Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: selby on November 28, 2022, 03:12:28 pm
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An unusual Friday night game that are now a rarity, under flood lights that will cost a fortune at todays prices, and no doubt an ever smaller crowd with interest waning after two out of three abysmal performances and the hope gained by a good performance at Grimsby immediately followed up by another performance like the one v Kings Lynn.
The new manager uplift that other clubs seem to have if we ever had one has all but disappeared in short time, and at times our own style of play looks to upset our own players rhythm more than the opposition, if we get into a rythm that is, in fact by being so slow at getting the ball forward we set up the other teams attacks much better than our own.
Meanwhile Walsall will come to us on top of the world having beaten Carlisle where we got mullered with two very late goals one by Andy Williams earlier of this parish winning a game very late on that always leaves teams on top of the world, I hope they get the money spinning tie we always lose out on in the next round.
Our season is going to take some pulling around, to say we are only a result away from enough points to be in with a shout of the playoff places is testament to other clubs ineptitude not our good play or consistency both being sporadic events which seem to be becoming rarer as the other clubs realise how we struggle to overcome their tactics and some poor quality players we have, we certainly are not good enough to play most of the game in our own half of the field with the lack of pace we have at the back, a seventeen year old from Barnsley reserves demonstrating that some months ago.
Hopefully Rowe is fit to take some part in this game, I would find a place for Faulkner if he is still here and not farmed out on loan as he is our one proper defender apart from Anderson, gives us pace the others don't have, and has also shown his worth in set plays early in the season in the oppositions box, something when we have rarely got up there in recent games we have been poor at.
Walsall on the other hand will come to us top of the world, have a manager who at Newport at least asked players to do what they were capable of doing, has made a habit of success in cup football allowing his clubs to flourish on the money they have gained doing so, and fields teams that are uncompromising and stick to doing the basics well.
Which team we have turn up, the one at Grimsby or the Kings Lynn version is in the laps of the gods, and creates interest if nothing else.
So once again all the usual questions can be put forward for this game, what team would you play? what team do you expect to play? will we change tactics? does anyone know what our best team is? lot's to discuss lot's of questions to ask and try to answer, please have your say.
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Christ sake have you got the Samaritans number? Things really ain’t that bad. We’ve now got a definite way we set up 3-4-3 & it’s going to take time to bed in & Schofield is trying to implement his ideas without having his signings in through the door. If it was 12 months down the line & no progress was obvious then it’s time to stress & worry. Speaking personally I’ve got much more faith in us being successful with Danny at the helm than anytime under the previous youth coach. We have to be patient. Inconsistency is the name of the game with young players like what we have.
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Selby you ok you’re not usually this downbeat
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Well I'm really excited for this after a nearly a month without live football. Friday night, few drinks in town before the match. We've had some extra time with no FA Cup match to train and be sharp. Bring it on!
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Don't worry lads I am still going Friday and all the home games and watching a hell of a lot of football from junior football to professional non league at all levels, that gives me the feeling, yes the manager has a clear mind of how he wants to play, but seeing other teams the realisation that we may not have the players to be consistent enough, tallented enough or have the pace to enact the plan he has in mind.
January is going to be absolutely so important to the club, getting players out as well as in. we have a lot of deadwood that needs improving on IMHO. and getting them out could be crucial now the income stream of any cup run has disappeared again before it got started.
This game on Friday could hold a lot more importance to the clubs future than a lot of people realise. We currently have a lot of disaffected fans who's support financially to the club is very important and a squad worth next to diddly donk in the transfer market apart from a player we are now marginalising, Knoyle and Olowu at the stage of their contract that is reducing by the day their value to us, and Millar probably the only one other clubs might pay for, the rest coming to the end of their careers or bang average players who might have one good game in four.
There is nothing more I would like than for the majority of those players to stand up, prove me a fool and make a fist of the rest of the season, and that is what I see this forum as a vehicle to express opinions and discuss, and that is how I see this team and this season.
As far as hanging myself and supporting them while on the field of play nothing will change, I won't, I have seen far worse before, and I will support them while they play the game 100%, but I will express an opinion, and I hope it encourages others to discuss in a proper way.
If you disagree please say so and explain why, that is what this thread is all about I hope, opinions.
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I agree we may need a change in some of the personnel to activate DS game plan in full. There still seems to be some sort of mentality problem in this squad. When it’s good it’s good but we need to have some consistency. Looking forward to one of our few home games under the lights
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Friday night football, brilliant
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Friday night football, brilliant
Time to break out the long johns and double up on socks
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Doesn't look to be a lot of interest at all in this game to me, and might be an indication of what to expect the rest of the season.
There is a lot more pressure on this game than meets the eye to me, a bad result combined with another abject display could start a rapid decline in our home games supporter base, and the inevitable reduction in the club's income and ability to fund better players coming to the club.
