Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: selby on January 29, 2023, 01:11:46 pm
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Again a very important game against a side we for the second time this season we can get back on track to winning ways, which seems to be our only success this season getting other teams out of a rut.
What team we will field is anyones guess, whether we have signed better players than we already have here after yesterdays game seems to be up for debate,
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If we have no more incomings, for me the team that started the second half (assuming Close recovers) with Olowu in for Nelson.
By the way we are at the end of January and no sign of Rowe being back, is his injury worse than was reported
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If we have no more incomings, for me the team that started the second half (assuming Close recovers) with Olowu in for Nelson.
By the way we are at the end of January and no sign of Rowe being back, is his injury worse than was reported
Back in training was reported over a week ago. May be available for Hartlepool game was my understanding.
If he is who does he replace assuming Close is fit. Or does he sit on the bench. It is a bit of a tough one.
Think with his first game he would likely be a sub.
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I’d personally go for a 433 but don’t think DS will change. Assuming no change in back 3 I’d go
Mitchell
Olowu Anderson Nelson
Brown Close Biggins Maxwell
Hurst
Lavery Miller
Anderson stay’s because we know he can be better. Don’t think Williams can other than the odd game. Molyneux could do with a spell coming off the bench against tired legs to build his confidence up.
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If Olowu is back ( he was on bench yesterday ) then toss up between Nelson or Williams who makes way i suspect.
Don’t see Anderson getting left out with him being captain.
Wasn’t great Saturday but neither were the other 2
Williams was possibly the best of the 3
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I so hope there are not any protests this sat.
It’s possibly the last thing the club, the manager, the players and other fans need at this time.
A positive performance and three points should keep the boo boys quiet.
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Williams has been the most consistent centre back this season so for me he starts
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I so hope there are not any protests this sat.
It’s possibly the last thing the club, the manager, the players and other fans need at this time.
A positive performance and three points should keep the boo boys quiet.
Agree NR - still don’t get how they even think the board can be sacked
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Again a very important game against a side we for the second time this season we can get back on track to winning ways, which seems to be our only success this season getting other teams out of a rut.
What team we will field is anyones guess, whether we have signed better players than we already have here after yesterdays game seems to be up for debate,
By God, Brian, that's a short OP for you to start one of these threads off. Are you getting as disillusioned as the rest of us?
Regarding the team line-up, if DS can't see the difference between the team he sent out for the first half, and the team he sent out for the second half, in terms of performance, then I doubt he's the man to take us forward.
Brown is better than Seaman for me, and Lavery's better than either Agard or Griffiths, and we need 2 up top right from the off.
I'd bring Olowu in for any one of the current back 3. We might also have to bring TR in, if Close is still injured. Other than that, the same team as started the second half on Saturday for me.
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They’ve got horrendous away form. Lost 10 of their 14 away league games, and drawn 2. Their only 2 wins have been at truly awful sides in Rochdale and Crawley. This is a side that has horrific form on the road.
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I'm optimistic about this game. 4-0 win. Goals from Hurst, lavery x2 and a late tommy Rowe goal after coming off the bench.
Come to think of it. I better make this can my last
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Again a very important game against a side we for the second time this season we can get back on track to winning ways, which seems to be our only success this season getting other teams out of a rut.
What team we will field is anyones guess, whether we have signed better players than we already have here after yesterdays game seems to be up for debate,
By God, Brian, that's a short OP for you to start one of these threads off. Are you getting as disillusioned as the rest of us?
Regarding the team line-up, if DS can't see the difference between the team he sent out for the first half, and the team he sent out for the second half, in terms of performance, then I doubt he's the man to take us forward.
Brown is better than Seaman for me, and Lavery's better than either Agard or Griffiths, and we need 2 up top right from the off.
I'd bring Olowu in for any one of the current back 3. We might also have to bring TR in, if Close is still injured. Other than that, the same team as started the second half on Saturday for me.
