271 replies to this topic

[Long Eaton Pie]

Yeah we are still over a week away but I thought I get the "ball" rolling and setup the first matchday thread.

So then Alex, is your team complete? Or are you expecting any more incomers.
What are you predictions for the game and your hopes for the season.
I have always liked Crewe especially their style of play so am very pleased to be playing them again. I expect you to have a above average season and finish comfortably in the top half of the league.

As far as Notts are concerned the midfield and combination of midfield and attacking line looks very promising.

................Bart
Kelly Smith Leacock Sheehan
...............Mahon
.......Labadie..Bishop
Judge...................Zoko/J Hughes
..........Showumni

Speiss
Arquin
Cambell-Ryce
Lee Hughes
Jeff Hughes/Zoko
Liddle

I am actually confused on the starting lineup as for once all of the subs would normally get a game.
Bencheriff

[RavenBish]

Highly doubt that will be our formation. Judge plays centrally.

.......Liddle Bishop
Zoko.....Judge.....J. Hughes
.......Showunmi/Arquin

Is my bet.

On a side note, I hope you have some big boys in your XI. We're HUGE, Especially if Curle goes all guns blazing and plays the Tri(pod)fecta of Arquin, Zoko and Enoch up front.

Edited by RavenBish, 08 August 2012 - 02:41 PM.

[JJ1532]

Well, as its the first game, its hard to know what to expect in terms of tactics and lineup.

We do have room for a new striker now that Miller unexpectedly went to Sheff Utd, but I don't know if Davis is in the market for one. Even if we were, the squad as it is now will make up the matchday 18. Whilst we've looked good in pre-season, we haven't really been able to field our strongest 11, as its hard to know what it is, plus we've had a few injuries. First choice keeper Steve Phillips is set to miss out with a knee injury(which is a massive shame as he started every game last season). Deputy Alan Martin will start ahead of him. New signing Mark Ellis and Adam Dugdale will likely start at centre half. Matt Tootle and Gregor Robertson should start at right and left back respectively. All those are dependant of injuries of course.

But the midfield and strikers are up for grabs. We have enforcer Abdul Osman doing well, and newly announced captain Ash Westwood doing well. Goalscoring midfielder Luke Murphy is coming back from an injury, but he's well in with a shout of starting. Westy and either Murph or Osman could play in a 2, or all 3 in a midfield 3. Upfront, we have Mathais Pogba in red hot pre-season form, but all his goals have come against lower league opposition. Max Clayton has also got a few, and is in with a shout of starting. Ajay Leitch-Smith will almost certainly start, as long as his injury proneness doesn't flare up again. Byron Moore is also a certain starter, but where and in which formation?

With the midfield and strikers selections for this game, a lot will depend on who Davis selects for this league cup game this weekend and how they do. At this stage, i'll loosely go with a team of:

Martin
Tootle, Ellis Dugdale, Robertson
Westwood©, Osman, Murphy
Moore, Leitch-Smith, Pogba

Subs:
Garrett(GK), Davis, Mellor, Turton, West, Clayton, Daniels

But what stood Davis apart last season was his ability to throw surprises and do things which even us Alex fans couldn't see coming. He put Matt Tootle into left midfield in the final few games of the season and it worked a treat. There are several players who are very versatile and could play in several different positions and formations. Like I said, we'll know more when after Saturday.

Predictions, hmm tricky. I'm going to stick my neck out here and say that County line up doesn't massively scare me(if indeed that is how you line up). Showumni is a big old guy and a right handful, but is an average league 1 striker when alls said and done. I think we can handle him. Judge on the wing, is that his best position? Zoko, well, hope he has an off day. Jeff Hughes? Scored a few penalties, but is he a natural winger? Whats his crossing like? If County do go with a 3 man midfield, I can imagine we'll do the same. Defence, well, if our forwards turn up, we can cause any team in this league problems with our pace and movement. Be interesting to see how they do against 2 big lads in Leacock and Smith. Then theres the manager. I'm still unconvinced by Curle. Yes, he did well last season, but with a pre-season behind him, can he repeat the feat? Made some bizarre signings and let some popular players go, plus freezing Hughes out could well backfire.

We always start poorly, but that wasn't under Davis, so hopefully this time its different. Could do with an early win to get us going, but I would glady take a point from this game. I think with this squad of young players, we'll start slowly, pick up from November through to February and then drop off towards the end of the season. Snap your hand off for a 15th-20th place finish come May definitely.

I'll tentatively go with a prediction of 1-1, with Moore and J,Hughes(pen) scoring.

[Mark_AFCB]

Bloody hell you're keen
Getting bored and restless of pre-season then I take it, can't say I blame you.

[RavenBish]

'Let popular players go and freezed Hughes out'

What day did this all happen?

[JJ1532]

Highly doubt that will be our formation. Judge plays centrally.

.......Liddle Bishop
Zoko.....Judge.....J. Hughes
.......Showunmi/Arquin

Is my bet.

On a side note, I hope you have some big boys in your XI. We're HUGE, Especially if Curle goes all guns blazing and plays the Tri(pod)fecta of Arquin, Zoko and Enoch up front.

