Let's talk about the Port Vale game

[selby]

  On to the second of two hard away games against good sides.
  Last night we played well and got nothing from the game, our finishing especially in the first half when we dominated somewhat unlucky but really should have been more precise in the six yard box. With things not exactly going our way at the other end  where we left gaps in the area in the second half not getting tight in the area cost us two goals and tainted what otherwise was a very good performance in a game we dominated for long periods especially in the first half.
   Huddersfield are no mugs, have experience in defence with players who have played at a higher level and that experience especially in central defence  to me was the difference in the two sides at the end of the game.
  So things to work on, but lots of good things to take into games in the future and hopefully stands us in good stead at Port Vale who themselves got slapped in the face v Stevenage who came from behind with two minutes of normal time to nick the game 2-1 which must have been a real sickener to the team and supporters alike.
 Lorent Tolaj had given them the lead on 36 minutes and was denied another by the Stevenage keeper who repeated denying him again later in the game, so someone we will have to get on top of and keep a tight reign of as he can do some damage in front of goal.
  The same fixture last season saw one of our best performances
coming away with the points, something we had never done in my  visits there over the years and made me quite envious of those that witnessed the win.
  With Marosi in goal and Darren Moore in charge and a number of well known names we have come up against in past seasons they have built a solid team that is competitive and will want to put one over us and can play some excellent football as their display at the Eco last season demonstrated, but also seem to have a fair share of games when it doesn't happen for them.
  With like us them going through the two games a week period of the league season changes to the teams playing last night  could well be expected by both clubs, and with both losing last night they will be wanting to get back on track with a positive result, and to be honest I can see this game being exciting and another to watch for a bit of excitement, lets hope the travelling fans have a great day.
  Grant seems keen to use the squad system he has built using to the full the substitution laws to the full and not only rotating the starting eleven but willing to change the make up of the team as the game goes on,  which he does very well and because it is now a regular situation used in a game the subs no longer take an age to get into the game like they used to, another progressive move to the game of my youth that benefits the spectator.
  If only the referee's were as good and improved instead of being worse.
  In short only the result disappointed last night to me, we could have been better in both penalty areas  but played some good football against a good more experienced team, and we should fear no team and keep to our beliefs.
  What do you think?
  If we keep to the early script there will be changes, what would be yours?
  Two games away in a week can be quite expensive especially how things are at the moment, are you going to the game?
   Has our decent start to the season surprised you?
   We have looked through a window of the teams we will be up against this season, do you think we can be up there with the best?
   If we keep to the style of play at least it will be exciting to watch the games, I hope you have enjoyed what you have seen up to press like myself and this game could well get us back on track if we play well, lots to discuss, lots to look forward to, please have your say.
 

[oggycompton]

Of note last season if you remember there was a lot of chopping and changing our team until around Christmas when we set on a pretty solid team that remained pretty much unchanged until the end of the season which coincided with the great results.

I think this is another tough game and would take a point but we definitly need to improve at the top end of the pitch.

[steve@dcfd]

Do we start Ironside or Hanlan Billy on the bench to impact coming on.
Starting Middleton in that case. Molyneux as long as he is fit enough looked leggy second half.
Now midfield does GM put Broadbent and Crew with Bailey in the more attacking role. Bailey has proven he can score he can also head a ball so that gives another player breaking in the box to get on to the crosses.
Back four as last night unless GM feels some are
feeling the effects of games.

[Reg of the Rovers]

TLT // Nixon / Pearson / O'Riordan / Senior // Broadbent / Bailey / Ajayi (10) // Moly / Sharp / Middleton

Senior and Nixon both been decent. I'd try and settle Ajayi in to the team to be creative in the middle, and start with this team (barring injuries / suspensions) for a few games so we build up that consistency and understanding.   

[DonnyBazR0ver]

More of the same intent to play the way did last night and just add a couple of goals. Just hope Vales defenders are less heroic in getting their blocks in. 

Wouldn't argue with the above line up with Ajayi at no 10 or, Gotts or Clifton.

[ncRover]

We’ve looked very good in the last two games when the opposition have repeatedly tried to play it out from the back.

I watched Port Vale against Cardiff in the 0-0 and they were unlucky. They are a bit more meat and two veg than Wycombe and Huddersfield. They won’t be afraid to play more direct over our press, thwarting the ability for us to win it high up the pitch and transition quickly.

Could be a very different game.

[drfchound]

Tolaj is their danger man and if we can keep him quiet I think we will have enough to win the game.
Our performances so far have been excellent but we do need to covert a couple of our chances when we are dominating proceedings.

[Alan Southstand]

We can’t keep relying on Billy - it’s hardly fair on him, but who elsecan we rely on?

I’d stick with Mols and Midds - they were very good first half last night.

Problem 1 - who plays in the attacking midfield role? Not S’Barra’s, I think we learned enough last night.

Problem 2 - midfield. Broadbent and Bailey were excellent last night and when Broadbent was subbed, we dipped definately.

Problem 3 - striker. Billy deserves a rest, but I fear for a change in this position.

Defence played well last night apart from the dropped ball ‘incident’, where we switched off for a second. Both Nixon and Crew at fault, but Nixon thought he should have had the drop!

We have to do something about the striker role, as it may start to have a knock-on effect to others in the team. Heads dropped last night, especially after the ridiculous penalty call, and GM has already picked up on it.

I’m still fuming about last night, so I hope the players have got it out their system.

[Chris Black come back]

They had exactly same home record as us last season, losing only four at home all season. This season their two home games have seen underwhelming results - one point from possible six, and one goal scored. They also ended last season on a poor home run, drawing with Grimsby and losing to Gillingham. Not recently at least very impressive at home.

