Valentine’s Day matches 14/02/23

[PuB]

Surprised there’s no thread for this given there’s a full round of games.

Gills vs Grimsby is our date night, a tough one and can’t see us scoring. It’ll be nice to see some action though

 

[Gunit]

Why not? Thought you’d be full of confidence at home.

 

[Cas]

Bradford City vs Tranmere. A challenging game and we're not great at home. Hopefully, we're uncharged, though I can see Critchlow coming in for Stubbs as two games in quick succession might be a bit much for him. 2-1 City. Cook to score against another one of his former teams.

 

[PuB]

Why not? Thought you’d be full of confidence at home.

I was playing on the Valentine’s Day theme

But it will be a tough game for us, Grimsby are decent on the road too

 

[AdamStag]

Carlisle at home to mansfield, given our injuries, the long travel and record against the top sides anything other than a home win would be a massive surprise.

Don’t expect anything from the game and it’s one of those games where carlisle will be visibly annoyed if they don’t win.

2-0 carlisle.

 

[Chief Rocka]

Looking like a must win for both us an Crewe here, don't think a point's gonna be good enough for either, the rest of our February has winnable games, but our March is vulgar, Tranmere, Northampton, Bradford and Orient, could picture a pointless month there.

4 points from Donny and Sutton aint a bad return, 7 after Crewe would be very good.

 

[DearneValleyRover]

Barrow at home, absolutely no idea, we were second best against Tranmere but won 2-0 then played really well at Swindon again winning 2-0 but should have been more. We ought to win but getting three wins in a row isn’t something we do

 

[hellogregory]

We’ve looked absolutely toothless in our last 2 games.

Carlisle United 0-1 Mansfield

The “blip” continues

 

[F!RTHY]

Tranmere at home:

A win should put us back in the play-offs with two games in hand. We don’t do things the easy way, and they won’t be no pushovers.

Critchlow might be fit, and I’ve no idea how long Bola will be out for. Ridehalgh could face his old team - so he should be up for the challenge.

GK: Harry Lewis

RB: Brad Halliday
CB: Matt Platt
CB: Romoney Critchlow/Sam Stubbs
LB: Liam Ridehalgh/Taleji Bola

CM: Ritchie Smallwood
CM: Adam Clayton
CM: Alex Gilliead

AM: Jamie Walker

ST: Andy Cook
ST: Matt Derbyshire

I predict a tough encounter, but fancy us for the win.

2-1 Cook and Derbyshire

 

[The Terminator]

Top vs Bottom as we welcome Rochdale. No games are gimmes and tbh we're due to let a goal in at home having set a new club record in our last home game and in these sort of circumstances it wouldn't suprise if Rochdale broke our record.

Nearly all of Rochdales games are low scoring one goal either ways and they've picked up points against stronger sides in the league.

We will likely again rotate one or two. Second half on Saturday we played very well at Walsall and being greedy nearly got the win to go with it, but we tend to overplay at times and need to shoot and cross more often. This is where we miss Paul Smyth who is still struggling with injury and has barely featured now for 6 weeks, this is why he's ended up playing for us in League Two and not in the Championship - he's always picking up injuries.

 

[ForzaCounty]

Got a romantic evening planned out with a little lady from Sussex

We first met back in September; I didn't enjoy it but she insists on meeting up again, so this time it's going to be round my place. Reckon I'll invite her for a nice stroll around the park, not sure whether to start things off slow or if it's better to just pounce straight away. If all goes according to plan she'll end up getting humped so hard she'll have to fly back to Gatwick

 

[Soup Ladle]

Looking like a must win for both us an Crewe here, don't think a point's gonna be good enough for either, the rest of our February has winnable games, but our March is vulgar, Tranmere, Northampton, Bradford and Orient, could picture a pointless month there.

4 points from Donny and Sutton aint a bad return, 7 after Crewe would be very good.

By my calculations to get to 46 points, as you say March is daunting, April a mixed bag, we do need a really good haul from this month. I think we need to be on 33-36 points heading into March. Another 7-10 points from 4 games. So it isn't an absolute must win but we can't afford to get beat tonight certainly.

Saturday was a missed opportunity, second half was so flat, Curle for me deserves a bit of stick for keeping the 5 at back v 10 men. He's got to be bolder heading into the rest of this month. I hope he plays the Arsenal lad at the back, he looked head and shoulders above our other CBs when he came on. Get Jennings and Umerah closer, the former far too deep and get Sylla back in, we need some physicality, Finney, Kemp, Feaths, puny as fuck. Featherstone needs to be dropped. Finney not impressive either but he's up against his former club. Hopefully that might get a bit extra outta him. Really like Dan Kemp mind, quality player at this level. He'll be key for us.

 

[BarraMatt]

We will be on the receiving end of a Valentine's Day rogering tonight.

