Tuesday 8th February Games

[Stocky]

Don't often start one of these because I can't big up Woking-Maidenhead or whatever like some manage to do to great effect.

Grimsby vs King's Lynn
Notts County vs Barnet
Southend vs Bromley
Stockport vs Chesterfield
Wealdstone vs Yeovil

Obviously the big game is first vs second or as I like to call it to dampen everybody's positvity and happiness- 3rd vs 2nd on the PPG table. Sell out home crowd, Chestefield I think have filled the back end. Not sure if they have or are going to do those two blocks in the Pop side but if they don't you can only blame our club for that stupid rule about it only being allowed for families or something. DIfficult to call the game. I hope Sarcevic is back fit for us.

Other games, well this is why I don't make these threads. King's Lynn are shit aren't they worst team I've seen all season but they've had a mini upturn, you'd expect a home win though.

Notts County you'd fancy them to beat Barnet, you could argue the best thing in the long run for them is to get beat so they can get a manager who can get the best out of their squad. That would actually be a freakish carbon copy of Rusk for us. Following a 2-1 defeat at Meadow Lane, we had Barnet at home and Dover away the next two. The club just thought "well he'll win them and we can brush it under the carpet". The shock defeat at home to Barnet was our best result of the season. We'd have never had the exciting Bolton games and wouldn't have embarked on this league run as quickly as we did or maybe even never at all if Steve had eeked out a few wins during the period.

Southend Bromley. Southend have improved but Bromley are a wily old side, it's a test that to see how much Southend have improved.

Wealdstone Yeovil. Hard to big that one up. I think the bottom three is nailed on but Wealdstone getting a few more points as quick as they can will erase any doubt, I think that could be an opportunity for results. Yeovil seem a very inconsistent team to me, hard to know what you're going to get from them as an outsider looking in.

 

[TheShayWay]

Wouldn't it be so Grimsby to beat Notts County away then drop points at home to Kings Lynn

I can see Bromley dropping points in that game. Which of course Is what I'm hoping for come on Southend

Notts should be bouncing back against Barnet. I expect they will.

Stockport against Chesterfield. A brotherhood fight to the death. Stockport will be out of the traps quick playing tiki taka wanting to finish the game quickly. But Chesterfield will keep in touch with their 35,36 and 37th penalties of the season.

 

[Stoney Ground]

It would be good to get a win against Yeovil, as we then have Barnet followed by Maidenhead. 6-9 points from them, might stop some of our fans moaning about the MT.

 

[We Are Sailing]

I'd take a draw now. It's the most brotherly thing to do.

Having said that, can stockport remember how to play against a team above the bottom 3?

 

[OneDecentLester]

Our toughest test of the season so far without a shadow of doubt. We’re playing the in form team in the league, away from home, whilst having no manager. We come away with anything from this game, whether that be all 3 or even just the 1, then I’ll start to really believe this set of players could get us over the line.

We’ve been pretty strong away from home all year. We’ve got a robustness and efficiency about us that sets us up well for away games. Think we’ve got the joint most clean sheets in the league this season alongside Boreham Wood, so that resoluteness at the back is going to be key for us if we’re to get anything.

I think we will line up like this:

Loach
Kerr - Grimes - Croll
King - Oyeleke - Weston - Whittle
Mandeville
Asante - Tshimanga

Obvious threats for us are the front 2. Asante looked back to his best on Saturday and got his first full 90 minutes in the tank since his 9 month lay off. Mandeville has been playing very well lately, probably our best player for the last month or two, so would definitely expect him to start. King will also provide an attacking threat down the right, he won both penalties on Saturday so I’m looking forward to that battle between him and your LWB… he’s got the better of most of his opponents all season (other than Hudson-Odoi who tore him to bits )

Oyeleke and Weston has been our first choice pairing in the middle all year and they compliment each other well. Weston I think was rested at the weekend so should be fine for this, and Oyeleke got 25 mins in and looked classy as ever when he came on.

Prediction 1-1. I expect a cagey game, with us scoring first from a counter attack, followed by sustained pressure from yourselves that in the end results in an equaliser coming.

Who are your main men we should be keeping an eye on?

 

[Master D]

Title decider up at Edgeley Park, Challinor's PPG now up over 3, such has been his impact.

A real test of their credentials was on the cards in this game but even now they've lucked out by playing a manager-less Chesterfield.

