Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: selby on January 02, 2024, 02:51:41 am
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This is the big test, after two great performances against well established football sides we come up against what has become our problem type team, basically a team made up of players very much in the get up and at them non league physical in your face no fancy Dan's all effort and ambition teams, whose main aim is to get crosses into the box and put pressure on players all over the pitch when they don't have the ball and love a challenge.
Not only that we are going for our third game unbeaten, something as rare as a moon landing since the start of last season in 2022
Again a team we can close up on if we can muster a win but at the moment they lye a healthy 14th to our heady for us 19th and six points better off than ourselves and could be said to be having a good season yesterday being pegged back in the last few minutes for a 2-2 draw against Morecambe who mullered us a couple of weeks back when some on here thought it would be easy, we can't make the same mistake again. Nothing in this division is easy with more teams employing different styles of play than most other divisions.
The starting line up for us would be a surprise if there were any changes from yesterday at all barring injury as everyone played well again, and we are looking for consistency, but will the bench or any new comers make the team or bench even at this point is another unknown but a little bit of spice to throw into the mix at this point.
Thompson and Muldoon can cause problems for Harrogate and their side play with power and are set up to be good on the break and get the ball in the box quickly and can mix it physically, so dangerous to us and a place we have never exactly covered ourselves in glory, but now with not a lot to lose can approach every game the same and go for it and try and end the season looking in better shape.
Apart from a 2-0 loss to Tranmere in their last home game they are themselves on a decent run, that includes a 3-1 win v Notts County who pulled our pants down just a few days ago so not an easy fixture or place to visit.
Like everyone else I want us to carry on now playing with the enthusiasm team work and effort we have shown in the last two games, a complete change of atmosphere in the supporters and enjoyable again, the fact it has come at the start of a new year hopefully a big omen we have finally turned a corner, probably the biggest question about this game, can we extend this form further? can we get even better? the exciting one, will there be any new faces?
Grant and the team look to have worked hard on the fitness levels the way they have played the last few games to me, or he has demanded they step it up, do you think so?
Lots to discuss about this game, and for me to thank you all for reading my musings and commenting over the last few years, and for me to wish everyone at the club and all our supporters a happy and prosperous new year and an entertaining football year to come.
Please have your say.
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It’s important to maintain standards, and to not let whoever we face distract us from that.
For me without injuries then the same team faces Harrogate.
We need to start off quick and be relentless. Be in their faces, match their effort but have the know how to play our football.
Make sure we are nice and tight, and give Ironside and Faal, the service they need.
I see a few goals in this, a real tipsy turvvy game, with us just edging it.
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Should have some new faces in by the weekend to bolster the squad
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As a statto it is a game I very much want us to win.
Of the other 91 FL clubs there are only three we have never beaten - Chelsea (never played in a Lge game), Newcastle, .................. and Harrogate. Win and we will have beaten 89 of the other FL teams, the highest in our history (until recently there was always Sunderland as well that we had never beaten)
Despite them being significantly better away than at home, not wanting to put the kybosh on it means I will be predicting loss on PvO :lol: :lol:
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Selby thanks for starting these threads throughout 2023, they really pose questions and offer great debate.
Rinse and repeat barring knocks hopefully a slightly stronger bench with the incomings.
Straughan Brown looks like he could be a regular first team player in the not too distant future.
Think we have to play to our strengths which seems to be 4 at the back
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Agreed on Straughan Brown.
He has a nice touch and appears to be very much aware of where players are around him.
I would like to see him around the first team a bit more.
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Certainly doesn’t seem fazed stepping up to men’s football
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Don’t forget this is a 1pm kick off!
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Just a word of caution on Brown after watching him in the under 18s, yes he is going to be very very good, but if he has a weakness to me when I have watched him a lot; is he get's carried away and tries probably too much, hurtles around and loses shape, and loses his temper a little too easily if he does something wrong and dives in which could get him into trouble.
A very likable lad and can be a gem and needs nurturing well, with him, Flint, Faulkner, Goodman, and I am going to go along with Adamson as another the academy has done very well in the last few years the coaches and staff deserving credit.
As for your stats Dutch, I am now a believer in miracles as I am sure I saw Close dive into a crunching tackle yesterday in the game and at last us use the tactical foul to some effect in midfield, hopefully no longer to be rolled over.
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Don’t forget this is a 1pm kick off!
Does this mean it will be available to watch on ifollow in uk
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Don’t forget this is a 1pm kick off!
Does this mean it will be available to watch on ifollow in uk
audio only
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Just a word of caution on Brown after watching him in the under 18s, yes he is going to be very very good, but if he has a weakness to me when I have watched him a lot; is he get's carried away and tries probably too much, hurtles around and loses shape, and loses his temper a little too easily if he does something wrong and dives in which could get him into trouble.
A very likable lad and can be a gem and needs nurturing well, with him, Flint, Faulkner, Goodman, and I am going to go along with Adamson as another the academy has done very well in the last few years the coaches and staff deserving credit.
As for your stats Dutch, I am now a believer in miracles as I am sure I saw Close dive into a crunching tackle yesterday in the game and at last us use the tactical foul to some effect in midfield, hopefully no longer to be rolled over.
Was quite surprised to see he joined in the under 9 category aswell. That's a long time with rovers.
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Anyone know where is good for parking for the game? I've seen the Harrogate away guide suggests there's a bit of street parking close by
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Thank you for your posts, I enjoy reading them. Best wishes for 2024
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Hopefully the good win yesterday will mean the remaining tickets are snapped up when they go on general sale tomoz
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Anyone know where is good for parking for the game? I've seen the Harrogate away guide suggests there's a bit of street parking close by
There was street parking along St Nicholas Way and surrounding streets last year. You can also book parking At Sainsbury’s on “Your Parking Space” about 10 minute walk away
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We have an opportunity if we are sensible to really set the team up to challenge next season.
