Football

[Howardh]

Not sure if this should go under "Football" or "Trips"!

Larne (NI) v Lincoln Red Imps (Gibraltar) Conference second leg is due to be played in Larne on Thurs 29 Aug. Was switched back from Windsor Park making it a tad more difficult for visiting fans, but hey.

Fancy popping over for this one, the cheap flights are at ridiculous times like 7am or near midnight; but Easyjet fly both ways mid-afternoon. Thus is the "Trip" bit, can get to larne from Belfast OK but I think the Central station is being rebuilt so I'd have to use Lanyon Place (??). The 300 and 300(a) are regular from the airport to Belfast bus station but on the bus site I can't find a map - really annoying that. Plus an overnight in a B+B.

Might wait before booking to see how the first leg goes!! Note if anyone's in Gibraltar or Faro - the first leg is played at the International Stadium in Faro (Portugal) as Europa Point can't be used.

 

[Falcon1200]

Top of the league.

Not any more! But at least Garnacho has already won the 'Miss of the Season' award......

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Northern Premier League...Premier Division

Matlock Town 1 ... Hyde United 4

Second successive away match for Hyde who took an early lead in the 10th minute. The second half saw Jack Redshaw score a hat-trick on the 56th, 76th and 78th minutes to put Hyde 4-0 up, before Matlock scored a late consolation goal in the 88th minute.

Quite happy to see seven points from the first three matches.

 

[dangie]

From the BBC after Stoke City’s 3-0 defeat at Watford.

Stoke City boss Steven Schumacher said:
‘Goals change games and unfortunately they got the first when we thought if we had got it in the first half that would have been perfect for our gameplan’.

In other words if Stoke had scored the result may have been different. Brilliant…….

 

[SteveM70]

FC Halifax Town 0-1 Aldershot

Ugh

After the heady optimism of scoring twice in a match last week, back to reality. Utterly toothless in attack. A perfect away performance by Aldershot - score very early, sit back, time waste at every opportunity and hey presto, three points. If it was your team, you'd be pleased, but on the other side its hugely frustrating and the ref did nothing to stop it

 

[Haywain]

When I used to watch Solihull in the NLN I used to argue for those divisions to be split by east & west rather than north & south.

My argument being that its much easier to travel up and down this country than it is across it. Yes, distances may be longer but I'd tentatively bet that average travel time to all of the away games would be lower.

I'm sure Darlington would love trips to places like Maidstone and Tonbridge!



Portsmouth 0 Luton Town 0

After being stuffed by Burnley on Monday night, this was a huge improvement. Having a couple of players back from injury helped, although our bench stil has kindergarten vibes about it! We might have got a decent win out of the game but our keeper was sent off for two bookable offences minutes apart - the first after 29 minutes was for time wasting at a goal kick that he wasn't even taking, and two minutes later he took out a Portsmouth striker outside the box. We regrouped and defended well, while still presenting a threat, and never looked in real danger of losing and I think Pompey will have been happy with the draw. On the road again next Saturday, with a rare 3 o'clock kick off at Preston.

 

[Lewisham2221]

From the BBC after Stoke City’s 3-0 defeat at Watford.

Stoke City boss Steven Schumacher said:
‘Goals change games and unfortunately they got the first when we thought if we had got it in the first half that would have been perfect for our gameplan’.

In other words if Stoke had scored the result may have been different. Brilliant…….

Having just watched the highlights, the game plan appeared to revolve around the game only being 45 minutes long. Fitness and concentration levels from the Stoke players in the second half looked appalling. Same old Stoke.

 

[43096]

Portsmouth 0 Luton Town 0

After being stuffed by Burnley on Monday night, this was a huge improvement. Having a couple of players back from injury helped, although our bench stil has kindergarten vibes about it! We might have got a decent win out of the game but our keeper was sent off for two bookable offences minutes apart - the first after 29 minutes was for time wasting at a goal kick that he wasn't even taking, and two minutes later he took out a Portsmouth striker outside the box. We regrouped and defended well, while still presenting a threat, and never looked in real danger of losing and I think Pompey will have been happy with the draw. On the road again next Saturday, with a rare 3 o'clock kick off at Preston.

That is something of a rarity - a keeper being red carded for a second yellow.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

No makes history.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Chelsea 0 ... Manchester City 2

'Nuff said.

 

[Ivor]

Chelsea 0 ... Manchester City 2

'Nuff said.

The worst thing for me as a Chelsea fan was that City didn’t come out of second gear

 

[Donny Dave]

So far, so good for Scunthorpe United. Won 3-0 away to Brackley Town last weekend, and again by the same score against Marine yesterday. Next up is a trip to Needham Market on Tuesday. I wonder if @DarloRich is getting worried about the match on the 26th November yet....

 

[Lewisham2221]

The worst thing for me as a Chelsea fan was that City didn’t come out of second gear

I didn't think Chelsea looked all that bad overall tbh. However, City are - of course - going to punish any opponent who makes even the slightest of mistakes.

