Saturday 14th December

[spireite]

Bromley away, tricky, they seemed to be nose diving back to non league after a good first month of the season but fair play to them, they seem to have stopped the rot, hit form and maybe are getting used to the higher level now.

We tend not to be great on tight pitches against sides that will bully us so not an ideal game to stop a stutter of form but if we want promotion we need to be turning this around quickly.

Key players coming back should help, the one positive from Saturday was George Byers being back, massive massive boost, so all of a sudden 3 of our 4 central midfielders are available after only having 1 in the past month or so.

Ideally we need to not get drawn into Bromley's style of play, get the ball down and play the game best suited to us and make them worry about that, but the one frustration with Moore is we seem more bothered about countering our opponents that setting up to be ourselves so imagine he will get the 6ft plus players out there and play to that.

I suspect the adjustment for Bromley is more to do with losing their plaggy pitch as much as anything else. Their style is mostly the same still, keep it tight, shithouse and spoil as much as they can, and hope Michael fucking Cheek pops up with one.

 

[dannyc5]

There was a period when Crewe seemed to beat Grimsby on a regular basis,whatever their respective league position. In last few fixtures Grimsby have done a little better I believe (?)

Grimsby have started to get some form, starting Luker and Obikwu has certainly helped and the return to some sort of fitness of Thompson & Davies are big pluses.

I am little surprised you only expect to bring 250 considering your league position and only a 2 and a half hour drive away.

Would be delighted if your prediction is correct, but with you missing Tracey and us also having Rogers suspended I predict a draw

We never travel well to Grimsby, despite the drive not being too long. I suspect because it's such a long train journey (an hour longer than the drive). A large proportion of our away following go on the train. We're spoilt in Crewe with the train connections, but when there's an awkward journey, our following plummets.

Anyway, I'm on the train. The Stockport to Cleethorpes leg is a lovely journey, especially with a few beers.

 

[Cloudy]

We never travel well to Grimsby, despite the drive not being too long. I suspect because it's such a long train journey (an hour longer than the drive). A large proportion of our away following go on the train. We're spoilt in Crewe with the train connections, but when there's an awkward journey, our following plummets.

Anyway, I'm on the train. The Stockport to Cleethorpes leg is a lovely journey, especially with a few beers.

I and a couple of mates travel to away games by train wherever possible. When there are no cancellations or disruptions it is an easy way to travel.

Enjoy the journey, but, hopefully, not the result

 

[Limerick Mariner]

I suspect the adjustment for Bromley is more to do with losing their plaggy pitch as much as anything else. Their style is mostly the same still, keep it tight, shithouse and spoil as much as they can, and hope Michael fucking Cheek pops up with one.

Yes the bane of the BELTS has carried on notching in the EFL. He doesn't really look like a footballer anywhere except in the penalty box, looks ungainly elsewhere.

There were rumours that we tried to sign him when we were NL but don't know the truth in that. Kent for Cleethorpes never a likely swap without some silly money for that level.

 

[spireite]

Yes the bane of the BELTS has carried on notching in the EFL. He doesn't really look like a footballer anywhere except in the penalty box, looks ungainly elsewhere.

There were rumours that we tried to sign him when we were NL but don't know the truth in that. Kent for Cleethorpes never a likely swap without some silly money for that level.

I think we've been linked in the past. He has the air of a wasted career about him. He's still scoring goals at 33 in his first go at league football. It shows he's always had the ability, but seemed quite content knocking about southern non league clubs all his career

 

[valefan16]

I think we've been linked in the past. He has the air of a wasted career about him. He's still scoring goals at 33 in his first go at league football. It shows he's always had the ability, but seemed quite content knocking about southern non league clubs all his career

We need a big striker to take the load of Stockley who had to play the last few games with a niggling injury so wouldn't mind us taking a punt in January.

 

[leedsvaliant]

Yes the bane of the BELTS has carried on notching in the EFL. He doesn't really look like a footballer anywhere except in the penalty box, looks ungainly elsewhere.

