very confident for the new season..

I went to the game on Saturday, and i have to say the new signings look quality especially church and hearn i think all we need now is a replacement for connell and we will be up there with the likes of Luton and Stockport for the league

I feel more confident than I did last year but I don't expect to win it or even challenge. Top 6 or 7 would see us winning more than losing and that'll be a nice change for me.

If we can get some momentum and another player or 2, then you never know. Fingers crossed.

Quoted from gtfc91

I went to the game on Saturday, and i have to say the new signings look quality especially church and hearn i think all we need now is a replacement for connell and we will be up there with the likes of Luton and Stockport for the league

Agree that we need a replacement for Connell, maybe not a necessarily another Al but definitely another striker.

Hopefully we'll be up there in the top 7 come the end of the season but every time we get all gee'd up and optimistic it turns out to be disappointment. I do admit there is something different this season though, something we've needed for a long time which is the right attitude all the way throughout the club,

Can't see Stockport being up there though, them and Lincoln will be mid table/bottom half I think!

Quoted from Mariners_15

Agree that we need a replacement for Connell, maybe not a necessarily another Al but definitely another striker.

Hopefully we'll be up there in the top 7 come the end of the season but every time we get all gee'd up and optimistic it turns out to be disappointment. I do admit there is something different this season though, something we've needed for a long time which is the right attitude all the way throughout the club,

Can't see Stockport being up there though, them and Lincoln will be mid table/bottom half I think!

I think we will be up there, Kidderminster, Luton, Fleetwood will be up there with us imo

We NEED to get out of this league the right direction this year, its really a win or bust situation from the way fenty told it.  

Is it just me or can other people see Kidderminster falling short and finishing around mid table, they've lost a few of their decent players...

Quoted from Mariners_15

Is it just me or can other people see Kidderminster falling short and finishing around mid table, they've lost a few of their decent players...

I hope so, less teams we have to battle with the better! Make it 4 up 4 down for this season  

Thought Churchs work rate and desire to break play up was some of the best midfiled play ive seen for a while at town. Thought Hearn started slowly but grew into the game, can tell he has some real potential for goals.

Also thought Silk looked very solid without being spectacular. Which is a welcome sight after the RB fiasco of Bore/Watt/Wood last season.

Overall it was only their first game together, but the signs were there of a decent team in the making

UTM!

Church against Hudson - No comparison at all. Church's ability to get up and down the pitch and willingness to join the attack is a breathe of fresh air compared to Hudson's effort last year.

Disley against Cummins and Leary - You can tell just in that one game that Craig's got real quality didn't make a single mis-placed pass, sat in front of the back four mopping up, winning the ball and giving it simple allowing Church the licence to get forward without the fear of the counter attack. Last seasons duo - well what is there to say.

Spencer against Peacock - Damien's an absolute unit, and when fully fit from his illness I think will be very mobile, quick and a real handful for defences. Peaks, although I really liked him was at the end of his career, certainly at this level and was a provider more than an actual goal threat which Spencer gives us now.

McKeown against Arthur - time will tell but James' clean sheet record last year gives me hope that we've signed the next Seb Brown.

Artus against Eagle - Artus looked more composed in possession and put in some good corners in second half two of which lead to a goal disallowed and Pearson effort off the bar. Has quite a cultured left foot and flexible enough to cover left back.

Pearson against Rob Atkinson - Shaun's stronger in the air, naturally left footed - which gives us a bit more balance at centre half and an obvious goal threat going forward. Not concerned that he isn't that quick as Atkinson wasn't neither and he seems to have good positional sense.

Hearn against Connell - Time again will tell if Liam has the ability to match Connell's goal scoring form, but he does add various other abilities that Alan didn't have. Firstly he's only young still, so time for further progression, pace in abundance and seemed to have aerial threat and great self-confidence. Connell of course will be missed although we yet may bring in another striker.

finally...

Gary Silk...  The only player we've signed that I think is just on par with what we already had.  Bradley Wood being out of the team at the expense of Silk would be a real shame.  Yes he sounds a reliable, consistant player, but his lack of pace and aerial ability is concerning against the qualities of Wood. Wouldn't surprise me if Gary starts the season on the bench.

