Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: philsky on July 15, 2025, 09:53:32 am
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It’s pay on the gate :)
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It’s pay on the gate :)
I’ll see you there Phil, I’m likely to be going.
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Three more making the trip. Just up the road from my old dear.
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MK Dons beat Brackley 2-0 tonight.
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I’ll be there
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Bloody long trip that mate!
BobG
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https://www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk/news/2025/july/14/tickets--mk-dons-v-rovers--19-07-25-/
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I will be there.
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Ticket bought
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Got the tickets for the home end,because if it is sunny they will have the only shaded cover.
A 20 min drive for me.
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I’m aiming to head over but the weather looking to be awful and I’m not fancying a repeat of Southport away back in the day - don’t have to decide until after 2pm tomorrow
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Fleeting visit by us actually on our way to the Chunnel, Mrs RD has been surprisingly ok with this lol
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Amber weather warning in the area until 11.00 (so a little before the match) Torrential rain/thunderstorms. Worth keeping an eye on because pf impact on pitch and travel.
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What’s the weather update Phil?
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What’s the weather update Phil?
Bloody awful - absolutely hammering it down.
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Spoke too soon when I said I would be there. I've been quite ill these last few days. I took 1/2 day off work yesterday, but still not right. I have a very important meeting that I must attend on Monday. Whilst I am just about well enough to go (still unwell) the idea of being ill and soaked is enough to make me stay at home.
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Stopped 10 minutes away. Battled floods and monsoons so far
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Mols and Sterry start
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As does Gibson.
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Grehan and Pearson the CB pairing. Expecting a bit test for these two.
Broadbent, Ajayi and Clifton midfield unless Mols brought more central with Ajayi wide?
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No Bailey, sharp or Close even on bench
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No Bailey, sharp or Close even on bench
That's cos they played in the friendly v Gateshead. This is the other half of the squad who didn't play in that game.
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No Bailey, sharp or Close even on bench
That's cos they played in the friendly v Gateshead. This is the other half of the squad who didn't play in that game.
Fair enough thought they would still be on the bench at least
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No GM said it would be this half of the squad he named all the players. MKDons have two first team games today one against us and the other half of the first team squad against Wealdstone
The MKDons acadamy playing aswell
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Keep the updates coming if you can, please. Sorry to hear the weather is awful!
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MK hit crossbar from free kick
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Bit early to tell, but how are we doing?
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10 mins. Great chance for Rovers on the break. Brilliant diagonal ball from Luke Molyneux is picked up by Jordan Gibson ahead of the keeper. He pulls a pass back for Harry Clifton whose shot is blocked and hacked clear.
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18.
Rovers lead - and it's Damola Ajayi continuing his fine pre-season form in front of goal. Luke Molyneux, switching to the left flank, gets the better of his man and sends a cross in which bounces through to the back post where Ajayi turns home.
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MK Dons have the ball in the back of the net from an Aaron Collins header but it's ruled out for offside
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Ajayi scores again... Grant's done it again hasn't he?
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Not been able to see MKs full line up but at least we know Collins, one of their major signings is playing.
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This is sounding promising so far. Keep it up, lads!
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MK have their star signings in attack playing against us but it looks like they've fielded a stronger defence and midfield in their other game.
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Goal
The lead is doubled. Damola Ajayi turns provider this time, surging to the byline and cutting the ball back for Luke Molyneux to turn in at close range.
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Saved
Thimothée Lo-Tutala makes a comfortable save from Aaron Collins' shot from the edge of the box.
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Saved
Jordan Gibson collects the ball 30 yards out and shifts onto his right foot before lashing a low effort that MK Dons keeper Craig MacGillivray gets behind well.
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28. Goal
MK Dons pull a goal back - and it's some goal as well. Kane Thompson-Sommers carries the ball into the middle and curls a brilliant effort into the far top corner from the edge of the box.
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3-1 rovers
Hanlon
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3-1 rovers
Hanlon
Brill.
33. Goal
The two goal margin is restored - and it's Brandon Hanlan on the scoresheet. It comes from his endeavour as he presses the defender, robs the ball away, pushes forward and lashes a shot home across goal.
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Shame about their goal, but this is sounding good!
