let's talk about the easter programme against Mansfield and Exeter

[Fal]

As long as we don't lose to Exeter we should be okay, Exeter only have 5 games left to play and 3 of them are against play off chasing Stockport, Plymouth and Bradford, the other 2 are us and Burton.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Looking back at the first, Sterry neshed the block and turned his back. Had he committed he would have competed for the ball rather than hesitating and ducking out, which summed up our half arsed approach today.

[ForsolongaRover]

Bailey did not seem much involved today and Molyneux was marked by as many as three opponents at times. To nullify them both was possibly Clough’s master plan. Our attacking was uncoordinated to say the least.

[Chris Black come back]

They were well organised, energetic and defended in numbers. Only hope we had was to get behind them with pace. Instead we did our usual tactic of lumping long balls up to an isolated Hanlan or trying to slowly play through them, despite having a midfield entirely ill suited to doing that. As a result we were limited to largely entirely harmless long distance shots.

[ncRover]

They were well organised, energetic and defended in numbers. Only hope we had was to get behind them with pace. Instead we did our usual tactic of lumping long balls up to an isolated Hanlan or trying to slowly play through them, despite having a midfield entirely ill suited to doing that. As a result we were limited to largely entirely harmless long distance shots.

Elliot Lee was signed for his technical ability and he clearly has that. But 1 non-penalty goal and no assists in 12 games wasn’t what he was billed as.

[GazLaz]

They were well organised, energetic and defended in numbers. Only hope we had was to get behind them with pace. Instead we did our usual tactic of lumping long balls up to an isolated Hanlan or trying to slowly play through them, despite having a midfield entirely ill suited to doing that. As a result we were limited to largely entirely harmless long distance shots.

Elliot Lee was signed for his technical ability and he clearly has that. But 1 non-penalty goal and no assists in 12 games wasn’t what he was billed as.

Doesn’t fit our style one bit.

[Rupee92ONLY]

McCann doesn’t even know what style he/we are or want. That’s obvious with signings we’ve made in the same positions.

[Scooter]

They were well organised, energetic and defended in numbers. Only hope we had was to get behind them with pace. Instead we did our usual tactic of lumping long balls up to an isolated Hanlan or trying to slowly play through them, despite having a midfield entirely ill suited to doing that. As a result we were limited to largely entirely harmless long distance shots.

Elliot Lee was signed for his technical ability and he clearly has that. But 1 non-penalty goal and no assists in 12 games wasn’t what he was billed as.

Don’t forget his super goal at Plymouth

[Pancho Regan]

You’ll go a long way to find a more positive supporter than me but that performance today was absolute garbage.

Thanks a lot Rovers for ruining the start of my Easter weekend.

A 3-and-a-half hour round trip, to watch a completely inept display against a poor opposition which we should have beaten comprehensively if we’d have actually bothered to turn up.

I’m struggling to find any positives from today, but being a loyal supporter, I’ll try:

Robbie Gotts: you can go home with your head held high mate, because you never stopped trying;

Luke Molyneux: Not at your best but Mansfield did a job on you because they know you’re our most dangerous player. When you have 3 men on you, you deserve back-up which you didn’t receive;

Jack Senior: another good performance, that shirt is yours.

Other than the above, we were terribly disappointing.

We play with 3 attackers and you look to them to hurt the opposition and cause them problems.
Moly tried.
Hanlan also tried but he’s not the quality we need.
Haks was dreadful.

So you then look to your midfield.

Bails was anonymous. It would take a wiser man than me to understand why, but he was ineffective today.

Elliot Lee. I’ve been patient with him but I’m sorry, this ‘superstar’ from Wrexham flatters to deceive. He has contributed nothing since he arrived and I hope we’re not tempted to give him a contract when Wrexham release him.

Mansfield are not a good team but we made them look good.

We need a huge clear-out if we are to deliver a squad capable of challenging in this division.
I can only think of 5 or 6 players I would keep.

[Barmby Rover]

Build up was interesting to watch yesterday, at the half way there was a reluctance to put the ball to the middle of the field, there was a hesitation and then an attempt to move the ball down one wing or the other. If it was moved towards the centre of the field it was inevitably lost and play switched. Just as against Port Vale and Luton we end up with a goal mouth scrambles ending in nothing, because we lack that killer instinct in the 6 yard box, that's the lack of "killer instinct" that GM refers to, and where Rovers need to recruit next season.

