Saturday 12th August 2023

[Alfie]

Saturday 12th August 2023
3pm AFC Wimbledon v Wrexham
3pm Barrow v Sutton United
3pm Bradford City v Colchester United
3pm Gillingham v Accrington Stanley
3pm Harrogate Town v Forest Green Rovers
3pm Mansfield Town v Morecambe
3pm Milton Keynes Dons v Tranmere Rovers
3pm Newport County v Doncaster Rovers
3pm Notts County v Grimsby Town
3pm Salford City v Crawley Town
3pm Swindon Town v Crewe Alexandra
3pm Walsall v Stockport County

 

[joethegill]

Not sure what to expect from Accrington really. They had a comfortable win on opening day, but they were playing a Newport side who most seem to think will struggle massively so it's hard to judge levels. We've obviously started pretty well and hopefully will keep that momentum going with another 3 points here. Might have a couple of the injured players back in the squad, plus maybe Bonne if he signs as expected.

 

[Crewelad87]

I'm never confident when it comes to us playing away from home. Our away record over the last 2 years has been appalling. We've had a fairly steady start, got a decent point out of a good Mansfield team then managed to progress in the cup knocking Sunderland out so confidence should be fairly high. One of our very few away wins over the last few years came at Swindon last season. I'm equally not sure what to expect from Swindon this season, I've got a feeling there going to be the sort of team that's capable of beating anyone on there day but will throw in a few shockers aswell.

As for us in the 2 games we've gone with 2 different formations 433 vs Mansfield then we we to a 3 at the back vs Sunderland. It's a tough call as centre back is one of our strongest positions so getting to play 3 of Demetriou, O'Riordan, Offord and Williams is a big plus, but that probably means you can't play 3 up top and we have good options there with Baker-Richardson, Long, Tracey and Nevitt meaning we probably have to leave 2 of them out. I'd probably be abit more inclined to go with 3 at the back with wing backs away from home as we seem abit more protected and solid in that formation, whereas the 4 3 3 leaves us more open and a much more open game, which is probably better in most of our home games where we are naturally quite strong (unbeaten since February)

Swindon 1-1 Crewe (Hepburn-Murphy, Long) 7,866 (288 Crewe)

 

[West Cheshire Reds]

I would take a point now, keeps a run of sorts going, but we do need to sort that away form out.

 

[DearneValleyRover]

I don’t expect Newport to give us the space Hull afforded us last night however I do expect us to play with the same high press and energy we displayed last night. We are also away and strangely in McCann’s last stint in charge we were far better away from home. Probably unmerited confidence in getting a positive result. Newport 1 Rovers 2

 

[Agombar stool]

Crewe beat us last year and must have gone through every page in the 'how to frustrate the opponent to hang onto what you have' playbook. Dan Agyei (thankfully he's not around) taking the act to extreme levels. I think a couple of times he was tackled/fouled and his momentum took him off the pitch. Of course he was able to wriggle back onto the pitch in order to stop play to get treatment. I'd be hopeful that kind of behaviour would get a booking this season?

I've seen us play Crewe a lot (probably the team I go and see us against most for some reason) and before last season have always played great football. Not sure at all what to expect, I'll go 3-1 win.

 

[AdamStag]

Hate games like this - Morecambe at home - everything points to a home win, but clearly this is never that easy.

We've started well against Crewe where even with 10 men we should've won and had what turned out to be a comfortable win over Grimsby last night in the cup (though can't read too much into that).

We've been strong pre-season and there does seem to be an element of confidence, but clearly Morecambe aren't going to roll over and had a win on the opening day. Hoping for a decent crowd

 

[Chris FGR]

If we don't win on Saturday that will be 23 games without an away win in the league, a whole seasons worth. We've also picked up a grand total of 1 point from our last 10 games. About time we improved that record.

 

[Youpies]

Lot of pant pissing from Notts fans. I'm sure LW will work it out but it is worrying that the confidence looks a bit off already.

Set pieces has been a long issue for Notts. It seems to have come up again.

I expect us to go to 361 again. Would snap your hands off for a draw at this point

 

[northstandexile]

Lot of pant pissing from Notts fans. I'm sure LW will work it out but it is worrying that the confidence looks a bit off already.

Set pieces has been a long issue for Notts. It seems to have come up again.

I expect us to go to 361 again. Would snap your hands off for a draw at this point

Something has got to give,
Grimsby can’t score, County can’t defend.

 

[F!RTHY]

Colchester United (h) -

First home game of the season. I’m looking forward to it.

They’re a bit of an unknown quantity, given the postponement on the opening day. That, coinciding with the Cup game being played tonight instead of yesterday.

I tell you what, I don’t envy them. Cardiff away on Wednesday night - 440 mile round trip then up to West Yorkshire (430 mile round trip) three days later. We can only hope they’re a bit knackered with all that extra travelling - and our legs should be 24 hour fresher. Should.

No idea what to expect other than 3 points. I’m sure someone will correct me if I’m wrong, but I think Daniel Oyegoke is eligible following his suspension.

Like to see Cook get off the mark. It’s no secret we need him firing on all cylinders.

2-0 City (17,127)

 

[Mighty_Bantam]

I quite like that team. But it desperately needs a Ridehalgh replacement.

 

[West Cheshire Reds]

Crewe beat us last year and must have gone through every page in the 'how to frustrate the opponent to hang onto what you have' playbook. Dan Agyei (thankfully he's not around) taking the act to extreme levels. I think a couple of times he was tackled/fouled and his momentum took him off the pitch. Of course he was able to wriggle back onto the pitch in order to stop play to get treatment. I'd be hopeful that kind of behaviour would get a booking this season?