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38. Saved
A corner is only half cleared out to George Broadbent, who brings the ball under control and drills a low shot which takes a deflection but it gathered at full stretch by Craig MacGillivray
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Saved
Luke Molyneux powers a free kick in from the right touchline and it needs a save from Craig MacGillivray to bat it away from goal.
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45+2
Half time
That's the break. And we lead at half time
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Saved
Thimothee Lo-Tutala gets down well at the foot of his post to keepe out Jack Sanders' downward header from a Liam Kelly free kick.
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Let's hope for more of the same in the second half
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Comments from MK forum...
East Wing Don wrote:
FilthyD wrote:
Not that it matters, but to me it looks a noticeably stronger side against Wealdstone - Jones, Thompson, Tomlinson, Offord, Gilbey, Collar, Hepburn-Murphy - all players you'd think would be our best 11. Only "best 11" players against Donny are Collins, NML, Sanders and Lemon.
Good to see Troso continue to get game time, but could end up just being like other pre-seasons where a couple of the academy players look strong and then disappear early in the season.
Yeah potential for a very demolishing results against Donny. No where near full strength 11 with only academy lads on the bench.
Strange decision, regardless of it being preseason.
It doesn't matter. Not a strange decision at all. Only focus is fitness.
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Posts: 1318
All three teams losing at HT:
Doncaster 3-1 MK
Wealdstone 1-0 MK
Leighton Town 1-0 MK XI/Dev Squad
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Zain Westbrooke replaces Harry Clifton at the break for Rovers
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So, their reputed ‘strongest’ 11 is losing to a National league side! Only half time in both games, of course.
In other news - Sheff U beating Rotherham 1-0 (ht) and Barnsley 2-0 up at Harrogate (with Bobby Faulkner playing).
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So, their reputed ‘strongest’ 11 is losing to a National league side! Only half time in both games, of course.
In other news - Sheff U beating Rotherham 1-0 (ht) and Barnsley 2-0 up at Harrogate (with Bobby Faulkner playing).
Yes, that made me chuckle seeing their other HT score.
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68. Missed
Jonathan Leko narrowly clears the crossbar from the edge of the box for MK Dons
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A bright start to the second half for Rovers with some excellent play down the right.
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69. 69
Huge penalty shout for Rovers. Damola Ajayi shows tremendous skill to twice beat his man from the touchline and surge into the box. He certainly seemed to have his heel clipped and he tumbled but the referee was unmoved.
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Any comments on how Grehan and Pearson are doing in defence, do they look like a good pairing?
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77. Shot blocked
It should be four for Rovers as the ball is pulled back to Luke Molyneux 15 yards out and he looks certain to find the bottom corner before an outstretched boot turns it narrowly off target.
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90+3
Full time
All over here. Another pre-season win for Rovers
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Missed
Aaron Collins looks to catch out Thimothee Lo-Tutala from the corner of the box but his effort is narrowly over.
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Barnsley 3-0
Sheff U 5-0
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So we won 3 1 and Wealdstone won 1. 0 so where most MKds first team players where they both lost.
So not a bad week really Our two first team squads of 22/23 players have scored 10 and conceded 1 against League 2 half squad and a National league squad
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I won’t today and I thought we looked sharp. Fit, organised, and ready for the start of the season.
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Had forgotten Warne had gone there. Will be one type of player and one style of play there. Nobody under 6”2 and pretty much everyone will have played for him before I bet.
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Any comments on how Grehan and Pearson are doing in defence, do they look like a good pairing?
They looked solid to me - very composed.
While I'm on, Mols was a different class, Sterry was excellent, Gibson started brightly but faded a bit. Westbrooke came on for Clifton and did a good job.
Love TLT and need him to distributed quicker and longer for Mols and Gibson.
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Had forgotten Warne had gone there. Will be one type of player and one style of play there. Nobody under 6”2 and pretty much everyone will have played for him before I bet.
MK were a big side. Heard Warne saying “don’t pass short, there is plenty of grass in behind”.
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McCanns thoughts on today
https://www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk/news/2025/july/19/mccann-wants-more-from-rovers-despite-mk-dons-friendly-win/
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His demands are nice and clear. The new boys will soon learn to win and win in the right way…No room for half heartedness…. A lot of folk moaned about the Blackpool friendly, it makes perfect sense, it’s basically a league 1 tester, so who’s up for it?
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Ajayi scores again... Grant's done it again hasn't he?