Unless we have a complete reversal in form lasting the whole of the second half of the season, coupled with one or two sides up near the top having poor runs of form, the only realistic competition we can do anything in is the EFL Trophy, and that does not mean I have given up hope of a decent finish to the season, but I see no advantage signing numbers for the sake of it and our position in the league allows us time to build on what is here we want to keep and apart for a couple of good ones that may be available now we want, also gives us a chance to take a look at the market and pick wisely and have a shake out of any here we deem not good enough long term.
That could be the hardest part.
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Just a word of caution, no team is too good to go down, and if any of FGR, Colchester or Sutton recruit well or hit form we can still be dragged into a dogfight. I would be trying to strengthen just on those grounds. :chair:
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Dutch, if we go down it would constitute gross incompetence as non of the teams below us, and a lot above us in the table are incapable of playing as well as we have done in the last two games and at Peterborough with the squad we have now with no additions.
We need a couple of the right type of players to fit in the style of play now being formed at the club not too many that would set us back while they integrated.
I see that as more troublesome than taking small steps forward at the moment, too many incoming could well upset the little momentum we now have, that is why consolidating these last two results are so important in the next few games and see where we are with a couple of weeks left in the window instead of jumping in in the next few days.
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We’ve not exactly been strangers to gross incompetence recently.
I agree in general though. No need to sign a 30+ year old striker like a Agard type or to give a big contract to an unknown from Lyon this Jan.
Sensible to loan a few where we need cover or sign younger frees on low risk contracts to bulk the squad out with the injuries.
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Sold out.
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Poor home record on paper. Only Sutton, Salford and Forest Green have a poorer record. Although they have had some excellent home results recently - beating Notts County and Accrington, and drawing with Wrexham, in the last month or so. Oddly their last home game was a defeat to Tranmere, and only Forest Green have fewer away points than Tranmere.
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I’d be very surprised if the two new signings don’t go straight into the team
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Poor home record on paper. Only Sutton, Salford and Forest Green have a poorer record. Although they have had some excellent home results recently - beating Notts County and Accrington, and drawing with Wrexham, in the last month or so. Oddly their last home game was a defeat to Tranmere, and only Forest Green have fewer away points than Tranmere.
You may have overlooked the fact that Tranmere have taken 15 points out of the last 18.
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I definitely didn't overlook that.
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I’d be very surprised if the two new signings don’t go straight into the team
Maybe straight into the squad - have I missed the second signing btw
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See Rumours.
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Luke Armstrong gone to Carlisle!
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Carlisle have signed a few. Peterborough got a good one Jed Steer on a free.
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This game is no ordinary game for us, once again we have looked like we have turned a corner, and every time in the past our inconsistency has risen to the surface about the third game undefeated, and we have been rolled over by teams mostly in the top half of the division until the Mansfield and MK Dons games came along.
Also we have shown a marked weakness against the up and at them in your faces type of teams who pressurise our weak defence and mid field, again until those last two games and the odd flash of light in the season up to press.
Has the penny dropped at last is the question we need answering this weekend, and against a team we have never beaten in competition, so a monkey to get off our back, and the same determination not to be beaten like we showed in the last two games will be needed against a side capable of beating us if we give them the opportunity.
The two new players should strengthen the bench as the starting team in the last two games have done very well, and our bench has been weak and we got away with it in those two games.
We need a good performance again to get anything out of this upcoming game, and they will fancy their chances knowing we are sh*t or sugar and can be shaken out of our stride. Our main aim needs to be play our football and when needed stand up to be counted and cut out the bad mistakes in our own half.
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Jones
Sterry Olowu Bailey Senior
Close
Biggins Rowe
Ironside
Molyneux Carty
Give Mo a rest but bring him on off the bench.
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Jones
Sterry Bailey McGrath Senior
Biggins Close. Rowe
Molyneux. Ironside. Carty
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I think you may be right DVR, not too sure of Faal being usurped by Carty, unless he is injured. That back 4 looks so much stronger so long as McGrath lives up to expectations. Incredible how things can turn around so quickly this season. I fancy Harrogate 0 Rovers 3
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Got to be the same X1 that started on Monday
Madness to change it
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More I think about it the more I think we will go with McGrath alongside Olowu at the back and Bailey just infront of them as the number 6 with Close and Rowe alongside him.
Think Carty will be on the bench to start with.
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I would stick with what we have got for now, some seem to be underestimating a side we have never beaten and mullered us at home when we rolled over and see new signings who have not exactly set the world on fire elsewhere even in non league, and they have never clapped eyes on as the second coming of the messiah.
Both on the bench for me with changes if injured.
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I would stick with what we have got for now, some seem to be underestimating a side we have never beaten and mullered us at home when we rolled over and see new signings who have not exactly set the world on fire elsewhere even in non league, and they have never clapped eyes on as the second coming of the messiah.
Both on the bench for me with changes if injured.
Same for me I think.
As much as we'd like to push Bailey into midfield, we need the continuity from the last couple of games to start with at least.
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I would stick with what we have got for now, some seem to be underestimating a side we have never beaten and mullered us at home when we rolled over and see new signings who have not exactly set the world on fire elsewhere even in non league, and they have never clapped eyes on as the second coming of the messiah.
Both on the bench for me with changes if injured.
We beat them 2-0 in the FA Trophy.
