Though there are lots of twists

[Sammy Chung was King]

And turns to come through a very physically and mentally taxing league campaign i see some very encouraging signs. I said way back that i thought come to around Christmas time and i thought that's when we would start seeing our best performances, it seems to be coming to fruition.
I'm not bragging or taking anything for granted because football hits you where it hurts when you think you've got the game cracked!. I suspect not many teams look forward to facing us because i don't see us as an easy side to stop.
We aren't reliant on one or two players our goals can come from anywhere. Teams know they will probably need two goals when they face us just to have a chance. Teams who aren't reliant on one or two are much harder to stop.

I still think we are a work in progress but we're not far away now from the team coming towards it's 'peak time' for performance. To carry on this momentum we rely on luck as much as the next team. We need some good luck with injuries because the understanding is building each game we play.
If the young kids who aren't in the side want an example look at Mandeville. He has been given his chance and has taken it. He is becoming a very important part of the squad. A couple of months ago he was rated the one with most potential. Upto now he is confirming that with 'fact' performances.
I see a young guy maturing in front of our eyes. Somebody who's confidence is developing so much he now knows what he is capable of. He looks to me to expect to score everytime he plays now-that's a good place to be mentally.

Mason after a few in and out performances is starting to believe he has what it takes to dominate his opposite number. For me since Baudry came into the side we have gone up a notch. Alcock has more than proven to me i don't know everything after doubting him a fair time ago.
He brings a steadying influence that we have missed back there. What he lacks in inches he makes up for in heart.
Young Houghton oozes confidence and control for such a young guy making his way in the game. Matty Blair is the unsung hero of the team. He puts a hell of a lot of yards throughout a game and produces quality at the end of it.
Coppinger is like an old wizard, he might not move as quick but he is still capable of bamboozling any full back or centre half with the spells he performs on the ball.
Marquis is our Diego Costa or Kitson if you like. 'Irritant extraordinaire', a man reviled by the opposition and loved equally by Rovers fans-He's a real find!.

I'm trying not to get too excited, we have beaten a couple of sides who have been struggling for form. You have to beat them all whatever the position though. Each side sets a different test. Every side is capable of hurting you if they get enough encouragement.
We seem to be getting fixtures just in the order we need them. When we've been low of confidence we have dropped on an opponent in a worse state. When we have lost a game the team seems to be building the strength of mentality to overcome it and go all out to win the next one.
Tactically Ferguson has got a few games wrong with some selections. On the whole he has got far more right than wrong. The three at the back when he uses it is working just as well as four now.
He's been set a fair few problems already this season and found the answer to most of them. One thing that does worry me is the players on the bench being fit enough to step in if needed. I think staying in the EFL Trophy as long as we can helps that situation.
It's been a real positive for us this trophy. Yes probably none of us agree with the way it is set up but it's been a real confidence booster for young players and unfit older players alike. You can arrange as many friendlies as you want but you won't get the same intensity needed to get a player 'primed' to start!.

I sense even the younger players not starting are just waiting for an opportunity. They will have to take it if they get a chance because it's no mean feat to retain you're place in this side.
Whatever you do Mandeville don't change. Keep working hard and listening to the experience around you. Do that and you won't go far wrong.
 

[SydneyRover]

Not a bad round up of the position we're in SCK and we should be confident. The team has earned it's current spot and we've had some luck with other teams around us, barring actually being top with a game in hand what more could we wish for at this time.

[jonnydog]

... barring actually being top with a game in hand what more could we wish for at this time.

Being second with a game in hand?!

[Sammy Chung was King]

Not a bad round up of the position we're in SCK and we should be confident. The team has earned it's current spot and we've had some luck with other teams around us, barring actually being top with a game in hand what more could we wish for at this time.

We can tend to be downbeat at times or totally overconfident on here. Somewhere in the middle is where we are at, at the minute. There are still a few weaknesses in the squad but we have more strengths than weaknesses.
I see us as the best side in the league on our day. We need to make it so our day is practically every week. The away form needs to be better. If we can't win make sure we get a point. Defensively it's still a work in progress it's slightly improved with our better defenders being fit again.
I still think we need another winger down that left hand side, either to start depending on formation or as an option off the bench. We need an experienced keeper and a quick striker just to add options that we need.

[RobTheRover]

Playing a more or less settled side week in-week out is key and this is what has seen us recently improve performances. The lads look as though they are telepathic at times.

[GazLaz]

The physicality of this league is a myth. It's like an U16s girls league compared with 10 years ago. Most sides at least try to play but the standard is dreadful.