Hope you're right but I remember Aiden Barlow being prolific in pre season. Hard to judge these pre season games.
Having said that he does look a cut above. Sure he'll have struggles as all young players do but its all promising so far.
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Ajayi scores again... Grant's done it again hasn't he?
Hope you're right but I remember Aiden Barlow being prolific in pre season. Hard to judge these pre season games.
Having said that he does look a cut above. Sure he'll have struggles as all young players do but its all promising so far.
Seems like GM might have pulled one off with this signing, obviously spurs think something of him you don't play Europa league if not. But how he has hit pre season running think this kid could be a right handful for defences especially with freedom GM will give him.
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Listening to the interview McCann wasn’t happy about the 2nd half sounded like the team relaxed as we were 3-1 up and McCann wanted more. Think next Saturday will be the team that will play against Exeter barring injuries or someone not impressing Grant enough.
Ajayi had a nice interview, sounds like he has settled in well with the other players.
Hope he doesn’t turn into a Lowe situation I.e doing so well that spurs want to move him up a league or maybe back with them, hope he does well enough for us and them after January really pushes on to where McCann wants us to be
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Ajayi scores again... Grant's done it again hasn't he?
Hope you're right but I remember Aiden Barlow being prolific in pre season. Hard to judge these pre season games.
Having said that he does look a cut above. Sure he'll have struggles as all young players do but its all promising so far.
Seems like GM might have pulled one off with this signing, obviously spurs think something of him you don't play Europa league if not. But how he has hit pre season running think this kid could be a right handful for defences especially with freedom GM will give him.
Came on as 81st minute sub against Elfsborg. Scored in 84th minute.
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Grehan looks a player as well. Stepped out of defence with the ball a few times. Only got caught out once from memory against Collins who was at Bolton last season.
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Listening to the interview McCann wasn’t happy about the 2nd half sounded like the team relaxed as we were 3-1 up and McCann wanted more. Think next Saturday will be the team that will play against Exeter barring injuries or someone not impressing Grant enough.
Ajayi had a nice interview, sounds like he has settled in well with the other players.
Hope he doesn’t turn into a Lowe situation I.e doing so well that spurs want to move him up a league or maybe back with them, hope he does well enough for us and them after January really pushes on to where McCann wants us to be
Seemed to indicate he’d have made substitutions after 20 minutes. He was not happy.
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Not sure who Grant was referring to with ‘if you don’t run you won’t play’
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Not sure who Grant was referring to with ‘if you don’t run you won’t play’
Cliff asked Hanlon if he was alright second half . He replied Yes and Cliff said "Well f**king run then".
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Nice to know the management want and think players can do more, but it looks a good result to me especially the signings they have made.
Colchester who have made a couple of very good young signings I rate highly are a team I fancy to do well this season in division 2
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Pitchside highlights.
https://youtu.be/YsoRTcT9GFw?si=QAia_C_1FW4Zoovd
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Listening to the interview McCann wasn’t happy about the 2nd half sounded like the team relaxed as we were 3-1 up and McCann wanted more. Think next Saturday will be the team that will play against Exeter barring injuries or someone not impressing Grant enough.
Ajayi had a nice interview, sounds like he has settled in well with the other players.
Hope he doesn’t turn into a Lowe situation I.e doing so well that spurs want to move him up a league or maybe back with them, hope he does well enough for us and them after January really pushes on to where McCann wants us to be
Cliff was giving Hanlan some ear ache for not running enough.
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It’s also bearing in mind that Westbrook replaced Clifton at half time. We know Clifton puts himself about but Westbrook is not that sort of player! This, maybe, could be one of the factors that GM is wrestling with wrt Crew returning. Crew gave the team the intensity but also the vision to move the ball quicker. I hope he returns!
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Not sure who Grant was referring to with ‘if you don’t run you won’t play’
Cliff asked Hanlon if he was alright second half . He replied Yes and Cliff said "Well f**king run then".
If he’s not running then we have a problem, as Billy and the Joe of last season aren’t going to offer much in that regard.
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Not sure who Grant was referring to with ‘if you don’t run you won’t play’
Cliff asked Hanlon if he was alright second half . He replied Yes and Cliff said "Well f**king run then".
If he’s not running then we have a problem, as Billy and the Joe of last season aren’t going to offer much in that regard.
I know they’re not very fast, but Billy and Joe both work hard off the ball.