There were rumours that we tried to sign him when we were NL but don't know the truth in that. Kent for Cleethorpes never a likely swap without some silly money for that level.

He looks significantly overweight to me but clearly he has some ability.

I have a feeling we might struggle on Saturday. Bromley will see us as a big game in league 2 and as seems the norm against us, will be bang up for it. The meltdown on our forum should we lose will get spectacular. There's genuinely a thread on there at the moment 'Should Darren Moore be sacked?'.

This after being top for weeks and weeks.

 

[valefan16]

He looks significantly overweight to me but clearly he has some ability.

I have a feeling we might struggle on Saturday. Bromley will see us as a big game in league 2 and as seems the norm against us, will be bang up for it. The meltdown on our forum should we lose will get spectacular. There's genuinely a thread on there at the moment 'Should Darren Moore be sacked?'.

This after being top for weeks and weeks.

Silly thread that, we've lost in 15 and are 4 clear of 4th and have had all but one of our midfielders out, ironically since the little wobble began.

Yes his football isn't mega exciting but still in a strong position, if we don't get promoted then we look at it in May.

 

[Randolph Haggerty]

I’m going to sample the delights of Bromley on Saturday for my first away game in a while.
I’m not expecting a good result, we always have a mid season implosion I thinks it’s on its way.
Wouldn’t surprise me one bit for us be mid table come February.

 

[spireite]

We need a big striker to take the load of Stockley who had to play the last few games with a niggling injury so wouldn't mind us taking a punt in January.

I'm not sure he's that sort of mould really, he's a tap in merchant. But he's guaranteed goals for anyone I think. He routinely gets 20 a year for Bromley who make a couple of chances a game. For an attacking team he'd bag for laughs. I get the feeling it would take a lot for him to leave the London area though. I think he's well paid.

 

[GTFCfish]

The way we’re playing at the minute it’s hard not to be confident of a win but there’s this nagging feeling that as we’ve really had Crewe’s number for the last 2 seasons with a few 3 goal hammerings, this one that looks like a massive game now I worry we might shit the bed.
Really hope we win though and Saturday is my last night at work before Christmas and 12 days off so if I’m going in after a win I will be absolutely buzzing all night.

 

[SuperHans]

I'm not sure he's that sort of mould really, he's a tap in merchant. But he's guaranteed goals for anyone I think. He routinely gets 20 a year for Bromley who make a couple of chances a game. For an attacking team he'd bag for laughs. I get the feeling it would take a lot for him to leave the London area though. I think he's well paid.

Yeah can’t see Cheek going anywhere. He’s also 33. Cushty number at Bromley on good money.

 

[Ainsty]

Tranmere away is a must-win game against another team at the arse end of the table. It's not just that we have lost 2 games in a row it is the awful performances. Like everyone, we have players injured but our squad is so shallow just 1 or 2 key players out makes a massive impact. A couple of free agents brought in are still getting sufficient fitness to play. I hope they take the opportunity to restart their careers and make a positive impact. With well funded clubs eyeing the January transfer window things look desperate.

 

[pontoonlew]

Biggest game of the season IMO. The start of the season had so many mitigating circumstances, tough fixtures and a horrid injury list made us wildly inconsistent but we started fairly well.

We’ve had 2 games with pretty much a fully fit squad and we’ve blown both sides away. Saturday presents a much different challenge, a decent side at home. If we play like we did the past 2 games I’ll genuinely start to get excited. If we revert to another horror show at home, it’ll be a stark reminder that we’re probably a mid table side.

 

[THE LAST WALTZ]

We are on a run of one win on the trot.
Be afraid MK, be very afraid.

 

[Son of Cod]

Biggest game of the season IMO. The start of the season had so many mitigating circumstances, tough fixtures and a horrid injury list made us wildly inconsistent but we started fairly well.

We’ve had 2 games with pretty much a fully fit squad and we’ve blown both sides away. Saturday presents a much different challenge, a decent side at home. If we play like we did the past 2 games I’ll genuinely start to get excited. If we revert to another horror show at home, it’ll be a stark reminder that we’re probably a mid table side.