 

[Stoney Ground]

Title decider up at Edgeley Park, Challinor's PPG now up over 3, such has been his impact.

A real test of their credentials was on the cards in this game but even now they've lucked out by playing a manager-less Chesterfield.

We will see how Chessie fair having to play a side above them

 

[Stocky]

Who are your main men we should be keeping an eye on?

We don't have a go to man goals for goals like you do with Tshimanga. Since Challinor has come in our central midfielders are really encouraged to get in the box and have probably just scored as many as our strikers.

Madden and Quigley will most likely be up top, Madden always has a goal in him but is more of a drop off and link play striker. Quigley is an occupy centre halves striker and try and move them about, run in behind or get into 50-50's etc. The goals have dried up for Quigley recently, not been an issue because the team has been scoring and winning and he does do a lot of work for the team but he's due one. Croasdale, Collar and Sarcevic have been our midfield 3 and their goal record for central midfielders under DC have been brilliant. Patricularly Collar who under Rusk look like a pussycat who just passed it 5 yards all day.

Southam Hales as a RWB sounds like King for you. A real attacking outlet and a good player. Probably the player I'd pick first if I was a club higher up considering his age and what he brings to his role. Our LWB has been Rydel for weeks and probably won't change. He's got all these assists to his name recently but if I'm being honest I'd say he could be a weak link and if your RWB is a threat that could be a problem, we could play Kitching there who is a better all round player IMO but I don't see Challinor dropping Rydel. Kitching was playing LCB but has been displaced by Ryan Johnson who is Challinor's man and tbf is a better out and out defender than Kitching so I can see why he'd play LCB but Kitching has ended up on the bench through no real fault of his own. Personally, I'd play Kitching ahead of Rydel. If there is a selection dilemna amongst our fans that is the area of the pitch we debate. Hogan will be RCB and Palmer will be the central centre back with Hinchliffe in goal.

If I was to give you a player to keep an eye on, I'll be edgy and say Crankshaw off the bench. He's average when he starts as he was yesterday but when he comes off the bench he tends to really turn a game. So much so that if Sarcevic isn't fit, I wouldn't start Crankshaw, I think I'd put the new lad Hippolyte from Scunthrope into the midfield three as more of a natural replacement. Crankshaw is not a number 10 and it showed yesterday.

 

[OneDecentLester]

Crankshaw has always impressed me whenever I’m seen him, he looks some player that lad.

I’m looking forward to the wing back & central midfield battles on Tuesday. Oyeleke has dominated his opponent in every game he’s played in this year other than Kings Lynn at home where he dropped an absolute stinker (he didn’t seem fit to me), so I am really looking forward to him vs Sarcevic who was obviously a stellar signing for you lot. Southam-Hales vs Whittle sounds like it’s going to be a great battle as well.. two players with bags of energy that will be going at each other from minute 1 to 90

 

[Colinmorriswalksonwater]

Looking forward to Tuesday, as a tangible show of how far we have progressed in the three months of the Kevolucion lol.

we drew on Boxing day at their place and now have a much changed side. Also, despite missing a gaome yesterday, it does mean we have had time to to work on injuries we have suffered and a couple of the not so seriously affected could be in contention.

 

[Cashis]

Yeah this is a big ‘un. Feeling much more confident than I did at 3pm yesterday now. Point would be lovely.

 

[Shrimper92]

Massive game. Promotion charge continues

 

[GTFCfish]

I’m hoping Kings Lynn have a blatant penalty not given just to see Cleeve’s reaction on Twitter afterwards.

 

[SuperHans]

Take a point and run on Tuesday.

 

[Like a Glove]

We’re crap against the crap teams. Only drawn at home to Dover, Weymouth and Maidenhead and lost at home to Kings Lynn. We’re much better when we don’t have as much of the ball and can play more on the counter. If we have to take the game to them then we don’t have the quality to break them down. It’s frustrating because despite our small squad, and troubles off the field, if we’d managed to beat those 4 sides we’d be right in the promotion mix.

 

[CFC91]

We will see how Chessie fair having to play a side above them

It's been quite difficult to play sides above us when we've been top for so long.

