Ethan Hoijord

Doncaster Rovers F.C meeting the opposition. 

After beating Leyton Orient with a fantastic performance at Prenton Park, Rovers managed to frustrate the travelling Super White Army, at Stockport County, as they fell to a 3-2 defeat. 

Doncaster Rovers provide the next away challenge, on Tuesday night, as Micky Mellon’s side will look to get back to winning ways and hopefully form some consistency to push for the top seven spots come May.

Ahead of the game at the Keepmoat Stadium, I spoke to Doncaster Rovers supporter Aaron Challoner. 

How long have you been supporting Doncaster? What are some of the best and worst moments that you have experienced?

My first game was a draw with Port Vale at Belle Vue in 2004. Some of my favourite moments included the Carling Cup run in 2005, knocking out Man City and Aston Villa, the Johnstone Paint Trophy final win against Bristol Rovers in 2007, beating Leeds United at Wembley Stadium in the League One playoff final in 2008 and the winning goal at Griffin Park in 2013. Worst memories were probably the majority of last season (barring beating Sunderland) and some of this season also. 

After being relegated last season, Rovers are currently positioned 15th and have lost all of their last three. How would you describe the campaign so far?

Results wise it’s been a mixed campaign. If it wasn’t for the unbeaten run at the start of the season, we’d be 20th by now. But on current form, we could be heading towards 20th if we aren’t consistently careful. 

How has last summer’s recruitment fared? Players such as attacking midfielder Luke Molyneux and George Miller were brought in from Hartlepool United and Barnsley respectively. 

Last summer the signings on paper had positive traits. They would have ticked the boxes for what the manager wants. However the consistency of the performances of these players is what concerns me. Everytime we sack a manager or he walks to another club, we have to rebuild again with a mass exit inbound for the squad. Schofield’s process HAS to work. We cannot afford to do that whole process again. 

In this January window, Doncaster have brought in Winger Todd Miller on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion until the end of the season. What are your thoughts on him?

Todd Miller is a quick and direct young winger. But his inexperience could be costly. We will see what happens in the weeks that go by. 

Former Huddersfield Town boss Danny Schofield took over from Gary McSheffrey in late October. Was it the right decision to dismiss McSheffrey? What are your thoughts on Schofield so far? His playing style and the relationship he has built with supporters. 

Danny’s playing style could be wonderful. It’s the modern style and many big clubs use traits of this style. Playing out from the back, quick passes and transitions from central to out wide. But we need the players that can play that style. This is still a chunk of Gary McSheffrey’s squad. It’s gonna take the summer to start to truly see what will happen but I question whether the club has the resources and financial backing currently to deliver what Danny Schofield needs. 

David Blunt is the chairman of Doncaster, what are your thoughts on him? What would you like to see changed at the club in the near future? 

Personally I have no problem with David Blunt. But as a chairman for a football club, unfortunately for him, his time is done in my opinion. He has overseen nine years with two relegations to League Two and only one playoff campaign in League One as well as four managers in the space of one year. We’ve had new squads every year for the past three or four years and the last couple of seasons especially, there’s been no core that have been here for longer than a season. Just the odd player or two. Both of those players are out of contract this summer and one is injured for the rest of the season. The club needs to clarify the situation with the fans. If the board is staying but they are making wholesale changes, tell the fans. If the board are receiving bids or are selling the club, tell the fans. 

Miller is top scorer with nine goals and four assists in 26 games. How would you describe his playing style and who are the team’s other key players? 

Miller I feel sorry for. His confidence is shot to pieces. I hope Caolan Lavery is gonna help him get back to where he was but also the statistics speak for themselves. Its great that George is still the top scorer and he can try and build on that. Ben Nelson has been our best defender but he is off for scans to see if he’s injured. Same with Biggins and he’s been a completely different player since Schofield took charge. 

Where will the key battles be played out on Tuesday?

Final third is key. If Tranmere get into the right areas, they will score. We’ve conceded way too many goals. 5 goals in the last two games. Just not good enough. Midfield battles could also determine the transition in play as to who grabs control of the match.

Score prediction? The last meeting between Tranmere and Doncaster was on Boxing Day as Kane Hemmings, Kieron Morris and Paul Lewis scored in a 3-0 win for The Whites. 

Tranmere and Doncaster haven’t won any of our last three games. But Mellon’s men are more likely to win especially with more injury worries for us, plus our inconsistency on and off the pitch. I’m going for another 1-0 defeat for Doncaster Rovers. 

Thoughts on Tranmere? Where do you see them finishing in May? 

Tranmere look like a mixed team. They signed Saunders from Bristol Rovers who is a hard working striker and they have some strong players. As seen on Boxing Day, we could be in trouble again. 

Doncaster Rovers’ Keepmoat Stadium. The last time Rovers played here was in April 2013, Ronnie Moore’s side lost 1-0. 

Stockport County meeting the opposition. 

In the January transfer window, Tranmere Rovers brought in five players: Logan Chalmers, Brad Walker, Harvey Saunders, Regan Hendry and Jay Turner-Cooke. 

With the points tally to the Play-Off spots so narrow, goals and midfield experience from the above may prove the difference as Rovers will look to go on a great run of form following their 1-0 home victory against Leyton Orient. 

It was a fantastic performance last week, for ninety minutes, and it was a sign of Micky Mellon’s comfort with his squad that he was able to bring on all three substitutes when required. 

Up next is a challenge against Stockport County at Edgeley Park, The Hatters are relatively struggling having failed to defeat Crewe in midweek but have some talent in their squad as @Mathew_scfc explains. 

How long have you been supporting Stockport? What are some of your best and worst experiences following the club? 

I’ve been supporting Stockport County since about 2008/2009 but as I was only about five then I didn’t really understand it all properly as I grew up with friends who supported Premier League teams. 

The worst experiences are definitely the relegations as we’ve had 3 of them all the way down from League one to the National League North which is regional football but also part time football. 

My best experiences are definitely the two promotions, I’d say the one that got us back to the football league was better just because I hear all these stories from my grandad and dad from the days in the Championship and League One against Manchester City and QPR and all I’d experienced was Bradford Park Avenue and FC United.

How important was the promotion back to the EFL last summer? 