[drfcsteve]

Thought we were good-ish first half, if Moly scores that chance, and he absolutely should, its a different game. I don't really know what Mansfield's approach was. The front two just seemed to run around and press trying to force a mistake. They were just as poor as all the other sides we've played lately.

Another goal conceded within five minutes of the second half starting. And what a poor goal it was.

But its another game where our complete lack of depth up top was exposed again. Hanlon has done very well recently, but when he's forced off, we have to resort to Haks through the middle. It's cost us so much this season. In a really poor league, we'd be in the top ten with two decent number nines. No excuses for next season, it's very clear what it needs to be top ten in this division.

How has Hanlon done very well? He is a striker. How many goals did he score today? Or in the match v PV? Or Barnsley?  He might be all we can afford in terms of a #9 but he’s well out of his depth.

He can’t do it all on his own can he. Prime Alan Shearer couldn’t score in this team at the minute. Billy Sharp is one of the most prolific strikers in football league history, how many goals has he scored this season? Surprisingly, just lumping the ball up to a lone striker with no support doesn’t result in them scoring many goals.

[selby]

  The second goal however contentious exposed our one deficiency with our two central defenders and their lack of pace.
  The bloke carried the ball 40 ish yards with them trailing not able to get back at him, the rest of the game especially the first half with Gotts were probably our best players.
  Mondays game now becomes a must not lose game.

[GazLaz]

   I have watched Mansfield quite a bit this season including their cup games, and their attacking strength is down each flank with their wide men stopping wide to the touch line and keen to take on the full back to get the ball into the box. a lot of their goals pull backs from the goal line.
  There defence however are not that great when directly run at but will commit fouls to stop the runs around into the box and the danger area.
  We will have to be at it ourselves, but are well capable of getting a result if we concentrate and play well.

I think their biggest strength is their athleticism. Think they will try and run all over us early. Oates is rapid and him and Evans are a real handful up top.

The way to stop us as an attacking force is to play three at the back, and have three men (wide CH, Wing Back, and a striker) in the channels when defending. That forces us to play through the middle and often stagnates us.

We have a bit more quality in there currently with Gotts and Lee admittedly. Our midfield three up against Russell, Abbott and Henry will be an interesting match up.



They certainly have the profile of a team that could make it very difficult for us.

I didn’t have much confidence yesterday. Was fairly sure we would get beat.

Their shape, coupled with going man for man out of possession, we just couldn’t create anything.

McCann blaming the players and the pitch… the tactical approach cost us more than anything. It was fairly obvious how the game was likely to play out.

[Ian Nimmo]

Not heard his comments, but if that’s what he said then wow, he needs to start and take some responsibility.
Why didn’t he start Clifton?
Haks & Lee were both very poor, both have ability but they looked lazy yesterday.
It appears the team have been away for a few days, but not sure what they have been working on, because they were very flat from the start against a poor team. Others have mentioned, they appeared to be lacking ideas, so why didn’t the management team deal with it?
Another good crowd, it was evident from the empty sets in the South stand that quite a few season ticket holders were missing and guess this will apply to east & west stands, thus indicates some extra support thro the gets for this game, who probably won’t bother for rest of games after viewing that poor performance.

[jmt23]

I still think Baileys best position is centre back, I feel having him in midfield holds us back and he has been anonymous all season apart from arriving late to score important goals.
It’s pretty clear he doesn’t want to play there, but our better runs as a team come with him playing there?
Maybe it is me not seeing his abilities in the midfield role, but I feel a Ben Close type player along with Gotts would help us

[Chris Black come back]

I still think Baileys best position is centre back, I feel having him in midfield holds us back and he has been anonymous all season apart from arriving late to score important goals.
It’s pretty clear he doesn’t want to play there, but our better runs as a team come with him playing there?
Maybe it is me not seeing his abilities in the midfield role, but I feel a Ben Close type player along with Gotts would help us

I'm also not sure how we fit in Bailey best. Gotts is clearly far and away the first choice for the base of the midfield. Likewise at tip of the midfield it is Clifton or Lee or someone of that ilk. Maybe Bailey best in between and running through late.

[Chris Black come back]

As long as we don't lose to Exeter we should be okay, Exeter only have 5 games left to play and 3 of them are against play off chasing Stockport, Plymouth and Bradford, the other 2 are us and Burton.

