w/e 21st December

[Alfie]

 

[Alfie]

 

[Alfie]

 

[Alfie]

 

[kieran_vale]

Really should be winning this if Carlisle are actually as bad as they’re made out to be on here. We have made hard work of playing the others down that end of the table though. Think DM stumbled on his best forward combination second half yesterday so there is zero excuse not to start with that for this one.

 

[BarraMatt]

We simply have to win.

 

[valefan16]

It’s a must win game really, we are 1 win in 6 League games now, winless in 4 but oddly only 2 defeats in 16!

Games we were winning a few weeks ago by the fine margins we’ve been drawing, the late equaliser from Crewe, the ghost goal yesterday, the wind assisted goal for Walsall probably don’t happen in October for us when luck seemed to favour us more and that’s what can happen when you play the fine margins that Moore does rather than go for it.

Need to set up to attack from the off and play our best XI try and get a result and stick with settling a side down for a run but with Xmas fixtures thick and fast Moore will just rotate 5 or 6 each game still and no momentum gets built.

Sounds like Byers was rested after feeling tight on his come back v Doncaster so hopefully a return to the XI, Hackford should be nowhere near and Clark should be good to go.

Assume Garrity won’t quite be back for this even though you know as soon as back in training he’s usually good to go straight away!

Ripley

John
Hall
Debrah
Sang
Clark

Croasdale
Byers

Chislett/Curtis
Stockley
Richards

Ideally for me.

Or play 4 at the back and go for them and play Tolaj or Paton.

 

[LS Bantam]

Notts County away, have we ever won down there? Doesn’t feel like it but have been embarrassed at ML on plenty of occasions more than I can remember.

 

[クレイグ]

We'll dick 'em. Des Hamilton with a brace.

 

[jacobncfc]

Notts County away, have we ever won down there? Doesn’t feel like it but have been embarrassed at ML on plenty of occasions more than I can remember.

You’ve got a good chance in this one, we’re all over the place at the minute.

Is king Aden back fit? I will be giving the great man a personal standing ovation.

 

[LS Bantam]

You’ve got a good chance in this one, we’re all over the place at the minute.

Is king Aden back fit? I will be giving the great man a personal standing ovation.

He’s missed so much I’m not even sure what to make of him yet, feels like he’s only played a handful of games but I’d say he’s one of our starters when everyone is fit. Saying that, two solid passes into the stands from about six yards yesterday with no one near him, that felt more of a throwback to last year.
The Matty Platt ‘swap’ in the summer hasn’t left us any worse off, I certainly don’t miss him despite us having no particularly stand out players in defence.

 

[OneDecentLester]

Is king Aden back fit? I will be giving the great man a personal standing ovation.

I’ve only ever seen you slag that bloke off on here, what you giving him a standing ovation for

 

[jacobncfc]

He’s missed so much I’m not even sure what to make of him yet, feels like he’s only played a handful of games but I’d say he’s one of our starters when everyone is fit. Saying that, two solid passes into the stands from about six yards yesterday with no one near him, that felt more of a throwback to last year.
The Matty Platt ‘swap’ in the summer hasn’t left us any worse off, I certainly don’t miss him despite us having no particularly stand out players in defence.

Platt would be our player of the season I think. Other than a lack of pace he’s got everything you’d want from a centre back at this level, is very comfortable on the ball and chipped in with a couple of goals as well.

 

[jacobncfc]

I’ve only ever seen you slag that bloke off on here, what you giving him a standing ovation for

He was fantastic in the NL, anyone from that team will always get a great reception. But particularly Baldwin for his single-handed rescue act in the play-off semi-final.

As hopeless as he was last season you can’t dislike the guy either. Even when he’s bad he’s a lot of fun.

 

[Kauto Star]

Notts County away, have we ever won down there? Doesn’t feel like it but have been embarrassed at ML on plenty of occasions more than I can remember.

Have we beaten them since the 1996 play off final, doesn't feel like it.

What a day that was by the way, our first ever visit to Wembley and the result never in any doubt from kick off to final whistle.

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

Notts County away, have we ever won down there? Doesn’t feel like it but have been embarrassed at ML on plenty of occasions more than I can remember.

1 win in 10 between the two of us. What a game it promises to be. I’m quite pleased we’re playing you to be fair, at least it should be a half decent crowd and atmosphere. If it was one of the tinpotters it’d be like a badly attended funeral.

