Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: selby on March 07, 2026, 08:00:11 pm
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A very important game to try and get back on track and losing isn't to become a Habit again after our little run of better results.
Luton with money at their disposal and very recently a premiership side must be more disappointed than ourselves being in 11th place in the division and eight points off a play off place and will surely expect to at least have a chance of getting back on track against us on Tuesday.
Today they lost at home to Reading who had Ehibhatiomhan scoring a hat trick, something they may not be up against when they play us.
As for us today we put up a decent show but again lost as in both penalty areas we are not the greatest and also don't carry a lot of luck with the ball falling for us at times like it seems to do for others for example both their goals although most teams get the ball in our six yard box more regular than we do.
Team selection will also include fitness levels and any knocks after today where we put a lot of energy into the game and played three recognised centre backs which for the most part worked Pearson having a decent game.
A lot on the game for us, lots of questions to answer, can we get the goals and tighten up the defence that can keep us up? have we the players and the management nous to achieve the number of points to survive in this division? would you make any changes to todays line up?
Lots to discuss, lots to look forward to, please have your say.
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A tough tough few games, and I’m not confident this will game will turn the tide.
We just have to stand together and back them in the run in, we are good enough for this level!
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A fast, high press at the start of the match like today and we could build a lead they can't come back from. Elliot Lee is getting up to speed, the team are working hard and Zander is doing well in goal. Rovers can do this.
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Luton aren't great away from home, plus Blackpool play on wednesday rather than Tuesday so will have less rest than us, 6 points this week will do wonders.
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Luton have not won in Doncaster since 1955.
It’s looking….. hopeful
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A fast, high press at the start of the match like today and we could build a lead they can't come back from. Elliot Lee is getting up to speed, the team are working hard and Zander is doing well in goal. Rovers can do this.
High press means a higher line of that back 3 against Devante Cole.
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I would stick for now with the same personnel in the back 3. Constantly chopping and changing in that area of the pitch is a big no imo. Just keep working on crosses in training and tell McGrath to keep things simple, hold his line and the let the nominated midfielder deal with things in a little bit in front of him so he’s not stepping out so much. Just for now until we get safe and see the season out.
One change I would make is getting Molyneux more central (and forward!) more often as in L1 the defenders have been very comfortable keeping him to the outside of them. Adelukan and Molyneux worked so well together in L2 because both got central and as close to the CF (Ironside) as possible. So many times 1 of Adelakun or Molyneux found themselves one on one with the goalkeeper bang in the middle.
———————Clark
———Byrne/Pearson/McGrath
Sterry——Bailey—Gotts——Senior
————Molyneux—Lee
———————Hanlan
I know he likes Clifton and he puts everything in but you don’t need 3 work horses in that area of the pitch when you’ve got Bailey & Gotts.
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I thought the formation was much better yesterday, it gave us a chance to compete and kept us tighter through the middle. Personnel issues still the problem, and our lack of cutting edge plus our disorganisation defensively costing us dearly.
McGrath to come out, it’s not working. Reluctantly I’d drop Bailey in the back three and bring Haks in the front three with Lee and Hanlon to give us more creativity, with Clifton sitting deeper to press across the middle. Otherwise keep it the same to build some consistency and understanding.
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Reg, a good shout that. But I will be surprised if its the way we go.
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I’m not sure we can have those three together at the back. Simply not mobile enough. Maybe bring in Senior at least on the left side. Not sure who could come in on right side of the three - Sterry? Bailey?
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Keep Pearson away from our line up
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Pearson didn’t play any worse than the other two centre backs yesterday.
Byrne was clearly at fault for there second.
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Clark/TLT (dont mind who)
Sterry. Byrne. Jay. Senior
Bailey. Gotts
Mols. Haks
Lee
Hanlon
Haks in the right mood is a game changer, its just finding that right mood.
Would bring middleton on around the 60-65 mark to run at tiring legs.
Cannot have pearson starting for me. He looks like he is in pain everytime he has to try and run. His legs have long gone.
Sharp can only be restricted to 15-20 mins for me. He will always be a legend but the clock has well and truly run down on him.
Only my personal opinions and fully understand that some will look at that and think no way.
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Clark would be first signing I’d make in summer when we stay up. Exactly the sort of experience and presence we’ve been needing in sticks for a few years. Good old boot on him too. Just tell him to ignore whatever Letheren says about not coming off line and taking everything and everyone at corners.
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Clark would be first signing I’d make in summer when we stay up. Exactly the sort of experience and presence we’ve been needing in sticks for a few years. Good old boot on him too. Just tell him to ignore whatever Letheren says about not coming off line and taking everything and everyone at corners.
I dont know what goes on with the goalkeeper coaching but every keeper appears to have been told to either punch or parry every cross or shot, even ones that could could be held comfortably.
Watched the A Coffee with TLT interview and TLT spoke of everybody he was asked about very highly and with a smile on his face.
