Ethan Hoijord

NEWCASTLE UNITED meeting the opposition.

Tranmere return to home comforts, after games on the road against Hartlepool United and Newport County, as Micky Mellon’s side will face Newcastle United in Carabao Cup action.

This is a game in which many home supporters are looking at the money that Rovers will receive more than the actual ninety minutes, due to the level at which United operate as was seen on the weekend as they drew 3-3 against Manchester City.

However, looking into the match which will be televised on Sky Sport cameras I caught up with Alex Richardson as he gave his thoughts on all things regarding The Magpies. 

Alex, thank you for your time answering the upcoming questions. Could you tell us a little bit about yourself and what Newcastle United means to you?

Hi Ethan, being brought up in a football-mad family, all supporting our beloved Newcastle, there wasn’t any choice for me to support anyone else other than The Magpies, and I couldn’t be happier. Following the team home and away now for over 13 years, also making the trip down to Prenton Park this Wednesday, it hasn’t been the best decade to support us, but thankfully things look on the up.

Last season, Newcastle finished eleventh in the Premier League after starting the season with relegation fears. We’ll soon talk about the manager, Eddie Howe and the new relatively controversial ownership, but how would you reflect on the 2021-22 campaign as a whole? 

The first fourteen games were dreadful, I remember only going to the games for the day out and had to accept that nothing else mattered at that point as we were definitely headed for our third stint in the Championship since 2009. Ever since the end of Ashley’s tenure, there’s been a complete change in the city, not even just on matchdays. Granted it was a slow start to Howe’s time at the club, frustrating at times – the real side started to show at the back end of January, seeing us go on a nine-game unbeaten run, within that, making St James’ have a fortress feel, resulting in turning over Arsenal in the penultimate game of the campaign.

This summer, the three biggest incomings are Matt Targett, Nick Pope and Sven Botman as United have improved their backline significantly. Are you happy with the transfer window and if you could strengthen one final area, what would this be?

A clear problem last season was the defence, the number of goals, cheaply, that we would let in were ridiculous – it was charitable at times. Our goal difference was a sorry sight. These additions, along with the ones we made in January, have been smart and have all impressed since coming in so far. Although they might not be the prettiest of names, Matt Targett in particular, was a given after last season’s performances, relishing in a position we have struggled to fulfil in recent years, and with Trippier on the other side, we soon recognised vast improvements.

As for more incomings as three is far from enough, a backup centre forward to knock Chris Wood down the pecking order could be likely, or a winger to balance out the pressure put on our talisman, at times, Allan Saint-Maximin.

We are deprived of quality and depth up front and although Callum Wilson is renowned for his goal scoring ability, and there isn’t any doubt about that, injuries hinder him a lot, seeing him likely to miss ten games, minimum, per year. So someone who is able to come on and change games with one chance, or be prepared to lead the line once Wilson is in the treatment room is the priority in my opinion.

Bournemouth legend Eddie Howe was appointed manager on November 8th, 2021. How bright does the future look with him at the club and what are your thoughts on his new long-term contract? Also, what would you say his playing style is?

An appointment that was maybe frowned upon and not backed after hearing the names we were initially rumoured with soon changed the opinions of not just Newcastle fans, but those up and down the country. A manager who has instilled a mentality in this club that is deserved of one our stature and someone who oozes class. I do hope he can be our “Sir Alex” type of manager in terms of his length of tenure at our club, granted to be hard in the modern game.

His long-term contract was a no-brainer, we were up there with Liverpool and Manchester City in terms of form at the back end of that campaign – results drastically improved and not only that, we began to control games the way we wanted to, and dominate sides where appropriate.

Setting up with a 4-3-3, seeing one sit in front of the back line, and two either side in the role of box-to-box midfielders and one in a more advanced role, it has been clear what Eddie Howe has tried to do since day one.

Being a team who press high up the pitch, as opposed to previous management where sitting deep and counter-attacking was our only plan, means standards had to change from day one and as stated by many around the club, training sessions and just overall management of the game has drastically improved.

The club was taken over by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund with Mehrdad Ghadoussi and Amanda Staveley being the two front runners. This ownership is seen, by some, as relatively controversial. What is your opinion on them? 

Like many Newcastle fans, and supporters up and down the country of their own club, the only thing I want to see is my team succeed, for it to be enjoyable week in, week out and have hope, whether that be for individual games or just simply, success. Being neglected as a club for thirteen years, we pleaded for a takeover, a new lease of life away from Ashley and with that, our club was deemed attractive enough to become the richest club in the world.

We, all, as Newcastle fans understand that morally, it is not the name we want over our club, we need to educate ourselves on all activity that goes on and not side with anything that isn’t our club and solely our club. After all, all we want to do is support Newcastle United.

Who would you say are your side’s key players and where will the key battles lie during a Wednesday night game set to be filmed by Sky Sports cameras? Do you believe, as you’re facing a League Two side, that Howe’s chosen eleven will be strong? Also, whilst we are on the strengths the team has, what do you view as a realistic ambition for the Prem this campaign?

In a fixture where I am expecting changes to be made, having 5 games in a two week spell, naming a side for an early cup tie is a tough one to call. A player I would like to see in the Newcastle eleven is Elliot Anderson. A 19-year-old who thrived in a loan spell at Bristol Rovers last season is on the fringes of our side, Howe has seemed to have made the call to not loan him out this season and slowly embed him into our side, and what better opportunity to do that. Looking calm and dangerous every time he’s on the ball, with the right chances, this lad could be with us for quite some time.

Asides from that, Saint-Maximin, Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes are all ones to keep an eye on, should they feature, all having an element of quality within themselves in their own rights.

I expect to see rotation, but hopefully not too much, still having the foundations of our squad but with some chances for those needing to make an impression. I expect a good seven or eight changes, at least, from our normal line up.

