w/e 21st December

[Si Robin]

Gillingham away on the Friday evening before Christmas.

Fair play to all the sadomasochists doing that trip from Cheltenham.

Of course, this being League 2, we're one of those teams who seem to be playing much better away from home, so I'm actually a little bit confident of us getting something. Though Gillingham seem to be in decent form again, so it really could be any result.

I'll sit on the fence and plump for a 1-1 draw.

 

[valefan16]

What is the reason for the move to Friday night? Notice Crewe have done the same?

 

[Crewelad87]

What is the reason for the move to Friday night? Notice Crewe have done the same?

We did it last year, with lower ticket prices and got a big crowd in vs Barrow, over 7 k home fans, so done it again this year and looking like could be getting close to a home sell out, possibly around 9 k home fans, sold over 8k so far.

 

[valefan16]

We did it last year, with lower ticket prices and got a big crowd in vs Barrow, over 7 k home fans, so done it again this year and looking like could be getting close to a home sell out, possibly around 9 k home fans, sold over 8k so far.

Fair play, didn't know if there was a specific logistical reason, good to see.

 

[Dan Phillips]

If we rarely play a team out of form how can we give a "leg up"

On a serious note I think those defeats just get bigger notice than say losing to a team doing well and probably happens to everyone, we beat Morecambe, Swindon, MK when out of form and the only "leg up" would be Gillingham this season so for the 3 out of form sides we've beaten we've only lost 1.

We've also done well against teams in form this season.

The Carlisle defeat was just because we were crap last season and in as bad form as they were post October. We won 5 games in the last 39 League games so we were just a terrible side... worth noting though 2 of those wins came against a massively out of form Burton and at the time a massively out of form Exeter so no leg ups there for instance.

Bristol Rovers wasn't it, not Exeter?

 

[Grimsby Road]

This weekend we're just going to a football stadium to shout at a desperate old man so that he knows we really don't like him and that he's getting sacked in the morning, pretty sure there will be a game going on too but that's of secondary importance.

I am slightly worried about the game - get drawn into a dogfight /emotional and messy game, Swindon might well turn us over especially if they use the long ball upto Smith as we are a very small team all over the park .

But play our football and we should win the game , Holloways tactics were always scrambled at best and we have a pretty set way of playing that should be able to capitalise in theory .

 

[Si Robin]

What is the reason for the move to Friday night? Notice Crewe have done the same?

Think it was at Gillingham's request - but don't quote me on that

 

[Crewelad87]

Think it was at Gillingham's request - but don't quote me on that

Kind of makes sense you moved your game after we moved ours, all 4 teams have the same amount of rest then, as boxing day we all play each other again with us playing you and Colchester vs Gillingham.

 

[valefan16]

Bristol Rovers wasn't it, not Exeter?

I meant the one in December when Exeter had lost like 10 in row or something silly and we wen't and won...

Dont think I ever want to relive the ultimate bottle job that was the Exeter home one!

 

[pontoonlew]

It’ll be great to beat Holloway but I am a bit worried about this weekend. We look much better as a collective with Obikwu and he’s highly likely to be out.

GM should surely start ahead of Thompson who was dire on Saturday and we look so much better every time he’s on the pitch. Quite how Swindon let him go I don’t know.

It’ll be 7 wins and a draw in 8 away games if we do win, which will be absolutely ridiculous form.

 

[Limerick Mariner]

It’ll be great to beat Holloway but I am a bit worried about this weekend. We look much better as a collective with Obikwu and he’s highly likely to be out.

GM should surely start ahead of Thompson who was dire on Saturday and we look so much better every time he’s on the pitch. Quite how Swindon let him go I don’t know.

It’ll be 7 wins and a draw in 8 away games if we do win, which will be absolutely ridiculous form.

I fear the laws of Grimsby Town will kick in - cold Tuesday night at Grimsby with a small crowd we smash it, nice day, big home crowd we flop, in this case a long winning run sprinkled with some tough looking away fixtures and we lose the easiest looking game of the lot.