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I have just watched a video showing pitchside highlights of some of our attacking play against MKD.
It reinforces my comment the other day about Ajayi being sensational for us in L1 and him and Mols are going to terrorise defences this season.
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I have just watched a video showing pitchside highlights of some of our attacking play against MKD.
It reinforces my comment the other day about Ajayi being sensational for us in L1 and him and Mols are going to terrorise defences this season.
Hopefully. We will see. I’ve got a good feeling, but don’t forget that Aiden Barlow had a good pre-season as a trialist. Can’t read too much in to these games.
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I have just watched a video showing pitchside highlights of some of our attacking play against MKD.
It reinforces my comment the other day about Ajayi being sensational for us in L1 and him and Mols are going to terrorise defences this season.
Ajayi had a couple of great moments yesterday. Very early days and he needs to grow into the loan move but promising early signs. I would say that he doesn’t look like an absolute Rolls Royce technician which I thought he may do. He can certainly beat a man, has a strength to him when though he’s not big, put the effort in pressing form the 10 position and wanted to get into the box when we had the ball wide.
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I have just watched a video showing pitchside highlights of some of our attacking play against MKD.
It reinforces my comment the other day about Ajayi being sensational for us in L1 and him and Mols are going to terrorise defences this season.
What an exciting team we would be if we could add Charlie Crew to the squad.
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I have just watched a video showing pitchside highlights of some of our attacking play against MKD.
It reinforces my comment the other day about Ajayi being sensational for us in L1 and him and Mols are going to terrorise defences this season.
Ajayi had a couple of great moments yesterday. Very early days and he needs to grow into the loan move but promising early signs. I would say that he doesn’t look like an absolute Rolls Royce technician which I thought he may do. He can certainly beat a man, has a strength to him when though he’s not big, put the effort in pressing form the 10 position and wanted to get into the box when we had the ball wide.
Sounds a very fair assessment from what I've seen so far too. Promising but he's going to have to fight for a place, which we expect of course. Doubt he will be displacing Mols or Middleton/Gibson as starters, and depends if he gets chance to play no 10 role, how he adapts and does the mucky side of things, defending from the front, pressing etc. Likely to have the opportunities from the subs bench for a while plus trophy games.
As with all new young talents, we need to temper expectations and be patient. It's a whole different ball game when playing for points.
Hard to tell re Hanlan. Took his poached goal well. Once again, we can question the quality of crosses and cut backs in the box that we saw on the vid but Hanlan was no where near getting on the end of any (Not necessarily his fault) but that was a theme we saw from Ironside last season. Our no 9 not being where we want our no 9 to be. I think we function better when the front line rotates with lots of movement long, short, right, left etc, rather than a big lump just sat in the central areas who's easy to mark. Maybe that's what the shouts from the bench were about? We'll get to see more next week I guess.
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I have just watched a video showing pitchside highlights of some of our attacking play against MKD.
It reinforces my comment the other day about Ajayi being sensational for us in L1 and him and Mols are going to terrorise defences this season.
He has good close control, balance & pace. I think he’ll push Gibson for that wide spot.
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Apologies if I’ve missed it somewhere but I haven’t seen how we set up yesterday. Who sat with Broadbent? Who was wide and who played number 10?
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Friendlies are not the be all of the season coming up, but as a confidence builder they don't come a lot better than how we have gone in the games.
The two sides from the division I have watched Rotherham and Barnsley both against Harrogate so a good pointer.
Harrogete are not the greatest side work hard and first and formost know their game is based on firstly making it as difficult as possible for teams to play expansive football against them.
Rotherham didn't look any great shakes a team I think at a level we can easily compete with and just on une game so not really scientific were no better class than we were last season.
Barnsley however looked a different proposition all together, big strong composed and a good unit that knew what their job was, and when the moments arrived attacked with pace all over the pitch.
Yes Harrogate are not great but Barnsley looked yesterday a better side than any league 2 side we played against last season I watched, and if that is the standard then we are going to have to lift our game quite a bit from last seasons level to be successful.
Just an opinion and just on two games where Barnsley might have played better than the norm, and Rotherham look very much a side rebuilding and we should be competing with.
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If somebody told me to f**king run i would tell them to piss offer .If somebody told me to run I would take that advice as encouragement to do more .
