Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: Filo on October 16, 2021, 05:23:32 pm
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Along with Wycombe being masters of the dark arts and a shocking ref, we were well beaten
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The midfield need three men to play around a single opposition player. We just keep knocking it backward because nobody shows for the ball. As soon as Galbraith came on he showed the lot of them how to play midfield.
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First half we played some good stuff, but the defending on two crosses was the difference. Second half we didn't have a clue.
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Didn’t lose to a better footballing team today, we were out muscled and lost to a team that were cute in their time wasting tactics and bullying of the opposition.
COYR
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Been saying this for ages now. Our defence has been terrible for far too long. Just see how many clean sheets we have kept over the last year. Different players, different managers, same result. They just seem psychologically unable to keep a clean sheet. It’s not even that porous it is just inevitable that the opposition always scores and we then spend rest of game failing to score, against ten men behind ball.
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Along with Wycombe being masters of the dark arts and a shocking ref, we were well beaten
We we’re beaten by a “Team” who play as such and have proven system that gets results . We just looked pathetic at the back and toothless in front of goal.
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I’d rather have Dennis De Souza than Williams
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Totally and comprehensively mestered today. Apart from that surge by Hiwula with a shot that hit the woodwork, we never seriously looked like being able to step up, once they had scored the two men-against-boys goals.
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I thought we played well today
But
Bostock is no good, Galbraith did much more in his short spell,
Cukur had his best game
Close played well
Vilca isn’t strong enough
Anderson has lost the plot
Doodoo was poor
Hiwula did well and was unlucky not to score
Wycombe created nothing other than the two headers which were defended woefully
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We really miss a decent defensive midfielder, really you would have thought that would have been one of the first signings wellens would have made
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Ref was appalling today and thats not an excuse. Williams I would carry on my back to Shrewsbury and then id put Knoyle on straight after to Cambridge. We cant keep letting Anderson get away with his form since Fleetwood either. The right winger got by Rowe everytime the ball went over that side too. He is not a full back ffs. Where do we even go from here with a midfield who never win 2nd balls, a back 4 who are soft as sh!t and a strike force who cant hit a barn door. Ive stuck up for Wellens on here but enoughs enough now, theyre his signings and IMO his job should hinge on the next 5 games. I absolutely hate it when our managers past and present bang on about being prepared physically and were bullied into a 0-2 position after 17mins. I can see attendances dithering more and more in the coming weeks because this group is not worth the cash or season ticket sales. What happened to the getting the fans off their seats tripe we got from Wellens?
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2 new CBS and a taxi for Smith back to Arsenal. Dodoo got an hour longer than he should have today as well
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I don’t like making scapegoats but I think that Williams looks like a competition winner, think he’s been absolutely hopeless for us. Ed Williams could probably make a better stab of it. He’s young and may improve but he needs taking out of the firing line for a while for me, hopefully John’s back soon but Oluwu has to start the next game.
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The defensive unit for much of last season was poor. For all of this season it has been worse. I get the point about resale value and signing younger players but we should have got two war horses in the summer as centre backs. Our spine is absolutely non-existent. Dahlberg got nowhere near two fairly pedestrian headers. Anderson and Williams are sadly powderpuff when it matters. Bostock, Galbraith and Close are all very talented but total lightweights. Neither Thiago or Dodoo can play as the focal point. It’s about as rigid as a damp tissue. Strange really as I would have thought Wellens would instinctively warm to solidity and strength. It’s pretty bad.
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I thought we played well today
But
Bostock is no good, Galbraith did much more in his short spell,
Cukur had his best game
Close played well
Vilca isn’t strong enough
Anderson has lost the plot
Doodoo was poor
Hiwula did well and was unlucky not to score
Wycombe created nothing other than the two headers which were defended woefully
I get what you are saying but we only played well where it didn’t matter, aside from a 10 min spell in the first half. As the game went on, we looked less likely to score. They totally managed us out of the game and we had absolutely no answer.
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Now I’ve stuck up for Wellens and the club from the start but what was that set up about today??? Playing one of the top teams and we play four attacking players, who let’s be honest aren’t too clever. Are they honestly any better than Bogle. Vilca’s like playing a 14 year old kid and Hiwula and Dodoo seem to lack any football intelligence. And the defence FFS, I know heading is frowned upon these days but you can try and get in the way of an opponent.
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Reminded me of us at Roots Hall in early 2004.
First 15 minutes, Leo and McIndoe. Bang, Bang.
Game over. Let them huff and puff, they've got nothing to hurt us.
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We were better than them for a large part of the first half, but F.....G SHOOT! FFS :headbang: :facepalm:
We could, and should have won that game but due to not shooting first time, the game fizzled out.
We can try and blame the ref (who was really bad) but if we don't shoot when we are in those positions when are we going too.
Yes we hit the bar, yes Vilca had a clear penalty denied - so there is still some hope, but we have to start shooting.
As a striker my eyes would light up as soon as it came to me, and I had one intention - not to f....ng pass.
Wycombe's tactics are awful with the time wasting they even employed in the first half. Be interesting to see how many minutes of actual football we saw today - and then only 3 minutes of extra time :lol:
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We are hopeless.
Can't do the basics in defence. No clue how to make anything happen in attack.
Yeah we played some nice triangles in the second half once Wycombe had decided that they'd already won the game, letting us have the ball knowing that we'd not do owt with it. And so it proved.
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I thought Akinfenwa held Williams down for 2nd goal should have been a free kick to us.
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Where do we even go from here with a midfield who never win 2nd balls, a back 4 who are soft as sh!t and a strike force who cant hit a barn door.
This all day long. Couldn’t have said it any better. Depressing to watch today.
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Aided and abetted by a tool of a referee, we end up being bullied by a one-dimensional team of cloggers who were unbelievably wide open down the flanks. Really, if we are going to gift teams like Wycombe three points, what's the point?
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You looked at that side in the second half when it really mattered and nobody was driving that forward. At a push, Tommy Rowe. It’s a team of the talented but meek and very mild. We’re getting rolled over as we are powderpuff physically and psychologically. All of this is a mystery as it is the antithesis of the Wellens mindset. He’s somehow managed to recruit and create a team of people who are the exact opposite to him. Bizarre.
