Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: selby on January 26, 2025, 12:16:32 pm
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A long journey at not the best time of the year and a late winter return home is not the most enticing fixture of the year, and not the greatest bit of planning by the fixture computer ever.
After two wins, hard fought rather than expansive play that thrilled the supporters in the stand, we found a way, a great trend in itself.
Carrying a bit of luck and some great goalkeeping we have at last found the importance of keeping a clean sheet, against two sides who were hell bent on disrupting the flow of the game at every opportunity and aided with some poor refereeing and even poorer ( what are they there for nowadays) assistant referees.
Barrow have a new manager in Andy Whings who has strengthened the side signing Tyler Smith on loan from Bradford, and a great signing of MJ Williams a very good mid fielder and added them to such as Vassell and Gotts giving the side a good solid block to build on.
After a great start to the season they fell away and Saturday won their second game in sixteen games and had the usual new manager bounce beating Grimsby 3-0 with the new signings to the fore, so we could have dropped on a better time in the season for this fixture to be played.
We have developed good traits in resilience when not playing at the top of our game, and I hope we can add a little more flair in our game which would make us a team to be reckoned with, we have the players, and they need to build confidence on their own ability especially around the oppositions penalty area where we tend to overplay it and not take personal responsibility to shoot.
Another third win on the trot would really put us in the shop window, and is just what is needed whatever way we achieve it, having won the last two games while not on top of our game, and some players can do a lot better individually, while keeping up their collective hard work, which has seen us through the last two games.
What do you think?
Are you going to the match?
Would you make changes?
Will the referee allow play to develop and stop teams disrupting our play as a tactical ploy?
Lot's to discuss, lot's to look forward to, please have your say.
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This game is on Sky Sports+
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Will the game be on though, strong winds and persistant heavy rain showers particularly in the West. Does Barrow pitch drain well?
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I think one of the recent games we played there had the same doubts about it being played Raven and it went ahead.
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Yes I’ll be there and I’m hoping for a second win on the trot after our success in the FA Cup First Round, following many visits where we came away with nothing.
It will be interesting to see what line-up GM goes with.
I wonder lately whether he is unsure as to what is his best starting eleven, especially up front.
It would be good to get a little run of victories going; we desperately need that in order to stay in the top three.
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I’ll be there. Looking forward to the game, the travel not so much.
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We’re going but fear it may be off
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Why would it be off?
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Not on a good run of form. Have won only twice in their last 15 league games, although a rare win this weekend, beating Grimsby Town 3-0 at home. Thats a side with a good away record so Barrow definitely pulled one out of the bag on Saturday.
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Not on a good run of form. Have won only twice in their last 15 league games, although a rare win this weekend, beating Grimsby Town 3-0 at home. Thats a side with a good away record so Barrow definitely pulled one out of the bag on Saturday.
They sacked Clemence and brought in the Solihull Moors manager, it was his first game at the weekend. I’d far rather be playing them with Clemence in charge.
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Not on a good run of form. Have won only twice in their last 15 league games, although a rare win this weekend, beating Grimsby Town 3-0 at home. Thats a side with a good away record so Barrow definitely pulled one out of the bag on Saturday.
They sacked Clemence and brought in the Solihull Moors manager, it was his first game at the weekend. I’d far rather be playing them with Clemence in charge.
Just watched their highlights from the Grimsby game and they look a solid side.
Strong defenders who are threats at set pieces.
Big man little man up top.
Attacking wing backs (former loanee Ben Jackson having a good season on the left).
They always cause us problems with legs in midfield. Gotts still there who always has a good game against us.
Will be tough.
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Why would it be off?
My bad - weather forecast seems to have improved dramatically
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Not on a good run of form. Have won only twice in their last 15 league games, although a rare win this weekend, beating Grimsby Town 3-0 at home. Thats a side with a good away record so Barrow definitely pulled one out of the bag on Saturday.