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One more week’s working on the tactical side of things before the Blackpool game, so we should be seeing some sort of pattern in that game.
Whoever gets that ‘left of the 3’ slot, they’re going to have to work very hard. Last season, I thought Gibbo let the side down a little with that issue and wasn’t working in sync with his full back, unlike Mols with Sterry.
I wonder if Grant will be tempted to try Mols in that central attacking role? But then, isn’t that going to be Gott’s position? All fascinating stuff, with both Ajayi and Middleton also chomping at the bit.
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Apologies if I’ve missed it somewhere but I haven’t seen how we set up yesterday. Who sat with Broadbent? Who was wide and who played number 10?
So far there is a difference between Ajayi and Gibson that is goals. Gibson has not taken several
of the chances in his preseason games but Ajayi has. Both have got to prove themselves in league 1 but we have quite a few players who have to do that. Next weeks game against Blackpool will be interesting and could be a leveller
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Apologies if I’ve missed it somewhere but I haven’t seen how we set up yesterday. Who sat with Broadbent? Who was wide and who played number 10?
Clifton played first half with Broadbent, Westbrooke second half. Mols, Gibson wide and Ajayi in the 10 although that 3 were very fluid.
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I'm convinced Middleton will get the nod for the left side and will work well with Maxwell in support. When sawpping flanks, Middleton can deliver equal quality crosses with left or right plus he's good on free kicks.
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What’s happened to the 4-2-3-1? Has it been resigned?
At this moment in time, and certainly leading up to our last friendly, I’m interested in how we’re going to cope defensively! Having read Selby’s synopsis on Harrogate v Barnsley game, we’re going to have to be switched on when we havn’t got the ball.
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I have just watched a video showing pitchside highlights of some of our attacking play against MKD.
It reinforces my comment the other day about Ajayi being sensational for us in L1 and him and Mols are going to terrorise defences this season.
Ajayi had a couple of great moments yesterday. Very early days and he needs to grow into the loan move but promising early signs. I would say that he doesn’t look like an absolute Rolls Royce technician which I thought he may do. He can certainly beat a man, has a strength to him when though he’s not big, put the effort in pressing form the 10 position and wanted to get into the box when we had the ball wide.
Sounds a very fair assessment from what I've seen so far too. Promising but he's going to have to fight for a place, which we expect of course. Doubt he will be displacing Mols or Middleton/Gibson as starters, and depends if he gets chance to play no 10 role, how he adapts and does the mucky side of things, defending from the front, pressing etc. Likely to have the opportunities from the subs bench for a while plus trophy games.
As with all new young talents, we need to temper expectations and be patient. It's a whole different ball game when playing for points.
Hard to tell re Hanlan. Took his poached goal well. Once again, we can question the quality of crosses and cut backs in the box that we saw on the vid but Hanlan was no where near getting on the end of any (Not necessarily his fault) but that was a theme we saw from Ironside last season. Our no 9 not being where we want our no 9 to be. I think we function better when the front line rotates with lots of movement long, short, right, left etc, rather than a big lump just sat in the central areas who's easy to mark. Maybe that's what the shouts from the bench were about? We'll get to see more next week I guess.
I think we could be better orchestrated when the ball is in wide positions. It all seems to be a bit too off the cuff when more thought could go into the movements and placing of the cut backs/ crosses.
Something i said to Phil yesterday is that when Mols is crossing on his right foot from the right, there has to be a front post runner. It’s just maths, the ball goes there more than it goes anywhere else, it will be the most profitably run long term.
Another thing that concerned me yesterday (and last season really) is how poor we are at counter attacking from deeper positions. We are good when we turn over high up the pitch but there doesn’t appear to be much planning on the attacks from deeper.
Last season we were good but we were fairly predictable. Play 352 against us and we can be shut down fairly easily. I’m mindful that against better teams, with better coaches, teams may find our style out pretty quickly.
We need to improve our counter attack play and be able to find a route to goal playing through the middle of the pitch. You need three ways of playing to be a very good team.
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I have just watched a video showing pitchside highlights of some of our attacking play against MKD.
It reinforces my comment the other day about Ajayi being sensational for us in L1 and him and Mols are going to terrorise defences this season.
Ajayi had a couple of great moments yesterday. Very early days and he needs to grow into the loan move but promising early signs. I would say that he doesn’t look like an absolute Rolls Royce technician which I thought he may do. He can certainly beat a man, has a strength to him when though he’s not big, put the effort in pressing form the 10 position and wanted to get into the box when we had the ball wide.
