NLS: Dover v Torquay United 3pm 05 August 2023.

So straight up with a banana skin it would seem. 😕

People on t’other site predicting a cricket score, 1:5 being the favourite score line. I suppose it could be the cricket score line if England are involved…1 for 5. To be honest I’d rather be put to death than spend a day at the cricket!

Still on cricket, the Aussie team retained the ashes with a little help from a controversial decision, something we have to do to get anywhere in this or indeed any bloody league. Teams like Dover we have to put to the sword: short of players, women players thinking of transgender into men for the day, although they would be better of as transgender goal posts (it’s allowed) then at least they can move when we try to score! 

If we don’t beat the likes of Dover then we might just as well forget promotion and concentrate on the Grail…wait a minute? 🤔

Very likely to end up as a lottery looking at the weather forecast for tomorrow.

I'm a realist and still open minded about our chances despite the encouraging signs that we will be the team to beat this season.
Nothing is given in this game we all know that and whatever happens tomorrow win, lose or draw the result will not decide the outcome of our season.
No opposing team should ever be dismissed. We all know too well that small fry can raise their game and pull off unexpected results at almost any level of the game.
Having said all that we have prepared as well as we ever could have.
There is some genuine continuity in squad and team selection and a highly apparent solid team spirit unlike so many pre seasons before. Confidence is high after some very impressive performances both at the end of last season and continuing into pre season. That could only have happened with the current management team and why I was personally very pleased it did. If it all goes tits aka Garry Owers up mind you.............
Rightly we are favourites to return just as we were five years previous but looking back on that squad and those that came in a little later Im not sure that this current one is any better and it may need to be..

Time will tell and I believe this younger group should only get better and improve with the right support from all quarters . With so many artificial pitches now we will have to rely more on the younger ones to perform away from home.
With Dover in a complete mess both on and off the pitch with a flurry of signings ( a proven bad policy from our own experience) to form a squad we look to have the advantage big time.. Famous last words of course but I would be happy with a single goal win and a clean sheet at this stage, the bigger wins I hope will come against the likes of Yeovil etc...
Let the party begin!!

link - TUFC match preview

Same starting eleven in all pre-season games. Same again today? Possibly.

Jenkins Davies has probably shown enough to dislodge McGavin - giving a bit more energy behind the front two.

Hope Stobbs’ early substitution last Saturday was preventative maintenance. I see him as a key player for us. If out, DeSilva would probably come in. The alternative would be Martin on the left and Collins moving to the right.

Could do with Moxey’s experience at the back, but more likely he will build up to full speed via a few 15-20 minute runouts off the bench. Tomlinson and Craske did well pre-season, but need to prove they can cut it in competitive games.

Will we yet again have no striker on the bench yet again or will we have a late loanee arrival? At least we will probably have De Silva’s pace and trickery to bring on - unless injury to Stobbs makes him a starter.

Dover have been in disarray pre-season, so we really need three points from this. I expect there to be little margin for error if we are to top the league and avoid the playoff lottery. No room for “played well, unlucky, ref’s fault Gaffer”. We have to be ruthless in making our own luck and getting that winning habit back.

link - pitch and weather is looking okay at Dover thankfully.

Well, just the one change, Jenkins Davies in for the injured Stobbs - link

Straight swap at wing back?

Expected subs:

60 mins De Silva for McGavin with Jenkins Davies moving inside

70 mins Moxey for Hall with either Craske or Donnellan moving into midfield