Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: johnny rovers on August 28, 2024, 01:00:22 am
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Just got back. A brilliant trip out with mates to see Rovers play at that famous ground. Every player put in a brilliant shift. I thought we were excellent at the back. Special mention goes to Jay McGrath. Outstanding tonight and Olowu excellent also. They have a very good understanding and will both be challenging for more appearances. Brilliant support from the fans again tonight. A plethora of positives to take from the season so far ! RTID
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I thought both centre halves were brilliant tonight. Lawlor made some funny decisions coming out of his goal or not but couldn’t have done much about the goals. Was gobsmacked to hear one of our fans slagging Olowu off, really don’t get some of our fans.
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Those 2 were excellent. McCann made a statement after Wood got injured and those 2 have really backed his comments up. Oluwu just seems maturer now more than ever. Well done both. Either were MOM by far
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I also thought they were both excellent on the ball first half, which helped us dominate possession. In the second half, class showed and Everton just had too much as we tired, a valiant performance by every player, stick your chest out lads!
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Both centre halves were ok generally aside from getting roasted a couple of times, which is always likely to happen against top level players.
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He's undoubtedly given himself a great shout at making the eleven in the league now. Very good last night as was Oluwu. But as Gazlaz says they just got beat a couple of times by players they won't play most weeks. On the whole they battled very well.
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He did pretty well. Not seen him play many times so haven't made any pre-judgements either way. On the evidence of last night though, he's better on the ball than Wood, and defended as well as you could hope for. I'd think he'd be in contention for a start in the league if he can play like that.
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McGrath played well...Olowu didn't!
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I do wonder if sone of our supporters have ever played or been involved in football at any level
Many posts saying Olowu or McGrath MoM
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McGrath played well...Olowu didn't!
Thats your personal view, and i respect it.
Your personal view stinks!
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Both Jay and Joe can be very proud of their performances yesterday - and when you factor in Jay's, with the greatest of respects modest football journey from being a young lad in contrast to Joe who enjoyed many years at Arsenal's academy there is little to choose between them.
I predict both will be championship players within 5 years and I hope with the Rovers.
Very well done lads
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Joe was good first half. Got done a few times second half, especially for the second and third goals, but we're talking about opponents that are several levels above here. No shame in it really.
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What stood out most for me with McGrath was that he didn’t seem phased by it all. No panic, didn’t look afraid, and really got stuck in, a couple of his tackles were absolutely class.
Joseph, did ok, but to me he looks in panic mode sometimes and seems to freeze, and either ball watch or player watch.
I’d like to see McGrath have more first team time, I think he’s better than Joe. Joe’s a good cover player to me.
But well done both yesterday they had their work cut out.
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McGrath played well...Olowu didn't!
Oh because Olowu’s tackles didn’t have any nice big obvious follow-throughs for you?
Olowu won plenty of duels against a big, quick physical specimen. I have to assume you’ve just decided you don’t like him and that your opinion is just confirmation bias from that.
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McGrath played well...Olowu didn't!
You are talking rubbish!!!
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McGrath played well...Olowu didn't!
You are talking rubbish!!!
I get the feeling that if you swapped the performances of the two players around that the poster would still say the same thing.
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McGrath played well...Olowu didn't!
Oh because Olowu’s tackles didn’t have any nice big obvious follow-throughs for you?
Olowu won plenty of duels against a big, quick physical specimen. I have to assume you’ve just decided you don’t like him and that your opinion is just confirmation bias from that.
I like Joe a lot, comes across as a good lad with enthusiasm.
I just think McGrath is a better option and will improve a lot more than Joe. Joe does good stuff however watching him as I’ve seen pretty much every game in the last 4 years he still prone to really poor errors. He doesn’t seem to have improved significantly enough over that time, which I guess is why he’s probably a third choice at CM and is never and has never been a ‘first on the team sheet’ player
Just my take on it.
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McGrath was my motm, easily. Olowu ok but has always got a mistake in him. The 2 full backs, also, competed well and I thought the referee should have awarded a foul when Nixon got clattered and, ultimately injured (and that, too, was ignored by the ref).
Lawlor let the side down a bit - not even moving for the first goal and then beaten at his near post for the second (does he not like diving to his right?)
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Come on Alan Lawlor probably didn't see it till late, through a crowd of players and a good strike as well, 2nd yes he maybe should have done better
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The stats show that last night Olowu had more clearances, blocks, recoveries, higher duel % win, and was dribbled past less than McGrath.
But one shaky moment with Lawlor’s communication that led to nothing and he’s had a worse game and is a worse option. OK.
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JM had a couple of stand out actions that caught the eye and played ok but Olowu was better in every department.
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The stats show that last night Olowu had more clearances, blocks, recoveries, higher duel % win, and was dribbled past less than McGrath.
But one shaky moment with Lawlor’s communication that led to nothing and he’s had a worse game and is a worse option. OK.
