By theimps.tk
September 28 2009

Notts County roll into town tomorrow as the flops that are currently representing Lincoln City have one last chance to impress Chris Sutton before the new manager takes over, something that a lot of our players might not actually be up to doing. With Chris Sutton's appointment at Sincil Bank, Tuesday's match against Notts County is arguably the biggest game of the season for some players in the squad. It will be their chance to impress the new boss before Sutton officially takes over on Wednesday. It means that if they have any intention of being first team candidates, then players such as Lenell John-Lewis will have to actually care for once, instead of putting in their usual poor and lethargic performance.

A third defeat on the bounce and the sixth defeat in seven has seen the Imps deservedly slip down the table and now just one bad result away from potentially being the bottom two. A sign of how poor the Imps have been this season can be seen in the fact that Grimsby are ahead of us in the table for the first time since early 2008.

So going into the game and City have no new injury worries, meaning that it could easily and unfortunately be the majority of the same side that performed poorly against Bury at the weekend.

Rob Burch, one of the few......actually, the ONLY player to come out of the Bury game with any credit, is a certainty to start in goal, but the defence could be given a much needed shake up. With Swaibu playing reasonably well, it's about time that Janos Kovacs was dropped following his numerously poor performances, replaced by Danny Hone. Aaron Brown and Cian Hughton are likely to be the left and right backs respectfully, the latter being on a particular high after being called up to the Republic of Ireland Under 21 squad.

With none of the midfield really setting the world alight at the moment, it's really anyone's guess as to whom will fill the spots, although Scott Kerr will probably start in what could out to be his final match as Lincoln City Captain, a possibility that would end his three years in that position, three years in which the club has gone tremendously backwards. Stefan Oakes is likely to start after several weeks of recovering from injuries, whereas the other places will be fought out by Jamie and Shane Clarke, Lazy John-Lewis and Richard Butcher.

Infact, this could easily be the game that would suit Butcher. The midfielder has been seriously off par this season and City fans are beginning to see the type of performances he was criticised for putting in during his two years at Notts.

Up front could also be an issue with neither Howe or Fagan really setting the world alight, Hutchinson could be given his chance.

City have a decent record against County in recent years and remain undefeated to Notts at Sincil Bank in the last four meetings, two 2-1 wins and two 1-1 draws. However, history would put Notts as the favourites as they have won fourteen of the thirty one meetings so far at Sincil Bank between the clubs.

County's away form is also poor, losing three of their four away matches, the only win being against a 4-0 victory at Macclesfield. They have also won two of their last three games, although both came at home and Sol Campbell's shockingly statuesque performance granted Morecambe a 2-1 victory.

The Football League Show's favourite side have assembled arguably one of the best sides in the division, amplified by the signing of Ade Akinbiyi today, although he is unlikely to feature against City due to a lack of international clearance at the moment. Their squad includes consistent League Two players of recent years, such as Rickie Ravenhill and Ben Davies, they also have brought in players such as Lee Hughes and Kasper Schmeichel.

City flops have one last chance to impress

Discussion started by theimps.tk (IP Logged), 28/09/2009 18:43

theimps.tk
28/09/2009 18:43

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oldimpsfan
28/09/2009 20:07

Apparently Sutton "can't stand slackers" so it could be a case of "Watch Out, There's A New Manager About." I think we'll see some people in and wave goodbye to others but that's just a guess on my part.

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davidimp
28/09/2009 20:39

Spot on. He's played at the top whereas he probably wont expect the same skill level he used to play at he'll want the same level of commitment and effort.
I think we'll have a very different team by February 1st.

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PoshImp
28/09/2009 21:51

Out with the dross (Kerr, Butcher, LJL - unless Sutton really can do something with him...)

That's three for a xtart!

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kevin6
29/09/2009 06:12

Very good article in yesterdays Times about Notts County. Back page of the football bit.

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