Saturday 30th July

[ForzaCounty]

I'm just disappointed we won't get to see the Gordon-Bennett strike force together (might be showing my age there)

 

[Bone Idle]

The gaffer is looking to bring 3 more in by the end of the window! so if none come in this week our starting X1 for Sutton should be.

Townsend
Clark
Demetriou Capt.
Drysdale
Norman
Adam Lewis
Wildig
Bowen
Waite
Bogle
Zanzala

Subs, Day, Aarron Lewis, Bennett, Dolan, Collins, Evans, Zinga.

 

[AdamStag]

Obviously I know very little about your recruitment, but I’d guess you’ve strengthened last season’s squad so, on paper, you should be stronger. We’ve signed 13 new players so that could go either way.

If you don’t have such a shit start again and perform like you did for the remainder of the season, you should be up there from the get go.

As you many variants, you finished above us and all your players might be amazing, maybe bradford might finally do something, stockport and salford may do well, northampton have spent big.

There probably are 6-8 teams who are ahead of the rest, but not my much.

 

[Fedora Dale]

Crewe at home.

Will probably be 3-5-2.

Maybe a couple more in this week on loan, but as things stand:
GK - Richard O'Donnell
RCB - Max Taylor
CCB - Ethan Ebanks-Landell
LCB - Cameron John

RWB - Femi Seriki
RCM - James Ball
DCM - Toums Diagouraga
LCM - Liam Kelly
LWB - Aidy White

FW - Ian Henderson
FW - Devante Rodney

Subs: Brad Kelly* (GK), Sam Graham (RCB), Jim McNulty (LCB/player coach), Abraham Odoh (Winger who can also play WB either side), Ethan Brierley* (CM), Tyrese Sinclair (LM/F), Luke Charman (F)

Probably unfit to play: Jimmy Keohane (SWISS), Tahvon CAMPBELL (FW) , Jordan Scanlon* (MF/W)

*=1st year pro (although B Kelly and Brierley got pro-contracts as soon as they were old enough)

And that's our entire current squad, although a few youth teamers played in pre-season...

 

[Salvador]

The last 6 league games v Crewe have seen us score 15 goals. We've been scoring with relative ease in pre-season. Crewe had the worst GD in the league last season.

So, 0-0?

 

[chipmunx]

I'm just disappointed we won't get to see the Gordon-Bennett strike force together (might be showing my age there)

we might end up with Gordon Kay instead....

 

[Cas]

Some players not up to speed, couple missing, and lots of new faces to bed in. Think we'll lose again Doncaster this Saturday and I think that form will continue for a few games. I think we'll be slow starters similar to Bristol Rovers last season and kick on as the season goes. I'm fairly sure we lost four or fives games from the opening ten when we got promoted to the premiership.

2-1 Doncaster.

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

Crewe at home.

Will probably be 3-5-2.

Maybe a couple more in this week on loan, but as things stand:
GK - Richard O'Donnell
RCB - Max Taylor
CCB - Ethan Ebanks-Landell
LCB - Cameron John

RWB - Femi Seriki
RCM - James Ball
DCM - Toums Diagouraga
LCM - Liam Kelly
LWB - Aidy White

FW - Ian Henderson
FW - Devante Rodney

Subs: Brad Kelly* (GK), Sam Graham (RCB), Jim McNulty (LCB/player coach), Abraham Odoh (Winger who can also play WB either side), Ethan Brierley* (CM), Tyrese Sinclair (LM/F), Luke Charman (F)

Probably unfit to play: Jimmy Keohane (SWISS), Tahvon CAMPBELL (FW) , Jordan Scanlon* (MF/W)

*=1st year pro (although B Kelly and Brierley got pro-contracts as soon as they were old enough)

And that's our entire current squad, although a few youth teamers played in pre-season...

You will have much more knowledge than me but my first thought is you look very weak in defence.

 

[Koumas’Right-Boot]

Well after that signing that’ll be Turnbull slotting straight into middle CB of our back three for this first game.

Not sure which 3 of Robinson, Turnbull, Davies and Byrne play when all available though.

 

[Salvador]

You will have much more knowledge than me but my first thought is you look very weak in defence.

