Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: selby on January 19, 2025, 04:46:36 pm
-
Another bogey team to get off our back, and another side that seems to know all the right buttons to press to upset our game plan and our rhythm.
Since the new year they have themselves shown better form, especially in a hard fought game v Leeds United when they came out of the game with great credit despite losing going head to head with the top side in the Championship, and if they apply themselves the same way v us we are in for a very interesting game to watch.
Defensively fairly sound but like most teams in the bottom half scoring goals is their biggest problem, winning with two own goals yesterday that Cheltenham conceded showing how dangerous in those situations they can be with their delivery into the box.
The comments of local boy Weaver the manager are giving a pointer to what we can expect "We looked a strong physical outfit
really up for the job, and i want us to be like that in our remaining games". so it will not be pretty and very likely we will have to match them to play our football like yesterday.
In the game at Harrogate we were to me comprehensively beaten, bullied off the ball and run at direct at every opportunity and if we allow them could be in for the same thing again.
The last two games have gone our way because we have competed in mid field, have had a bit of luck at times , but in Moly have had the class act in front of goal, two great finishes but cannot depend on that every match, we need others to come to the party, The new players have done well without being outstanding but part of an all-round hard working side, hopefully with confidence the basis of a good run of results and a slightly more expansive game when they have earnt the right to play.
Long of the mind if it isn't broken don't fix it' so much the same team for me, as everyone has contributed and put good shifts in and got the rewards.
So what do you think? lots to discuss, can we get a result against them at last? it is a handy time to do it. Can we handle the type of game they will try to impose on us? can we show the home crowd we are capable of winning home games more regular than of late? please have your say.
-
We’ve played them twice at home in our history and we haven’t scored yet, let alone got a point.
-
Just like to say a few words about this fixture…
I frickin hate it.
Thanks.
-
Lets just go for it and try and get an early goal.
Slow passing around between the defence and midfield does not work against this lot. They wont get drawn out.
-
I am with you Thorney, turn past negatives into positives, I feel we have gone a long way to doing that in the last two games, which on paper were a hard ask to come away with two wins however we did it.
Just go for it, and back those two results up and if we have to match them and win ugly so be it , just find a way, results are everything from now on.
-
Just like to say a few words about this fixture…
I frickin hate it.
Thanks.
I'm with you on that. I hope after Saturday we never have to play them again.
-
I am with you Thorney, turn past negatives into positives, I feel we have gone a long way to doing that in the last two games, which on paper were a hard ask to come away with two wins however we did it.
Just go for it, and back those two results up and if we have to match them and win ugly so be it , just find a way, results are everything from now on.
Yes totally agree, they have done well against us because we have played in a predictable way.
So let’s turn the table, when we have the ball let’s play quickly with our passing and the triangles moving forward, any player passing backwards will be fined!
It we don’t win this one, Terry won’t be very pleased, so take note Grant!
Yeah somewhat tongue in cheek with this, but we can not afford to muck this one up so let’s not mess about with 2 wide players and one central striker, let’s get some misters on the pitch.
-
They're a horrible side to play against. They beat us back in September with 30% possesion, and two break away goals and a performance that none of their fan's could see coming. Simon Weaver has out coached Danny Schofield and Grant McCann in all five games we've played against them.
Looking back at their side that beat us earlier this season, 8 that started against us, started against Cheltenham the other night, 2 were on the bench, the other was Gibson the left back is injured. They've recently signed Bryn Morris from Newport County, and apparantly he's been a key reason why they've won their last two league games.
They also have, in my opinion, one of the best goalkeepers in the lower leagues, James Belshaw, and best defenders, Anthony O'Connor. However, they don't score many goals, Josh March who scored against us at their place is top scorer with 4.
