National League opening day fixtures - 21/08

[jacobncfc]

We’re back!

Aldershot Town vs Chesterfield
Barnet vs Notts County
Bromley vs Grimsby Town
Halifax Town vs Maidenhead United
King’s Lynn Town vs Southend United
Solihull Moors vs Wrexham
Stockport County vs Dagenham and Redbridge
Torquay United vs Altrincham
Wealdstone vs Woking
Weymouth vs Boreham Wood

Dover and Yeovil out of action because of Covid, Eastleigh have the free weekend.

We’ve started our two seasons at this level with fairly catastrophic 1-0 away defeats at Eastleigh and Dover. Could really do with avoiding a hat-trick at Barnet. I don’t know much about how they’ve looked in pre-season, but Kewell has always been a manager who wants to play it on the ground and through midfield. That should suit us and hopefully make it a game played on our terms, it’s the other sorts of teams we’re going to struggle with. We’ve unsurprisingly looked like a force going forward but very vulnerable to the counter attack and set pieces during pre-season.

My best guess of how we start would be:

Slocombe
Brindley - Rawlinson - Cameron
Kelly-Evans - Palmer - Francis - Taylor
Roberts - O’Brien
Wootton

Chicksen
Vincent
Nemane
Rodrigues
Mitchell

Rodrigues will probably start if he’s fit enough, taking out one of the central midfielders, which would make us even more of a goal threat and even more open.

 

[AJS]

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.

 

[TonyM]

We have the pleasure of welcoming Southend to non-league. Much of the gloss of Lynn reaching step 1 has gone after last season and even though we are now a full-time team the locals are restless with high prices and 'indifferent' communication being cited. Given how bullish Southend fans have been re ticket sales it could well be nearer 50-50 in terms of supporters in the Walks with further concerns being raised about segregation, fingers crossed the day passes without incident.

On-field some of the defensive fragility of last year looks to have been addressed with off-season recruitment of experienced keeper Paul Jones and three new centre halves but a big player turnover means it is could take a while to get settled although Culverhouse doesn't have that many options in a paper thin squad. We look like we have a bit more of a goal threat with Gold Omotayo and Junior Morias starting to form a partnership in pre-season but Carey's driving runs from midfield will be missed and it remains to be seen how many games King will play. We really need to hit the ground running to avoid being in and around that bottom group of teams but much will depend on whether we can defend better than last year.

Likely team (but with so little info coming out of the club, who knows)
Jones
Callan-McFaddon, Fernandez, Bird
Barrows, Coleman, Sundire, Denton
King
Omotayo, Marias

 

[Shrimpurh]

Feel like we might actually win.

Long time since I said that.

 

[BlackHaddock]

Mega rumours our game will be called off; we have Covid in the camp!

I bet BT Sport will be pleased.

 

[Leewilson]

Away to Stockport so good to get a horrible fixture out of the way early and hopefully a good time to play them.

We have a pretty horrible opening day record. I don't know statistically quite what it is but I've lost count of the amount of opening day defeats we've had in my 16/17 years as a supporter.

Our pre-season has all been against lower opposition and I'm not sure if the strength of Stockport is going to hit us hard.

I'm expecting the following 3-5-2:

-------------Justham
----Wright, Reynolds, Johnson
Ling---------Jones--------------Vilhete
-------Sagaf-------Robinson-----------
-------Walker------Balanta/McCallum

If Balanta and McCallum are both fit, then it may be Walker that misses out. At times during the season, I think all 3 will play and Jones will drop out but away to Stockport, I think Jones plays the holding role.

I think we'll lose but hopefully we set a good marker for the fixtures to come.

 

[BlackHaddock]

Club News - Grimsby Town Football Club

www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk

Not rumours anymore!

 

[chief]

Nothing from Solihull regarding away fans.

If the National League's rules are consistent, that'll mean our game could well be behind closed doors.

 

[jacobncfc]

Nothing from Solihull regarding away fans.

If the National League's rules are consistent, that'll mean our game could well be behind closed doors.

But they had a test event!!!

