Morecambe (H) preview

[ncRover]

Another fixture that we need to dispel the ghouls of early last season from. The 0-5 home loss last season had me at my wit’s end and feeling like the club was simply cursed.

Morecambe are a club in crisis. They are still waiting for a takeover and have had to cut their cloth accordingly with the playing budget for the second year in a row.

As it stands right now, they are the bookies favourites to go down ahead of Accrington. But with the experienced and wily Derek Adams in charge, you can’t write them off.

One look at their recent lineup and I can see why the bookies don’t fancy them. There are players here that otherwise would not have been handed a contract in the EFL.

For me, I think it is time to be brave and positive and start Olowu alongside Richard Wood. The Shrimps can only offer a lone forward attack of either Hallam Hope or Lee Angol. Both of whom struggled to establish themselves even at National League level last season. Definitely not the same threat as the young Michael Mellon who terrorised us last year. This is a good game to implement that change going forward. Olowu looked far more assured with the experienced organiser next to him compared to the Joseph of old.

For me, this change allows us to build from the back more comfortably and have a higher defensive line. A higher line then has benefits throughout the team. It squeezes the space for our press to work better. It brings the midfield and attack closer together and allows Molyneux and Gibson to get closer to and run beyond the centre forward. As both Owen Bailey and McCann said post-Newport, Ironside won an insane amount of headers to no avail. You could play the more in-form Billy yes, but if the striker has no support nothing changes.

Sterry came under a lot of criticism last week but I would stick with him for the easier fixtures. No fast tricky winger this time around. I expect Fleming to come in for Senior.

Broadbent has played ok but perhaps the midfield controller role isn’t quite natural to him, he’s potentially a bit more of a Bailey-type midfielder. I would play Westbrooke in that controller role as I haven’t seen Kelly play it yet, and Zain played well against Salford by all accounts.

We don’t want or need wholesale changes to disrupt the XI gelling early in the season though I think.

Like Newport, Morecambe have no momentum whatsoever and haven’t won a game since before our early April away fixture with them last year.

What are your predictions for this one? What tweaks would you make?

[Reg of the Rovers]

I think Sterry has been terrible and would give him a rest, both games he was still asleep after HT and cost us goals. Kelly got to come in to start in midfield, his energy against Salford was the difference. Otherwise we shouldn't panic - we're a good team and if we turn up and stay tight at the back we should be on for the 3pts. 

[ncRover]

I think Sterry has been terrible and would give him a rest, both games he was still asleep after HT and cost us goals. Kelly got to come in to start in midfield, his energy against Salford was the difference. Otherwise we shouldn't panic - we're a good team and if we turn up and stay tight at the back we should be on for the 3pts.

I hear what you’re saying about Sterry, Reg. But against a side like Morecambe where we’ll have more of the ball you probably want him for his quality on the ball.

McCann has never dropped Sterry but then he could see it as an opportunity to bed in Nixon for the Port Vale and Everton games?

We’ll see.

[Reg of the Rovers]

I like Nixon, a bit more solid and hardworking - we've enough flair going forward so I'd prefer to tighten up at the back and try and defend crosses a bit better, and get back to keeping clean sheets as we're always going to score with our forward options.

Missed the Accrington game on my hols so first home game of season for me - really looking forward to it.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Our most difficult game yet. On the back of defeat, the pressure will be on to bounce back.  If we take any game lightly then the same outcome as last week is more probable. No matter who we play, it has to be the same approach based on hard work and concentration.

There's a few things McCann will have worked on in training. Hopefully, we can get a bit more control into our game and knit things together a bit better.  Defend as a unit and attack as a unit rather than individuals doing their own thing. What we don't want to see is Ironside and Molyneux in possession in deep areas and then losing it! Support for the ball carrier has to be much better in those areas so there's always a simple pass.

What that means in terms of personnel, I don't know but it's too early to assess which is our best starting XI.

We need to show some patience to allow them to gell together and with that comes mistakes so let's hope the crowd don't get on their backs too prematurely.

I'll take any win and some further signs of players understanding each other and forming partnerships. 

[steve@dcfd]

Choices for Morecambe Sterry or Nixon Senior or Fleming I would play Kelly in place of Broadbent having seen him against Salford. Then Gibson Ironside Molyneux and either Sbarra or Clifton.

Decision then for Tuesday whether we make wholesale changes so we have fitter players for early kickoff against Port Vale next Saturday

[DearneValleyRover]

I can see Fleming, Kelly and if fit Hurst starting plus maybe Olowu, I can’t see Nixon starting as well, I doubt he will change 3 of the back 4.

[Alan Southstand]

From a purely personal point of view, I’m hoping GM goes with Kelly (for Broadbent) as we’re all hoping that this lad is, or can be, the replacement for last season’s Craig. I can also see Senior missing out, with Nixon on the bench because he can cover left or right back.

Centre back wise, I don’t see the need to change things unless, of course, there’s an injury or niggle concern.

Up top, I don’t see anything changing except maybe a change of attitude, in that both Gibson & Molyneux should be consistently helping their full backs when we’re not in possession.

The attacking midfield role should go to Clifton, as he’s bust a gut to get in contention.

[albie]

Look at the highlights Alan.

That 3rd goal is comedy defending from Rovers, and Tom in particular.
It is a simple front on header than a centre back should win all day long, but he mistimes it, gets under the ball, and we concede a soft goal.

Olowu needs to start, to give us some recovery pace in the back line.
I was also surprised that Westbrooke did not feature, because to me he is a far more accomplished player than Broadbent.

Don't know enough about Kelly just yet.