We need very much a good result combined with a better display by the players, something not very hard if the displays v Kings Lynn and Colchester are considered the low mark.
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I've got a bad feeling about this game, hence predicting Lose in PvO. Don't often do that! They are on a high after winning their FA Cup game.
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Despite what everyone has said. Everyone is massively into the world cup. I'm going Friday however I expect our first sub 5k crowd with about 200 from Walsall attending.
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The only thing going in our favour is that we are at home or perhaps I should say Walsall are away, because they have not won away in the League since August!
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Typical, love a night game but can't make this one tickets for Gaz Brookfield booked a long time ago
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Well we seem to alternate good and bad games so I think we’re due a good performance.
Looking forward to the first ‘winter’ game so it’ll be thermals, proper parka and a flask of hot coffee.
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I was pretty confident until a read Forsolonga’s comment that they haven’t won away this season.
Seriously hoping we can replicate the Grimsby performance
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Despite what everyone has said. Everyone is massively into the world cup. I'm going Friday however I expect our first sub 5k crowd with about 200 from Walsall attending.
Might creep above that as it's the Lottery free tickets game .
Don't know the take up but I managed to give mine away
One positive though as mentioned above ... If we have alternate good / bad games then it's time for the good one. :aok:
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That "they have not won an away match" statement has sent a shiver down my back, a good chance now that we will get them back on track.
We are just the team for that, over many years we have eased the suffering of many teams, and it could be classed as unfair to Newport after giving Hartlepool and Colchester a leg up this season if we actually tonked them, although I live in hope.
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I’ve given my 2 free tickets away so that’s 2 extra on the attendance
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Ooo forgot about those tickets
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Molyneux out but Tommy, Reo and Olowu available
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Despite what everyone has said. Everyone is massively into the world cup. I'm going Friday however I expect our first sub 5k crowd with about 200 from Walsall attending.
Suzanne from the ticket office said today that Walsall have sold more than 500, so that might boost the attendance a bit.
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Not surprising to me as they have had a massive lift reaching the third round of the FA cup, we on the other hand have forgotten what a cup run does for a club and the financial gains they can bring in.
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Not surprising to me as they have had a massive lift reaching the third round of the FA cup, we on the other hand have forgotten what a cup run does for a club and the financial gains they can bring in.
Brian, you're banging on too much all the time about cup runs. Yes, they can be handy for bringing in extra revenue, but getting out of this bloody awful league is much, much more important than a cup run.
I'd take a win against Walsall tomorrow against their FA Cup 3rd round tie any day of the week.
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Wife and I will not be going as was expecting it to have been played on the saturday and so booked a friday/saturday and sunday away with the proviso that we could popback for a few hours in the saturday afternoon .while the Friday event booked for cant be changed
Pammy said the way we are playing at the moment and the apathy by many of us towards our Rovers maybe just as well
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Not surprising to me as they have had a massive lift reaching the third round of the FA cup, we on the other hand have forgotten what a cup run does for a club and the financial gains they can bring in.
Brian, you're banging on too much all the time about cup runs. Yes, they can be handy for bringing in extra revenue, but getting out of this bloody awful league is much, much more important than a cup run.
I'd take a win against Walsall tomorrow against their FA Cup 3rd round tie any day of the week.
Also blindly ignores the fact that we reached the 4th round only 2 years ago and the 5th round 4 years ago. This year was also only the 2nd time in 15 years that we’ve fallen at the first hurdle.
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Nick I don't ignore it at all, in fact I was exstatic seeing as how I was there as an eight year old the last time we got that far in the 1954/55 season take a minute and let that sink in, I hope you have better luck and don't have to wait as long as myself for a run to the 5th round.
On a more serious note I always especially at that time saw Lincoln, Rotherham, Chesterfield, and Barnsley as our near neighbour foes roughly on the same standing.
Since that heady day we have added two more cup competitions to the season and I would hazard a guess that all those teams have easily earnt well over a million and probably a couple of million pounds more in crowd's built on visits to Wembley league play off competitions and cup prize money, while we have succumbed to teams like Notts county when they were on their uppers Rochdale on more than one occasion when they were on their uppers Oldham a couple of times when they were struggling Grimsby when in free fall and the latest a National League North side all games I was at, and games where prize money as well as cup glory and the extra support they bring was on Offer.
The former clubs have made a relatively regular fist of doing well in one or other of the competitions and the relative trajectories' of those sides really reflect the difference between us and them. Chesterfield as an example could well come into this division next season if we don't get out of it with bigger crowds money to spend off a cup run and could come up with money from a playoff competition while we will probably be cutting our budget on the playing staff if we don't get up, and if we don't get some consistency and improve we will not.
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Walsall have sold out their initial allocation.
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Could anyone honestly say they could see that before their win in the FA cup last week, and we actually have supporters who are not bothered.