Thought LEPs selection was a bit odd. If thats your formation, we'll almost certainly go with a 4-3-3. We do have a bigger team than usual. Gregor Robertson(6ft), Dugdale, Ellis, Davis, Mellor(all around 6ft 2).

If you do select those 3 lads, our back line could well change to cope with it. We could see Harry Davis drafted in at RB to add extra height to the back 4, with Matt Tootle going to LM again.

[JJ1532]

'Let popular players go and freezed Hughes out'

What day did this all happen?

Mike Edwards(longest servant at the club before he went wasn't he) and L.Hughes likely not to be getting a look in/on his way out? Or have I missed something?

[RavenBish]

We have 3 players in the starting XI under 6ft. Sheehan (5'11), Kelly (5'9) and Judge (3' 6) the rest is Bishop (6' 1), Smith (6' 2), Leacock (6' 2), Showunmi (6' 5), Zoko (6' 1), J Hughes (6' 1), Liddle (6' 1)

[RavenBish]

'Let popular players go and freezed Hughes out'

What day did this all happen?

Mike Edwards(longest servant at the club before he went wasn't he) and L.Hughes likely not to be getting a look in/on his way out? Or have I missed something?

Yeah, you have. Hughes probably isn't going anywhere, played 60-65ish minutes last night, Edwards wasn't worth a 2 year deal at his age, Curle handled it well. Let's put it this way, if we'd have signed Edwards 2 seasons ago and based it purely off his last 2 year's performances, no-one would have batted an eyelid when he left.

I think you're clutching at straws slightly, especially with the Jeff Hughes assessment . On paper, I'd be disappointed with less than 3 points, taking into account momentum and the way Crewe are capable of keeping the ball, no result would surprise me particularly though. I'll take this season as it comes, our squad is potentially fantastic...'potentially'

Edited by RavenBish, 08 August 2012 - 03:08 PM.

[Long Eaton Pie]

Judge (3' 6)

Think he would be pleased you have made him a couple of inches taller
Yeah that formation I picked was all over the place it was supposed to be Judge and Zoko more in the centre, a more tighter triangle.

[JJ1532]

'Let popular players go and freezed Hughes out'

What day did this all happen?

Mike Edwards(longest servant at the club before he went wasn't he) and L.Hughes likely not to be getting a look in/on his way out? Or have I missed something?

Yeah, you have. Hughes probably isn't going anywhere, played 60-65ish minutes last night, Edwards wasn't worth a 2 year deal at his age, Curle handled it well. Let's put it this way, if we'd have signed Edwards 2 seasons ago and based it purely off his last 2 year's performances, no-one would have batted an eyelid when he left.

Oh right.

So what was all this I was reading about Hughes being unhappy with the heirarchy and them trying to push him out, plus being linked with moves to Cheltenham and Oldham?

[RavenBish]

He gets shorter every time I see him I swear, he's listed as 5' 7 I think...is he bollocks. Febian Brandy would trip over him.

I like Crewe anyway so it'll be quite nice to go there as I have a soft spot for them and the way they go about running a football club, they were very nob-ish last time we met there with the Luke Rodgers incident, I hope poor Ashley has made a full mental recovery by the way, but they seem nice enough on the whole.

The Lee Hughes talk? Element of truth mixed with bored supporters during pre-season, a pinch of exaggeration and a hint of Chinese whispers.

Edited by RavenBish, 08 August 2012 - 03:16 PM.

[CreweAlexFan123]

He gets shorter every time I see him I swear, he's listed as 5' 7 I think...is he bollocks. Febian Brandy would trip over him.

I like Crewe anyway so it'll be quite nice to go there as I have a soft spot for them and the way they go about running a football club, they were very nob-ish last time we met there with the Luke Rodgers incident, I hope poor Ashley has made a full mental recovery by the way, but they seem nice enough on the whole.

I remember that incident well.

Westy is improving all the time, and so does his discipline. That incident appeared to improve his mental side of his game and he has been a better player as a result of it.

Rodgers is a ****.

[RavenBish]

Can't argue with that really, he is. Westwood is quality, thought he outshone Powell during the play-offs personally.

[CreweAlexFan123]

Can't argue with that really, he is. Westwood is quality, thought he outshone Powell during the play-offs personally.

Quite surprising that championship clubs haven't had a sniff yet, despite there being talk of it this summer.

As for saturday, in previous years i would have been worried about the height factor. However with the additions of Ellis, Robertson, Pogba and Osman i can see us matching them man to man.

I'll go for 3-2 crewe with AJ Leitch-Smith, Pogba and Murphy scoring.

Edited by CreweAlexFan123, 08 August 2012 - 03:54 PM.

[RavenBish]

450 away fans? Oh petal, it's not league 2 anymore.

[JJ1532]

I'd be very disappointed if we only pulled in 3,600 for our first(home) league game, and doubly disappointed if County brought less than 750. I'd say the crowd should hopefully be just over 5k.

[RavenBish]

We'll bring 1,000 at least. Not sure how much the away end holds at your place but from memory it wasn't the biggest. We'll fill it though, or at least make it look full.