Sounds a very fair assessment from what I've seen so far too. Promising but he's going to have to fight for a place, which we expect of course. Doubt he will be displacing Mols or Middleton/Gibson as starters, and depends if he gets chance to play no 10 role, how he adapts and does the mucky side of things, defending from the front, pressing etc. Likely to have the opportunities from the subs bench for a while plus trophy games.
As with all new young talents, we need to temper expectations and be patient. It's a whole different ball game when playing for points.
Hard to tell re Hanlan. Took his poached goal well. Once again, we can question the quality of crosses and cut backs in the box that we saw on the vid but Hanlan was no where near getting on the end of any (Not necessarily his fault) but that was a theme we saw from Ironside last season. Our no 9 not being where we want our no 9 to be. I think we function better when the front line rotates with lots of movement long, short, right, left etc, rather than a big lump just sat in the central areas who's easy to mark. Maybe that's what the shouts from the bench were about? We'll get to see more next week I guess.
I think we could be better orchestrated when the ball is in wide positions. It all seems to be a bit too off the cuff when more thought could go into the movements and placing of the cut backs/ crosses.
Something i said to Phil yesterday is that when Mols is crossing on his right foot from the right, there has to be a front post runner. It’s just maths, the ball goes there more than it goes anywhere else, it will be the most profitably run long term.
Another thing that concerned me yesterday (and last season really) is how poor we are at counter attacking from deeper positions. We are good when we turn over high up the pitch but there doesn’t appear to be much planning on the attacks from deeper.
Last season we were good but we were fairly predictable. Play 352 against us and we can be shut down fairly easily. I’m mindful that against better teams, with better coaches, teams may find our style out pretty quickly.
We need to improve our counter attack play and be able to find a route to goal playing through the middle of the pitch. You need three ways of playing to be a very good team.
Totally agree. I think we improved with the extra mobility and pace of Street when he peeled off into wider areas creating space in the middle.
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What’s happened to the 4-2-3-1? Has it been resigned?
At this moment in time, and certainly leading up to our last friendly, I’m interested in how we’re going to cope defensively! Having read Selby’s synopsis on Harrogate v Barnsley game, we’re going to have to be switched on when we havn’t got the ball.
Yes, I think they're going to be a decent team although I'm convinced they're going to lose Keillor-Dunn before the window closes. He's just moved into a new house opposite a mate of mine on the outskirts of Middlesbrough, although he is a North East lad.
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What’s happened to the 4-2-3-1? Has it been resigned?
At this moment in time, and certainly leading up to our last friendly, I’m interested in how we’re going to cope defensively! Having read Selby’s synopsis on Harrogate v Barnsley game, we’re going to have to be switched on when we havn’t got the ball.
Yes, I think they're going to be a decent team although I'm convinced they're going to lose Keillor-Dunn before the window closes. He's just moved into a new house opposite a mate of mine on the outskirts of Middlesbrough, although he is a North East lad.
Alfie commutes from Bircotes to Birmingham tbf.
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Having a focal point striker who occupies centre halves and drops deeper is fine if you have someone alongside him or out wide who makes runs in behind at pace.
Hence why Adelakun worked with Ironside.
Gibson more of a ball to feet creative player, which is why he and the team then got better when Street came in to stretch it through the middle.
If Hanlan gets injured we need players like Middleton and Ajayi to hopefully offer that movement where Billy and Joe don’t. Not sure if the new boys are quick and direct or not.
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What’s happened to the 4-2-3-1? Has it been resigned?
At this moment in time, and certainly leading up to our last friendly, I’m interested in how we’re going to cope defensively! Having read Selby’s synopsis on Harrogate v Barnsley game, we’re going to have to be switched on when we havn’t got the ball.
Yes, I think they're going to be a decent team although I'm convinced they're going to lose Keillor-Dunn before the window closes. He's just moved into a new house opposite a mate of mine on the outskirts of Middlesbrough, although he is a North East lad.
I know you need different options but GM has signed a number of strikers but none of them are really of the same profile. Sharp, Ironside, Street, Hanlan are all different. Does he not realise that there is probably an optimal profile for the way he wants to play? Feels like it lacks a little depth of thought and consistency recruitment wise. Signing a good player with the right profile is better than signing a great player with the wrong profile.
