Shrewsbury Town Vs Bradford City

[F!RTHY]

Too early? Oh well, I don’t care.

Opening game, anything could happen. Are Shrewsbury weaker this season, IMO yes. Are we stronger this season, IMO yes.

I was reading the Starting XI thread, and I came across a Shrewsbury fan who believes that they’ll have more flair this season. I’m not sure what this means in footballing terms, but are they stronger?

How much they’ll miss Agogo, Rodman, Riley, Henderson, Morris, LJL and Godfrey over the course of the season will be interesting.

Players In: they seem to have gone down the lower league root - and by this I mean bang average players from L2/non-league. Genuinely, is there any reason for this? Barring Gilliead and Colkett, your transfer business seems to be below average? I just wondered what you guys genuinely think of your incomings so far? (Que 3-0 gubbing).

Anyway, on to the game;

We usually start off OK, and don’t have a BAD record down at the New Meadow. There’s a buzz around Valley Parade after announcing a few decent signings, so on that basis, I predict a tight affair - 2-1 CITY.

Team:
Providing Charlie Wyke remains a Chicken, he’s injured so wont feature. McGowan has a knock, so might not be risked. I can see Kelvin Mellor signing before too long, so he could drop straight into the XI depending on fitness.

GK: Richard O’Donnell

RB: Kelvin Mellor/Joe Riley
CB: Anthony O’connor
CB: Matt Killgallon
LB: Joe Riley/Adam Chicksen

DCM: Hope Akpan
DCM: Josh Wright

RW: Sean Scannell
CAM: Jack Payne
LW: Sherwin Seedorf

CF: George Miller

Subs:
Adam Chicksen
Tyrel Robinson
Jake Reeves
Alex Jones
Nat Knight-Percival
Thomas Isherwood
Jordon Gibson

Att: 6800 (1200 City)

 

[3Loggerheads]

Too early? Oh well, I don’t care.

Opening game, anything could happen. Are Shrewsbury weaker this season, IMO yes. Are we stronger this season, IMO yes.

I was reading the Starting XI thread, and I came across a Shrewsbury fan who believes that they’ll have more flair this season. I’m not sure what this means in footballing terms, but are they stronger?

How much they’ll miss Agogo, Rodman, Riley, Henderson, Morris, LJL and Godfrey over the course of the season will be interesting.

Players In: they seem to have gone down the lower league root - and by this I mean bang average players from L2/non-league. Genuinely, is there any reason for this? Barring Gilliead and Colkett, your transfer business seems to be below average? I just wondered what you guys genuinely think of your incomings so far? (Que 3-0 gubbing).

Anyway, on to the game;

We usually start off OK, and don’t have a BAD record down at the New Meadow. There’s a buzz around Valley Parade after announcing a few decent signings, so on that basis, I predict a tight affair - 2-1 CITY.

Team:
Providing Charlie Wyke remains a Chicken, he’s injured so wont feature. McGowan has a knock, so might not be risked. I can see Kelvin Mellor signing before too long, so he could drop straight into the XI depending on fitness.

GK: Richard O’Donnell

RB: Kelvin Mellor/Joe Riley
CB: Anthony O’ok forward to your report nextconnor
CB: Matt Killgallon
LB: Joe Riley/Adam Chicksen

DCM: Hope Akpan
DCM: Josh Wright

RW: Sean Scannell
CAM: Jack Payne
LW: Sherwin Seedorf

CF: George Miller

Subs:
Adam Chicksen
Tyrel Robinson
Jake Reeves
Alex Jones
Nat Knight-Percival
Thomas Isherwood
Jordon Gibson

Att: 6800 (1200 City)

yeah right...by the way, Riley was never a first team pick and LJL is still a bench player.

I see general consensus on the Bradford message board and a few others is we are expected to struggle or have a hang over come the start of the season.

Given I haven't a clue whether Bradford are stronger or not and would not attempt to judge from afar so will not predict the outcome for next Saturday or the teams fortune over the season before a ball has been kicked in anger. What I will say is I like what I have seen from us but pre-season friendlies mean very little generally.

Your match report after Saturday's game will be interesting.

 

[F!RTHY]

I just figured, because they both made a total of 63 appearances between them last season, they might be missed over the course of the season - which I think is a fair point.

 

[3Loggerheads]

Godfrey I think will be missed, but I think we have adequately replace the other outfield players. Henderson will be missed but I do hope and think Joel Coleman will be a good replacement in Goal.

I see Bradford have signed Ben Wilson ( I presume as your No 2). He was on trial at Shrewsbury early pre-season but we declined to offer him a contract.

 

[1976Bantam]

Godfrey I think will be missed, but I think we have adequately replace the other outfield players. Henderson will be missed but I do hope and think Joel Coleman will be a good replacement in Goal.

I see Bradford have signed Ben Wilson ( I presume as your No 2). He was on trial at Shrewsbury early pre-season but we declined to offer him a contract.

Yes, Wilson is back up. O'Donnell has been signed as first choice.