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I'm looking forward to it today, wouldn't change much in team selection - got to keep the momentum going. The fan in me is saying rovers win, the mature side of me is saying I'd take a good performance and a draw (given our poor away record)
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I understand what people are saying about not changing the team but listening to McCann in respect to McGrath and the physical nature of Harrogate I’d be surprised not to see him start. The question would be Olowu or Bailey alongside him
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If it’s down to organising, it’s got to be Bailey, as Olowu has all on organising himself!
;)
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In any physical confrontation I would back Bobby. but if players play well whoever they are, and we have in the last two games as a team, they should keep the shirt and the others wait for their chance.
If the physical aspect of the fixture was my dominant thought I would ditch half the midfield as they have come up short in a lot of matches physicality wise, but in fairness not the last two games, so they keep the shirt for me.
The question that has crossed my mind in those games is, has Grant at last got to them about the other side of the game, ie. the tactical foul and the strong challengers we saw v MK Dons, or are they coming to a period of new contracts at the end of the season, and playing to get away or a new one before coasting again?
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I would stick with what we have got for now, some seem to be underestimating a side we have never beaten and mullered us at home when we rolled over and see new signings who have not exactly set the world on fire elsewhere even in non league, and they have never clapped eyes on as the second coming of the messiah.
Both on the bench for me with changes if injured.
Mullered us at home?
It was 0-1 from a dodgy penalty
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Think I've missed the reason why this is a 1pm ko ?
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Does anyone know if the game can be viewed on any foreign channels with a VPN? Cheers
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Just drove by team bus, McCann stood outside with driver, looks like they’ve broke down.
Wouldn’t be surprised if it got delayed.
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Does anyone know if the game can be viewed on any foreign channels with a VPN? Cheers
I’m not overly technical but if you have a vpn that disguises your location to one abroad then IFollow will do the trick for you.
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Thanks RIS, I'll give that a go!
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Same team as MK game, new lads on the bench
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Does anyone know if the game can be viewed on any foreign channels with a VPN? Cheers
If you try it through ifollow itself it won’t, I think the system knows that you are using a vpn. IPTV is the only thing that works to be honest
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I'm in Spain and getting live streaming plus commentary via IFollow
Come on your Reds !!
RTID
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Harrogate commentary advising that this will be a record crowd for them at the environment stadium, such is the massive appeal of the mighty DRFC.
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I'm in Spain and getting live streaming plus commentary via IFollow
Come on your Reds !!
RTID
I meant in the UK
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Molly's got to take one of these chances soon or it will bite us on the arse
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Ma Faal conceded possession and not for the first time , and it lead to their second goal along with defenders just walking when they should have been running to help out in defence . Again spoiling what should be a winnable game and now chasing when they should running away with the result .
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It’s business as usual .. can’t defend or tackle where danger lies !! Shocking 3-1
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Absolutely pathetic. Joke of a club from top to bottom. We deserve everything we get.
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Louis Jones is probably the worst keeper since 97/98 think I’d take Gary Woods back
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Molly's got to take one of these chances soon or it will bite us on the arse
We created a fair decent amount of chances in early stages of second half.
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Just when you think we might have turned a corner with the last 2 results, we revert straight back to type
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Absolutely pathetic. Joke of a club from top to bottom. We deserve everything we get.
And he’s back. How predictable. Pathetic.
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Sorry but it's more of the same - we could and should have been 3-1 up - time to stop blaming the defenders.
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Absolutely pathetic. Joke of a club from top to bottom. We deserve everything we get.
Bore off you absolute clown
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It’s business as usual .. can’t defend or tackle where danger lies !! Shocking 3-1
We should’ve been 3-1 up if we could finish
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Molly's got to take one of these chances soon or it will bite us on the arse
We created a fair decent amount of chances in early stages of second half.
Ironside has little or opportunities created by our midfield. Mo Faal runs around like fart in trans giving away possession time and time again and no end product We are just not capable of keeping positive possession that results in a shot on goal ..
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Total underwhelming season.
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Molly's got to take one of these chances soon or it will bite us on the arse
We created a fair decent amount of chances in early stages of second half.
Ironside has little or opportunities created by our midfield. Mo Faal runs around like fart in trans giving away possession time and time again and no end product We are just not capable of keeping positive possession that results in a shot on goal ..
We have today though,
Faal, and molyneux both had clear cut chances at 1-1
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Molly's got to take one of these chances soon or it will bite us on the arse
We created a fair decent amount of chances in early stages of second half.
Ironside has little or opportunities created by our midfield. Mo Faal runs around like fart in trans giving away possession time and time again and no end product We are just not capable of keeping positive possession that results in a shot on goal ..
You need to have a word with MK Dons. Someone put three past them on Monday.
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Molly's got to take one of these chances soon or it will bite us on the arse
We created a fair decent amount of chances in early stages of second half.
Ironside has little or opportunities created by our midfield. Mo Faal runs around like fart in trans giving away possession time and time again and no end product We are just not capable of keeping positive possession that results in a shot on goal ..
We looked good coming into second half. Shame we couldn't have converted one of those good chances.
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Looking back over our shoulders again. After all that effort there is nothing there today, keep this up and it will not take too much for us to be in a relegation fight.
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Watched the first half, went out to clear the driveway/steps but it took longer than I thought walked in to see Jones concede the 3rd. We looked really good the first half, I guess it's just football and these teams in this division are better than we give credit to sometimes.
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Molly's got to take one of these chances soon or it will bite us on the arse
We created a fair decent amount of chances in early stages of second half.
Ironside has little or opportunities created by our midfield. Mo Faal runs around like fart in trans giving away possession time and time again and no end product We are just not capable of keeping positive possession that results in a shot on goal ..
Here he is!
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Some positives from today at least. Scoring away from home. Creating chances. Bailey was very good. Rowe has his shooting boots back on. Shame it ended in defeat.