Hope Balders gets a decent reception. Notts fans can be a funny with ex players even when they’ve generally done well for us.

 

[Scum.]

Newport have never beaten us so win. Get us back on track.

 

[RavenBish]

Meadow Lane could get very toxic. I’m not sure if Maynard’s back is against the wall enough to do anything different or if I’ll have to keep watching Sam Austin impersonating a footballer for another week whilst our back 3 pass the ball to each other and Crowley drops deeper and deeper until he’s doing pirouettes in the cattle market

 

[Optipez]

Meadow Lane could get very toxic. I’m not sure if Maynard’s back is against the wall enough to do anything different or if I’ll have to keep watching Sam Austin impersonating a footballer for another week whilst our back 3 pass the ball to each other and Crowley drops deeper and deeper until he’s doing pirouettes in the cattle market

I still think he'll be sacked before next Saturday. Expecting them to announce tomorrow or Tuesday.
His recent form, form this season and form last season taken on any statistical measure is nowhere near promotion form. Really not sure what the Bros super computer is reading thats different to what the rest of us can get for free on Wikipedia.
Unless possession is the all important statistic we're failing badly. We don't test keepers, attack the box in numbers, break with pace or purpose or keep many clean sheets.

 

[Crewelad87]

Colchester on Friday night, it looks like a big home crowd, GRE close to being sold out and the main stand and pop side also starting to fill up. Was over 7000 home fans last year so I'd expect atleast the same again this year.

Colchester form seems to have picked up recently, and are not losing many games. But we're 11 unbeaten and haven't lost a home league game since our 1st home game of the season vs Chesterfield back in August. So we should be looking for 3 points here. Our record in front of big home crowds last season was poor. I think we lost infrastructure of our 4 or 5 biggest crowds last season.

Tracey returns after suspension and I'd expect Bogle is more fit.and more likely to start this week which gives Bell a bit of a selection headache. All I do know is Lankester certainly starts, the boy is on fire at the moment.

Crewe 2-1 Colchester (Lankester, Tracey, Tovide) 7,988 (220 Colchester)

 

[loz]

I still think he'll be sacked before next Saturday. Expecting them to announce tomorrow or Tuesday.
His recent form, form this season and form last season taken on any statistical measure is nowhere near promotion form. Really not sure what the Bros super computer is reading thats different to what the rest of us can get for free on Wikipedia.
Unless possession is the all important statistic we're failing badly. We don't test keepers, attack the box in numbers, break with pace or purpose or keep many clean sheets.

Question! Which is the best team in the division to play if you are on a bad run?

 

[spireite]

Wimbledon are one of the toughest games in this league I reckon. It would be a good result if we can win here. Any news on our defensive injuries do we know?

 

[OneDecentLester]

Wimbledon are one of the toughest games in this league I reckon. It would be a good result if we can win here. Any news on our defensive injuries do we know?

Last I heard was Dunkley due back anywhere between mid December & 1st of Jan, but we all know Cook doesn’t take any risks when it comes to injuries so unless he’s 100% I can’t see him even being involved.

Gordon going off was only precautionary apparently and should be fine, whereas Tanton is done till minimum mid Jan, Daley Campbell unknown injury & timeline so god knows what’s up with him. Last thing that got said regards Williams dislocated shoulder on Saturday was that he’ll either be available instantly, or could be anywhere up to a few weeks depending on how cleanly they popped it back in place (Webb seemed confident it had been done properly so we will see).

Personally I think even if Williams is deemed fit enough to be involved, that barring any other injuries our back 4 Saturday will be:

Sheckleford Naylor Araujo Gordon

Can’t argue with that really, on paper that’s solid.

 

[Optipez]

Question! Which is the best team in the division to play if you are on a bad run?

I'd plump for Swindon at the moment. Our record at home to you is pretty good though so I get where you're coming from.

 

[F!RTHY]

Notts County away:

I was interested to know when we last beat Notts County at Meadow Lane, so I did a-bit of digging. Apart from James Hanson’s last minute winner in the Cup (2012), we haven’t beaten Notts in the league at ML since Feb 2008. I recall Alex Rhodes on the scoresheet and away fans were in the Kop. Before that, 1995/1996.

