Crewe vs Mansfield

[AdamStag]

Soooo, the new season is amongst us.

Crewe have strengthened impressive under artell, and Mansfield have many many documented signings.

I'm hoping for a good 1000 Mansfield fans to make the trip over, though unfortunately can't make it as away on hols. Crewe was a good day out last season, drawing 1-1.

I'm thinking a draw would probably be the most likely result

 

[Mr Laybier]

Crewe's promotion push to get off the ground with immediate effect.
Home win.

 

[Crewelad87]

The champions elect are in town, are they presenting the trophy after the game, not sure I will be sticking around to watch that.

As for the game we have a few injuries, Ray, Jones and Bowery certainly out Bakayogo doubtful. From what I saw yesterday I'd line up

Garratt

Ng Raynes Nolan Bakayogo/Pickering

Ainley/Lowery Wintle Walker Cooper

Porter Dagnall

Will be a tough game as Mansfield have made some solid aditions.

Crewe 1-1 Manfield (Porter, Angol) 4,522 (890 Staggies)

 

[JJ1532]

Was quite optimistic at the start of July, but the lack of depth might see us struggle in the first few games.

Jones and Bowery look like they are back in full training, so hopefully they'll be able to be in the squad. If they don't make the bench we'll be short of any back up. Bakayogo doesn't seem too badly injured, but if he doesn't make Saturday, we'll need Pickering fit, otherwise we'll have no fit senior defenders as back up either. We'll need the starting XI to do the business, that's for sure.

We're usually poor on the opening day especially at home, haven't won our opening home game since 2007. I'd happily take a point from this one, but think we'll lose 1-0 or 2-1.

 

[Flaxman's Alibi]

We never win the first game of the season.

If by some odd alchemy we emerge with three points here, owt could happen.

 

[AdamStag]

We never win the first game of the season.

If by some odd alchemy we emerge with three points here, owt could happen.

We did last season , but yeah in general our general opening to the season has been poor. I'd be happy with a starting point.

Interesting first month really, Forest Green are unknown, we never, ever, ever beat Accrington and then Luton are in town - should be interesting

 

[North_Cheshire_Alex]

2-0 to the Alex for me, not sure why I just have a feeling we will start well. Crowd 5115.

 

[WH_Stag]

Stags 2-1 win... Losing 1-0 at half time

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

First of all a massive thank you to Mansfield Town Football Club for ridding us of that arrogant prick Davis the last time we met. You unintentionally liberated our proud football club and hopefully we're on course for bigger and better things this year.

We're hamstrung for depth and still need 2 or 3 more faces to have a Top 7 competing squad. I expect us to start slow as per usual but we'll have a lot of heart and fight this time round and our youngsters will truly kick on under a better manager. I don't think Mansfield look amazing on paper but they're not to be underestimated either.

Crewe 0-0 Mansfield in a massive anti-climax.

 

[TimeyWimey]

Had an ace summer up till the last time we signed someone, kinda stalled since and as mentioned several times above, the squad has no depth and it will be our undoing. We're still relying on kids to step up, as we do every year, if we're going to challenge above mid table.

If we get a win here and a good start to the season I think Artell is the kind of manager who will get it snowballing for the rest of the season. A good start will also help attract some decent loan signings. I am still kinda confident of a top 7 challenge, though right this minute still seems a bit fanciful.

No ide how we'll do though. Not seen any preseason games and literally couldn't name a Mansfield player.

 

[AdamStag]

First of all a massive thank you to Mansfield Town Football Club for ridding us of that arrogant prick Davis the last time we met. You unintentionally liberated our proud football club and hopefully we're on course for bigger and better things this year.

We're hamstrung for depth and still need 2 or 3 more faces to have a Top 7 competing squad. I expect us to start slow as per usual but we'll have a lot of heart and fight this time round and our youngsters will truly kick on under a better manager. I don't think Mansfield look amazing on paper but they're not to be underestimated either.

Crewe 0-0 Mansfield in a massive anti-climax.

