Match Day National League fixtures 20/02/2018

[Railway Blue]

I really wish I could share the confidence of several Chester fans I've interacted with, on this. Neil Young has been fantastic for us, has prepared the team really well and put some confidence back into the players, and to be honest I'd have been more than happy to see him appointed but it's all on the new guy now, who is an unknown quantity. Chester could do worse than to get Neil Young back on board for next season. If you need references, let me know.

Always knew you were a connoisseur B2TF, just a pity Stockport fans aren't.

 

[CestrianHawk]

Chester could do worse than to get Neil Young back on board for next season.

I wouldn't disagree, but not sure that's a common view amongst our fanbase. However he did get a tremendous reception at the fund raising all-stars game last week, when he appeared late on (was delayed by a training session with some distant northern club or other ).
Whether Bignot stays or not will depend on (a) staying up and/or (b) staying full time, or the partial version of it. Neil Young would only become a possible option if we returned to part-time.

 

[Pablosammy]

Just popped by to say football can fuck off.

Sorry I didn't say it earlier, it's taken 24 hours to compose myself.

 

[Luke Imp]

What was the penalty for in the Tranmere game? Can't quite make it out in the highlights, but I'm assuming handball?

 

[The_Boss]

What was the penalty for in the Tranmere game? Can't quite make it out in the highlights, but I'm assuming handball?

Yeah hand ball. He probably would have won the header as well, but decided to run towards the ball with his hands instead. All the Tranmere side had lost the plot by this point though so he was just doing his bit.

Please feel free to get promoted again this year, you know we only follow you about. Was actually a chant for Keith and Butch in the away end last night.

 

[Boz]

You could make an argument that the Macclesfield penalty was another example of plucky Rovers being reffed out of games. Ridehalgh wasn’t even facing the same direction as the ball when it hit him and the referee was in no possession to see the incident clearly and guessed. The AR on the far side didn’t flag for it. 1-2 and we’re still in the game 1-3 and it was all over.

Even more evidence of a refereeing conspiracy was Norburn committing about half a dozen yellow card offences and not getting sent off. The officials obviously knew what a liability he’s become, which only Mellon is blind to and to ensure that he’d be available for the next game.

 

[Master D]

Keeper should be comfortably saving both of those Durrell shots.

 

[Boz]

Keeper should be comfortably saving both of those Durrell shots.

Think you could argue that the second is very well placed and be asking why Durrell was able to stroll into a position to make the shot unchallenged by anything in a white shirt.

 

[The_Boss]

Keeper should be comfortably saving both of those Durrell shots.

Just watched the full highlights and he's proper blundered on the 1st. The 2nd one Durrell hit it either really early or really late and looks like it surprised Davies. Either way it was a great pin point strike in the bottom corner, probs harsh putting all blame on the keeper.

 

[RLC]

Think you could argue that the second is very well placed and be asking why Durrell was able to stroll into a position to make the shot unchallenged by anything in a white shirt.

Ridehalgh had an absolute mare last night, not that he was the only one. With Jennings always tucking inside, Durrell had complete freedom on that wing.

I don't know why Eddie Clarke has disappeared off the scene.

 

[The_Boss]

Watching the highlights back really showed how big some of the Tranmere players are. Surely the fans can't be impressed with the size of the likes of Cook and Buxton? Cook is one of the best target men in the league and someone I'd have ahead of Blissett without doubt but he's surely able to get fitted than he is. Him in a tight fit shirt is like the sort we'd see from 50+ England fans at a warm weather world cup!

McNulty is different, I think everyone now accepts he's big but is by far one of the best centre halves in the league. And at least he had the decency to change his shirt early on to an XXXXL.

Even the likes of Connor Jennings seemed to have a bit of tub on him, and Olly Norburn even looked much bigger than last time season.

Is Mellon a bit of a faves guy, or is it all part of his approach? Buxton for me was a massive pudding and didn't see what he offered the team at all apart from free kicks from the right back area.

 

[RLC]

Buxton is an excellent player, probably our player of the season. It is difficult to judge any of our players on that showing last night: only McNulty did himself justice.

That said, we clearly have major problems dealing with big crowds and big occasions. I wonder if we have the same problem Luton had for years, namely a squad of non-league journeymen who find it difficult to deal with the pressure of playing in front of an expectant crowd. Our record against top six sides in the last three seasons is appalling and you can't really explain it in terms of tactics.

