TheBigDog

Going off the list below as at February 1 - I’d say about 18 or 19 of the current squad 1. Daniel Iversen (season loan from Leicester City) 13. Zeus de la Paz (2019) 43. Ewan McFarlane (youth)  2. Cameron Dummigan (option taken to 2019) 3. Andy Taylor (2019) 4. George Edmundson (2020) 5. Alex Iacovitti (half-season loan) 15. Sonhy Sefil (2020) - out on loan to Ashton 20. Jamie Stott (2020 plus option) 23. Rob Hunt (2020) 26. Peter Clarke (2019) 33. Jay Sheridan (2019) 34. Tom Hamer (2020) 45. Harry Norris (youth) 49. Javid Swaby-Neavin (youth) - out on loan to Ashton 6. Dan Gardner (2019) 7. Giles Coke (2020) 8. Jose Baxter (2019 plus option) 17. Christopher Missilou (2019) 22. Johan Branger-Engone (2019) 24. Ousmane Fane (option taken to 2019) - may have left, not confirmed 25. Chinedu Uche (2019, possibly plus option) - may have left, not confirmed 27. Gevaro Nepomuceno (2019) 28. Mohamed Maouche (2019 plus option) 42. Mohamad Sylla (2020) 46. Harry Robinson (youth) 59. Jack Williams (youth) 9. Zak Dearnley (half-season loan) 10. Chris O'Grady (2019) 11. Urko Vera (2019) 14. Jonathan Benteke (2019) 18. Oladapo Afolayan (half-season loan) 19. Callum Lang (season loan) 44. Max Norman (youth)

I went to Cambridge today expecting us to build on the promise we had shown for a large part of the home game against Stevenage. After a fairly drab first period in which we bossed the game, with Baxter the standout player, we deserved to go in at half time one goal up. The team worked hard closing down and getting a foot in at vital moments, but ultimately the tactic of playing out from the back led to lots of possession with very little in the way of efforts on goal. Once again we came out for the second half and looked a shadow of the team who had comfortably managed the game. An early mixup and the slender lead was clawed back. From that point onwards we looked ponderous, disinterested and a very poor side. When Baxter went off we lost the midfield and were distinctly second best. Dapo should have put his chance away but lacked the composure and Nepomuceno hit a tame free kick easily saved by the keeper. That apart, I cannot remember another clear cut opportunity. At the end we seemed to settle for a point. Too many players looked off the pace today. Edmundson, Maouche, Lang, Dearnley and Alofayan either were caught in possession or gave the ball away cheaply. O’Grady and Branger and Missilou had very little impact coming off the bench. Clarke was again the outstanding defender. One positive for me was the performance of Iversen- specifically the way he came off his line to claim the ball. Obviously something that he has been working on in training. A disappointing and worrying performance.

Will be interesting to see the attendance at Blackpool today - expecting a full house with fans returning following the Owen Oyston’s demise. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47392440

But then you’ll miss some of the game...

As long as he puts out his first choice side tomorrow I’m happy. From the fishul: Scholes has also had one eye on Tuesday night’s game with Lincoln City and he believes that he’ll have to use his full compliment (sic) of players to get through the next week. “Planning wise, I think I will be changing the team from Saturday to Tuesday then back to Saturday without a shadow of doubt.

From the ground guide: There is a supporters club at the ground itself, that normally allows in away supporters, except for high profile games. The club charges a £2 entrance fee and also serves food. However as you would expect on matchdays it gets rather busy and sometimes has to turn away fans because it is full.

No mention of it being All Ticket so would imagine it is PotD Last two home games: v Tranmere Attendance: 4,872 (629) result 0-0 v Port Vale Attendance: 4,193 (311) result 1-0 Good Away following from the tramps. Both tight games from the score line.

And there will be a number more who, like me and a couple of mates, turn up on the day. Fully expect 400+ on the day. That South Stand should be bouncing.

Agreed. Contracts should contain relegation clauses. Would be surprised if they didn’t. However that doesn’t necessarily mean that holding on to players after relegation is a bad thing. They stay on reduced terms or they go. They can be part of that recovery.