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I think its also a symptom of having such a long gap between home games(or any game for that matter)
Fans can be very fickle these days and such a layoff takes the club outside a lot of supporters mindsets, nothing a good win tonight would not correct but we are in a reconstruction stage and a bit like when SOD first arrived we need to find that consistency of performance to get the place buzzing again. Like you said the transfer window cannot come to soon for us and its vitally important we have the strategy in place to make the difference or we can say goodbye to any hopes this season of creeping into a position where we could challenge.
Very important few weeks ahead, starting with this game.
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Nick I don't ignore it at all, in fact I was exstatic seeing as how I was there as an eight year old the last time we got that far in the 1954/55 season take a minute and let that sink in, I hope you have better luck and don't have to wait as long as myself for a run to the 5th round.
On a more serious note I always especially at that time saw Lincoln, Rotherham, Chesterfield, and Barnsley as our near neighbour foes roughly on the same standing.
Since that heady day we have added two more cup competitions to the season and I would hazard a guess that all those teams have easily earnt well over a million and probably a couple of million pounds more in crowd's built on visits to Wembley league play off competitions and cup prize money, while we have succumbed to teams like Notts county when they were on their uppers Rochdale on more than one occasion when they were on their uppers Oldham a couple of times when they were struggling Grimsby when in free fall and the latest a National League North side all games I was at, and games where prize money as well as cup glory and the extra support they bring was on Offer.
The former clubs have made a relatively regular fist of doing well in one or other of the competitions and the relative trajectories' of those sides really reflect the difference between us and them. Chesterfield as an example could well come into this division next season if we don't get out of it with bigger crowds money to spend off a cup run and could come up with money from a playoff competition while we will probably be cutting our budget on the playing staff if we don't get up, and if we don't get some consistency and improve we will not.
I was also there that day, Brian. It wasn't 1954/55, it was 1955/56, against Spurs in front of more than 30000 people.
However, that was when the FA Cup was the most important competition in the country.
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Could anyone honestly say they could see that before their win in the FA cup last week, and we actually have supporters who are not bothered.
We had 1200 fans at Grimsby who were definitely bothered, because that was a league game.
Priorities.
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Well we have no excuse now with all the big players we have been missing back by the looks of things, a new manager and new tactical masters at the head.
Let's hope for better things, Steve we have different priorities I see every competitive game as important as the next whatever the competition, and seeing as the club constantly put forward that they don't project cup finances in the budget, I see them as a free hit and extra revenue for better players, and when your preferences over the last two seasons have resulted in us in division 2, paying out wages to managers and coaches no longer with the club but under contract still, we could do with a bit of extra coin don't you think, and the same players not good enough to keep us in division 1 are the same players constantly getting beaten in cup football unless I am mistaken.
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Sorry to interrupt the negativity but team news is in - looks like we’re playing 4 at the back tonight, and rare starts for Woltman & Clayton.
Mitchell
Knoyle
Maxwell
Anderson
Williams
Clayton
Biggins
Close
Rowe
Woltman
Miller
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Walsall haven’t scored more than 1 goal in an away league game this season and on only 1 occasion in the last 14 months have they scored more than 1 league goal away from home. If we score, the stats say we are very highly unlikely to lose. However, we lost last time out to an absolutely appalling side, so who knows.
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Walsall haven’t scored more than 1 goal in an away league game this season and on only 1 occasion in the last 14 months have they scored more than 1 league goal away from home. If we score, the stats say we are very highly unlikely to lose. However, we lost last time out to an absolutely appalling side, so who knows.
Got to get a shot on target to score
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I wonder is watching paint dry is more exciting?
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It’s now 20 league games this season and 3 clean sheets. We concede in 85pc of league games. Same story, total inability to keep a clean sheet and put ourselves on back foot always.
In those 20 league games we have only taken the lead on 6 occasions. That’s 70pc of games where we don’t take the initiative.
Almost always concede, rarely score first. Soft touch, easy points.
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Ro Shaun - shockingly bad for both goals I'm afraid.
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Walsall haven’t scored more than 1 goal in an away league game this season and on only 1 occasion in the last 14 months have they scored more than 1 league goal away from home. If we score, the stats say we are very highly unlikely to lose. However, we lost last time out to an absolutely appalling side, so who knows.
That’s only the second time in 26 away league games that Walsall has managed to score more than 1 goal. We are an embarrassing soft touch.
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Unfortunately it’s showing once again we should have got a manager that knows what he is doing, the team he picked tonight was nothing short of a joke
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Ro Shaun - shockingly bad for both goals I'm afraid.
it indicative of the way Rovers have been playing . Too slow in possession , clueless tactically when trying to create opportunities. Just not good enough even for L2 .
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I don’t know what the cause of this is, as it dates back long before Schofield. We have had an appalling defensive unit for over two seasons now. Time and again they inflict problems on themselves, lose concentration and just general f**kwittery. This is not about the rest of the team not helping them, this is just ingrained and entrenched rank bad defending from a truly terrible defensive unit, over last four managers now.