Fair assesment tbh. Small squad (in terms of numbers - not height. We seem to be a team of absolute Units this year) and lack of proven defensive options are our weakness. As it stands I think we'll score a few no problem. But we'll be leaky at the back. For a start If Aidy White is anything like last year (or his entire career) he won't get a run of games. He'll get injured. He's alright on his day. But if Wiki is believed he hasn't played more than 20 in a season since 2010/11!
And Jim McNulty is getting on a bit (remember him at County about 15 years ago?) so we really shouldn't be relying on him unless necessary. As mentioned above, he's a player coach now anyway.
Sam Graham didn't impress last season. Surprised he's still here tbh.
Max Taylor is alright. I might be doing the lad a disservice. But I can't remember an outstandingly bad or good game from him last season.
Keohane can play pretty much anywhere on the pitch. But hobbled off v Vale last week and sounds like a broken bone. Great.
The other defensive-minded players are new and I've seen them have limited game time in friendlies or maybe in opposition over the years so no idea how they'll work out for us. But Diagouraga looks a good signing and John seems to get a decent write-up from Donny fans.
I'd imagine we'll be bringing in some more heads to cover that obvious gap. We'll have to. Last season we had Jeriel Dorsett on loan from Reading. Who started off looking like the season's fan's scapegoat and had a few iffy games. But he seemed to get better each game. I'm sure I read that Ince is trying to get him back out on loan so who knows if we're in for him? I'd be happy if we are.

 

[Casey]

Got to agree with devilforajob when it comes to our defending. We've been playing about at the back in preseason and keep getting caught. Conroy v Aldershot was atrocious but others gave been nearly as bad.

The problem, as always, with a leaky defence is it gets heads down and the team can stop functioning.

Up front we look light but dangerous. Can we score enough for a play off push? I doubt it but Wagmi are still saying there are funds available.

Morris
Francomb Conroy Odomole Lynch Mason
Hessenthaler Balagizi
Nichols Telford Nadersan

Subs: Powell Johnson Appiah Tilley Davies Craig Shubbar

We seem to lose to Carlisle so I'm hoping for a better start but I'm not confident.

Casey

 

[Chief Rocka]

Is Sterry injured?

Got an injury at the start of pre season, hasn’t played a single friendly and only just back to full training.

 

[Son of Cod]

Our opening day record is horrendous and I can see Barrow being stubborn and awkward.

Hinchliffe
Lewis Horsfall Johnson
MSH Collar Camps Sarcevic Rydel
Madden Wootton

Jaros, Palmer, Croasdale, Hippolyte, Lemonheigh-Evans, Crankshaw, Quigley

Most likely. Although personally I'd have Hippolyte over Rydel and Quigley over Wootton.

That's a very solid looking bench that. Said it during the season but Crankshaw and CLE looked quality whenever I saw them. Great options off the bench if they can carry on their form from last season.

 

[LordJord]

We are still probably 4 signings light of what we need (particularly further forward / out wide) but imagine most sides are going to do plenty of business after the season has started.

On paper at home to Colchester is a pretty favourable start, with them expected to struggle this season.

Ben Fox picked up a hamstring injury so will be out for a few weeks. We seem to have been favouring a 3-5-2 in preseason so cant see that changing in game one.

Imagine we will line up something along the lines of

GK: Burge
LWB: Koiki
CB: Guthrie
CB: Sherring
CB: Odimayo
RWB: Hoskins
CM: McWilliams
CM: Sowerby
CAM: Pinnock
ST: Appere
ST: Hylton

Going for a 2-1 win, Pinnock and Hylton (after a soft pen being awarded). I cant see us being as defensively solid this season with the loss of Horsfall and Roberts. Also seems like we have tried to be a bit more expansive in pre season, passing around the back a touch more. We do need to continue to evolve in terms of our approach so im happy about it but can see it costing us at times.

 

[Son of Cod]

We are still probably 4 signings light of what we need (particularly further forward / out wide) but imagine most sides are going to do plenty of business after the season has started.

On paper at home to Colchester is a pretty favourable start, with them expected to struggle this season.

Ben Fox picked up a hamstring injury so will be out for a few weeks. We seem to have been favouring a 3-5-2 in preseason so cant see that changing in game one.