As for our campaign as a whole this year, anywhere between 8^th – 10^th I view it as a successful year, an improvement from our previous years but still that little bit off those in and around the European spots, a place we wouldn’t have dared to have dreamed of this time last year. An enjoyable cup run somewhere in there certainly wouldn’t go amiss.

How do you see the upcoming match panning out? What is your score prediction? 

Our form in domestic cup competitions is horrendous, having been knocked out by Cambridge in the 3^rd round of the FA cup last year, we’ve experienced embarrassment. Since our revolution, using history isn’t really something that we can do as it is a completely different football club nowadays.

Realistically, I can’t see much more than a dominant Newcastle performance, but I do think you’ll keep it low scoring to an extent, I’ll go for 0-2 to the visitors.

If you have been keeping up with Tranmere, or know a little bit about the club, what are your thoughts on them and how do you believe they will do as they chase promotion to League One?

Attending University down in Liverpool, I managed to get to a couple Tranmere games last year and intend on doing so this campaign if I get a spare weekend.

As far as I’m aware, with the squad you had last season, promotion might have been such an overachievement to the point your squad wouldn’t have been ready for the forthcoming season, had you been in League One.

Still looking at last season, that push for promotion was ridiculously close in which I don’t think, as a fanbase, you should feel too hard done by. I fancy a play-off position, and from what happens then on could genuinely be decided by a flip of a coin. The best and worst feeling in football.

NEWPORT COUNTY MTO.

Following the goalless draw in the North East against Hartlepool United, Micky Mellon’s Tranmere are back on the road as they travel to South Wales to face Newport County. The Whites have had a poor time away from home during the last year but after a relatively positive two games they will be hoping to maintain their form.

Ahead of the game, I spoke to Ed Bridges from @1912Exiles, on all things regarding The Exiles. 

Last season, County finished eleventh in League Two. How do you reflect on the 2021-22 campaign as a whole?

A season of three thirds! We were bang average for the first few months, struggling for consistency and not sure of our best XI. After Mike Flynn left for Walsall, and particularly following James Rowberry’s appointment as his successor, we had a bounce and were unplayable for the best part of four months, looking creative and exciting mostly thanks to a trio of bright young loanees in midfield and 25-goal-striker Dom Telford (all of whom have now sadly departed). We then fell away in the last two months of the season, limping home to an eleventh placed finish, which felt like slim rewards for our efforts, but the table doesn’t lie.

This summer, five players have been brought to Rodney Parade and among these signings is Tranmere academy graduate Declan Drysdale. Are you happy with the business that the club has done in the off-season? Would you say that there are still some positions that need to be strengthened? If so, which positions would they be?

Unlike previous years, we got our transfer business done early, which settled some nerves. On paper, the signings look good: Adam Lewis (LB, on loan from Liverpool), Aaron Wildig (MF, free transfer from Morecambe) and Declan Drysdale (DC, free transfer from Coventry) are probably the names which have got people most excited – but we’ve also signed some young talent in Sam Bowen (MF) and Chanka Zimba (SC) from Cardiff City. Four games in though, there’s a feeling that we haven’t quite settled yet – the young players need to find their feet at this level, and many of the loan players didn’t get a full pre-season with the team. I doubt we’ll know our best XI until mid-/late-September. On Drysdale specifically, he’s settled reasonably well but blotted his copybook by getting sent off at Bradford last Saturday (so may miss the game against Tranmere depending on the length of the ban).

37-year-old James Rowberry was appointed manager in October 2021 stating that he had ‘big shoes to fill’ following Michael Flynn’s time at the club. Is the future bright with Rowberry at the helm? What is his playing style? 

James Rowberry has generally played a 5-3-2 with wing-backs, but occasionally has played a 4-4-2. Either way, the key last season was having a dynamic and energetic midfield who would press high, force mistakes and then counterpunch by surging forwards. We can expect more of the same this season, but it may take a few months for that to bed in with so many new faces. We keep the ball well on the deck, which makes a refreshing change from a few seasons back when we played a much more agricultural brand of football.

Newport County are a unique club in the sense that they are owned by their supporters. However, Gavin Foxall is the chairman. What are some of the greatest things that Foxall has brought to the club and would you say that being owned by the supporters’ trust brings any challenges?

The way it works at Newport is that members of the Supporters’ Trust elect the people we want to represent us, and they then appoint to the Board of the football club. It’s not as direct a system of democracy as many of us would like – but in reality, we’ve not been deluged by people wanting to put themselves up for election, so the result has sometimes been uncontested elections and apathy. Having said that, the club has managed to remain incredibly well-run even amidst the challenges of COVID, consistently turning a profit and staying sustainable. At a time when so many clubs at our level are beholden to charlatans, capricious celebrities or crypto-nonces, Newport County are a model of prudence. It may not be sexy, but by god it’s reassuring.

Who would you say are your side’s key players and where will the key battles lie come Saturday afternoon? Touching on the strengths that the side has, which league position do you view as a realistic ambition for this season?

Of the established players, Cameron Norman at right-back (or wing-back) creates an awful lot down our right-hand side and represents a key threat. In midfield, the diminutive James Waite can be a bit of an ‘angry wasp’ in the centre of the park, full of energy and covering a lot of ground; it doesn’t always lead to something, but he has proved capable of scoring eye-catching goals. At this stage, on the evidence we have, I think many of us are expecting another mid-table season – but it’d be great to have a cup run or two to get the blood pumping.

How do you see the upcoming game panning out? What is your score prediction? The last time the two clubs met was in late February 2022, County came out on top with a 4-2 victory.

There’s a lot of nervous expectation around the place. We haven’t won a home game since 5 March – we may put that right midweek against Salford, but if not then the atmosphere at Rodney Parade could be unpredictable. We’re always optimistic on the pod though, so I’m saying we’ll have stuffed the plastic parvenus from Salford and will eke out a steady 1-0 win against Rovers.

If you have been keeping up with Rovers this summer, what are your thoughts on their business and how do you believe The Whites will do as they have recently adopted and favoured a back five system? 

