Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: selby on September 16, 2023, 10:01:42 pm
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The second half of a double that can turn our season around after our somewhat lucky win at Forest Green pits us against Everton u21s this time and looks like a game that could be quite interesting.
Our team could be quite different to the one that played today, all the substitutes from the above game could start , with Lawlor injured could Bottomley come in for Jones, will Faal be allowed to play, I hope so, Ironside could take a break and allow Goodman a start, Sotona and Roberts have recently been first choices anyway, and I expect Faulkner, Close, Marsh. and Rowe who I think can play to start. Also could young Flint who travelled today get a call up, so lots of permutations possible with the additions from todays side that played the game and a side possibly younger than the Everton side.
Everton themselves can call on some overage players so may bring in first team players back from injury or on the fringe of the team and need a game, not the original idea of the addition of premiership sides but one that has been used quite often to give players competitive game time.
So a chance for players to push themselves into the reckoning for a start in league games, not many currently in that great a form they are automatic picks, and a good performance in this game could kick start more competition in the first team, which is what we want.
Not a competition evertone is interested in, not one to make any money from unless reaching the latter stages, but one that can bring its rewards eventually both financially and in player development, we need to do well in it if possible, anything that can attract the floating fan, especially youngsters is worth while.
What do you think.
Are you interested in the game?
Can we make it two wins on the trot?
What sort of team should we put out?
Will Everton play any over age players on the fringe of the first team?
Lots to discuss, please have your say.
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1st let me answer the questions
Are you interested in the game?
Not really apart from building some momentum another positive performance please.
Can we make it two wins on the trot?
We can and should, they are doing rubbish in the under 21 league.
What sort of team should we put out?
Don't we have to put out minimum of 6 that started/played in the previous league game.
We should put out the best team possible.
Think Jones needs to play just to keep confidence up and give lawlor extra time to get back fit. Defence maybe drop Joe get Bobby in. Midfield add Rowe in get his match fitness back up nice 60/70 mins or so. Swap Faal for Marsh.
Will Everton play any over age players on the fringe of the first team?
Yes any coming back from injury and those that don't play Vs Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.
Still have to go for the win just to keep the positive feelings around the squad.
Going for a 2-1
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Any win in any competition is a good win.
Unless the game adds to our injury list.
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Looking at the injury list, the last thing we need is another fixture! We can’t make that many changes, unless 1 or 2 were nearly there for today’s game?
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Alan, it is a competition we enter, so should approach it as just another game we will go for a win in.
In the past we have treated the competition as somewhat of just another game, and purposely picked weakened sides, but if you keep winning the fans will come back to watch games and the competition then becomes worth while to the club financially and reputationally.
There will be changes Tuesday and some playing yesterday will have to make the numbers up, so what.
The players coming in this season will not weaken the team too much as we have been poor, and in some cases will possibly strengthen the team, and others will have the chance to show they are not as bad as they have shown up to press this season.
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Would field Jones, Faulkner, Long, Roberts, Sotana, Marsh, along with some first team starters. Anyone remotely carrying a knock or coming back from fitness would not use.
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Tommy Rowe will probably play as he isn’t banned for this game. Plus it will give him a run out and keep up his match fitness
COYR
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Would field Jones, Faulkner, Long, Roberts, Sotana, Marsh, along with some first team starters. Anyone remotely carrying a knock or coming back from fitness would not use.
Long is injured that’s why he’s not been available in for last two matches
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Most of our injuries are sustained on the training ground, not during matches. What are the credentials of our physio I ask!
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Sure the physio can’t do anything about Long dislocating his arm or Maxwell overextending his knee
Is Younger still training with us
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Sure the physio can’t do anything about Long dislocating his arm or Maxwell overextending his knee
Is Younger still training with us
If he's got any sense he's cleared off before Shipman has his way with him.
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That’s a good point about Younger.
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Sure the physio can’t do anything about Long dislocating his arm or Maxwell overextending his knee
Is Younger still training with us
If he's got any sense he's cleared off before Shipman has his way with him.
Yes according to Grant there was no one near Long when he dislocated his shoulder.
