Let's talk about the Newport County game

[selby]

 A long journey even for the most committed supporters to undertake with so much top class World Cup football on the TV and an uninspiring team to follow, been there done that and anyone who goes has my utmost admiration.
 After another poor performance, a seemingly reluctance of the management to accept we have not got the playing staff to play to the game plan being laid out, it is time now in my opinion to make big decisions about who gets picked to fit whatever system is decided on.
  The bare facts are that in three of the last four games we have been as poor as any side we have fielded since getting back into the EFL, we look slow, disorganised, and totally lacking in confidence or inspiration, a phrase I don't like using, tactically inept in fact, and even worse we have just seemed to accept it, with no to little effort on the field of play, and no inspiration or effort to try and change it coming from the management side, in fact a dogmatic view of this is the way we play, even though the players we have got are round pegs in square holes.
  Every team goes at us from the start, knowing a goal even early in the game is really game over, and if it doesn't come early eventually, we will make mistakes, and mostly our own making.
  So what to do, if fit getting two of our better defenders on the field of play would be a start in Faulkner and Olowu also two of the very few we might get a fee for, so not having them on show as young good prospects is shooting ourselves in the foot commercially again.
  Play a formation and style the players are capable of playing, don't complicate things or we will continue to drop into even more trouble. Some of our team have to convince me they are even Division 2 level players, so they cannot play like Manchester City.
  Play a formation that gives Millar more support, three onto one has no chance.
  And play the game at a pace that can actually unsettle the opposition, as it is teams just form up in front of us ready to expose the lack of pace at the back when we invariably give the ball away in mid field.
  So on to Newport, fresh from a good away win at Crewe and will be looking at us thinking they can get back to back wins on the board. They have a better away record than home record but as we know we are adept at getting teams who have a problem back on track, so no reason to get all giddy, and our old friend Bogle, who has scored more goals for them than he had shots for us is up there on seven goals in the top scorer list for division 2 and will no doubt be up for giving our defence a hard time of it, he might even outpace one or two if we don't change it.
    The same old questions come to the fore again, but are getting more and more important, and will continue to do so unless some action is taken to try and alter things.
    Are the players really as bad as they are currently playing?
    Will the manager try another formation?
    Are we as a club capable of getting it back on track?
    Would you make changes to the team?
    Would you make changes to the playing system?
 Even more questions arising with our poor form, what do you think?  Please have your say

[roversdude]

Is there a chance the game will be brought forward a bit ?

[selby]

  That I have no idea about, but watching England down there in a pub could be fun.

[les@donr]

Can't see us getting anything from this game. You can't play football on their pitch.

[Draytonian III]

I’m going, new ground for me, went to the old one years ago in fact Terry Austin scored !!!

[roversdude]

Can we please play in pink

[roversdude]

Just seen the weather warnings can’t see us playing this weekend tbh

[Donnywolf]

  That I have no idea about, but watching England down there in a pub could be fun.

Tiny Rebel Brewery Tap to be exact. Had Champ Beer of GB a few years back with Cwtch a strong Dark Red Beer

Lets hope Rovers are strong and Red (or Pink) on Saturday - and then Mobile Phone for Eng v Fra on Coach

[selby]

  Not much going for this game except for the really really committed away fans.
  On a sad note it looks like Newport themselves are being uncooperative and treating us with a little disdain which is something we might be able to replicate hopefully on the pitch, getting a result is becoming more important as the weeks go by, as is playing players in a system they are capable of playing, with the best players in the system for that job.
  With all the games I think available on ifolllow during the world cup, and The Rovers getting more out of it watching it that way financially that is what I will be doing, but, I will be still be very disappointed if we continue banging our head against a brick wall with the same round pegs in square holes and a system that totally is unsuitable for the players we have got.

[Upton Rover]

Why talk about it?

[ncRover]

Wilfred Bony playing for Newport?!

[Lesonthewest]

Olowu in for Williams, Rowe into our pathetically weak pushover of a  midfield, & get someone just a little bit nearer Miller to support him woud be nice. Then the players to show some backbone, bottle, & 110% effort not to concede, & we'll get a decent result.

