Saturday 1st March

[Optipez]

Fleetwood away for Notts. who it turns out we’ve never beaten. Looks nailed on for a draw which I’m sure most of us would take. We’ve generally found Pete Wild teams a bit of a pain in the arse.

Some of the other Notts fans will disagree but It *feels* like our autos push is running out of steam a bit unless we get McGoldrick and Jones back fully fit soon, with the added possibility of getting Traore starting as well.

Got some tough games coming up, probably need our big players back to get much from them.

We're definitely only just getting points, not at all fluent or convincing.
We've had key injuries all season, rarely able to put our best team out but Maynard is very cautious, choosing to play one striker rather than two even against poorer teams at home, which doesn't help.
Fleetwood looks tough but if we want to go up we need points from these games.

 

[valefan16]

Must win really at Tranmere, not a side we’ve done well against recently and the manager change adds the unknown a bit along with our injury crisis up front.

I’d not play the Palace lad though, rather go Hackford alone and have two number 10s like Chis behind. If Tolaj is fit that would be a help!

Wish Crosby all the best, as permanent manager it was a bit of a disaster but covering for DC after a slow start he led us on that run which was a massive part in our promotion 3 years ago and was a great bloke. There were some great moments during his time with us mixed in with some horrific ones.

 

[GTFCfish]

I'm at a loss to understand your query.
I checked the last six results of the four teams mentioned on their website and it agrees with the Form Guide.
Port Vale 4 wins, 2 draws = 14 pts
Swindon, 4 wins, 1 draw = 13 pts
Bromley 3 wins, 1 draw = 10 pts
Fleetwood 2 wins, 2 draw = 8 pts
I can only guess that you are looking at a different number of games played!

He’s on about the red green and grey dots next to the fixtures, ours is wrong too as if has 4 greens then a red but should be 4 greens and a grey as we drew will Gillingham before our run of wins.
Not that it actually matters one bit like.

 

[GTFCfish]

So Cheltenham away, tough one but it will help us knowing that we’ve also got the full support of Nailsworth for this one given that Cheltenham and FGR are such HUMONGOUS MASSIVE rivals.

 

[CFC91]

Well can't be much worst than the last time we played Chesterfield. If after that game you told me Chesterfield would be stuck in midtable at this stage I'd never have believed you.

Things are slowly starting to look abit brighter for our squad, Williams and Cooney will return from suspension, albeit I wouldn't be in a hurry to play either, as weve looked better with a back 4 and Billington deserves his spot in the team. I've heard the only forward that's going to be likely to return in time will be Chris Long. Our form doesn't look great of late apart from the Barrow game last time out, but to be fair we've played some decent stuff without getting the results in recent weeks, so hopefully we continue with this more free flowing style of football.

Should be a decent away crowd travelling over for this, sold over 700 so far, so I'd expect somewhere between 800-1000.

Chesterfield 1-1 Crewe (Dobra, Long)

I didn't think we'd go up but I certain didn't think you would, funny old game eh

We've not got much to play for now so will be interesting to see what sort of team we turn up with

 

[Ainsty]

This week, we face Accrington at home. We are currently separated by only goal difference, although Accrington has a game in hand. We have been unbeaten at home since January 1st, while they recently secured an away victory on Tuesday. Both teams look poor and are desperate for a result to avoid falling into the relegation zone. 6 pointer, need to win and other cliches. I expect it to be a tense, scrappy game.

 

[Si Robin]

So Cheltenham away, tough one but it will help us knowing that we’ve also got the full support of Nailsworth for this one given that Cheltenham and FGR are such HUMONGOUS MASSIVE rivals.

 

[jacobncfc]

We're definitely only just getting points, not at all fluent or convincing.
We've had key injuries all season, rarely able to put our best team out but Maynard is very cautious, choosing to play one striker rather than two even against poorer teams at home, which doesn't help.
Fleetwood looks tough but if we want to go up we need points from these games.

