Can Jim fix the County Downslide?
Saturday marks the start of a new era for The Hatters following the return of the club legend James Gannon to the club he once loved playing for and successfully managed between 2005 and 2009. In ‘the ghost`s` previous era at the club he saved county from non-league football in 2006 and following this in 2008 Jim`s side were promoted to League 1 following a season of success for the hatters.
A hard game has been put on Jim for his return to county with the away trip to high flying Fleetwood Town who can currently boast to their name a six game unbeaten run for Micky Mellon and Craig Madden`s side. 15 points separate Maddens old club with Fleetwood currently sitting second in the league 21 points ahead of county winning 12 of the 19 games played this season drawing 3 and loosing 4, whilst scoring 39 and conceding 25.
Fleetwood will be well up for the challenge of the Blue Army following their 2-0 win over Wycombe in the FA Cup last weekend, this season has been somewhat successful for The Cod Army with the capture of some quality players during the summer with the capture of Jamie Vardy from Halifax, Vardy a man of county`s targets following the dismal promises from the Tony Evans deal back in August. After tweeting ‘it would take a bigger club than Stockport for me to move on from Halifax` Fleetwood came in and signed the striker who can now post 11 goals to his name in his first season in the BSP. Fellow old boys from the hatters including Keith Briggs and Alan Goodall were also brought in to help the Cods reach their goal of promotion to the football league.
Following the return of Jim, many county fans have decided to make the short trip to The Highbury Stadium for one hope that the team will start to play well following the departure of Didi Hamann. With only 30 seating tickets still available it makes the Cod Army realise that the potent blue boys are well untruly on their way and may possibly bring the largest away support of the year.
What will the team be? It has been documented this week that Carl Piergianni has picked a knock up in training and will be unavailable but county hope to see the return of Mark Lynch, Daniel O’Donnell and Chris Blackburn to be available for selection. Will the current saviour so far this season of Matty Glennon return between the sticks and will Jim give Chadwick a chance that some fans believe he does not deserve?
As County hope to go through a period of stabilisation and transition I believe that tomorrows game at Fleetwood will be one of a challenge but with the following of the mighty 12th man I believe that a win over the promotion favourites can happen. I predict a 2-1 win for county with the mighty following showing there support to Jim` boys chanting ‘Jimmy Gannon`s Blue n White Army` and raising the roof at Highbury.
By: Josh Peers