Yeah, you were properly shite that game, pleased it helped you

Like i'll always love Rochdale for when Palmer was sacked ages ago.

 

[AdamStag]

Had an ace summer up till the last time we signed someone, kinda stalled since and as mentioned several times above, the squad has no depth and it will be our undoing. We're still relying on kids to step up, as we do every year, if we're going to challenge above mid table.

If we get a win here and a good start to the season I think Artell is the kind of manager who will get it snowballing for the rest of the season. A good start will also help attract some decent loan signings. I am still kinda confident of a top 7 challenge, though right this minute still seems a bit fanciful.

No ide how we'll do though. Not seen any preseason games and literally couldn't name a Mansfield player.

It challenging at this time of the season, wouldn't know any Crewe player either, struggle to work out who ours are having only been to 1 pre-season game out in Malta (which was more like a training session)

 

[dannyc5]

The champions elect are in town, are they presenting the trophy after the game, not sure I will be sticking around to watch that.

As for the game we have a few injuries, Ray, Jones and Bowery certainly out Bakayogo doubtful. From what I saw yesterday I'd line up

Garratt

Ng Raynes Nolan Bakayogo/Pickering

Ainley/Lowery Wintle Walker Cooper

Porter Dagnall

Will be a tough game as Mansfield have made some solid aditions.

Crewe 1-1 Manfield (Porter, Angol) 4,522 (890 Staggies)

Pretty happy with that. Although I would have Lowery CM with Walker, then obviously Ainley on the wing. Nothing against Wintle, who I rate. Just think at some point in the near future our team will be built around Lowery. I think he is that good.

Edit: I am going to go a step further. I think Lowery will be up there with the best CMs we have ever had, aka Danny Murphy, Lennon etc. Very bold, I know.

 

[Richard Cranium]

More importantly is it still £1.60 for a pint in that pub on the corner about 5mins from the ground?

 

[Mr Laybier]

More importantly is it still £1.60 for a pint in that pub on the corner about 5mins from the ground?

Dunno.

 

[AdamStag]

Dunno.

Thanks for the input

 

[Mr Laybier]

Thanks for the input

Glad to be of service.
Seriously-if I knew I'd let you know but I've not been in any of those pubs near the ground for ages.

 

[CrazyImp]

Home win.

 

[AdamStag]

900 sold already, hoping we can go for 1500.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Very happy with the point. Both teams played well in spells. Chris Porter was man of the match by a mile and took his second goal very well.

Mansfield deserved their point. Think if either side lost that it would have been harsh. Awful from Garratt for the second goal but he made a series of good saves today.

We're crying out for a few more players to make us contenders but we've got a great core for the first time in years. I'm sure we can play much better than we did today too. We were sloppy at times, gifted the ball and space to Mansfield to let them play. However we made life very difficult for them at set pieces (Raynes and Porter especially) which is the first time in centuries we've been a threat from them!

All in all a great point and we move on to Bolton at home on Wednesday!

 

[JJ1532]

Very encouraging display. Echo most of the points from above. Porter excellent even with a Mansfield player sat on his shoulders most of the game. Delighted at how Wintle and Lowery got stuck in in midfield, very pleased for them. Defence was a mixed bag, Raynes was good first half, shocking in the 2nd. Walker, Ng and Nolan were solid, but I would like to watch the 2 Mansfield goals back, very suspect defending from the looks of it.

Good to see Dave making a positive change as well. Davis would have taken off Dagnall or Porter and put a midfielder/defender on, but Dave took off an attacking mid and put on a striker. Made all the difference, pegged them back and helped us finish strong. Should have won it with the chances we created towards the end. Strange system we played(3-4-3) but the players coped ok with it.

I do agree that we need a defender still, with Ray and Zooms out, we were short at the back.

As for Mansfield, you could tell they had made a lot of changes and hadn't gelled, some of their play was very loose and they look lightweight upfront, so those bids for 2 new strikers could be timely. Evans and Raynor are still the same horrible bellends, good to see some consistency there. Makes me laugh that Evans is a convicted fraudster and he bemoans a team for not showing sportsmanship. Pot kettle much?

