2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

2011 Prediction League – Game 1; v Northampton (away)

So; for the third time in 3 seasons we play the Cobblers in August ………. In 09/10, you’ll remember, we lost 3-0 at home (Tuesday 18th August) and then 4-0 away; last season we drew 0-0 away on Saturday 14th August , but we finally laid the demon by sorting them 3-1 chez nous in April :); two for Craney, one for Sean McStockportCounty :p


As for the summer activity at Sixfields, the policy seems to have been “Revolving Doors” ; 13 out, and – so far – at least 12 in. Departures include out-of-contract keeper Chris Dunn, who went to Coventry; 26 year old Spaniard Guillem Bauza, a one-time Espanyol, Swansea and Hereford (and Spanish under-19 international) striker, who signed for Exeter earlier in the summer; central defender Dean Beckwith (to Luton), ex leading scorer Leon McKenzie (33), who left in the summer, is currently without a club, and faces charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice (in relation to fiddling speeding tickets, it seems) at Northampton Crown Court :confused:, French striker Francis Laurent, who played for Sochaux, Southend, and then AFC Compiegne before joining Northampton, and – an interesting one, this - striker Billy McKay, whose contract was cancelled “by mutual consent” and who promptly signed for Inverness Caledonian Thistle, presumably in place of another striker – can’t remember his name - who didn’t sign for Inverness Caledonian Thistle :D. Interestingly he wasn’t in the squad for the season-opener loss 3-0 at Motherwell ………….


New arrivals include Man U’s Ashley Young’s brother Lewis, a 21 year old winger who spent last year at Burton; Chelsea’s 19 year-old, 6’ 6” keeper Sam Walker, who will take on Freddy Hall – a Bermudan International, whose last team was American minor league team Bermuda Hogges - for the gloves (you’d love to hear what songs the Ultra’s could come up with if we were the “Accrington Hogges”, wouldn’t you?:D). Also in; ex Chelsea and Peterborough full back Nana Ofori-Twumasi, who played for England from u16 to u21 level and who was at Sixfields on loan last season; Doncaster’s former centre back Byron Webster, whose previous teams include Czech Republic side FK Siad Most (I wonder what the Czech is for “Over ‘ere son, on me ‘ead”?:D); Ben Tozer from Newcastle; Stockport County’s ex captain Paul Turnbull; and Welsh International midfielder Arron Davies (who also played for Gary J at Peterborough, as well as at Yeovil and Notts Forest).


Maybe the most interesting signings, though, were ex Shrewsbury and Brighton striker Jake Robinson (24) who scored 9 last year for the Shrews (including 2 against Northampton) before going on loan at Torquay, for whom he scored 7 (including 3 against Shrewsbury - talk about biting the hand that feeds! :rolleyes:) and the re-signing of one Adebayo Saheed Akinfenwa :D, now 29, who started out with FK Atlantas in Lithuania, and who apparently managed to play for 5 teams (Barry Town, Boston Utd, Leyton Orient, Rushden and Diamonds and Doncaster Rovers) in the same season (I didn’t think you could, but there we are ………)


Their danger men must be up front, you’d think; Tadhg Purcell, who did his cruciate and lateral knee ligaments in early September 2010, and spent last season on the injured list, looks like being sent out on loan for at least the early part of the season (probably back to Darlington); they have, though, a fairly scary strike force of Shaun Harrad, Jake Robinson and Akinfenwa, who – rather delightfully - is described on Wikipedia as “a large and imposing forward with a sometimes physical style”, which means, to you and me, that he eats more than his share of the pies and then tries to run through you :p ………….. he got 11 for Gillingham last season; Harrad (26) got 19 for Burton/Northampton; Robinson managed 16 in total for the Gulls and the Shrews (sounds like something out of the Wind in the Willows!)


Last season – for what relevance it may have, in view of the massive changes of personnel – they finished 16th (having had some really sweaty moments towards the end of the season) with a record of P46 W11 D19 L16 F63 A71 Pts 52. Nobody drew more games than them, although two teams – Aldershot and ourselves – drew 19 as well; for the record, we only lost 9 of our 46 league games, better than the whole division apart from Chesterfield :) (who lost 8).

So there it is; perhaps they’ll have their minds on their trip to Ipswich on Tuesday 9th August in the Carling Cup? Certainly their first two pre-season games resulted in some embarrassment; a 1-0 defeat at Brackley was followed by a 2-2 draw against Oxford – City, that is, not League 2 Oxford Utd; last Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat by Reading you might have expected …….. Losing 2-0 to Blue Square Premier side Cambridge Utd probably takes you right back to ‘embarrassed’ again. Gary Johnson isn’t a happy bunny; "We had a few who didn't look at the races and we didn't look the force that we think we're going to be”. Yeah, right ……………..

On the theme of embarrassment, by the way, did you see that Sunbeds missed a penalty for Stevenage in a 1-0 defeat at Dover last week, putting it wide of the post?:o And then followed that up by sticking one through his own goal in a 1-0 defeat by Hampton and Richmond :o:o(WHO?) …………………. Come home Phil, all is forgiven! ;)

The deadline for entries is, in case you’ve forgotten, scheduled kick-off time, which is 3pm on Saturday 6th August. Who’s going to win – and by how many? Or will it end in stalemate? 7-4? 5-5? 0-0? Or will it perhaps be some out-of-left-field, Wynonie-and-DaveinGermany-couldn’t-make-it-up-if-they-tried kind of score? Kindly get your crystal balls out and give them a rub, Ladies and Gentlemen …….