To be fair, with McGoldrick out we don’t have another striker to play. I think Traore is a late sub because of fitness rather than out of choice, but he’s been here nearly a month so is hopefully getting closer to being able to start games.

Sounds like Jones will be back for this one anyway, which is obviously very good news. This isn’t easy but it’s the kind of game you need to find a way to win for top three IMO.

 

[kieran_vale]

One good bit of news for us leading into this game is Ronan Curtis will now be available as successfully appealed his red card. Pleasant surprise that.

 

[Spireitelass97]

Well can't be much worst than the last time we played Chesterfield. If after that game you told me Chesterfield would be stuck in midtable at this stage I'd never have believed you.

Things are slowly starting to look abit brighter for our squad, Williams and Cooney will return from suspension, albeit I wouldn't be in a hurry to play either, as weve looked better with a back 4 and Billington deserves his spot in the team. I've heard the only forward that's going to be likely to return in time will be Chris Long. Our form doesn't look great of late apart from the Barrow game last time out, but to be fair we've played some decent stuff without getting the results in recent weeks, so hopefully we continue with this more free flowing style of football.

Should be a decent away crowd travelling over for this, sold over 700 so far, so I'd expect somewhere between 800-1000.

Chesterfield 1-1 Crewe (Dobra, Long)

I wouldn’t be at all surprised by a 1-1 result tbf. Dobra to score is a good shout, he’s our main threat atm

 

[spireite]

I wouldn’t be at all surprised by a 1-1 result tbf. Dobra to score is a good shout, he’s our main threat atm

only*

 

[Spireitelass97]

only*

Nearly put that

 

[gary]

Could be a potential banana skin for us at home to Bromley. If we are going to finish in the top 3 we really need to be winning tomorrow and going to Morecambe on Tuesday night and winning there as well. We now more or less have a fully fit squad so there are no excuses. Both game's will be tough.

 

[Meadow]

Could be a potential banana skin for us at home to Bromley. If we are going to finish in the top 3 we really need to be winning tomorrow and going to Morecambe on Tuesday night and winning there as well. We now more or less have a fully fit squad so there are no excuses. Both game's will be tough.

As the guys on WHAD said, this could be our Sutton on Boxing day a couple of years back.

 

[FiRTHYY]

Salford (a) - another tough one!

Lewis Richards returned on Tues away at Bromley, albeit for 30 mins, before falling injured yet again - returned too soon IMO.

Tyreik Wright, our other LWB is out due to concussion protocol. Tayo Adaramola has been a breathe of fresh air, tbf - he’ll keep his place at LWB.

We continue to rotate - especially in those defensive areas. Patto only had 15 mins from the bench on Tues, so he’ll be fresh. I highlight him because he makes us tick, let’s be honest.

I actually rate Salford on paper - no one can deny they have some decent players at this level. Hakeeb Adelakun is a man on-form. We’ll do well to stop him. I said the same midweek with Michael Cheek, but I’ve had blemishes on my arse that have caused more problems.

Wouldn’t be surprised to see Kav replace Mellon. They both do a very similar job - not arsed who starts, tbf.

GK: Sam Walker

CB: Aden Baldwin
CB: Jack Shepherd
CB: Romoney Crichlow

RWB: Brad Halliday
LWB: Tayo Adaramola

CM: Ritchie Smallwood
CM: Alex Pattison

AM: Antoni Sarcevic
AM: Bobby Pointon

ST: Micky Mellon/Calum Kavanagh

We can’t continue these 1-0 wins. We’re long due a run of losses, too. But there’s something about this squad that just instils confidence.

That said, I’ll take a draw.

2-2 (1,400 City + 300 in the home end).

 

[Kauto Star]

Could be a potential banana skin for us at home to Bromley. If we are going to finish in the top 3 we really need to be winning tomorrow and going to Morecambe on Tuesday night and winning there as well. We now more or less have a fully fit squad so there are no excuses. Both game's will be tough.

