Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: selby on March 17, 2024, 07:17:21 pm
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Things are really looking a lot better of late, and the ambition of finishing the season on a high must be the ambition of all the staff at the club, and the good form carrying on the most important.
The win at Swindon following up the victory v Crewe just what the doctor ordered especially with the game v Colchester cancelled and injuries picked up in that game v Crewe being covered by players coming in and showing our new found doggedness in a game when stats say we got a win when being largely outplayed, something we have found beyond us for a long time and shows new found resilience and will to win and the capabilities to do so when not at the top of our game.
The game v Forest Green will not be easy, they having a better away record than a home record, and owe us one after we fluked a win at their place, typical when a club struggles as we are only too aware ourselves over the last few seasons, but is no less important to us than to them, if we win I think we could safely say we should be safe and can start to plan forward to next season, while if they lose in what looks like a fight to the death with Colchester it will be a big set back for their hopes of surviving the drop, so we can expect them to give their all to get a result.
Hopefully we will have some of our walking wounded back in the match day squad and we can discuss the merits of any changes on here. Grant will also want to keep the winning streak going, us once again coming up to that third possible win on the trot, a great habit to have if we can do it.
So what do you think? Have we really turned the corner? are you sleeping better? has your enthusiasm for the club returned?
Lot's to discuss, Lot's of questions to be answered by some players playing for a future at the club, please join in and have your say.
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They have a half decent away record in the league, actually better than our own. It is their appalling home record which is the worst in League Two, that has caused them issues. They are fairly tight on the road, conceding five less than us and ten less than Notts County. Only Grimsby in the bottom half of the table has lost fewer than them away from home. Their last way game they beat Bradford 2-0. After they lost to Sutton on Saturday I suspect they will be well up for this.
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Every game is a tough one from now on, particularly a team fighting for their survival.
Hopefully we'll have Craig and Westbrooke available for selection although not sure what the latest is with Ironside and Maxwell. Hopefully, we can continue to be more decisive at both ends and score more than them. Having depth on the bench counts for alot.
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They have a half decent away record in the league, actually better than our own. It is their appalling home record which is the worst in League Two, that has caused them issues. They are fairly tight on the road, conceding five less than us and ten less than Notts County. Only Grimsby in the bottom half of the table has lost fewer than them away from home. Their last way game they beat Bradford 2-0. After they lost to Sutton on Saturday I suspect they will be well up for this.
Can’t say I’d be surprised to find out that any team in the league has a better away record than us, I bet we’ve picked up more away points since February than we had during the rest of the season beforehand.
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Our position in the away league points ranking (19th) is almost exactly aligned with our actual league points ranking (18th) and we are on same points as 18th and 17th ranked away league sides (all on 17 points, just GD separating us). Also our home / away points delta (37pc of our points come from away points) is almost exactly the same as sides far higher up the league e.g Wrexham at 37pc, Walsall at 35pc and MK 'Dons' at 36pc.
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I think we turned a corner after the January signings arrived. The signing of Biamou was also a master-stroke by GM, as we’d have been struggling without Ironside in the first team.
Going forward, I don’t think the manager is thinking about safety at all. He’s gone on record as saying to the players, with 18 games left to play, let’s see if we can finish top of that 18 game league. There’s a way to go yet.
Saturday will be a hard game but aren’t they all? Our new found confidence is like having another player in the squad, but we must not let complacency creep in and spoil what is becoming one hell of a run-in.
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Good post Alan.
The players will be playing for professional pride and win bonus as well (if they still give them of course).
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Steve Cotterill’s arrival there had a significant effect on their improved results. It was his revitalised Shrewsbury Town team that inflicted that unexpected defeat on us when we were poised to move to the top of League 1 which of course was the beginning of the end of the Moore era.
He’s proved his worth at Nailsworth just as he did at Shrewsbury which he left of his own accord. It will be a tough encounter.
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I think we turned a corner after the January signings arrived. The signing of Biamou was also a master-stroke by GM, as we’d have been struggling without Ironside in the first team.
Going forward, I don’t think the manager is thinking about safety at all. He’s gone on record as saying to the players, with 18 games left to play, let’s see if we can finish top of that 18 game league. There’s a way to go yet.
