National League Review: Have Oldham Athletic Won The League Yet?

[Music] hello and welcome to episode one of the National League NATA uh review show coming at you every Monday with a brand new co-host so obviously you'll know me and my voice from the the preview show with Lauren we do want to uh a Friday soon to become Thursday um but to my right hand side we've got a new co-host for the review in Chris and Chris I think it's well first of all welcome on to the podcast it's a pleasure to have you here but also I think it's fair to say that we've probably had uh quite opposite emotions and feelings in the F the first week is that fair because for those that don't know Chris is a a Barnet fan so we brought him on for that sort of competitive rivalry angle uh of the season because obviously old and Barnet are expected quotation mark to be up at the right end of the table battling out but going off game week number one that didn't really happen I mean all them got off to an absolute fly which I'll obviously touch upon as we progress but um yeah it's not really been the most ideal weekend for you as a b fan has it Chris no it's not been the greatest greatest of starts but looking forward to the Pod but yeah two1 defeat to start to Halifax was not how I expected us to start especially after winning all the being unbeaten in preseason but nevertheless we move on but we'll see what happens exactly and and the good thing is there's 45 games to go you know so it's nobody nobody time to turn it around we'll turn it around I'm sure no nothing ever gets win or won or lost in the first maybe three four five weeks of the season anyway you know so yeah I'm sure you'll be up there but um to start with then we were going to touch we don't have really a a a strict running order for this show really it's what kind of catches our I and then we'll take it from there so we thought to start the new season we should start with two of the new boys in the division we as um new boys recently relegated from League two suton United and new boys up from National League um is it national league South um I think it's north I think it's oh sorry National League North sure it's north Tamworth come head-to-head um together on opening day Chris so do you want to talk to us a little bit about that encounter and uh how that went yeah well to be fair I thought southen uh not southen Saturn even we're gonna just blaze it but thing is with Tamworth they've gone up the last two seasons and they've really showed that maybe they're the unexpected team of this league uh having a one-1 draw against faton and even took the lead 84 minutes so I think they're a team we may need to watch out on people probably have predicted them to go down which is fair enough but I don't I think people may have made a mistake with that one to be fair I think with the sort of with the sort of new teams obviously you have more of an idea don't you as I guess bigger teams in this division of probably what the teams in League 2 are capable of because you might have played them a couple of seasons ago but the teams that have come up from the North and South the I think it was first say they are probably more unknown quantities for us because like you know I'm not going to lie I don't spend my time watching the North and South so you know I think I think that can sort of they can use that to their advantage and people might be right in time with like you're saying then they'll they they won't feel the pressure of that and then they can use that and turn it into a positive which they have done on opening day and I think a one-1 draw to a team that people are expecting to be up there number one because of them dropping out of the higher League last year but number two because they've just secured um some pretty heavy investment and had a pretty big turnover ofls in the summer I think that's a result they've got to be proud of isn't it really oh 100% I think for them going into the first game against a newly newly relegated team to go and get a draw against the team that should really be up there in the playoffs maybe just outside just because it's this league is so close anyway so I think they're can be very happy with that and that's a good result to kick on confidence for the team and to see you know what we can if we can beat s get a point against Satan you don't know what you can do against other teams in this division so I think they're ones to watch for definitely the next couple couple weeks and to see how they can perform I think it's interesting so um a bit of a exclusive shall we say as of recording this at um 3 o'cl on the Monday afternoon tomorrow night me and Lauren the of presenter on the preview are having the pleasure of interviewing um Steve Morrison the sou manager uh for a one-off podcast and I think looking into Su and doing the research for that I I actually said on the preview and I thought it was going to get quite a lot of P of they they've had such a turnover of players um and such like you know uh Euphoria of the new sort of investment from uh Paul Brun and and all that sort of media speculation off the back of that and the the eyes of a celebrity owner if you would um I think that can kind of get you distracted away from the actual thing that you know that's most important in terms of football results and we we obviously we're going to touch on it we buying it soon but I said to you before we came on a you wonder if if teams are signing you know eight nine 10 players in in a a postseason will it take take that sort of extra couple of weeks for them to jail and do you think this is something that we might have to expect with suon as well as a few other teams in this division that if they've gone out and made whale changes it might take them a couple of weeks to get the sort of rym found yeah I would agree I think it takes any team any like it's so difficult when you're bringing in the amount of players Barnett brought in I think 13 or 14 new players and to bring them in Jael them in have a full preseason and then get them combining with the play from last it's it's a tough Challenge and I think I think it's tough when you bring in so many new players from different clubs levels if they're going up or if they're coming back down to this level is tough and it does take time so I think it's a wait and see thing but I do think s will do well this year I think it's interesting as well the last thing I'll say on this game and then we'll move on is like I think it's probably teams with sort of whole opposite expectations in terms of I don't think there'll be many suton fans saying that they can go and challenge for a league title in this division this season but I think quite a lot of the Su fans would probably be maybe expecting a playoff push and a playoff space whereas TF are probably coming into this and I know they've had back-to-back promotions but they're probably looking you know consolidation season and and sort of surviving relegation but looking at the stats and the highlights it kind of look like Tam were the better side really and kind of were unlucky to not get the free you know I think they play with a lot of freedom though I think if you see the amount of goals they've scored in the past two seasons it's not they're not going to set up as a team