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Yet to see Hanlan, but, for me, Street was the one that just ‘fit’ the way GM likes to play. Obviously, Lincoln playing hardball and who can blame them.
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Yet to see Hanlan, but, for me, Street was the one that just ‘fit’ the way GM likes to play. Obviously, Lincoln playing hardball and who can blame them.
He did for the profile but I don’t think Street is actually as good as he looked for us. Short term over performance.
I think he will hand a poor season for Lincoln.
He’s a good lad, happy to be proved wrong.
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Yet to see Hanlan, but, for me, Street was the one that just ‘fit’ the way GM likes to play. Obviously, Lincoln playing hardball and who can blame them.
Not seen a match yet this pre season but from the small snippets of video we have it looks like we're going to be a different kettle of fish this season without a Street type running down the middle and stretching defences, I don't know if Hanlon is going to replicate that style or if he brings other factors that will enhance our attack but its going to be different with our current players.
If our wide players get marked out of the game then we may struggle to create, this league will be a good step up from last season, i'm thinking of the games where we got found out and had to revert to plan C, if that happens this season we'll have issues
What we do have extra this season is players like Middleton, Ajayi, Gotts who will be stronger competition for the established players, this should drive up standards.
Its going to be interesting to see the side next week against Blackpool, looks like it will be a season opener trial, cant wait, expectations rising nicely.
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What’s happened to the 4-2-3-1? Has it been resigned?
At this moment in time, and certainly leading up to our last friendly, I’m interested in how we’re going to cope defensively! Having read Selby’s synopsis on Harrogate v Barnsley game, we’re going to have to be switched on when we havn’t got the ball.
Yes, I think they're going to be a decent team although I'm convinced they're going to lose Keillor-Dunn before the window closes. He's just moved into a new house opposite a mate of mine on the outskirts of Middlesbrough, although he is a North East lad.
I know you need different options but GM has signed a number of strikers but none of them are really of the same profile. Sharp, Ironside, Street, Hanlan are all different. Does he not realise that there is probably an optimal profile for the way he wants to play? Feels like it lacks a little depth of thought and consistency recruitment wise. Signing a good player with the right profile is better than signing a great player with the wrong profile.
Seems a bit harsh for a manager who won the league last year and has so much experience as a coach & manager to question if he realises the optimal profile for the way he plays. I’m sure he knows it better than most of us on this forum? But you can’t just go out and buy a striker ‘off the peg’ to fit the profile. I have every confidence he’ll either mould whoever he brings in to suit his style of play or adapt his style of play to suit the players he brings in. Either way, in GM I trust and hope it works - you never know until it happens, but I’ve every confidence in him.
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Apologies if I’ve missed it somewhere but I haven’t seen how we set up yesterday. Who sat with Broadbent? Who was wide and who played number 10?
Clifton played first half with Broadbent, Westbrooke second half. Mols, Gibson wide and Ajayi in the 10 although that 3 were very fluid.
thank you
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What’s happened to the 4-2-3-1? Has it been resigned?
At this moment in time, and certainly leading up to our last friendly, I’m interested in how we’re going to cope defensively! Having read Selby’s synopsis on Harrogate v Barnsley game, we’re going to have to be switched on when we havn’t got the ball.
Yes, I think they're going to be a decent team although I'm convinced they're going to lose Keillor-Dunn before the window closes. He's just moved into a new house opposite a mate of mine on the outskirts of Middlesbrough, although he is a North East lad.
I know you need different options but GM has signed a number of strikers but none of them are really of the same profile. Sharp, Ironside, Street, Hanlan are all different. Does he not realise that there is probably an optimal profile for the way he wants to play? Feels like it lacks a little depth of thought and consistency recruitment wise. Signing a good player with the right profile is better than signing a great player with the wrong profile.
Seems a bit harsh for a manager who won the league last year and has so much experience as a coach & manager to question if he realises the optimal profile for the way he plays. I’m sure he knows it better than most of us on this forum? But you can’t just go out and buy a striker ‘off the peg’ to fit the profile. I have every confidence he’ll either mould whoever he brings in to suit his style of play or adapt his style of play to suit the players he brings in. Either way, in GM I trust and hope it works - you never know until it happens, but I’ve every confidence in him.