Saturday will be a hard game but aren’t they all? Our new found confidence is like having another player in the squad, but we must not let complacency creep in and spoil what is becoming one hell of a run-in.
Haks to the left of me
Moly to the right
Here I am, stuck in the middle Biamou
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Hopefully we’ll have Joe back leading the line & Craig in midfield alongside Bailey & Biggins.
Haks, just do your thing.
If Moly can reproduce the game he had against Crewe I can see another win on this impressive run.
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Very good indeed ncrover!
BobG
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I hope you don’t mind, NCRover, but I’ve been looking at the lyrics and, with a bit of tweaking, we could make the song a bit longer:
Well I don't know why I came here tonight
I've got the feeling that something ain't right
I'm so scared in case I fall off my chair
And I'm wondering how I'll get down the stairs
Haks to the left of me
Moly to the right
Here I am, stuck in the middle Biamou
Yes I'm stuck in the South Stand with you
And I'm wondering what it is I should do
It's so hard to keep this smile from my face
Getting control, yeah he’s all over the place
Haks to the left of me
Moly to the right
Here I am, stuck in the middle Biamou
Seems like ages we’ve had nothing
But we’re proud that we’ve got Grant McCann
And league two they keep on wondering
But we slap em on the back and say
Free’s
Free’s
(Repeat ad infinitum!)
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I hope you don’t mind, NCRover, but I’ve been looking at the lyrics and, with a bit of tweaking, we could make the song a bit longer:
Well I don't know why I came here tonight
I've got the feeling that something ain't right
I'm so scared in case I fall off my chair
And I'm wondering how I'll get down the stairs
Haks to the left of me
Moly to the right
Here I am, stuck in the middle Biamou
Yes I'm stuck in the South Stand with you
And I'm wondering what it is I should do
It's so hard to keep this smile from my face
Getting control, yeah he’s all over the place
Haks to the left of me
Moly to the right
Here I am, stuck in the middle Biamou
Seems like ages we’ve had nothing
But we’re proud that we’ve got Grant McCann
And league two they keep on wondering
But we slap em on the back and say
Free’s
Free’s
(Repeat ad infinitum!)
Alan, Alan, come on .
Do,you really think that they could remember all those words.
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;)
I wasn’t putting it forward for a song to sing, I was just inspired by NCR’s original short rendition enough to look at the original lyrics!
Just having a bit of fun, mate.
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;)
I wasn’t putting it forward for a song to sing, I was just inspired by NCR’s original short rendition enough to look at the original lyrics!
Just having a bit of fun, mate.
So was I mate, so was I.
Insert illusive emoji here.
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Well things have really changed if supporters are thinking of singing to the players instead of chucking pelters at them which they were before Christmas and being suicidal on here and other social media outlets, probably not as bad on here as other outlets, but quite a change for the good in a short time.
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Really looking forward to this one. Just been looking in to FGR. 2 in-form teams. They have a horrible run coming up.
A good master vs apprentice match up in the dugout. McCann credits Cotterill for getting his playing career going at Cheltenham.
Ironside or Biamou will be up against the man-mountain Ryan Inniss. We might have to do our damage down the flanks as they play a 3-5-2. We can outnumber and outgun them there with our quality in those areas.
The experienced Doidge and a pacey younger striker against Wood and Anderson.
Bailey will look to keep Kyle McAllister under control - one of the best creative players in the league going by the stats.
Osadebe in midfield too - the poor fella who broke his leg in our Bradford away fixture last year.
Grant credits FGR’s organisation. We struggle to break down such teams.
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COYR.
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They were not very good but that was a good workout in getting through a team deadset on 10 men behind the ball and maybe nick a late set piece. We found a way to get through them. Molyneux more effective than Adelekun, and Biamou more effective than Joe. Craig good, as was Sterry.
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Grand, that. Felt like a playoff side against a relegation side. We won without getting out of first gear.
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Biamou has to be getting the nod ahead of Joe. Must have won 5/6 flick on’s when he came on. Don’t recall Joe getting any change out of their defenders all game.
A lot more composed with the ball at his feet too. Joe was lucky to stay on the field in my opinion. That arm was wild
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A cruise in the second half was preceded by a half that made me pull out more hair!