We, on the other hand, have got two players in double figures, so as others have said, let's get at them right from the start. :scarf: :scarf:
If were not 3-0 after 10minutes I'm going home :crying:
-
Hopefully they pick up a few knocks and red cards in their game on Tuesday night
-
This will be a tough game no doubt, they've had our measure for a while. They made it tough for Leeds in the cup, & had a nailed on penalty not given at 0-0. Really strong defensively & have added to their squad in the window with a striker, left back, & a central defender. If can get in front we should be ok, go behind early & it will be a long afternoon.
-
I might be missing a few details but we seem to have struggled more often than not with these predominantly non-league clubs.
Accrington, Barrow, Harrogate - I don’t think we’ve great records against Fleetwood or Morecambe (Copps 500th excepted) either
-
Can we create history that is the question -or will we sulfer yet another defeat ?
Amazingly Bradford City have also have a very bad record against them
Even Leeds at home crawled over the line last week in the FA Cup 1-0 against them
https://www.11v11.com/teams/bradford-city/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Harrogate%20Town/
A couple of years ago I backed Bradford to beat them at home in the F A Cup and they lost 1-0 at home.
Since then I have always watched how they put the indian sign on Bradford as well as us
and steer clear !!
Of the 10 meetings Harrogate have won 7 Bradford have won 2 with 1 match drawn
12 Oct 2020 Bradford City v Harrogate Town L 0-1 League Two
17 Apr 2021 Harrogate Town v Bradford City L 2-1 League Two
05 Feb 2022 Harrogate Town v Bradford City L 2-0 League Two
22 Feb 2022 Bradford City v Harrogate Town L 1-3 League Two
01 Oct 2022 Harrogate Town v Bradford City W 1-2 League Two
05 Nov 2022 Bradford City v Harrogate Town L 0-1 FA Cup
29 Dec 2022 Bradford City v Harrogate Town W 1-0 League Two
16 Sep 2023 Bradford City v Harrogate Town D 1-1 League Two
23 Mar 2024 Harrogate Town v Bradford City L 3-0 League Two
28 Sep 2024 Harrogate Town v Bradford City L 2-1 League Two
https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/13291141/harrogate-2-0-cheltenham-league-two-highlights
Harrogate beat Cheltenham 2-0 on Saturday with both goals coming from corners and credited as OWN GOALS
It's funny but when we play them there is always a bad smell around :coat:
-
We had been having a rough rub of the green at Gillingham but beat them last Saturday.
All runs come to an end and there is no reason we can’t beat Harrogate on the coming Saturday.
-
I thought we improved as soon as Ironside came on on Saturday, I'd like to see him start against Harrogate.
-
Are we seriously sitting here worried about Harrogate Town? Sure they have a decent record against us but they are 19th in the league, have only scored 23 goals all season and picked up only 1 point in the whole of December included a defeat to a very poor Tranmere team.
Sure they played well against Leeds but thats a one off fixture against their local rivals, barrow have been bad for a while and their two goals against Cheltenham were own goals. Colchester will get something out of the game on Tuesday and i expect us to pick up the 3 points on Saturday.
-
Are we seriously sitting here worried about Harrogate Town? Sure they have a decent record against us but they are 19th in the league, have only scored 23 goals all season and picked up only 1 point in the whole of December included a defeat to a very poor Tranmere team.
Sure they played well against Leeds but thats a one off fixture against their local rivals, barrow have been bad for a while and their two goals against Cheltenham were own goals. Colchester will get something out of the game on Tuesday and i expect us to pick up the 3 points on Saturday.
But our problems in the past have come from thinking harrogate is a team we will beat easily. And each time that hasnt been the story.
-
Moving the ball forwards faster will see them off. If Mols is coming back into form and capable of beating his man, and Street can do the same on the other wing Rovers could demolish this idea of a "bogey team" as they did with Gillingham.
-
Are we seriously sitting here worried about Harrogate Town? Sure they have a decent record against us but they are 19th in the league, have only scored 23 goals all season and picked up only 1 point in the whole of December included a defeat to a very poor Tranmere team.
Sure they played well against Leeds but thats a one off fixture against their local rivals, barrow have been bad for a while and their two goals against Cheltenham were own goals. Colchester will get something out of the game on Tuesday and i expect us to pick up the 3 points on Saturday.
