[theo_luddite]

The AccuMcGalpharmSmiths Stadium
A short walk from Leeds Road.
Well, it might be a long one,
If they've still got the roadworks going.

Kick-off 20:00 UK Time
Thursday 16/10/25

Town play the first of two games against the Wanderers in a little over 2 weeks, given we make the trek over the Pennines for the FA Cup 1st Round fixture at their's the afternoon after Halloween. Spooky.


On the tellybox

Oh yes, why else would it be played on Thursday night? Also on live in many other parts of the world, Amazon Prime, BeIn Sports and Disney+ being amongst the most prolific broadcasters, depending on where you pay over the odds for your sport in addition to HTTV and the usual other dodgy stick feeds.

Latest news

That big shiny new press box up in the gods where the rain can blow in down the back of your neck is now the Mel Smooth Press Box, as mentioned elsewhere. Leo Castledine has been nominated for the September Sky Bet League One Goal of the Month Award, for his stunning strike away at Exeter last month. You could have voted for it if you'd done so by Monday. Cozier-Duberry of Bolton has also been nominated.



I'm now two years into retirement and still wondering how I used to do all those jobs I had to do at home as well as working 5 days a week and watching Town very other weekend plus a few away days. I've still got all those jobs to do at home and watch Town every other weekend and very few away days. I do go to them them down here if I can and try to get at least one trip to Larndan Tarn in but that doesn't always work out. I couldn't fit a 5 day working week in now if I tried. I still get a few paid hours in here and there though.

Out Injured/Suspended/Isolating

Marcus McGuane continues to work towards a comeback from a groin injury but no expected return date has been set.

Zepiqueno Redmond (knee), Will Alves (foot) and Herbie Kane (groin) are all expected to be out for ‘months’.

Back training but not oven ready/Back in the frame

Mickel Miller and Antony Evans have been back in full training and may both be available to face Bolton, albeit Miller may be capable of more minutes than Evans.

Radinio Balker had been out with an ankle injury since the last international break but started for Suriname in their 1-1 draw with Panama last night.

Jack Whatmough is also back in training but will not be ready to play against Bolton.

Last time out

Our game at Luton was called off, so in our prior game Town came 2nd against Smogport. Another huffing and puffing game but our first home defeat. The fact that we are now 7th and not 7 points clear of everyone in first seems to have a few of the effing and jeffing mob out in force elsewhere. New manager, new squad, however expensively recruited, we are not going to win every game especially at this end of the season. Ask our visitors how easy it is to win games in this division.



Bolton meanwhile got battered 3-0 at Burton over the weekend. Yes, the same Burton that were bottom of the league after drawing 0-0 at ours a few weeks back.



5 of the top 6 didn't play last weekend, meaning those around there that did had the chance to shuffle the pack at the top.
Stockport won with a late goal at home to Blackpool, Wimbledon drew with Port Vale but once again, clubs in the lower half were mostly amongst the points.



Orient battered Donny Rovers for 4 without reply to move into mid-table. Pish Posh didn't play so stay bottom, Blackpool's defeat left them 2nd bottom. 2 late goals for Rotherham gace them 3 points but they are still 3rd bottom, just below Rading who dropped into the bottom 4 after drawing at Exeter. Burton's win put them on the trap door rather than below it and Wycombe also moved up another place with a win at Wigan.


Table

Did I mention we're 7th? Bolton are 9th, two points behind us.. Good job they don't have some of Town's fans supporting them.
They'd have had 3 new managers already this season. As it is, Schumacher has been there since the end of January after becoming another casualty at Stoke. His record so far at Bolton really isn't any better. (41 Win % at Stoke - 32 games, 35% at Bolton - 31 games).



Musical Interlude

Never mind The Buzzcocks - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Af7ayYIJ9w
The Bolton Bullfrog - aka - Bernard Wrigley was a favourite on the folk scene for many a year - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xUocRjIin0
Pops up on some TV shows now and then and still gets around the Folk Scene.
Badly Drawn Boy sings a song that sums up watching Town some days - and probably Bolton - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsyP6aEyCRI

The Sack Race

It's possibly easier to say who hasn't been sacked since my last thread. The International Break saw all hell break out in the dug-outs and boardrooms around the country and in League One in particular.

