Saturday 30th July

[LordJord]

Delighted with the 3 points at San Sixfields after an emotional rollercoaster. First thing's first, the ref was shocking for both sides. Zero consistency, both penalties shouldnt have been given IMO and it seemed like he was just evening it up.

Colchester should have equalised right at the death, a big save from Burge to deny them.

Our squad depth still leaves a lot to be desired going forward. We had no senior strikers or wingers to bring off the bench today, ended up bringing on LB Haynes for a striker.... Haynes then went on to get the winner.

Danny Hylton is going to infuriate fans up and down the country. His touch and vision is top tier, his antics are at a similar level.

Lots to improve on, but 3 points is all that matters after the opening game of the season!

 

[Soup Ladle]

Just seen all four goals and we were well deserved losers but fuck me it's like the Kamikaze defending of old, Killip his usual useless self, parries the second straight back to the striker and cowering on his line for the fourth as him and his back line watch the ball tootle past them to the unmarked striker.

Lot of work to be done.

Killip shit the bed today we need someone stronger than that, more commanding presence. That first goal, whoever the fuck knocked it out for a corner 25 yards out, no pressure at all, needs fining. Tumilty was ripped to shreds all game and Murray the RCB equally as hopeless, no cover at all. They were all shite with the possible exception of Umerah and Niang who were just slightly less bad. Totally depressing.

 

[Kauto Star]

Calling teams in league two a disgrace always amuses me. It’s league two.. if they’re not being shithouses they’re doing something wrong. Up the your side to overcome that.

So you condone cheating then. Because that's what feigning injuries is and blatant time wasting.

We are a fair lot at Valley Parade and can recognise a good visiting team whether as an attacking force or just a good defensive performance against us, but Donny were a disgrace today, no other word for what I witnessed today

 

[Casey]

Just seen our manager's post match interview.

Seems we controlled certain aspects of the game as Carlilse had 24 shots to our 6. The fact he said both our keepers had good games tells the true story.

Sometimes it don't work. Accept it, say we must do better and move on.

Casey

 

[Cas]

So you condone cheating then. Because that's what feigning injuries is and blatant time wasting.

We are a fair lot at Valley Parade and can recognise a good visiting team whether as an attacking force or just a good defensive performance against us, but Donny were a disgrace today, no other word for what I witnessed today

My favourite was in the second half when Miller went down off the ball despite no-one being anywhere near him. I think it's absolutely baffling that you'd go into the first game of the season with antics like that. Another level of tinpottery with the celebrations and pyro going off in the 90th minute.

 

[Koumas’Right-Boot]

So you condone cheating then. Because that's what feigning injuries is and blatant time wasting.

We are a fair lot at Valley Parade and can recognise a good visiting team whether as an attacking force or just a good defensive performance against us, but Donny were a disgrace today, no other word for what I witnessed today

Stevenage should have been down to 10 men and their first goal was a handball, but it’s still our fault for not playing better.

If you just look for excuses in this league you’ll end up doing it every game because the standard of officials is that poor.

 

[AdamStag]

Tbh i think clough had a meltdown today.

Wrong tactics, players in completely the wrong position just wow.

We looked like we’d never played together before.

 

[Huntsman94]

My favourite was in the second half when Miller went down off the ball despite no-one being anywhere near him. I think it's absolutely baffling that you'd go into the first game of the season with antics like that. Another level of tinpottery with the celebrations and pyro going off in the 90th minute.

Letting off smoke bombs for a 0-0 draw is up there in the tinpot ranks

 

[Monkey Tennis]

Not on the right of the three based on todays performance haha.

Obviously I was more concerned with what Barrow were doing, but 1st half was your tactic just to play long diagonals to Madden? He didn't get a sniff.

And strangely, that's all we did second half - clear it long in the hope Gordon could get near it. Tactically, this game was all over the place.

 

[Ninety Per Cent]

Im also happy to take the dodgy Orient pen today as in the play off game away at Notts at 1-0 down Notts had a stonewall handball pen not given and if the ref gives that as he should’ve done then we’re playing non league minnows like Dorking Gateshead and Scunthorpe this season instead.
It’s a weird feeling but I don’t think I’ve ever been this chilled out about a defeat before.
Just feels great to be back in League 2.