I sit & worry about every game we play.
Nothing to do with the team, just me & superstitions.
My own fault. I currently have eight replica shirts to choose from to wear on match day.
I’m forever making sure my wife hasn’t ‘washed the luck’ out of any particular ‘winning shirt’.
That is until I wear it & we lose.
And don’t ask about scarves!
-
The day you underestimate your opponent or disrespect them you are on a sticky wicket and in danger of losing in whatever sport you play.
-
I thought we improved as soon as Ironside came on on Saturday, I'd like to see him start against Harrogate.
I agree. Billy got nowt against O'Connor and Moon at their place.
-
In past games against us they have negated everything we have tried to do and imposed their game on us. They have known exactly what buttons to press where we are weakest, and have out played us, in the last game being very direct running at our back line and running past them, only Olowu matching them for pace and squaring us up anywhere near our 18 yard line and left us floundering.
Only rarely did they pump the ball into the box high, mostly getting to the goal line and pulling it back for players to run onto.
They tried to do the same to Leeds and should have got a penalty being hauled down going past the Leeds full back and are quick and strong out wide especially down our left flank of McGrath and Maxwell.
We will need to play well to get our first win against them, and defend better than in the first game.
-
I might be missing a few details but we seem to have struggled more often than not with these predominantly non-league clubs.
Accrington, Barrow, Harrogate - I don’t think we’ve great records against Fleetwood or Morecambe (Copps 500th excepted) either
The Likes of Accrington, The Likes of Barrow…etc.?
I think we know by now that any team in the football league, and many below it, can beat us. We can lose to anybody!
-
And a shiny new to the EFL referee ..........
-
They've scored in four of their last five away league games and the only game they failed to do that was at Salford City who were coming into unreal form at the time. Be fairly surprised if they don't score on Saturday.
-
Got a new Stricker as well. Few clubs were looking at him. Chesterfield was one..
-
At their place they scored on the counter attack against us, pretty much how we like to do to opposition teams.Can we play through 2 banks of four without leaving ourselves exposed. So far I haven’t seen that ability, hopefully the new boys can help solve that problem.
-
At their place they scored on the counter attack against us, pretty much how we like to do to opposition teams.Can we play through 2 banks of four without leaving ourselves exposed. So far I haven’t seen that ability, hopefully the new boys can help solve that problem.
We played a high line with McGrath and Anderson against a pacey centre forward.
If I remember rightly, the in-game management was really poor too.
-
Are we seriously sitting here worried about Harrogate Town? Sure they have a decent record against us but they are 19th in the league, have only scored 23 goals all season and picked up only 1 point in the whole of December included a defeat to a very poor Tranmere team.
Sure they played well against Leeds but thats a one off fixture against their local rivals, barrow have been bad for a while and their two goals against Cheltenham were own goals. Colchester will get something out of the game on Tuesday and i expect us to pick up the 3 points on Saturday.
Don’t tell us; tell the team!!
-
We have to be at our very best to beat them.Our record against them is worse than poor.
-
This game will be very telling imho. There is such a positive vibe about us now, the January recruits, training ground, strong bench, few injuries, FA cup, win v Gills, intended Walsall overhaul etc. To validate the vibe it has to be reflected in performances on the pitch. Our poor record v Harrogate means nothing at all, this is a new game and we should have the fire power for a comfortable victory. Barring silly errors or refereeing cock ups we should win this by 2 or 3 clear goals. Easy.
-
I think we will get an early goal and go on to win comfortably.
As has been said, Sharp in the away game didn’t get a kick and I’m hoping Grant has learned from that.
I really do believe we are going to put a little run together now. We will be 2nd by the end of Feb.
-
I think we will get an early goal and go on to win comfortably.
As as been said, Sharp in the away game didn’t get a kick and I’m hoping Grant has learned from that.