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The excuse of key players being injured is not there anymore, we are still shit
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The excuse of key players being injured is not there anymore, we are still shit
WHO are our key players ??
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If the season ended now, the only players you could say had performed to their potential are Rowe, Galbraith and maybe Hiwula. That’s a very bad return.
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The excuse of key players being injured is not there anymore, we are still shit
Nail on the head I’m afraid. Said the exact thing to my old man. It seemed like we could use that excuse for a while still hoping things would be ok. I’m not so sure anymore
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Aided and abetted by a tool of a referee, we end up being bullied by a one-dimensional team of cloggers who were unbelievably wide open down the flanks. Really, if we are going to gift teams like Wycombe three points, what's the point?
Wycombe are joint top of the league with a game in hand. Whether you like their style or not, they're clearly extremely effective. Style wise they are all wrong for us and I fully expected us to get bullied and beaten today, as negative as that sounds. We will do much better against the more footballing sides in the league, such as MK Dons
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Honest question.
Which players have the potential to improve their performances to the extent that the team improves, and we stay up?
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I thought we played well today
But
Bostock is no good, Galbraith did much more in his short spell,
Cukur had his best game
Close played well
Vilca isn’t strong enough
Anderson has lost the plot
Doodoo was poor
Hiwula did well and was unlucky not to score
Wycombe created nothing other than the two headers which were defended woefully
Agree with all that except the Anderson has lost the plot line dickos. What he needs is a decent centre back partner.
Williams is poor in the air. Just simply not good enough and Cameron John and Joe Wrght are far better centre backs imo.
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3 months of pre season and I'd be a better option than Williams.
Hope he's banished once CJ is back up & running.
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I’d rather have Dennis De Souza than Williams
Williams is one of the worst defenders I have seen in 30 years in a rovers shirt
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Stewart for Wycombe today. Corrr. Head it kick it. He was great.
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The forward line will - Taylor Hiwula Dodoo & Fej all had disrupted seasons and still behind.
The defence is poor though, Williams is taking the flack yet he was the better defender of them all today and unlucky with the Akinfenwa goal, it should have been cancelled out due to being held down. His passing was much improved today, it has been shaky previously.
Anderson has been woeful for a long time, and im not convinced by the others either. Tommy is a good player we know that, but I think we all agree he needs to be further up the pitch. Knoyle I am not convinced by at all.
Owulu should be playing - he is a ball playing defender with speed - surely that is what RW wants, him alongside John would be my choice, with Seaman on the right. If we want to play from the back these are better options.
I feel more than robbed today in the fact we could have won, or drawn at the very least. I can just about cope with a poor ref, and teams employing certain tactics - I struggle with our team not shooting when having a clear sight at goal. They have destroyed any confidence the midfield and defenders may have had. Lord knows what RW must be thinking about them. :turd:
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I’m not sure Anderson is going to be what we need. There is no leader at the back.
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When there was a water break in the second half Anderson was stood near the centre circle when he should have been rallying his team.
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I thought we played well today
But
Bostock is no good, Galbraith did much more in his short spell,
Cukur had his best game
Close played well
Vilca isn’t strong enough
Anderson has lost the plot
Doodoo was poor
Hiwula did well and was unlucky not to score
Wycombe created nothing other than the two headers which were defended woefully
Agree with all that except the Anderson has lost the plot line dickos. What he needs is a decent centre back partner.
Williams is poor in the air. Just simply not good enough and Cameron John and Joe Wrght are far better centre backs imo.
Maybe he does, although I didn’t think Williams was that bad today.
And Anderson can’t blame his partner on his atrocious distribution or getting turned inside kit by anyone who tries it or in fact never winning a header.
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I've got my opinions on today's performance, and where I think we're headed as a club, but I'll wait until Tuesday, because our present position is somewhat mitigated by the fact that we've had a tough set of fixtures up to now.
Tuesday night sees us up against a team 5th from bottom, and potentially a relegation rival. We'll see then how well equipped we are to stay in this league.
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I thought we played well today
But
Bostock is no good, Galbraith did much more in his short spell,
Cukur had his best game
Close played well
Vilca isn’t strong enough
Anderson has lost the plot
Doodoo was poor
Hiwula did well and was unlucky not to score
Wycombe created nothing other than the two headers which were defended woefully
Agree with all that except the Anderson has lost the plot line dickos. What he needs is a decent centre back partner.
Williams is poor in the air. Just simply not good enough and Cameron John and Joe Wrght are far better centre backs imo.
Maybe he does, although I didn’t think Williams was that bad today.
And Anderson can’t blame his partner on his atrocious distribution or getting turned inside kit by anyone who tries it or in fact never winning a header.
Agree with this. Williams is not the dominant centre back that we need, but he wasn’t that bad today. As a unit, it is poor. Really poor. It’s at the worst at the back but it’s there throughout the team - there’s no talking, no communication, no energy between the team. They all play like they’ve just met. No leadership and no intensity. Just a load of lads knocking the ball about.
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Knoyle for me was really poor, but on a positive note Cucker showed a big improvement,
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I thought we played well today
But
Bostock is no good, Galbraith did much more in his short spell,
Cukur had his best game
Close played well
Vilca isn’t strong enough
Anderson has lost the plot
Doodoo was poor
Hiwula did well and was unlucky not to score
Wycombe created nothing other than the two headers which were defended woefully
They didn’t need to create anything after the two goals, second half we were toothless & clueless, an absolute walk in the park for them. Won it at a canter.
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Knoyle for me was really poor, but on a positive note Cucker showed a big improvement,
I also though Cukur had his best game for us (that I have seen). Really good he was.
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He did have his best game, but it's a sign of how far out expectations have dropped if we think that was really good. It was a 6/10 performance at best.
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They didn’t need to know but neither did Ipswich or Rotherham.
