Harrogate vs Swindon Town build up & matchday thread

[Jimmy Quinn]

I've barely heard Williams name on the radio

[Steak supper]

harrogate will be well pleased with that

[Batch]

the defence looks so shakey.

not much shown up top either.

Gladders my player of the half

[Jimmy Quinn]

It’s our first match of the season, isn’t it?

Not if you include pre-season

[Audrey]

That was a pile of shite

[Pericardinho]

Get Reed off. Or fire a rocket up him. He's lost the ball practically every time he's had it.

Not impressed with either wingback so far.

Adeloye can't get involved. Brennan looks good on the ball.

[Audrey]

Reed looks like he wants to be somewhere else

[Outletred]

Well that was bloody awful

Let’s hope the second half is better- based on the first half we look like the ones favourite for the drop….

[DV]

Reed is lost without Conroy stood 5 yards away from him to pass too repeatedly

[Berniman]

Let's hope our habit of turning up second half away from home last season is still there

[Nemo]

Interesting, if far from action packed first half. I'm not exactly a great reader of the game, but here's my view on the tactics and players:

- Tactically, it feels like an evolution on last season but lacking crispness that we had at our best. That may just be early season, let's hope it is. There's still a bit of passing around, but also willing to go long early at times- it feels like someone has ticked "Passing Style: Mixed" on FM.

- The wing backs are more or less playing as full wingers, especially Shade - getting a long way forward, and at times MacDonald (LCB) and Brennan (RCB) have got forwards too. That may be a result of Harrogate sitting in a little, but we haven't often had five at the back - Reed clearly drops back when these guys get forward.

- Gladwin looks a different player and the pick of our midfield, running plenty with the ball and his close control is really good. Williams and Reed below par, particularly Reed who misplaced a lot of passes. We know they both have the quality though, hopefully that comes through.

- Of the new guys, Shade looks really bright and Adeloye is working really hard. Hutton hasn't seen much of the ball down the left but could have given away the pen. Brynn one good save, Brennan looks alright and gets forward more than you'd imagine. MacDonald looks every inch the fan favourite - he puts tackles in where a lot of defenders may have stayed on their feet which I suspect will win him fans but also give away a few fouls. He can pass too.

- It's early season and difficult to judge, but Harrogate look like nobody's whipping boys. Pretty confident the aforementioned "TEF XI" would be getting a shoeing here. #16 especially bright.

- The goal was sloppy but didn't feel like something that would be replicable, a bit of bad luck and a few crucial players getting in each other's way.

I think we'll win this, but it might not be pretty.

[DV]

Wakeling to come on and score…
I’m calling it just because…

[Jimmy Quinn]

At the moment I'm hoping for my prediction of 1-1 unless we can turn on the style and get a victory.

[Nemo]

Just to remind people that I can't be arsed to do the post-match MoM poll this year, but I'm happy to share the spreadsheet template if anyone else wants to take up the reins.

Form an orderly queue.

I'll do this afterwards, assuming nobody else wants to. Didn't see anyone volunteering.

[Nemo]

Could be worse mind, Orkney are 7-0 to Shetland. Tricky to come back from that one.