Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: selby on December 02, 2019, 10:00:36 am
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Two games close together, and important in different ways.
The last Four games have seen us put under pressure by all the teams imposing their high press game on us, making us play mostly in our own half, the tactic that Mr Clough first imposed on us, and what every team since have seen to be the way to play against us, and seems to be a tactic we have not overcome, or at least causes us trouble, and has caused our own players to look to have lost both form and confidence.
Against Gillingham, a team that really didn't string two passes together, just put men across the field in banks, made us play across the field in front of them, and just lumped the ball over the top down the channels and turned us at the back, while looking woe full we actually missed the two best chances of the game, a clear header from 8yards and a two on one when the ball was miss controlled with a poor first touch.
What will we do in these two games? I hope to see a strong team picked on Wednesday, hopefully a more balanced side, Taylor and Thomas ( who played well Sunday and looked far fitter and quicker) and for us as a team to look like we actually want to play well in cup football and not just going through the motions like at Grimsby and Gillingham, games that have cost us a small fortune that could have been of use in January.
The M.K. Dons game will be a test of whether we can get back on track in the league, can we get back to some decent form against a promoted side finding it hard to adjust to Division 1.
Two big tests of our own credentials, two big tests of our own resolve, and a test of our managers ability to lift confidence when for the first time since he arrived things have not gone too well in the last few games, and supporters are beginning to ask questions, especially about our lack of penetration.
Teams are no longer going to give time and space for us to play pretty football, it is up to us to now earn the right to play our game, and respond to being bullied out of our stride. The pattern has now been set, I expect no more than to see nearly every team play a very similar game against us until we show we can overcome the game being broken up cynically when we have the ball, and force us to play cross field balls in front of an organised defence.
Lot's to discuss about both games, please have your say.
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Leicester game - hope we go fairly strong. Was surprised yesterday to find we had gone really strong v Gills. I could not look at the Team we fielded till the Game was over and assumed we had gone "weak" Wrong.
I think we will overcome MKD fairly easily but is that me just being "rose coloured Rovers". I dont honestly know but feel we should win easily
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I think the Leicester City game is a good chance to get the Gillingham game out of the heads of those that played... Hopefully DM will send them out with intent and positivity and we can get a performance.
The Saturday game against MK Dons is a game that on paper we should win....... although games are not played on paper etc etc....
MK Dons haven't won in the league since 14 September (11 games) and have lost 10 out of the intervening 11 games. They will be without regulars George Williams and Baily Cargill - both recently sent off - and are struggling to find the net, having the second poorest scoring record in League One with just 15 goals from 18 games. I would hope that we can get off to a quick start and impose ourselves on a team that will be lacking confidence.
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After that debacle I hope the lads reflect and sort it out! If not I envisage a battering from Leicester!
We need Tayls playing with Sads up front Alfie on the wing imo . Not sure about the cb’s ? Daniels?
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it has to be said our form isn't great and our options up front don't inspire much confidence at the best of times.I've got to honest and say I normally wouldn't be that bothered with the result of the Leicester game,however we need a result for confidence if nothing else..
The league is most important now,weve got to try and keep in touch until January when we can hopefully sign a couple of strikers worthy of the name and a creative midfield player.Get them and we can have a really strong season because the rest of the squad isn't bad.However if we don't add anything or just swap Sterling for another cheap untried youngster then I expect a season of mediocrity...
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Leicester game - hope we go fairly strong. Was surprised yesterday to find we had gone really strong v Gills. I could not look at the Team we fielded till the Game was over and assumed we had gone "weak" Wrong.
I think we will overcome MKD fairly easily but is that me just being "rose coloured Rovers". I dont honestly know but feel we should win easily
I think i am one of, if not the most optimistic contributor to this forum Donnywolf but even I don’t expect an easy win for us on Saturday.
MK Dons will, as Selby said do, as all the others in recent games, press high and try to stop us from playing our natural free flowing passing game.
I will take any win no matter how it comes on Saturday. A scrappy game with a 94th min penalty winner will do for me. We simply need to grind out a win and get the confidence back into the team.
These next 3 league games are so important imo. I know there is a lot of football to play yet but on 4th Jan we will be 4 games behind some of the others and will be playing catch up in Feb, Mar & April.
It’s important we don’t slip too far behind. If we get 9 points from these 3 games MK Dons, Wimbledon & Accrington then we will be in the mix with games in hand. If we don’t win them then we might have too much to do in the second half of the season.
As for Wed against Leicester U21’s I would start with a strong team. Leave Copps out or possibly put him on the bench.
Team WED for me.
Lawlor ( game time as you need your 2nd keeper to be ready )
Halliday
Wright
John
James/Amos
Whiteman
Sheaf
May
Sadlier
Taylor
Thomas
Subs
Deing
Amos or James
Blaney or Daniels?
Gomes
Greaves
Coppinger or Longbottom
Bingham
I presume Anderson won’t be played as not available for next 2 league games. ( suspension doesn’t count for this one )
Blair & Ennis & Kiwomya not fit and maybe Daniels also.
May be sub 3 of them after 60/65 mins depending on fitness and the score line of course.
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After that debacle I hope the lads reflect and sort it out! If not I envisage a battering from Leicester!
We need Tayls playing with Sads up front Alfie on the wing imo . Not sure about the cb’s ? Daniels?
Sadlier is NOT a centre forward. So that’s a no from me.
Without Ennis we have to play Thomas or Bingham surely.
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Bit torn on the Leicester game. I'd be inclined to play most of those who played at Gillingham yesterday, with perhaps the exception of Dieng and Copps. On the other hand, it might be nice if some of the fringe players- eg Amos, Greaves, Blaney, Watters, Longbottom- actually got the chance to play a full game and show if they are worth a start against MK Dons.
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Bit torn on the Leicester game. I'd be inclined to play most of those who played at Gillingham yesterday, with perhaps the exception of Dieng and Copps. On the other hand, it might be nice if some of the fringe players- eg Amos, Greaves, Blaney, Watters, Longbottom- actually got the chance to play a full game and show if they are worth a start against MK Dons.
Normally i would agree with that and it would be good to see more of Amos, Blaney, Greaves & Watters.
Not sure Longbottom will be with us much longer as he doesn’t seem to have progressed.
He needs to get regular game time now so would let him go personally.
But back to your point Red Baron, i think we need to get yesterday out of the system, get playing some decent football which should be possible against any team Steve Beaglehole coaches as he is an advocate of free flowing football and it’s the Leicester philosophy to play that way. Hopefully we get some confidence back into the team before Saturdays match.
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I'm taking a Leicester fan I work with to the game on Wednesday.
Hoping we tonk them.
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I would definitely play Anderson against Leicester for 3 reasons:
He is our best defender
Keep his match sharpness for when he returns
One less player to risk injury or suspension with 3 games in 7 days
By the way, has the rule changed this year? I thought only Yellows were competition specific last season?
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I think he’ll go with Daniels and John for 60 mins, to let them get an understanding before Saturday, as I think Wright will be benched on Saturday. Maybe Halliday and Amos as full backs. Midfield is a tough one. Maybe Sheaf and Gomes as the 2, then after that it’s much of a muchness (bar Copps, but he will be ‘rested’) - possible Alfie, Taylor and Sadlier?
Up top, our lass has gone down with a cold, so unfortunately, she’s not available, therefore it could well be Thomas.
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According to Ifollow we are playing Leicester tomorrow at the King Power stadium.
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According to Ifollow we are playing Leicester tomorrow at the King Power stadium.
Mine doesn't
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Luke Thornhill changed it this afternoon after I emailed him.
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I would definitely play Anderson against Leicester for 3 reasons:
He is our best defender
Keep his match sharpness for when he returns
One less player to risk injury or suspension with 3 games in 7 days
By the way, has the rule changed this year? I thought only Yellows were competition specific last season?
Dutch, on the Anderson thing.......I have said often enough that I don’t think that this competition is officially classed as a first team fixture.
My view has been questioned by some and some have agreed with me.
I think the fact that this game doesn’t count as one of Anderson’s suspension matches confirms what I have thought.
As it doesn’t count then I think it would be sensible to play him in this game as he should be available.
This competition is not of major interest to me and I don’t bother attending, mainly because of the participation of the under 21 teams in what should be a competition for L1 and L2 teams.
Team selection for the games also indicates that DM doesn’t have it high on his list of priorities.
Because the game is on Wednesday I expect that he will play the likes of Amos, May and Lawlor and possibly even AJ Greaves whilst giving such as Copps and Whiteman the night off.
Obviously DM won’t want major players picking up knocks with one less day between this game and the more important one against MK Dons.
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I think the Leicester City game is a good chance to get the Gillingham game out of the heads of those that played... Hopefully DM will send them out with intent and positivity and we can get a performance.
The Saturday game against MK Dons is a game that on paper we should win....... although games are not played on paper etc etc....
MK Dons haven't won in the league since 14 September (11 games) and have lost 10 out of the intervening 11 games. They will be without regulars George Williams and Baily Cargill - both recently sent off - and are struggling to find the net, having the second poorest scoring record in League One with just 15 goals from 18 games. I would hope that we can get off to a quick start and impose ourselves on a team that will be lacking confidence.
that's it then 2-0 Loss then lol 😏
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I would definitely play Anderson against Leicester for 3 reasons:
He is our best defender
Keep his match sharpness for when he returns
One less player to risk injury or suspension with 3 games in 7 days
By the way, has the rule changed this year? I thought only Yellows were competition specific last season?
Dutch, on the Anderson thing.......I have said often enough that I don’t think that this competition is officially classed as a first team fixture.
My view has been questioned by some and some have agreed with me.
I think the fact that this game doesn’t count as one of Anderson’s suspension matches confirms what I have thought.
As it doesn’t count then I think it would be sensible to play him in this game as he should be available.
This competition is not of major interest to me and I don’t bother attending, mainly because of the participation of the under 21 teams in what should be a competition for L1 and L2 teams.
Team selection for the games also indicates that DM doesn’t have it high on his list of priorities.
Because the game is on Wednesday I expect that he will play the likes of Amos, May and Lawlor and possibly even AJ Greaves whilst giving such as Copps and Whiteman the night off.
Obviously DM won’t want major players picking up knocks with one less day between this game and the more important one against MK Dons.
Hound they all had a day off on Sunday mate and should be made to play and put it right after under performing
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it's nice to see Selby finally getting into the black friday spirit (read two threads at once) and we can all save on time that's called a 50% discount :chair: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
it's such a shame Rovers decided to have a "black Sunday" :crying: :crying: :crying:
now does anyone know the difference between Leicester under 23's and leicester under 21's ?
https://www.lcfc.com/news/1499016/citys-youngsters-away-at-doncaster-in-efl-trophy/press-release
Leicester City U23s 4 Derby County U23s 1
All the images from Holmes Park as Leicester City's Development Squad make it six wins in a row :crying: with victory over Derby County.
https://www.lcfc.com/galleries/1505143/leicester-city-u23s-4--derby-county-u23s-1
at the moment the forecast doesn't look that good against these lot whatever side Rovers put out
when the Leicester team is announced does anyone fancy checking how many out of the 6 wins in a row mob turn out compared to the Derby match ?.
of course this match could have a silver lining if one of their youngsters could "strike" a loan deal here.
Lincoln got one from Everton on loan after the match this season
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it's nice to see Selby finally getting into the black friday spirit (read two threads at once) and we can all save on time that's called a 50% discount :chair: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
it's such a shame Rovers decided to have a "black Saturday" :crying: :crying: :crying:
now does anyone know the difference between Leicester under 23's and leicester under 21's ?
https://www.lcfc.com/news/1499016/citys-youngsters-away-at-doncaster-in-efl-trophy/press-release
Leicester City U23s 4 Derby County U23s 1
All the images from Holmes Park as Leicester City's Development Squad make it six wins in a row :crying: with victory over Derby County.
https://www.lcfc.com/galleries/1505143/leicester-city-u23s-4--derby-county-u23s-1
at the moment the forecast doesn't look that good against these lot whatever side Rovers put out
when the Leicester team is announced does anyone fancy checking how many out of the 6 wins in a row mob turn out compared to the Derby match ?.
of course this match could have a silver lining if one of their youngsters could "strike" a loan deal here.