I’m afraid that my pre-season research on our opponents extends as far as reading the When Saturday Comes season preview, which predicted you’d go up through the playoffs this season and also waxed lyrical about Elliott Nevitt. I always enjoy our games against Tranmere (Wembley notwithstanding), and I can’t help but feel that – like Bradford – this level is slightly beneath you. So I’ll settle for you getting promoted as long as we can take six points off you on the way. Fair?

Newport County play at Rodney Parade, the last time Tranmere travelled here they were defeated 1-0 as Alex Fisher netted the winner. 

Hartlepool United FC – meeting the opposition.

Following Tranmere’s 3-0 victory at home to Gillingham on Saturday afternoon, where they displayed the quality that they possess, The Rovers are back on the road this Tuesday and this brings a test in itself as the club’s form on the road is a concern for Micky Mellon’s side.

The side that they will come up against are Paul Hartley’s Hartlepool United, who have had a tricky start to the season. Before the game, I caught up with Pools fan Lewis Stott.

Last season, Hartlepool finished 17th in League Two and they were knocked out of the EFL Trophy at the Semi-Final stage with a defeat against Rotherham United. How do you reflect on the 2021-22 campaign as a whole? 

It was a very good first season back up, it was a shame to lose Challinor but the cup runs and surviving comfortably was more than we could have asked for.

This summer, twelve players have been brought to the Suit Direct Stadium as three loanees have arrived. Are you happy with the business that the club has done in the off-season? Would you say that there are still some positions that need to be strengthened? If so, which positions would they be? 

Nope not at all, not many additions I’m excited for to be honest. We need to strengthen the forward line massively, Umerah is very good but apart from that there are no real striker options. 

Whilst on the topic of players coming in, it would be unfair to mention the players that have left as centre back Neil Byrne joined Tranmere. What is your opinion on Byrne and would you have liked him to stay at Pools? 

I thought Byrne should’ve been player of the season last year, he was so consistently good and I think that we will miss him this season. Even though the defenders we’ve brought in aren’t bad, I would love him back.

Beloved gaffer Dave Challinor was replaced by Graeme Lee last November as Challinor was appointed manager of Stockport County but it is Paul Hartley that is the Hartlepool manager now. Is the future bright with Hartley at the helm? What is his playing style? Also, what were your thoughts on the Challinor departure? 

If he’s backed, Hartley will do well in my opinion. His track record in Scotland speaks for itself really, just needs a bit of adjusting to the English game. His play style is a bit unclear to be honest, he came in saying he was going to play attacking football then we got battered so now we are playing more like we did last season. However, I feel like it could change back at any point. With Challinor I was gutted he left as I think he is one of the best managers in the league and could have taken the club forward.

Owner Raj Singh bought the club at the end of the 2017-18 season. What are some of the greatest things that he’s brought to the club and if you could change one thing, what would that be?

The Play-Off Final is an obvious one, he backed Challinor well that season so I’d give him credit for that. However, if I were to change anything I’d want him out as false promises with the budget this season is really splitting the fan base.

Who would you say are your side’s key players and where will the key battles lie come Tuesday night? Touching on the strengths that the side has, which league position do you view as a realistic ambition for this season? 

I’d say Josh Umerah is our biggest threat, he’s looked great so far this season with very little service and support. Apart from him, the same as last year there’s Sterry and Ferguson who are the best set of fullbacks in the league in my opinion. However, it seems like Tranmeres fullbacks are good as well so that’ll be a good battle. At this point I can’t say any higher than 20th as we’ve not looked great in any game really and look like we lack a goal scorer.

How do you see the upcoming game panning out? What is your score prediction? The last time the two clubs met was in mid February as Hartlepool won 1-0, the goal came from a Peter Clarke own goal.  

I think it’ll be a tough game for us, it doesn’t help that Rovers won on Saturday as that’ll make the confidence sky high. However, I’ll say 2-1 Pools.

If you have been keeping up with Rovers this summer, what are your thoughts on their business and how do you believe The Whites will do as they have recently adopted and favoured a back five system? 

I feel like Tranmere always start off mid table and climb their way up slowly but I can’t see you getting in the playoffs this year to be honest. There have been some good signings such as Byrne, Turnbull and Bristow but then some I’d question like Jameson and Lewis. I feel like Mellon is past it now as well, I’d suggest that you need to freshen things up.

The Suit Direct Stadium is the home of Hartlepool United. The last time Mellon’s Tranmere visited here was in mid-February as they were defeated 1-0.

Gillingham FC meeting the opposition.

Last season, The Gills were relegated from League One as a managerial change which saw former Millwall gaffer Neil Harris being brought to the club wasn’t enough to maintain their third division status.

The Gills have started this season in a fairly mixed fashion, winning one and losing one, and next they travel to Merseyside as they come up against Micky Mellon’s Tranmere. The last meeting between these two club’s at Prenton Park finished in a 2-2 draw, ahead of Saturday afternoon’s match I caught up with Gills fan Lewis Browning.

Lewis, thank you for your time answering the upcoming questions. You’re a freelance sports reporter for Mail Sport, Kent Sports News and others but what does Gillingham mean to you? How long have you supported the club for? 

Gillingham means the world to me! Football plays such a big part in all areas of my life, and Gillingham is the main part of football for me personally. So yeah, huge.

I was quite a late bloomer when it came to getting into football. My first game was in 2007 when I was eight – we lost 2-1 and it rained a lot. 

Last season, Gillingham were relegated from League One as Vadaine Oliver finished as the club’s top goalscorer with eleven in all competitions. How do you reflect on the 2021-22 campaign as a whole?

It was a disaster to be honest with you. Everyone knew it would end badly with Steve Evans, but no one could have predicted it would be that bad. The squad was awful, the atmosphere was toxic and I hated going until Neil Harris came in. Thank God that’s over now, but we’ve paid the consequences. 

