Saturday 9th September

[PRIDE OF CHESHIRE]

Forest Green - 1 win at home in 2023

Crewe - 1 win away in 2023


I'm backing Bell and want him to succeed desperately but this is the reason why I'm not as fanatical about him as others are. Our performances at home have been excellent on the whole and we play like a promotion contender, which is significant improvement compared to how bad we were before this 11 match unbeaten run started. But away under Bell, we've been awful since he took over. And that's not entirely his fault. 5 away wins in 48 away league matches dating back to the start of 2021-22 is unacceptable and Bell has only been in charge for around a third of those. But 2 wins away during his entire reign is cause for concern.

Until we learn how to play football away from home, we won't be making the impact on this league that our players are clearly quite capable of making. In a way, it'll feel like a bit of a wasted season if we were to have Top 3/7 home form yet bottom 2 away form.

I don't want us starting at 5 at the back here. FGR away is a winnable game and I'd like us to really attack them. But we'll do 5 at the back and play cagey and if we do that we won't win.

Bore draw on the cards I feel.

You were saying...?

 

[AdamStag]

Honestly stag, you couldn't make it up.
Proper toxic in the Rainham End second half with fans almost coming to blows between the Harris in and Harris out mobs.
Fucking mongs.

you’ll clearly know your side better than anyone else, but given the “slow” start you had last season before the takeover, and then you consequent rise up the league and start to the season where are these fans at?

I mean we all allow ourselves to get carried away at times but surely maybe expectations are maybe out there?

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

It's actually the first time I think Horseman's got it wrong and we've put in some tidy performances, albeit mostly away. Don't think he was helped by the really poor showing in midfield but then when he had the chance to change it he only made it worse. You were really crisp second half too, so probably meant whatever he was trying never got started anyway. I still reckon we'll be fine in mid-table, especially as a few good players due back in soon.

I see a lot of parallels with us last season and you this season. We had a good start last year after a horrendous relegation and got a bit carried away ourselves only for us to put in 2 months of diabolical performances from mid-September onwards where we struggled to buy a win. Our manager became more clueless by the week and Bell came in in November and had 3 months of indifferent performances after that.

It's our third win this season. Newport had players who could hurt us and played well at times but were very naïve defensively and from set pieces. MK Dons were a poor side but obviously have excellent firepower capable of grinding out results. I'm struggling to find any positives for FGR today. They really did look disjointed and a side very low on confidence.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

You were saying...?

Few more away wins like that and I will declare Lee Bell a God, the second coming of Christ, the Messiah and our Saviour all in one go.

Now if we can sort out those turgid first halves next please...

 

[JJ1990]

Few more away wins like that and I will declare Lee Bell a God, the second coming of Christ, the Messiah and our Saviour all in one go.

Now if we can sort out those turgid first halves next please...

Funny thing is, I don't think the last 3 first halves have been that bad. General play they've been fine, just lacking a bit in both boxes to keep the opposition out and score one ourselves. Hopefully that will come with increasing confidence.

 

[Casey]

Well, Crawley upped the tempo a bit in the second half and won 4-1.

Campbell got 2 and an assist. Not bad for a lad playing for Gateshead at the start of the season. Talking of which. If the monied clubs have any sense they will be signing the centre halfs from Chesterfield who keep Maguire out of the team. Don't get me wrong. He won't replace his brother in the England team but he is a decent centre back at this level.

Bogle and Williams had a coming together. It had been brewing and I think Williams totally lost it near the end. Shirt off , threatening fisticuffs and then at the end of the game asked Bogle to meet him in the car park. I think Orsi must know Bogle (Grimsby?) because he did the most to calm him down and Williams was ordered off the pitch by his team mates and coaching staff.

We won so a happier view but that was a decent second half of football.

Casey

 

[PRIDE OF CHESHIRE]

Few more away wins like that and I will declare Lee Bell a God, the second coming of Christ, the Messiah and our Saviour all in one go.

Now if we can sort out those turgid first halves next please...

To be honest I wasn't over concerned when we went a goal down because you know there's every chance we'll score in the second half.
Be better if we could cut this conceding first element out though.

 

[EnglishRed]

Haven't seen Sutton yet but Tranmere far far worse than Doncaster, and seems like Dawes is just panic buying replacement players to anyone decent who has left. He's got to be gone now surely or they won't stay up.

 

[dan_wrexhamafc]

Tight game with not much quality.
Hayden injured again is a big blow. Probably the least amount of chances we've made in a game. 2 deflections for are goals. Draw would of been fair in my opinion.

Love seeing Mullin back involved but think he should play a rlfew reserves game first, he looked tired after 5 mins of coming on

 

[Youpies]

First Notts game of the season and it's interesting that you can see some subtle tactical tweaks from a last year. Matty Palmer is so bloody crucial.