 

[Master D]

Watching the highlights back really showed how big some of the Tranmere players are. Surely the fans can't be impressed with the size of the likes of Cook and Buxton? Cook is one of the best target men in the league and someone I'd have ahead of Blissett without doubt but he's surely able to get fitted than he is. Him in a tight fit shirt is like the sort we'd see from 50+ England fans at a warm weather world cup!

McNulty is different, I think everyone now accepts he's big but is by far one of the best centre halves in the league. And at least he had the decency to change his shirt early on to an XXXXL.

Even the likes of Connor Jennings seemed to have a bit of tub on him, and Olly Norburn even looked much bigger than last time season.

Is Mellon a bit of a faves guy, or is it all part of his approach? Buxton for me was a massive pudding and didn't see what he offered the team at all apart from free kicks from the right back area.

We mentioned this a few weeks back, they feed them pure Maccys there.

Jennings is one of the hardest trainers you will see but he was definitely never that podgy when he was with us. That Steve Jennings they had last season was fat as a pig too. Gary "9 bellies" Taylor-Fletcher was there not so long ago as well.

 

[Pablosammy]

They should start slimming down now that KFC is out of chicken.

Seriously though, I'm surprised more of our fans don't question it. We don't look like a squad of professional athletes. It's embarrassing at times.

 

[The_Boss]

What's weird is that it's across all the team though. Yeah ok McTucky is still much better than most but other than that I could get that either a centre forward (cook) and/or a centre half (mcnulty) being like that but take Jennings as an example he just looked so much "heavier" than the last couple of years.Sutton doesn't exactly look athletic either as a partner to McNulty.

 

[Silver Stone]

17 games without a win for Maidstone now in all comps. Well and truly dragged into this relegation scrap now and we're palying them last game of the season

No it was an OG under pressure from Tomlinson following in. To be fair he had a good game last nigh even though his end product was often found wanting. But the pressure and workrate was commendable. Anybody would think we had a new manager in the stands watching.

.

Not true! We beat Gillingham and Bromley in the Kent Cup!

Yes I'm looking for the smallest of silver linings.

 

[E10rifle]

I don't know why Eddie Clarke has disappeared off the scene.

Didn’t he play left back at ours? If that was indeed him, he was comfortably your best player on the day.

 

[Boz]

Didn’t he play left back at ours? If that was indeed him, he was comfortably your best player on the day.

That’s the one. He’s done well for us this season, but Mellon tends to opt for experience, when available, hence Ridehalgh has been favoured in recent games. Though as a scrawny lad, maybe he doesn’t fit in with the team’s weight profile

On the suggestion we’re a team of fatties, think you have to accept that players are at this level for a reason. If Norwood converted even half of his chances, he’d be playing at L1 or higher, for example. Cook’s fitness and work-rate have improved considerably, McNulty and Buxton both have decent stamina for big lads. A greater concern than any excess weight they’re carrying is the lack of mental toughness when things go against you, as shown only too clearly on Tuesday night. It will be that fragility rather than any flab that keeps us in this league.

 

[Semi-skimmed Silk]

Keeper should be comfortably saving both of those Durrell shots.

First one he should be saving but completely misjudges the bounce and having seen the behind-the-goal view (

) it appears to bounce over his hands. Second is right in the corner, he's positioned himself well to cover the near post and dives full stretch to his right but can't reach it.

 

[GTFCfish]

Just popped by to say football can fuck off.

Sorry I didn't say it earlier, it's taken 24 hours to compose myself.

Don't worry it's your destiny to win the play offs this season, but as long as you don't finish 2nd, 3rd would be better.

2016 Grimsby win play offs 3-1 against 2nd placed team after losing previous years final.

2017 FGR win play offs 3-1 against 2nd placed team after losing previous years final.

2018...... I'm sure you get the drift, it's written in the stars mucker.

 

[chief]

Don't worry it's your destiny to win the play offs this season, but as long as you don't finish 2nd, 3rd would be better.

2016 Grimsby win play offs 3-1 against 2nd placed team after losing previous years final.

2017 FGR win play offs 3-1 against 2nd placed team after losing previous years final.

2018...... I'm sure you get the drift, it's written in the stars mucker.

Fuck that right off.

 

[Fyldefan]

Watching the highlights back really showed how big some of the Tranmere players are. Surely the fans can't be impressed with the size of the likes of Cook and Buxton? Cook is one of the best target men in the league and someone I'd have ahead of Blissett without doubt but he's surely able to get fitted than he is. Him in a tight fit shirt is like the sort we'd see from 50+ England fans at a warm weather world cup!