"Dad, it's a nice day, can we go to Cleethorpes"
"Maybe later son, i've got to put this Scunt in his place on the Internet"
"Can you pop out to the shops to get me this love"
"in a few minutes love, i'm on Scunt Twitter telling them how bad they are"

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

Obviously I was more concerned with what Barrow were doing, but 1st half was your tactic just to play long diagonals to Madden? He didn't get a sniff.

And strangely, that's all we did second half - clear it long in the hope Gordon could get near it. Tactically, this game was all over the place.

I’m not sure what our tactics were but going off Challinor’s interview we certainly didn’t carry them out.

 

[loz]

Stevenage should have been down to 10 men and their first goal was a handball, but it’s still our fault for not playing better.

If you just look for excuses in this league you’ll end up doing it every game because the standard of officials is that poor.

Agree. Today, Donny got what they came for so their tactics worked. The EFL promised to clamp down on time wasting but today, the Donny players ran the game right from the off and the ref was totally inept. In the end, it was our own fault we didn't score, we had 22 shots and only 2 on target.

 

[ForzaCounty]

Back down to earth with a bang. County were absolutely abysmal first half, though got to give credit to Barrow who won everything and played it around nicely, that front line of Gordon/Waters/Whitfield were excellent, they played like a proper Pete Wild side and will surprise a lot of you on here this season. We were anothe abject however, and it was largely the new guys who were worst.

Camps was anonymous in the middle, but perhaps it was him being asked to do an unfamiliar role and the sooner Croasdale is back holding, the better. Wootton was woeful, my mum could beat him to a header and she has osteoarthritis. (Mind you nobody else was winning anything either, it's like we were made of paper). Lewis, bloody hell, the way he was getting turned inside out was horrible and he's directly responsible for that third, he showed no awareness all game.

And Mark Kitching should have a court order forbidding him from going within 500 yards of the LCB position again. Anyone who saw him give Bolton those goals last season would know that.

A couple of changes at half time and we are least looked like we had a shape for the second half, could have nabbed a pint but I'm reluctant to say if we'd have deserved it. Stonewall penalty ignored late on when their lad flipped MSH over, the ref did give a pen shortly after but the liner had flagged for offside well before then. Paddy MOTM unsurprisingly, in fairness I think Horsfall had a good 'un and was the only new face to give a good account of himself.

 

[ForzaCounty]

Oh and I've got to give mention to the post-match organisation, or rather lack of it, home & away fans let out together and the Barrow coaches parked on the wrong side of the road so everyone was mingling together. Not surprised to hear there were a couple of flashpoints and there's appeals for witnesses

 

[Son of Cod]

Im also happy to take the dodgy Orient pen today as in the play off game away at Notts at 1-0 down Notts had a stonewall handball pen not given and if the ref gives that as he should’ve done then we’re playing non league minnows like Dorking Gateshead and Scunthorpe this season instead.
It’s a weird feeling but I don’t think I’ve ever been this chilled out about a defeat before.
Just feels great to be back in League 2.

A healthy way of looking at it that to be fair.

"Dad, it's a nice day, can we go to Cleethorpes"
"Maybe later son, i've got to put this Scunt in his place on the Internet"
"Can you pop out to the shops to get me this love"
"in a few minutes love, i'm on Scunt Twitter telling them how bad they are"

...and here you are on a football forum on a day Scunny didn't play responding to a Town fan.

 

[Ninety Per Cent]

...and here you are on a football forum on a day Scunny didn't play responding to a Town fan.

We played Farsley Celtic today.

 

[Stringy]

Tbh i think clough had a meltdown today.

Wrong tactics, players in completely the wrong position just wow.

We looked like we’d never played together before.

It was just a weird team and tactic selection. Barring the worst injury and suspension crisis imaginable there's really no excuse for a professional football team to line up like that. When I saw the team selection I couldn't get my head around what he was thinking.

 

[Son of Cod]

We played Farsley Celtic today.

