[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!

[PhilAnders]

Dog turd in the Car Park? Surely Pedigree Chum or Lassie would sponsor that. And while we are on the subject, does anyone know why they stopped putting chalk into dog food? Made the white turds easier to avoid at night!

[PhilAnders]

Shipstone, Gjoshe, Munoz?

[PhilAnders]

Dawes and Uppal anybody?

[PhilAnders]

While AB made it pretty clear in his interview that Maison Campbell will be No 1 he surely isn’t daft enough to believe we can start the season with only one GK in the building? ( Given it may well be September before he can sign an EFL loanee). I expect to see one ( or more) Triallist GK’s between the sticks in the upcoming friendlies!

[PhilAnders]

In my youth, when I worked in Grimsby, local workmates gave me the tip “Never buy from a Chippy that hasn’t got a queue”. This was based on the view that the fish was cooked fresh and to order and hanging about for a few minutes was worth the wait!

[PhilAnders]

Any idea who it is on the FB post if not Louis Jones?

[PhilAnders]

According to FB Scunny Fans page, Lewis Jones, the ex Donny GK is one of the Triallists. Can anyone name the others?

[PhilAnders]

I don’t think there is much to comment on. Some of the players have reported back for training, others next week. Some offered contracts still haven’t committed. First pre season game next Friday where I confidently predict we will see Triallist A in goal, Triallist B at right back, Triallist C at Center Back and Triallist D as a holding midfielder. Maybe a Triallist E on the left side of Midfield. Everyone else will be shoehorned in around those positions.

[PhilAnders]

I don’t think it was playing 5 at the back that infuriated supporters- after all, until Scarborough away it was working pretty well- it was the failure to recognise that it was no longer working and a new approach was needed! I wouldn’t throw it away as a tactic, particularly away from home at some of the stronger sides in the NL. However, there must be a plan to change to a more flexible attacking system (4 3 3 or 4 2 4) at home or when we go behind away. Whether we will have the players to do this we will see!

2 users thanked author for this post.

lesgeo, Cliff Byrne's Right Peg

[PhilAnders]

I live over Worksop way and watched them a few times last year. While they won’t set NLN alight I don’t think they will struggle either. Exactly the sort of team we struggled to beat LAST season. Thus I would have thought this would have been a good friendly one or two games in….not as late as 2nd August!

[PhilAnders]

Even given yesterday’s result, I see no reason to change my assessment of AB’s performance. The one thing I would add is he does now appear eager to learn. His next test is the retention of key players and summer recruitment. If we have to rely on trials to fill the numbers then in the NL that could be the first sign of trouble!

[PhilAnders]

I think you will find that up until the teams are announced the club will state Roberts is 50:50. I have to say, that with 7 subs, if he’s fit to take a penalty, I’d have him on the bench!

1 user thanked author for this post.

iron64

[PhilAnders]

I agree IronIronIron, we need to focus on our own club, not others. The names Hilton and Swann bring forth so many unhappy memories I just don’t want to go there anymore. If either of them are reeking their own brand of havoc at any other football club then I don’t see why that is a headline act on this forum.

[PhilAnders]

This is going to be close, because all games of this nature are. I think we will win, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was a Fitzsimmons penalty save AET that does it! Apart from the GK, all the other Subs must be able ( and willing) to take a successful penalty!

[PhilAnders]

You do have a point Ironking. A lot of off field drama for a club championing “Unity”. However, I share Lesgeo’s views that the persistence with 5 at the back long after opponents had wised to it was the main reason we didn’t win this league by a similar margin to Tamworth last season. Our recent away form ( losses at Kidderminster, Radcliffe and Kings Lynn) meant we were vulnerable to Brackley’s late surge. What influence the off field events had on team performance we will never know!

2 users thanked author for this post.

lesgeo, Awaywego

[PhilAnders]

I think it unlikely we will win at both KLT and Hereford and thus we will not win the league. I agree that 3rd place is the most likely spot. I feel that we will win our home semi final ( whoever we play) but we will lose in the final. Progress from last year?

[PhilAnders]

The pressure on ourselves, Kiddy and Brackley is identical. We all have positives in our favour. We have the point advantage. Kiddy, the best goal difference ( and goals scored) and Brackley, on paper, the easiest run in. All the games that remain for us this season are massive, whether we are top of the league or not, as today’s results saw us cement our place in the play offs). Like many, I thought we would draw today and at 5pm I was a very happy man. I agree with all the posters who have said, we need to go for it from the off, in all 3 remaining games. Based on today’s performance, I’d make one change for KLT: Carlton starting for Alfie Beestin. If Whitehall regains his fitness to play in any games this season, in my opinion, it should be from the bench, maybe in place of Campbell ( or is Fitz carrying an injury and AB worries he might break down?)

[PhilAnders]

Obviously the best result for us would have been a draw. While this result does mean Kiddy have a better goal difference and goals for, we have a 2 point gap. We just have to win on Saturday, and win well. Let’s focus on one game at a time. Will Whitehall be back for the weekend?

[PhilAnders]

For me, these are our 2 main rivals, and should either lose on Tuesday evening, they will effectively be out of the race as it is unlikely that both ourselves and the winner of the game will both slip up in the remaining 6 games. That said, I agree with all the contributors so far that we need to play with the same commitment and skill as we did against Chester on Saturday. Spennymoor, Kings Lynn and Hereford are all challenging for play off spots and will be hard to beat and will require our A game to deliver the win

[Author]

Posts