Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: selby on March 29, 2026, 12:04:50 pm
-
After a Saturday with no game for us and being transfixed keeping an eye on results of teams around us in the relegation area of the division which very much worked out OK for my nerves, we go on first to a hard localish fixture against first up Mansfield Town, always a hotly contested game both on and off the field of play.
Mansfield are not in bad form only a strong Arsenal side in the cup beating them in their last six games which also include credible results of an away draw at Bradford and a home win against an in form Reading team.
So a hard game in prospect in a game that could well solidify our hope of staying in division 1 for at least another year. As ever led by Nigel Clough we know that they will be a very organised team , hard to break down, physical, and competitive, and any slacking in our work rate and concentration will be punished, and is always an interesting watch.
Will Evans is their main striker on 11 goals in total with Oats and Akins also dangerous and a a defence that is uncompromising to say the least and are not shy of the physical side of the game, they will pose a hard challenge, backed up by their normal loud supporters.
With the early kick off and the promise of a hard game between two sides showing a bit of form it looks an attractive game for us watch.
Two games in four days and a long journey to Exeter on Monday could well test our team physically as we come up against another side who have not had the best of seasons and have only gained 2 points from their last six league games their latest a 0-0 draw yesterday to Leyton Orient.
Surprisingly they do however in the shape of Jeyden Wareham have a top class striker with 19 goals to his name in all games and carries on their knack of unearthing good strikers. so will be dangerous.
Unusually games against sides we beat early in the season when we showed a bit of early form and a chance for two doubles and also relieve any anxiety about relegation and able to just enjoy the last few fixtures.
As ever a lot to talk about and discuss after how well we have done lately, but still the old subjects of who is fit? can we keep the good run going? with a longer break to our next match, will that have been helpful? are you going to both games? please have your say.
-
I am quietly confident we will win both games. Is that my head or my heart saying this tho? :scarf: :scarf: :scarf:
-
EasyforDennis, I am not bothered I just hope your right mate.
-
Getting Mols back and fit for the action next Friday will be a big plus. I think that Rovers will be far more "up for it" than Mansfield and I reckon a 2-0 win there. Exeter at there place will be more difficult, they have a lot to play for and could well end up being turned over, however with our improved defensive performances I reckon we will come away with a point, 1-1.
-
EasyforDennis, I am not bothered I just hope your right mate.
I think if we do there would be quite a few on here getting a touch excited!!
-
4-6 points would be an excellent return if we beat Mansfield on Friday I’m convinced we will beat Exeter on Easter Monday
-
4 points would be great from those two games :thumbsup:
-
A City fan at my gym said that in the recent draw Mansfield were awful to watch. They were very physical, organised and stopped the flow of the game at every opportunity so probably not a match for the purists. I definitely think that we need to score first or it could be a long afternoon.
-
Think I would be more than happy with 2 draws from the two games TBH, although 3 points and a win against Exeter would also be a good outcome.
-
1230 bloody kick off, why.?
-
Mansfield haven’t won away in the league since December and have managed just a single goal in their last three away league games.
-
1230 bloody kick off, why.?
Im in the Dominican for this one, can I still pay for 12.30 games to watch live?
-
MPC ..yes via Rovers player plus ; you can pay for live stream per match ( when outside U.K. )
-
1230 bloody kick off, why.?
Suits me tbh, I'm off away for the weekend straight after.
-
If we win both games could we make a late playoff push or is it too late
-
MPC ..yes via Rovers player plus ; you can pay for live stream per match ( when outside U.K. )
Thank you, it seems to just direct me to subscription, rather than just 1 payment for the Mansfield game
-
If we win both games could we make a late playoff push or is it too late
We’d need to win all our remaining games and some of the teams above us go into free fall. Most unlikely but mathematically possible I suppose?
-
MPC ..yes via Rovers player plus ; you can pay for live stream per match ( when outside U.K. )
Thank you, it seems to just direct me to subscription, rather than just 1 payment for the Mansfield game
I’ve not done it for a few years but it used to only become available in the run up to the game (24 hours maybe?)
-
OK, Thank you
-
I have watched Mansfield quite a bit this season including their cup games, and their attacking strength is down each flank with their wide men stopping wide to the touch line and keen to take on the full back to get the ball into the box. a lot of their goals pull backs from the goal line.
There defence however are not that great when directly run at but will commit fouls to stop the runs around into the box and the danger area, and their mid field is more comfortable going forward in the oppositions half than playing in their own half., where they have the odd rush of blood and panic.
We will have to be at it ourselves, but are well capable of getting a result if we concentrate and play well.
