Let's talk about the Grimsby Town game

[selby]

  Back to the main aim of the season after flirting with glory, we restart with a game against old adversaries Grimsby Town who themselves will not have given up on getting in the play off positions, and look a stern test we need to put away if we are to continue with our aim of automatic promotion, but with having won their last two league games and us coming off a poor result at Chesterfield with a lot of players especially in defence poor, they will come here fancying their chances.
  At Grimsby we gave what was arguably the best performance of the season, one they will want to wipe away from their supporters memory who usually turn out here in numbers, and get behind their side.
  In Rose they have a goal scorer in the top twenty strikers in the division and have an away record with as many wins (7) as ourselves so will want watching closely.
  With Bradford and a few other sides breathing down our necks despite us having a little run of victories before the Chesterfield game which set us back, getting back on it is becoming more and more important,  with this period of the season when the real shake out of places at the end of the season is determined so more pressure mounting to get a result, and players who play need to be on top of their form.
  Grimsby against Carlisle had 25 shots at goal with 11 on target but had to rely on a Rose penalty near the end to get a win, what to make of that not being there is hard to fathom although the Carlisle keeper was their MOM.
  We ourselves did well v Crystal Palace without really laying a glove on them, but we played some decent football but seem to miss that controlling class midfielder that would make all the difference to our side, oh for a Wellens, Whiteman, Doolan, Stock. and we need a couple present day players to fulfil the obvious promise they have in their locker.
  As ever what do you think? from now on to me we need to be at least consistent, be able to get a result when not at our best, and play on the front foot and take some of the half chances we create which up to now this season have gone begging mostly.
  Lots to talk about and mull over, lots for the team to play for, and players with ambition and confidence to stand up and be counted, Please have your say
 
 

[IDM]

According to BBC stats we as a 4th tier side created 15 shots against a decent premier league team packed with international players.  Yes our shooting could have been more accurate or stronger to test their goalie, but to say we didn’t lay a glove on them is a bit harsh.

If we can play with the same commitment to the game as last night, we definitely have the quality up top to win this.

Of note was our defence last night which was outstanding.

[edlored]

We've got to find a way to get our forward line being productive we find it hard to break teams down

[Butchers Red]

Well I can't  wait for it - the performance, work rate and determination I have seen at Chessie and again last night convinces me all is well and it will be onwards and upwards from here. Both Molly and Gibbo are back up to the levels of early season, Joe's hold up play is spot on and he too is now finding the net. With the cup out of the way it's all to play for now.

[GazLaz]

Grimsby are an improving side. They are now partnered with the analytics company behind Brightons success, who a firm I know well. Every chance they reach the playoffs on a very modest budget.

[i_ateallthepies]

Hoping we don't get an 'after the Lord Mayor's show' performance as so often happened in the past with Rovers but I think I've seen enough of this squad to be confident that won't happen. There, that's kiboshed it.

[Jersey Rover]

We perform like last night, I can see us giving Grimsby a real thumping

[Usher wide.]

Grimsby are an improving side. They are now partnered with the analytics company behind Brightons success, who a firm I know well. Every chance they reach the playoffs on a very modest budget.

Bloody hell I’ve just thrown £40 down the drain on a Rovers victory.

I was thinking to myself  ‘In Olowu & Molyneaux we have two Championship quality players.

There’s not a better centre forward than Joe Ironside in holding the ball up then bring other attacking teammates into play in this division.

Sterry going forward has blistering pace & ball control, is getting to the byline now & putting crosses into dangerous areas.

Owen Bailey fights for possession like a terrier. He challenges for & wins more heading duels than his height & physical appearance would give him credit to do so.

In Charlie Crew we have a young diamond of a midfield holding player. He has an eye for a pass with vision way beyond his years.

In Gibson & Ennis we have two players on the opposite wide position to Moly who whichever one gets that berth on the day have pace to drive past defenders & create chances.

We have experience at the top in Billy Sharp & the same at the back in Tom Anderson. They’ve played in their respective positions all their careers & know what is required to be in areas where they can offer either a goal threat or a defensive shield.

Throw into that mix an improving Broadbent, a combatant in Paddy Kelly & a tiger is h Sbarra with an eye for a pass in the midfield areas.

Then we have another attacking option in Street who can go wide or ‘take on’ Joe’s role in winning headers & causing ‘a nuisance’ to opposing defenders.

James Maxwell in the left back role again has pace to get forward & track back. He’s playing with a pin in an ankle injury sustained at the end of last season but you can see he’s nearly back to his very best & can only improve in that position as his confidence & match games increase.

And yet you can blow all that positivity right out of the water because in my exuberance for my team I’ve stupidly not factored in the one thing we don’t have to support us & lead us to success.

Analytics.

[GazLaz]

Grimsby are an improving side. They are now partnered with the analytics company behind Brightons success, who a firm I know well. Every chance they reach the playoffs on a very modest budget.

