Lincoln vs Grimsby

[GTFCfish]

Guaranteed red card or two and probably a pen to Lincoln as well with that attention seeking twat in charge.

 

[Plumbob]

Didn't it break in about 1976 after Graham Taylor left for Watford, then it was finally repaired in about December 2016 - 40 years out of service?

You missed Murphy and a few near misses with the big fella.

 

[Son of Cod]

Luckily for those going you’ll be seeing the true star of the show, Mike Dean.

Can almost smell the imminent Akinde 89 (pen). (And yes, that's 89th for the season too, not the minute he's gonna score it in of course.)

Didn't it break in about 1976 after Graham Taylor left for Watford, then it was finally repaired in about December 2016 - 40 years out of service?

Keith Alexander had a few good goes, to be fair to him. Took it all the way to Cardiff for a specialist to look at in 2003, used too much WD-40 in 2004, took it back to that same guy in Cardiff in 2005 for a second unsuccessful bash and then just when it was spluttering and about to make a glorious groan in 2006 Ben Futcher went and did a massive poo on it.

On a serious note, I hope we play up to Mike Dean like Lincoln inevitably will do. We've shown a grittier side to our play than we were doing at the start of the season and have shown evidence of our young side becoming more "streetwise" and displaying hints of "game management". It would be nice for the match on Saturday to conform to the ideal of neat little passing triangles and patient build up play beating our local rivals on its own, however this is an ideal for a reason. It won't work unless we fall over at the right times and kick 'em in the legs at the right times like Cowley's boys do so well. We tried being nice at BP in August and all we got was a point. If we do that again this weekend we won't even get that point.

 

[Big Bird]

What, the same siren we've used for corners decades?

What happens if you get a corner and it goes behind for another one. Is it literally every time?

 

[Luke Imp]

What happens if you get a corner and it goes behind for another one. Is it literally every time?

Every time!

Although it takes that long to wind up that a quick, short corner messes it all up.

 

[Davidimp]

Indeed poor old Colin, he's nearly 70 and doesn't like successive corners lol!!!

 

[GTFCfish]

Lincolns new banner is ready:

 

[Davidimp]

Lincolns new banner is ready:
View attachment 10289

December 5th 2016, the day the imps were born

 

[Imp in Branston]

After years of attendance at this one, I won’t be able to help Lincoln fill the stadium this time, shame.

We were poor against Macclesfield but it was probably coming, tough run of games with no defenders finally showed. Play like that and we’ll get pumped, but we do have a gritty performance and a win in us as has been shown in December.

Would be pleased with a draw.

Think this will be a very tight game, we haven't really been playing well at home for a while, and riding our luck a little away from SB. So along with an upturn in your form recently I wouldn't be surprised if it were a draw. Hoping we sneak a win and continue our better run against you of late.

 

[GTFCfish]

Think this will be a very tight game, we haven't really been playing well at home for a while, and riding our luck a little away from SB. So along with an upturn in your form recently I wouldn't be surprised if it were a draw. Hoping we sneak a win and continue our better run against you of late.

Despite our really good December points wise we’ve not actually been playing that well, backs to the wall in quite a few games with the Swindon Port Vale and Exeter victories down to McKeowns brilliance and a team prepared to Chuck their bodies on the line to stop the ball going in.
I hope I’m wrong here but I can see us coming unstuck here.

 

[BlackHaddock]

It's snowing in Shropshire at the moment (Friday 11:30). Plus I saw two Magpies yesterday, so a Grimsby win is on the cards. I will also be wearing my lucky underpants for the game, we can't lose!

PS. Where has that Lincoln Tosser gone?

 

[GodsGift]

PS. Where has that Lincoln Tosser gone?

Which one?

Anyway, time to actually talk about the game. I hope we ignore what I suggested earlier in the week and resist the temptation to throw Rhead in and give a chance to the new signings instead.

Here's how I want us to line up:

Vickers

Eardley
Bolger
Wharton
Toffolo

Bostwick
Frecklington

Anderson
McCartan
Rowe

Akinde

Harsh on Pett not to start but I've always preferred Bostwick in midfield, gives us extra bite. Wharton is more than capable of replacing the suspended Shackell at centre back anyway.

 

[Luke Imp]

I think we'll be

Vickers

Eardley
Bostwick
Bolger
Toffolo

Frecklington
O'Connor

Anderson
McCartan
Pett

Akinde

Rowe's hardly played this season so I can't see him starting and Pett's done ok filling in for Andrade when needed on the left, albeit tucks in to leave it to Toffolo when in possession.

Going foward, I'd agree r.e. Bostwick. I think we'll see more of him in midfield in the second half of the season with Bolger and Shackell as the CB's.

DC generally avoids right footers on the left and vice versa in defence so as two left footers, I can't imagine Bolger and Wharton starting together.

 

[GodsGift]

DC generally avoids right footers on the left and vice versa in defence so as two left footers, I can't imagine Bolger and Wharton starting together.

Agree he's reluctant to play two left footers, but I don't really get why. That goes for most football managers by the way, not just Cowley. No one has an issue with playing two right footers, so why should it be any different for left footers? Blackpool did it last season with Curtis Tilt and Clark Robertson and it was absolutely fine.

