JG working some magic
more to come.......





:mz

mzawf wrote:

The attachment JGCTFC.png is no longer available

JG working some magic
more to come.......

The attachment JGCTFC.png is no longer available

:mz

A lot going on down at the CAT stadium, exciting times
The Man, honcho JG not long back after a spell of managing the clubs fortunes from afar along with some well earned R&R in Brazil (World Cup Carnival)
Since his return JG and his team have been working hard and put together a completely revamped team, all seems to be a bit of a risky strategy although at this time a popular one.
But then again! If Gregory is as good as his PR machine is saying there’s no worries and it’s Champions league a beckoning.
Wouldn’t that be cool

In the recent David v Goliath friendly matches we saw the red devils enjoying a goals fest trouncing Billingshurst and Oakwood 9-0, 10-0 respectively.
Respect to Billingshurst and Oakwood for taking up the challenge
JG stated

the importance of getting the new team some live play, and away from an intensive training regime and hopes that the hosts also took away something from the experience

The next test for the club is fast closing in when the devils make a visit to the Oakwood stadium on Aug the 09.
It would be nice to kick off with a big win in the opening game against newly relegated Barnsley and while taking note of a reshaped Barnsley squad.
Danny Wilson was quoted saying after losing to QPR in the play-offs way back in 2013

“It's bound to be a much-changed side in August."

Bring it on this is exiting stuff
Next up playing a league cup match playing against Ipswich. This will test the mettle of the team
Ipswich, Mick Mc Carthy said at the last seasons end

"We have not spent a note on anyone coming in and the nucleus of the side will be here next season.

A seasoned squad !
Then Swindon visit the CAT stadium 16th Aug for a league one match, the last two times the clubs clashed, at the final whistle a no score draw and a one goal each
While Swindon has lost some ground on the league table, it's another tough match !

August 19 Bradford City Visit the CAT stadium The Bantams versus the Red Devils
Previous clashes ended in a win each, losing 2 goals to one April14 and winning 1-0 back in Oct 13
It's our turn again


Chesterfield might be seen as another unknown factor on the league table
Chesterfield placed at forth, after last season’s promotion from div 2.
Is all this just trivia and mere Bagatelle!
Because fate is all but fate as destiny is too, and football is in the laps of the footie Gods!
All praise the footie Gods!

JG working his magic

Fulham 2 the nil
One all draw against the Sea Gulls
3-3 goal fest played out against Eastleigh
Two goals to one playing against Woking, same as as played out against Sussex league Three Bridges F.C

In the end game (friendly ) Chelsea eleven winning by 3 goals to 2 and at the final whistle and ending this season friendlies.

The bigger picture appears to be forming nicely for John Gregory, JG said

"The squad is coming together nicely. We've got a good mix of youth and experience and a few lads who if we create the right environment - and I believe we will - that can really thrive at the club.

With a mixture of experience and youth the newly energised devils played impressively in the friendly against Premiership side Fulham.
West Ham’s Raphael Spiegel, who is, on a month’s loan from the Premier League side.

Raphael will be in the squad for tomorrow's game against Fulham.

In the squad but not in goal
Brian Jenson suffered two goals in the first half of play, and the defending strategy contributed considerably to a 2 0 defeat.
JG fielded a largely untested team against Fulham and clearly to date JG hasn’t finished the big overhaul yet
The 3-2 defeat against Chelsea 1X showed JG using this interim period to give his squad a run out.
Noting this time JG trailed Raphael Spiegel and plus, in the second half of play changed the whole team. Impressive stuff from Gregory’s boys but the half time shakeup was a bold move. Likely making the most of this friendly period

Three goals in the last 11 minutes condemned Reds to a 3-2 defeat against Chelsea under-21s in their final pre-season friendly at the Checkatrade.com Stadium.

Exciting times ahead for the JG must of picked up the carnival bug in Brazil and at the final whistle in 2015 one thing is certain it will have been a roller coaster ride to the finish. Let’s hope the JG strategy is the right one
Initial thoughts here at indicate that when the season kicks off, success will be slow in coming but greater things will be achieved as time progresses
Jensen, Spiegel – Defenders: Essam, Walsh, Richefond , Dickson, Leacock, Oyebanjo, Bradley, Dollery ---

Midfielders Simpson ,Young ,Edwards , Isaacs , O'Connor , Smith, Rose , Bawling ,Henderson
Forwards: Harrold, McLeod , Tomlin

Hopefully some of the midfielding players in the squad can step up to the bar and play attack/striker mode otherwise it could be suggested that is weak on the front attack and scalp end of play

The Gregory magic came together when the devils secured a comfortable win over recently relegated Barnsley Crawley 1 Barnsley 0.
Punching above the weight and winning 1 nil against Ipswich
have got off the stocks to a good start noting injury being a pitch concern

Matt Harrold (knee) and Simpson (ankle) injury adds pressure to the scheme of things

JG holds plenty of aces and without doubt has quality players to slot in.

Next match Swindon

John Gregory: "Swindon, like us, started with two wins so they will be full of confidence. I don't think this club has ever had an easy game against Swindon - Saturday will be no different.