This summer, there has been a relatively big turnaround as thirteen new players have been brought to Priestfield Stadium either on a permanent deal or loan. Are you happy with the business that the club has done in the off-season? Would you say that there are still some positions that need to be strengthened? If so, which positions would they be?

I’m happy with the business but it’s no secret we need a few more through the door. As you say, there’s been a big turnover of players and it will take time for the new squad to gel, but it was needed because last year’s squad was really poor.

We’ve probably improved the personnel even though we’re in a lower division. We still need a centre-half desperately, as well as a wide player and maybe another striker. 

Former Millwall and Cardiff City gaffer Neil Harris was appointed earlier this year. Despite the relegation, Is the future bright with him at the helm? What is his playing style?

Harris did everything but keep us up last year. When he came in we were 10 points adrift, and we went down on goal difference. 

It felt like we were going to stay up but it wasn’t to be. I can’t believe we’ve bagged a manager of his quality – we’re very lucky to have him. He’s perhaps known for being a bit direct, but we’ve definitely kept the ball better in this division so far and I think he knows we can do it with the kind of players we have right now. 

Paul Scally is Chairman of The Gills and has been so since 1995. What are some of the greatest things that he’s done at the club in the last 27 years and if you could change one thing, what would that be?

I won’t lie, I’m bored of talking about him! He saved our club from almost certain liquidation in 1995 and he clearly had a lot of love for it. We’ve enjoyed promotions, Championship seasons and a title winning campaign but the love is clearly gone and he’s stepped aside for a little bit, appointing Paul Fisher as co-chairman. It’s been a breath of fresh air. I just wish Scally was a little bit more caring towards his employees and honest in what he says, because he’s reportedly told a lot of lies and not followed up on his promises on too many occasions. 

Who would you say are your side’s key players and where will the key battles lie come Saturday afternoon? Touching on the strengths that your side has, which league position do you view as a realistic ambition for this season?

I think our midfield is very good. We’ve been lining up with a 4-2-3-1 and Shaun Williams, Olly Lee and Ben Reeves are a very good trio for this level. They’re comfortable on the ball and creative, so that will be interesting to watch. 

I’d probably say the main man is Jordan Green. He’s come from non-league but he’s been so, so impressive so far. He’s quick and tricky and draws a lot of fouls. Teams are teaming up on him at the minute.

Ambition is promotion, but it’ll be hard with the turnover of players. I think a top 10 finish this year before really pushing for promotion next year. 

How do you see the upcoming game panning out? What is your score prediction? The last time the two clubs met was in 2019 as a 2-2 draw was played out at Prenton Park.

It’s a weird one really. I thought Tranmere would be right up there but you’ve obviously lost your first two games and that’s been a shock. You’ll be desperate to get on the board at home but we’re a good side. Maybe 1-1. 

If you have been keeping up with Rovers this summer, what are your thoughts on their business and how do you believe the Whites will do as they aim to play with a back five on a consistent basis?

It’s good to give your side an identity so good to see Mellon trying to do that. As I say, I really did expect you to be up there – I like the signings of Jon Nolan and Joel Mumbongo, and I do think you’ll be competing at the right end of the table come May. Good luck!

Gillingham FC play at the Priestfield Stadium Tranmere’s game here will be played on March 11 2023.

Mansfield Town meeting the opposition.

Micky Mellon’s Tranmere are back in action on Saturday afternoon as they travel to Nottinghamshire where they will come up against Nigel Clough’s Mansfield.

Both side’s started the season with a defeat, thus they will both be desperate to win at least one of their first two games of the League Two season.

Rovers came up short against Stevenage, a Kane Hemmings second half strike not enough to salvage a point as Steve Evans’ side regained their lead late into the 90. Mansfield lost against Salford, at the Peninsula Stadium.

The big talking point for the travelling Super Whites will be whether they can get some luck with a back three that doesn’t include Tom Davies or new signing Jordan Turnbull. Mansfield Musings gave their thoughts on all things Stags.

Last season, Mansfield were defeated in the League Two Play-Off Final by Darrell Clarke’s Port Vale. How do you reflect on the 2021-22 campaign as a whole? 

A rollercoaster ride, a winless run of twelve games, a record breaking run of straight home wins, more than two points per game for 2/3rds of the season. Clough aimed for the top seven and delivered, despite falling at the final hurdle. We’re aiming for the automatic positions this time around, despite a losing start.

This summer, Nigel Clough has added two players on a free permanent basis in Hiram Boateng and Scott Flinders. Are you happy with the business that the Stags have done so far? Would you say that there are still some more positions to strengthen? If so, what positions would they be? 

Boateng and Christy Pym, our new first choice keeper, are an upgrade on last season. Riley Harbottle, a centre back on loan from Forest has looked good in preseason but is playing his first bit of EFL football. We need reinforcements in attacking areas for me, a bit of trickery or pace wouldn’t go amiss. In an ideal world you would probably like to see an experienced centre back too.

Clough was appointed manager two years ago. Is the future bright with him at the helm? What is his playing style? 

He has pretty much the universal trust of the fans. He has improved on the previous seasons league position in 21 out of 25 seasons he’s been a manager, so you have to trust the process, even if at times his tendency to squeeze players into the team outside of their best position can be frustrating.

Carolyn and John Radford are the club’s owners and Mansfield fans have had many positive things to say about them. What are some of the greatest things that they’ve done at the club and if you could change anything about them or what they’ve done so far, what would that be? 

They’re very generous owners that’s for sure, pumping in millions of their own money for so far very little reward on the pitch. The training ground we have is consistently labelled one of the best outside the top couple of divisions, players always rave about it when joining. They’ve already made the change I wanted to see a couple of years ago, by appointing a CEO in David Sharpe who has a background in football and can run the club on a daily basis whilst they’re out of the country.

Who would you say are your side’s key players and where will the key battles lie come Saturday afternoon at Field Mill? Touching on your side’s key players, which position do you view as a realistic goal for the Stags to finish in come next May? 