that's going to sit back try and get a point maybe a win if they can they're going to go and play which will I think help them but you will probably see this season quite a few Big Score lines similar to dwking I think last year but it will be tough for them but I feel that if they play with their freedom anything's possible for them yeah yeah absolutely I think it's two teams to keep uh an eye on as the season goes for probably opposite um objectives definitely but considering uh you are the the new host of this podcast and I don't want to get off on a wrong foot and wind you up too much shall we get uh the Bic performance out the way and and so obviously on paper really regardless of whether you know whether you are sort of uh title favorites or how many signings you've had through as much as we take the mick out of them for the pitch and and that they have an Olympic swimming team for the you know the pitch last season and all the pitch problems halifa are known to be a very hard team to beat you know they're very structured they're very sort of set well Chris mingon has them well drilled and it's never you know it's never going to be an easy fix to that an opening day but in terms of the stats and sort of the sort of the highlights of that game I think I think if you're a Halifax fan you're probably thinking on another day we would have got the fre points from that game but at listen I'll let you do your analysis and review a little bit because you'll know more than me but in terms of uh an opening day for bar it of course it's only opening day but it's not it's definitely not the start you wanted right in terms of momentum no not at all and I think I know preseason doesn't mean a whole much but to go un beating in preseason and then the problem was I wasn't really concerned about if we lose the game if we draw it was the performance was so poor from probably the start start to the Finish we didn't didn't really defend didn't really couldn't break the lines you know players like Zack Bryant you want to get get on the ball getting forward but I think to be fair TOA they were very rigid and you know what they they did deserve to win the game and sometimes that's how it is and for us it's it's not too concerning just because it's the first game and it's against the team such as Halifax but I think the relook could be in need because we got so many new players so I think it's just letting them jail giving them hopefully by the start of September it goes a bit better but no not the start we want but alifa are a good side I see them up there again this year it's it's interesting I think with B it for me because our friends um bees pod was I in a tweet before the season started and said it's unusual for B to be going off as title favorites and and you wonder whether you be able to and all football players should be able to handle weight and expectation of any sort of circumstance but we've seen it bound Park last year a little bit some of the players they they shrunk a little bit in front of big crowds you know because at boundary par we're getting you know 8,000 fans a week and you don't really get that at this level and I wonder whether it's the same sort of mentality to start with foret in terms of because you are the sort of title favorites or or up there to be title favorites is there a sort of added weight on uh Brennan and his players to sort of you know come out and perform week and week and do you think do you think do you think they'll live up to expectation and also be able to manage that expectation I think it's a tough one Brennan's always look to be fair he's gone he's gone out and said we want to reach we want to go be Champions that is the aim from his side and the players but uh I feel like we kind of need to wait in just a little bit I don't think people will say we'll walk away with the league I really can't see it happening it's not going to be a Chesterfield situation like last season where to be fair to us we did keep in touch for about about three months and then we just I think the wheels fell off a little bit in November but it's it's a it's a tough one I feel like we need to sort of give the players a little bit more time just to gel and once we get once we get the jail in because that's what happened last season we went on a two I think a two Monon unbeaten run and when we're like that I think we're going to be a tough team to beat but I don't think it's going to happen instantly so I think give it a bit of time and we can can just see where we go but I think there is a lot of expectation from the fans because of what happened last year especially that game against Sol Hall where we just collapsed completely and I think fans is still quite raw at the moment about that result so we just need to try and get away from that and just build and get get up the table really yeah try and kick I think it's interesting as well because half time of that game it was nil nil one it so you thought you know the nothing much happening here and then the sort of second half kicked into life and all three goals were scored in the second half but from a from a Halifax perspective I think I think there are another sort of team that will have um sort of expectations and dreams of harboring a strong playoff place you know they they um that obviously that I guess it with Halifax it all depends on that pitch really don't it I know I know it sounds strange to say that in August but you seen how many postponement he had last year you seen they had to go and play other grounds but in terms of a squad and and I know you know they've lost some key plays you know jamy St and um people like that who are sort of big sort of leaders in that team but I do think with uh mingon at the helm they're always going to be tough to beat and they'll always put up a fight and it'll be really interesting to see them but in terms of that one performance from them I think I think they've got be buzzing with that you know playing the playing the title favorites and and getting the three points you can't ask for a better start than that but I just wanted to get your opinions on Halifax probably from a little bit about what we've seen them last year but also what you probably expect them from them this year and where you probably sort of see them finishing and what a sort of realistic expectation for the Shay would be yeah I'd say what they should they should get playoffs I think I think the quality that they possess and Chris milon's done unbelievable job even even season they're a bit unlucky in the playoffs I think if their ground wasn't postponed we played them last season in atson I think I think I think alen played them in Chesterfield or something like that but yeah so it's like if they can keep that ground that is that is the issue though but I think they'll get in the playoffs and on their day they're a very good side so I think it'll be a tough one but yeah they're they're a good team and they they showed that any team in this division can beat anyone and well well that was our that was our slogan for the review last year I think I know it's very clich to say in football but I think the national league is the actual one that proves it you know like anyone can beat anyone you know but yeah last season we didn't finish in the playoffs