Let's talk about the Barrow game

[selby]

  A long journey at not the best time of the year and a late winter return home is not the most enticing fixture of the year, and not the greatest bit of planning by the fixture computer ever.
  After two wins, hard fought rather than expansive play that thrilled the supporters in the stand, we found a way, a great trend in itself.
 Carrying a bit of luck and some great goalkeeping we have at last found the importance of keeping a clean sheet, against two sides who were hell bent on disrupting the flow of the game at every opportunity and aided with some poor refereeing and even poorer ( what are they there for nowadays) assistant referees.
  Barrow have a new manager in Andy Whings who has strengthened the side signing Tyler Smith on loan from Bradford, and a great signing of MJ Williams a very good mid fielder and added them to such as Vassell and Gotts giving the side a good solid block to build on.
  After a great start to the season they fell away and Saturday won their second game in sixteen games and had the usual new manager bounce beating Grimsby 3-0 with the new signings to the fore, so we could have dropped on a better time in the season for this fixture to be played.
  We have developed good traits in resilience when not playing at the top of our game, and I hope we can add a little more flair in our game which would make us a team to be reckoned with, we have the players, and they need to build confidence on their own ability especially around the oppositions penalty area where we tend to overplay it and not take personal responsibility to shoot.
  Another third win on the trot would really put us in the shop window, and is just what is needed whatever way we achieve it, having won the last two games while not on top of our game, and some players can do a lot better individually, while keeping up their collective hard work, which has seen us through the last two games.
   What do you think?
   Are you going to the match?
   Would you make changes?
   Will the referee allow play to develop and stop teams disrupting our play as a tactical ploy?
   Lot's to discuss, lot's to look forward to, please have your say.

[Filo]

This game is on Sky Sports+

[ravenrover]

Will the game be on though, strong winds and persistant heavy rain showers particularly in the West. Does Barrow pitch drain well?

[selby]

  I think one of the recent games we played there had the same doubts about it being played Raven and it went ahead.

[Pancho Regan]

Yes I’ll be there and I’m hoping for a second win on the trot after our success in the FA Cup First Round, following many visits where we came away with nothing.

It will be interesting to see what line-up GM goes with.
I wonder lately whether he is unsure as to what is his best starting eleven, especially up front.

It would be good to get a little run of victories going; we desperately need that in order to stay in the top three.

[Stewmaiden79]

I’ll be there. Looking forward to the game, the travel not so much.

[roversdude]

We’re going but fear it may be off

[NigelJ]

Why would it be off?

[Chris Black come back]

Not on a good run of form. Have won only twice in their last 15 league games, although a rare win this weekend, beating Grimsby Town 3-0 at home. Thats a side with a good away record so Barrow definitely pulled one out of the bag on Saturday.

[NickDRFC]

Not on a good run of form. Have won only twice in their last 15 league games, although a rare win this weekend, beating Grimsby Town 3-0 at home. Thats a side with a good away record so Barrow definitely pulled one out of the bag on Saturday.

They sacked Clemence and brought in the Solihull Moors manager, it was his first game at the weekend. I’d far rather be playing them with Clemence in charge.

[ncRover]

Not on a good run of form. Have won only twice in their last 15 league games, although a rare win this weekend, beating Grimsby Town 3-0 at home. Thats a side with a good away record so Barrow definitely pulled one out of the bag on Saturday.

They sacked Clemence and brought in the Solihull Moors manager, it was his first game at the weekend. I’d far rather be playing them with Clemence in charge.

Just watched their highlights from the Grimsby game and they look a solid side.
Strong defenders who are threats at set pieces.
Big man little man up top.
Attacking wing backs (former loanee Ben Jackson having a good season on the left).
They always cause us problems with legs in midfield. Gotts still there who always has a good game against us.
Will be tough.

[roversdude]

Why would it be off?

My bad - weather forecast seems to have improved dramatically

[NickDRFC]

Not on a good run of form. Have won only twice in their last 15 league games, although a rare win this weekend, beating Grimsby Town 3-0 at home. Thats a side with a good away record so Barrow definitely pulled one out of the bag on Saturday.

They sacked Clemence and brought in the Solihull Moors manager, it was his first game at the weekend. I’d far rather be playing them with Clemence in charge.

Just watched their highlights from the Grimsby game and they look a solid side.
Strong defenders who are threats at set pieces.
Big man little man up top.
Attacking wing backs (former loanee Ben Jackson having a good season on the left).
They always cause us problems with legs in midfield. Gotts still there who always has a good game against us.
Will be tough.

They’re definitely better than their league position and last 15 games suggest, but don’t think they’re quite at the level to challenge for playoffs. The sort of game we need to be winning if our actions are going to back up McCann’s talk.

[Wiltshire Exile]

From the Barrow forum:

https://www.barrowafc.net/viewtopic.php?t=33525&sid=76a1f6fcbda83d4f936e43dd9fb9757a

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Any positive result there will be a good one. I tend to feel slightly more confident playing away from home when playing on the break is more likely. Maybe the players can play with a bit more freedom although a bit more desire and intensity wouldn't go amis from what we saw on Saturday.

Either way, there's likely to be periods when we soak up lots of pressure and we shred our wits, unless we somehow assert more control of the game.

[Metalmicky]

This game is on Sky Sports+

Not sure I could sit through another game so soon after Saturday

[Alan Southstand]

We need to ensure there is something left in the tank for Saturday’s game v MKD!

[ForsolongaRover]

The new Barrow manager was only in post a few days before the Grimsby win which was achieved with only 27% possession.  So, unless he is an absolute genius, a possible interpretation would be that they simply discarded the previous manager’s plan.

This is borne out by looking back at their possession figures in practically all their preceding games which they’ve lost or failed to win when they’ve had more of the ball than their opponents.

