Are we a dirty team?

[BillyStubbsTears]

Just seen that we have 5 players in the top 20 list of most yellow cards in L1.
Whiteman
Kane
Butler
Wright
Mason.

Surely we're not that much worse than average are we?

[GazLaz]

We have been far more cynical this season. Everyone is prepared to take a yellow for the team.

[idler]

I think that most of the yellows were for trivial offences rather than bad or dangerous tackles.
Annoying as a player but having your shirt pulled or being obstructed doesn't end anyone's carreer.

[bobjimwilly]

I think it's these sort of tactics that help a lot of teams get out of L1 these days

[adamtherover]

GM as much stated that when he played rovers in the past we were considered lightweights..  until rob Jones rode into town of course...

[Bentley Bullet]

The only time nice guys win owt is in films.

[RoversAlias]

I don't think we're a dirty team, no, but we've gotten a lot smarter when it comes to making could at the right moments and that is what leads to a lot of yellows. We've stopped being easily bullied by all our opponents and I'd say it's one of the best things McCann has altered about the style of play.

[Barmby Rover]

Yes. Indiscipline is one of the biggest faults our team has, surprised you ask the question BST, stats don't lie you know!

[GazLaz]

Yes. Indiscipline is one of the biggest faults our team has, surprised you ask the question BST, stats don't lie you know!

I’d say we are a niggley team rather than a dirty one. It’s not indiscipline in most cases, it’s actually discipline. They are following orders.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

There are some silly yellows, although we have seen an element of cynicism but we still have some way to go to catch Sunderland in that department.

[LincsRover]

I don’t think that the sh*t refs in league 1/cup games help. Some teams have kicked us off the park this season and had few yellows whereas we’ve got them for far less. Having said that I’d rather us have an edge than be soft touches as we have been at some points in the past! 

[drfchound]

I've been saying as much this season too mate.
Good to see that we are not being bullied by teams this season.

[scawsby steve]

Lots of BRFC fans on their forum were bemoaning the fact that not a single one of their players got a yellow card, which they believe shows a complete lack of passion throughout the team.

[the vicar]

We can't win, as we was so lilly liveried we was to frightened to go near the opposition and got bullied every game, and teams got away with it, but now we don't allow ourselves to get bullied we get called dirty, and now we get booked for even the menial things, it is not a level playing field.

[bobjimwilly]

Like others have said, I don't think we're dirty, just more street smart, and it's paying off!

[BillyStubbsTears]

It is paying off, but we're in line for some serious bans in the New Year. Going to take some careful management. It's pretty much stuck on that 4 of the five in the OP will pick up bans before March.

[idler]

Two unacceptable reasons for me, dissent and taking your shirt off. Both avoidable. Harsh yellows for good tackles aren't.

[IDM]

When’s the cut off date for the first 5 yellow ban?

[BillyStubbsTears]

30 Nov apparently.

The cut off for a 10 card ban is either 2nd Sunday in March or 37 matches. I've seen conflicting info on that. But I'd expect Butler, Whiteman, Kane, Mason and possibly Wright if he comes back soon to be treading fine lines on that one. What we really don't want is 3-4 of them all banned for 2 matches in Feb/Mar when we play Portsmouth, Peterborough, Charlton, Blackpool, Barnsley and Luton. I'd hope the club is doing some contingency planning because getting that wrong could really throw a spanner in the works.