Let's talk to the Gillingham game

[turnbull for england]

A great result on a ground that's normally a graveyard for us. Had to withstand the Alamo for the first half hour but a brilliant breakaway goal took the wind out of their sails. Can't believe that Billy missed a chance to give us some breathing space but great defensive display second half to bring home the points. RTID.
Can't decide who's the worst commentator, Mickey Walker or Peter Catt. Possibly the boy Walker!

Whilst Peter Catt does undoubtedly have a voice ideally suited for his career as a print journalist, you can't knock his knowledge or enthusiasm. Mickey Walker doesn't even come across as a fan most of the time

[Padge_DRFC]

Mickey Walker is horrific. The main commentator comes out with bizarre things that haven't even happened too. Bailey at handballed it in our own area when he headed the ball clear at one stage according to him. I think he forgets people are watching this now as well as not only listening and over dramatises things

[ForsolongaRover]

Try wathhing Sky+, the bloke never shuts up mostly drivel

He sounded like a Gillingham supporter - very partial

[drfchound]

A great result on a ground that's normally a graveyard for us. Had to withstand the Alamo for the first half hour but a brilliant breakaway goal took the wind out of their sails. Can't believe that Billy missed a chance to give us some breathing space but great defensive display second half to bring home the points. RTID.
Can't decide who's the worst commentator, Mickey Walker or Peter Catt. Possibly the boy Walker!

Whilst Peter Catt does undoubtedly have a voice ideally suited for his career as a print journalist, you can't knock his knowledge or enthusiasm. Mickey Walker doesn't even come across as a fan most of the time

He is a Rovers fan though.

[Sprotyrover]

What was the name of the Commentator 2002 ish he was famous for his mispronunciation.

[NickDRFC]

A great result on a ground that's normally a graveyard for us. Had to withstand the Alamo for the first half hour but a brilliant breakaway goal took the wind out of their sails. Can't believe that Billy missed a chance to give us some breathing space but great defensive display second half to bring home the points. RTID.
Can't decide who's the worst commentator, Mickey Walker or Peter Catt. Possibly the boy Walker!

Whilst Peter Catt does undoubtedly have a voice ideally suited for his career as a print journalist, you can't knock his knowledge or enthusiasm. Mickey Walker doesn't even come across as a fan most of the time

He is a Rovers fan though.

Why does he commentate like he does? Over compensating?

[turnbull for england]

What was the name of the Commentator 2002 ish he was famous for his mispronunciation.


At the ground?  'Crystal' Ken Avis

[drfchound]

A great result on a ground that's normally a graveyard for us. Had to withstand the Alamo for the first half hour but a brilliant breakaway goal took the wind out of their sails. Can't believe that Billy missed a chance to give us some breathing space but great defensive display second half to bring home the points. RTID.
Can't decide who's the worst commentator, Mickey Walker or Peter Catt. Possibly the boy Walker!

Whilst Peter Catt does undoubtedly have a voice ideally suited for his career as a print journalist, you can't knock his knowledge or enthusiasm. Mickey Walker doesn't even come across as a fan most of the time

He is a Rovers fan though.

Why does he commentate like he does? Over compensating?

Probably, yes.
He told me that he has to try to remain “neutral”.

[Chris Black come back]

What was the name of the Commentator 2002 ish he was famous for his mispronunciation.

Perhaps you mean Brian Bradley or Bradders, sadly no longer with us. He was excellent value.

[i_ateallthepies]

Walker is cringeworthy as a summariser, he must think his main job is to be a comedian when nothing he says is remotely entertaining.

[Peebles Rover]

Bradders was hilarious. Not so much his mispronunciation, more that he would get a bit carried away and rather than describe what was happening, there were lots of ooooo’s and rrrrr’s! So you never knew what was actually happening!!

[Reg of the Rovers]

Good to see Maxwell back to his best.

I hope that really wasn't his best, defending is his primary role and he leaves something to be desired in that department.  Had a nice mazy run late on but earlier tried a run to the byline and was made to look poor by a L2 defender.

I think he adds a lot to the team, it was him who made L2 defenders look poor with that run late on and we did not concede a goal today. Job done.

It was a great run, and a great battling win. But Maxwell is a liability at the moment, at Hull and yesterday he made a couple of big mistakes. Like Broadband in the last few games, their performances haven't been terrible, but big mistakes will cost dearly - one cost Gillingham massively yesterday.

Playing with Sbarra is like being a man light, may as well let one of the mascots have a trot round for an hour. Can't keep starting him.

Moly looking back to form, Crew steady and will get better, Teddy decent again, Sterry / Olowu / McGrath solid and decent, Bailey doing the hard yards. Great clean sheet and a win when we probably weren't the best team on the day. Street and Ennis look like they can add creativity and flair.

We've got the potential to kick on now and go on a run, it's tight at the top so the margin for error gets less as we get closer to the final third of the season.

[drfchound]

Agbinone, the Palace player on loan at Gillingham, looked to be the main threat to us yesterday.
He had very good close control and was very quick.
I was pleased when he was subbed off and they never really looked like scoring after he went.
Perhaps a bit of an insight into what we will have to face when the fourth round cup tie comes along.