 

[Son of Cod]

Absolutely fucking raging if this gets called off. As sad as it is, Bromley away has been the thing I've been looking forward to the most all summer. More than getting to live music, more than pubs opening up. I just want to get up, have some beers on the way to the ground and shout at some home fans about how much we piss on their fish.

Feel like we might actually win.

Long time since I said that.

Enjoy your week or two of this feeling. You have a lot to learn, young one. Wealdstone away 3rd match in looks like your first August in non-league "how low have we sunk?" moment.

 

[Master D]

I reckon several big hitters will lose, looking at us and Stockport.

 

[Bee sting]

With most players now probably having had 2 jabs, with the new regulation that even if you come into contact with someone who has Covid, you don't have to isolate. Therefore with most clubs having 20+squads, there is no need to call off any games. Time to get on with life as best as possible.

 

[Fyldefan]

Bet of the wkd for me chesterfield at 11/10

 

[Massive Floodlights]

Looking forward to Solihull announcing Friday evening that away fans can’t go

 

[BlackHaddock]

Nothing from Solihull regarding away fans.

If the National League's rules are consistent, that'll mean our game could well be behind closed doors.

That's terrible, only a few days to go and nothing.

Luckily it's a relatively short drive away for you guys, trains OK too, but it's a bus ride from the station. Tin Pot twats!

Our 800 fans with tickets for Bromley will lose train ticket money and hotel dosh. I suspect most will travel anyway and have a cracking, boozy weekend in London, not ruined by 90 minutes of football.

 

[BlackHaddock]

With most players now probably having had 2 jabs, with the new regulation that even if you come into contact with someone who has Covid, you don't have to isolate. Therefore with most clubs having 20+squads, there is no need to call off any games. Time to get on with life as best as possible.

The rumour is very few of our lot have had two jabs, no idea if that is true.

 

[Shrimper92]

Need a win as our fixtures after are tough.

 

[ForzaCounty]

I reckon several big hitters will lose, looking at us and Stockport.

Speak for yourself mate, we're going for a dull-but-reliable 1-0 trouncing of Dagenham

 

[dedwardp]

The rumour is very few of our lot have had two jabs, no idea if that is true.

Surely most footballers are in their 20s, is it possible to have had two jabs? I'm 29 and even if I'd booked the first one on the very day I first became eligible I'm sure that eight weeks would have taken us into this week.

 

[Stoney Ground]

Surely most footballers are in their 20s, is it possible to have had two jabs? I'm 29 and even if I'd booked the first one on the very day I first became eligible I'm sure that eight weeks would have taken us into this week.

Most footballers should have been double jabbed early, as they must be in the vulnerable category. Most of them fall over when someone breathes on them

 

[Stoney Ground]

Need a win as our fixtures after are tough.

What little old Wealdstone on BH Monday

 

[TheShayWay]

Like AJS said no idea with us. Had very few friendlies. Team still isnt all in place. Genuinely think we may struggle this season. Despite the gaffer saying the transfer fees are going back into the team. I dont see any players in the squad where that money has gone.

Going for a 2-1 loss

 

[DarkSithLord]

Bromley v Grimsby OFFICALLY OFF

 

[Master D]

Bromley v Grimsby OFFICALLY OFF

Tinpot.

 

[Hollywood Red]

Looks like games are going to be called off every week. That's 3 now for this weekend think that is the sum of all FL matches cancelled in 2 weeks. National League need to be a lot firmer on this or it's going to be a shambles

 

[Gladders]

Tinpot.

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

 

[CFC91]

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

Are you going to take our game out with you too having played you on Saturday? Booked and paid for travel to Aldershot already

 

[Gladders]

Are you going to take our game out with you too having played you on Saturday? Booked and paid for travel to Aldershot already

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?

 

[Kim Mitten]

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.

 

[CFC91]

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?

Doesn't really make any sense as testing is free unless you want to go abroad and last time I checked Aldershot hasn't moved, but hey ho.

Considering about 80% of the UK is double jabbed now unless their is a time lag (I know it could be argued it still is 1985 in Grimsby) then surely most will be double jabbed?
I'm 29 and don't know anyone who's not had both jabs by now, they've even started doing 16/17 year olds in town

All very tinpot this, maybe it needs moving threads.