Silkman in Peace

Greetings from oop narth, and let me be the first to say, congratulations! Your league run this season is phenomenal, and well deserved. I always felt sorry for Cardiff after watching you lot get pipped in the play-offs time and again, so I think you've waited and suffered long enough. Keep the run going, and let's see if you can beat Reading's record.

Obviously we're very excited for this weekend. We've had a bloody miserable season, floating around mid-table after an absolutely pathetic relegation, and finding ourselves struggling (once again) in the Division of Death. Problems on the pitch, problems off the pitch, problems all round really. Our only highlights from last season, as any Macc lad will tell you, were giving Bolton and Hull a lesson in football, and establishing our new unwanted identity as a cup team, apparently.

Will we do the same to you? Probably not. You're facing us at our worst possible time. We've just lost our pacy right-back to a red card offence, our star striking is limping with an injury, and our tricky little playmaker Kissock has his loan expire this Friday. We've already sent back our most athletic defender, and haven't made any early movements in the transfer market. But we're still optimistic. And with what is guaranteed to be a full house on Saturday, we'll see if we can't give you room to breathe in the league without worrying about the cup

As for the purpose of my visit, just wanted to gauge your opinions. We run a small radio segment on Macc Town and it would be nice to catch some of your interpretations on this match, our club, and so on. Feel free to answer any or all of these questions:
1) What is your opinion of Macclesfield Town FC? We've not met since 2005, and it's been more than a decade since we were matched in the league. Do you have any memories of playing us?
2) What sort of team do you expect to field on Saturday? Are you expected the likes of Bellamy and Whittingham to start, are do you expect a development team to be put out?
3) Would you take a cup run this season, or would you rather focus on the League?
4) Would you consider losing to a non-league side "embarrassing", or do you consider this game just "a day out" in the middle of your season?
5) Score prediction?

Thanks very much, we look forward to welcoming you and your broadcasting coverage on Saturday, and we'll hopefully give you a good game of football to watch.

I hope you beat us then go on to win the cup so it don't look so bad on us.

Id rather us focus on the league. Some will disagree and that is their opinion but too much heartbreak and too many depressing train trips home.

Always want the city to win but be nice for you to beat us and pull a big team next round good luck.

Strange way i hope you beat us unless are youth are played. But should be a good game. Also welcome to the board

Will probably be a development side but even then it will probably include £5m of summer signings that haven't got a huge amount of game time. I'd expect Velikonja, Kim Bo and Mutch to get some game time and our strikers Mason and Gestede who scored the winners in the last two games haven't had much game time this year. So even with a development side I'd hope we would put up a good performance and go for the win. For first time in almost a decade we have a lot of players on the fringes who will be desperate to prove they should be in the first team.

1) What is your opinion of Macclesfield Town FC? We've not met since 2005, and it's been more than a decade since we were matched in the league. Do you have any memories of playing us?
2) What sort of team do you expect to field on Saturday? Are you expected the likes of Bellamy and Whittingham to start, are do you expect a development team to be put out?
3) Would you take a cup run this season, or would you rather focus on the League?
4) Would you consider losing to a non-league side "embarrassing", or do you consider this game just "a day out" in the middle of your season?
5) Score prediction?

Thanks very much, we look forward to welcoming you and your broadcasting coverage on Saturday, and we'll hopefully give you a good game of football to watch.

1. Don't really know much about you I'm afraid. You're just one of those teams that bounces around the lower leagues to me : ( No offence intended.
2. We'll put out a mixed team of second teamers and youth players. I'd imagine the bench will be packed with youth with maybe one or two players to turn the match if we find ourselves losing. Wouldn't be surprised to see Noone on the bench. Absolutely no chance of Bellamy or Whitts I'm afraid, Whitts is injured and Beller's has played 4 games over christmas and needs to give his knees a rest. Tommy Smith will probably be the biggest name to play.
3. I'd love a reasonable cup run as I think our squad is big enough to handle it this season and it'd be a good opportunity to give some of the second string players a run out.
4. Depending on the team we put out. If it's quite a strong side I'd be disappointed but it wouldn't be the end of the world. Realistically promotion's the main aim and we've already lost to Northampton town this season .
5. 5-1 If we have a strongish team. Otherwise anything from a narrow win to a narrow loss.

One thing I must say its nice and refreshing to have a fan of a lower league come on here instead of glory hunters pretending to be Swansea fans when they're from Kidwelly and used to watch egg chasing before Swansea got promoted. Massive respect for you Sir.