Stephen McLaughlin was last season’s player of the season, and I expect to see him in a wing back role on Saturday after he features on the left of a back three at Salford. The quality of his delivery is excellent. Rhys Oates is a constant danger with his explosive pace and power, combined with a willingness to shoot from anywhere. Hiram Boateng will look to pull the strings in midfield. As alluded to earlier, we have to ouch for the top three this season.

How do you see the upcoming game panning out? What is your score prediction? The last time the two clubs met was in mid-March, Elliott Nevitt came off the bench to score two goals that included the winner in the 95th minute. 

I believe Tranmere have a fair few injury doubts ahead of Saturday, which can’t be good after a poor start to the season last weekend. I think Mansfield will be favourites for this one and run out 2-1 winners.

If you have been keeping up with Rovers this summer, what are your thoughts on their business and how do you believe the Whites will do as they aim to play a back five with pacey full backs on a consistent basis? 

Not necessarily summer business but Kane Hemmings is as good a striker as you will get at league two level, he has goals in him and he’s a good link player as well. If we stick with our back five it will be interesting to see which team can execute it better.

Nigel Clough, son of recently promoted Nottingham Forest’s club legend Brian, has previously managed Burton Albion, Derby County and Sheffield United before being appointed Town manager in 2020. ‘He has pretty much the universal trust of the fans’. 

Stevenage meeting the opposition. 

The League Two season commences this weekend, with Tranmere facing Stevenage at Prenton Park on Saturday July 30th. Last time round, when the two sides met on the Wirral Peninsula, Mellon’s side would take the three points after Kieron Morris netted in the 48th minute.

However, the visitors that day would win the game against Tranmere that followed and there has been a lot that has happened since. I caught up with Boro fan Reece Donnelly who gave me his thoughts on Stevenage’s summer and managerial change towards the end of last campaign.

Last season, Stevenage escaped relegation to the National League as they finished 21st, how do you reflect on that campaign as a whole?

A rollercoaster but ended with a shining light at the end of it. Steve Evans got a real grip on this team and club and made us hard to beat, won us games and after a season of struggle the fans identified with the team again. But let’s not mess about, we were lucky Scunthorpe, Barrow and Oldham were as bad as they were. 

We went into the season with so much hope and whilst there were flashes under Revell it was abundantly clear he wasn’t ready, Tisdale was second choice and was the disaster we expected. But whilst we had good players and some form of a team, with a properly experienced manager at the helm and a lucky escape, it felt time for a proper reset come the season’s end which we’ve now got. 

The squad had some good players last season, it could never just properly click and threaten at the level. Creating a split in-between the club and its Fanbase. It’s all looking up now though!

This pre season, The Boro have had a big player turnover, are you happy with the business that the club has done and what would you say is a realistic ambition for the new season?

Yes, extremely. Bringing in multiple different profiles to create a versatile side prepared for different games. Very impressed. Danny Rose and Jordan Roberts are there to compliment Norris Reid and List. Dean Campbell looks like a really technical midfielder and a smart acquisition. Kane Smith and Taye Ashby Hammond have been picked up as outstanding players in the division below. Those are just a few of them but what impresses me most is the different profiles mean we’re ready for however games may go. 

Steve Evans is Stevenage’s manager, what are the general thoughts from the fanbase of him and what would you say his desired playing style is?

I think as a guy who has been there and done it, I think it’s exactly what we need. He knows what it takes to win and the character needed to be the underdog success which is what we are. A lot of our success as a club was under Graham Westley and whilst there are clear differences, they feel quite similar which is what we can identify with as fans. 

What I would say the difference is whilst they can more than compete physically Evans does try to play short sharp direct football and looks to stamp authority on games.

Phil Wallace is the chairman of Boro, what would you say are the feelings of the way that the club is being run at this present moment?

I think there was concern over ambition before the Evans appointment but since we’ve had quotes from Evans and the actions since suggest whilst we live within our means, we do everything we can to succeed. After Gillingham I doubt Evans is joining a similar situation ever again. There is no doubt he wants the best for the club which means that this is a defining spell for Phil in his ownership.

Who would you say are Boro’s key players? Who do Tranmere need to look out for on Saturday afternoon?

It’s impossible to know given all our signings but league two winner last season Dan Sweeney will make a huge impact on us with his composure on the ball in the spine. Jake Reeves has been making things tick in midfield since his arrival and Elliot List and Luke Norris can be a threat to any side. Norris, which you found out in our last encounter. 

How do you see the upcoming game panning out? Your score prediction? I’m going with a narrow Tranmere win!

I think Stevenage are going to set up to be difficult to break down and I feel there is a fair amount of pressure and that might play into our hands a little. With a lot of the side able to counter effectively too I feel this game might be able to suit Stevenage but there’s no doubting the threat you offer. I’ll say 2-1 Stevenage but maybe that’s just that pre season optimism.

If you have been keeping up to date with Rovers this pre-season, what are your thoughts on their business? Micky Mellon has brought in players such as Reading full back Ethan Bristow and young centre backs as Rovers look to change their playing style to a back five.

I think there’s actually quite a bit of pressure on Tranmere this year due to the size of the club and I think with a touch of long term feel about what Tranmere want to do I don’t know how that might translate. You’ve lost a fair bit of know-how and whilst I like some of the players bought in, they need time and I’m not sure how they translate to how Mellon has liked to play. Intriguing.

Touching on Stevenage’s pre-season, as we did with question two, would you say there are any other areas that the club will look to strengthen as the transfer

window remains open for a little while?

We’re expecting business to be done. I’ll be quite surprised if a game changing winger/10 or a centre mid doesn’t come through the door. An inquiry from Ryan Broom was turned down but our squad looks to be superbly built. Only one way to see if it pays off now.

Why Tranmere’s Win Over Chelmsford City in 2017 Could Be a Glimpse into the Tactical Future 

With Tranmere’s League Two season set to commence on July 30th with a home game against Stevenage, the club have seemingly decided to change its style of play and use a 5-3-2 formation as seen in the Pre-season friendly against Huddersfield Town. Rovers fan Chris Watson took a look at previous changes in formation.

