Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: selby on March 29, 2024, 07:31:34 pm
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Well to me we saw the worst and best of Doncaster Rovers v Crawley, missing two goals a youngster would have put away in the Doncaster Senior League, scoring a worldie from an impossible position, battling brilliantly with ten men after a very poor decision and tackle by Anderson and coming away with the three points at an in form side themselves looking to get in the playoffs.
Now it is on to the show game of league 2 this weekend on Tuesday when we the supporters will be looking with interest at all the games on Monday hoping results fall favourably for us.
Who would have predicted our run of form the first week in January? when some on here were sacking most of our board, management, and players. So credit to everyone, especially Mr Bramall who laid it on the line what he expected of people.
It has led to this game v Wrexham being the ultimate test of our resolve and ambition against the club that has thrown money at the team, have all the media coverage swarming constantly around their owners and team, and are quite happy to have lost upwards of £5 million just to get into this division and out of the National league last season.
Can we match them and dent their bubble? we really need to to still have ambition in this league this season, us being in a position where every point lost is a disaster after our poor first half of the season, and we can't afford any different approach but to go out to win games.
Against Crawley we did two things that could really hurt us in this game, we started on the back foot and let them carry the game to us in the opening period, and we missed easy chances both of which went unpunished, we might not be as lucky against a much stronger side used to winning and name players at this level throughout the team.
They are not however the greatest team in away matches, but after a 2-0 win v Mansfield today will be full of confidence and fancy their chances here, our old friend Mullin bagging both goals after Mansfield dominated 69% possession so will be looking to hit us on the break, and with Lee another good striker have the personnel to do it.
Our problems revolve around Anderson's sending off and a change at the back, no doubt Olowu who we cannot afford to have one of his erratic games, injuries apart I would expect the same players starting and little changes to the squad if there are no injuries.
So can we win against a top three side? can we carry on our good run of results? we ran them close at their place, can we go that little bit further? Would you make any unforced changes to our team? Are you going to the game? lots to discuss, lots of little points that could make a difference, is the impossible at the start of the year possible now? please have your say.
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There are 3 critical factors for me.
We will have to trust that Joe O will come up with the goods and play to a standard which we know he is capable of.
We surely have to keep tight to Mullen.
We need good support and create a good atmosphere right from the off, from all three stands.
If we can win on Tuesday, the impossible may just be on the cards, I don’t think we have anything to fear from the remaining games, given we seem to be improving game by game.
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Get 3 points on Tuesday and we might just be on with a play off run
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4 of next 5 games at home I believe.. can we?
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Like an idiot thinking we had nothing to play for I booked a holiday in April so will miss the Walsall game
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I would have settled for a point yesterday before kick off, to come away with all three was unbelievable but warranted.
I predicted we would beat Wrexham & despite losing Tom I still believe we will. This team won’t roll over anymore if we go a goal down & we are creating chances in every game now.
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This will be THE biggest test so far. Having watched highlights of Wrexhams win yesterday, it just confirms they're using all the dark arts and seem to get favourable treatment from the refs.
Any team with McLean in it's line up is going to try every trick in the book. Off the ball tackles, late tackles, feigning serious injury trying to get players booked, the lot.
With some 'old heads' in the team, you know they're going to knock us off our game but they can also play a bit themselves.
Their defence can be got at, plus their keeper also has his moments too. Like any game, it's about taking chances when they come, keeping our discipline and concentration.
I'm expecting a torrid frustrating encounter with the ref being put under great pressure. It should get the crowd fully involved with the game and be a great atmosphere.
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I'd drop Bailey back into defence alongside RW, bring in Max and drop LM into the midfield, as much as possible play a 4 4 2, our home form has been great, a slight tweak to the starting 11 shouldn't cause too much of a disruption fingers crossed, as said in other comments, let's create a fantastic atmosphere from all 3 home sides, get the drummer (s) beating that drum constantly, get the songs out loud and proud, get behind the lads from the warm up to the final whistle and let's be the massive 12th man we need to be to disrupt Wrexham as much as possible, let's create an intimidating atmosphere and do our bit while the players do there's.
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The infamous long throw-in that characterizes them might be a reason to play Jay ahead of Joe .
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Cant wait for this one.
Tring to Hichingbrooke to collect Dr Ross after his stint at the hospital, then hot foot to the Eco-Power.
Going to a late night.
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The infamous long throw-in that characterizes them might be a reason to play Jay ahead of Joe .
Said something similar on another thread.
Olowu might be better against Mullin if Joe keeps his head and has a game he is capable of.
