Good point

[Dagenham Rover]

The ball for our goal was definitely out of play but I’ll take it!

Not sure it was definitely out.

I sit in the West stand almost in line and we were shouting for a corner when the goalie dragged it back. The whole ball was at least a couple of inches over the line. The Lino was a yard or more behind  play at that point and caught up as Sharp put it in so I think he guessed that the whole ball hadn’t gone over.

You must be pretty close to me then Im directly in line  Harrogate Rover is the row behind and a couple of seats along. I swore blind it was all the way  out but the lino was behind play, and Billy did the totally right thing "play to the whistle"

[Alan Southstand]

Agree with quite a few, we’re a good striker away from having a good season. Hanlan is not the man. He looked lost when he came on and not really leading the line. His closing down was non-existent and positional sense all over the place.

[idler]

The ball for our goal was definitely out of play but I’ll take it!

Not sure it was definitely out.

I sit in the West stand almost in line and we were shouting for a corner when the goalie dragged it back. The whole ball was at least a couple of inches over the line. The Lino was a yard or more behind  play at that point and caught up as Sharp put it in so I think he guessed that the whole ball hadn’t gone over.

You must be pretty close to me then Im directly in line  Harrogate Rover is the row behind and a couple of seats along. I swore blind it was all the way  out but the lino was behind play, and Billy did the totally right thing "play to the whistle"

I’m in seat G538, the aisle is on my left hand side. We are almost in line with the corner flag. We were sure that we could see daylight between the far post and the whole of the ball beyond the far post.

[drfchound]

As I said earlier, the keeper accepted that he had dropped a clanger and didn’t try to alert the ref that the ball had gone out of play.
You can bet your last penny that if it had gone out he would have made a big fuss.
My initial reaction was that the keeper kept the ball in play.

[Bentley Bullet]

A point will do me. When you keep winning, the balloon gets bigger and bigger until you lose, and then it bursts.

At least it's only been deflated a bit today.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

All we need to do is average 2 points per game. It's that simple. Average 1.75 points per game till March and we're right in the mix.

[colincramb]

Everyone saying we are only a good striker short of a very good team… that might be true, but who has got the spare 500k + it will take to sign one?

Yeah we could get lucky with a loan, but that’s not guaranteed to make us any better

[dickos1]

Nothing is guaranteed! End of the day we’ve played 4 games this season won 3 of them and drawn the other. We’re already a good side

[jmt23]

Take a listen to their manager if you get chance, he is livid with his team, and thinks that was the worst performance ever.

I thought they were decent to be honest, probably not until we scored though.

[colincramb]

Nothing is guaranteed! End of the day we’ve played 4 games this season won 3 of them and drawn the other. We’re already a good side

Erm, I said we are a good side. Calm down. What I questioned was the expectation that we just go out and sign a striker that would cost significant money

[Chris Black come back]

Nobody should be getting carried away but Birmingham City won League One last season with an all time points record equivalent to 2.4 points per game and we are currently on 2.3 points per game and are definitely going to beat that and win the league by Easter. Absolutely pissing this league and going up.

[Padge_DRFC]

Everyone saying we are only a good striker short of a very good team… that might be true, but who has got the spare 500k + it will take to sign one?

Yeah we could get lucky with a loan, but that’s not guaranteed to make us any better

Likely the route we go down. Nobody expects that sort of fee. Yes the crowds are up but nowhere near enough to be spending that on 1 player on a fee alone.

I think we'll sign a striker and still ship a few out ie Close Westbrook possibly Ironside as clearly not fancied by McCann

[Chris Black come back]

If McCann wants to, then we still have a space to loan in a striker, but given he is not going to have two strikers on the bench, it means Sharp or Hanlan drops out of the match day squad. That’s not going to happen.

[i_ateallthepies]

Back to Gibbo.  He was excellent today apart from his final ball and his inability to get much power into a shot.
He always seems to scuff the ball when shooting.

Gibson looked really good today running with the ball and affecting our game approaching their box but a winger who can't cross and can't shoot isn't really much use.  No good out wide and if he can't shoot not much good in the middle.

[Dagenham Rover]

The ball for our goal was definitely out of play but I’ll take it!

Not sure it was definitely out.

I sit in the West stand almost in line and we were shouting for a corner when the goalie dragged it back. The whole ball was at least a couple of inches over the line. The Lino was a yard or more behind  play at that point and caught up as Sharp put it in so I think he guessed that the whole ball hadn’t gone over.

You must be pretty close to me then Im directly in line  Harrogate Rover is the row behind and a couple of seats along. I swore blind it was all the way  out but the lino was behind play, and Billy did the totally right thing "play to the whistle"

I’m in seat G538, the aisle is on my left hand side. We are almost in line with the corner flag. We were sure that we could see daylight between the far post and the whole of the ball beyond the far post.

S540 directly in line  And yes I was sure there was daylight but the lino wasn't up with play at that point

[Harrogate Rover]

Yep! Had Billy not tucked it away I would have been screaming for a corner! Whether the ball was 100% out, we'll never know. The lino can't have known, he was nowhere near  level.

The ball for our goal was definitely out of play but I’ll take it!

Not sure it was definitely out.

I sit in the West stand almost in line and we were shouting for a corner when the goalie dragged it back. The whole ball was at least a couple of inches over the line. The Lino was a yard or more behind  play at that point and caught up as Sharp put it in so I think he guessed that the whole ball hadn’t gone over.

You must be pretty close to me then Im directly in line  Harrogate Rover is the row behind and a couple of seats along. I swore blind it was all the way  out but the lino was behind play, and Billy did the totally right thing "play to the whistle"

[Ian Nimmo]

It was a good point because we could easily have lost the game, their subs made a real difference.
However whilst we played reasonably well we didn’t do well with our attempts on goal never really gave their keeper too many problems.