When it came to Kyle, whilst it wasnt negative he wasnt as complinentry as others. Felt as though some of the comments were hard pushed and alot of it was abiut kyle learning alot as they go along.
I probably getting wrong end of the stick but just what i though in that moment
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Whoever plays the points are more important than the performance, we need to find a way to win.
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Clark would be first signing I’d make in summer when we stay up. Exactly the sort of experience and presence we’ve been needing in sticks for a few years. Good old boot on him too. Just tell him to ignore whatever Letheren says about not coming off line and taking everything and everyone at corners.
I dont know what goes on with the goalkeeper coaching but every keeper appears to have been told to either punch or parry every cross or shot, even ones that could could be held comfortably.
Watched the A Coffee with TLT interview and TLT spoke of everybody he was asked about very highly and with a smile on his face.
When it came to Kyle, whilst it wasnt negative he wasnt as complinentry as others. Felt as though some of the comments were hard pushed and alot of it was abiut kyle learning alot as they go along.
I probably getting wrong end of the stick but just what i though in that moment
We’ve had 3 goalkeepers this season and they’ve all done these same things so that must be instruction. All 3 practically rooted to their line on corners. Goalkeeper should be dealing with most of the balls we’ve faced and they’re a protected species at corners anyway so not taking more control is stupid isn’t it.
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My line up……for what its worth!
Clark
Sterry Byrne Bailey Senior
Gotts
Clifton Broadbent??? Lee
Moly Hanlan
We need x3 Baileys !!!!
But biggest issue right now is the defence - so strongest needed - which includes Bailey!!!
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I thought the keeper yesterday was in the right position expecting their player getting a touch on the ball straight in front of the goal.
The fault was he was free there, and had not been tracked or blocked
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Agreed selby.
Clark had to expect someone to get a touch on the cross and when they didn’t he had no chance of getting to the ball.
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Clark/TLT (dont mind who)
Sterry. Byrne. Jay. Senior
Bailey. Gotts
Mols. Haks
Lee
Hanlon
Haks in the right mood is a game changer, its just finding that right mood.
Not the first time I've asked but "what has he done to warrant starting"?
You mention that right mood. That's been his issue in league 1.
10 years ago he had all the potential of someone going on to have a career as a Championship player.
Interestingly Grant didn't want him in the Championship, indeed he only had him on loan in league 1 and instead he was signed by Lincoln and turned out just over 50 times in 3 seasons.
There's the issue of why after the play off defeat by Crewe with Grant publicly saying we're going to come back next season and win the league.
Why did Alelakun not immediately sign, did he think the club not capable, Grant not capable of doing that?
Let's set a challenge for a footballer.
You going to do everything possible and necessary to fight for a place in a relegation battle, accept a real challenge?
Or are you just skipping lunch?
Place your bets.
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Clark/TLT (dont mind who)
Sterry. Byrne. Jay. Senior
Bailey. Gotts
Mols. Haks
Lee
Hanlon
Haks in the right mood is a game changer, its just finding that right mood.
Not the first time I've asked but "what has he done to warrant starting"?
You mention that right mood. That's been his issue in league 1.
10 years ago he had all the potential of someone going on to have a career as a Championship player.
Interestingly Grant didn't want him in the Championship, indeed he only had him on loan in league 1 and instead he was signed by Lincoln and turned out just over 50 times in 3 seasons.
There's the issue of why after the play off defeat by Crewe with Grant publicly saying we're going to come back next season and win the league.
Why did Alelakun not immediately sign, did he think the club not capable, Grant not capable of doing that?
Let's set a challenge for a footballer.
You going to do everything possible and necessary to fight for a place in a relegation battle, accept a real challenge?
Or are you just skipping lunch?
Place your bets.
Hi Smyth. What are your thoughts on Glenn Middleton, does he rile you up just as much? Or is there something different about him?
The bigoted themes continue with your posts on Haks.
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There will be a Turquoise "fly" in the Ointment as well probably
https://www.drfc-vsc.co.uk/index.php?topic=294863.msg1408424#msg1408424
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We are getting into that part of the season where the players really need to show their mettle. Take advantage of Luton's poor form and put 3 more points on the board. Let's get behind the lads and support them instead of jeering them if things are not going to plan. We are the 12th man!
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We are getting into that part of the season where the players really need to show their mettle. Take advantage of Luton's poor form and put 3 more points on the board. Let's get behind the lads and support them instead of jeering them if things are not going to plan. We are the 12th man!
They were no great shakes at their place, they just had the legs in the team to gallop all over us. Similar to What Wycombe did, we just couldn’t lay a glove on them due to their physicality.
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Their recent away record in the league is terrible, one of the very worst.
Last 5 away league games have delivered 4 defeats and 1 draw. The draw was against rock bottom Port Vale.
In fact, they last won away in the league on 8 November and their record since has been 7 defeats and 2 draws.
This is a side who are very bad away from home in the league.