National League opening day fixtures - 21/08

[BlackHaddock]

I'm wondering if it's worth getting tickets for the Stockport and Torquay away games now (and Maidenhead on 25th SEPT). Was rather hoping this sort of stuff had left footie for this season.

Grips my shit!

 

[TonyM]

Really looking forward to Saturday, proper away day for the first time in near on 18 months.
I've no idea what to expect from Southend football wise be nice to actually see a committed half decent performance regardless of the result.

"Committed, half decent performance" pretty much guaranteed a result against us last season, particularly if you had any idea of attacking corners / set pieces. Hopefully we will be stronger in that area this season and would echo the sentiment, will just be good to get back on a terrace.

 

[OneDecentLester]

I doubt you guys can afford testing can you with the furlough scheme coming to an end?

Then again aren't all your guys double vaccinated after claiming to be key workers and getting vaccinated when nurses did?

 

[OneDecentLester]

Aldershot (A) for us then, which will see us come up against a complete unknown entity cos even their fans don’t know what to expect from them this season!

We’ve had a positive pre season and I think we’ll take that into this first game and win with a good performance to go with it.

Can see us lining up like this:

GK - Loach

RCB - Grimes
CB - Gunning
LCB - Maguire

RWB - King
LWB - Miller

CM - Oyeleke
CM - Khan
CAM - Mandeville

ST - Tshimanga
ST - Rowe

Subs:
Carline
Kerr
Weston
Clarke
Payne

Will mean Tyson, McCourt, Whittle, Minter all left at home despite being fit. Rowe will have some serious selection headaches this season

 

[GTFCfish]

Always important to get through the first game without defeat and we’ve managed it, well in boys.

 

[Kim Mitten]

"Committed, half decent performance" pretty much guaranteed a result against us last season, particularly if you had any idea of attacking corners / set pieces. Hopefully we will be stronger in that area this season and would echo the sentiment, will just be good to get back on a terrace.

We have spent the past 2 full seasons being so abject that I'll frankly take anything at this point!

No idea how we'll be at set pieces, can only go vaguely on previous Phil Brown ball - which if he stays on point will mean a centre midfielder playing on either left or right wing, playing to 'the strikers strength' so if Dalby plays we are hoofing it and if we go 1 up trying to keep hold of that and match the opposition for 'physicality.'
Also looking forward to Phil's sound bites after the game.
I suppose the thing I'm most looking to see is if we concede the first goal how this team reacts, because it's been a long time now since we've had players who didn't just fall apart and stop playing when the other team score.

 

[SuperHans]

Aldershot (A) for us then, which will see us come up against a complete unknown entity cos even their fans don’t know what to expect from them this season!

We’ve had a positive pre season and I think we’ll take that into this first game and win with a good performance to go with it.

Can see us lining up like this:

GK - Loach

RCB - Grimes
CB - Gunning
LCB - Maguire

RWB - King
LWB - Miller

CM - Oyeleke
CM - Khan
CAM - Mandeville

ST - Tshimanga
ST - Rowe

Subs:
Carline
Kerr
Weston
Clarke
Payne

Will mean Tyson, McCourt, Whittle, Minter all left at home despite being fit. Rowe will have some serious selection headaches this season

Agree re. Line up, although I think Payne would feel a bit hard done by as he's not really put a foot wrong in pre-season and Tshimanga hasn't even featured.

I'm looking forward to my first away game since I snuck into the home end at Sutton last season. Hoping for a good day on the ale and 3 points.

 

[OneDecentLester]

Agree re. Line up, although I think Payne would feel a bit hard done by as he's not really put a foot wrong in pre-season and Tshimanga hasn't even featured.

I'm looking forward to my first away game since I snuck into the home end at Sutton last season. Hoping for a good day on the ale and 3 points.

Yeah I know what you’re saying re: Payne, but I can’t see how Tshimanga doesn’t start this one, so it’s either Payne or Rowe that drops out… and for me that would have to be Payne.

Don’t forget he’s had a full pre season under his belt at BW so he *should* be ready and raring to go, but guess we’ll see.

Reckon we’ll take near on 800 down there on Saturday

 

[Wooderson]

Barnet haven’t recruited too badly over the summer, don’t think this will be easy. Wouldn’t be surprised if this is a draw, accompanied by a minor meltdown from our fans, because Chessie or Wrexham or someone will win 0-5.

Barnet fans on Twitter say they expect there to be more away fans than home at the game.

 

[jacobncfc]

Barnet haven’t recruited too badly over the summer, don’t think this will be easy. Wouldn’t be surprised if this is a draw, accompanied by a minor meltdown from our fans, because Chessie or Wrexham or someone will win 0-5.

Barnet fans on Twitter say they expect there to be more away fans than home at the game.

Really? Be a decent following, maybe 1,200 or something, but surely there’ll be more than that there Barnet wise.

 

[BeeSting]

Our attendances have been on the decline over the last few years. I would expect about a thousand or so max home supporters.

 

[rudebwoyben]

Really? Be a decent following, maybe 1,200 or something, but surely there’ll be more than that there Barnet wise.

if you bring 1,200 you’ll outnumber us. I’m not sure we had more than 1,100 home fans at any of our matches at the Hive in 19/20. I have no clue how we’ll line up and we still haven’t announced our first choice goalkeeper signing.

 

[chief]

We're allowed fans in for the Solihull game, but no indication on how many.