-
I have watched Mansfield quite a bit this season including their cup games, and their attacking strength is down each flank with their wide men stopping wide to the touch line and keen to take on the full back to get the ball into the box. a lot of their goals pull backs from the goal line.
There defence however are not that great when directly run at but will commit fouls to stop the runs around into the box and the danger area.
We will have to be at it ourselves, but are well capable of getting a result if we concentrate and play well.
I think their biggest strength is their athleticism. Think they will try and run all over us early. Oates is rapid and him and Evans are a real handful up top.
The way to stop us as an attacking force is to play three at the back, and have three men (wide CH, Wing Back, and a striker) in the channels when defending. That forces us to play through the middle and often stagnates us.
We have a bit more quality in there currently with Gotts and Lee admittedly. Our midfield three up against Russell, Abbott and Henry will be an interesting match up.
They certainly have the profile of a team that could make it very difficult for us.
-
We need Mols back for these matches but it's all gone quiet about him. I fear he.may be out for the rest of the season.
-
We need Mols back for these matches but it's all gone quiet about him. I fear he.may be out for the rest of the season.
Grant literally said in this last presser that he will be back for this game.
-
Current tickets left for Mansfield- 1563
Which is decent for a midday kickoff and on sky plus
-
Both of these teams are guilty of giving us deluded "notions of grandeur" by allowing us to score winning goals in the 88th min (penalty) v Exeter & 96+ minute v Mansfield - both of whom I expected to get relegated .
For me consolidation not delusion was the order of the day for the season. Yes dreams are still free at least until the next budget. The 4-0 away win failed to con me that we would be in the upper echelons. That competition is notorious for providing at least one shock result every season in the first round
Pre-season this division was packed with plenty of "paper heavyweight teams" and it is going to be more packed with them next season .
Every year the gap between the League divisions widens & the gap to Non League closes. But we all know that.
Don't get conned into believing Lincoln & their two American owners haven't spent a fortune on players (£350,000 for a Ukranian -probably 500K for a Bromley monster center half) plus a lot of expensive loanees and a couple of pld heads signed (including tatoo man) Long in the toot Dareka has been a standout plus Mr Street in old man Collins absence- that old man Collins being out injured has been a godsend as they changed to a negative give the ball away and do the breakaway trick also being heavily reliant on the long ball throw ins - Neanderthal style. For years I have been saying we need a long throw in merchant (adelukan take note)
I do wonder if they somehow conned the Americans that Abraham Lincoln was born in Lincoln.
Contrary to general opinion here I believe having a poor pitch to play on has helped us get away from the relegation zone as well as the new faces. Cardiff are now playing passing for pass sake predictable football (like we did til recently) and
getting nowhere.
Finally re Mansfield on Jan 31st Wycombe murdered them at Mansfield in a 0-0 draw and the Mansfield defence were a rough lot and they looked like they would drop down the table sadly not quite.
-
I saw Mols in Asda at 6pm tonight and after a brief chat and handshake he confirmed he’s ready for Friday and back fully fit :scarf: also what a lad pleasure to club and to talk too
-
Everyone available tomorrow aside from Billy. Almost full squad.
-
MPC ..yes via Rovers player plus ; you can pay for live stream per match ( when outside U.K. )
Thank you, it seems to just direct me to subscription, rather than just 1 payment for the Mansfield game
MPC ..yes via Rovers player plus ; you can pay for live stream per match ( when outside U.K. )
All sorted now popped up tgis morning to purchase
-
Could anyone tell me what time the players are likely to turn up for tomorrow’s game please? Mate of mine is taking his lad.
-
I think that if he is there at 10 he should be there before any but the very earliest. When we have done the stadium tour they usually start coming into the home dressing room about two hours before kick off.
-
I think that if he is there at 10 he should be there before any but the very earliest. When we have done the stadium tour they usually start coming into the home dressing room about two hours before kick off.
Thanks very much idler
-
COYR. 2-1.
-
0-2 down and not a shot on target .. 70mins shocking !!!
-
1st was a lucky deflection
2nd was off side
-
Barring the post being hit , Not a single shot on target in 97 mins
-
1st was a lucky deflection
2nd was off side
Maybe so, but that doesn’t excuse an absolutely dreadful showing from us.
-
I hope we don't go down, but it's still a distinct possibility.
I'll just be glad now to see the back of this dreadful season.
-
Barring the post being hit , Not a single shot on target in 97 mins
In a local derby at home, not acceptable, & McCann should be letting the players know it. Take Gotts & Senior out of that team & we are nothing.
