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Post by hatter_in_macc on Oct 11, 2017 8:14:20 GMT
We're back at EP this weekend - as will be a certain County legend, as he leads his footballing Spartan infantry into town.
Blyth's last two games have produced nine goals each. So, the smart money has to be on a scoreless stalemate... possibly.
Post all the usual stuff - and, if you wish, your fond reminiscences of Super Al's playing days - here.
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Post by jimboslovechild on Oct 11, 2017 8:39:07 GMT
I think it will be 4-2 to County. We're good at home, and we're due a bit of luck.
My reminiscences of Alun Armstrong... While he was at County, I never really understood what the game plan was with him (or Alby, or Lambert). They didn't seem to fit any particular model: Poacher, quick bloke, target man etc. All have gone on to have great careers at other clubs. Shows the importance of giving young players time to grow into their own game. Also shows that I don't know what I'm talking about.
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Post by hermannsays on Oct 11, 2017 13:17:01 GMT
Will Oswell or Maguire win the battle of the strikers?
Will this turn out to be the 4th consecutive game where we concede from a set play?
Will McKenna be ready for a start?
Has the search for a new CB continued and will he be unveiled on Friday?
I have no answers. But from seeing his finishing this season and last, all I know is we'll likely be punished if we offer up opportunities to their little man up top. So let's not, eh! Plus, given Blyth have led at HT in 7 of their league fixtures (we've only led 3 times) then let's hope everyone is switched on from kickoff.
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Oct 11, 2017 15:25:50 GMT
My 'Take Five' for COWS on the visiting Spartans:
*****************************************************************************************************
TAKE FIVE… Blyth Spartans
By Hatter in Macc
1. Uh oh - the mighty Spartans! They’re putting a few opponents to the sword, eh?
Indeed! And just like the iconic, bladed-weapon-wielding infantry of Ancient Greece from which Blyth’s football club took its suffix, at the instigation of founder Fred Stoker in 1899, they are also well on the march following their promotion, as Northern Premier League champions, last term.
Under the guidance of much-loved former County striker Alun Armstrong, the Spartans of our time are still giving it their all on the modern-day battlefields that we call pitches - and the National League North’s most northerly outfit will advance into SK3 very handily placed in third.
2. ‘The most famous non-league football team in the world’, too - according to some?
Former FA Secretary Ted Croker (who held office from 1973 to 1989) originally coined the phrase, and it has stuck. Everybody, of course, knows the club’s instantly-distinguishable name, but Croker’s epithet would never have been earned without the Spartans’ bold footballing deeds.
After playing friendlies for the first two years of their existence, the Spartans began competitive life in 1901, since when they have been members, and won titles, of the East Northumberland League, the Northern Alliance, the North Eastern League and the Northern League - prior to joining the Northern Premier League in 1994. And they have only ever been relegated once: when their first stay in the (then) Conference North came to an end after six years during 2011/12.
Impressive though it is, their league exploits do tend, however, to get overshadowed by their FA Cup adventures. The Spartans have played in no fewer than 51 ties (excluding replays) at the ‘proper’ stages of the competition - most famously reaching the Fifth Round in 1977/78 - and left a trail of slain Football League opponents along the way. Twelfth Man Representatives of a certain age will remember County as one of them, following a single-goal Second Round defeat at Blyth’s Croft Park during 1971/72 - although we have been successful on the three other occasions when the two sides have been drawn against each other (most recently at Edgeley Park in 1995, when our line-up included in its strike-force a certain ‘A Armstrong’!).
3. So, Croft Park won’t be a new ground for absolutely everyone when we visit next April?
Not as such - but any Hatters who did make the trek up to Blyth 46 years ago this December, or, less probably, for either of County’s other previous Cup-ties there in 1934 and 1958, will notice, when the time comes for the final away-fixture of our campaign next April, that the ground has undergone extensive redevelopment since. Gone is the old ash terracing, to be replaced by concrete - and all four sides are now covered.
Croft Park has been home to the Spartans since 1909, when the club was 10 years old. By way of neat historical symmetry, both the very first game there and a Centenary Match in 2009 involved friendlies against Newcastle United - with the ‘Magpies’ winning 4-2 on each occasion.
4. How about County players with a link to the Spartans… apart from the obvious one?!
Well, just so as not to ignore the obvious one, Gateshead-born ‘Super Al’, of course, with 160 appearances and 49 goals to his name as a Hatter between 1994 and 1998, was a firm favourite at EP, before generating our record transfer sale when he joined Middlesbrough for £1.6 million. However, Blyth’s current boss, who assumed the managerial reins just over a year ago, never took to the field for the Spartans - despite having settled back in his native North-East, and turned out briefly at non-league level (for the now-defunct Newcastle Blue Star, in 2007), towards the end of his career as a player.
