Saturday 13th January fixtures

[Luke Imp]

Last seasons top three from League Two now in the top ten of League One, didn't think I'd be saying that back in August.

I hope this comes across as respectfully as it's meant to those sides, and I'm not intending to play it down, but I think that sums up L1 this season.

There aren't as many big clubs in the division this year, certainly not as many outstanding sides, points deductions for two clubs, a club Chairman sent to prison, more sides averaging less than a goal a game and no promoted side finished above the bottom third last season I don't think.

Only January of course and things can change when the middle pack is congested.

 

[denzel ecfc]

Last seasons top three from League Two now in the top ten of League One, didn't think I'd be saying that back in August.

Three of the four from the previous season didn't do too bad either. Just a difficult second season for some now..

 

[White horse]

Bolton Wanderers are deeply saddened to confirm that the supporter taken ill at yesterday afternoon’s home fixture against Cheltenham Town has passed away.

Lifelong fan Iain Purslow suffered a suspected cardiac arrest during the first half of the game.

The 71-year-old was given sustained CPR treatment by medical staff and paramedics at the stadium before being taken to hospital where he tragically died.

Iain, who lives in Oldham, was at the game supporting the Whites with his son Stuart.

RIP mate

 

[Bartonyellow]

Bolton Wanderers are deeply saddened to confirm that the supporter taken ill at yesterday afternoon’s home fixture against Cheltenham Town has passed away.

Lifelong fan Iain Purslow suffered a suspected cardiac arrest during the first half of the game.

The 71-year-old was given sustained CPR treatment by medical staff and paramedics at the stadium before being taken to hospital where he tragically died.

Iain, who lives in Oldham, was at the game supporting the Whites with his son Stuart.

RIP mate

Very sad news.
Lot of these incidents been happening over the last two years. Like the excess deaths that is not widely talked about.

 

[valefan16]

I hope this comes across as respectfully as it's meant to those sides, and I'm not intending to play it down, but I think that sums up L1 this season.

There aren't as many big clubs in the division this year, certainly not as many outstanding sides, points deductions for two clubs, a club Chairman sent to prison, more sides averaging less than a goal a game and no promoted side finished above the bottom third last season I don't think.

Only January of course and things can change when the middle pack is congested.

There doesn’t feel as many games where you go into this season almost writing it off, even Portsmouth who are top at the moment you’d feel it’s a winnable one, whereas last season there were more games you’d write off.

That said we were 9th into January last season and Rovers and Exeter IIRC sat close to us.

As I’ve said before the real test will come now when the bigger clubs have used their financial power in January and teams find you out more the second round of games. We picked up 14 points after New Years Day and Exeter and Rovers fared little better.

 

[leedsvaliant]

Very sad news.
Lot of these incidents been happening over the last two years. Like the excess deaths that is not widely talked about.

Ooh you can't talk about that....you'll get called a conspiracy theorist.

The damage that farce caused to this country will be felt for generations.

 

[kieran_vale]

Bolton Wanderers are deeply saddened to confirm that the supporter taken ill at yesterday afternoon’s home fixture against Cheltenham Town has passed away.

Lifelong fan Iain Purslow suffered a suspected cardiac arrest during the first half of the game.

The 71-year-old was given sustained CPR treatment by medical staff and paramedics at the stadium before being taken to hospital where he tragically died.

Iain, who lives in Oldham, was at the game supporting the Whites with his son Stuart.

RIP mate

Very sad news, thoughts go out to his family on this.

 

[leedsvaliant]

There doesn’t feel as many games where you go into this season almost writing it off, even Portsmouth who are top at the moment you’d feel it’s a winnable one, whereas last season there were more games you’d write off.

That said we were 9th into January last season and Rovers and Exeter IIRC sat close to us.

As I’ve said before the real test will come now when the bigger clubs have used their financial power in January and teams find you out more the second round of games. We picked up 14 points after New Years Day and Exeter and Rovers fared little better.

Yep. Even though our points tally doesn't reflect it, I haven't seen any team miles ahead of us. Bolton looked very good for a half, as did Barnsley in a clinical sort of way, but there's no Ipswich or Sheffield Wednesday this year. I'm actually pretty disappointed in our position.

 

[leedsvaliant]

Bolton Wanderers are deeply saddened to confirm that the supporter taken ill at yesterday afternoon’s home fixture against Cheltenham Town has passed away.

Lifelong fan Iain Purslow suffered a suspected cardiac arrest during the first half of the game.

The 71-year-old was given sustained CPR treatment by medical staff and paramedics at the stadium before being taken to hospital where he tragically died.

Iain, who lives in Oldham, was at the game supporting the Whites with his son Stuart.

RIP mate

Awful news for the family and Bolton.