Am reasonably hopeful of getting something on Monday. They are on a dreadful run of home form in the league and haven't won in their last 8 home league games, losing 4 and drawing 4. They have drawn a blank in their last 3 home league games and also in 5 of those 8, including failing to score at home against two terrible sides in Rotherham and Northampton. In those 8 league games they have managed just 3 goals and haven't taken the lead in any of those 8 games. In short, not a good side at home.

[Blue Green Algae]

I still think Baileys best position is centre back, I feel having him in midfield holds us back and he has been anonymous all season apart from arriving late to score important goals.

Yeah apart from scoring or assisting over a third of our league goals, what else has he done!

[bobbymax]

As long as we don't lose to Exeter we should be okay, Exeter only have 5 games left to play and 3 of them are against play off chasing Stockport, Plymouth and Bradford, the other 2 are us and Burton.

Am reasonably hopeful of getting something on Monday. They are on a dreadful run of home form in the league and haven't won in their last 8 home league games, losing 4 and drawing 4. They have drawn a blank in their last 3 home league games and also in 5 of those 8, including failing to score at home against two terrible sides in Rotherham and Northampton. In those 8 league games they have managed just 3 goals and haven't taken the lead in any of those 8 games. In short, not a good side at home.

Nailed on loss then.

[Ronnie Dovers]

Anyone know how many we've sold for Exeter? Last time I looked there weren't many left.

[Colemans Left Hook]

As long as we don't lose to Exeter we should be okay, Exeter only have 5 games left to play and 3 of them are against play off chasing Stockport, Plymouth and Bradford, the other 2 are us and Burton.

Am reasonably hopeful of getting something on Monday. They are on a dreadful run of home form in the league and haven't won in their last 8 home league games, losing 4 and drawing 4. They have drawn a blank in their last 3 home league games and also in 5 of those 8, including failing to score at home against two terrible sides in Rotherham and Northampton. In those 8 league games they have managed just 3 goals and haven't taken the lead in any of those 8 games. In short, not a good side at home.

what are you on my friend ?

[Scooter]

Anyone know how many we've sold for Exeter? Last time I looked there weren't many left.

Paul Mayfield told me we are taking about 600

[Thorney]

Not heard his comments, but if that’s what he said then wow, he needs to start and take some responsibility.
Why didn’t he start Clifton?
Haks & Lee were both very poor, both have ability but they looked lazy yesterday.
It appears the team have been away for a few days, but not sure what they have been working on, because they were very flat from the start against a poor team. Others have mentioned, they appeared to be lacking ideas, so why didn’t the management team deal with it?
Another good crowd, it was evident from the empty sets in the South stand that quite a few season ticket holders were missing and guess this will apply to east & west stands, thus indicates some extra support thro the gets for this game, who probably won’t bother for rest of games after viewing that poor performance.

Grant as plenty of tines saud this season that management could do better, and has shouldered the blame.

Not every game is the managers fault and when the players under perform then rightly so should be told so.

The players should of been good enough to have beaten that mansfield side regardless of tactics.
Mansfield were poor and dont let gaz fool you into it being a tactical masterclass on their behalf and a failing on our tactics.

[selby]

  Gaz was and is right, we were first of all out thought, and then outplayed, and it was predictable.
  It happens we have done ok recently and need to get back on it, I don't want that Leeds feeling again from years back when I left Elland road thinking that was it, safety.
  We need to pick up more points to the end of the season.

[les@donr]

Win today and we are all but safe. To be caught by Exeter, they would have to win all their remaining games and we loose all ours, an almost impossible scenario.

[selby]

  I thought that about Birmingham all them years ago, but the season lasted about 3 minutes too long.
  This season we still have a job to do in the remaining games and pick up more points, we must not loose sight of that and leave it to the last few games that just increases pressure.

[idler]

I still have nightmares about that season. Seven games to play with four of them at home and we get one point from a 0-0 draw away at Millwall.
What were the odds of that happening?

[BillyStubbsTears]

Vitally important that we don't lose today against the worst side in the division.

The most likely way that we lose is if we don't match their energy levels.

Conclusion? Start with Clifton in the side.

[Metalmicky]

Your wish is given...

[GazLaz]

Your wish is given...

Back 3 according to Charlesworth.

Mols and Middleton wing backs and Gotts, Bailey, Clifton and Close in midfield. Not sure how that works.