The Times Fancy us

[Colin Todd]

I just dont see us finishing bottom half unless we have very bad luck with injuries.  Our side is a million times better and more commited than our league 1 relegation side.

If you look at the side that started against northampton last year our likely side against Tranmere is much, much better.

The defence will probablly be fairly similar, except maybe with the addition of Kanyuka who looks good.

Adams, Pook & Sturrock all started that game. Timlin / Easton / Nallis and Cox will play this year instead. And you dont have to be a genius to work out that Macca is much much better than that french twat Zaaboub.

If Cox and Macnamee stay fit for most of the season we'll do alright.

In some ways I feel that Barry Corr's fitness could have the greatest impact on our season though. IF (very big IF) he can play at least 30 odd games when fully fit we will have a chance at the play offs I think - He scores gaols and wins virtually everything in the air. I'm all for Malpas getting the team to play football this season, but in Lague 1 you need a bit of power up front at times. With Corr we would be a very dangerous side going forward with an excellent blend of pace, skill, power and ariel ability.

There is the added bonus of Fitton perhaps getting the chequebook out for re-inforcments in January if we are doing fairly well.

The biggest issues we face are away form, and general inconstancy. And Billy Paynter. Malpas needs to do something to make us harder to beat away from home and get a run of form going. far too often last season a couple of decent performances were followed by shite and it was back to square 1.

So basically after all that our season depends on luck. 

Good luck= Play offs or thereabouts
Average luck = upper mid table
bad luck = Lower mid table.

[Dozno9]

I don't think you can underestimate the effect that off the field politics has had over the playing squad and managers of the past 18 months. With players getting paid and a clear goal to aim for I think things can only improve. I do accept that we do have an over reliability on players such as Cox and Macca but with the possibility of Betsy coming in and the youth players coming of age where they could play a role I am very positive about this year.

[suttonred]

I just dont see us finishing bottom half unless we have very bad luck with injuries.  Our side is a million times better and more commited than our league 1 relegation side.

If you look at the side that started against northampton last year our likely side against Tranmere is much, much better.

The defence will probablly be fairly similar, except maybe with the addition of Kanyuka who looks good.

Adams, Pook & Sturrock all started that game. Timlin / Easton / Nallis and Cox will play this year instead. And you dont have to be a genius to work out that Macca is much much better than that french twat Zaaboub.

If Cox and Macnamee stay fit for most of the season we'll do alright.

In some ways I feel that Barry Corr's fitness could have the greatest impact on our season though. IF (very big IF) he can play at least 30 odd games when fully fit we will have a chance at the play offs I think - He scores gaols and wins virtually everything in the air. I'm all for Malpas getting the team to play football this season, but in Lague 1 you need a bit of power up front at times. With Corr we would be a very dangerous side going forward with an excellent blend of pace, skill, power and ariel ability.

There is the added bonus of Fitton perhaps getting the chequebook out for re-inforcments in January if we are doing fairly well.

The biggest issues we face are away form, and general inconstancy. And Billy Paynter. Malpas needs to do something to make us harder to beat away from home and get a run of form going. far too often last season a couple of decent performances were followed by shite and it was back to square 1.

So basically after all that our season depends on luck. 

Good luck= Play offs or thereabouts
Average luck = upper mid table
bad luck = Lower mid table.

Cant add anything to that, or disagree with it .Spot on sir!

[DV]

I just dont see us finishing bottom half unless we have very bad luck with injuries.  Our side is a million times better and more commited than our league 1 relegation side.

If you look at the side that started against northampton last year our likely side against Tranmere is much, much better.

The defence will probablly be fairly similar, except maybe with the addition of Kanyuka who looks good.

Adams, Pook & Sturrock all started that game. Timlin / Easton / Nallis and Cox will play this year instead. And you dont have to be a genius to work out that Macca is much much better than that french twat Zaaboub.

If Cox and Macnamee stay fit for most of the season we'll do alright.

In some ways I feel that Barry Corr's fitness could have the greatest impact on our season though. IF (very big IF) he can play at least 30 odd games when fully fit we will have a chance at the play offs I think - He scores gaols and wins virtually everything in the air. I'm all for Malpas getting the team to play football this season, but in Lague 1 you need a bit of power up front at times. With Corr we would be a very dangerous side going forward with an excellent blend of pace, skill, power and ariel ability.

There is the added bonus of Fitton perhaps getting the chequebook out for re-inforcments in January if we are doing fairly well.

The biggest issues we face are away form, and general inconstancy. And Billy Paynter. Malpas needs to do something to make us harder to beat away from home and get a run of form going. far too often last season a couple of decent performances were followed by shite and it was back to square 1.

So basically after all that our season depends on luck. 

Good luck= Play offs or thereabouts
Average luck = upper mid table
bad luck = Lower mid table.

I'd generally agree with most of that apart from the bit about Corr. I dont think hes played enough games at this level to prove he'll be a huge assest to us.

He came back into the side and had a purple patch for about 4/5 games but hes done nothing to suggest he can be consistent. Not because hes rubbish just because he is always injured.

[Colin Todd]

Yes thats the optimistic football fan in me coming out again.  Theres no reason to believe that Barry will stay fit for longer than about 10 minutes. But given his ability and the way he played with Cox for a few games last season I cant help but think "what if"