Bloody hell I’ve just thrown £40 down the drain on a Rovers victory.

I was thinking to myself  ‘In Olowu & Molyneaux we have two Championship quality players.

There’s not a better centre forward than Joe Ironside in holding the ball up then bring other attacking teammates into play in this division.

Sterry going forward has blistering pace & ball control, is getting to the byline now & putting crosses into dangerous areas.

Owen Bailey fights for possession like a terrier. He challenges for & wins more heading duels than his height & physical appearance would give him credit to do so.

In Charlie Crew we have a young diamond of a midfield holding player. He has an eye for a pass with vision way beyond his years.

In Gibson & Ennis we have two players on the opposite wide position to Moly who whichever one gets that berth on the day have pace to drive past defenders & create chances.

We have experience at the top in Billy Sharp & the same at the back in Tom Anderson. They’ve played in their respective positions all their careers & know what is required to be in areas where they can offer either a goal threat or a defensive shield.

Throw into that mix an improving Broadbent, a combatant in Paddy Kelly & a tiger is h Sbarra with an eye for a pass in the midfield areas.

Then we have another attacking option in Street who can go wide or ‘take on’ Joe’s role in winning headers & causing ‘a nuisance’ to opposing defenders.

James Maxwell in the left back role again has pace to get forward & track back. He’s playing with a pin in an ankle injury sustained at the end of last season but you can see he’s nearly back to his very best & can only improve in that position as his confidence & match games increase.

And yet you can blow all that positivity right out of the water because in my exuberance for my team I’ve stupidly not factored in the one thing we don’t have to support us & lead us to success.

Analytics.

What the f**k are you on about?

[andy didcott]

Play like we did last night, 3-1.

[Grimsby boy]

Grimsby are an improving side. They are now partnered with the analytics company behind Brightons success, who a firm I know well. Every chance they reach the playoffs on a very modest budget.

We have started a recruitment model of scandinavian players aswell - the I celandic lad we signed at season start has really started to prosper , he's too good technically for the level but pretty weak . We just signed the Faroe Island captain (random I know ) but he hasn't played yet and I imagine we won't see much of him until next season .

I imagine this season will come too early for us but imagine we will challenge next season providing we add 2 or 3 players of quality which probably seperates us from the top 7 for me .

Think we have shifted 2600 tickets so hopefully can do 3k by Saturday . Unless we go to a more defensive game plan I can't see us getting anything though we are wide open which the last 2 timesaway  you have exploited very well and ended up pumping us . Will be an interesting game to see if we have learnt anything as the few Donny game I watched on the box it looked like the low block type of setup frustrated you (I think it was Harrogate one game ) but we really don't play like that so think probably a home win.

[Ian Nimmo]

I wouldn’t be surprised if Maxwell is not in the squad for Saturday, he was struggling to walk off the pitch last night. Given we have senior, I reckon Grant may well give him more time to recover.

[Filo]

I wouldn’t be surprised if Maxwell is not in the squad for Saturday, he was struggling to walk off the pitch last night. Given we have senior, I reckon Grant may well give him more time to recover.

Senior needs to look at his studs, 3 or 4 times he slipped last night

[Barmby Rover]

You can hear the groans coming from South Humberside already, Not them again!" Grimsby will be beaten easily on Saturday, 4-0

[BadgerGTFC]

To be a little pedantic and correct my fishy friend above, our new Faroese signing hasn’t actually played for the senior national team yet alone captained them. I think that’s more due to passport issues than ability but suffice to say we probably haven’t signed League Two’s answer to Mac Allister or Caicedo just yet. I digress - he’s not eligible to play on Saturday regardless.

This one’s a little tricky to predict for me. Now granted, I haven’t enjoyed the last three fixtures between us one bit (is it an 8-1 aggregate over the last two?), and the gulf between the two sides back in October couldn’t have been bigger.

But we are a funny side. It’s feast or famine with us. That lube-free árse fúcking you gave us earlier in the season was actually the only defeat in a run of games in which we won the other four.

It’s just that very rarely do we win comfortably or lose narrowly. The only result I can see is one of a cheeky 1-0 away win or a Donny bloodbath (again, no lube). If I absolutely had to bet my house on it I’d probably plump for the latter, but we’re horribly unpredictable - there seems to be no rhyme or reason as to whether we show up or roll over like a great big..rolly thingy.

This will be the second Town game at the Keepmoat (or whatever you’re calling it these days) that I’ve missed - the other being our 2-1 win on Bank Holiday Monday a couple of years ago. So you never know.

But it will be a walk in the park, or classic, frustrating away side shíthousery. Nothing in between; you heard it here first.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

This games bigger than Monday night. As long as the players are tuned into that, we have a chance. There were positive signs v MK Dons and v Palace that we can play with more intensity and purpose. Probably playing a bit too gung ho at Chesterfield with too many costly errors. Very few of those errors repeated v Palace.