Amazingly, we’ve only played each other twice (last season) in 10 years - which sounds ridiculous, but true.

Looking at the league table, we’re evenly matched on points gained, goals scored and goals conceded. Notts are in a bit of a slump at the minute, and we’ve picked our first league win since Oct at the weekend. Good time to play them? I’m sure they’re thinking the exact same.

Corey Evans and Jay Benn went off injured at the weekend, but both sound as though they’ll be available for this one. Sarcevic made his first appearance on Saturday since his injury, so he’ll be pushing for a starting place, too. It’s good to have numbers back for the first time since August.

GK: Sam Walker

CB: Aden Baldwin
CB: Paul Huntington
CB: Jack Shepherd

RWB: Jay Benn/Brad Halliday
LWB: Lewis Richards

CM: Ritchie Smallwood
CM: Corey Evans/Anthony Sarcevic
CM: Jamie Walker

ST: Andy Cook
ST: Calum Kavanagh

Another win on Saturday should put us in the play-offs with a game in hand, and all of a sudden, everything appears to be rosey again.

Despite Notts’ form, they’re no mugs. They put 7 past us over both games last season in what was our worst performances of the season.

I think someone said we’ve sold 3.5 blocks so far. Not sure what that equates to, but I expect us to shift 2,000+ by KO.

2-1 City

 

[Kauto Star]

Notts County away:

I was interested to know when we last beat Notts County at Meadow Lane, so I did a-bit of digging. Apart from James Hanson’s last minute winner in the Cup (2012), we haven’t beaten Notts in the league at ML since Feb 2008. I recall Alex Rhodes on the scoresheet and away fans were in the Kop. Before that, 1995/1996.

Amazingly, we’ve only played each other twice (last season) in 10 years - which sounds ridiculous, but true.

Looking at the league table, we’re evenly matched on points gained, goals scored and goals conceded. Notts are in a bit of a slump at the minute, and we’ve picked our first league win since Oct at the weekend. Good time to play them? I’m sure they’re thinking the exact same.

Corey Evans and Jay Benn went off injured at the weekend, but both sound as though they’ll be available for this one. Sarcevic made his first appearance on Saturday since his injury, so he’ll be pushing for a starting place, too. It’s good to have numbers back for the first time since August.

GK: Sam Walker

CB: Aden Baldwin
CB: Paul Huntington
CB: Jack Shepherd

RWB: Jay Benn/Brad Halliday
LWB: Lewis Richards

CM: Ritchie Smallwood
CM: Corey Evans/Anthony Sarcevic
CM: Jamie Walker

ST: Andy Cook
ST: Calum Kavanagh

Another win on Saturday should put us in the play-offs with a game in hand, and all of a sudden, everything appears to be rosey again.

Despite Notts’ form, they’re no mugs. They put 7 past us over both games last season in what was our worst performances of the season.

I think someone said we’ve sold 3.5 blocks so far. Not sure what that equates to, but I expect us to shift 2,000+ by KO.

2-1 City

I think we will stick to the 3-4-3 formation for this one, unbeaten in 3 games since switching to this formation

S Walker

Baldwin
Huntington
Shepherd

Halliday
Smallwood
Sarcevic
Richards

Pointon
Cook
Kavanagh

 

[loz]

I think we will stick to the 3-4-3 formation for this one, unbeaten in 3 games since switching to this formation

S Walker

Baldwin
Huntington
Shepherd

Halliday
Smallwood
Sarcevic
Richards

Pointon
Cook
Kavanagh

I don't see Sarcevic as a starter

 

[hellogregory]

How is Paul Huntington doing?

We probably shouldn’t have released him in hindsight.

 

[LS Bantam]

How is Paul Huntington doing?

We probably shouldn’t have released him in hindsight.

Hasn’t played many but equally hasn’t done anything wrong. Noticeably vocal at corners which I really like, reminds me a bit of David Wetherall before he retired in how he positions himself really well and wins nearly every header.

 

[Kauto Star]

How is Paul Huntington doing?

We probably shouldn’t have released him in hindsight.

We didn't see him for ages, even when we had a lot of defenders out injured, presume he wasn't match fit.

He's been a starter in the last 3 or 4 games now and has looked very good.

I reckon we will be looking to extend his contract until at least the summer next month