Two 1-0 victories for you there. Neither Bromley or Morecambe will cause you problems, it's just breaking them down

 

[kieran_vale]

Early one for us today. Have to admit just because of the change of manager I’m rather wary of this game. If we are at our best we should win but as weird as it sounds I’m more confident in us beating any of our promotion rivals than the relegation strugglers who’ve all had some joy of some sort against us and that’s including Tranmere who could quite plausibly have beaten us at VP at the start of the season.

Amos
John Smith Hall
Clark Byers Croasdale Harper Hart
Tolaj Curtis

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

If inform high flying Port Vale are at their best or anywhere close you will definitely win against lowly and badly out of form Tranmere.

Football fans have this strange bit consistent habit of spinning every scenario and any fixture however favourable into something tricky, something to worry about until they win and then it's quickly forgotten as they comment how much they dominated, how easy to was, how little the opposition offered etc.

 

[leedsvaliant]

Salford (a) - another tough one!

Lewis Richards returned on Tues away at Bromley, albeit for 30 mins, before falling injured yet again - returned too soon IMO.

Tyreik Wright, our other LWB is out due to concussion protocol. Tayo Adaramola has been a breathe of fresh air, tbf - he’ll keep his place at LWB.

We continue to rotate - especially in those defensive areas. Patto only had 15 mins from the bench on Tues, so he’ll be fresh. I highlight him because he makes us tick, let’s be honest.

I actually rate Salford on paper - no one can deny they have some decent players at this level. Hakeeb Adelakun is a man on-form. We’ll do well to stop him. I said the same midweek with Michael Cheek, but I’ve had blemishes on my arse that have caused more problems.

Wouldn’t be surprised to see Kav replace Mellon. They both do a very similar job - not arsed who starts, tbf.

GK: Sam Walker

CB: Aden Baldwin
CB: Jack Shepherd
CB: Romoney Crichlow

RWB: Brad Halliday
LWB: Tayo Adaramola

CM: Ritchie Smallwood
CM: Alex Pattison

AM: Antoni Sarcevic
AM: Bobby Pointon

ST: Micky Mellon/Calum Kavanagh

We can’t continue these 1-0 wins. We’re long due a run of losses, too. But there’s something about this squad that just instils confidence.

That said, I’ll take a draw.

2-2 (1,400 City + 300 in the home end).

Nah. You'll win today. Salford are absolutely shite.

 

[leedsvaliant]

If inform high flying Port Vale are at their best or anywhere close you will definitely win against lowly and badly out of form Tranmere.

Football fans have this strange bit consistent habit of spinning every scenario and any fixture however favourable into something tricky, something to worry about until they win and then it's quickly forgotten as they comment how much they dominated, how easy to was, how little the opposition offered etc.

It's the nature of being a lower league football fan. The default position is that things will turn to shit at any minute.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

It's the nature of being a lower league football fan. The default position is that things will turn to shit at any minute.

Very true but every single week

 

[Jimmy Anderson]

Vales record away at Tranmere in the last 15 games there is won 2 drew 2 lost 11. Last away win there was 1 nil in 2013. Vale haven't beat Tranmere in there last 8 meetings with 4 draws and 4 defeats so one of about 10 bogey clubs for vale in this division. Also David rock is the ref and he is shite. Don't have a good record with him being ref 7 nil loss at Barnsley, 4 nil loss at Oxford 3 2 loss at Lincoln where he sent off 3 players in the game and the tom conlon one ended up getting rescinded, turned out to be Clarke's last match in charge of vale

 

[Gi Dalor]

The problem with Bradford City is that we're not scoring enough, and that's going to bite us 0-0 in the arse at some point. Plus, despite their poor form, Salford are one of the better sides in the division.
Still, the pressure's on Salford, not us. A draw away would be an alright result for us. Salford need to win, so hopefully it will be a good match to watch. (Not that i can imagine any match at their ground being much fun to watch unless you don't like crowds).

