Thursday 22nd & Saturday 24th August

[Carver]

I think Bromley will still go down as they have a 37 year old Byron Webster playing at the back for them. He was absolutely awful for us 5 years ago and was responsible for many goals we let in after we expected him to be a really good signing for this level.

As soon as they get beat they will crumble and the harsh reality of league football will come to them.

 

[DippyDon]

And the ones that didn’t (AKA AFCW) aren’t lunatics but probably should be derided?

That seems fair

 

[AlanPep]

Interesting comments about us being ‘Masters of the Dark Arts’ yet Webster might be a weakness. I’d accept we’ve been playing ‘professional’ football for a couple of years now (hence promotion) and I’d argue Webster is one of those that’s key in that, but don’t forget Alan Dunne (ex Millwall) is Woody’s assistant. We’ll falter, we’ll lose, but we won’t crumble, there’s EFL experience nicely woven into our squad

 

[THE LAST WALTZ]

I think Bromley will still go down as they have a 37 year old Byron Webster playing at the back for them. He was absolutely awful for us 5 years ago and was responsible for many goals we let in after we expected him to be a really good signing for this level.

As soon as they get beat they will crumble and the harsh reality of league football will come to them.

Don’t think so.
Woodman is a proper football man and a very shrewd manager.
What he has achieved at Bromley against sides that have much larger budgets is quite remarkable.
The biggest problem they may have is if bigger fish come after their manager, we reportedly spoke to him a couple of years ago.
Keep Woodman and they will be fine.

 

[EnglishRed]

Id surprised if Bromley went down whilst Woodman is there. He's a big fat mardy sod but he knows how to set up his team.

 

[PaulHaddock]

I think we’ll lose but would be happy to notch a couple of goals. While Thompson is out, I can’t see us being too solid but providing that Jodi Jones isn’t allowed free reign, hopefully we put up more of a challenge at Meadow Lane this year.

 

[Optipez]

I said at the start of the season they’ll surprise a lot of people this year. It’s the classic ‘Small club from non league must be shit’ approach from some that will catch people out. They’re organised, they’ve got pace and they’ve got a proven goalscorer. Their biggest trait though… absolute masters of the dark arts, horrid. They’ll be more than fine this year.

Fleetwood yesterday practised some of the dark arts but they were rank amateurs at the side of Bromley. They're effective but Woodmans attitude to the beautiful game isn't for me.

 

[Stocky]

Woodman has been running his operation of getting young players on loan from London clubs and turning them into hairy arsed shithouses for years. And he's damn fine at it.

But I think clubs at this level will work it out soon enough but granted, I reckon I put them too low in my predictions.

 

[Conker]

Bromley will get found out, probably more likely to get relegated next season than this one mind.

 

[GTFCfish]

Really looking forward to Notts away now, looking at my work rota this might actually be the only away I can get to this season and I love a good away game so I’m gonna enjoy it whatever the result, I think there will be plenty of goals in it too I wouldn’t be surprised to see another 3-2 either way.
BTTS absolutely nailed on here.

 

[GTFCfish]

Bromley will get found out, probably more likely to get relegated next season than this one mind.

Yeah I’m expecting similar to Sutton in a year or 2 of comfortable finishes then sink like a stone third season.

 

[AlanPep]

Well I’ll just have to enjoy my short 3 years with you all then . . . .

 

[WilsdenBantam]

Well considering who we have on Saturday, I certainly won't be saying anything against Bromley. I've read this book too many times as a City fan, dread these type of games.

 

[spireite]

I don't know if it's a question of Bromley being 'found out', more do they have the financial backing to compete long term, as the spending in L2 is gargantuan compared to most of the NL. Money always tells.

 

[BarraMatt]

Thursday night EFL?

 

[RavenBish]

Tough to work out what the Notts team will be - not sure if Palmer and Tsaroulla are fit enough to start as they had no real preseason.

wishful thinking -

Bass
Macari Platt Bedeau
Jones Palmer Robertson Tsaroulla
Crowley Grant/Didzy
Jatta

I fear we’ll be subjected to one more week of Chicksen and Scott though

 

[hellogregory]

I think Bromley will still go down as they have a 37 year old Byron Webster playing at the back for them. He was absolutely awful for us 5 years ago and was responsible for many goals we let in after we expected him to be a really good signing for this level.