Rather focus on the league but it will be good for some of our fringe players to get a run out. Predicting a 3-1 victory to the bluebirds. Very much looking forward to the trip to moss rose!

1) What is your opinion of Macclesfield Town FC? We've not met since 2005, and it's been more than a decade since we were matched in the league. Do you have any memories of playing us?

Sorry cant help you on this one as I was living half way around the world at the time

2) What sort of team do you expect to field on Saturday? Are you expected the likes of Bellamy and Whittingham to start, are do you expect a development team to be put out?

Forget seeing the like of Bellamy and Whitts (Whitts is out for a month anyway). We will put out a develpment team but be assured as one of them will be a Slovian iternational that cost us a million.

3) Would you take a cup run this season, or would you rather focus on the League?

League is or focus but I would favour a cup runroviding we only use our development players

4) Would you consider losing to a non-league side "embarrassing", or do you consider this game just "a day out" in the middle of your season?

I would expect our development team to still beat you so yes it would be embarrassing but I would not lose any sleep over it.

5) Score prediction?

3-1 Cadiff

Good luck

1) Sorry, pretty ignorant when it comes to Macclesfield, no offence intended. I remembered you're the Silkmen from Moss Rose and a band called The Macc Lads, but I had to check Google to find out which division you're in now. I've never seen you play against us, I'm afraid.

2) Bellamy and Whitts won't play, so you won't recognise most of our team, chances are. We'll still give you a game, no matter who we field on the day. The bench warmers will want to impress Malky MacKay.

3) I want promotion now, because we need it for a number of reasons, so a cup run wouldn't really be welcome.

4) I'll be at Moss Rose on Saturday and I'm looking forward to a great day out, including standing on a terrace, so I'll enjoy, win or lose. I honestly won't mind you beating us.

5) I'll go for 2-1 to the Silkmen.

I think we'll all have a great day at the football, Cardiff and Macc lads. Can't wait.

Never been to macclesfield before so looking foward to standing on a terrace in a good, old fashioned stadium. A weakened city team should be enough to see us through.

1. I don't know anything about Maccs other than you're in the Conference and play in a good old fashioned ground

2. It will definitely be a reserve team, but expect players like Tommy Smith (returning from injury, very good player) and Joe Mason (Not getting a long run of games, scored vs Liverpool at Wembley) to play. And Etien Velikonja, a Slovenian international who seems to have gone missing

3. I'd like to see a cup run of no further than the 5th round. It would be embarrasing if we lose to you due to our relative stature's (no offence). Plus a little run would be good for the reserve players

4. See question 3

5. 3-1 Cardiff

3) Concentrate on the league.
4) Not at all! If you win, then you deserve it, I'm sure youl be bang up for it anyway, should be an interesting game
5) Don't care what the score is, I just don't want a replay, and know injuries.
Goodluck for the season.

1) What is your opinion of Macclesfield Town FC? We've not met since 2005, and it's been more than a decade since we were matched in the league. Do you have any memories of playing us?

Last time I went there was in the League, didnt realise it was that long ago, God I feel old.
Cant remember much about the day to be honest mate

2) What sort of team do you expect to field on Saturday? Are you expected the likes of Bellamy and Whittingham to start, are do you expect a development team to be put out?

Mix and match mate. We will definitely have a few youngsters playing, and fringe
first-teamers. No way will Bellamy play, nor Whittingham

3) Would you take a cup run this season, or would you rather focus on the League?

For obvious reasons, we need to concentrate on the League. The FA Cup has been massively
devalued since Man Utd pulled out that year. Its a shame and its wrong, but thats how it is now

4) Would you consider losing to a non-league side "embarrassing", or do you consider this game just "a day out" in the middle of your season?

Embarrassing if we were playing a full team of course, but a 'development' side losing
dont really matter. And THATS where its wrong, it devalues the day for your team

5) Score prediction?

2-1 Macclesfield

1) What is your opinion of Macclesfield Town FC? We've not met since 2005, and it's been more than a decade since we were matched in the league. Do you have any memories of playing us?

I once managed you on Football Manager and did ok but the resources weren't there. I must admit, I've always felt you've been a club that has had to live in the shadows of other bigger clubs as neighbours. I am afraid that the only memories I have of playing you is expecting three points and often being disappointed with how we've performed against you!

2) What sort of team do you expect to field on Saturday? Are you expected the likes of Bellamy and Whittingham to start, are do you expect a development team to be put out?

We should field fringe players such as Mason, Kiss, Ralls, Nugent etc to give the first teamers a rest. No disrespect but we would expect those players to do the job and even if they don't we really have to focus on the league this season.

