October 26th Fixtures

[pontoonlew]

I wonder what odds you’d have gotten on a Wealdstone, Barnet and Maidenhead treble tonight?

My best mate had all 3 in an accumulator along with every other game in the league. At one point only Maidenhead and Alty were drawing to let him down, returns were 780k from £10. Until Solihull scored his cash out was 6.2k and he refused to cash out, pillock

 

[appletablepenny]

I don't know for sure, but I very strongly suspect there is COVID in our squad, which would explain a lot of the absences last night, plus two very last-minute loan signings to make up a starting eleven. I think it would have been called off if not on BT Sport, and there hadn't been the big £5 entry promotion.

Frustrating night, I am thoroughly bored by not having a striker worthy of the description for the second season in a row.

 

[CFC91]

Proper ugly win for us that was, but massive considering results elsewhere.
We could have up to 10 out injured this Saturday so will struggle to fill the bench as things stand, we are getting mullered with bad luck and some shocking refereeing decisions - Carline at Wrexham, Weston at Southend and Gunning last night all bad tackles that have caused damage and gone unpunished.
Considering we are down the the bare bones and can’t really make changes it makes last nights scrappy win slightly more impressive.

I reckon we might get someone in on loan this weekend. Big game at Dagenham - found some relatively cheap train tickets so booked that last night for a day out!

 

[BornUnderTheElmslie]

Big night for the Stones and a victory well earned rather than an off night for Grimsby. Usually when an unfancied side causes an upset you get the "we had an off night" or "we never got going". The reality is the management team got their game plan spot on and with a depleted side thoroughly deserved the 3 points.

The usual disparaging nonsense from a few BELT fans and their press "..played like it was our cup final" "humble facilities" "Grimsby's first real experience of non-league football". We're all non-league aren't we?

 

[Aberstone]

Not read the entire thread, will do that tomorrow.

I'll go from the back tonight.

McKeown was fine, saved a pen and the goal was through a crowded box, not sure how far it was into the corner but it was hit perfectly by your man Buse. I was directly opposite and it was going in as soon as he shaped up, you could just see he was gonna smash it, great technique.

The full backs were our steady Eddie pair of Sears and Crookes and they did what they do, played solidly at the back but didn't offer much going forward. That drive from the right that Efete brings was definitely missed. CBs were both great again and barely put a foot wrong. Although, having said that I'm not sure who was at blame for not closing down for their goal. Should have been someone centrally, but then even if it was one of Towler, Waterfall, Coke or Fox then none of them really did much else wrong.

The midfield was missing Hunt's guile and Clifton's energy but Fox and Coke were still decent, but lacking in an bit of impetus. Fox put a superb ball in for the header that was saved in the second half, if that goes in then who knows what happens in that game, but that was really our only real chance. Quite why Hunt wasn't introduced earlier is beyond me. Shades of Hurst v1.0 there.

The attack was poor though, we offered very little in the final third other than running from Sousa and Bapaga who got on the end of enough balls but lacked any quality really. This in turn isolates Lenny, who was pish. Don't think I remember him really winning a tussle of note, totally outfought and a sloppy touch. I was hoping he'd have something to prove tonight. What we missed was Taylor's aggression to get into the box. He's often looking to get into the 6 yard box and onto the end of attacks.

I don't think this is the first time we've seen this kind of performance this season though, I think the Maidenhead match was very similar in how they made it very difficult for us, both Wealdstone and Maidenhead were well up for it. We're guilty of probably writing the Bromley match off as a freak of nature rainstorm on a plastic pitch one off but perhaps the warning signs were they and perhaps they were against a tough Woking side too at times. We've papered over the cracks and ridden our luck at times this season. Make no mistake though, tonight we were beaten fair and square by a side that got the ball down and outfought us and were better or matches us in every position.