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Unfortunately it’s showing once again we should have got a manager that knows what he is doing, the team he picked tonight was nothing short of a joke
In his defence he has come just shy of half way through the season and hasn't had the opportunity to add any additions to the team.
It is fair to say that any new players would have to make some sort of impact and that they would go straight into the first 11.
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I don’t know what the cause of this is, as it dates back long before Schofield. We have had an appalling defensive unit for over two seasons now. Time and again they inflict problems on themselves, lose concentration and just general f**kwittery. This is not about the rest of the team not helping them, this is just ingrained and entrenched rank bad defending from a truly terrible defensive unit, over last four managers now.
Well pointed out we have been on the decline since DM left, DS needs time to try and rebuild.
It would be nice to try and force our way back into League One but looks unlikely at the moment, for each additional season in L2 it will be harder to get out.
Especially with Wrexham inevitably getting out of the NL
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I don’t know what the cause of this is, as it dates back long before Schofield. We have had an appalling defensive unit for over two seasons now. Time and again they inflict problems on themselves, lose concentration and just general f**kwittery. This is not about the rest of the team not helping them, this is just ingrained and entrenched rank bad defending from a truly terrible defensive unit, over last four managers now.
The cause is the board. They are are the one consistent throughout and they are the ones that hire staff into the club that are cheap and basically useless.
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There is no defence playing maxwell left midfield and leaving hurst out, he has took the little pace we have in the team and left it on the bench, woltman has had 2 decent half since he got here, just play Tommy Rowe behind Miller
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Unfortunately it’s showing once again we should have got a manager that knows what he is doing, the team he picked tonight was nothing short of a joke
Performances most weeks from the squad have looked lethargic and without desire to compete and results don’t lie !!
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God only knows how we solve this but we’ve got such a car crash of a squad. A load of very old players, and a mish mash of lads only united by an ability to show any fight or desire to take on and dominate opponents.
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Personally id like answers as to how Ro Shaun Williams gets a shirt. Up there with the worst ive seen at the club.
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Only second time Walsall have won away from home in league in 18 games. Their first away league win since 6 August.
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Appalling again tonight. Team selection baffling. Ro Shaun being RO Shaun. No intensity. No guts. No determination. No idea. Probably write this season off as I think we need too many player (that we won’t get) in Jan to turn this around
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Donavan Daniels won't have an easier game all season.
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Zooming out from this typically poor performance, look at what has happened the last few seasons.
We’ve gone from League One promotion contenders where our managers were deemed to be desirable by bigger clubs so they left us, to now where we are in a frankly worrying situation of cycling through managers regularly having to sack them due to terrible results, to now playing as absolute also rans in League Two, the lowest professional tier.
How has it come to this? We’ve blinked and gone from League One respectability to an unstable mess in League Two, in only a few short seasons.
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And we’ve been bypassed and embarrassed by clubs with resources not materially different to our own - Rotherham, Peterborough, Lincoln, to name a few. We’ve pissed away a lot of money on absolute rubbish and are now bang average mid-table League Two, playing largely bad football and with pretty much no saleable assets.
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Final point, I’ve no idea whether Schofield is the guy to turn this around as he’s not been here nearly long enough.
However, he has an absolutely massive job on his hands as this club and this team is in a death spiral of making exactly the same mistakes and demonstrating the exact same weaknesses whoever is the manager - total lack of fight, desire or backbone, absolutely risible defensive unit, zero dynamism or pace, and a general willingness to accept mediocrity and defeat with a shrug of the shoulders.
These all appear to be engrained in the club as whoever is in charge we see the same dross again and again.
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Zooming out from this typically poor performance, look at what has happened the last few seasons.
We’ve gone from League One promotion contenders where our managers were deemed to be desirable by bigger clubs so they left us, to now where we are in a frankly worrying situation of cycling through managers regularly having to sack them due to terrible results, to now playing as absolute also rans in League Two, the lowest professional tier.
How has it come to this? We’ve blinked and gone from League One respectability to an unstable mess in League Two, in only a few short seasons.
Our decline over recent seasons has been debated so many times on here that it’s now become just become a casual conversation like talking about the weather ! Everybody knows it’s raining but just hope it’s sunnier tomorrow!
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I'm afraid questions must start to be asked in regards to the manager.
5 at the back and 1 lonesome, isolated centre forward is not working.
The players are simply not good enough to play the slow tempo, patient, possession football he seems to be instructing.
I had hoped the 2 week break would mean a reassessment of approach, tactics and formation.
I was encouraged at the teamsheet as it suggested a move to 4 at the back, but no not the case and our most creative player is wasted at left centre-half.
In the end it was same old; same old with no attempt to change things to cause them problems till we were behind in the game.