Promotion back to the EFL was absolutely massive, the best moment of my life. Our crowds have slightly risen from last year, not too much, but the away followings that come to Edgeley Park have definitely increased.

What are your thoughts on the campaign so far with The Hatters currently positioned 12th? 

The campaign so far has been inconsistent, obviously we were one of the favourites, I think most fans would take the play-offs although we know the owner wants promotions. 

There have been times like last month where we put on our best performance of the season against Walsall and we think we can get third but then we go to Grimsby and we have injury problems and half the squad is ill and it turns our form (a bit like last season when we went there and got a red card after dominating and then we lost and our form dropped) we are still in a good position for play offs but third is out of our reach now.

Manager Dave Challinor was appointed from Hartlepool United in November 2021. What are your thoughts on him, His playing style and his relationship with supporters? 

Dave Challinor was the signing of the season, last season, without a doubt. He is a good manager and good person in general. His formation is 5-3-2 in my eyes but some say it’s 3-4-1-2 or something along those lines. He likes to pass out from the back and work our way up the pitch. He likes to press high up the pitch with high energy. He likes us to get crosses into the box where we are the highest in the league for accurate crosses per match. He can definitely take us up the leagues. He’s a serial promotion winner in Non League. It’s his time to do it in the Football League.

How successfully do you believe Chairman Mark Stott is running the club? 

Mark Stott is running this club amazingly. 

Without knowing too much about other club owners I’d say he’s the best owner in the league. He’s an owner that actually cares for the football club and the community also. He isn’t a flashy owner like the Wrexham duo, he likes to sit back and just let the club be a football club. 

Since he has come in he has wiped £7 million in debt, which was all our debt. He’s given us a new training ground at Carrington which we have had players come in and say it is Championship standard and he is looking to build a new one in Stockport in the future. 

He’s invested in the squad and in the ground and is looking to expand the ground to 22,000. He made it so the ground only plays football for 250 years. He’s invested in the matchday experience and much more.

There have been two Tranmere players joining Stockport this season. However, what are your thoughts on the overall activity in the January transfer window? 

 If I was to rate the January window out of 10 I’d probably give it a 7 or 8.

Out: 

– Crankshaw to Motherwell (rw) don’t use wingers (LOAN) 

– Cody Johnson to Banbury (cm) only 17 and has a bright FUTURE (LOAN) 

– Barugh to Banbury (forward) featured in some cup Game (LOAN) 

– Daniel Okwute to Warrington Rylands (St) signed from kerry in Ireland on summer deadline day, only 18 but hasn’t been seen in a matchday Squad (LOAN) 

– Newby to Barrow (versatile winger) he was a decent player but his end product let him down (PERMANENT) 

In:

– Tanto Olaofe (St) did not play much but Challinor has wanted him for a while but just could afford him at Hartlepool. 

– Jack Stretton (st) just came back from injury so not played much but was at the club 2 seasons ago and scored 3 in 5.

– Kyle Knoyle (rwb) 1st choice rwb got injured, back up got sent back to parent club and 3rd choice was Phil Bardsley who’s 37 and injured.

– Byrne (cb) came in to replace Horsfall who’s done his hamstring in and is injured. Come in and made that position his. Horsfall probably won’t be straight back in. That’s good competition for that spot.

Former Rovers players Calum MacDonald and Neill Byrne have entered the gates of Edgeley Park recently, how well have they played so far? 

Callum MacDonald came to us earlier on in the season and started off brightly at LWB but our 1st choice LWB has come back and has stayed 1st choice. 

McDonald only really comes in as a sub now but he’s also dropped off in performances in recent weeks. 

Byrne as I said previously has come in and been a rock at the back and fits our style of play so well which I guess you could expect after 140 games under Dave Challinor at previous clubs.

Stockport’s top scorer is Paddy Madden who has netted ten in 25 outings. However, who else do we need to keep an eye on and where will the key battles be played out on Saturday? 

If he’s on form then Kyle Wootton will be tough to handle for your defenders but can be inconsistent at times and in the previous two games he’s been poor unfortunately for us. I think Will Collar and Croasdale’s partnership in midfield is something teams struggle with because of the high energy press. If we’re on the front foot then our two wing backs who can both deliver good crosses into the box and are pacy.

What is your score prediction for the upcoming match? The last meeting between the two clubs was a frustrating goalless draw on the Wirral in November. 

A couple of weeks ago we were one of the in form teams but our form has dropped in recent weeks but before we play you we play Cewe on Tuesday night at their place with 2200 travelling fans so we are hoping we can turn our form into a good run of wins now and try climb into the playoffs for the first time. I’m going to go with 3-1 to Stockport.

Thoughts on Tranmere and their performances so far this season? Do you think they could still achieve a Playoff spot?

Tranmere are probably in a similar position to us where they want promotion but at the very least play-offs. Just some inconsistencies have them outside the top 10. Tranmere are on the same points as Stockport but have played 1 game more (will be the same by time Saturday comes) both teams can 100% still get play offs.

Stockport County’s Edgeley Park. 

On a personal note, one of my first Rovers memories is a three-nil victory on the final day of the 2009/10 season here to stay in League One.

Leyton Orient FC Meeting The Opposition. 

Tranmere Rovers will play host to Leyton Orient this Saturday afternoon, looking for their first win of The New Year. 

With the recent signings of Midfielder Brad Walker, Winger Logan Chalmers and Striker Harvey Saunders it will be interesting to see just who Micky Mellon selects in his starting eleven. 

Orient will be looking to bounce back from their 3-0 away defeat to Stevenage last time out, as the winners that day have a game in hand on the league leaders. 

Ahead of the game I spoke to Orient supporter Mat Roper of The Pandamonium Fanzine. 

With Orient placed first in League Two heading into Saturday’s clash, how much has this start to the season exceeded expectations? 

Way exceeded. The fan base was slightly split with approx 10% believing we hadn’t done anywhere near enough in the transfer market and were going “nowhere”, whilst others were happy yet were thinking play-offs as a limit.

The club have been breaking both own and L2 records so there is no doubt expectations have been exceeded

How firmly do you believe that automatic promotion is possible? 

Very much so but based only on what we have achieved so far. Any other club’s fans would surely be the same that the impressive lead we have built would now almost be scandalous if we chucked away a top three position come May.