To a lot of Tranmere fans the thought of Micky Mellon being described as tactically ingenious is somewhat far-fetched. He is usually viewed as, at worst, stubborn, or, at best, pragmatic depending on your point of view. While last season may have offered up a diet of largely tasteless fare, Mellon’s promise of ‘risky’ football for the coming season could be ambrosia to the Prenton Park faithful. Tranmere’s transfers over the summer have looked to fit into a very different system to that of the previous campaign, with young, dynamic players able to hold a high-line, press, and allow a more progressive, modern style of football to be played. It is this way of playing that could see Mellon come full circle tactically at Tranmere, with the return of the five at the back system that has been used exclusively throughout pre-season. 

During Mellon’s first season in charge of Tranmere, in 2016/17, he flitted between a flat 4-4-2 and a midfield diamond in his first few months at the helm. When he lost both of his wingers in quick succession, he opted for something more radical and switched to a 5-3-2. It was this formation that ultimately propelled Tranmere to 95 points and a play-off final at Wembley. And yet, upon reaching the final, Mellon was unable to play this shape due to a lengthy injury list. In actuality, the system was not used at all during the play-offs following Lee Vaughan’s broken leg in the penultimate league fixture of the season. With injuries and necessity seeing the 5 at the back system almost entirely abandoned by Mellon over the following seasons, save for an occasional outing, pragmatism took over. A very traditional 4-4-2 became the norm, which could morph into a 4-2-3-1 as the second striker withdrew into the number 10 role.  

Upon his return, Mellon built his team around a watertight defence. The first 7 games of the 2021/22 season saw no more than 1 goal scored, with Tranmere racking up 8 clean sheets in their first 12 league games. While this was seen as a virtue by outsiders, and indeed some insiders, it became clear that it was adversely impacting the side’s ability to score at the other end. Twelve of Tranmere’s 21 league wins were by a single goal, including all 5 victories picked up on the road. Summer 2022 looked to rectify this by recycling an old idea from Mellon’s playbook. 

If we rewind back to that 2016/17 season, and a seemingly innocuous FA Trophy replay at Chelmsford City’s Melbourne Stadium, we can see the first time that Mellon dallied with a 5 at the back formation. There were several caveats with this game; it was a largely irrelevant cup game, a slightly rotated XI was used, the opposition were from the division below. Even taking these factors into consideration, it was still a bold move, but the comfortable 4-1 victory, backed up with another resounding 5-1 victory in the same competition against Barrow using the aforementioned shape emboldened Mellon to unleash it in the league. 

Last season’s squad lacked the personnel to play in this formation, there being only 3 senior centre backs on the books for one, and players such as Peter Clarke were ill-suited to a high-line. Here, then, is an example of the necessity by which Mellon felt 4-4-2 was the only suitable formation to play, however January saw the beginning of a shift in thinking and transfer policy. 

Having signed Kane Hemmings during the winter transfer window the previous season, it was now about how to provide him with sufficient chances to be the 20 goal striker required of a team with aspirations of promotion. Mellon’s solution was to go back to his radical 5-3-2.  

Tranmere fans had seen first-hand how effective this formation could be, not least in the 9-0 evisceration of Solihull, but it was the home defeat to Forest Green Rovers in January 2022 that showed how dominant 5-3-2 could be against a flat 4-4-2. Winning 4-0 was evidence enough, but it was the way in which Forest Green continually cut through or stretched Tranmere’s two banks of four that made the home side look very dated and staid tactically. The memory of this painful defeat would act as a blueprint for the following season. 

In James Vaughan, erstwhile striker at Prenton Park and current Sporting Director focussing on recruitment, there is somebody at the club with a vision of how modern football should look, and the type of person that should be playing it. The profile of players being signed by Mellon is significantly younger than in previous years, with the potential to generate profit from future sales another positive to this approach. While foregoing experience may be another aspect of the risk that Mellon has talked about, it should allow for a contemporary, high energy brand of football to replace the caution of last season. 

By going full circle, and returning to the halcyon days of early Mellon of 2016/17, or ‘Mellonball’ as the current vernacular would term it, Tranmere could see exciting, front-foot football that contrasts sharply to last season’s offerings. A young squad may take time to fully assimilate the tactical demands placed on it, and to adjust to league football more broadly, but the long-term benefits should outweigh any initial growing pains. As the ever prescient Doc Brown said, ‘We need to go back to the future.’ 

Huddersfield Town meeting the opposition.

Huddersfield Town surprised many by going all the way to the Championship Play-Off Final last May, where they were beaten by Nottingham Forest. Since then, they have lost their manager and some key players such as defender Harry Toffolo. 

However, there is still reason to be positive as a fan of the Terriers. I spoke to Matt from the ‘Takes that chance’ podcast ahead of their second to last Preseason game before the League campaign gets underway.

Last season, Carlos Corberan guided Huddersfield Town to the Championship Play-Off Final where they would get beat against Nottingham Forest. What were your thoughts on last season, how special was it? 

Last season was a bit of an Icarus season. We flew close to the sun and whilst doing so it was a fantastic, exciting and exhilarating ride, but whenever we have a good season it always feels like it’s going to be boom or bust. Sadly, it’s now a bit bust as players are being sold in droves.

Following the Play-off final defeat, Corberan’s departure was announced and he was replaced by Danny Schofield. What were your thoughts on Corberan’s time at Huddersfield as well as your thoughts on this managerial change?  

Carlos had a bit of a rollercoaster with us, it started well but dipped to an incredible low of 3 wins in 23. Last season it escalated to high levels as did his popularity. It’s a real shame to lose a talented coach through what many perceive as a lack of board ambition (although that isn’t the full story) and there are a few worries that Danny Schofield doesn’t have enough experience, but he does have plenty of good will being a Huddersfield cult hero as a player.