Lincoln got one from Everton on loan after the match this season
To be fair though CLH, it hasn’t done them much good.
They have won just a couple of games since that Everton fixture, including one against a much weakened Rotherham team in the same competition.
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Thomas needs to be up front for me. He gives us that physical presence which we sorely lacked on Saturday. If we are getting pressed then sometimes we need an out ball. He is exactly that. His strength seems to be giving Copps more space as well as the defenders are squaring up to Thomas and leaving a pocket in front.
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I think Anderson should play if only to prevent a bit of rustiness setting in, but also to add strength and leadership to the defence..
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Can I gently make the point that MK Dons are on an absolutely appalling run of form. Not sure I have seen a team on such a bad run since us in 1997/98.
In League One this season they have lost EVERY away game they have played, with one exception. They also managed to get beat by Bolton the other week. In their last five away games they have scored one single goal. They have lost 10 of their last 11 games and drew the other. This is an absolutely dreadful team on a horrific run of form.
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Thomas needs to be up front for me. He gives us that physical presence which we sorely lacked on Saturday. If we are getting pressed then sometimes we need an out ball. He is exactly that. His strength seems to be giving Copps more space as well as the defenders are squaring up to Thomas and leaving a pocket in front.
Agree with this. Bingham tried on Sunday but ended up drifting backwards which added nothing. Thomas works well as a focal point and the three behind him can play off and around him. Please though no more confused three at the back nonsense.
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Nailed on for a 0-0, then, cbcb!
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Thomas needs to be up front for me. He gives us that physical presence which we sorely lacked on Saturday. If we are getting pressed then sometimes we need an out ball. He is exactly that. His strength seems to be giving Copps more space as well as the defenders are squaring up to Thomas and leaving a pocket in front.
Agree with this. Bingham tried on Sunday but ended up drifting backwards which added nothing. Thomas works well as a focal point and the three behind him can play off and around him. Please though no more confused three at the back nonsense.
Agree massively with all that. I don’t want to see 3 at the back possibly ever at League 1 level from us.
It’s something for the top tier imo, as the cream of footballers have the ability to adapt to that system.
I have very rarely seen it played well in the bottom 2 leagues.
Why change something that has worked really well. We have one of the best defensive records in League 1
It’s madness. My very 1st criticism of DM’s managerial reign at DRFC.
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......and that has added to a bit of a trend Paul.
I have noticed quite a few people having a dig at DM and his perceived lack of tactical awareness over the last few days.
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Please god no more Sheaf dropping into the CB role to get the ball moving. Never ever again. Yes if you have Kante or Busquets in your team then it might very well work but it quite evidently doesn’t, and won’t, work for us.
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Please god no more Sheaf dropping into the CB role to get the ball moving. Never ever again. Yes if you have Kante or Busquets in your team then it might very well work but it quite evidently doesn’t, and won’t, work for us.
I’d rather have Sheaf at centre back than 5 foot 6 N’Golo Kante!
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Not easy undefeated in the competition and 3rd in there league, we need to go very strong or we will get beat and the attendances will drop after the last few games
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I don’t know about attendances dropping vicar if we lose this game against Leicester U21’s.
Plenty of Rovers fans aren't bothered about this competition and I bet some won’t even know we have game tomorrow.
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Not easy undefeated in the competition and 3rd in there league, we need to go very strong or we will get beat and the attendances will drop after the last few games
I don't think losing to Leicester will make any difference to anyone Dave. Not enough people are interested in that Cup. It's the next 3 League games that will affect attendances if we do badly, as they're all games we should be winning.
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Hound, if we get further into the competition hopefully more interest will be forthcoming from our supporters.
We enter three first team cup competitions the first creates interest at the start of the
season, and lasted until the second Tuesday of the season away at Grimsby, who went on to play Chelsea away in a later round. A chance spurned and no or very little return financially. The FA cup has seen us play three games with a total of about 10 thousand total spectators at reduced prices, if we had not got the first round prize money we would have lost money playing the fixtures, while our conquerors have once again a plum draw, and are laughing all the way to the bank, and have interest in the club until after Christmas.
Tomorrow night we are in the knockout stages by default really, losing two of three first round games, again in front of small crowds at reduced prices, and will have had all on to cover our expenses in all the games, and will also do well tomorrow night to do so.
Our only chance of getting any reward financially is probably to get to the Northern final and to the final itself at Wembley.
We have been repeatedly shocking at knock out football for years, with the resulting lack of interest by our support that has had only a couple of cup runs over quite a number of years to create interest, and bring much needed funds into the club.
It is time the powers that be question our approach to these competitions, and why our supporters should travel the length and breadth of the country, only to be repeatedly let down, and be faced with part first team part second teams being put out, or served up with performances like they were at Gillingham, which was nothing else but pathetic.
And Steve, if we win the next five games it will not put a thousand a game on the gate in mid winter, and we are half way nearly through the season, one good gate in that competition cover ten games in the league.
We are behind with fixtures and no way will you get a walk up of significance twice a week if you have two games at home for a league games, you are talking £40+ for an adult.
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Hound, if we get further into the competition hopefully more interest will be forthcoming from our supporters.
We enter three first team cup competitions the first creates interest at the start of the
season, and lasted until the second Tuesday of the season away at Grimsby, who went on to play Chelsea away in a later round. A chance spurned and no or very little return financially. The FA cup has seen us play three games with a total of about 10 thousand total spectators at reduced prices, if we had not got the first round prize money we would have lost money playing the fixtures, while our conquerors have once again a plum draw, and are laughing all the way to the bank, and have interest in the club until after Christmas.
Tomorrow night we are in the knockout stages by default really, losing two of three first round games, again in front of small crowds at reduced prices, and will have had all on to cover our expenses in all the games, and will also do well tomorrow night to do so.
Our only chance of getting any reward financially is probably to get to the Northern final and to the final itself at Wembley.
We have been repeatedly shocking at knock out football for years, with the resulting lack of interest by our support that has had only a couple of cup runs over quite a number of years to create interest, and bring much needed funds into the club.
It is time the powers that be question our approach to these competitions, and why our supporters should travel the length and breadth of the country, only to be repeatedly let down, and be faced with part first team part second teams being put out, or served up with performances like they were at Gillingham, which was nothing else but pathetic.
And Steve, if we win the next five games it will not put a thousand a game on the gate in mid winter, and we are half way nearly through the season, one good gate in that competition cover ten games in the league.
We are behind with fixtures and no way will you get a walk up of significance twice a week if you have two games at home for a league games, you are talking £40+ for an adult.
I wasn't talking about attendances going up Brian, I was talking about them going down; and they will do if we fail in the next 3 games, significantly.
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Hound, if we get further into the competition hopefully more interest will be forthcoming from our supporters.
We enter three first team cup competitions the first creates interest at the start of the
season, and lasted until the second Tuesday of the season away at Grimsby, who went on to play Chelsea away in a later round. A chance spurned and no or very little return financially. The FA cup has seen us play three games with a total of about 10 thousand total spectators at reduced prices, if we had not got the first round prize money we would have lost money playing the fixtures, while our conquerors have once again a plum draw, and are laughing all the way to the bank, and have interest in the club until after Christmas.
Tomorrow night we are in the knockout stages by default really, losing two of three first round games, again in front of small crowds at reduced prices, and will have had all on to cover our expenses in all the games, and will also do well tomorrow night to do so.
Our only chance of getting any reward financially is probably to get to the Northern final and to the final itself at Wembley.
We have been repeatedly shocking at knock out football for years, with the resulting lack of interest by our support that has had only a couple of cup runs over quite a number of years to create interest, and bring much needed funds into the club.
It is time the powers that be question our approach to these competitions, and why our supporters should travel the length and breadth of the country, only to be repeatedly let down, and be faced with part first team part second teams being put out, or served up with performances like they were at Gillingham, which was nothing else but pathetic.
And Steve, if we win the next five games it will not put a thousand a game on the gate in mid winter, and we are half way nearly through the season, one good gate in that competition cover ten games in the league.
We are behind with fixtures and no way will you get a walk up of significance twice a week if you have two games at home for a league games, you are talking £40+ for an adult.
Hi selby mate, I still don’t think that this Leasing cup thing is a recognised first team fixture and my view is enhanced by the fact that Anderson’s suspension isn’t included in his three match ban.
In fact, he will probably play in the Leicester match.
IF. We progress and all of the U21 teams are eliminated then I might consider going to a game but in reality I am not too bothered about what is actually a development team match.
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Rovers are a delusional 11/10 to win on Wednesday (probably will drift out to 6/4) and funnily enough a team wearing MK Dons shirts beat a team wearing Coventry shirts 2-0 . I'll let others decide the strength of both teams there.
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Not easy undefeated in the competition and 3rd in there league, we need to go very strong or we will get beat and the attendances will drop after the last few games
We only get 1.500 home fans for any of these games any way. The result of this match won’t make one jot of a difference to the gates for league games.
If though we get to the last stages, semi and Final it will then create positive publicity for the club which will increase interest and our league gates may increase.
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I can only see us at the moment having cash flow problems, we have had very few home games, and the walk up payments are now minimal in league fixtures as most supporters take advantage of the cheaper per game season ticket.
That is why cup football is so important to clubs in the lower leagues, and peoples dis interest and in the competitions where the gates are cash only hurt the club they support, and the reason I am so against our manager fielding any team that is weakened in any of these competitions.
They know exactly the limitations of any of the playing staff, they watch them train every day, and if they are not involved in first team league matches it is because they are not deemed good enough by the management teams.
So why join the fashion of experimenting in competitions that can be so lucrative? if we win three league games we will only put probably 500 on the fourth fixture, probably less at this time of the year especially in mid week on cold frosty nights.
I would look anyone straight in the eye and deny me that we as a club have taken our supporters, and the cup competitions for fools for quite a few seasons now by managers taking cup competitions lightly and fielding weakened sides, and by doing so have helped to make our own support less interested in going to the games, and have also thrown a fortune away in both gate money and prize money, not to mention the publicity.
It is time to sort it out, and for the good of the club, go to places like Grimsby, Rochdale, Notts County, Newcastle U21s, Gillingam, and one show some intention of one being interested, and two trying to win a game of football that can enhance the club financially, and supporters carping on later that it doesn't matter to them, and the next week questioning the bloody budget.
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Can you get the ticket tonight for the game?
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Of course, I do not know about pay on the gate, but the ticket office will be open up to kick off, or phone up prior and pick up the ticket at a window provided near the ticket office a steward would direct you to, and would save you queuing.
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Steve Beaglehole praises DM on development of players.
https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/doncaster-rovers-he-ticks-all-boxes-being-successful-manager-ex-rovers-boss-and-leicester-city-u21-chief-steve-beaglehole-talks-darren-moore-1331982
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I can only see us at the moment having cash flow problems, we have had very few home games, and the walk up payments are now minimal in league fixtures as most supporters take advantage of the cheaper per game season ticket.
That is why cup football is so important to clubs in the lower leagues, and peoples dis interest and in the competitions where the gates are cash only hurt the club they support, and the reason I am so against our manager fielding any team that is weakened in any of these competitions.
They know exactly the limitations of any of the playing staff, they watch them train every day, and if they are not involved in first team league matches it is because they are not deemed good enough by the management teams.
So why join the fashion of experimenting in competitions that can be so lucrative? if we win three league games we will only put probably 500 on the fourth fixture, probably less at this time of the year especially in mid week on cold frosty nights.