Your second paragraph says it all for me Scawsby. I really want DS to do well, but if he goes back to Miller up there on his own on Saturday I fear for us & him. He now has the personell for us to start on the front foot & go at teams, instead of knocking balls up to Miller & waiting for the inevitable mistake or the opposition to take advantage.
With respect, Hartlepool is the perfect game. Ben Close is getting better every game, & if fit he would provide the ammunition for a front two, 2 years now of mainly boring, rubbish football we have had to endure, about time it changed.
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Again a very important game against a side we for the second time this season we can get back on track to winning ways, which seems to be our only success this season getting other teams out of a rut, and by the same token slowly digging our own rut.
What team we will field is anyone's guess, whether we have signed better players than we already have here after yesterdays game seems to be up for debate, and the manager position is already attracting debate as to just how long the present tenancy will last, and dragging in the position Director of Football and need for paying out good money that could be used for the playing side for someone in that position in the debate with some at our level.
Basically the club is in turmoil and mostly self inflicted, the club and board crumbling to criticism on social media against some good men as managers who were never really given a chance or time, and the same scenario is raising its ugly head once again, with some on social media not happy with the situation they have by their past lack of patience been in some way responsible for, by putting pressure on the club to sack those managers.
And so we start the joining the circle again.
Back to this game, at Hartlepool we were basically bullied out of the game, out fought in midfield and Josh Umerah scoring and giving us a hard time all night, and it has set a president that other teams have followed with success ever since as we are an easy touch.
The two players over the last two seasons I have seen able to combat this are now, or should be available, and if I was Mr Schofield looking to have a career in management in league football, or the owner of this club wanting to upgrade the value of the club on the transfer market Olowu and Faulkner would start in my back line this weekend coming, giving us a physical presence and pace to recover, and potentially two players who could bring much needed transfer money into the club, Hurst of all the rest being the only other one we would get a return on, and possibly Maxwell if he keeps improving as he seems to be doing.
And there is the secret staring people in the face in Maxwell and Hurst, two young players who have had a run in the team, not shoved to one side if they have had, and they have had the odd dicky game, but have learnt from mistakes and look to be shoving on now to be better players. Repeat please with others.
I would go as far as saying a good result in this game is much more important than a performance, and a defence that repeatedly lets the side down needs surgery.
So what would you do? can we get a win? would you make changes? this and plenty
of other questions to make about this game please have your say.
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This must surely be the game where it all clicks for Molly. We know he's got talent but the grumbles are getting louder because we've rarely seen it so far. I predict he will be subbed on after 60-odd minutes (at 0-0), he cuts inside and pings a 25-yarder into the South Stand net.
Almost as good as this we will keep a clean sheet to the end. FT 1-0 to the Rovers. Not a fantastic display but green shoots visible.
This is a prediction based entirely on groundless optimism. We have to visualise something good happening or there's no point bothering. That's generally been my approach as a Rovers fan all these years. I could have supported someone else but I'm stuck with these buggers now.
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Co.uld the moderators please place this post as my opening post on the original thread I have obviously had big fingers unknowingly. Thanks in advance
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Excuse my big fingers Steve not that good myself at the moment and unwittingly have posted twice hopefully the moderators can sort it out with a bit of luck.
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If Olowu is back ( he was on bench yesterday ) then toss up between Nelson or Williams who makes way i suspect.
Don’t see Anderson getting left out with him being captain.
Wasn’t great Saturday but neither were the other 2
Williams was possibly the best of the 3
agree about Anderson and everyone has a bad game,Nelson I don’t think did anything really wrong and looked ok but not great playing him on the left of a three when he is right footed,lavery has to start for me also as he looked lively
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Got to start Molyneux, the only decent game he had was Hartlepool away :woohoo:
Just noticed on website that he is on there twice, is one of them because he is a shadow of his former self :woohoo:
https://www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk/teams/first-team/:
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I honestly think things might click into place and Hartlepool will get a drubbing
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This must surely be the game where it all clicks for Molly. We know he's got talent but the grumbles are getting louder because we've rarely seen it so far. I predict he will be subbed on after 60-odd minutes (at 0-0), he cuts inside and pings a 25-yarder into the South Stand net.