They also shat on us from a great height in terms of atmosphere. So flat tonight. I get that not everyone wants to sing but I think I was one of 4 or 5 in a radius of about 75-100 people that tried to make a bit of noise. The Wealdstone fans behind the goal were at it all game, including before they scored. Best home fans I've seen on the road this season.

I could hear those 75-100 supporters you mentioned loudly from the other end although I thought there were more involved. All the singing was coming from Couch Corner, didn't hear anything from those in the seated stand.

Jack Cook had his best game in a while last night, reading of the play was superb and his gangly legs just stopped Grimsby countless times from trying to pass it through us. Considering that was Buse's first start since the first game of the season, his work ethic and willingness to get stuck into any 50-50 will really endear himself to supporters. That performance now makes him undroppable for the Barnet game in two and a half weeks time.

I did think Grimsby would be more of a physical side and when they pressed high early on I thought we were going to be in a spot of bother but the extra man in midfield allowed us to play through the press successfully. I also thought they'd get a grilling at HT and would really be on it second half but other than the header from the FK (which should have been scored) I don't remember Wickens saving a shot in anger.

As for the atmosphere from the home end, for the first time in years I didn't stand behind the goal when kicking down the slope (instead was in the stand adjacent by the corner flag) but the second half rendition of Stuart Maynard's Blue and White Army went on for ages, similar to what we did at Notts County.

Big win for us considering Barnet, Maidenhead and Weymouth also won. 6 point buffer from the bottom 3 is nice, now to maintain it.

 

[Aberstone]

Big night for the Stones and a victory well earned rather than an off night for Grimsby. Usually when an unfancied side causes an upset you get the "we had an off night" or "we never got going". The reality is the management team got their game plan spot on and with a depleted side thoroughly deserved the 3 points.

The usual disparaging nonsense from a few BELT fans and their press "..played like it was our cup final" "humble facilities" "Grimsby's first real experience of non-league football". We're all non-league aren't we?

In fairness, you can have an off night whilst the opposition put together a perfect game plan.

The cup final nonsense from Grimsby's local press is hilarious though. Surely any competitive sportsman wants to win any game and will put in the effort to achieve that? That throwaway comment just smacks of arrogance.

 

[Wooderson]

I don't know for sure, but I very strongly suspect there is COVID in our squad, which would explain a lot of the absences last night, plus two very last-minute loan signings to make up a starting eleven. I think it would have been called off if not on BT Sport, and there hadn't been the big £5 entry promotion.

Frustrating night, I am thoroughly bored by not having a striker worthy of the description for the second season in a row.

I wish you had called it off. Solihull winning gave the handful of oddball fans we have who are still obsessed with Neal Ardley (I mean what is that all about) the chance to point out the fact that we lost to them, and therefore Ardley is a better manager than our current one, because that’s how their minds work.

 

[Gladders]

In fairness, you can have an off night whilst the opposition put together a perfect game plan.

The cup final nonsense from Grimsby's local press is hilarious though. Surely any competitive sportsman wants to win any game and will put in the effort to achieve that? That throwaway comment just smacks of arrogance.

Not seem that, is that the Grimsby telegraph?

If so that's not local press anymore, in fact not even sure why it exists and they have just got a new "local" sports reporter for us as the last one left. I followed him on Twitter for the first two weeks and he talked more about Sheff Wed than us so I unfollowed.

They will spend the whole week writing articles from the post and pre match interviews and turn a 5 min interview into 5 articles one per day with one quote each, complete waste of time.


Edit
Just looked on his Twitter and it was him who wrote the "cup final" article. Tit

 

[pontoonlew]

Big night for the Stones and a victory well earned rather than an off night for Grimsby. Usually when an unfancied side causes an upset you get the "we had an off night" or "we never got going". The reality is the management team got their game plan spot on and with a depleted side thoroughly deserved the 3 points.

The usual disparaging nonsense from a few BELT fans and their press "..played like it was our cup final" "humble facilities" "Grimsby's first real experience of non-league football". We're all non-league aren't we?