I would look anyone straight in the eye and deny me that we as a club have taken our supporters, and the cup competitions for fools for quite a few seasons now by managers taking cup competitions lightly and fielding weakened sides, and by doing so have helped to make our own support less interested in going to the games, and have also thrown a fortune away in both gate money and prize money, not to mention the publicity.
It is time to sort it out, and for the good of the club, go to places like Grimsby, Rochdale, Notts County, Newcastle U21s, Gillingam, and one show some intention of one being interested, and two trying to win a game of football that can enhance the club financially, and supporters carping on later that it doesn't matter to them, and the next week questioning the bloody budget.
You're missing the point about league games Brian. The aim of them is to get into the Championship, which would bring greater financial rewards than any cup competition.
If DM feels none of that should be compromised, and therefore is cautious with team selections for cup games, then so be it.
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Where was the caution in team selection at Gillingham? We played our strongest 11 available other than Taylor who you could argue was due a rest anyway. We lost because pretty much to a man we didn’t turn up, not because there’s some deep institutionalised bias against cup competitions. We’ve had performances like that in the league in the past few years as well.
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Steve , I am sorry i don't see it at all. apart from the odd season we have achieved nothing in cup football, played weakened sides in cup football and consequently gone out of the competitions after one or in good years two games, and it has not helped our standing in the league one iota in my opinion playing less games in those seasons. We have paid more by the fact of a broken fixture list this season affecting our form because we have not played, not because we have played too many, but because we have had no continuation of fixtures, people cannot have it both ways.
Good sides are built around partnerships in central defence and up front, and a team as a whole knowing where other players are on the field, and having confidence in your team mates around you. Many of the greatest sides are never the same when just a couple of players leave or get injured ( Man City this season) and it is the same down the leagues.
Nick I added Gillingham to emphasise showing interest and I will now add effort.
When you have a good side play it, only change it through injury, it pays off and everyone at the club know exactly where they stand, to get the shirt, you have to be the best at the club, and if fixtures get hectic, change and relax the training schedule to compensate. It has all been done before.
After all Nottingham Forest were sent on a weeks holiday while Keegan and his Hamburg mates sweated it out on the training ground for a couple of weeks. Guess who won the European cup.
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Not easy undefeated in the competition and 3rd in there league, we need to go very strong or we will get beat and the attendances will drop after the last few games
I don't think losing to Leicester will make any difference to anyone Dave. Not enough people are interested in that Cup. It's the next 3 League games that will affect attendances if we do badly, as they're all games we should be winning.
Steve to the fans that tont go tonight it will make a difference it just goes down to another defeat
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Not easy undefeated in the competition and 3rd in there league, we need to go very strong or we will get beat and the attendances will drop after the last few games
I don't think losing to Leicester will make any difference to anyone Dave. Not enough people are interested in that Cup. It's the next 3 League games that will affect attendances if we do badly, as they're all games we should be winning.
Steve to the fans that tont go tonight it will make a difference it just goes down to another defeat
You might be right about that Dave; I've got us down for a win in the P v O competition.
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Rovers are a delusional 11/10 to win on Wednesday (probably will drift out to 6/4) and funnily enough a team wearing MK Dons shirts beat a team wearing Coventry shirts 2-0 . I'll let others decide the strength of both teams there.
almost 6/4 rovers now
https://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/efl-trophy/doncaster-v-leicester-u21/winner
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Playing three at back and no Sadlier there will posters pulling teeth about tactics
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Playing three at back and no Sadlier there will posters pulling teeth about tactics
Not atall, changing the system from the weekend would be an admittance that the system didn't work so has to stick to it after laying the blame entirely at the players door for Sundays defeat.
BTW, there's no Sheaf, Coppinger, James or Wright either.....................
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Or John making sure they are ready for Saturday along with Sads
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To be honest, I thought DM would leave Whiteman out tonight so that he didn’t pick up a knock ahead of the MKDons game.
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Or John making sure they are ready for Saturday along with Sads
And Dieng
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Hope Ennis is on the bench
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Not back till next week Ennis
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This is a terrible performance for rovers, we are getting a right football lesson. 2-0 down now
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3-0
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I doubt this result will give DM a sleepless night. Nine changes says it all . Giving players who don’t feature a run out . With the league his main priority and with games in hand stacking up it’s going to be about keeping players focused and fit .
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How bad was it?
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The only issue I can start to see is players confidence starts to take a hit
2 big defeats and no goals scored we really need to start just getting some clean sheets
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How bad was it?
Awful. Didn't look interested at all, we had absolutely nothing apart from a scrappy goal line clearance from a corner and a stonewall penalty turned down.
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Without Copps we don’t have creativity. Only Sadlier as a chance to score. My soap box we need better in January, three players at least. Bingham and Thomas can go.
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Did Sadlier get on the pitch tonight.
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Copps and Sadlier to start on Saturday. Taylor and after that I give up. Young lads not ready.
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no
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I doubt this result will give DM a sleepless night. Nine changes says it all . Giving players who don’t feature a run out . With the league his main priority and with games in hand stacking up it’s going to be about keeping players focused and fit .
yes they were very focused on Sunday and the last few games NOT
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There was a lot not ready for me. And it is no good having games in hand if we aren't winning them
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That was garbage - absolute garbage.
Concerns mounting for Moore
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How bad was it?
Bad would be a compliment. Devoid of ideas, creativity, the ability to pass a ball and any resemblance to a team playing together.
Daniels looked like the football had a bomb inside it and if he didn’t pass it to a Leicester player it would go off. Lawlor can NOT pass a ball to anyone ever. The whole of midfield look awful in this 3-4-1-2 system.
Taylor ran his danglies off and Thomas is improving all the time. Other than those 2 however it was poor. Greaves looked ok and with game time should improve.
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I agree something has got to change
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The thing this week as shown that none of the U23 players are ready for the first team. Bingham and Thomas should not be kept in January.
No Sterling, hopefully Ennis can come back, no Blair . DM has limited players to pick.
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it's nice to see Selby finally getting into the black friday spirit (read two threads at once) and we can all save on time that's called a 50% discount :chair: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
it's such a shame Rovers decided to have a "black Sunday" :crying: :crying: :crying:
now does anyone know the difference between Leicester under 23's and leicester under 21's ?
https://www.lcfc.com/news/1499016/citys-youngsters-away-at-doncaster-in-efl-trophy/press-release
Leicester City U23s 4 Derby County U23s 1
All the images from Holmes Park as Leicester City's Development Squad make it six wins in a row :crying: with victory over Derby County.
https://www.lcfc.com/galleries/1505143/leicester-city-u23s-4--derby-county-u23s-1
at the moment the forecast doesn't look that good against these lot whatever side Rovers put out
when the Leicester team is announced does anyone fancy checking how many out of the 6 wins in a row mob turn out compared to the Derby match ?.
of course this match could have a silver lining if one of their youngsters could "strike" a loan deal here.
Lincoln got one from Everton on loan after the match this season
i am sure you all remember when a Bloke called Dodoo made his debut for Leicester against Bury and scored a hattrick then went on loan almost immediately to Bury and his career went downhill from there
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/aug/26/leicester-city-joe-dodoo-bury-hat-trick
perhaps since Rovers were "all at sea tonight " they might consider signing an Admiral - not any Admiral but a ringer who scored two goals tonight - as an on loan striker -- after all i am sure the "admiral" offers a "good insurance policy" :rolleyes:
"The opener arrived in eye-catching fashion, with a bullocking run on the left from Calvin Ughelumba ending in him threading through an inch-perfect cross which was finished clinically by Admiral Muskwe, a full international for Zimbabwe no less, with his low strike flying past Ian Lawlor."
https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/doncaster-rovers-0-leicester-city-u21s-3-no-cup-tonic-as-rovers-outfoxed-by-leicester-s-youngsters-1-10138115
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The thing this week as shown that none of the U23 players are ready for the first team. Bingham and Thomas should not be kept in January.
No Sterling, hopefully Ennis can come back, no Blair . DM has limited players to pick.
Bingham and Thomas should not be kept in January, they should not be kept after this week both were bad can take May with them as well
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I really hope Darren knows these players arent up to it and deals with it. His is the weirdest season I can remember. No flow to the games played, no momentum, a disjointed side with too many changes. It's not positive.
But there is at least christmas soon and a transfer window.
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The thing this week as shown that none of the U23 players are ready for the first team. Bingham and Thomas should not be kept in January.
No Sterling, hopefully Ennis can come back, no Blair . DM has limited players to pick.
Bingham and Thomas should not be kept in January, they should not be kept after this week both were bad can take May with them as well
in defence of May he was the only one trying, the ball never came to him as we never got near enough to goal
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It all comes down to what's been said on here time after time. Some people are of the opinion that we only need a bit of a tweak in January.
If that's the case, forget about the top 6.
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It is such a shame that the Tranmere match was cancelled.
After hammering Southend I bet the players were bursting for the next game to come along.
The momentum seems to have been lost big time and it is often hard to get it back.
We haven’t had a home league game for over a month.
Although we would be in a good position in the league table if we got say seven (or better still....nine) points from our games in hand, you can’t beat getting on a good run of winning games.
I think it is fair to think that we would have beaten both Bolton and Tranmere at the time that the games were called off and that would have made a considerable difference to us.
DM has his hands full getting us back on track and I hope it starts on Saturday.
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Gavin said we are only going to tweek the team but in my view we need a few players and not just kids we need experienced
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It is no good having games in hand if we aren't winning games in the first place, teams know how to play us now but we can't change our system during a game we don't know how
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The best 3 players for us tonight were Halliday, Amos & Blaney.
2 of them went off at half time Halliday & Blaney. So Amos rightly got m.o.m. As he got a full game.
That was desperately poor tonight. Leicester were sharper, and their movement was far superior to ours. We were far too static. Based on that Thomas and Bingham are going backwards and neither looked like they would score if they stayed out there all night. Partly not their fault as no service but they just were not quick enough in thought or movement to get on the end of anything that came into the box.
Greaves does not look any where near ready for 1st team football and Sheaf was badly missed in midfield.
Alfie May well don’t know what he was doing but every time he gets the ball he turns backwards and plays a negative ball. Never seems prepared to run at any one and try to go past his opponent. Probably because he is not capable. Simply put not good enough.
Lawlor has gone backward in all departments and is completely lacking in confidence.
This team tonight admittedly not our strongest starting 11 looked a pale shadow of the team that took teams apart earlier in the season and only 6 weeks ago at Southend.
I don’t know what has gone wrong but it needs addressing quickly or our season is going to disintegrate.
It is a very long time since i have been so negative on a Rovers performance.
If we were worse than that on Sunday it must have been bad. Very bad.
Saturday is massive. We need a win, any old scrappy win. Winning breeds confidence and there doesn’t seem to be much of that just at the moment.
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Recapping my post on ‘MK Dons’ or whatever name these thieves have stolen this week - they are absolutely atrocious. Nobody in English professional football is on as poor a run as them. Losing 11 of their last 12 and drawing the other. A single point out of 33. These guys are a total disgrace to professional sport. We need to be putting them properly away.
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The best 3 players for us tonight were Halliday, Amos & Blaney.
2 of them went off at half time Halliday & Blaney. So Amos rightly got m.o.m. As he got a full game.
That was desperately poor tonight. Leicester were sharper, and their movement was far superior to ours. We were far too static. Based on that Thomas and Bingham are going backwards and neither looked like they would score if they stayed out there all night. Partly not their fault as no service but they just were not quick enough in thought or movement to get on the end of anything that came into the box.
Greaves does not look any where near ready for 1st team football and Sheaf was badly missed in midfield.
Alfie May well don’t know what he was doing but every time he gets the ball he turns backwards and plays a negative ball. Never seems prepared to run at any one and try to go past his opponent. Probably because he is not capable. Simply put not good enough.
Lawlor has gone backward in all departments and is completely lacking in confidence.