This January, defender Ethan Light has been brought in from Burnham and Jordan Lyden has joined the club too. What are your thoughts on these signings and who/what else would you like to be recruited? 

There is much talk about our Jan window. In my own opinion it is a difficult window to get right for any club. Wellens talked about the need for a CB, a number 4, a number 10 and another attacking player / striker. We have 50% of those and there is a bit of panic among some to add at least a striker because of the recent lack of goals. I wouldn’t necessarily disagree that we need maybe one attacking option to freshen things up and or to give the midfield and attacking options a boost but it has to be the right player and not a sign of desperation that could end up upsetting the apple cart of a complete failure and waste of money.

The new signings – Lydon has had his injury problems but won promotion under Wellens at this level so is interesting. The two new CB’s bring both youth and experience whilst Light will be in our academy and hopefully one for the future. 

Gaffer Richie Wellens, formerly of Salford and Doncaster Rovers, was appointed manager last March. Current thoughts on him, His playing style and his relationship with fans? 

Everyone loves him. With a damn near 50% win ratio who wouldn’t! His playing style is fresh and exciting and his record thus far stands up to the closest scrutiny. If he finishes the job this year then statues are planned! Haha

What are your thoughts on the manner that O’s Chairman Nigel Travis is running the club? 

Decent. When the owners took over in 2017 the club was at rock bottom. Travis promised promotions every 3-4 years and we got out of non league in two and are in year four at L2 level so at the moment the plans have been met. Club owners could of course always do more but at the moment you would be hard pressed to find something to whine about.

Forward Paul Smyth can be described as Orient’s key player, with nine goals in 27 games, but who else do we need to keep an eye out for and where will the key battles be played out at Prenton Park? 

Until Stevenage our strength was defensively (we all hope last Saturday was a blip with new players joining and yet to bed in properly). 

Jordan Brown (ex Derby youth captain) has been a revelation in both defence and midfield and is key.

It’s likely that our defensive solidity will return (Beckles & James are both back from suspension) so it will come down to the more burning question of can we find the net. Key battle – Tranmere’s defence versus our attack.

Score prediction for the game? The last meeting between the two side’s was at Brisbane Road in September. A 2-0 Orient victory with a goal from Smyth and an own goal netted by Rovers full-back Josh Cogley. 

Heart (which is pumping a bit faster at the moment) says a win for us. Head says if we do it’ll be us squeaking it by the smallest of margins. Happy to take a scrappy 1-0 but can see a 0-0 draw on the cards.

If you have any, what are your thoughts on Tranmere and their performances this season? Were you perhaps expecting more from The Whites?

At this level and as I said earlier in the season I think most L2 fans always expect Tranmere to be towards the top of the table. Rovers, like us, are likely more of a third tier club than Div 4 but not in a big headed way for either of us. 

The ground and set up at Tranmere says L1 but of course this is a tough division. Would certainly have expected them to be a few spots at least further up than where they are at this stage but then again looking at the table it is so tight and three wins in a row would likely see them right on the coattails of top seven. Certainly I think a 15th place finish would be seen as, at least, some sort of failure in the home ends come May.

Micky Mellon’s Tranmere will be looking for their first home win of The New Year when they play host to Richie Wellens’ Leyton Orient side who were heavily defeated last time out against Stevenage.

Birkenhead Venture Boxing has a strong future ahead thanks to ‘The Roadmap’. 

‘I think you’d be hard pressed to find a better Boxing Club in the whole Country’.

Those are the words of Sean Trodden, Birkenhead Venture Boxing Club Head Coach, when he takes a look back at the transformation his Club has made since the lockdowns that COVID brought. 

It has all been down to the ‘Roadmap’ which was formed when he had a lot of time to exercise, to think and to realise a few things that had been let slip at the gym.

‘A couple of the Coaches were wanting to work with their favourites and it had lost the ethos of the traditional Boxing Club’s. I knew I had to change something to achieve success thus I got all the coaches in and got their feedback on the plans for the future and it has definitely been effective’. 

Success is viewed through many factors at a place that he simply describes as a ‘Busy community hub’. Through the great volume of people that attend the classes and two fighters becoming national champions in the first year back, as well as two this season, it has certainly been achieved.   

I have been to the gym myself and was taken aback when looking at the work that has been done by Sean and others in the form of extensions as they plan for a great future. 

‘During lockdown we put a big circuit hall on the back so we didn’t have to go out of the gym to do some exercises. Last Autumn we changed the meeting room, so I put a back office in for the coaches’. 

The coaches, some new since some departed as the club looked to become aligned again, are greatly talented at what they do.

‘One of our coaches, Robbie Girven, was the very first boxer for Venture to win the National Title as he won the Junior ABA’s in 1986 down at Wembley Arena. The vast majority of our coaches have boxed competitively and the ones that haven’t are still motivated, hard working and good at what they do so it gels well to make a fantastic team’. 

There is an array of talented youngsters coming through, with thanks to the help from the coaches who provide one-on-one sessions, as the Championships near. 

‘We’re hoping that we have a really strong School squad, their Championships aren’t until May and we’re very hopeful for that. It could be one of our most productive years ever, as we’ve already equaled last year’s achievements, which justifies the roadmap’.  

‘Letitia McKee is a School girl National Champion and Leon Burns has just won a National Title this year, a Junior Development Title. However, I don’t really like to name anyone as the ones who you don’t expect to do well, do well in my experience, so we just hope for the best’.

Through spreading the word in the sporting sphere The Steven Gerrard academy trains at the gym and due to funding they have managed to secure ten separate special educational needs classes. ‘We’re doing everything in our power really to keep things flowing and keep us reaching our goals’.

Despite Sean saying that the roadmap has no secrets as it is just about doing the basics right, it is amazing to talk to him as he is glowing when looking towards the future ‘The Club is in the strongest position it has been in for some years’.

‘The Club is a massive family, we pride ourselves on that. We’ve got rid of the deadwood and it’s about being together now as we go forwards and achieve more’.

Sean Trodden celebrates Sean ‘Masher’ Dodd’s victory. Dodd is one of many successful fighters to come through Birkenhead Venture Boxing.

Walsall meeting the opposition.

At the start of this campaign, Walsall had a mixed run of form. However, they have been excellent recently winning six of seven games thus they will provide a challenge to a struggling Tranmere team at Prenton Park this weekend. 