At his best he is a very good player. At his worst he is a liability.
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I just hope that the crowd really back the team and stay with them if things start to go wrong. We are playing a good team with a wage bill possibly double of ours. Fingers crossed and back our team for the whole game irrespective of the result. We are on a great run that will end sometime but it isn’t the end of the world when it does. 100% effort from players and fans and we can beat Wrexham. They are a good side but like all good sides they do lose games, even ones that they expect to win. We owe them from last time as well. :scarf:
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Is it just me who thought McGrath looked a bit erratic when he played? I know he’s only young though and has good aggression about him. He can ping a pass too.
Olowu has done fine off the bench when called upon recently, it’s less of a risk to play him IMO.
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We have been rank outsiders to win with the bookmakers in practically every game this season including this one. The pundits see it as a top of the table versus 15th clash and the majority of their fans probably expect an easy victory. We know better. I am just loving this at the moment.
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Keep an unchanged team for me with the exception of Olowu in for Tom. Jo is the next senior player available in that position & I feel with Wood alongside him he will have a good game as he will ensure Jo concentrates for the full game.
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McCann's got to play Olowu which could be a good thing with his pace. He's been good in his sub appearances so we have to trust him to step up and do a job.
If we start tinkering with the set up by bringing Bailey deeper, then we lose something further up the pitch and McCann won't compromise on going out to win the game. It's too late in the season to compromise and I'm sure we all want the team to go for it.
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We have been rank outsiders to win with the bookmakers in practically every game this season including this one. The pundits see it as a top of the table versus 15th clash and the majority of their fans probably expect an easy victory. We know better. I am just loving this at the moment.
Parkinson won’t be looking at this as an easy 3 points I promise you.
He will be spending Easter Sunday glued to watching DRFC match videos from the last 10 games.
Don’t think he will bother with the Sutton game though. ;)
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I know Ironside has been a bit off it recently but I quite like the tactic of letting him slog away for 60 mins then bring a fresh Biamou on when the game is stretched and more open.
If Wrexham are pushing for late goals like they often are we may be able to catch them on the break late on.
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They’ve managed one clean sheet in their last 10 away games in the league.
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No reason whatsoever why we can’t win this game.
We are top of the league over the last 10/11 games.
They should be more worried about us than we of them.
They have the pressure.
MK Dons are knocking on the door of top 3
We have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Bring it on. Come on all Rovers fans get off your backsides and get down to the ECO
Let’s make it an atmosphere and night to remember. :bbscarf:
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This is the toughest test Rovers have faced since our upturn in form, I would love to see us with 3 points, but I suspect it may be a cancel each other out draw.
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Not sure about that, Barnby, Crawley we’re on a hot run of form & we played them in their back yard!
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We absolutely don't need to change anything for this game bar the Olowu/Anderson switch.
The team know exactly what they need to do as they have been doing for the last few months. Have no doubt they will not be comfortable coming here just now, we just need to keep our nerve and go through our own setup.
It may well be a tight match but when both sides have everything to play for you can sometimes get fireworks, everything's setup for a good night.
We need to start fast and keep the tempo high, the team look very fit at this time and it will serve us well as the match progresses. Nothing to fear and everything to gain. Putting one over that arse Parkinson will please everyone.
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It all comes down to us just needing another win, play well and we have every chance , but we will not get away with not taking our chances when they come along like we did at Crawley.
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Is Waters out of favour, or injured? He hasn't made the bench for our last two games.
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Is Waters out of favour, or injured? He hasn't made the bench for our last two games.
Won’t tomorrow night either against his parent club, but for me he’s not been good enough
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COYR.
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There is no half way house now, we have to go all out for a win, if we do and fail trying then that is no disgrace at all, we need to be at the top of our game, and if we are we are a match for any team at this level, just go for it, we have nothing to lose now.
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There is no half way house now, we have to go all out for a win, if we do and fail trying then that is no disgrace at all, we need to be at the top of our game, and if we are we are a match for any team at this level, just go for it, we have nothing to lose now.
We'll see how clever both managers are in dealing with that tactically. Wrexham could play on that and draw us in. Play Mullin deeper to suck Olowu out of the middle, allow us to over commit up top and hit us on the break. If that fails, then they'll get dirty and use every trick in the book to slow us down.
It'll be a fascinating contest even without being emotionally involved with every kick.
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Win this one and everyone should believe the playoffs are still achievable. And if Rovers can reach the playoffs after a string of wins, we will be the team to fear. Just got to keep believing. Feeling tense for tonight already.