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Deserved the points Harrogate. Punished us for being shite up top. Played some nice stuff in the first 50 or so mins. Bad in both boxes.
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Absolutely pathetic. Joke of a club from top to bottom. We deserve everything we get.
Bore off you absolute clown
You’re there again Dickoshead abuse to the first negative post, please provide a moment in this game we’re we could be positive?
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4 shots on target and 3 of them are goals!
We have something like 16 shots, but only 2 on target!
Self explanatory, really.
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Made the mistake of listening to the RS commentary with Biltcliffe and Mickey Walker, who had been doing their best to talk Rovers down even at 1-1, making much of the stat we've never beaten Harrogate. Cue Harrogates second. I hope Biltcliffe is happy with himself seeming to be more full of glee when we're losing than when we winning.
It's bamboozling why we can play so well v MK and Mansfield, then put in another poor performance when the game was there for the winning. Just when we thought the penny had dropped.
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Absolutely pathetic. Joke of a club from top to bottom. We deserve everything we get.
Bore off you absolute clown
You’re there again Dickoshead abuse to the first negative post, please provide a moment in this game we’re we could be positive?
I think Donnyjims constructive post got what it deserved. Never misses a chance to have a go at the club rather than any sort of analysis of the game.
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Louis Jones is probably the worst keeper since 97/98 think I’d take Gary Woods back
Should have done better with the first and third goals.
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Absolutely pathetic. Joke of a club from top to bottom. We deserve everything we get.
Hello, have you been away for the previous two games?
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4 shots on target and 3 of them are goals!
We have something like 16 shots, but only 2 on target!
Self explanatory, really.
We had 20 shots only 2 on target . Excuses is all we have to offer but not enough players who can DO their jobs even at this level !!
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Absolutely pathetic. Joke of a club from top to bottom. We deserve everything we get.
Bore off you absolute clown
You’re there again Dickoshead abuse to the first negative post, please provide a moment in this game we’re we could be positive?
Well there were plenty of positive moments in the game, muppet.
As for your mate Jim, he deserves everything he gets, only ever appears after a defeat.
He’s worse than you
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Made the mistake of listening to the RS commentary with Biltcliffe and Mickey Walker, who had been doing their best to talk Rovers down even at 1-1, making much of the stat we've never beaten Harrogate. Cue Harrogates second. I hope Biltcliffe is happy with himself seeming to be more full of glee when we're losing than when we winning.
It's bamboozling why we can play so well v MK and Mansfield, then put in another poor performance when the game was there for the winning. Just when we thought the penny had dropped.
Whereas you take the chance to have a pop at the commentary.
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Had to score at 1-1, that's killed us again. Mostly we were better than them but poor in both boxes.
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Made the mistake of listening to the RS commentary with Biltcliffe and Mickey Walker, who had been doing their best to talk Rovers down even at 1-1, making much of the stat we've never beaten Harrogate. Cue Harrogates second. I hope Biltcliffe is happy with himself seeming to be more full of glee when we're losing than when we winning.
It's bamboozling why we can play so well v MK and Mansfield, then put in another poor performance when the game was there for the winning. Just when we thought the penny had dropped.
Whereas you take the chance to have a pop at the commentary.
Did you listen to the commentary? and yes, I'm well aware I can switch off. My observation has no bearing on the performance or result .
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Absolutely pathetic. Joke of a club from top to bottom. We deserve everything we get.
Bore off you absolute clown
You’re there again Dickoshead abuse to the first negative post, please provide a moment in this game we’re we could be positive?
Well there were plenty of positive moments in the game, muppet.
As for your mate Jim, he deserves everything he gets, only ever appears after a defeat.
He’s worse than you
It’s up to you how you comment on fellow supporters, however do you have to be abusive with the names you call these fellow supporters? You never fail to call people
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Absolutely pathetic. Joke of a club from top to bottom. We deserve everything we get.
Bore off you absolute clown
You’re there again Dickoshead abuse to the first negative post, please provide a moment in this game we’re we could be positive?
Well there were plenty of positive moments in the game, muppet.
As for your mate Jim, he deserves everything he gets, only ever appears after a defeat.
He’s worse than you
It’s up to you how you comment on fellow supporters, however do you have to be abusive with the names you call these fellow supporters? You never fail to call people
To be fair, you're guilty of that yourself.
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I never think we have turned a corner when I see the team we pick, I just live in hope.
The No 9 for Harrogate wins the MOM, not surprised by that either or the type of team that has beaten us.
I listened to radio Sheffield, and they highlighted the defence backing off and not closing down, a lack of movement and pace in our game. not the keeper and how easy it is to play through us in mid field which sounded like we never had one in commentary as they never had the ball I presumed.
Butchers Red we have let in 3 goals again, who is at fault?
Our central defenders and mid field have been outplayed in most games, the central defenders bullied at times, Bradford and Salford in particular and every time they have come up against sides with a grounding in non league that get in their faces. It is just a fact of life.
No team has to play well to beat us, just hang in there knowing we will make at least one if not two or three silly mistakes, and the regular players are getting no better, and have more than likely reached their peak whether because of poor attitude and not wanting it or a lack of just the basics to be consistent, everything is like a revolving door, the exact same thing happens time after time, and we don't seem to learn a thing from it.
It will be interesting to see who if anybody is wanted by other clubs this transfer window or we are left to carry them through to the end of the season and pick up the tab, and if we do the same trick we did with Faulkner and undermine the value of the young players by limiting playing time and stupid quotes publicly by senior management that should know better and keep their gobs shut on certain things, and playing signings from other clubs not as good and have failed spectacularly over the last two seasons.
