Saturday 7th December

[Randolph Haggerty]

Great noisy following from wallsall, surely the biggest support they’ve brought up here?
A really shit game though, and they were slightly less shit.
Darren Moores team selection was bizarre to say the least, it’s been working so he’s been immune, but I couldn’t find too many advocates of his team today.
Keeping it tight until 60 minutes then throwing all of our attackers on is a strange tactic.
We’ve been poor for a month but kept ticking over, I hope we start purring soon.

 

[valefan16]

Not too downbeat about that one, it was a farce in terms of conditions and why Vale were so keen to get it on with 1500 or so not turning up and the game was a dire watch. Neither side got to grips with it really and oddly the team playing against the wind seemed to have the better of each half.

That goal is a shocker, not sure how Ripley has done then, maybe in normal conditions it gets tipped over and the wind has held it up but it doesn’t look great.

It was always going to need a mistake to score in that game and it’s how it panned out. Not too much damage done with Crewe and Doncaster dropping points but we need to get back into form. The positive was George Byers getting 30 minutes and Harper did a good 70 odd, although we are missing Ben Garrity at the minute big time.

Big couple of games against Bromley A and Carlisle at H… need 4-6 points really but won’t be easy.

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

Grimsby above us in the league. Liquidation now it’s the only way to be sure.

Gotta say I’m beginning to think it might be a mixed blessing for whoever goes up this season. Will get fuckin rinsed most weeks in league 1.

 

[valefan16]

Grimsby above us in the league. Liquidation now it’s the only way to be sure.

Gotta say I’m beginning to think it might be a mixed blessing for whoever goes up this season. Will get fuckin rinsed most weeks in league 1.

We stayed up with a poorer squad than the one we have now but it is difficult especially post mid season, Mansfield maybe a good example at the moment once the wave is over it does become a slog.

 

[CFC91]

Tranmere bang in trouble based on that. We were decent. Took our goals well and generally were on top through out

 

[codaplenty]

We are in a really good position now what we cannot do is let it all go to shit again in January like the last 2 seasons when we where in touching distance just after Christmas then lost players and fell off a cliff. If we lose Lowe Jellis etc they have to be replaced properly and money will need to be spent
One good early sign is we have already been linked to a move to bring Freddie Draper back from Lincoln so hopefully that means the club know what needs to be done.

Your doing well and good luck going forwards. How we ever achieved that result at your place is a complete mystery. You know what they say, form is temporary, class is permanent!

 

[Limerick Mariner]

Grimsby above us in the league. Liquidation now it’s the only way to be sure.

Gotta say I’m beginning to think it might be a mixed blessing for whoever goes up this season. Will get fuckin rinsed most weeks in league 1.

Being above us in the league doesn't always end well for you though. Actually, I'd be delighted to finish in 6th with you in 5th again...

 

[mozzavale]

Walsall deserved the win based on two key moments in the game. The goal was very fortunate the way it landed in the way it did, but Matt deserved a bit of luck the way he battled for the ball. Poor defending from us, and Ripley has to be disappointed not to force it over.

Then there's Stockley's late chance where the Walsall lad reads it and clears it off the line. The difference between a 1 nil Vale, a nil nil, a 1-1 draw, and ultimate the 1 nil Walsall got. A poor game massively affected by the weather for both teams. Ultimately just dropped their way,and I think those incidents showed their players just wanted it a bit more than ours.

Positive that Byers is back and Garrity is close. Also a positive that we somehow stay 2nd with Donny dropping points. A couple of good chances coming up to put things right, but the players need to get their desire back sharpish.

 

[codaplenty]

Two successive defeats, 7 goals conceded and a bit of a mini crisis. A shambolic performance today. rightly criticised by the manager and stand in captain. Take nothing away from Swindon whose desire and fight were head and shoulders above the Cods
Oh yes, congrats to Smith on an excellent hat trick - must be on a promise tonight eh !

 

[Grimsby Road]

Grimsby above us in the league. Liquidation now it’s the only way to be sure.

Gotta say I’m beginning to think it might be a mixed blessing for whoever goes up this season. Will get fuckin rinsed most weeks in league 1.

I doubt we would if we went up tbh , as much as the narative is 'it's Grimsby ' we have got 4 guys with serious wealth and intelligence who want to take us through the leagues , I doubt it will happen but we wouldn't be fodder for a beating in league ; you just have to look at the link up with Tony Blooms data bods that shows we are a serious operation now

 

[Son of Cod]

I love it that I’m expecting us to win now whenever we play away, don’t know how long we can keep this insane away form up but I’m really enjoying it while it lasts and nice to get a cushion win too instead of hanging on a 1 goal lead like usual.
Trying not to get too excited but we’re a good chunk into the season now so this isn’t a fluke and we deserve to be where we are.
Happy days.

