Let's talk about the Gillingham game

[drfchound]

This teams mentality still has some falling to do before individuals realise that they are not “ step up “ material just yet.....
They are not cohesive at all, just going through the motions individually and trying not to make mistakes..( .shackled and whipped)

Smith in my opinion is the weak link....he is over ambitious, over confident and playing the wrong percentages  in a team that is being mentally tortured by much better players and seemingly many more of them than we have in our team..

It’s time to shut up shop, play hard and mean, and stop thinking that the play offs is a real shot at anything.....we are not equipped for a concerted run at the Championship, so it should be removed from the plan,  yes we have injuries but why and how have we so many? ...we aren’t a hard physical team therefore we must be a team full of powder puff casualties...

AB can show passion, heart and loyalty, but I doubt he can patch up this wobbly thing and give it a direction, maybe I’m being a little too negative...

Gillingham will score 3-4 goals if allowed....
We must stop that happening first then try and work out how to get one......and hold onto it

Doesn’t that last paragraph apply to all teams that play every week.

I don’t support all teams....this is my view on DRFC under the current situation we find ourselves in.....I guess you agree with it in principle then...

Yes, of course I agree and I don’t support all teams either.
I was just making the point that all other teams will probably adopt the same policy.

[scawsby steve]

Brandon Horton was my MOM on Tuesday, and according to the vote, most people's. Is he worth taking a gamble on, and putting James back in midfield where he's performed so well in the past?

If so, will James partner Smith or Robertson? When Smith's on, he's brilliant; when he's off, he's garbage, continually giving the ball away.

I think we'll all be relieved that Bogle is back up front. The question is, who'll be the 3 behind him? I think most of us will agree that it'll be any 3 from Fej, Sims, Copps, and Richards.

[Bailey Vickerage]

I don’t think all the injured players will be put straight back into the 11 however bad we played. Can see one of Sims or Fej starting with the other on the bench, Bogle up top and then maybe James midfield with Smith and then Horton or Amos LB (Horton based on Tuesdays performance but he might go with Amos or even John with them having a bit more experience)

[sha66y]

I reiterate that Smith is a real top player, but could do with a brief rest. Anything like his usual form and he is first on team sheet.

That’s fine if the rest of the Choir are singing from the same hymn sheet.....

[Jersey Rover]

Would like to see Balcombe back, he never did a lot wrong, and a midfield and team with energy not just AB s  misguided loyalty. Best players in please

[DonnyOsmond]

Would like to see Balcombe back, he never did a lot wrong, and a midfield and team with energy not just AB s  misguided loyalty. Best players in please

Are you suggesting he's been picking players based on loyalty so far?

[Silkscarf]

Amos was poor, so Horton starts. James in midfield provided we have a good enough left back. This isn't John, maybe not Amos either.

[RoversAlias]

Would like to see Balcombe back, he never did a lot wrong, and a midfield and team with energy not just AB s  misguided loyalty. Best players in please

His confidence was looking shot to be honest in the wake of him absolutely clobbering Tom Anderson.

[Pancho Regan]

It's very encouraging to see the return of Bogle, James, Sims and Robertson.

This greatly increases our chances of getting a result in this game IMO.

[bpoolrover]

Woke up confident today think we might just get a win today, hoping for a decent game and 3 points

[andy didcott]

1-2, need to stay in the top six.

[anton123]

If James is fit he plays left back , smith and Robertson in mid , let’s just keep it simple round pegs round holes

[godlike1]

Woke up hoping for the best but expecting the worst. Think we will play better than against Oxford but gills will be more clinical and over power us. 2-0 to them and out of the playoffs for us :-(

[steve@dcfd]

Would like to see Balcombe back, he never did a lot wrong, and a midfield and team with energy not just AB s  misguided loyalty. Best players in please

Are you suggesting he's been picking players based on loyalty so far?

In some cases I believe so, also demotivating some players as well.

[Barmby Rover]

Even with DM in charge there was alot of changes to the squad, brought about from necessity when you have to play twice a week, with injuries rest time etc needed. I think we have to accept a small squad doesn't allow the "best" teamn to play every match.

[dickos1]

Would like to see Balcombe back, he never did a lot wrong, and a midfield and team with energy not just AB s  misguided loyalty. Best players in please

Are you suggesting he's been picking players based on loyalty so far?

In some cases I believe so, also demotivating some players as well.

Which players has he been picking out of loyalty?