My crystal ball says that players like Faulkner and Flint will be the players most wanted on loan if anybody but should be playing here, surely somebody will be wondering what the hell are they doing on the bench, and the club will see them as money spiders and we will be left to watch the same people making the same mistakes and showing little interest and ambition for the rest of the season.
As I have said in previous posts, to the end of the season could be an opportunity to bring on some of the younger good players, they cannot do any worse, I think we will fluff it and not have the B******s to try it as things stand.
I know I posted on here the team should be the same as last week because they played well, which is a system I believe in, but against sides who go toe to toe and play football, again we failed against a certain type of team on what could have been a third match unbeaten. And that was the test I wanted whole heartedly to pass and kick on, while all the time doubting we would finally get around the corner.
Again a let down, time for change, most of the players have had more than a good fist of it and have failed again.
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A lot of flack for the defence again. Molyneux and Faal should be taking loads for the sitters they've missed today at 1v1.
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A lot of flack for the defence again. Molyneux and Faal should be taking loads for the sitters they've missed today at 1v1.
Exactly
We didn’t lose today because they were an ex non league team in our faces.
In fact I thought there was a distinct lack of intensity from them as picked up by their commentary.
We lost today because we missed 3 or 4 very good chances and we didn’t defend properly.
They had 4 chances and scored with 3 of them we had more chances and scored with one of them
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Looks like only Rowe, Close and Bailey had decent games.
Mistake from Jones for the 3rd?
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Looks like only Rowe, Close and Bailey had decent games.
Mistake from Jones for the 3rd?
Would have to see it again. At the time looked like his feet were stuck in the mud but might be being harsh.
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On the whole Rowe did have a decent game but it was his slack play receiving a thrown-in in the Harrogate half that started the breakaway for their third goal.
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A crowd of just 1017. How on earth do they sustain lge football ?
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Attendance was over 3000
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Molly's got to take one of these chances soon or it will bite us on the arse
We created a fair decent amount of chances in early stages of second half.
Ironside has little or opportunities created by our midfield. Mo Faal runs around like fart in trans giving away possession time and time again and no end product We are just not capable of keeping positive possession that results in a shot on goal ..
We looked good coming into second half. Shame we couldn't have converted one of those good chances.
We managed 2 on target up to their second goal, from 16 attempts, more than 3 times as many shots as they had had up to that point. They then added their 3rd and finished with 11 chances overall. We missed the target 14 times up to them getting their second goal. After their second goal we managed just one shot which missed the target.
I think the crowd figure announced was 3000 - there were several hundred ?900 Rovers fans weren’t there?
If we were incompetent (at least in the shooting accuracy department) up to that point, the stats do at least show application. However subsequently it is difficult to regard what followed their second goal as anything but a lack of resilience. How does confidence dissipate (throughout the team) so dramatically?
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Attendance was over 3000
Apologies. That’s what bbc have as attendance.
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3137 according to Harrogate
https://twitter.com/HarrogateTown/status/1743658198882537761
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Just seen the highlights which seemed fairly balanced on the chances shown.
I don't think their defending was too hot either but we didn't take our chances but they did.
For their first, it looked like Rowe just let the scorer just wander past him into space to receive the ball.
Rowe immediately made up for it with the goal. Great strike.
Their second. They got the ball unto a good position and the scorer won the race to get the vital touch, although our centre halves were naively dragged out of the middle.
Third, yes Olowu allows him the inside route too easily, but it's a great strike. (Similar to Rowe's)
As commented by others, those chances for Moly, Biggins and Mo before their second, one of them has to go in. Moly's especially.
I don't think anyone would want to gloss over the known weaknesses we have, including McCann in his post match, but it's a game we let out of our grasp (again) but the gap isn't as wide as the scoreline suggests.
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Not often I listen to Mickey Walker, but more than once he mentioned our lack of intensity and pace in the game. That is a complete change from the MK Dons game just a few days before with exactly the same team starting. WHY.
It is a tough question, but even bad teams, and we are poor play above themselves once or twice a season, was that us v Mansfield and MK Dons and today is the norm. a valid question in my mind.
We have been poor for a long time,and always the mid field comes up for questions and the only constants there when not injured are Close and Rowe, Rowe used as much in other make up positions probably a third of the games he has played over that period , rom left back, central defender to a No10.
Close however is put up on a pedestal by some, a player who has cost quite a bit in wages, has rarely got a tackle in over the full time he has been here, and rarely really takes a game by the scruff of the neck, can be neat and tidy but that's about it really while those trying to get about the field get pelters.
If we had something like the Mansfield mid field he would get nowhere near in the team unless injuries allowed it as he is easy to play against.
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Just seen the highlights which seemed fairly balanced on the chances shown.
I don't think their defending was too hot either but we didn't take our chances but they did.
For their first, it looked like Rowe just let the scorer just wander past him into space to receive the ball.
Rowe immediately made up for it with the goal. Great strike.
Their second. They got the ball unto a good position and the scorer won the race to get the vital touch, although our centre halves were naively dragged out of the middle.
Third, yes Olowu allows him the inside route too easily, but it's a great strike. (Similar to Rowe's)
As commented by others, those chances for Moly, Biggins and Mo before their second, one of them has to go in. Moly's especially.
I don't think anyone would want to gloss over the known weaknesses we have, including McCann in his post match, but it's a game we let out of our grasp (again) but the gap isn't as wide as the scoreline suggests.
I have to correct myself there, it was Close not Rowe who allowed the scorer free passage into the box to get in position. Inexcusable.
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Looks like only Rowe, Close and Bailey had decent games.
Mistake from Jones for the 3rd?
Would have to see it again. At the time looked like his feet were stuck in the mud but might be being harsh.
