Last matches B4 Xmas: Sat 19th & Tue 22nd December

[FGR Stroud]

Last games before Xmas, so always a bit more prestigious fixture list.
Far too early to forecast a shortlist of promotion candidates although top 4 clubs are building a gap from the pursuing pack.
Newport will be table toppers on Xmas Day irrespective of their result against Oldham.
They are currently suffering a slight dip in form while Oldham are doing a lot better. A draw seems likely.
On form Cheltenham should win away at Barrow and possibly return to runner-up spot.
Cheltenham's two close table rivals, FGR & Carlisle, play each other at TNL.
FGR don't have a brilliant home record but the arrival of home fans could make the difference, as it did against Cambridge.
Exeter should maintain their promotion push with an away win at Stevenage.
Cambridge are suffering a big dip in form and will need to be at their best against a Bradford team desperate for points.
Colchester v Morecambe has draw written all of it.
Down at bottom of table Southend are making great strides in catching up the pack. Mansfield don't want to be sucked into relegation battle, so another draw?

 

[kieran_vale]

Be a difficult game at Walsall for us. Last season we were perhaps a little fortunate to escape with a point thanks to Brown pulling off a pretty incredible save though had chances to win it ourselves.

Easier said than done but if we can maintain the levels in our approach play in the last few games then am sure we can pose them problems.

Adebayo for them caused us all sorts of trouble last season so will need get a grip of him.

 

[valefan16]

Be a difficult game at Walsall for us. Last season we were perhaps a little fortunate to escape with a point thanks to Brown pulling off a pretty incredible save though had chances to win it ourselves.

Easier said than done but if we can maintain the levels in our approach play in the last few games then am sure we can pose them problems.

Adebayo for them caused us all sorts of trouble last season so will need get a grip of him.

He was an absolute donkey at VP but was good at their place. Toughy but no tougher than FGR or Colchester. We are better away and creating hatfuls of chances surely someone other than Bolton will be on the receiving end even if just by the law of averages?!

If we play as we have been we should get something at least even if a decent point.

Hopefully get Wozza and Manny back although as bad as it seemed at 6pm last night we still performed very well without them.

 

[Chris FGR]

We usually lose to Carlisle, so this is gonna be very tough given they're a good side this year.

They seem to do a lot of things well that sides we struggle against do, plus they seem to be on fire atm. If Matt is out we won't have a lot of goal threat either, so would be more then happy with a point. Can see this being a 1-2 defeat though.

 

[Bottega Don]

Biggest derby in the world happening on saturday.

Rangers vs Celtic? Who cares. River Plate vs Boca Juniors? Shite.

Grimsby vs Scunthorpe is where it's at.

 

[Vanni]

A few tasty games in there, with FGR vs part time Carlisle being the standout. I'm sure Carlisle won't be parking the bus like we did and I think they'll pick up a draw at least. But then again they're also due a dip in form just like all sides go through at some stage or other.

Grimsby Scunny should be tasty as well. Tough to call this one; Scunny are probably the better side but it's a derby game so anything's possible. The other interesting game for me is Walsall vs Vale. I don't rate Walsall as highly as some do on here and I can see Port Vale adding 3 pts to their tally come 5pm.

Don't agree with the op on the Col U match - the u's home record is very good and IMO the game has home win written all over it.

As for the mighty U's, I'm confident of beating Bradford if Bonner decides to go for the win rather than sit back like we did at FGR, which was without question the worst U's showing this season. A lot depends on the injuries we've got at though as I don't think our bench is good enough presently.

 

[Casey]

We've had our one away win of the season already so Orient to beat Crawley with a hedge on a score draw.

Maybe we could call this game the Wright. Bros reunion. Its bound to take flight !

Casey

 

[masi51]

Where have all the bin dippers gone !!

 

[Boz]

Where have all the bin dippers gone !!

Unsure why someone from Bolton/Horwich would want to be classist and derogatory towards people living in poverty? However, if you're comfortable with that don't know why you'd expect to find Liverpool/Everton fans on the L2 forum.

 

[Back in the DHSS]

Unsure why someone from Bolton/Horwich would want to be classist and derogatory towards people living in poverty? However, if you're comfortable with that don't know why you'd expect to find Liverpool/Everton fans on the L2 forum.

It’s what window lickers do !

