2016/17 Prediction League; Game 25 v Cheltenham Town (away)

[Div3North]

Cheltenham Town

V

Accrington Stanley

2016/17 Prediction League; Game 25 v Cheltenham (away)

Arguably, I accept, this is really Game 26 (because the Cambridge postponement from Saturday should have been Game 25) ................... but what the Hell!

Go on then, who was surprised to see Notts County sack John Sheridan for losing nine in a row? And how many were surprised that Steve Davis was “let go” (= sacked) by Crewe Alexandra (despite being the fourth-longest serving Manager of the 92) after taking two points from seven games (same as we did, I seem to remember); Sheridan was replaced temporarily by ex Man U and Leeds and England player Alan Smith, who promptly lost the only game he expected to manage 4-1 at Morecambe (his first decision was not to pick himself for the team, which might be worrying); as is the way of the world, though, John Boy was out of work precisely 10 days before going back to Oldham (for his third stint), the Latics presumably thinking that losing 9 of 9 is a good recommendation for their job; Steve Davis was replaced by ex player David Artell; and ex Orient P/M Kevin Nolan is now P/M of Notts County! Isn’t it a small world?............. Morecambe, by the way, are currently managed by the fourth-longest serving manager of the 92 ............ no, not Steve Davis (who was sacked – do keep up!), but Jim Bentley (who wasn’t) .............. and Justin Edinburgh – the Golden Boy of two years back – Strode off into the Sunset from Gillingham (which is quite hard to do) ................and wasn’t in nice to climb a place in the League Two table without even playing a League game?

In a curtailed League programme last weekend, bottom placed Newport, despite a raft of signings which Whatisface the Manager describes as “a risk” (not as big a risk as having him as Manager!) contrived to lose their 8th game in a row (3-1 at Stevenage), last-but-one Cheltenham (who’ve lost 6 of their last 7) didn’t have a game, 22nd-placed Notts County lost their 10th in a row (see “4-1 at Morecambe”, above), giving their temporary manager a win percentage of nil, and 20th placed Leyton Orient, above us on goals scored, are now 21st placed and below us on GD after rolling over 3-1 at home to Barnet ...............Carlisle’s train hit the buffers on Saturday too – losing 4-1 at Colchester (for whom, as reported elsewhere, Kurtis got a hat trick) to follow up their 3-1 home defeat by Grimsby on Monday last week, meaning their 2017 record is P2 L2 GF2 GA7 Pts 0 – and that’s relegation form! Colchester, as a result of winning seven of 8 and drawing the other one, are now 6th ............ and well done to Kurtis ............. and maybe to Toto too, who was sent off on his debut for Shrewsbury but had the red card rescinded on appeal! All in all, 2017 is doing ok by us .............. 4 points and a 4th Round Cup place away to a PL team (even if it is Middlesbrough)– that’s a bit more like it, eh Lads?

They (The Robins) have loan-signed former Blades’ striker Diego de Girolamo (21) from Bristol City and CB Emmanuel Onariase (20) – a Hammers youth player in his day – from Brentford; very recently they’ve added a Winchester and a Pike (sounds like the Roundheads!) in the form of NI MF Carl Winchester (late of Oldham; perhaps he didn’t fancy John Boy as his Gaffer?) and – on loan – West Ham’s “versatile” defender Alex Pike, plus Will Boyle – a kettle – sorry, a defender – from Huddersfield, letting two of their current squad go on loan to York in exchange .......... they’ve also re-signed GK Scott Brown on loan from Wycombe, who – having done Stourbridge over with a You Fat Bastard free header (we know the feeling!) – are now apparently “taking a look” at some of their (Stourbridge’s) players with a view – one presumes – to signing the better ones ...........how’s that for a double-whammy? Various of Cheltenham’s former loanees have gone back whence they came – best known probably being Koby Arthur from Brum (which is his club, not his name, unlike Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink – remember him?)