Solihull have said they've been granted a gradual increase in spectators so I wouldn't expect many.

 

[jacobncfc]

Their safety advisory group is a joke. Ideas totally above its station.

 

[GTFCfish]

Tinpot.

Playing the system, we have several players out injured especially up front, gives us more time to get them back

Bradford City CEO Ryan Sparks has requested that Bradford be given the 3 points instead.

 

[chief]

About 800 went on sale, pretty much all snapped up except a few tickets that they only have labelled as concession or child for some reason.

 

[Hollywood Red]

Managed to get my ticket for Solihull unclear how many we have been given

 

[chief]

Managed to get my ticket for Solihull unclear how many we have been given

That's some effort, flying across the pond for Solihull away. Credit where it's due.

 

[Hollywood Red]

That's some effort, flying across the pond for Solihull away. Credit where it's due.

Respect to you for the effort too .We dont have too many Native Americans supporting us never mind a Real Chief

 

[LongEatonPie]

Never confident of Barnet away, no idea but I imagine they will be far better than last season when they didn't really give a (*£$

I have a feeling we will once again start slowly which I don't think this season is good at all.

Barnet 1-1 Notts

HK will bound to want to get one over us!

 

[Colinmorriswalksonwater]

Expecting us to have some good options off the bench so we could come to the fore in the last 30. I think PB will be looking for a tight performance for the first hour.

Obviously more physical than the Norwich U23 friendly, but in Dunne and Ogogo we have a combative centre mid. We have pace and trickery out wide, solid defence and a two prong attack, with a learner and an experienced proven goal scorer at this level in tandem up front.

Good grief Penfold! I am almost believing what I am typing!!

If we don't concede the first goal, I predict a narrow win, but wouldn't be surprised if we end up nicking a draw.

Although, I think there will be plenty of our 1,200 or so fans there expecting a large win.

Just wondering how long it will take for PB to get sent from the touchline for raging about one of Daniel Middleton's decisions.

 

[Optipez]

Never confident of Barnet away, no idea but I imagine they will be far better than last season when they didn't really give a (*£$

I have a feeling we will once again start slowly which I don't think this season is good at all.

Barnet 1-1 Notts

HK will bound to want to get one over us!

That sounds about right to me.
Think we'd benefit from scoring first, wouldn't fancy us chasing the game.
Guessing 750 travelling fans.

 

[jacobncfc]

That sounds about right to me.
Think we'd benefit from scoring first, wouldn't fancy us chasing the game.
Guessing 750 travelling fans.

Someone reckons we’ve sold about 900 so far cos you can work it out from the Barnet ticketing website, so hopefully we’ll at least crack four figures by Saturday.

I’ve got no worries about us chasing a game tbh, I fully expect us to be the kind of team that is never out of it at 2-0 down but equally never secure at 2-0 up.

 

[B2TF]

Genuinely no idea what to expect from us. We’ve only played 3 friendlies and still lacking players in key positions. Sounds like we’ve 4 signings due to be announced over the next few days. Can see us either scrapping a win or getting hammered.

? More bollocks! We've a player for EVERY position! You can't take on trust a word these 2 creeps tell you. Also can you see how he's covered both cheeks of his arse- we'll either win or lose! If we win with only a goal in it, he'll say it was "scrappy". if we lose by any score he'll claim we got "hammered". He does this on our home forum all the time. They both do. Pathetic.

 

[Shrimper92]

3-0 Southend in front of 1500 Shrimpers and 1000 Linnets

 

[Sparrow]

Wealdstone 2 Woking 2.

All goals scored when playing down the slope.

 

[karlready]

Well we should all be optimistic opening day, but it’s difficult when this appears to my jaundiced eyes to be one of the weakest squads ever assembled at Aldershot. The midfield in particular needs an enforcer, without which will be steamrolled weekly. Any back-up/ bench will be callow youth graduates.
Even with my red hat on, can’t see anything other than an embarrassing defeat. Reluctantly, 1-4, hoping we can at least pinch a goal.

 

[John Still]

Not expecting anything at Stockport, get out with a point and the toughest game on paper all season is done. Maybe a loss by the odd goal wouldn’t be a bad start.

Just happy I’m going to an away game, really couldn’t care about the result as having beers with some familiar faces is more important after the last year or so.

 

[dan_wrexhamafc]

Think we will struggle this weekend due to lack of fit center backs, Laiton likely to miss out with a back issue so Dibble will be in goal which is always a potential issue. Still think we are lacking 1 in 2 in midfield also.
If Solihull are anything like they normally are they could bully us tomorrow. I'm expecting a 3-1 loss,conceding atleast 1 from a set-peice

 

[EnglishRed]

Think we will struggle this weekend due to lack of fit center backs, Laiton likely to miss out with a back issue so Dibble will be in goal which is always a potential issue. Still think we are lacking 1 in 2 in midfield also.
If Solihull are anything like they normally are they could bully us tomorrow. I'm expecting a 3-1 loss,conceding atleast 1 from a set-peice

Solihull are managed by Neil Ardley now, not Tim Flowers. I think they will be decent and it is a really.hard opening game but I am not expecting them to kick us around the park like they used to.

We are still a few players short amd we've got a mini injury crisis at the back but the negativity on our forum is starting to piss me off now. Anyone would think we were relegation favourites reading RP.