w / e Saturday 25th January 2025

[SuperHans]

It wouldn't have gone to penalties if he was in goal. I always hated poppadom hands. Shite keeper. Only ended up as number one because of the crowd on covolan's back. Fans cost us promotion that season.

100% correct. Although winning the league last year was sweet. As it is, I actually prefer Boot to Thompson.

 

[We Are Sailing]

100% correct. Although winning the league last year was sweet. As it is, I actually prefer Boot to Thompson.

Not a fan of boot personally.. made a fair few clangers. Neither is a patch on tyrer imo, but Thompson is ok other than his distribution.

 

[OneDecentLester]

Covolan was fucking atrocious as well. I know Fitzsimons killed us in the P/O final but he was better than Covolan.

Also Harry Tyrer, another overrated keeper. Fans loved him cos he engaged with the crowd but he was a bang average shot stopper.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

I still remember watching the Bunch Of Amateurs episode of that and Marc White was saying to his players 'this keeper is volatile, I want you pressing him all the time, leave a little on' and that was a team who it was their very first game out of regional football.

Strange as it is, I think if he'd have been on the bench against County at Wembley and we'd have brought him on he'd have probably saved a couple of penalties, he's just that kind of character.

Nah that's our gig. Young Archie Mair 4 game Notts folklore guaranteed.

 

[Optipez]

Covolan was fucking atrocious as well. I know Fitzsimons killed us in the P/O final but he was better than Covolan.

Also Harry Tyrer, another overrated keeper. Fans loved him cos he engaged with the crowd but he was a bang average shot stopper.

God bless Fitzy.

 

[Bianconeri 1862]

It wouldn't have gone to penalties if he was in goal. I always hated poppadom hands. Shite keeper. Only ended up as number one because of the crowd on covolan's back. Fans cost us promotion that season.

Well the team with the most possession shots on off target corners on the day won so nothing to worry about.

 

[SuperHans]

Not a fan of boot personally.. made a fair few clangers. Neither is a patch on tyrer imo, but Thompson is ok other than his distribution.

Agree on both not near Tyrer and Thompsons distribution. For me Boot is better overall although Thompsons shot stopping is excellent.

 

[SuperHans]

Covolan was fucking atrocious as well. I know Fitzsimons killed us in the P/O final but he was better than Covolan.

Also Harry Tyrer, another overrated keeper. Fans loved him cos he engaged with the crowd but he was a bang average shot stopper.

I really rated Tyrer. He was overrated by fans but for me better than both Boot and Thompson. Thompson is horrendous with his feet, has absolutely no left foot and his right isn’t much better. Thankfully he can use his hands, unlike Fitzsimmons.

 

[jacobncfc]

It’s so funny that Chesterfield somehow had the shittest goalkeeper in that play-off final when our one literally tried to dribble a goal kick.

 

[spireite]

It’s so funny that Chesterfield somehow had the shittest goalkeeper in that play-off final when our one literally tried to dribble a goal kick.

Funny isn't the word that I would use! But then last season was one of the most fun ones I've had following town, I wouldn't swap that for the world, so all's well that ends well I suppose.

 

[Dan Phillips]

Just because players are back in training doesn't necessarily mean they're in contention to play the next game. Byers has been training for about 3 weeks and every game so far has "come too soon". Not like the old days, if you could stand up you could play. We get to hear terms like "load" "volume" as no doubt they'll be guided by the medical team.

No he hasn't. He's had one week's proper training this week lol.

 

[SuperHans]

It’s so funny that Chesterfield somehow had the shittest goalkeeper in that play-off final when our one literally tried to dribble a goal kick.

Ref bottled that

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

Whenever Chesterfield play Notts it always seems to be the referees fault when Chesterfield fail to win.

It was a horrendous start to that game by us, nervous mistake ridden and one down within 10 mins thanks to on loan signing and playoff final bad luck charm Andrew Dallas dispatching the penalty right in front of me. A great platform for the Spireites to get a second and win the game.