I really do believe we are going to put a little run together now. We will be 2nd by the end of Feb.
We need to mush. It’s getting awfully crowded with the teams around us. One of that pack will go on that run of winning games I’m sure. Grant has everyone in the squad fit to choose from. A position he says he’s never had the luxury of at this time of year in his managerial career. He also said at the Meet the Owners evening that “You might think I’m crazy but I still have my sights on chasing Walsall down”.
Today’s the day to continue that winning run we started at Gillingham.
-
Would be ironic if Gillingham was the start of a long winning run, after they ended it last season.
-
Has much as grinding out a win like last week is much appreciated.
We need to start looking at dominating and winning comfortably.
Walking out of the ground afterwards saying "what a performance" and not "thank god we held on there at the end"
-
Our midfield isn’t up to it to dominate games imo. Loan signings don’t look much improvement although it’s early Crew looks the same as Kelly for me
-
Crew looked class overall today I thought. Signs of a real player there.
-
Has much as grinding out a win like last week is much appreciated.
We need to start looking at dominating and winning comfortably.
Walking out of the ground afterwards saying "what a performance" and not "thank god we held on there at the end"
How did today’s match compare then? From the sound commentary the effort could not be faulted, but the end product was anything but.
-
First goal we have ever scored against them at home.
-
Overall we deserved the win but I don't think we were comfortable or dominant. Crew fully deserved MOM
-
We probably created more in all the other games Vs Harrogate we didn't win. But I'll take that. Certainly a long way from our best but Harrogate do that, they're a very negative side. A little disappointed we didn't break them down all that well but pressure does that. The quality on our bench just about showed, albeit fortunate.
Motm was TSL today, he was excellent.
-
That was a hard watch. Thought they had the better chances as we didn't create much.
Three points and onto the next one. Surely it's going to start clicking soon.
-
I thought we were awful, didn't do anything to deserve the win today. Wrong team and wrong formation from Grant, and lots of players not at it at all. Could have easily been 0-3 against and I can't remember a chance or shot on goal apart from Clifton's back pass that snook in.
People seem to think we'll go on a run again, we won't with performances anything like that, there's not a run in this team at the moment. They all need shaking, including Grant.
BUT, points on the board when those around us have stuttered is a real positive.
-
We papered over a hell of a crack with that victory today.
-
3 positives. The back 4 and goalkeeper continue to perform well, Crew was my MOTM and we won. The rest was turgid. If we don’t score in the first 30mins we play worse and worse. Horrendously predictable and my god we aren’t getting out of this league if we are relying on Sharp and Ironside. We just never looked like scoring.
-
Well I enjoyed that game. And thought there were some good performances. We are not going to steamroll teams and at least we have finally beaten Harrogate
I thought they all worked hard against a tough defence. I thought the effort from Ironside was excellent although as usual the ref gives him nothing
The key thing is the team doesn’t give up and got the deserved win
I think this side would be more effective in league one. League two isn’t about total football - it’s about doing what you can to get out of it
-
3 positives. The back 4 and goalkeeper continue to perform well, Crew was my MOTM and we won. The rest was turgid. Horrendously predictable and if we don’t score in the first 30mins we play worse and worse. Horrendously predictable and my god we aren’t getting out of this league if we are relying on Sharp and Ironside. We just never looked like scoring.
I don’t think it’s fair to say relying on Sharp and Ironside isn’t good for this division. Wasn’t Ironside top scorer last yea and Billy is the EFL record scorer. It’s about service they’ll score plenty if we provide.
Our midfield has been pretty poor all season. The forwards and defence are ok imo the service is just poor.
-
Well I enjoyed that game. And thought there were some good performances. We are not going to steamroll teams and at least we have finally beaten Harrogate
I thought they all worked hard against a tough defence. I thought the effort from Ironside was excellent although as usual the ref gives him nothing
The key thing is the team doesn’t give up and got the deserved win
I think this side would be more effective in league one. League two isn’t about total football - it’s about doing what you can to get out of it
This 100%
-
We’ve been abysmal against them home and away the last few seasons. Finally a win at home against them. Didn’t manage that last season.
