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‘In My Opinion, He is the Best Coach We Have Had in My 45 Years of Supporting Lincoln’ – Q&A With Vital Lincoln City

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Oxford United welcome Lincoln City this afternoon in their League One clash. Ahead of the game, we spoke to one of Vital Lincoln City’s members, sedgleyimp,  and he has kindly answered our questions.

Read: Classic Clash – Lincoln 0-6 Oxford

Losing in the playoff final last season, was it a season of overachievement or disappointment after falling at the last hurdle?

Although the play-off final itself was a disappointment, for us to have achieved a top-six finish was a massive achievement last season in only our second season in League One. Even a top-half finish would have been an incredible effort and that was surpassed with some great results and performances.

Where do you think you’ll finish this season?

I think we have made some good signings but perhaps are missing that bit of flair that Brennan Johnson and Morgan Rogers provided whilst on loan with us last season which can often be the difference between a win or a draw. I’m pretty much a half-full kind of a bloke so think we can make the top six again. It will be tough in this league though.

Who do you think will finish in the top six?

In no particular order:- Portsmouth Wycombe Sunderland, Sheffield Wednesday, Bolton and Lincoln (have to say that!)

Who do you think will finish in the bottom four?

Morecambe, Wimbledon, Shrewsbury, and Doncaster. I just have a feeling that Doncaster are going to struggle this season and although they beat us in the Carabao Cup on penalties, I wasn’t impressed with Shrewsbury in the match at their place a couple of weeks ago.

Key player(s) for Lincoln City?

Anthony Scully will be our top scorer this season. He has a knack of getting into the right positions and isn’t afraid to have a shot. Tom Hopper is also key to how we attack as our number 9. He might not be a 20 goal a season striker but his ability to hold the ball up and bring in other players is vital.

Any absentees through injury or suspension?

One of our central defenders, Joe Walsh, hasn’t played yet this season and won’t be ready for Saturday’s game. Other than that you’ll just have to wait and see. To be honest that’s what most Lincoln fans are doing as well.

Thoughts on Michael Appleton?

In my opinion, he is the best coach we have had in my 45 years of supporting Lincoln, and up there with the likes of Graham Taylor, Colin Murphy, and Danny Cowley as one of the best managers we have ever had. He has a way of playing which when it works is great to watch. We had something of a reputation as a direct team when we returned to the league, a tactic that served its purpose in League Two. Appleton has reinvented how we play. Some games it doesn’t quite work, but I appreciate what is being attempted and would rather we play the way he gets us to play.

A word on your team’s playing style?

I think I covered much of that in the last answer. We have developed into a passing team over the last season and a bit and it is very good to watch when it comes off. Sometimes it doesn’t quite click, but you can appreciate the thought processes behind the style.

Any Oxford players you would like to see in your team?

I have always thought that James Henry is a very good goal-scoring midfielder and teams who want to be successful need players like him to get to the higher levels. Matty Taylor as well seems to cause us some problems when we play against Oxford and is a typical cause the opposition defence aggro kind of attacker that teams need.

Thoughts on Oxford?

Oxford are a team capable of beating anyone on their day. Karl Robinson knows his way around League One and is a very capable coach at our level. I haven’t put them down as a top-six side this season but wouldn’t be shocked if they were well in the mix come next April. Lovely city as well and far classier than Cambridge.

Form?

Our first few games have been a bit patchy as new players bed themselves into the team and how Michael Appleton wants us to play. We have lost the last two games but were unlucky not to have picked up at least a point in both matches. We seem to have in-game patches of great football, then patches of what can be best described as quite turgid. We have only scored three goals in our opening four league games and that statistic will need improvement if we are to really challenge this season.

What do you think the score will be?

Tough match for us at a ground I honestly can’t recall us ever getting a result at. That said being the half-full kind of bloke as already said I’ll plump for a 1-1 draw.

Random fact about your club?

The great English bowler Fred Trueman played a couple of reserve games for Lincoln whilst doing his national service in the RAF at a local base. His debut in the Midland League in November 1952 resulted in an attendance of 7328 for a reserve game. He was offered professional terms but decided, undoubtedly correctly, to concentrate upon his cricket career. We may never have had the joys of Indoor League on the TV if he had made a different decision.

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