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Is it because injuries now dictate how we are able to set up & play or are those injuries ‘caused’ due to the ‘sophisticated’ training we now expect our players to endure?
Are todays players worse or better than ‘dealing’ with their injuries than say players back in the 70’s when pitches were (apart from Belle Vue) harder to play on in as much as some were no better than ploughed fields come October time, then came hard frosts on pitches that were then deemed to be ‘safe’ & fit to play on come late November through to March when the ‘orange ball’ made an appearance due to pitches covered in frost or indeed snow.
Were we watching ‘cloggers’ in the 70’s or ‘harder men’?
Phrases like ‘recovery time, game management etc’ were statements we’d never heard used at that time.
It begs the question are players today more fragile, more savi, more ‘gifted’, are they ‘leaner, meaner more technical individuals’ that need to be ‘managed’ more carefully than those ‘up & at ‘em’ players of the 70’s & 80’s?
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Is it because injuries now dictate how we are able to set up & play or are those injuries ‘caused’ due to the ‘sophisticated’ training we now expect our players to endure?
Are todays players worse or better than ‘dealing’ with their injuries than say players back in the 70’s when pitches were (apart from Belle Vue) harder to play on in as much as some were no better than ploughed fields come October time, then came hard frosts on pitches that were then deemed to be ‘safe’ & fit to play on come late November through to March when the ‘orange ball’ made an appearance due to pitches covered in frost or indeed snow.
Were we watching ‘cloggers’ in the 70’s or ‘harder men’?
Phrases like ‘recovery time, game management etc’ were statements we’d never heard used at that time.
It begs the question are players today more fragile, more savi, more ‘gifted’, are they ‘leaner, meaner more technical individuals’ that need to be ‘managed’ more carefully than those ‘up & at ‘em’ players of the 70’s & 80’s?
Yes, I remember the orange ball on white pitches, and the line markings painted blue.
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Tomorrows game should be looked at as an opportunity to lighten the mood around the club and for some players on the fringe to put their case forward for a start in the first team, a team that up to this juncture have not exactly set the world on fire and have mixed up acceptable performances with some very very poor displays, sometimes showing both trends in one game as at MK Dons.
Most players that will be in the squad tomorrow apart from Faulkner and Goodman have been involved in those games and have shown flashes of being talented good players but have not been able to sustain that form shown in parts of games, Roberts and Sotona being very good at Hull and poor in other games and need the confidence to attack players while not forgetting the other parts to the game.
One player I would involve would be the youngster Flint who is back fresh from a successful loan at Gainsborough where he played centre half although a mid fielder mainly, he could be a good fit as a defensive mid fielder a position we ae short of if Bailey is not there and an opportunity in this game to see if he can cut the mustard if needed.
The Everton team because of their start to the season I think could be a make up of youngsters and players who are on the fringe of the first team and stronger on paper than the teams we would normally face at this stage of the competition, and they will use it to their advantage and if they do we could really see what some of our youngsters like Faulkner are all about.
So a game that holds no attraction to others dead set against the format as is their want, but could be one of the most interesting for ages as far as what both sides can get out of the game and more importantly a view of just at what level our youngsters are at, and can they put themselves forward for starts in the first team, and players like Rowe and Close to get game time.
I for one am looking forward to it.
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If I'm home I'll probably go, it would be nice to see how some of the fringe players perform, not seen Sotona or Marsh yet, not seen Bobby play for a while either.
I hope he sticks with Louis in goal, the more experience he can get the better.
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It will be good to see Faulkner and a few others play. If Bobby doesn't get picked for this then when does he?
Basically anyone in the squad who hasn't played much should be getting some game time. We need some new options given all the injuries, especially at the back, so let's see what else we have.
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7pm ko tomorrow.
Anyone know which stands are expected to be open?
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Looking what Cliff Byrne has said there won’t be wholesale changes we haven’t got the players
Quote from interview
Injuries have ensured there will be limited opportunity for changes to the squad for the game.
But with manager Grant McCann having previously spoken of a desire for a good run in the EFL Trophy, Byrne said sweeping changes would have been unlikely any way.
“When you look at the numbers and the availability to make wholesale changes and I don’t think that’s something the manager would want to do any way,” he said.