Top level clubs get recruitment wrong so we are allowed to.
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I think Grant like options that enable him to totally change the set up, having different types of strikers enables that.
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They all do have different attributes and qualities but only one of them can run. That’s a bit of a problem for a side that aims to play on the quick counter.
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Midfield centrally worries me. Haven't seen Gotts but Bailey Broadbent and Clifton aren't going to cause a problem offensively if our wingers get marked out the game
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What’s happened to the 4-2-3-1? Has it been resigned?
At this moment in time, and certainly leading up to our last friendly, I’m interested in how we’re going to cope defensively! Having read Selby’s synopsis on Harrogate v Barnsley game, we’re going to have to be switched on when we havn’t got the ball.
Yes, I think they're going to be a decent team although I'm convinced they're going to lose Keillor-Dunn before the window closes. He's just moved into a new house opposite a mate of mine on the outskirts of Middlesbrough, although he is a North East lad.
I know you need different options but GM has signed a number of strikers but none of them are really of the same profile. Sharp, Ironside, Street, Hanlan are all different. Does he not realise that there is probably an optimal profile for the way he wants to play? Feels like it lacks a little depth of thought and consistency recruitment wise. Signing a good player with the right profile is better than signing a great player with the wrong profile.
Seems a bit harsh for a manager who won the league last year and has so much experience as a coach & manager to question if he realises the optimal profile for the way he plays. I’m sure he knows it better than most of us on this forum? But you can’t just go out and buy a striker ‘off the peg’ to fit the profile. I have every confidence he’ll either mould whoever he brings in to suit his style of play or adapt his style of play to suit the players he brings in. Either way, in GM I trust and hope it works - you never know until it happens, but I’ve every confidence in him.
Top level clubs get recruitment wrong so we are allowed to.
Who says we have it wrong? The season hasn't even started and no-one as seen any player in great detail yet. I personally believe we have a good squad for league one and still there are spaces for loans if required. Rovers have done a great job this summer. We are scoring goals at the moment. My guess is we are going down with everyone's views some say defense isn't right, some say midfield isn't right and some say upfront isn't right.many have said the same every pre season, I could expect it pre Mccann, but he doesn't get much wrong and he seems confident of a decent season. Im going for top half / playoffs by the end of the season
Can't wait. Then if we need it season 2 in league one to blitz it. Come on Rovers!
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What’s happened to the 4-2-3-1? Has it been resigned?
At this moment in time, and certainly leading up to our last friendly, I’m interested in how we’re going to cope defensively! Having read Selby’s synopsis on Harrogate v Barnsley game, we’re going to have to be switched on when we havn’t got the ball.
Yes, I think they're going to be a decent team although I'm convinced they're going to lose Keillor-Dunn before the window closes. He's just moved into a new house opposite a mate of mine on the outskirts of Middlesbrough, although he is a North East lad.
I know you need different options but GM has signed a number of strikers but none of them are really of the same profile. Sharp, Ironside, Street, Hanlan are all different. Does he not realise that there is probably an optimal profile for the way he wants to play? Feels like it lacks a little depth of thought and consistency recruitment wise. Signing a good player with the right profile is better than signing a great player with the wrong profile.
Seems a bit harsh for a manager who won the league last year and has so much experience as a coach & manager to question if he realises the optimal profile for the way he plays. I’m sure he knows it better than most of us on this forum? But you can’t just go out and buy a striker ‘off the peg’ to fit the profile. I have every confidence he’ll either mould whoever he brings in to suit his style of play or adapt his style of play to suit the players he brings in. Either way, in GM I trust and hope it works - you never know until it happens, but I’ve every confidence in him.
Top level clubs get recruitment wrong so we are allowed to.
Who says we have it wrong? The season hasn't even started and no-one as seen any player in great detail yet. I personally believe we have a good squad for league one and still there are spaces for loans if required. Rovers have done a great job this summer. We are scoring goals at the moment. My guess is we are going down with everyone's views some say defense isn't right, some say midfield isn't right and some say upfront isn't right.many have said the same every pre season, I could expect it pre Mccann, but he doesn't get much wrong and he seems confident of a decent season. Im going for top half / playoffs by the end of the season
Can't wait. Then if we need it season 2 in league one to blitz it. Come on Rovers!
Nobody is really saying it’s wrong are they? Read the previous posts in context.