Almost as good as this we will keep a clean sheet to the end. FT 1-0 to the Rovers. Not a fantastic display but green shoots visible.
This is a prediction based entirely on groundless optimism. We have to visualise something good happening or there's no point bothering. That's generally been my approach as a Rovers fan all these years. I could have supported someone else but I'm stuck with these buggers now.
I love a bit of groundless optimism. I’ve bought tickets to Crawley away and taking my boys. New ground for me. It might be a waste of money and a load of rubbish. However my optimistic side tells me it will be worth it
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22:45 Oliver Finney [Crewe - Hartlepool] Free
22:30 Connor Jennings [Stockport - Hartlepool] Free
22:15 Brendan Kiernan [Walsall - Hartlepool] Free
22:00 Taylor Foran [Arsenal - Hartlepool] Loan
16:30 Dan Kemp [MK Dons - Hartlepool] Loan
A little bit of activity on deadline day by our opponents on Saturday!!!!
Wonder if they will all play?
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We’ve had a behind closed door game for fringe and recovering players. Tommy is ready for Saturday DS said he will choose if he will be involved.
Faulkner and Olowu both played 90 and 45 minutes respectively.
Younger as had a setback from his injury they waiting to see the extent of it.
Long as a hamstring injury
https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/doncaster-rovers-defender-ollie-younger-suffers-setback-in-his-return-from-injury-4010092
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Very straightforward questions from the interviewer.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0f09mrq
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Yes the young lady interviewer appeared to have her questions ready and asked them even when DS had given his answer on the previous question.
He appears to be happy with the signings we have made. He’s says he identified he problems defensively and they appear to be cropping up in various games. So we will see on Saturday if we have learnt and then can put into practice against a side who’s made 11 signings this window.
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One thing we do know is that someone at the club monitors this forum, it’s clear there is growing discontent among the fans, some long standing and loyal fans as well, the silence is not doing any favours, we are probably weeks away from season ticket time, and there just seems so much apathy around the club
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One thing we do know is that someone at the club monitors this forum, it’s clear there is growing discontent among the fans, some long standing and loyal fans as well, the silence is not doing any favours, we are probably weeks away from season ticket time, and there just seems so much apathy around the club
Hit the nail on the head there. This is no longer about the Netto brigade, it's about decent, loyal fans who've just had enough of all the bullsh*t.
Nothing less than 6 points against Hartlepool and Tranmere will be acceptable in the next week, or people really will start voting with their feet.
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Yes it’s hard to argue that the club looks to be in a managed decline on the field. I don’t believe that’s on purpose but it’s what’s happened. Apathy is the word.
Next season is huge. The club need to provide the finance (even if it means TB stumping up) to get top 3. Stay around here for too long and we’ll never have the funds to have a promotion push while been sustainable. The crowd will slowly dwindle and the playing budget will reduce with it in a vicious cycle.
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Very straightforward questions from the interviewer.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0f09mrq
Breathe of fresh air from the interviewer. Finally someone asking the straight shooting questions a lot of us want the answers too.
DS sounded like he was uncomfortable at times. No disrespect to Robbie who does the interviews within the club but he bloody spoon feeds the response by the way he asks his questions.
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Rovers 3-0.
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Very straightforward questions from the interviewer.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0f09mrq
Breathe of fresh air from the interviewer. Finally someone asking the straight shooting questions a lot of us want the answers too.
DS sounded like he was uncomfortable at times. No disrespect to Robbie who does the interviews within the club but he bloody spoon feeds the response by the way he asks his questions.
I thought it was a poor interview. Just reading from a list of questions and not responding to any of the answers. In fact, asking questions that had just been answered.
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Hope it’s a win
If we lose big big serious questions will be asked
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I almost thought the questions had been edited into an interview
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Very straightforward questions from the interviewer.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0f09mrq
Breathe of fresh air from the interviewer. Finally someone asking the straight shooting questions a lot of us want the answers too.