“There will be a couple of changes here and there but it certainly won’t be wholesale.
https://www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk/news/2023/september/byrne-pre-everton-u21/
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Think only east stand is open
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Ticket information says West Stand Only for Home Fans
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Stand corrected, normally only east so the only have to open one with away fans and executive boxes
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I would go with. Three changes, I think the defence needs some familiarity building. Get some time on the pitch for Close and Rowe. Give Marsh an opportunity instead of Faal, save him for the Gillingham game.
Jones
Bailey. Olowu Anderson
Nixon. Molyneux
Westbrook. Close. Rowe
Marsh. Ironside
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7pm ko tomorrow.
Anyone know which stands are expected to be open?
7pm ko. Is that because the Everton U21’s youngsters have to be up early for school? :)
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Everton u21s also have a game on Friday so they may include a couple of fringe players tomorrow evening.
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If I'm home I'll probably go, it would be nice to see how some of the fringe players perform, not seen Sotona or Marsh yet, not seen Bobby play for a while either.
I hope he sticks with Louis in goal, the more experience he can get the better.
Hope you make it. Sotona looks promising.
Only saw Marsh for the time he was on at FGR and he did several bits that caught the eye including the shot that forced good save from keeper low down in his bottom left corner.
Hope to see him and you later :thumbsup:
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Most of our injuries are sustained on the training ground, not during matches. What are the credentials of our physio I ask!
I’m sure that being of Chartered status would ensure that there is a level of competence there?
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We seem to have had an overload of injuries since SOD’s days when it was admitted, I think, that were artificial components in the Keepmoat pitch.
I not sure whether we have had a definite statement about the make-up of the training surfaces that are used currently, but I take it we assume that the match day pitch is bona fide natural.
Because successive groups of players have seemingly had more injuries than we might expect, it has to be acknowledged that the common factor is the training facilities rather than the individual physios etc that have been at the club. This makes it less likely that poor therapy has been the cause.
When it comes to medical consultations and surgical etc., treatment, who knows?
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I feel that the support training staff should all be expected to keep themselves fit and set an example. It looks as though we tolerate a lack of personal discipline in so far as fitness is concerned.
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I feel that the support training staff should all be expected to keep themselves fit and set an example. It looks as though we tolerate a lack of personal discipline in so far as fitness is concerned.
Utter tosh.
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I feel that the support training staff should all be expected to keep themselves fit and set an example. It looks as though we tolerate a lack of personal discipline in so far as fitness is concerned.
Utter tosh.
What a beautifully constructed argument!
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Team for tonight:
Jones
Olowu
Faulkner
Bailey
Rowe
Broadbent
Close
Roberts
Sotona
Marsh
Faal
Another game of guess the formation?
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Team for tonight:
Jones
Olowu
Faulkner
Bailey
Rowe
Broadbent
Close
Roberts
Sotona
Marsh
Faal
Another game of guess the formation?
I’ll go 4-4-2 with Bailey RB & Rowe LB. Anything else and we’re going to have a horrendous option like Sotona at wingback again!
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Is anybody able to get a commentary on i follow?
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What did Bobby Faulkner do wrong in a previous life to be paired with Oluwu.
Though on second thoughts he won’t half look good.
Strong team so hope for a good run in this competition.
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Not on my fire stick?
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What did Bobby Faulkner do wrong in a previous life to be paired with Oluwu.
Though on second thoughts he won’t half look good.
Strong team so hope for a good run in this competition.
I saw enough of Olowu last year to still believe he is our most valuable asset, still only young, will come good!
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Not on my fire stick?
I am watching it on EFL. No issues
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Either I’m going mad or DFP are excelling tonight… they’re running a blog with details of play, but nowhere can I see a score line ???
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The commentary guy seems to think everton are the better team at the minute, ive not seen them in our area yet, think were playing ok at min
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Not on my fire stick?
I am watching it on EFL. No issues
You’re a star!! It’s on IFollow
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The commentary guy seems to think everton are the better team at the minute, ive not seen them in our area yet, think were playing ok at min
We have hit the woodwork three times
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Only following on Twitter but sounds like Bobby's having a good game.