McNulty is different, I think everyone now accepts he's big but is by far one of the best centre halves in the league. And at least he had the decency to change his shirt early on to an XXXXL.

Even the likes of Connor Jennings seemed to have a bit of tub on him, and Olly Norburn even looked much bigger than last time season.

Is Mellon a bit of a faves guy, or is it all part of his approach? Buxton for me was a massive pudding and didn't see what he offered the team at all apart from free kicks from the right back area.

Said the exact same thing when we played them. All big and angry looking. They must batter teams when it’s a physical battle. Maybe they struggle against teams that knock it about. I mean any fast winger should be rubbing his hands together playing against Buxton. The guys bigger than my car

 

[MTFC_07]

Amazing week which has strengthened our chances of promotion significantly. However, I am still not convinced we'll win the league - I look at Sutton, who have a very favourable set of fixtures, and Boreham Wood, who are quietly on the charge, and I do think one of those two could easily win it. Boreham Wood away in just over a week is going to be absolutely massive.

 

[Pablosammy]

Said the exact same thing when we played them. All big and angry looking. They must batter teams when it’s a physical battle. Maybe they struggle against teams that knock it about. I mean any fast winger should be rubbing his hands together playing against Buxton. The guys bigger than my car

In general, we actually do better when teams try and play football against us. It's the niggly physical battles that we tend to get frustrated in.

 

[Tranmerewhite]

Very disappointing week, so have taken time to reflect at what happened. In retrospect that game was symptomatic of our time in this division. 20 chances to score 1 whilst the opposition score 4 from 6. They’re not a brilliant side but much more efficient at what they do than us.

Decisions during the game were very disappointing, whilst you can’t argue with the penalty Macc had, the offside goal and “handball” against Connor Jennings when through on goal were both incorrect decisions. I can’t remember us getting the rub of the green off a referee all season.

In terms of the remainder of the season, it’s very unlikely we can win the league now but they need to battle for it, because we have to finish 2nd or 3rd if we can’t win the league.

Long term we really have to question our recruitment, we have had the best squad in the league both this and last year and yet both years have failed to realise that potential. Is signing the best players from each club really the way to build a “team” as opposed to collection of inidividuals? It’d be hard on paper to justify many players from any other club to get into our starting 11 and yet we are 6th. Something clearly wrong there.

Lastly, whilst it doesn’t count for anything despite this underperformance our attendances have remained at give or take 5.200 average for each of the three seasons we have been in this division, with away followings well over 10% of that. Given that the two seasons before were relegation seasons amid corruption, match fixing, drug abuse and failure; our fan loyalty has been incredible but only highlights the abject failure of the rest of the club.

 

[Boz]

Agree with nearly all you say, Tranmerewhite, but I thought the penalty was wrong, as set out earlier. Unsure whether the offside goal you referred to was Cook’s which looked the right decision, or the first Macc goal? Don’t think the Jennings hand-ball was shown on the highlights package.

 

[RLC]

Long term we really have to question our recruitment, we have had the best squad in the league both this and last year and yet both years have failed to realise that potential. Is signing the best players from each club really the way to build a “team” as opposed to collection of inidividuals? It’d be hard on paper to justify many players from any other club to get into our starting 11 and yet we are 6th. Something clearly wrong there.

This is the crux of our problem I think. Cheltenham, Lincoln and now Macclesfield were all better teams than us, without necessarily having better individuals.

 

[Sestonpoolie]

Just seen his comments. This made me laugh.. 'it doesn't have to be pretty all the time'.

It's never pretty Craig.

That was probably the worst game of football I've ever watched. I've said that about 10 times this season, each game just gets worse. But for one chance we had cleared off the line, neither team created anything at all. Another game, another opposition team knowing they don't need to do anything but turn up to win.

When we beat Halifax earlier in the season they were worst side I'd seen for donkeys years,the other night the tables had been turned.
There's is a chink of hope now that idiot has gone

 

[Bluandwite]

He started really well when he was with Macc last season but after the first 5 games turned terrible. Did make me laugh when Chester were so happy to have signed him from us.

Aye, James typically does tend to start well somewhere and then gradually fade away, it’s his trademark. He did it for a few months in his first spell with us and that reduced to a few weeks this season.