Last 10 league games

[Upton Rover]

Won 4 drawn 1 lost 5,, 13 points from a possible 30 goals for 10 against 17 Not a great 10 games yet we are still only 2 points off the play offs.
I think we all know that our defence needs to be strengthened in the transfer window, including trying for a better keeper on loan, together with at least 1 striker, and a decent midfielder, If we really are to push for a playoff place, remains to be seen if we will get the player’s in for the 2nd half of the season push, and get rid of some of the deadwood, players that simply aren’t good enough to play for our great club.
I think the next 10 games will be the hardest 10 games of the season and will either make us or brake us. No less than 20 points will do.

[Campsall rover]

Won 4 drawn 1 lost 5,, 13 points from a possible 30 goals for 10 against 17 Not a great 10 games yet we are still only 2 points off the play offs.
I think we all know that our defence needs to be strengthened in the transfer window, including trying for a better keeper on loan, together with at least 1 striker, and a decent midfielder, If we really are to push for a playoff place, remains to be seen if we will get the player’s in for the 2nd half of the season push, and get rid of some of the deadwood, players that simply aren’t good enough to play for our great club.
I think the next 10 games will be the hardest 10 games of the season and will either make us or brake us. No less than 20 points will do.

We don’t need a new keeper. That would be a complete waste of the budget. What Bennett our GK coach needs to do is get him working on his distribution. He is a very competent keeper both shot stopping and collecting crosses imo.

[Spud]

I actually thought Agard did ok when he came on, it helps when we're actually playing forward balls.
It's a shame Tommo "retired", that combination could have been worth a few goals.

[Cramby10]

There’s very little value in January signed players as a rule. Of the half dozen signed last Jan only 1 started yesterday. I’d rather this chap prove his worth before signing a whole raft of players. Otherwise we’re going to be in the same position again and the cycle of awfulness may continue.

[edlored]

Agree to get any players worthy in this window we would have to flash the cash

[mushRTID]

I hope we don’t panic sign players like Clayton again and end up stuck with them.

I’d rather we do the proper groundwork for the summer and have an actual team next season.

[NickDRFC]

We have a stated strategy that we deliberately hold money back to fund strengthening in January. Given the mixed (polite way of saying poor) results of January recruitment do we need to bin this strategy, or is the issue more with those who had/have been involved in the recruitment given the summer windows haven’t been much better?

[Chris Black come back]

There is absolutely no evidence whatsoever we can go on a run that will see us promoted this season. Wasting yet more money in January on either poorly conceived signings or hugely expensive signings, would be madness. If we have a good deal for a great player lined up in January then great, but otherwise far better to wait until the summer window. We are mugs to be doing major business in January. So much money has been wasted the last few years.

[ForsolongaRover]

I agree that Mitchell is as good a keeper as you will find at this level. Passing back to him is the easy (management-approved) option for defenders so lacking in confidence. We did it far more than most teams and to be fair to Mitchell, the defenders in front of him never seem keen to make themselves available. Which of them ever calls for the ball?

Someone alluded to the possibility that we will have an influx of Huddersfield Town’s surplus in the window. I worry too about the kind of player Schofield might choose. Dickov always favoured players from his very mediocre Oldham squad.

[Upton Rover]

Won 4 drawn 1 lost 5,, 13 points from a possible 30 goals for 10 against 17 Not a great 10 games yet we are still only 2 points off the play offs.
I think we all know that our defence needs to be strengthened in the transfer window, including trying for a better keeper on loan, together with at least 1 striker, and a decent midfielder, If we really are to push for a playoff place, remains to be seen if we will get the player’s in for the 2nd half of the season push, and get rid of some of the deadwood, players that simply aren’t good enough to play for our great club.
I think the next 10 games will be the hardest 10 games of the season and will either make us or brake us. No less than 20 points will do.

We don’t need a new keeper. That would be a complete waste of the budget. What Bennett our GK coach needs to do is get him working on his distribution. He is a very competent keeper both shot stopping and collecting crosses imo.

Got to disagree with you Campsall on the keeper, at the best he’s very very average, the 3rd goal last night was his mistake and he’s made far to many mistakes for me.

[Spud]

I can't see us signing many in January, as has been said there's never much value in it. While we're picking enough wins up to stay out of danger that will be good enough until the summer.
Unless someone drops into our laps of course, or we may sign another development player.

[Campsall rover]

Won 4 drawn 1 lost 5,, 13 points from a possible 30 goals for 10 against 17 Not a great 10 games yet we are still only 2 points off the play offs.
I think we all know that our defence needs to be strengthened in the transfer window, including trying for a better keeper on loan, together with at least 1 striker, and a decent midfielder, If we really are to push for a playoff place, remains to be seen if we will get the player’s in for the 2nd half of the season push, and get rid of some of the deadwood, players that simply aren’t good enough to play for our great club.
I think the next 10 games will be the hardest 10 games of the season and will either make us or brake us. No less than 20 points will do.