[ForsolongaRover]

We face a situation where the club’s professional coach seemingly fails to play all his best players and those he does choose he puts in positions where they are less effective. Furthermore the formations that he goes for do not encourage us to believe that he is making the best use of the talent that is there. On top of that he does not give the impression that he is instilling the necessary drive and determination into the team.

There are so many questions that need answers and seemingly a lack of expectation that we will ever get them.

DRFC is certainly not carrying the fans along with it right now. Please can we have something to encourage us!

[Chris Black come back]

They’ve lost 6 of their 10 home league games this season and only managed 2 clean sheets at home in the league and even those were the equally bad Gillingham and Colchester.

[rich1471]

Wilfred Bony playing for Newport?!

just signed a short term deal wow

[selby]

  Why not talk about it Upton on this thread? I am interested to know your opinion why not?

[Barmby Rover]

If I expect Rovers to lose, I hope that they will surprise me, that will be pleasant, and I will be happy. On current form if I expect Rovers to win, more likely than not they will lose, and I will be more than miserable that they cannot live up to expectations. I'm going to go for the former scenario.

[Upton Rover]

  Why not talk about it Upton on this thread? I am interested to know your opinion why not?

Nothing sinister intended, just think that if we don’t talk about it, predicting this and that and who to play and what formation, then pressure is off to go get a much needed win.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Up to and including the Grimsby game, there were reasons to be optimistic and not many concerns about team selection. .

We've had two really poor performances since. We were looking forward to having Rowe and Olowu back to reinforce the team but when Rowe made his long awaited return, to our surprise, he plays him left back, plus he brings Clayton back in. We could all witness these changes certainly didn't improve on the previous outing and probably made things worse.

Now, it could very well be Schofield wanted to see how the dynamic worked with Rowe and Clayton in their respective positions . Every reason now to go back to what worked before and build on it based on the higher intensity we saw in Schofields first few games.

That also could include resting Williams after his two unfortunate gaffs in favour of Olowu.

I really hope he drops Clayton and restores Biggins and Close supported by Rowe or Hurst pushing up from the left and getting up to support Miller.

Edit; Oh ffs!
https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/doncaster-rovers-hit-by-illness-in-camp-ahead-of-trip-to-newport-county-3945565

[Campsall rover]

Up to and including the Grimsby game, there were reasons to be optimistic and not many concerns about team selection. .

We've had two really poor performances since. We were looking forward to having Rowe and Olowu back to reinforce the team but when Rowe made his long awaited return, to our surprise, he plays him left back, plus he brings Clayton back in. We could all witness these changes certainly didn't improve on the previous outing and probably made things worse.

Now, it could very well be Schofield wanted to see how the dynamic worked with Rowe and Clayton in their respective positions . Every reason now to go back to what worked before and build on it based on the higher intensity we saw in Schofields first few games.

That also could include resting Williams after his two unfortunate gaffs in favour of Olowu.

I really hope he drops Clayton and restores Biggins and Close supported by Rowe or Hurst pushing up from the left and getting up to support Miller.

Edit; Oh ffs!
https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/doncaster-rovers-hit-by-illness-in-camp-ahead-of-trip-to-newport-county-3945565

Don’t wish to nit pick DBR but Tommy Rowe played on the left of 3 centre backs v Walsall.  Maxwell and Knoyle were wing backs.
Any way it clearly didn’t work as you said.

[roversdude]

Wilfred Bony playing for Newport?!

just signed a short term deal wow

Has he actually signed I’ve read he regularly plays in friendly games to keep fit but won’t sign for them

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Up to and including the Grimsby game, there were reasons to be optimistic and not many concerns about team selection. .

We've had two really poor performances since. We were looking forward to having Rowe and Olowu back to reinforce the team but when Rowe made his long awaited return, to our surprise, he plays him left back, plus he brings Clayton back in. We could all witness these changes certainly didn't improve on the previous outing and probably made things worse.

Now, it could very well be Schofield wanted to see how the dynamic worked with Rowe and Clayton in their respective positions . Every reason now to go back to what worked before and build on it based on the higher intensity we saw in Schofields first few games.

That also could include resting Williams after his two unfortunate gaffs in favour of Olowu.

I really hope he drops Clayton and restores Biggins and Close supported by Rowe or Hurst pushing up from the left and getting up to support Miller.