We could’ve easily had 2/3 goals today against one of the favourites for promotion, our improvements have improved from what they were a month or so ago,
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He did have his best game, but it's a sign of how far out expectations have dropped if we think that was really good. It was a 6/10 performance at best.
Once some folk decide they don’t rate a player they can never acknowledge anything positive about him.
He was our best attacking player today, doodoo was very poor, hiwulu looked good in spells
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Hiwula was very impressive in first half and good in much of second half. Not a good match for Dodoo today. Thiago it would be hard to say carried more threat than Hiwula. He’s getting better but nobody seriously thinks he is going to score when he is in the box. At least not yet.
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We have no leaders and about 2 decent players in Rowe (out of position) and Galbraith (not even our player).
We are crap and totally boring to watch. I have a ST but I think I’ll find better things to do on a Saturday afternoon from now on.
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I said it in a thread earlier in the week, we were very unlikely to win today. I wouldn’t be judging us too harshly on games like today. Improved performance coming on Tuesday. Another physical team in Gills but a pretty poor one.
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The shouting for Jon Taylor was a particular low point today. A guy i would let kick me full in the face when fully fit never mind coming back from months injured. I get the support for players i do honestly but at no point do i believe this squad are genuinely earning their cash. So for me they deserve all the critisism that comes their way.
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They were w**k, looked like they'd been beaten before a ball was kicked.
The team has no clue where the next goal is coming from. Surely its time for RW to be a bigger man and get Omar Bogle back into the team?
Couldn't do any harm in my opinion
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Bogle is heads and shoulders above any of our other players in centre forward position. He'll never play again for the Rovers though.
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He did have his best game, but it's a sign of how far out expectations have dropped if we think that was really good. It was a 6/10 performance at best.
Nope, sorry but I thought he was very good.
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You lot calling for Bogle are an absolute joke. Dont throw the other strikers at me either. Id rather have an inexperienced Cukur than an effortless Bogle anyday. The fact his name is being spoke about is beyond a joke.
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We have no leaders and about 2 decent players in Rowe (out of position) and Galbraith (not even our player).
We are crap and totally boring to watch. I have a ST but I think I’ll find better things to do on a Saturday afternoon from now on.
If every supporter threw the towel in because their team was at the wrong end of the table then they would be playing in completely empty grounds. It is times like now when our team needs our support most.
I will be there for every home game, to me being a supporter means going to see my team through thick and thin.
We have no divine right to be at the top end of the table season after season.
Your money your spending of course so if you want to vote with your feet by finding something else to do then that’s your choice.
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You lot calling for Bogle are an absolute joke. Dont throw the other strikers at me either. Id rather have an inexperienced Cukur than an effortless Bogle anyday. The fact his name is being spoke about is beyond a joke.
I have to agree with that. If some had seen that pathetic excuse of a performance by Bogle in the pre season game at Harrogate then they would know that a lack of effort is simply not acceptable and RW is not going to play someone who is not prepared to work hard. Let alone show some semblance of a football brain.
RW was pulling his hair out that afternoon.
He gave him the opportunity after that game and he still showed no semblance of hard work or football ability for League 1 level. IMO.
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Bogle is heads and shoulders above any of our other players in centre forward position. He'll never play again for the Rovers though.
Cukur today provided a performance much better than any Bogle has in his time here
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I know Wycombe are operating a level above us so our season isn’t defined by that but it’s so frustrating that with a international break (which I don’t think does is any favours by the way) we come up against a team who will play one way and we just have no answers for it. Didn’t make it uncomfortable for them at any time.
Seriously need to be setting a date by which if we’re still bottom or in the relegation zone where a change is made. The next few games are so important if we can’t pick up points and show some improvement I can’t see us getting out with the current set up
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Cukur was my man of the match today. It just went so downhill when subs were made
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Thought Close was our best player
Agreed Ref and West stand lino very poor
Only one team tried to play any football and it wasn't Wycombe
As expected we were bullied all around the pitch
People say the defence was poor yet they only had 3 efforts on target
Akinfenwas goal should have been disallowed clear foul
Yes we should have had a pelanty 1st half ....... sorry listening to DM too much on Dee Dah
Time wasting from 1st minute and allowed to get away with it
Thete are signs of improvement but sadly not in and around the box
Tuesday will be a defining moment in our season
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He did have his best game, but it's a sign of how far out expectations have dropped if we think that was really good. It was a 6/10 performance at best.
Once some folk decide they don’t rate a player they can never acknowledge anything positive about him.
He was our best attacking player today, doodoo was very poor, hiwulu looked good in spells
It's possible for a player to be simultaneously
a) our best player and
b) not "very good"
Cukur met both those standards today.
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The next three games will see where we are at as a team.
I full expect us to pick up a minimum of 5 points, and hopefully 7.
There are improvements in the team, we weren't that bad this afternoon, with a fair wind we could've been level by half time.
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I said it in a thread earlier in the week, we were very unlikely to win today. I wouldn’t be judging us too harshly on games like today. Improved performance coming on Tuesday. Another physical team in Gills but a pretty poor one.
Yep, I'll go with that. Today was almost literally a catch-weight contest. It's hard to know what the difference between the sides was because Wycombe effectively had the game sewn up after 20 minutes and were in game management mode after that.
Tuesday and next Saturday are huge games, more for the performances than the points. We need to show that we can more than match our relegation rivals.
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BST I know its a bit early to be going with the stats – you normally jump in around march/april at other end of the table teasing with the bait of a play off place. We're roughly 25% of the way through on 11 games and have got 7 points. By my crap stats maths we need to double our success rate to get just over a point from remaining games to stay up. I know it doesn't really work like that in real life but what's your take on the turnaround needed to give us a chance of avoiding going to Crawley Town 22/23.
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With all due respect, you can shove stats…..
I fully expect us to beat Gillingham on Tuesday & Cheltenham the following Saturday.
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I know Wycombe are one of the favourites to go up but I just found today’s performance absolutely naive. Professional players not doing things that the 13 year old kids I coach can do without being told. Hiwula gets a start on the centre half in the inside left position, should cut across him so he’s either clean through or the CB has to foul him, doesn’t even engage him, Dodoo what? Why? Vilca, how is he signed on for a premier league club in this country? Who’s actually seen something in him?