I've seen us play Crewe a lot (probably the team I go and see us against most for some reason) and before last season have always played great football. Not sure at all what to expect, I'll go 3-1 win.

I think we will be a lot more attractive on the eye, a bit more like the Alex of old, I hope! That's far play to Lee Bell for gearing us up that way to be fair and putting his stamp on the first team which is more in tune to what we are used to. Big test for us at the County Ground as the last few seasons we have been god awful on the road, probably why we went to extreme lengths to hold onto the 3 points last season. I'm going for 1-1.

 

[EnglishRed]

What's wrong with Smallwoods face?

 

[JJ1990]

Swindon are an interesting one. Still have question marks over Flynn and his suitability for a team that is built to be fast and technical when he seems the polar opposite in terms of how he wants his teams to play. But we'll see.

As for us, we have been diabolical the last 2 seasons on the road. Need to get off to a good start. Would take a draw at this point, although snatching a win would really kickstart our season.

 

[F!RTHY]

What's wrong with Smallwoods face?

Believe it or not, the site I used didn’t have a picture for him.

 

[ForzaCounty]

The Bescot was the scene of perhaps County's finest away performance last season, so it would be good to go and blow them out of the water again. But based on our start so far, we'll be brilliant for 70 minutes, make a couple of subs and then chuck it away at the end.

 

[GTFCfish]

Believe it or not, the site I used didn’t have a picture for him.

Here you go:

 

[F!RTHY]

Here you go:
View attachment 18951

Was half expecting to see your Cory tbh.

 

[Gunit]

Title shoot out up at Barrow. We might nudge up towards 50 travellers for this one with so much on the line.

 

[Indian Dan]

Expecting a comfortable win. There’s something going on at the CG and it feels good.

10,231 with 401 Crewe

 

[Chris FGR]

Here you go:
View attachment 18951

Lucky you’ve decided to use the more pg version of ‘smallwood’ there…

 

[Stocky]

Lucky you’ve decided to use the more pg version of ‘smallwood’ there…

Would have been easier to do aswell, all Fish would have to have done is go into his sent items.

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

Feels like a big game for us. We played Chesterfield secondish home game of last season after a dodgy start, went 2-0 down in front of a big away following, generally stank the place out and got booed off at half time. Langstaff nicked a goal from a defensive error, scored a peach a few minutes later and we never looked back.

Anyway it‘s a bit like that. Was going to get the train down, but I’ve got a family do later and don’t fancy having to explain why I’ve got industrial amounts of Grimsby Ching on my Hugos.

 

[Son of Cod]

Feels like a big game for us. We played Chesterfield secondish home game of last season after a dodgy start, went 2-0 down in front of a big away following, generally stank the place out and got booed off at half time. Langstaff nicked a goal from a defensive error, scored a peach a few minutes later and we never looked back.

Anyway it‘s a bit like that. Was going to get the train down, but I’ve got a family do later and don’t fancy having to explain why I’ve got industrial amounts of Grimsby Ching on my Hugos.

Ridiculous comment. Absolutely no chance any of that is getting wasted.

Last two visits to Meadow Lane have been absolutely ridiculous late 2-1 wins for us, so Notts are certainly owed some fortune in this one.

Can't wait, after last season's micro pre-season it feels like footy has been away for ages now. Especially as my last match was Donny on Easter weekend. First away match since moving to Kent and I'm being eased in with a three hour train journey. Some proper long drives/trains ahead if I choose to do them.

Hard to call this match, really interested to see how Hursty sets us up for it. Notts are gonna come out and Notts, that's a given. Who wins will almost completely depend on how we try and counter that. Williams' Notts don't seem as susceptible to the press as Burchnall's so we'll have to be careful. We rested Clifton, Conteh and Hunt in midweek and Holohan and Green apparently got pulled apart by Mansfield so I'd be very surprised if that's not the midfield three. I'm wondering if we might see the lopsided 442/433 switcheroo system that Hurst likes. Clifton on the left and tucking in. Sounded like Vernam and Glennon got rinsed down our left as well so Clifton would offer more protection than Vernam.

If I was picking the team I'd go....

GK: Eastwood
RB: Mullarkey
CB: Maher
CB: Rodgers
LB: Glennon
RM: Eisa
CM: Conteh
CM: Hunt
CM/LM: Clifton
ST: Rose
ST: Pyke

 

[クレイグ]

3-1 Colchester.

 

[chief]

First away day back in the league. Can't wait to not remember half the game and spend comfortably into 3 figures.

 

[JJ1990]

Expecting a comfortable win. There’s something going on at the CG and it feels good.

10,231 with 401 Crewe

Very little chance we'll take 400 I'd imagine. I know it's the opening day of the season but the £27 price tag, tricky journey and the fact that most of our fans have done the County Ground many times in the past few years will cut the following down.

Also, I'm surprised at your confidence. Most pundits(and myself) don't really see much about you this season. What are we missing? I think you've got a lightweight squad, questionable defence and a small technical side which is the polar opposite of the kind Flynn thrives with. Where is the optimism coming from?

 

[Indian Dan]

We‘ll see Saturday

 

[Casey]

I quite like that team. But it desperately needs a Ridehalgh replacement.

I thought Kelly looked a good defender and isn't Oyegoke suspended?

Casey