petef
Match Room Manager 
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Post by petef on May 20, 2021 11:14:58 GMT
Saturdays home game v Barnet has bit of unique ring about it in as much we have virtually assured ourselves of a top three spot and should be able to play our game freely and without pressure. A big score would be a bonus but we should be wary of a Barnet side with players no doubt playing for their futures and who will want to finish the season on a high against the top dogs in the division. Home supporters for the first time in months will add some atmosphere and spice and as much I hope we can score a few this is a professional outfit were playing not a park side. The same also applies to Altrincham who will also want to put on a show for their fans in the final fixture.
Beware the underdog who can also play without fear I say. To realistically expect us to score 4 or 5 and then for Sutton to draw or lose to Barnet is hopeful in the extreme but we do still have the slimmest of chances so its inevitable I suppose we cling on to those hopes.
As long as we can continue build on our recent good form for the play offs and avoid injuries to key players Ill be happy as that really is where we need to concentrate and where our hopes lie now.
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Jon
Admin
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Post by Jon on May 23, 2021 7:25:53 GMT
Sutton 0 Hartlepool 5
Altrincham 1 Torquay 2
Barnet 1 Sutton 1
Our title on head to head.
Cue Chelstongull.....
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chelstongull
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Post by chelstongull on May 23, 2021 7:48:27 GMT
Sutton 0 Hartlepool 5 Altrincham 1 Torquay 2 Barnet 1 Sutton 1 Our title on head to head. Cue Chelstongull..... Don’t think I can watch the Sutton game, where they win the league ☹️ |
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Post by stefano on May 23, 2021 8:05:01 GMT
Good forecasts there from Jon. I really can't understand people at this stage talking about putting a weakened team out next week at Altrincham to save players for the play offs.
It may be something to consider if Sutton win today. However there is nothing at all to say that Sutton will not lose their final two games. A Hartlepool win today even if only 1-0 and it is game on for next Saturday.
There is also the point of it being better to go into the play offs on the back of a good win and performance, and because we do not enter until the semi-final stage (with a home game) we get a couple of weeks to prepare in any case.
Positive thinking....and if it doesn't work out it is only a game of soccer! 😉⚽️
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sam
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Post by sam on May 23, 2021 11:53:04 GMT
If Torquay United end up in the play offs it will be the first time (peacetime) they have played in the month of June.
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chelstongull
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Post by chelstongull on May 23, 2021 12:42:53 GMT
Sutton 0 Hartlepool 5 Altrincham 1 Torquay 2 Barnet 1 Sutton 1 Our title on head to head. Cue Chelstongull..... Don’t think I can watch the Sutton game, where they win the league ☹️ I read that Sutton are one nil up... |
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Post by register on May 23, 2021 12:53:04 GMT
Don’t think I can watch the Sutton game, where they win the league ☹️ I read that Sutton are one nil up... Two nil… |
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Post by register on May 23, 2021 13:23:48 GMT
I read that Sutton are one nil up... Two nil… Half an hour before it happened…it’s a gift! 🦦 |
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chelstongull
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Post by chelstongull on May 23, 2021 13:26:35 GMT
Half an hour before it happened…it’s a gift! 🦦 Congratulations to Sutton 👍 |
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Post by stefano on May 23, 2021 13:30:02 GMT
Hartlepool getting battered now 3-0 still 10 minutes to go ⚽️
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petef
Match Room Manager
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Post by petef on May 23, 2021 14:04:46 GMT
Carpet removal contractors preparing for work at Sutton apparently. Never in doubt to be fair when you have an outlet like Olaefe your on a winner. They managed to keep their better players fit which was the difference. Had we managed to keep Wright, Whitfield and Nemane fit we would have been celebrating ourselves today. As it turned out we have incredibly managed to bluff our way to runners up with constant week to week changes in the starting line up. A quite incredible feat from our management team and playing squad. I feel we may need one or two back to stand chance of joining them though after yesterdays showing though anything can happen in a knock out competition.
