Swindon Town v Tranmere Rovers

[Agombar stool]

A repeat of the epic play-off battle of 1993 where Town and Rovers played 2 fiercely contested games to see who would take on Leicester City for a shot at the Premier League. Since then, its been all pretty much doom and gloom and we both find ourselves in the basement division. I would say both sides aims this season are top half/play offs but we currently look like a side with a defence consisting of Steve Vickers, the midfield of Pat Nevins and the strike force of.....insert crap 90s Tranmere Striker here (you had John Aldridge and he was ace so can't use him!!

I'm going on Saturday, first game for ages (I ruptured my achilles tendon in March forcing me to miss the end of our pretty dull last season) and I'm pretty pessimistic. I have no doubt that Paul Mullin will love the space given to him by our half-witted back line so I reckon 1-3 beckons.

Dooooooooooooooooom

 

[getoutofit]

Can't really think of any truly crap strikers we had in the 90s. Been almost too many to mention since though. Seyni N'Diaye came just after the 90s, so let's say him.

As for saturday, I doubt Mullin will play to be honest. If he does, it'll mostly likely be a couple of minutes off the bench.

I'm gonna go with Ollie Banks, who's been class so far, to score the first in a 1-1 draw.

 

[Indian Dan]

That bloke you mentioned, N’Diaye, was his nickname Eat Shit?

 

[Agombar stool]

Can't really think of any truly crap strikers we had in the 90s. Been almost too many to mention since though. Seyni N'Diaye came just after the 90s, so let's say him.

As for saturday, I doubt Mullin will play to be honest. If he does, it'll mostly likely be a couple of minutes off the bench.

I'm gonna go with Ollie Banks, who's been class so far, to score the first in a 1-1 draw.

ugh I forgot you had Ollie Banks as well. So that's him and Mullin to put us to the sword!

 

[Tranmerewhite]

ugh I forgot you had Ollie Banks as well. So that's him and Mullin to put us to the sword!

Ollie Banks has been playing in beast mode so far. Completely ran the show vs Walsall and unlucky not to score hitting the post twice. He won’t be with us in January if he keeps playing like that.

As for Saturday, we have 3 of our 4 full backs injured and one of our first choice centre backs out, so I’m really concerned for us defensively. Losing our left back also ruins the tactic we’ve employed for so long of Connor Jennings dragging the oppo right back infield and then creating an overlap.

Had predicted a win before that injury, now happy with a draw - we’ll still have plenty in attack.

 

[White Army]

Our most difficult game so far I think, a game we always seem to lose. I thought Swindon had recruited pretty well in the summer so expect them to be in or around the playoffs.

Imagine our line up will look like:

Davies

Caprice
Mcnulty
Ellis
Monthe

Smith
Banks
Harris
Jennings

Norwood
Stockton.

Leaving us with 0 defenders on the bench. Id take a draw now, 2-2 being the most likely result. Norwood to score for us obviously. 400 Tranmere to make the journey.

 

[Tranmerewhite]

400 Tranmere to make the journey.

Given the tweets from the supporters group I’d suggest it’ll be at least double that.

 

[Hurrikeen]

Given the tweets from the supporters group I’d suggest it’ll be at least double that.

800 would be very impressive given that you've already got the 'opening away day attraction' out of the way.

 

[Indian Dan]

Luckily, my car doesn’t have hub caps.

 

[Hurrikeen]

Luckily, my car doesn’t have hub caps.

That's just reminded me of the time when a Tranny fan came onto OWTB to offer his driveway as a parking spot for a fee of £10.

 

[Boz]

Luckily, my tractor doesn’t have hub caps.

Corrected for you.

 

[Huntsman94]

Reckon our defence is a bit of a worry but up top we're in good shape.

Like the rest of the Tranmere posters on here I'd take a draw if it was offered 100%.

Wonder how much we could get for Banks if he keeps playing like this. Man has been on flames the start of this season!

 

[RLC]

I think our side will be as White Army states above. With a full strength team I would have fancied us to win this, as some of our football has been great so far, but we have a lot of players missing.

The only time I saw us take the lead at Swindon the floodlights went out in the second half (the same season as the play-off match referred to in the OP). Our record there is horrendous.

 

[Tranmerewhite]

Luckily, my car doesn’t have hub caps.

Fortunately my car's lights won't fail when the car next to me overtakes with a few minutes left..

As for Ollie Banks, if he plays like he did on Tuesday every game, he'll be in the Championship in January.

 

[northstandexile]

Our most difficult game so far I think, a game we always seem to lose. I thought Swindon had recruited pretty well in the summer so expect them to be in or around the playoffs.

Imagine our line up will look like:

Davies

Caprice
Mcnulty
Ellis
Monthe

Smith
Banks
Harris
Jennings

Norwood
Stockton.

Leaving us with 0 defenders on the bench. Id take a draw now, 2-2 being the most likely result. Norwood to score for us obviously. 400 Tranmere to make the journey.

Is that McNulty the guy who was at Luton, if it is he must be 40 and can’t be any quicker than last time I saw him.

 

[Indian Dan]

As you know, we had Banks last season. Started off well enough but faded into mediocre - like the rest of them, tbf.

Our 3/4 midfielders that will start are all better than Banks. Our problem is defence/attack - although Marc Richards is likely to play Saturday.

I honestly think our midfield is the best in L2.

 

[RLC]

We had Banks last season as well and he has been consistently good for us. I am sure Swindon's midfield is strong, but there won't be many better than Ollie at this level.

Our problem is that our other midfield options are a lot weaker.

 

[Indian Dan]

There are - believe me.

 

[RLC]

There are - believe me.

We have played at this level before you know......

 

[Indian Dan]

I know. But you haven’t played many of the teams that are in this league at the moment so you can’t really have a point of reference to the ability of Ollie Banks or not.

 

[Pablosammy]

We have played at this level before you know......

That didn't end well last time, I seem to remember!

 

[RLC]

I know. But you haven’t played many of the teams that are in this league at the moment so you can’t really have a point of reference to the ability of Ollie Banks or not.

You surely can from having watched about thirty years of lower division football ?

 

[White Army]

Given the tweets from the supporters group I’d suggest it’ll be at least double that.

400 is optimistic, nevermind 800

 

[Indian Dan]

You surely can from having watched about thirty years of lower division football ?

OK. So list the current midfield players in L2 that you’ve seen that Banks is better than.

 

[RLC]

OK. So list the current midfield players in L2 that you’ve seen that Banks is better than.

What has that got to do with the standard of Division Three and Four football in the last thirty five years, of which I have seen plenty ?

Unless League Two has now been overtaken by sides playing tiki-taka and modelling themselves on Barca (I admit, the standard might have improved a bit).

In answer to your question, all of them so far (and Walsall's on Tuesday night).

 

[Indian Dan]

Nothing. That’s my point. Any given season produces any number of midfielders, my point is that, based on watching Banks for a good few games last season and also watching other teams’ midfielders as well he’s nothing that stands out. Wait and see how he performs against the better sides and maybe your opinion will change. He’s spent enough time in the nether regions to have been spotted before now if he was Championship standard.

 

[RLC]

We will see. Anyway, I am looking forward to Saturday as it is our biggest test yet.

 

[ThisTinpotLeague]

 

[Indian Dan]

Get back. You’ll be here soon enough!

 

[TRFC_Fan]

Looking forward to this but hopefully the defeat in the week hasn't killed our momentum from the positive opening two games.

Unfortunately not having an attacking LB available is going to hurt us I feel and think we could lose this one.