 

[Robshep]

Where have all the bin dippers gone !!

Is this a question or a statement? It reads like question but ends with exclamation marks. Begs the question Where have all the standards of education gone?

 

[BlackHaddock]

We've got Scunny on Saturday and then Bratfud on Tuesday, both at home. Would love to say we'll beat them both, but I don't think we will, we might draw one of um though.

 

[Si Robin]

Barrow away. In our Conference season a few years back we eventually got the win there, but they didn't half make it difficult.

It'll be interesting to see how they play now Dunn's gone. I certainly won't be counting my chickens, especially if we play like we did on Tuesday.

 

[Monkey Tennis]

Barrow away. In our Conference season a few years back we eventually got the win there, but they didn't half make it difficult.

It'll be interesting to see how they play now Dunn's gone. I certainly won't be counting my chickens, especially if we play like we did on Tuesday.

You didn't see how we played on Tuesday.

 

[shoddycollins]

Newport will be table toppers on Xmas Day irrespective of their result against Oldham.

You totally disregarding the possibility of us beating you?

A goalless draw for Newport v Oldham, if we beat you 1-0 will see us go top on alphabetical order ... or alternatively we could go top by a point or on goal difference depending how things go.

I'd still take a draw though. A win would be huge for us seeing as how our home form is so good it would be good to see our away form start catching up, and also seeing as how our form against teams in the top 7 isn't great, it would be wonderful to do some of the things we haven't really been doing so far. Draw would nevertheless be a good result for us.

 

[FGR Stroud]

You totally disregarding the possibility of us beating you?

A goalless draw for Newport v Oldham, if we beat you 1-0 will see us go top on alphabetical order ... or alternatively we could go top by a point or on goal difference depending how things go.

I'd still take a draw though. A win would be huge for us seeing as how our home form is so good it would be good to see our away form start catching up, and also seeing as how our form against teams in the top 7 isn't great, it would be wonderful to do some of the things we haven't really been doing so far. Draw would nevertheless be a good result for us.

Big test for both teams and of late Carlisle have had the better of FGR, even in your less than good years.
The bookies have it as a tight match slightly favouring a home win. I'm happy with that.

Common perception is that the current FGR team is the best we've ever had. But of course in the January transfer window we could lose a few of our better prospects and drop down table.
We know one of our better defenders Liam Kitching has already packed his bag ready for Barnsley. FGR have proved they can cope without him but his loss has left a dent in the team.

 

[Chris FGR]

I don't think that's common perception, the team we had in 18/19 was better on paper, with the likes of Joe Mills, Liam Shephard, Farrend Rawson, Nathan McGinley, Reece Brown and Christian Doidge who would all walk into this side imo, especially now Liam Kitching, probably our best defender, seems on the way out.

This current squad is built on a reduced budget but has a decent spine and is performing beyond expectation so far. We lack an out and out goalscorer though, and lack depth especially at the back. Don't reckon we'll finish as high as we are now, top 7 would be a good effort.

 

[FGR Stroud]

I don't think that's common perception, the team we had in 18/19 was better on paper, with the likes of Joe Mills, Liam Shephard, Farrend Rawson, Nathan McGinley, Reece Brown and Christian Doidge who would all walk into this side imo, especially now Liam Kitching, probably our best defender, seems on the way out.

This current squad is built on a reduced budget but has a decent spine and is performing beyond expectation so far. We lack an out and out goalscorer though, and lack depth especially at the back. Don't reckon we'll finish as high as we are now, top 7 would be a good effort.

7th = playoffs

 

[masi51]

Unsure why someone from Bolton/Horwich would want to be classist and derogatory towards people living in poverty? However, if you're comfortable with that don't know why you'd expect to find Liverpool/Everton fans on the L2 forum.

touched a nerve....As you know i was not thinking about Either Everton or Liverpool fans who we have had good banter and are true followers of there team.
Just the toxic neighbours across the water

All i said was where are all the bin dippers.......I never mentioned Tranmere

Hook, Line, Sinker

 

[denzel ecfc]

We aren't playing at Stevenage.
I would have thought we would be welcoming a week off but apparently we are looking to arrange a friendly.
With the weather forecast tomorrow I hope it's not on our pitch.

 

[The Terminator]

Home to Crawley and we are one of two sides whom they've won away against in the last 15 months ..........They're probably the most unpredictable team in the division IMO, you just have no idea what they're going to do.