But going back much further in time reveals one player who did ply his playing trade for both clubs. Billy Newton, a wing-half, was a pre-Great War Spartan in 1913/14, as well as a post-Great War Hatter over two spells from 1927-31 and, as a 40-year-old, in 1932/33. He was later also County’s caretaker manager twice, in 1952 and 1960.
5. Reckon that the final thirds at EP may see some action this Saturday?
Quite possibly. Thirteen League games involving the Spartans have already produced a whopping 58 goals. And their two most recent matches - a 5-4 reverse at Kidderminster and last weekend’s 6-3 home triumph over Nuneaton - both saw one net or the other bulge nine times. Only the one scoreless draw to our name so far, too. This surely could not be a second… could it?!
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Post by countyfan on Oct 11, 2017 15:36:19 GMT
I haven't a clue about this one....FACT!!!
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Post by another_ruined_saturday on Oct 11, 2017 19:03:21 GMT
...seeing that late turn and finish against everton from the cheadle end...cue goal mental.
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Post by hermannsays on Oct 13, 2017 10:55:11 GMT
"Reviewing a 1-1 draw on the road to Darlington and preparing for more North East competition in the form of a visit from Blythe Spartans, Martin and Chris chew over a busy week for Stockport County, exclusive interviews with Jim Gannon and Dave Conlon - who partakes in this week's 'Kickup Challenge'." soundcloud.com/user-415776765/blythe-spartans-the-return-of-alun-armstrong
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Oct 13, 2017 11:25:28 GMT
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Post by ceefer on Oct 13, 2017 17:25:15 GMT
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Post by ceefer on Oct 14, 2017 8:55:36 GMT
This will be a very close game and we need to score first! I just hope we dont sit too deep and we can control the midfield.
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Post by grheatley on Oct 14, 2017 17:20:29 GMT
Really don't know what to make of todays performance, great in spells in the first half and should have been a couple of goals to the good before halftime. Deservedly went one ahead, I would add if the ref gives a penalty for the player jumping with his hand up stopping a goal scoring opportunity then why didn't a red card follow??? However for the equaliser they pretty much just walked through our team as if the last half hour never happened. Second half was dross we stopped playing, running and moving and looked like we wanted to play long balls all the time. In terms of substitutions I thought Thomas did a reasonable job, but Bohan Dixon was just awful looked utterly lost, didn't seem to have any idea where to play, how to challenge, control a ball or even pass. Could we please ensure he never plays for County again. We conceded late by half clearing a ball without looking who the ball or where the ball was going to, memo to players if in doubt always go for row Z. The third not worth a mention as the players looked shell shocked.
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Post by bringbacklenwhite on Oct 14, 2017 18:39:37 GMT
What the chuff happened there.
Didn't get in until 5.15pm and gently scrolled through the twitter feed. Fairly happy with 1-1 going into injury time and then the screen exploded and let me down !!!!
Can't repeat what I said, apart from telling you that the dog fled into the kitchen and hid under the table !
Why do we bother ?
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Post by hermannsays on Oct 14, 2017 19:28:44 GMT
An extremely aggressive opening with lots of possession in the Blyth half and pressure on their goal. McKenna was especially effective early on when he could stay wide and act as a winger. Smalley forced their 'keeper into action after only a few minutes from a corner and the save pushed the ball onto the bar - it dropped in front of the line and was somehow scrambled away.
But, for all the pressure during the first 15 and Blyth's seeming inability to cope with the onslaught, no goal came. When Blyth ventured up for 30 seconds they manufactured an effort through Maguire who smacked the post. A second breakaway followed as they forced a corner... from our corner.
On the half hour, we were correctly awarded a penalty when the ball struck their defender's raised hand. Their 'keeper spent the next minute rattling the bar so it was bouncing but Warburton left the CE bouncing by coolly slotting it away.
Within 3 minutes though, we shot ourselves in the foot with the latest example of terrible defending. The players decided to warp from footballers to spectators, and watched Blyth pass and run around them. With little to no pressure whatsoever in our defensive third, they seemed to have all the time in the world to get the ball to an unchallenged player 10 yards out and central to the net. Just. Wow.
Anyway, with the onslaught phase of the game over and Blyth clearly back in it, it was now possible to see how things were taking shape. Our biggest goal threat, Oswell, was isolated. Stopforth, playing in the #10 role, wasn't able to effectively support him centrally or to make the #10 runs when the ball was out wide and being put in. As Blyth held their width throughout with full backs and wingers, McKenna and Warburton (probably the 'on paper' support in this system) were continually shuttling out wide to defend while having to try to join Oswell when we had the ball back. It was looking increasingly hard for them to have an impact now that initial surge of pressure and possession had gone.
