Season Openers - The Good and the Bad

[King Kev]

My favourite opening day memory was at Brighton’s Goldstone ground in the old second division in 1991. Brighton were the previous seasons beaten play off finalists, whilst we had just come up via the playoffs.
John Aldridge was making his Tranmere debut after a £250,000 move from Real Sociedad and was greeted with a chorus of “what a waste of money” from Brighton’s faithful. Aldo netted twice as Rovers ran out easy 2-0 winners.
Wish we had £250,000 to spend on a striker nowadays.

That must have been one hell of a glam signing then. Id guess that 250k was still considered a fair whack as well.

 

[Back in the DHSS]

That must have been one hell of a glam signing then. Id guess that 250k was still considered a fair whack as well.

More than doubled our record transfer fee paid at the time. Turned out to be the bargain of the century, 174 goals later.

 

[Son of Cod]

Respect for posting a video from the 1990s and with excellent fan commentary.

That's not actually a fan. Well technically he is, but he is an actual commentator who has now sadly been replaced.

 

[King Kev]

That's not actually a fan. Well technically he is, but he is an actual commentator who has now sadly been replaced.

You know what I mean. We have it on our old 1990s vids. Club commentator but also die hard fan. Never attempts to disguise his bias. Can't beat it.

 

[Son of Cod]

You know what I mean. We have it on our old 1990s vids. Club commentator but also die hard fan. Never attempts to disguise his bias. Can't beat it.

Haha, sorry genuinely didn't know if that was what you meant or not.

 

[Chris FGR]

Our first ever game in the Conference. Some legends in that team, inc the one and only Oggie Hunt.

Our first ever game in the Football League

Both brilliant occasions. Was at both.

 

[The_Boss]

Nothing bad jumping out of the top of my head but good is very simple. First ever football league game at home Vs Torkee. Ran out 2-1 winners, went unbeaten at home all season (19 wins, 4 draws), and took 2nd spot in the league for promotion straight through to the 2nd division. The following season we opened up against Kevin Keegans moneybags Fulham. A whole new level.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

Does this need updating after a couple of yesterday’s results/performances ?

 

[Si Robin]

I genuinely think yesterday was the worst opening day I can remember seeing - we really didn't seem to have a clue.

As for best, it would take a lot to beat this one - away at Swansea in 2006 having just been promoted to League 1. Fully expected a pasting as that's what we got a lot of in our only previous season at that level, step forward Kayode Odejayi and Grant McCann to put us 2 up. A bit of squeaky bumtime near the end after they pulled one back, but we fully deserved the win.

 

[Chris FGR]

Does this need updating after a couple of yesterday’s results/performances ?

Absobloodylutely.

 

[valefan16]

Yesterday is up there for Vale... Same 3-0 win as the other day but after the past two years that we’ve been through to see some of the football on display was dreamland compared to that. We’ve had a poor pre season a lot of negativity was in force that we’d be same old again.

First half was a non event both sides cagey although we missed a glorious chance with a header from two yards and they had a good chance headed wide from a corner... but it all changed on half time when we broke from a Cambridge corner and get a free kick on the edge of the area. Miller steps up pings the ball over into the net, runs to the Paddock eyes bulging and wild celebration... before strutting back past as he collects a yellow. In that moment we’d found a hero that has that fiery cocky attitude we need that will bust a gut... and it just got us going.

No one could predict the second half though , within moments Miller was at it again with a sumptuous one two with Pope... finally a strike force! As Miller produces skill to deceive the Cambridge man into the foul and Pope does the honours... after that it was wave of attack as we took a decent outfit apart. Attacking football we craved and it came, we’d been subject to lumbering Tonge and Pugh in midfield last season being over run, a narrowing of the huge pitch and more importantly Joyce a midfielder who doesn’t seem to lose the ball and when others do just goes and gets in back! And Oyeleke an unknown to us but came with massively positive reviews from Aldershot... a box to box midfielder, a more complete Anthony Grant on early viewing that we’ve missed. He could be stand out for us this season. A clean sheet! Rare but a solid keeper with the surprise package of pre season Connell Rawlinson from TNS forcing his way in ahead of Leon Legge took to his challenge like duck to water. 2 up front working well a real threat.

We’d missed Vale the past two years but that was the most complete performance since and at least shows early promise of a side that we can and will be proud to get behind. Hard workers, some attacking quality and a team that knew what it needed to do and was organised enough to go out and do it.

Whilst not trying to get carried away, most would still take upper mid table even the most expectant Valiant was stunned, if Miller can play and link up with Pope like that after just 45 minutes of pre season and this side can grow a better understanding as they get used to each other it promises to be a much better ride than the last two years.

It can hardly be much worse than the last year in particularly!