This is pretty much how I see it too mate. Obviously really want that win and to be excited about a potential playoff run but I'll also be happy watching us steadily progress over the coming months if it turns out we aren't quite there yet.

It's really refreshing to be going into a Jan window in this division looking minor tweaks too as opposed to wanting half the squad gone and replaced.

 

[DearneValleyRover]

We are doing far better away from home but we’ve only ever beaten Wimbledon away once and that was back in the 80’s

 

[GTFCfish]

This is pretty much how I see it too mate. Obviously really want that win and to be excited about a potential playoff run but I'll also be happy watching us steadily progress over the coming months if it turns out we aren't quite there yet.

It's really refreshing to be going into a Jan window in this division looking minor tweaks too as opposed to wanting half the squad gone and replaced.

Yeah and my thinking too is that players that we might be after in January might be more inclined to come here with us being at the right end of the table for once as opposed to the usual struggle to get players in that are happy to fight a relegation battle.

 

[Dan Phillips]

What's this about Bromley being bang in form lol? They've won 2 on the bounce against a shite Gillingham and an inconsistent Accrington, yet had 4 straight draws before that? Solid, hard to break down, yes, but bang in form is a little OTT. I can't see anything other than 0-0, 1-0, 1-1 or 0-1. Typical Vale away this season, bar the freak games at Barrow and Newport. They'll make it a war of attrition. Ball will go out of play a lot and be up in the air. Not going to be easy on the eye. I'll take another 0-1 all day though. I'd be okay with a point as long as we follow it up with a win against Carlisle next week.

 

[gary]

We are doing far better away from home but we’ve only ever beaten Wimbledon away once and that was back in the 80’s

Think you might beat us Saturday. Depends how Jackson sets us up . The majority of our midfield are out injured hence why we've brought in a couple of old experienced heads on a month's contract.

 

[OneDecentLester]

Carlisle (A)

The big news for us is that Naylor is back fit & available, and when Naylor’s fit he plays so I expect him to go straight back into the XI. Think we’ll look something like this Saturday:

Thompson
Sheckleford Williams Grimes Gordon
Mandeville Naylor
Markanday Dobra Colclough
Grigg

Boot (GK)
Araujo
Horton
Hobson
Banks
Berry
Drummond

Fingers crossed we can replicate our attacking play from the game against Tranmere as we were as good going forward in that game as we have been all season. Everything seemed to flow and look natural, so a repeat of that would be great.

 

[jacobncfc]

Hopefully a little break might have done us some good and let us get some players back. If we’ve got Platt, Abbott, Crowley and Robertson available then that suddenly puts us in a miles better place.

Know very little about what Salford are like this season but we could do really with stringing a couple of wings together.

 

[Boz]

Tranmere away is a must-win game against another team at the arse end of the table. It's not just that we have lost 2 games in a row it is the awful performances. Like everyone, we have players injured but our squad is so shallow just 1 or 2 key players out makes a massive impact. A couple of free agents brought in are still getting sufficient fitness to play. I hope they take the opportunity to restart their careers and make a positive impact. With well funded clubs eyeing the January transfer window things look desperate.

It’s probably a good time to play us, unless the news from the online Q&A tonight brings some positive news about the takeover. We have a small squad of dubious quality and a manager in Nigel Adkins who appears to have lost the plot and the dressing room going from some of the post-match player interviews. Think there is some talk of protests before the match.

Given the choice, I’d drop everyone who started the dismal showing at Chesterfield save keeper McGee and Connor Jennings. The reality is that we haven’t got a big enough squad todo that. There is a bit of good news with captain Tom Davies fit enough to return to central defence, where Declan Drysdale has struggled, while the underused Josh Hawkes is also available for selection. I have no confidence that we can get a win, if Rovers were to lose things could turn very toxic indeed.

 

[Dan Phillips]

Hopefully a little break might have done us some good and let us get some players back. If we’ve got Platt, Abbott, Crowley and Robertson available then that suddenly puts us in a miles better place.

Know very little about what Salford are like this season but we could do really with stringing a couple of wings together.