Meanwhile in defence... everyone was playing their own version of a defensive unit. Smalley was telling O'Halloran to move closer to him to stop gapping between them but O'Halloran ignored his requests. That's pretty much their partnership style from what I've seen so far. When their #11 stood high and wide, Cowan was so attracted to him he forgot to offer any cover to Smalley or to remember to stay in line/in front of his CBs. The sloppy passes and sliced clearances are more obvious but when you're sat 'in line' with the defence, it really hits home how much O'Halloran walks out instead of pushing out and how little leadership there is in that line.
So, not only did it look like everyone in defence was playing individually but there were some really bizarre things going on too. On one occasion on a Blyth throw, they were clearly going to aim to their tall #11. For some reason, Cowan shouted Mckenna to stand in front of #11 and completely relieved himself of his defensive duty by standing 3 yards from being able to challenge the header with #11. Of course, JG b*llocked him and told him to do his job.
As the tempo was dropping, a few already started to look fatigued mentally and physically. Cue some of the old habits coming back. Cowan took a throw and simply threw it at Oswell's head with no other possibility than a turnover of possession or potentially knocking out Oswell!
HT 1-1 (mini-Herm asks for a Naked bar, 'Peanut Delight' apparently)
The second half started with them having removed Maguire. We quickly had the ball in the net but it was ruled out for an Oswell offside - something that happened a fair bit today, mostly due to dwelling on the ball instead of releasing it. Duxbury then tried one of his mazey 60-yard runs. He was having a lot of success on the left but on this occasion the end result was a rather timid poke towards goal.
On the hour, McKenna was removed for Thomas and Thomas took Warburton's position on the left of attack while Warburton switched flanks. Cowan invited pressure with a risky back pass towards Hinchliffe who, under a sliding challenge, seemed to be a bit timid and he ended up chipping it 10 yards forward to their attacker. It should have ended with a goal to them. We had a chance from a Warburton corner (Ball, I think) but, yet again, it came to nothing. Ball then sloppily lost possession (unfortunately, he was poor today) and it took a wonderful last ditch Cowan tackle to save the goal.
Thomas wasn't really able to add much but did have an excellent run on the break. Between him and Oswell, they really should have turned it into a better chance than what it ended up as. But it was straight up the other end for another Blyth attempt - a second post-hitting one at that!
Warburton was removed for Dixon with 15 minutes to go. Having earlier watched Warburton, a creative #10, sprint 25 yards to cover an out of position Duxbury before sprinting 25 yards forward again to press their RB once Duxbury returned to LB, it's just not good enough that Dixon replaced him and proceeded to literally walk about for 15 minutes. He 'jumped' for headers with no intention to win them and pulled out of the only tackle which presented itself to him. Forgive the pun, but Warburton could have been replaced by a stale loaf of bread and it would have had the same impact as Dixon had. We see a lot of poor quality at this level but, sorry, that can't be tolerated. The only pleasing thing is how much his lack of effort stands out - which surely suggests that most others are at least giving it a good shot.
Anyway, rant over. With four minutes of normal time we brought on Hampson and switched to a back 3 with Duxbury at LCB. Thomas was pushed next to Oswell in an effort to rectify the lack of support. The inevitable happened and we lost in added time, conceding twice in as many minutes.
FT 1-3 (mini-Herm asks to go home FAST)
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Post by another_ruined_saturday on Oct 15, 2017 0:10:16 GMT
cheers for the comprehensive report herm. glad i aborted mission edgeley today.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2017 4:45:41 GMT
To the MB naysayers (not all of them are, but this is to those that are)... DON'T TALK f***ing sh*te. If Jim can't sort it then nobody can. He's being hung out to dry by this f***ing half arsed board and the morons are falling for it - AGAIN. IF Jim goes, and I do mean IF, then so should the f***ing board. The honeymoon period is over. IT'S TIME TO EITHER SH*T OR GET OFF THE F**KING POT. I'd rather the club folded and started again than carried on like this. f***ing farcical. Very much inclined to agree, I think I posted similar earlier in the season. The board tell us that they have given the Manager a "competitive" budget but competitive with what? Reading between the lines it would seem that Gannon has spent a significant part of his budget on Oswell which would have been great if he'd been able to replace Lloyd and/or Montrose but he hasn't and the effect of the absence of Montrose in particular is that our defensive limitations are now being ruthlessly exposed. It's way too early to write the season off but, upfront we are still too reliant on a single individual yet without last season's defensive security at the back and unless the board find the cash to allow the Manager to fix it the season will quickly fizzle out, crowds decline, etc, etc.
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