Their home record is a measly W2 D5 L6, the wins being against Crewe 2-0 in late August and Crawley 2-1 in mid-October, so presumably you don’t lose at Whaddon Rd unless your name starts with a “C” – like “Caccrington” - and away it’s W2 D4 L5, for an overall W4 D9 L11, and 21 points from 24 games; 24 goals scored and 37 conceded (minus 13 being the third-worst in the League, with 24 scored being the worst but one – that “one” being our 23 scored). They went out of the FA Cup 2-1 at Sutton in Round Two, having done Crewe 4-1 away in Round The First after a half-Desmond, and they similarly lost interest in the EFLCup 2-0 at the Toon in Round 2 (beating Charlton by the odd goal in one in Round 1) ............they are, though, still in the EFLTroffy, having done over Leicester u21s at home on Tuesday night (6-1) - which hopefully might have tired them out for Saturday. They host Bratfut next week in Round 3

This is a six-pointer for which, if we win, we’ll get three points. But they won’t. And the gap will then be 7 points, and we’ll be nearer the play-off places ............and if Colchester can do it, so can we! So there!

They came to our place on 8th October and snook a Dickie equaliser in the 89th minute (that’s a name, not a description) to steal a point (El Tel getting our goal in 74 minutes); over the seasons, they shade the head-to head with 5 wins to our 4, with 4 more drawn, but those 13 games have produced 39 goals – including two x 4 for them, and a 4 and a 3 for us ............... having just scored 6, hopefully they’ll be magnanimous enough to let us have a few on Saturday! MF Bill Henry Penna Waters – once of Crewe - heads their goal scorers’ list with 10, followed by 6’ 4” fellow MF Harry David Balraj Pell (25) and striker Danny Wright with 6 each

Deadline for entries is, as always, scheduled kick-off time, which is 3.00pm on Saturday 14th January 2017. Hands up if you knew that the Robins share their stadium (“The LCI Rail Stadium” – aka Whaddon Road) with their main rivals Gloucester City? ..............nor did I! What I do know is that we need more of the same ............ we’re actually only 14 points off the Playoff spots, I should remind you, and – as My Old Granny used to say – “nothing’s impossible” .............but then, she never tried to strike a match on a bar of wet soap!

Good luck to everyone! ................ Keep the Faith! ........... And thanks for playing!

[AccyMad]

3 - 1 to Stanley please

[cashman]

2-1 Stanley fer me.

[Tommy McQueen]

Cheltenham 1 Stanley 1 please

[monkey hanger]

back on the fence. 1 all draw.

[DaveinGermany]

2-1 to the Stanley please D3N.

[MikeA]

2-1 Stanley win, please

[Chrisr]

2-0 to Stanley. Redrevival

[Chimer]

This is definitely game 25 as far as the PL record is concerned, unless it upsets Somerset by succumbing to the icy blast, in which case it'll be something else - everything will fall apart otherwise!!

Desmond for me, but hoping for better ......

[Revived Red]

For various reasons, I have a deep dislike of Cheltenham. So I shall say Cheltenham 1 Stanley 4. It may not get me many points but it certainly makes me feel better!

[AccyMad]

You're not alone RR, think a lot of us feel like that about Cheltenham - yesterday someone asked me if I was going, I think the look on my face & the shudder gave him the answer!

[Red-Osbornello]

Stanley 2 - 1 Cheltenham please D3N.

[Exile on Spencer St]

Their fans bemoaning the poor quality of the Whaddon Road pitch so expect a hard, bobbly pitch tomorrow, and lots of aerial activity.

[cashman]

Originally Posted by AccyMad

You're not alone RR, think a lot of us feel like that about Cheltenham - yesterday someone asked me if I was going, I think the look on my face & the shudder gave him the answer!

Agree, the fans aint so bad, its the clowns the club employ to look after things,stop me from ever returning,

[Tom D]

2 0 win for Stanley please