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Not too bad, 2 off the post and one off the bar. Not enough attacking intent again though.
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The commentary guy seems to think everton are the better team at the minute, ive not seen them in our area yet, think were playing ok at min
We have hit the woodwork three times
At one point I'm sure he said they were controlling it and have been good
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Faulkner played really well first half
Are we not doing Lucky Pint for this competition?
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If anyone is wondering about the strength of the Everton line up, it doesn’t look like there’s a single first teamer in there.
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Only following on Twitter but sounds like Bobby's having a good game.
He is, no messing, and keeping a good player quiet.
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In 10 minutes that I’ve just seen….3 superb defensive tackles, one great headed block, one superb surge down the right flank…. Who could that be?
….. Faulkner!
He’s very young and an asset. Get him next to Wood or Anderson.
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Only following on Twitter but sounds like Bobby's having a good game.
just made a 50 yr run, into the box, marsh pulled a great save from their keeper,
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We've controlled the first half on the main, could do with scoring mind, they've had one or two moments.
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Deji must be knackered, he picks ball ip and doesn't have anybody to pass to within 30yds. Seems like they expect him to do 50yds sprints everytime, and then get back to defend straight after.
The formation does not play to his strengths at all. A couple of times he has got down the wing and if we had a maxwell joining in it would give him so much more space.
He is all alone down there.
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Any signs of a creative spark from Marsh?
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Any signs of a creative spark from Marsh?
Nope
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I think Liam Hoden is watching a different game to me
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Marsh scores, deserved that.
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Any signs of a creative spark from Marsh?
Well he just scored
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Get in. Proper sniffer’s goal from Marsh.
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Marsh just played a good ball to Faal couldn’t get his shot off Roberts shot deflected to Marsh to score.
Roberts has been poor all game trying to beat everyone snd can’t do it
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Marsh just played a good ball to Faal couldn’t get his shot off Roberts shot deflected to Marsh to score.
Roberts has been poor all game trying to beat everyone snd can’t do it
Can't see grant giving Roberts too many minutes in the league on that showing.
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Same as In other Everton game regards Roberts
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And 2!
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It is nice to say game over and it isn't with Rovers losing!
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Wemberlee… etc
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Same as In other Everton game regards Roberts
Yep i have to agree Roberts been poor. Marsh been very good however. Good strike from Biggins.
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Their keeper has had the game of his life! Been a good work out for the lads and another chance to build more positive momentum.
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Nice to hear a confident, assured performance from Rovers, using quite a few players who don't always get a start.
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Quite enjoyed that. Definitely helps build confidence. Some good performances. Liked the look of Marsh. Thought Broadbent played well as did Faulkner. Buggins played well also when he came on
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Sponsors gave MOTM to Faulkner.
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I hope Faulkner gets a chance in the league. He’s ready and won’t let us down.
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Moly, Faulkner, Close very good
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Sponsors gave MOTM to Faulkner.
I bet selby was the match sponsor tonight.
(Only kidding Brian).
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Sponsors gave MOTM to Faulkner.
Think some biased played apart with that choice by the sponsors, he did play very well but was no better or worse than his fellow defenders olowu and Bailey, Bailey impresses me everytime though.
I was leaning on the side of broadbent, thought he moved the ball very well and got us going forward
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Bailey the best defender by far. Not that we had to do much.
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The problem Bobby has is called Bailey if we play three at the back they are both good on the right. It will be down to Grant. He could make the decision to play Bobby right if the three and play Bailey defensive midfield.
Close was good in midfield but will have that time in league 2. We now have players coming back to the midfield we will see if it improves. I like Molyneux on the left and Nixon on the right but the left side defender will have to be good. So Saturday if we play midfield three then it could be Close Broadbent and Biggins. Unless Grant puts Bailey in there and Faulkner right side defender.
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The concern for me is the young attacking players have got loads to learn Sotona Roberts Faal and Marsh to be competitive in league 2. All have different attributes but none are ready to play consistently.
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A good run out for those that haven’t had many minutes in the recent weeks. Tyler Roberts I thought was very much below par, didn’t have a very good evening. Jones had an easy evening, I don’t think he had a shot to save all night. A good evenings work and I can say I’ve seen us win at last.