Yes he's inherited poor players, but the tactical approach is poor as well.
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Zooming out from this typically poor performance, look at what has happened the last few seasons.
We’ve gone from League One promotion contenders where our managers were deemed to be desirable by bigger clubs so they left us, to now where we are in a frankly worrying situation of cycling through managers regularly having to sack them due to terrible results, to now playing as absolute also rans in League Two, the lowest professional tier.
How has it come to this? We’ve blinked and gone from League One respectability to an unstable mess in League Two, in only a few short seasons.
Our decline over recent seasons has been debated so many times on here that it’s now become just become a casual conversation like talking about the weather ! Everybody knows it’s raining but just hope it’s sunnier tomorrow!
Losing football matches and playing crap has become normal and expected. Real shame everything John Ryan did has been chucked away.
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Zooming out from this typically poor performance, look at what has happened the last few seasons.
We’ve gone from League One promotion contenders where our managers were deemed to be desirable by bigger clubs so they left us, to now where we are in a frankly worrying situation of cycling through managers regularly having to sack them due to terrible results, to now playing as absolute also rans in League Two, the lowest professional tier.
How has it come to this? We’ve blinked and gone from League One respectability to an unstable mess in League Two, in only a few short seasons.
Our decline over recent seasons has been debated so many times on here that it’s now become just become a casual conversation like talking about the weather ! Everybody knows it’s raining but just hope it’s sunnier tomorrow!
Losing football matches and playing crap has become normal and expected. Real shame everything John Ryan did has been chucked away.
100% true !!
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Personally id like answers as to how Ro Shaun Williams gets a shirt. Up there with the worst ive seen at the club.
Suffice to say, if that useless so-and-so is on the teamsheet for the next home game, I'm walking straight back out. He's an absolute liability and has been since day one!
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I've had enough now after 40+ years. It's really not enjoyable anymore
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I don’t think Championship football is feasible probably for another generation at least, if that.
The aim should be being back in League One as a competitive side. We were that only a few seasons ago, and getting back there and not the Championship is what we should be aiming for. We are going backwards at an alarming rate and this decline has become normalised.
2008 is just no longer possible in this age, but 2018 might potentially be possible. At current rate we are closer to 1998 I am afraid.
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I don’t even know what to say about that.
Created nothing, no pace in the team. Can’t defend. Subs too slow, then ineffective.
It feels the longer Schofield has between games the worse we are.
Ro Shaun has to be dropped. He got away with a shocking ball first half when he passed it straight to their player in his own box! The 2 goals just sum him up.
Woltman can go back if DS has replacements lined up.
Close MOTM? They should have just saved the champagne for the next game.
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I've had enough now after 40+ years. It's really not enjoyable anymore
Me too. Sat there freezing my gonads off wondering why I was there, looking round at the sparse crowd being served up disaster football.
So depressing.
I'll give it a miss and hope the board show some ambition and let the manager sign some decent players in January.
Last time I went on strike was when they practically gave Tommy Gaynor to Forest, so I've been patient, but enough is enough for now.
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The worrying thing for me is ds does not seem to think we need pace in the side and we can pass thru teams, if in the transfer window he keeps with that thinking then nothing will change
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We are easy to play against. So slow at the back passing out gives opposition time to get organised ised..by then we're buggered and lose the ball too easy. Counter attack is also to slow Walsall were no world beaters but they showed us how to counter attack. So much passing around the back...easy
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Slow playing out. Slow counter attacking. Too many passes at the back. Bloody hell felt for George....he didn't have a chance. So no improvement from the Kings Lynn game...hard to justify the trip up from Coventry
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Well , what an oddity that was, we have two weeks to reset and kick on and we come back worse then before.
I think the manager has to take this one on the chin, all his changes(for whatever reason) have set us back and had us looking like GM had never left.
The back three was astonishing, what's the use of playing a player on the left of a three if his only attribute is his left peg? he could of slotted Olowu in who has played left side before and is a far better defender than Tommy, he could of brought Faulkner in central and played Anderson left
Because of injury to Moly and deciding to not start Hurst, we take away what little forward creativity we have and stick Woltman and Biggins in their place?
The crux of it is we have taken away two of our strengths in midfield to play in positions they didn't need to be in and we totally weaken and stifle our midfield by their absence which in turn means we have to slot Clayton back in with the outcome meaning we are again left weakened and rudderless in our creative area's and having to rely on Clayton to find some miracle pass.
We have nothing going forward because our only striker is hustled and marked out of the game by a defender who when he was here looked clownish but has just become the GOAT.
What made it worse for me was the amount of time DS allowed to pass before he decided to change it to try to save the game, far to late.
