Saturday 21st September

[Si Robin]

People were actually shocked by it - the bloke is King Shithouse, what were they expecting?

 

[DearneValleyRover]

Not sure what to expect from MK now Williamson is gone. We certainly have to improve from our last performance, I’m expecting changes.
TSL
Emmanuel Olowu McGrath Fleming
Bailey Westbrooke
Molyneaux Hirst Yeboah
Sharp

 

[Meadow]

Not sure about MK. 76% possession against us but lost 3-0.

 

[leedsvaliant]

Not sure about MK. 76% possession against us but lost 3-0.

I'm guessing they do a lot of that passing between the centre halves and goalkeeper that annoys the fuck out of me.

 

[THE LAST WALTZ]

Have not got a good feeling about tomorrow.
Notts County were always going to be thereabouts this season and it would have been nice to go there with something resembling our first eleven.
Oh well. It is what it is and we are nothing if not resilient.
More hope than expectation, but you never know.

 

[Grimsby Road]

We need a decent performance & result against Bromley - people are starting to vote with their feet it's gone from 6500-7k every week last season to 5500 home fans this, and if we lose a few more suspect crowds will be down to 5k with even more ST holders not turning up . Get the sense a bigger majority now need some on field success to keep turning up .

 

[Cloudy]

We need a decent performance & result against Bromley - people are starting to vote with their feet it's gone from 6500-7k every week last season to 5500 home fans this, and if we lose a few more suspect crowds will be down to 5k with even more ST holders not turning up . Get the sense a bigger majority now need some on field success to keep turning up .

Two home league wins out of three, during which the team played bright, attacking, passing football. Not sure what you expect tbh

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

Have not got a good feeling about tomorrow.
Notts County were always going to be thereabouts this season and it would have been nice to go there with something resembling our first eleven.
Oh well. It is what it is and we are nothing if not resilient.
More hope than expectation, but you never know.

You've played a better 6 teams than us for sure and we are still susceptible to balls into the box, set pieces and anybody who can counter attack well. Last season you were very clinical and impressive at Meadow Lane.

It's 1st versus 2nd after all and our record against the Gills over the years is poor to say the least.

 

[Grimsby Road]

Two home league wins out of three, during which the team played bright, attacking, passing football. Not sure what you expect tbh

I am quite happy tbh , think we are progressing just not as quickly as some want - it's more the regulars who sit near me who seem to be getting tetchy and the already noticeable drop in gates .

 

[Cloudy]

I am quite happy tbh , think we are progressing just not as quickly as some want - it's more the regulars who sit near me who seem to be getting tetchy and the already noticeable drop in gates .

Noticeable drop in gates???

Our home games so far have seen increases on the same fixtures last season, although I accept one was midweek last season. The Bradford game showed an increase in attendance over last season. Obviously we didn’t play Cheltenham last season but 5900 is decent enough for that one imo

 

[THE LAST WALTZ]

You've played a better 6 teams than us for sure and we are still susceptible to balls into the box, set pieces and anybody who can counter attack well. Last season you were very clinical and impressive at Meadow Lane.

It's 1st versus 2nd after all and our record against the Gills over the years is poor to say the least.

You are trying to make me all optimistic. I know what you are doing and it ain’t going to work.
I am going to have a chat with Hellogregory, that should sort it.

 

[loz]

Not sure about MK. 76% possession against us but lost 3-0.

They should be thankful you didn't have 50% possession.

 

[OneDecentLester]

Our first home 12:30 KO of the season then against Cheltenham. I’m sure there will be millions up and down the country tuning into this one on Sky…

Last weekend was our first ‘poor’ performance of the season, never got going at all, so it’s important we have a reaction for this one to avoid us slipping into a slump which can so easily happen. I do think we’ll see a reaction, at least in terms of performance as it would be tough to be as rubbish as that again, but hopefully that translates to a good result too.

Team news front we’ve got Oldaker back from suspension, and SURELY Colclough & Madden are going to be back on the bench this weekend so that definitely makes us stronger. Personally I think Fleck will have atleast another week of training until we see him in the squad, so think this one may be too early for him. Grigg likely to be out for atleast a few weeks as he rolled his ankle pretty bad at Vale, but tomorrow’s presser will reveal more. Hoping it’s weeks rather than months..

