Saturday 4th January fixtures

[thewwfc]

We face a Blackpool side squarely mid-table both in terms of current league placing and overall form, but no-one should be underestimated and I will never be entirely comfortable facing a side featuring Jordan Rhodes, even if most of his performances which have scarred me took place several years ago.

Elsewhere, a beauty of a relegation six-pointer with Burton v Northampton, and the Darren Ferguson derby of Wxm v Posh, where Fergie could be in for a deep reckoning as to his life choices.

 

[denzel ecfc]

No point, just depends what ref turns up

 

[E10rifle]

Got gubbed at Shrewsbury earlier in the season when we were both on 0 points. Absolutely dire performance from us but Shrews were organised and exploited our frailties pretty well. Wouldn’t have said they were bad enough to be well adrift of safety at this point, but then again it was probably one of the worst 3 Orient showings I’ve ever seen.

We usually struggle against Ainsworth’s shitty brand of anti-football but I’m not sure he’s got the thugs to do it in this Shrews squad. I’ll go against my pessimistic instincts and say we take this one 2-0.

 

[Arbury]

Absolute must win for monk otherwise he’s gone you’d have thought unless the board pull the trigger before then.

UIE.

 

[dannylad01]

Got gubbed at Shrewsbury earlier in the season when we were both on 0 points. Absolutely dire performance from us but Shrews were organised and exploited our frailties pretty well. Wouldn’t have said they were bad enough to be well adrift of safety at this point, but then again it was probably one of the worst 3 Orient showings I’ve ever seen.

We usually struggle against Ainsworth’s shitty brand of anti-football but I’m not sure he’s got the thugs to do it in this Shrews squad. I’ll go against my pessimistic instincts and say we take this one 2-0.

Just put on the NYD match thread that you can't read anything into that first game. 2 very different teams now. Even tho it was 3-0 ot took 2 late goals to add a gloss to the scoreline.

Ainsworth keeps saying that his aim is to get points and doesn't care how we get them. As you say, we've not really got any nasty players, but a few who will give away the niggly fouls but partly because they are too slow. What he has installed is a fighting spirit even if the quality is lacking which he also acknowledges. We've also scored in every game he's been in charge so far, which is rare for recent Shrewsbury sides.

I think this will be the end of the unbeaten run with a 1-0 home win, but hoping we could sneak another draw. Just need to pick up points in our tough run of January games to stay in touch, given we've managed to get the gap to safety to 5 points

 

[BRFC_Gas]

Absolute must win for monk otherwise he’s gone you’d have thought unless the board pull the trigger before then.

UIE.

I think the the loser deserves automatic relegation, along with any club who still has a drummer

 

[Conker]

Go in to this game very relaxed after a really good Christmas period, Clough made a few changes today resting the likes of Evans, Hewitt, Lewis, Blake Tracy, I imagine they will go back in the starting eleven.

Gregory should start again, but probably can do a hour max at the minute.

 

[AdamStag]

Go in to this game very relaxed after a really good Christmas period, Clough made a few changes today resting the likes of Evans, Hewitt, Lewis, Blake Tracy, I imagine they will go back in the starting eleven.

Gregory should start again, but probably can do a hour max at the minute.

With oates back though hopefully he shouldn’t be such a problem - Oates returning to the place where he injured himself!

Be interesting to see if Challinor can finally get a win over clough.

 

[EricSabin]

Burton away. Huge game for us, an opportunity to win despite our issues with availability. If we could get the three points it’d give everyone a massive lift, but we’ll see at 2pm Saturday how the land lies.

 

[Conker]

With oates back though hopefully he shouldn’t be such a problem - Oates returning to the place where he injured himself!

Be interesting to see if Challinor can finally get a win over clough.

Oates picked up something today in his first start in what a year? I’ll be surprised if he starts.

 

[Stocky]

Cloughie pulling yet another fast one with his Dad's old mates at the FA to ensure that he plays us when we're down to the bare bones.

With our 4 best players out, you'd expect Mansfield to win with a fair bit of ease but then again we all expected them to romp the League Two title this time last season and that didn't end up happening.

 

[AdamStag]

Oates picked up something today in his first start in what a year? I’ll be surprised if he starts.

Did he, i didn’t know that, just thought it was tactical.

 

[AdamStag]

Cloughie pulling yet another fast one with his Dad's old mates at the FA to ensure that he plays us when we're down to the bare bones.

With our 4 best players out, you'd expect Mansfield to win with a fair bit of ease but then again we all expected them to romp the League Two title this time last season and that didn't end up happening.

We’re actually injury clear by our standards for a while, which is nice to see.

 

[Conker]

Cloughie pulling yet another fast one with his Dad's old mates at the FA to ensure that he plays us when we're down to the bare bones.

With our 4 best players out, you'd expect Mansfield to win with a fair bit of ease but then again we all expected them to romp the League Two title this time last season and that didn't end up happening.

Your starting eleven will probably be more than our entire budget, but we’ll give it a good go.

 

[Conker]

Did he, i didn’t know that, just thought it was tactical.

Yeah he did it in the corner in front of me near, think Clough said it’s just a twisted knee.

