Match Thread Crawley Town Vs Notts County

[Chris Website URL Visit Site 𝕏 fmcj10 Instagram fmcj10]

I haven't been to Crawley before, so this will be a new ground for me. I'm pretty much looking forward to it, though I am unsure about what to expect at the final whistle. I believe we can win them, though this depends on many things - one of which being the referee. Yes we can't keep blaming them, yet it's hard not to.

Crawley are on the slide, they can play good football but with John Gregory as their manager who knows what to expect. They have shown they can do well, they beat the league leaders but lost to MK Dons yesterday.

Liddle's absence will see Fotheringham or Labadie start, for once I wished we tried either having more support from the advanced midfielders or use Liddle's situation to throw on an additional striker. I would be tempted to start Haynes and Murray, leaving Enoch on the bench in case we need to mix things up. Murray is doing well, a really tricky player and although lightweight he hustle's for sure.

I have to go with my heart and say a Notts win, only narrow but it will do! 2-1 Notts.

Around 250 of our fans in attendance I am predicting.

What do you think?

[PTID1862]

I am not so sure. Yesterday is going to have a huge bearing on this game. Had we have took a point from Vale, and or without the injury to Liddle, then I would have gone with getting something out of the game.

 

Now, my head says no way. unfortunately I can only see a miserable afternoon down in Sussex, for all connected with NCFC.

 

I am going to predict the same scoreline, but the other way round 2-1 Crawley Town victory. 

[upthepies]

Get Tempest playing, we need players who are willing to put balls through and the lad crosses nicely.

His effort would not be missed at all! Him around where Liddle was or maybe on the left side, giving McGregor a more holding position. Crawley are not an easy side, they can punish sides but very hit and miss.

Do they have any good players to be aware of?

1-0 Crawley.

[Northants Pie]

I can't see it being a good game to watch as they have a recent record only equalled by ourselves, Gregory will set his team up to be very similar to Bristol City, kick everything that moves & hope to nick a goal from a set piece.

 

Billy Clarke is their most likely to score, a small skillful forward very similar to Paddy Madden who will need to be watched very closely (if he plays due to being sent off yesterday)

 

This will be a game that suits Labadie in the middle, basically to kick them back.

 

I'll go for a 2-0 Notts win on the basis that it is impossible to get three imbecile referees on the spin.......

[liampie]

i think crawley will want to try and test us, they should keep our defense on their toes and bart busy. not the best side but they do have the habit of running with the game, so we need to control it.
 

personally i see a draw!

[Chris Website URL Visit Site 𝕏 fmcj10 Instagram fmcj10]

I can't see it being a good game to watch as they have a recent record only equalled by ourselves, Gregory will set his team up to be very similar to Bristol City, kick everything that moves & hope to nick a goal from a set piece.

 

Billy Clarke is their most likely to score, a small skillful forward very similar to Paddy Madden who will need to be watched very closely (if he plays due to being sent off yesterday)

 

This will be a game that suits Labadie in the middle, basically to kick them back.

 

I'll go for a 2-0 Notts win on the basis that it is impossible to get three imbecile referees on the spin.......

Billy is a good striker at this level, I will soon be publishing an article regarding our next 5 games. Hopefully it will be interesting, though I agree he's very similar to Paddy - Only difference I would say Billy is more gifted with his ability.

[Northants Pie]

Billy is a good striker at this level, I will soon be publishing an article regarding our next 5 games. Hopefully it will be interesting, though I agree he's very similar to Paddy - Only difference I would say Billy is more gifted with his ability.

 

Yeah i'd agree but Paddy Madden is by far the more natural finisher, it would be interesting to see the two together

[spenno82]

I,ve been away recently.Has Marcus Haber gone back to Stevenage or is he injured.?Would be my first choice up front.

[Northants Pie]

I,ve been away recently.Has Marcus Haber gone back to Stevenage or is he injured.?Would be my first choice up front.

Yeah he went back mid December, hopefully we'll get him back in a couple of days though

[weymouthPIE]

It depends which Crawley side shows up, they are wildly inconsistent whereas performance wise, you kind of know what your going to get from us now. I think this is the sort of game both teams will look at and say we need to be winning this one, so that could mean a draw is on the cards. But it depends how we adapt without Gary Liddle in the middle of the park. I agree with Joe, I'd like to see Haynes & Ronan Murray start up front together. Or even Haynes with Enoch would do. Haynes is a top striker and he's had a lot of unjust abuse for his lack of goals, but the thing is we don't play to his strengths. If you look at the goals he scored for Charlton over the last few seasons;  nearly all of them are from through balls ON THE GROUND to him, or from him being allowed to use his electric pace to run at defenders. He's not the sort of guy who will create goals out of nothing playing as a lone striker.

 

But the thing is our midfield is incredibly weak - Fotheringham and Labadie have been massive let downs and if we are to stand a chance of stopping up, Derry needs to somehow make a move in January to bring in one or possibly two replacements. We're going to have to grind out our results and scrappy games will be won and lost in the midfield, and sadly our midfield is very weak I think.