-
I thought we seriously got away with that.
I said at the time I hope he doesn’t take Ironside off because he was battling hard and occupying their big lumps at the back.
He took him off and I thought we lost something, in fact they were the better team for a large spell after that. A poor sub in my opinion.
-
I am glad some have said we were just awful, I have never seen a more clueless game from us, we just resorted to punting for large parts. I don’t know what the game plan was?
I am not saying the were not some good individual performances, TSL was by far MOM though, some seriously good point blank saves -again! Maxwell was extremely poor today for me, he frustrated the hell out of me.
I think 3-0 to them is wrong though, it could easily have been 5-2 to them if not more.
Good to get the points, as I saw it drifting away.
-
For me, we just don't look like a team who has the belief or desire to go and win a football match never mind winning promotion.
TSL, Olowu, McGrath and Sterry were good enough. Maxwell woeful and way off it. Crew did well today giving confidence he's good with the ball keeping things mainly simple and holding that midfield anchor position well. In front of him, there was alot of distinctly average performances and I'm sorry but Ironside was woeful again today. Other than his usual wrestling matches he nearly got on the end of one cross but was no where near in positions we'd want our centre forward to be for others, virtually no threat at all.
I hope the new lads don't get sucked into believing that sort of performance is good enough by just going through the motions, particularly at home.
Yes, we'll take the result which could easily have gone the other way, by beating the jinx but I just don't know what it's going to take to change the malaise.
-
Positive that we’ve got the win and shaken a monkey off our back, but sounds like a disappointing performance. When are we going to step things up? Are we even capable of it?
-
Huffed and puffed really. Couldn’t really argue if we’d have lost the game based on chances. Got lucky in the end with a shot that probably goes in once every 50 times.
That being said it’s a win. Just doesn’t look convincing does it? Big 6/7 weeks coming up which will decide whether we are top 3 or top 7
-
3 positives. The back 4 and goalkeeper continue to perform well, Crew was my MOTM and we won. The rest was turgid. Horrendously predictable and if we don’t score in the first 30mins we play worse and worse. Horrendously predictable and my god we aren’t getting out of this league if we are relying on Sharp and Ironside. We just never looked like scoring.
I don’t think it’s fair to say relying on Sharp and Ironside isn’t good for this division. Wasn’t Ironside top scorer last yea and Billy is the EFL record scorer. It’s about service they’ll score plenty if we provide.
Our midfield has been pretty poor all season. The forwards and defence are ok imo the service is just poor.
Well Ironside has scored 2 league goals. Billy doesn’t have the legs to play every game and in my opinion we should have looked at another option for that position. Especially once we let our third option leave. What they’ve done in their careers means nothing right now. It’s about how they’ve performed this season.
-
I’ve just been looking at the table and noticed that only Walsall have won more L2 matches than us so far this season.
-
Beating 2 bogey teams in a row has to be a good indicator. I think we have arguably the strongest squad in league 2 and better players in almost every position compared to the oppo week in week out. Quite why we are not being convincing eludes explanation but I believe we will click into a higher gear from now on.
-
Beating 2 bogey teams in a row has to be a good indicator. I think we have arguably the strongest squad in league 2 and better players in almost every position compared to the oppo week in week out. Quite why we are not being convincing eludes explanation but I believe we will click into a higher gear from now on.
Good point about the bogey teams. Weaver normally seems to out do us tactically and it almost worked again but for some good goalkeeping at our end and poor at Harrogates.
-
Beating 2 bogey teams in a row has to be a good indicator. I think we have arguably the strongest squad in league 2 and better players in almost every position compared to the oppo week in week out. Quite why we are not being convincing eludes explanation but I believe we will click into a higher gear from now on.
Good point about the bogey teams. Weaver normally seems to out do us tactically and it almost worked again but for some good goalkeeping at our end and poor at Harrogates.