 

[Marked Ox]

It was alternatively Oldham v Salford was abandoned with 10 minutes left, a game that would see Oldham down and them losing and everyone went home and it was quietly finished behind closed doors a couple of hours later which I expected our game to be to be honest. Would have surely made sense and limited the financial impact on Vale in terms of travel and hotels… then the EFL can deal with punishment and how our fans get recompense.

That seemed too obvious though! Game was abandoned at 4:25 everyone gone by 5:30 say, do the warm ups and play on from 6:30 and have it done and dusted by 8 from a football perspective.

The issue now the EFL have is how to deal with the situation because Reading fans are saying this is the start and will do it in subsequent games so could have a situation where the next game gets abandoned and so on… do they force them to play behind closed doors? Or just give the opponents the three points each time it happens?

The EFL have to deal with the football integrity issue of it but know fans largely are sympathetic and supportive of Reading’s plight.

Reading would probably have struggled to pay for additional energy needed in the ground.

 

[kieran_vale]

Had seen on Twitter The Sun lived down to the usual low standards would expect of that disgusting rag over the incident at Bolton.

 

[Marked Ox]

Three of the four from the previous season didn't do too bad either. Just a difficult second season for some now..

Which can often be the hardest season.

 

[BRFC_Gas]

Had seen on Twitter The Sun lived down to the usual low standards would expect of that disgusting rag over the incident at Bolton.

Yep absolute belters at that rag

https://twitter.com/x/status/1746530025942196594

 

[Pompeyblueboy]

What do you think about us little teams now. And before you say " Have I been watching you for long " I first saw Portsmouth at AG in 1965.

I know I like to wind up but I'm sick to death of playing little teams or more correctly playing in the lower leagues.

We have rode our luck this season and now with the loss of a few of our better players we are fcuked. Only 7 points ahead of 7th with all the other teams having games in hand. We'll probably be out the playoffs position soon

 

[Tangerine_tart]

If we had any sort of away form we would have walked this league. Sadly we are stuck with Critchley for now. We are likely to miss out on promotion and that's unforgivable given our squad.

The best side we've faced is Port Vale. Clinical and have a solid defence. I'd expect them to push towards the top half the longer the season goes on.

 

[kieran_vale]

If we had any sort of away form we would have walked this league. Sadly we are stuck with Critchley for now. We are likely to miss out on promotion and that's unforgivable given our squad.

The best side we've faced is Port Vale. Clinical and have a solid defence. I'd expect them to push towards the top half the longer the season goes on.

Trust me that game was the exception to the rule on both counts

Did definitely sense some frustration towards Critchley before and during our game. As you say with some of the players you have should really be looking at that top six. Still doable though.

 

[Bartonyellow]

Derby away tomorrow.
Can we sneak a 1-0?
I doubt it very much. New manager and or not. Ticket sales are slow for this - thanks to 8pm
Monday night sky.
Hoping for a below par derby performance so we can capitalise on it.
Draw would be fine / but I stand by my 3-1 defeat prediction.

 

[leedsvaliant]

If we had any sort of away form we would have walked this league. Sadly we are stuck with Critchley for now. We are likely to miss out on promotion and that's unforgivable given our squad.

The best side we've faced is Port Vale. Clinical and have a solid defence. I'd expect them to push towards the top half the longer the season goes on.

I thought you looked reasonably decent, until you got to our box. Rhodes had a stinker. It was one of those games where our defence actually did the basics and we were clinical with chances.

 

[Bartonyellow]

Ooh you can't talk about that....you'll get called a conspiracy theorist.

The damage that farce caused to this country will be felt for generations.

Other reply was deleted.
But let’s start asking more questions - instead of believing everything we are told.

 

[leedsvaliant]

Derby away tomorrow.
Can we sneak a 1-0?
I doubt it very much. New manager and or not. Ticket sales are slow for this - thanks to 8pm
Monday night sky.
Hoping for a below par derby performance so we can capitalise on it.
Draw would be fine / but I stand by my 3-1 defeat prediction.

I didn't think they were particularly good when we played them...we were just in stinking form. They're just on a good run at the moment, which they should be with the budget they have for this division. Another team that I'll be glad when they get promoted because then league one might be a bit more even.

 

[leedsvaliant]

Other reply was deleted.
But let’s start asking more questions - instead of believing everything we are told.

I read it before it was deleted and I totally agree. People don't want to talk about it because they don't want to admit to being fooled. It's a shame that such subjects are deleted rather than debated but it was the same during the last few years.

 

[Tangerine_tart]

I thought you looked reasonably decent, until you got to our box. Rhodes had a stinker. It was one of those games where our defence actually did the basics and we were clinical with chances.

