Saturday 16th November

[DippyDon]

Carlisle?

As Jacob said he's far too good not to play. As long as he holds onto the ball for an age seeling the perfect pass on the edge of the opponents box, I'm happy.

I say them only because of Williamson, it really depends on where that link originated from on our side, or who Crowley (apparently) wanted to join more at the time, the club or the manager

 

[Crewelad87]

Looks like this Notts County game is good timing for us, with us slowly but surely getting players back fit and Notts without some key players. That being said, I've got no doubt Notts will give us a tough test and they still have some more than decent players at this level. Also we are still without out a fair share of players Knight-Lebel and Thiabut away on international duty, we've got Lankaster, Thomas, Hemmings all out and Powell and Long still not fully fit. I would definitely take a draw and keep the current unbeaten run going into the Vale game next week. If we can win that sets up a real mouth watering game next week.

 

[valefan16]

Looks like this Notts County game is good timing for us, with us slowly but surely getting players back fit and Notts without some key players. That being said, I've got no doubt Notts will give us a tough test and they still have some more than decent players at this level. Also we are still without out a fair share of players Knight-Lebel and Thiabut away on international duty, we've got Lankaster, Thomas, Hemmings all out and Powell and Long still not fully fit. I would definitely take a draw and keep the current unbeaten run going into the Vale game next week. If we can win that sets up a real mouth watering game next week.

You might get lucky with us to if Stockley gets a yellow card on Saturday adding in to our injuries in midfield!

 

[valefan16]

Darren Moore has confirmed that Nathan Smith has been largely absent this season due to personal circumstances rather than being frozen out and will now be back in contention after his man of the match performance mid week.

A mainstay who until this season barely missed a game in the past 8 years after his surprise debut at Bradford in 2016 made his 402nd club appearance v Wrexham.

Big boost I think, always been solid at this level even if hes had struggles above and we have certainly missed his ability to get a reaction from strikers!

Another pure defender option, similar to Heneghan.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

Hugely pleasing to see that absences due to personal circumstances, mental health concerns/issues etc are now widely accepted as they should be by fans and talked about my players, managers and clubs.

 

[spireite]

Mandy's set pieces were key last season. We've scored a couple of decent free kicks but our corners and FK into the box haven't been good so far.

This is an important point actually. The amount of games we nicked by an odd goal from a set piece last year was huge. No proper crossing specialist on the pitch is hurting that. If Dunkley, Naylor, Grimes are on the pitch you've got a lot of aerial presence.

 

[Optipez]

He’ll be straight back in the team when he’s fit, I can’t see him staying beyond the summer but nor can I see us selling him before then.

It’s been interesting seeing us with him out, though. On balance you’d still rather he’s there, but we definitely move the ball through midfield quicker without him and everyone else seems a bit more willing to try and create rather than give him the ball every time.

I'm not so sure. I'd have him all day long as a no 10 like last year but anywhere else he flatters to deceive, holding on to the ball too long and giving opposition all the time they need to get two banks of four behind the ball.
Undoubtedly a talented footballer but apart from last season he's had a pretty moderate journeyman career. Even last year he scored 13 of his 14 at home and I thought looked a bit lightweight away.

In a perfect world Jatta up top with two of McGoldrick, Brown Crowley in behind should get us lots of goals.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

If you score 14 goals in a season playing in midfield I don't particularly care whether at home or away. 13 : 1 is a crazy ratio and does tell a story but we had so much possession in good areas at home compared to away he was always going to produce more at the Lane.

He does slow things down, he does let teams get back into shape but he's also the best at finding the killer pass like he perfectly showed at Morecambe. Plus I love when he starts playing twister with the opposition

Totally agree needs to be right up there but early this season Palmer was average IMO and too conservative so Crowley went back to get the ball and make things happen.

 

[Optipez]

If you score 14 goals in a season playing in midfield I don't particularly care whether at home or away. 13 : 1 is a crazy ratio and does tell a story but we had so much possession in good areas at home compared to away he was always going to produce more at the Lane.

He does slow things down, he does let teams get back into shape but he's also the best at finding the killer pass like he perfectly showed at Morecambe. Plus I love when he starts playing twister with the opposition

Totally agree needs to be right up there but early this season Palmer was average IMO and too conservative so Crowley went back to get the ball and make things happen.

Fair enough Viking, I'm not slagging him off, we were crying out for him to hold the ball for us the last twenty minutes at Doncaster but I think Palmer and Abbott look undroppable in the middle and Jevani Brown looks like he's ready to take off now he's settled and match fit.
We played a box midfield, or at least I thought we did at Donny with Palmer / Abbott as holders and Brown and Austin ahead and it worked really well until we tired, Crowley for Austin looks a good fit.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

If you score 14 goals in a season playing in midfield I don't particularly care whether at home or away. 13 : 1 is a crazy ratio and does tell a story but we had so much possession in good areas at home compared to away he was always going to produce more at the Lane.

He does slow things down, he does let teams get back into shape but he's also the best at finding the killer pass like he perfectly showed at Morecambe. Plus I love when he starts playing twister with the opposition

Totally agree needs to be right up there but early this season Palmer was average IMO and too conservative so Crowley went back to get the ball and make things happen.

 

[dannyc5]

Looks like this Notts County game is good timing for us, with us slowly but surely getting players back fit and Notts without some key players. That being said, I've got no doubt Notts will give us a tough test and they still have some more than decent players at this level. Also we are still without out a fair share of players Knight-Lebel and Thiabut away on international duty, we've got Lankaster, Thomas, Hemmings all out and Powell and Long still not fully fit. I would definitely take a draw and keep the current unbeaten run going into the Vale game next week. If we can win that sets up a real mouth watering game next week.

Thought Lankester was going to be on the bench, Saturday?