but I'm gonna I'm going to just remind Chris just to get it out the way early Oden beat b it home and away last year you know like it can it can happen can't it I think I think the sort of there's that many the thing is now the probably the sort of uh level and competitive nature and skill level of the division has developed that you know that much stronger in the last couple of Seasons because the amount of XFL teams in here and you know it's it's the way I see it is it's it's uh it's it should be League five really shouldn't it I don't yeah I get it's non league but you know this this is it's it's such a good standard of football now and and especially with with just the one automatic champion and then the one play play offs it's so tight everyone's buying for it there's some massive teams down here so I think you know the the importance of winning that opening day and getting that opening day uh Victory is important because then momentum can carry you you know but um yeah I think look I think from Halifax point of view uh you've got like I said you've got to be happy with that I think we know how Halifax are going to play it's not going to be the the pretty sort of EX you know exciting football but it's going to be the sort of tough to beat very physical very physically demanding side and and sometimes you might think how you know how to beat Halifax but then actually doing it is a complete other CLE of fish isn't it you know so I think obviously it's a great start for the shaman definitely and and they'll have their own Ambitions and obviously po start for your boys but like I said before we came on the call it's game one you know there's 45 other games like I'm not I'm not too worried about buying it just yet but I do think that that integ period for all the new signings and stuff is is going to be important and it's going to have to happen soon because as in uh stat sheet um before the season started some of your like your quality options is in like your squad depth options is ridiculous you know I mean one we're not making it a banded podcast but one signing that that excites me a little bit is well I say a little bit a lot is um Jermaine Francis um because obviously he he rose to fame on um YouTube football that's what we want to call it with hashtag United then went then went chelsford um is it chelsford City I think and then obviously come here but he is uh quite a young Raw Talent so he's definitely want to look at isn't he but look I think yeah nothing to worry about for B it yet I mean if you lose next weekend then then there might be some slight alarm Bells running then if it's two two defeats to open up your season but um yeah great win for FIFA bad start for Barney but nothing more than that at this stage um but to sort of on the flip side I am going to take it away um with my boys and we played again uh we National League newcomers on um with brain free uh town and and I said before coming on here with with them sort of sides the sort of unknown quantities because I'll be honest I don't spend a lot of my time watching the North and South divisions um so I didn't really know what to expect obviously they'd make some good signings you know they've got they've got um the center half of you Joe um is it Joe Joe Green Joe greenw yeah Joe Greenwood um they've got inie F young they've got John aend you know proper like physical bully Striker that that can score goals in this division but look we we just didn't allow that we we set the pace from minute one you know we were playing fast attacking Dynamic football we were actually playing triangles there was periods where I had to turn around to my uncle who came with me to watch the game and I said I can't believe this because I I got so used to seeing alen play this sort of onedimensional Route One style football pumping it up to Mike fond been it he had nobody to hold it to or link it with and all that was gone and I know it's only game week one and and we got to caught up but it comfortable if we would have won 5 nil 6 nil I probably wouldn't have been you know it wouldn't have been a massive surprise really I think BR Frey obviously they they had a very dubious penalty uh Charlie Raglin uh kind of shoulder B's man out the way in the penalty area and the referee give it but it was the softest penalty I've ever seen I think I could take a penalty harder than that to be fa and I'm in a wheelchair so it was comfortable save for mat Hudson but a one that he had to make of course and then to we had two um two debutant scoring the goals in um jerison uh AUM uh the Winger we got from rdale who it's funny isn't it footballs about opinions and obviously nobody's going to get carried away but when we sign him from rale rale fans probably because the Rivalry exists between the two clubs but they are oh he's he's you know he rubbish buys he buys you you you'll see you'll he'll be he'll be dog turd for you he won't he won't do anything but every time he got the ball he was willing to run at a man front of man up and he was electric and he he got um he got his goal um thanks to I would probably say I know it's only game week one and you're probably thinking Aon you're a bit deluded but if you haven't seen it yet look at the assist from Dan Gardener our midfielder and tell me I think you'll struggle to see a better ball than that season basically he was he was in his own half he pings the ball in the air the first touch is absolutely exquisit from jez and then he he beats the keeper one and one and then the second goal was a a bit of a scrap really because we've got rean Ogle the right back that we signed from skum for in the summer he has an absolute weapon of a long throw on him this season now which we're I think it's going to cause cage for a lot of teams sweet he threw he threw the long throw in and and their keeper flap to and it bounced to Harry Charley who we signed from um um we signed in the summer with efl experience who tapped it into an empty net and then the the third and final goal was our cult hero Mike fond who um was uh on hand um to again uh Tapp in uh and empty night after some good work for Ole Hammond getting a shot away at the keeper that the keeper fumbled and and look I'm happy and like it's nice to see Al them start positively because it's our first it was our first home League opening victory for eight years um so you can you can forgive me for being happy and getting excited but obviously we know we're going to have sort of lots of stern ATT test and and this is only the you know the start but you can only beat what's in front of you cat we and we did that convincingly you know in terms of a brain fre perspective obviously that their probably aim is you know to survive or at least give themselves a a good account if they you know if they can't survive but I think they play like that they'll get they'll get picked off and found out every week because it was very onedimensional they didn't seem to have a game plan um but I'm just a bit curious really in terms of uh a a direct promotion rival sort of what what are you expecting from AUM this year like how do you see us where do you see us at the minute well after last year after I said after that game when we lost I think it was I think it was 2-0 at at bound part I was like Alm are going