I was genuinely looking forward to the game today and found myself foaming at the mouth like a rabid dog. I’m totally confused, at a loss.
Forgive my lack of knowledge but do relegated clubs to league 1 get any sort of parachute payment? What is Wycombe’s wage bill? Surely it’s a lot more than ours! Our board bail us out, how are they viable on their gates??
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The next three games will see where we are at as a team.
I full expect us to pick up a minimum of 5 points, and hopefully 7.
There are improvements in the team, we weren't that bad this afternoon, with a fair wind we could've been level by half time.
also got to think about the teams we have played. We haven’t played anyone yet below 17th. Our next 6 games are massive and all against team who are in and around us. If we’re still where we are after them 6 u can then start to ask questions.
I still have faith that we will turn it around as we were the better side against a team who will be looking to go straight back up just didn’t look like scoring but it’s just a matter of time before we click in the final third imo and this run in could be that turning point.
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Disappointing to concede so early , but I thought we were unlucky not to get ourselves back in the game with some of our attacking play in the 1st half. Played both Wycombe & Plymouth who sit at the top of the table and been unlucky not to get anything out of both games. Cukur was much improved today put himself about a bit . Our right back and right CB pairing seem to be our weakest link at present. Hopefully we can fair better on Tuesday
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The next three games will see where we are at as a team.
I full expect us to pick up a minimum of 5 points, and hopefully 7.
There are improvements in the team, we weren't that bad this afternoon, with a fair wind we could've been level by half time.
also got to think about the teams we have played. We haven’t played anyone yet below 17th. Our next 6 games are massive and all against team who are in and around us. If we’re still where we are after them 6 u can then start to ask questions.
I still have faith that we will turn it around as we were the better side against a team who will be looking to go straight back up just didn’t look like scoring but it’s just a matter of time before we click in the final third imo and this run in could be that turning point.
We weren’t really the better side. They allowed us to have the ball (which makes us look better) because they were fully aware we couldn’t break them down. And we didn’t really have a meaningful chance other than a pot shot that hit the angle of post/crossbar.
Forget the stats. All I know is that if we lose on Tuesday and Saturday we are in big, big trouble
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I think that's a bit unfair, first half we could and should have had goals but poor finishing cost us.
Overall though you look at the team and they're largely like young kids and largely young kids lacking flair. Anderson and Rowe look experienced hood players the rest do look far too young.
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The next three games will see where we are at as a team.
I full expect us to pick up a minimum of 5 points, and hopefully 7.
There are improvements in the team, we weren't that bad this afternoon, with a fair wind we could've been level by half time.
also got to think about the teams we have played. We haven’t played anyone yet below 17th. Our next 6 games are massive and all against team who are in and around us. If we’re still where we are after them 6 u can then start to ask questions.
I still have faith that we will turn it around as we were the better side against a team who will be looking to go straight back up just didn’t look like scoring but it’s just a matter of time before we click in the final third imo and this run in could be that turning point.
We weren’t really the better side. They allowed us to have the ball (which makes us look better) because they were fully aware we couldn’t break them down. And we didn’t really have a meaningful chance other than a pot shot that hit the angle of post/crossbar.
Forget the stats. All I know is that if we lose on Tuesday and Saturday we are in big, big trouble
This is true. As the game progressed, we became much less threatening. Their back line was far to wise for our lads.
It’s also true that we have played lots of tough sides and many of them away. We are probably deluding ourselves though if we think that playing lower ranked sides will be easier. We struggle to offer any kind of defensive solidity (we concede in over 80pc of our league games), cannot play against or through any side with a solid structure especially in midfield, and cannot finish. You look at Tuesday night and that is basically the Evans playbook.
I don’t know whether we will stay up or go down, but we need some backbone as at the moment we are so weak and anaemic it is embarrassing.
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Can someone tell me what Bostock offered yesterday.
Complete waste of time imo. He is a luxury this team can’t afford to have. Galbraith is 3 times the player he is.
What we need is a proper holding midfielder who can break play up which will allow Close and Galbraith to play their natural games.
Our midfield is far too disjointed because they are all trying to cover for each other instead of functioning as a cohesive unit.
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Can someone tell me what Bostock offered yesterday.
Complete waste of time imo. He is a luxury this team can’t afford to have. Galbraith is 3 times the player he is.
What we need is a proper holding midfielder who can break play up which will allow Close and Galbraith to play their natural games.
Our midfield is far too disjointed because they are all trying to cover for each other instead of functioning as a cohesive unit.
Confirmation bias.
Bostock offered more than Close yesterday.
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The next three games will see where we are at as a team.
I full expect us to pick up a minimum of 5 points, and hopefully 7.
There are improvements in the team, we weren't that bad this afternoon, with a fair wind we could've been level by half time.
also got to think about the teams we have played. We haven’t played anyone yet below 17th. Our next 6 games are massive and all against team who are in and around us. If we’re still where we are after them 6 u can then start to ask questions.
I still have faith that we will turn it around as we were the better side against a team who will be looking to go straight back up just didn’t look like scoring but it’s just a matter of time before we click in the final third imo and this run in could be that turning point.
We weren’t really the better side. They allowed us to have the ball (which makes us look better) because they were fully aware we couldn’t break them down. And we didn’t really have a meaningful chance other than a pot shot that hit the angle of post/crossbar.
Forget the stats. All I know is that if we lose on Tuesday and Saturday we are in big, big trouble
We are there already and have been for a while, irrespective of the next two games.
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Its very frustrating watching this team at the moment.
it's similar to a lot of Rovers teams we've seen over the years.
Nice build up play but seem undecided what to do when they get near the box. Hesitating and deciding to pass when a shot might have been the better option.
By the way when the second goal went in a fella sat near me got up and left. "I've seen enough" he muttered.
Can never see the point of leaving THAT early.
We could've won 3-2!
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There were 2 instances with Anderson in the first half within the space of 5/10 minutes.
