Saturday 7th December

[LS Bantam]

A comprehensive win for Crewe on the cards. Andy Cook suspended, so not even a consolation goal for us.

3-0 Crewe

Alexander out!

Pete Wild in? What’s the alternative Kauto? Another pay off, the part Hughes/part Alexander/part someone else potentially in January mish mash squad, rinse repeat and start the next 12 month cycle until the next guy’s sacked too? No question the football is dreadful but does anything change whoever is in charge?

 

[DippyDon]

Pete Wild in? What’s the alternative Kauto? Another pay off, the part Hughes/part Alexander/part someone else potentially in January mish mash squad, rinse repeat and start the next 12 month cycle until the next guy’s sacked too? No question the football is dreadful but does anything change whoever is in charge?

We managed to go from Alexanderball to Williamsonball (before he got figured out) pretty quickly so it's not impossible, though it would take longer than a few games based on the very limited knowledge I have of your squad.

 

[LS Bantam]

We managed to go from Alexanderball to Williamsonball (before he got figured out) pretty quickly so it's not impossible, though it would take longer than a few games based on the very limited knowledge I have of your squad.

Going from one manager you didn’t like to another you didn’t like is exactly my point.

 

[DippyDon]

Going from one manager you didn’t like to another you didn’t like is exactly my point.

That's not my point either... and at that time, we did like him as it was before all the negatives became commonplace.

The point is that footballers even at this level are pretty good and a lot of them would both be used to and prefer a better style, and while we maybe had a squad more suited to it, it wouldn't take drastically long to change styles if the right manager comes in.

 

[jacobncfc]

We just need to prise a win out from somewhere, but boy am I not looking forward to another 90 minutes of slowly passing it around the defence and midfield because everyone who can create something is injured and we refuse to try anything else. Another 0-0 wouldn’t particularly surprise me tbh.

Although it sounds like Platt and Abbott are back, so it shouldn’t be quite as much of a mess as it was on Tuesday. And maybe Crowley, but feels like that’s been the case for weeks.

 

[spireite]

Tranmere (H).

Not a clue who we’re going to play in midfield as right now we only have Banks fit & available with the rest out injured/suspended. We do have a young midfielder Bailey Hobson out on loan doing very well at Barnet currently though, so I’m going to assume we will be recalling him ahead of this one as quite frankly we don’t have any other realistic options (other than possibly throwing Mandeville in there?).

We have issues in defence also as our first & second choice right backs are out injured, as is our first choice centre back (& probably 2nd choice in Naylor even though he’s a midfielder), so that will be makeshift for us too.

We will probably look like this (assuming Hobson is recalled):

Thompson
Sheckleford Williams Araujo Gordon
Hobson Banks
Mandeville Markanday Colclough
Grigg

Boot (GK)
Jessop
Grimes
Horton
Dobra
Berry
Drummond

We really need to try and grind a win out here by any means necessary. I very much doubt it will be pretty, and it’s another game in which we’re forced into making a load of changes to the team again.

The likelihood is we’re going to suffer a bit over the next few weeks with the current state of the squad, but we just need to get through December & stay in touch with the play offs best we can before getting all our players back fit again & maybe even bringing a couple in and shifting a few in Jan for a big second half of season push. This seasons been so frustrating so far, just feels like so much has gone against us (some self inflicted but mostly bad luck regards refereeing decisions and injuries) and we’ve never been able to really kick into gear and see the full potential of this team that’s full of quality. The amount of points we’ve left out there in games that we should have won, especially towards the start of the season is ridiculous, and that’s what’s making our current predicament feel worse IMO.

Final thoughts from me ahead of this one is that I think as fans we’ve gotta just stick with it, recognise where we’re at currently and try (easier said than done) not get overly frustrated with how things are at the minute. If you were to read our forum for example you’d think we were sat where Swindon are in the league. You’d struggle to find a more negative forum than ours after a loss. I genuinely wonder where these clowns were between 2016 - 2021 when we were actually utter shite & potentially on our way out of existence as their negativity around that time would have actually been justified. But now we’re currently in the best position we’ve probably ever been as a club off the pitch, with one of our best ever managers back at the helm, with crowds up to record levels week in week out, & in our first season back in the EFL after 6 years… I think some of these people need a bit of perspective and to remind themselves that we could only dream of being in this position just a few years ago, where our biggest worry is a few injuries rather than wondering whether the next game is going to be our clubs last like we were not too long back!!!

COYB

I'm fired up now. That Premier Inn at Maidenhead next season is officially cancelled!!