DS sounded like he was uncomfortable at times. No disrespect to Robbie who does the interviews within the club but he bloody spoon feeds the response by the way he asks his questions.
I thought it was a poor interview. Just reading from a list of questions and not responding to any of the answers. In fact, asking questions that had just been answered.
Best one for me was the one where she asked if it was important to finish the next run of 5 games in a higher league position than now.
Shouldn't of even given a response to that. Be worried if he come out with "nah not really"
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I think the Football Heaven interview was replicated on iFollow and I listened to that and gained no knowledge at all from Schofield’s answers.
His replies are generalisations. He could be taking about any team or even any sport. The best interpretation you could put on his reticence is that he does not want to commit himself in any way. More critically you might deduce that he is afraid to promise anything and his fear of that seems to show by his nervous and uncomfortable manner.
I lost patience when the second questioner asked him about where he would play Tommy Rowe and he said in a roundabout way that he could play anywhere, not wanting to commit himself.
Danny is clearly a worried man. He may well have the knowledge and posses good coaching skills, but his coaching theory is all he seems to have to cling to.
He is badly in need of advice. Copps and Baldwin can surely help him there.
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I haven’t listened to DS interview, if it was the same interviewer that did the James Brown interview I don’t want to either, it was like a bot asking questions
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I should have said “talking” about any sport.
We also have a Media Manager of course in the shape of Liam Hoden and how Schofield comes across in interviews is presumably within his wider remit.
Good interviews with managers can surely reassure restless fans rather than the opposite.
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I haven’t listened to DS interview, if it was the same interviewer that did the James Brown interview I don’t want to either, it was like a bot asking questions
That's basically all it was. Questions written on a piece of paper and just read out. The interviewer didn't engage in discussions based on previous answers
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I haven’t listened to DS interview, if it was the same interviewer that did the James Brown interview I don’t want to either, it was like a bot asking questions
That's basically all it was. Questions written on a piece of paper and just read out. The interviewer didn't engage in discussions based on previous answers
I won’t be listening then, it was awful to listen to
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It was weird. Maybe the interviewer is new and a bit nervous or they just don’t want to do the job.
Might as well have had Alexa read out the questions from a text
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Sack the interviewer!
Crikey. Yes, probably very nervous. We all had to start somewhere!
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New journalist-in-training at BBC Radio Sheff I think. Probably best to cut young people like that some slack, and hopefully she'll hone the craft.
The frustration, I suppose, is that when you drop into the lower echelons of the teams in the BBC Radio Sheffield patch, you get seemingly less time and resources dedicated to coverage of the club, perhaps understandably. Us and Chezzy get the least airtime at the moment. Tom B aside (who I think is a very good commentator and reporter) the big hitters tend to focus most of their efforts on the Blades, Owls, Rotherham and Barnsley.
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I haven’t listened to DS interview, if it was the same interviewer that did the James Brown interview I don’t want to either, it was like a bot asking questions
...with the person answering them like an automaton, programmed with coaching jargon - but no actual data that was Rovers-specific - answering them! Even Paxman would have problems getting information out of Schofield. Perhaps we should pay Clarkson, who, rather dubiously, has been named as a Rovers fan in the past, to have a go!
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I’d personally go for a 433 but don’t think DS will change. Assuming no change in back 3 I’d go
Mitchell
Olowu Anderson Nelson
Brown Close Biggins Maxwell
Hurst
Lavery Miller
Anderson stay’s because we know he can be better. Don’t think Williams can other than the odd game. Molyneux could do with a spell coming off the bench against tired legs to build his confidence up.
Good side but not sure if I'd give Molyneux one of his last chances against Hartlepool, see if he can prove himself against his old club. If he's got owt about him he must know his place is in jeopardy and be desperate to play.
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We’ve not seen the best of him because he has constantly been injured , then he comes back starts to show the odd flash and gets injured again. He has quality, probably the most in the squad - he just needs a break to gain fitness and a goal for confidence.
