Well here we go. The excitement builds for our first game. Can we build on 2 years of progress in this division and a good pre-season to state our claim for promotion.

First decision for Evatt will be whether to go with a number 10 behind 2 forwards - if he does CMG is the man.

But I think he’ll grow into the first 11 - he can make a difference next week coming from the bench. 

Just 3 positions up for grabs then for me. I think Morley will pip Thomason, Adebeyejo will go up top with Charles and Iredale wil go LCB (if fit, if not Forrester did very well today.

                      Baxter

       Jones.     Santos.   Iredale 

Dac.Cog.   Sheehan Morley.  Williams

                      Dempsey

            Charles.     Adebeyejo 

1 hour ago, Lostock Whites said:

Roughly just '100' seats left in the whole East Stand 

Isn’t  there only about 100ish left for any game from the start, when I was getting 2 season tickets a few weeks ago I didn’t count but it looked like there were only about 100+ left in ESL. 

4 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Isn’t  there only about 100ish left for any game from the start, when I was getting 2 season tickets a few weeks ago I didn’t count but it looked like there were only about 100+ left in ESL. 

There are a certain number of seats that can't be bought

1 hour ago, captainmed said:

1-0.

3 home games out of the first 4 and an away against relegation fodder.

Great opportunity to get a flying start.

Got to be at least 8 points.

Has to be twelve points don’t know where you get your 8 from? We couldn’t have asked for a better start and 8 points would be a complete failure for me if we want to make the automatics.

11 minutes ago, Whitesince63 said:

Has to be twelve points don’t know where you get your 8 from? We couldn’t have asked for a better start and 8 points would be a complete failure for me if we want to make the automatics.

Quite simple.

Win 2 and draw 2.

“At least” I said btw.

1 hour ago, Whitesince63 said:

Has to be twelve points don’t know where you get your 8 from? We couldn’t have asked for a better start and 8 points would be a complete failure for me if we want to make the automatics.

You've already decided our season will be a failure if we don't win our first 4 games? Jesus wept 🤦‍♂️

Any win will do first game

Evatt Out if we don’t win the first four! 

Hope the pitch shows early signs of good drainage and holds up well after game one.

Cats and dogs out there 

Moist.

Win.

Moist win. 

I just hope it’ll be unlucky 13 for Lincoln having been unbeaten on the opening game for the last 12 seasons. 

Biggest challenge is getting back from the beach in time for kick off today.

Just need to avoid the Med Arsonist

14 hours ago, Cheese said:

1hr 30!?! Where have you been parking??

Tesco Walkden 

I could be in here. Cricket should be rained off! 
 

could be the first opening game I’ve been to in years! 
 

guaranteed a 0-1 loss if that’s the case 😂

14 hours ago, SilentBob said:

Where do you lot find best for parking to avoid the 1hr30+ wait after games to get out? Not too worried about Saturdays but early shift after midweek games is awful, need a new spot

'kin Tesco mate. You may have to pay on a Saturday, but worth it and as for evenings, free.

I've been ticketed once.

COYWM

22 minutes ago, Spider said:

Biggest challenge is getting back from the beach in time for kick off today.

Just need to avoid the Med Arsonist

Stay on the beach and watch it on your phone. 

There are a lot of confident predictions for an away win on the Lincoln fans sites and TBF they are a decent team who have recruited well - which will make our victory this afternoon all the sweeter. That is of course if we turn it on from the off and play as well as we can. No mugs Lincoln, but we should have enough. Here's Matchday Man's prediction for their season:

Lincoln City 7th

Let’s say it as it is. Lincoln City were a weird team last year. Their record against the division’s top sides was excellent. They were beaten just twice in league games at their Sincil Bank home. There were undoubted elements of the Imps season that suggested their capabilities as a top six competitor, yet the campaign was spent largely around the middle of the table. 20 league draws will have played a big part in that, including a whopping 14 on home soil. The foundations have clearly been set; Lincoln are a team hard to beat. It’s turning those draws into wins that will bring the Imps up to the next level. There was a whole mixture of opinions around 12 months ago when Mark Kennedy began his tenure at Sincil Bank. The Irishman had been out of the senior management circle for a while with his previous role being at a sinking Macclesfield Town. His first campaign has really encouraged me though. He was clearly looking to implement an effective style onto the squad, and his biggest limitations came from a lack of genuine centre-forwards. Progress is the achievable target in 2023-24. Lincoln will have the choice of Jordan Wright or Lukas Jensen as their starting goalkeeper for this new season, both 24 years old. The latter comes in permanently from Burnley having been Accrington’s main number one last term and is the favourite to take the gloves at Sincil Bank. The Imps are going to have to adapt to life without star right-sided defender Regan Poole, but a good group nonetheless remains. Adam Jackson and Paudie O’Connor established themselves as regulars in Mark Kennedy’s backline. Dutchman Lewis Montsma has previously been a defensive star at the Imps but had his 2022-23 gametime impacted by fitness issues. Timothy Eyoma and the returning Jay Benn are right-sided central defensive options. Sean Roughan is a bright prospect out of the academy who is primarily a left-back but can play centrally. Competition for Roughan at left-wing-back comes from Jaden Brown, a new arrival who was bit-part during Sheffield Wednesday’s recent promotion season. Eyoma is primarily suited to playing up the right-hand-side, but Lincoln also have natural midfielder Lasse Sørensen who can be deployed there to decent effect. Ethan Erhahon is hoped to have a star role in the Imps midfielder, a left-footed ballplayer who caught the eye soon after arriving from St. Mirren last January. Lasse Sørensen and Teddy Bishop are also senior central midfield options, as are Alistair Smith and Ethan Hamilton. The latter pair are both 24 years old and smart signings from the division below, developing into really nice box-to-box presences whilst with Sutton United and Accrington Stanley respectively. Billy Brooks, Oisin Gallagher and Morgan Worsfold-Gregg are young players on the periphery. Danny Mandroiu is a player I have become a very big fan of. The 24-year-old Irishman operates as an attacking midfielder or out wide in the frontline, and further growth in his goal output will go a long way to helping Lincoln City reach their goals. Reeco Hackett is an intriguing signing. The forward doesn’t leave Portsmouth with much fanfare and could be one that Kennedy hopes to turn into a star. Flashes of his quality have been seen in previous loan spells with Bromley and Southend United. Whether Hakeeb Adelakun’s future is in the Imps team remains to be seen. It has been a while since the 27-year-old last looked a big threat at this level. Ben House is a striker who I feel is generally underappreciated by League One followers. The 24-year-old has the versatility to be pushed out left or dropped into midfield and delivered an excellent personal return for Lincoln just last season. A previous dependence on him to lead the line may well have been eased by the return of Tyler Walker. The 26-year-old forward is very popular round these parts for his output during a 2019-20 loan. Now a permanent addition, Imps fans are understandably excited to see what Mark Kennedy can deliver with the lively frontman on his books. Jovon Makama sits in reserve. As confusing as Lincoln City’s 2022-23 was to understand, it was undoubtedly a step in the right direction. There were multiple occasions during the season where the Imps showed their capabilities against the best of the best, and a defensive record bettered by just four teams is the indication of a side hard to break through and beat. Mark Kennedy still has a couple of tasks on his hands, namely replacing the ability of Regan Poole, unlocking the talent of previously unwanted players, and turning those persistent draws into victories. Is Kennedy capable of doing that? Absolutely. This looks a season for underdogs in League One, one that Lincoln City need to take advantage of…

2 minutes ago, Wanderlust said:

There are a lot of confident predictions for an away win on the Lincoln fans sites and TBF they are a decent team who have recruited well - which will make our victory this afternoon all the sweeter. That is of course if we turn it on from the off and play as well as we can. No mugs Lincoln, but we should have enough. Here's Matchday Man's prediction for their season:

Lincoln City 7th

Let’s say it as it is. Lincoln City were a weird team last year. Their record against the division’s top sides was excellent. They were beaten just twice in league games at their Sincil Bank home. There were undoubted elements of the Imps season that suggested their capabilities as a top six competitor, yet the campaign was spent largely around the middle of the table. 20 league draws will have played a big part in that, including a whopping 14 on home soil. The foundations have clearly been set; Lincoln are a team hard to beat. It’s turning those draws into wins that will bring the Imps up to the next level. There was a whole mixture of opinions around 12 months ago when Mark Kennedy began his tenure at Sincil Bank. The Irishman had been out of the senior management circle for a while with his previous role being at a sinking Macclesfield Town. His first campaign has really encouraged me though. He was clearly looking to implement an effective style onto the squad, and his biggest limitations came from a lack of genuine centre-forwards. Progress is the achievable target in 2023-24. Lincoln will have the choice of Jordan Wright or Lukas Jensen as their starting goalkeeper for this new season, both 24 years old. The latter comes in permanently from Burnley having been Accrington’s main number one last term and is the favourite to take the gloves at Sincil Bank. The Imps are going to have to adapt to life without star right-sided defender Regan Poole, but a good group nonetheless remains. Adam Jackson and Paudie O’Connor established themselves as regulars in Mark Kennedy’s backline. Dutchman Lewis Montsma has previously been a defensive star at the Imps but had his 2022-23 gametime impacted by fitness issues. Timothy Eyoma and the returning Jay Benn are right-sided central defensive options. Sean Roughan is a bright prospect out of the academy who is primarily a left-back but can play centrally. Competition for Roughan at left-wing-back comes from Jaden Brown, a new arrival who was bit-part during Sheffield Wednesday’s recent promotion season. Eyoma is primarily suited to playing up the right-hand-side, but Lincoln also have natural midfielder Lasse Sørensen who can be deployed there to decent effect. Ethan Erhahon is hoped to have a star role in the Imps midfielder, a left-footed ballplayer who caught the eye soon after arriving from St. Mirren last January. Lasse Sørensen and Teddy Bishop are also senior central midfield options, as are Alistair Smith and Ethan Hamilton. The latter pair are both 24 years old and smart signings from the division below, developing into really nice box-to-box presences whilst with Sutton United and Accrington Stanley respectively. Billy Brooks, Oisin Gallagher and Morgan Worsfold-Gregg are young players on the periphery. Danny Mandroiu is a player I have become a very big fan of. The 24-year-old Irishman operates as an attacking midfielder or out wide in the frontline, and further growth in his goal output will go a long way to helping Lincoln City reach their goals. Reeco Hackett is an intriguing signing. The forward doesn’t leave Portsmouth with much fanfare and could be one that Kennedy hopes to turn into a star. Flashes of his quality have been seen in previous loan spells with Bromley and Southend United. Whether Hakeeb Adelakun’s future is in the Imps team remains to be seen. It has been a while since the 27-year-old last looked a big threat at this level. Ben House is a striker who I feel is generally underappreciated by League One followers. The 24-year-old has the versatility to be pushed out left or dropped into midfield and delivered an excellent personal return for Lincoln just last season. A previous dependence on him to lead the line may well have been eased by the return of Tyler Walker. The 26-year-old forward is very popular round these parts for his output during a 2019-20 loan. Now a permanent addition, Imps fans are understandably excited to see what Mark Kennedy can deliver with the lively frontman on his books. Jovon Makama sits in reserve. As confusing as Lincoln City’s 2022-23 This looks a season for underdogs in League One, one that Lincoln City need to take advantage of…

I agree with that 

As in not seeing a huge gulf in quality across the league so reckon a few teams normally looking at mid table will have a chance at the top six

36 minutes ago, Mounts Kipper said:

Stay on the beach and watch it on your phone. 

Can’t use vpn on my phone, can I? If I can then it’s the winner

1 minute ago, Zico said:

I agree with that 

As in not seeing a huge gulf in quality across the league so reckon a few teams normally looking at mid table will have a chance at the top six

From our perspective, we just have to play well, avoid complacency and work our socks off because we have the quality to make the difference - but if we aren't on our game there are plenty of other teams lining up for a crack at us. Plus this "favourites" tag has put a target on our back.

12 minutes ago, Spider said:

Can’t use vpn on my phone, can I? If I can then it’s the winner

Of course you can. But why would you need to if you're abroad anyway? Just pay a tenner and watch it on Wanderers TV.

I remember years ago reading some programme notes of Jimmy Armfield's for a first day of the season match at Burnden. I'm a bit too young to remember his tenure but obviously the old programmes do the rounds.

His opening gambit (in that wonderfully gentle way of his) was about his wife having said to him that week: "Is football back already?"

It's that feeling of excitement, a fresh start, everything being in front of us, a clean slate, slight regret at knowing there's a chance of Saturday afternoons and evenings being ruined, knowing a discipline of timings is being brought back to Saturdays after freer choice during Summer.  In short - here we go again.

I just hope we can record a win and get us off on the right foot. If we draw I hope we make up for it with our first away win next Saturday. We're due a win on the first day, not happened since WBA in the doomed 18/19 season. Won't be an easy do - Lincoln are no mugs as many have said.

Sorry for saying what you're all thinking/stating the obvious!!!

36 minutes ago, Spider said:

Can’t use vpn on my phone, can I? If I can then it’s the winner

If you’re outside UK you don’t need VPN just buy the match from  BWFC.

Edited August 5, 20232 yr by Mounts Kipper

12 hours ago, Cheese said:

You've already decided our season will be a failure if we don't win our first 4 games? Jesus wept 🤦‍♂️

What a total dipstick you are why don’t you just help the site and do one?

1 minute ago, Mounts Kipper said:

If you’re outside UK you don’t need