I would like to think with Joe Widdowson back, James Brophy will be pushed further forward. I'd also expect Jobi McAnuff to come back into the midfield.

Other than that, we'll likely be unchanged.

 

[Carver]

We now have a slight injury crisis as our good right back and one of our good midfielders are out injured and both could be long term, so that's it our season is over now.

We need 15 more points for safety and trying to get that is going to be tough.

 

[Chris FGR]

We now have a slight injury crisis as our good right back and one of our good midfielders are out injured and both could be long term, so that's it our season is over now.

We need 15 more points for safety and trying to get that is going to be tough.

Probably better you just agree to let us have the points now then, so you can save your players for the relegation 6 pointers. No need to waste your energy on this game.

 

[FGR Stroud]

Probably better you just agree to let us have the points now then, so you can save your players for the relegation 6 pointers. No need to waste your energy on this game.

Oh dear Chris, that was a naughty reply but it did make me smile.

I've just listened to Mark C pre-match interview and he is very complimentary towards Carlisle.
It is not often that he gives such a detailed analyses of our opponents.
We now know Carlisle's main threat is from their goalkeeper who kicks the ball to a team mate standing in the goal mouth area.
FGR could have 75% possession but lose match from one of the goalkeeper's hoofs.

 

[Carver]

Oh dear Chris, that was a naughty reply but it did make me smile.

I've just listened to Mark C pre-match interview and he is very complimentary towards Carlisle.
It is not often that he gives such a detailed analyses of our opponents.
We now know Carlisle's main threat is from their goalkeeper who kicks the ball to a team mate standing in the goal mouth area.
FGR could have 75% possession but lose match from one of the goalkeeper's hoofs.

He's right and that is the only reason we've been doing so well. We are probably the most long ball team in the league thanks to our goalies freakish kicks as it's where most of our goals come from.

There hasn't been a single match this season where we've tried to keep it down on the deck and press teams relentlessly, so you should have plenty of time on the ball.

Just have to put all your focus on dealing with our keepers kicks and you should win fairly comfortably.

 

[Chris FGR]

He also said Carlisle are good at pressing, and will put a lot of pressure on us. We often struggle with that so expect us not to play out from the back as much as we'll end up conceding terrible goals like against Bradford and Mansfield. Play our football in their half.

Our pitch is much better then last season so it's possible to knock it about now which suits us better.

 

[Casey]

It always amuses me that one method of scoring a goal is "better" than another method.

Carlisle played the ball down the channels and try to get to the second ball areas quickly. This is bad. Barcelona played the ball forward and pressed high up the pitch. This is good.

Seems to me that the only difference is the quality of the players involved but hey I'm just a supporter. What do I know?

Casey

 

[E10rifle]

Our record against Crawley is absolutely terrible, yet I’ve never once seen them be the better side in a game. I think we’re just very, very bad at defending and very, very good (bad?) at missing chances. Looking forward to seeing how we gift wrap these particular tinpotters the points this time.

 

[hellogregory]

Even the most pessimistic version of me can’t predict defeat at Forest Green given our good record there, even though we don’t have Nathan Thomas anymore.

A fair few missing for us this weekend. George Tanner who is the best right back we’ve had in about 10 years is out for at least a couple of months, Devine is out and also top scorer Jon Mellish is suspended. Plus other long term absentees Ethan Walker and Brennan Dickenson still a bit away from returning. So kind of down to the bare bones.

I’m predicting a 1-1 draw which would be a very acceptable result given how good the opposition are.

 

[hellogregory]

He's right and that is the only reason we've been doing so well. We are probably the most long ball team in the league thanks to our goalies freakish kicks as it's where most of our goals come from.

There hasn't been a single match this season where we've tried to keep it down on the deck and press teams relentlessly, so you should have plenty of time on the ball.

Just have to put all your focus on dealing with our keepers kicks and you should win fairly comfortably.

We do keep the ball on the deck, to suggest otherwise is nonsense. Yes we mix it up a bit and go direct from goalkicks, but when the ball drops in midfield we don’t just lump it, we play from there and work the ball into wide areas and into forwards feet. Remember 5ft 10 Alessandra is our CF, if we constantly lumped it we’d get no where with him as the 9.