The past two meetings with Swindon resulted draws
A win is on the cards
Building up to the next big challenge the league cup match against Norwich
Then Bradford next to be sorted

Hi all, following up on the fortunes one might say all hasn’t been going to plan
Following up on the last triumph, winning against Swindon back on 16th august by one goal to nil
A positive of sorts if one considers that the previous two meetings with Swindon resulted in draws.

Since this time Crawley have failed to achieve the desired result, next falling to Bradford City 3-1.
Looking back to the past 2 meetings with Bradford, lost both times!

Next, and on the 23rd of august the Devils lost one nil playing away at Sheffield Utd
JG was quoted on saying that

this match ‘was probably the best performance I've had since I joined the club.

Attempting to put a positive spin, on a naff in the back room situation.
Next up we saw the club depart from the Capital One Cup at the boots of Norwich
Crawley lost 3 goals to one, the One goal being a gift from Norwich after Carlos Cuellar netted an own goal.

Crawley Town boss John Gregory told BBC Surrey
"The best team lost, as simple as that. We got a goal back and the momentum swung back to us. I thought we were comfortable in the first half too.
"I always felt we could get back into the game, and the longer it went on the more we dominated. We just couldn't get that second goal."

Following Norwich, Crawley notched up the fourth consecutive loss playing against a ten man MK Dons and losing by 2-0, more déjà vu.

Gregory on MK Dons v Crawley
"We messed up the penalty, which would have got us back to one-each and there would have been only one winner, but it's a recurring theme that I keep talking about each week, about how well we played. "If it was purely about performances, we would've possibly been already promoted, but it's not about the performance, it's about results. "We need to sit down and reassess everything, and take a long hard look at everything we do, and everything goes towards our weekly training sessions and we need to make sure that we end on maximum points next weekend."

JG and the team bagged a win playing in the football league trophy
Winning by a comfortable two goals against Cambridge Utd and offering a slither of respite, following this recent dearth of success.
This break in the bad luck didn’t last for long after when on 06 sept recently promoted Rochdale trounced the team by 4-0 and now the fans are struggling to rally to the cause.
The new director Matt Turner recently stated to the Crawley Observer that the club was seeking innovative suggestions to increase gate numbers, after speaking to number of red devil supporters the general feeling is best

start winning

despondency abound!
The clubs next challenge is when, recently promoted Fleetwood Town visit the CAT stadium, and on that auspicious date,the 13th!
really needs the scalp or arguably we could see the club languishing in the relegation zone.
It’s still early days but the Red Devils now need to get right!
With hindsight blessing us it likely would have served us all better if JG had of passed on the Brazil trip, and got the team organised and fully prepared post the pre season friendlies.
Fleetwood Town are currently enjoying good times in league one and following their recent win over Oldham Athletic 1-0.
Past matches playing Oldham resulted in a win apiece both at one nil
smells a scalp

ended a run of five consecutive League One defeats, winning against Fleetwood by one goal

Crawley Town assistant manager Paul Groves told BBC Surrey ….
"When you concede goals obviously you look at that first and we made sure today that was our foundation and it proved good for us. Izale popped up with the most important thing to score the goal, so it was a good day.

New signings Keith Keane and Josh Wright have made a difference they have experience, the fact they've got an appearance behind them and they have the work ethic.
"They have settled in very well with a good group and they have certainly enhanced the squad.
On Matt Sadler returning to the club: "He is obviously welcomed back by the fans in terms of great reception so that was excellent. I am sure he felt at home and he's come into a new group of players and settled in very well in a short space of time and he's an excellent addition."

.

Crawley Town took a consolation point with a fine defensive display to leaving Doncaster with a no score draw

Crawley Town boss John Gregory told BBC Surrey:
"They threw everything at us in the last few minutes and we stood firm and behind the back four, Jamie Ashdown had to make a couple of decent saves in the last couple of minutes.
"It's a good point, our first draw of the season and we will accept it and it's another point on the tally and it was important to get something.
"Doncaster are no mugs, they've just come out of the Championship and I was delighted to come here and get something."

Preston beat Crawley to pick up their first win in four league games by 2 goals to nil

In front of a crowd of 2,351 the reds secured a victory over visitors Yeovil and a welcome 3 points.
Marvin Elliot being the man of the match

A tough match saw Crawley come away with a draw by 2, playing away at Coventry, and after trailing by 2 the devils regrouped and pulled back from the brink.
A one nil triumph over Luton in the Paint Trophy, and building on the success of the Cambridge scalp, we see The club beginning to find their feet.

All in all things are up and down more than a fiddler’s elbow, but its only early days as yet!
In the backroom the talk of a new stadium, and a for sale posted on the club.
The future may seem uncertain, but one thing, it surely will be exciting

Yowza!

The CRAWLEY OBSERVER.. John Gregory is standing for no more nonsense from his players after Crawley Town suffered their second disappointing result in two weeks.

