seeing the owner on Tele yesterday was him thinking that's a few more quid on the value of the club, making it harder to sell it on despite it being a more attractive proposition now.

I can see Paul Lewis heading back your way on loan with subsidised wages sooner rather than later.

There's a player in there but I'm not sure we'll have the patience to tease it out of him. He'll be well down the pecking order, despite the massive* transfer fee, and I'm sure you couldn't afford his eye watering* wages.

*perceived failures of the Abbey recuitment team/processes are a long standing debate down our way.

 

[MTFC_07]

Best day of my 17 years supporting Macc yesterday. I've been so nervous for weeks that Tranmere would catch us and now we've got it over line. We played well and put in our usual professional job to win yesterday's game. Danny Whitaker gets most of the mentions on here, but George Pilkington is probably my favourite ever Macc player and has been crucial in our success over the last 3/4 years. Keith Lowe is also a rock at the back, Danny Whitehead oozes class and Callum Evans and Nathan Blissett have definitely improved the team. Elliott Durrell was the perfect replacement for Danny Rowe and Tyrone Marsh is effectively a better version of Chris Holroyd. Finally, Fitzpatrick and Hodgkiss must be the best wing backs we've had at this level.

A special mention for Eastleigh - their fans were some of the nicest I've ever come across in an away game, they opened the gates to let us invade the pitch, they clapped us and our team off and then their chairman bought us all drinks in the bar after the game!

As for next season, I don't think anyone can really predict how we are going to do at the moment. The biggest factor will be whether John Askey stays with us next season, which I think is far from certain. I think it's likely we'll try and keep 10-15 players from this season's squad and supplement it with 10 ish new players. Those new players will need to be of a good standard for us to have a chance of staying up. Strikers will be particularly key. I do think that the TV money (reported to be £900k?) is a bit of a leveller in League 2, and that should actually help us compared to at this level where it's really down to the number of fans (where we're average at this level) and backing from investors (non-existent for us in a sea of bankrolled teams).

As for the play-offs, I like most of the teams down here (and their supporters) - tend to be really friendly. I would probably cheer for Wrexham, who I like as a club, and have spent far too long a division or two below their natural level, but they aren't going to make it. I think instead I would like Tranmere, for similar reasons, and I think they will probably win the play-offs too. That said, I always enjoy our trips to Aldershot too and would be happy to see them come up too.

 

[Shotsfan1993]

That said, I always enjoy our trips to Aldershot too and would be happy to see them come up too.

Is that because you usually collect 3 points at our place?

 

[Dan_Macclad]

We'll be alright in the first season. Then struggle the second, hopefully won't replicate Barnet.

 

[MTFC_07]

Is that because you usually collect 3 points at our place?

Definitely helps! But there's always a good atmosphere from your fans too.

 

[Fyldefan]

Well done Macclesfield. Superb achievement and if you’re shipping players out we’ll have your left back

 

[The_Boss]

Well done Macclesfield. Superb achievement and if you’re shipping players out we’ll have your left back

He's definitely one who will make the step up with us!!!

 

[Joe.]

Brotherhood! Get a grip man

Please don't tell me you are one of those who won't accept a bad word against your club?

If so, please relegate yourself as you deserve to be playing Nantwich.

 

[Harrier94]

Well done Macclesfield. Superb achievement and if you’re shipping players out we’ll have your left back

Send ZFA back to us then

 

[Silkman72]

35 years a Macc fan this tops the lot , ok we may struggle next season but items great to be back in the league , hopefully next Saturday will be a good crowd as was at Kettering in 97

 

[rudebwoyben]

Thankfully the League 2 refs are more understanding of the Natural Order than the National League ones:
View attachment 8172

I like the look of FC Barnet, it makes us sound so much more exotic and glamorous!

 

[Railway Blue]

Congratulations Macclesfield, you did what champions do and found a way to win. You were absolutely ruthless in the second half at Prenton Park and that's probably the most impressive half of football I've seen from the opposition in our entire time at this level to date.

As for us, I'm really confident going into the play-offs that we could actually win them, but the memories of our no-show in the final last season are very hard to shake. I just hope we can continue to play at our current level for 4 more matches.

It'll be 3 surely?

I suppose that Accrington Stanley could defeat the budget argument. I remember the last time we got promoted to the Football League thinking that if we finished third from bottom it would be an achievement, we got promoted again, so who knows?

Take no notice of Tranmere fans ~~ they're just jealous. I think Macclesfield will be fine in L2. Big budgets mean f*ck all, ask Chesterfield.

 

[Luke Imp]

Good camera angle in the Halifax game. Who thought sticking it in between the 6 yard box and penalty area at what is basically pitch level would be a good idea?

 

[Fyldefan]

Send ZFA back to us then

I think ZFA is probably going to get player of the year for us. That’s seems to be the general consensus on Twitter. I’m not keen personally, he’s athletic but he’s terrible with his feet. Montrose has been our best signing. Started slowly but been superb after that

 

[Dan_Macclad]

I think we are underestimating the team for next season as there is a decent core there. The back 4 stays mostly the same with Hodgkiss, Lowe and Fitz. The midfield has Whitehead and Durrell who are easily L2 standard. I do think Blissett will do alright too.

Not wholesale changes but clearly needs some quality additions.

 

[Reremnart]

I would like to congratulate Macclesfield on their success...well I did up to yesterday when I saw what one of your charming lowlifes put on the Vanarama Banter page on FB about hoping, amongst other things, that all our children die. OK the players , having had a few beers on the coach on the way home and getting a little carried away, I can live with but this sort of s**t certainly goes way above the "banter" limit. I, and a number of others have mailed the club in the last 24 hours complaining about this creature and I know by having received a reply that they are taking this seriously. Hopefully he has a ban coming in his direction but just in case he has the great stupity to do so I can tell Daryll Whatever his surname is if he comes anywhere near Prenton Park again he might well not be receive the usual friendly welcome shall we say.

 

[Dan_Macclad]

Don't judge us all because of one dick head.

 

[Chief Rocka]

Jesus, lighten up.

 

[Tranmerewhite]

Jesus, lighten up.

To be fair, Hartlepool fans are a load of clowns..

 

[Chief Rocka]

To be fair, Hartlepool fans are a load of clowns..

 

[Moss Rose Silkmen]

Well, macclesfield players and fans alike seem to think they've already won the title. I think this loss of focus and complacency could come back to haunt them come the end of the season. That hancox is gonna look a right plonker, well even more of one, when we're parading the trophy at prenton park on the 28th.

Well done on securing 2nd though.

Please tell me you're joking...

 

[DontBringBertie]

Please tell me you're joking...

I, and a number of others have mailed Tranmere in the last 24 hours complaining about this creature. I expect this is being taken seriously.