Two good sides, two awful goalkeeping performances from two very average keepers. A very good watch for the neutrals.

Over the 120 mins I thought Mr Corlett had a good game as the match official.

 

[mozzavale]

No he hasn't. He's had one week's proper training this week lol.

Feels like he's been back ages but was never ready

 

[Dan Phillips]

Feels like he's been back ages but was never ready

Freezing temperatures lately meant they could barely kick a ball in anger most of the time. Done a lot of gym work so should be physically ready, at least.

 

[Scum.]

AFC at home in the 12.30pm kick off then (although I am certain it will kick off even earlier than that...).

AFC have won their last 3 games. We have lost our last 3 games. AFC have also beaten us 1-0, 3-0 and 0-2 in our last 3 games against each other since March.

So 0 goals scored and 6 conceded in the last 3 games against this lot, 3 defeats in a row, and 3 defeats in a row in the league too (we're even bottom of the form table)...

That means a home win is nailed on. Fucking hope so as it's a must win game for us to keep remotely in the promotion picture (we can dream). AFC have never beaten us at Stadium:MK in the league. Continue that please.

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

God bless Fitzy.

Always makes me laugh to see Scunny fans worried that someone higher up will take him. I mean c’mon lads have you seen his highlights reel?

 

[leedsvaliant]

What I didn't realise is that Chesterfield's form is worse than ours in the last 5 games, with just 4 points compared to our 7. I'm guessing injuries have played a big part in that. Hopefully the returning players won't quite be up to speed yet.

What I also didn't realise was the age of the backline. Lots of players we'll into their 30s. Tolaj movement might cause problems.

 

[OneDecentLester]

What I didn't realise is that Chesterfield's form is worse than ours in the last 5 games, with just 4 points compared to our 7. I'm guessing injuries have played a big part in that. Hopefully the returning players won't quite be up to speed yet.

What I also didn't realise was the age of the backline. Lots of players well into their 30s. Tolaj movement might cause problems.

You’re guessing they have? Our bench against Bradford was virtually a bunch of kids I’d never heard of… and in the game against Fleetwood one of those kids actually had to come on!

Mental thing is, even with the ridiculous injury list at the time over the Xmas / new year period, in general we actually played quite well and deserved a lot more than what we ended up with.

 

[spireite]

What I didn't realise is that Chesterfield's form is worse than ours in the last 5 games, with just 4 points compared to our 7. I'm guessing injuries have played a big part in that. Hopefully the returning players won't quite be up to speed yet.

What I also didn't realise was the age of the backline. Lots of players we'll into their 30s. Tolaj movement might cause problems.

The form isn't good, no. There's no real worry because we haven't been playing badly particularly and probably deserved more out of the games. I think we've just struggled a bit with any sort of presence up front when we've been forced to start Drummond and have been quite wasteful. Kind of hoping Madden will be available to start this one having returned to the bench last game; we haven't really seen anything of him and it's about time he showed this club what he can do.

The back line has only got older! Could be a CB pairing combined 71 years old if McFadzean and Grimes start. 31 year old Janoi Donacien could even replace the relative newborn 27 year old Sheckleford at right back.

 

[OneDecentLester]

Vale (H) then..

Cook’s presser this morning was probably the most positive noise we’ve heard come out the club in months. You could tell just how buzzing he was that our injury list has now gone from 15 first team pro’s out at Xmas / New year, to just 3 players in Grigg, ;
Dunkley & Gordon (+ Araujo who he didn’t mention so I’m now assuming he’s gone back to Fulham early) on the treatment table, as well as having 4 new bodies in the building.

We had a midweek friendly to get minutes into some of those lads coming back such as Fleck & Jacobs, and Cook said they all came through unscathed so that’s positive. I’m expecting some of the new lads to go straight into the XI tomorrow and reckon we’ll look something like this, in the 4-1-4-1 we’ve been playing recently:

Thompson
Sheckleford McFadzean Grimes Sparkes
Oldaker
Dobra Mandeville Naylor Colclough
Pepple

Boot (GK)
Donacien
Fleck
Hobson
Metcalfe
Jacobs
Madden

I fancy us tomorrow, team looks strong on paper to me with players back on the bench that can actually make a difference at last!!