He strode forward with the ball, had nothing on in midfield and proceeded to try and play killer passes himself down the left wing, both completely hopeless and out of play with no Rovers player near them.
It does look very much like when the midfield gets sussed out and nullified, they can’t make anything happen. Bostock is a big part of that problem, he can only do the pretty stuff when he’s got time and space.
Added to this problem while we are so shite in defence and up front, this pattern will play out more and more and probably be our ultimate downfall, teams come after us for early goals then just sit back and let us have the ball.
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We seem to be saying the same things every week. Player X played slightly better than his usual bad performance. Player Y is slightly better than Player Z, who is average anyway.
Meanwhile teams can literally not break a sweat and beat us and we have the worst goal scoring record outside of the premierleague. If anyone can see where the improvement is going to come from this squad to keep us up, I'd love to know. I don't see it.
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Can someone tell me what Bostock offered yesterday.
Complete waste of time imo. He is a luxury this team can%u2019t afford to have. Galbraith is 3 times the player he is.
What we need is a proper holding midfielder who can break play up which will allow Close and Galbraith to play their natural games.
Our midfield is far too disjointed because they are all trying to cover for each other instead of functioning as a cohesive unit.
Confirmation bias.
Bostock offered more than Close yesterday.
That is debatable DO
Agree Ben Close did not have a good game either. But he offers far more to our team week in week out than Bostock does imo.
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Galbraith is our best player by a mile, I understand he can’t play every match but we missed him massively, I’m still not sure about Close and Bostock, having said that I’m less concerned about the midfield than a defence that can’t defend a cross and playing 4 attackers who are lightweight, don’t understand how to get their body’s between the defender and the ball, I know it sounds archaic but we need some proper Misters in the team, too many passengers.
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Again, all comes back to our chaotic recruitment strategy. Wycombe surely have a similar budget to us, but have managed to put together a team that will have every chance of getting out of this league. Their style isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, akin to Rotherham’s. But unless you have deep pockets and a group of very good footballers, you cannot play your way out of this league.
Other than MK Dons, we have been physically smaller and outmuscled in every game I’ve seen this season.
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Its very frustrating watching this team at the moment.
it's similar to a lot of Rovers teams we've seen over the years.
Nice build up play but seem undecided what to do when they get near the box. Hesitating and deciding to pass when a shot might have been the better option.
By the way when the second goal went in a fella sat near me got up and left. "I've seen enough" he muttered.
Can never see the point of leaving THAT early.
We could've won 3-2!
He called it right though didn't he. Knowing the strengths of yesterday's opposition and our current frailties I'd say it didn't need genius to arrive at the conclusion he did.
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I don’t like making scapegoats but I think that Williams looks like a competition winner, think he’s been absolutely hopeless for us. Ed Williams could probably make a better stab of it. He’s young and may improve but he needs taking out of the firing line for a while for me, hopefully John’s back soon but Oluwu has to start the next game.
Never mind Ed, Kenneth Williams would do better and at least we would see the funny side of it!
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Lightweight, unimaginative, directionless. Clumsy, fearful play almost week after week by a group of mainly spirited young lads, but who are just not good enough based on our league position. The table never lies. Watching some of the performances this season, I swear that it’s as if the players haven’t actually spoken to each other during the week. Nobody seems to be playing with heart or pride. Where is this teams Ian Snodin, Alan Little, John Doolan….or Richie Wellens?
I’ve tried to stay optimistic so far this season, that it’ll all click at some point, but I’m now resigned to the fact that we are already in the position of playing ‘6 pointers’ in mid October!!
I don’t blame anyone. Not the players, Board nor the Manager. It’s just the unfortunate set of circumstances since the snake McCann took off to Dull City.
We’ve been here many times before of course. Both Billy Bremner and Sean O’Driscoll struggled at first but with time and the support of a decent board, they were able to pull it round. But it’s going to be very bumpy this season, no doubt about it and if we stave off relegation that should be considered a good result.
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I was reading on here a few weeks ago about the tough run of fixtures contributing to where we are in the league, at the time it was said we had played most of the top 10, yesterday I think I saw it quoted that we had played most of the top 15, how long does it take before that excuse runs out, most of the top 23? We are shit, most signings have been shit and I do not see one player wearing his heart on his sleeve! It will not be long before we are cast adrift
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I just dont understand why we didnt play the game last week whilst the team were on a bit of a buzz and try to gather a bit of momentum. The only real loss would have been Galbraith who missed out yesterday anyway.
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I'm really starting to worry about Wellens ability as a manager, he talks a good game, but the team he puts out & the way we play are a million miles from what says we will do. When & if he makes it to January he needs to sort out the shambles of a defence. He has not improved us defensively from last season at all, in fact we look even worse. We simply have to tighten up at the back against the top sides & make us hard to beat, at the minute we are hopeless defensively, & teams know it. Centre half & left back required in January. I'd give my right arm for a Rob Jones right now.
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I just dont understand why we didnt play the game last week whilst the team were on a bit of a buzz and try to gather a bit of momentum. The only real loss would have been Galbraith who missed out yesterday anyway.
With Jones in goal and minus Cuker, who was easily our best attacker yesterday. Postponement was the right call.
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I'm really starting to worry about Wellens ability as a manager, he talks a good game, but the team he puts out & the way we play are a million miles from what says we will do. When & if he makes it to January he needs to sort out the shambles of a defence. He has not improved us defensively from last season at all, in fact we look even worse. We simply have to tighten up at the back against the top sides & make us hard to beat, at the minute we are hopeless defensively, & teams know it. Centre half & left back required in January. I'd give my right arm for a Rob Jones right now.
God yeah! a Rob Jones and a Chris Brown, just a couple of proper Misters who don’t get blown off the ball. A bit of organisation would be nice as well so you don’t have say Kyle Knowle marking Anthony Stewart on a corner! Jesus wept, these guys are professional, makes your blood boil!
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I just dont understand why we didnt play the game last week whilst the team were on a bit of a buzz and try to gather a bit of momentum. The only real loss would have been Galbraith who missed out yesterday anyway.