They sacked Clemence and brought in the Solihull Moors manager, it was his first game at the weekend. I’d far rather be playing them with Clemence in charge.
Just watched their highlights from the Grimsby game and they look a solid side.
Strong defenders who are threats at set pieces.
Big man little man up top.
Attacking wing backs (former loanee Ben Jackson having a good season on the left).
They always cause us problems with legs in midfield. Gotts still there who always has a good game against us.
Will be tough.
They’re definitely better than their league position and last 15 games suggest, but don’t think they’re quite at the level to challenge for playoffs. The sort of game we need to be winning if our actions are going to back up McCann’s talk.
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From the Barrow forum:
https://www.barrowafc.net/viewtopic.php?t=33525&sid=76a1f6fcbda83d4f936e43dd9fb9757a
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Any positive result there will be a good one. I tend to feel slightly more confident playing away from home when playing on the break is more likely. Maybe the players can play with a bit more freedom although a bit more desire and intensity wouldn't go amis from what we saw on Saturday.
Either way, there's likely to be periods when we soak up lots of pressure and we shred our wits, unless we somehow assert more control of the game.
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This game is on Sky Sports+
Not sure I could sit through another game so soon after Saturday
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We need to ensure there is something left in the tank for Saturday’s game v MKD!
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The new Barrow manager was only in post a few days before the Grimsby win which was achieved with only 27% possession. So, unless he is an absolute genius, a possible interpretation would be that they simply discarded the previous manager’s plan.
This is borne out by looking back at their possession figures in practically all their preceding games which they’ve lost or failed to win when they’ve had more of the ball than their opponents.
Even so, only 27% at home is an unusual stat.
So, if nothing else, Rovers can hang on to the ball, but can they do it in a way that produces goals? Will the 3 incomers produce the long-awaited clicking into gear and end-product?
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We need to ensure there is something left in the tank for Saturday’s game v MKD!
I believe the date of this fixture was moved to Wednesday as originally it was to be the main event on Sky Sports. It’s now only showing on Sky Sports Plus so there is no reason why it couldn’t have been played tonight with all the other league two fixtures which are also available on Sky Sports Plus.
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Long journey, sloppy pitch, tough run out last Saturday. I'm not sure the omens are great!
I'd like to see a 3-5-2 from the start, gives us dominance in the middle and flexibility out of possession, and plays to the strengths of our personnel. Bring Tom A back in with Jay and Joe, play any two from Billy, Ironside and Street up top. Pack the midfield with muscle - and legs - Clifton, Bailey and Crew.
This and MK are big big games - win and start the momentum, lose and we're back to win one lose one and we'll just start to slip down the table.
At least we'll know what other teams did tonight which might be an extra incentive!
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Long journey, sloppy pitch, tough run out last Saturday. I'm not sure the omens are great!
I'd like to see a 3-5-2 from the start, gives us dominance in the middle and flexibility out of possession, and plays to the strengths of our personnel. Bring Tom A back in with Jay and Joe, play any two from Billy, Ironside and Street up top. Pack the midfield with muscle - and legs - Clifton, Bailey and Crew.
This and MK are big big games - win and start the momentum, lose and we're back to win one lose one and we'll just start to slip down the table.
At least we'll know what other teams did tonight which might be an extra incentive!
That's not a bad shout Reg.
One of our best away performances and results this season was beating Fleetwood 4-2. We started as a 3-5-2 with Tom, Joseph and Jay at the back, Sterry and Maxwell as wing-backs, and both Joe and Billy up top with Kyle.
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We need to ensure there is something left in the tank for Saturday’s game v MKD!
I believe the date of this fixture was moved to Wednesday as originally it was to be the main event on Sky Sports. It’s now only showing on Sky Sports Plus so there is no reason why it couldn’t have been played tonight with all the other league two fixtures which are also available on Sky Sports Plus.