“and so say all of us”


Promotion to League One
Since mzawf last posted on the fortunes of (wed 08 oct
Looking back, two glaringly embarrassing results, taking the centre stage
Losing first in a goal fest, (3-5) playing Notts County, back on a wet 18/11
Plus also losing to Peterborough, 4 goals to one..(11/10).
The REDS bouncing back into ‘form’, (21/10), beating Walsall one nil
Coincidently The Saddlers, beat Notts County at the start of the month, while, more recently netting a no score draw against Peterborough.

Lowlights in November included Gillingham ( Scunthorpe beat Gillingham back on Oct 3rd by 3 goals to nil) thus ending, the quest for success in the Paint Cup Trophy!
Yeovi'sl 1-0 win finalised and put out of the FA Cup.
Dating, the 25th of October to the 15th of November, 1-1 results appear to be the order of the day, Gillingham, Crewe and Oldham to boot!
The next match, playing against Scunthorpe, potentially a tough test (22/11)
Scunthorpe placed 15th, are currently playing strong football, as well as,more recently winning matches against both Gillingham, amd Peterborough, "no big deal, but a worrying observation".
We need the Scalp!

The only way is up

In the last blog, attempted to put a positive spin on what might be said, a below par performance.
As was the initial prediction when John Gregory took the helm at the CTFC back on November 17th 2013, ( CTFC would get promoted to the Champions league at the seasons close)
This now, appears to be both misguided and more than over the top !
Recent results at the club have failed to produce the desired outcome.

Of the past six matches, two score draws and one no score draw, being zenith of the
Losing the other three matches and now leaving the total of 11 consecutive games without a win
Languishing at 21 on the league table and in the bottom four.
Things are not looking good, and could certainly benefit from refreshed approach to revitalise the clubs fortunes
The clubs aspirations for a brighter future are rapidly fading.
In the back room things are not any better after the recent news that John Gregory is unwell and needs time out to get back to fitness.
Dean Saunders has been appointed to manage the club for the present.
General opinion amongst fans surveyed is, while all wished a speedy recovery to John.
Gregory’s days have now run the course, and fans have lost confidence in his ability to take the club to a higher level.


Dean Saunders has a big challenge ahead taking up the reigns of a team in tatters but anything is possible with many matches still to be played out.

Hey ho the fortunes of the devils have seriously gone down the pan since the last post Jan 09, and when hope and positive stuff was in abundance.
With expectations bolstered further on the 10th of January following an action packed match against the MK Dons when things appeared to be looking up.
Crawley was leading for large part of the game, but injury to goalkeeper (Brian Jensen) and with no keeper in reserve on the Bench.
Striker, Matt Harrold, rose to the challendge plus ending man of the match.
A supreme effort and all be it, the end result being 2-2.
The changing face of football leave the reds at the bottom of the pile, and ‘to boot’ in the relegation zone.
Since that glimpse of a ‘new beginning’ faded the wheels have well fallen off the band wagon!
“Putting it nicely!” that is
Without any sniff of a scalp in the past six games and adding to the misery Crawley’s departure from the Sussex Senior Cup, (13/01) losing 6 goals to one against Whitehawk.
Enough Said!
Moving ON !
Next to visit the CAT stadium, is Barnsley. It’s going to be a tough match, noting Yeovil beat Barnsley on the 10th of last month.

News Extra…
The Checkatrade Stadium will be hosting a world record attempt...
‘longest football match’
(Thursday May 14th):football
Still a chance to be involved in this record breaking challenge
(23/03) Kevin Byrne Founder and Managing Director wrote ...

Dear Reds’ fan
Many of you will know that here at the Checkatrade.com Stadium we are hosting a world record attempt at the longest football match ever.
On Thursday May 14 two teams will be trying to beat the current record of 72 hours.
Preparations are going well but we’ve had a number of players drop out and we need eight players.
So if you’re fit and want to be a world record holder, or if you are involved in sport or know of anyone who is, please help us find these eight players.
Please visit http://www.checkaplayer.com or call Claire Allen on 07740 366429.
If we can’t get two teams of 11 and 7 subs by this Saturday, March 28, we may have to cancel the attempt which would be a great shame, so please help if you can.
Kevin Byrne Founder and Managing Director, Checkatrade.com/

Following on with the Fortunes of CTFC on Feb 14th m z suggesting team progress being painfully slow and lacking consistancy
With Dean Saunders, bringing the devils not so much as ‘back to form’ more has put the back on target!
Kicking off Feb 14th with a trouncing for Barnsley, 5 goals to 1, going forward to lose twice in the next 8 matches.

A tough match against top of the table Bristol City, (March 7th) resulting a 2- 1 home defeat for Crawley Town, at the final whistle.
Away at the Valley Parade stadium a goalkeeping error early on cost the devils dearly and ultimately the match, Bradford City 1 - Crawley Town 0.

Three well deserved consecutive wins to date, Colchester, Port Vale, and Leyton Orient.
Eight matches and a countdown to the judgement day!
The hastily and ill thought through, grossly over optimistic prediction, at seasons start.
Promotion to the Champions league
On a positive now if the fortunes of the club continue to move forward the best we can hope for, is maintaining club position

Next up Gillingham on March 28th