 

[BlackHaddock]

I think a lot of Swindon fans are demonstrating and then boycotting the game, the rest are wearing Orange for some reason. So there might not be a huge home crowd, just 650 plus Mariners being loud and proud!

 

[Son of Cod]

I am slightly worried about the game - get drawn into a dogfight /emotional and messy game, Swindon might well turn us over especially if they use the long ball upto Smith as we are a very small team all over the park .

But play our football and we should win the game , Holloways tactics were always scrambled at best and we have a pretty set way of playing that should be able to capitalise in theory .

I'm not as worried about them being big up top, Rodgers and McJannett don't tend to get bullied. Launch high balls into our box and we'll knock 'em away all match long. I think it's the teams that work the channels and overlap well that outdo us.

It’ll be great to beat Holloway but I am a bit worried about this weekend. We look much better as a collective with Obikwu and he’s highly likely to be out.

GM should surely start ahead of Thompson who was dire on Saturday and we look so much better every time he’s on the pitch. Quite how Swindon let him go I don’t know.

It’ll be 7 wins and a draw in 8 away games if we do win, which will be absolutely ridiculous form.

Thompson and McEachran both started at Morecambe and played well, so I don't think it necessarily has to be either or. That midfield against Morecambe would probably be my first choice if I had to pick. Plenty were off the pace against Crewe but Thompson seems to have picked up the majority of the flack for some reason. I don't think he was the standout worst performer. Obikwu before he went off, JDS, Cass and Green were all as poor as Thompson for me

 

[Dirk Diggler]

I'm not as worried about them being big up top, Rodgers and McJannett don't tend to get bullied. Launch high balls into our box and we'll knock 'em away all match long. I think it's the teams that work the channels and overlap well that outdo us.

Thompson and McEachran both started at Morecambe and played well, so I don't think it necessarily has to be either or. That midfield against Morecambe would probably be my first choice if I had to pick. Plenty were off the pace against Crewe but Thompson seems to have picked up the majority of the flack for some reason. I don't think he was the standout worst performer. Obikwu before he went off, JDS, Cass and Green were all as poor as Thompson for me

Wil no doubt come back to bite me in the rear but I don't see us getting beaten this weekend. We have a full strength squad apart from two defenders, one who hasnt made the squad in months and the other that would normally sit on the bench

 

[Cloudy]

Wil no doubt come back to bite me in the rear but I don't see us getting beaten this weekend. We have a full strength squad apart from two defenders, one who hasnt made the squad in months and the other that would normally sit on the bench

I too,doubt you will get beat,even the most basket case club can occasionally get a result. Not sure it will be down to having a fit squad ( squad looks weak to most), but the protest, Holloway facing the last club he shafted ( & the anger Grimsby fans will bring), and the visitors in a much higher position that their performances suggest, means a home win to me.
An early goal either way may well decide the outcome as I can’t see either side coming back from conceding

 

[Crewelad87]

700 more tickets left before its a home sell out tonight, and with moving the away fans into the smallest stand, it will be our largest amount of home fans in the stadium in modern times. Should be a crowd of over 9000.

 

[Dirk Diggler]

I think a lot of Swindon fans are demonstrating and then boycotting the game, the rest are wearing Orange for some reason. So there might not be a huge home crowd, just 650 plus Mariners being loud and proud!

More like 1 or 2 demonstrating and then not going to the game. The vast majority of demonstrators will be going. What is an unknown factor is how many will demonstrate on the March/walk to the ground and how many will make their feelings known at the meeting point. It’s hoped that the visibility of orange within the stadium will be enough as opposed to verbal dissatisfaction during the game

 

[mozzavale]

700 more tickets left before its a home sell out tonight, and with moving the away fans into the smallest stand, it will be our largest amount of home fans in the stadium in modern times. Should be a crowd of over 9000.

It's a great initiative this, didn't they do something similar last season? Looks like becoming an annual event. Have to applaud it especially at this time of year when everything else is so expensive.

Saw our CEO interviewed on sport business podcast recently mention something about aiming at more 10k attendances at Vale. Hopefully we are doing something with the prices soon fir a few events.