to do well but never materialized but I do do worry about Alm quite a bit as as a title rival I think there our games against oldum are going to be proper tough tests and especially like if you're playing with this passing football that really is working I know it's brain true but 3-0 win is no goals conceded on opening day is is a good one so I think I think Alm are a team not to not worry about because they're massive like they're probably top biggest team in the league but I think people have put them under the radar just because how they played last season and the year before just not being able to get in the playoff places but I do think alen will be up there with us I think you hit the nail on the head there and obviously I'm going to be a little bit biased here because I am an Olden fan but towards the start of the season I've seen people a lot of respected journalists do season previews and none of them really had us in a a playoff place never mind a title you know sort of consideration and and and some Olden fans might be a bit disheartened by that but I wasn't because football's about opinions you know seasons are not won or lost on predictions and also like I'm quite happy like last year when Chesterfield were up here um we signed James Norwood and probably it came back to bite him in the ass a little bit but on his announcement video he said we've let one win a league now whereas this year we've gone under the radar we we' we've signed in the areas we needed to strengthen and strengthen very well we obviously like I said preseason can't count from much because you won all your or was unbeaten in all your preseason but we played um we played three League one opposition in preseason and and beat two of them and Drew once at home um so the the foundations are there and you know we could have a good season I think I think the home form for us a be vital this year because it was horrendous last year the away for would have got got us promoted No Doubt the home form needs to sort itself out so you can't ask for more than three goals on a um clean sheet really can you um but someone else that got off to a very very good start in terms of they've had quite a quite a busy summer and obviously they had a lot of worries last year um in terms of uh whether they were going to survive ownership issues sort of you know this is our probably our closest and fiercest rivals in division rdale um they were a way to again new Boys Boston United um and let's just say they they got off to a very impressive start for the season as well didn't they Chris do you want to take us away on that and just on that a little bit I think rale I think people have got them up there in the playoffs this year and rightly so because the signings they've made and I think having that ownership structure that they now have is going to be really key and I think last season they just we I think when we played them away they absolutely destroyed I think we lost 4-2 but they at that time I think we played them about September you thought maybe they actually going to go on and do something but obvious reasons with the ownership it didn't really work out but a three-nil win on opening day against a newly promoted Boston side is a great result like you don't know what to expect from these newly promoted sides especially especially going away as well their first game back in the National League and they would have been really pumped and ready for this game but Devonte Rodney double chocked that so a 3-0 win for roale three and a away B and it's a good start good start from the Manchester sides yeah definitely absolutely and and like well for for as uh much as I like to ban because I live in rdale unfortunately um so I've got a lot of rale supporting friends and some of my family support roel So as much as I like to say oh I hope they lose every week and whatever like after what they went through last year it's good to see them actually just being able to focus on the football and I I put them in the playoffs along with us and um B it in that sort of conversation in my my season preview so because I actually think they've made some really sensible signings as well um so yeah great start for Jim MCN man I like to say Boston again probably similar to brain free in terms of you know it's it's project survival isn't it really and or maybe even project best show off survival in terms of if they're not strong enough to survive that's fair enough but you don't want to come in with like a record low points total or something de year with these teams you want to you want to fight for every point and I'm sure sure Boston will be up there and cause people problems I just think sometimes it can take you know a while to sort of get accustomed to the physicality of this league because I'll be honest when Oden first dropped into this division you know because I I've been used to seeing us play like League one level for them my time watching or I just thought oh yeah you know what I mean it's going to be it's going to be a lot of physicality but not a lot of technical ability in this Division and and how wrong can you be sometimes some of these teams sweep you away you know and um so yeah I think I think Boston will will put a fight up for themselves but I think they need to probably a couple more games to adjust to to the level of competition in this division what are your sort of thoughts and feelings on Boston this season yeah I would agree with you to be fair I think I think they're they're in a tough position like they weren't near the top of the I think they I think they finished four in the playoffs and then they went up to win it against uh Brackley so I think it's it's tough especially when you're kind of off off it a little bit same with brain tree like they didn't they weren't the highest team in the playoffs I think they wording were the top team who they lost to but again I think if they the main aim for them and brain Tre is just to survive and then see what happens in another season if they can try and maintain that get up to a mid-table position but I think they'll be I think they'll be just I don't think they have enough this year but they've got some experienced players Adam marot experienced Striker if they can keep him fit and if he can get some goals I think they'll be all right but if time will tell absolutely absolutely and now you might be thinking you might be thinking here what is going on in this podcast so nearly H half an hour in and they haven't mentioned probably the biggest result of the the the weekend and we're getting there we're getting there we wanted to build up your anticipation but I think it's about time we touched on on it don't you Chris so um yeah we've got um so it was it was Rob Elliot Gates head playing at home to edle United um who survived um by the skin of the teeth last year really if we're being honest um at Boren Wood's expense uh but gate said again probably a lot of people shouts for the most attractive team on the day in this division some of the football they can plays outstanding and they prove that again on Saturday with a Absolut fuming 51 demolition job of ABS out home um so yeah like Gates head obviously people people are fancying but with the sort of UN certainty of of you know the the ground and what