However, I don’t suppose Molly misses purposely in the first half
to gain forgiveness in the second ..do you? What a sitter
Our two center-backs are making a hell of a lot of difference!
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Done well to buck the trend and beat a team trying to sit behind the ball letting us have 66% possession.
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As for the Jo v Biamoue issue ..GM calls us a squad not just a team !
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A game we always looked like winning without hitting full tilt. We’re becoming a much more effective team. Thought Maxwell and Sterry both did well and the two centre halves give a much more solid platform to build from. While Molyneux will rightly get the headlines for his goal and assist, Adelakun is so dangerous whenever he gets the ball. I can’t remember watching a striker (for us) as dominant in the air as Biamou is. There’s becoming more and more to this team, and whatever happens from here we can enjoy a more respectable finish. Would love us to beat last year’s points total.
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Comfortable, they never touched us. Probably should have been more than 2, very good.
We just have to keep the momentum in to next season. Molyneux deserved motm for me.
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Well what can you say about that, except if that was a game between 2 in-form teams, then one of them can’t have turned up. FGR only interested in sitting back, and after we went in front and they had to open up, I can see why they were content to sit!
That was comfortable - be interested to see more of Biamou after his cameo.
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Jonathan you are right about Adelakun ..he makes such a difference and always leaves you expecting him to produce something special ..à la Alick , à. la Colin Booth , à la Peter Kitchen , à la McIndoe .
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Great to see Rovers so dominant. Simply starved FGR of the ball in first half. For a team fighting to stay in the EFL we gave them nothing. Molly always involved and he seems so much better now he goes on the outside on his right foot as much as his old predictable cut inside. Defenders just don’t know which way he’s going.
Wood just seems to win the ball every time. Sterry and Maxwell had good energy today.
TLT could have had the day off.
Joe should have been sent off, perhaps our luck is changing.
Credit for the patience shown as FGR just put 11 men behind the ball and we found a way through.
Must keep this run going and finally beat that losing mentality out of the club, ready for next season.
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Bit of a boring game because it was so comfortable.
Molyneux has proved me wrong. His output has improved as the team has improved and is looking good enough. Hopefully a new contract is announced this week.
Thankfully no goal or assist for Adelakun. If anyone asks - he had a bad game. Donny Rovers is his level ;)
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Biamou has to be getting the nod ahead of Joe. Must have won 5/6 flick on’s when he came on. Don’t recall Joe getting any change out of their defenders all game.
A lot more composed with the ball at his feet too. Joe was lucky to stay on the field in my opinion. That arm was wild
Think he was very lucky he even had a look were the player was
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Forest Green were supremely well organised and disciplined off the ball. Credit their manager for that. On the ball and going forward they were completely hopeless.
Rovers completely dominated possession and were good and patient.
Was never going to be an entertaining watch the way FGR set up unless Rovers scored early.
Once the first goal went in it really was game over.
As comfortable a win as you could wish for.
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Biamou has to be getting the nod ahead of Joe. Must have won 5/6 flick on’s when he came on. Don’t recall Joe getting any change out of their defenders all game.
A lot more composed with the ball at his feet too. Joe was lucky to stay on the field in my opinion. That arm was wild
Think he was very lucky he even had a look were the player was
He will have known he was poor today like he did on 1st game of the season. He will bounce back.
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Great result. Comfortable performance with not many busting a gut to hurt the opposition. Always had the feeling we could go up a gear however our back 5 dealt with everything taking the pressure off. TLT could have taken a deck chair out with him.
Molyneux was Molyneux being quite wasteful at times but scoring from a shot he had no time to think about and a cross put into the PMO zone. Again, his persistence pays off and made the difference in the end.
Every game from here on in is a 6 pointer so conserving the energy we did today, sets us up for the strong finish we're looking for
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Nothing more to add to what others have said really, as comfortable as comfortable gets
We now have Bradford and Notts County in our sights
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From very early on this had the look of the type of game we would loose to a late goal earlier in the season. The fact we have more resilience and determination to succeed is becoming more apparent every game. The settle side helps and the partnerships between the defence and midfield has enabled us to become much more solid.
If we can get some runners onto the same wavelength as Hacks then we would of been able to wrap this game up much earlier.
I would of liked GM to have started with Biamou and given him the addition of some consistency from his last couple of games but he looks like a striker who in full flow would be very dangerous in this league.