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I’d personally go for a 433 but don’t think DS will change. Assuming no change in back 3 I’d go
Mitchell
Olowu Anderson Nelson
Brown Close Biggins Maxwell
Hurst
Lavery Miller
Anderson stay’s because we know he can be better. Don’t think Williams can other than the odd game. Molyneux could do with a spell coming off the bench against tired legs to build his confidence up.
I’ve been critical about Anderson after the last game but Umerah seems the physical type, if I’m correct. Williams isn’t good at dealing with that. So this is about right.
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Hope it’s a win
If we lose big big serious questions will be asked
The pressure must on all the players after last week! New players don’t alway gel in the combination you think . L2 next season is all it’s about now and beating Hartlepool has to be the start !
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Mitchell
Williams. Olowu
Brown. Maxwell
Close. Lakin
Hurst. Molyneux
Lavery. Miller
Subs Goodman, Todd Miller, Biggins, Seaman, Anderson, Nelson, Jones
I would retain Mitchell, he is the best keeper we have. Go for a centre back partnership of Williams/Olowu. Put Lakin in for Biggins and go two up front giving Lavery a chance to form a partnership with Miller.
On the bench I would give Goodman a chance from the youth side. Ease Todd Miller in from the bench. Seaman for his ability to play a few positions. Anderson for me hasn’t reached the standards he used to have. Nelson again ease him into the side from the bench.
We need a good start. Don’t allow Hartlepool to gain confidence. Let’s try and get some shots on target early on. Crosses into the box. Save the fancy stuff for when the confidence is high.
Try and control the game but move the ball quicker. The main objective is feeding the strikers with quality ball and situations.
Both are capable of scoring goals for us. George has proven that before.
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Sammy that would be my choice however I don’t think Anderson will get dropped and Tommy supposedly fit so would have him on the bench
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Hartlepool had as many shots on target in their last league game, as we have in our last three league games.
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Hartlepool had as many shots on target in their last league game, as we have in our last three league games.
Bit of a pointless stat though.
What was the quality of those shots like. Didn't help them win. A 30yrd hit and hope that ends up dribbling straight to the keepers feet is no better that a shot from 18 yards that whistles just past or connects with the post or is blocked off the line.
On that note if you hit the post does that go down as a shot on target or off target? I'm assuming off
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Off
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Hartlepool had as many shots on target in their last league game, as we have in our last three league games.
Bit of a pointless stat though.
What was the quality of those shots like. Didn't help them win. A 30yrd hit and hope that ends up dribbling straight to the keepers feet is no better that a shot from 18 yards that whistles just past or connects with the post or is blocked off the line.
On that note if you hit the post does that go down as a shot on target or off target? I'm assuming off
Hitting the post or bar is classed as off target.
Ridiculously, shots blocked by defenders are also not counted as being shots on target, even if they are blocked on the goal line.
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Hartlepool had as many shots on target in their last league game, as we have in our last three league games.
Bit of a pointless stat though.
What was the quality of those shots like. Didn't help them win. A 30yrd hit and hope that ends up dribbling straight to the keepers feet is no better that a shot from 18 yards that whistles just past or connects with the post or is blocked off the line.
On that note if you hit the post does that go down as a shot on target or off target? I'm assuming off
Hitting the post or bar is classed as off target.
Ridiculously, shots blocked by defenders are also not counted as being shots on target, even if they are blocked on the goal line.
So basically shots on goal stat can be a false one.
You could hit the bar 10 times in 1 match and have 3 shots cleared of the line, but the opposing team have 2 wild punts from the halfway line straight to the goalie and it will make it look like they were the most dangerous team.
Has I said pointless stats unless you know the quality of the shots on goal
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Mitchell
Williams. Olowu
Brown. Maxwell
Close. Lakin
Hurst. Molyneux
Lavery. Miller
Subs Goodman, Todd Miller, Biggins, Seaman, Anderson, Nelson, Jones
I would retain Mitchell, he is the best keeper we have. Go for a centre back partnership of Williams/Olowu. Put Lakin in for Biggins and go two up front giving Lavery a chance to form a partnership with Miller.