-
Their second, very tight! This screenshot a tiny fraction of a second before it was kicked, but enough to be offside. Win some lose some of these.
-
Their second, very tight! This screenshot a tiny fraction of a second before it was kicked, but enough to be offside. Win some lose some of these.
He’s in his own half.
-
Against a very poor team we managed to beat them into a race descending into serious depths of sh£#*ness. WTF!
-
1st was a lucky deflection
2nd was off side
excuses .. not reasons for poor performances .
-
Thought the second was a really good goal but it came from our corner ffs
-
First goal looked to originate from I think a very poor attempted clearance from Sterry and the second was a laughable mess of a corner. I see we have now gone back to outswinging corners, all of which today led predictably to the same result.
-
Thought the second was a really good goal but it came from our corner ffs
Correct but there was a very credible penalty shout after our player was pulled down before the ball was cleared and which led to the breakaway goal.
We also had another strong pen shout a bit earlier as well.
-
Their second, very tight! This screenshot a tiny fraction of a second before it was kicked, but enough to be offside. Win some lose some of these.
He’s in his own half.
A player is in an offside position if any part of their head, body, or feet is in the opponents' half and closer to the goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent (usually the last defender) when the ball is played to them.
Also, for interest:
a player is not in an offside position if they are behind the halfway line.
ie is offside if any part is touching the line as seen from above.
-
Their second, very tight! This screenshot a tiny fraction of a second before it was kicked, but enough to be offside. Win some lose some of these.
He’s in his own half.
A player is in an offside position if any part of their head, body, or feet is in the opponents' half and closer to the goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent (usually the last defender) when the ball is played to them.
My mistake. Thought that if you had a body part in your own half you were safe.
-
Well, that was a hard watch. We just seemed to be clueless. OK the pitch was terrible but same for them. The fact that we could still be dragged into a relegation scrap obviously hasn't reached the players yet. Going through the motions isn't going to cut it. Apart from Molly hitting the post early on, when I thought he should have played it across, we never threatened. Mansfield were no better but at least had a game plan and stuck to it. A defeat at Exeter and it's squeaky bum time. I know Rovers always do it the hard way but I really don't want to be facing the likes of, no disrespect, Fleetwood, Gillingham and Crawley again. I'm confident we'll survive but a few more performances like that and things will get twitchy. Incidentally, anyone on this forum remember Rovers 4 Mansfield 6 back in the late 60's? A hat trick from our centre forward, Trevor Ogden, and surely the worst goalkeeping performance of all time from our keeper, the unfortunate David Cromack.
Come on lads, a couple more wins and we're safely mid table. We'll get nothing from Reading so let's make sure we do the business in the other remaining games and can start building for a real push on next season. Lincoln have shown what a similar sized club to us can do so there's no reason that we can't be next.
Been following Rovers for 60 years, seen some ups and downs, and at the beginning of every season I always believe that this is going to be our year so let's see out this season and and take the division by storm next year. :rtid:
-
Completely different game I reckon if Molyneux buries that early effort, as he should. Even if he squared to it the others waiting. To not hit the target was dreadful. He did however look our only hope of a goal.
Adelakun was laughable. 18 months for him was always a crazy decision, that’s no after-timing either as I said it on the day and even argued the opinion with my mates. He further highlighted how really short-sighted, ineffective and lazy our current lot are at recruitment.
-
Their second, very tight! This screenshot a tiny fraction of a second before it was kicked, but enough to be offside. Win some lose some of these.
He’s in his own half.
A player is in an offside position if any part of their head, body, or feet is in the opponents' half and closer to the goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent (usually the last defender) when the ball is played to them.
Also, for interest:
a player is not in an offside position if they are behind the halfway line.
ie is offside if any part is touching the line as seen from above.
Looking at that photo their player looks like he could have been at least 2” offside.
-
Completely different game I reckon if Molyneux buries that early effort, as he should. Even if he squared to it the others waiting. To not hit the target was dreadful. He did however look our only hope of a goal.
Adelakun was laughable. 18 months for him was always a crazy decision, that’s no after-timing either as I said it on the day and even argued the opinion with my mates. He further highlighted how really short-sighted, ineffective and lazy our current lot are at recruitment.
The Haks one was just a massive trap wasn’t it. Extremely naive one and shows a real lack of options when it comes to choosing signings. I’d like to know the other names on the shortlist for that position.
-
That was a shocking performance today. Get anywhere near or inside the box and we were still passing the ball until we lost it.