I’ve seen nothing of the sort from our fans, just seems to be the go to response from smaller clubs when they beat a bigger club. We’re obviously going to say it was an off night for us, we’ve lost once all season before last night.

Also, you do realise we’ve been NL for 6 years a few seasons before this?

 

[iesty wfc]

Good evening for the tinpotters.
Excellent from Maidenheaf today. Wrexham weren't even Devonshired.
They were beaten fair and square by the better team on the night. Although not sure what happened with the sending off.

Whenever there is any sort of expectation for us to perform (sell out crowd, new owners in the stand watching us drinking some instant coffee from a large boiled water caddy - although I secretly hope it was Bovril. Bovril's a thing down south isn't it?) then we buckle.

even when we got to 2-2 it didn't sound like we had any control on the match which considering it was the same starting XI as the Barnet match and we dicked them with no effort whatsoever.

Of course Dibble gets the blame, its what we do. Not sure if he actually was to blame of course.

 

[Aberstone]

Given our midfield is as strong as it’s been in 10 years I’d suggest you’re in trouble then.

(1-0 to Wealdstone incoming)

Did you end up sticking any money on that?

 

[pontoonlew]

Did you end up sticking any money on that?

No I didn’t, and I can would good money on Hurst not reading your post either, because if he had, he’d surely have started with a midfield 3!

 

[jacobncfc]

The best thing about the Maidenhead programme is this lovely picture of a nice old man. Im going to put it in a frame.
View attachment 15686

Undone big coat and showing a bit of a chest hair? The Devonshire look is influencing the stars.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1453073677717811203

 

[batterrasea]

Nobody does.

We're a team that won last night. How did your lot get on?

 

[iesty wfc]

Undone big coat and showing a bit of a chest hair? The Devonshire look is influencing the stars.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1453073677717811203

the wrexham baseball cap will soon be replaced by a flat cap and the look will be complete

 

[EnglishRed]

Ryan Reynolds and Alan Devonshire are like a before and after, I've always said it. Devonshire is obviously 'After he got Sexy'.

 

[EnglishRed]

We're a team that won last night. How did your lot get on?

Come on mate everyone beats Aldershot. Unless they get the games rained off.

 

[jacobncfc]

Yes. And Palmer. One of the best central midfielders I’ve seen at Notts in a long time.

Palmer is a fantastic footballer, no idea what he’s doing down here.

Whether we’re capable of passing our way to promotion is another matter, but IB’s coaching of individuals is extremely impressive. Has improved some players beyond recognition, with Taylor and Vincent the latest looking like joining the list.

 

[OneDecentLester]

Why are Notts not clear at the top of the league with all the players they’ve got that ‘shouldn’t be playing at this level’ !?

Grimsby shitting themselves for the 2nd coming of prime Barca this weekend!

 

[jacobncfc]

Why are Notts not clear at the top of the league with all the players they’ve got that ‘shouldn’t be playing at this level’ !?

Grimsby shitting themselves for the 2nd coming of prime Barca this weekend!

The simple answer would be that we have lots of those, and not many of the solid/consistent 7/10 every week players that you need down here. The kind that stop you letting Bromley spawn a goal from a set piece with their first attack for ages, or conceding four from long balls into the box in fifteen minutes against Woking.

It’s not a new thing for us really, has been the case in the last two seasons as well. No coincidence that the two notable players who moved on in the summer, Boldewijn and Reeves, both went up a level despite not being our best our most important players.

We’re not going to change, our style of football is set by the owners who went out to find a manager specifically to implement it and it’s part of the wider ‘develop players and sell them’ plan we clearly have. But in terms of actually going up, we could benefit from a few more players who maybe aren’t going to make us a profit and couldn’t slot happily into a League Two team, but have the know-how and mentality to stop us conceding soft late goals, chucking leads away and that sort of thing.

