Let's talk about the Cheltenham game

[selby]

  Wow what an end of the season looks to be in front of us  after last nights game, a good game to watch against a team that went after us and we had great highs and bitter blows in a result that was about right considering how the game went, and in fairness to both sides not a bad standard of football all the game.
  Every game to the end of the season carry's the same threat, nobody is going to lay down for us, and we are going to have to play well to reach where we want to be. Last night we showed commitment and desire throughout the team who to a man gave their best and worked hard, as much as we can ask, ball retention could have been better but the pace of the game  was energy sapping no team really getting a proper grip on the game.
 Now it is on to Cheltenham who sit 15th in the table and last night lost 2-0 away at Morecambe not a great result  and over the season have won 13 games  drawn 11 and lost 16 league games  and are basically seeing the season out, but will want to put a show on for their own fans, and the disappointment of a certain fixture that looked similar in the last game of the season still haunts me.
  Play well and we have every chance of winning the game, take it for granted and we could well suffer the consequences as they will want to finish the season on a high and will see us as a tasty scalp that will raise their stock with their supporters in what looks somewhat of a must win game for us.
  With teams tightening up points wise all with a good chance of winning automatic promotion the pressure is not just mounting on ourselves, and it could well come down to which teams handle the pressure and expectancy the best in what is now the tightest run in for years.
  Managers have a hard job, we the supporters have our idea of our best side, it wouldn't be football if not. Last night our ball  retention let us down, probably because Walsall pressured the man with the ball relentlessly as we did to them, Sabarra not great with the ball but worked his socks off tackling and winning the ball, not a fans favourite for the former but needed when we have not got the ball.
  I fail to see the opinion of some that we missed Olowu and McGrath in this game as I thought they kept us in it against some big awkward strikers with our full backs being run at and past most of the game, again on the left a problem,  it is all about opinions which this thread is all about, but Olowu has been our outstanding player accepted, but those two have rarely been tested to the extent Anderson and Wood were last nigh, I thought they both did well and guess work anyone could have done better.
  Kelly and Crew are the mystery to me, they both have talent, both in a really good side would no doubt look the players we hoped for when signed, and personally must be disappointed  they are not getting the game time they would have hoped for, the last two open games probably the type of games they would shine in, or has our talent recognition side of the club brought two in who don't suit our style of play? Probably not room for both on the field at the same time, but a disappointment at least to me they have not made much of a mark here up to press.
  So on to Cheltenham, the games coming  thick and fast and all on a knives edge looking at how other games are going, football a nerve wrecker.
  No half way now, we have to pick points up, can we rise to it? two great games to watch at home, and decent form, can we replicate it in away games? are you going to the game? would you make changes?  who is the biggest danger to us in your mind? I think it's us really, do you agree? are you going to the game? our support has been great and a great atmosphere which is building, the black bank the best since we moved from Belle view IMHO, nothing but respect for you. 
  Lots to talk about, lots to discuss please have your say.

[oggycompton]

I'd personally like to see Kelly in the number 10 role, he carries the ball well and looked really sharp against Carlisle in his fleeting few minutes. Sharp has to be close maybe to a start but Ijust don't feel our current tactics would be best for him, maybe a change in formation if we don't have a decent number 10 and play both Street and Sharp up top. Hopefully Maxwell is backand maybe McGrath who I would start for Senior and Wood.

Massive game though as you say...another one.

[TonySoprano]

Anything less than a win, and it's goodbye autos.

[adamtherover]

Looking forward to it.

[normal rules]

I wonder if a change in setup, parking the bus would have helped last night with 10 mins to go . It’s not a positive tactic, but not for the first time we have let a lead slip late on in a game .

[Scooter]

I would start Kelly instead of Sbarra and push Broadbent further upfield. He frequently drops in as a sweeper, he needs to sit inside the centre circle and dictate from there

Either way I’ll be going. New ground for me to tick off

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Anything less than a win, and it's goodbye autos.

Yes, I think we must keep the pressure on for the top three otherwise it's likely to have a disheartening effect on the players. The game in hand doesn't come soon enough and will only be handy if we stay in striking distance.

I hope we have more options available with Kelly, Crew being added to the match squad, although my guess is McCann will only pick one at the expense of Sbarra.

We've still got to believe we can do this.

[Pancho Regan]

I'd like to see Sbarra dropped and Kelly brought in to start the game.
If McGrath is fit I'd put him in and drop Woody.

[Dutch Uncle]

I wonder if a change in setup, parking the bus would have helped last night with 10 mins to go . It’s not a positive tactic, but not for the first time we have let a lead slip late on in a game .

Amazingly it is the first time in the league this season. We have indeed conceded late when we were 2 or more up, jangling the nerves. But apart from last night, the only points we have dropped from winning positions are at Newport (1-0 up to 1-3, goals conceded in 49,66,67), Colchester (1-1 conceded on 51 mins) and Swindon (2-0 to 2-2 conceded in 50 & 51). We have done relatively well with important late goals (after 80 mins) this season: late equaliser (82 mins) at MKD, later winner (81) home to Barrow, late winner (90+4) at Swindon, late winner (90+2) home to Fleetwood), late winner (86) home to Harrogate.