Did you get a pint in the school sports hall or were they not doing them today?

 

[loz]

Smallwood hit the post with a great free kick that hit the post and a couple of headers that flashed wide

We were in good positions a number of times in the 2nd half and either we didn't shoot or shot wide. Hopefully we will put that right, also move the ball forward quicker for I can see a number of teams coming to VP and employing those tactics. It doesn't help when your best attacking player is in a really good position and the ref blows up cos a defender falls down holding his head. It adds to the insult when the ref then gives them the ball.

 

[loz]

I thought you guys looked better at the start of the second half, you managed to work the ball into some dangerous areas, was uncomfortable viewing at times.

Have to say I expected List to be sent off, seemed like a reckless tackle, was relieved when the card was yellow. Definite frustration on his part, was a stupid reaction to not getting a free kick, we go down to 10 there and it's an entirely different game.

How did Jake Reeves play?

 

[Son of Cod]

It was just a weird team and tactic selection. Barring the worst injury and suspension crisis imaginable there's really no excuse for a professional football team to line up like that. When I saw the team selection I couldn't get my head around what he was thinking.

Clough isn't a great manager though, is he? Every time I've seen his teams play, admittedly that is sporadically, there is a distinct lack of conviction of what they are doing. You must have played well at times last season but you bobbled your way through that playoff semi and somehow came up against an equally inept Northampton. The amount you spunk on players, you should be getting more out of them from what I've seen?

 

[Ninety Per Cent]

Did you get a pint in the school sports hall or were they not doing them today?

Didn't go as working. Been before and had one.

 

[Son of Cod]

Didn't go as working. Been before and had one.

All bants aside, have you got any away days earmarked for next season? Make sure you get to Maidenhead. Proper good old skool ground. Woking was a banger for us too.

 

[Crewelad87]

Not going to get too carried away as I think Rochdale will struggle. We looked good first half though, much bigger and physical team this year but still with a little trademark Crewe football. 2nd half we sat back more and allowed Rochdale into it more but still in the end saw the game out fairly comfortable.

 

[Ninety Per Cent]

All bants aside, have you got any away days earmarked for next season? Make sure you get to Maidenhead. Proper good old skool ground. Woking was a banger for us too.

Won't do Maidenhead but will do Woking and Bromley(Depending on allocation, with a lot still not going to home games expecting decent away crowds) . London games aren't too bad to get to tbh. and then see how the rest of the year pans out.

 

[Son of Cod]

Won't do Maidenhead but will do Woking and Bromley(Depending on allocation, with a lot still not going to home games expecting decent away crowds) . London games aren't too bad to get to tbh. and then see how the rest of the year pans out.

Bromley is crap as fuck, don't do that. If they score past you they go absolutely mental and their players run over to the away fans like they have won the World Cup and you've shagged their sisters. It's obscene. Their bench does it too.

Is Maidenhead midweek or something then?

 

[DearneValleyRover]

We've seen that script before. All of the ball but final ball not good enough against a team playing for a point from the first minute. Very clearly a team who are still gelling as it was far from free flowing and too static even against eleven men.

Donny were dreadful, even before the red. I've seen some anti football in my time at VP but that was up there.

I’m not going to condone Tomlin or some of the feigning. I can’t agree from the first minute both sides were trying to find their way. The ref was utter shite and had zero control all game. What I will say is if Bradford had gone down to ten with a half to play they would have done the same or you would have played blue murder. My first thought on the Ravenhill tackle was a straight red having seen it in slow mo, he won the ball well before making contact but the follow through is probably a red although hard to clearly see. Finally you can whine as much as you want but one of your defenders was man of the match which is probably why you are still in League 2

 

[Ninety Per Cent]

Is Maidenhead midweek or something then?

First away game but Midweek is better for me.

 

[Son of Cod]

a little trademark Crewe football

I like Lowery and Powell and Ashton and Murphy as I continue you know they gettin' sweeter aaaarrrrgh

 

[Son of Cod]

Crewe proper dark horses though. If the new crop blooms early they will be up there. If they don't. They'll be up there next season.