Saturday 21st August

[Monkey Tennis]

I hope andy cook gets a decent reception, he did nothing wrong here and did well for us under terrible managers, he was only sacked off due to his high wages.

we’ve got same standard forwards as him now, so there’s no need for our fans to get so fascinated over him

He will almost certainly give it "the big 'un" if he scores, so fans can't be blamed for having a go back.

 

[Salvador]

I see you’ve got 4 out because of COVID, are they important players or just fringe players?

I’ll be honest I’m not 100% sure on who is isolating. I think Keohane (important player for last few seasons and managed to score I think 10/11 last season from a defensive role) and Broadbent (new signing - looked good when I’ve seen him) are. Not sure who else is or if it’ll affect Saturday.

Also, first time I’ll be driving to your ground. Is it easy enough parking up nearby say 90 mins before K.O.? I’ve read conflicting info that the car parks are either easy to access or fill up quickly.

 

[AdamStag]

He will almost certainly give it "the big 'un" if he scores, so fans can't be blamed for having a go back.

That’s what’s confused me, there’s an element of fans who think he did something wrong - he was just moved on purely on instructions to save money on wages.

 

[WilsdenBantam]

Very, very well liked amongst our fanbase!

25 app - 11 goals - 2 assists

Can see him doing very well at this club.

The 25 apps doesn’t do him justice imo, I think his goal to minute ratio will be far better as he’s not started every game and gone off early in some. Think I read he’s started 19 league games for those goals and assists. Most our fans thought he was just a bench boy when we brought Rowe in as well!

 

[loz]

I hope andy cook gets a decent reception, he did nothing wrong here and did well for us under terrible managers, he was only sacked off due to his high wages.

we’ve got same standard forwards as him now, so there’s no need for our fans to get so fascinated over him

Don't think any of the front men will get a lot of slack. This will be a tough game, 2 good teams, 2 good managers.

 

[Robshep]

The 25 apps doesn’t do him justice imo, I think his goal to minute ratio will be far better as he’s not started every game and gone off early in some. Think I read he’s started 19 league games for those goals and assists. Most our fans thought he was just a bench boy when we brought Rowe in as well!

Don't get too attached to him, he has never stayed more than 2 seasons at any club.

 

[LordJord]

I’ll be honest I’m not 100% sure on who is isolating. I think Keohane (important player for last few seasons and managed to score I think 10/11 last season from a defensive role) and Broadbent (new signing - looked good when I’ve seen him) are. Not sure who else is or if it’ll affect Saturday.

Also, first time I’ll be driving to your ground. Is it easy enough parking up nearby say 90 mins before K.O.? I’ve read conflicting info that the car parks are either easy to access or fill up quickly.

Your best bet is to part in the housing estate on the left just before the BP garage opposite the ground. There are a ton of spots to park there and it gives you easy access away instead of being stuck in the car park for ages. Have a safe trip down, try not to enjoy the game too much though!

 

[hellogregory]

Toughest game so far I'd say. Orient have recruited well and have got a proven manager who should have them competing in and around the top 7.

We've relied on keeping it tight at the back in our first few games, but think we'll need to score as I can't see us keeping a clean sheet. Orient don't seem to be having a problem finding the net.

Our big problem as mentioned in other threads is our attacking play has been pathetic overall. Unless it's a long range wonder strike, or a defensive cock up from a long throw or corner, then we aren't scoring. We only really tested Port Vale from a couple of long range strikes, and obviously scored from 1 against swindon. But we simply don't have a clue what to do to open teams up in the final third in open play, and in the rare event that we do, we don't have players capable of finishing. I'm preying that Zach Clough's possible return might help us with that, but I'm not getting my hopes up too much as it's a big ask to come straight in and do everything.

I think we'll give Orient a game, we definitely have the midfielders and defenders to make it difficult, but with all the positive thinking in the world, I can only see an away win.

 

[WilsdenBantam]

Don't get too attached to him, he has never stayed more than 2 seasons at any club.

Adams has said he wants promotion this season (as do the fans obviously), and to try for the championship by the end of his 3 year contract. Which is where we were every season before Rahic came and ruined us. If we are to go up as is the aim and fight at the right end of league 1 we’ll need better anyway. If he does a job this season and we get promoted then moves on and we get better happy days.

 

[Salvador]

Your best bet is to part in the housing estate on the left just before the BP garage opposite the ground. There are a ton of spots to park there and it gives you easy access away instead of being stuck in the car park for ages. Have a safe trip down, try not to enjoy the game too much though!