COYR
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A decent run out but not sure we've learned much about anyone from that tbh.
Jones & Oluwu won't get much easier nights, Bobby & Owen Bailey made it that way tbh, Bobby was better in the first half for me, seemed to struggle playing a ball down the line weirdly, in the second half. For once we controlled the middle of the park, both the starting pair & Zain & Biggo when they came on, would be nice if we could carry that into the league games. Marsh had some good moments, he'll do well for us I reckon. I also thought Goodman looked bright in his minutes, didn't do anything wrong.
Agree with everyone re Roberts, disappointing night again from him, I hope he turns it around, he looked good in pre season vs Wednesday, maybe that's how bad they were.
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Excellent performance from the back 3 especially Bobby well deserved MOTM, Robert’s looked poor especially when Deji was playing so well on the other side.
Good run out with no dramas
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Most important thing is we are getting players back. That competition will give improved performances as there are options to replace players. That will drive the standards only higher.
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What did Bobby Faulkner do wrong in a previous life to be paired with Oluwu.
Though on second thoughts he won’t half look good.
Strong team so hope for a good run in this competition.
I saw enough of Olowu last year to still believe he is our most valuable asset, still only young, will come good!
Olowu looked good last year whilst being surrounded by utter tosh. He won’t make a career above league two.
Good result tonight, hopefully we see Faulkner start at the back on Saturday. I won’t hold my breath though
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Moly, Faulkner, Close very good
So was Olowu. Won everything tonight.
No messing about, he looked a proper defender tonight.
Bailey very good as was Broadbent also.
A very good workout for those that played tonight. We dominated the game and should have scored 4/5 goals.
Very encouraging. Winning becomes a habit same as losing does. We need to keep this going on Saturday.
No reason why we can’t beat Gillingham.
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When did we last win 3 on the trot ?
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When did we last win 3 on the trot ?
We haven’t yet. Shush. :)
But yes its a long time.
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A great game for getting minutes into the fringe players, I felt it was the right decision to give Joe the minutes he got as I feel he is a confidence player, clean sheet tonight and also didn't put a foot wrong so would have done him no harm at all moving forward. Donny could and should have had 5 at least goals tonight but a win is a win, now on to Gillingham and with the confidence that is being built throughout the team a positive result on Saturday won't be a fluke as this team can be seen buying into the GM way, Rome wasn't built in a day and neither will this team but with time and support I believe they will become the team we want and the team we love to watch again and again as we did during GM's first stint in charge. Bring on Saturday!!!
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Hope everyone enjoyed the West Stand last night
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Roberts was up against their best player .
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Nobody has mentioned Roberts started off the game our best attacking option, took the full back to the cleaners on more than one occasion and then they doubled up on him and he faded but still had the confidence to attack the full back but had a couple in front of him but still worked hard.
I thought we did very well, nobody had a bad game, as a matter of fact I would have picked Olowu as my man of the match, I thought he was solid all night along with Faulkner and Bailey who snuffed out their wide men despite having Sotona, who had a good game on the ball but struggles off it in front of them, at least Sotona looked last night willing to compete defensively but has a lot to learn, his obvious strength carrying the ball at pace.
I thought the we showed improvement all through the team as far as team work was concerned, we have some good players, very skilful when in possession, but need to work harder and be more game wise off the ball, but at least it looks like the coaching staff are hard at work getting that side of the game into the team, again Roberts and Sotona examples of improved willingness to do the dirty work.
We are work in progress Faal for instance to my mind will be a handful for anyone as the season progresses as will Marsh, both of which look to be promising players and better loans than we have had of late.
That brings me to our own players, much improved as a whole, and mainly on the young side so more to come. Close I can accept if putting in shifts like last night, more of it please and I can at last warm to him. Bailey has been rightly picked out as a good un and the midfield players as a whole are beginning to understand each other and become a cohesive unit.