 

[Si Robin]

Doncaster away - on paper we should lose, but we're doing quite well away from home, even the defeat to MK was down to us giving them three goals.

Reckon we might nab a draw.

 

[Boz]

Even with all their injuries and suspensions, Chesterfield are likely to have a stronger pool of players to pick from than Rovers. Our small squad has been depleted further by injuries across the park, with Hendry in midfield and Norris up front being key absentees. It looks unlikely that Tom Davies will be fit enough to return at the back, where Declan Drysdale struggled in midweek and was largely to blame for the first goal conceded. Adkins has struggled to decide on his best side from the limited selection available, but at least recent games have shown more chances being created, if not usually converted.

My first visit to the new ground, liked Saltergate though never saw a Rovers win there. Would be content to take a point from this one, given our current situation, but not that hopeful, even with the unpredictable weather.

 

[クレイグ]

We managed to go from Alexanderball to Williamsonball (before he got figured out) pretty quickly so it's not impossible, though it would take longer than a few games based on the very limited knowledge I have of your squad.

Puts you a few steps ahead of Alexander.

 

[Son of Cod]

Morecambe away, not really sure how I'm feeling about this. The table hints at a Town win but they've been involved in a lot of tight matches. Only being beaten by single goals against Donny, Walsall, Crewe and Vale suggests they aren't necessarily easy to break down.

I said I wanted at least 7 points from our mini "easier" run of 4 matches and we're on 4 having played 3 though so it would be nice to hit that target.

I can't see them being as wide open as Accrington were on Tuesday. It's hard to say whether that was because they were knackered from ET a few days ago or because we ran them ragged from the off. One thing that was apparent was that Obikwu played a major part in that victory so it will be interesting to see if Danny Rose comes back into the starting lineup.

 

[valefan16]

Morecambe away, not really sure how I'm feeling about this. The table hints at a Town win but they've been involved in a lot of tight matches. Only being beaten by single goals against Donny, Walsall, Crewe and Vale suggests they aren't necessarily easy to break down.

I said I wanted at least 7 points from our mini "easier" run of 4 matches and we're on 4 having played 3 though so it would be nice to hit that target.

I can't see them being as wide open as Accrington were on Tuesday. It's hard to say whether that was because they were knackered from ET a few days ago or because we ran them ragged from the off. One thing that was apparent was that Obikwu played a major part in that victory so it will be interesting to see if Danny Rose comes back into the starting lineup.

Morecambe played a lot better than their position suggests, very limited and their subs are old journeyman like Slew and Hope but they work very hard and have Tollitt and Rhys Williams who are decent.

They don't have the quality really but do battle hard.

 

[Stocky]

Tolitt and Hope couldn't get a kick for Oldham in the National League before they went to Morecambe

Derek Adams always does a very good job at Morecambe. With their budget, they should be rock bottom without a prayer this season. I know he's dour bloke Adams but can only commend him for how he gets them fighting. Took them to League One too. I know he's ditched them a couple of times but they must like him up there.

 

[Kauto Star]

Going from one manager you didn’t like to another you didn’t like is exactly my point.

I've definitely had enough of watching the turgid stuff served up by Alexander.

I wouldn't trust Sparks with the next appointment though, he should be nowhere near the interview process in future, surely that should be down to David Sharp now?

 

[Limerick Mariner]

Morecambe away, not really sure how I'm feeling about this. The table hints at a Town win but they've been involved in a lot of tight matches. Only being beaten by single goals against Donny, Walsall, Crewe and Vale suggests they aren't necessarily easy to break down.

I said I wanted at least 7 points from our mini "easier" run of 4 matches and we're on 4 having played 3 though so it would be nice to hit that target.

I can't see them being as wide open as Accrington were on Tuesday. It's hard to say whether that was because they were knackered from ET a few days ago or because we ran them ragged from the off. One thing that was apparent was that Obikwu played a major part in that victory so it will be interesting to see if Danny Rose comes back into the starting lineup.

I see from the Fishy that all the Morcambe squad are 6ft plus. Points to Green, Davies, Obikwu, Luker all starting again. Warren may still be injured so Cass again as well. Probably same team as Tuesday.

 

[Bone Idle]

The welsh fa have called off all games in their jurisdiction tomorrow following the met office upgrading storm daragh to red, between 3am and 11am so i don't see much chance of our game with Carlisle going ahead.

 

[Boz]

I see from the Fishy that all the Morcambe squad are 6ft plus. Points to Green, Davies, Obikwu, Luker all starting again. Warren may still be injured so Cass again as well. Probably same team as Tuesday.

