August 5 Fixtures

[thewwfc]

well WOO!!! After the non-stop excitement (?) of the pre-season fixture calendar, finally the real deal is upon us once again.


• Barnsley v Port Vale
• Blackpool v Burton Albion
• Bolton Wanderers v Lincoln City
• Cambridge United v Oxford United
• Carlisle United v Fleetwood Town
• Charlton Athletic v Leyton Orient
• Derby County v Wigan Athletic
• Northampton Town v Stevenage
• Portsmouth v Bristol Rovers
• Reading v Peterborough United
• Shrewsbury Town v Cheltenham Town
• Wycombe Wanderers v Exeter City

I think the GLAMOUR CLASH of the day here has to be Shrews v Chelts, where it remains to be seen if Cheltenham will finish the day with a full squad or whether Micky Moore will have nicked all of his favourite CTFC players. Also a MASSIVE LONDON DERBY going on.

Us v Exeter? Haven't got a clue. I have no idea of our likely starting XI, formation, whatever. I get the inkling that ECFC aren't that pleased how their close season business has panned out, but we'll see.

Whilst as mentioned I have no idea who'll start for us, we certainly have signed a bunch of new faces, and it's as yet uncertain how they're all gelling given they've not had long to play together and get to know one another's game.

 

[LancashireTrotters]

Bolton 2-0 Lincoln.

 

[dwightyorke]

Bolton 2-0 Lincoln.

Nah 3 nil per frandsen hatrick

 

[Gassy]

We have the longest streak of losses on the first game of the season, 11 years now. We’ve lost 18 of the last 19 openers.

I expect no different to Pompey away, but hopefully we give them a good game. Always enjoy the trip to Fratton, cracking atmosphere - proper football club

 

[Luke Imp]

Not exactly an easy start, is it?

Bishop has missed the last two friendlies with a niggly injury so he'll make the squad at best. Our XI picks itself really but I can't say I'm confident our defence will perform as well as last season.

 

[K-Win]

We have the longest streak of losses on the first game of the season, 11 years now. We’ve lost 18 of the last 19 openers.

I expect no different to Pompey away, but hopefully we give them a good game. Always enjoy the trip to Fratton, cracking atmosphere - proper football club

I hope you're right, but don't be surprised if you get something on Saturday. I know you shouldn't read too much into pre-season friendlies but we've been pretty underwhelming. Not sure we'll hit our stride until a few weeks in.

At least we'll be spared Joey Barton on the touchline

 

[kieran_vale]

On paper it’s a tough ask at Barnsley. That said possible hangover from the playoffs and a change of manager since now might be a good time to catch them.

Never read much into preseason but it doesn’t take a genius to work out our big question mark right now is how we are going to score so see a tight game with one goal either way.

 

[Bartonyellow]

Blackpool away. We will either lose 4-1 or win 3-2 No idea which.
There will be goals for sure. We will still be a massively unpredictable team this season. Winning one week and then getting dicked the next.

 

[valefan16]

Going this one as missing the first home game. We’ve probably got one of the best opening day records with 1 loss in 20 years (oddly we got promoted that year we lost!) so would be nice to keep that form going!

Barnsley have had a messy summer so maybe a good time to get them but they are a decent side regardless.

Should be a couple of thousand Valiants there and hopefully we can nick a result. Should be more solid defensively I’d hope but certainly as per last season going into it lacking striker options.

 

[leedsvaliant]

A really tough start for us. Barnsley have had a bit of an up and down pre season but they will still be very strong at home and will have a strong team no doubt.

I think we'll be looking to keep things tight away from home. My only concern is if we go behind we'll almost certainly lose....our lack of firepower is glaringly obvious. We started our last friendly with quite a defensive setup, so expect more of the same.

I expect we'll lose and will probably have a fairly poor August, with a few of the fancied sides as opposition, but hoping that a couple of signings will give us a boost and we'll get better.