The best moment for me last evening was about ten minutes from the end of the game for me, everyone rightly have praised the Everton youngsters for their efforts and playing well, Faulkner as Thorney said put a couple of balls out of play his only mistakes really but saw Goodman make a run wide on the right and chipped a ball over the top taking out the whole of the right side of the Everton defence and Goodman in one movement brought down the ball brilliantly under complete control on the run a brilliant move brilliantly executed by a 19yrs old and 18yrs old in a team of young players of our own and a good prospect in Flint 17yrs old on the bench. Everton young players better than ours on the night really, international players at age groups, better than Faulkner really.
Bigger tests face such as Bobby, on Saturday if he plays. but he is better than academy standard u21,s or u23s, he needs games he will only get better.
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When did we last win 3 on the trot ?
Next Saturday?
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Thanks for your review of the game Selby. I couldn't get last night, so just watched extended highlights on Thy'tube, and I must say that what I saw was very pleasing on the eye, quick, incisive forward play by the Rovers, a willingness to take players on, and battle with the Everton lads to win the ball back all over the pitch. I know it was only the highlights, but it shows there is talent in this team, and I can only see improvement game after game whilst the players are getting used to each other, and the system Grant and Cliff have implemented. Their marking for Biggins goal was poor, should have been closed down by a couple more of their defenders as soon as the ball was played to him, he just skinned the lad that tried to stop him getting a shot away, but had plenty of time to pick his spot. Well done guys! Now on to one of our historically "bogey" teams. Jeez, I'd love to see us beat these buggers!
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Very good all round team performance last night, close was a level above and be good to see him back in the team regularly, Broadbent is also improving every game. Bailey is Mr Consistent wherever he plays, Olowu had his best game in a while and was good performances from Faulkner, Marsh, Jones (distribution was good all night), Biggins, molyneux and Goodman.
Think ppl are being harsh on Roberts, thought he started the game very well and had the beating of their LB but faded as the game went on and tried a bit too hard if anything. Sotona had bright moments but he’s nowhere near ready to start, needs to learn when to run with the ball and take players on and when to just keep hold of it. Both of them and Faal (who I thought played well again apart from not being able to stay onside when looking across the line lol) are still young and raw, they have potential and I’m sure McCann and Byrne will make them better players.
Tough game on Saturday but confidence seems to be growing, a good performance and result against Gillingham will be a real statement to everyone else in the league that we are turning it around.
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What did Bobby Faulkner do wrong in a previous life to be paired with Oluwu.
Though on second thoughts he won’t half look good.
Strong team so hope for a good run in this competition.
I saw enough of Olowu last year to still believe he is our most valuable asset, still only young, will come good!
Olowu looked good last year whilst being surrounded by utter tosh. He won’t make a career above league two.
Good result tonight, hopefully we see Faulkner start at the back on Saturday. I won’t hold my breath though
Don’t see why he can’t play in league one again, the Championship is one of the top leagues in Europe so probably not. What level do you think Faulkner can play at in your expert opinion??
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Nobody has mentioned Roberts started off the game our best attacking option, took the full back to the cleaners on more than one occasion and then they doubled up on him and he faded but still had the confidence to attack the full back but had a couple in front of him but still worked hard.
I thought we did very well, nobody had a bad game, as a matter of fact I would have picked Olowu as my man of the match, I thought he was solid all night along with Faulkner and Bailey who snuffed out their wide men despite having Sotona, who had a good game on the ball but struggles off it in front of them, at least Sotona looked last night willing to compete defensively but has a lot to learn, his obvious strength carrying the ball at pace.
I thought the we showed improvement all through the team as far as team work was concerned, we have some good players, very skilful when in possession, but need to work harder and be more game wise off the ball, but at least it looks like the coaching staff are hard at work getting that side of the game into the team, again Roberts and Sotona examples of improved willingness to do the dirty work.
We are work in progress Faal for instance to my mind will be a handful for anyone as the season progresses as will Marsh, both of which look to be promising players and better loans than we have had of late.
That brings me to our own players, much improved as a whole, and mainly on the young side so more to come. Close I can accept if putting in shifts like last night, more of it please and I can at last warm to him. Bailey has been rightly picked out as a good un and the midfield players as a whole are beginning to understand each other and become a cohesive unit.