This team tonight admittedly not our strongest starting 11 looked a pale shadow of the team that took teams apart earlier in the season and only 6 weeks ago at Southend.
I don’t know what has gone wrong but it needs addressing quickly or our season is going to disintegrate.
It is a very long time since i have been so negative on a Rovers performance.
If we were worse than that on Sunday it must have been bad. Very bad.
Saturday is massive. We need a win, any old scrappy win. Winning breeds confidence and there doesn’t seem to be much of that just at the moment.
Paul, the team tonight would look like a pale shadow of the one that battered Southend though wouldn’t it.
Because it was nothing like the same eleven out there.
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I was hoping we took the Game seriously - and when I saw the starting 11 - I was relatively pleased
I always think that a Div 1 team as good as we are (or can be) should maybe beat Under 21s about 8 times in 10
However the way we actually played we would probably have lost all 10 games to them
D-I-R-E overstates how good we were
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Recapping my post on ‘MK Dons’ or whatever name these thieves have stolen this week - they are absolutely atrocious. Nobody in English professional football is on as poor a run as them. Losing 11 of their last 12 and drawing the other. A single point out of 33. These guys are a total disgrace to professional sport. We need to be putting them properly away.
with that record it's a loss or a draw then, as we are good at giving teams there first point /points in aged
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It was like men and boys out there tonight and we was not the men we got a football lesson
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The best 3 players for us tonight were Halliday, Amos & Blaney.
2 of them went off at half time Halliday & Blaney. So Amos rightly got m.o.m. As he got a full game.
That was desperately poor tonight. Leicester were sharper, and their movement was far superior to ours. We were far too static. Based on that Thomas and Bingham are going backwards and neither looked like they would score if they stayed out there all night. Partly not their fault as no service but they just were not quick enough in thought or movement to get on the end of anything that came into the box.
Greaves does not look any where near ready for 1st team football and Sheaf was badly missed in midfield.
Alfie May well don’t know what he was doing but every time he gets the ball he turns backwards and plays a negative ball. Never seems prepared to run at any one and try to go past his opponent. Probably because he is not capable. Simply put not good enough.
Lawlor has gone backward in all departments and is completely lacking in confidence.
This team tonight admittedly not our strongest starting 11 looked a pale shadow of the team that took teams apart earlier in the season and only 6 weeks ago at Southend.
I don’t know what has gone wrong but it needs addressing quickly or our season is going to disintegrate.
It is a very long time since i have been so negative on a Rovers performance.
If we were worse than that on Sunday it must have been bad. Very bad.
Saturday is massive. We need a win, any old scrappy win. Winning breeds confidence and there doesn’t seem to be much of that just at the moment.
Paul, the team tonight would look like a pale shadow of the one that battered Southend though wouldn’t it.
Because it was nothing like the same eleven out there.
No it wasn’t the same team that started at Southend but it was strong enough to have done much much better than that performance i saw tonight.
Halliday, Daniels, Anderson, Whiteman, Taylor & Thomas all started at Southend. Wright, Gomes & May were on the bench at Southend and all featured tonight. Wright & May started and Gomes came on as a sub.
They were a pale shadow of 6 weeks ago, all of them.
Deing, James, Sheaf, Copps and Sadlier were the only ones not to get on the pitch tonight who played a at Southend.
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D-Day for Darren on Saturday, never heard so many mutterings about a very poor performance, or words of that effect.
If they score first on Saturday, it will light the paper, get ready because, in my eyes, there was something a miss tonight. Certain players didn't seem to be playing fully, more of a half hearted type of performance. Something behind the scenes isn't right, and tonight, it showed. Need a plan B.
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D-Day for Darren on Saturday, never heard so many mutterings about a very poor performance, or words of that effect.
If they score first on Saturday, it will light the paper, get ready because, in my eyes, there was something a miss tonight. Certain players didn't seem to be playing fully, more of a half hearted type of performance. Something behind the scenes isn't right, and tonight, it showed. Need a plan B.
No we don’t need a plan B. What we need is to get back to basics and play the formation and team which outplayed, Fleetwood, Lincoln, ipswich, (Drew) Rotherham, Peterborough, Portsmouth (even though we lost that one) Bristol Rovers & Southend.
Unfortunately Ennis is injured so we have a striker problem.
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Well that is another cup game lost before a ball has been kicked with the team being picked.
Just add it to a long list of poor dis-interesting performances aided by the selection of side containing as many reserves as first team players.
On to the second game, and can we avoid yet again our well known knack of getting a team it's first win in ages, and allowing them to start a winning set of results.
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D-Day for Darren on Saturday, never heard so many mutterings about a very poor performance, or words of that effect.
If they score first on Saturday, it will light the paper, get ready because, in my eyes, there was something a miss tonight. Certain players didn't seem to be playing fully, more of a half hearted type of performance. Something behind the scenes isn't right, and tonight, it showed. Need a plan B.
No we don’t need a plan B. What we need is to get back to basics and play the formation and team which outplayed, Fleetwood, Lincoln, ipswich, (Drew) Rotherham, Peterborough, Portsmouth (even though we lost that one) Bristol Rovers & Southend.
Unfortunately Ennis is injured so we have a striker problem.
Spot on!
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Please. D-Day for Darren? Panic stations yet again from some corners of the fanbase any time we lose or are on a bit of a bad run.
I'm not excusing back-to-back 3-0 defeats. But anyone talking about the manager not being up to it or stoking conspiracy theories is being ridiculous in my opinion.
We need a run of league games with a consistent XI to get going again and thankfully we now have that opportunity, December weather permitting. One or two wins in the next couple of weeks and it all looks bright again.
Clearly we need better strength in depth and I would hope Moore and Baldwin are aware of that. I expect they are and that, now Adam Henshall has arrived, they are all working hard to identify players who will improve this squad in January.
Campsall - I understand the frustration tonight but it hasn't been that long since you, me and everyone else had good reason to be very negative about Rovers performances. It's only been three years since the shambolic relegation under Ferguson and, really, only 18 months since some of the most tepid performances in recent memory from his Rovers side too.
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It seemed like a very early pre season kick about no heart or desire. Daniels seems to get worse each game after impressing when he first arrived. Amos did ok first half but second half he passed to their players just about every time. We just looked lost and disjointed.
Bring on Saturday and let’s put this to bed.
Final words for me, can’t decide if Leicester were good (definitely talented) or if we made them look a lot better
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D-Day for Darren on Saturday, never heard so many mutterings about a very poor performance, or words of that effect.
If they score first on Saturday, it will light the paper, get ready because, in my eyes, there was something a miss tonight. Certain players didn't seem to be playing fully, more of a half hearted type of performance. Something behind the scenes isn't right, and tonight, it showed. Need a plan B.
No we don’t need a plan B. What we need is to get back to basics and play the formation and team which outplayed, Fleetwood, Lincoln, ipswich, (Drew) Rotherham, Peterborough, Portsmouth (even though we lost that one) Bristol Rovers & Southend.
Unfortunately Ennis is injured so we have a striker problem.
We have a striker problem? So Thomas and Bingham aren’t up to it? ;)
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Without Ennis and he’s not a natural goal scorer we have no body. I’m not blaming DM. But on Saturday he must go back to 4 2 3 1 although we don’t have Anderson our best centre half.
Dieng in goal
So Halliday, Wright (must be more composed), John (if fit), James
Sheaf and Whiteman
Taylor(must improve his finishing), Coppinger, Sadlier( can score overall game to improve.
Striker???
They are the best 10 players we have at the moment. This is why we need better in January. The rest who are available are not at the level we require for a top six side.
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The best 3 players for us tonight were Halliday, Amos & Blaney.
2 of them went off at half time Halliday & Blaney. So Amos rightly got m.o.m. As he got a full game.
That was desperately poor tonight. Leicester were sharper, and their movement was far superior to ours. We were far too static. Based on that Thomas and Bingham are going backwards and neither looked like they would score if they stayed out there all night. Partly not their fault as no service but they just were not quick enough in thought or movement to get on the end of anything that came into the box.
Greaves does not look any where near ready for 1st team football and Sheaf was badly missed in midfield.
Alfie May well don’t know what he was doing but every time he gets the ball he turns backwards and plays a negative ball. Never seems prepared to run at any one and try to go past his opponent. Probably because he is not capable. Simply put not good enough.
Lawlor has gone backward in all departments and is completely lacking in confidence.
This team tonight admittedly not our strongest starting 11 looked a pale shadow of the team that took teams apart earlier in the season and only 6 weeks ago at Southend.
I don’t know what has gone wrong but it needs addressing quickly or our season is going to disintegrate.
It is a very long time since i have been so negative on a Rovers performance.
If we were worse than that on Sunday it must have been bad. Very bad.
Saturday is massive. We need a win, any old scrappy win. Winning breeds confidence and there doesn’t seem to be much of that just at the moment.
Paul, the team tonight would look like a pale shadow of the one that battered Southend though wouldn’t it.
Because it was nothing like the same eleven out there.
No it wasn’t the same team that started at Southend but it was strong enough to have done much much better than that performance i saw tonight.
Halliday, Daniels, Anderson, Whiteman, Taylor & Thomas all started at Southend. Wright, Gomes & May were on the bench at Southend and all featured tonight. Wright & May started and Gomes came on as a sub.
They were a pale shadow of 6 weeks ago, all of them.
Deing, James, Sheaf, Copps and Sadlier were the only ones not to get on the pitch tonight who played a at Southend.
So five players (half a team) didn’t get on the pitch at all and three of the Southend subs played SOME part against Leicester.
Eight players in all then.
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Is Hasani injured does anybody know?? When he had those couple of games last season and then we had such a poor recruitment in the summer I expected him to push through this season?? Yet he's not been anywhere near the team..
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Until Ennis is back fit, I think Idd play Sadlier up front... I prefer him out wide but he’s a much better option than Thomas or Bingham IMO
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The two big performances on Saturday have to come from Wright and Thomas.
Wright needs to concentrate more and on Saturday lead by example because John is raw and needs guiding.
Thomas should start. He is given where we are a better one up than Bingham.
Rest of team picks itself but Joe needs to step right up and lead that defence.
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I think that Hasani got on the pitch at Luton because the snake was braised off with what he had seen on the pitch and wanted to make a point that one of the kids could do better.
To be fair to Hasani, he did ok but did give the ball away leading to a Luton goal.
If we had been doing well in the game he would not have got on.
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I must have been sat in a funny part of the ground last night, Because people around me and myself thought that Thomas looked much improved, has dropped some weight off and is much sharper and fitter.
It seems that people have made their mind up about him because of the club he came from and made their mind up about him before even seeing him play, mostly the same people who have championed Alfie May for the level he played at coming to us, who is, and has never been good enough to play at this level and did absolutely nothing in that game, but again someone said he tried in fairness to him, well dipsy doo.
Trying to ship dead wood out in January will be just as important as bringing in new players, the good news is a scout from Hartlepool was at the game last night, but it has never been plainer that our fringe players are miles away from the standard needed, and that our past managers left us with a number they signed extensions to contracts that are now lying heavily around the present manager's and the clubs neck, and in McCanns case alienated some of our better player who promptly left.
We have a small number of players who are of league one standard who can compete week in week out if fit at that level and can do well. More than one or two missing in certain positions and we have no cover good enough. Central defence it is OK, goalkeeper I would promote Jones, Horton and Amos are promising, Mid field we need a good one in Gomes is a cover player who may improve, Greaves promising with a way to go, but needs playing time at a good level.
Up front we need someone in, either both Ennis and Sterling plus Thomas as an alternative, or someone else in. wide players we need Blair fit.
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Please. D-Day for Darren? Panic stations yet again from some corners of the fanbase any time we lose or are on a bit of a bad run.
I'm not excusing back-to-back 3-0 defeats. But anyone talking about the manager not being up to it or stoking conspiracy theories is being ridiculous in my opinion.