 

[codaplenty]

Notwithstanding the cloud hanging over the club, a nice opening fixture against newly promoted Carlisle. How many of their fans remember when they were top of the ' old' English 1st Division winning their first 3 games, cricket when was that ?
Pre-season friendlies showed we didn't concede much, equally neither did we score. A draw which would be decent for the Cods, 0-0 or a mighty 1-1

 

[LordJord]

At home to Stevenage must be one of the least exciting opening games for both teams that we could have got.

We know how Steve Evans is going to have them playing, better get the neck support out. They have made some decent signings so think we may end up with a draw here. Players are still being nursed back from last seasons injuries so not expecting to see our best XI out there either. Going to go with a scrappy 1-1 and the 1st point on our way to survival.

 

[SVH]

At home to Oxford.

I fancy us to beat anyone at home when we're on it. We've made it really tough for teams to come to over the last two season apart from our horrific blip in the middle of last season. Oxford look strong and have done some good business in the summer.

Maybe the perfect time to play them though but going for a 1-1 draw.

 

[valefan16]

A really tough start for us. Barnsley have had a bit of an up and down pre season but they will still be very strong at home and will have a strong team no doubt.

I think we'll be looking to keep things tight away from home. My only concern is if we go behind we'll almost certainly lose....our lack of firepower is glaringly obvious. We started our last friendly with quite a defensive setup, so expect more of the same.

I expect we'll lose and will probably have a fairly poor August, with a few of the fancied sides as opposition, but hoping that a couple of signings will give us a boost and we'll get better.

I just don't know what to expect from us really, expect Wilson will sign this week to give us an option at least but we've had quite an overhaul and from the powder puff side that got bullied especially defensively we look like we will be a very physical side with the lads coming in, Ripley is a beast in goal and we've added a few 6 foot plus lads in so wont line up looking like an under 15s side like last season!

Assume we will go to keep it tight but as it stands I envision us being quite boring this season! 0-0's and 1-0's either way!

 

[Sydney Posse]

I’d definitely take a draw at Wycombe. Sounds like both teams have loads of new players so anybody’s guess what’s gonna happen

 

[BogDaddyO]

Away at Charlton for us, first game back in league 1 for 8-9 years - I don't think you could ask for a better first game in terms of size and atmosphere.

Our first two games are Charlton and Pompey, so on paper I'm not predicting us to get a great deal from either game, very tough start. That said, what we lack in budget and big signings we more than make up for in consistency, which I think means quite a lot at the start of the season with teams still settling.

Anticipating a loss, would very much take a draw away at the Valley - just pumped that the Os will be back in action!

 

[Si Robin]

Shrewsbury 0-1 Cheltenham (Keena)

 

[The Terminator]

We’ll do what we have done the last 17 months under Wellens.

Pass it around, look good for long spells, probably fail to turn any possession into goals or chances, then over play at the back and get punished more frequently than we would’ve last season.

Under Wellens we’ve been good at managing games, when we take the lead we’ve always got something from games.

The biggest loss is Vigouroux - the team need to adapt to him not being there. Brynn looks a solid enough keeper but shaky on crosses, he’s also not as good as playing out as Vigs was.

The last two pre seasons under Wellens have been hard watches as he himself doesn’t take them too seriously which IMO was very reflective last week when Colchester beat us, so we need to hope the players can get themselves going now, like they did last season.

Dan Agyei is injured which is a blow because he will need time it looks to settle into our team.

We’ve sold nearly 3k which is very good for us. Usually we’d only take 1200 max to Charlton, which tbh is pretty poor considering it’s only 5 miles away.

 

[GeneralLee]

At home to Oxford.

I fancy us to beat anyone at home when we're on it. We've made it really tough for teams to come to over the last two season apart from our horrific blip in the middle of last season. Oxford look strong and have done some good business in the summer.

Maybe the perfect time to play them though but going for a 1-1 draw.