 

[3Loggerheads]

I just figured, because they both made a total of 63 appearances between them last season, they might be missed over the course of the season - which I think is a fair point.

If you are talking about LJL and Riley appearences last season

LJL made 34 league appearances all off the bench. he only started 4 games all in the Checkatrade.
Riley made 10 league appearances of which 2 were as a sub.

 

[F!RTHY]

If you are talking about LJL and Riley appearences last season

LJL made 34 league appearances all off the bench. he only started 4 games all in the Checkatrade.
Riley made 10 league appearances of which 2 were as a sub.

Irrespective of the amount of league games they have featured in, they have still alleviated some form of pressure from your starting XI throughout the course of your successful season.

Anyway.....we lost against Carlisle yesterday, via a deflective shot, in the 90th min - so the positivity has been zapped from most City supporters overnight - fickle as fuck our lot. ....oh, and it’s all Edin’s fault again.

 

[LS Bantam]

Fickle City fan here, pre season has been great, massive wins against a Sheff Weds XI at the training ground and our reserves beat Park Avenue late on, lost the rest to almost exclusively lower/non league sides and half the squad have played about five minutes each because we’re ‘easing them back’, but that’s all good, Wyke’s still here for now but likely won’t be in a week or so and despite some decent signings (better than last summers shambles) we’re a good two strikers short of ‘very good’ recruitment, all managed of course by our shiny new super dooper manager who’s best achievement so far is finishing something like 10th out of 13 in the kids league last season.
On to Saturday - I’d take a draw. If we sign an Eoin Doyle type this week I’d be a lot more confident, other than that I could see us conceding a few as we did here 8 years ago on the opening day, there’s so much ‘bedding in’ to do on and off the pitch for me it could be damage limitation for now but with the potential for good things should it all click.

 

[Matt_]

There is a certain irony in citing many of our new signings as being "bang average league 2/non-league". This was largely the reaction of fans of other clubs when the likes of Ogogo, Rodman, Riley and Brown were signed but these are now seen as the players we are going to miss.

As others have said Godfrey may be missed, but he was an integral part of a specific system that, generally, worked very well last season, but this season our system will be different.

Carlton Morris provided a focal point to our attacks and scored somewhere around 8-10 goals but shouldn't be that difficult to replace from the new signings, Amadi-Holloway looks a very similar type of focal point type centre forward for example.

Henderson was outstanding last season season but Coleman potentially looks an excellent signing. He knows this league having played in it for Oldham before he was signed by Huddersfield.

The positives are; we still have last season's back four in place and that was a strength last season. In midfield we still have Nolan and Whalley who were our most creative players last season and we still have Payne who was top scorer last season.

Personally I think we've added some good players. Laurent is highly regarded and stood out in a poor Bury side last season when on loan from Wigan.

Okenabirhie could be the real surprise package. John Askey, who is not prone to making outlandish statements, called him the best striker in the National League last season and he should certainly know. Everything seen from him so far indicates he has an awful lot of ability.

Similarly with Abo Eisa who we only saw in glimpses last season after he joined in January, with him and Gillead the loss of Rodman will hopefully not be a problem.

All in all I'm cautiously optimistic. I don't expect us to challenge as we did last season but I think we have enough to finish in the top half and hopefully be a lot easier on the eye in the process.

 

[T.A]

There is a certain irony in citing many of our new signings as being "bang average league 2/non-league". This was largely the reaction of fans of other clubs when the likes of Ogogo, Rodman, Riley and Brown were signed but these are now seen as the players we are going to miss.

As others have said Godfrey may be missed, but he was an integral part of a specific system that, generally, worked very well last season, but this season our system will be different.

Carlton Morris provided a focal point to our attacks and scored somewhere around 8-10 goals but shouldn't be that difficult to replace from the new signings, Amadi-Holloway looks a very similar type of focal point type centre forward for example.

Henderson was outstanding last season season but Coleman potentially looks an excellent signing. He knows this league having played in it for Oldham before he was signed by Huddersfield.

The positives are; we still have last season's back four in place and that was a strength last season. In midfield we still have Nolan and Whalley who were our most creative players last season and we still have Payne who was top scorer last season.

Personally I think we've added some good players. Laurent is highly regarded and stood out in a poor Bury side last season when on loan from Wigan.

Okenabirhie could be the real surprise package. John Askey, who is not prone to making outlandish statements, called him the best striker in the National League last season and he should certainly know. Everything seen from him so far indicates he has an awful lot of ability.

Similarly with Abo Eisa who we only saw in glimpses last season after he joined in January, with him and Gillead the loss of Rodman will hopefully not be a problem.

All in all I'm cautiously optimistic. I don't expect us to challenge as we did last season but I think we have enough to finish in the top half and hopefully be a lot easier on the eye in the process.

Highly regarded by who?

 

[WilsdenBantam]

The first fixture in our title winning season, how exciting.

1-1.

 

[finley]

What’s the away allocation at Shrewsbury?

 

[F!RTHY]

What’s the away allocation at Shrewsbury?