Form is still good and we keep going, that top half finish and some momentum looks on track.
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Talking to a lad today who runs a podcast for Coventry, he had nothing but good words about biamou said he was such a nice bloke as well as a footballer. He said he used to turn up to fans meetings without having to be asked to so he could interact with fans and this last occurrence was 3 weeks ago.
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Nothing more to add to what others have said really, as comfortable as comfortable gets
We now have Bradford and Notts County in our sights
Accrington and Tranmere also.
We are not far off the next bunch ahead of them also.
Top 12 beckons.
Next week is a massive game. Crawley are in mega form. It the unimaginable is to happen then we have to beat Crawley on Friday.
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Crawley are on a good run of form but they are leaky at home. They’ve only managed three clean sheets at home all season and these were Forest Green, Sutton and Bradford.
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Crawley are on a good run of form but they are leaky at home. They’ve only managed three clean sheets at home all season and these were Forest Green, Sutton and Bradford.
Win next week and we have an outside chance of making the playoffs. Very outside. If we don't we can put the thought to bed completely
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Even then it is at least 7 points and depending on other results, an even bigger gap.
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Also just noticed there was over 7000 there today, with probably not even 200 Forest Green.
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Think there were lots of free kids tickets today.
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Aye, aye. Something stinks here. Where's Gazlaz's post gone that said we don't play well against low possession sides like FGR and that we wouldn't beat them?
He wouldn't would he?
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Good result but the game wasn’t great on entertainment. They were so far off it that it was never a competitive match.
Think Ironside will have a battle on when Max gets up and running as he looks like a handful and he’s hardly played for years so should only get better
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Nothing more to add to what others have said really, as comfortable as comfortable gets
We now have Bradford and Notts County in our sights
Accrington and Tranmere also.
We are not far off the next bunch ahead of them also.
Top 12 beckons.
Next week is a massive game. Crawley are in mega form. It the unimaginable is to happen then we have to beat Crawley on Friday.
over the last 10 games, we are top of the form table, does that make us In super mega form,?
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Aye, aye. Something stinks here. Where's Gazlaz's post gone that said we don't play well against low possession sides like FGR and that we wouldn't beat them?
He wouldn't would he?
Wasn't in this thread, I don't think.
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Aye, aye. Something stinks here. Where's Gazlaz's post gone that said we don't play well against low possession sides like FGR and that we wouldn't beat them?
He wouldn't would he?
Gazlaz gave an opinion and like everybody else he can be wrong in his opinion.
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Aye, aye. Something stinks here. Where's Gazlaz's post gone that said we don't play well against low possession sides like FGR and that we wouldn't beat them?
He wouldn't would he?
Gazlaz gave an opinion and like everybody else he can be wrong in his opinion.
Agreed, don’t think he’s the type to delete an opinion. We all get things wrong and I’m sure we’re all happier when our incorrect predictions result in a win. I think I went for 8 points from these 5 games. We’re 3 games in and already have 9. It’s great to see.
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Aye, aye. Something stinks here. Where's Gazlaz's post gone that said we don't play well against low possession sides like FGR and that we wouldn't beat them?
He wouldn't would he?
Gazlaz gave an opinion and like everybody else he can be wrong in his opinion.
That's not what I asked, Idler. I asked where the post's gone, because it looks suspiciously like it's been removed.
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My apologies, guys, it was on the "Can we do it?" thread.
My thanks to Pancho for inadvertently bringing this to my attention.
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Aye, aye. Something stinks here. Where's Gazlaz's post gone that said we don't play well against low possession sides like FGR and that we wouldn't beat them?
He wouldn't would he?
Gazlaz gave an opinion and like everybody else he can be wrong in his opinion.
That's not what I asked, Idler. I asked where the post's gone, because it looks suspiciously like it's been removed.
Sorry Steve, I assumed that it was still there. Gazlaz doesn’t seem like the sort of person to dodge a wrong prediction though. Judging on past threads that is.
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Aye, aye. Something stinks here. Where's Gazlaz's post gone that said we don't play well against low possession sides like FGR and that we wouldn't beat them?
He wouldn't would he?
Gazlaz gave an opinion and like everybody else he can be wrong in his opinion.