Galbraith is 100% Rovers at the moment F.F.S.
if he had started it would have been a totally different game.
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I just dont understand why we didnt play the game last week whilst the team were on a bit of a buzz and try to gather a bit of momentum. The only real loss would have been Galbraith who missed out yesterday anyway.
Galbraith is 100% Rovers at the moment F.F.S.
if he had started it would have been a totally different game.
How do you work that out? Does Galbraith make the defenders defend and the strikers take their chances like?
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Galbraith is bullied and too small and weak in this league he needs 2 big lads in there for what he could do.
At least he offers something with the ball. I really fail to see Wellens obsession with Smith.
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Galbraith is bullied and too small and weak in this league he needs 2 big lads in there for what he could do.
At least he offers something with the ball. I really fail to see Wellens obsession with Smith.
RW has not got too many options has he. It’s 3 out of 4 for those 3 midfield positions.
Who do you suggest plays, Greaves, Ravenhill or Hasani?
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Galbraith is bullied and too small and weak in this league he needs 2 big lads in there for what he could do.
At least he offers something with the ball. I really fail to see Wellens obsession with Smith.
RW has not got too many options has he. It’s 3 out of 4 for those 3 midfield positions.
Who do you suggest plays, Greaves, Ravenhill or Hasani?
Gets someone in, in January as a priority.
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Galbraith is bullied and too small and weak in this league he needs 2 big lads in there for what he could do.
At least he offers something with the ball. I really fail to see Wellens obsession with Smith.
RW has not got too many options has he. It’s 3 out of 4 for those 3 midfield positions.
Who do you suggest plays, Greaves, Ravenhill or Hasani?
Gets someone in, in January as a priority.
We need a proper mister in there.
We also need Cameron John in at centre back instead of Williams and we need a goal scorer unles Fej is going to be that man when he returns.
Unless we get all three it is going to be a very long season for us.
I do think it is just the 3 we need but they are a big 3 as all in the spine of the team.
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I felt robbed after that game. Not robbed by Wycombe; robbed by DRFC after having paid £22 to watch that rubbish.
This defence would not have cut it in the Conference. And forget midfield creativity because they don't have the brainpower or touch to create anything. The only time they could pass it about with any fluency was when Wycombe were playing six across the back, 2-0 up and in full control, and even then Rovers felt compelled to pass it back. Dodo summed it up when he went down like a sack of coal just outside the box, looking for a foul, instead of trying to beat his man.
This team is soulless. They lack muscle and lack heart. Yesterday only needed Tracy Austin up front and I would have believed that I'd been transported back to Belle Vue in 1982-83. At least back then the pies were cheaper. Time to start rebuilding now for next season's League 2 campaign, which means a good clear out of this sorry lot.
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I'm really starting to worry about Wellens ability as a manager, he talks a good game, but the team he puts out & the way we play are a million miles from what says we will do. When & if he makes it to January he needs to sort out the shambles of a defence. He has not improved us defensively from last season at all, in fact we look even worse. We simply have to tighten up at the back against the top sides & make us hard to beat, at the minute we are hopeless defensively, & teams know it. Centre half & left back required in January. I'd give my right arm for a Rob Jones right now.
Not sure you’re starting to doubt wellens, you’ve been doubting him for months
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I don't recall seeing any of our players actually run with the ball before the subs came on and showed them how to do it.
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I’ve not seen Oldham, Swindon or Salford under Wellens, so I don’t know how they played. What’s the ongoing mystery is how he can recruit virtually all these players but not one of them plays even remotely in his image. He was a winner. A ball of energy. Niggling, chasing, hassling. This lot. Wow.
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I don't recall seeing any of our players actually run with the ball before the subs came on and showed them how to do it.
I was going to say Hiwula but he kept leaving it behind
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I was reading on here a few weeks ago about the tough run of fixtures contributing to where we are in the league, at the time it was said we had played most of the top 10, yesterday I think I saw it quoted that we had played most of the top 15, how long does it take before that excuse runs out, most of the top 23? We are shit, most signings have been shit and I do not see one player wearing his heart on his sleeve! It will not be long before we are cast adrift
"Fair play to [Team A] today, they are above us in the league."
Tends to be the case when you're rock bottom!
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First Post.
I came as a neutral yesterday to support my disabled brother. We were in the south stand. Can I just say, lovely fans, staff and facilities! Everyone was very kind to us both and I'll definitely be back.
General comments : Wycombe had a game plan, granted it was ugly but it worked. They played to their strengths and exposed your weaknesses. I follow Newcastle so I was curious about Vilica, but my suspicions appear proven. Lightweight, but decent first touch.
Your defence was poorly organised and one lad kept giving the ball away constantly (the left center back). Neither was up for a header. Ball retention until the subs in the second half was pretty bad. Midfield pretty absent in general play. Hiawa(sp?) was lively and the lad from Watford was a decent pivot. Generally though you were lacking in ideas and penetrative intent.
What's the deal with the club atm? Was that your best 11?
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First Post.
I came as a neutral yesterday to support my disabled brother. We were in the south stand. Can I just say, lovely fans, staff and facilities! Everyone was very kind to us both and I'll definitely be back.
General comments : Wycombe had a game plan, granted it was ugly but it worked. They played to their strengths and exposed your weaknesses. I follow Newcastle so I was curious about Vilica, but my suspicions appear proven. Lightweight, but decent first touch.
Your defence was poorly organised and one lad kept giving the ball away constantly (the left center back). Neither was up for a header. Ball retention until the subs in the second half was pretty bad. Midfield pretty absent in general play. Hiawa(sp?) was lively and the lad from Watford was a decent pivot. Generally though you were lacking in ideas and penetrative intent.
What's the deal with the club atm? Was that your best 11?
Thanks for the post - some perceptive comments there.