 

[Luke Imp]

Agree he's reluctant to play two left footers, but I don't really get why. That goes for most football managers by the way, not just Cowley. No one has an issue with playing two right footers, so why should it be any different for left footers? Blackpool did it last season with Curtis Tilt and Clark Robertson and it was absolutely fine.

True.

DC's done it here in the majority I think. Waterfall/Raggett, Waterfall/Wharton, Bostwick/Shackell.

Waterfall/Bostwick and Wharton/Shackell a handful of times but that's about it I imagine.

Be interesting to see how he pairs Bostwick, Shackell and Bolger up.

 

[PaulHaddock]

Preferred team:

McKeown
Hendrie Davis Öhman Ring
Hess Clifton
Vernam Embleton Woolford
Thomas

I’m not a Woolford fan but we’ll need him for his defensive work which Pringle is not good at. Also don’t think he’ll trust Öhman just yet because he hasn’t played much recently. There’s also question marks over which fullbacks start. Harry Clifton also faces a late fitness test.

Team I think will start:

McKeown
Hendrie Davis Whitemore Ring
Hess Welsh/Clifton
Cardwell Embleton Woolford
Thomas

 

[Davidimp]

Looks like the weather could be quite similar to the game last season.

 

[Clarkey_GTFC]

McKeown

Hendrie
Davis
Whitmore
Ring

Hessenthaler
Clifton

Vernam
Embleton
Pringle

Thomas


I think that's as close to our best team as we can get if everybody is fit and ready, and I believe it's a team capable of beating Lincoln. When we play well, we play very well but we've not had much of an opportunity to find any sort of consistency with what seemed to be a fresh injury every week. I don't know if we'll line up like that with Clifton facing a fitness test and more faces recently arriving but if our team looks something like that, providing we turn up, we'll have a good game on our hands.

Slipping up against Macc was a big blow to any sort of chance we had of sneaking into the top 7, especially as the rest of our games this month are incredibly tough, but a win here could give us a chance again. There is no pressure on us to get a result here nonetheless, I just hope we're not in the middle of another one of those losing streaks we tend to get ourselves into.

 

[Son of Cod]

Agree with that best XI Clarkey, but only when Pringle is on form. Which he hasn't been of late and he shouldn't start today, in my opinion. The problem with Pringle is that he doesn't have a great deal of middle ground. He's either one of the best players on the pitch and a constant pain in the arse or may as well not be on the pitch. I'd agree with Paul that Woolford should/will start today. He's harder working and better at the defensive side of things. I'd maybe even go Cardwell over Pringle today, too.

 

[Clarkey_GTFC]

Agree with that best XI Clarkey, but only when Pringle is on form. Which he hasn't been of late and he shouldn't start today, in my opinion. The problem with Pringle is that he doesn't have a great deal of middle ground. He's either one of the best players on the pitch and a constant pain in the arse or may as well not be on the pitch. I'd agree with Paul that Woolford should/will start today. He's harder working and better at the defensive side of things. I'd maybe even go Cardwell over Pringle today, too.

Yep I agree with that, I said earlier that I wouldn't be surprised to see Woolford start ahead of Pringle for his defensive work to help cover Ring, but when we're at our best it's when Pringle is combining with Embleton and Vernam, so I guess I'm banking on him playing well today. Woolford obviously does a similar job but it's clear that Pringle is the much better player. I'd be fine with either player starting to be honest.

 

[GTFCfish]

Today’s crying out for Jon Welsh I think, although with Mike Dean in charge, maybe best not.

 

[PaulHaddock]

We’ve gone 3-5-2! Will either go very well or very bad.

 

[Guernica]

No Vickers is a blow, Bolger starts. It's bloody freezing but let's do this! UTI

 

[Clarkey_GTFC]

Bit of a strange game to try 352 again but I think we're better equipped for it now in terms of personnel. Surprised he's thrown Ohman straight into the mix though. I said in August he would try this again around January after a few more signings and I'm with him in that it can well be the best way to go.

 

[pontoonlew]

After a bad start it sounds like we’re on top, Mitch Rose weak link AGAIN

 

[AdamStag]

Any team towards the top should be beating the like of Grimsby, I hope Lincoln don’t but it’s hardly a surprise

 

[pontoonlew]

Any team towards the top should be beating the like of Grimsby, I hope Lincoln don’t but it’s hardly a surprise

One of the weakest attempts I’ve seen on here in a while. Slow day in Manchester?

 

[Clarkey_GTFC]

It would be funny if it was even remotely true, except before today we've won 4 and drew 3 against Lincoln, MK Dons, Exeter, Colchester and Carlisle in 7 total games.

We're playing okay, obviously going to be some growing pains with this new system. Hope we stick with it this time.

 

[PaulHaddock]

I’m gonna say it - Lincoln are dirty.

 

[AdamStag]

One of the weakest attempts I’ve seen on here in a while. Slow day in Manchester?

No offence caused lew. Just a statement.

Mind I did just check your record against the current top 3 which is 4 losses and a draw

Please do go and get a win, would be cracking if you did.