What would you say is Schofield’s playing style? This may have only been seen in the Pre-Season games this summer despite him being at the club since 2020.

He was part of the Corberan coaching staff so I don’t think it will differ hugely from last season. In terms of shape, Schofield has preferred a 4231 in possession with a 442 out of possession to press high. It was a tactic deployed sparingly by Corberan so it’s not a huge departure.

Huddersfield Town is owned by Card Factory founder Dean Hoyle, what is the general feeling of him from the Terriers fanbase? Is the future looking promising with him at the club?

A little mixed. Dean was hugely popular when he sold the club in 2019. Since his return he’s been a little quiet with his intentions moving forward which has set tongues wagging and imaginations wandering towards a belief that he may be here to asset strip to take money back out of the club owed to him in loans. I’m sure he’ll come out and allay some fears soon.

Who would you say are Town’s key players? This summer they have signed attack-minded players in Millwall’s Connor Mahoney, Solihull’s Kyle Hudlin and AFC Wimbledon’s Jack Rudoni.

Sorba Thomas has fantastic set piece delivery, he will be our main focal point again. Duane Holmes makes a nuisance of himself in the final third and Danny Ward is a good hard working forward and if he can stay fit will spearhead our attack. Our key players though are in defence. Lee Nicholls is the current player of the year and the keeper is incredibly solid. Tom Lees was hugely influential at the heart of the defence.

How do you see the upcoming game panning out? What is your score prediction for the game on Saturday afternoon?

It’s a friendly innit. Plenty of running, plenty interchanges and not sure anyone will be bothered by the score. 1-1.

Tranmere Rovers and Huddersfield Town have faced each other on 48 occasions, have you got any memories from these fixtures? What are your favourite and worst memories, the best goals and moments etc? 

Yeah, Tranmere were an absolute pain in the backside for us when i first started watching Huddersfield. Games at Prenton Park tended to be on Friday nights and we used to take a tonking every time or so it felt. Worst memory is probably either 1999 or 2002. We lost both at PP naturally but in 99 we absolutely dominated the game before losing 1-0 somehow. 2002 our old player Kevin Gray scored against us. It was quite early in the season and it was quite obvious we were going to be pretty naff that season. We were worse than naff.

Best goals and moments probably involve Marcus Stewart and a good 3-0 in 98, he scored with a half volley, back to goal which was pretty special. My last visit was in 2010 when Lee Novak scored twice. 

If you have any, have you got any thoughts on Tranmere either as a club or the squad?

I enjoyed growing up with games against Tranmere and when you mention them I immediately remember John Aldridge, Kenny Irons and Joe Murphy and the scoreboard at Prenton Park flashing up as “Joe The Horse Murphy”. Not sure I want that one explaining… ?.

Overall it’s a good club which is probably unfortunate to be so close to Liverpool and Everton as I imagine they draw a lot of the local support. I still remember the schoolboy army lot and whenever I was in the away end you’d be guaranteed to have about twenty 13 year olds to the left of you vigorously forking you throughout the game ?. Good times.

Touching on Huddersfield’s transfer business this summer, are you happy with the players that have been recruited and would you say that there is any business left to do before the season starts on the 30th? What are the realistic goals for the upcoming campaign?

I think this is a year where we step back to hopefully go forward. We’ve got some talented players in the B team which we’ll look to bring through and have signed some good young players like David Kasumu and Jack Rudoni. We’ve lost some big players though, so I think mid table with an eye on attacking the future is fine.

SEAN ‘MASHER’ DODD – A TRIBUTE. 

Since the late 1990s Birkenhead has been in steady decline, problems of mass unemployment as well as high rates of crime and poverty have ravaged this once great town. In recent years, there has not been a lot to smile about. However, one bright star in these dark years has been the boxing career of Sean ‘MASHER’ Dodd. 

By his own admission, Dodd was a Scallywag brought up on the local estates and much of his youth was spent fighting either on football pitches or in pubs and clubs. This started to change one Friday night at a local Boxing show, aged in his mid-20s the football playing loveable rogue was about to change his life inspired by the events of that night. Dodd walked in through the doors of Birkenhead Venture Boxing Club the very next Monday.

In Boxing terms. Dodd didn’t know his left from his right but he was fit, lean, strong, determined and a good blank canvas to work from. A very short time later, he would compete for the first time. Dodd only tasted defeat twice in his 19 contests as an amateur, winning two National Titles at two different weights along the way: Novice Class-A and Class-B at welterweight and Light-Welterweight respectively.

Whilst lacking natural flair and talent, his awkward style and his unorthodox approach made him a great fit for the professional game. So, in March 2012 Dodd would make his debut at Chester’s Northgate arena against Guiseppe Daprato. Hundreds of Masher’s friends, family and clubmates followed him in droves as he soon started to have a cult following. 

Dodd then won his first eight contests straight, with an eventual Central Area Super Featherweight title shot against Barnsley’s Andy Townend scheduled for May 2014. Hundreds of supporters from both side’s made for a powder-keg atmosphere and during the fight a riot between both sets of fans ensued, bringing the Doncaster Dome venue into chaos. After two re-starts to the fight and his concentration, Dodd lost to a seventh round TKO. 

Dodd then bounced back 10 months later with a points win against Liam Richards, 6 months after that Scott Cardle the reigning British Light-weight Champion withdrew from a title defence against Wales’ Gary Buckland. Dodd stepped in as a late replacement for the champion which was now built as a British title fight eliminator by Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, this would be Dodd’s first appearance live on Sky Sports. After a shock victory against the multi-titled Buckland, Dodd was now going to challenge Cardle for the British Lightweight title. On the 7th November 2015, Dodd boxed Cardle and was way ahead of him on the judge’s scorecards when he was controversially stopped in the very last round; the uproar was massive and referee Terry O’Connor was scrutinised and an immediate re-match was ordered. 