 

[DearneValleyRover]

Newport at home, they’ve beaten us in our last four meetings and comfortably.
I think McCann will go with.
TSL
Sterry Olowu McGrath Maxwell
Bailey Broadbent
Molyneaux Clifton Gibson
Street
Subs:
Lawlor Nixon Wood Sharp Ironside Ennis Crew

 

[OneDecentLester]

Crewe (H).

Expecting (hoping) this should be a decent game actually with two teams trying to win. As has been said about us, we now look set to be mid table so feels like little to play for from a fan perspective, but obviously I’m sure the message from Cook on the training ground will be a lot different to that.

The thing with this league, as has been proven time and time again, is that it only takes finding a bit of form at the right time and you can be right back in the mix, but the longer it takes for that to happen, the further the play offs seem away, so it’s gonna have to be sooner (aka starting today!) than later to make any kind of late surge. Personally, I think it’s a tough ask now as the amount of new players we’re trying to (been forced too) integrate into the team over the last few weeks has led to us becoming just too inconsistent for us to have any real confidence as fans that we’d be able to sustain it.

For any Crewe fans interested, team news for us is that our injury crisis is starting to clear up a little now (but the damage to our promotion hopes this season has probably been done now as mentioned). We’re still definitely without our best two CB’s in Dunkley & McFadzean, and our 4th choice CB in Williams who sustained a horrific neck injury at Swindon last week, but, some of the others are beginning to return now. Gordon (first choice LB) was back training at the start of last week, and Will Grigg was back training from Monday which is massive news, he’s been our biggest miss this season since getting injured in December (closely followed by Dunkley). John Fleck had a seizure pre game vs Donny but he’s recovered and should be back available today too… so on paper we’re probably the strongest we’ve been for a while in terms of availability today, and Cook will have a bit of a headache on his hands!

Predicted XI:

Boot
Donacien Naylor Grimes Sparkes
Oldaker Metcalfe
Olakigbe Dobra Duffy
Pepple

Thompson (GK)
Sheckleford
Banks
Mandeville
Colclough
Madden
Grigg

Would mean leaving out the likes of Gordon, Fleck, Jacobs.

Think we win this today, going for 3-1.

 

[spireite]

Crewe (H).

Expecting (hoping) this should be a decent game actually with two teams trying to win. As has been said about us, we now look set to be mid table so feels like little to play for from a fan perspective, but obviously I’m sure the message from Cook on the training ground will be a lot different to that.

The thing with this league, as has been proven time and time again, is that it only takes finding a bit of form at the right time and you can be right back in the mix, but the longer it takes for that to happen, the further the play offs seem away, so it’s gonna have to be sooner (aka starting today!) than later to make any kind of late surge. Personally, I think it’s a tough ask now as the amount of new players we’re trying to (been forced too) integrate into the team over the last few weeks has led to us becoming just too inconsistent for us to have any real confidence as fans that we’d be able to sustain it.

For any Crewe fans interested, team news for us is that our injury crisis is starting to clear up a little now. We’re still definitely without our best two CB’s in Dunkley & McFadzean, and our 4th choice CB in Williams who sustained a horrific neck injury at Swindon last week, but, some of the others are beginning to return now. Gordon (first choice LB) was back training at the start of last week, and Will Grigg was back training from Monday. John Fleck had a seizure pre game vs Donny but he’s recovered and should be back available today too… so on paper we’re probably the strongest we’ve been for a while in terms of availability today, and Cook will have a bit of a headache on his hands!

Predicted XI:

Boot
Donacien Naylor Grimes Sparkes
Oldaker Metcalfe
Olakigbe Dobra Duffy
Pepple

Thompson (GK)
Sheckleford
Banks
Mandeville
Colclough
Madden
Grigg

Would mean leaving out the likes of Gordon, Fleck, Jacobs.

Think we win this today, going for 3-1.

I think I'd change up that attack because they've been awful. Olakigbes pace could best be used off the bench potentially anyway. I'd probably go more like Mandeville, Dobra, Colclough, Madden. Although with the season being basically done like you say, it could be we want to take a longer look at your Pepples and 'kigbes to decide if want them more permanently (I wouldn't!)