[PhilAnders]

Back in the John Gayle days , Forrester and Eyre were both looking for his knock and flicks forward, while Alex was looking for his hold up passes back into midfield. Teams found it very difficult to play against. 25 years on and I think today’s footballer is looking for the ball to feet, and that’s the way they are taught to play.

[PhilAnders]

Given the injuries, I’m not optimistic about today. A decent crowd, but A poor game, a draw or a single goal defeat

[PhilAnders]

I find it strange that Fitz’s howler for the Chester goal in the play off final is never mentioned. I’d presumed because we won. Thus, While we are winning I’m prepared to extend the same goodwill to Campbell.

[PhilAnders]

I’m favouring a draw 1-1 Robert’s to score.

[PhilAnders]

Just read the BBC update. Football debts ( and HMRC) have been paid and the club is signing players. They are not hanging about!!

[PhilAnders]

Morecambe have 5 players under contract. They have 8 that extension deals were activated, but not fulfilled as wages for July were not paid. Two of these players found other clubs. I presume that as the wages for July and probably August have been paid by the new owners these players have returned to training. Training was suspended at the end of July because the insurance ran out. Presumably that has now been paid by the new owners. The club had a number of young players on youth details and I presume they to have returned to training. Thus without resorting to loans or free agent signings the club could fulfil its fixture on Saturday from within its own resources. That said no club trading took place in August until Monday or Tuesday. On presumes that, being professionals, the players did there own training runs and gym work and so in theory , are match fit. However, it’s a new manager( who presumes has watched videos from last season of the players in action) who will not have had time to coach the team into the style he wishes to play. Thus an “undercooked” team including a few young debutees will take to the field on Saturday. That said, they will get tremendous support from a bumper gate of the faithful. Logic says that Morecambe should lose, but it’s football and who knows!
Morecambe’s punishment for their infringement of league rules will be announced after the appropriate “hanging committee” has met. It is likely to be a points deduction and a transfer embargo until all football related and HMRC related debt is settled. Given the depth of Panjab Warriors (The new owners) pockets this will take a lot less time than it took to settle our debt. Then they will make some quality signings to improve the squad. As I’ve said in a previous thread. We need to play the postponed fixture asap. The “high” of being saved will carry them through a few games and then the grind of it all will put pressure on an inexperienced squad, especially away from home. Morecambe will be a different proposition in the New Year!

[PhilAnders]

Boy, that’s a brutally honest assessment! Wonder if AB would be this forthcoming. Not taking away anything from the Iron performance, you still have to beat whoever turns up to play, and we certainly did that. Possibly if Woking were as shite as Ardlet believes, we should have had a couple more!

[PhilAnders]

Decision time at Morecambe. A new manager, who does not know the squad, and a squad with only 9/10 experienced professionals, the rest being youth team (or if they can sign them in time) former Triallists if they play the game in front of a bumper crowd or postpone and take a few more points deduction. I’d play I think.

[PhilAnders]

It would appear that 24 players reported back for training yesterday. These were a mix of retained First teamers, youth players and free agent Triallists. It would thus appear that they will be able to field a squad ( albeit an inexperienced one) for their home game against Altrincham. Expect a bumper attendance!

[PhilAnders]

It would appear that Morecambe have approximately 8 players on extension deals which were not reactivated by the club not paying the players in July. Two of the players ( Burgoyne and White) are identified as moving to other clubs. The football whereabouts of the other 6 are unknown, but there is a presumption that if they were paid the money owed to them they would return to the club. Again whether this and additional loan signings could be achieved to create a squad for Saturday is a moot point. We shall see. A few fans might be asked to bring their boots!

[PhilAnders]

Thanks Rene. Things have obviously advanced since my search this morning. I think it unlikely Morecambe will be playing next Saturday. They still need to put together a squad! Presumably the NL will announce their sanctions in full once the documents supporting the new owners are received and found to be in order!

[PhilAnders]

With no reserve team giving them a run out is probably necessary. As long as it doesn’t affect the result!

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[PhilAnders]

Danny Whitehall is full of shithousery but….he’s our shithouser! How many times over the years have we whinged at various opponents shithousers! If he keeps averaging a goal every 2 games, I don’t care and I feel no embarrassment whatsoever!

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[PhilAnders]

I think Chester were unlucky last season (they played us at GP) and if we’d have gone up as Champions, I think they would have won the play offs. They would be my tip. Macclesfield have splashed the cash so they would be my second tip.

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[PhilAnders]

2-0. Howe and Roberts

[PhilAnders]

I don’t have a problem with the competition giving game time to our second string players. They need a competitive game to show their desire to wear the shirt. I wasn’t at the game and haven’t watched the YouTube feed. Did anyone playing show a desire to wear the shirt on Saturday?

[PhilAnders]

Umble Pie for me for Tea, well done the Iron, a hardworking 3 points!

[PhilAnders]

Wow…4 at the back! No idea what we are going to play further forward as it depends where Mr Versatile ( Alfie Beestin) plays. A statement of intent?

[PhilAnders]

I’m optimistic for the season overall. I think we will finish 14-18th. My NAP for promotion is York, there is a reason Carlisle were relegated (Morecambe’s has become apparent) and I think they will be in the play offs. My optimism does not extend to today at Tamworth though and I hope we are lucky enough to come away with a draw. Brain tells me we will have 5 at the back, and despite a bench packed with forward minded players we will lose, probably 2/3-0/1.

[PhilAnders]

I agree with CT about Butler’s starting XI, which I think he will change when we go 2-0 down. A much more fluid 442 will allow us to come back into the game and snatch a draw (2-2)! UTI!

[PhilAnders]

Campbell will start, and Rose and Denton. Whitehall if he is fit and Alfie Beestin, though where he will be asked to play Lord knows!

[PhilAnders]

Are we keeping Simmonds, Shipstone and Gjoshe or what. If not, why are they on the bench on the last pre season friendly?

[PhilAnders]

Given that they were on the bench and did not figure yesterday have we now seen the last of Shipstone and Simmonds? In his post Spennymoor video, AB alluded to a game ( unscheduled as far as I can see) on Tuesday. Does anyone know about where this is and who our opponents may be? Will the alleged signing this week be a player we know something about ( eg Rose on season long loan) or an entirely new face?

[PhilAnders]

I agree, I think those two are also essential.

[PhilAnders]

The PFA non contract 22 for their game at Port Vale on Saturday just popped onto my FB feed. Top of the list Hakeeb Adelekan! There are a few other notables in there and there must be a couple of GK’s who are worth considering. A challenge for those more knowledgeable than me to identify them from the list of names!

[PhilAnders]

Given our increase in the number of Strikers at the club, I think the Triallists who play in that position really will need to be special to earn a contract. The defensive midfielder, defender and GK may just have to be considered “good enough for the money” to earn a deal.

[PhilAnders]

I think we have probably seen the end of the new Triallists. We have a few that we will continue to look at in the next week or so, but unless it’s a GK or holding midfielder I don’t think we will see anybody we haven’t seen before. Of those that have played so far, do you think any are worth a cheap and cheerful contract?

[PhilAnders]

A GK for the second half..Johnson and a lad called Simmonds any help identifying gratefully received!

[PhilAnders]

Chapman? Anybody know who he is?

[PhilAnders]

Same set up tonight with the current batch of Triallists, then over the next few days there will be a cull. We may keep one or two on and see how they go at Cleethorpes. Might be some new Triallists in next week, who knows, a GK may well be one of them!

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