Imagine we will line up something along the lines of

GK: Burge
LWB: Koiki
CB: Guthrie
CB: Sherring
CB: Odimayo
RWB: Hoskins
CM: McWilliams
CM: Sowerby
CAM: Pinnock
ST: Appere
ST: Hylton

Going for a 2-1 win, Pinnock and Hylton (after a soft pen being awarded). I cant see us being as defensively solid this season with the loss of Horsfall and Roberts. Also seems like we have tried to be a bit more expansive in pre season, passing around the back a touch more. We do need to continue to evolve in terms of our approach so im happy about it but can see it costing us at times.

Yeah that's tough on Fox that, obviously hope he recovers quickly but it also diffuses the situation of him having to play against us in the second match which I'll be honest I wasn't really looking forward to.

 

[Soup Ladle]

I think we're very much a question mark right now, but personally I think we might surprise a few people this season, we're still lacking up top, need someone to play wide left/left wing (McKinstry?), Umerah and Hamilton have both scored goals at lower levels but untested in the EFL, Jake Hastie looks to be the most exciting player so far for us.

We've set up mostly 4231 in pre season, think Hartley liked to play 343 as well but I don't think we've seen it in pre season? having not played anyone of any note away from home I'm not sure if he'll set up any different for Walsall away, assuming it is 4231 I think it'll be something like..

GK Ben Killip

RB Reghan Tumilty
CB Alex Lacey
CB Euan Murray
LB David Ferguson

CM Nicky Featherstone
CM Mouhamed Niang

AM Callum Cooke/Tom Crawford

WL Mikael Ndjoli/Joe Gray
WR Jake Hastie

ST Josh Umerah


Coin flip on Cooke and Ndjoli positions really, couldn't really separate either.

No idea on Walsall, seem to have signed some ageing players in Clarke, Williams, they'll probably pull a mega bucks signing out of nowhere the day before knowing our luck, I'd take a goal scoring draw to start things off.

I'm also coming round to thinking that we might do okay. Hartley said he wanted more strength and pace in the side and we have gone out and bought the raw ingredients, most are unproven at L2 level but if he can get them playing we could end up doing well. Maybe not the signings we wanted but they are in the mould of what was needed.

As for the budget, i think it's clear it's not a top 7 budget as claimed. Based on the signings you'd say it might be lower mid table somewhere, enough to get a squad together then it's up to the manager to make it click.

We have a reasonably tough start, I won't be too disappointed if we get something like 6 points from the first 6, we probably need time to gel particularly in attack.

With the signings I think Hartley is looking for us to play on the counter a lot, quick transitions with pace and trickery to create openings. I'd be well happy with a point on Saturday. Walsall will probably have a decent season under Flynn so a draw would be a solid start.

 

[The Terminator]

This game has probably come a week too early for us.

We've had no proper striker fit all pre season, a stack of injuries, bans for two players in Charlie Kelman and Shad Ogie who would've both played and we've been trying to bring Craig Clay and Dan Happe back up to speed after both having 8 month injury lay offs.

If Tom James isn't fit, Happe will have to play and I'd say its too early for him to be right back in the thick of it - he's not really be consistent at this level either. Both he and Clay in pre season have been slowly feeling their way back in. I can't see either lasting 90mins if they do start, but we don't have anyone else.

With 5 subs now allowed our squad still looks a little short in the centre of midfield.

I'd be happy just to get something out of this one and move on tbh, next week the injuries would've cleared up a bit more and we'll have no more suspensions.

 

[Conker]

If it’s come a week early to you, imagine how the likes of Mansfield, Grimsby etc feel.

Picked up quite a few injuries ourself pre-season too,

 

[The Terminator]

If it’s come a week early to you, imagine how the likes of Mansfield, Grimsby etc feel.

Picked up quite a few injuries ourself pre-season too,

Glad we're not the only ones then! But we've literally played all our friendlies with no first choice striker, been playing youngsters, trialists and false nines there, not the most ideal preperation but only pre season at least so means little.

 

[BRFC_Gas]

Glad we're not the only ones then! But we've literally played all our friendlies with no first choice striker, been playing youngsters, trialists and false nines there, not the most ideal preperation but only pre season at least so means little.

Ryan Loft will hopefully be available soon. Has the worst first touch ive seen in a long time like his legs are pinball flippers, cant believe we paid a fee for him

 

[iWomble]

Dons away, we have a terrible record against the litter-picking fucks since they came into the EFL.