One of the most encouraging things about today was that we won on the road by playing like the home side too. A lot being made of Rose being replaced by Obikwu being the difference and while I don't disagree that this is a factor as his movement seems to stretch the opposition defence a bit more than Rose's the pace at which we've moved the ball in the last few matches has also been key. Whether that's because Thompson is back in doing more of the dirty work freeing up McEachran or things have just clicked I'm not sure. JDS looks like a completely different player too. Two matches ago I'd have said he was a bit of an Otis Khan, tidy on the ball and works hard but little threat. It's almost as though he's had a glance over at Luker and thought to himself "oh I can do that as well, can't I?" He looks so much more confident.

 

[Son of Cod]

Being above us in the league doesn't always end well for you though. Actually, I'd be delighted to finish in 6th with you in 5th again...

Notts v Town in the playoffs over two legs without Paul Hurst putting a pragmatic spanner in the works could be epic.

 

[Limerick Mariner]

Notts v Town in the playoffs over two legs without Paul Hurst putting a pragmatic spanner in the works could be epic.

Based upon current form being away in the second leg would be a big advantage for us. We'd be spanked at home with Notts cruising at 0-3, we snatch a late goal, then at Meadow Lane we unleash the new Artellawayball with the Green (Beckham)assist and Obikwu power running on goal. It would inevitably go to extra time...

 

[JJ1990]

Dire performance from Crewe Alex today. The manager wasn't happy, which is rare when we don't lose a game. 1st half Bradford shaded and should have been 1-0 up after missing 2 good chances, although we missed one when Conway decided not to shoot and take a dreadful touch and have to pass it off instead.

2nd half, we finally catch a break and go up 1-0, but the manager's weird tactical switch to 4-3-3 seemed very out of left field cost us as Williams gets caught out, we don't deal with the cross and it deflects in off Cooney. 3rd game in a row that we concede a deflected effort.

Sorry, but Pattison booting the ball at Bogle is as nailed on a red card as you're ever likely to see. What was he thinking? Yes, maybe Bogle milked it and yes, maybe our players didn't need to surround the ref on mass, but again, it shouldn't detract from it being the right decision.

We were poor after the red, never made the most of the man advantage. Neither side had any real chances to win it and I thought a point was fair. Fair play to Bradford, they played far more football today than I was expecting. Maybe they're a better team without Cook?

We need to be far better, too many passengers at the moment. Cooney, Tracey, Williams, Conway could all do better. Joel Tabiner at the moment and has been a total passenger for most of the season. Need far more from him, but he doesn't seem to have a good grasp on the CM position and what's required to stand out there.

Still, we're grinding out results and still within touching distance of the top 3. Some reasonably winnable games coming up in the coming weeks, but it we can raise our game, then we'll get some.

 

[ShrimpsMeltdown]

Really poor display, easily the worst of the season.

Back down to reality with a bang after the last couple of weeks, we need some re-inforcements badly as soon as that window opens. Shame we can't bin off half the dross we have in this squad.

 

[We Are Sailing]

Being honest we could have won that 8-0. Tranmere are either awful or we played really well. Probably a bit of both.

 

[mozzavale]

Well we've conceded 3 massively deflected goals in a row, does that count?

Don't get me started

 

[leedsvaliant]

Walsall deserved the win based on two key moments in the game. The goal was very fortunate the way it landed in the way it did, but Matt deserved a bit of luck the way he battled for the ball. Poor defending from us, and Ripley has to be disappointed not to force it over.

Then there's Stockley's late chance where the Walsall lad reads it and clears it off the line. The difference between a 1 nil Vale, a nil nil, a 1-1 draw, and ultimate the 1 nil Walsall got. A poor game massively affected by the weather for both teams. Ultimately just dropped their way,and I think those incidents showed their players just wanted it a bit more than ours.

Positive that Byers is back and Garrity is close. Also a positive that we somehow stay 2nd with Donny dropping points. A couple of good chances coming up to put things right, but the players need to get their desire back sharpish.

Pretty much how I saw it. It felt like they treated it as a huge game (which it was) but we felt a little bit lacklustre. Was always going to be a bit of a lottery as to who won given the conditions but as the home team we should be taking the initiative. We're absolute masters at not turning up for big games. I can only remember a handful of big games in 35 years of going where we've actually turned up.

In some ways, it might be easier to not be top. Every team wants to give you a bloody nose. We just need to steady the ship a bit. Feels like we've been clinging on for a while without being convincing.

Moore needs to make better use of our forward options and stop dropping them in and out of the squad. None of them can get any momentum and it shows.

As I said before the game, it's just 1 of 46. Both teams could drop out of the picture completely. 4 losses so far...usually can only afford 8 or 9 losses if we want automatic promotion.