Five months later, the pair met again and Dodd had seemingly cruised to a comfortable win. However, after the result was announced – two judges had it even and one judge had Dodd winning by two rounds. Besides this, the decision was a technical draw allowing Cardle to retain his title. The sense of injustice was massive and the controversy is talked about to this day. 

However, any disappointment was short lived as in his very next fight Dodd boxed for the WBC International Lightweight title winning on points against Italy’s Pasquale Di Silvio on a hot May evening in the open air at Goodison Park. This was on the Tony Bellew world title winning show.

Following up from that victory, came a win against Francesco Patera who two fights later won the European title. More was yet to come, Masher added the Commonwealth Lightweight title to his WBC International as he beat Lee Appleyard widely on points. Dodd then went on to box at his beloved Tranmere Rovers, winning the International Masters Super Lightweight title against Antonio Horvatic. 

Next up was a hate-filled local derby against Liverpool’s Thomas Stalker, a former Great Britain amateur team captain and Olympian, Dodd silencing the Liverpudlian with a wide points win. Dodd then lost his Commonwealth crown to Hull’s Tommy Coyle then took Wales’ Joe Cordina to a 12 round points decision loss. Only last weekend, Cordina confirmed his potential by becoming the IBF Champion of the World. A surprising sixth round defeat to Jordan Ellison on points made it a hat-trick of defeats but two great wins against Ibrar Riyaz and another local derby against Scouser Tom Farrell had him back in the mix. 

A controversial three rounds points loss to Birmingham’s Cori Gibbs in the Sky Sports Boxxer Series was recently followed up by a two round defeat to the upcoming Harlem Eubank.

If we were to take a look back over Masher’s opponents, and achievements it becomes quite impressive: Two amatuer National Title’s at two different weights, a British Title controversially snatched from him, WBC International Champion, Commonwealth Champion, International Masters Champion, having boxed a European Champion and now IBF World Champion, an Olympian and with a record like a who’s who of domestic boxing star’s it would appear our local scallywag has achieved more than most can ever dream of. If you coupled this with the fact that Masher didn’t know the first thing about Boxing until his mid-20’s, I think you would agree that his achievements have been more than outstanding.

It is hoped with this vast experience that he will be able to pass down some of that knowledge on to the next generation at his gym – The Birkenhead Venture Boxing Club. Regardless of what this bright star decides to shine on next, a man of such calibre will never have to buy a pint in Birkenhead ever again.

Sean ‘MASHER’ Dodd – Thank you for the memories. 

Adam Siddorn: Kieran Nye Memorial Cup.

On Sunday 29th May at 2pm, Wirral Radio will face a team of Tranmere Legends at Ashville FC to raise money for the Martin Gallier Project in the memory of former Wirral Radio player Kieran Nye. 

Organiser and Wirral Radio FC manager Adam Siddorn spoke ahead of the game, which is set to be a great day for everyone attending.

How much planning goes into the charity games that you organise? Who came up with the idea for it and has everything gone as smoothly as you would’ve liked?

It takes a hell of a lot of planning, we started planning this match just before Christmas. You’ve got to get your players signed up and organise other little bits such as the raffle prizes but this is our tenth year doing it. This year I’ve made sure we’ve got a very big squad, everything has gone how we would’ve planned, there are things around the pitch to keep people entertained across the course of the day and we’re now ready for the kick off.

The game has been named the Kieran Nye memorial cup, would you be able to tell me and others reading about Kieran?

Kieran was a Wirral Radio player and the last time we played a charity match was 2019 at Heswall, it was the last match we organised before the lockdown. The charity match came, it was a great game and great night but the next day I received a call that said he had committed suicide so that was a hell of a shock to the football team and many others. It was a very emotional time and we’d always wanted to do something that remembers him. 

We’re raising money for the Martin Gallier project in New Ferry, they’re a suicide prevention and mental healthy chatity. They offered us support and help when Kieran died, for that I’ll always be eternally grateful. The work they do is wonderful so it’s a no-brainer that everything we do on the day of the game is donated to them.

The interview, relating to mental health, that you did with Kane Hemmings on Tranmere’s official Youtube Channel was quite good and insightful I thought.

Kane’s a great talker and he’s been through difficulties in the past which he spoke about in the interview, the fact he can be so open will hopefully encourage others to do the same. I thought it was really important that he spoke to us.

Just touching on some of the ex-pro’s that will play in the game, who will they be and have some played in previous charity games that you’ve organised?

Yeah, we have some seasoned pros. Gareth Roberts has played in all of the games, Danny Holmes, Clint Hill played last time, Danny Harrison, Ged Brannan, Alex Hay, Alan Navarro. However, there will be some debut’s too: Steve McNulty, Anthony Kay, Abdoulaye Bell-Baggie and James Norwood. It’ll be superb to see Norwood back in a Rovers shirt and raising money for a great charity.

Would you be able to tell us what activities/things are there to do and see before and after the game for people to make a day of the occasion?

There’s all sorts on across the course of the day, the doors open from 1pm and there will be bars and stalls including a paintballing stall. The game kicks off at 2pm, there will be a crossbar challenge at half time and some signed balls will be able to be won in the raffle. Jordan Edwards has kindly donated his services and will be performing, the bar is open till late. It’s a full day, evening and night and everyone is welcome to come down.

Focusing on Wirral Radio, as the game is Wirral Radio v Tranmere Legends, how are they doing recently?

We’ve finished mid-table in Division One so we’re doing okay but you can’t compare us to the legends! I’m fully expecting the legends to put at least five or six past us! Some of the team are Tranmere fans though so it’ll be a great experience for them to come up against the players. It’s a huge huge occasion and they feel very proud to be able to represent Kieran.

Has Wirral Radio ever beat the Legends?

Never, never never won. However, we’ve scored four against them in all of the meetings so if we score a goal it’s game on!

How can people buy tickets for the game?

You can pay on the day, £5 adults £2 for Under-18s. There are links on the social’s, on Twitter and Facebook under Wirral Radio v TRFC Legends, too for people to buy tickets.