We need a run of league games with a consistent XI to get going again and thankfully we now have that opportunity, December weather permitting. One or two wins in the next couple of weeks and it all looks bright again.
Clearly we need better strength in depth and I would hope Moore and Baldwin are aware of that. I expect they are and that, now Adam Henshall has arrived, they are all working hard to identify players who will improve this squad in January.
Campsall - I understand the frustration tonight but it hasn't been that long since you, me and everyone else had good reason to be very negative about Rovers performances. It's only been three years since the shambolic relegation under Ferguson and, really, only 18 months since some of the most tepid performances in recent memory from his Rovers side too.
Yes but but May 2018 is quite a long time ago. We haven’t had as bad a performance as that last night and the previous game at Gillingham ( although I wasn’t there ) for probably considerably longer than May 2018.
I am certainly not one of those calling for DM’s head. Quite frankly that is ridiculous.
I would like to think this is a blip and as you say RA if we get 7 or hopefully 9 points from the next 3 league games all will look rosy again.
We have some very good players in this team as they have shown this season the problem is 7/8 of them have gone off the boil all at the same time. No team is going to win a football match with only 3/4 players playing at their optimum level.
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Is Hasani injured does anybody know?? When he had those couple of games last season and then we had such a poor recruitment in the summer I expected him to push through this season?? Yet he's not been anywhere near the team..
He’s just back from injury but he’s not ready for the first team yet. In fact none of the U23 or U18 are ready.
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Hasani hasn’t been getting regular starts for either u18’s or development sides, so he’s not going to be playing first team football anytime soon.
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D-Day for Darren on Saturday, never heard so many mutterings about a very poor performance, or words of that effect.
If they score first on Saturday, it will light the paper, get ready because, in my eyes, there was something a miss tonight. Certain players didn't seem to be playing fully, more of a half hearted type of performance. Something behind the scenes isn't right, and tonight, it showed. Need a plan B.
No we don’t need a plan B. What we need is to get back to basics and play the formation and team which outplayed, Fleetwood, Lincoln, ipswich, (Drew) Rotherham, Peterborough, Portsmouth (even though we lost that one) Bristol Rovers & Southend.
Unfortunately Ennis is injured so we have a striker problem.
We have a striker problem? So Thomas and Bingham aren’t up to it? ;)
Not on that performance last night they aren’t. But I have seen some quality from both of them in some of the previous games.
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The best 3 players for us tonight were Halliday, Amos & Blaney.
2 of them went off at half time Halliday & Blaney. So Amos rightly got m.o.m. As he got a full game.
That was desperately poor tonight. Leicester were sharper, and their movement was far superior to ours. We were far too static. Based on that Thomas and Bingham are going backwards and neither looked like they would score if they stayed out there all night. Partly not their fault as no service but they just were not quick enough in thought or movement to get on the end of anything that came into the box.
Greaves does not look any where near ready for 1st team football and Sheaf was badly missed in midfield.
Alfie May well don’t know what he was doing but every time he gets the ball he turns backwards and plays a negative ball. Never seems prepared to run at any one and try to go past his opponent. Probably because he is not capable. Simply put not good enough.
Lawlor has gone backward in all departments and is completely lacking in confidence.
This team tonight admittedly not our strongest starting 11 looked a pale shadow of the team that took teams apart earlier in the season and only 6 weeks ago at Southend.
I don’t know what has gone wrong but it needs addressing quickly or our season is going to disintegrate.
It is a very long time since i have been so negative on a Rovers performance.
If we were worse than that on Sunday it must have been bad. Very bad.
Saturday is massive. We need a win, any old scrappy win. Winning breeds confidence and there doesn’t seem to be much of that just at the moment.
Paul, the team tonight would look like a pale shadow of the one that battered Southend though wouldn’t it.
Because it was nothing like the same eleven out there.
No it wasn’t the same team that started at Southend but it was strong enough to have done much much better than that performance i saw tonight.
Halliday, Daniels, Anderson, Whiteman, Taylor & Thomas all started at Southend. Wright, Gomes & May were on the bench at Southend and all featured tonight. Wright & May started and Gomes came on as a sub.
They were a pale shadow of 6 weeks ago, all of them.
Deing, James, Sheaf, Copps and Sadlier were the only ones not to get on the pitch tonight who played a at Southend.
So five players (half a team) didn’t get on the pitch at all and three of the Southend subs played SOME part against Leicester.
Eight players in all then.
Correct.
There was enough talent on the pitch last night to have beaten that U21 team.
Yes Leicester were talented but we would have won that if we had turned up.
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D-Day for Darren on Saturday, never heard so many mutterings about a very poor performance, or words of that effect.
If they score first on Saturday, it will light the paper, get ready because, in my eyes, there was something a miss tonight. Certain players didn't seem to be playing fully, more of a half hearted type of performance. Something behind the scenes isn't right, and tonight, it showed. Need a plan B.
No we don’t need a plan B. What we need is to get back to basics and play the formation and team which outplayed, Fleetwood, Lincoln, ipswich, (Drew) Rotherham, Peterborough, Portsmouth (even though we lost that one) Bristol Rovers & Southend.
Unfortunately Ennis is injured so we have a striker problem.
We have a striker problem? So Thomas and Bingham aren’t up to it? ;)
I agree about the striker problem, but it shows getting in a striker will be a waste of time if we don't get in a play maker as he will not have anything to feed off
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Selby Thomas like May like Jones are ok but that’s it they are not at the standard we need to progress. We seem have to accept these players because we can’t or won’t sign better.
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Until Ennis is back fit, I think Idd play Sadlier up front... I prefer him out wide but he’s a much better option than Thomas or Bingham IMO
Disagree totally. You lose a lot of creativity if Sadlier doesn’t play in his natural position.
He can still score goals from a wide position. We need more goals from Taylor as well.
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The best 3 players for us tonight were Halliday, Amos & Blaney.
2 of them went off at half time Halliday & Blaney. So Amos rightly got m.o.m. As he got a full game.
That was desperately poor tonight. Leicester were sharper, and their movement was far superior to ours. We were far too static. Based on that Thomas and Bingham are going backwards and neither looked like they would score if they stayed out there all night. Partly not their fault as no service but they just were not quick enough in thought or movement to get on the end of anything that came into the box.
Greaves does not look any where near ready for 1st team football and Sheaf was badly missed in midfield.
Alfie May well don’t know what he was doing but every time he gets the ball he turns backwards and plays a negative ball. Never seems prepared to run at any one and try to go past his opponent. Probably because he is not capable. Simply put not good enough.
Lawlor has gone backward in all departments and is completely lacking in confidence.
This team tonight admittedly not our strongest starting 11 looked a pale shadow of the team that took teams apart earlier in the season and only 6 weeks ago at Southend.
I don’t know what has gone wrong but it needs addressing quickly or our season is going to disintegrate.
It is a very long time since i have been so negative on a Rovers performance.
If we were worse than that on Sunday it must have been bad. Very bad.
Saturday is massive. We need a win, any old scrappy win. Winning breeds confidence and there doesn’t seem to be much of that just at the moment.
Paul, the team tonight would look like a pale shadow of the one that battered Southend though wouldn’t it.
Because it was nothing like the same eleven out there.
No it wasn’t the same team that started at Southend but it was strong enough to have done much much better than that performance i saw tonight.
Halliday, Daniels, Anderson, Whiteman, Taylor & Thomas all started at Southend. Wright, Gomes & May were on the bench at Southend and all featured tonight. Wright & May started and Gomes came on as a sub.
They were a pale shadow of 6 weeks ago, all of them.
Deing, James, Sheaf, Copps and Sadlier were the only ones not to get on the pitch tonight who played a at Southend.
So five players (half a team) didn’t get on the pitch at all and three of the Southend subs played SOME part against Leicester.
Eight players in all then.
Correct. There was enough talent on the pitch last night to have beaten that U21 team.
Yes they were talented but we would have won that if we had turned up.
But I was emphasising that the team last night was between five and eight players different from the team that played Southend.
Evidently what we did put out wasn’t good enough to beat Leicester.
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The two big performances on Saturday have to come from Wright and Thomas.
Wright needs to concentrate more and on Saturday lead by example because John is raw and needs guiding.
Thomas should start. He is given where we are a better one up than Bingham.
Rest of team picks itself but Joe needs to step right up and lead that defence.
where did we get Bingham and Thomas from? Was it a lucky bag or an unlucky bag
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/quote]
Correct. There was enough talent on the pitch last night to have beaten that U21 team.
Yes they were talented but we would have won that if we had turned up.
Campsall - dead on
I posted (somewhere) previously that when I saw our Team I was pleased because we had not gone "too weak" AND that a Division One Team with nous and experience etc should be too much for an Under 21 Team at least 8 out of 10 times
How wrong was I - because we would not have beaten that Leicester Team twice out of 10 with that performance
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I must have been sat in a funny part of the ground last night, Because people around me and myself thought that Thomas looked much improved, has dropped some weight off and is much sharper and fitter.
It seems that people have made their mind up about him because of the club he came from and made their mind up about him before even seeing him play, mostly the same people who have championed Alfie May for the level he played at coming to us, who is, and has never been good enough to play at this level and did absolutely nothing in that game, but again someone said he tried in fairness to him, well dipsy doo.
Trying to ship dead wood out in January will be just as important as bringing in new players, the good news is a scout from Hartlepool was at the game last night, but it has never been plainer that our fringe players are miles away from the standard needed, and that our past managers left us with a number they signed extensions to contracts that are now lying heavily around the present manager's and the clubs neck, and in McCanns case alienated some of our better player who promptly left.
We have a small number of players who are of league one standard who can compete week in week out if fit at that level and can do well. More than one or two missing in certain positions and we have no cover good enough. Central defence it is OK, goalkeeper I would promote Jones, Horton and Amos are promising, Mid field we need a good one in Gomes is a cover player who may improve, Greaves promising with a way to go, but needs playing time at a good level.
Up front we need someone in, either both Ennis and Sterling plus Thomas as an alternative, or someone else in. wide players we need Blair fit.
This exactly. Thomas is looking better and better each game for me. He’s big and strong and wins an awful lot of his headers. That Leicester CB was massive, bigger than Thomas, and he was still loosing 70-80% of the headers when Thomas was competing with him.
Thomas won us a penalty - the ref just missed it. He was bringing players into the game and being a general nuisance all night.
Bingham might not deserve a new contract but Thomas certainly does for me.
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Tranmere Rovers beat Man U. U21’s last night.
I am pretty sure (although we have not played them yet) we are a better team than they are, based on number of points we have from less games played.
So why were they capable of winning with a weakened team last night and we managed to get mullered by another U21 side.
We need to take Cup matches much more seriously than apparently we are doing.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCNzh5FT51I
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I must have been sat in a funny part of the ground last night, Because people around me and myself thought that Thomas looked much improved, has dropped some weight off and is much sharper and fitter.
It seems that people have made their mind up about him because of the club he came from and made their mind up about him before even seeing him play, mostly the same people who have championed Alfie May for the level he played at coming to us, who is, and has never been good enough to play at this level and did absolutely nothing in that game, but again someone said he tried in fairness to him, well dipsy doo.
Trying to ship dead wood out in January will be just as important as bringing in new players, the good news is a scout from Hartlepool was at the game last night, but it has never been plainer that our fringe players are miles away from the standard needed, and that our past managers left us with a number they signed extensions to contracts that are now lying heavily around the present manager's and the clubs neck, and in McCanns case alienated some of our better player who promptly left.
We have a small number of players who are of league one standard who can compete week in week out if fit at that level and can do well. More than one or two missing in certain positions and we have no cover good enough. Central defence it is OK, goalkeeper I would promote Jones, Horton and Amos are promising, Mid field we need a good one in Gomes is a cover player who may improve, Greaves promising with a way to go, but needs playing time at a good level.