It’s broadcast on the plus channel not just streamed this Wednesday which may explain it
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I'd like to see big Tom back in and think the best way is the three at the back. It's been an evident weakness in the last two games that we lack aerial dominance without Tom. Jay and Joe are terrific on the floor but Joe, despite his vast improvement this season on the floor and in the air he still lacks Tom's aerial prowess and Jay likewise. It could make us a very solid unit and give us more threat at set pieces.
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ForsolongaRover that 27% stat shows they are strong at the back and still had more shots than Grimsby 11 to 10.
That tells me they were quite happy for Grimsby to fart around with the ball in mid field and play in front of their best players at the back, similar to our game when Harrogate watched us fart about with the ball and not get shots in or behind their defenders.
If we had not scored what was a scuffed lucky goal we would have come away feeling totally frustrated by our performance and discouraged.
We will need to be a lot better at Barrow who have signed some good players in the window MJ Williams completely dominating us when he came to the KM in Bolton's last visit and Gotts is no shrinking violet, and we want to hope that Vassell and Tyler Smith don't see a lot of the ball up front as they can soon do some damage.
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ForsolongaRover that 27% stat shows they are strong at the back and still had more shots than Grimsby 11 to 10.
That tells me they were quite happy for Grimsby to fart around with the ball in mid field and play in front of their best players at the back, similar to our game when Harrogate watched us fart about with the ball and not get shots in or behind their defenders.
If we had not scored what was a scuffed lucky goal we would have come away feeling totally frustrated by our performance and discouraged.
We will need to be a lot better at Barrow who have signed some good players in the window MJ Williams completely dominating us when he came to the KM in Bolton's last visit and Gotts is no shrinking violet, and we want to hope that Vassell and Tyler Smith don't see a lot of the ball up front as they can soon do some damage.
Vassell is a centre half.
It will be either the rather large Pressley or Acquah who will partner Tyler Smith.
Tyler Smith has a good goalscoring record against us recently. He scored in both the home and away fixtures for Bradford last year, despite only scoring 5 all season.
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This game is on Sky Sports+
all league games are
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This game is on Sky Sports+
all league games are
Including 3pm on Saturdays.?
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I’m driving to Barrow tomorrow. I’ve been twice before and I usually park in the nearby housing estate and go to the local chippy.
I might go a bit earlier and have a steady drive. I’ve had a quick look on maps thinking it is on the coast but it seems to be a bit of a derelict wasteland.
Anyone know if there is anything to look at there apart from the football and the road out?
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I’m driving to Barrow tomorrow. I’ve been twice before and I usually park in the nearby housing estate and go to the local chippy.
I might go a bit earlier and have a steady drive. I’ve had a quick look on maps thinking it is on the coast but it seems to be a bit of a derelict wasteland.
Anyone know if there is anything to look at there apart from the football and the road out?
Apparently the locals turn out to see the traffic lights change
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I’m driving to Barrow tomorrow. I’ve been twice before and I usually park in the nearby housing estate and go to the local chippy.
I might go a bit earlier and have a steady drive. I’ve had a quick look on maps thinking it is on the coast but it seems to be a bit of a derelict wasteland.
Anyone know if there is anything to look at there apart from the football and the road out?
I worked their a few years ago it has nothing to other at all apart from it's an hour from the lake District
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So after tonight’s results a win tomorrow will see us go to 2nd in the league a draw or defeat we stay 5th. But all the teams apart from Crewe from 8th up have at least one game in hand
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Of course, these next two games it would be handy to get 4 or 6 points to keep us up there. Then of course, the difficult trip to Chesterfield when anything gained there is a bonus. Following that we have a break for the FA Cup while we watch what the other league Two Clubs do.
If things don't go well, we could easily see our league position suffer, meaning we'll have to chase the leaders.
That said, it hasn't taken long for Bradford to turn their season round from looking bleak to being in the auto promotion mix. Andy Cook who?
Such a long way to go. Play the matches game by game, and the league position will look after itself.