Obviously hoping Crewe's players freeze in front of the bigger crowd, lose 4 nil and everyone decides not to bother going again for the rest of the season.

 

[JJ1990]

I've already mentally prepared myself for a 1-0 defeat and all the 4,000 extra fans to never bother coming again. Don't care if we get the scrappiest, ugliest game you've ever seen, just win please. Would be huge not just to get some of these casual fans back to the ground again, but also would guarantee us being in the top 3 for Christmas.

 

[gary]

I think tomorrow is a bit of a free hit for us at Chesterfield with the amount of injuries we have plus Omar Bugiel being suspended for this one.

 

[OneDecentLester]

I think tomorrow is a bit of a free hit for us at Chesterfield with the amount of injuries we have plus Omar Bugiel being suspended for this one.

We have 11 out injured my good friend

 

[OneDecentLester]

Wombles (H)

Battle of the walking wounded tomorrow by the sounds of it as we host Wimbledon who have apparently got a bit of an injury crisis of their own, alongside our 11 players that will be missing tomorrow for us!!

Been a bit of a theme of our season to be honest, can’t recall many times we’ve not had a lengthy list of players in the treatment room. We seem to get one back and then lose a couple more every time, with Williams (dislocated shoulder) & Gordon (tight calf) being the latest two to pick up injuries in the game at Carlisle last week. Fingers crossed 2025 brings some better luck on that front and get a proper squad back available to us to have a real go at it.

Tomorrow we’ll probably look something like this:

Thompson
Sheckleford Naylor Grimes Araujo
Mandeville Banks
Markanday Dobra Colclough
Grigg

Boot (GK)
Jessop
Horton
Hobson
Oldaker
Berry
Drummond

 

[SuperHans]

We have 11 out injured my good friend

Was about to say. We are up shits creek. Take a point.

 

[hellogregory]

After looking quite solid but unspectacular in November, that all went out the window last weekend. 1 step forward 2 steps back. Defensively we were awful, midfield was non existent, toothless up front with square pegs in round holes all over the pitch.

Perfect time to play us and get your promotion challenge back on track.
Port Vale 4-0 Carlisle United

 

[codaplenty]

I'm old enough to remember when Barrow was in Lancashire. They've done really well and it's great for the town. Neither side setting the world on fire. Injuries galore for Fleetwood, no different than so many other teams and they do need to find 3 points from somewhere. Afraid I can't see that happening tomorrow and everything points to another draw for the Cods, I guess in some ways that won't be so bad !

 

[Valeite]

700 more tickets left before its a home sell out tonight, and with moving the away fans into the smallest stand, it will be our largest amount of home fans in the stadium in modern times. Should be a crowd of over 9000.

Well done Crewe, you will get to find out the delights of a full popular side. If that is where the non regulars go they won`t come back in a hurry,

 

[gary]

We have 11 out injured my good friend

Yeah I noticed that. I don't know if it's just me but injuries seem to be more prevalent now than they were year's ago. I guess player's just got on with it and played with injuries. Well they must've done when only 1 sub was allowed.

 

[OneDecentLester]

Was about to say. We are up shits creek. Take a point.

The thing with us, is that thankfully we seem to have avoided injuries in attacking areas for the most part with the majority of our flair players being fit so we can definitely still hurt teams, it’s just the constant chopping and changing to our defence that worries me!!

Bench looking fairly scarce mind

 

[BarraMatt]

I'm old enough to remember when Barrow was in Lancashire. They've done really well and it's great for the town. Neither side setting the world on fire. Injuries galore for Fleetwood, no different than so many other teams and they do need to find 3 points from somewhere. Afraid I can't see that happening tomorrow and everything points to another draw for the Cods, I guess in some ways that won't be so bad !

Should be used to it in both our towns but it'll be a windy one tomorrow! Not confident either given the run of form we are on, I guess it's a case of wait and see.

 

[lordofthepies]

Well done Crewe, you will get to find out the delights of a full popular side. If that is where the non regulars go they won`t come back in a hurry,

I had a season ticket there for three or four years when it was full every week and that memory was enough to make me stay in the main stand tonight...