[CreweAlexFan123]

1600+

[Long Eaton Pie]

yeah I would imagine it would be around 1200 away fans possibly more. Its not that hard to get to as its a decent train service from Nottingham to Crewe.

[AlexAdam]

Why ain't dis in da match-day section?

[Stoichkov's Son]

I'm hoping to go to this with 3 mates (I like Dario, I like Crewe and not been since a play off semi final many moons ago), as I'm missing the league cup home game against some League 2 outfit as I'm at the Olympics.

I never like playing promoted sides early so this is a bad time for the stylish magpies to travel to Crewe. My predicition at this stage, prior to knowing our line up, would be the same as JJ's and I'd go 1-1. Which I'd be quite happy with tbh.

Whatever the result its just one game (remember that JJ before you are tempted to bring the result or something that happens in the game again and again over the rest of the season ), and anything can happen on the 1st game of the season.

The starting line up and overall performance will be very interesting for this one.

[pieeyes]

We're massive (in terms of height [narf]), we're pacey and we'll fight.

Curle will go to express ourselves and will send out a team fulfilling his criteria.

Team to start:

Bartoz
Liddle, Smith, Leacock, Sheehan
Bish, Boucard
Zoko, Judge, Jughes
Arquin

Like RB says, I wont be upset if we lose, it's first game of the season... our squad on paper is the best I remember for quite some time.

But paper means feck all, results mean everything

[RavenBish]

Why ain't dis in da match-day section?

We don't do that here, we're not tinpot.

It was decided last season to keep them on the main part as more people saw them and posted in them then.

Also, pieeyes, Boucard? What are you drinking at this hour?

Edited by RavenBish, 08 August 2012 - 08:14 PM.

[JJ1532]

Boucard to start? No Kelly at RB? Not trying to say I know your team better than you, but i'd have thought Mahon and Bencherif would start ahead of Boucard?

Edited by JJ1532, 08 August 2012 - 08:18 PM.

[pieeyes]

RB - too much wine on a Wednesday night.

Curle's mental, that's all I'm saying. He doesn't believe in formations

I think he sees something in Boucard.... not sure what but I think he could start ahead of Mahon as he offers more movement.

I just have the feeling Liddle has played at RB too many times in pre season for this not to be part of his Curles plans

Edited by pieeyes, 08 August 2012 - 08:32 PM.

[jacobncfc]

Fuck all surprises me with Curle, we may have Speiss at left back.

[Long Eaton Pie]

Why ain't dis in da match-day section?

Once the fixture has passed the thread will be moved into the matchday section for eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeever!

[RavenBish]

Boucard to start? No Kelly at RB? Not trying to say I know your team better than you, but i'd have thought Mahon and Bencherif would start ahead of Boucard?

Kelly - Rb, Liddle - CM is the logical option but as those below stated, it's Keith Curle, could be anything.

[Stoichkov's Son]

RB - too much wine on a Wednesday night.

Curle's mental, that's all I'm saying. He doesn't believe in formations

I think he sees something in Boucard.... not sure what but I think he could start ahead of Mahon as he offers more movement.

I just have the feeling Liddle has played at RB too many times in pre season for this not to be part of his Curles plans

It seemed to get results last season mind. There is definitely method to his madness.

[lordofthepies]

Notts always seem to get a jammy win against us. This will probably not change. Lee Hughes to come off the bench to score an injury-time hat-trick. Crewe 3-4 Notts.

[AlexAdam]

Why ain't dis in da match-day section?

Once the fixture has passed the thread will be moved into the matchday section for eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeever!

Wicked mon jah!

[RavenBish]

Why ain't dis in da match-day section?

Once the fixture has passed the thread will be moved into the matchday section for eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeever!

Wicked mon jah!

Are you Yohan Blake?

[AlexAdam]

Why ain't dis in da match-day section?

Once the fixture has passed the thread will be moved into the matchday section for eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeever!

Wicked mon jah!

Are you Yohan Blake?

Nope, just brightening up a banal subject with a bit of Patois.

If I was Blake however, I wouldn't be preparing for a 200m final by perusing a Crewe vs Notts County thread. I'd be watching our 11/12 season review DVD available in the club shop for £16.99.

[lordofthepies]

£3.50 postage though. Wankers. And I bet the commentary is as awful and idiotic as always.

[jacobncfc]

Should be fascinating, this. I fancy us to get at least a point if we play the team logic dictates rather than something bizarre.

Despite the result today, I still wouldn't be surprised if Crewe suffered in the same way we did after a stunning end to the League Two season in promotion because the physical and mental step up is so big, but they do seem impressive.

[JJ1532]

Whatever Curle did today, Davis can certainly not read anything into it for next week.

This game is going to be a hell of a lot tougher than today thats for sure. Can't wait though.

[jacobncfc]

I hope you can't read anything into our pre-season and today, it's been a mind fuck of surreal line ups and formations.

[RossyCrewe]

what luke rogers incident are you on about?

[JJ1532]

what luke rogers incident are you on about?

When him and Westy had a bust up on the touchline at the end of the game at GR in the 09-10 season when they won 1-0 on the way to winning the title. Both got sent off, but Rodgers had his rescinded.