 

[iesty wfc]

we've had plenty of 1 in 4s, 1 in 10s and the like over the years - Vose a prime example

Seems we have at least whittled it down with 1 in 2s and Mullin who is obviously mustard

 

[B2TF]

Big night for the Stones and a victory well earned rather than an off night for Grimsby. Usually when an unfancied side causes an upset you get the "we had an off night" or "we never got going". The reality is the management team got their game plan spot on and with a depleted side thoroughly deserved the 3 points.

The usual disparaging nonsense from a few BELT fans and their press "..played like it was our cup final" "humble facilities" "Grimsby's first real experience of non-league football". We're all non-league aren't we?

We're not.

 

[B2TF]

The simple answer would be that we have lots of those, and not many of the solid/consistent 7/10 every week players that you need down here.

Erm, don't you need those whatever level you are at? To succeed, that is. Just stop with the pretence that there is something peculiar about this level that you are not accustomed to, due to you, obviously, not belonging here. Maybe you're just shit now? Did you consider that? Huh?

 

[jacobncfc]

Erm, don't you need those whatever level you are at? To succeed, that is. Just stop with the pretence that there is something peculiar about this level that you are not accustomed to, due to you, obviously, not belonging here. Maybe you're just shit now? Did you consider that? Huh?

Against my better judgement, I’ll reply to this one. Yes, you do, I don’t think there’s much difference in the style of football at this level compared to League Two. This league is unique because of there only being one automatic promotion place. Relative to the level, you can be a good but flaky team that drops silly points and still get automatic promotion in League Two. You can’t here.

 

[doveranddover]

Lower down the leagues last night

https://twitter.com/x/status/1453096805248425986

And, sendings offs & fights
Aren't Bracknell somebody's new plaything?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1453101846558560263

 

[Ooh Aah Paskin]

Why are Notts not clear at the top of the league with all the players they’ve got that ‘shouldn’t be playing at this level’ !?

Grimsby shitting themselves for the 2nd coming of prime Barca this weekend!

Wrexham are a team of players that shouldn't be playing at this level.
Admittedly two thirds of them should probably be playing a step below.....

 

[chrisblor]

Big night for the Stones and a victory well earned rather than an off night for Grimsby. Usually when an unfancied side causes an upset you get the "we had an off night" or "we never got going". The reality is the management team got their game plan spot on and with a depleted side thoroughly deserved the 3 points.

The usual disparaging nonsense from a few BELT fans and their press "..played like it was our cup final" "humble facilities" "Grimsby's first real experience of non-league football". We're all non-league aren't we?

lmao absolute nonsense, we were rubbish and absolutely did "have an off night". McAtee was crocked, Clifton and Hunt rested (poor decision from Hurst), our no.1 striker missing so you end up with LJL up front on his own who can only score penalties, untested two man central midfield of Coke and Fox which didn't work at all - loads of self-inflicted problems you took full advantage of there.

 

[Stoney Ground]

Not seem that, is that the Grimsby telegraph?

If so that's not local press anymore, in fact not even sure why it exists and they have just got a new "local" sports reporter for us as the last one left. I followed him on Twitter for the first two weeks and he talked more about Sheff Wed than us so I unfollowed.

They will spend the whole week writing articles from the post and pre match interviews and turn a 5 min interview into 5 articles one per day with one quote each, complete waste of time.


Edit
Just looked on his Twitter and it was him who wrote the "cup final" article. Tit

Yeah Southend Echo do similar, click bait nonsense

 

[karlready]

Boreham Wood doing well…just thought I’d mention.

 

[karlready]

Come on mate everyone beats Aldershot. Unless they get the games rained off.

Oi! We’ve beaten Dover, Southend and …er…we would have put one over on Wrexham in the second half if it hadn’t rained.
Anyway, you’ll all be able to witness the massive improvement in the team in this week’s scintillating clash of the telly with resurgent Barnet.