I'm sorry, but when you beat Championship side QPR at home 5-0 a week before the season opener with a really complete high-energy performance there's only one conclusion I can draw...

A 2-0 away defeat.

 

[HutchECFC]

Would take a point at Wycombe.

Also, with the new rules regarding added time, I cannot wait to finish at 7pm.

 

[thewwfc]

Also, with the new rules regarding added time, I cannot wait to finish at 7pm.

it's a fair cop based on our style under Ainsworth, but I haven't seen anywhere near as much of "the dark arts" since Bloomfield took over.

 

[EricSabin]

Stevenage at home. Exciting.

Those who came up with us last year will know of our injury troubles, and they don’t seem to have abated. Ben Fox picked up a knock in the last friendly and is out for 6 weeks. 5 missing to start the season god help us if we have another like the last.

Expecting a good crowd, and a bit of a dull game if I’m honest. Both teams will be thinking it’s a good chance for a win, but I’ll play safe and join Jord in predicting a 1-1

 

[valefan16]

We have the referee from the Lincoln away game last season... yay can't wait...

 

[YEO YEO YEO]

We have the referee from the Lincoln away game last season... yay can't wait...

Oh god, it starts! New season, new positive vale fans i hope!

 

[valefan16]

Oh god, it starts! New season, new positive vale fans i hope!

It’s more the fall out from after that game which that decision cost us.

 

[hellogregory]

Fleetwood at home

I'm pleased we start at home. It's going to be a tough step up but hopefully the momentum from winning the playoffs last season will help us. We will have to play much better than we did in our friendly against Dundee Utd on Saturday, but I believe Simpson will have them up for it.

I reckon it could be a scrappy game while new signings bed in etc and I think Fleetwood will show more quality than some expect, but I'm confident that we can grind it out and hopefully come out with a narrow win.

Prediction:
Carlisle United 2-1 Fleetwood Town

 

[Moonie]

Fleetwood at home

I'm pleased we start at home. It's going to be a tough step up but hopefully the momentum from winning the playoffs last season will help us. We will have to play much better than we did in our friendly against Dundee Utd on Saturday, but I believe Simpson will have them up for it.

I reckon it could be a scrappy game while new signings bed in etc and I think Fleetwood will show more quality than some expect, but I'm confident that we can grind it out and hopefully come out with a narrow win.

Prediction:
Carlisle United 2-1 Fleetwood Town

That’s us screwed then. Can we have the beleaguered talk back, please?

 

[hellogregory]

That’s us screwed then. Can we have the beleaguered talk back, please?

it’s hard to feel any beleagueredness after what happened in May. Even if Fleetwood turn us over on Saturday, things will still be ok and we’ll be fine his season.

 

[leedsvaliant]

I just don't know what to expect from us really, expect Wilson will sign this week to give us an option at least but we've had quite an overhaul and from the powder puff side that got bullied especially defensively we look like we will be a very physical side with the lads coming in, Ripley is a beast in goal and we've added a few 6 foot plus lads in so wont line up looking like an under 15s side like last season!

Assume we will go to keep it tight but as it stands I envision us being quite boring this season! 0-0's and 1-0's either way!

One thing I expect us to be is very well drilled and well organised. Crosby is a very hands on coach and will be detailed about set pieces etc. We gave away so many sloppy, easy goals last season that I'm hoping we'll cut out.

I don't think we're going to be the entertainers of the division, but maybe grinding out results is the way to go?

 

[leedsvaliant]

Oh god, it starts! New season, new positive vale fans i hope!

I'm hoping we don't have to mention them much this season. Last season was as bad as I have seen refereeing for a long time. Accrington at home and Lincoln away being low points. The ref we have on Saturday made up an incident in his head, sent off our captain and caused us to lose a game, and a man his job. He could have got us relegated, losing more people their jobs. The red card for the imaginary incident was rescinded 2 days later. As bad a piece of officiating as I have ever seen.