So many of the players were very poor today, what topped it more me was in the second half Mols gained possession near the half way line and there were 3 Mansfield players in close proximity. He moved the ball down the line and the 3 tracked him, but not one of our players made any effort to support Mols, very poor indeed.
-
Scraping the barrel wanting a offsode for that.
Its easy when you can pause it afterwards but no chance you could confidently call an offside in realtime.
We would be fuming in the stands if we got pulled back for that.
-
That was a shocking performance today. Get anywhere near or inside the box and we were still passing the ball until we lost it.
So many of the players were very poor today, what topped it more me was in the second half Mols gained possession near the half way line and there were 3 Mansfield players in close proximity. He moved the ball down the line and the 3 tracked him, but not one of our players made any effort to support Mols, very poor indeed.
Yep three onto one, I was screaming’ somebody help him, but the rest of the team were miles away
-
Thought we were good-ish first half, if Moly scores that chance, and he absolutely should, its a different game. I don't really know what Mansfield's approach was. The front two just seemed to run around and press trying to force a mistake. They were just as poor as all the other sides we've played lately.
Another goal conceded within five minutes of the second half starting. And what a poor goal it was.
But its another game where our complete lack of depth up top was exposed again. Hanlon has done very well recently, but when he's forced off, we have to resort to Haks through the middle. It's cost us so much this season. In a really poor league, we'd be in the top ten with two decent number nines. No excuses for next season, it's very clear what it needs to be top ten in this division.
-
Hope the way we have recruited this season does not continue next season it has been very poor. We have some deadwood in the squad.
-
Thought we were good-ish first half, if Moly scores that chance, and he absolutely should, its a different game. I don't really know what Mansfield's approach was. The front two just seemed to run around and press trying to force a mistake. They were just as poor as all the other sides we've played lately.
Another goal conceded within five minutes of the second half starting. And what a poor goal it was.
But its another game where our complete lack of depth up top was exposed again. Hanlon has done very well recently, but when he's forced off, we have to resort to Haks through the middle. It's cost us so much this season. In a really poor league, we'd be in the top ten with two decent number nines. No excuses for next season, it's very clear what it needs to be top ten in this division.
How has Hanlon done very well? He is a striker. How many goals did he score today? Or in the match v PV? Or Barnsley? He might be all we can afford in terms of a #9 but he’s well out of his depth.
-
Well, that was a hard watch. We just seemed to be clueless. OK the pitch was terrible but same for them. The fact that we could still be dragged into a relegation scrap obviously hasn't reached the players yet. Going through the motions isn't going to cut it. Apart from Molly hitting the post early on, when I thought he should have played it across, we never threatened. Mansfield were no better but at least had a game plan and stuck to it. A defeat at Exeter and it's squeaky bum time. I know Rovers always do it the hard way but I really don't want to be facing the likes of, no disrespect, Fleetwood, Gillingham and Crawley again. I'm confident we'll survive but a few more performances like that and things will get twitchy. Incidentally, anyone on this forum remember Rovers 4 Mansfield 6 back in the late 60's? A hat trick from our centre forward, Trevor Ogden, and surely the worst goalkeeping performance of all time from our keeper, the unfortunate David Cromack.
Come on lads, a couple more wins and we're safely mid table. We'll get nothing from Reading so let's make sure we do the business in the other remaining games and can start building for a real push on next season. Lincoln have shown what a similar sized club to us can do so there's no reason that we can't be next.
Been following Rovers for 60 years, seen some ups and downs, and at the beginning of every season I always believe that this is going to be our year so let's see out this season and and take the division by storm next year. :rtid:
Play like that in our remaining 6 games and we'll lose them all!
-
Thought the second was a really good goal but it came from our corner ffs
It was a great finish, a finish that not one member of our squad currently would have the composure to execute.
-
Nice to see the linesman gave himself a 10 yard headstart so had to guess if he was offside or not.
-
As long as we don't lose to Exeter we should be okay, Exeter only have 5 games left to play and 3 of them are against play off chasing Stockport, Plymouth and Bradford, the other 2 are us and Burton.
-
Looking back at the first, Sterry neshed the block and turned his back. Had he committed he would have competed for the ball rather than hesitating and ducking out, which summed up our half arsed approach today.
-
Bailey did not seem much involved today and Molyneux was marked by as many as three opponents at times. To nullify them both was possibly Clough’s master plan. Our attacking was uncoordinated to say the least.
-
They were well organised, energetic and defended in numbers. Only hope we had was to get behind them with pace. Instead we did our usual tactic of lumping long balls up to an isolated Hanlan or trying to slowly play through them, despite having a midfield entirely ill suited to doing that. As a result we were limited to largely entirely harmless long distance shots.