Ahead of the game, on The Wirral, against the strong Saddlers side, I spoke to Walsall Fan TV’s Simon Ward.

You can find another in-depth conversation between us both, on YouTube, with this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMo59RaFPOo&feature=youtu.be (Excuse my signing information at the start!). 

After finishing 16th last season, Walsall are currently positioned 9th and have won two of their last three games defeating Swindon and Mansfield Town. How would you describe the campaign so far?

Really pleased with the improvement this season – Walsall are a mentally stronger team this season.

How has last summer’s recruitment fared? Players such as young attacking midfielder Jacob Maddox and winger Tom Knowles were brought in. Who should the club be looking at signing this month?

One of the key signings before the start of the season was Joe Riley – sadly he has not played yet due to a strange foot injury. He should give us a big boost if he eventually gets fit. Jacob  Maddox has shown some flashes but Tom Knowles has impressed – he seems to get better every month.

With Liam Bennet going back to Cambridge and Danny Johnson being taken away from us by his parent club Mansfield Walsall as depleted. If we want to sustain our push for playoffs we will need to replace Bennett and Johnson. With some loanees not returning the squad looks light so Walsall could do with a back up keeper, full back and a couple of strikers.  

Former Newport County boss Michael Flynn took over from Matthew Taylor in February. What are your thoughts on him, his playing style and the relationship he has built with supporters?

The supporters liked Matt Taylor but Flynn is a much stronger manager and the supporters have taken to him. So much so, our 13 games without a win didn’t really get him much grief. The current form has backed up the faith they have in him.

Leigh Pomlett and Benjamin Boycott are joint Chairmen of The Saddlers. Thoughts on them? What would you like to see changed at the club in the near future?

Leigh Pomlett and Ben Boycott have done exactly what they said they would – they have purchased the freehold which the previous chairman had used to bleed rent from the club. The playing budget is more competitive now and Walsall have the backing to move forward again.

Loanee Danny Johnson has fourteen goal involvements in 25 games, finding the net twelve times. How would you describe his playing style and who are the team’s other key players?

Danny Johnson is on loan from Mansfield or he was. Mansfield refused to let him come to Walsall permanently as his goals were potentially taking a playoff spot from them. He is not the quickest but is a great finisher.   

Where will the key battles be played out on Saturday?

Isaac Hutchinson has been up and down this season. If he plays well he will create chances for Walsall.

Score prediction? The last meeting between Tranmere and Walsall was in late September as Elliott Nevitt struck the winner for The Whites in the 96th minute at the Bescot Stadium.

I remember the Nevitt winner was hard to take. Walsall played well and should have won. It was ultimately the last but one in our poor run. Walsall are much better now and will be looking to win. My prediction 0-2.

Linking the two clubs together, as I’ve touched on former Rovers man Jacob Maddox in a previous question. How would you describe centre-back Peter Clarke’s time at Walsall as he now finds himself on loan at Oldham Athletic? Manny Monthe is at Walsall too.

Jacob Maddox has some skills and is a good squad player. You had the best years of Peter Clarke. He didn’t particularly impress but wasn’t awful either. Manny Monthe was initially slow and ponderous when he came to us but has grown into a superb player. Definitely a contender for player of the season at the moment. 

Thoughts on Tranmere? Where do you see them finishing in May?

Although 15^th, Tranmere are just 5 pts off 7^th but you have a tough February. it depends how you come through that. I’m sure you will be around 7th-12^th come May.

Tranmere face Walsall at Prenton Park this Weekend, a lot has happened since last Saturday’s home draw to Sutton United including the departures of both Ross Doohan and Elliott Nevitt. Brad Walker, a midfielder from Port Vale, has been signed on a long contract.

After two victories recently against Doncaster Rovers and Barrow I thought that maybe we would start to go on a run of form and have a good transfer window that increases our chances of gaining promotion to League One come May. 

However, with that performance away at Barrow being followed up by one point from the next two games and with a manager commenting that we are still skint and looking at ways of getting more money into the club by giving players away, I’m left questioning the future of The Rovers. 

Micky Mellon has never once said that we have loads of money, it is instead the man that employs him that has said we have the top third budget in the league whilst we currently sit in the bottom half of the table and look to be going nowhere but backwards.

In truth, it isn’t the money that bothers me, it is the way that we have been ‘spending’ it and focusing on one singular aim: gathering a young group of players as the youth system isn’t working. 

I think it would be right to say that we have some very good players who don’t get much minutes, I see Rhys Hughes and Jake Burton on the bench who have shown what they’re capable of when given the nod. Burton scored away at Grimsby Town, showing his desire to get a point or three for The Scotsman’s side. 

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that we should be starting Burton or Hughes or even Mcalear. However, I think that we should be doing more to aid them in their progression as when we need a goal which we have done in the past two games we have brought the likes of Jon Nolan on for the last five when we have energetic attackers on the bench, I’d say it beggars belief.

We bought Mcalear on for the last five minutes for the home match against Sutton United, I don’t see how that will affect the game when we could’ve brought him on much earlier with our attacking intent dying as soon as Ross Doohan made the mistakes of all mistakes and gifted the opponents an equaliser. 

There seems to be a sense of apathy around the club at this moment in time, the atmosphere was very subdued on Saturday afternoon. There is an argument that this is down to the memorial service held before the game. I’d disagree and say that it was down to the performance, second best for the majority and playing the ball nowhere when on the attack. 

There are some positives at the club, I’d be lying if I said that we didn’t have a great defence with full-backs such as Josh Dacres-Cogley and Ethan Bristow and experienced centre-backs in Tom Davies and Jordan Turnbull. 

There is a sense of worry though that as it looks most likely we won’t get promoted, rumours that Bristow to Peterborough United and Cogley to Aberdeen may come true. 

We still could be a League One team next season, the quality of the division means that although we haven’t been firing for the majority of the campaign we are four points off play-offs. However, for that dream to come true we will need to sign an attacker or three that can bring the ball forward, cross the ball into the box and fire it into the ‘onion bag’. 

I wish I was a good scout when it came to coming up with names for those roles, for now I think it would just be right to say why we need improvements. 