Our last 2 games against sides above us were a mixed bag, a disgusting gutless 5-1 defeat at Chelsea and a comfortable 2-0 win away at Salford

 

[CFC91]

As for the game, it's a biggy and i'm not that confident given Stockports form and the circus following us around but after Saturday we look more settled than I thought, the players looked to be behind Webb and it felt better than I thought it would.

Expect a couple of changes maybe - Weston in for McCourt and maybe Oyeleke for Khan. If we line up like that then we'll have given ourselves a chance in the game.

We've sold 1500 I think, the 1200 normal tickets behind the goal but not all of the 700 down the side reserved for families and over 65's (Stockport fans why do you do that?!) I know of people who want to go but the club wouldn't sell them a ticket, unless they were taking a kid with them. I think they just bought the additional ticket if even if it won't be used.

Should be a good game, big atmosphere and a proper contest. Heart is saying we will get something, head saying 2-1 to the big spending Stockport.

Ps i'm driving, any recommendations to park? Assume it's mostly street parking round the ground but don't mind a walk to park in a proper car park or whatever if that's better. Usually go on the train so never driven before

 

[Stoney Ground]

As for the game, it's a biggy and i'm not that confident given Stockports form and the circus following us around but after Saturday we look more settled than I thought, the players looked to be behind Webb and it felt better than I thought it would.

Expect a couple of changes maybe - Weston in for McCourt and maybe Oyeleke for Khan. If we line up like that then we'll have given ourselves a chance in the game.

We've sold 1500 I think, the 1200 normal tickets behind the goal but not all of the 700 down the side reserved for families and over 65's (Stockport fans why do you do that?!) I know of people who want to go but the club wouldn't sell them a ticket, unless they were taking a kid with them. I think they just bought the additional ticket if even if it won't be used.

Should be a good game, big atmosphere and a proper contest. Heart is saying we will get something, head saying 2-1 to the big spending Stockport.

Ps i'm driving, any recommendations to park? Assume it's mostly street parking round the ground but don't mind a walk to park in a proper car park or whatever if that's better. Usually go on the train so never driven before

Might need to display a P, if it’s your first time driving. Could use it later for celebrating if you win promotion

 

[Son of Cod]

We don't have a go to man goals for goals like you do with Tshimanga.

The threadbare Stockport with just Paddy Madden and Scott Quigley up front.

 

[DN14 Spire]

The threadbare Stockport with just Paddy Madden and Scott Quigley up front.

Indeed, after scoring 327 goals during this winning run

 

[Stocky]

Indeed, after scoring 327 goals during this winning run

What I was trying to say is we spread the goals around much more.

Chesterfield would spread the goals around more if they let someone else take the penalties now and again.

 

[Cashis]

Danny Rowe was chief peno taker but he's seemingly got himself a dickie ticker so Penbongo Penmanga has to step up to the plate.

 

[Ooh Aah Paskin]

How many penalties has Tshimanga got this season? 12?

 

[Shrimpurh]

Really looking forward to tomorrow's game. The toughest test since the turnaround although we did nick a draw at Bromley on Boxing day. If we win people will actually start to believe we've got a late chance to push for play-offs. I think this will be the same scoreline as we had at Bromley 1-1.

Neal is back from suspension but god knows if he will come in to replace Husin. Can't see Will Atkinson being dropped on current form.
If Cardwell is back from injury he will come in for Powell.

 

[SuperHans]

Think its 6

How many penalties has Tshimanga got this season? 12?

 

[TheShayWay]

It's been quite difficult to play sides above us when we've been top for so long.

Our last 2 games against sides above us were a mixed bag, a disgusting gutless 5-1 defeat at Chelsea and a comfortable 2-0 win away at Salford

"Disgusting" "Gutless"?

Dude you were playing the European champions. Your boys probably have everything against far superior players. You also scored a goal.

 

[TheShayWay]

Think its 6

6? Really?

I don't think we've had that many penalties in the last 5 years.

 

[Son of Cod]

Penalty fact of the day...

We've missed 4 (four) pens this season in all comps, but have gone on to win each of those matches.

 

[CFC91]

"Disgusting" "Gutless"?

Dude you were playing the European champions. Your boys probably have everything against far superior players. You also scored a goal.

Twas a joke my friend due to all the jip we got for celebrating our goal.

 

[Cashis]

6? Really?

I don't think we've had that many penalties in the last 5 years.

Surprising as you had King playing for you. He won both of ours on Saturday, one of which was a delightful tumble.