Sat 17 Feb - fixtures

[thewwfc]

A couple of mouthwatering clashes there, firstly the relegation monster clash that is Cheltenham Town v Darren Moore's Port Vale (as they must now be rechristened).

Will the owners of the Completely Suzuki stadium spawn it to a Completely Flukey win?
Will Burslem's finest benefit from the New Manager Bounce™ as otherwise hapless players suddenly play out of their skins and Ryan Loft scores a hat-trick?
Or will this go the way of most relegation dogfight head-to-heads and end in an unsatisfying draw that does no-one any good?

Moving then to a vital face-off in the Mid-Table Trophy - Lincoln v Exeter.

Lincoln are simply draw specialist legends, and will be looking to continue their fine run of stalemates, but you have to worry that Exeter might continue to blow their chances of the trophy by this recently-acquired habit of actually winning games.

Us? Well it's the return of the Not A Local Derby, as Oxford are the visitors to Adams Park.

Amazingly, given what utter toss we were earlier in the season, we're actually above OUFC in the form table going into this.

It feels like we've somewhat turned a corner in terms of performances, and we can (gasp) actually score from open play now, which we couldn't for much of this season.

Nonetheless Oxford will see this as a highly winnable fixture and the type of game they really ought to be winning if they want to stay in the playoff spots.

 

[valefan16]

If Darren Moore turns Ryan Loft into a hatrick hero then he can turn Water into Wine!

 

[Si Robin]

Undoubtedly the biggest game of our season so far. We've a chance to go above Vale and get level on points with Charlton. There will be a big crowd (relative to our size) and we're riding the crest of a wave following two big wins.

Standby for our worst performance since DC's first game in charge against Fleetwood.

 

[kieran_vale]

Nothing but respect and gratitude towards DC for what he did for us but as soon as the game kicks off that needs to be out the window. He has done a remarkable job there and he will have them fired up to beat us, I just hope our players are ready to meet the challenge head on. This is with no real basis other than hope but I’m going with a sneaky 2-1 win to Vale and the aforementioned Ryan Loft spawning one in off his 50p shaped foot.

Hopefully Dan Gore is near a return. He was somewhat thrown in the deep end on his debut but this time with Ojo next to him that should help a lot.

 

[K-Win]

It's the time of year when you start to focus on other teams' fixtures as well as your own.

Bolton have what looks like a comfortable 3 points at home to Charlton. I fear Nathan Jones may still be a way off getting his ideas across.

Not happy about it but I'll be rooting for SteveEvansanage to get something at Derby. Feel like I need to take a shower now.

Barnsley have a tricky one at Fleetwood who seem to be responding to Charlie Adam.

Tons of pressure now on Peterborough to get things back on track against Blackpool, and I reckon they will.

Oxford have a tough game at Wycombe.

I'm worried about our home game with Reading. They're playing well at the moment and will be well up for this one. Hopefully we can keep it going.

 

[valefan16]

Huge game, its not must win but certainly could do with not losing, Darren Moore's arrival has turned a flat fan base into one thats buzzing and seems a few more will travel down now so could do with not having that rise in expectation popped straight away!

Big improvement last weekend against Stevenage so hopefully can take this on, the home game against Cheltenham was an absolute disgrace and Crosby should of gone then (probably would had it not been for the cup run) so hopefully the players want to put that stinker right.

Two massive away games in 3 days, 2-3 points minimum i would say to give us a decent chance heading into a run of favourable home fixtures on paper.

We dont ever seem to get a first game bounce under a new manager but hopefully buck the trend, no idea how he will set up or what we will do which may help.

 

[Bartonyellow]

Orient away.
4-2 defeat.
Write it off / move on to the games we can win.

 

[nelsonpfc]

Moxon took a while to get going when he came on and him and Pack are the only fit central midfielders left in the building at the moment. Going to be another tough match. Reading since January have been excellent. We have to start better and can't afford to go behind early like Tuesday.

 

[Luke Imp]

We must've only beaten Exeter in two of our last 10/12 meetings (both in our title winning L2 season, I think).

The side was a bit unbalanced last night - having to manage minutes and deciding to fit players into the system rather than finding a system to suit the available players, which I've got no problem with. We didn't even fill the bench again. Gone from having to leave players out the squad to that in no time at all!

We'll have McGrandles back after not being able to play against his parent club, so that adds a needed option into CM. Draper, House and Bishop had to have their minutes managed last night and I suspect it'll be similar again at the weekend. I doubt Hamilton will be available (knee), nor Jackson with his newly broken nose.

 

[HutchECFC]

Massive game, The Fosse Way Derby, will be looking to bounce back from last night.

Fully expecting changes again, Sweeney back in, Rankine on the right too, hopefully. Maybe even Woods in for Carroll too.

Would take a draw, but hopeful we could sneak a win, to make it 4 away wins in a row for the first time since I don't know when, actually.

 

[The Terminator]

Orient away.
4-2 defeat.
Write it off / move on to the games we can win.

Our current injury list is hitting us a bit, last night was a huge slog in the end.

Losing Dan Happe for 7/8 weeks at centre half I think is going to catch up with us unless Brandon Cooper can find some form playing in a back two, my mate pointed out to me last night that in a back three he looked steady, but in a two he’s looked shaky.

 

[longmover]

As Si said just hope that CTFC turn up and play when we really have to and this weekend we really have to. Its a must not lose for DM to get the fans onboard at the start of his tenure.

Can we both just take a 1-1 draw shake hands and be glad its over.

 

[denzel ecfc]

I'll be happy to be Lincoln's 50th draw of the season, that will get us to 40 points.
Hopefully Woods in for Carroll, and Rankine for Niskanen.