Joel Mumbongo and Elliott Nevitt have unfortunately not been doing the business this season, yet it is still early days for Mumbongo as he has come back from an injury and it seems he can hold the ball up to some extent. Nevitt’s form has been worrying, he was fairly ineffective in the weekend’s draw to The U’s and seems to be a man who could just do a job in the final twenty, we’re not really in the need of keeping those sort of squad members around.

The signing of Paul Glatzel in this area last Summer was slightly baffling when we know how injury prone he is. 

Jolley and Burton need more minutes when the above are our options, if we are about progressing the future’s of young players it seems silly to be doing the opposite to one of our academy’s own. 

For me, Josh Hawkes isn’t a fantastic winger thus I’d look to bring in a good dependable man for the left hand side which would make Bristow’s job that little bit easier as he is our greatest outlet on that flank. Would I keep Hawkes? Probably, yes. However, he’s more of a number ten in my opinion as seen by his goals where he cuts inside. 

I also don’t believe that Chris Merrie and Lee O’Connor work together well, I love them both as players but I believe O’Connor needs a different partner. Someone with experience, height and a great ability to bring the ball forwards. It is those two reasons, height and a ball playing ability, why I don’t understand the reason to get Rhys Hughes on the pitch more. 

Again, we’re stinting the future of a talented youngster who could offer us something more than we are seeing on a consistent basis whilst Paul Lewis is out (experience). 

I question our recruitment once again when I look at the two-year contract given to keeper Doohan, not much faith was placed in him when he was taken out of the team as we were looking to gain promotion last year and he hasn’t proved that he was worth a second chance when it has been given to him. 

In my opinion, he lacks the quality required to compete at the top end of the league and although he is young so it can be skills learned through training sessions he hasn’t done enough to take to the pitch every match. He looks too weak when coming out for the ball, he has made great mistakes and his distribution can be questioned. Mellon’s claim of him being a future Scotland international seems nothing short of laughable. It will be interesting to see where he is at the end of the contract.

It is with all these worries: a subdued atmosphere, a sense of misalignment and a manager not getting the most out of his team (In my opinion) why I question the future of the club as we head backwards. Stockport County and Wrexham are two big nearby clubs, with more money than ourselves seemingly, and I can see them gaining on us as they get the better players. Wrexham will soon be an EFL club and a good one at that. 

It’s time to get back to the drawing board, make sure we’re heading in the right direction and improve the quality of our squad .. the play-offs are close, but are they? 

Tranmere v Sutton United FC 

Meeting the Opposition – Gandermonium 

Following Tranmere’s narrow away defeat to Crewe on New Year’s Day, an afternoon in which many chances failed to be taken, Micky Mellon’s Rovers are back in action this weekend as they take on Sutton United. 

Since their promotion to the EFL, Matt Gray’s Sutton have finished just outside the play-offs, featured in a Papa John’s Trophy Final and currently sit in a respectable 12th place thus Tranmere will be up against tough opponents as they look to get back to form.

Ahead of the game, I spoke to Gandermonium who told me about all things U’s. 

After finishing just outside the play-offs last season, Sutton are currently positioned 12th and have won their last three games 2-1. How would you describe the campaign so far?

It’s been tough up to Xmas. We lost key defender Ben Goodliffe to a knee ligament injury opening day and it didn’t get much better from there with up to 12 first team players unavailable at a couple of points due to injuries. So we’ve had to scrap tooth and nail for every point so far pretty much. We’ve done ok though and stayed afloat. We looked fairly comfortable before the festive period when we got a couple of faces back and kicked on with 9pts from 9 and now we’re just 3pts off the play offs all of a sudden. Bloody daft if you ask me!

How has last summer’s recruitment fared? Players such as goalkeeper Jack Rose and winger David Ajiboye were brought in. Who should the club be looking at signing this month?

Mixed success here. Rose has been fine between the sticks and settled in nicely. Decent signing. Elsewhere, defender Aaron Pierre came in with plenty of pedigree, but needed time to get fit but hasn’t yet featured much for one reason or another. Winger Luke Gambin played probably more minutes for Malta than us, Josh Neufville on the other flank started well, but has gone a little quiet lately. However, he’s a youngster and because of injuries has featured probably more than Matt was planning. So probably need a break. We also brought in Charley Kendall on loan from Lincoln for the season, but that just didn’t work at all and he went back this week.

Getting Ajiboye back on loan from Peterborough will give us a bit of spark and hopefully Matt can bring in a new striker, as scoring goals has been an issue this season.

Matt Gray has been manager since 2019, it is his first stint as gaffer and has had great success. What are your thoughts on him, his playing style and the relationship he has built with supporters?

Matt’s a pretty astute guy. Knows how he wants his side to play and set up. No frills. Takes a lot of time over the details and fine margins too. Whilst we can be functional at times on the pitch, I don’t think we get as much credit as we deserve sometimes because of it. Naturally, with the success he’s brought to GGL, he’s a popular guy round here, but he’s genuine with it. Always happy to stop and chat to fans in the bar after games etc. Nice guy.

Bruce Elliott is Chairman. Thoughts on him, what would you like to see changed at the club in the near future?

Bruce is about as close as we can get to being fan owned and not be in the general sense. Fan since the 60’s and started out in the Supporters club, he’s been a steady, sensible hand on the tiller for many years now. A lot of the board are similar too. As for changes, we just need to catch up off the pitch to on the pitch now as making that jump from resolutely non-league volunteers based setup to FT Football League is massive. But we’re getting there. Another year or so and I think we’ll largely have that sorted.

Will Randall is top scorer with six strikes in 22 games. How would you describe his playing style and who are the team’s other key players?

Will plays wide, but I personally would say he’s more of a 10 that would normally play behind the front two anywhere else! Not a traditional winger, but he’s a nice player, decent with the ball at his feet and a very good striker of the ball. Loves coming in off the flank and whipping it to the far corner as seen on NYD against the Wombles. Other key players are skipper Craig Eastmond who’s been massive this season with helping us grind out results with the injuries around him. Ben Goodliffe at the back is also a big player for us. Glad he’s back fit now!

Where will the key battles be played out on Saturday?

I think midfield will be key, as that tends to be where most of our real energy and threat comes from. Be nice to see David Ajiboye back out wide causing problems too.