[Lesonthewest]

From a purely personal point of view, I’m hoping GM goes with Kelly (for Broadbent) as we’re all hoping that this lad is, or can be, the replacement for last season’s Craig. I can also see Senior missing out, with Nixon on the bench because he can cover left or right back.

Centre back wise, I don’t see the need to change things unless, of course, there’s an injury or niggle concern.

Up top, I don’t see anything changing except maybe a change of attitude, in that both Gibson & Molyneux should be consistently helping their full backs when we’re not in possession.

The attacking midfield role should go to Clifton, as he’s bust a gut to get in contention.

Personally Alan from what I've seen of Kelly, he's potentially better than Craig.

[RoversInSpain]

From a purely personal point of view, I’m hoping GM goes with Kelly (for Broadbent) as we’re all hoping that this lad is, or can be, the replacement for last season’s Craig. I can also see Senior missing out, with Nixon on the bench because he can cover left or right back.

Centre back wise, I don’t see the need to change things unless, of course, there’s an injury or niggle concern.

Up top, I don’t see anything changing except maybe a change of attitude, in that both Gibson & Molyneux should be consistently helping their full backs when we’re not in possession.

The attacking midfield role should go to Clifton, as he’s bust a gut to get in contention.

Personally Alan from what I've seen of Kelly, he's potentially better than Craig.

Really hope so, our midfield needs someone tough and will ball win and set us going forward.
Read into it as you will, Craig has been substituted in all 3 Barnsley games on or just before the hour mark

[sedwardsdrfc]

I get that Sterry is a good crosser and has a bit of quality on the ball but Nixon is a better all round player imo. It’s not like he offers nothing going forward where he has loads more energy to get around Moly to make space. Sterry looks good on the ball partly because he always sits deeper giving himself lots of space.

Changes for me would be Nixon at right back, Kelly in midfield and the Hurst or Sbarra in the 10 ahead of Clifton.

There’s a good case for Olowu starting too but would give the old guard a bit more time.

[ncRover]

Look at the highlights Alan.

That 3rd goal is comedy defending from Rovers, and Tom in particular.
It is a simple front on header than a centre back should win all day long, but he mistimes it, gets under the ball, and we concede a soft goal.

Had Olowu made the mistakes that Wood or Anderson made he would be getting torn apart on here.

What we don’t want is to see is Ironside and Molyneux in possession in deep areas and then losing it! Support for the ball carrier has to be much better in those areas so there’s always a simple pass.

What that means in terms of personnel, I don’t know but it’s too early to assess which is our best starting XI.
 

Get the whole team further up the pitch with defensive personnel that allows for a higher line and Ironside or Molyneux aren’t dropping too deep to receive it.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

From a purely personal point of view, I’m hoping GM goes with Kelly (for Broadbent) as we’re all hoping that this lad is, or can be, the replacement for last season’s Craig. I can also see Senior missing out, with Nixon on the bench because he can cover left or right back.

Centre back wise, I don’t see the need to change things unless, of course, there’s an injury or niggle concern.

Up top, I don’t see anything changing except maybe a change of attitude, in that both Gibson & Molyneux should be consistently helping their full backs when we’re not in possession.

The attacking midfield role should go to Clifton, as he’s bust a gut to get in contention.

Personally Alan from what I've seen of Kelly, he's potentially better than Craig.

Really hope so, our midfield needs someone tough and will ball win and set us going forward.
Read into it as you will, Craig has been substituted in all 3 Barnsley games on or just before the hour mark

I don't think that 'toughness' is necessarily what we need but, being strong in the contacts applies to all players really. When we press well, we press as a team and force the opposition into mistakes (just as Newport did to us). A good example at Salford...

https://youtu.be/HIdRMcEbETU?si=rSj1ewJ-y9UTQ-B_

Would you say Westbrooke is a tough tackler? No maybe not but here he is forcing the press, getting the tackle in and setting up Billy. That's ideally what we need for longer periods in the game but it can break down if just one of our players isn't quite on it.

It's the blend of players that gell well together but one week, we can look strong and the next like whimps.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Look at the highlights Alan.

That 3rd goal is comedy defending from Rovers, and Tom in particular.
It is a simple front on header than a centre back should win all day long, but he mistimes it, gets under the ball, and we concede a soft goal.

Had Olowu made the mistakes that Wood or Anderson made he would be getting torn apart on here.

What we don’t want is to see is Ironside and Molyneux in possession in deep areas and then losing it! Support for the ball carrier has to be much better in those areas so there’s always a simple pass.

What that means in terms of personnel, I don’t know but it’s too early to assess which is our best starting XI.
 

Get the whole team further up the pitch with defensive personnel that allows for a higher line and Ironside or Molyneux aren’t dropping too deep to receive it.

That's right, we were trying to be too clever in the wrong areas. Ironside came deep to receive the throw. Normally That's a longer throw to Ironside further up the line. Secondly, Ironside could have just passed it back to Sterry to clear up the pitch but no, he decided to turn and try to play a cute pass up the line. Maybe try that 20 yards further up. It's stuff that can easily be rectified.

[Chris Black come back]

Wood out of Saturday and probably for a while after. Looks like Olowu will be playing after all now.

[Pancho Regan]

That 0-5 drubbing last season was one of my all-time lows as a Rovers fan - absolutely humiliating.

I brought Mrs Pancho to the game and I'm still apologising.

We need to bury that ghost, although in fairness we went a long way towards doing that in the return fixture during our amazing late-season run. We totally outplayed them and I enjoyed one of my best ever away days!

Football, eh?