Don't know what they worked on during the break but it didn't manifest itself in any form tonight. i'd have thought a better team from what he had available if he was determined to play this formation would of been a back three of William, Anderson and Olowu(if fit enough) if not Williams Faulkner and Anderson a midfield four of Knoyle Close Biggins and Maxwell with a front three of Rowe Miller and Hurst(on the right)
Another two steps backward, we need in this window, desperately. A striker who can hold up play, a midfielder who can create and has an engine to slot into the middle, a left wingback with pace and finally someone to take Williams from us.
Might just about keep us in this league this season and have a proper clean out in the summer and start again.
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We just don’t have the players.
Everybody bar Anderson and Clayton were shocking tonight.
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That was appalling tonight.
Has DS lost the plot. What was that team selection all about first of all.
3 centre backs and Tommy Rowe as one of them.
No Kyle Hurst starting.
It was perfectly obvious well before half time it wasn’t working, but DS waits until Williams makes two disastrous mistakes to put us 2-0 down and the 72nd min to make any changes.
I thought he wanted the team to play fast tempo football.
If that was fast tempo then I seriously dread seeing the team play at a slower tempo.
That’s the easiest 3 points Walsall will get this season. We simply handed them the points on a plate.
Williams is a walking liability. We will never keep a clean sheet with him in the team because he can be absolutely fantastic for 88 mins but you know he will have 5 mins in every game which will cost us a goal or goals, as he did in tonights match.
What happened to the team that took Grimsby apart only 3 weeks ago.
I am truly shocked by that display tonight.
What have they been doing on the training pitch for the last 2 weeks?
I have to say I thought it couldn’t get any worse than last season but after that 94 mins of total ineptitude I was wrong.
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Rather than looking like a team that had benefitted from an intensive learning stint enabling the new coach to engrain his coaching principles, they looked as though they had had their memories wiped.
Even without evidence of improvement in any aspect of the game that you would expect from good coaching, they might at least have shown endeavour and competed for the ball and run around and tackled to regain possession, but they stood off.
As for Schofield, what did he say at half time to increase the intensity of the performance, because it did not increase? It looked no better than the worst games under McSheffery. DS is supposedly a better coach though, yet on what we saw tonight what difference has he made? He cannot simply blame the players.
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My stoicism is slowly being overtaken by apathy.
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Worst side we’ve had in 20 years. The football is extremely boring to watch. I don’t find it enjoyable going to games anymore and have been feeling this for nearly 2 years now. The way the club is being run, I can’t see my renewing my season ticket for next season. What’s the point when it feels like a chore going to games
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I said right at the beginning of the season that we hadn't strengthened the defence enough, and that we still had basically the same defence as last season, which had been appalling.
I was poo-pooed by loads of people on here for those comments, and even told to "get a grip". I also added that Williams was one of the worst CBs ever seen at this club.
It's so obvious now that DS needs to strengthen the whole of the spine of the team in January; another CB, a defensive midfielder, and another striker to play up front with George.
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It baffles me why it has taken some people so long to realise how bad Rovers have become, and the nightmare never ends. I had a great night watching Brazil lose on TV. Warm, comfortable and loads of coffee and a great game. That's what the World Cup is all about. Teams with passion win.
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I've had enough now after 40+ years. It's really not enjoyable anymore
Me too. Sat there freezing my gonads off wondering why I was there, looking round at the sparse crowd being served up disaster football.
So depressing.
I'll give it a miss and hope the board show some ambition and let the manager sign some decent players in January.
Last time I went on strike was when they practically gave Tommy Gaynor to Forest, so I've been patient, but enough is enough for now.
Tommy, once again you and I are on the same page on a football topic on this forum.
I haven’t enjoyed watching Rovers since McCann left and tonight I was saying more or less the same as your opening lines in your post above.
The football served up is turgid, I feel desperately sorry for Miller who week in and week out has to chase around with little or no support and I can’t fathom out why Rowe came in as a part of a back three.
He should be in a more attacking role as he is always a goal threat when played further up the pitch.
I am seriously thinking about not renewing my ST next year and seeing whether I miss going to the games.
Rovers will always be my team but I can’t sit and watch the rubbish we get these days.
The club in in serious decline.
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The last time we went out of the football league at least it was a plan by Mr Richardson, this time it looks like down right ineptitude, and the lack of being able to see what the capabilities of a group of players can actually do on a football field, and then giving them instructions to go out and try and do what they are incapable of doing, and even more galling the result is predicable to anyone with even the smallest amount of football knowledge.
Extenuated by not being able to find a place in this team for Olowu and Faulkner if fit, our two best central defenders with Anderson and the only ones with any real pace.
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Exactly, Hound. I'll always purchase a ST, because they're really cheap for pensioners, and I feel that I'm supporting the club financially whether I go to the games or not.
Last season, I stopped attending in January; I just couldn't take any more. I'll probably be stopping even earlier this season.
Of course, I could feel different with a raft of quality signings in January, but I'm not holding my breath.
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Personally id like answers as to how Ro Shaun Williams gets a shirt. Up there with the worst ive seen at the club.