Deal with us is that we are in a reight mess. Up until recently, we had carefully and quite skillfully built a very good squad for this division over several years, added to with some excellent loan signings. That has pretty much fallen apart over the past 8 months. Most people agree that recruitment in 2021 has been woeful. Vilca seems to fit into that pattern. He's clearly got some thing about him in terms of his basic ability, but that's way short of being enough at this level - he looks like a kid in a man's game and I've aboslutely no idea what he's supposed to bring to the mix.
The left sided central defender you mentioned is Tom Anderson. Up until January, under ex-boss Darren Moore, we played a system of short, crisp passes from the back. That was focussed on Ben Whiteman, our defensive midfielder/playmaker and Anderson fitted in well to that role. He was also as physically dominant a centre half as you'd see at this level. Since losing Whiteman to the Championship in January, I honestly haven't got a clue what style of football we are trying to play, and I agree that all too often we end up with the ball at Anderson's feet and no option but a hopeful punt up field. Also, around the time that we lost Whiteman, Anderson was knocked out by a punch from our own keeper. It was a sickening impact nad he was out for a while. He's looked a shadow of his former self since returning, not helped by the fact that he has much weaker colleagues in the back four than we had a year ago.
On top of all of that, we've had some pretty poor luck with injuries and that has turned a weak situation into a desperate one. I've said since Day 1 I'd snap you hand off for 5th bottom on goal difference at the end of the season. Feels like a long way off at the moment.
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First Post.
I came as a neutral yesterday to support my disabled brother. We were in the south stand. Can I just say, lovely fans, staff and facilities! Everyone was very kind to us both and I'll definitely be back.
General comments : Wycombe had a game plan, granted it was ugly but it worked. They played to their strengths and exposed your weaknesses. I follow Newcastle so I was curious about Vilica, but my suspicions appear proven. Lightweight, but decent first touch.
Your defence was poorly organised and one lad kept giving the ball away constantly (the left center back). Neither was up for a header. Ball retention until the subs in the second half was pretty bad. Midfield pretty absent in general play. Hiawa(sp?) was lively and the lad from Watford was a decent pivot. Generally though you were lacking in ideas and penetrative intent.
What's the deal with the club atm? Was that your best 11?
Thanks for the post - some perceptive comments there.
Deal with us is that we are in a reight mess. Up until recently, we had carefully and quite skillfully built a very good squad for this division over several years, added to with some excellent loan signings. That has pretty much fallen apart over the past 8 months. Most people agree that recruitment in 2021 has been woeful. Vilca seems to fit into that pattern. He's clearly got some thing about him in terms of his basic ability, but that's way short of being enough at this level - he looks like a kid in a man's game and I've aboslutely no idea what he's supposed to bring to the mix.
The left sided central defender you mentioned is Tom Anderson. Up until January, under ex-boss Darren Moore, we played a system of short, crisp passes from the back. That was focussed on Ben Whiteman, our defensive midfielder/playmaker and Anderson fitted in well to that role. He was also as physically dominant a centre half as you'd see at this level. Since losing Whiteman to the Championship in January, I honestly haven't got a clue what style of football we are trying to play, and I agree that all too often we end up with the ball at Anderson's feet and no option but a hopeful punt up field. Also, around the time that we lost Whiteman, Anderson was knocked out by a punch from our own keeper. It was a sickening impact nad he was out for a while. He's looked a shadow of his former self since returning, not helped by the fact that he has much weaker colleagues in the back four than we had a year ago.
On top of all of that, we've had some pretty poor luck with injuries and that has turned a weak situation into a desperate one. I've said since Day 1 I'd snap you hand off for 5th bottom on goal difference at the end of the season. Feels like a long way off at the moment.
While I agree with pretty much all you say there BST I do think just 2 consecutive wins which we are capable of this month will make our position look much better.
I am absolutely convinced there are 4 teams in this league we are better than and that will be proved correct by the beginning of next May.
Those 4 if I were pushed to name are Crewe, Shrewsbury, Morecambe and Cambridge.
I also fancy us to finish above Gillingham, Fleetwood, Charlton, Wimbledon, Cheltenham and Accrington.
So that would leave us 14th in the table. Pre season i said in hindsight very optimistically av9th place finish.
Now whether we will finish 14th is very much a personal glass half full opinion from me. I am not sayingnwe will, just I think it is possible. Right now like you BST if you gave me 20th i would take it.
There still is an awful long way to go and if we get some seriously good recruitment in January. 3 players we need in key positions, then my personal opinion is, we have the other players already with those 3 new recruits, that can catapult the team up the league.
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I felt robbed after that game. Not robbed by Wycombe; robbed by DRFC after having paid £22 to watch that rubbish.
This defence would not have cut it in the Conference. And forget midfield creativity because they don't have the brainpower or touch to create anything. The only time they could pass it about with any fluency was when Wycombe were playing six across the back, 2-0 up and in full control, and even then Rovers felt compelled to pass it back. Dodo summed it up when he went down like a sack of coal just outside the box, looking for a foul, instead of trying to beat his man.
This team is soulless. They lack muscle and lack heart. Yesterday only needed Tracy Austin up front and I would have believed that I'd been transported back to Belle Vue in 1982-83. At least back then the pies were cheaper. Time to start rebuilding now for next season's League 2 campaign, which means a good clear out of this sorry lot.
My opinion is that this “ sorry lot” are actually next seasons league 2 champs , this season being one of learning and consolidation……
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I felt robbed after that game. Not robbed by Wycombe; robbed by DRFC after having paid £22 to watch that rubbish.
This defence would not have cut it in the Conference. And forget midfield creativity because they don't have the brainpower or touch to create anything. The only time they could pass it about with any fluency was when Wycombe were playing six across the back, 2-0 up and in full control, and even then Rovers felt compelled to pass it back. Dodo summed it up when he went down like a sack of coal just outside the box, looking for a foul, instead of trying to beat his man.
This team is soulless. They lack muscle and lack heart. Yesterday only needed Tracy Austin up front and I would have believed that I'd been transported back to Belle Vue in 1982-83. At least back then the pies were cheaper. Time to start rebuilding now for next season's League 2 campaign, which means a good clear out of this sorry lot.