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Jon
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Post by Jon on May 23, 2021 14:57:52 GMT
Had we managed to keep Wright, Whitfield and Nemane fit we would have been celebrating ourselves today. As it turned out we have incredibly managed to bluff our way to runners up with constant week to week changes in the starting line up. A quite incredible feat from our management team and playing squad. I feel we may need one or two back to stand chance of joining them though after yesterdays showing though anything can happen in a knock out competition. Yes Pete - agree with that. I was not expecting us to win the league anyway, but if you had told me the injuries we would face I would not have expected to make the play-offs. Glad in a way that Sutton won convincingly today as it makes yesterday's throwaway easier to bear. I did think that a 3-2 win over Barnet would give us a real chance of the title, but today's result would have meant that even Stefano and myself would have struggled to come up with a pair of last day results to leave us as Champions. Good news for Sutton as they can rip up their pitch tomorrow rather than have to leave it in place in case of play-offs. For us, we need to refocus and start our play-off campaign.' I would not expect us to rest players (other than those carrying knocks) next week. There is a two week gap until the play-off semis anyway. Important that we win at Altrincham. That would leave us unbeaten in 13 - won 9, drawn 4. Sounds so much better than a negative "not won in four games". No need to rush the likes of Whitfield and Wright back. Wouldn't be surprised if we fix up a low key friendly in the week after Alty for those two to get a runout alongside those who are not getting a game. Everything must now be geared to having as many as possible match-fit and ready for the two (hopefully!) games which will make or break this season. I guess this means BT will concentrate on the race for the play-off places next week and not show us. Hope that means that Altrincham are allowed to offer a live stream of the game - don't want to ruin my 100% National League record for this season. |
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Post by stig123 on May 23, 2021 14:58:55 GMT
Totally agree petef...important to have Whitfield and Wright fit for the playoffs. Still can't believe Nemane broke his bloody leg during rehab.
As was suggested elsewhere on this site...rest key players and give fringe players a run out next week. Can't afford any more injuries!
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Jon
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Post by Jon on May 23, 2021 15:15:39 GMT
If Torquay United end up in the play offs it will be the first time (peacetime) they have played in the month of June. I am afraid I can't let you have that one Sam. We beat C.m. Department 4-2 in the Plymouth & District League on Thursday 5 June 1947. Now if you ha said "first time (peacetime) they have played a first team game in the month of June" ...... The 1946/47 was greatly delayed by terrible weather and government restrictions on midweek games. There were rounds of Football League matches on June 7 and June 14, but our first team finished their fixtures at Walsall on 31 May. Forty-four years later to the day we beat Blackpool on penalties at Wembley. As you rightly hint, we played two first team games in June 1940 - losing 11-0 at Newport on June 1 and beating Swansea 7-2 at Plainmoor on June 5. |
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petef
Match Room Manager
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Post by petef on May 23, 2021 16:40:19 GMT
Just a quick mention of injured players. Does any one know why Ben Whitfield was absent yesterday a player who could be key to our chances.
If anyone watched Sutton today just watch when they go forward with Olaofe out wide left you can see why they score so many goals. A player way above this level if not now then in the future who scares defenders to death not to dissimilar to our own Ben Whitfield.
That outlet preesing of defenders and more direct attacking play has been lacking for a good while now but somehow GJ found answers with Jake Andrews filling the void but in a totally different role.
We stretched ourselves yesterday and left big holes in midfield chasing goals and it backfired. With Andrews pressing forward and Randell still doing his best as a winger it left Asa Hall with his lack of pace pretty exposed especially as Little was losing possession easily and not on his game. We simply looked over run on occasions and when they countered at the end poor old Dean Moxey was out on his feet trying to cover ground on the right side when Wynter got exposed pushing on up field.
Need to sort out a few things and somehow find our best form in the next few weeks but if anyone can sort it GJ will.
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