Up front we need someone in, either both Ennis and Sterling plus Thomas as an alternative, or someone else in. wide players we need Blair fit.
This exactly. Thomas is looking better and better each game for me. He’s big and strong and wins an awful lot of his headers. That Leicester CB was massive, bigger than Thomas, and he was still loosing 70-80% of the headers when Thomas was competing with him.
Thomas won us a penalty - the ref just missed it. He was bringing players into the game and being a general nuisance all night.
Bingham might not deserve a new contract but Thomas certainly does for me.
How many goals did he Orr we score from his towering headers. Answers on a postcard blank one with a second class stamp
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Tranmere Rovers beat Man U. U21’s last night.
I am pretty sure (although we have not played them yet) we are a better team than they are, based on number of points we have from less games played.
So why were they capable of winning with a weakened team last night and we managed to get mullered by another U21 side.
We need to take Cup matches much more seriously than apparently we are doing.
Salford beat Wolves U21s the night before as well
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Tranmere Rovers beat Man U. U21’s last night.
I am pretty sure (although we have not played them yet) we are a better team than they are, based on number of points we have from less games played.
So why were they capable of winning with a weakened team last night and we managed to get mullered by another U21 side.
We need to take Cup matches much more seriously than apparently we are doing.
Salford beat Wolves U21s the night before as well
Exactly.
We don’t seem to be interested. Well not as interested as we should be let’s put it that way.
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Steve , were you actually at the game? he headed against the post from a corner that others around him fluffed the rebound that was cleared, and should have been awarded a penalty.
Taylor and the two full backs were the only others with Whiteman to pose a threat around their area in open play, and add the central defenders from set pieces.
The rest of the team are either not good enough, or are not ready to play at this level, the youngsters are playing at an academy standard below the standard of Leicester, Gomes, Bingham, and Thomas have played at that level with some success in the past but have stalled career wise since, and May and Daniels have never been their standard.
We have made the same mistake now in all three U21s fixture's we have played, and have failed result wise all three times, against young sides, and on numerous occasions against lower standing sides such as Rochdale, Notts County, Grimsby, Rotherham reserves,
Just how many chances, and times has it to go on before some people admit that we have to take a different approach to cup football, and much needed funds before it is realised that we have players at the club who are not good enough to play at the level required?
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Well said Selby.
We could sign Harry Kane and Aguero to go up front and this forum would still kick off after 1 bad game.
Thomas arguably the best player on the pitch last night IMHO.
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We can have the best approach to cup football and team selection but if for whatever reasons the players underperform, what can we do.?
This is the same set of players minus Ennis realistically, who were playing good teams off the park until recently.
Therefore ability wise they are good enough, just out of form at the moment.
We have to look at things one game at a time and pick the best available team to win on Saturday..
I wonder if the same posters who comment when we are playing badly and go 2-0, 3-0 down will reappear with positive comments should we be winning by those scores with 20 mins to go.?
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Does not say much for the rest of the team. :rolleyes:
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Well said Selby.
We could sign Harry Kane and Aguero to go up front and this forum would still kick off after 1 bad game.
Thomas arguably the best player on the pitch last night IMHO.
Not sure about that 5 on Tour. To be fair to him the service was garbage.
In the 1st half Lawlor continually punted the ball high to aim for Daniels out on the touch line. A tactic which was flawed.
Thomas hardly saw the ball which was a total waste of his ability to flick headers on to runners going past him.
Amos was best player over 90 mins imo although he badly gave away the ball which led to the 3rd goal.
Halliday & Blaney were very good until they were subbed.
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Well said Selby.
We could sign Harry Kane and Aguero to go up front and this forum would still kick off after 1 bad game.
Thomas arguably the best player on the pitch last night IMHO.
but it's not one bad game is it
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Well said Selby.
We could sign Harry Kane and Aguero to go up front and this forum would still kick off after 1 bad game.
Thomas arguably the best player on the pitch last night IMHO.
Not sure about that 5 on Tour. To be fair to him the service was garbage.
In the 1st half Lawlor continually punted the ball high to aim for Daniels out on the touch line. A tactic which was flawed.
Thomas hardly saw the ball which was a total waste of his ability to flick headers on to runners going past him.
Amos was best player over 90 mins imo although he badly gave away the ball which led to the 3rd goal.
Halliday & Blaney were very good until they were subbed.
Campsall people moan when we play it out from the back, but when the keeper punts the ball they get on there backs, where it should be a happy medium of both
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Tranmere Rovers beat Man U. U21’s last night.
I am pretty sure (although we have not played them yet) we are a better team than they are, based on number of points we have from less games played.
So why were they capable of winning with a weakened team last night and we managed to get mullered by another U21 side.
We need to take Cup matches much more seriously than apparently we are doing.
Salford beat Wolves U21s the night before as well
However, to put it in to some sort of context, Leicester are currently 4th in Premier League 2 (Group 1) and several players from last night feature in that team. We got beat by a very good team on a 7 game winning streak and who have not lost in the EFL Trophy (against league opposition) this year....... I'm not sure it is time to jump of the bridge just yet......
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Well said Selby.
We could sign Harry Kane and Aguero to go up front and this forum would still kick off after 1 bad game.
Thomas arguably the best player on the pitch last night IMHO.
Not sure about that 5 on Tour. To be fair to him the service was garbage.
In the 1st half Lawlor continually punted the ball high to aim for Daniels out on the touch line. A tactic which was flawed.
Thomas hardly saw the ball which was a total waste of his ability to flick headers on to runners going past him.
Amos was best player over 90 mins imo although he badly gave away the ball which led to the 3rd goal.
Halliday & Blaney were very good until they were subbed.
Campsall people moan when we play it out from the back, but when the keeper punts the ball they get OK there backs where it should be a happy medium of both
Should have aimed for Thomas not Daniels is what i am trying to say Vicar. Play it short when there is no press from the opposition. If we have a big centre forward use him. Don’t you agree?
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That's what I said a happy medium if we can play it out safely then do but if its not safe then bang it to the big man and not fanny about when we are closed down
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Tranmere Rovers beat Man U. U21’s last night.
I am pretty sure (although we have not played them yet) we are a better team than they are, based on number of points we have from less games played.
So why were they capable of winning with a weakened team last night and we managed to get mullered by another U21 side.
We need to take Cup matches much more seriously than apparently we are doing.
Salford beat Wolves U21s the night before as well
However, to put it in to some sort of context, Leicester are currently 4th in Premier League 2 (Group 1) and several players from last night feature in that team. We got beat by a very good team on a 7 game winning streak and who have not lost in the EFL Trophy (against league opposition) this year....... I'm not sure it is time to jump of the bridge just yet......
No one is saying that. What we are saying is with that team playing last night we should have been capable of winning that match.
With Sheaf, Sadlier and Copps we possibly would have done.
Greaves, May & Daniels were simply not good enough.
Anderson looked rusty and Whiteman was not the same player without Sheaf and Copps.
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Well said Selby.
We could sign Harry Kane and Aguero to go up front and this forum would still kick off after 1 bad game.
Thomas arguably the best player on the pitch last night IMHO.
but it's not one bad game is it
No...it's two. Hardly a crisis.
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Well said Selby.
We could sign Harry Kane and Aguero to go up front and this forum would still kick off after 1 bad game.
Thomas arguably the best player on the pitch last night IMHO.
It’s not about 1 game and don’t go over board to make your point. We have not got players who ever they that score enough goals. We have to play our best eleven just to try and get a result. We have three players out four at the moment and they still don’t score enough. For what ever reason we are accepting mediocrity in front of goal as good.
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I can’t believe people are still attempting to argue our current form is ok.
Our results since beginning of September have been very poor.
As people will point out, we’ve played well in some games. But we haven’t won, and we haven’t won in those games because we don’t have a goalscorer in the squad.
Sadlier is the closest we’ve got and I’d definitely be playing him as our number 9 until we’ve signed someone in jan.
We’re amongst the lowest scorers in the league and in my opinion that is all down to piss poor recruitment in the summer
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Well said Selby.
We could sign Harry Kane and Aguero to go up front and this forum would still kick off after 1 bad game.
Thomas arguably the best player on the pitch last night IMHO.
It’s not about 1 game and don’t go over board to make your point. We have not got players who ever they that score enough goals. We have to play our best eleven just to try and get a result. We have three players out four at the moment and they still don’t score enough. For what ever reason we are accepting mediocrity in front of goal as good.
I think some of them are indeed mediocre. Bingham is not good enough. May, despite his effort, has been pretty poor for much of his game time this season. Thomas on the other has been good in my opinion. We moan and moan and moan to the point of boredom on here about playing out from the back. Thomas is the only alternative to that and yet people are having a go at him. In terms of attack last night he was our only threat at any point. If you don’t think he’s good enough then I’m pleased for you. Just like I’m happy with my take on things.
Stop trying to convince people that just because you don’t see his strengths that they shouldn’t either. I have watched every game this season in person and if Ennis isn’t fit then Thomas is our best alternative currently.
Hirst who was up front for Leicester last night might well be worth a punt in January if we can get him.
As for making my point it worked as people reacted to it.
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We’re amongst the lowest scorers in the league and in my opinion that is all down to piss poor recruitment in the summer
We're actually joint 8th highest scorers in the league and 4 teams currently above us have scored less goals! The top two teams have scored 4 and 3 goals more than us respectively.
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I can’t believe people are still attempting to argue our current form is ok.
Our results since beginning of September have been very poor.
As people will point out, we’ve played well in some games. But we haven’t won, and we haven’t won in those games because we don’t have a goalscorer in the squad.
Sadlier is the closest we’ve got and I’d definitely be playing him as our number 9 until we’ve signed someone in jan.
We’re amongst the lowest scorers in the league and in my opinion that is all down to piss poor recruitment in the summer
I don’t think anyone is saying our current form is OK, the debate is more about the form and abilities of individual players.. with the players we have, when fit, should be able to improve our form.
If the form doesn’t improve nor injuries get recovered, then of course we look to January for strengthening, over and above whatever is already lined up.
Just because some of us are not full of doom doesn’t mean we think all is perfectly ok..
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Well said Selby.
We could sign Harry Kane and Aguero to go up front and this forum would still kick off after 1 bad game.
Thomas arguably the best player on the pitch last night IMHO.
but it's not one bad game is it
No...it's two. Hardly a crisis.
it's not even 2 it a few games we have not played well
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EVERYONE has played badly the last few games. Don’t folk try and blame this on the strikers!
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Well said Selby.
We could sign Harry Kane and Aguero to go up front and this forum would still kick off after 1 bad game.
Thomas arguably the best player on the pitch last night IMHO.
but it's not one bad game is it
No...it's two. Hardly a crisis.
it's not even 2 it a few games we have not played well
We haven't been dreadful in more than the last two games. Everyone was happy with the comfortable nature of our second half against Wimbledon, which was our last home game. We won that one 2-0. Narrowly beaten by the league leaders with 10 men in the only other game since then. In fact, it's only 5 competitive matches since we won 7-1 away from home in the league yet everyone seems to have forgotten that.
I get that the last couple of games haven't been good at all, and that we are in rubbish form. And we clearly don't have a good enough strike force, which we all knew from the start of the season.
But it is the same old story on this forum every single time we do not win a game (not meaning you specifically here Vicar, far from it) where 500 flaws in the team, club, manager etc. are trotted out and it is bemoaned how terrible we must be. When we aren't. It is getting very, very tiresome.
This team is a work-in-progress. New manager, lots of new players. Very inexperienced side. Quite a few injuries to contend with. It is the first stage of what we all hope is a long-term project after some unexpected upheaval two summers running. Spells like this are going to happen, we have to understand that as a fanbase and stop having these incessant, pointless merry-go-round threads every single time we lose or play badly, or are on a bit of a tough run.
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Just over 1300 spectators proves what most supporters think of this tinpot cup. Utterly pointless apart from giving fringe players and youngsters a chance.
