Lawlor

[DonnyOsmond]

No is the time to give him the chance

it must be very frustrating know he is second best to loan keeper responsible for the last two defeats ..

Wigan were just better than us, even with prime Buffon we'd have lost that game.

[jmt23]

Wigan were far better than us, but how many other goals discounting the ones quite literally handed to them would they have scored? Same with Bradford, and today Wimbledon. The answer is 0
As with other players like Hanlan, Gibbo, Sbarra, he has to drop him, and even more so now, as he was clearly carrying the burden of those mishaps and looked shakey all game to me.

[Branton Red]

In the last 3 games Rovers have conceded 6 goals all stemming, to a degree, from keeper errors.

Stating the above isn't being fickle or being hysterical it's pointing out a basic fact.

No team can afford to continue playing a keeper who on average makes 2 goal conceding mistakes per game.

These mistakes have cost us 3 points today and any realistic chance of earning any points at Wigan.

It's a concern that our first choice goalkeeper appears to have lost so much confidence so quickly.

He looked super nervous and an accident waiting to happen all the game today.

It therefore makes perfect sense to give the opinion that Lawlor should start the next league game.

Surely this is the sort of situation that Rovers have an experienced back up keeper on the books for?

[tingleyrover]

Obviously TLT is now in poor form but what the hell..

He's lost the shirt?
He's now a donkey?
Needs a break from the team?

f**k sake how fickle can you get. We're not playing footy manager here. Time to put an arm round him and get his confidence back up. He hasn't forgotten how to be a keeper in three games.

Find it mad how you call for his head after literally three bad games. Jonathan Mitchell he is not.

That’s not been fickle. It’s stating a fact. We were told that we have 2 11’s and the players not playing would push those that were to be better. A misfiring striker or midfielder, you’d want changed.

Here we have a goalkeeper whose mistakes have cost us the last 6 goals we have conceded. Time to give the understudy a chance to claim his place starting.

[drfchound]

Obviously TLT is now in poor form but what the hell..

He's lost the shirt?
He's now a donkey?
Needs a break from the team?

f**k sake how fickle can you get. We're not playing footy manager here. Time to put an arm round him and get his confidence back up. He hasn't forgotten how to be a keeper in three games.

Find it mad how you call for his head after literally three bad games. Jonathan Mitchell he is not.

That’s not been fickle. It’s stating a fact. We were told that we have 2 11’s and the players not playing would push those that were to be better. A misfiring striker or midfielder, you’d want changed.

Here we have a goalkeeper whose mistakes have cost us the last 6 goals we have conceded. Time to give the understudy a chance to claim his place starting.

That was more or less the conversation we had in the car on the way home after the game.

[scawsby steve]

OK, guys, perspective. Yes, TLT is a talented young keeper. Yes, he was brilliant for us 2 seasons ago. Yes, he has great rapport with the fans.

However, none of the above gives him a free pass into the team, when his form is clearly shot. To keep getting picked when he's making errors week after week is clearly unfair on Lawlor, who hasn't put a foot wrong in 3 cup games.

Depending on how he performs at Spurs, Lawlor must surely be in contention for the Luton game.

[Donnybax]

He was brilliant in his first spell with us but he's barely played since. He's rusty. I'd stick with him he's got a very high ceiling

[jmt23]

I’m not so sure judging Lawlor against spurs is a fair barometer.

[Pancho Regan]

TSL is a far superior keeper

He plays for Bolton.

[McCammon egg n chips]

Sensitive sallys tonight aren't we.

This has nothing to do with being in love with TLT, for what it's worth I've never got the obsession with him, rapport with fans seems overblown etc.

But he's obviously a decent enough keeper and has come in as number 1.

Yes he's had a poor few games. But you don't get success chopping and changing keepers. It never works, it just destabilises.

If we had a really amazing keeper on the bench maybe I'd reassess, but I'm sorry, Lawlor couldn't even make #1 at league 2 level. He is not the answer. If we lose faith with TLT then he'll be shipped back and another loaner brought in.

But that's not happening. It's time to double down and back TLT. If he does turn out to be the second coming of Jonathan Mitchell in a few games time then maybe we'll pivot. But for now, I back him.

[scawsby steve]

Sensitive sallys tonight aren't we.

This has nothing to do with being in love with TLT, for what it's worth I've never got the obsession with him, rapport with fans seems overblown etc.

But he's obviously a decent enough keeper and has come in as number 1.

Yes he's had a poor few games. But you don't get success chopping and changing keepers. It never works, it just destabilises.

If we had a really amazing keeper on the bench maybe I'd reassess, but I'm sorry, Lawlor couldn't even make #1 at league 2 level. He is not the answer. If we lose faith with TLT then he'll be shipped back and another loaner brought in.

But that's not happening. It's time to double down and back TLT. If he does turn out to be the second coming of Jonathan Mitchell in a few games time then maybe we'll pivot. But for now, I back him.

How can another loaner be brought in before January? So you weren't impressed with Lawlor in the 3 cup games?

[McCammon egg n chips]

Obviously I'm talking about January.