This in spades, he’s a liability
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I don’t even know what to say about that.
Created nothing, no pace in the team. Can’t defend. Subs too slow, then ineffective.
It feels the longer Schofield has between games the worse we are.
Ro Shaun has to be dropped. He got away with a shocking ball first half when he passed it straight to their player in his own box! The 2 goals just sum him up.
Woltman can go back if DS has replacements lined up.
Close MOTM? They should have just saved the champagne for the next game.
Woltman ain't no Herbie Kane that's for sure.
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Echo lots of the posts above.
Started reading from #60 and most are 100% dead right
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I am honestly looking at the bottom of the table. That was just aweful. It would be better if schofield came out and said it. Apart from one or two things showed from training. We lost 100 things.
If its not this year we go down it will be next and before anyone says anything I'm a supporter, you can just see it coming a mile off.
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There was nothing really to be happy about at the game last night. I thought we'd started to get on top towards end of first half against a well organised defensive side and that we'd open it up second half.
But truthfully Williams had a shocker. He will never be consistent enough to be the man but I did feel sorry for him, what a horrible mistake to make.
Agree with others on Woltman a few nice touches but he's not at this level.
Frustrating night, perhaps one or two of the players just don't have it.
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Woltman more interested in looking neat and tidy than driving the team forwards. A lot of the time it broke down in the final third because he would hide behind a defender rather than show for the ball.
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The biggest question this club has for change is how long the manager takes to change.
Watching the players this season I know in my own mind that this bunch of players are not capable of playing the way we were set up in the last few games, the bottom line is they are not good enough to do so constantly.
He is literally asking the equivalent of a marathon runner to run the hundred metres, carry on with persisting with those tactics and players and we will be battling at the wrong end of the table.
I would be very surprised if other clubs covet any of the players making up that eleven last night, the odd one possibly who are better than they have shown of late, but the truth of the matter is we desperately need to move any of the rest we can out, and bring in new players, and just as importantly set the team up to play a stile and formation they are capable of playing well.
I have every admiration for people who look at the Manchester city and Arsenal styles of play and want to replicate it, but it's impossible with players nearer to the level of park players than world class players.
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Ne of the most baffling things last night was the team selection, playing 3CB’s with Rowe being one of them when we have Oluwu on the bench, Rowe is an attacking Midfielder best utilised in an attacking midfield role!
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Ne of the most baffling things last night was the team selection, playing 3CB’s with Rowe being one of them when we have Oluwu on the bench, Rowe is an attacking Midfielder best utilised in an attacking midfield role!
I can actually see the value in it in that if you want a defender to step out Rowe is a good option for that and he played fairly well. But I do think Rowe would have had more impact further forward.
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2 weeks on the training ground, and all I can’t see the purpose of the new tactic for goal kicks.
Williams takes the goal kick and passers it 2 yards sideways to Mitchell. Mitchell then kicks the ball upfield.
Anyone else know the tactic behind this?
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The biggest question this club has for change is how long the manager takes to change.
Watching the players this season I know in my own mind that this bunch of players are not capable of playing the way we were set up in the last few games, the bottom line is they are not good enough to do so constantly.
He is literally asking the equivalent of a marathon runner to run the hundred metres, carry on with persisting with those tactics and players and we will be battling at the wrong end of the table.
I would be very surprised if other clubs covet any of the players making up that eleven last night, the odd one possibly who are better than they have shown of late, but the truth of the matter is we desperately need to move any of the rest we can out, and bring in new players, and just as importantly set the team up to play a stile and formation they are capable of playing well.
I have every admiration for people who look at the Manchester city and Arsenal styles of play and want to replicate it, but it's impossible with players nearer to the level of park players than world class players.
Agreed. I don’t get the obsession with passing, possession based, football if you don’t have good enough players. It’s like a crazy badge of honour to say look at us, we play football the “right way”, whatever on earth that means. Surely if you’re worth your salt, you work with the tools you’ve got. Personally, I like attacking football. Preferably winning football. However that is achieved I don’t mind, so long as we have a go at the opposition. The lack of shots etc at the moment is just not acceptable.
It seems whoever we employ at the moment we are always waiting for something to happen to excuse the shite, like we need our injured players back, we need the next transfer window. But it doesn’t get better. Next one will be DS needs a pre season with them. Then when DS is found out and relieved of his duties the cycle continues.
Something is horribly wrong right now and regrettably I don’t see it changing anytime soon.
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2 weeks on the training ground, and all I can’t see the purpose of the new tactic for goal kicks.
Williams takes the goal kick and passers it 2 yards sideways to Mitchell. Mitchell then kicks the ball upfield.
Anyone else know the tactic behind this?
This made me laugh. It looked ridiculous.
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2 weeks on the training ground, and all I can’t see the purpose of the new tactic for goal kicks.