Not disagreeing because I thought he had a really good game and should be starting every week but the stats won’t show how a stupid moment like that can change the momentum in the game and lead to further chances for the opposition.
Would be great if he could lose that tendency but I’m not sure he’d be in L2 if he never made mistakes.
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The stats show that last night Olowu had more clearances, blocks, recoveries, higher duel % win, and was dribbled past less than McGrath.
But one shaky moment with Lawlor’s communication that led to nothing and he’s had a worse game and is a worse option. OK.
Not disagreeing because I thought he had a really good game and should be starting every week but the stats won’t show how a stupid moment like that can change the momentum in the game and lead to further chances for the opposition.
Would be great if he could lose that tendency but I’m not sure he’d be in L2 if he never made mistakes.
He got us out of far more trouble than he caused v Everton.
But one slight bit of clumsiness is far more obvious to spectators than him regularly using his pace to stop problems before they even start. So he gets unfairly maligned.
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Olowu m.o.m for me.
McGrath was also excellent but Joe was outstanding & if others see it differently then it’s opinions.
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I don’t see any issues with Olowus “defending “ it’s his distribution once he’s won the battle that he needs to work on. Wayward headers in wrong directions, and chipping or under hitting passes into spaces that get quickly intercepted, meaning he’s defending an error, again.
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I don’t see any issues with Olowus “defending “ it’s his distribution once he’s won the battle that he needs to work on. Wayward headers in wrong directions, and chipping or under hitting passes into spaces that get quickly intercepted, meaning he’s defending an error, again.
Andersons distribution is 10 times worse than Joe's.
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Joe has great vision and can knock a ball long distance and find his man. I would stick with these two. Looked great at Everton.
The future of our central defence
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I don’t see any issues with Olowus “defending “ it’s his distribution once he’s won the battle that he needs to work on. Wayward headers in wrong directions, and chipping or under hitting passes into spaces that get quickly intercepted, meaning he’s defending an error, again.
Everton game accurate passes:
Olowu 84%
McGrath 67%
Yet you criticise Olowu’s performance for his distribution and praise McGrath’s.
(I think they both played well I’m just calling out double standards)
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Some of passing from Anderson during the run at end of last season was superb.
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Some of passing from Anderson during the run at end of last season was superb.
The Burnley Maldini!!
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Knocking the ball about 10yards is not as important as how good they defend in their own penalty area, in the air Anderson has it over the other two Olowu and McGrath, Olowu has the pace, Wood is the best defender, Faulkner with Olowu the most ability all round.
All look capable of playing at this level to me if the mid field do their job.
We played well at Everton but their goals came when they ran past the mid field and squared our defenders up on the edge of the box, that was class we don't come up against every week, but have come up against and not handled it before.
In the good run last season we used the tactical foul and learned to challenge during the build up against us just in our own half of the field in the high press and counter quickly using Faal and Adelakun running from deep.
It is too early to judge our best pairing, I would go Anderson and Olowu this weekend, more experience, better in the air, and Mcgrath doesn't look to have a lot of pace like Anderson to me, Tuesday v Huddersfield for McGrath for me but Grants call he is the boss.
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Knocking the ball about 10yards is not as important as how good they defend in their own penalty area, in the air Anderson has it over the other two Olowu and McGrath, Olowu has the pace, Wood is the best defender, Faulkner with Olowu the most ability all round.
All look capable of playing at this level to me if the mid field do their job.
We played well at Everton but their goals came when they ran past the mid field and squared our defenders up on the edge of the box, that was class we don't come up against every week, but have come up against and not handled it before.
In the good run last season we used the tactical foul and learned to challenge during the build up against us just in our own half of the field in the high press and counter quickly using Faal and Adelakun running from deep.
It is too early to judge our best pairing, I would go Anderson and Olowu this weekend, more experience, better in the air, and Mcgrath doesn't look to have a lot of pace like Anderson to me, Tuesday v Huddersfield for McGrath for me but Grants call he is the boss.
Sorry but Faulkner is no where near Olowu, possibly one day, but they don’t compare currently.
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McGrath isn’t in the same league as Anderson. Considering dropping him for Jay is absurd.
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Knocking the ball about 10yards is not as important as how good they defend in their own penalty area, in the air Anderson has it over the other two Olowu and McGrath, Olowu has the pace, Wood is the best defender, Faulkner with Olowu the most ability all round.
All look capable of playing at this level to me if the mid field do their job.
We played well at Everton but their goals came when they ran past the mid field and squared our defenders up on the edge of the box, that was class we don't come up against every week, but have come up against and not handled it before.
In the good run last season we used the tactical foul and learned to challenge during the build up against us just in our own half of the field in the high press and counter quickly using Faal and Adelakun running from deep.
It is too early to judge our best pairing, I would go Anderson and Olowu this weekend, more experience, better in the air, and Mcgrath doesn't look to have a lot of pace like Anderson to me, Tuesday v Huddersfield for McGrath for me but Grants call he is the boss.
