Tuesday 15th August 2023

[Don Caster]

Men vs boys tonight, we were 2nd best in every department, Mansfield looked like they could breakthrough us at will, we were getting pulled all over, midfield totally overran, stole a point tonight, too much of a soft touch, no bottle & no one to smash an opponent to get the crowd going, early days so judgement reserved for now but after McCanns last spell I really thought we had seen the back of this tepid shite.

 

[WilsdenBantam]

Not many (if any) of our lot would get into that Stockport team.

I don’t know, I’d be happy to see Osedebe, Derbyshire and Kelly play for them.

 

[Son of Cod]

Conteh will be gone in January so we are just enjoying him while he’s here.
Absolutely ridiculous player for this level fuck knows how we convinced him to come here on a 3 year deal, probably the best bit of transfer business Hurst has ever done.

Yep we'll be getting a decent fee for him, hopefully it's in the summer and not Jan. Just have to enjoy the relatively short time we're gonna get watching him.

 

[Stocky]

I sorta agree but still think you'll be top three. I think we've got some talented players in our squad but the formation and tactics are completely not suited to them.

You'd have got long odds on a striker of Cook's standing at this level fucking up both the penalty and over running the 1 v 1 at the end. We can't say we deserved to win at all after those IMO.

Let's see how it pans out. It does look a strange league from my early vantage point looking at the rest of the results in the first three matchdays.

 

[CTFC - Devils]

We want our Crawley back…this is all a bit surreal.
For 70 mins we played MK off the park and deserved to be 2 or 3 ahead, only after a sloppy mistake from overplaying we allowed them back in which was completely against the run of play. We tired for the last quarter which was to be expected and they had a couple of good chances which Eisa skewed over the bar.
Lindsey’s interview after Salford surprised a few people after he said ‘we should be winning games like these with the players we’ve got in the dressing room’…. he was genuinely fuming. That mentality and quality certainly showed on the pitch this evening.
Both goals were of great quality and season expectations will very quickly change if we get something out of our game with Gills on Saturday but we need to start converting more of our chances.

 

[Gunit]

As expected 3 points for Gillingham. They look a good bet to go up automatically - very solid. We were relying on a break in the box and it never came, don’t really think we committed enough players from the flicks/knock downs at times. I’m fairly positive really that we stayed in the game and could have grabbed a draw on another day. Also can’t afford to gift wrap goals like we did, not for the first time (already) this season. The game retained some sort of interest despite neither keeper having anything much to do. We’ll get better.

 

[Conker]

Men vs boys tonight, we were 2nd best in every department, Mansfield looked like they could breakthrough us at will, we were getting pulled all over, midfield totally overran, stole a point tonight, too much of a soft touch, no bottle & no one to smash an opponent to get the crowd going, early days so judgement reserved for now but after McCanns last spell I really thought we had seen the back of this tepid shite.

When you put it like that it annoys me we haven’t won. Just like at Crewe.

 

[クレイグ]

You'd have got long odds on a striker of Cook's standing at this level fucking up both the penalty and over running the 1 v 1 at the end. We can't say we deserved to win at all after those IMO.

Let's see how it pans out. It does look a strange league from my early vantage point looking at the rest of the results in the first three matchdays.

Oh definitely. He knocked in five in pre-season but he's been way off it in the league so far. Think he's picked up a knock or something and is playing through it. He did get an assist though and he was pivotal in the goals at Accy and Colchester so there's that. Think once he bags his first he'll get going again.

Agree once again. Definitely strange!

 

[Don Caster]

When you put it like that it annoys me we haven’t won. Just like at Crewe.

I'd be fucking raging if I were you

 

[Conker]

I'd be fucking raging if I were you

The one thing that makes it easier was that 10 minute of madness, where we missed a sitter, conceded what was a great goal and lost half our defence to injury

Kilgour has snapped his Achilles it looks like so that’s him done this season, other three look like muscle strains.

 

[AR27]

I think too many of our lot are exaggerating Stockport's ability a bit. Decent side absolutely but if we had a manager who wasn't allergic to two goal leads we'd have won that comfortably I think.

Aside from the header in the first half, Stockport's chances all came at 0-1 when we decided to camp inside our own half and let them play attack v defence for 40 minutes.