On the bench I would give Goodman a chance from the youth side. Ease Todd Miller in from the bench. Seaman for his ability to play a few positions. Anderson for me hasn’t reached the standards he used to have. Nelson again ease him into the side from the bench.
We need a good start. Don’t allow Hartlepool to gain confidence. Let’s try and get some shots on target early on. Crosses into the box. Save the fancy stuff for when the confidence is high.
Try and control the game but move the ball quicker. The main objective is feeding the strikers with quality ball and situations.
Both are capable of scoring goals for us. George has proven that before.
This team would concede a lot of goals
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Looking forward to this game. Seems ages since we played at home, let alone on a Saturday.
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Wonder if he might go 4 3 1 2 with Miller and Lavery with Hurst playing that floating role he did in 2nd half on Saturday. Maybe a 3 midfield of Close Biggins Lakin or Rowe if fit
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Mitchell
Williams. Olowu
Brown. Maxwell
Close. Lakin
Hurst. Molyneux
Lavery. Miller
Subs Goodman, Todd Miller, Biggins, Seaman, Anderson, Nelson, Jones
I would retain Mitchell, he is the best keeper we have. Go for a centre back partnership of Williams/Olowu. Put Lakin in for Biggins and go two up front giving Lavery a chance to form a partnership with Miller.
On the bench I would give Goodman a chance from the youth side. Ease Todd Miller in from the bench. Seaman for his ability to play a few positions. Anderson for me hasn’t reached the standards he used to have. Nelson again ease him into the side from the bench.
We need a good start. Don’t allow Hartlepool to gain confidence. Let’s try and get some shots on target early on. Crosses into the box. Save the fancy stuff for when the confidence is high.
Try and control the game but move the ball quicker. The main objective is feeding the strikers with quality ball and situations.
Both are capable of scoring goals for us. George has proven that before.
This team would concede a lot of goals
Agree with this.
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Need a response after last Saturday, gonna be one of them games where the first goal is massive, if we get an early goal I can see a 3/4-0 game, if they go ahead the netto brigade will be there and the atmosphere will be toxic.
I’d go with the same team we started in the 2nd half against with Mansfield, apart from Olowu coming in for Anderson (i don’t think Tom will be dropped but one way to keep standards high is to show that no one is guaranteed a place, not even the captain). Rowe will probs be back on the bench and maybe also Reo if we are gonna start with 2 up top id expect to see another striker on the bench.
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Pretty sure he will keep Anderson in. He's a good enough character to know he defended poorly last match and is likely to react in the right way. That's one of the the reasons he's been reinstated as team captain.
I expect Brown to start and possibly Lakin. Depends on the formation of course but he might go 4 3 3 just to make us more solid at the back. Get a foothold in the game and get alternate full backs and Biggins pushing on to support Miller and Lavery with Hurst given licence to come inside.
Mitchell
Brown
Williams
Anderson
Maxwell
Close
Biggins
Lakin
Hurst
Miller
Lavery.
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Nice to see someone agree with me :-]]
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Let’s not forget Todd Miller. I assume in a 2 striker formation he’d be coming in for one of the front 2 off the bench? His pace could be useful there.
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I'm quite excited to see the new lads and how they integrate into the team.
I'm hoping Lakin just gives us a bit more in midfield, as Close and Biggins both have to be on top of their game for us to be play well. If one of them (mainly Biggins) is slightly off it, we don't move the ball well enough and without the ball, the opposition get through us too easily.
With a traditional back four, I hope the full backs are more effective in stopping those crosses coming in early and too easily. Even if they hold their wingers up, it helps us get set defensively.
The bar doesn't have to go too much higher for us to convert the form into more wins. We are not far off being a top 7 team even if we accept automatic will be a stretch.
Our biggest enemies to date have been lack of concentration and belief.
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I’m not sure Tom and Williams at the back is going to be what we need.
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Pretty sure he will keep Anderson in. He's a good enough character to know he defended poorly last match and is likely to react in the right way. That's one of the the reasons he's been reinstated as team captain.