3) Would you take a cup run this season, or would you rather focus on the League?

Totally focus on the league. Being top of the Championship at Christmas doesn't come around that often and the cups happen every season so the cup runs can wait for 12 months.

4) Would you consider losing to a non-league side "embarrassing", or do you consider this game just "a day out" in the middle of your season?

If you win then you would have deserved it. No embarrassment in losing to a better side if you play better than us. We should win though and if we don't win due to a poor performance then that will be embarrassing.

5) Score prediction?

It will be tough but we should win 3-1.

Greetings from oop narth, and let me be the first to say, congratulations! Your league run this season is phenomenal, and well deserved. I always felt sorry for Cardiff after watching you lot get pipped in the play-offs time and again, so I think you've waited and suffered long enough. Keep the run going, and let's see if you can beat Reading's record.

Obviously we're very excited for this weekend. We've had a bloody miserable season, floating around mid-table after an absolutely pathetic relegation, and finding ourselves struggling (once again) in the Division of Death. Problems on the pitch, problems off the pitch, problems all round really. Our only highlights from last season, as any Macc lad will tell you, were giving Bolton and Hull a lesson in football, and establishing our new unwanted identity as a cup team, apparently.

Will we do the same to you? Probably not. You're facing us at our worst possible time. We've just lost our pacy right-back to a red card offence, our star striking is limping with an injury, and our tricky little playmaker Kissock has his loan expire this Friday. We've already sent back our most athletic defender, and haven't made any early movements in the transfer market. But we're still optimistic. And with what is guaranteed to be a full house on Saturday, we'll see if we can't give you room to breathe in the league without worrying about the cup

As for the purpose of my visit, just wanted to gauge your opinions. We run a small radio segment on Macc Town and it would be nice to catch some of your interpretations on this match, our club, and so on. Feel free to answer any or all of these questions:
1) What is your opinion of Macclesfield Town FC? We've not met since 2005, and it's been more than a decade since we were matched in the league. Do you have any memories of playing us?
2) What sort of team do you expect to field on Saturday? Are you expected the likes of Bellamy and Whittingham to start, are do you expect a development team to be put out?
3) Would you take a cup run this season, or would you rather focus on the League?
4) Would you consider losing to a non-league side "embarrassing", or do you consider this game just "a day out" in the middle of your season?
5) Score prediction?

Thanks very much, we look forward to welcoming you and your broadcasting coverage on Saturday, and we'll hopefully give you a good game of football to watch.

Didn't we beat you at your place once 5.3 or something? I think maybe earnie got a hat trick?

Anyway we will play a development / fringe team and you certainly won't see bellers or Whitts.
I'd like us to have a cup run as long as this fringe team can stay in it and if we see a few rounds out hopefully we will have many more league wins in the bag and can take a chance on playing our strongest side. Having said that if you beat us so be it! I won't worry about it at all but if we lose I'd be disappointed in the strength of our squad.

Prediction - 1.2

1) What is your opinion of Macclesfield Town FC? We've not met since 2005, and it's been more than a decade since we were matched in the league. Do you have any memories of playing us?
I remember our last league game against you in season 2000/2001 when we beat you at Moss Rose 5-2 I think, I also think it was the season we got promoted to Division 2 and if I remember rightly, we did the double over you. the last time we played you was in 2005 at Ninian Park in the League cup and we beat you 2-1. I thought your supporters were great

2) What sort of team do you expect to field on Saturday? Are you expected the likes of Bellamy and Whittingham to start, are do you expect a development team to be put out?
I can safely say that you will not see Bellamy or Whittingham play on Saturday as Bellars has played every minute of the last 4 games over xmas and the new year and will need to rest his knee and Whitts is out injured anyway. I think the team Malky will put out will be 1st team fringe players including our Slovenian International Etien Velikonja who cost us £1 million and can't get anywhere near our 1st team at the moment. Also you should see players like Jordon Mutch who cost £2 million and a few other that cost us good money, whatever team we put out will be a good one as we do have very good strength in depth including the development and youth squad, they will all want to impress Malky Mackay.

3) Would you take a cup run this season, or would you rather focus on the League?
I would rather focus on the league although having saying that if we play our fringe players in the cup games then it wont really matter but I wouldn't lose any sleep if you beat us.

4) Would you consider losing to a non-league side "embarrassing", or do you consider this game just "a day out" in the middle of your season?
I wouldn't consider losing to a non league club embarrassing at all unless we lost with our total 1st team playing remember also that your team will be well up for this game and will put their heart and soul into it. I for one will clap your players if you do beat us and won't mind one bit. Most of our fans will consider this game to be a day out because most of them have probably never been to Moss Rose before.