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DBR, that is making it complicated, all season even when we were poor we made chances when in the oppositions half of the field, hence Ironsides goal tally, conversely we give other teams chances at the back hence our negative goal tally.
We need to play as much as the game as possible in the oppositions half of the field to simplify it.
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Wrexham will expect to win tonight. And even if they don't win it won't shake them, as there is still every chance they will go up in 3rd place as MKD have played 2 more than them and Barrow need 7 points to overtake them. Rovers need/want the win more.
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The ref (Breakspear) is predominantly a League 1 official, but he has issued 148 yellow cards in 30 matches. Whether he will be alive to the shenanigans of the old pros of Wrexham remains questionable and it could be important if the behaviour predicted on here is a feature. He issued 12 yellows when Wimbledon played MKD recently, but only 2 in the recent FRG-Stockport game.
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This will be a tough game.
We saw our build up take a more measured and shorter approach against the aerially dominant Keogh and Inniss in the Forest Green game.
Conversely, against Crawley’s weaker defence we were more direct.
Tonight we will have to the take the former approach. I’m looking at the player stats and 2 of their back 3 (O’Connell and Boyle) are at Wood and Anderson levels of aerial dominance. Young Cleworth isn’t far behind either.
Richard Wood will have a good ding-dong with Ollie Palmer too I’m sure. I do think Mullin may have caused Big Tom some problems, hopefully Olowu can concentrate for 90 mins and match him.
Midfield will be a battle with the likes of McClean, Elliot Lee and Andy Cannon.
I remember the right wing back Luke Bolton causing us problems for Salford. But I’m sure he himself will have one eye on Hakeeb.
A potential weakness of theirs for me is their goalkeeper Okonkwo. He looked very error prone in coming off his line when I watched their FA cup tie. I’m sure our GK coach has done his research.
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As tough as this game is, I still have confidence we will win. For me, the real test is the game after, away to Morcambe. That’s a tough game.
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Just had a quick nosey on their forum and most of their fans think tonight is pretty much a formality for them. Would love us to stick one on the arrogant gets. Are they forgetting they’ve spent the last 20 years in the abyss?
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Just had a quick nosey on their forum and most of their fans think tonight is pretty much a formality for them. Would love us to stick one on the arrogant gets. Are they forgetting they’ve spent the last 20 years in the abyss?
Absolutely, plus the fact that they struggled to beat us at their place, winning 2-1 with a deflected goal a couple of minutes from the end, at a time when we were crap.
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Really don't like them and their jonny come lately fans.
When they were fan owned they were terrible, and in the doldrums for years.
I remember a fan united day at their place years ago aswell.
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Just switched on to I player. Great to see Biamou getting a start. With him, Adelakun, Craig and Mollyneux we have a wealth of creativity. Wrexham will have to be damn good to keep us out.
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What a performance that was and more than anything, what a defensive performance. Not seen that type of high quality defensive game for many a season. All five of them superb.
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Great out of possession. So well organised.
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Max Boyce, your two weirdo Yank owners, Shirley Bassey, the thousands of plastic fans who were nowhere to be seen when you were shit, can you hear us! Your boys took one hell of a beating tonight! Robbie Savage, can you hear us, your boys took one hell of a beating!
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Incredible performance. We just keep raising our game. Regardless of what happens from now we’ve really witnessed something special in this last dozen games.
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Could and possibly should have been a few up before the inevitable onslaught at the end but we'll defended and battled. Oluwu was great, I've not always been his biggest fan but a great defensive display. WHAT A SAVE AT THE END
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Could and possibly should have been a few up before the inevitable onslaught at the end but we'll defended and battled. Oluwu was great, I've not always been his biggest fan but a great defensive display. WHAT A SAVE AT THE END
Banksesque
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That late save from TLT... outstanding!
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Brilliant by everyone tonight
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That goal showed everything that's changed. The body on the line defending beforehand, the pass forward, the finish. Just brilliant from us today
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Pick a MOTM out of that one then. Colossal performance. Couldn't be more proud of them.
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Max Boyce, your two weirdo Yank owners, Shirley Bassey, the thousands of plastic fans who were nowhere to be seen when you were shit, can you hear us! Your boys took one hell of a beating tonight! Robbie Savage, can you hear us, your boys took one hell of a beating!
Dai Station, Jones the Steam, Daffyd the only gay in the village…
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We look like a proper team.
Glad they put on a top notch performance in front of a bumper crowd.
Superb showing!!!