We have had many seasons where it has been very much worse

[roversdude]

Thought last night the game was crying out for Kelly but still not sure about starting him.
Being really critical Wood was at fault for both the goals last night but I’d keep him in

[IDM]

If the OP is referring to our last game of the 2008 season, Cheltenham were playing to avoid relegation weren’t they.?

[idler]

Yes they were.

[selby]

Yes I was IDM, but didn't realise they were playing to avoid relegation, ended up well though giving us a day to remember.

[bigbadjack]

I was in a foul mood that day

[les@donr]

This is a must win game. Cheltenham have nothing to play for, they all be thinking about their Summer hols.

[Padge_DRFC]

They recently beat Wimbledon away. Certainly no mugs and we will need to better than we have been. I think we've been poor the last 2 games in general

[NickDRFC]

George Miller may or may not start - he’s been in and out of the team for the last few months and only has 1 goal since Christmas. That was against one of his former clubs, Walsall, but I wouldn’t bet against him repeating the feat against us…

[Usher wide.]

I'd like to see Sbarra dropped and Kelly brought in to start the game.
If McGrath is fit I'd put him in and drop Woody.

Would agree with that plus Maxwell for Senior if fit.

How long does it take to recover from a broken little toe?

[drfchound]

I'd like to see Sbarra dropped and Kelly brought in to start the game.
If McGrath is fit I'd put him in and drop Woody.

Would agree with that plus Maxwell for Senior if fit.

How long does it take to recover from a broken little toe?

Probably about four to six weeks normally but a footballer is more at risk of it being hurt again if the return to playing is too soon.

[BobG]

I broke a little toe last year. Hurt a bit for a couple of days but it calmed down quite quickly. It was a bit swollen , but there's not very much there to swell so wearing shoes was never a problem. Quacks said there was nowt they could do so just be careful for 4 weeks. Obviously, if it got whacked again it would hurt like stink so, if a footballer broke a little toe, experience suggests a month should be long enough.

BobG

[Albert Trousers]

I'd like to see Sbarra dropped and Kelly brought in to start the game.
If McGrath is fit I'd put him in and drop Woody.

Surely Anderson would be the one to drop out after he got bullied against Walsall?

[GazLaz]

I'd like to see Sbarra dropped and Kelly brought in to start the game.
If McGrath is fit I'd put him in and drop Woody.

Surely Anderson would be the one to drop out after he got bullied against Walsall?

Interesting view on Anderson.

He won 17 of 21 aerial challenges.
He won 5 of 5 grind duels
Made 14 clearances
82% pass accuracy.

He was the best centre half of the 5 on the pitch on Tuesday.

[NickDRFC]

I'd like to see Sbarra dropped and Kelly brought in to start the game.
If McGrath is fit I'd put him in and drop Woody.

Surely Anderson would be the one to drop out after he got bullied against Walsall?

I thought Anderson had a decent game apart from when he switched off for their equaliser.

[IDM]

This is a must win game. Cheltenham have nothing to play for, they all be thinking about their Summer hols.

Or playing for contracts, or transfers, and with no pressure.

Not a game to take lightly at all..

[Chris Black come back]

They’ve won once in their last five home games, and managed one goal in their last three home games. Not in great form at home.

[Albert Trousers]

I'd like to see Sbarra dropped and Kelly brought in to start the game.
If McGrath is fit I'd put him in and drop Woody.

Surely Anderson would be the one to drop out after he got bullied against Walsall?

Interesting view on Anderson.

He won 17 of 21 aerial challenges.
He won 5 of 5 grind duels
Made 14 clearances
82% pass accuracy.

He was the best centre half of the 5 on the pitch on Tuesday.

Strange how people see games different, I thought Wood was by far the better of the 2 CBs & Anderson was given a torrid time by their big lad up front.

[roversdude]

Thought Wood was culpable for both goals tbh

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Thought Wood was culpable for both goals tbh

The second yes, when he allowed lad to muscle him out. The first, both he and Senior should have been able to smother the cross but also Sterry lost the race to clear the cross. Prior to that, did Gibson do enough when losing possession and tracking back? Harsh to blame it solely on Wood.

[Alan Southstand]

I thought Gibson was the 2nd worse player for us, after S’Barra, of course. The first goal stemmed from him losing possession on half way, then letting their guy waltz down the wing and putting in the cross that led to their first equaliser. Nowhere near good enough and we expect a lot better than that.

It’s noticeable how Sterry & Molyneux have such a good understanding on the other side! We are weak on our left side and we should have that sorted by now!

[ncRover]

Can’t see Wood playing his 3rd game in 7 days. And I imagine McGrath won’t be ready to start.
I think he’ll go with Bailey at centre back again.

Bailey miles better than George Miller in the air, it would be fine.