As regards making money, let's get back into the Championship and make some REAL money.
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I can’t believe people are still attempting to argue our current form is ok.
Our results since beginning of September have been very poor.
As people will point out, we’ve played well in some games. But we haven’t won, and we haven’t won in those games because we don’t have a goalscorer in the squad.
Sadlier is the closest we’ve got and I’d definitely be playing him as our number 9 until we’ve signed someone in jan.
We’re amongst the lowest scorers in the league and in my opinion that is all down to piss poor recruitment in the summer
Said it before & will again, this squad is woefully short of what's needed to make a real challenge on the top six, dress it up as much as we want but we need at least 3 players that can walk straight into the first 11 come January, & lose some of the dead wood. If we don't I for one will continue to pick & choose my games & support from home. Just my opinion of course but we really do need to strengthen given we have hardly touched the budget, or have we?
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Steve, the last two times we have gone into the championship, when we have been relegated it has resulted in the experiment the first time and over paying players and a fire sale and rebuild the second.
I want success for the club as much as anyone, but the same has happened to Rotherham, and could well happen to Barnsley, and the average loss last season for every team in the Championship was £15 million, obviously some clubs far in excess of that figure one reported to be £68 million.
I would suggest that both figures would see us go under, so hardly riches, also the average wage of a championship player is now over £20k a week according to a report on the championship on talk radio I listened to only a few days ago.
That competition may be viewed by yourself as tin pot, probably the FA cup and league cup as well, but teams who we play against every week take them seriously as an income stream, while we as a team deemed to be one of the better in the lower divisions have been dumped out of all three before Christmas, have probably lost money on the games we have played, and now face at least one blank weekend as our opponents play for more money in the next round in an already disrupted fixture season.
Seeing as just a few weeks ago According to the Yorkshire Post we paid a tax bill just before a hearing threat by HRMC I will wish you the best of luck with that theory.
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By the way Steve, the bigger Championship teams met this week to again start a movement to join the Premiership teams and form Premiership 2 or and change the voting system of the FL which currently gives all three divisions 3 votes each and they see to their disadvantage, and want a bigger share of the money distributed by the FL.
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Steve, the last two times we have gone into the championship, when we have been relegated it has resulted in the experiment the first time and over paying players and a fire sale and rebuild the second.
I want success for the club as much as anyone, but the same has happened to Rotherham, and could well happen to Barnsley, and the average loss last season for every team in the Championship was £15 million, obviously some clubs far in excess of that figure one reported to be £68 million.
I would suggest that both figures would see us go under, so hardly riches, also the average wage of a championship player is now over £20k a week according to a report on the championship on talk radio I listened to only a few days ago.
That competition may be viewed by yourself as tin pot, probably the FA cup and league cup as well, but teams who we play against every week take them seriously as an income stream, while we as a team deemed to be one of the better in the lower divisions have been dumped out of all three before Christmas, have probably lost money on the games we have played, and now face at least one blank weekend as our opponents play for more money in the next round in an already disrupted fixture season.
Seeing as just a few weeks ago According to the Yorkshire Post we paid a tax bill just before a hearing threat by HRMC I will wish you the best of luck with that theory.
So you don't want us in the Championship Brian?
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By the way Steve, the bigger Championship teams met this week to again start a movement to join the Premiership teams and form Premiership 2 or and change the voting system of the FL which currently gives all three divisions 3 votes each and they see to their disadvantage, and want a bigger share of the money distributed by the FL.
Wouldn't that be a better thing, in terms of us surviving in that league?
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Of course I want to go into the Championship, but it would not be the money tree you are saying, probably the reverse.
And are you suggesting that our current side is anywhere near being good enough to survive (sorry for a moment I forgot you haven't seen us play lately), are we even as good as the Barnsley and Luton sides that went up last season?
I think we have a good manager, a good board of directors who I trust, need to get rid if we can of some dead wood in January, sign at least three good players in certain positions in the January window just to sustain a push for a playoff place, but are at the start of a good period for the club, but will take longer to realise than this season.
If we get promotion or even into the play offs again I will deem it to be before we could realistically expect with the hand the manager was dealt at the start of the season, and the lack of class in the fringe players who make up the numbers at present.
With your last post Steve, can I take it that you would vote for the same motion and cast others aside if we were a Championship side, If so and others are of the same mind I hope we do go up for the clubs sake, but would want nothing to do with it.
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Brian, I've never understood the philosophy of consolidating for a season, and then going for it the season after. All it means is that you lose your best players, and many fair weather supporters, and then you're back to square one. What will be better at the start of next season?
We seriously need to go for it this season, and the board know it.
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Leicester U21 have drawn Tranmere away in R3.
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I agree they do, and I am sure they are going for it, but I have seen every game this and last season and quite a few before those, and I think that we have just got the numbers of about 13 players that have the class at a push who are capable of maintaining a push for the top six, and that would be expecting all those players to stay fit and also keep form for the rest of the season which is unreasonable to expect.
Only in central defence can we cover more than one injury adequately for more than the odd match, which you can get away with a youngster, who raise their normal game, so if we do not get some players in, and bear in mind at some stage we are going to have to make up games not yet played, we have not in my mind the numbers to make a concerted effort over the rest of the season.
Also that is discounting other teams coming in for our better players, which again is a possibility beyond our control, as players heads are easily turned by agents and other clubs promising riches we cannot match, and can be life changing for the player and his family so cannot blame them for wanting to go.
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People are desperate for strikers and we do need a goal scorer but we need a back up right back just as importantly. Every time I see Halliday in a challenge and limp out of it I’m worried. Daniels goes back next month so he can’t cover it - with his pace I’m not sure he could anyway. So if Halliday goes down injured we have 0 options at RB. Matty can cover it but we don’t know when he’s back yet and he isn’t a RB anyway. Correct me if I’m wrong but the only player in our squad outside of Halliday, and Matty covering, to play at RB for us is May. That was in the ridiculous last 35 mins of the 2nd leg last season.
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The mood is low amongst most posters on here and that is understandable.
I'm normally one of the positive ones but I must admit I'm a bit concerned because the limitations of our squad have been exposed these last few games.
That is no great surprise. It was generally recognised that our recruitment in pre-season fell short of what was required, and a few injuries to key players has necessitated in DM bringing in a couple of non-contracted strikers to try and plug the gaps.
It is my hope that we pick up some points to keep us in touch with the top teams until DM can strengthen in January. I've felt that for a long time, even before the Sterling & Ennis injuries.
It seemed we were in for a long wait but we're already in December so let's hope the club has a firm plan for incoming players of the right calibre as soon as the window re-opens.
We need to stop the rot with a good win tomorrow to put a smile back on everyone's faces and lift the confidence of the players.
Come on you reds!
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My eleven starters I would like to see tomorrow is
Dieng
Halliday
Wright
John
James
Sheaf
Whiteman
Coppinger
Taylor
Thomas
Sadlier
The subs would be from the normal mix but Blaney,Greaves, and Amos did Ok on Wednesday Lawlor would be the keeper Bingham or May.
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Works for me 2 0 👍☺
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My eleven starters I would like to see tomorrow is
Dieng
Halliday
Wright
John
James
Sheaf
Whiteman
Coppinger
Taylor
Thomas
Sadlier
The subs would be from the normal mix but Blaney,Greaves, and Amos did Ok on Wednesday Lawlor would be the keeper Bingham or May.
The only change I would make is May in for Thomas. I’m not his biggest fan but May was playing well out wide earlier in the season and I think Sadlier is a better option up front than Thomas.
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My eleven starters I would like to see tomorrow is
Dieng
Halliday
Wright
John
James
Sheaf
Whiteman
Coppinger
Taylor
Thomas
Sadlier
The subs would be from the normal mix but Blaney,Greaves, and Amos did Ok on Wednesday Lawlor would be the keeper Bingham or May.
Agree with that line up. It picks itself for me without Anderson being available.
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Retdon1, I would be surprised if you were at either the Gillingham or Leicester City game.
Were You?
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My eleven starters I would like to see tomorrow is
Dieng
Halliday
Wright
John
James
Sheaf
Whiteman
Coppinger
Taylor
Thomas
Sadlier
The subs would be from the normal mix but Blaney,Greaves, and Amos did Ok on Wednesday Lawlor would be the keeper Bingham or May.
The only change I would make is May in for Thomas. I’m not his biggest fan but May was playing well out wide earlier in the season and I think Sadlier is a better option up front than Thomas.
Why any one thinks Sadlier is a centre forward i don’t know. Earlier in the season DM did not have an option.
Now he has options in Thomas & Bingham. So why waste Sadlier’s talents by playing him out of position.
Alfie is unlikely to score wherever you play him.
Sadlier is very capable of scoring from a wide position in the team and he is much more creative as is Taylor from the other flank.
Alfie can’t go past people, he just runs around looking busy playing safe balls usually sideways or backwards.
That’s the reality of it but if you don’t agree with me then that’s fine by me. We all see things differently even if your wrong Retdon 1
:) :) :)
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Retdon1, I would be surprised if you were at either the Gillingham or Leicester City game.
Were You?
I wasn’t at either but watched the Leicester game.... why ?
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My eleven starters I would like to see tomorrow is
Dieng
Halliday
Wright
John
James
Sheaf
Whiteman
Coppinger
Taylor
Thomas
Sadlier
The subs would be from the normal mix but Blaney,Greaves, and Amos did Ok on Wednesday Lawlor would be the keeper Bingham or May.
The only change I would make is May in for Thomas. I’m not his biggest fan but May was playing well out wide earlier in the season and I think Sadlier is a better option up front than Thomas.
Why any one thinks Sadlier is a centre forward i don’t know. Earlier in the season DM did not have an option.
Now he has options in Thomas & Bingham. So why waste Sadlier’s talents by playing him out of position.
Alfie is unlikely to score wherever you play him.
Sadlier is very capable of scoring from a wide position in the team and he is much more creative as is Taylor from the other flank.
Alfie can’t go past people, he just runs around looking busy playing safe balls usually sideways or backwards.
That’s the reality of it but if you don’t agree with me then that’s fine by me. We all see things differently even if your wrong Retdon 1
:) :) :)
I totally agree that’s sadlier is much better out wide but until Ennis is back fit, Idd rather have him up top instead of Thomas or Bingham. It’s only my opinion but I think both are dreadful.
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Retdon1, did you go to the Gillingham or Leicester City games?
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Retdon1, did you go to the Gillingham or Leicester City games?
I wasn’t at either but watched the Leicester game on TV... why ?
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Is this Groundhog Day?
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I've never seen anyone with a burning hatred of a player like Selby has for May.
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I dunno, I remember mrfrostsdad being much the same about Paul Keegan.. to be honest I don’t know if that was as bad but some folks just don’t like certain players..
I don’t have a big problem with folks holding those opinions, if I think differently it’s because he players have then done ok on the pitch..
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Just wondered what you were watching to think that May played better in any of them games than Thomas, he never got near the ball in either game, never got close to Thomas when he was winning flick ons, never took his man on in wide positions, didn't put the ball into the box, never threatened in the box, and a large percentage of the passes he made were backwards to his defenders.
So just wondered why you would think he should start tomorrow, I suppose I will have to keep on wondering.
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Swintonrover, I don't hate Alfie May at all, I don't rate him as a footballer good enough to play at the league level Doncaster Rovers play at, which this forum is a vehicle to discuss the merits of, I have an opinion about him as a player, I certainly don't hate him as a person or as a player, in fact I admire his tenacity and effort the same as most other posters on this forum, and my opinion has been formed watching him play every minute he has played in the first team colours of Doncaster Rovers even in preseason friendlies, and in some academy matches, which we have won very few of I might add, and he has scored very few goals in.
Thomas is a better player, but people don't rate him, most of who have seen very little of him, and didn't rate him as soon as they saw his past club history.