whatever's going to happen with that you you can never be too sure really can you and I guess that's frustrating for the supporters and the players but what they can only control what they they can control and that's the football side of fingers isn't it and you know you've got you've got people like Greg Ole scoring a hattick on opening day you know like that is that is like phenomenal obviously you know Gates head were um up there around there and playing this sort of style last year so it's not really much of a surprise but to do that on opening day is ridiculous and um yeah so like in terms of gates head what what are you obviously what do you think on on this performance and how do you think you'll see their season going yeah think I think they'll do unbelievably well I think I think they could get in the top three this year I really do like the style of play they play is unbelievable like they play We Lost 2N last year at the high they ran us ragged they we couldn't get on the ball and we're a team that loves to we'll average probably 60 70% possession I think we had about 40 but Gates head are a team who I think really the team I think if they didn't have that Stadium issue they could really be flying because that will put some players off that if they can't get promoted what's the point you know you can't step up with Gates head but the way they're playing is who's going to stop them I'm not sure who but if they can get consistent and keep winning and make their home of Fortress I can't I really can't see them being stopped and I think the thing is with Gates head is they obviously lost Mike Williams uh Williamson sorry to MK Dons which you know people thought was a massive blow but they made they made very the very sensible appointment of appointing his assistant in in uh you know Rob Elliott and I think when you do that it's kind of like it's kind of a bit like the national league pepp Teta isn't it really you've seen how well arteta has done in the last couple of Seasons at Arsenal but that's because of what he's learned under um Peppa Man City and I think it's very similar to in the gates head situation in terms of mik Williamson found this very very attractive style of football and and sort of imprinted it and and implemented it but then uh Rob Elliott's just kind of been able to take that bat and just take it onto a complete new level and add his own little twist in it so I think we talk about sometimes when it comes to managerial appointments we talk about the need for sort of patience and stability in terms of a setup and I think Gates had have got that bang on and that's probably why they've managed to do so well over the last two and a half three seasons you know yeah I think agree like if you've got a manager that has come in they know they know the system already then you can just take the range and then push it in that same direction and it makes it so much easier for the players as well that if you got a new manager a new manager comes in new style if the player is not wanted it makes it very tough so I think for Gat said they just need to continue what they're doing and they're in a really good position so they can keep the way they're playing sort out the stadium issue there's a bright future there for sure yeah absolutely absolutely and look they've got some fantastic players at this level you know we've just spoke about a hattick on opening day for OE um and and Callum wheelen and um rean booty you know yeah some really really good strong technicians in at this level of football and like I said I think they'll take them stopping I think I think it'll be interesting be interesting to see them play against a team that might want to play a similar style in terms of obviously it's only game one but bar it go there and fany playing a bit of football or all them and all them have them in their opening five games as well so you know if we play that football that swep as side brain fre weekend it'll be interesting to see how they can adapt to that but I think it'd be stupid to right Gates head off this season for a very successful season for sure um but before we get into the rest of the action I think now is probably a perfect time to call for an ad break and let you wonderful listeners listen to our wonderful sponsors who without we wouldn't be able to produce these podcast so we will be back in two minutes uh and yeah enjoy the break and we are back um so yeah so I think it's about the time we get into the second half of the action really obviously before the break we left off talking about Gates head and but another team I wanted to talk about or I say team really but I'm speaking probably individual um in terms of you know this this performance was um uh filed vers is solul now you know we have a very very vocal um the admin of our national league M Twitter account is a Sol home Wars fan and for the summer I've heard all I've heard is of Sol Hill going to be right up there Sol Hill going to be this Sol H going to be that and obviously I can't give him too much because he's only opening day but you know Nick hon shut him up shut him up a little bit and and I'm sick of saying it but I feel like this podcast last year and it's going to start this year isn't it cting appreciation podcast in terms of how is that man at this level I I know he's he's not exactly young young now but still surely somebody in the NFL has got to take a gamble him on him at some point cuz just some of his goals and some of his technique is ridiculous and he helped his uh F tide to get a big 32 Victory over um many people's contenders this year in Sol Hall MOS um so yeah Chris talk to me about the Nick hon show and also feel free to uh rub a bit rub a bit more into Callum we don't mind here we don't mind we know C can take it and he loves us here at National anyway well I think if s losing after us last season I'm not going to be complaining but Nick Horton he's he's he's class like he he does it every season like hatrick on opening day against a team that's probably going to be up there he's insane so I think filed I don't think I think they' be contenders for play I don't think they'll get playoffs I don't think they've got that Squad depth but I think they've come back to the national league and they want they want a bit of a Vengeance for what how they went down and then to come back up but for Sol Hall it's it's been a tough it's been a tough last three games a playoff final defeat fa trophy defeat and to start the season down to 10 men with a defeat it's not looking good for Soo so but it's only first game so we'll have to see on them we we had a little bit of a we had a little bit of banter in our in our group chat uh before the season started and and we said we should do a a one-off podcast episode on SOL hole and call it call it Sol hole M serial bottlers um so who knows in may we could be producing that you never know you never know but listen I don't want I don't want angry uh Angry Sol hole fans in our DMS um on opening day that's not really what I want although we will take the interaction definitely and we will take the views so if you do disagree and want to stick up for your team then then feel free um but obviously it's only it's only game week number one as we keep saying but look we're just having a