The last home game of the season and it will be a warm welcome to the lads from the Valley who have deservedly won the league. Should also be a decent following from London for this one. Suspect both managers will want to win the game so it should be highly competitive. Hopefully GW will not sing on the pitch a la Tango Man last season, the players will do a lap of honour make the most of some of them they will not be here next year
Cheers mac What are your prospects like for the future (assuming Westley's still there next season)? Do you think you could put this year's disappointment behind you and push for promotion? I don't like seeing such a fine old club, in the 90th year of one of English football's finest servants (Sir Tom), struggling in this league. As for the game - Powell won't let the players relax, you can be sure of that. Some of us have called for the youngsters to be given a go, but I doubt they will, so we'll field a strong team. If it goes to form I think we'll win, but you never know. Best of luck for next year.
Westley is one of the few managers to get a result against us, and I'm sure he'll be pointing that out to the PNE players. I'm not overly optimistic as a lot of clubs do tend to get a tad complacent after a long tough season, and the league title being wrapped up. That said, I still think we'll take a clean sheet in to half time, and CP will remind the boys that the levels will need to be raised etc etc and we will see the game out 1 or 2-0. Think I saw on twitter that 1,500 tickets had already been sold and think another few hundred will go over the course of the next few days, and on Saturday itself. I'm missing it as I'm now a tramp thanks to my mortgage and the endless bills, so I hope that those who do travel have a great time and are in high spirits
That's being a house owner for you Mary Chris may use a few squad players and tell them that they are playing for their future at the club? He can't play Russell as he is on loan from Preston isn't he? So Hughes, Taylor, Evina, Sullivan, Hayes, Heynes will be in with a shout and I guess 2 or 3 of them will be in the starting 11. Include three and I do not think it would markedly weaken the team so I guess it will be how much the Lillywhites want it? Mac Lad, have you got anybody who may be trying to impress Chris for a contract next season and you want off the wage bill? If so, they may have a good game against us
Is Paul Coutts the one who was sacked as captain for his poor attitude? I can see Westley doing a CP next season, that's if he's still in charge. Anyways I'll be at Deepdale on Saturday and I'm looking forward to the day out, let's hope its not as disappointing as the final away game last year.
Looks very much like it from this article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17854147 His stats at Preston are similar to CP's with the squad he inherited as well, three wins out of 19 matches. But nine out of ten managers who try clearing out nearly the whole playing staff and totally rebuilding with only £1 million in the kitty would come badly unstuck. They would have to dig out a Kermorgant and a Morrison from their previous experience for starters, and there are not many like those two lying around unloved and undervalued. How about Mayor? Can we have him?
Don't see it, myself. GW has too many radical ideas to be compared to CP and what he has achieved. Also, to do a ''CP'' is very rare and can't see it being easily imitated. PNE have a good squad, which needs tweaking, but not an overhaul. Will be a tough game, but i just hope GW drops an inspirational text at 4am for it
Well if I'm correct in my understanding of PNE's affairs, an overhaul is exactly what's needed (that or GW's sacking). You're right though Super, doing a CP rarely pays off, which is why he deserves all the recognition he is getting.
Evening all, firstly players CP may be interested in, sadly for you Coutts has another year on his contract so won't be going anywhere, so hands off PNE have a good squad, which needs tweaking, but not an overhaul 30 players leaving or so the story goes most of them carp How about Mayor? Can we have him? Well no!!!!!!!!! Mac Lad, have you got anybody who may be trying to impress Chris for a contract next season and you want off the wage bill? If so, they may have a good game against us You've got Hayes and Russell, you can have Aaron Brown utility player mainly centre half put can play up front or attempt to he's on a free, got him from Aldershot and ther's several more of dubious pedigree which we pay you to take away As for next season we've already got three from Stevenage coming in and he does seem to attract players from the Gunners it will be an interesting summer. Come next August hopefully will have a side that will storm the division and finished 17th like the good old days in the late 1980's
Cheers Tewks A happy ever ending story if ever there was as Preston drew with League 1 Champions Charlton Athletic. It was the traditional game of two halves as both teams bossed one half each in a thoroughly entertaining end of season game. Charlton arrived at Deepdale needing a win to get to the 100 points whilst for the home side 40 year old Graham Alexander was making his 1025th and last appearence fo the home side. A guard of honour from the home side to welcome the Champions whilst both sides formed a guard of honour for Alexander. Charlton dominated the first half and looked slicker in the forward line than the home side, although the home were not playing badly the Addicks always looked to playing in a different gear and it was no surprise when they took the lead after 11 minutes when the nippy Haynes scored past some hesitant defenders and a badly positioned keeper. (0-1) The front two of Haynes and N'Guessan were a handful as was Green and the youngster Pritchard in midfield. North End attacks were rare although it was patently obvious that Sullivan in the Charlton goal looked suspect spilling one shot around the post. North End seemed to have weathered the storm until handing a gift to Charlton 10 minutes before half time, when Arestidpou found Gray with a goal kick, Gray's back pass was 20 yards short of the keeper and N'Guessan nipped said thanks very much and put Charlton 2 up. By now the Addicks fans in a crowd of 12000 were doing the Poznan at the top of the stand, highly impressive and quite funny to watch. Haynes nearly made it three when he tried to lob the keeper however Arestidou easily saved. The eneral consensus was that the visitors would win by 4-0 but after a quiet start to the second half a low scuffed shot from Hunt reduced the arrears. At half time North End had brought on 17 yr old Hayhurst for his first team debut and to be honest he made a big difference to the home side with his pace. Charlton seemed to have switched off as the home side battered Morgan having a header cleared off the line and the non too impressive Sullivan being helped out by his defence. Hayhust had a power shot well blocked and a Morgan header went over the bar, enter with six minutes to go Alexander. The home fans urged him too shoot at all opportunities and then entering the 90th minutes North End were awarded a free kick on the edge of the Charlton penalty area. After much deliberation Alexander aimed to centre the ball into the box however fooling everyone he curled the ball round the wall past the post and into the net. Cue delirium from the players and the fans Alexander headed towards the Town End to be engulfed with fans and all the home players including the keeper wouldn't have been surprised if there were a few Addicks players in there as well. Tremendous scenes enjoyed by all except the usually inept Mr Friend who booked Alexander for over celebrating. North End pressed for the winner it didn't arrive but at the end don't think anybody was overly bothered. Next week the Whites are at Bournemouth, me I'll be at Old Trafford watching cricket. Preston North End 2 Charlton Athletic 2 Att 12000
Actually he was 26 last December but his first season out of non-league football. Unusual to join the big(ger) boys so late, but it is working out well so far. He will need to up his game in the Championship but maybe he can do just that. He is a university graduate and Chris Powell's "project".