[steve@dcfd]

He picked Amos against Oxford you must have seen that he had a poor game Ive always said he’s not up to league 1 but you believed otherwise.
Jones to certain degree although he’s not let the side down but I believe Balcombe is  a better keeper . But probably demotivated him by dropping him as well.

[NickDRFC]

He picked Amos against Oxford you must have seen that he had a poor game Ive always said he’s not up to league 1 but you believed otherwise.
Jones to certain degree although he’s not let the side down but I believe Balcombe is  a better keeper . But probably demotivated him by dropping him as well.

You can hardly say he’s picked Amos out of loyalty. John had been terrible for weeks at left back and James was injured, the alternative was to play Horton who is a complete rookie - that could have really misfired.

Balcombe also suffered a dip in form after knocking Anderson out so can’t really argue with being dropped. Jones has made some good saves but doesn’t command his area at all so it wouldn’t surprise or disappoint me to see Balcombe recalled, though.

[Campsall rover]

Would like to see Balcombe back, he never did a lot wrong, and a midfield and team with energy not just AB s  misguided loyalty. Best players in please

Are you suggesting he's been picking players based on loyalty so far?

In some cases I believe so, also demotivating some players as well.

Which players has he been picking out of loyalty?

I think the answer is, he hasn’t. Total nonsense imo.

[since-1969]

Rovers need to start wanting promotion and not just sitting the space waiting for something to happen . We had a worse side on paper when Rob Jones was playing and scoring but he kept the team ticking . Leaders on the pitch is what will get us over the line IMO Butler would be better on the pitch working with his defence rather than showing his frustration on the sideline .

[donnievic]

Now that is a lot stronger team and squad to the midweek also please to see Horton get a start after coming on midweek,would also like to see Halliday further forward and try moving Wright to full back if things arnt working out

[BobG]

Rovers need to start wanting promotion and not just sitting the space waiting for something to happen . We had a worse side on paper when Rob Jones was playing and scoring but he kept the team ticking . Leaders on the pitch is what will get us over the line IMO Butler would be better on the pitch working with his defence rather than showing his frustration on the sideline .

That, 1969, is a perfect summary of of the reason this side will not be promoted.There are no leaders. Nada. But rather than vainly exhorting the team to start 'wanting promotion' I'd rather the boss works out how he is going to change the team for next season. Barring miracles, it's obvious this season is going to pass us by. Maybe if Simms sparks a goal glut things would change, but what else could change things to the necessary standard of 'better'?

Cheers!

BobG

[the vicar]

Stronger team but I think I would have put Balcombe in instead of Jones as Jones was to rickety Tuesday and kicking out was a lot naff

[since-1969]

A good over all performances after going 2-0 down . Take this performance in the next game and we’ll be back to where we should be !! 

[Rovers91]

Pleased we have stopped the run of away defeats but felt that second half we could have done more. First half we cut through their midfield and when Fej and Bogle were caught offside showed we could get in behind them. Second half I felt we didnt do that at all and stopped playing through midfield and just started booting it. Least in second half we defended well.

[Campsall rover]

What a horrible team to play against.

If that’s what Evans calls football then you can keep it.

Like watching pin ball. Awful. Can you imagine having to sit through watching that every week.

[andysly]

Agree totally. Awful way to play the game. So frustrating to watch them get away with so much. Any half decent ref would clamp down in first 10 minutes but they were allowed to do as they liked.

[Campsall rover]

A good point especially as other games were draws.

They are queuing up now below the play off places. 7 teams below us with only 4 points separating us.

Need a coupe of wins now at Mk Dons and home to Charlton.

[Not Now Kato]

Agree totally. Awful way to play the game. So frustrating to watch them get away with so much. Any half decent ref would clamp down in first 10 minutes but they were allowed to do as they liked.

There isn't a quarter decent ref in this league let alone a half decent one. Refs are ruining the game with their ineptitude!

[RoversAlias]

Pleased we have stopped the run of away defeats but felt that second half we could have done more. First half we cut through their midfield and when Fej and Bogle were caught offside showed we could get in behind them. Second half I felt we didnt do that at all and stopped playing through midfield and just started booting it. Least in second half we defended well.

Coppinger going off on the hour mark ended our attacking threat. Richards just doesn't do anywhere near enough to affect the game positively for us, and Lokilo was ineffective too today unfortunately.

I'm happy with the point after the start and the fact we had to withstand the bombardment in the second half.