little bit of B with our uh one of our colleagues that's all it is but um yeah so obviously not the greatest of starts for um so H and obviously they've had some you know big departures in the summer as well in terms of you know probably the the the biggest one being uh Joe saara um going to Doncaster um and you know it's still to be seen whether they'll sort of pick themselves up and like I said I still expect them to be around there of course I do but you kind of you don't want to be um sort of kicking off the season with such a high scoring game in my in my opinion especially if you the right end of it you know um but it's easy for me to say that now our my team's won 3-0 and we ConEd a goal granted sorry I just thought I keep letting people know that because this is the thing that as an Olden fan you know you I've never ever seen Olden at the top half of the table so I have to take my chances of have a little bit of ban when I can do you know um but yes I still expect so to be up there like you say I think uh fly up bit up there as well because um I think they have some fantastic players and I said last year all the way through last year I said they have too many good players and too much like chances to struggle for too long and in the end they got themselves away from you know the relegation danger and and survive comfortably in the end and I don't think they'll push on so that's definitely one to keep an eye on for sure um but I think next up shall we talk about two teams that I think yet again probably Harbor um playoff shouts in terms of um South End United and New York City now we we all know last year you know the well documented struggles of South End United and the sort of Miracle job really we won't like down play The Miracle job that Kevin mayor did with his and team you know the the points deduction and to finish you know how close they were in the end for the playoffs and so and now the embo has been lifted I fancy s to be up there definitely I think I think they've been contention and I also find fancy um York to be up there especially if you know they can s out the if Matt ugler can avoid playing football manager from t with with yor and just let it happen naturally I definitely think yor have have the sort of capabilities and natural talent in the squad to to Harbor a playoff place as well obviously they met an opening day the game ended one all so it indicates a very even uh opening contest between two probably teams with similar aspirations but yeah Chris do you want to touch upon um South End and York for us and and what your perceptions of both teams this season are yeah I think it's good that South End have got their ownership issues all solved which is huge for them I think I think it really it's big for the town it's big for the club and also I've signed a couple good players Josh Walker I'm not the biggest fan of if any Barnet fans listen they know why I don't like Josh Walker but I can't stand him but he's good at football so I think it's a good signing for south end and I think he will get goals this season and adding into the even the quality they had last season I know they didn't have huge amounts of players but the players that did have were quality so I think this year I I just don't think they'll fall just short of the playoffs but it depend if they can bring in more players I think that will help their chances and with York I I think they're I don't know I don't I don't really rate them too highly I think every time I've seen York play last season I didn't think they were that good so I think they gonna struggle again and I don't think ownership issue helps with yor I think he's interesting with yor because I'm just looking at the lineup they went with uh you know um for the opening day and they've got people like Billy Billy Chadwick um Alex Hunt who was UN loan I ow him a couple of seasons ago from um Grimsby I want to say uh he was on long from that's where they might have bought him from they've got uh Len John Lewis his name is a shop um who obviously opened his account on opening day and like I said I do think they've got enough Talent there to push for it just it just depends on ownership issues and whether whether Mr um whether Mr I want to play football manager um Can can temper his expectations and and like the what also I think obviously we don't want to get this podcast in trouble and liable and stuff so I won't say too much but I think he should be potentially maybe a little bit less active on social media this year than being honest uh because it seemed like he he was more interested in social media spots and Twitter spots last year and certain aspects of the football club but I will I will stop it I will stop it there before I get myself into trouble definitely um but yeah so that is York and that is send uh so we are we are nearly getting to the last couple of games and then we've got a few uh features that we're going to throw in as well in terms of naming a couple of standout players because we were going to do a a team of the week but I'm not I'll be honest I've not really had much chance to write the team of the week out so for this week what I'm going to do is I'm just going to give a few honorable mentions for a few standup players across the division and then we'll take the team of the week from next week if that's okay with you Chris and then so to finish off then with the last couple of games we will start with um in fact let's start this last little section off with altringham who I think obviously you know last season they probably had the player of the division in Chris K Clark if I'm being honest you know and he quite rightly um got his move higher you know away from this Division I personally have aled to struggle uh this year if I'm being honest obviously of now I've said that of course he went on and got the win um they they were playing walking uh and they won uh one nil uh at home to walk in on Saturday thanks to new boy former um h right back Tyler golden scored an absolute beauty of a goal I don't know if you seen it Chris but it was an absolute yeah he cut in um and put it at the top corner but I do think long term I do think the sort of absence of not because the thing is with chrisan Clark it wasn't just the creativity he was he was a big goal scorer as well in a big portion of Al's goals you know and I just I don't see them being able to play the same sort of style without him but I might be wrong but in terms of trying to prove people wrong the one- nil victory at home to um Wen is a great start but it seemed like a bit of a ill ill-tempered game really you know two two red cards obviously one was a double yellow but one was a straight red um so yeah like what are your thoughts on the game and and would you agree with my sentiment about the the sort of value of chrisan Clark to this Alti team and and like the struggle for finding the same sort of consistent level of goals and assists yeah I would agree I think don't think Alti are going to be as high as they were last season the loss of chrison Clark to Peter BR is absolutely massive and I think I think also working I I don't I don't really rate them I know they've SE two of our old players Dale Gorman and Ben winter and Dale Gorman as if anyone's ever seen Dale Gman play a red card on