Predicted XI:

Boot
Tanton Dunkley Araujo Gordon
Oldaker Naylor
Markanday Banks Dobra
Berry

Thompson (GK)
Daley-Campbell
Jones
Jacobs
Colclough
Mandeville
Madden

Would probably be the strongest bench we’ve named all season if we end up with that. Araujo has looked class in every game he’s played so I’d be happy to throw him in if it means pushing Naylor back to midfield. Banks best position is the #10 anyway so that makes sense, and Berry is our most realistic option to start up top with Drummond being inexperienced and Madden not being quite ready to start yet.

Reckon 2-0 home win

Update to this from Cooks presser:

Drummond is starting up front so I’m going to guess Banks onto the bench, Dobra back central and Berry on the wing.

Colclough, Madden & Fleck all fit to be involved and have trained all week. Grigg’s injury nowhere near as bad as first feared and may be back as soon as Doncaster next week.

 

[Grimsby Road]

Noticeable drop in gates???

Our home games so far have seen increases on the same fixtures last season, although I accept one was midweek last season. The Bradford game showed an increase in attendance over last season. Obviously we didn’t play Cheltenham last season but 5900 is decent enough for that one imo

They are down about 500 + Bradford only brought 500- 700 last time because they had some off field issues and were not happy .

Barrow was on a Tuesday night last time , Cheltenham wasn't too bad - sold near 6700 but again lots of ST holders not turning up - that's another thing though I mean people now lower down might aswell buy a ST if they will make over what 13/14 games , for us it's 25 quid or whatever on the day ; not many are doing that are they so you are hoping to top up the 5300 ST holders with a good product for the home fans and decent away followings (maybe 5 all season?) .

 

[joethegill]

Injury list a little bit up in the air from the press conference this week. Josh Andrews had suffered another one so is definitely out, but that's the norm with him sadly. Dack isn't there yet and Coleman is banned, but Jonny Williams does return which is a boost, he had a great game at Notts last season if memory serves. I imagine Masterson, Turner, Rowe and Dieng are all still missing as well, but not a lot of clarity over Robbie McKenzie so that one's 50/50.

Good news from the club today in that Joe Gbode and Harry Webster (two of our talented young lads) have signed deals to 2027. Gbode has made a big impact since being converted to a wider attacker, and Webster had a fantastic pre-season and has looked capable when called upon, so big congrats to both.

Obviously we're playing a good side tomorrow who will cause us problems and have a lot of time in possession, so it's up to us to manage where the game is played and defend what we need to defend while still maintaining a threat up front. We've managed that balance pretty well in the main so far apart from at Donny where we didn't do much offensively and the better team won on the day. I imagine we'll set up 4-2-3-1 as we tend to do, fears over an empty midfield might have been premature (I hope that's the case) and we'll be in a recognisable shape. Plenty of pace out wide and up top and a tight defensive unit - that's our way to get a positive result.

I have absolutely no idea really, but could be:

Morris
Hutton - Ehmer - Ogie - Clark
McKenzie - Little
Nolan - Lapslie - Gbode
Nevitt​

Hawkins, J.Williams, Wyllie, Giles, Ashby-Hammond, Clarke, Wakeling

An entertaining 1-1, in front of 11.5k fans including 1137 from Kent.

 

[Youpies]

For a team with a lot of injuries that is still a strong side

 

[leedsvaliant]

Massive confidence on our forum, which always concerns me. I have no idea what Accrington are like, but they're at home and will be desperate to get their first win. It's a game where we historically turn up expecting to win, but ultimately lose.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

I know. Poorest side by far out of the 6 we have played.

Vale win, no probs. I've got five on it.

I hope the top of the table clash attracts close to 12,000 paying fans

 

[jacobncfc]

We’ve lost Curtis Edwards until Christmas, which is a shame. Very tidy and versatile midfielder. Says a lot for our depth in that position that we’re missing him and Robertson but can still put out a midfield box of Abbott, Palmer, Crowley and Grant, though.

Reckon Jatta comes in to start for McGoldrick upfront. The big man went full battering ram in the second half at Bromley and Didzy has near enough played three 90s in a row so could possibly do with dipping back out.