That's not what I asked, Idler. I asked where the post's gone, because it looks suspiciously like it's been removed.
Sorry Steve, I assumed that it was still there. Gazlaz doesn’t seem like the sort of person to dodge a wrong prediction though. Judging on past threads that is.
You're right, Idler, he hasn't dodged it. I got it wrong.
Apologies to Gazlaz.
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My apologies, guys, it was on the "Can we do it?" thread.
My thanks to Pancho for inadvertently bringing this to my attention.
You’re welcome Steve.
And it wasn’t inadvertent actually ….!
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Forest Green were supremely well organised and disciplined off the ball. Credit their manager for that. On the ball and going forward they were completely hopeless.
Rovers completely dominated possession and were good and patient.
Was never going to be an entertaining watch the way FGR set up unless Rovers scored early.
Once the first goal went in it really was game over.
As comfortable a win as you could wish for.
I'd disagree about their defensive tactics. I thought their approach was baffling.
Walsall neutralised us by not pressing hard on our centre backs when we had the ball, but pressing aggressively on the full backs when we moved the ball out to them, and having someone always denying Craig space.
Forest Green sat off our centre backs, but didn't press the full backs, and gave Craig as much space as he wanted. They effectively accepted every time we got the ball that we would be able to launch an attack. And even then, having men behind the ball, they rarely doubled up on Molyneux and Maxwell down the flanks, or Adelakun in a more inside position. Their approach seemed to be effectively to park the bus inside their box and trust themselves not to allow chances there. But their defenders were just not good enough to deny us space inside the box.
It was a really odd approach that didn't seem to have any confidence in them being able to put us under any pressure in the first 75% of the pitch.
And as for their ability on the ball, that's by some way the worst I've seen this season.
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Aye, aye. Something stinks here. Where's Gazlaz's post gone that said we don't play well against low possession sides like FGR and that we wouldn't beat them?
He wouldn't would he?
Gazlaz gave an opinion and like everybody else he can be wrong in his opinion.
That's not what I asked, Idler. I asked where the post's gone, because it looks suspiciously like it's been removed.
Sorry Steve, I assumed that it was still there. Gazlaz doesn’t seem like the sort of person to dodge a wrong prediction though. Judging on past threads that is.
To be fair I can see why he put it. We did struggle I thought today, but luckily for us Forest Green were so bad when they did have the ball on those rare occasions it was like we were playing someone 2 leagues below never mind bottom of our division
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Biamou has to be getting the nod ahead of Joe. Must have won 5/6 flick on’s when he came on. Don’t recall Joe getting any change out of their defenders all game.
A lot more composed with the ball at his feet too. Joe was lucky to stay on the field in my opinion. That arm was wild
Think he was very lucky he even had a look were the player was
To be honest I can’t see how the ref can book him for that, that’s either an honest coming together or a straight red, I was expecting the latter.
What the hell were FGR doing not bringing the subs on bizarre-btw the fourth official was a joke with the board
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Talking to a lad today who runs a podcast for Coventry, he had nothing but good words about biamou said he was such a nice bloke as well as a footballer. He said he used to turn up to fans meetings without having to be asked to so he could interact with fans and this last occurrence was 3 weeks ago.
Yeah, I noticed he walked across to the west stand for some selfies and signed a few shirts for the fans over there - nice touch. I work with a Cov fan and he said the same, they loved him but he just didn’t quite hack it at the top end of the championship. Cracking player for league 1 & 2 though. I hope we keep him.
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Talking to a lad today who runs a podcast for Coventry, he had nothing but good words about biamou said he was such a nice bloke as well as a footballer. He said he used to turn up to fans meetings without having to be asked to so he could interact with fans and this last occurrence was 3 weeks ago.
Yeah, I noticed he walked across to the west stand for some selfies and signed a few shirts for the fans over there - nice touch. I work with a Cov fan and he said the same, they loved him but he just didn’t quite hack it at the top end of the championship. Cracking player for league 1 & 2 though. I hope we keep him.
Genuinely seems that it’s not the money that motivates him so hopefully he can buy into what’s getting (re)built at Rovers
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We looked a league above yesterday. Our ball retention was the real highlight for me. If the game finished 0-0 I would say the same.