 

[DearneValleyRover]

I thought it was an improvement on the first 2 league games, hell of a lot still to work on, our midfield which has been the main problem for 3 seasons really needs addressing no one tracked runners or supported the full backs who were overrun. Yes we knicked a point but I’ll take that against a good side. I always knew it would take until October before we started looking something like so any points we pick up between now and then are a bonus.

 

[クレイグ]

I think too many of our lot are exaggerating Stockport's ability a bit. Decent side absolutely but if we had a manager who wasn't allergic to two goal leads we'd have won that comfortably I think.

Aside from the header in the first half, Stockport's chances all came at 0-1 when we decided to camp inside our own half and let them play attack v defence for 40 minutes.

For a player who was absolutely in your face and all for attacking, Hughes' defensive nature as a manager seems absolutely bizarre.

 

[Big Bird]

Not sure what would have happened tonight if Bunker wasn't a silly sausage getting himself sent off for FGR. Kinsella could arguably have gone for us in the first half for an ugly looking challenge as well. Definitely had a ref that benefitted us this evening.

Mix of good and bad from us tonight. Really had to scrap out that win against a dogged FGR side second half. First half they edged it and deservedly led 1-0.

First win on the board is the main thing, while missing half a teams worth of players as well.

Roll on Saturday at Wrexham. Might have a quid on 5-5.

 

[saddler78]

Thought Walsall were a decent team. Just lacked that final finish which I thought they'd have with Johnson up top.

Wasn't a pretty performance but a needed 3 points. Midfield is so much better with Luke Young in, not as good as Cannon but his work rate and desire makes a massive difference.

We will score a lot of goals this season, even without Mullin so far, can't see where a clean sheet is coming from

Agree with you there could be the thing that costs you against the top teams they will be more able to keep you out than we were tonight .liked watching Olly Lee fantastic player one of the best i have seen at this level in almost 5 years of being here quality have to appreciate a good player when i see one there aint many like him in the League.

 

[AdamStag]

We were all over the place at times tonight because of the injuries, I actually can’t believe we’ve lost Kilgour for the season.

It’s absolutely ridiculous.

I mean come on, just a bit of luck would be appreciated

 

[Reginald Fodstain]

We were a lot better tonight. Look a bit vulnerable at the back and we're playing very narrow, so the first team with half decent wingers we play will wipe the floor with us, but we looked a threat going forward and Luke Norris' hold up play was outstanding

 

[AR27]

For a player who was absolutely in your face and all for attacking, Hughes' defensive nature as a manager seems absolutely bizarre.

It happens too regularly to be anything other than managerial instruction too. Really don't get it.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

First half we were exceedingly poor but I had a feeling tonight that Newport would tire. They pressed us heavily in that first half and there was no way they were going to keep it up all game. They lacked in end product as well.

Second half we played them off the park. Mickey Demetriou is exceptional from set pieces, whilst Chris Long and Shilow Tracey caused Newport all sorts of problems in the second half. Lovely to see Big Nev get his first goal for the club too!

Looking forward to Walsall on Saturday now, a team we have a solid record against over the last 20 odd years. I'm expecting another win.

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

A confused and injury hit Stockport team vs a limited and negative Bradford team would be my take on tonight.

Our back three is too small and giving the ball away in dangerous areas and gifting goals and chances to the opposition who never looked like creating any of their own.

Bradford’s back three are all giants but were abused by pace and trickery in wide areas and were never in any danger of giving the ball away because it was hoofed down field quick sharp.

I’d say we looked the better team and played the better football but there is a lot of work to do for both managers and our summer recruitment looks really horrific once again.

 

[devilofajob]

A quote on our forum earlier -
"I’ve been watching Crawley since 82/83 season.
We’ve had highs we’ve had lows.
But man for man, as a team, that’s possibly the best all round team/squad (call it what you like) I’ve seen.
Unbelievable, and I will add to this.
This squad could do things."

Haven't seen a game yet myself but looking forward to Stockport away, and first on highlights this Saturday.

 

[Monkey Tennis]

A quote on our forum earlier -
"I’ve been watching Crawley since 82/83 season.
We’ve had highs we’ve had lows.
But man for man, as a team, that’s possibly the best all round team/squad (call it what you like) I’ve seen.
Unbelievable, and I will add to this.
This squad could do things."

Haven't seen a game yet myself but looking forward to Stockport away, and first on highlights this Saturday.

Errmmm… we’ve got Stockport away this Saturday?