As soon as they get beat they will crumble and the harsh reality of league football will come to them.

I don’t think one player can single handedly relegate their club.

 

[kieran_vale]

Got a pizza trophy game at Salford to get out the way first so hopefully we wrap up anyone likely to play at Barrow in cottonwool and avoid any injuries.

Barrow looked a decent team and were good value to beat us in the League Cup. Was a changed Vale team but even so they looked good especially when they brought on Acquah. This time he'll have Heneghan and Hall to deal with so might find it a bit more tricky to have his way with our defence. Suspect it's going to be a little while longer for us to click in attack so just going to have to see if we can grind out a result.

 

[Carver]

I don’t think one player can single handedly relegate their club.

Well it seemed every goal we conceded at the start of that season was thanks to his mess ups and to think we had Jarrad Branthwaite and Aaron Hayden warming the bench while Webster kept getting countless chances.

 

[TheDon]

Crewe v Swindon. An early relegation six pointer.

Piss off there's a good chap.

 

[leedsvaliant]

I thought we gave a pretty decent account of ourselves in the league Cup against Barrow, especially considering that they were virtually full strength and we weren't.

You'd hope that our full team will give them a real test and we cope much better with some of their better players. Amazed that Kouyate didn't start for them on the weekend. Looks a good player. They've got a few pretty steady league 2 players, so it's going to be a test.

Hoping that we have one or two more back for this one. We haven't quite clicked yet, especially in attack, but 4 points and 2 clean sheets is solid. As I said before, we'll be very up and down performance wise until we settle into a proper team with fully fit players.

 

[Grimsby Road]

I think we’ll lose but would be happy to notch a couple of goals. While Thompson is out, I can’t see us being too solid but providing that Jodi Jones isn’t allowed free reign, hopefully we put up more of a challenge at Meadow Lane this year.

Big Dave will hate it if Notts have more of the ball even though we probably have more chance of winning if we mix it up a bit - Barrington & Vernam are very good wingers imo and could do some serious damage aslong as we get the ball to them and not ask them to knock it backwards to try and complete the 600 passes , I thought we looked a lot better against Cheltenham mixing it up - If we play like that most weeks we will probably do better than knocking it around at the back all game . I don't expect much Thursday either ; just a decent performance and continuing to gel and build without the attempt to out pass Notts hopefully . Always enjoy that awayday but won't be able to go with work etc which is a pain - will be interesting to see if the Thursday kick off knocks many off the overall gate .

 

[Grimsby Road]

Tough to work out what the Notts team will be - not sure if Palmer and Tsaroulla are fit enough to start as they had no real preseason.

wishful thinking -

Bass
Macari Platt Bedeau
Jones Palmer Robertson Tsaroulla
Crowley Grant/Didzy
Jatta

I fear we’ll be subjected to one more week of Chicksen and Scott though

Crowley is quality , is the MK speculation real ?
Would be a big loss him .

 

[Son of Cod]

Big Dave will hate it if Notts have more of the ball even though we probably have more chance of winning if we mix it up a bit - Barrington & Vernam are very good wingers imo and could do some serious damage aslong as we get the ball to them and not ask them to knock it backwards to try and complete the 600 passes , I thought we looked a lot better against Cheltenham mixing it up - If we play like that most weeks we will probably do better than knocking it around at the back all game . I don't expect much Thursday either ; just a decent performance and continuing to gel and build without the attempt to out pass Notts hopefully . Always enjoy that awayday but won't be able to go with work etc which is a pain - will be interesting to see if the Thursday kick off knocks many off the overall gate .

I think it being on Thursday will knock quite a few off the overall gate. Will be lucky if there are 1000 Town there I think with the trains also not providing a way back. Must be plenty of out town Notts fans that won't be going either. I'm saying about 8500 in total, which is about 4500 down on last year's fixture.

Completely agree that we mixed it up well for large parts of the Cheltenham game, so if we can find that balance between nice passing and moving and being a bit more direct then we should cause them problems.

 

[Cloudy]

Artell will stick to his principles and play his way v Notts but can only see a home win.
Notts have had their style for a longer period of time, acquired the players that fit and had much longer to drill it into the players.