We don’t need a new keeper. That would be a complete waste of the budget. What Bennett our GK coach needs to do is get him working on his distribution. He is a very competent keeper both shot stopping and collecting crosses imo.

Got to disagree with you Campsall on the keeper, at the best he’s very very average, the 3rd goal last night was his mistake and he’s made far to many mistakes for me.

We will have to agree to disagree on that then.

[normal rules]

Connections is key in transfer windows. I’m unsure if GS has these. JC has the connections, but does he have the clout or respect in managerial circles? I don’t think so.
So on both counts we are hardly bandaging the door down for prospective talent to bring in on loan come Jan.
I’m not optimistic and fully expect a few cameo loanees to be secured in the vain hope they improve things.
Happy to be proved wrong and cash is splashed on quality. Someone who can keep fit and compete would be great.

[StocksArmy]

Mitchell is steady. I would stick with him and put the budget into other positions and maybe try for better in pre season.

[ravenrover]

Did either keeper actually make a save last night? I can't remember any

[roversdude]

We already have 2 spare places that need filling (Tomlin and Andrews) just to get on an even Keel

[BillyStubbsTears]

Did either keeper actually make a save last night? I can't remember any

According to the PA stats, nope. We had 4 shots on target. They had 3.

[Ldr]

Did either keeper actually make a save last night? I can't remember any

According to the PA stats, nope. We had 4 shots on target. They had 3.

One of their goals wasn’t a shot on target though (rsw) though I can’t remember a save from Mitchell

[danumdon]

Seems like plenty on here want to hold for now and spend any money we have in the summer, that in itself is fine but at the same time plenty will have a winge at our continual weakness as the season progresses, yes we have a side that should be safe from relegation issues but do we want to end the season like that? i would say a run at the play offs is very feasible and the automatics is not completely out of the question IF we get players in (either buys or loans) to allow us to attempt to achieve that goal.

Im thinking an experienced leftback/wingback, a big, strong, and quick left sided centre half and a central midfielder who can TACKLE and get up and down the pitch, so have some legs.

With these three positions filled i would say our defence and midfield would be massively transformed and strengthened and our attacking play would start to look like it meant something with two good wingbacks operating allowing our wide players to run at defenders and support our redundant striker who if he's given enough chances to score will bag a few.

Granted this would probably require some players to be offloaded or loaned out to make way, its doable and i think we should do it as another season of trundling along with nothing to build on again requires too much tinkering in the summer to create a side that will challenge, we need to use all our available windows to improve this squad. Neglect to do so now might lave us with crowds of 4k or less which will quickly run us into real trouble.

[Chris Black come back]

We are going nowhere until we sort out our appalling defence. We’ve conceded 33 goals this league season, which is the fourth worst defence in this league. By comparison, the side immediately above us AFC Wimbledon has conceded 26 and the side immediate below us Walsall has conceded 20 and beneath them Tranmere 19. This is a very poor league and we are shipping goals like they are going out of fashion.

[monkeytennis]

I agree with keeping JM I just can’t see us getting anyone better and actually we need to spend any funds available where we are a lot more desperate.

[dickos1]

Won 4 drawn 1 lost 5,, 13 points from a possible 30 goals for 10 against 17 Not a great 10 games yet we are still only 2 points off the play offs.
I think we all know that our defence needs to be strengthened in the transfer window, including trying for a better keeper on loan, together with at least 1 striker, and a decent midfielder, If we really are to push for a playoff place, remains to be seen if we will get the player’s in for the 2nd half of the season push, and get rid of some of the deadwood, players that simply aren’t good enough to play for our great club.
I think the next 10 games will be the hardest 10 games of the season and will either make us or brake us. No less than 20 points will do.

We’ve actually got more points than we did in sods first ten games. And we had lots of people moaning then, so we just need to have some patience

[Upton Rover]

Did either keeper actually make a save last night? I can't remember any

According to the PA stats, nope. We had 4 shots on target. They had 3.

One of their goals wasn’t a shot on target though (rsw) though I can’t remember a save from Mitchell

He won’t make a save, always off his line and never commands his box, Rochdale’s first goal he was 4 yards off his line and their 3rd goal he should have again been on his line , if so the ball wouldn’t have gone over his head.
He will always make mistakes and he’s not confident enough to be a top L2. Keeper got to be the poorest keeper we have signed in past 10 year’s

[Campsall rover]

Did either keeper actually make a save last night? I can't remember any

According to the PA stats, nope. We had 4 shots on target. They had 3.

One of their goals wasn’t a shot on target though (rsw) though I can’t remember a save from Mitchell

He won’t make a save, always off his line and never commands his box, Rochdale’s first goal he was 4 yards off his line and their 3rd goal he should have again been on his line , if so the ball wouldn’t have gone over his head.
He will always make mistakes and he’s not confident enough to be a top L2. Keeper got to be the poorest keeper we have signed in past 10 year’s

Your watching a different Keeper to most of the rest of us.
Either you know very little about goal keeping or you simply have an axe to grind.