Usually anything up to 1800. Call it 1600 after segregation.

 

[finley]

Wonder if we can get close to selling out,I think we’ll take around 1500

 

[F!RTHY]

Wouldn’t be bad for a shite 4.5 hour round journey and all the negativity around the place.

 

[bantamigo]

Even if Wyke was staying or we had a decent replacement for him lined up I don't think Collins knows what he's doing yet and due to the farcical pre-season he will be learning on the job for the first few games in what is a very tough start. I'll be very pleased with a point and to be mid-table by start of September. I'm struggling to get excited about us yet which is a weird feeling after the last few years.

 

[F!RTHY]

Even if Wyke was staying or we had a decent replacement for him lined up I don't think Collins knows what he's doing yet and due to the farcical pre-season he will be learning on the job for the first few games in what is a very tough start. I'll be very pleased with a point and to be mid-table by start of September. I'm struggling to get excited about us yet which is a weird feeling after the last few years.

All managers start off somewhere, this is no different. It could go either way, just like all managerial appointments.

I still maintain my belief in the Chairman with this appointment - it’s hardly been done on the cheap as some like to think, when we’ve clearly invested heavily in the squad so far.

 

[bantamigo]

We've backed ourselves into a corner with Wyke, he wants to go but Sunderland aren't stumping up and I'd imagine Edin is looking to recoup some of the money he's spent this summer so he's not just telling them to fck off. It's not all Edin's fault but would have liked us to tie him down on a longer contract last season really.

As for the manager we can only wait and see but our first four fixtures are Shrewsbury and Southend away, both tough sides who we usually do shit at, and two relegated sides in Barnsley and Burton at home which will be tough games. I don't think it's impossible that we lose all 4 and then then pressure is really on him.

 

[F!RTHY]

We've backed ourselves into a corner with Wyke, he wants to go but Sunderland aren't stumping up and I'd imagine Edin is looking to recoup some of the money he's spent this summer so he's not just telling them to fck off. It's not all Edin's fault but would have liked us to tie him down on a longer contract last season really.

As for the manager we can only wait and see but our first four fixtures are Shrewsbury and Southend away, both tough sides who we usually do shit at, and two relegated sides in Barnsley and Burton at home which will be tough games. I don't think it's impossible that we lose all 4 and then then pressure is really on him.

It was reported last season that Wyke wasn’t interested in signing a new contract, so it was never going to happen this pre-season.

Wyke will still sign for Sunderland (or someone). It’s all gone very quiet these last few days, especially in the NE. My bet is, the deal is already done, and we’re just lining up our replacement. I honestly couldn’t care less if Wyke goes - providing we get what we’re asking for (£800k-£1m). We don’t NEED to sell. Wyke is a goal scorer, and should he remain a chicken, we still have a goal scorer. We could reap our rewards by even keeping him - no one would bat an eyelid if he walks away in the summer and we’ve been promoted to Champ because he’s banged in 25 goals. All if’s, but’s and maybe’s, mind.

Well, we have a decent record against both Shrews and Burton, but yes, Southend away is a tough one. Barnsley at home will be a great opportunity to show the fans sitting on the edge what this squad is capable of, so I would imagine everyone will be well up for that fixture.

 

[bantamigo]

We’ve won twice at Shrewsbury’s new ground in 9 attempts so not a decent record really. Most of those games we were expecting to beat them as well, ironically when we won there last season we were underdogs.

 

[F!RTHY]

We’ve won twice at Shrewsbury’s new ground in 9 attempts so not a decent record really. Most of those games we were expecting to beat them as well, ironically when we won there last season we were underdogs.

Aye, they’ve beaten us once in six attempts.

 

[Cas]

I dreamt we lost 3-0 so I'm going with that.

 

[Shrew_fan]

I dreamt we lost 3-0 so I'm going with that.

I'll take that

 

[Shrew_fan]

Without Nolan and Nsiala I fear we are doomed.

2-0 Bradford

 

[WilsdenBantam]

Without Nolan and Nsiala I fear we are doomed.

2-0 Bradford

We've won something like 2 opening day fixtures in 20 years, including 2 year ago dominating but drawing to a terrible Port Vale team, think it'll be a draw.

 

[3Loggerheads]

Difficult to call which way this one will go, so on that basis I will also go for a draw.

 

[Lancs@(Bantam)]

Think we may nick this 1-0 with a goal from Doyle, the 2 players leaving Shrews look a big loss, although 10 debutants from us and not a lot of pre season action could go against us. Tight game I recon.

 

[F!RTHY]

As per training today, we lined up like so;

O’Donnell

Mellor - O’connor - KNP - Chicksen

Akpan - Wright

Scannell - Payne - Seedorf

Doyle

No Riley, Killgallon or McGowan.

 

[3Loggerheads]

Historic day today as Shrewsbury become the first club in Football League Pyramid to introduce SAfe Standing.

Prediction 1-1 draw

 

[LS Bantam]

Don’t have a clue where Shrewsbury is but I’m on my way there full of new season hope, revised prediction an optimistic 2-0