5) Score prediction?
I predict it will be 3-1 to Cardiff

Thanks very much, we look forward to welcoming you and your broadcasting coverage on Saturday, and we'll hopefully give you a good game of football to watch.
Thank you Silkman, I will enjoy it up there again and I'm sure you will give us a great game.

By the way, welcome to our board

ive always liked macclesfield, have memories of some games in the 3rd division ,

I dont think your going to see a strong side, however I do rate velikonja and think it could be a blessing in disguise and he will want to show the manager what hes capable of,
I think joe mason might play and he will be a threat, whittingham will need a rest as for bellamy as well,

you will prob see a mixture of experience and a very able average championship showing

1) What is your opinion of Macclesfield Town FC? We've not met since 2005, and it's been more than a decade since we were matched in the league. Do you have any memories of playing us?

I don't know anything about Macclesfield unfortunately!

2) What sort of team do you expect to field on Saturday? Are you expected the likes of Bellamy and Whittingham to start, are do you expect a development team to be put out?

Well last season in the 3rd round we played West Brom away and we played our 2nd team, so I'm expecting our bench warmers/reserve players to play with one or two first teamers playing.

3) Would you take a cup run this season, or would you rather focus on the League?

I'd much rather focus on the league. I never want us to lose but I honestly wouldn't care if you beat us, if anything it would be a good thing for us.

4) Would you consider losing to a non-league side "embarrassing", or do you consider this game just "a day out" in the middle of your season?

Not at all, we'll be playing our reserves so it won't be an easy win.

5) Score prediction?

Macclesfield Town 1-2 Cardiff City

Welcome to the board
Looking forward to the game on saturday,never been to macclesfield so its another ground off my list
I expect a fairly decent second string cardiff side to play and i think well just about have the edge.Id personally like an honourable defeat in the next round and concentrate on the league

all the best for the rest of the season

cant believe there are apparent cardiff fans hoping we will lose

Greetings from oop narth, and let me be the first to say, congratulations! Your league run this season is phenomenal, and well deserved. I always felt sorry for Cardiff after watching you lot get pipped in the play-offs time and again, so I think you've waited and suffered long enough. Keep the run going, and let's see if you can beat Reading's record.

Obviously we're very excited for this weekend. We've had a bloody miserable season, floating around mid-table after an absolutely pathetic relegation, and finding ourselves struggling (once again) in the Division of Death. Problems on the pitch, problems off the pitch, problems all round really. Our only highlights from last season, as any Macc lad will tell you, were giving Bolton and Hull a lesson in football, and establishing our new unwanted identity as a cup team, apparently.

Will we do the same to you? Probably not. You're facing us at our worst possible time. We've just lost our pacy right-back to a red card offence, our star striking is limping with an injury, and our tricky little playmaker Kissock has his loan expire this Friday. We've already sent back our most athletic defender, and haven't made any early movements in the transfer market. But we're still optimistic. And with what is guaranteed to be a full house on Saturday, we'll see if we can't give you room to breathe in the league without worrying about the cup

As for the purpose of my visit, just wanted to gauge your opinions. We run a small radio segment on Macc Town and it would be nice to catch some of your interpretations on this match, our club, and so on. Feel free to answer any or all of these questions:
1) What is your opinion of Macclesfield Town FC? We've not met since 2005, and it's been more than a decade since we were matched in the league. Do you have any memories of playing us?
2) What sort of team do you expect to field on Saturday? Are you expected the likes of Bellamy and Whittingham to start, are do you expect a development team to be put out?
3) Would you take a cup run this season, or would you rather focus on the League?
4) Would you consider losing to a non-league side "embarrassing", or do you consider this game just "a day out" in the middle of your season?
5) Score prediction?

Thanks very much, we look forward to welcoming you and your broadcasting coverage on Saturday, and we'll hopefully give you a good game of football to watch.

I used to live in Macclesfield from 82 -85 and watched Macc Town occasionally in the old Northern Premier League when you had Steve Burr & John Askey playing up front. I went to the Port Vale cup game in 84 and remember there was a near riot! I think half of my school were there!!

I went to the game in 2001 when we smashed you 5-2 but do remember you winning at Ninian Park in 1998 2-1 which more or less sealed your promotion to Div 2

I'll settle for a cup/league double!