Score prediction? The last meeting between Tranmere and Sutton was on October 8th as goals from Kane Hemmings and Paul Lewis won the game for Rovers at Gander Green Lane.

I hate doing these! We’re definitely not the side we were back in October and seem to have found a little bit of form of late. If we can keep a first choice XI out for a while we might kick on from here. I’d take a draw for sure, but I wouldn’t say no to a cheeky, narrow away win either.

Thoughts on Tranmere? Where do you see them finishing in May?

To be honest, Tranmere are one of the more respected clubs amongst the GGL faithful going back to the National League days. Unlike a lot of FL sides that drop down, they seemed to twig quite quickly that moping about and crying about playing ‘tinpot’ sides in their cup finals doesn’t get you out of there, winning games does. So they rolled up their sleeves and got on with it. Also never really had a lot of that patronising bollocks off Tranmere fans we got elsewhere either. So plus points for that too.

As for where they’ll finish in May, not sure to be honest! Looked good at GGL in that little run of wins they had, but have been up and down either side of that. Young side too I believe, so that might hurt them in tight games later in the season where experience can be the difference. I’d expect them to be sniffing around the playoffs though that’s for sure.

Tranmere’s last home game was a 3-0 League Two win against Doncaster Rovers.

Crewe Alexandra FC meeting the opposition.

After there being a time of loud criticism from Tranmere fans, all shouts seem to have gone with back to back wins against Doncaster Rovers and AFC Barrow ahead of the January transfer window opening. 

The Whites start the new year, three points off the play-offs, with a trip to Gresty Road where they will come up against a side they have beaten two times already this campaign.

Crewe Alexandra are in a poor run of form, losing their last outing 3-0 to Carlisle United and there are growing fears of successive relegations. 

Thus, Rovers have a good chance of winning all of their festive fixtures. 

Ahead of the game, I spoke to the Crewe podcast ‘The Railwaymen’ who gave their thoughts regarding the current on and off pitch matters. 

After finishing 24th in League One last season, Crewe are currently positioned 17th in League Two and have lost their last four matches. How would you describe the campaign so far? Where are things going wrong? 

The campaign started off well, 2 wins from 2, and it has descended ever since. You just keep hoping the last game could be rock bottom, but Crewe, at the moment, seem to have new depths, hopefully Thursday’s game against Carlisle was the end of the slump, but i wouldn’t bet on it. 

How has last summer’s recruitment fared, players such as Courtney Baker-Richardson and Charlie Colkett were brought in, and who should the club be looking at signing in January?

The signings have been a mixed bag. CBR was a great signing, but is now looking like he’s out for a while. We have a great goalie, on loan from Arsenal, Okonkwo, who will never play in League Two again, for a long time. The others are middling at best. Colkett has just returned from an injury that has kept him out for a long time, so it’s too early really to tell. Others such as Conor Thomas seem to be going backwards in terms of what they bring to the team. The loans other than Okonkwo will probably be gone by January.

Former Academy manager Lee Bell was appointed to the first team role on December 1st following the dismissal of Alex Morris. What are your thoughts on Bell, his playing style and his relationship with fans?

I really hope he does well, both for the club I support, and for himself as he’s a great guy. The club has a ‘rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic feeling about it at the moment’. As he swapped places with Alex Morris in early November. That, along with the current form is causing some disconnect between the club and the fans at the moment.

Charles Grant is The Alex’s Chairman. Thoughts on him, what would you like to have changed at the club? 

Lots of people’s answer to that would be ‘a new chairman’. I think, for me, for a start, I would like to see an acknowledgment that the new boards time in charge hasn’t gone as well as they hoped, planned for or accepted (at least not to us, as fans) and a real showing of a plan of what they are going to do to fix the mess the club is currently in. 

Summer signing Baker-Richardson is the top scorer with seven in sixteen games. How would you describe his playing style and who are the team’s other key players to watch?

Well, CBR won’t be playing. Since he’s been out injured I can best describe the style as run around a bit, try and stop the other team from scoring, and run around a bit more. There is little to no evidence of any style; no width, no long balls, no playing through the middle, no link up play. It’s dire. 

Where will the key battles be played out on New Year’s Day?

Between your strikers and our defence. There won’t be much to do for your defenders. 

Looking at social media comments after the 3-0 home defeat to Carlisle United on Thursday night there were some saying that relegation could be a possibility. What would your thoughts be on that? 

Any one that doesn’t think Crewe are in a relegation battle has either over indulged on Christmas spirit or has their head firmly in the sand.

Score prediction? The last time the two teams met was on October 18th as Rovers won 1-0 with a goal from Elliott Nevitt, a few days after the reverse game at Prenton Park which The Whites won 3-0. 

Crewe won’t score. Tranmere will score as many as they want until they shut up shop, and start resting players. 0-2.

Thoughts on Tranmere? Where do you see them finishing in May?

If I’m honest the game at your place was one of the only games I’ve missed this season, so I’m not too sure. Looking at the table I’d say you might sneak a play off place, but I’d be surprised.

The view from the away stand at Crewe Alexandra’s Gresty Road. Tranmere’s last game here was on October 18th as Elliott Nevitt scored the only goal in Papa John’s Trophy action. 

Northampton Town FC meeting the opposition.

On Saturday afternoon, Micky Mellon’s Tranmere Rovers travel to Northampton Town’s Sixfields Stadium to face a side who are in fine form. 

The past week has provided Mellon with a chance to improve his team as there was no game last weekend. This may prove quite beneficial as The Whites have failed to win any of their last eight.

Ahead of the game, I spoke to ‘It’s all cobblers to me’ who discussed everything including last season’s final day automatic promotion upset.

Last season, Jon Brady’s Northampton Town side finished 4th in the League Two table. What are your thoughts when you look back on 2021-22 as a whole?

Barring the last day drama, the 2021/22 season should probably be seen as a success. Having been relegated, without any fuss, from League One the season before, to be so close to going back up at the first attempt is pretty good. Unfortunately for a lot of Cobblers fans, trying to put aside what happened on the final day is difficult to do.

This summer, eleven players were brought into the club either on loan or a permanent basis. It was also important that Sam Hoskins remained at the club as he is now top scorer with thirteen strikes. What are your thoughts on the summer window and what positions would you like to see strengthened in January?