Dakers is a big lad up front and Paul Lewis is gangly. Not the tallest opponents we’ve had, but they can be a handful to deal with.

 

[DearneValleyRover]

Doncaster away - on paper we should lose, but we're doing quite well away from home, even the defeat to MK was down to us giving them three goals.

Reckon we might nab a draw.

We have played better at home than away but dropped far more points, mainly due to us not turning up until the second half. McCann has basically told the players he’s fed up of it which showed at Fleetwood as we were on the front front from the start

 

[valefan16]

Dakers is a big lad up front and Paul Lewis is gangly. Not the tallest opponents we’ve had, but they can be a handful to deal with.

Dackers has faced us three teams this season (2 for Salford in League and cup and for Morecambe) and he has been very poor each time.

 

[Bone Idle]

The welsh fa have called off all games in their jurisdiction tomorrow following the met office upgrading storm daragh to red, between 3am and 11am so i don't see much chance of our game with Carlisle going ahead.

11am pitch inspection! not much good to traveling Carlisle fans as they will be 3 parts the way here by then.

 

[Limerick Mariner]

We have played better at home than away but dropped far more points, mainly due to us not turning up until the second half. McCann has basically told the players he’s fed up of it which showed at Fleetwood as we were on the front front from the start

But you didn't turn up for second half at Blundell Park...

...(you'd gone home with the points and most of us had gone home as well).

 

[Red Dragon]

We have a storm heading in down here in South Wales this evening, storm Darragh. As previously stated by another member, all ''Welsh League'' matches are already postponed for Saturday. Fingeres crossed, our match goes ahead in safe enough conditions. Spoke to five Carlisle supporters today in Newport city centre who arrived today and plan traveling back up north Sunday.

 

[hellogregory]

Newport County P-P Carlisle United

Our unbeaten run goes on for another week.

 

[codaplenty]

Well beaten in mid week by Donny so good test as we face Swindon tomorrow
A lot of young lads in the team so Charlie Adam needs to pick them up. Forget any league positions, a draw won't be the worst result for the Cods 0-0

 

[Red Dragon]

Sensibly postponed early rather than wait for a Saturday 11:00 pitch inspection.
Cardiff and Plymouth matches down this way are also off.

 

[leedsvaliant]

I don't think that will be the last of the postponements. Lashing it down overnight in Stoke and 50-60mph winds. Wouldn't be massively surprised if our game gets pulled.

 

[Red Dragon]

Sensibly postponed early rather than wait for a Saturday 11:00 pitch inspection.
Cardiff and Plymouth matches down this way are also off.

 

[valefan16]

I don't think that will be the last of the postponements. Lashing it down overnight in Stoke and 50-60mph winds. Wouldn't be massively surprised if our game gets pulled.

Rumours on Walsall forum an inspection is planned.

 

[Wootball]

Our game vs Bradford is unlikely. The winds and rain started yesterday evening and haven't stopped.

 

[loz]

Our game vs Bradford is unlikely. The winds and rain started yesterday evening and haven't stopped.

We need to play. The wind is our only chance of scoring.

 

[Gi Dalor]

I've definitely had enough of watching the turgid stuff served up by Alexander.

I wouldn't trust Sparks with the next appointment though, he should be nowhere near the interview process in future, surely that should be down to David Sharp now?

Yes, 2 important points here.
Ryan Sparks' record of appointments is dire, although some of the managers he's appointed are ok, so the problems might be more to do with the club and being sacked too quickly.

I've heard Pete Wild's name bandied about elsewhere. Quite apart from the fact that not all potential managers want to come to us, Wild might be better than Alexander, but the idea that he did ok with smaller clubs so automatically will have unstoppable success with us is not guaranteed, or I'd say even likely.

I certainly am fed up with watching Alexanderball, but there's still a decent chance he steers us to promotion, and that's all that counts. Honestly, I want a new manager next Summer if we're not promoted (and tbh even if we are) because I do want to enjoy watching City play. It's pretty much unbearable at this point, but I simply don't think changing manager (without Sparks going) increases our odds.
Time and time again, sticking with a competent manager pays off more than it doesn't.

We're not having a good enough season yet, but we're not even half way through. If things don't improve this month, then maybe we do have to wonder whether improvement is round the corner. There's an unusually high incidence of draws so far, not just for us, but in the division as a whole, which I think will revert to mean. One club (Walsall) averaging 2 points a game; again unusual.
Things will look a lot different for a lot of teams by the New Year.