Saturday 6th August

[Kauto Star]

Gills away. I'd hope that O'Donnell is dropped at GK and the new loanee keeper is given a go.
I'd also like to see Brierley and Charman start in place of Kelly and Ball who were crap on Sat. We have an awful record at Gillingham so I'd snap your hand off if you offered a point right now.

You are not impressed with our ROD then?

 

[Salvador]

You are not impressed with our ROD then?

Admittedly I've only seen two pre season games and last Saturday. But he doesn't look better than the keepers we let go. I suppose it'll take some time for all the new signings to gel together. And we may have been spoiled a bit as we've had some really good keepers in recent seasons.

 

[Sestonpoolie]

Colchester are shit and favourites to go down and it's time they did.

We'll beat them.

Let's hope so.
God awful away day in lego stadium miles from anywhere.

 

[BogDaddyO]

Away at Crawley for the Os.

Was surprised to see them lose to Carlisle on the opening day given the players they've bought in, so hopefully they're still figuring how they want to play.

Thought overall we looked good against Grimsby, we got lucky with the penalty (though upon reflection the ball does hit the defender on the arm...) and our second was a once in a lifetime strike from Tom James, so you can't bank on that happening every week. However, we'll have our new QPR loan striker Kelman, and arguably our best defender Ogie both back from suspension so some selection headaches for Wellens which is rarely a bad thing.

We're still probably 3-4 weeks from being a well oiled machine, but the opening signs are promising - hoping we are playing Crawley at the right time and we can edge it by a goal for another 3 points. Would probably take a draw now if it meant no more injuries or suspensions...

Crawley 1 - 2 Orient.

 

[F!RTHY]

There,s no doubt Cooke can play , but not in that situation.

Doubt PH will ditch his captain, But understand where you coming from.

I just don’t know where I’d play him.

When he first joined, we played him quite deep. He expressed his love for playing further forward and McCall gave him the opportunity.

Don’t get me wrong, he chips in with the odd assist, but he’s up there with Josh Cullen when it comes to midfielders who just simply cannot shoot. It’s like his arse just falls out in the final third.

He could be so much better if he just worked on his confidence/mindset; but I suppose that applies to all sportspersons.

 

[Crewelad87]

Harrogate at home for us. The only game involving two winning teams from last weekend.

I know absaloutly nothing about Harrogate, I was expecting them to struggle after a poor 2nd half of the season, but a 3-0 win vs Swindon suggests they will be a tough challenge. I'd expect we will be pretty much unchanged maybe only Sambou dropping to the bench for CBR or Long if he's back fit.

Okonkwo

Mellor Mcdonald Offord Williams

Thomas Ainley Uwakwe

Brook CBR Agyei

Crewe 1-1 Harrogate (Agyei, Armstrong) 3,955 (250 Harrogate)

 

[F!RTHY]

Gills away. I'd hope that O'Donnell is dropped at GK and the new loanee keeper is given a go.
I'd also like to see Brierley and Charman start in place of Kelly and Ball who were crap on Sat. We have an awful record at Gillingham so I'd snap your hand off if you offered a point right now.

When O’Donnell arrived in 2018, I was buzzing. He turned down signing for WBA (2nd/3rd choice granted) that summer and signed for us instead - it was a bit of a coupe. £3,500+ per week - great CV etc.

Now, I’m not trying excuse some of his diabolical performances, but the defence he had infront of him was fucking woeful. Plenty of admiration for him and his community commitments/projects, not to mention the significant wage decrease when he signed his new deal in 2020, but on the face of it, he’s just another division 4 keeper who just simply refuses to command his box. Great shot stopper, as these types always are, but every other skillset is absent.

I think he’s lucky to have found another league club, as I expected him to drop into the National League.

Always welcome back at VP - he lead by example, as most senior pros do!

 

[Fedora Dale]

Gills away. I'd hope that O'Donnell is dropped at GK and the new loanee keeper is given a go.
I'd also like to see Brierley and Charman start in place of Kelly and Ball who were crap on Sat. We have an awful record at Gillingham so I'd snap your hand off if you offered a point right now.