Out went Bye, Bye Brucie, Brucie Bye, Bye at Blackpool, Matt Bloomfield at Luton, where he couldn't repeat his success at Wycombe and it wouldn't be Watford would it if they hadn't fired at least one by the end of October? Paulo Pezzolano found himself on the wrong side of that revolving door. He's been replaced by Javi Gracia who has come back for another go. Jack Wilshire is having a go at Luton and Blackpool are still building sand castles.

Special mention to Rangers who couldn't get on with Russell Martin's methods. They are now on option 2 having had Steven Gerrard turn down the offer to have another go.

Forgot to mention that former Town, Blackpool, Leeds, Preston and just about everyone else, Simon Grayson in now also the ex-Manager of National League Hartlepool. He lasted 4 months.

Innies and Outies

Like at Town, Bolton had a good clear-out and have brought in a new squad of players, hoping to get into the promotion picture this season.



Who's banging 'em in

Mason Burstow is their leading scorer by some distance on 7


They can't all win

Stevenage go to 6th place Lincoln, Bradford are home to Barnsley in a Yorksha League fixture, Cardiff home to Reading, Stockport are home to Exeter and Wimbledon go to Plymouth.



Down at the other end, Pish Posh go to Burton, Blackpool are home to Wycombe, Rotherham are home to Orient, who are only 3 points but over 1/3rd of the League above them. Reading see above.

We've played 'em before

Both sides have a bit of a habit of winning away, with Bolton slightly in front in the League Head2Head games. Ominously Bolton are still looking for their first win on the road.



Next up?

Town are away to Wycombe a week on Saturday and then it's FA Cup R1 the weekend after with Town travelling to er, Bolton. I might have mentioned that earlier.

Pressers

Gooooooch gets the grilling this week alongside Lee Grant



The views from Horwich Parkway Station

Steven Schumacher and Xavier Simons put the case for the Wanderers

[Lord Snooty]

Nice one, theo.

Could really do to win this one. And with a good performance. Confidence seems a bit down with the lads after Harrogate and Stockport. Don't need them scared to play at home because of the moaners and groaners. Don't want a repeat of last season.

I do hope he plays both May and Taylor, not one or the other. Dion to come off the bench for the winner. No, sorry. Just being silly there.

[theo_luddite]

More chance of Dion Dublin coming off the bench and scoring for Town.

[theo_luddite]

Edit in The Sack Race.

[WakeyTerrier]

Big 3 weeks in Front of Town and Grant if you ask me.

I’ll start with the League. We currently sit 7th in the table, 1 point adrift of the play offs and 5 adrift of automatic promotion, that has to be below par for Mr Nagle who has once again splashed the cash and isn’t seeing the return he wants as yet
Bolton and Wycombe up next. Neither will be easy and I’d say a minimum of 4 points required just to keep up the pace with the play off teams. Anything less will surely see us plummet down the table.

Then we have the FA cup, a visit to Bolton. Again not easy but given Nagle is trying to push revenue up then it’s imperative that we get to the 3rd Round to do just that. Prize money or a big draw home or away will do that.

Finally we have the Paint Pot cup, Mansfield Town. Again the club stated a desire to reach Wembley, we know it will drive revenue. Failure to even get out of the group combined with less than 4 points in the League and an early FA cup exit would surely have Grant under extreme pressure?

[Lord Snooty]

If we don't get out of the Vertu group, he'll have to go. Regardless of the league position.

[theo_luddite]

Lee Grant makes two changes
Lee Nicholls continues in goal
Alfie May and Joe Taylor in attack
Welcome back Mickel Miller!
Ryan Ledson named captain

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[Lord Snooty]

Bojangles scored last time. Not in the squad tonight.

[themaclad]

And match coverage starts on Luton new manager

[Lord Snooty]

It's been 25 minutes of talking about other teams.

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Great header Leo. 1-0.