I expect Brown to start and possibly Lakin. Depends on the formation of course but he might go 4 3 3 just to make us more solid at the back. Get a foothold in the game and get alternate full backs and Biggins pushing on to support Miller and Lavery with Hurst given licence to come inside.
Mitchell
Brown
Williams
Anderson
Maxwell
Close
Biggins
Lakin
Hurst
Miller
Lavery.
I do agree with u about Anderson’s character and from listening to him in interviews he will know he was poor against Mansfield. I do think Olowu will come in tho so be interesting to see who it is for.
What makes u think we will be better defensively with a back 4 tho? Maxwell has been a lot better since DS has come in and played him further forward as a wing back and from what I’ve heard from Stockport and Blackburn fans about brown he’s the same.
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I have never been a big fan of a back 3 and wing backs.
Fergie playing it with players not suited to that formation just about put me off it for life.
This current squad we have though is suited to that formation much more than any other we have had for a very very long time.
Brown and Maxwell will be better players in that system than a flat back 4 imo. Just as it was with Knoyle and Maxwell or if Rowe plays on the left it would suit him better. tR is not a full back in a 4 absolutely not and it has showed. Barrow away as an example. He went walkabouts.
No i would stick to a 3/5 at the back but definitely play 2 up top.
Hurst a free role behind the strikers.
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We have no defensive-minded midfielders either which I feel we’d need in front of just the 2 centre backs.
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If he starts with the team that started the second half at Mansfield, I think we'll rip Hartlepool apart. However, DS seems to me to be a bit of a stubborn kind of guy, so I'm not holding my breath.
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If he starts with the team that started the second half at Mansfield, I think we'll rip Hartlepool apart. However, DS seems to me to be a bit of a stubborn kind of guy, so I'm not holding my breath.
It wouldn’t be stubborn SS it would be stupidity imo. If he doesn’t start Miller and Lavery tomorrow then I give up hope that this guy is the man that will take us up in 10 yrs let alone 2 yrs.
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Hartlepool had as many shots on target in their last league game, as we have in our last three league games.
Bit of a pointless stat though.
What was the quality of those shots like. Didn't help them win. A 30yrd hit and hope that ends up dribbling straight to the keepers feet is no better that a shot from 18 yards that whistles just past or connects with the post or is blocked off the line.
On that note if you hit the post does that go down as a shot on target or off target? I'm assuming off
Hitting the post or bar is classed as off target.
Ridiculously, shots blocked by defenders are also not counted as being shots on target, even if they are blocked on the goal line.
So basically shots on goal stat can be a false one.
You could hit the bar 10 times in 1 match and have 3 shots cleared of the line, but the opposing team have 2 wild punts from the halfway line straight to the goalie and it will make it look like they were the most dangerous team.
Has I said pointless stats unless you know the quality of the shots on goal
It amuses me that people quote on bbc etc stats and say we haven’t had any shots on target.
I remember a few years ago,I think it was against Shrewsbury, and we lost 1-0.
The goal came when a corner went directly into the net and later in the game Andy Butler made a brilliant goal line clearance after a shot had beaten our keeper.
After the match the stats said Shrews hadn’t had a shot in target.
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I’m not sure Tom and Williams at the back is going to be what we need.
No it won’t be. Don’t think there is any combination that would though. 3,4 or 5 at the back we’ll concede a few for sure. Best trying to get support up to Miller and score more.
Not a great plan but until we can get new personnel the defence won’t work.
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I think we need to start thinking about scoring some goals. The side is forever being set up not to concede. We don’t have the players in the side to keep clean sheets regularly. Play to the strengths of the team. Go for it attack.
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We can’t play Anderson on either the left or right hand side of a back 3. He’s not mobile enough
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Very strange that this is our first home game on a Saturday since 29 October (against Gillingham).
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Very strange that this is our first home game on a Saturday since 29 October (against Gillingham).
surely thats got to be some sort of record?
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Very strange that this is our first home game on a Saturday since 29 October (against Gillingham).