That's the story of our away performances. I've never seen us win at Vale Park in my 28 years following Blackpool lol. It's the opposite against Stoke. Regular away wins. You are a right bogey team for us. All the best for the rest of the season.

 

[Throbber_for_Dunk]

Ooh you can't talk about that....you'll get called a conspiracy theorist.

The damage that farce caused to this country will be felt for generations.

Peddle conspiracy theories, get called a conspiracy theorist.

Quite frankly, to go straight to that angle without any facts when a supporter has passed away at a match is massively disrespectful at best and at worst is up there with The Sun's reaction.

Go take it to Matt Le Tissier's twitter if you want to put your tinfoil hat on and fiddle with yourself.

RIP fella.

 

[leedsvaliant]

Peddle conspiracy theories, get called a conspiracy theorist.

Quite frankly, to go straight to that angle without any facts when a supporter has passed away at a match is massively disrespectful at best and at worst is up there with The Sun's reaction.

Go take it to Matt Le Tissier's twitter if you want to put your tinfoil hat on and fiddle with yourself.

RIP fella.

I don't believe I ever mentioned anything in connection with this poor chap?

But this is a classic response from someone who doesn't want to debate and shuts down using insults. It happens time and time again.

 

[Throbber_for_Dunk]

I don't believe I ever mentioned anything in connection with this poor chap?

But this is a classic response from someone who doesn't want to debate and shuts down using insults. It happens time and time again.

Aye, I think it was the Burton fan who did but still. Enough subtext to your post to make your feelings clear.

Didn't use any insults toward you though, so not sure your second line has any relevance.

The point is the same, a football fan like the rest of us died at a match yesterday, turning that into a debate about something completely different is pretty disrespectful, as the fans taking photos of him at the ground was, as the article in The Sun was. If you want to have that particular debate, save it for somewhere a bit more appropriate.

 

[valefan16]

To be fair the more common football abandonments or delays to supporters having medical emergencies or passing is more down to games being halted or abandoned when they were not in the past, recall a couple of incidents at Vale Park with it and the game wasn’t stopped, sure one fan passed away a decade or so back so it’s more spotlighted due to the abandonment or delay. Not saying stopping it is wrong before that’s assumed but simply the fact we do now stop it makes it more at the forefront of the news and seems more common when it probably isn’t.

Regardless we all take going to the football for granted and no one expects not to return home, thoughts with the Bolton supporter and his family.

 

[leedsvaliant]

Aye, I think it was the Burton fan who did but still. Enough subtext to your post to make your feelings clear.

Didn't use any insults toward you though, so not sure your second line has any relevance.

The point is the same, a football fan like the rest of us died at a match yesterday, turning that into a debate about something completely different is pretty disrespectful, as the fans taking photos of him at the ground was, as the article in The Sun was. If you want to have that particular debate, save it for somewhere a bit more appropriate.

Fair enough...wrong forum. The whole thing just got me so wound up and still does to this day and people talking about tin foil hats and jerking off over Matt Le Tissier is just annoying.

 

[valefan16]

Reading fans donating to our John Rudge statue fund is a class act to be fair to them in respect of yesterday’s inconvenience and support from our fans.

 

[Bartonyellow]

Aye, I think it was the Burton fan who did but still. Enough subtext to your post to make your feelings clear.

Didn't use any insults toward you though, so not sure your second line has any relevance.

The point is the same, a football fan like the rest of us died at a match yesterday, turning that into a debate about something completely different is pretty disrespectful, as the fans taking photos of him at the ground was, as the article in The Sun was. If you want to have that particular debate, save it for somewhere a bit more appropriate.

Yep. Was me. I made the correlation.
I stated that this kind of incident, which is very sad is becoming all to often / players and supporters alike.
And the forum for discussion is largely shut down in mainstream media.
It’s not disrespectful to the fan concerned, it’s simply pointing it out.
As for Matt le tissier, I don’t agree with everything he says but at least he is not dead from the neck up trusting our government for everything we are told.
As you say - wrong forum.
So bringing it back to the top / it’s very sad and heartfelt sympathies to the family at this time.

 

[masi51]

Big thank you to the Cheltenham fans that travelled up to watch the match yesterday.
A few things have been said about a lone voice coming from there end......I will call it now Bollox......great fans
Sad, sad day ....Some people have commented on why the game could not have continued i even replied with one post on here and called him a knob!
I doubt on reflection he has the same views today so i will let it go.
We once had 33 people die at a match and moved the bodies to one side and carried on, god i am glad we have moved on as a country from those dark days.
Thank you for the kind words expressed on here and other forums.....Yes i know i wind a lot up here but it is all in in good spirit.....yesterday hit hard

All the best for the rest of the season whoever you support