By theimps.tk
November 27 2009

It will be a case of all of nothing for Lincoln City and Northwich Victoria. The victors could potentially get a massive draw at home, leading onto many different opportunities, whereas the losers will have nothing more than swelled bank balance as consolation. It's a strange feeling going into the FA Cup Second Round day and us actually having a game. It's been 6 years since the Imps last in this stage of the competition and facing a team two divisions below us, we have a decent chance of getting through to a third round tie, potentially the best five teams in the country, Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur. However, knowing City's luck, if the Imps do get through then we'll probably draw another non-League side.

That's the funny thing about the FA Cup. Non-League sides make the first round and expect to get a League side and lower league sides expected a big team if they get through to the Third Round, and the immense disappointment if you don't. For example, if we'd have reached the third round last season then we would have drawn Eastwood Town at home.

So City are going into the recent unknown, whereas Northwich Victoria have a fine history in the FA Cup, once famously making the ¼ Finals of the competition. Then you've got to just look at their FA Cup history to show that they are more than capable of an upset. Other than beating Charlton in the first round, they beat then third-tier Bury in a replay in 2000/1. They are however highly capable of being battered, losing 8-0 at Brighton three years ago and 3-0 against Scunthorpe in 2002 and 5-2 at Hull a year earlier.

Lincoln will be looking for their first win since the 1^st Round game at Telford, their only win in the since beating Macclesfield 1-0 on October 10^th. Although it was a slightly improved performance at Rotherham on Tuesday night, City's same old problem of not scoring resurfaced, but we've signed to strikers since then in a bid to improve that stat. The more than likely means that Rene Howe will be leaving City for good when his loan spell expires.

With rumours circulating that he will be moving to a higher League club, this could potentially be the last game that Rob Burch plays for the Imps, but he is the one difference maker that we have these days. The defence in front of him will basically be a return to the Imps side of old, although Joe Heath has been cleared by Nottingham Forest to play in the match, probably the last game he will play for the Imps before returning. With him in the defence will likely be Cian Hughton at right back with Kovacs and then either Hone or Swaibu in the centre.

Michael Gordon will miss the game through ineligibility, whereas Oakes, Torres and Pulis are injured, making the midfield a little less threatening that usual. Herd is expected to make his debut, probably partnering Kerr. Khano Smith will attempt to impress for once in left midfielder whereas Shane Clarke could easily complete the midfielder quartet, if we play 4-5-1 then Jamie Clarke will more than likely drop back from the attack to play in the midfield.

Gilmore, one of the new players, could easily find himself playing as a lone-striker in his first game for the Imps, especially as the regular strikers have only scored six goals from open play between them.

Northwich, much like City, haven't won since the 1^st Round, then again, they have only played a single game in that time, a 1-1 draw at Hyde United. Northwich would be high up in the table had it not been for a deduction and have a decent record at home, winning 4 of their 6 League games on their own turf, and a 4-1 win at Gainsborough Trinity.

Managed by Andy Preece, a former Bury Player-Manager, the Vics are similar to West Brom in the sense that they are too crap for the top tier of non-League football, but too good for the second tier, hence why they bounce around the divisions and only an amazing run at the end of the 2007/8 under Dino Maamria prevented them from going down.

The season they didn't record a win until November 24^th, losing 17 of their 20 games before that, an horrendous record that makes the fact they weren't relegated even more impressive. They weren't so lucky last season though, again a poor start to the season which saw eight defeats in their first ten games really not helping things. However, they did win their final 6 games of the season, not enough to keep them up though.

All or nothing for Imps and Vics

Discussion started by theimps.tk (IP Logged), 27/11/2009 13:41

theimps.tk
27/11/2009 13:41

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