Edit; Oh ffs!
https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/doncaster-rovers-hit-by-illness-in-camp-ahead-of-trip-to-newport-county-3945565

Don’t wish to nit pick DBR but Tommy Rowe played on the left of 3 centre backs v Walsall.  Maxwell and Knoyle were wing backs.
Any way it clearly didn’t work as you said.

Yes, you're right as Maxwell hardly got anywhere near their penalty area and I was thinking it might be better if they swapped over.

[drfchound]

Up to and including the Grimsby game, there were reasons to be optimistic and not many concerns about team selection. .

We've had two really poor performances since. We were looking forward to having Rowe and Olowu back to reinforce the team but when Rowe made his long awaited return, to our surprise, he plays him left back, plus he brings Clayton back in. We could all witness these changes certainly didn't improve on the previous outing and probably made things worse.

Now, it could very well be Schofield wanted to see how the dynamic worked with Rowe and Clayton in their respective positions . Every reason now to go back to what worked before and build on it based on the higher intensity we saw in Schofields first few games.

That also could include resting Williams after his two unfortunate gaffs in favour of Olowu.

I really hope he drops Clayton and restores Biggins and Close supported by Rowe or Hurst pushing up from the left and getting up to support Miller.

Edit; Oh ffs!
https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/doncaster-rovers-hit-by-illness-in-camp-ahead-of-trip-to-newport-county-3945565

Don’t wish to nit pick DBR but Tommy Rowe played on the left of 3 centre backs v Walsall.  Maxwell and Knoyle were wing backs.
Any way it clearly didn’t work as you said.

Yes, you're right as Maxwell hardly got anywhere near their penalty area and I was thinking it might be better if they swapped over.

I did suggest at half time that DS might implement that change Baz, but as we know, it didn’t happen.

[ncRover]

Up to and including the Grimsby game, there were reasons to be optimistic and not many concerns about team selection. .

We've had two really poor performances since. We were looking forward to having Rowe and Olowu back to reinforce the team but when Rowe made his long awaited return, to our surprise, he plays him left back, plus he brings Clayton back in. We could all witness these changes certainly didn't improve on the previous outing and probably made things worse.

Now, it could very well be Schofield wanted to see how the dynamic worked with Rowe and Clayton in their respective positions . Every reason now to go back to what worked before and build on it based on the higher intensity we saw in Schofields first few games.

That also could include resting Williams after his two unfortunate gaffs in favour of Olowu.

I really hope he drops Clayton and restores Biggins and Close supported by Rowe or Hurst pushing up from the left and getting up to support Miller.

Edit; Oh ffs!
https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/doncaster-rovers-hit-by-illness-in-camp-ahead-of-trip-to-newport-county-3945565

Don’t wish to nit pick DBR but Tommy Rowe played on the left of 3 centre backs v Walsall.  Maxwell and Knoyle were wing backs.
Any way it clearly didn’t work as you said.

Yes, you're right as Maxwell hardly got anywhere near their penalty area and I was thinking it might be better if they swapped over.

Maxwell as a LCB would be an absolute horror-show. I don’t think he has the basics of defending at present to be a LB in a back 4 either.

[roversdude]

Will the game need a pitch inspection if so hope this is done early

[Donnywolf]

Forecast 12 hours at minus 1 till 7 am

Then sunshine with temp rising through day to plus 4

Hope we don't get as far as Brum if they call it off

None of which answers your question though ... sorry

[roversdude]

Selfishly wanting this called off lol

[DearneValleyRover]

I’ve been sent the following from a Newport fan:
Hi,
Just been reading through a couple of threads on the Doncaster forum.
I'm not registered on there so maybe you can pass on these details.
1. Despite the freezing temps, the game WILL go ahead. Frost covers been on the pitch since Mon / Tue.
2. One of your fellow supporters mentioned the state of the pitch. Things have changed. We have a very good well kept playing surface AND, last season, it was voted best pitch throughout the season in L2.
3. Someone mentioned Wilfred Bony. He has been with the club helping in training, took part in a midweek friendly but will not be able to play as he is not registered with the club.

[roversdude]

We’ve had many a game called off when the pitch was ok but travelling etc considered unsafe

[selby]

  The team will be there now in an hotel already so if it is off it will be costly, the pitch by the way looks great from the pictures I have seen.