Even so, only 27% at home is an unusual stat.

So, if nothing else, Rovers can hang on to the ball, but can they do it in a way that produces goals? Will the 3 incomers produce the long-awaited clicking into gear and end-product?

[Surrey Rover]

We need to ensure there is something left in the tank for Saturday’s game v MKD!

I believe the date of this fixture was moved to Wednesday as originally it was to be the main event on Sky Sports. It’s now only showing on Sky Sports Plus so there is no reason why it couldn’t have been played tonight with all the other league two fixtures which are also available on Sky Sports Plus.

[Reg of the Rovers]

Long journey, sloppy pitch, tough run out last Saturday. I'm not sure the omens are great!

I'd like to see a 3-5-2 from the start, gives us dominance in the middle and flexibility out of possession, and plays to the strengths of our personnel. Bring Tom A back in with Jay and Joe, play any two from Billy, Ironside and Street up top. Pack the midfield with muscle - and legs - Clifton, Bailey and Crew.

This and MK are big big games - win and start the momentum, lose and we're back to win one lose one and we'll just start to slip down the table.

At least we'll know what other teams did tonight which might be an extra incentive!

[Pancho Regan]

Long journey, sloppy pitch, tough run out last Saturday. I'm not sure the omens are great!

I'd like to see a 3-5-2 from the start, gives us dominance in the middle and flexibility out of possession, and plays to the strengths of our personnel. Bring Tom A back in with Jay and Joe, play any two from Billy, Ironside and Street up top. Pack the midfield with muscle - and legs - Clifton, Bailey and Crew.

This and MK are big big games - win and start the momentum, lose and we're back to win one lose one and we'll just start to slip down the table.

At least we'll know what other teams did tonight which might be an extra incentive!

That's not a bad shout Reg.
One of our best away performances and results this season was beating Fleetwood 4-2. We started as a 3-5-2 with Tom, Joseph and Jay at the back, Sterry and Maxwell as wing-backs, and both Joe and Billy up top with Kyle.

[Ldr]

We need to ensure there is something left in the tank for Saturday’s game v MKD!

I believe the date of this fixture was moved to Wednesday as originally it was to be the main event on Sky Sports. It’s now only showing on Sky Sports Plus so there is no reason why it couldn’t have been played tonight with all the other league two fixtures which are also available on Sky Sports Plus.

It’s broadcast on the plus channel not just streamed this Wednesday which may explain it

[i_ateallthepies]

I'd like to see big Tom back in and think the best way is the three at the back.  It's been an evident weakness in the last two games that we lack aerial dominance without Tom.  Jay and Joe are terrific on the floor but Joe, despite his vast improvement this season on the floor and in the air he still lacks Tom's aerial prowess and Jay likewise.  It could make us a very solid unit and give us more threat at set pieces.

[selby]

  ForsolongaRover that 27% stat shows they are strong at the back and still had more shots than Grimsby 11 to 10.
  That tells me they were quite happy for Grimsby to fart around with the ball in mid field and play in front of their best players at the back, similar to our game when Harrogate watched us fart about with the ball and not get shots in or behind their defenders.
 If we had not scored what was a scuffed lucky goal we would have come away feeling totally frustrated by our performance and discouraged.
  We will need to be a lot better at Barrow who have signed some good players in the window MJ Williams completely dominating us when he came to the KM in Bolton's last visit and Gotts is no shrinking violet, and we want to hope that Vassell and Tyler Smith don't see a lot of the ball up front as they can soon do some damage.

[ncRover]

  ForsolongaRover that 27% stat shows they are strong at the back and still had more shots than Grimsby 11 to 10.
  That tells me they were quite happy for Grimsby to fart around with the ball in mid field and play in front of their best players at the back, similar to our game when Harrogate watched us fart about with the ball and not get shots in or behind their defenders.
 If we had not scored what was a scuffed lucky goal we would have come away feeling totally frustrated by our performance and discouraged.
  We will need to be a lot better at Barrow who have signed some good players in the window MJ Williams completely dominating us when he came to the KM in Bolton's last visit and Gotts is no shrinking violet, and we want to hope that Vassell and Tyler Smith don't see a lot of the ball up front as they can soon do some damage.

Vassell is a centre half.

It will be either the rather large Pressley or Acquah who will partner Tyler Smith.

Tyler Smith has a good goalscoring record against us recently. He scored in both the home and away fixtures for Bradford last year, despite only scoring 5 all season.

[Upton Rover]

This game is on Sky Sports+

all league games are

[IDM]

This game is on Sky Sports+

all league games are

Including 3pm on Saturdays.?

[Scooter]

I’m driving to Barrow tomorrow. I’ve been twice before and I usually park in the nearby housing estate and go to the local chippy.
I might go a bit earlier and have a steady drive. I’ve had a quick look on maps thinking it is on the coast but it seems to be a bit of a derelict wasteland.
Anyone know if there is anything to look at there apart from the football and the road out?

[i_ateallthepies]

I’m driving to Barrow tomorrow. I’ve been twice before and I usually park in the nearby housing estate and go to the local chippy.
I might go a bit earlier and have a steady drive. I’ve had a quick look on maps thinking it is on the coast but it seems to be a bit of a derelict wasteland.
Anyone know if there is anything to look at there apart from the football and the road out?

Apparently the locals turn out to see the traffic lights change

[rich1471]

I’m driving to Barrow tomorrow. I’ve been twice before and I usually park in the nearby housing estate and go to the local chippy.
I might go a bit earlier and have a steady drive. I’ve had a quick look on maps thinking it is on the coast but it seems to be a bit of a derelict wasteland.
Anyone know if there is anything to look at there apart from the football and the road out?

I worked their a few years ago it has nothing to other at all apart from it's an hour from the lake District