My opinion is that this “ sorry lot” are actually next seasons league 2 champs , this season being one of learning and consolidation……
It is far too early to seriously come to any conclusions if we are all honest about it.
There was serious optimism on here after the MK Dons win and the opposite after the Wycombe defeat.
If we win tomorrow night and that is a big IF of course then it will be all positive again at 9.45 tomorrow eve.
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First Post.
I came as a neutral yesterday to support my disabled brother. We were in the south stand. Can I just say, lovely fans, staff and facilities! Everyone was very kind to us both and I'll definitely be back.
General comments : Wycombe had a game plan, granted it was ugly but it worked. They played to their strengths and exposed your weaknesses. I follow Newcastle so I was curious about Vilica, but my suspicions appear proven. Lightweight, but decent first touch.
Your defence was poorly organised and one lad kept giving the ball away constantly (the left center back). Neither was up for a header. Ball retention until the subs in the second half was pretty bad. Midfield pretty absent in general play. Hiawa(sp?) was lively and the lad from Watford was a decent pivot. Generally though you were lacking in ideas and penetrative intent.
What's the deal with the club atm? Was that your best 11?
Thanks for the post - some perceptive comments there.
Deal with us is that we are in a reight mess. Up until recently, we had carefully and quite skillfully built a very good squad for this division over several years, added to with some excellent loan signings. That has pretty much fallen apart over the past 8 months. Most people agree that recruitment in 2021 has been woeful. Vilca seems to fit into that pattern. He's clearly got some thing about him in terms of his basic ability, but that's way short of being enough at this level - he looks like a kid in a man's game and I've aboslutely no idea what he's supposed to bring to the mix.
The left sided central defender you mentioned is Tom Anderson. Up until January, under ex-boss Darren Moore, we played a system of short, crisp passes from the back. That was focussed on Ben Whiteman, our defensive midfielder/playmaker and Anderson fitted in well to that role. He was also as physically dominant a centre half as you'd see at this level. Since losing Whiteman to the Championship in January, I honestly haven't got a clue what style of football we are trying to play, and I agree that all too often we end up with the ball at Anderson's feet and no option but a hopeful punt up field. Also, around the time that we lost Whiteman, Anderson was knocked out by a punch from our own keeper. It was a sickening impact nad he was out for a while. He's looked a shadow of his former self since returning, not helped by the fact that he has much weaker colleagues in the back four than we had a year ago.
On top of all of that, we've had some pretty poor luck with injuries and that has turned a weak situation into a desperate one. I've said since Day 1 I'd snap you hand off for 5th bottom on goal difference at the end of the season. Feels like a long way off at the moment.
Very good post, BST, and one I totally agree with. The only thing you failed to mention was that alongside Tom is Williams, arguably the worst CB we've had in over 20 years.
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I'm really starting to worry about Wellens ability as a manager, he talks a good game, but the team he puts out & the way we play are a million miles from what says we will do. When & if he makes it to January he needs to sort out the shambles of a defence. He has not improved us defensively from last season at all, in fact we look even worse. We simply have to tighten up at the back against the top sides & make us hard to beat, at the minute we are hopeless defensively, & teams know it. Centre half & left back required in January. I'd give my right arm for a Rob Jones right now.
God yeah! a Rob Jones and a Chris Brown, just a couple of proper Misters who don’t get blown off the ball. A bit of organisation would be nice as well so you don’t have say Kyle Knowle marking Anthony Stewart on a corner! Jesus wept, these guys are professional, makes your blood boil!
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Possibly just a couple of experienced players at this level away from holding our own in this division & we all know if we're desperate for a defensive midfielder . This season was always going to be transitional so if we can manage not to get cast adrift at the bottom and strengthen in January we should hopefully be ok
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We should be more stable defensively when Cameron John comes back, whenever that will be.
Whatever happened to the days when injured players were generally only out for one game instead of half a season like nowadays!
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We should be more stable defensively when Cameron John comes back, whenever that will be.
Whatever happened to the days when injured players were generally only out for one game instead of half a season like nowadays!
Any updates on John, time wise?
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We should be more stable defensively when Cameron John comes back, whenever that will be.
Whatever happened to the days when injured players were generally only out for one game instead of half a season like nowadays!
Any updates on John, time wise?
I do rate John, not sure he’ll make a massive difference. An improvement on Williams and a better ball-player than both centre-halves
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I’d like to know what the talent identification guy saw in Williams
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I’d like to know what the talent identification guy saw in Williams
I'd like to know what the club saw in Younger.
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We should be more stable defensively when Cameron John comes back, whenever that will be.
Whatever happened to the days when injured players were generally only out for one game instead of half a season like nowadays!
Only thing is Williams is RW’s signing and CJ is not. So will RW play John instead of Williams?
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Williams hasn’t been that bad. Maybe a work in progress but he isn’t a disaster zone. Yet.
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I'm really starting to worry about Wellens ability as a manager, he talks a good game, but the team he puts out & the way we play are a million miles from what says we will do. When & if he makes it to January he needs to sort out the shambles of a defence. He has not improved us defensively from last season at all, in fact we look even worse. We simply have to tighten up at the back against the top sides & make us hard to beat, at the minute we are hopeless defensively, & teams know it. Centre half & left back required in January. I'd give my right arm for a Rob Jones right now.
Not sure you’re starting to doubt wellens, you’ve been doubting him for months
Not true I'm afraid, he had my full backing AFTER he was appointed & I liked the way he came across in his interviews after said appointment. Its only since the Ipswich debacle I personally began having doubts regarding his managerial qualities.
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I support him staying the distance this season but I am none the wiser today than I was the AFC Wimbledon game about what he is trying to achieve. There is no obvious form or function to his sides or his signings. It’s probably dismissed as old hat now but coming in with a squad to build, you would have thought he wanted a strong spine. Instead we got the keeper on loan, an unconvincing young centre back, precisely zero presence in centre midfield, and no striker other than a teenager on loan. All a bit disappointing really.
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2Thanks for the context. I'm back for the Lincoln game. Hopefully I'll see an improvement! Sounds like you are quite a mess at the moment!