It’s funny how other fans always perceive things differently to what we do. Sam Hoskins has long divided the social media fan base and there was never any danger of him leaving Sixfields in the summer. He signed a contract extension just last year which will see him into his 9th year as a Cobblers when it ends.

The summer window was pretty good as a whole. While we lost Liam Roberts (Middlesboro) and Fraser Horsfall (Stockport), we managed to retain Shaun McWilliams and bring in several good additions. The most notable was Danny Hylton. The former Luton striker promised lots but hasn’t managed to find his goalscoring boots with us yet. That’s why I think most Cobblers fans would say we need to strengthen up top in January. It might sound ridiculous saying that when you’ve got the league’s joint-top scorer in your ranks but Hoskins is a winger. If we can add a striker in January to share the goals with Sam we’ll be a real force.

Manager Jon Brady joined the club in 2016 when he took over Town’s U16 team, he was appointed first team gaffer in 2021. Thoughts on him, his playing style and his relationship with fans?

Jon’s relationship with the fans is the best we’ve ever had. Having spent most of his playing career in Northamptonshire with Rushden, Kettering and Brackley, he knows the community and really cares about what happens in it. At the start of last season he promised “bums off seats football” and while that doesn’t always happen, we are a much more attack minded team than we used to be. In regards to style, we look to get the ball up towards our danger men quickly and go from there. Sometimes we’re direct, sometimes we play keep ball. Brady tends to pick and choose his style based on who we’re playing. He certainly isn’t a one tactic man.

The Cobblers chairman is Kelvin Thomas, thoughts on him? If you could change anything about the club, what would it be?

Thomas is a businessman. There’s no getting away from that. I do believe he is a football man though and cares about the club. Yes, things could be better but we don’t owe anyone from outside the club money (all our debt is in the form of director loans) and we’re competitive on the field at the right end of League Two.

In terms of what I’d change, it would have to be sorting out the mess that surrounds our unfinished East Stand. It isn’t just the fact that the stand remains unfinished after 7 years, it’s the division it has caused amongst the fan base. The Supporters’ Trust are heavily at odds with the Chairman and owner over how the club should complete the stand. The club’s owners want to purchase the land next to the stadium, sell it for a profit to developers and use the money to pay off their director’s loans and finish the building work. Some fans don’t believe that they’ll do that though and there’s been a huge rift for the last couple of years. Right now a judicial review has been granted the go-ahead to look into the sale of land by the council to the football club. It won’t be heard for 18 months to 2 years and most fans just want the saga to be over.

If I could, I’d build a brand new stadium somewhere else and forget all about the nonsense of the last decade. Anyone got a spare billion?

29-year-old Sam Hoskins, who has been at the club for seven years, is Northampton Town’s top scorer as he has struck thirteen times this season. Who would you say are the other players to keep an eye on and where will the key battles be played out on Saturday afternoon?

Shaun McWilliams is one of our own and in the summer he had the opportunity to move on for free. He chose not to though and the 24 year old midfielder is having his best season in a Cobblers shirt to date. He’s a combative central midfielder who’s tenacious in the tackle and has found some form in front of goal in the last few weeks too. If you haven’t seen it, check out his goal against Bradford in our last game. It pretty much sums up his game at the moment and we’re loving watching him week in week out.

Also in midfield is Marc Leonard. The young Scotsman is loan to us from Brighton and it’s obvious that he’s a cut above League Two. His range of passing is terrific. If he plays, you’ll most likely see him coming deep to take the ball off the defenders and build attacks from the back.

Would you say that finishing in the top three positions, for automatic promotion, is a real possibility this season?

It’s certainly the aim. Rightly or wrongly, we feel we should be playing in League One this season. We’ve improved in key positions and most importantly have strengthened our squad depth. It was probably the one thing we lacked last year to see us over the line. 

Score predictions for Saturday’s game?  The last time the two club’s met was in March at The Sixfields Stadium as a late Tranmere comeback wasn’t enough to stop the scoreline finishing in the hosts’ favour.

With us being at home and having had a break due to concentrating on the league (that’s what I’m going with, stop laughing!) I’m feeling pretty confident about this one. You’re without your first choice central defenders and we’re the top scorers in the division. I’ll go with a 3-1 win for the Cobblers.

Thoughts on Tranmere? Micky Mellon’s side have failed to win any of their last seven and are currently positioned 12th. Where do you see them finishing in May?

Tranmere have been really sporadic the last two seasons. I remember when we met at Prenton Park last year it was 5th v 6th or something. We won and that started a run of poor results for you that meant you fell out of the promotion picture. It looks like the same pattern has repeated this year. You had a great run of 5 games where you won without conceding, but since then you haven’t won at all. I think you’ll probably end up in the top 10 but not threatening the playoffs unless you manage to find the form from early October and some consistency.

Northampton Town’s Sixfields Stadium. The last time Tranmere travelled here was in March as they were beaten 3-2. 

Burton Albion FC meeting the opposition.

Tranmere Rovers, winless in their last seven games, travel to Burton Albion on Tuesday night as they aim to progress to the next round of The Papa John’s Trophy. 

It will be interesting to see what Micky Mellon’s selection will be as for many struggling players a rest will be needed and an experiment of what some can do may provide future opportunities.

Amongst those will be forwards Arthur Lomax and Jake Burton.

Burton are currently positioned 22nd in League One and ahead of the game on Tuesday night, I spoke to supporter Edward Walker who is the host of the D3D4 Football Podcast. 

This summer, thirteen players joined The Albion on either a permanent or temporary basis including former Oldham attacker Davis Keillor-Dunn and former Watford defender Adrian Mariappa. What are your thoughts on the summer window and which positions would you like to have strengthened in January?

The summer window was a mixed bag. I was very excited about the signing of Davis Keillor-Dunn and a new contract for Joe Powell in particular, but always felt hesitant that Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink would be able to get the best out of them. 

Some signings have clearly not worked out, the most notable being Quevin Castro who joined on loan from West Bromwich Albion, and was recalled before the end of the window. He is now at Notts County.