Saying mols was awful is a joke, yes he wasn’t at his best (expectations are at highest level) however every time he received the ball he was face with 2 and more often it was 3 of their players.
The
Problem is that this happens regularly so we should be looking to take advantage of this. Unfortunately we are not doing so, in the main the ball comes backward, we need to get runners so we can take their 3 out of the equation.
I know it’s early days, but for me Hanlan is not showing anything, he looks a strong guy but doesn’t seem to be able to hold his own.

Just feel whilst they are no mugs, it’s a game we should have been looking to win, we didn’t take advantage of our good play, we will face a lot more better sides than Wycombe.

[Branton Red]

It's been a great start to the season and we look competitive at a higher level but I came away a little concerned from yesterday's game.

I though Wycombe were poor first half and were there for the taking (yes they improved second half especially when their subs came on).

Rovers looked good in midfield - Broadbent, Crew, Gotts and Gibson played well.

But in the final third we were punchless and never looked like scoring. To fail to force the opposition keeper into a save at home whilst dominating in the middle of the park for much of the game is a worry.

[danumdon]

I'd say we complicated the final ball/pass on too many occasions, we need to take a chance on a speculative shot more often, by the time we are set the defence has regrouped and crowded us out.

When Middleton and Hanlon came on the opportunity was there, Middleton created the chances but we didn't have the capability to finish, someone said Middleton is a one trick pony, this is miles off, we just need the forward players on the same wavelength to finish from some excellent through balls.

We all seem to be on the same page with this, i just hope we have the opportunity to get that finisher into the squad.

[Ian Nimmo]

Even if he is a one trick pony, majority of clubs in L1 would be highly delighted if there winger was getting that quality of crosses into the box.
Even when a defender is tight on him, he still manages to get a quality cross into the box.
We also works hard to get back to makes challenges.
I would like to see him getting inside and taking more shots.

[Herbert Anchovy]

A point will do me. When you keep winning, the balloon gets bigger and bigger until you lose, and then it bursts.

At least it's only been deflated a bit today.

Agree with this

[Spud]

If Middleton is a one trick pony it's not a bad one, is it? Get to the byeline & stick a cross into the 6 yard box, hardly his fault no one gets on the end of it.
We are a work in progress, as has been said, we've a good squad & should only improve as the season progresses.
I can't wait for Tuesday, good times.

[Chris Black come back]

Not seen anyone so far managed to lay a glove on Middleton defensively. Problem is nobody in red and white in same postcode as his excellent crosses. He looks quality at this level.

[GazLaz]

If Middleton is a one trick pony it's not a bad one, is it? Get to the byeline & stick a cross into the 6 yard box, hardly his fault no one gets on the end of it.
We are a work in progress, as has been said, we've a good squad & should only improve as the season progresses.
I can't wait for Tuesday, good times.

He had a number of opportunities to show some composure and pick out a man with a pass/cross, and didn’t. These things can improve with getting to know his colleagues. For me, just spamming crosses into the box is a bit basic. Creating real opportunities requires a bit more than that.

[RoversInSpain]

Is Molyneux exempt from being subbed? Awful today.

I remember we had this last season on a thread, same comments, Moly hopeless and this that and the other.
3 points to note.
1) As mentioned he gets surrounded by 2/3 players as soon as he gets the ball.(so what are the ‘free’ players doing?)
2) it’s early season and he’s just not quite razor sharp, we won’t have to wait too long though.
3) And… the biggest reason, Sterry is not on the pitch. The way they work together is immense. Moly goes from a really decent player to a great one when he’s got his wingman close to him.
So no issue.
Gibson was good yesterday and I reckon he’s a year and a bit behind where Moly was, (loads of potential but some things just not quite coming off) he’ll improve hugely if his character is right.

[ravenrover]

Middleton crying out for Ironside in the box

[Ian Nimmo]

On their forum they view,
The ref was totally useless, they should have been given more fouls, yellow cards and a red.
Billy Sharp is a total ****** although one poster says he was the same as when he played for Everton!
Comments about our lack of shots on target.

However the majority of posts are about the way they played, and they are not happy with their manager, quite a lot calling for him to go.

[Petche]

If Middleton is a one trick pony it's not a bad one, is it? Get to the byeline & stick a cross into the 6 yard box, hardly his fault no one gets on the end of it.
We are a work in progress, as has been said, we've a good squad & should only improve as the season progresses.
I can't wait for Tuesday, good times.

From the little I've seen of Middleton he is definitely a great addition however there was at least 2 occasions yesterday were he could have got an effort away on goal with his right foot, instead switching back to his left to cross. We need to be more speculative in the final third instead of trying to walk it in.

[Spud]

If Middleton is a one trick pony it's not a bad one, is it? Get to the byeline & stick a cross into the 6 yard box, hardly his fault no one gets on the end of it.
We are a work in progress, as has been said, we've a good squad & should only improve as the season progresses.
I can't wait for Tuesday, good times.

He had a number of opportunities to show some composure and pick out a man with a pass/cross, and didn’t. These things can improve with getting to know his colleagues. For me, just spamming crosses into the box is a bit basic. Creating real opportunities requires a bit more than that.

Yesterday he wasn't great, granted, but the Exeter game & the Blackpool game he put numerous great crosses right into the middle of the 6 yard box, from the byeline, right where you'd expect your number 9 to be, I wouldn't call that spamming, personally.

[Sprotyrover]

Middleton has been a long term target of Grants, be interesting to see what grant can coax out of him!