 

[Monkey Tennis]

Accrington are absolutely dreadful - but well drilled. Similar to Sutton in that they scabbed a goal and tried to frustrate us for the rest of the game. Coleman’s got them trying every trick in the book. Could quite feasibly have had two red cards today but the ref was clueless too. So sweet to score a late equaliser when they’d been timewasting from early in the first-half.

We played well in parts, but lack of cutting edge until Acquah came on - if he can keep this standard up he’ll be going for big money.

Second in the league (similar to last season) but we have only played poor teams so far, so it’s hard to judge. Stockport at the weekend will be a tougher test as they’ll be desperate to get their season going.

 

[GTFCfish]

Errmmm… we’ve got Stockport away this Saturday?

The way they’ve started we all wish we had Stockport away this Saturday.

 

[クレイグ]

A confused and injury hit Stockport team vs a limited and negative Bradford team would be my take on tonight.

Our back three is too small and giving the ball away in dangerous areas and gifting goals and chances to the opposition who never looked like creating any of their own.

Bradford’s back three are all giants but were abused by pace and trickery in wide areas and were never in any danger of giving the ball away because it was hoofed down field quick sharp.

I’d say we looked the better team and played the better football but there is a lot of work to do for both managers and our summer recruitment looks really horrific once again.

Agree with most of that, certainly the negative part. Hughes was in the press in pre-season saying we'd be more attacking and spend more time in the opposition box, and yet it's the same as last season - nick a goal and completely sit back.

The three centre backs lack of pace is concerning. Feel we need a few additions or we're doing nothing.

 

[devilofajob]

Errmmm… we’ve got Stockport away this Saturday?

Note the comma!
I said I was looking forward to Stockport away (my first game on 2/9), and being first in highlights this Saturday in 3rd v 1st clash.

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

Agree with most of that, certainly the negative part. Hughes was in the press in pre-season saying we'd be more attacking and spend more time in the opposition box, and yet it's the same as last season - nick a goal and completely sit back.

The three centre backs lack of pace is concerning. Feel we need a few additions or we're doing nothing.

Your CBs never crossed the halfway line and your WBs spent a lot more time near their own byline than ours. We’ve played this formation for a number of seasons now and to play it aggressively and look like an attacking team your wide CBs need to be comfortable on the ball and creating overloads.

Your big, physical, well organised, will be tough to beat and Pattison is a great addition in the middle but it’s not a great watch is it considering the budget Hughes is working with?

 

[WilsdenBantam]

Your CBs never crossed the halfway line and your WBs spent a lot more time near their own byline than ours. We’ve played this formation for a number of seasons now and to play it aggressively and look like an attacking team your wide CBs need to be comfortable on the ball and creating overloads.

Your big, physical, well organised, will be tough to beat and Pattison is a great addition in the middle but it’s not a great watch is it considering the budget Hughes is working with?

Our CB’s put in a number of crosses, Kelly putting in the best of the game which Cook should have buried. I don’t disagree we go negative when we take a lead, but stick to the facts. We had more shots on target than yourselves as well. You play some neat and tidy football but I wouldn’t say you were some all out attacking side, I’m sure you’ll be right up there when it matters though. Our budget was around 7th highest last season, I’d say it’ll be much less than yours or a Wrexham but we still should do better.

 

[The Jovial Forester]

Evening games are middle of the night local time so didn't stay up for that, bit of a sickener to lose it so late but once again signs that Horseman is a decent manager and unlucky with ref by all accounts (not that Bunker seems to have much excuse) so will take the positives.

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

Our CB’s put in a number of crosses, Kelly putting in the best of the game which Cook should have buried. I don’t disagree we go negative when we take a lead, but stick to the facts. We had more shots on target than yourselves as well. You play some neat and tidy football but I wouldn’t say you were some all out attacking side, I’m sure you’ll be right up there when it matters though. Our budget was around 7th highest last season, I’d say it’ll be much less than yours or a Wrexham but we still should do better.

Did they? I must have missed them.

Your three main chances were gifted to you on a plate by us. The Cook chance you mentioned was the only other half decent one and didn’t make sky’s mini highlights.

I thought you had a bigger budget than that so fair enough. We’ve got lots of our own issues I know that but Bradford under Hughes in the three times I’ve seen you against us have been solid, direct and safety first and I just think you’d probably do better under somebody else.