I have seen enough cup exits to Non League sides Weymouth, Enfield, Bath,Hayes along with other embarrassing defeats

We'll win 3-1 but wish you all the best for the rest of the season

Eh up - let's sup !

Loved The Macc Lads way back when, so when you throw in Ian Curtis as well you have a soft spot from me too.

I live in Congleton so now so Macc Town is the closet semi decent side near my home. I watched several games when Cardiff used to played Macc, the most notable for us was I think a 5-1 win when cult hero Leo Fortune West played and caused you huge problems and Robert Earnshaw was on fire also there was the time you beat Cardiff in what is now the First division and you had a guy playing with a face mask also I think John Askey was your captain at the time.

It will be good to go to Moss Rose again after so many years however I do get to see a lot of big name clubs this year as there are a lot from oop north in the championship.

Like others on this board I believe Cardiff will play players on the fringe of the squad who are on the verge or have just broke into the Cardiff side and I personally dont want the distraction of a cup run.

A lot of Cardiff City Supporters are hoping Etien Velinkonja plays as he has limited game time this year but there has been some hype on this guy, you only have to look at the number of threads about him on the 2 main message boards.
Also look out for Joe Mason, Rudy Gestede, Joe Ralls, Filip Kiss and Ben Nugent relatively young players who have played for the first team and big things expected, although Rudy Gestede is a big talking point as will he or wont he make it.

Dont expect Belleamy or Whittingham to play although Heidar Helgusson may play as he has been on the bench recently and Jordan Mutch as he has been off form after coming back from injury and needs to get some sharpness back.

Score prediction 2-0 Cardiff

The score will be 3-1 to city
The team will be
------------------- lewis ------------------------

connolly-------hudson ------nugent-------john

smith-------mcphail----mutch/kiss-------ralls

------------gestede-----velinkonja-------------

SUBS- parrish , turner , taylor , noone , mutch/kiss , mason ,st luce

Wouldnt be suprised to see hudson play he will want to play everygame as captain
Mutch may play to regain fitness and form
Possibly see some new signings making there debut aswell

I haven't seen macclesfield play before, though I have managed them on Football Manager 2013.
I think this will be the team

-----------------Lewis------------------
Taylor---Nugent---Turner---Connolly
------------------Kiss-------------------
Smith----------Mutch---------St Luce
--------Velikonja---Gestede---------

Subs: Marshall (Parish is out on loan), Hudson, Darko, McPhail, Ralls, Mason, Kim

1) What is your opinion of Macclesfield Town FC? We've not met since 2005, and it's been more than a decade since we were matched in the league. Do you have any memories of playing us?
You were one of the small clubs we had to play because we were owned by gobshites.
2) What sort of team do you expect to field on Saturday? Are you expected the likes of Bellamy and Whittingham to start, are do you expect a development team to be put out?
We are going to rest key players
3) Would you take a cup run this season, or would you rather focus on the League?
Both
4) Would you consider losing to a non-league side "embarrassing", or do you consider this game just "a day out" in the middle of your season?
Embarassing
5) Score prediction?
4-2 cardiff

Thanks everyone for your responses. It's refreshing to be actually welcomed to an opponent's forum, rather than booed off. You lads are alright! Should be a good game tomorrow. Myself and my commentary team will be in the Henshaw's suite from about 2pm onwards, towards the far side. Feel free to drop by and say hello, or bang on the glass behind the stands on the away side and give us a wave. Hopefully see you all in good spirits, and be sure to taste some of the local pies, which, I'm not biased, are the best in the country.

Thanks everyone for your responses. It's refreshing to be actually welcomed to an opponent's forum, rather than booed off. You lads are alright! Should be a good game tomorrow. Myself and my commentary team will be in the Henshaw's suite from about 2pm onwards, towards the far side. Feel free to drop by and say hello, or bang on the glass behind the stands on the away side and give us a wave. Hopefully see you all in good spirits, and be sure to taste some of the local pies, which, I'm not biased, are the best in the country.

Good to hear from a genuine fan, good luck for the rest of the season.

Just to let people coming up on the train or early on the coaches know, there has been rumours most of the pubs in town are closed which is not true. the majority will be open and there are plenty in the town centre.

There are no pubs round the ground, nearest one is a 10 min walk away but prob best to stay in town where you know they will be open.

Good luck to you 2moz, we realise you will be putting a weaker team out and even though we have 2 or 3 key players out hopefully we will give you a decent game.

Obviously your reputation has kept a few chatterboxes busy with rumours whats going to happen but you will get a good welcome from the locals and will be good to see a decent away support in town.

Good luck and may the best team win