Good luck to everyone :) ………… Welcome back :D ……….and thanks for playing :D!

:help:

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

div 3 fair play fella
over excited?

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

Ah ! so the lunacy begins again :D

Stanley 4 - 1 Northampton.

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

3-1 to The Stanley, please chaps.

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

6-1 to the Stanley, Guthrie to score a hat trick. :yelrotflm

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

1-1 please

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

No, that's Wynonie, but he's on the tablets ........:p

Actually, I go away today for a week, so if I don't do it now you'll get 1 day when I come back .......:)

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

I'll go for a 1-1 draw please

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

Damp squid opener and a one nil loss

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

0-1 to Northampton...and may I be as wrong as...

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

2-0 to northampton :(

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

Northampton 2 Stanley 1,hope i'm wrong.

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

2-1 to Stanley

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

Northampton 2 Stanley 1 please

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

Stanley 1 Northampton 1 please

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

Great this is up and running again. I'll go for a dull 1-0 Stanley.

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

0-0 i reckon.

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

2-1 Stanley :)

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

2 - 0 to the stanley :)

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

Northampton Town 0-0 Accrington Stanley



A nice solid away point to start will do me.

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

3-1 to Northampton please. Obviously I hope the score is reversed, but I too think a damp squib of a season opener.

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

A 1-1 draw please div3

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

2-2 draw please

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

Would love to start with a win but feel we will hold our own - just - to make a decent start & come away with a 1-1 draw.

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

Cobblers 2 sadly Stanley 0

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

Northampton 2 - 0 Stanley. Think the opposition will get promoted this season and reckon our boys will take a few games to find their feet. But I hope I'm wrong.......

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

Northampton Town 1 - 2 Accrington Stanley for me please:)

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

I rekon it'll be 2-2. It all depends on your strike force and if you are good going forward. If so, you will threaten our defence, as we have looked rather shaky at times during pre-season, especially if Ashley Corker plays, who is our Left Back. He can be quite slow and can be out paced.

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

2-2 thanks

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

N-hants 2-1 Stanley.

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

Ther Times pre-season round-up this morning has us down as finishing 6th ............:o

So that's the kiss of death, then ...............:mad:

Northampton 0 Stanley 2 :p :D :)

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

2-1 stanley please

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

Northampton Town 2 - 0 Accrington Stanley please.

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

northampton 3-0 Acci , sorry:)

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

Northampton 1-1 Stanley

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

I like this no pressure on the by then - ha

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

Nope, no pressure on him...he can relax a bit after he's got the first three!! ;)

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

2-1 To Northampton!!!!!

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

town 0 - 1 stanley

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

2-1 to Stanley for me please

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

Northampton Town 1-1 Accrington Stanley

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

and there's me thinking your going to be more optimistic this season joe :D

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

2 1 stanley please

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

I'm feeling optimistic so 2-1 to Stanley, please.

And thanks to both of you for running this for a second season. :)

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

I'll go for the safe 1-1 draw :)

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

Pleasure, Sir :o

And thank you, from me and from him .........:D

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

And from me, and him ....

and in passing I'll go for 2-1 Stanley to get us off to a good start, though I'm a bit worried nobody's tipping us for relegation this year ....

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

More chance of being struck by lightening mate.:D

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

I will keep the faith and go 2 - 0 to Stanley

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

Northampton 0 Stanley 0 thanks

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

I fear that we may be a bit slow off the mark this season. I think that the pre-season Joma Cup was very useful last year.

So sadly, I'm going to say Northampton 3 Stanley 1. But I hope I am very wrong.

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

2-1 to Stanley

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

On, supposedly, the happiest day of the year !!!!
Northampton 1 Accrington Stanley 2, please.

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

Northampton 0 - 0 Accrington Stanley

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

2-0 to stanley please

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

2-2..... Thanks

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

3-2 for stanley pls

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

0-0 please

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

A resurgent Accrington Stanley open their account Majestic and Proud

Northampton 0 - Accrington Stanley 2 Please.

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

I'll go for an opening day draw ......1-1 for me please:D

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

2 -2 for me please :)

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

How many points do I get for this, Chris? :D

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

Nice bit of selective editing, got me going for a minute - but I think I'll rely on your actual entry ......

....... which is still worth one point more than mine !

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

Great start for me :)

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

and me.:) woulda preferred 3 pts though.

Re: 2011 Prediction League; Game 1 Northampton (away)
 

Yep, just five maximum 5s, including Cashman and Smudgie as claimed above - other gurus were Nige B, Stanleyhouse and Whalley Red. Lots of scoredraw predictions gaining3 points and a goodly few single points for guessing one side or the other wouldn't score.

53 entries this first week. I'll put the first table up after 3 games, probably.

As last year, the competition proper will cover the 46 regular league games - i.e. not the cups and not the playoffs (if).

See you next weekend ....