opening day is no shock at all so uh I think I think woki needs to be care like last season but alrum I don't think they'll get playoffs but it won't be won't be as bad as some people think yeah absolutely I mean I'll credit to the guy and you know I'm not going to come on here and slay well I am a little bit but not not not to the extent where I get myself in trouble but Al took um Joe nutall from us on loan as a a Target Striker and if I'm being honest he he might he works hard but my problem with joh notal is he's six foot plus and he's scared to head of football like he's he's got all the attributes and all all the sort of looks to be a big you know presence and Target man and then he's work EIC and sort of unwillingness to head a football really surprises me so look I hope he has an absolute blazing season for Al and they sign him and we you know there's a good deal financially for alen but in terms of goals and you know filling that sort of Gap left by Chris K clar I don't think he is the one personally but we shall see we shall see yeah uh I think it's wor to say I'm more um calmer about the prospect of uh an altering G miners Chris K CL then with him you know um but I I do I do feel the same about walking as well to be fair I think it'll just be another another scrap for survival season from them to be fair but I think they will probably the experience of you know doing it last year in the money they did it will give them sort of that confidence that you know if push comes to shove they can do it again and they've been there and done that now so they've got the experience they've got the teacher and that that can sort of be um sort of a good thing for them going forward I think in terms of that sort of scrap um but shall we talk about uh the only other new by I don't think we've touched upon yet in forest green and so forest green we're playing I shot old the shot and three three draw yeah it was a six goal Thriller with a three three draw um to start the season and for a neutral that's probably the G the tie of the weekend isn't it I think um so obviously uh at halftime all the shot were actually leading 2 one at halftime uh um they all the shot I've seen people on social media and I think it's quite fair to the shots sorry unfair to the shots to say that they think Al threw it away in the sense of they raced into a two-nil lead you know and and they sort of had it in the pal of the r but forest green again uh going to be up there you would imagine so to get a point and to score three goals against them is a great start but I think there will probably be a little bit of disappointment there that they couldn't have capitalize and got the three points especially being in such a strong position to start with don't you yeah I think if you go two up in any game of football you'd be disappointed if you don't get all three but I think overall it's a decent start for holder shot they were strong last year just unlucky to just miss out on the playoffs but get a point over a team like forest green who should be challenging for top end of the playoffs I think that's a brilliant start for them and I think old the shot I think they'll do well I think it's a lot uh to L lose leaving is a loss but they've got players like yeah he's G and Stokes and I think players like Jack Barum will step up and I think they'll I think they'll be okay I think old a good club they make good business decisions and they've got a really good manager in Tommy so we'll have to see how that one goes but I think they'll do okay yeah definitely uh in terms of a FY screen perspective I think you know they've had quite a turbulent few seasons I think it's pretty pretty safe to say with the sort of disappointing reign of Mr Trini shall we say you know what was it what how many days did he last 30 oh 30 days 35 40 um and then obviously dropping down to this division they made some very impressive signings um but like we said with signings early early doors you can make all these signings in the world and if they don't jail straight away you're going to struggle you know and but I do expect forest green to be up there don't you I expect I expect them to be one of the title favorites but like we were saying this year I think this season I think you're seeing now your reom are gone now you not County are gone now your stop parts are gone now your Chesterfields are gone this is probably the most open title race and promotion race the national league is him probably in the last five years whereas there's you know four or five teams are your South ends your ROM your baret your Forest Greens your RDS that your Gates heads that you could all see winning the league or at least going up by the playoffs so I think it's it's it's so important for a good start and a good bit of momentum at the start of the season but I do I do expect forest green to be up there don't you like what are your thoughts on for green I think there made some really good smart signings to bring in Ben to I think that's a really good signing that's that's showing a bit of intent from R screens bring in a player that's Captain Drex them as got back toback promotions the opposite of forest green I think they'll do really well I think they're strong and I think we've got the next shoes there I think that'll be a really tough game for us so I think it' be interesting to see how they sort of perform in the next the next sort of five six games so have to see how they do and and this is the thing we should highlight like you know for as much as I want to like look at the league table and see old him second there and you know have a little bit of a laugh like League tables and League positions They Don't Really to me they don't mean much really until like 10 12 15 games in you know that's when you can proper start seeing a table take shape you know like I don't think anyone's going to look at a table unless unless alen win the next six and bar it lose the next six and then people might be like oh you know what I mean oh like now we've got some but until something something serious like that happens you can't really take note of a league table till about probably about just before Christmas I would say would you agree with thatr yeah I'd say I'd say it's like the first um just when the trophy draw comes out I think that's like on the 13th of December which is about 15 16 games deep I'd say that's about enough time to see who's in contend mention for promotion and relegation but to say that look what happened with um Grimsby a couple years ago and I think it was donc cter last season like last 17 games I don't think yeah in League two and Grims be when they were in this when they went up they were on a run so you never you can't tell this league is so unpredictable anyone could be anyone so you're never gonna know momentum is key for sure isn't it yeah but yeah so then to finish off uh I think I'm right and thinking this is the final game to cover isn't it um it is got two more oh we got two more ma Headley I'm going early I'm going a bit early um so we've got yeah we've got Maiden head eastley um which was a rather routine uh 2N away win for the spit players um in terms of in terms of East I don't I don't really know what to expect from them either so obviously they had you know Superman Paul