You'll be flying if you manage that.

 

[valefan16]

What's this about Bromley being bang in form lol? They've won 2 on the bounce against a shite Gillingham and an inconsistent Accrington, yet had 4 straight draws before that? Solid, hard to break down, yes, but bang in form is a little OTT. I can't see anything other than 0-0, 1-0, 1-1 or 0-1. Typical Vale away this season, bar the freak games at Barrow and Newport. They'll make it a war of attrition. Ball will go out of play a lot and be up in the air. Not going to be easy on the eye. I'll take another 0-1 all day though. I'd be okay with a point as long as we follow it up with a win against Carlisle next week.

Won the same amount of games we have over the last 6 (2) as we have and we are in a "slump" shows how you can make stats work how you want.

They have done well though to stop the slide and seem to be getting to grips with EFL football now so won't be easy, if we want to be promoted these are games we need to look to get something from but we will have to be better than we have been.

Hopefully the returning key players will give us a boost.

 

[1862]

I don't think it'll be an easy game but I'm really hopeful of a win.

Listening to the NTT20 weekend preview and based on an xG model they have seen, Notts have a better expected points over the last 6 games than anyone else in the league - including MK who have won all 6. I don't agree with that on the basis of the games I've seen, but if the club's internal numbers agree with that model I think it strongly suggests that Maynard will be fine with the owners.

 

[kieran_vale]

It’s probably a good time to play us, unless the news from the online Q&A tonight brings some positive news about the takeover. We have a small squad of dubious quality and a manager in Nigel Adkins who appears to have lost the plot and the dressing room going from some of the post-match player interviews. Think there is some talk of protests before the match.

Given the choice, I’d drop everyone who started the dismal showing at Chesterfield save keeper McGee and Connor Jennings. The reality is that we haven’t got a big enough squad todo that. There is a bit of good news with captain Tom Davies fit enough to return to central defence, where Declan Drysdale has struggled, while the underused Josh Hawkes is also available for selection. I have no confidence that we can get a win, if Rovers were to lose things could turn very toxic indeed.

See you’ve brought in our old manager Andy Crosby as a coach. That’s a good move as he was great for us in that sort of supporting role just not so much as the main man. When he joined us as Darrell Clarkes assistant our results picked up noticeably very quickly afterwards so who knows similar might happen here.

 

[hellogregory]

Chesterfield at home.

After 2 decent home draws, we really need to start winning games. In my opinion to have any chance of staying up we need to be collecting a minimum of 7 points from these next 4 games, 3 of which are at home. A tall order given we’ve won only 2 home games all year!

Would a point be a bad result? Absolutely not. We’re playing against Chesterfield, the early bookies favourites for the title. Being the worst team in the football league, every game is an uphill task, but this should present one of the tougher ones.
But while a point wouldn’t be bad, it would put “must win” pressure on the 2 home games between Xmas and New year, as we won’t get anything at vale next week. So ideally we get a win tomorrow, somehow.

All that said, I can’t look beyond the fact we’re the worst team in the football league, are toothless in attack and have the most pathetic home record this calendar year imaginable. Sadly even the most optimistic blue tinted glasses side of me can’t see anything other than a routine Chesterfield win.

Carlisle United 1-2 Chesterfield

 

[Boz]

Very brief update from the online Q&A with the Palioi at TRFC
The takeover is still on, seems to be an unspecified consortium. Completion most likely around the end of March. However the current owners optimistically hope that the potential buyers may make some funds available in January to strengthen the squad.
Adkins remains in charge for the foreseeable.
The Fan Park, a Trust project which has ground to a halt looks unlikely to be completed and is probably structurally unsafe. Further statement to be issued next week.

While I'll give the Palioi credit for holding these sessions regularly and we got some updates, even if it was not the news people wanted to hear. While hopefully Andy Crosby, who has worked with Adkins before, can provide some insight into what's going wrong and how to change it, things look precarious. The game v Harrogate will give some idea about how things evolve. I remain pessimistic.

 

[Boz]

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