 

As far as Sunday's game is concerned I'm gutted I can't be there. I tried booking the day off work for it but they wouldnt give me the day off. Finding it difficult to find the motivation to go to work on Sunday instead of going to support my team, when I'm not even sure if I'll be kept on next month. It could pottentially be my last shift

[Canadian]

It depends which Crawley side shows up, they are wildly inconsistent whereas performance wise, you kind of know what your going to get from us now. I think this is the sort of game both teams will look at and say we need to be winning this one, so that could mean a draw is on the cards. But it depends how we adapt without Gary Liddle in the middle of the park. I agree with Joe, I'd like to see Haynes & Ronan Murray start up front together. Or even Haynes with Enoch would do. Haynes is a top striker and he's had a lot of unjust abuse for his lack of goals, but the thing is we don't play to his strengths. If you look at the goals he scored for Charlton over the last few seasons;  nearly all of them are from through balls ON THE GROUND to him, or from him being allowed to use his electric pace to run at defenders. He's not the sort of guy who will create goals out of nothing playing as a lone striker.

 

But the thing is our midfield is incredibly weak - Fotheringham and Labadie have been massive let downs and if we are to stand a chance of stopping up, Derry needs to somehow make a move in January to bring in one or possibly two replacements. We're going to have to grind out our results and scrappy games will be won and lost in the midfield, and sadly our midfield is very weak I think.

 

As far as Sunday's game is concerned I'm gutted I can't be there. I tried booking the day off work for it but they wouldnt give me the day off. Finding it difficult to find the motivation to go to work on Sunday instead of going to support my team, when I'm not even sure if I'll be kept on next month. It could pottentially be my last shift

I would go to the game and see what the future holds. If you have an incling of being let go in Jan. Just go for it. You're already planning the inevitable i hope. Then again you might be kept on.

 

Any how's! Go to the Game

[Fan of Big Tone 𝕏 @mainstandpie]

Weymouth - pull a sickie mate.

I'm not sure how this game will go, it is one that they will be expecting to win so we might be able to surprise them.

They say that refs decisions tend to even out over the season so we are due for some to go our way for a change.

I would also put Haynes up front with Murray to see how they blend together. I agree that Haynes has had some unjust abuse and we need to use him properly, there is no doubt he is a good player and he has scored goals in the past and can do so again for us.

I will go for a draw but obviously hope for a win.

[GrannyPie]

I hope we get a decent referee!

[super_ram]

Good luck Pies(and boy, are you due some luck)

[Feral Fox]

I would expect an unchanged side tbh. Murray won't be dropped for Haynes with 3 in 7 is it now? Middle still weak, but SD seems to think Fothers can cope!!!

[weymouthPIE]

I am bracing myself for being let go but they wont decide till after Christmas when they've had their trading figures. I'd pull a sicky if I could get away with it, but I tried to book it off properly and they said no, so it'd probably look a tad suspicious, and if they havent yet decided I dont want to do anything that could make their mind up the other way lol

[Pies4u]

Sounds a bit grim Weymouth - best of luck for the New Year, hope things work out ok for you.

I will miss Crawley because I'm away for New Year, at Thoresby, so I miss the Bradford game too. Doubt I'll make it to the Chatroom either, I have a spa session booked on NYD!

Every game is critical now, we need at least 2 points from these 2 games to rekindle the flamesof recovery. Anything less will cast doubt over the squad depth, which is pitifully thin IMO, & dampen the recent encouraging green revival shoots. 4 or more points will regain the momentum gained earlier this month and rebuild any lost confidence amongst players & fans alike.

Crawley are an irritating, stubborn team with little class or style - but they are nobody's pushover. Without any meaningful forward power and still short of Liddle, I'll be happy with a point - but I am not overly optimistic about it tbh.

[Feral Fox]

I cant say it will be pretty, but I'm still going for a 2-1 win tomorrow.

[MuddyPatchPie]

Hope we can win this one but getting very disillusioned with the standard of refereeing in league one. Need to score more goals to cancel out the ones gifted to the opposition!! Freeman going back to Derby hasn't helped and a major blow losing Liddle just as he was settling into the midfield role. Not easy when we have to rely on loan signings to bolster the team. I believe Derry has the ability to save us from relegation but we need some luck as well.

[PTID1862]

Agree there Muddy,

 

I believe Shaun has the determination to keep us up. But we are going to need a fairly large slice of cake from lady luck.

[Cobby]

I'm always hopeful and predict a 2-1 win for Notts as I seem the never think we can keep a clean sheet.

When do our loanees go back? Could this be the last game for Grealish and McGregor?

[Super_Danny_Allsopp]

C'mon you pies!!!

[Chris Website URL Visit Site 𝕏 fmcj10 Instagram fmcj10]

I've just arrived, just having a drink in their bar. Still excited, positive we can get something.

It will hopefully be a good game.

These allow standing but I opt for a seat because my knee hurts. Quite a long drive, anyone else here?

[eyepie]

Only in spirit.

[anonypie]

well that didn't quite go to plan did it?  I was so hoping for a win today.  Also, all other results went against us, so we're back propping up the table again.

 

I think Lids has been a HUGE miss.  And even with investment it won't be easy to replace him.  I just hope we stick with Shaun and Greg.  They need time to sort this out. 

 

I believe Grealish and McGregor loans end on 4th Jan, so we've got them for another couple of games.  Not easy players to replace either, if they get recalled.

 

It's not looking great is it?  BUT, not impossible!  COME ON YOU PIES!