All the above in mind and Yes I am confident about our chances this season.  Maybe even more so with a couple more quality signings.

UTM

From an outsider's perspective, Stockport and Luton are the most obvious front runners next season. Luton came in within a hair's breadth last time round and are a massive club for this division. Stockport have a manager who cut his teeth, albeit briefly, under Sven at Leicester and helped to create a good footballing side here. They are absolutely strapped for cash though and have massive problems relating to Edgeley Park so I personally can't fancy them.

That said, there is no clear front runner like there was last season with Crawley and their millions under that bent twunt Steve Evans, though Fleetwood seem to have a bit of cash behind them. I don't see Lincoln doing much or indeed any of the former league clubs other than Luton as they're all struggling with various monetary problems.

Personally I'd say playoffs would be realistic and once you're there, it's a bit of a lottery. 8/1 about Grimsby going up at Blue Square looks a decent price from where I'm sitting.

Quoted from Stew0_0

Church against Hudson - No comparison at all. Church's ability to get up and down the pitch and willingness to join the attack is a breathe of fresh air compared to Hudson's effort last year.

Disley against Cummins and Leary - You can tell just in that one game that Craig's got real quality didn't make a single mis-placed pass, sat in front of the back four mopping up, winning the ball and giving it simple allowing Church the licence to get forward without the fear of the counter attack. Last seasons duo - well what is there to say.

Spencer against Peacock - Damien's an absolute unit, and when fully fit from his illness I think will be very mobile, quick and a real handful for defences. Peaks, although I really liked him was at the end of his career, certainly at this level and was a provider more than an actual goal threat which Spencer gives us now.

McKeown against Arthur - time will tell but James' clean sheet record last year gives me hope that we've signed the next Seb Brown.

Artus against Eagle - Artus looked more composed in possession and put in some good corners in second half two of which lead to a goal disallowed and Pearson effort off the bar. Has quite a cultured left foot and flexible enough to cover left back.

Pearson against Rob Atkinson - Shaun's stronger in the air, naturally left footed - which gives us a bit more balance at centre half and an obvious goal threat going forward. Not concerned that he isn't that quick as Atkinson wasn't neither and he seems to have good positional sense.

Hearn against Connell - Time again will tell if Liam has the ability to match Connell's goal scoring form, but he does add various other abilities that Alan didn't have. Firstly he's only young still, so time for further progression, pace in abundance and seemed to have aerial threat and great self-confidence. Connell of course will be missed although we yet may bring in another striker.

finally...

Gary Silk...  The only player we've signed that I think is just on par with what we already had.  Bradley Wood being out of the team at the expense of Silk would be a real shame.  Yes he sounds a reliable, consistant player, but his lack of pace and aerial ability is concerning against the qualities of Wood. Wouldn't surprise me if Gary starts the season on the bench.

All the above in mind and Yes I am confident about our chances this season.  Maybe even more so with a couple more quality signings.

UTM

agree the performance of church on saturday was one of the best i have seen for town in a long while

Quoted from BiloLCFC

From an outsider's perspective, Stockport and Luton are the most obvious front runners next season. Luton came in within a hair's breadth last time round and are a massive club for this division. Stockport have a manager who cut his teeth, albeit briefly, under Sven at Leicester and helped to create a good footballing side here. They are absolutely strapped for cash though and have massive problems relating to Edgeley Park so I personally can't fancy them.

That said, there is no clear front runner like there was last season with Crawley and their millions under that bent twunt Steve Evans, though Fleetwood seem to have a bit of cash behind them. I don't see Lincoln doing much or indeed any of the former league clubs other than Luton as they're all struggling with various monetary problems.

Personally I'd say playoffs would be realistic and once you're there, it's a bit of a lottery. 8/1 about Grimsby going up at Blue Square looks a decent price from where I'm sitting.

Thanks. Always good to hear an impartial view.
Don't think Luton are so 'massive' though. They're not much bigger than us and we're not a very big club!