First goal I have no idea where Close is running to and just allows the lad to stroll into the box and slot home.
2nd goal Rowe caught ball watching and the runner goes past him to cross it and after that a half decent GK gets accross his line and saves that comfortably.
3rd goal where do you start. Shite from our own throw in and then Olowu lets him come inside and that man Close yet again sh!ts himself to make a challenge and stop the shot and even turns his back on it and again Jones is out of position, boots stuck in quick sand and its game over.
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As dissapointing as yesterday was, we saw nothing we didn't already know & that McCann had said in a previous interview, that we will still see games like this. He knows aswell as we do this squad needs a serious overhaul. In the game yesterday we gave Harrogate too much respect up to their 1st goal but after we equalised we controlled the it up to half time & up to their 2nd, in that time we could & should have been 3-1 ahead. So there are still signs of improvement amidst the gloom of a defeat to Harrogate, who are a side that have a long standing manager who has put together a side that has been together for quite a while & have beaten better sides than us comfortably.
That's not to say we weren't poor defensively again, apart from Bailey, not strong enough in midfield, & absolutely no service to Ironside, who spent almost the whole game with his back to goal.
In my opinion we just need to keep a bit of perspective & patience. Was thinking last night regarding injuries & would we had lost that game with the likes of Miller, Westbrook, & Maxwell in it. I think not.
We do have the nucleus of a good side when injuries return, & the manager brings in more in the summer, I just don't think it's all doom & gloom, frustrating as it is.
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Close is and has been since joining the club a nightmare when not on the ball, and not all that when he has the ball, happy for his stats with nothing balls.
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There not nothing balls, if they were nothing balls then that’s all the Man City players would be producing every week.
The problem isn’t close the problem is we don’t have players around him that are needed.
The commentators yesterday on radio York were constantly praising close, we just have supporters that have pre conceived ideas on players that can’t now overcome that. Close has been very good this season
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There not nothing balls, if they were nothing balls then that’s all the Man City players would be producing every week.
The problem isn’t close the problem is we don’t have players around him that are needed.
The commentators yesterday on radio York were constantly praising close, we just have supporters that have pre conceived ideas on players that can’t now overcome that. Close has been very good this season
Close is probably our best player. He’s very good. He may not be a hatchet man but concentrate what he can do. He was better when he had ZW next to him, someone else who can actually play football.
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Perhaps it because he has had long term injuries, but Close does not do much challenging for the ball nor does he take risks. In the Notts County game I noticed that he was loth to enter either penalty area and I can’t recall him making many, if any tackles, and he is generally content to play safe by passing the ball square or backwards. It was even apparent that he was not often tackled, perhaps because he was not perceived as representing much of a threat.
You could say of a lot of the team that their shortcomings are
the fault of a lack of understanding of the players around them, but the role of a good midfielder is to play to their strengths.
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I’d have happily driven Close to another club at the start of the season, however he’s been decent since getting over his injury and even put in tackles. That said he is much better when partnered by Westbrooke. Looks like that’s not going to happen again though so something needs to happen.
The game yesterday was there to be won and we once again managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
I think some of the players yesterday were on their last chance listening to McCanns after match interview.
He’s totally correct that it is the same individual errors costing us game after game, however it is also on him to solve this (and I have faith he will), but we need to rip a lot of this squad to pieces
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The chance molyneux had on his right foot came from a superb pass from close. Nobody else in the side can produce quality like that.
It’s wrong to say he doesn’t take risks he’s always looking for ironside’s feet with forward passes. And is comfortable taking the ball in tight situations
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I can see both sides with Close. Without him, we wouldn't see anything near the build up play from back to front. He is a good technical player, who's game, like others is dependent on those around him. We know he's not a combative holding midfielder however, as we can see he's prone to lapses of concentration and sometimes doesn't appear to put his body on the line to the same degree as others. He's not the only one.
It might be easy to assume he was one that McCann was referring to when saying we're not learning the lessons. Likely Olowu in that category too.
We all enjoy expressing our opinions about players who we find frustrating. Biggins for me doesn't seen capable of doing the basics well enough for long enough but, credit where credits due, by his standards, he's been decent overall in the last few matches.
In perspective, no doubt Harrogate could say some of their players were equally culpable when we created chances we could and should have scored.
Once again, McCann has to work with the players individually, just as he must have done prior to Mansfield and MK.
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You have got to have more in your game than being comfortable on the ball. We have a hell of a lot of players who are comfortable on the ball. Its not an excuse for turning your back on a shot coming from the smallest player on the pitch. And this is not the first time he has decided to not make a challenge. Some people only see what they want to see. Its like saying Olowu wouldn't have cost us as many goals this season if he had Van Dijk and Trent Alexander Arnold next to him.
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Close will give a short pass to someone closely marked rather than take one himself. Not my sort of player, we have had a host of better players such as Brabin when we were a far worse club than we are now.
Compare his hole game against players like Wellens and Green and a host of others who have played with us in poor sides and. he is miles off
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Not really fair to compare him with Wellens who is in my all time top 3 Rovers players of the last 50 years, or indeed Green, who developed into a Championship midfielder and won international recognition.
We've both seen enough over the years to name a whole host of players with whom he compares favourably. Regarding players from poorer Rovers teams outperforming Close, the table would suggest this team is very much of that poorer vintage.
I think Close is a very good player and, despite the fact that he doesn't fly into challenges a la Alan Little, we are better off with him in the team.
We're he able to offer all the aspects of a top midfielder, on and off the ball, then he wouldn't be playing for us.
He's in this team on merit. Now that may change as personnel come in but for the time being, he's one of our best options in there.