Hopefully that’s case, poor bloke been out for so long.

 

[Gassy]

Those 12:30 games are absolutely massive 6 pointers

 

[dannylad01]

Those 12:30 games are absolutely massive 6 pointers

The fairest outcome for all concerned will be 2 draws in those games

 

[DaveBirm1875]

Wigan away, the way im feeling i want the heavens to continue to open and get the game called off.

 

[The Terminator]

Shrewsbury at home, they're 4 unbeaten and picking points up under Ainsworth, I think this will be a tight one as I can't see them being very open with the way we've been playing.

Wellens said injuries and knocks have caught up with the squad in the last week now, Dan Agyei will likely miss out, as will Dan Happe and maybe Jack Currie, Darren Pratley won't play again 3 days after his last start so we will be making changes again.

Will likely be one goal either way or a 0-0 draw IMO, we've been on a great run, but even on Wednesday despite winning the game you could see the tiredness mentally and physically in our squad.

It will be a cold one, but I would expect this to go ahead, we've invested in our pitch to cope with poor weather so I don't see any problems, apart from it being cold.

 

[folletto]

Not really sure what to make of Reading without Selles. It seems to be a different Reading performance each week. They seem like a good attacking team so our defence will need to continue to be strong. A win here would be massive if we have any hopes of making the playoffs.

 

[BRFC_Gas]

Those 12:30 games are absolutely massive 6 pointers

There will be lots of tears before 3pm tomorrow. Mine will be shed at 11.30 when I see the starting line-up!

 

[Gassy]

There will be lots of tears before 3pm tomorrow. Mine will be shed at 11.30 when I see the starting line-up!

I thought the same for Orient, but was surprised that it actually looked ok! Although Martin had a good game, I do worry with him starting

 

[BRFC_Gas]

I thought the same for Orient, but was surprised that it actually looked ok! Although Martin had a good game, I do worry with him starting

I know what you mean but id rather he helped us into leads rather than bring him on when we are chasing the game. Trouble is we rarely look to attack until we are behind so probably looks more effective when we are losing

 

[AdamStag]

Looking good weather for that uncovered terrace at stockport tomorrow, thankgod.

All the rain came NYE/NYD!

 

[Luke Imp]

We're in a bit of a rut and nothing is coming off. We don't look disorganised per se but a bit of a confused side with tactics that don't suit the players we have or play to their strengths (even allowing for the need to get better quality players in forward areas). Stevenage have won once away from home this season and only scored three goals...!

We thought O'Connor's shoulder has dislocated and popped back in against Rotherham but he's been patched up and has trained. Hackett is back in contention as well, as will Montsma and Erhahon after his suspension. McKiernan also back but Street has departed on loan, Ring is still ill and Walker is injured again and out for 10 weeks. Got a feeling we'll not be renewing his deal in the summer...he'll finish on 8 appearances in two years and only two appearances (40 minutes at a guess) since the end of August 2023!

Skubala needs a win first and foremost but he also needs a performance to go with it.

 

[AmberAndy]

I thought the same for Orient, but was surprised that it actually looked ok! Although Martin had a good game, I do worry with him starting

Martin will come in for fearful stick from the Cambridge crowd if he starts tomorrow and the bench probably won’t be a sanctuary for him either. Best leave him at home?
Can see goals in this game, but in what configuration I cannot tell. I’ll optimistically go for a 3-2 home win. Has to be the last chance for Monk to keep his job so I think our lads will be fired up for this one, bad as they are, they seem to like playing for him, and lack of effort has never been the problem this year.

 

[Gassy]

Martin will come in for fearful stick from the Cambridge crowd if he starts tomorrow and the bench probably won’t be a sanctuary for him either. Best leave him at home?
Can see goals in this game, but in what configuration I cannot tell. I’ll optimistically go for a 3-2 home win. Has to be the last chance for Monk to keep his job so I think our lads will be fired up for this one, bad as they are, they seem to like playing for him, and lack of effort has never been the problem this year.

What sort of game do you play these days? If you’re physical we won’t be able to compete.

I remember at the Mem you tried passing like prime Man City and it was absolutely your downfall?

 

[AmberAndy]

If we are on it, we play a high press, break quickly in numbers and then regrettably do very little with it from there on in. We are creating numbers of good chances in every game, but can’t finish for toffee. If we score first we probably win at home, if we concede first we will lose. The midfield is physically a little lightweight and is definitely our main problem area after not being able to finish. Lately we have also returned to giving silly goals away which is not a good sign. There are reasons we are where we are, but effort and guts are not part of that equation.

 

[AmberAndy]

If we are on it, we play a high press, break quickly in numbers and then regrettably do very little with it from there on in. We are creating numbers of good chances in every game, but can’t finish for toffee. If we score first we probably win at home, if we concede first we will lose. The midfield is physically a little lightweight and is definitely our main problem area after not being able to finish. Lately we have also returned to giving silly goals away which is not a good sign. There are reasons we are where we are, but effort and guts are not part of that equation.

 

[AmberAndy]

Sorry double post

How do you think you will approach this vital game?