Good summary Stew agree with almost all though think you're wrong saying Hudson wasn't willing to join in the attack, that was his main strength.
Trouble was he couldn't defend for toffee. (nor could Cummins)

Interesting you think Artus can play left back, be interested to know peoples thoughts on that.

Quoted from BiloLCFC

From an outsider's perspective, Stockport and Luton are the most obvious front runners next season. Luton came in within a hair's breadth last time round and are a massive club for this division. Stockport have a manager who cut his teeth, albeit briefly, under Sven at Leicester and helped to create a good footballing side here. They are absolutely strapped for cash though and have massive problems relating to Edgeley Park so I personally can't fancy them.

That said, there is no clear front runner like there was last season with Crawley and their millions under that bent twunt Steve Evans, though Fleetwood seem to have a bit of cash behind them. I don't see Lincoln doing much or indeed any of the former league clubs other than Luton as they're all struggling with various monetary problems.

Personally I'd say playoffs would be realistic and once you're there, it's a bit of a lottery. 8/1 about Grimsby going up at Blue Square looks a decent price from where I'm sitting.

Can't have Stockport at all.  I haven't looked at what they have done over the summer, and yes I know they have Hamman as manager now (never been more than a coach as I understand it) but they were in an awful state throughout last season and relied on loans to even make their team competitive (which it wasn't).  Can Stockport really rebuild from that position to have a realistic chance?  I just can't see it.

Quoted from Devonmatt

Can't have Stockport at all.  I haven't looked at what they have done over the summer, and yes I know they have Hamman as manager now (never been more than a coach as I understand it) but they were in an awful state throughout last season and relied on loans to even make their team competitive (which it wasn't).  Can Stockport really rebuild from that position to have a realistic chance?  I just can't see it.

I highly doubt it. They've got a year of lessons to learn imo. Lincoln will be like the slow kids who are kept on cos they don't get it.

Quoted from Devonmatt

Can't have Stockport at all.  I haven't looked at what they have done over the summer, and yes I know they have Hamman as manager now (never been more than a coach as I understand it) but they were in an awful state throughout last season and relied on loans to even make their team competitive (which it wasn't).  Can Stockport really rebuild from that position to have a realistic chance?  I just can't see it.

You could argue we were in an awful state too.

Quoted from 1600

You could argue we were in an awful state too.

And then you could argue that WE came 11th!

Quoted from 1600

You could argue we were in an awful state too.

It's all relative.  3 managers, 90 odd goals conceded, all kinds of financial mess, they were very lucky to finish bottom.

Quoted from upthestripes

And then you could argue that WE came 11th!

True but where would we have finished in L2 ?
Just above Stockport is my guess.

Quoted from 1600

True but where would we have finished in L2 ?
Just above Stockport is my guess.

I think we'd have done alright. Always sounds a strange thing to say but with fewer bus-parking sides I think we'd have avoided relegation at least.

Quoted from upthestripes

Thanks. Always good to hear an impartial view.
Don't think Luton are so 'massive' though. They're not much bigger than us and we're not a very big club!

Quoted from Devonmatt

Can't have Stockport at all.  I haven't looked at what they have done over the summer, and yes I know they have Hamman as manager now (never been more than a coach as I understand it) but they were in an awful state throughout last season and relied on loans to even make their team competitive (which it wasn't).  Can Stockport really rebuild from that position to have a realistic chance?  I just can't see it.

Considering where they've spent most of the past 10-20 years, I'd argue they're a big fish in the division. Three consecutive relegations have obviously mullered them but prior to that and the financial problems that were the cause, they were a relatively solid if unspectacular Championship club. There's no doubt that they, along with yourselves, are among the bigger clubs in the BSP.

As I've said, Stockport are hard to back from my point of view. Hammann has cut his teeth in the FL but under a world-renowned manager, a considerable budget and quality players at our place. Moving to Stockport will be like raising the difficulty level on and taking all the cheats off Football Manager. They're skint, were absolutely abysmal last season and are struggling to survive. They could even be another Chester City at the rate they're going. From a neutral's perspective though, big name coach and good following (I remember them coming to our place in League One and their support was top notch) they might look like decent things.

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