The biggest frustration came on deadline day though. Striker Gassan Ahadme, who had enjoyed a strong start to the season, was sold to Ipswich Town, and the following day Louis Moult was sent out on loan to Motherwell. It left Burton with a single senior striker in Victor Adeboyejo who up till then had never had a productive season in senior football. Things looked bleak and that bad hand dealt to Dino Maamria has partly contributed to the situation Burton Albion find themselves in.

Albion manager Dino Maamria, who was appointed in September, was assistant under former gaffer Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink. What were your thoughts on Maamria’s appointment and Hasselbaink’s resignation? What is Maamria’s relationship with fans like and how would you describe his playing style?

Maamria was the logical successor when Hasselbaink resigned. Already in the building, prior experience in the main role, often taking on jobs which required him to secure survival for this team. He wasn’t my first choice admittedly, I’d have liked to get a new, upcoming coach in from Non-League, but it became abundantly clear very quickly that Dino wanted the gig and intended to fully commit to it. He’s never actually been officially confirmed as permanent manager, but we all consider him to be it.

Straight from the off, Maamria’s focus was on restoring the connection between the fans and the players. He is focused on maintaining the high spirit at Burton Albion which has allowed the club to achieve what it has over the last decade or so. He has got the players believing in their own ability again, and always ensures that he and his staff appreciate the supporters who travel both home and away. It’s all subtle things that you would expect from any football team, but they are things that weren’t here previously and it does make a difference. The support for him is undoubtedly there.

In terms of playing style, Burton Albion are primarily a direct side. Diagonals from centre-back Sam Hughes and deep midfielder Terry Taylor are common. Dino has made efforts to get Burton more proactive in possession however. If the opportunity comes to get the ball down and run at an opponent 1v1, he will look to do that.

Burton Albion for the last few seasons have had a huge set-piece threat, and this season it’s the biggest in all of League One. Right-back Tom Hamer provides a long throw that is sent into the box and targets a flick-on. Midfielder Terry Taylor sends the ball deep into the box from free-kicks or corners. On throws especially, Burton can end up boxing their opponents into their own third as they look to hold the attack back.

Ben Robinson is the chairman of Burton, he returned to the club in 1995 following his previous spell between 1976-86. What are your thoughts on Robinson and what would you like to change around the club, if anything, if you could change it?

Ben Robinson is one of the best chairman in the EFL. It’s all because of him that Burton Albion have been able to reach the Football League, climb up to Championship level, move from Eton Park to the Pirelli Stadium, and all whilst making sure that the club never falls into financial peril. He is exactly what you want a chairman to be. Passionate about progress but never taking the risk by breaking the bank to achieve his targets. Burton have been one of the shining lights to non-league clubs about what can be achieved through sound financial sustainability. 

It will be a strange feeling when his time with the club does finally come to an end, and I certainly will feel uneasy at first about who comes in after him.

24-year-old Nigerian Victor Adeboyejo is top scorer this season with eight goals and two assists in twenty games. With the game against Tranmere coming in the Papa Johns Trophy, do you think we’ll see a number of different Burton players starting? If so, who are you looking forward to seeing?

Burton wrap up November with home cup games, facing Tranmere on Tuesday and then Chippenham Town in the Second Round of the FA Cup on Sunday. I’m sure that Dino Maamria will want to progress from both games and will set out an eleven that should have enough to do so. I am curious which of the two will have the stronger XI if there is rotation. Sunday presents what on paper is the easier opponent, though there is a bigger potential financial reward for making Round 3 of the FA Cup than Round 3 of the EFL Trophy.

I think Burton’s starting eleven could be similar to the one that played Plymouth Argyle on Saturday, and I expect Victor Adeboyejo to be among the starters.

A man to have played for both clubs is Rovers striker Kane Hemmings. How would you describe his time at the Pirelli Stadium? 

Kane Hemmings was very popular during his time at Burton, his hometown club, and people were disappointed to see him move on. His only full season here was in 2020-21, a season Burton spent almost all of firmly in a relegation battle, and he got 15 league goals. It’s the best single-season return we’ve had from a player for nearly a decade. He carried that into the next season and his last Burton goal before joining Tranmere was a cracker against Crewe Alexandra.

We all know and appreciate what his game is about, the guy is an excellent poacher who has a great level of anticipation to balls coming into the box.

With The Brewers currently positioned 23rd, how important will it be to stay in League One? How significant do you think the club should view the Papa Johns Trophy? 

Survival is the target this season, and with a six-point gap to 20th there is plenty of work to do and plenty of time to do it. Maamria has been able to bring in free agents like Adrian Mariappa, Sam Winnall and Mustapha Carayol to add to what was already in the squad, but their fitness cannot always be relied upon. 

The Papa John’s is historically a tournament Burton have never done well in, this is the first time they’ve progressed beyond the first round they have entered. I would personally like to see Burton go far this season because it is a competition designed for clubs at Burton and Tranmere level to go all the way and win. They might get a bigger reputation from the league or FA Cup, but Wembley is a realistic thought here and I would welcome the chance for that if it came.

Score prediction for Tuesday night’s game? The last time the two club’s met was Boxing Day 2019, Burton won 4-2 in League One. 

I would probably feel different about this game if it was happening a month or so earlier. Tranmere seem to have gone very flat under Mickey Mellon and I know there are doubts creeping in about whether change could be needed to get the season back on track.

Burton played a fellow League 2 side in Bradford last time and was very professional at the Pirelli. If the team is strong again, I would hope for a similarly positive result.

I will go with Burton Albion 2-Tranmere Rovers 0

What are your thoughts on Tranmere as a club? If you have been keeping an eye on them do you think they will be returning to League One come the end of the season?

I have a lot of time for Tranmere Rovers as a club. Similar to Burton, they find themselves having to compete with much larger teams in the same region for fanbases. I think Tranmere do great work to appeal to those in the Merseyside area though. Prenton Park is a seriously underrated football ground, I love experiencing the Kop everytime I go and the Super White Army are in great voice at both home and away games.

A month or so back, I would have felt confident about Tranmere powering towards the top of the table. That back four of Bristow, Turnbull, Simeu and Dacres-Cogley looked near unbeatable. It’s gone flat since though, and those recent red cards for Turnbull and Simeu aren’t ideal either.

Will Tranmere be in League One next year? No idea, the League Two promotion race is always crazy. They have work to do though…

The Pirelli Stadium, home of Burton Albion.