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Close will give a short pass to someone closely marked rather than take one himself. Not my sort of player, we have had a host of better players such as Brabin when we were a far worse club than we are now.
Compare his hole game against players like Wellens and Green and a host of others who have played with us in poor sides and. he is miles off
That’s just your opinion,
For me he is one of the bravest players we have for wanting the ball and receiving it under pressure.
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IMHO Close is the best midfielder we've got - absent a fit Westbrooke - and probably one of the few players we have who other teams in the division would want.
What he needs is a couple of horrible workhorses either side of him to do the dirty work and chisel out the space for him to pick his pass. Putting his foot in, blocking opponent's runs and being a physical presence is just not his game.
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The Close/Westbrooke slander we have on here at times absolutely astounds me.
We’ve had folk on here this season saying they don’t do anything. Yet when either of them don’t play, and we have no option but to go with triers like Rowe/Biggins, our midfield has no control and no quality on the ball whatsoever and we look like a Sunday league team at times.
It seems like if you’re not diving into challenges you’re not appreciated in the Rovers team.
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It amazes me the amount of professional footballers who can't pass a ball back to the thrower from a throwing successfully
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Close will give a short pass to someone closely marked rather than take one himself. Not my sort of player, we have had a host of better players such as Brabin when we were a far worse club than we are now.
Compare his hole game against players like Wellens and Green and a host of others who have played with us in poor sides and. he is miles off
Eh? Close takes the ball all the time in tight spots with the opposition on him. Must be watching different games. Baffling.
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Close is our best on-the-ball midfielder without a question but as seen twice yesterday and countless times previously he is as much use as a chocolate fireguard in defence. The modern game requires that every member of the team can perform their designated defensive duties and Close doesn't come... well, close.
He is needed in the team for his link-up and creative play but is a significant part of the reason we keep getting tonked by three goals on a regular basis. As soon as we can get a more complete midfielder in he needs to be replaced.
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It amazes me the amount of professional footballers who can't pass a ball back to the thrower from a throwing successfully
We must be one of the worst, if not the worst teams in the league for either giving the ball away, or having no idea of finding space to receive a throw. Absolutely clueless & needs sorting on the training ground.
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It amazes me the amount of professional footballers who can't pass a ball back to the thrower from a throwing successfully
We must be one of the worst, if not the worst teams in the league for either giving the ball away, or having no idea of finding space to receive a throw. Absolutely clueless & needs sorting on the training ground.
Think every team are just as bad with throw ins as we are in this league. It is just a poor standard of football with league 2 quality players. Its just that we see it more from rovers because thats the team we watch every week.
Only time we could retain ball from a throw, in recent times was when we had Tomlin on the pitch, he had the class and vision to pick a player out without even looking. But skill and vision he was championship class, just a shame his body wasnt.
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We have been absolutely woefull since Coppinger hung up his boots, to be honest I have never since then seen a side concede possession as bad as us from throw ins. It improved slightly recently when Westbrook played. Think it's more a responsibility thing.
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We have been absolutely woefull since Coppinger hung up his boots, to be honest I have never since then seen a side concede possession as bad as us from throw ins. It improved slightly recently when Westbrook played. Think it's more a responsibility thing.
That probably sums up this whole situation Les. A player that had been a bit of an X Factor, talisman for the best part of 20 years retires and we didn’t even have a plan in place to either nurture his replacement prior to retiring or hunt down a player of the same ilk to replace him and fill the (potential) black hole he would leave. If that’s not the biggest indication of all that the club is pretty clueless I don’t know what is. We had years to prepare! A decent wage off the books when he left. Zero excuse for that shit show. More interested in making a documentary about him (what ever happened to that!!) than finding someone to fill the footballing void.
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It's gone way past just been unlucky with appointed a few duff managers now. You look around at so many other clubs who have a clear plan and structure, and they are light years ahead of us. Ferguson did the media ahead of their Leeds game today and they reckon they have a £5m player in one of their centre backs. McAnthony has less cash than Terry but they are a million miles in front of us in signing young talent and monetising this, time and time again.
We did I think manage to outspend a lot of clubs for a while but the last 10 years that has withered away and we're still stuck in the dark ages as a club with a plan. Are Rotherham, Barnsley or Peterborough any bigger than we are? Maybe a bit but nothing that justifies our position scraping barrel of the 92 and with a long hill back to credibility let alone promotion.
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We have been absolutely woefull since Coppinger hung up his boots, to be honest I have never since then seen a side concede possession as bad as us from throw ins. It improved slightly recently when Westbrook played. Think it's more a responsibility thing.
That probably sums up this whole situation Les. A player that had been a bit of an X Factor, talisman for the best part of 20 years retires and we didn’t even have a plan in place to either nurture his replacement prior to retiring or hunt down a player of the same ilk to replace him and fill the (potential) black hole he would leave. If that’s not the biggest indication of all that the club is pretty clueless I don’t know what is. We had years to prepare! A decent wage off the books when he left. Zero excuse for that shit show. More interested in making a documentary about him (what ever happened to that!!) than finding someone to fill the footballing void.
Please tell us how you go about 'planning' to replace a player who developed over time under a number of different managers?
The Coppinger who signed wasn't anywhere near the player, the man, he became and nobody could ever say he would fulfil what he became, particularly in those early seasons when at times he was like a little boy lost on the wing, barely contributing, ellegedly on the verge of being loaned out to Rotherham.
Years to prepare? How many scouts, managers, coaches are currently trying to identify and recruit teenagers who could become club legends?
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We have been absolutely woefull since Coppinger hung up his boots, to be honest I have never since then seen a side concede possession as bad as us from throw ins. It improved slightly recently when Westbrook played. Think it's more a responsibility thing.