Likely to be some changes with a few bumps and bruises carried over so McCann will probably freshen things up a bit where he can. We need to put our foot down on the gas to win this.

[Nudga]

Grimsby have sold around 2,600 tickets.

[Reg of the Rovers]

Palace got lucky with both of their goals Monday - Sharp couldn't sort his feet for first one, and Broadbent gave them the second gift wrapped when he missed his header / fluffed the clearance. Must be five times he's cost us games this season. I know we had personnel issues on Monday in midfield, but he shouldn't start before Kelly. Ennis also to drop out for me. Senior earned a start for me on Monday, as did Tom who was solid as a rock.

Injuries allowing, I'd go: TSL // Olowu / Anderson / McGrath // Senior / Clifton / Bailey / Crew / Molyneux // Sharp / Ironside

Gibson first sub to stretch them.

Should be another decent crowd and good away end, need to match their noise and keep them quiet by staying their bogey team! Must win for us, got to stay stride by stride at the top of the table, we're still a game behind a few so points on the board a must.

[Barmby Rover]

Well done to their fans for the turnout, we will make them welcome, hope they have a good day, and then take 3 points from them with smiles on our faces!

[IDM]

Palace got lucky with both of their goals Monday - Sharp couldn't sort his feet for first one, and Broadbent gave them the second gift wrapped when he missed his header / fluffed the clearance. Must be five times he's cost us games this season. I know we had personnel issues on Monday in midfield, but he shouldn't start before Kelly. Ennis also to drop out for me. Senior earned a start for me on Monday, as did Tom who was solid as a rock.

Injuries allowing, I'd go: TSL // Olowu / Anderson / McGrath // Senior / Clifton / Bailey / Crew / Molyneux // Sharp / Ironside

Gibson first sub to stretch them.

Should be another decent crowd and good away end, need to match their noise and keep them quiet by staying their bogey team! Must win for us, got to stay stride by stride at the top of the table, we're still a game behind a few so points on the board a must.

No Sterry.?  Jay is out for a couple of weeks isn’t he?

[Reg of the Rovers]

Palace got lucky with both of their goals Monday - Sharp couldn't sort his feet for first one, and Broadbent gave them the second gift wrapped when he missed his header / fluffed the clearance. Must be five times he's cost us games this season. I know we had personnel issues on Monday in midfield, but he shouldn't start before Kelly. Ennis also to drop out for me. Senior earned a start for me on Monday, as did Tom who was solid as a rock.

Injuries allowing, I'd go: TSL // Olowu / Anderson / McGrath // Senior / Clifton / Bailey / Crew / Molyneux // Sharp / Ironside

Gibson first sub to stretch them.

Should be another decent crowd and good away end, need to match their noise and keep them quiet by staying their bogey team! Must win for us, got to stay stride by stride at the top of the table, we're still a game behind a few so points on the board a must.

No Sterry.?  Jay is out for a couple of weeks isn’t he?

I think he's looked leggy last couple (Sterry) so might be worth a rest. Although no Jay means back 4 so Sterry in and keep Senior in for Maxwell. Tom was really good on Monday so not to worried about missing Jay too much.

[ncRover]

Palace got lucky with both of their goals Monday - Sharp couldn't sort his feet for first one, and Broadbent gave them the second gift wrapped when he missed his header / fluffed the clearance. Must be five times he's cost us games this season. I know we had personnel issues on Monday in midfield, but he shouldn't start before Kelly. Ennis also to drop out for me. Senior earned a start for me on Monday, as did Tom who was solid as a rock.

Injuries allowing, I'd go: TSL // Olowu / Anderson / McGrath // Senior / Clifton / Bailey / Crew / Molyneux // Sharp / Ironside

Gibson first sub to stretch them.

Should be another decent crowd and good away end, need to match their noise and keep them quiet by staying their bogey team! Must win for us, got to stay stride by stride at the top of the table, we're still a game behind a few so points on the board a must.

Bit unfair on Broadbent, it was a well worked goal and he had a good game on the whole. Had he made the mistake Billy did for the first goal he’d be getting terrorised on here.

Wouldn’t play Sharp. He was probably our worst player against Palace. Ironside’s hold up play improved us. He had more touches coming off the bench in 30 minutes than Billy did in 60. That happened a few weeks ago too.

[drfchound]

Palace got lucky with both of their goals Monday - Sharp couldn't sort his feet for first one, and Broadbent gave them the second gift wrapped when he missed his header / fluffed the clearance. Must be five times he's cost us games this season. I know we had personnel issues on Monday in midfield, but he shouldn't start before Kelly. Ennis also to drop out for me. Senior earned a start for me on Monday, as did Tom who was solid as a rock.