-
They were well organised, energetic and defended in numbers. Only hope we had was to get behind them with pace. Instead we did our usual tactic of lumping long balls up to an isolated Hanlan or trying to slowly play through them, despite having a midfield entirely ill suited to doing that. As a result we were limited to largely entirely harmless long distance shots.
Elliot Lee was signed for his technical ability and he clearly has that. But 1 non-penalty goal and no assists in 12 games wasn’t what he was billed as.
-
They were well organised, energetic and defended in numbers. Only hope we had was to get behind them with pace. Instead we did our usual tactic of lumping long balls up to an isolated Hanlan or trying to slowly play through them, despite having a midfield entirely ill suited to doing that. As a result we were limited to largely entirely harmless long distance shots.
Elliot Lee was signed for his technical ability and he clearly has that. But 1 non-penalty goal and no assists in 12 games wasn’t what he was billed as.
Doesn’t fit our style one bit.
-
McCann doesn’t even know what style he/we are or want. That’s obvious with signings we’ve made in the same positions.
-
They were well organised, energetic and defended in numbers. Only hope we had was to get behind them with pace. Instead we did our usual tactic of lumping long balls up to an isolated Hanlan or trying to slowly play through them, despite having a midfield entirely ill suited to doing that. As a result we were limited to largely entirely harmless long distance shots.
Elliot Lee was signed for his technical ability and he clearly has that. But 1 non-penalty goal and no assists in 12 games wasn’t what he was billed as.
Don’t forget his super goal at Plymouth
-
You’ll go a long way to find a more positive supporter than me but that performance today was absolute garbage.
Thanks a lot Rovers for ruining the start of my Easter weekend.
A 3-and-a-half hour round trip, to watch a completely inept display against a poor opposition which we should have beaten comprehensively if we’d have actually bothered to turn up.
I’m struggling to find any positives from today, but being a loyal supporter, I’ll try:
Robbie Gotts: you can go home with your head held high mate, because you never stopped trying;
Luke Molyneux: Not at your best but Mansfield did a job on you because they know you’re our most dangerous player. When you have 3 men on you, you deserve back-up which you didn’t receive;
Jack Senior: another good performance, that shirt is yours.
Other than the above, we were terribly disappointing.
We play with 3 attackers and you look to them to hurt the opposition and cause them problems.
Moly tried.
Hanlan also tried but he’s not the quality we need.
Haks was dreadful.
So you then look to your midfield.
Bails was anonymous. It would take a wiser man than me to understand why, but he was ineffective today.
Elliot Lee. I’ve been patient with him but I’m sorry, this ‘superstar’ from Wrexham flatters to deceive. He has contributed nothing since he arrived and I hope we’re not tempted to give him a contract when Wrexham release him.
Mansfield are not a good team but we made them look good.
We need a huge clear-out if we are to deliver a squad capable of challenging in this division.
I can only think of 5 or 6 players I would keep.
-
Build up was interesting to watch yesterday, at the half way there was a reluctance to put the ball to the middle of the field, there was a hesitation and then an attempt to move the ball down one wing or the other. If it was moved towards the centre of the field it was inevitably lost and play switched. Just as against Port Vale and Luton we end up with a goal mouth scrambles ending in nothing, because we lack that killer instinct in the 6 yard box, that's the lack of "killer instinct" that GM refers to, and where Rovers need to recruit next season.
-
Thought we were good-ish first half, if Moly scores that chance, and he absolutely should, its a different game. I don't really know what Mansfield's approach was. The front two just seemed to run around and press trying to force a mistake. They were just as poor as all the other sides we've played lately.
Another goal conceded within five minutes of the second half starting. And what a poor goal it was.
But its another game where our complete lack of depth up top was exposed again. Hanlon has done very well recently, but when he's forced off, we have to resort to Haks through the middle. It's cost us so much this season. In a really poor league, we'd be in the top ten with two decent number nines. No excuses for next season, it's very clear what it needs to be top ten in this division.
How has Hanlon done very well? He is a striker. How many goals did he score today? Or in the match v PV? Or Barnsley? He might be all we can afford in terms of a #9 but he’s well out of his depth.
He can’t do it all on his own can he. Prime Alan Shearer couldn’t score in this team at the minute. Billy Sharp is one of the most prolific strikers in football league history, how many goals has he scored this season? Surprisingly, just lumping the ball up to a lone striker with no support doesn’t result in them scoring many goals.