 

[GTFCfish]

Got a romantic evening planned out with a little lady from Sussex

We first met back in September; I didn't enjoy it but she insists on meeting up again, so this time it's going to be round my place. Reckon I'll invite her for a nice stroll around the park, not sure whether to start things off slow or if it's better to just pounce straight away. If all goes according to plan she'll end up getting humped so hard she'll have to fly back to Gatwick

 

[Agombar stool]

Got a romantic evening planned out with a little lady from Sussex

We first met back in September; I didn't enjoy it but she insists on meeting up again, so this time it's going to be round my place. Reckon I'll invite her for a nice stroll around the park, not sure whether to start things off slow or if it's better to just pounce straight away. If all goes according to plan she'll end up getting humped so hard she'll have to fly back to Gatwick

Not crawl back to Gatwick?

 

[LordJord]

Home to the Wombles. We are showing no form at all currently. Would like to see the front line freshened up, going for a low quality 1-1.

 

[Son of Cod]

We'd only sold 250 tickets for this by Saturday so can't imagine we'll be taking anywhere near the 4-500 I was hoping we would.

Both sides'll be looking to bounce back after weekend defeats. Sounds like the imminent Ollie Hawkins vs Luke Waterfall heading match is going to be a key battle. I'd imagine we'll look to soak up pressure and counter Gillingham. Can't see this being a classic. Tough one to call. It's a much bigger one for them than us, so that could be a factor.

In to Gillingham for 6pm. Any pub/quick food recommendations, Gills fans?

 

[joethegill]

We'd only sold 250 tickets for this by Saturday so can't imagine we'll be taking anywhere near the 4-500 I was hoping we would.

Both sides'll be looking to bounce back after weekend defeats. Sounds like the imminent Ollie Hawkins vs Luke Waterfall heading match is going to be a key battle. I'd imagine we'll look to soak up pressure and counter Gillingham. Can't see this being a classic. Tough one to call. It's a much bigger one for them than us, so that could be a factor.

In to Gillingham for 6pm. Any pub/quick food recommendations, Gills fans?

Why so early? If you're coming from London I'd stay there for an extra hour as there's not a huge amount in Gillingham. Either that or go to Rochester, only a few minutes on the train from Gillingham and some far better pub options.

I think some of our fans are looking at this game as a must win but I don't see it quite like that. We need to improve from Saturday, but with the greatest respect to Grimsby there's a reason Mansfield are in the play-off picture and Grimsby aren't, so we should have a better chance of beating these especially at home.

I imagine a bit of a shake up in the starting line up, might see starts for the likes of Lapslie, Alexander and O'Brien just to freshen things up now that we've got something resembling a squad. I agree that I don't think it'll be a classic, but then again I'm not sure anyone was expecting any Gillingham v Grimsby fixture to be a belter, in any season ever. Something about the two clubs that you just know it'll be somewhat of a tough watch for the majority.

Interested to see the attendance tonight - my feeling is that it'll be quite low, maybe around 4.5/5k. Would love to be proven wrong and see a good crowd in for it though. I will be on my sofa watching it after a steak dinner with the wife though as midweek games are out for me.

Hopefully a narrow win, 1-0 or 2-1.

 

[RiftHouseLad]

View attachment 18279

Forza is in for a mighty big surprise, Her name is LOLA and she works in a club in SOHO.

" The Kinks....Lola" if your too young just listen to the track.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

We’ve looked absolutely toothless in our last 2 games.

Carlisle United 0-1 Mansfield

The “blip” continues

Too many good attack options for Simpson I think has caused him issue of not knowing who to play……….I don’t like rotations, have always liked groups of players to bond together as units hetting used to their roles.

That being said…….ahem I would like a 3 up top with garner centre and Gordon and Patrick either side……pace and skill either side of an experienced hand.

And yep that means the L2 top scorer coming off the bench.

 

[shoddycollins]

We’ve looked absolutely toothless in our last 2 games.

Carlisle United 0-1 Mansfield

The “blip” continues

given we're the top scorers in the division I thought you might have given up on using the 't' word... for now at least.

 

[Conker]

Tonight is the sort of test we just always seem to fall short on, happily take a point.

 

[Optimistic Poolie]

By my calculations to get to 46 points, as you say March is daunting, April a mixed bag, we do need a really good haul from this month. I think we need to be on 33-36 points heading into March. Another 7-10 points from 4 games. So it isn't an absolute must win but we can't afford to get beat tonight certainly.

Saturday was a missed opportunity, second half was so flat, Curle for me deserves a bit of stick for keeping the 5 at back v 10 men. He's got to be bolder heading into the rest of this month. I hope he plays the Arsenal lad at the back, he looked head and shoulders above our other CBs when he came on. Get Jennings and Umerah closer, the former far too deep and get Sylla back in, we need some physicality, Finney, Kemp, Feaths, puny as fuck. Featherstone needs to be dropped. Finney not impressive either but he's up against his former club. Hopefully that might get a bit extra outta him. Really like Dan Kemp mind, quality player at this level. He'll be key for us.