I have not done that, I have watched May over quite a few years and games, and have seen nothing to change my mind that he is a great trier without being a good player.
Don't ever say I hate him, in fact I cannot think of anyone I actually hate.
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Which ever CH pair plays they have to strong calm and collected and defend well. Whichever players play in the attacking third have to score.
If Thomas plays then I would hope we get in good crosses from the left and right to give him a chance of scoring.
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Which ever CH pair plays they have to strong calm and collected and defend well. Whichever players play in the attacking third have to score.
If Thomas plays then I would hope we get in good crosses from the left and right to give him a chance of scoring.
Strikers are only as good as the service they get unless they are called Messi, Ronaldo or the like. They create their own chances more often than not.
Thomas will score goals if he receives quality service as he got at Southend.
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Just wondered what you were watching to think that May played better in any of them games than Thomas, he never got near the ball in either game, never got close to Thomas when he was winning flick ons, never took his man on in wide positions, didn't put the ball into the box, never threatened in the box, and a large percentage of the passes he made were backwards to his defenders.
So just wondered why you would think he should start tomorrow, I suppose I will have to keep on wondering.
I also am wondering what you saw in Thomas performance to suggest he should start up front. He’s poor and miles of the pace, same with Bingham. If u read my initial post I said I wasn’t Mays biggest fan, ideally he wouldn’t be anywhere near the side but we have very little options in the forward positions. Gomez for me isn’t good enough either. We really don’t have many good options in the forward positions
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Paul, look at the heading again please
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Which ever CH pair plays they have to strong calm and collected and defend well. Whichever players play in the attacking third have to score.
If Thomas plays then I would hope we get in good crosses from the left and right to give him a chance of scoring.
Strikers are only as good as the service they get unless they are called Messi, Ronaldo or the like. They create their own chances more often than not.
Thomas will score goals if he receives quality service as he got at Southend.
Yes as you say if Thomas is to score he needs quality service from left and right. The missing link from the Southend game will be Amos, who can put in a quality cross from the left or right with his left foot.
So we can only hope that Taylor, Sadlier, Halliday, James and Copps if in that position can provide the quality crosses.
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Sorry if its already been mentioned,I've not read the whole thread,but I just seen MK Dons have had a red card in each of their last 4 matches!,infact 5 in last 6 matches,If they are a dirty team,I hope we don't get a lenient referee.
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Just wondered what you were watching to think that May played better in any of them games than Thomas, he never got near the ball in either game, never got close to Thomas when he was winning flick ons, never took his man on in wide positions, didn't put the ball into the box, never threatened in the box, and a large percentage of the passes he made were backwards to his defenders.
So just wondered why you would think he should start tomorrow, I suppose I will have to keep on wondering.
I also am wondering what you saw in Thomas performance to suggest he should start up front. He’s poor and miles of the pace, same with Bingham. If u read my initial post I said I wasn’t Mays biggest fan, ideally he wouldn’t be anywhere near the side but we have very little options in the forward positions. Gomez for me isn’t good enough either. We really don’t have many good options in the forward positions
He gives you an outlet up front. Someone to hit. He is very good at flick on headers. Holds the ball up, well some of the time he does. Tends to fall over a bit easy when under the close attention of a centre back.
The point is he is the best option we have without Ennis. Simple as that.
We do need better, but Sadlier is not the answer in that position. No way.
My opinion of course.
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Paul, look at the heading again please
Sorry Brian I noticed 5 mins ago and deleted my post. Sorry I can’t read. :facepalm:
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Just wondered what you were watching to think that May played better in any of them games than Thomas, he never got near the ball in either game, never got close to Thomas when he was winning flick ons, never took his man on in wide positions, didn't put the ball into the box, never threatened in the box, and a large percentage of the passes he made were backwards to his defenders.
So just wondered why you would think he should start tomorrow, I suppose I will have to keep on wondering.
I also am wondering what you saw in Thomas performance to suggest he should start up front. He’s poor and miles of the pace, same with Bingham. If u read my initial post I said I wasn’t Mays biggest fan, ideally he wouldn’t be anywhere near the side but we have very little options in the forward positions. Gomez for me isn’t good enough either. We really don’t have many good options in the forward positions
He gives you an outlet up front. Someone to hit. He is very good at flick on headers. Holds the ball up, well some of the time he does. Tends to fall over a bit easy when under the close attention of a centre back.
The point is he is the best option we have without Ennis. Simple as that. We do need better but Sadlier is not the answer in that position. No way. My opinion of course.
If we are to get the best out of Thomas it’s not just flick ons but get to the bye line and provide quality crosses, where he won’t have his back to goal or rely on any sort of pace.
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Thomas should have had a penalty when he drew the player into it, and hit the post with a header he won in a crowded area while under pressure, I am not sure what you want anymore out of a striker who otherwise had no or very little service in the game. He also won more than his share of balls in the air and on the ground down the central areas, more than we have been used to seeing since Marquis left, held the ball up well with his defender close behind him, and laid the ball off to support players.
He looks quicker and fitter than when he first came to us, what did you see in his game that he did poorly?
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Unfortunately some people have made their minds up that he is useless from the moment he first stepped on to the Keepmoat pitch.
Came from a non league background so can’t possibly be any good can he?
Strange though people love Alfie because he runs all over the pitch and gives 100% effort but has no end product.
Seems to be, some people are wearing blinkers.
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Sorry if its already been mentioned,I've not read the whole thread,but I just seen MK Dons have had a red card in each of their last 4 matches!,infact 5 in last 6 matches,If they are a dirty team,I hope we don't get a lenient referee.
If that’s the case Drover they should have a few out suspended tomorrow.
We need to take advantage and use this game to get a cracking win, hopefully a few goals and the all important 3 points.
Oh and of course a hat trick from Thomas. :that:
But as I said before I will take a 1-0 scrappy win. Any win. Just let’s WIN.
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Unfortunately some people have made their minds up that he is useless from the moment he first stepped on to the Keepmoat pitch.
Came from a non league background so can’t possibly be any good can he?
Strange though people love Alfie because he runs all over the pitch and gives 100% effort but has no end product.
Seems to be, some people are wearing blinkers.
Emotive words there is a difference of being useless as you put it and not being good enough for a top six side. We have fringe players such as Alfie and two short term signings and even some of our U23 players, at this moment, who do their best but will they score enough goals to win games. We need better so the front four can provide enough goals.
Goals win games and if all those players performances were good but we don’t score then we don’t win. So let’s see what happens tomorrow.
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'MK Dons' or whatever name they stole this week to call themselves - have two players out suspended tomorrow. These are George Williams and Baily Cargill. Both are defenders. Williams looks like more of a first team player than the other guy.
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'MK Dons' or whatever name they stole this week to call themselves - have two players out suspended tomorrow. These are George Williams and Baily Cargill. Both are defenders. Williams looks like more of a first team player than the other guy.
.......and yet the DROS has Cargill marked as “one to watch”.
Will Jordan Houghton be playing for them.
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FA has the lad banned for three games from 23.11.2019 to 21.12.2019.
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These thieves are truly dreadful. Last 11 games in League One they have lost 10 of these and drawn 1. In 8 of these games they have failed to score. They have lost five away games in a row.
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Sssshhhhhhh.
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These thieves are truly dreadful. Last 11 games in League One they have lost 10 of these and drawn 1. In 8 of these games they have failed to score. They have lost five away games in a row.
I wish you would pack it in CBcb ;)
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Sorry if its already been mentioned,I've not read the whole thread,but I just seen MK Dons have had a red card in each of their last 4 matches!,infact 5 in last 6 matches,If they are a dirty team,I hope we don't get a lenient referee.
53 Yellows in 18 Games so averages 3
1 Red 2 games ago
https://www.soccerbase.com/referees/referee.sd?referee_id=2120
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Do you know it's like tag team wrestling with some of the poster on here, I'll say my bit then pass over, when you"ve had enough let me back in trouble is they are all spouting the same messge
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Do you know it's like tag team wrestling with some of the poster on here, I'll say my bit then pass over, when you"ve had enough let me back in trouble is they are all spouting the same messge
Sorry ravenrover can you explain that post. What message are we all spouting?
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Do you know it's like tag team wrestling with some of the poster on here, I'll say my bit then pass over, when you"ve had enough let me back in trouble is they are all spouting the same messge
Sorry ravenrover can you explain that post. What message are we all spouting?
Other than buy a striker obviously. Haha
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Do you know it's like tag team wrestling with some of the poster on here, I'll say my bit then pass over, when you"ve had enough let me back in trouble is they are all spouting the same messge
Sorry ravenrover can you explain that post. What message are we all spouting?
C'mon Campsall the answer is very clear to see you don't need me tell you. Just look back at this thread
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Do you know it's like tag team wrestling with some of the poster on here, I'll say my bit then pass over, when you"ve had enough let me back in trouble is they are all spouting the same messge
Sorry ravenrover can you explain that post. What message are we all spouting?
C'mon Campsall the answer is very clear to see you don't need me tell you. Just look back at this thread
Well that’s what a discussion forum is for. If you don’t like it don’t partake in it.
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🤣🤣🤣
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🤣🤣🤣
That was very grown up of you.
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I refer you to your post 3 up
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Well, I can honestly say I saw the team before the game and feared the worst, I could not understand after Wednesday how Bingham, May and Daniels had been picked to play in this game after their performances on Wednesday, and was not surprised about Lawlors absence although it is through injury apparently.
I watched the game and was not surprised at all, there was nothing new on show from players who have disappointed with their performances before.
Two of our front three would be hard pushed to score 6 goals between them up to Easter and a centre half who would give 4 goals away if he is still here and playing.
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Daniels had a decent game selby, you are being a bit hard on him I think.
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Daniels had a decent game selby, you are being a bit hard on him I think.
Much more comfortable in a 2 Centre back role than in that farce of a 3 Centre backs on Wednesday.
Yes he had a solid game hound.
I think Brian was just surprised he was selected ahead of Joe Wright based on Wednesday showing.
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I never said he didn't play decent today Hound, I was thinking about the penalties and turning inside inthe area that have cost us goals in the games he has played up to press.
Seeing those makes me think he will give up to four goals away before Easter if he is still here and plays.
He could have done it in the second half today, when he gave a stupid pass away but they didn't cash in.
I would not renew his loan anyway, I don't see him a lot better, and on Blaney's performance on Wednesday as good as him. and why should we nurture a Luton Town player when we have our own young players who can be as good.
He seems to be a bollock a game merchant to me, but has not paid the price like Joe Wright who we Know has been good in the past and dependable, made a mistake at Gillingham and paid an immediate price by being dropped.
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Wright was worse than bad at Gillingham, and that is just from seeing the highlights which only focus on the goals.
He hasn’t been the same player this season, injuries may have contributed to that.
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It wasn't Wright who was stupid at Wycombe, or who was poor on Wednesday .
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It wasn't Wright who was stupid at Wycombe, or who was poor on Wednesday .
Wednesday was an insignificant game and not even in my thoughts.
Was Anderson stupid at Wycombe for getting sent off or unlucky that he was pulled back when he went to make that tackle, causing his feet to be off the ground in an unnatural position.
If you think not then why was Daniels poor for trying to get to the ball before Akinfenwa.
Akinfenwa was clever in just standing his ground, good CF play.
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These thieves are truly dreadful. Last 11 games in League One they have lost 10 of these and drawn 1. In 8 of these games they have failed to score. They have lost five away games in a row.
I wish you would pack it in CBcb ;)
Do you know it's like tag team wrestling with some of the poster on here, I'll say my bit then pass over, when you"ve had enough let me back in trouble is they are all spouting the same messge
Sorry ravenrover can you explain that post. What message are we all spouting?
C'mon Campsall the answer is very clear to see you don't need me tell you. Just look back at this thread
Well that’s what a discussion forum is for. If you don’t like it don’t partake in it.
What's it be then Campsall?