 

[DarloRich]

I wonder if @DarloRich is getting worried about the match on the 26th November yet

we never get anything off Scunny. Anyway, you will blow up/fall apart like last season BTW - 3-0 at Brackley is a good win. They are a tough outfit with an awful pitch. I wondered when the tide would come in it had that much sand on last time i was there!

 

[Donny Dave]

Didn't quite blow up last season, just didn't start very well. At least the Boston supporter who worked at the same place as I did had the grace to say that Scunny should have had a penalty in the play off semi.

 

[SteveM70]

Sunderland 4-0 Barry Bannan Sheffield Wednesday 0

Strange game. Wednesday started really well and for ten minutes Sunderland hardly got a kick, then they fell apart. An actual striker scored two goals for Sunderland; Jack Clarke and Patrick Roberts were unplayable; and 17 year Chris Rigg was tremendous in the middle of midfield, overshadowing 18 year old Jobe Bellingham.

Bannon was shouting and screaming like the petulant manchild he is, which was nice.

Really don't understand Sky's ongoing obsession with him.

But anyway, P2 W2, goal difference +6, second in the league.

Next up: top of the table Burnley

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Stockport County have made a good start to their League 1 season, winning both their opening matches. A 3-0 away win at Blackpool on Saturday was quite a result.

 

[DarloRich]

Oxford City 2 v Darlington 2

Darlo lead twice. Conceded 2 fairly soft goals. Odd game. 70 minutes of pre season stroll. 15 minutes of hectic end to end either side could have won it football!

The point was fair but a bit cheesed off we didn't hold the lead we created. Plus Cedric Main was injured which is a big blow to our game plan.

Didn't quite blow up last season, just didn't start very well. At least the Boston supporter who worked at the same place as I did had the grace to say that Scunny should have had a penalty in the play off semi.

Scunny should have gone up as champions really.

Sunderland

What are you doing sending Matty Young out on loan? Get him between the sticks asap.

 

[SteveM70]

What are you doing sending Matty Young out on loan? Get him between the sticks asap.

No idea of the intricacies of Sunderland I’m afraid, it’s my partner that’s the season ticket holder, and she seems pretty happy with Anthony Patterson

 

[JD2168]

Paul Heckingbottom has been named the new manager of Preston North End.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Northern Premier League...Premier Division

Hyde Unted 2 ... Basford United 1

Hyde took the lead just before half-time in this Tuesday night match and added a second in the 56th minute. Basford pulled a goal back in the 79th minute.

Hyde now have ten points from their first four matches.

 

[Donny Dave]

Needham Market 0 Scunthorpe United 1.

3 games, 3 wins, 7 scored and none conceded (yet). Top of the table on goal difference. Next up, Chorley at home.

 

[Falcon1200]

Oxford City 2 v Darlington 2

I am very much an Oxford United, rather than City, fan, but follow their results, particularly as their ground is in the same road as my Mum's house! Hopefully City will fare getter than last season's disaster, although 2 points from 3 games so far is not great. But good luck to Darlington too!

 

[DarloRich]

Buxton 2 v Darlington 0

Another long trip after a long trip. Poor performance, Never really on it. We were lucky to get nowt. Buxton should have scored about 6!

Tough start to the season playing 3 full time teams (how on earth are trams full time on 7/800 crowds?) 2 long away slogs, key players injured, squad still being put together and kids on the bench. We desperately need a commanding centre half.

although 2 points from 3 games so far is not great.

it is a solid start for them. The NLN is held to be a lot harder than NLS so they might find it a bit of a culture shock. Some long journeys ahead for them

But good luck to Darlington too!

We have had a tough start with 2 long away trips but with a good manager on board, a couple of signings still to make and key players to come back into the side I remain confident that this season will be better than last year

 

[JD2168]

Blackpool have sacked manager Neil Critchley.

Athletico Madrid have signed Conor Gallagher in what feels like a forced out of Chelsea move for the player.

Chelsea meanwhile are going to sign yet another player who can play as a winger in Joao Felix.

How many players & wingers does one club need? Plus it does not solve Chelsea’s main problem of a striker.

 

[Ivor]

Athletico Madrid have signed Conor Gallagher in what feels like a forced out of Chelsea move for the player.

Chelsea meanwhile are going to sign yet another player who can play as a winger in Joao Felix.

How many players & wingers does one club need? Plus it does not solve Chelsea’s main problem of a striker.

I think most Chelsea fans me included are baffled by the ownership’s business model, it really has become a soap opera, a bad one.

 

[SteveM70]

I think most Chelsea fans me included are baffled by the ownership’s business model, it really has become a soap opera, a bad one.

If they own all the players, they’ll win the league

It’s genius!

 

[gg1]

Chelsea meanwhile are going to sign yet another player who can play as a winger in Joao Felix.

How many players & wingers does one club need? Plus it does not solve Chelsea’s main problem of a striker.

Including players out on loan, they currently have 11 goalkeepers. Utterly bonkers.

 

[Ivor]

If they own all the players, they’ll win the league

It’s genius!

Good shout

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Manchester City have re-signed their 33 year old former captain, Ikay Gundogan, from Barcelona on a one-year deal with a one-year possible extension.