 

[folletto]

Think Saturday is a write off for us. Every time I see us play Bolton we get completely played off the park and I question how they're not 20 points clear at the top of the league.

We do have Aneke back as an impact sub so if we are only 1 down by the 60th could nick a draw. He's played 7 this season and we've not lost one which is impressive considering our dire record

 

[kieran_vale]

As Si said just hope that CTFC turn up and play when we really have to and this weekend we really have to. Its a must not lose for DM to get the fans onboard at the start of his tenure.

Can we both just take a 1-1 draw shake hands and be glad its over.

To be honest from his first interview DM seems to have got people right behind him, just hope the squad respond to him. Truth be told even if we go down then not much will be attributed to him at all rather the DOF and some poor recruitment leaving an unbalanced squad. Draw wouldn’t be the end of the world but certainly in our case we need to start winning some soon even with games in hand.

 

[BogDaddyO]

Injuries really racking up for us now as we get into the business end of the season.

Despite that heartbreak loss at Barnsley where we let in 2 goals right at the death we are still one of the form sides in this division. Insane win over the Cobblers last night showed real character.

I think our fully fit starting XI is potentially top-6 material, but unlike the bigger spenders we can't afford high quality league 1 replacements in all positions.

Although, if we beat Burton on Saturday and Oxford/Stevenage continue their wobble then who knows...

 

[valefan16]

To be honest from his first interview DM seems to have got people right behind him, just hope the squad respond to him. Truth be told even if we go down then not much will be attributed to him at all rather the DOF and some poor recruitment leaving an unbalanced squad. Draw wouldn’t be the end of the world but certainly in our case we need to start winning some soon even with games in hand.

Yeah listening to his interview I wanted to run through a brick wall for him! Liked how he sent someone undercover into the home ends Saturday to see what it was like!

 

[kieran_vale]

Yeah listening to his interview I wanted to run through a brick wall for him! Liked how he sent someone undercover into the home ends Saturday to see what it was like!

Just as well it wasn’t previous games then otherwise he’d come away thinking the club song was “we’re fucking shit” or “you’re not fit to wear the shirt”…

 

[K-Win]

Yeah listening to his interview I wanted to run through a brick wall for him!

Is he asking fans to do that? Weird

 

[valefan16]

Just as well it wasn’t previous games then otherwise he’d come away thinking the club song was “we’re fucking shit” or “you’re not fit to wear the shirt”…

Going to say glad he wasn't sent to the Orient game!

 

[valefan16]

Is he asking fans to do that? Weird

to be fair in recent weeks the fans have been made to bang their heads against a wall after sitting through games!

 

[BRFC_Gas]

I'm not sure what team we will put out for this one given our lengthy injury list and the fact that Evans and Conteh will now be suspended after last nights cards.
I cant see much past a Northampton Town win, annoyingly.

 

[leedsvaliant]

We need a win. Feels ages since our last one. If we had a focal point up top then I'd be feeling confident. From looking like having a pretty decent squad in the first couple of months, we seem to have a really weak one now.

However, on their day players like Wilson and Chislett can drum up a bit of magic and Ojo seems to be getting back to full fitness.

Hopefully DM might be able to work a bit of magic on our defence as this is where our problems lie. Basic errors week after week mean we have to score at least 2 to win.

 

[EricSabin]

I'm not sure what team we will put out for this one given our lengthy injury list and the fact that Evans and Conteh will now be suspended after last nights cards.
I cant see much past a Northampton Town win, annoyingly.

We’ll be knackered, 10/11 out and involved in an energy sapper last night

 

[E10rifle]

Orient away.
4-2 defeat.
Write it off / move on to the games we can win.

Fuckin’ hell, we’re not that good. Our entire front 3 are out for the season, we play a tiny attacking midfielder at right back and one of our CBs is scared to head the ball. We’re decent but not even close to unbeatable.

 

[Gassy]

We’ll be knackered, 10/11 out and involved in an energy sapper last night

Honestly similar to us. With the cards that’s 10 or 11 too.

I’m genuinely not sure if we have a fit CM for the game

 

[Throbber_for_Dunk]

Suddenly going to Carlisle seems huge, the pack have seemed to have shuffled quite a bit over the last few weeks and we've got a fairly brutal run of fixtures coming up. Adding onto getting 2 points from Cheltenham/Exeter/Burton which was theoretically the chance to puff up the cushion before scrapping for anything.

Seems a shame to have wasted a marginal goal like that on Pompey now...

 

[BogDaddyO]

Fuckin’ hell, we’re not that good. Our entire front 3 are out for the season, we play a tiny attacking midfielder at right back and one of our CBs is scared to head the ball. We’re decent but not even close to unbeatable.

We're better than Burton though...

 

[LordJord]

Honestly similar to us. With the cards that’s 10 or 11 too.

I’m genuinely not sure if we have a fit CM for the game

Well it will at least make for an entertaining spectacle watching a load of backups and positional misfits trying to win a game. Will probably be a case of whoever can avoid running out of gas first will win. Its boring talking about injuries all the time because we have been doing so for over 12 months now, someone needs to get the boot from our medical team.

Feel like we always get clobbered by your boys in recent years so a win here would be huge in getting one foot over the line to safety.

 

[BRFC_Gas]

Honestly similar to us. With the cards that’s 10 or 11 too.

I’m genuinely not sure if we have a fit CM for the game

It's not like the ones we have missing are fringe players either. That's Connor Taylor, George Friend, Anthony Evans, Sam Finley, Kamil Conteh, Grant Ward, Brandon Aguilera, Luke McCormick, Harvey Vale, Jordan Rossiter....many of them would be starters.
Josh Grant anywhere in the back line or CDM gives me the shits but thats most likely to happen on Sat, plus there is always one surprise injury that we learn about on the day.