McCallum last year um topping the the uh top goal scorer charts in this division but nothing else really around that like worries me if I'm being honest and that's probably going to come back me in the bottom and I'm sure there'll be a few uh eastly fans that are not going to be happy with me here but even like Scott Quigley you know I've seen him play for rdale and I thought he was a I I know players can develop in a couple of years but I've seen him and I I didn't think it was anything special I think Chris Maguire on his day in this division could rip it up but I do think he's getting on a little bit he's getting old you know obviously mallum mcal still expect to score 15 plus goals this year I'm being honest um but look they I'm saying all this and they won they won the opening game you know but Maiden head I think are going to be in slap bang in trouble I think um I just don't think they've got much to them this year really so I think it was a very much routine expected win for eastley don't you yeah well Maiden head other the kings are staying up every single season every time I'll predict them to go down and they'll finish 20th but maybe that this year but I don't know I think may may a weird one but so I think they're both very strange teams but if mam stays at easty I think easty would be they won't go down but they'll be fine but if they lose him I think they could be a bit of trouble but they should stay up conly yeah and then the final game of game week number one and then we can go on to a couple of standout performers to finish off episode number one of the National League review is Lauren's soft spot favorites dagging him in Redbridge with a two-nil win against uh welstone at home um now daggers are a very interesting team to me in terms of you know they had Fon last season um and players like that and you know they they they can sort of cause anybody problems if they really want to um and they got uh they won an opening day which is most important but W Stone are I don't I don't I say I feel like I say the same about worldstone um every season but to me they're just you SL bang sort of middle of the road team I don't ever expect them to push her playoffs but I don't ever expect them to be too deep in our relation scrap either you know um so yeah like not much to talk about on that one unfort but obviously great start for the daggers OB they'll probably have their own aspirations of an outside playoff push this year and weal Zone will probably just be SL bang with table unless you've got anything to add to that Chris no nothing to add it's just a standard National League fixure that one yeah so perfect so then I think we should what we should do is we should pick three players to give a bit of a standout mention um for do considering the Olympics has just finished I think we should do um a bronze silver gold player performance of the weekend don't you so I will I will start with my with my stri with my player and yes come biased I don't really care I think it would be outrageous not to say it I think I I'm happy to put him at Silvera if I'm being honest I think for opening day debut for for a player that another team is completely written off and told us that you know he'll be awful for us the way uh jerus a I want to do his name right let me just make sure I get it right jerison AUM um the way he he started his um Autumn campaign and his life in an Autumn shirt was so impressive and you know we've not had that sort of wide pacy tricky customer outwire for many years you know even buying it had you know Idris Cary the last couple of seasons to do that sort of thing um but we've not had that um so to have that and to have one player that kind of just gets bums off seats you know a bit unpredictable in terms of you don't know what he's going to do with a ball like I said to my uncle like he's the type of player if he loses the ball I'm not going to be too bothered because at least he's tried to make something happen with the football you know but at least he's trying to take some risks and I don't mind that so yeah jez has got my seal of approval for um a silver spotting player of the week uh so do you want to give me uh one from you and then I think we're pretty just so we're making sure that it's a different player to what I'm going to say here I think we're pretty uh agreed on who should go uh in the gold position this week right I hope so okay so do you want to hit me with your Bron shout then bronze shout right so bronze I've gone for Greg Ole like count me out oh whoa whoa what did you see my face and on I want your explanation but just so we're clear if any Gates head fan has a problem with this don't don't come pleas come for come for the Twitter account but remember it was Chris that said this because I made a point of saying I think I think we're sure on the because you put somebody that got an opening day hatrick in third position I know controversial decision but I would go with him because and know they played I expect him to be iy but he did play very well and it is a great performance but there is someone who I feel is his performance was better in Gold but I think you probably do know you probably realize who now but okay you do that then just to balance it out I'm actually gonna move jez down to bronze second that's probably very fair the guy has got an hatrick and you was going to put him third in a list of three crazy crazy crazy so Greg takes silver take us away with gold well gold I think now I think you know who gold is Nick Corton like to get hattick opening day against team like so who are gonna go for protion I think that's a brilliant achievement and Nick coron will score 20 plus this season guarante absolutely absolutely and you know what I'm quite happy that that ended on that note because it'll get people talking it's a bit of controversy we like a bit of controversy on this podcast I mean I've come for my ugler on week number one I don't know how advised that is um but we we shall see if he responds to us on Twitter or he I'm sure he'll find something to say if he wants to use his Twitter account again for sure but yes so just to recap so that is um jez in third spot for all the my IC Greg o in second spot which I had no part in doing but I can see why you have put Nick Haron in the gold spot and that is a going to be a running theme of the podcast every week we're going to do a a medal Podium for national league players um but that brings us to a perfect conclusion for the game week number one review of the national leag NATA um podcast so Chris how have you found your first week covering National League action with me I've enjoyed it I've had a great time just unfortunate uh result wasn't as good so hopefully next week I can come on be a bit more bit more upbeat about my team but we will have to see there always next week always next week um and yeah so I think that's a good a good place to end it obviously me and Lauren will be back um at the end of this week to do the previous show for the the next set of fixtures and I mean Chris will be back probably same sort of similar time uh next Monday afternoon to do the game week two review but in the meantime we have been National League NATA I have been Aaron I've been Chris and we and we will see you next week [Music]