Agree with you re the changes. One I wouldn't change is Sam Graham, who I thought had a decent game last week (arguably better than both EEL and John). Whilst Big Ben looked decent in his cameo, and will possibly be a future starter, I'd leave the back three alone for Gills.

 

[Salvador]

Agree with you re the changes. One I wouldn't change is Sam Graham, who I thought had a decent game last week (arguably better than both EEL and John). Whilst Big Ben looked decent in his cameo, and will possibly be a future starter, I'd leave the back three alone for Gills.

Yeah, I'd keep the back 3 the same. Thought Graham had his best game for us last week. Which may sound odd given we conceded two. But he had some howlers last season after all. I do hope he comes good like Dorsett did.

 

[LordJord]

Away at Grimsby for us. Contrasting results in the opening week but I could see a draw playing out. Dont think Ben Fox is going to recover from his hammy pull in time to feature at all sadly.

Really hope we get an extra attacking option before the weekend, we dont have any senior wingers / forwards that we can bring off the bench atm, only one fit CM alternative also. The squad is still lacking 3 or 4 bodies I think our starting XI is extremely competitive though.

Hylton will infuriate all the Grimsby fans without doubt. Really want to see Appere more involved also, not convinced hes cut out to be a starting striker, or certainly not at the moment.

If Odimayo is back could see us going to a back 3. Otherwise will be same as last week I imagine.

Burge
Magloire Sherring Guthrie Koiki
Pinnock McWilliams Sowerby Hoskins
Hylton Appere

Going to say 1-1 with Hylton scoring for us.

 

[E10rifle]

Has Crawley’s badge been changed to a smoking monkey wearing sunglasses yet? Anyway, we are brilliant at losing to Crypto NFTown, so I imagine it’ll be 3-0 to them even though we’ll have 20 shots to their 2.

 

[Casey]

Has Crawley’s badge been changed to a smoking monkey wearing sunglasses yet? Anyway, we are brilliant at losing to Crypto NFTown, so I imagine it’ll be 3-0 to them even though we’ll have 20 shots to their 2.

I dont like our badge (the Gatwick diamond) so I will happily swop for a smoking monkey if we get that result.

Our back up players lost 5-1 at Bracknell on Tuesday and for all the bug noise around the club we've only signed three players with any experience and let three go (including our player of the season).

Casey

 

[Loyal Dale]

Agree with you re the changes. One I wouldn't change is Sam Graham, who I thought had a decent game last week (arguably better than both EEL and John). Whilst Big Ben looked decent in his cameo, and will possibly be a future starter, I'd leave the back three alone for Gills.

Not been impressed with our permanent signings yet, and O'Donnell looks to have no command of his 6 yard area, which is worrying. Hope I'm wrong, but based on the 2 games I've seen him play; he is a step down on last seasons keepers; neither of whom were good enough.

Graham was the best of three central defenders on Saturday, with EEL looking decidedly rusty. Both wing backs looked good offensively.

I'm not normally one who settles for a point, but I think I'd be happy with one at what is surely one of our bogey grounds.

 

[pontoonlew]

Another really tough game for us, would be happy with a point. Still a lot of injuries to contend with and still a lack of striker could make it a tough day for us

 

[Kauto Star]

Not been impressed with our permanent signings yet, and O'Donnell looks to have no command of his 6 yard area, which is worrying. Hope I'm wrong, but based on the 2 games I've seen him play; he is a step down on last seasons keepers; neither of whom were good enough.

Graham was the best of three central defenders on Saturday, with EEL looking decidedly rusty. Both wing backs looked good offensively.

I'm not normally one who settles for a point, but I think I'd be happy with one at what is surely one of our bogey grounds.

You've got ROD sussed then. Good shot stopper, but never commanded his 6 yard area all the time he played for us.

Nice bloke, and he will get a good reception when you play us this season.

Popular with our ladies too, as I am reliably informed by a few of them that he is hot!