Did Faal get recalled from Walsall to play alongside Haks, Brian?
LOL.
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Some of passing from Anderson during the run at end of last season was superb.
The defence splitting pass for Tommy Rowe's one-touch cross for THAT Biggins header!
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I think McGrath has the potential to become a cultured centre half but is still learning the mucky stuff, the dark arts etc. Anderson has that experience and will give 100% every time no matter what. He probably doesn't care that much what he looks like in the mirror. He's been doing it for many a season now and he'll give the same no matter who He's marking or where He's playing, big stadium or small stadium.
Did someone mention Joe Wright? Well I think Jay's in that category where he can read a game rather than just rely on brute force. He likes a good long crossfield pass so he does have an eye for the pass.
He'll develop defensively with games and let's hope he can remain relatively injury free, unlike Joe who suffered badly with long spells out.
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Outstanding again today, put his body ( and head ) on the line, held his position well and could / should have capped it off with our first headed goal from a corner since God was a lad !
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Spot on BR…. Him and Molly stood out today I thought. And Sterry can defend, very good today…
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Heart in mouth stuff when he nearly scored an OG in the last minute!
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Sure was.
But being good and lucky is a decent recipe
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Outstanding again today, put his body ( and head ) on the line, held his position well and could / should have capped it off with our first headed goal from a corner since God was a lad !
Was trying to think when was the last time one of our centre backs scored from a free kick or corner. I can’t remember. MacGrath has it in him to do so.
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Passing accuracy must be one of the daftest stats going. Anyone can stand in the middle of the defence and pass the ball 5 yards sidewards and backwards
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Heart in mouth stuff when he nearly scored an OG in the last minute!
Come on Gaz, give him some credit.
It was a well placed back pass header.
World class.
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Outstanding again today, put his body ( and head ) on the line, held his position well and could / should have capped it off with our first headed goal from a corner since God was a lad !
Was trying to think when was the last time one of our centre backs scored from a free kick or corner. I can’t remember. MacGrath has it in him to do so.
Didn't Faulkener? I'm sure Selby will be along if he did
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Outstanding again today, put his body ( and head ) on the line, held his position well and could / should have capped it off with our first headed goal from a corner since God was a lad !
Was trying to think when was the last time one of our centre backs scored from a free kick or corner. I can’t remember. MacGrath has it in him to do so.
Anderson away at Colchester end of last season.
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Passing accuracy must be one of the daftest stats going. Anyone can stand in the middle of the defence and pass the ball 5 yards sidewards and backwards
Like possession stats in Div 4. Ridiculous. All our 3 goals came from quick thinking, get it up the pitch at speed where Div4 defenders can’t cope. Minimal possession for all 3.
But sure if you want to pass it sideways,backwards,sideways,forwards, backwards fine, but guess what even Div4 defenders can remember Gaffers instructions to keep shape and arrange and organise themselves. Pointless possession. Same as you say Dickos, there’s passes and there’s passes.
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McGrath looks like he has played football on the continent very composed and relaxed wins his headers and plays the ball out from the back well in a few years he will be some player
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Think McGrath has the potential to play at a much higher level than League 2.
Think he is only 20 that is very young for a CB
Give him 2/3 years and he will be an outstanding player. He has got all the attributes required.
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Anderson and McGrath were the cornerstone of our game for the first 80 or so minutes, not playing a miss, then Anderson has a brain seizure, and McGrath got lucky not to score what would have been an unfortunate own goal after playing so well.
A good win in a rather tetchy game with a lot going on off the ball, What's not to like?
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I don’t want to jinx him but he has been superb. Not only played well but looked a level above where we are. He is looking like the full package and admittedly I thought he wasn’t up to it 2 games ago.
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Coached well from a very early age by his dad
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Not sure he was all that good with his noggin. Missed a few attempts
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Anderson and McGrath were the cornerstone of our game for the first 80 or so minutes, not playing a miss, then Anderson has a brain seizure, and McGrath got lucky not to score what would have been an unfortunate own goal after playing so well.
A good win in a rather tetchy game with a lot going on off the ball, What's not to like?
Think youll find that the ref had the brain seizure. Never a pen!
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I heard GMc say in his post match interview that in the pre season they’d been advised, that scenario wouldn’t be a pen. I’ll say I thought it was a clear pen. Didn’t do my blood pressure any good & that almost own goal had Mrs LR on standby with the defibrillator. Thank you Lord
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Coached well from a very early age by his dad
And also a very well educated lad............
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The stats show that last night Olowu had more clearances, blocks, recoveries, higher duel % win, and was dribbled past less than McGrath.
But one shaky moment with Lawlor’s communication that led to nothing and he’s had a worse game and is a worse option. OK.
McGrath IS the better option…
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Jay is left footed. He's the better left side option. Up to Tom and Joe for the right side I reckon.