That probably sums up this whole situation Les. A player that had been a bit of an X Factor, talisman for the best part of 20 years retires and we didn’t even have a plan in place to either nurture his replacement prior to retiring or hunt down a player of the same ilk to replace him and fill the (potential) black hole he would leave. If that’s not the biggest indication of all that the club is pretty clueless I don’t know what is. We had years to prepare! A decent wage off the books when he left. Zero excuse for that shit show. More interested in making a documentary about him (what ever happened to that!!) than finding someone to fill the footballing void.
Please tell us how you go about 'planning' to replace a player who developed over time under a number of different managers?
The Coppinger who signed wasn't anywhere near the player, the man, he became and nobody could ever say he would fulfil what he became, particularly in those early seasons when at times he was like a little boy lost on the wing, barely contributing, ellegedly on the verge of being loaned out to Rotherham.
Years to prepare? How many scouts, managers, coaches are currently trying to identify and recruit teenagers who could become club legends?
I don't think it's about scouting someone who can become a club legend. That's not really an output you look for. It's about scouting someone who can play a similar role on the pitch - being a technically good footballer who can create. It's not as if Coppinger is the only player ever who can do so.
He played for us all through his 30s, we must have known that he would retire at some point, yet the closest we ever came to replacing him was Taylor Richards, who was on loan and never likely to sign permanently unless we got in the Championship.
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We have been absolutely woefull since Coppinger hung up his boots, to be honest I have never since then seen a side concede possession as bad as us from throw ins. It improved slightly recently when Westbrook played. Think it's more a responsibility thing.
That probably sums up this whole situation Les. A player that had been a bit of an X Factor, talisman for the best part of 20 years retires and we didn’t even have a plan in place to either nurture his replacement prior to retiring or hunt down a player of the same ilk to replace him and fill the (potential) black hole he would leave. If that’s not the biggest indication of all that the club is pretty clueless I don’t know what is. We had years to prepare! A decent wage off the books when he left. Zero excuse for that shit show. More interested in making a documentary about him (what ever happened to that!!) than finding someone to fill the footballing void.
Please tell us how you go about 'planning' to replace a player who developed over time under a number of different managers?
The Coppinger who signed wasn't anywhere near the player, the man, he became and nobody could ever say he would fulfil what he became, particularly in those early seasons when at times he was like a little boy lost on the wing, barely contributing, ellegedly on the verge of being loaned out to Rotherham.
Years to prepare? How many scouts, managers, coaches are currently trying to identify and recruit teenagers who could become club legends?
I don't think it's about scouting someone who can become a club legend. That's not really an output you look for. It's about scouting someone who can play a similar role on the pitch - being a technically good footballer who can create. It's not as if Coppinger is the only player ever who can do so.
He played for us all through his 30s, we must have known that he would retire at some point, yet the closest we ever came to replacing him was Taylor Richards, who was on loan and never likely to sign permanently unless we got in the Championship.
Precisely. Nobody recruits 'potential legends' so it comes down to very basic footballing qualities, which everyone involved in recruiting young talent will be looking for that potential.
Maybe GazLaz should be posing that conundrum to the man himself. Who better to ask?
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We have been absolutely woefull since Coppinger hung up his boots, to be honest I have never since then seen a side concede possession as bad as us from throw ins. It improved slightly recently when Westbrook played. Think it's more a responsibility thing.
You could also say we’ve been woeful since cops took up his new role.
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We have been absolutely woefull since Coppinger hung up his boots, to be honest I have never since then seen a side concede possession as bad as us from throw ins. It improved slightly recently when Westbrook played. Think it's more a responsibility thing.
You could also say we’ve been woeful since cops took up his new role.
TBF that is hard to disagree with.
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We have been absolutely woefull since Coppinger hung up his boots, to be honest I have never since then seen a side concede possession as bad as us from throw ins. It improved slightly recently when Westbrook played. Think it's more a responsibility thing.
That probably sums up this whole situation Les. A player that had been a bit of an X Factor, talisman for the best part of 20 years retires and we didn’t even have a plan in place to either nurture his replacement prior to retiring or hunt down a player of the same ilk to replace him and fill the (potential) black hole he would leave. If that’s not the biggest indication of all that the club is pretty clueless I don’t know what is. We had years to prepare! A decent wage off the books when he left. Zero excuse for that shit show. More interested in making a documentary about him (what ever happened to that!!) than finding someone to fill the footballing void.
Please tell us how you go about 'planning' to replace a player who developed over time under a number of different managers?
The Coppinger who signed wasn't anywhere near the player, the man, he became and nobody could ever say he would fulfil what he became, particularly in those early seasons when at times he was like a little boy lost on the wing, barely contributing, ellegedly on the verge of being loaned out to Rotherham.
Years to prepare? How many scouts, managers, coaches are currently trying to identify and recruit teenagers who could become club legends?
I don't think it's about scouting someone who can become a club legend. That's not really an output you look for. It's about scouting someone who can play a similar role on the pitch - being a technically good footballer who can create. It's not as if Coppinger is the only player ever who can do so.
He played for us all through his 30s, we must have known that he would retire at some point, yet the closest we ever came to replacing him was Taylor Richards, who was on loan and never likely to sign permanently unless we got in the Championship.
Precisely. Nobody recruits 'potential legends' so it comes down to very basic footballing qualities, which everyone involved in recruiting young talent will be looking for that potential.
Maybe GazLaz should be posing that conundrum to the man himself. Who better to ask?
If you are losing an influential player that provides x, y and z specifically to your team. Look for a player that provides the same specifics and matches the same profile. It’s common sense. Players really can be broken down into what they bring to the team.
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Copps was playing for little more than petrol expenses for the last couple of years of his career.