Fyldelatic

It would be Blackpool for me, only 15 min away or an hour on foot, but with Not a Penny More campaign against the owners, we have a real chance of outnumbering home fans, though they do give away lots of free tickets to local schools. 

I am a good learner

So with only Blackpool or Exeter to join us, we now have a clear picture of what League One is going to be like, having read comments since starting this thread.

1. Big club with healthy support and potentially more money (compared to us): Bradford City, Wigan, Blackburn Rovers (major ownership issue), Plymouth, Portsmouth, MK Dons, Charlton.

2. Smaller clubs but with more money and/or proven manager: Scunthorpe United, Fleetwood Town, Southend United, Doncaster Rovers, Bristol Rovers, Peterborough United, Rochdale.

3. Others, including us and possibly struggling or with major issues: Oldham Athletic (potentially in 2 with Shez but still doubt about funding and club management), Oxford Utd, Walsall, AFC Wimbledon, Northampton Town, Shrewsbury Town, Gillingham, Bury, Rotherham United, Blackpool/Exeter.

So my prediction for 2017/18 season:

Promotion: Bradford City, Wigan

Playoff: Fleetwood Town, Blackburn Rovers, Doncaster Rovers, Portsmouth

Relegation: Shrewsbury Town, Gillingham, Bury, Blackpool/Exeter.

For us, possibly top-10 finish but lower mid-table more likely.

OK, nothing special was a bit harsh for those coming up, as promotion is an achievement over the whole season and not to be dismissed lightly. But we have seen it time after time that a team that takes League 2 by the scruff of the neck fare badly in a higher division, especially with defence with better finishers around. Portsmouth is an entirely different team that graced the top division not so long ago, with their financial turmoil, points deduction etc, and they are just beginning to put a decent, young side together. Plymouth I don't know well, but West Country teams rarely do well in higher divisions, something to do with having to travel a lot for most of their games. Donny are curate's eggs, good in part. Newish stadium and committed owner, but money doesn't buy success as they've found to their cost. Bouncing back in one season is to be commended.

3 coming down nothing special, 3 going up nothing special, 4th team all dross (though Luton has loyal following). So do we have realistic chance of doing Fleetwood, who punched well above their weight but injuries at the season's end cost them.

Seriously, one of the reasons for an early kick-off is to enable Sky to televise any match they like without affecting coverage of other divisions.

Bolton fans were saying Ngoo was the player that gave them most problems until he was sent off.

4 minutes ago, kowenicki said:

Dale down to 10. Again. Dirty side Dale. 

Keane on two yellows.

I just paid by debit card over the phone and the bloke said my existing season card will be activated for the new season. So no new card to collect.

It looked straight red when first saw it at Banks Stadium, and looks even more clear-cut in replay.

Alright he was cross for losing possession, but going in like that when there was absolutely no need for, near the dugout, is beyond my comprehension. He should know better at his age not to retaliate. Very poor attutude for a senior pro.

If you are thinking of getting a family ticket for adult and junior from Wallsall ticket office, unless you phone and pay £22 for the ticket in advance, you will be charged £24 when you just go to the ticket office on Saturday.

As for the weather, I've been monitoring it and it seems that other than rain on Friday, it's going to be largely dry on Saturday. They had torrential downpour on Tuesday and it's rare for their match to be called off for waterlogged pitch.

They are a big, physical side and play route 1 football. Glad Gerrard is back as it gives us physicality we need in the back line. Fleetwood used their passing skills to score three on Saturday, so there's hope.

Any weather concerns? Snow?

That Holloway chance in the first half was a biggie. About 5 yards out, keeper wrong-footed and he loops the header about 3 feet wide. Had it been on target, 100% goal.

Maynard strike was good, but should never have got to the ball if we defended as we had been doing up to then. A momentary lapse in concentration. Sort of Chesterfield in reverse, as someone said.

There is notice on supporters' coach warning that it's criminal offence to carry alcohol on the coach.

£15 was a limited offer up to and including the Gillingham game.

Is it cheaper if you buy a ticket in advance for Saturday?

Yes, £20 instead of £22 on the day. No more £15 though.

Taking on somebody's else's speeding ticket amounts to perverting the course of justice, and the usual punishment is custodial.

Neil and Christine Hamilton famously got off scot-free, as they claimed in court that on that particular journey they swapped driving several times and couldn't possibly remember who was driving at the time of the offence. Don't try it yourself, unless you have means to engage a top motoring lawyer to defend you, and you may still get done.

A blue on the posh side of Blackpool.

How does the weather look? Any snow around BP? Roads? Bury reports no problems with their pitch a few minutes ago.

And no fog.

There are very strict about bottles, and only liquid they allow is in cartons. But strangely they sell drinks in plastic bottles inside, so they may be concerned plastic bottles carried by fans may have petrol inside or something, or just want to protect their bar/snacks profits.

In the past this was possible (there is a small ticket office next to away end) but nothing has been announced yet.

Also no plastic bottles of any kind allowed.

Forecast for Saturday 31st December for Fleetwood/Blackpool: Maximum 10C, minimum 5C.

It wouldn't have been difficult to stay stum in the home end.