Date: Saturday, 6th August 2016 Kick Off: 3pm Venue: Gigg Lane So we return to a new season, in a new league, with a new manager and a somewhat depleted first team squad. Due to the woes of last season, we have seen a large drop in our pre-season attendances and looks like a much smaller away following that previous season openers. This is a match that I will not be in at, which is something that I will hear a lot of fans say over the course of this season. Our issues with our current owners have not stopped over the break; we have seen fifteen players leave and only five recruited, with still no permanent experienced goal keeper signed. I'm still unconvinced that we will be gunning for promotion this season, but only time will tell if Russell Slade can pull this off. The Opposition During the off season, Bury have signed six players to their ranks, some noticeable names being former Sheffield Wednesday keeper Chris Kirkland, former Palace, Leicester and Bolton player Neil Danns and free agents Niall Maher, Zeli Ismail and Ben Williams. Despite not winning any pre-season friendlies, manager David Flitcroft has been happy with is sides performances. Current Form **Will be included after six matches Head-to-Head Record There has not been many encounters between The Shakers and Charlton Athletic. The last encounter ended in a 1 - 1 draw, thanks to a superb solo goal, deep deep into stoppage time at The Valley, from Dale Stephens on a cold Tuesday night in January, where if I was not mistaken, stewards unsuccessfully tried to move the whole north upper to other parts of the stadium out due to a power cut. Prior, in the reverse fixture we ran out 2 - 1 winners goals from Jackson and Hayes, back when we were a team with passion. Club Updates Team Lineup This is only pure speculation, but if I was Russell Slade I would expect to see the following: please log in to view this image Odds There's not much difference in the odds between the two teams, the odds are slightly more in our favour presumably due to being the bigger team. Week One Fixtures Outcome I don't think that this is going to be a high scoring game in fairness. We still have last season woes in our minds, and the fans will quickly be on the backs of the team if they are not playing with any form of passion. We have no real depth in the squad, so we will not be able to change a game by bringing on specific players. I'm going for a draw with this game. #COYA #RolandOut #MeireOut #MurrayOut
Great preview Looking forward to being there tomorrow - I reckon we could take 1,000 up there. Hoping to hear plenty of Regime abuse during the 90 mins Katriens a slapper .....
We apparently sold just under 1000 yesterday - so should break the 4 figure mark. I've gone for a 1-1, would have gone for a win had we secured some of these deals a couple weeks earlier. Great preview too
Great turnout considering the summer we have just had Last time I saw Reams at a game (NW Quad) he spent the entire game taking selfies
We are missing too many pieces of the jigsaw for any sirt of confidence. Plus preseason was a waste of time. We have some players who can do a job. But has Russell got them to learn a system yet? It's too soon, so I'll go for a 0-0 draw.
Can't lie - excitement has set in. But that might be for the pending mac d breakfast and train beers. Still going for 1-1. The team has chopped and changed too much this week.
I'm going to lie in the sun and get ****ed (metaphorically and hopefully literally). Have a good day at bury, chaps.
Got that familiar buzz again. Fist day of the season, and we are unbeaten. We habe some half decent players at this level- anything is possible. Come on you reds.
Big buzz around the ground. Midfield worries me but let's seem. If reception good inside I'll update. Pretty smashed already. Compulsory don't drink kids message