[DonnyOsmond]

The Sbarra hate from people is a bit odd.

[GazLaz]

The Sbarra hate from people is a bit odd.

He didn’t do much yesterday but I though he did what he did do quite well.

Our style just doesn’t suit central, creative players.

[jmt23]

Sbarra was tirelessly box to box yesterday, chasing down defenders and getting in their face, I thought it was his best display so far, we could do with more of that energy from them all.

Whilst we insist on playing the direct long ball game, midfield will always be chasing shadows.

[NickDRFC]

Sbarra was tirelessly box to box yesterday, chasing down defenders and getting in their face, I thought it was his best display so far, we could do with more of that energy from them all.

Whilst we insist on playing the direct long ball game, midfield will always be chasing shadows.

If he’s in the team for his energy then surely you’d be better playing Clifton.

I think our best chance of success for the rest of the season is a front 6 of Crew, Bailey, Clifton, Moly, Street & Ironside and trying to replicate what worked so well for us last year.

[scawsby steve]

Early on in the game, in a rare moment of relief  from their pressure, Sbarra won the ball in a tackle, advanced towards the edge of the area, and might easily have gone through to score had he not been taken out by a cynical foul.

I thought he did well yesterday in a difficult game on a lousy pitch.

[GazLaz]

Sbarra was tirelessly box to box yesterday, chasing down defenders and getting in their face, I thought it was his best display so far, we could do with more of that energy from them all.

Whilst we insist on playing the direct long ball game, midfield will always be chasing shadows.

If he’s in the team for his energy then surely you’d be better playing Clifton.

I think our best chance of success for the rest of the season is a front 6 of Crew, Bailey, Clifton, Moly, Street & Ironside and trying to replicate what worked so well for us last year.

Where is the creativity there? Can’t score if you don’t create.

[selby]

  I think that's a bit harsh on those players Gaz even Ironside is quite good at building attacks and bringing other players into the game, in fact it is one of his strengths, and I thought we had brought Crew into the fold to do just that, and a bit harsh to judge him on one outing.

[ncRover]

Have just seen that Ironside had more touches in his 15 minutes on the pitch than Sharp did in his 75 minutes.

[Reg of the Rovers]

Sbarra was tirelessly box to box yesterday, chasing down defenders and getting in their face, I thought it was his best display so far, we could do with more of that energy from them all.

Whilst we insist on playing the direct long ball game, midfield will always be chasing shadows.

If he’s in the team for his energy then surely you’d be better playing Clifton.

I think our best chance of success for the rest of the season is a front 6 of Crew, Bailey, Clifton, Moly, Street & Ironside and trying to replicate what worked so well for us last year.

That’d be my line up as well Nick there’s a blend of strength, skill and pace there. Close and Sbarra are small and tidy but that doesn’t suit this league. Starting like that means you can bring Hurst, Gibson and Sharp in to run at tired legs and players with yellows. That’s the winning formula there.

[GazLaz]

  I think that's a bit harsh on those players Gaz even Ironside is quite good at building attacks and bringing other players into the game, in fact it is one of his strengths, and I thought we had brought Crew into the fold to do just that, and a bit harsh to judge him on one outing.

Crew isn’t in the team to create. Ironside does his job well but doesn’t create goals. I’m not saying they are bad players but creativity, quality and hanging risk takers is key to scoring goals.

[roversdude]

Thought Sbarra was excellent yesterday

[Cramby10]

Sbarra was tirelessly box to box yesterday, chasing down defenders and getting in their face, I thought it was his best display so far, we could do with more of that energy from them all.

Whilst we insist on playing the direct long ball game, midfield will always be chasing shadows.

If he’s in the team for his energy then surely you’d be better playing Clifton.

I think our best chance of success for the rest of the season is a front 6 of Crew, Bailey, Clifton, Moly, Street & Ironside and trying to replicate what worked so well for us last year.

Where is the creativity there? Can’t score if you don’t create.

can’t create if you don’t touch the ball either. Which Sbarra rarely does. He’s lost out there. Very poor player for me. We need better than that. I’d take Biggins back in a heart beat over him.

[ncRover]

Have watched the full match replay in segments over the last few days.

The defensive unit (in which I include Owen Bailey) was superb.
Given that Walsall play a back 3, I think we have the best centre back pairing in the league.
TSL is an intelligent keeper. Sterry very sharp.
Maxwell still a bit shaky defensively and in possession. Needs to improve or the better attacks will target him.

Crew looks a bit lightweight, but showed some really clever touches. Wasn’t really the game for him.

The attack has still got some question marks over it for me. 
Sharp offered very little, he hasn’t played from the start as a lone striker with much effect since Bradford away in October now.
Sbarra was distinctly average. Haven’t seen enough of him to know if that’s normal or not.
Street was ok, but he cut a frustrated figure because he’s getting played out of position. Yes he’s quick and hard-working, but he was trying to do centre forward stuff from out wide.
Ironside was great when he came on and looked to link up very well with Ethan Ennis (who put in a terrific defensive header near the end). Those two look a good natural combination to me.
Molyneux back to his best. Put a great shift in too.