Yes he's played well in his cup appearances so far.

But I just don't believe he's a serious #1 over the long term (either does GM) and I don't think short term destabilise TLT by dropping him is what's needed.

[drfcsteve]

Question, if Lawler wasn’t good enough in league 2 (and let’s face it hasn’t been good enough the entire time he’s been here) then why all of a sudden should he be first choice? Because he made a few good saves against Middlesbrough? People need to be careful what they wish for.

[ForsolongaRover]

Sensitive sallys tonight aren't we.

This has nothing to do with being in love with TLT, for what it's worth I've never got the obsession with him, rapport with fans seems overblown etc.

But he's obviously a decent enough keeper and has come in as number 1.

Yes he's had a poor few games. But you don't get success chopping and changing keepers. It never works, it just destabilises.

If we had a really amazing keeper on the bench maybe I'd reassess, but I'm sorry, Lawlor couldn't even make #1 at league 2 level. He is not the answer. If we lose faith with TLT then he'll be shipped back and another loaner brought in.

But that's not happening. It's time to double down and back TLT. If he does turn out to be the second coming of Jonathan Mitchell in a few games time then maybe we'll pivot. But for now, I back him.

How can another loaner be brought in before January? So you weren't impressed with Lawlor in the 3 cup games?

Obviuosly, we don’t select the team, but we are emotionally invested in its fortunes and people feel upset. Selecting a team is not based on a single factor, and it’s not our decision anyway, but we spectators are entitled to opinions and picking teams is based primarily on performance, not loyalty.

A change might well be beneficial for the player as well as the team. I’m no great fan of Lawlor, but he could feel justifiably upset if the manager did not very seriously consider a change. Whether he is considered of a suitable standard for League 1 is not the point, the point is that we need to put someone there who will more effective on current form. This is not an argument to have TLT dropped after one substandard performance, but similar mistakes in a succession of matches cannot be ignored. McCann’s decisions have to be primarily to sustain the team’s performance, not to protect the feelings of individuals.

[EasyforDennis]

Sensitive sallys tonight aren't we.

This has nothing to do with being in love with TLT, for what it's worth I've never got the obsession with him, rapport with fans seems overblown etc.

But he's obviously a decent enough keeper and has come in as number 1.

Yes he's had a poor few games. But you don't get success chopping and changing keepers. It never works, it just destabilises.

If we had a really amazing keeper on the bench maybe I'd reassess, but I'm sorry, Lawlor couldn't even make #1 at league 2 level. He is not the answer. If we lose faith with TLT then he'll be shipped back and another loaner brought in.

But that's not happening. It's time to double down and back TLT. If he does turn out to be the second coming of Jonathan Mitchell in a few games time then maybe we'll pivot. But for now, I back him.

How can another loaner be brought in before January? So you weren't impressed with Lawlor in the 3 cup games?

Obviuosly, we don’t select the team, but we are emotionally invested in its fortunes and people feel upset. Selecting a team is not based on a single factor, and it’s not our decision anyway, but we spectators are entitled to opinions and picking teams is based primarily on performance, not loyalty.

A change might well be beneficial for the player as well as the team. I’m no great fan of Lawlor, but he could feel justifiably upset if the manager did not very seriously consider a change. Whether he is considered of a suitable standard for League 1 is not the point, the point is that we need to put someone there who will more effective on current form. This is not an argument to have TLT dropped after one substandard performance, but similar mistakes in a succession of matches cannot be ignored. McCann’s decisions have to be primarily to sustain the team’s performance, not to protect the feelings of individuals.

So if the criteria of mistakes being made is to be used to justify dropping TLT then shouldn't Molyneux be dropped having not contributed a great deal recently? 

[Donnybax]

I agree he wasn't great but he did contribute the assist to our only goal...

[EasyforDennis]

A corner FFS

[Donnybax]

A corner FFS

yes?

[ForsolongaRover]

Have we got an obvious replacement for Moly? I think GKs are a special case.

[i_ateallthepies]

Scored a terrific goal against Bradford

[jmt23]

Well what now, Grant would maybe have know. A few goals would go in, or certainly expect a busy night for Lawlor, and surely if you are Lawlor you are thinking as long as I don’t make a mistake I’m in the team against Luton. Then he makes that bad mistake for the first which is as bad as TLT at Wigan.

[drfcsteve]

Leopard can’t change its spots. First goal was classic Lawler.

[drfchound]

Other than that error he had a very good game.
Some very good saves and his kicking was excellent.

[glosterred]

I would be starting Lawlor over TLT at Luton on Saturday


COYR

[Bristol Red Rover]

He didn't have a bad game overall. As said, some good saves and very good distribution. But that was a howler for the first, and I think he was very poor for the second - should have caught or pushed that out. Third he was very unlucky, nearly an excellent save.

I think he needs/deserves a run of a few games.

[ncRover]

Starting Lawlor over TLT would be madness.

He hasn’t been a regular no.1 at this level for seven years.

And he couldn’t get a game for us in League 2 or for Dundee in the Scottish second tier even.

TLT will improve.