The best moment for me last evening was about ten minutes from the end of the game for me, everyone rightly have praised the Everton youngsters for their efforts and playing well, Faulkner as Thorney said put a couple of balls out of play his only mistakes really but saw Goodman make a run wide on the right and chipped a ball over the top taking out the whole of the right side of the Everton defence and Goodman in one movement brought down the ball brilliantly under complete control on the run a brilliant move brilliantly executed by a 19yrs old and 18yrs old in a team of young players of our own and a good prospect in Flint 17yrs old on the bench. Everton young players better than ours on the night really, international players at age groups, better than Faulkner really.
Bigger tests face such as Bobby, on Saturday if he plays. but he is better than academy standard u21,s or u23s, he needs games he will only get better.
Sorry selby it wasn't me who stated Bobby put the ball out of touch a few times. The only real one I can remember was in the 2nd half where he lost concentration and let it run out while looking to pick a pass.
He did very well and his better than any u21 or u23 levels.
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Nobody has mentioned Roberts started off the game our best attacking option, took the full back to the cleaners on more than one occasion and then they doubled up on him and he faded but still had the confidence to attack the full back but had a couple in front of him but still worked hard.
I thought we did very well, nobody had a bad game, as a matter of fact I would have picked Olowu as my man of the match, I thought he was solid all night along with Faulkner and Bailey who snuffed out their wide men despite having Sotona, who had a good game on the ball but struggles off it in front of them, at least Sotona looked last night willing to compete defensively but has a lot to learn, his obvious strength carrying the ball at pace.
I thought the we showed improvement all through the team as far as team work was concerned, we have some good players, very skilful when in possession, but need to work harder and be more game wise off the ball, but at least it looks like the coaching staff are hard at work getting that side of the game into the team, again Roberts and Sotona examples of improved willingness to do the dirty work.
We are work in progress Faal for instance to my mind will be a handful for anyone as the season progresses as will Marsh, both of which look to be promising players and better loans than we have had of late.
That brings me to our own players, much improved as a whole, and mainly on the young side so more to come. Close I can accept if putting in shifts like last night, more of it please and I can at last warm to him. Bailey has been rightly picked out as a good un and the midfield players as a whole are beginning to understand each other and become a cohesive unit.
The best moment for me last evening was about ten minutes from the end of the game for me, everyone rightly have praised the Everton youngsters for their efforts and playing well, Faulkner as Thorney said put a couple of balls out of play his only mistakes really but saw Goodman make a run wide on the right and chipped a ball over the top taking out the whole of the right side of the Everton defence and Goodman in one movement brought down the ball brilliantly under complete control on the run a brilliant move brilliantly executed by a 19yrs old and 18yrs old in a team of young players of our own and a good prospect in Flint 17yrs old on the bench. Everton young players better than ours on the night really, international players at age groups, better than Faulkner really.
Bigger tests face such as Bobby, on Saturday if he plays. but he is better than academy standard u21,s or u23s, he needs games he will only get better.
Sorry selby it wasn't me who stated Bobby put the ball out of touch a few times. The only real one I can remember was in the 2nd half where he lost concentration and let it run out while looking to pick a pass.
He did very well and his better than any u21 or u23 levels.
there was 1 in the first half aswell tbf where he tried playing it down the line with his left foot and went out of play. Thought he was better in the second half when him and Bailey switched sides.
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Francis Okoronkwo who Bobby had a joust with in the first half and Bailey in the second half is twenty years old and was signed from Sunderland as a 15 year old for a fee that can reach £1 million subject to staged appearances and is very well thought of as a future prospect and is an England age group international.
He was scouted by no less than John Doolan formerly of this parish.
Bobby Faulkner meanwhile played for Askern Welfare as a 15yr old, Rossington at 16yrs old, and paid his own way playing for nothing the first six months as an amateur with Doncaster Rovers academy while also attending Doncaster College. He turned 19yrs old a couple of weeks ago and has played on loan at Frickley, Spennymoor and Worksop.
Well played Bobby, he will know he is in for a hard game if you meet again.
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Time for us surely to ‘invest time’ in Bobby Faulkner (& a few others who quite rightly have been mentioned) if we’re ever going to bring on exceptional players that have come through our academy otherwise, what’s the point in having an academy?