Sounds simplistic, but it comes down to stopping Crowley and particularly Jones against us. Jodi is in ridiculous form this season, despite the furore about swapping him over to the right.

 

[leedsvaliant]

I know. Poorest side by far out of the 6 we have played.

Vale win, no probs. I've got five on it.

I hope the top of the table clash attracts 12,000 paying fans

That would be a tremendous attendance at league 2 level. If we both keep good form, then October 5th could be much bigger.

 

[Optipez]

That would be a tremendous attendance at league 2 level. If we both keep good form, then October 5th could be much bigger.

If we're both going well and you bring 2,500 it's possible we get 14,000. Our crowds have pretty much doubled since dropping into the NL.

 

[Optipez]

We’ve lost Curtis Edwards until Christmas, which is a shame. Very tidy and versatile midfielder. Says a lot for our depth in that position that we’re missing him and Robertson but can still put out a midfield box of Abbott, Palmer, Crowley and Grant, though.

Reckon Jatta comes in to start for McGoldrick upfront. The big man went full battering ram in the second half at Bromley and Didzy has near enough played three 90s in a row so could possibly do with dipping back out.

Sounds simplistic, but it comes down to stopping Crowley and particularly Jones against us. Jodi is in ridiculous form this season, despite the furore about swapping him over to the right.

I'd like us to play both. Second half at Bromley they were a right handful. With Palmer and Abbott there's enough mobility in midfield to do it I think.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

There would be enough mobility but on the ball I'm hoping Palmer gets back to his old ways.

Doubling your home attendances thanks to a short trip to Non League and fantastic owners isn't for everyone.

 

[leedsvaliant]

If we're both going well and you bring 2,500 it's possible we get 14,000. Our crowds have pretty much doubled since dropping into the NL.

That's our aim long term. We were getting circa 5k only 4 or 5 years ago, we're currently averaging 7.5k. The unstated aim is to have 10k average crowds but I suspect we'd need to be challenging for the championship minimum for that.

 

[joethegill]

For a team with a lot of injuries that is still a strong side

It's not bad, we have (fortunately, all things considered) got a fairly deep, balanced squad this season.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

That's our aim long term. We were getting circa 5k only 4 or 5 years ago, we're currently averaging 7.5k. The unstated aim is to have 10k average crowds but I suspect we'd need to be challenging for the championship minimum for that.

Our aim was the now infamous '8 through the gate' which for 20 plus years we never achieved and tbh rarely got close.

We didn't achieve it until we were in Non League. Since then it's gone up and up. It's unbelievable and brilliant to see.

 

[GFC4EVA]

Late desicion but have decided to make the trip, would take a point now

 

[valefan16]

I know. Poorest side by far out of the 6 we have played.

Vale win, no probs. I've got five on it.

I hope the top of the table clash attracts close to 12,000 paying fans

Accrington has been our kryptonite, we always seem to air our dirty laundry there…

3-0 loss last time, fans and playing arguing at the end, 3-0 under Jim Gannon and fans scraping with players, getting called off just before kick off on a Tuesday night then losing 2-0 in the rematch 2 weeks later, losing 2-0 despite battering them in the Adam’s promotion season, conceding an equaliser deep in injury time days before slipping into administration and blowing a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 down to Billy Kee pretty much catching the ball and chucking it in the net and it being given…

I’d love us to rock up and give them a good beating but it seems to bring the worst out of us that place!

We’ve been excellent last two games and have the quality to put in a performance but I’m not confident, plus Vale being odds on away from home with the bookies always is a red flag!

 

[Boz]

Colchester away. Rovers aren't offering much in attack at present, while the Cowley;s don't seem to be turning things round for the hosts. Think I'd take a draw.

 

[Gator]

Injury list a little bit up in the air from the press conference this week. Josh Andrews had suffered another one so is definitely out, but that's the norm with him sadly. Dack isn't there yet and Coleman is banned, but Jonny Williams does return which is a boost, he had a great game at Notts last season if memory serves. I imagine Masterson, Turner, Rowe and Dieng are all still missing as well, but not a lot of clarity over Robbie McKenzie so that one's 50/50.

McKenzie being back would be massive. A lot more confident in picking up any kind of result with him partnering Little in the middle, even if he has missed a couple of games.