 

[Si Robin]

Wimbledon at home. I think we usually do ok against them at home, so fingers crossed that continues.

 

[OneDecentLester]

We have an EFL trophy game to get through first tonight, but Cook has already said tonight’s team will mainly be squad players who will get some much needed minutes (E.g. Horton / Grimes / Williams / Akinola etc).

Saturdays game though, Salford at home. From what Bradford fans were saying it’s likely they’ll turn up and try and spoil the game a bit & try stop us getting into our flow which as I’ve already mentioned is something we’ve been very used to last couple of years in the NL… still never gets any prettier/easier mind!

Hopefully we can pick up where we left off at Crewe, get the ball into those 3 behind the striker as much as possible and we’re going to cause anyone problems with the quality we have in them areas, regardless of who’s in there whether it’s the 3 who started at Crewe or likes of Colclough, Mandeville, Jacobs etc. Barring any injuries tonight, think we’ll look like this:

Boot
Tanton Naylor Dunkley Gordon
Oldaker Banks
Markanday Dobra Berry
Grigg

Daley-Campbell did well at Crewe, but still expect Tanton to come back in as he was very good against Swindon and only missed last weekend with a niggle. Other than that, it’s the same as Crewe (A).

Still without Madden, Mandeville, Palmer, Sheckleford & potentially Colclough too through injury.

2-0 home win, Grigg brace

 

[Grimsby Road]

We have an EFL trophy game to get through first tonight, but Cook has already said tonight’s team will mainly be squad players who will get some much needed minutes (E.g. Horton / Grimes / Williams / Akinola etc).

Saturdays game though, Salford at home. From what Bradford fans were saying it’s likely they’ll turn up and try and spoil the game a bit & try stop us getting into our flow which as I’ve already mentioned is something we’ve been very used to last couple of years in the NL… still never gets any prettier/easier mind!

Hopefully we can pick up where we left off at Crewe, get the ball into those 3 behind the striker as much as possible and we’re going to cause anyone problems with the quality we have in them areas, regardless of who’s in there whether it’s the 3 who started at Crewe or likes of Colclough, Mandeville, Jacobs etc. Barring any injuries tonight, think we’ll look like this:

Boot
Tanton Naylor Dunkley Gordon
Oldaker Banks
Markanday Dobra Berry
Grigg

Daley-Campbell did well at Crewe, but still expect Tanton to come back in as he was very good against Swindon and only missed last weekend with a niggle. Other than that, it’s the same as Crewe (A).

Still without Madden, Mandeville, Palmer, Sheckleford & potentially Colclough too through injury.

2-0 home win, Grigg brace

Looking at your first 10 in the league they are all winnable , keep the momentum up and winning could give you a great chance - look at Leyton Orient a couple of years ago they won the lot and then were pretty average later on but that great start effectively got them promoted . I don't buy it when people say 'it's a 46 game season ' the start is pretty important imo.

 

[OneDecentLester]

Looking at your first 10 in the league they are all winnable , keep the momentum up and winning could give you a great chance - look at Leyton Orient a couple of years ago they won the lot and then were pretty average later on but that great start effectively got them promoted . I don't buy it when people say 'it's a 46 game season ' the start is pretty important imo.

I wouldn’t necessarily say that. For instance our next 3 away games are:

- Gillingham
- Port Vale
- Doncaster

3 of the more fancied sides and probably some of the hardest places to go over the course of the season. I agree about momentum & a good start though, always gives you a better chance of doing anything. Last year we had an unbelievable start & maintained it which left us something ridiculous like 25 points ahead of second place Barnet by Feb / March which allowed us to really take the foot off the gas towards the end.

 

[CFC91]

I wouldn’t necessarily say that. For instance our next 3 away games are:

- Gillingham
- Port Vale
- Doncaster

3 of the more fancied sides and probably some of the hardest places to go over the course of the season. I agree about momentum & a good start though, always gives you a better chance of doing anything. Last year we had an unbelievable start & maintained it which left us something ridiculous like 25 points ahead of second place Barnet by Feb / March which allowed us to really take the foot off the gas towards the end.

I think if we get our home form up and running we will be ok. Agree those 3 are tough ones - our record at Donny is poor and can't remember us ever getting much at Gillingham either.