[roversdude]

Byers is suspended still (hopefully)

[DearneValleyRover]

Tolaj is their danger man and if we can keep him quiet I think we will have enough to win the game.
Our performances so far have been excellent but we do need to covert a couple of our chances when we are dominating proceedings.

Tolaj is going to Plymouth so hopefully that makes things easier.

[Matt#26]

Byers is suspended still (hopefully)

Hr is the appeal was unsuccessful

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I've got a feeling McCann will approach this slightly differently tactically, as Moore will think he's aware if the way we set up, like we did at Vale last season and how we've played at Boro and Udders. He might go with Hanlan to start, or maybe even Joe, and try to play a more traditional wingers and centre forward combo, so once again, the width from Middleton and Moly. Bailey trying to make an extra man with late runs into the box.

Save the fast break stuff for 60 mins onwards providing we're still in the game.

Vale looked very suspect on crosses and long throws into the box with poor communication between centre half's and inside agent Marosi.

[selby]

  A clean sheet would be helpful if goals from strikers are becoming a rarity.
  It is early in the season and we have a style of play and a squad that can adapt to different ways of playing, even within games themselves, but choose what, if we get to the point where we have to score at least two goals a game we will not get to the position in the division we would like to be.

[donnyguy]

Gotts is a injury doubt after over stretching against Huddersfield

[Alan Southstand]

  A clean sheet would be helpful if goals from strikers are becoming a rarity.
  It is early in the season and we have a style of play and a squad that can adapt to different ways of playing, even within games themselves, but choose what, if we get to the point where we have to score at least two goals a game we will not get to the position in the division we would like to be.

Last time I looked we’d conceded 4 goals in 4 games - my maths says that averages out to 1 a game!
Up front is our Achilles heel, and I include whoever plays in the attacking midfield role. We had chances, on Tuesday, from O’Riordan (saved), Broadbent (missed target), Middleton twice (saved) and Billy twice (both blocked). But there were numerous times the ball was put into a dangerous area and all it needed was a tall striker on the end of them.

Anyway, new striker on his way, all being well.

[scawsby steve]

  A clean sheet would be helpful if goals from strikers are becoming a rarity.
  It is early in the season and we have a style of play and a squad that can adapt to different ways of playing, even within games themselves, but choose what, if we get to the point where we have to score at least two goals a game we will not get to the position in the division we would like to be.

Last time I looked we’d conceded 4 goals in 4 games - my maths says that averages out to 1 a game!
Up front is our Achilles heel, and I include whoever plays in the attacking midfield role. We had chances, on Tuesday, from O’Riordan (saved), Broadbent (missed target), Middleton twice (saved) and Billy twice (both blocked). But there were numerous times the ball was put into a dangerous area and all it needed was a tall striker on the end of them.

Anyway, new striker on his way, all being well.

Bloody hell, Alan, you missed out the miss of the match from Sbarra.

[Alan Southstand]

 

Doh!

I was trying to forget it!

[scawsby steve]

Doh!

I was trying to forget it!

I'll bet he is as well.

[goalkick]

Hope we do get a new striker. Apart from billy what else is there.

[drfchound]

  A clean sheet would be helpful if goals from strikers are becoming a rarity.
  It is early in the season and we have a style of play and a squad that can adapt to different ways of playing, even within games themselves, but choose what, if we get to the point where we have to score at least two goals a game we will not get to the position in the division we would like to be.

Last time I looked we’d conceded 4 goals in 4 games - my maths says that averages out to 1 a game!
Up front is our Achilles heel, and I include whoever plays in the attacking midfield role. We had chances, on Tuesday, from O’Riordan (saved), Broadbent (missed target), Middleton twice (saved) and Billy twice (both blocked). But there were numerous times the ball was put into a dangerous area and all it needed was a tall striker on the end of them.

Anyway, new striker on his way, all being well.

Bloody hell, Alan, you missed out the miss of the match from Sbarra.

Sbarra didn’t manage to get his shot away did he SS.
For me the miss of the match was the Broadbent one when Goodman left him the whole of the goal to put the ball into.
Having said that, our downfall began when we subbed Broadbent (who had been superb) when Udders were trying to get him sent off and McCann was forced into withdrawing him.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I get the need for a functioning striker but it's still up to others to contribute and take their fair share of chances.

[GazDRFC]

Plymouth triggered £1.2m release clause for Tolaj so unlikely he'll play tomorrow

[Ian Nimmo]

Hope we do get a new striker. Apart from billy what else is there.

We have Joe Ironside who must start tomorrow.

[BobG]

Really Gaz?? That's fantastic. Even all  the local Potteries sources today were putting Tolaj down as a cert to play tomorrow. Well done Plymouth!

BobG

[roversdude]

Does that mean a start for Mo Faal then ?

[Chris Black come back]

Tolaj has been sold. He’s definitely not playing tomorrow.

[ncRover]

Great news. Tolaj is a cracking player. Got a bit of everything.

[Pancho Regan]

Last minute decision by me today to buy a ticket and head for Port Vale tomorrow.

I’m really impressed by how we have started this season and I want to do my bit to support the lads  as often as I can.

Come on Rovers, let’s get a win tomorrow.

[Lesonthewest]

Find it ironic that over the last season or so, ( not a moan by the way), that we had Joe Ironside (not saying he's the answer either),  craving for service, we now have Middleton who can cross for fun, & no number 9 to get on the end of them. Also believe Hanlon will become a really important player for us in certain games.