Completely agree with this, Featherstone needs to be taken out of the side, he is too slow and getting caught in possession more often as each game passes. Either Sylla should come in to the midfield or Dolan seeing as he got caught out a few times at the back against Sutton, with the Arsenal lad coming in CB for me.

Crewe’s form looks pretty poor and they will be low on confidence, a win tonight could be massive.

 

[ForzaCounty]

Forza is in for a mighty big surprise, Her name is LOLA and she works in a club in SOHO.

" The Kinks....Lola" if your too young just listen to the track.

I heard Lola was a showgirl?

 

[Son of Cod]

Why so early? If you're coming from London I'd stay there for an extra hour as there's not a huge amount in Gillingham. Either that or go to Rochester, only a few minutes on the train from Gillingham and some far better pub options.

I think some of our fans are looking at this game as a must win but I don't see it quite like that. We need to improve from Saturday, but with the greatest respect to Grimsby there's a reason Mansfield are in the play-off picture and Grimsby aren't, so we should have a better chance of beating these especially at home.

I imagine a bit of a shake up in the starting line up, might see starts for the likes of Lapslie, Alexander and O'Brien just to freshen things up now that we've got something resembling a squad. I agree that I don't think it'll be a classic, but then again I'm not sure anyone was expecting any Gillingham v Grimsby fixture to be a belter, in any season ever. Something about the two clubs that you just know it'll be somewhat of a tough watch for the majority.

Interested to see the attendance tonight - my feeling is that it'll be quite low, maybe around 4.5/5k. Would love to be proven wrong and see a good crowd in for it though. I will be on my sofa watching it after a steak dinner with the wife though as midweek games are out for me.

Hopefully a narrow win, 1-0 or 2-1.

Live and work in London and I like having at least a little bit of time in the place we're playing at, especially when it's a ground in the town centre. Been to Rochester before and did have a cracking roast there to be fair, but I've never been to Gillingham.

But yeah on with the match anyway, you're quite right about this being a more winnable match for you on paper than Stags away. We'll give you a game if we show up though, we're generally solid if unspectacular. In somewhat of a transition phase right now but the base of a good side at this level is there. Plenty of players that can hold their own. We're a handful of tweaks and additions away from being a playoff side but without them we're too inconsistent and you could either comfortably beat us or be bossed off the park tonight, absolutely no way of knowing. Haven't listened to Hurst's pre-match yet, so not sure on team news.

 

[Sestonpoolie]

Completely agree with this, Featherstone needs to be taken out of the side, he is too slow and getting caught in possession more often as each game passes. Either Sylla should come in to the midfield or Dolan seeing as he got caught out a few times at the back against Sutton, with the Arsenal lad coming in CB for me.

Crewe’s form looks pretty poor and they will be low on confidence, a win tonight could be massive.

Feath was subbed on Saturday & hopefully dropped tonight
At times on Saturday each one of CB's carried the ball forward better than him.
Replace him with Sylla & we have plenty of lads who are strong & drive forward with the ball.
As for Finney,I thought his link up play at times was good.
He hasn't played much recently,so will get better with more games under his belt.

 

[Boz]

Bradford City vs Tranmere. A challenging game and we're not great at home. Hopefully, we're uncharged, though I can see Critchlow coming in for Stubbs as two games in quick succession might be a bit much for him. 2-1 City. Cook to score against another one of his former teams.

He scored twice in the away fixture so hopefully will give us a break this time. Though he has had a habit of scoring against us.

Not making a prediction for this one though all options possible. For Rovers to get something out of the game, think it depends on limiting Bradford scoring, as we’re not prolific.

 

[Chief Rocka]

Feath was subbed on Saturday & hopefully dropped tonight
At times on Saturday each one of CB's carried the ball forward better than him.
Replace him with Sylla & we have plenty of lads who are strong & drive forward with the ball.
As for Finney,I thought his link up play at times was good.
He hasn't played much research recently,so will get better with more games under his belt.

Gotta presume Sterry is knacked again for this? So it makes a lot of sense to bring in Foran alongside Pruti and Dolan at CB, Dodds out at RWB.

As for Featherstone, been saying it most of the season, he's finished, his neat turns and touches don't work, constantly getting his pocket pinched, stick Sylla in front of the defence just for some height and physicality alone.

 

[RiftHouseLad]

I heard Lola was a showgirl?

Fella actually,lol
When you say round the park you do mean, Edgeley Park.

Can you have a word with DC, And dispose of a couple of Creepy,s best players for the run in, Thanks.

 

[RiftHouseLad]

Feath was subbed on Saturday & hopefully dropped tonight
At times on Saturday each one of CB's carried the ball forward better than him.
Replace him with Sylla & we have plenty of lads who are strong & drive forward with the ball.
As for Finney,I thought his link up play at times was good.
He hasn't played much research recently,so will get better with more games under his belt.

Finney,s game is running in behind defenders for the knock ons.
Old club curse for Crewe hopefully.