Jake Turner
Will Wright - Max Ehmer - Elkan Baggott - Ryan Law
Shaun Williams - Dom Jefferies
Jordan Green - Olly Lee - Scott Kashket
Mika Mandron
​

Holtam, Alexander, Reeves, McDonald, Tutonda, Gbode, MacArthur

Pre-season optimism has me believing we'll win this 2-0. I can also foresee a scenario where Kyle Hudlin jumps in the right place three times and we lose 3-0.

I have it in my head that we always draw, but looking it up we are leading 7-3 in wins.
Doubt Hudlin will start and unless we bring in anyone else we'll line up something like this (though may go 4 at the back):

Nik Tzanev
Jack Currie - Chris Gunter - Alex Pearce - Will Nightingale - Lee Brown
George Marsh - Paris Maghoma - Luke McCormick
Josh Davison - Ayoub Assal

Subs: Nathan Broome, Paul Kalambayi, Alfie Bendle, Ethan Chislett, Paul Kalambayi, Zach Robinson, Kyle Hudlin

Injured: Alex Woodyard, Paul Osew (who hasn't signed his contract either)

 

[Sestonpoolie]

I think we're very much a question mark right now, but personally I think we might surprise a few people this season, we're still lacking up top, need someone to play wide left/left wing (McKinstry?), Umerah and Hamilton have both scored goals at lower levels but untested in the EFL, Jake Hastie looks to be the most exciting player so far for us.

We've set up mostly 4231 in pre season, think Hartley liked to play 343 as well but I don't think we've seen it in pre season? having not played anyone of any note away from home I'm not sure if he'll set up any different for Walsall away, assuming it is 4231 I think it'll be something like..

GK Ben Killip

RB Reghan Tumilty
CB Alex Lacey
CB Euan Murray
LB David Ferguson

CM Nicky Featherstone
CM Mouhamed Niang

AM Callum Cooke/Tom Crawford

WL Mikael Ndjoli/Joe Gray
WR Jake Hastie

ST Josh Umerah


Coin flip on Cooke and Ndjoli positions really, couldn't really separate either.

No idea on Walsall, seem to have signed some ageing players in Clarke, Williams, they'll probably pull a mega bucks signing out of nowhere the day before knowing our luck, I'd take a goal scoring draw to start things off.

Certainly are.
Last season I knew we'd be ok,but struggle for goals,
at the moment its a bit of an unknown.
Looking forward to going to Walsall,but one minute I think we'll surprise people & win,the next,we won't gel & get a tonking.

 

[Agombar stool]

Got to agree with devilforajob when it comes to our defending. We've been playing about at the back in preseason and keep getting caught. Conroy v Aldershot was atrocious but others gave been nearly as bad.

The problem, as always, with a leaky defence is it gets heads down and the team can stop functioning.

Up front we look light but dangerous. Can we score enough for a play off push? I doubt it but Wagmi are still saying there are funds available.

Morris
Francomb Conroy Odomole Lynch Mason
Hessenthaler Balagizi
Nichols Telford Nadersan

Subs: Powell Johnson Appiah Tilley Davies Craig Shubbar

We seem to lose to Carlisle so I'm hoping for a better start but I'm not confident.

Casey

One thing Dion will give you is a heart attack per game. He tends to doze off when playing at the back. I saw his gaff against Aldershot, he never did anything quite as bad as that but he does tend to get caught out a lot and has 1 or 2 terrible mistakes in him per game.

 

[Agombar stool]

Harrogate away on Saturday, oooooh Betty.

 

[F!RTHY]

Now officially known as “The University of Bradford Stadium”.

But otherwise known by all as Valley Parade

https://twitter.com/x/status/1552338034326024195

 

[White Army]

There’s a Bradford university??

 

[F!RTHY]

There’s a Bradford university??

Oh yeah …one building is even shaped like a ship!

Expensive gym, though.

 

[AdamStag]

There’s a Bradford university??

there’s one in bolton too.

They’re the kinda unis you go to when you’ve done 4 A levels and got 3 D’s and a fail

 

[F!RTHY]

there’s one in bolton too.

They’re the kinda unis you go to when you’ve done 4 A levels and got 3 D’s and a fail

What’s Mansfield’s uni like pal?

 

[AdamStag]

What’s Mansfield’s uni like pal?

Oh it’s unreal.

The top student graduated with an A* knowledge of a steakbake