Firstly it was too bloody hot for Football. I'm surprised the game was as good as it was given the temperature

MK very well drilled side who play to their strengths. Clearly strong, good pace and good at counter attacking. The whole MK over performing talk is because the way they play skews the stats.

Overall I would have taken a point and we probably could have taken 3. Both side probably leave it feeling they could have won. Langstaff almost Langstaffed it at the end but what a save that was.

Final question for MK fans... why don't you all bunch together in one stand? You'd create a much better atmosphere

 

[Reginald Fodstain]

Haven't seen Sutton yet but Tranmere far far worse than Doncaster, and seems like Dawes is just panic buying replacement players to anyone decent who has left. He's got to be gone now surely or they won't stay up.

He'll be gone, be it this week or next. Bloke's completely out of his depth. Not helped by inadequate recruitment over the summer but the system he's trying is ludicrous given he's playing four players out of position, we offer nothing going forward and teams run straight through us up the other end. It's a minor miracle that the teams we've played recently have wasted so many chances, as we could have conceded five or six in each of our last four games and had no complaints.

 

[Don Caster]

Mullen looked like he had won a competition to play, looked way off the pace but I'm sure that will come, Fletcher looked decent when he came on & Elliot Lee is a pest. Thought we deserved something, looked comfortable on the ball & dealt with Wrexhams aerial threat well, we just lack any kind of sharpness up front but I enjoy watching our passing game, need a few W's on the board soon though.

 

[dan_wrexhamafc]

Mullen looked like he had won a competition to play, looked way off the pace but I'm sure that will come, Fletcher looked decent when he came on & Elliot Lee is a pest. Thought we deserved something, looked comfortable on the ball & dealt with Wrexhams aerial threat well, we just lack any kind of sharpness up front but I enjoy watching our passing game, need a few W's on the board soon though.

Thought you knocked it round alright to he fair, much better then Tranmere last week, you'll pick up some wins before long, just missing that final ball. Thought Faal had a decent game

 

[Cloudy]

Hurst is as negative as Hughes. I would be very annoyed if I was a Mariner fan this afternoon. We were there for the taking, but like Hughes does, sat back and tried to defend a goal lead, which, despite us having only one shot on target, they were unable to do.

2 sets of magnificent supporters deserve far better than that

I actually don’t see Hurst as negative, going away from home and dominated possession 1st half, 2nd half Bradford upped the energy, changed shape and launched plenty of crosses into the box. By and large Grimsby defended very well, pushed back but that isn’t negative. What do you expect, throw more men forward to give you more space?

Overall neither side created enough to deserve 3 points.

I would add that a trip to Bradford for the football-is a positive experience. The Record Store is excellent for a few pre match beers and enjoyed good chats with several home fans. Not threatening,and nor should it be. Walk to and from the game with rival fans chatting is exactly what a day at the football should be.

 

[loz]

What about Swindon? They can't carry on with that defence.

If someone offered me a 5-3 win 20 times a season, I'd snap their hands off. We have scored 5 goals this season, I know Swindon have done it at least twice in 1 game.

 

[loz]

That was the most Bradford City thing I've ever seen. He's got really good intelligence for a young lad. Give it a another few months and Hughes will have coached all the good stuff out of him.

God forbid Hughes is here in 6 weeks.

 

[EnglishRed]

He'll be gone, be it this week or next. Bloke's completely out of his depth. Not helped by inadequate recruitment over the summer but the system he's trying is ludicrous given he's playing four players out of position, we offer nothing going forward and teams run straight through us up the other end. It's a minor miracle that the teams we've played recently have wasted so many chances, as we could have conceded five or six in each of our last four games and had no complaints.

Absolutely. You've got decent players in the squad. One of those where with the right manager you'll be fine.

 

[Conker]

The three goals by Stags today were just top quality, an overhead kick, a brilliant team goal and a 30/40 yard volley.

 

[Indian Dan]

If someone offered me a 5-3 win 20 times a season, I'd snap their hands off. We have scored 5 goals this season, I know Swindon have done it at least twice in 1 game.

3 times this season - although 1 of them was 6!

 

[loz]

3 times this season - although 1 of them was 6!

I bloody hate you!

 

[Indian Dan]

It obviously can’t last so I’m just enjoying it until the wheels fall off!

 

[Optipez]

Notts probably a little timid in the end, definitely value for the point. Dons looked dangerous going forwards but second half we put lots of crosses in and I'd have liked to see us commit another man besides Langstaff into the box. Keeper made a great save from him at the death.
First visit to the ground and thought it was fantastic, like a mini Wembley but probably too big for the Dons, 5,000 of them in there and it looked a crowd for the first round abomination cup in there.