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It is not an easy game tonight, but if Rovers are to fulfil their potential these games are the ones to win, I am sure going yesterday and settling in will be one reason for a key performance. 1 - 2 to Rovers!
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It's not ideal timing to be playing them two matches into their new manager's reign. But if Doncaster are at their best that won't matter.
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I’m driving to Barrow tomorrow. I’ve been twice before and I usually park in the nearby housing estate and go to the local chippy.
I might go a bit earlier and have a steady drive. I’ve had a quick look on maps thinking it is on the coast but it seems to be a bit of a derelict wasteland.
Anyone know if there is anything to look at there apart from the football and the road out?
No disrespect intended but it is of course the toilet-roll capital of the UK....
https://www.kimberly-clark.com/en-gb/company/employees
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Just a bog standard north Lancashire coastal town then? :facepalm:
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Just a bog standard north Lancashire coastal town then? :facepalm:
Oh I do like to be beside the WC-side
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Oh I do like to be beside the WC-side
That’s we used to sing at Saltersgate.
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Just a bog standard north Lancashire coastal town then? :facepalm:
Oh I do like to be beside the WC-side
Are you a closet Barrow supporter Reg? :lol:
Edit: Apologies to any Barrow supporter reading this - you must get these all the time :headbang:
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Top 8 of lg2 watching this hoping we drop points.
Hopefully we put the onus back them lot.
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Just arrived.
I’m hoping to feel the flush of success at the final whistle
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We should wipe the floor with them. As long as the officials are decent, especially the a-cistern referees.
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I’m just hoping we can lever ourselves up to second in the table tonight.
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I’m just hoping we can lever ourselves up to second in the table tonight.
Yes, number 2 would be nice.
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Be better than papering over the cracks.
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Is Mickey Walker on talking shit again?
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Lets hope by the end of the game we are flushed with success
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Yes Walker is on talking verbal diarrhoea
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Cannot find the match anywhere, sky sports + or ifollow.
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Yesssss!!! Well done Joe Olowu
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Now 2-0 Molly !!!!
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Cannot find the match anywhere, sky sports + or ifollow.
Its on sky sports+
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Superb bit of swearing from Barrow fan there
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Stupid goal to give away.had ample opportunity to clear up the pitch before the corner.
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I haven't got over the first minute yet
Stockbridge strikes again. Sticking with toilet till them , he's an a***wipe
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Jeez. 3-1 up with ten minutes to go and Grant brings 3 forwards on.
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Big away win on a tricky pitch. Up to second . Bring on franchise fc
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Big away win on a tricky pitch. Up to second . Bring on franchise fc
Indeed, I thought this was a real test. Passed with flying colours!
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Paul Mayfields lucky gnome strikes again!
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Job done!
Now, a good recovery and onto Saturday.
:scarf:
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Big away win on a tricky pitch. Up to second . Bring on franchise fc
Indeed, I thought this was a real test. Passed with flying colours!
Also indeed, but Saturday becomes an even bigger test now.
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Really pleased with that performance on a poor pitch. Everyone put a really good shift in. Fully deserved 3 points.
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Molyneux Crew and Sterry were outstanding tonight .The general work rate was high and every player looked confident and wanting the ball which makes a whole lot of difference .( predictive text buggered my first attempt at this )
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Molyneux, Clive and Sterry were outstanding tonight .The general workmate was high and every player looked confident and wanting the ball which makes a whole lot of difference .
Clive?
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Molyneux, Clive and Sterry were outstanding tonight .The general workmate was high and every player looked confident and wanting the ball which makes a whole lot of difference .
Clive?
Has the workmate set a benchmark?
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4th time we have beaten them in 9 months, they must be sick of us!
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Very good win tonight on a poor pitch but the lads stuck at it and got their rewards for persistence up front, all three looked well up for it, thought Ironside had a good game bringing both Mols and Ennis into play frequently, they both looked confident and were prepared to run at their defence, on another night some of the passing interplay would have struck and the game would have been fairly routine.