Williams takes the goal kick and passers it 2 yards sideways to Mitchell. Mitchell then kicks the ball upfield.
Anyone else know the tactic behind this?
This made me laugh. It looked ridiculous.
I just don’t understand the logic, all it did was draw pressure on immediately as they had the players to close down Williams and Anderson as soon as the ball was kicked.
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Some very well made and articulate posts above. Can’t disagree with anything what’s been written. It’s just soul destroying watching our decline. Schofield has only been in the job a few week, but already alarm bells are ringing with him. Too negative and not proactive. Not ruthless enough.
Still persisting like GM with 1 up front. It’s not working though is it?
I left early yesterday albeit around 87th min. Only ever done that on 3 or 4 occasions in 40 years, and I’m ashamed to say I’m seriously considering not renewing next season, which would be the first time in 20 years.
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To me, it’s quite simple to see, another inexperienced manager that can’t motivate a poor squad, won’t admit when the team is performing shite, and doesn’t think we need pace
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Criticism for some players, the manager and the board.
Not one ounce of finger pointing towards the one person who everyone believed would shape the football our club is playing since he was given a job invented just for him.
Nothing has changed has it?
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I think the problem is largely down to poor recruitment. From my own experience I know that there is nothing more important a manager does it recruit well. I think previous managers have failed in this respect for whatever reason. Does make me wonder what value these so called talent identification people we have employed have added!
The type of player we should be recruiting is epitomised by their number 30 (Bennett) last night. Brave, quick, skilful and ran all night. Are these sort of players really beyond our reach?
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https://www.drfc-vsc.co.uk/index.php?topic=286514.90#:~:text=Quote%20from%3A%20mushRTID,It%20looked%20ridiculous.
It does improve Williams passing stats
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Our style of play leaves a lot to be desired. Most teams we play seem to have more pace while we plod around like a bunch of old men. I feel sorry for miller up front on his own with little support. I can understand people not attending after yesterdays poor performance. Why can’t we attract players like walsall?
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If Close was MOTM it can only be because he played it safe. He avoided tackling, avoided making forward passes and avoided making himself available to receive the ball to build attacks. What is the opposite of a midfield dynamo?
When I saw Clayton was playing I worried about his limitations, but in fact he was one of the few who put in a creditable stint. Unlike most of the rest he could make an actual footballing contribution - everything slowed to his pace anyway.
Schofield made a big issue about running stats, work rate etc., not long ago and they put in less effort yesterday than they did a fortnight ago at Colchester. Just what is he talking about? Coaching is not only about teaching and measuring activities, it is getting your squad to go out and play football in the way you have supposedly been drumming into them. What have they learnt since McS left that has made them play any better?
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If Close was MOTM it can only be because he played it safe. He avoided tackling, avoided making forward passes and avoided making himself available to receive the ball to build attacks. What is the opposite of a midfield dynamo?
When I saw Clayton was playing I worried about his limitations, but in fact he was one of the few who put in a creditable stint. Unlike most of the rest he could make an actual footballing contribution - everything slowed to his pace anyway.
Schofield made a big issue about running stats, work rate etc., not long ago and they put in less effort yesterday than they did a fortnight ago at Colchester. Just what is he talking about? Coaching is not only about teaching and measuring activities, it is getting your squad to go out and play football in the way you have supposedly been drumming into them. What have they learnt since McS left that has made them play any better?
We have a collection of weak mentality players. I would hope that Coppinger would be able to see this, given his book. But as Clayton said “everybody says the right things”.
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If DS does not change both some of the players in the team and the tactics and set up of the player's we currently have at the club, or in the next window gets players in that are tactically aware and technical enough to play his preferred style. he will not last this season out, and might take some others with him.
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We’ve gone from League One promotion contenders where our managers were deemed to be desirable by bigger clubs so they left us, to now where we are in a frankly worrying situation of cycling through managers regularly having to sack them due to terrible results. to now playing as absolute also rans in League Two, the lowest professional tier.
How has it come to this? We’ve blinked and gone from League One respectability to an unstable mess in League Two, in only a few short seasons.
The club said it had taken steps to ensure that losing managers in this way would be less likely. What the omitted to tell us was that this was to be achieved by recruiting managers so poor that nobody else would ever consider taking them from us.
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In Schofield’s post match interview he does not sound too concerned about the defeat, his emphasis being on the technical outcomes. It seemed important to him that we “had balance behind the ball” and inconvenient that Walsall were able to tactically counter our approach in the final third. He said that two up front was an option, but did not provide any further justification for not seeming to go any further. The journalists were really too polite to press him on the style of his answers which focused on a coach’s view of a game. SOD used to talk about performance, but the difference was that his team very often did out-perform the opposition when we failed to win.
Ferguson used to talk about the players as individuals reflecting an understanding of the individual as opposed to the footballer. You can be too technical and I’m afraid this is what comes across