Tue 8th Dec: E v W & N v S

[FGR Stroud]

Looking thru the stats I was gobsmacked to see that Scunthorpe are 2nd top in current form table with 13 points. The stats also strongly indicate a home win: Scunthorpe have not lost at home to Colchester in their last eight encounters while Colchester have yet to win an away game this season. Grimsby have not lost at home to Newport in their last three encounters while Newport are unbeaten in their last five games. A drawn match seems very likely.
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[Bottega Don]

We're playing quite well right now. This is mostly due to having our actual first-teamers back fit. We were without so many of our good players when we were getting smashed every week.

However, we are still not a top quality side. Our defense still has lapses in concentration quite regularly and we miss golden chances.

Think this will be a very tough game, we may choose to rest some players due to the number of games we've had to play lately.

 

[BlackHaddock]

We were unlucky not to come away with at least a point from Colchester on Saturday (although giving them two goals didn't help our cause too greatly). I think Newport will come full of confidence, but I also think we'll have taken something from our second half performance on Saturday and may well win for a change. Stop the individual mistakes and we'll be looking up the table rather than down it.

 

[FGR Stroud]

Of course there are tons of EFL Trophy games on same night.
Very low profile competition but one where teams can earn a few bob by progressing.
That will help some clubs who are struggling to pay bills during this pandemic.

• Hull City17:30Crewe Alexandra
• Oldham Athletic18:00Sunderland
• Accrington Stanley19:00Manchester United U21
• Port Vale19:00Wolverhampton Wanderers U21
• Salford City19:00Leicester City U21
• Shrewsbury Town19:00Lincoln City
• Fleetwood Town19:45Blackpool
• Tranmere Rovers19:45Manchester City U21

• AFC Wimbledon18:00Arsenal U21
• Cheltenham Town19:00Portsmouth
• Exeter City19:00Northampton Town
• Leyton Orient19:00Bristol Rovers
• Peterborough United19:00West Ham United U21
• Cambridge United19:45Gillingham
• Milton Keynes Dons19:45Norwich City U21
• Oxford United19:45Forest Green Rovers

 

[BlackHaddock]

Of course there are tons of EFL Trophy games on same night.
Very low profile competition but one where teams can earn a few bob by progressing.
That will help some clubs who are struggling to pay bills during this pandemic.

• Hull City17:30Crewe Alexandra
• Oldham Athletic18:00Sunderland
• Accrington Stanley19:00Manchester United U21
• Port Vale19:00Wolverhampton Wanderers U21
• Salford City19:00Leicester City U21
• Shrewsbury Town19:00Lincoln City
• Fleetwood Town19:45Blackpool
• Tranmere Rovers19:45Manchester City U21

• AFC Wimbledon18:00Arsenal U21
• Cheltenham Town19:00Portsmouth
• Exeter City19:00Northampton Town
• Leyton Orient19:00Bristol Rovers
• Peterborough United19:00West Ham United U21
• Cambridge United19:45Gillingham
• Milton Keynes Dons19:45Norwich City U21
• Oxford United19:45Forest Green Rovers

Hopefully a night where every 4th Division club gets knocked out and we don't have to mention the comp again until next season!

 

[Son of Cod]

Without checking, I'd imagine Podge has bagged in about 7 out of the 10ish times he's played against us since we let him go so I reckon him to score 2 or more at 8/1 isn't a bad shout.

 

[valefan16]

Wolves U21 at home, hopefully no £35 million quid Portuguese strikers to start for them in the quest to boost the England side in years to come.

Hopefully win, gets us some cash and I enjoy the lack of pressure watching these games. We’ve played well in the last two group games and no doubt get some game time into the ones not used Saturday.

Interesting to see if McKirdy features after seemingly disappearing since the Stevenage game.

 

[BlackHaddock]

Apparently we will be without any experience in our forward line because of injuries, fully expect our young hopefuls to give it a real go this evening. No way of telling if it'll unsettle Newport or not, hope so.

 

[Bottega Don]

We've made quite a few changes with a lot of our better players on the bench, this will be due to fitness as we have played a lot of games lately.

Don't fancy our chances with our attack, Eisa and McAtee not playing is a big loss.

 

[Bottega Don]

Colchester have got the opener completely against the run of play really, their first attack.

I was right when I didn't fancy our chances

 

[denzel ecfc]

Newport get their 83rd penalty this season

 

[Bottega Don]

Very disappointing to be losing this at half time. Don't think our keeper has made a save.

I have been very impressed with both of Colchesters full backs, look good defensively and going forward. The RB made a goal saving tackle early on, not sure how he made it.

 

[Son of Cod]

Without checking, I'd imagine Podge has bagged in about 7 out of the 10ish times he's played against us since we let him go so I reckon him to score 2 or more at 8/1 isn't a bad shout.

One down...

 

[Son of Cod]

We've conceded first ten times in the league this system and we seem to be forming a habit of capitulation just before half time as well.

Still, despite Newport leading and being the better team, their goals have been somewhat fortuitous.

 

[dedwardp]

The only game I've seen this season was the Marine horror show in the FA Cup, because it was on the BBC. I've ended up listening to most of the other games on the radio though and in all but maybe one or two games we've sounded woeful and any results have been seemingly against the run of play or fortuitous. How on earth we're currently sixth on the live table is staggering.

 

[Bottega Don]

Their keeper makes another good save and then we crack the post.

Not gonna be our night is it

 

[Bottega Don]

This is remarkable that we haven't scored yet, hit the bar just after we hit the post.

Colchester haven't won away this season, of course this happens tonight

 

[dedwardp]

It sounds set to be either a crazy, backs-to-the-wall 1-0 away win or we'll end up losing 3 or 4-1. I'd suggest the latter is more likely.