 

[PuB]

Dire game at our place in possibly the hottest conditions I’ve ever watched football, which makes the lack of quality on show somewhat understandable. A draw would have probably been fair, but it’s a good three points for us.

Odoh (sp?) was good for them and Armstrong ran about a bit but rarely looked threatening.

 

[Lancs@(Bantam)]

Bradford are bottom half fare and we’re no more than a mid-table team if that game is anything to go. Bradford are even more toothless than us and felt we deserved the 3 points more considering that was their only shot on target. Also should’ve had a penalty before the equaliser but because Rose goes down too easy on other occasions, a shit ref like that is never going to give it. Tough start is coming to an end soon so will be interested to see where we are come end of October.

I knew this season before a ball was kicked that we were going to be far from great, but to be fair and to add some rational thinking to todays game, if any other team in L2 were missing 3 players through injury with the quality of Cook. Chapman and Pattison (plus a couple of others for various reasons), then they're team
would be ridiculously decimated, so on the back of this a point today is acceptable and we move along to next game.

 

[Big Bird]

Two 5's and a 6 for us so far. Next week will be my first game so 0-0 nailed.

This brand of footie is great from what i have seen. We'll for sure have some heavy defeats as the season progresses but glad the Town fans are getting some value for money. An average of 5.1 goals in our games so far is some going!

 

[JJ1990]

Looking back on yesterday, I actually think it was a decent performance for the whole game on the whole. Yes we conceded first and went in at HT trailing, but we created chances even at 0-0. CBR was inches away from opening the scoring when it was level. Yes, we didn't deal with some of their attacks and the corner we conceded from was poor defending. But we had 12 shots in that half, which showed we were getting into the right areas. 2nd half we just took our chances when they came along, 4 goals from 4 shots on target.

We dominated the 2nd half, such an asset having a management team that can make tactical/personnel and switches as most at this level can't deal with it. Made the opposition look very ordinary for the 2nd week in a row.

Really liked McAllister for FGR, but he was the only player who stood out in a poor looking team I thought.

 

[Gills4years]

you’ll clearly know your side better than anyone else, but given the “slow” start you had last season before the takeover, and then you consequent rise up the league and start to the season where are these fans at?

I mean we all allow ourselves to get carried away at times but surely maybe expectations are maybe out there?

Basically, where we are is that we have a shape and we are organised but we can not break down organised defences trying to hang on to a lead or only looking for a draw.

So far in 2023 I am pretty sure Harris has a 100% record for not getting beat after we score the first goal, but we have only come back to win once after conceding the first goal.

So the reason why we are where we are is that we have scored the first goal on more occasions than we have conceded it.

This has created a friction between those fans who think you can get promoted just by winning high scoring games, like Swindon are doing, and those that accept that League Two does not really work like that over a full season. Oh, and our defence and midfield is of higher quality than our attack anyway.

 

[Crewelad87]

Poor goal to conceded in the first half, we've generally been very good fro..set pieces in both boxes but we didn't t defend that one very well. But as mentioned above I thought we looked decent again 1st half despite being behind. I certainly always thought we had the fire power to get back in the game.

2nd half a slight change and once we got that 1st goal we made very easy work of it. FGR couldn't handle CBR.

Now we're picking up points and wins away from home, on top of our very good home form, I don't see a reason why we can't compete in and around the play off spots.

 

[loz]

I knew this season before a ball was kicked that we were going to be far from great, but to be fair and to add some rational thinking to todays game, if any other team in L2 were missing 3 players through injury with the quality of Cook. Chapman and Pattison (plus a couple of others for various reasons), then they're team
would be ridiculously decimated, so on the back of this a point today is acceptable and we move along to next game.

Injuries always occur, that is why it is a squad game. Better players are obviously harder to cover but it is up to the squad players to step up and show what they can do. We certainly had one such player yesterday who sent the message"drop me if you dare". Ironically, he only played because of injuries.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

Notts probably a little timid in the end, definitely value for the point. Dons looked dangerous going forwards but second half we put lots of crosses in and I'd have liked to see us commit another man besides Langstaff into the box. Keeper made a great save from him at the death.
First visit to the ground and thought it was fantastic, like a mini Wembley but probably too big for the Dons, 5,000 of them in there and it looked a crowd for the first round abomination cup in there.

A little timid is a good description. Should have sneaked the win overall, especially impressive as the away side in front of huge support. But we could and should have lost it right at the death, which would have been very unfair.

Overall a thoroughly deserved draw at MK without McGoldrick or Jones is a very good point in this season's relegation battle.

Will hopefully hear an opposition's view from Dippy