Not when we win at Cambridge

Scholes wins his next three games and he goes top of the table

Until quite recently, I was of the opinion that a European super league was a bad thing. But I am now coming around to the view that it may well benefit the English League structure. When I read of David De Gea reportedly wanting 400k a week (A WEEK FFS!) and his club ready to pay him that sum then I despair for the whole football pyramid. Championship clubs will increasingly push themselves to the point of bankruptcy to attain the holy grail that is the Premier League and the knock on effect down through the leagues will only lead to the rich clubs benefiting - sad times

So we lose Nepomuceno, Missilou, Maouche and that is great news? Your opinion I know but still ... I agree that Scholes should be allowed to recruit (and ultimately be judged on) the players he has agreed to bring in but what if Scholes actually wants to keep the three #frenchlads above? Is that then bad news?

Got me thinking this If we assume that Branger, Nepomuceno, Dearnley are not midfielders and that Fane has gone that leaves us with... Maouche, Baxter, Missilou who are current first choice. Coke, Sylla who are benchwarmers. Robinson, Sheridan, Uche, Williams who are yoof. Gardner who is injured. I guess it depends on your definition of ‘plenty’ when it comes to our midfield options

I think that just about covers everybody - and the bit in parentheses applies to my seat

Both Gardner and Maouche are quality players when they are on their game. The difference between them is that whatever Gardner does, good or bad, always seems to be highly visible. Maouche is an extremely talented footballer and a lot of what he does sometimes goes unnoticed - his performance on Saturday was excellent allowing Baxter to play a free role. We have five forwards who are skilful and very good technically (Nepomuceno, Maouche, Missilou, Lang and Baxter). The first three of these also work extremely hard closing down and tackling back. As has been said on numerous occasions, what we are missing going forward is that striker... Sam Surridge if only... The defence has to sort out how to deal with the inevitable and frequent high balls into the area. Iversen gets his share of criticism for not dominating the six yard box ( a fault he shares with Pickford if yesterday’s Mersey Derby is anything to go by) but he is an excellent keeper in the making. I also like the progress we have seen from Edmundson and Hamer (surely a future centre back) but it is obvious that we are short defensively. There is a long way to go for Scholes but Saturday was an encouraging performance against an awkward and well drilled team. I’ll be at Cambridge looking for the progress to continue. #actuallyenjoying the footballatthemoment

It’s all about opinions I know but to call today’s performance ‘Absolute rubbish’ and ‘utter shite’ is somewhat baffling. As with oafcmetty, I found plenty to be encouraged about from today.

I saw signs today of what Scholes is bringing to the team. So many of the players look more comfortable on the ball and the quality of technical play has definitely improved. I loved the switching of wings by Nepomuceno and Dearnley, I liked the fullbacks pushing forward and both Missilou and Maouche worked hard. Iversen class again. Leaving two up the pitch at corners too. At the same time though, there is much that is still not right. Lack of positional play leading to players being caught out, too much room given around the box. Poor decision making on occasions. Maybe that will come too. Baxter was the MotM for me but all of the starting eleven showed up well. The first half performance was cagey and ordinary but the second half was a great improvement. Not too despondent but hoping that we continue to see better as the season comes to a mid table finish

Naaah... this will be a comfortable victory. I hope that that I am not eating humble come 5pm Saturday...

The debate on football badges is simple: traditional versus modern. Traditional = Bury, Crawley, Man Utd Modern = Oldham, Cheltenham, Juventus, Forest Swindon are a classic example of reverting from modern back to traditional. I like the current Latics one but it could be better.

Takes no more than 3 to 4 minutes to complete. Sorted.

I, along with one or two others, have had a word with him on occasion over the past two seasons - obviously to no avail. This will either make him sit up and think or he may just drift away.

Bury had around 3,500 last home game so with us taking 2,700 I make that 6,000+.

As are we all Mike, as are we all...

Scholes update on players available for Saturday: Two of those currently training are loan signings Alex Iacovitti and Oladapo Afolayan. Scholes is monitoring both closely as he looks to get them both up to full speed before throwing them into the first team. “Alex (Iacovitti) has been training for a couple of weeks, since I've been here, and I want to see him in a game. “It's been difficult because he's a left-back and we've got three or four of them, so it's about waiting for the right team to look at him. “We've had some games behind closed doors which we have more of in the next couple of weeks, so if we can get him some minutes hopefully, he'll be ready “Dapo (Oladapo Afolayan) has come in this morning, he's been out for a long time and only had two hours of football since. “He's going to need two or three weeks of really good training, he'll be in the squad for the next three or four games before we look at a start.” Scholes was also unsure on the availability of Tom Hamer and Callum Lang who both missed Tuesday’s game through injury. “We're not sure on both of them really, Callum (Lang) is still sore and Tom (Hamer) is still a bit stiff, but hopefully they can both train tomorrow, but we'll wait and see.”