Copps Watch

[The Red Baron]

It doesn't sound like he had a game to remember yesterday. However his starting appearance means he moves into 3rd in the list of Football League starts for DRFC.

Current positions:

Fred Emery 417
Bert Tindill 401
COPPS  385
Colin Douglas 384

Also yesterday was his 494th appearance (including subs) in all competitions. So only six to go for 500.

[RedJ]

Assuming he stays fit and in the team, when would he notch his 500th?

[Chris Black come back]

I think the best intelligence we have to hand is probably in six games time.

[The Red Baron]

If he plays in every game and we don't progress in the League Cup it will be in the Mickey Mouse B Team trophy at Mansfield. Next league game is Crewe away.

[RedJ]

I think the best intelligence we have to hand is probably in six games time.

Aye. But six games from now may be a different game in a week's time (and, while doubtful, in a few weeks, it could change again) and I couldn't be arsed looking at the fixtures.

[Danmckay456]

He needs to be taken off corners the delivery was shocking yesterday

[elmsallrover]

Couldn't agree more everyone was a floater making it easy for stanleys defenders to clear me personally hes done nothing for the past couple of seasons should have move him on or given him a coaching roll at the club hes had a great career at the club and been payed well but time is time

[colfromdonny]

His future at Rovers is at right back but, probably only me who thinks that.

[RoversAlias]

I think he struggled in the centre of midfield yesterday, it was primarily his passing that let him down though not his physicality as you might think.

[GazLaz]

His touch and radar was well off. Wanted 3/4/5 touches when 2 would do.

[Bezza]

Copps has always had his best games out wide, just doesn"t suite centre midfield

[idler]

Certainly ones of his worst games. At least we know that he can be capable of much more. He needs to lead by example though as captain.

[Sammy Chung was King]

He might not make four hundred, if he doesn't improve his performance, he is just lucky at the minute, that none of the younger guys are doing any better than he is.

[wing commander]

  Coppinger has been living off his reputation for far to long...I wouldn't have offered him a new contract myself as I stated at the time..Certainly shouldn't be captaining the team that's for sure...I've no doubt he will keep putting in the odd great game that will keep most of you happy but they will be surrounded by far too many performances like he gave Saturday...

[RedJ]

Probably because he's a winger being asked to play central midfield.

[NickDRFC]

Probably because he's a winger being asked to play central midfield.

Didn't seem to trouble him too much during the O'Driscoll era!

[RedJ]

Aye, but was he really playing central midfield back then? Seemed to be pushed further forward than that.

[Sammy Chung was King]

Wingers by they're nature are inconsistent, coppinger always has been that way, but he is capable of a night, where nobody can stop him, forest are ideal for him to show that.

[wing commander]

 He's been showing consistency for a while now...Just not in a good way...People think he will do well in this league,but he wont have the time he now needs to influence games and will find it hard...I agree games like tonight are suited to him but they only come round a couple of times a year sadly.....
   A club legend but football is a ruthless business and in his case we haven't been ruthless enough....

[GazLaz]

Wingers by they're nature are inconsistent, coppinger always has been that way, but he is capable of a night, where nobody can stop him, forest are ideal for him to show that.

He's always done the basics better than anyone else at all times though. He didn't on Saturday.

[The Red Baron]

I wasn't there on Saturday so I can't really comment on his performance but I haven't seen much that is complimentary. Also the fact he was hooked midway through the second half speaks volumes.

Three possible theories about him:

1. He's gone on a season too long.
2. He had an off day.
3. (My preferred one for now) He's in racing parlance "short of a run." Maybe the curtailed pre-season has affected him more than most.

We might get a clue, particularly on the last point, if he starts the game tonight.

[GazLaz]

As you get older it can take longer to get up to speed. He will come in for the race.

[wing commander]

   We wont get any clue tonight Baron..Forest will be a different kettle of fish to any other game,they will give us space to play,wont be over physical as they back there skill and quality to beat us...I expect him to have a good game..

    When it comes to Copps its Saturday,Tuesday matches which will tell the tale....Can he use his skill and quality to influence games on a regular basis against teams who will be on him like a flash and bully him out the game like on Saturday...!! I'd like to be wrong but I think he's going to be a very weak link for us this season...

[idler]

If he plays wide he will have more time and space. On Saturday in a crowded midfield he had a poor game by his standards.
The Star gave him 6 but I hadn't got over my surprise with that when I was amazed to see that they gave the ref a 7.
Anybody that was there try to work that one out.

[Sammy Chung was King]

I wasn't there on Saturday so I can't really comment on his performance but I haven't seen much that is complimentary. Also the fact he was hooked midway through the second half speaks volumes.

Three possible theories about him:

1. He's gone on a season too long.
2. He had an off day.
3. (My preferred one for now) He's in racing parlance "short of a run." Maybe the curtailed pre-season has affected him more than most.

We might get a clue, particularly on the last point, if he starts the game tonight.

It has been a long time since he delivered a performance, they are getting less and less unfortunately. I wonder if having so many younger players around him, is not helping his personal game, the responsibility of helping those around him.
In this league, he will get less time on the ball, in the bottom two leagues you don't get time on the ball, teams work really hard, in the championship it's more quality related, you get a touch longer on the ball, that and league one, suited him better.