The midfield was top class i thought, Crew was very assured, confident and had the minerals to get stuck in when needed, seemed to rub off on Bailey who looked full of beans and had a very good game.
The defence had a bit more to do than they should of but handed it in a controlled manner, Both McGrath and Olowu we're strong on the ball and had to be because their big No9 was a handful and needed watching all night, which we did, i also like how in every challenge as the ball was kicked towards him he managed to get an early shove on his defender every time to buy him some space, our strikers need to take note, this is how you should be doing it. The ref was totally detached from this!
Both full backs were strong and secure all night, Maxwell is very close to being back to his best and Sterry looked very comfortable.
TSL had a steady night interspersed with moments of danger every time they whipped those in swinging corners in, his defenders should have been stronger in protecting him better but he also should have been a bit more dominant in his six yard box, in the end it didn't alter the result but needs addressing for matches that will be much tighter. Tonight ended up being a well controlled and executed game, the confidence looks to be coming back, more to build on, id say GM will be well pleased with the nights work. Onwards.
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For the record I thought our third goal was one which their goalkeeper ought to have saved and of course we benefitted from their defensive error for our second. These are the sort of opportunities which promotion-seeking teams need to take advantage of, but without them it would have been a frustrating evening.
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I thought we were very good value for our win tonight and we are starting to look more fluent again with the ball. This combined with another strong defensive display (only one goal conceded in last three league games) means we have cause for optimism!
One thing that does frustrate me is our tendency towards giving away cheap corners.
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Just back.
A very good performance tonight and a deserved and valuable win.
Disappointing to conceded from the corner but they had 12 corners tonight and all good ones, so maybe the law of averages said they would convert one.
They did a good job impeding TSL every time and we should have protected him better.
And was the goal a handball?
We took our chances well and worked hard all over the pitch.
Crew and Ennis had their best games so far and I’m sure will continue to improve as they settle in.
Sterry had a good game as did Maxwell, in fact a really good, positive performance all round.
We’re putting a little run together which is exactly what we need.
Let’s keep this going lads!
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I had them down as a bogey team but we’ve won four in a row against them now. Good result last night.
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For the record I thought our third goal was one which their goalkeeper ought to have saved and of course we benefitted from their defensive error for our second. These are the sort of opportunities which promotion-seeking teams need to take advantage of, but without them it would have been a frustrating evening.
Eh? How to put a negative spin on something if ever I’ve seen one.
The keeper wasn’t getting that, and even if we’d drawn it would’ve been a good performance, much better than the one back there in October
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For the record I thought our third goal was one which their goalkeeper ought to have saved and of course we benefitted from their defensive error for our second. These are the sort of opportunities which promotion-seeking teams need to take advantage of, but without them it would have been a frustrating evening.
Eh? How to put a negative spin on something if ever I’ve seen one.
The keeper wasn’t getting that, and even if we’d drawn it would’ve been a good performance, much better than the one back there in October
I didn’t expect everyone to agree, but I think that to have a reasoned debate or assessment of a performance you have to look at events from all sides. I have found over the years that it is possible to fully support Rovers and take an objective view of matches.
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There are a lot of people who can only see in black and white. Either no criticism whatsoever however reasoned, or no praise whatsoever however deserved. We can win and not play well, and we can lose and deserve praise. Lot of very narrow minds.
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What I do find irritating though is certain posters always seeming to have a negative slant. Let’s try to take the path where you accept that you can play well and lose or badly and win. Always try to take the positives whilst being aware of negatives and seeing areas of possible improvement.
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What I do find irritating though is certain posters always seeming to have a negative slant. Let’s try to take the path where you accept that you can play well and lose or badly and win. Always try to take the positives whilst being aware of negatives and seeing areas of possible improvement.
I suppose we all follow our own path and it is surely sensible not to deliberately upset fellow posters.