Cheers. I’ll give that a go. No idea what to expect on Saturday. I feel we’re due a game where we score a load to show something for our dominant spells but who knows.

 

[shoddycollins]

with all the positive thinking in the world, I can only see an away win.

certainly with all the positive thinking in your world I see why you might only see that.

 

[Monkey Tennis]

That’s what’s confused me, there’s an element of fans who think he did something wrong - he was just moved on purely on instructions to save money on wages.

I think it's in his character to wind up opposition fans - even more so if they're a previous club of his. I seem to remember when he came back to Barrow, he loved winding up the Grimsby fans, and same again with our fans after he moved to Tranmere. Although that was mainly down to him saying he wouldn't join a team in the same division...

 

[AdamStag]

Don't think any of the front men will get a lot of slack. This will be a tough game, 2 good teams, 2 good managers.

He will if we carry on playing rawson, the lads a walking liability. We need a new centre back ASAP, cook will have him on toast.

 

[BarraMatt]

Massive game for us this, for a few reasons.

After one win and two draws (both goalless), the result of this game will be the difference between a strong start and a mediocre one.​

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Win and we've made a strong start in which we played three of the fancied sides, two away from home and emerged unbeaten and with 8 points which will keep us among the top teams at this early stage.​

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Lose and it's pretty mediocre; not a terrible start but one that raises questions about our home form and doesn't do much to suggest we can challenge for promotion.​

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Draw and it's still fairly mediocre looking; still be unbeaten but three draws from four games and no home win doesn't encourage fans to get behind the team and in either case we may lose some of our potential attendance as fair-weather fans decide to sack it off for another season.​

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We've only scored twice in three games (both against Swindon, having failed to score in the other two), but get a couple of goals this weekend and we don't look so much like a team that struggles to score.​

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Win well with more than two goals and strikers hitting the back of the net, maybe with Clough getting going, and suddenly things feel pretty rosy (for all apart from HG at least).​

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Fail to score and alarm bells start ringing about how poor we are, especially if we keep creating chances and wasting them and especially if that's a loss without scoring.​

Orient have a clever manager, a few decent players and have made a tidy start to the season. They're among those teams expected to do well. They should be fresher too after having Tuesday off so it'll be double tricky for us. A draw probably wouldn't be the worst thing given our tough start to the season but I don't think any United fan is willing to accept a draw.

I'd say 5 points from 3 games already is a good start. You're scrapping for survival, remember.

 

[EricSabin]

I’ll be honest I’m not 100% sure on who is isolating. I think Keohane (important player for last few seasons and managed to score I think 10/11 last season from a defensive role) and Broadbent (new signing - looked good when I’ve seen him) are. Not sure who else is or if it’ll affect Saturday.

Also, first time I’ll be driving to your ground. Is it easy enough parking up nearby say 90 mins before K.O.? I’ve read conflicting info that the car parks are either easy to access or fill up quickly.

Jord has mentioned the housing estate but the car parks by the Walter Tull and Bella Italia are free, will take 5-10 minutes to get out after. Can also pop in the Sixfields Tavern for a pint which welcomes away fans.

 

[leedsvaliant]

I hate going to Stevenage. For some reason they always seem to up their game against Vale, even when they are doing shite. We historically do not fare well at tight small grounds and Stevenage seem to have upped their game. Poor result against Bradford but there will be a few teams that get a hiding there.

I'm convinced we've got a better team than last year but I'm not convinced that we're set up in the best way to utilise it. Previously we have started the season well only to struggle over Christmas. I hope we come up along the rails this time and get better towards the business end of the season. At least we are not conceding many, which is a good base, as attacking play is easier to improve in training.

Win this and it's an ok start. Draw or lose and it'll have been a very poor start and already playing catch up at this early stage. Having said that, we are getting a lot of our tough fixtures out of the way early, with a better run from October up until Christmas.

 

[AdamStag]

I hate going to Stevenage. For some reason they always seem to up their game against Vale, even when they are doing shite. We historically do not fare well at tight small grounds and Stevenage seem to have upped their game. Poor result against Bradford but there will be a few teams that get a hiding there.

I'm convinced we've got a better team than last year but I'm not convinced that we're set up in the best way to utilise it. Previously we have started the season well only to struggle over Christmas. I hope we come up along the rails this time and get better towards the business end of the season. At least we are not conceding many, which is a good base, as attacking play is easier to improve in training.

Win this and it's an ok start. Draw or lose and it'll have been a very poor start and already playing catch up at this early stage. Having said that, we are getting a lot of our tough fixtures out of the way early, with a better run from October up until Christmas.