1st home league game on a Saturday. We did play Kings Lynn in the FA cup on a Saturday.
Quite remarkable in the EFL Not so much in the Premier League of course.
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The result is all important today, we need a win whatever the performance
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The result is all important today, we need a win whatever the performance
And on Tuesday v Tranmere Brian
We need to turn The Eco Power into a fortress for the rest of the season if we are going to make the play offs.
We have to start today.
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Looking forward to today. Hoping Brown and Lavery start. Brown even with his cameo appearance last week looked like he has the attributes to become a fan favorite and Lavery looked very mobile up top with Miller. Hoping we play 2 up top and Lavery becomes a little more selfish and backs himself to score
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I'm really hoping there's a break out of football today so we can get away from politics.
There's a young lad who sits in front of me who clearly loves the excitement of being at a live football match. For whatever reason, he chose Rovers, not Man City, Man U, Leeds or Sheffield.
He was totally bemused and confused why fans were booing Tom Anderson but the look on his face when we score is what the joy of football is all about and reminds me why we love the game.
COYR.
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I'm quite excited to see the new lads and how they integrate into the team.
I'm hoping Lakin just gives us a bit more in midfield, as Close and Biggins both have to be on top of their game for us to be play well. If one of them (mainly Biggins) is slightly off it, we don't move the ball well enough and without the ball, the opposition get through us too easily.
With a traditional back four, I hope the full backs are more effective in stopping those crosses coming in early and too easily. Even if they hold their wingers up, it helps us get set defensively.
The bar doesn't have to go too much higher for us to convert the form into more wins. We are not far off being a top 7 team even if we accept automatic will be a stretch.
Our biggest enemies to date have been lack of concentration and belief.
Exactly this. I do believe there are signs that we could be a force in this league, the second half at Mansfield showed that. The players do look committed too & that will go a long way & with the fans support we might just make a push.
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They’ve got horrendous away form. Lost 10 of their 14 away league games, and drawn 2. Their only 2 wins have been at truly awful sides in Rochdale and Crawley. This is a side that has horrific form on the road.
Giving this a nudge. They are very poor on the road.
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oh no
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They’ve got horrendous away form. Lost 10 of their 14 away league games, and drawn 2. Their only 2 wins have been at truly awful sides in Rochdale and Crawley. This is a side that has horrific form on the road.
Giving this a nudge. They are very poor on the road.
Wish you wouldn’t. Kiss of death.
We have to go for broke today. Attack attack attack.
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Lavery and brown start. Molyneux and Seaman out.
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No Todd Miller???
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Before today, Hartlepool had kept 1 clean sheet in their last 23 away league games in League Two.
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Before today, Hartlepool had kept 1 clean sheet in their last 23 away league games in League Two.
Told you it’s the kiss of death.
How many teams have we lost to that have been in a bad run or either home or away games.
We managed it yet again today.
To start any game and allow it to continue for virtually all 46 mins of the 1st half is shocking
To do it against a team as you say that has kept 1 clean sheet in 23 away games is nothing short of criminal
We should have been a team possessed. In for the kill. We wouldn’t have killed a fly in that 1st half.
Any manager worth his salt would have the team fired up. He needs to get his act together NOW.
If we have a repeat v Tranmere then our season is finished. I am very concerned about his ability to coach and motivate. Certainly the latter. There are no excuses today whatsoever.
Question. Is he a good coach but he needs an experienced top right hand man? Like GMS he probably is but is he good at man management and is he a motivator? Possibly not.
Gribble is not experienced and neither is Greeny. Do we need an older head?
It looks very much that we do.
Would SoD have been as successful without RoK?
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Speechless can’t defend that performance
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If you look at stats - shots 14 compared to 5, on target 5 compared to their one, youbhave to ask how the hell we managed to lose it.
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If Hartlepool had put away those two very scoreable chances in the first half it could have been much worse.
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I’m surprised no one has yet singled out Ben Nelson for comment. He went down at least twice with what looked like cramp? Not good for a young lad who should be fit.