 

[GTFCfish]

Funny isn't the word that I would use! But then last season was one of the most fun ones I've had following town, I wouldn't swap that for the world, so all's well that ends well I suppose.

Yeah sometimes these heartbreak moments end up leading to amazing things and I think going through the heartbreak first makes the good times all the sweeter.
Our defeat to Bristol Rovers in 2015 was one of the worst feelings I’ve ever had in my life and not just because we lost on pens but because we were shafted by the ref, but then the next year going back and winning, walking out afterwards was one of the most euphoric feelings I’ve ever experienced it was like I had this warm fuzzy glow running through me that I can’t properly describe.
And then everyone still hates Holloway for how he shit on us, but without that relegation we would never have had that unbelievable play off campaign that every Town fan will remember for the rest of our lives.
Strange how football works out really.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

What I didn't realise is that Chesterfield's form is worse than ours in the last 5 games, with just 4 points compared to our 7. I'm guessing injuries have played a big part in that. Hopefully the returning players won't quite be up to speed yet.

What I also didn't realise was the age of the backline. Lots of players we'll into their 30s. Tolaj movement might cause problems.

It's not just the backline they comfortably have a starting XI that could be made up of 30 year olds or older.

Clever short term tactic from the league's best Cook which could pay off this season.

 

[クレイグ]

Hudlin makes it 1-0 to Swindon. Pretty poor defending.

 

[クレイグ]

Harry Smith with a cracker.

 

[leedsvaliant]

Vale (H) then..

Cook’s presser this morning was probably the most positive noise we’ve heard come out the club in months. You could tell just how buzzing he was that our injury list has now gone from 15 first team pro’s out at Xmas / New year, to just 3 players in Grigg, ;
Dunkley & Gordon (+ Araujo who he didn’t mention so I’m now assuming he’s gone back to Fulham early) on the treatment table, as well as having 4 new bodies in the building.

We had a midweek friendly to get minutes into some of those lads coming back such as Fleck & Jacobs, and Cook said they all came through unscathed so that’s positive. I’m expecting some of the new lads to go straight into the XI tomorrow and reckon we’ll look something like this, in the 4-1-4-1 we’ve been playing recently:

Thompson
Sheckleford McFadzean Grimes Sparkes
Oldaker
Dobra Mandeville Naylor Colclough
Pepple

Boot (GK)
Donacien
Fleck
Hobson
Metcalfe
Jacobs
Madden

I fancy us tomorrow, team looks strong on paper to me with players back on the bench that can actually make a difference at last!!

What's Pepple like? Capable of leading the line?

Think it will be a tough game for us but with a fully fit squad we should be decent opposition.

 

[leedsvaliant]

Hudlin makes it 1-0 to Swindon. Pretty poor defending.

Swindon should be relegated immediately for letting that Charlatan Hudlin score against them. If he can play professionally, then so can I at 41.

 

[Throbber_for_Dunk]

Swindon don't look up to much but fair dos I guess.

When did Newport stop using the end behind the goal and start using the other? L

 

[OneDecentLester]

What's Pepple like? Capable of leading the line?

Think it will be a tough game for us but with a fully fit squad we should be decent opposition.

I only saw him against Grimsby but thought he did well considering it was his first start in the league for us. Pretty much everything that went up to him stuck, and he seemed to bring others in to play well.

Yet to be seen what sort of a goal threat he will be, but the early signs are promising. He’ll definitely give your centre halves something more to think about than Drummond did at your place when he came on for the injured Grigg in the first half.

 

[kieran_vale]

Seen Newport a few times this season now and there is a huge discrepancy in how they start games and how they finish them. Not sure if it’s a fitness thing or not reacting when teams adjust to them. Same story as when they came to VP second half.