 

[Stocky]

We need to buck our ideas up big time if we're going to get our first result of the campaign. Play anything like we did against Barrow and we'll get nothing at Stevenage.

 

[Limerick Mariner]

Another really tough game for us, would be happy with a point. Still a lot of injuries to contend with and still a lack of striker could make it a tough day for us

...yes, we have to look elsewhere after our Chief Exec stepped in to block our bid for Solihull's top scorer,. who she wasn't keen on...

 

[pontoonlew]

...yes, we have to look elsewhere after our Chief Exec stepped in to block our bid for Solihull's top scorer,. who she wasn't keen on...

Surely not?

 

[Chief Rocka]

Dallas? Won’t score for weeks then will hit four in a match, never been impressed with him either.

 

[Agombar stool]

Dallas? Won’t score for weeks then will hit four in a match, never been impressed with him either.

They should try him on the (e)wing more often. Ho ho.

 

[Limerick Mariner]

Surely not?

Was leaving to others with time on their hands to work it out...

 

[Son of Cod]

Dallas? Won’t score for weeks then will hit four in a match, never been impressed with him either.

He was red hot for most of the second half of last season but I do agree he seems like a streaky player and that would be my concern. Think he had 2 at Christmas last season or something. Also missed a sitter in the playoff final and assisted our winner. I'm desperate for us to sign a striker but I'm not sure he's the guy.

 

[Son of Cod]

Surely not?

Whoooosh

 

[pontoonlew]

Whoooosh

I’ve a feeling I’m just not cultured enough or perhaps old enough to understand

 

[pontoonlew]

He was red hot for most of the second half of last season but I do agree he seems like a streaky player and that would be my concern. Think he had 2 at Christmas last season or something. Also missed a sitter in the playoff final and assisted our winner. I'm desperate for us to sign a striker but I'm not sure he's the guy.

Yeah I’ve said it a few times, I think he’s overrated

 

[Limerick Mariner]

I’ve a feeling I’m just not cultured enough or perhaps old enough to understand

No, it's the case that you do have the right kind of discerning culture - unlike old low-lifes like SoC and I...

 

[Son of Cod]

I’ve a feeling I’m just not cultured enough or perhaps old enough to understand

Haha I guess it's a kind of culture of sorts but it's a reference to Debbie Does Dallas. Don't Google that if you're on a work computer though.

 

[Limerick Mariner]

Haha I guess it's a kind of culture of sorts but it's a reference to Debbie Does Dallas. Don't Google that if you're on a work computer though.

Context is (as speculated on The Fishy) GTFC's twitter teasers before making new signings - if we had signed him then would Debbie Cook (CEO) do the teaser (dressed as a cheerleader), perhaps not...that would be one way to instantly terminate our bid for BCorp status

 

[Son of Cod]

Context is GTFC's twitter teasers before making new signings - if we had signed him then would Debbie Cook (CEO) do the teaser, perhaps not...that would be one way to instantly terminate our bid for BCorp status

Hahaha yeah when we were linked with him back in the summer I almost posted in a WhatsApp group that Debbie Cook doing the marketing practically writes itself but then I remembered Kristine Green was in the group and it was about two days after she'd been to the really weird sexist Conference end of season awards.

 

[joethegill]

It's my birthday on Saturday so we'd better win.

Rochdale is a proper welcome back to the 4th tier, rather than last week playing a side who came down with us. I don't think the squad will be massively different to last week to be fair, although hopefully Lewis Walker's registration has now come through and O'Keefe is good for a place on the bench after injury.

Personally I'd like a bit of a change of shape, I don't think we need 2 sitting midfielders in this league against most teams to be fair so I'd play just Williams in that role with a bit more creativity ahead of him.

Morris
Wright - Ehmer - Baggott - Law
Williams
Green - Lee - Reeves - Kashket
Mandron
​

Turner, Alexander, Tutonda, O'Keefe, Jefferies, Walker, MacDonald

We're normally alright at home to Dale, so hopefully that continues with a 3-1 win.