Quote “He won’t make a save”  He has made hundreds of saves, some outstanding ones. He has kept us in games on numerous occasions.
Keepers are supposed to come of their line. Have you never heard of narrowing the angle?
Quote “doesn’t command his box”  What are you watching?  He comes for crosses and catches more than any keeper we have had for a very long time.

[Upton Rover]

Did either keeper actually make a save last night? I can't remember any

According to the PA stats, nope. We had 4 shots on target. They had 3.

One of their goals wasn’t a shot on target though (rsw) though I can’t remember a save from Mitchell

He won’t make a save, always off his line and never commands his box, Rochdale’s first goal he was 4 yards off his line and their 3rd goal he should have again been on his line , if so the ball wouldn’t have gone over his head.
He will always make mistakes and he’s not confident enough to be a top L2. Keeper got to be the poorest keeper we have signed in past 10 year’s

Your watching a different Keeper to most of the rest of us.
Either you know very little about goal keeping or you simply have an axe to grind.

Quote “He won’t make a save”  He has made hundreds of saves, some outstanding ones. He has kept us in games on numerous occasions.
Keepers are supposed to come of their line. Have you never heard of narrowing the angle?
Quote “doesn’t command his box”  What are you watching?  He comes for crosses and catches more than any keeper we have had for a very long time.

I was meaning he never made a save last night, he could have made a save if he had been in the right position. Totally understand how a goalkeeper as to narrow the angle, he was in no man’s land for their first goal and was out of position for their 3rd goal.
If you think he’s the best catcher we have had for some year’s then you have a right to think that, however it’s saves that make a keeper. I think he’s one of the worst keepers we have signed in some years, he was yet again the cheapest option available, ask Any Hartlepool fan that

[RugbyRover]

Did either keeper actually make a save last night? I can't remember any

According to the PA stats, nope. We had 4 shots on target. They had 3.

One of their goals wasn’t a shot on target though (rsw) though I can’t remember a save from Mitchell

He won’t make a save, always off his line and never commands his box, Rochdale’s first goal he was 4 yards off his line and their 3rd goal he should have again been on his line , if so the ball wouldn’t have gone over his head.
He will always make mistakes and he’s not confident enough to be a top L2. Keeper got to be the poorest keeper we have signed in past 10 year’s

Your watching a different Keeper to most of the rest of us.
Either you know very little about goal keeping or you simply have an axe to grind.

Quote “He won’t make a save”  He has made hundreds of saves, some outstanding ones. He has kept us in games on numerous occasions.
Keepers are supposed to come of their line. Have you never heard of narrowing the angle?
Quote “doesn’t command his box”  What are you watching?  He comes for crosses and catches more than any keeper we have had for a very long time.

I would be looking to give Jones a run of games. JM is at best a steady L2 keeper. I'd be interested to see if Jones has improved under the new coach. We've conceded 6 in two games, he couldn't do any worse.

[drfchound]

Did either keeper actually make a save last night? I can't remember any

According to the PA stats, nope. We had 4 shots on target. They had 3.

One of their goals wasn’t a shot on target though (rsw) though I can’t remember a save from Mitchell

He won’t make a save, always off his line and never commands his box, Rochdale’s first goal he was 4 yards off his line and their 3rd goal he should have again been on his line , if so the ball wouldn’t have gone over his head.
He will always make mistakes and he’s not confident enough to be a top L2. Keeper got to be the poorest keeper we have signed in past 10 year’s

The first goal was a shot from about 20 yards (not seen any replays yet but just working from memory) so I would expect a keeper to be about four yards off his line.

[Chris Black come back]

He’s clearly more than good enough for League Two. If we get back to League One, let’s worry about him then. New keeper definitely not a priority.

[Plumbster]

Don’t understand the comments that we need a keeper.  For me I would prioritise both central midfield roles; I like Close and Biggins but just don’t think we can rely on them to be consistently effective in defence or attack. I know we have weaknesses elsewhere but I think we would look better in all departments if we traded up in at least one of these CM roles- better protection for the defence and more threat going forward.

[ravenrover]

Did either keeper actually make a save last night? I can't remember any

According to the PA stats, nope. We had 4 shots on target. They had 3.

One of their goals wasn’t a shot on target though (rsw) though I can’t remember a save from Mitchell

He won’t make a save, always off his line and never commands his box, Rochdale’s first goal he was 4 yards off his line and their 3rd goal he should have again been on his line , if so the ball wouldn’t have gone over his head.
He will always make mistakes and he’s not confident enough to be a top L2. Keeper got to be the poorest keeper we have signed in past 10 year’s

The first goal was a shot from about 20 yards (not seen any replays yet but just working from memory) so I would expect a keeper to be about four yards off his line.

1st Reported as taking a deflection, in off the post
2nd no chance own goal
3rd could and probably should have done better, but was it an intended looping header?