Oh and Graham Salisbury is stealing a living as a ref, he is useless every time we have him.

 

[Conker]

Graham Salisbury is useless referee and I didn't even attend the match!

Really bizarre that neither Pearce or Bennett didn't start.

It's all down to Evans only likes to play his signings, only two not signed by him started today.

 

[Mr Laybier]

Good entertaining stuff with both teams having chances to take all the points.
A draw was probably fair.

 

[AdamStag]

Didn't go as not in the country bit delighted that we got a point as a predicted at a ground that could turn out to be a tough hunting ground for away sides this term.

Concerned that yet again our powderpuff forward line didn't really producer - despite the 2 goals we scored and how we conceded.

Good to be on the board points wise. When I've been before (went with a mate who follows Nantwich to the Cheshire cup final) they're a decent bunch and dave artell was a likeable player for us years ago.

 

[dannyc5]

If we were to just sign a RB, I would be happy with that. With everyone fit that would leave enough cover, barring a huge injury crisis. We are a League 2 team. A lot of Crewe fans are expecting cover for every position. It doesn't work like that at our level.

Sign a new 1st choice RB, then the defence will take a more natural shape. Nolan and Ng to provide the cover, Bakayogo and Pickering to fight it out at LB, Raynes and Ray CH, with Walker as emergency cover if we are desperate.

We have enough everywhere else IMO. If we could get a Callum Cooke type signing that would be great, but we struck gold with him and it would be very lucky if we could find someone like him again.

 

[mtfc26]

Thoroughly enjoyed the game thought a draw was about fair, Crewe very good side Dagnall and Porter will cause loads of teams the same issues they did us. Can see Crewe fans gripes with the ref, mine would be Raynes only getting a yellow for his rugby tackle, yes he ways far from goal but Angol was gone and its about as cynical as it gets. That said it did allow the comedy moment of him not knowing where the hell Hamilton had gone when he skinned him later.

The less realistic of our number expect us to win every game well I can tellmthem now many others will come away from Gresty Road more disappointed than us.

 

[JJ1532]

Can see Crewe fans gripes with the ref, mine would be Raynes only getting a yellow for his rugby tackle, yes he ways far from goal but Angol was gone and its about as cynical as it gets. That said it did allow the comedy moment of him not knowing where the hell Hamilton had gone when he skinned him later.

If we're talking cynical, what about Rose and Byrom's trips on our players to stop attacks. I found Raynes tackle hilarious, it was more akin to a rugby tackle, just grabbed him and wrestled him to the ground. Was a yellow card offence, got a yellow card.

 

[AdamStag]

Thoroughly enjoyed the game thought a draw was about fair, Crewe very good side Dagnall and Porter will cause loads of teams the same issues they did us. Can see Crewe fans gripes with the ref, mine would be Raynes only getting a yellow for his rugby tackle, yes he ways far from goal but Angol was gone and its about as cynical as it gets. That said it did allow the comedy moment of him not knowing where the hell Hamilton had gone when he skinned him later.

The less realistic of our number expect us to win every game well I can tellmthem now many others will come away from Gresty Road more disappointed than us.

I think a point is a solid start. We've a tough month with forest green home Accrington away and Luton home - have more than 7 points from that and id be delighted.

 

[AdamStag]

If we're talking cynical, what about Rose and Byrom's trips on our players to stop attacks. I found Raynes tackle hilarious, it was more akin to a rugby tackle, just grabbed him and wrestled him to the ground. Was a yellow card offence, got a yellow card.

I think we'll be a physical side this year. Will he interesting in how we are reffed. Either way, evans and raynor will be barking at the officials

 

[mtfc26]

Didn't see Roses but yeah Byroms was pretty cynical difference being another 4 lads behing Byrom and nobody behind Raynes.

Not a pop at your guys but at least our lads had the decency to kick in their fouls Raynes just mauled him.

Thought your centre back Walker and two very tidy midfielders. Dagnall and Porter speak for themselves.