I don’t think anyone leaps up and down at the idea of going to stevenage.

Even places like port vale and mansfield which might not be deemed as classy areas have decent pubs and stuff close by, stevenage offers absolutely nothing

 

[valefan16]

I don’t think anyone leaps up and down at the idea of going to stevenage.

Even places like port vale and mansfield which might not be deemed as classy areas have decent pubs and stuff close by, stevenage offers absolutely nothing

I think he means more the Vale performances there have often been awful to say the least. Even the one league victory we’ve had against them was when they finished bottom of the EFL, was a 89th minute penalty in a game where had they been able to score would have beaten us, we had one of last seasons real horror shows (a few of them but this was up there as the worst for me) and a real dire showing after Michael Brown had the sack, despite in the main being average to strugglers in the league the last few seasons we’ve been dire against them, home and away.

Oddly beaten them in both cup ties mind!

They do seem less scummy than the Westley and Maamria days though at least so don’t have 90 minutes of diving, feigning and time wasting like you used to get! Actually looked a decent footballing side at VP last season.

 

[AdamStag]

I think he means more the Vale performances there have often been awful to say the least. Even the one league victory we’ve had against them was when they finished bottom of the EFL, was a 89th minute penalty in a game where had they been able to score would have beaten us, we had one of last seasons real horror shows (a few of them but this was up there as the worst for me) and a real dire showing after Michael Brown had the sack, despite in the main being average to strugglers in the league the last few seasons we’ve been dire against them, home and away.

Oddly beaten them in both cup ties mind!

They do seem less scummy than the Westley and Maamria days though at least so don’t have 90 minutes of diving, feigning and time wasting like you used to get! Actually looked a decent footballing side at VP last season.

Well stevenage are like what macclesfield and dagenham and redbridge where, basically tinpot imposters who you naturally just expected to beat as they have about 8 fans

 

[kieran_vale]

Well stevenage are like what macclesfield and dagenham and redbridge where, basically tinpot imposters who you naturally just expected to beat as they have about 8 fans

I'm not sure on the exact head to head but Macclesfield used to give us a right good going over frequently too.

Stevenage are just one of those teams who in the past set out to frustrate us and it worked like a charm without fail whether home or away. Morecambe are another one who always gave us a lot of bother especially when Bentley was there.

 

[Conker]

Half of Mansfield got Covid so I hope squad bubble is tight.

 

[loz]

He will if we carry on playing rawson, the lads a walking liability. We need a new centre back ASAP, cook will have him on toast.

How many goals have you conceded? Can't be many.

 

[AdamStag]

View attachment 15133

Top of the table FGR play host to Crawley, who last season won at TNL to hasten Mark Cooper's departure from the Cotswolds.

how have salford and swindon only played 1 game against each other? what happened last season?

 

[Essex2Wessex]

how have salford and swindon only played 1 game against each other? what happened last season?

Swindon were League One last year, so it must have been that one of the fixtures from the previous season got called off thanks to the first lockdown

 

[AdamStag]

Swindon were League One last year, so it must have been that one of the fixtures from the previous season got called off thanks to the first lockdown

Dur, that would be exactly that. I was there thinking for 5 minutes i’d lost my mind!

 

[Sydney Posse]

With my optimistic hat on, I think we could nick it against Rovers. The Orient game aside, which I am trying really hard to forget, we look pretty good at the back, and we have the players going forward, but I don't think we have figured out the best formation yet. I'm gonna predict a narrow win. Should be a good atmosphere with plenty of Gas support coming down as they always do to ours

 

[Indian Dan]

At least Grounds won’t be playing. That’s got to be a bonus!

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

With their terrible start I wonder why f pressure is already on the Salford manager even at game 4.

gates down to 1,300 home fans, interest list during covid period and worst of all for them little press coverage anymore.

they may need to get shot and appoint some name to get them back in press

 

[valefan16]

With their terrible start I wonder why f pressure is already on the Salford manager even at game 4.

gates down to 1,300 home fans, interest list during covid period and worst of all for them little press coverage anymore.

they may need to get shot and appoint some name to get them back in press

I think the crowds are down as ticket prices have gone up, they were a tenner I think the last season with fans but now £15.00 so less attractive for the part time United fan.

 

[Soup Ladle]

I think the crowds are down as ticket prices have gone up, they were a tenner I think the last season with fans but now £15.00 so less attractive for the part time United fan.

Doesn't need to be more than a tenner for Salford with their backing surely? Not that I care, they can do one of course.

Really seems to be a lack of foresight over ticket prices at many clubs. Including us, we're terrible for stuff like that.