Injuries allowing, I'd go: TSL // Olowu / Anderson / McGrath // Senior / Clifton / Bailey / Crew / Molyneux // Sharp / Ironside

Gibson first sub to stretch them.

Should be another decent crowd and good away end, need to match their noise and keep them quiet by staying their bogey team! Must win for us, got to stay stride by stride at the top of the table, we're still a game behind a few so points on the board a must.

Bit unfair on Broadbent, he had a good game on the whole. Had he made the mistake Billy did for the first goal he’d be getting terrorised on here.

Wouldn’t play Sharp. He was probably our worst player against Palace. Ironside’s hold up play improved us. He had more touches coming off the bench in 30 minutes than Billy did in 60. That happened a few weeks ago too.

Agreed on Ironside starting on Saturday.
A bit harsh though on Sharp, saying he made a mistake for the first goal.
The shot rebounded off the post at tremendous speed and just hit him.
He had next to no reaction time to do anything about it and unluckily for us, it fell nicely for the tap in.

[Prez]

Massive game this. Win and we would be 10 points in front of them, but lose and its only 4. Not sure on the line up in defence with the injuries but the midfield 3 for me would be Bailey, Crew and Kelly. Front 3 Molz, Ironside and Gibson.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Massive game this. Win and we would be 10 points in front of them, but lose and its only 4. Not sure on the line up in defence with the injuries but the midfield 3 for me would be Bailey, Crew and Kelly. Front 3 Molz, Ironside and Gibson.

I wouldn't argue with that. It was noticeable on Monday, particularly first half, Mols was more central with Sterry pushing up more, then early second half both Sterry and Maxwell pushed up into the forward line (but then of course we got done over the top with a turnover), so there maybe a case for going with a back 3 with Olowu, Anderson and Senior. Gibson and Sterry providing with width with Bailey, Crew and Kelly central, Mols as a no 10 supporting Ironside or Billy.

[Chris Black come back]

Looking forward to this, more than the Palace game.

We’ve won four of our last five home games against them, since we returned to the league.

[DonnyOsmond]

Grimsby are an improving side. They are now partnered with the analytics company behind Brightons success, who a firm I know well. Every chance they reach the playoffs on a very modest budget.

Bloody hell I’ve just thrown £40 down the drain on a Rovers victory.

I was thinking to myself  ‘In Olowu & Molyneaux we have two Championship quality players.

There’s not a better centre forward than Joe Ironside in holding the ball up then bring other attacking teammates into play in this division.

Sterry going forward has blistering pace & ball control, is getting to the byline now & putting crosses into dangerous areas.

Owen Bailey fights for possession like a terrier. He challenges for & wins more heading duels than his height & physical appearance would give him credit to do so.

In Charlie Crew we have a young diamond of a midfield holding player. He has an eye for a pass with vision way beyond his years.

In Gibson & Ennis we have two players on the opposite wide position to Moly who whichever one gets that berth on the day have pace to drive past defenders & create chances.

We have experience at the top in Billy Sharp & the same at the back in Tom Anderson. They’ve played in their respective positions all their careers & know what is required to be in areas where they can offer either a goal threat or a defensive shield.

Throw into that mix an improving Broadbent, a combatant in Paddy Kelly & a tiger is h Sbarra with an eye for a pass in the midfield areas.

Then we have another attacking option in Street who can go wide or ‘take on’ Joe’s role in winning headers & causing ‘a nuisance’ to opposing defenders.

James Maxwell in the left back role again has pace to get forward & track back. He’s playing with a pin in an ankle injury sustained at the end of last season but you can see he’s nearly back to his very best & can only improve in that position as his confidence & match games increase.

And yet you can blow all that positivity right out of the water because in my exuberance for my team I’ve stupidly not factored in the one thing we don’t have to support us & lead us to success.

Analytics.

This shit has to stop, all he did is make one comment on how the opposition is doing well at the moment. It's f**king boring, you've wrote multiple paragraphs crying about someone talking about analytics, get a hobby.

[Chris Black come back]

Data only gets you so far. I suspect Jordan Gibson has some good underlying numbers. That doesn’t help his obvious confidence issues or him being played either out of position or piecemeal.

[DonnyOsmond]

Data only gets you so far. I suspect Jordan Gibson has some good underlying numbers. That doesn’t help his obvious confidence issues or him being played either out of position or piecemeal.

Yeah, I mentioned this last week, we're alright at finding good players but bad at player profiling.

[steve@dcfd]

Whether it’s data or statistics we must from now score more of  chances we create and do not concede as many. We must do that in the next 16 games if we are going to compete for automatic promotion or even the playoffs. Our goals for are 44 which is 4th best and goals against is 37 which is 9th in the top ten. The 5 against Chesterfield didn’t help. It’s now down to GM and the players to get the results required to compete for automatic places.