 

[Bottega Don]

This is going to be such a frustrating loss.

Our keeper hasn't made a save, we've played quite well.

Knew this was going to happen when they were hammering the fact Colchester haven't won away and we rarely lose to Colchester.

 

[Carver]

When are Grimsby going to sack Gollum?

 

[Son of Cod]

Been the better team in the second half, we're just so unthreatening for how much of the ball we have.

 

[Bottega Don]

Knew that was gonna happen after Colchester hadn't won away.

Not our night at all, such a frustrating loss.

 

[BlackHaddock]

Oh dear, we looked awful again; if there are two teams worse than us in Div 4 at the moment, then they must be dog shit!

Weak, unfit and clueless with or without the ball, how have we won 4 games this season? Not going to win many more, if any!

Never thought I'd see a Grimsby side so inept or toothless, we would struggle in the Conference North with this team and management/board.

 

[Son of Cod]

Oh dear, we looked awful again; if there are two teams worse than us in Div 4 at the moment, then they must be dog shit!

Weak, unfit and clueless with or without the ball, how have we won 4 games this season? Not going to win many more, if any!

Never thought I'd see a Grimsby side so inept or toothless, we would struggle in the Conference North with this team and management/board.

Bit of an overreaction that, I reckon. The Fishy is exploding with people saying this is our worst team ever. Quite how people are saying that when compared to the few seasons before we went down is genuinely mind boggling.

Last night was a classic example of the team at the top getting the rub of the green and the team down at the bottom not. Newport barely had the ball in the second half. The main problems for me are that the only midfielder/attacker we have that can play any sort of killer final ball hardly ever starts for some reason, the midfield while very good at keeping the ball offers little protection and then obviously we don't have a fit/experienced/decent number 9.

 

[Chris FGR]

Knew that was gonna happen after Colchester hadn't won away.

Not our night at all, such a frustrating loss.

Tell me about it, had you lot in my midweek acca. Thought you looked a good bet based on your form and Colchester's lack of away wins. Shows what I know.

 

[BlackHaddock]

Bit of an overreaction that, I reckon. The Fishy is exploding with people saying this is our worst team ever. Quite how people are saying that when compared to the few seasons before we went down is genuinely mind boggling.

Last night was a classic example of the team at the top getting the rub of the green and the team down at the bottom not. Newport barely had the ball in the second half. The main problems for me are that the only midfielder/attacker we have that can play any sort of killer final ball hardly ever starts for some reason, the midfield while very good at keeping the ball offers little protection and then obviously we don't have a fit/experienced/decent number 9.

Been going since the early 60's and I honestly can't remember a worse side. Sure there is some skill in the squad but they look so disjointed and weak compared to every other team we come up against. Strange formations which change mid-game (normally too late to alter the result), no one knowing their job or anyone else's, constantly giving the ball away and fouling because of timing and fitness issues. Poor decision making with or without the ball and generally being second to everything, reacting to situations rather than starting them; I could go on and on and on.

 

[Son of Cod]

Been going since the early 60's and I honestly can't remember a worse side. Sure there is some skill in the squad but they look so disjointed and weak compared to every other team we come up against. Strange formations which change mid-game (normally too late to alter the result), no one knowing their job or anyone else's, constantly giving the ball away and fouling because of timing and fitness issues. Poor decision making with or without the ball and generally being second to everything, reacting to situations rather than starting them; I could go on and on and on.

There's no way this team is worse than Mike Newell's team, in my opinion. The games against Orient and Newport and even Barrow and Crawley were better than anything that lot served up. This lot at least gives a shit and goes down fighting (Tranmere aside). I see positives in this side at least. I genuinely believe that Pollock, Waterfall, Hendrie and Rose are good enough to hold down places in upper midtable sides in this division at least. It's just the chaos and lack of cohesion that surrounds them and is in front of them that drags them down. Harry Clifton is having a decent season too. Elliot Hewitt is a competent enough bench/squad player. I thought Joe Hope looked promising last night. Then from the new signings, loanees I think in Windsor and Edwards we've got a few there that are capable of doing well. With those two, Williams, Tilley and Max Wright the options up top aren't quite as bad as people are making out. We just need to stop chopping and changing them with the dross. Gibson, Bennett, Spokes, Morton, Green, Jackson Jr and Sisay can and should all leave as soon as possible. Scannell, Preston and Taylor I'm on the fence about.

We need to play our best players, play to their strengths and get a decent striker in and there's no way we'll be in a dogfight.

 

[GEORGE]

Been going since the early 60's and I honestly can't remember a worse side. Sure there is some skill in the squad but they look so disjointed and weak compared to every other team we come up against. Strange formations which change mid-game (normally too late to alter the result), no one knowing their job or anyone else's, constantly giving the ball away and fouling because of timing and fitness issues. Poor decision making with or without the ball and generally being second to everything, reacting to situations rather than starting them; I could go on and on and on.

Always remembered a guy called Matt Tees. He was pretty good. How's Bennett getting on ?

 

[Son of Cod]

Always remembered a guy called Matt Tees. He was pretty good. How's Bennett getting on ?

Matt Tees passed away about a month ago.

Bennett has been crap to be honest, not really sure what he does. Passes it sideways a lot? Is he supposed to be a winger/forward? He lacks any kind of threat. He's been played in midfield a bit but he's just the same as most of our other midfielders in that he puts a shift in but offers very little quality.

 

[Luke Imp]

Was McKeown dropped midweek or injured and only made the bench? It looks from afar like you've conceded a fair few goals by trying to pass it out from the back.

You've got a decent run of fixtures coming up over the next 6 weeks or so, which admittedly are only a decent run if you pick up some results, in Mansfield, Scunny (twice), Southend (twice), Stevenage, Bradford, Morecambe, Oldham and Barrow.