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Horrible to see Wood exiting in such a troubled condition I pray for his well being. An immense player who's leadership is such an massive factor in the totally committed attitude of the entire squad.
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Just had a quick nosey on their forum and most of their fans think tonight is pretty much a formality for them. Would love us to stick one on the arrogant gets. Are they forgetting they’ve spent the last 20 years in the abyss?
Someone please tell me what they’re saying now.
Can’t believe they were booing Wood thinking he was time wasting. Horrible
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What a bloody win. Proper game! But at what cost? Loss of Anderson for 2 more games and who knows with woods at the minute, olowu had a great game but does he need the experience at the side of him to keep him in line?
The show goes on!
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Long way back to Wrexham on a Tuesday night SUPERB GAME well done Rovers every one of them played great
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Brilliant every one of them, we've beaten one of the front runners tonight, & it could so easily have by 2 or 3.
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How Haks missed that sitter after the flick form Max... Damn.
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Fantastic battling game in front of a big crowd, proper team effort as they were playing 12 men most of the night.
I said in a earlier thread we had nothing to fear from this team, the lads stuck to their game plan and should of had a couple more.
GM will be quietly pleased that his overall plan is now starting to come to fruition.
We just need to keep going, its not a setback to loose your central defenders when your in this frame of mind, more a case of a fantastic opportunity for young players to show the club their worth, the confidence and team adrenalin will do the rest.
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Horrible to see Wood exiting in such a troubled condition I pray for his well being. An immense player who's leadership is such an massive factor in the totally committed attitude of the entire squad.
He'll be fit for Saturday - no danger :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Horrible to see Wood exiting in such a troubled condition I pray for his well being. An immense player who's leadership is such an massive factor in the totally committed attitude of the entire squad.
He'll be fit for Saturday - no danger :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
We couldn’t see from the South Stand so don’t know if he has a head injury the main issue might be concussion protocol.
Is it ten days?
If so he would miss Morecambe and Walsall matches.
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Deadpool, Banks Beer, Rob Mchelleny, Disney Plus, Aviation Gin, United Airlines, Tik Tok, your boys took one hell of a beating! f**k off back to Hollywood ya pair of bandits!
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Wood won’t be able to play this weekend due to concussion protocol as it will be a minimum of 6 days think Walsall maybe to soon as well
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But we only made 4 subs so surely its classed as a normal change
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Got a massive cut on his forehead, would n’t stop bleeding
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We did them as 4 separate subs so must have been a concussion sub as you can only make 5 across 3 times unless at half time gives you a free one
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Got a massive cut on his forehead, would n’t stop bleeding
Tis but a flesh wound
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Horrible to see Wood exiting in such a troubled condition I pray for his well being. An immense player who's leadership is such an massive factor in the totally committed attitude of the entire squad.
He'll be fit for Saturday - no danger :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Brilliant last night to a man. Thought we controlled most of the game. Probably didn't threaten enough first half but we had chances to add more goals in the second half.
Only felt really threatened by Wrexham when they put Fletcher on and started playing the long aerial ball up to him, but our defence put bodies on the line and did really well to keep them at bay. Obviously TLT played his part as well - sign of a good goalkeeper is remaining switched on late in the game when he's not had a lot to do.
Matty Craig was superb, but special mention to Olowu for me. He's had his detractors but barely put a foot wrong last night. Delighted for Bailey getting his first league goal.
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Well, I haven't been to see Rovers in a good while, the scintillating football at Beautiful downtown Bramall Lane is just such a draw these days :), but so glad I did last night. In with the Wrexham fans with a friend of mine, it was ace to see the ground with a decent crowd in.
Wrexham fans were good value to be among, but obviously the goal just before HT wasn't in the (Hollywood) script, and they seemed resigned to not getting the win ten minutes after HT.
Olowu was my m.o.m. and would have given it to him, but then would have taken it off him after THAT save in the 96th minute and given it to the keeper.
Richard Wood marshalls that back line so well, and really hope the injury doesn't keep him out for long for you all.
Good luck for the rest of the season. Chris Wilder could do with a trip over with some of his lads to see what getting on the 'front foot' means, as it appears we've forgotten that.
Parking for a quid in the old bus station too. That'll do!
Go well folks and hope you have a grand end to the season.
Barnie - Blade, Rovers and Bonnyrigg Rose
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But we only made 4 subs so surely its classed as a normal change
We used 4 separate windows (and none were at half time) - the normal allowance is up to 5 subs in up to three in-game windows, plus half-time