 

[CTFCfan99]

Based on the very small amount of the game that I saw, draw was the right result today. Looked like we always threatened on the counter but Donny always looked like they'd equalise.

 

[valefan16]

Pretty much how I saw it. It felt like they treated it as a huge game (which it was) but we felt a little bit lacklustre. Was always going to be a bit of a lottery as to who won given the conditions but as the home team we should be taking the initiative. We're absolute masters at not turning up for big games. I can only remember a handful of big games in 35 years of going where we've actually turned up.

In some ways, it might be easier to not be top. Every team wants to give you a bloody nose. We just need to steady the ship a bit. Feels like we've been clinging on for a while without being convincing.

Moore needs to make better use of our forward options and stop dropping them in and out of the squad. None of them can get any momentum and it shows.

As I said before the game, it's just 1 of 46. Both teams could drop out of the picture completely. 4 losses so far...usually can only afford 8 or 9 losses if we want automatic promotion.

I thought the effort was there but the goal seemed to kill us which is unusual. Problem was attacking with the wind behind you it was so strong that goal kicks taken long were going straight through and any ball forward just ran out of play as Walsall also suffered first half.

It was a 0-0 game written all over it but they got that bit of luck/error from a set piece and that was that.

Could easily have gone either way in those conditions.

 

[クレイグ]

Nice to see Swindon pick up a win. Think it'll be a good game next Saturday.

Also, I watched the Wimbledon vs Harrogate game earlier and was impressed with Wimbledon.

 

[iWomble]

Also, I watched the Wimbledon vs Harrogate game earlier and was impressed with Wimbledon.

Yet in our last two home games we lost to Daggers in the cup and threw away a two goal lead against Newport. If we were consistently that good we'd be right up there, but you could probably say the same for most teams in the top half.

 

[Vale on Trent]

Fair play to Walsall. They were the better team and deserved the win.

Walsall impressed me to be honest. Looked organised and had two good strikers that didn’t let us play.

The weather knocked a good few off the attendance and made it a poor atmosphere.

 

[Boz]

I can’t disagree with what the Chesterfield fans have said about Rovers. It might have been interesting had Connor Jennings header in the opening minutes crept in, but that and a long range effort from Drysdale were just about the sum of our attacking play. Despite their injuries Chesterfield dominated the match, the wide players Colclough and Markanday being particularly impressive and old boy Ollie Banks strolling around in midfield without any pressure from our own feeble central pairing.

Things are looking very grim from a Rovers perspective at present. Adkins has lost the dressing room, a number of senior pros put in can’t be arsed performances with Patrick and Turnbull being the main culprits and nothing is going to change until we’re out of this waiting for the takeover limbo land. Decent travelling support given the conditions, but shouts of you’re not fit to wear the shirt, Adkins out and sack the board and booing/sticking two fingers up to the players who came over to thank the fans at the end indicate just how toxic it’s all getting.

My first visit to the ‘new’ Chesterfield stadium. While it’s not as convenient as Saltergate for fans travelling by public transport, a decent ground with spectators fairly close to the pitch and good views. The stewards were very friendly.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

Notts v Town in the playoffs over two legs without Paul Hurst putting a pragmatic spanner in the works could be epic.

As long as Jodi Jones is fit and raring to go I'd snap your hands off for that now or the start of the season.

Although we would be the likely pragmatic ones if under strength.

 

[Si Robin]

Based on the very small amount of the game that I saw, draw was the right result today. Looked like we always threatened on the counter but Donny always looked like they'd equalise.

From what I saw it was a good away performance against a top team in this division.

When they equalised the first time I thought we'd go on to lose, so to go back in front straight away was a bit of a shock - as you say though, I didn't expect us to see out a win.

 

[Spireitelass97]

Much better from us yesterday at last. Everyone played well. Dobra & Colclough looked more like their old selves. Sheckleford MOTM on his first league start. Drummond did well for his goal. Let’s keep this going now please!

 

[GTFCfish]

The Artell out brigade on Twitter have gone a bit quiet lately, what an absolutely brilliant job he's doing here, he might chat a bit of shit at times but fuck me he's a great manager, he's even got Kieran Green playing like prime Zidane somehow too.

 

[Scum.]

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Results worked out fairly well for us. Still top 7 with 2 games in hand.

 

[gary]

Yet in our last two home games we lost to Daggers in the cup and threw away a two goal lead against Newport. If we were consistently that good we'd be right up there, but you could probably say the same for most teams in the top half.

We would be more consistent but we currently have a third of the squad out injured so it's hardly surprising. We will need to get through the next six weeks then hopefully some of them will return. Maybe one or two will return before then. There are no stand out teams in this league so top 3 is possible but that is obviously dependent on injuries and maybe adding one or two more in January.