Nice too that after they had turned us round at kick off, their fans got a close up view off the keepers gaffe that cost them the game.
-
I think some are placing too much importance to the 'bogey team' thing. As another poster likes to tell us, all runs come to an end and so it happens twice consecutively with bogey teams for us, we shouldn't think that's a sign that we've turned a corner, yesterday's win was anything other than convincing. Our goal was down to a goalkeeping howler, we didn't have any other convincing efforts on their goal.
-
There's something not right with Rovers this season. Despite the squad, the investment, the optimism, the leadership, something is stopping this squad from performing as it should. Yes. They are doing ok. But equally yes, they ain't convincing anybody. I have no idea what the issue might be, but as entirely speculative musings, maybe it has to do with either coaching or harmony.
When you think back to other good sides in this league, Rovers or not, they usually look like a good side; they look like they are almost inevitably going to win. This team looks the exact opposite - despite the position in the league.
BobG
-
Yes, we do wonder, particularly as the first 15 mins was quite positive including that nice piece of link up play between Sterry and Molyneux led to that sharp chance for Ironside. At that point there was an air of optimism. BUT, even analysing that chance, could Sterry have had a go with a low drive rather than hitting a speculative cross that was virtually impossible to anticipate? It's these final pieces of quality we often lack, either decision making or execution in the final third.
Then of course, our play settled back into being too safe with no one seemingly wanting to take the game by the scruff of the neck, smelling blood and wanting to hurt our opponents, often players passing on responsibility to someone else. Why that?
Just another example, was when there was a ball laid back to Sterry, which was begging to be whipped in first time.,something he's done with succes before, yet he chose to put his foot on it before delivering the cross, making it easier for the defenders to read it. I'm not singling out Sterry as he had a good game but it's just an example of many all over the pitch where we hesitate.
-
One big positive yesterday was the support from the South Stand. They kept going a lot of the time when there was little happening on the pitch.
Well done lads.
:scarf: :scarf:
-
Well impressed with the "Grant McCanns red and white army,", that seemed to lift things around the ground and on the pitch. It even got some of the West joining in
-
One big positive yesterday was the support from the South Stand. They kept going a lot of the time when there was little happening on the pitch.
Well done lads.
:scarf: :scarf:
Have to agree, thought the support from the South stand was excellent.
-
One big positive yesterday was the support from the South Stand. They kept going a lot of the time when there was little happening on the pitch.
Well done lads.
:scarf: :scarf:
You’re spot on there Dave, I said exactly the same as we left the stadium.
Massive credit to the South Stand, especially in the last 20 minutes of the game.
I’d give them an ‘assist’ for our winning goal.
-
Well impressed with the "Grant McCanns red and white army,", that seemed to lift things around the ground and on the pitch. It even got some of the West joining in
Well, Raven, if it woke some of you grumpy old buggers up in the West Stand, we'll have to do some more of it.
-
I went on Saturday and was very much underwhelmed.... was a poor game and we were lucky to take the points. Several players seemed off the boil and it was tedious to watch. Moly seemed to struggle and was unimaginative... not sure why he doesn't (can't?) change wings every now and then and mix things up. There seemed to be no spark and we made an unexceptional Harrogate team look good. Thought the lad Crew did well and showed desire and energy - I think he will be a player to watch. Thought Olowu, McGrath and Sterry were solid enough also, but the rest of the outfield team looked a bit off it...... IMO
-
I went on Saturday and was very much underwhelmed.... was a poor game and we were lucky to take the points. Several players seemed off the boil and it was tedious to watch. Moly seemed to struggle and was unimaginative... not sure why he doesn't (can't?) change wings every now and then and mix things up. There seemed to be no spark and we made an unexceptional Harrogate team look good. Thought the lad Crew did well and showed desire and energy - I think he will be a player to watch. Thought Olowu, McGrath and Sterry were solid enough also, but the rest of the outfield team looked a bit off it...... IMO
So all of the Defence worked hard.