|
Post by horseshoegas47 on Apr 2, 2016 18:53:41 GMT
Mildenhall 7 good solid performance and some good early kicking Leadbitter 6.5 improve as the game went on Lockyer 7 Great to have him back, battled well against MH McChrystal 7.5 much better on his natural left side plus he brings out the best in Tom Brown 5.5 bad day at the office, kept going,but was below par today. Bodin 6.5 Steady game O. Clarke 4, very poor, no contribtuion first half, marginally better second half but only just Lines 6 was a little exposed with Clarke and Lawrence but grew into the game Lawrence 5.5 frustrating for me, good control and flicks but he is a liability, cant run and a better opposition would have capitalised on this. Given him an extra point for a great free kick but a travesty he was selected ahead of Monty Taylor 7.5 Good movement and two well taken goals. Gaffney 6 struggling to regain his form post injury
Subs: Montano 7.5 Should have started, great attitude when he came on and made us better McBurnie 6 not long enought to mark but worked hard during his time on the pitch Easter 6.5 Shocked he didnt start after his performance last week, class.
Crowd 8 Ref 7 Crawley 3 worse team I have seen this year
|
|
|
Post by horseshoegas47 on Mar 29, 2016 18:06:53 GMT
Steve, I always like reading your reports and we are generally aligned, this was much the same here, I agree Easter was great in the hole, he has great intelligence and nulified their lad at the back of the diamond. Also agree the gap between defensive and midfield was too large which left too much room but think you have been a little too harsh on Macca and to generous with Parksy. No doubt Macca was poor but '4' really? I think 5 more appropriate and IMO Parksy was Culpable for 2 goals so a 7 is too generous. Maybe a 5 and 6 respectively but the one thing I think we can agree on is they cant play together, collectively too slow and both naturally left sided, when they play together Macca is pushed right side which is harder for him as it would be Parksy the other way around!
|
|
|
Post by horseshoegas47 on Mar 28, 2016 23:16:35 GMT
Mildenhall.6 Steady, would like him to be more dominant in his box Clarke J 6.5, worked hard a few good runs Parkes 6.5, good performance but never looks comfortable with Macca. Both left footed and slow = no balance Mc Chrystal.5 Too slow today and uncomfortable with Parkes, see above Brown 7 best of the defenders on show Bodin 6 Good goal-again but didnt do too much else. O Clarke 5 poor today IMO didnt looked fit, they passed around him, ran past him and he struggled to make an impact Lines 7 best midfielder, like Clarke struggled first 20 then came into game Montano 6.5 shame to see him go off, thought he could have an impact today Taylor.7 Some good touches and another goal Gaffney. 6 Worked hard but no final product & missed a good chance just before half time Lawrence.6 started well but by early 2nd half his legs were gone, passing became tired and inaccurate and left us exposed to often Easter.7.5 Impressed with his work rate, strength and all round game Leadbitter.not on long enough to mark.
DC 6 though he got it wrong at the start but brave and positive changes which had the desired impact.
Ref 7.5 didnt notice him which is a positive
|
|
|
Post by horseshoegas47 on Mar 28, 2016 17:50:23 GMT
Yes we lost but equally we could have got at least a draw. I actually thought it was a decent game with both teams going for it. I think Darrell set them up wrong, I would have gone as he did Friday. I was expecting Darrell to start with 3 centre halves, I am glad he stuck with the 442 but wish he stuck with the back four that started against Cambridge as more balanced and Led's pace is such an asset. First 20 mins Carlisle were in control Lines and Clark were lost against their narrow diamond in midfield, neither Matty nor Gaffney dropped in on the lad at the back of the diamond so they passed and ran around us. Darrell coould see that and changed it. Lawrence joined Lines in the centre with Easter in the hole behind the front two to pick up their spare man. Worked well and we looked much better. Thought Lawrence made a difference but early in the second half he was completely out of steam and often out of position leaving us exposed again, particularly when we went back to a 442. Either is is unfit after his injury or totally past it? Defensively we were not at our best today, I thought Carlisle were ok but certainly think we deserved a point on balance. We must all stay positive and support Darrell and the team, 7 more to go, 4 wins and 2 draws will probably see us in an automatic spot so ALL to play for!!!!
|
|
|
Post by horseshoegas47 on Mar 21, 2016 20:34:10 GMT
Do Rovers not have any youngsters who can step up to sit on the bench if needed ? How are Malpass and Thomas progressing? Both have been in and around the 1st team when not out on loan
|
|
|
Post by horseshoegas47 on Jan 25, 2016 21:54:28 GMT
Cant dissagree with the final results but I must have watched a different Gaffney, the rest is spot on!
|
|
|
Post by horseshoegas47 on Jan 25, 2016 0:02:29 GMT
Mildenhall 7 solid game,handled well and looked composed Leadbitter 6.5 used pace well but lacked a little quality J. Clarke 6 average today Lockyer 7 good defending, read game well but distribution poor at times Parkes 8 solid, my motm from Rovers Brown 7 Good game Mansell 6 the pick of a poor midfield today, shouldn't have been substituted Sinclair 5.5 as always tries hard but his lack of quality showed up against a very good Plymouth midfield Lines 6 Struggled to get involved, improved a little 2nd half Taylor 5 bad day at the office Gaffney 5.5 another bad day at the office, bullied by the Plymouth centre halves
Subs: Bodin 7 Did ok whilst on and a good goal Montano 6 so so Easter 6 should have been on way earlier as Matty Taylor was so poor
Crowd 8 Ref 5 Plymouth 8.5 the better team. Controlled it at the back, controlled the midfield and good left midfield, if they had a decent sriker We would have been in more trouble
|
|
|
Post by horseshoegas47 on Jan 23, 2016 18:02:55 GMT
I didnt actually think it great game today in terms of quality, overall I thought Plymouth edged the first 70 minutes but we looked stronger after the substitutions and ot became more even. Felt we were a little bullied by a strong Plymouth side. Whilst it would have been great to have held on I dont think we can complain with a point!
|
|
|
Post by horseshoegas47 on Jan 22, 2016 2:25:34 GMT
I actually didn't think Broom had his best game on the night, he scored a couple of goals (including a penalty), he is quick but can be frustrating when he runs into a hole when there are better options. He is young and will keep learning, he is definitely one for the future. I thought Greenslade looked strong and Mehew looked good going forward, he took his goal well and could exciting when he bulks up. I agree Malpas did well, I watched him a lot with U18 and he looked a good prospect, I think that was his first game in 2/3 months after breaking his ankle so that will build confidence and I hear he has already gone out on loan after one game. I like Preston, his vision and kick for the 3rd goal was excellent. Overall an impressive team performance, especially first half, on a difficult pitch.
|
|
|
Post by horseshoegas47 on Dec 29, 2015 7:49:52 GMT
Steve, as always an excellent summary of the action, my only comment would be, for all the reasons you articulate and more I thought Mansell was excellent today and was worth 7.5 or even an 8. Equally whilst I was delighted to see Sinclair back he didn't seem as sharp or mobile as normal, totally understandable as he has not trained for over a week and he gave it 101% effort but I feel he was just off the pace so just a 6 today for me. Overall an excellent performance, we are gaining momentum, it's a shame we dropped a few silly point earlier in the season and I just hope there are no exits in January.
|
|
|
Post by horseshoegas47 on Oct 24, 2015 23:44:39 GMT
Nicholls 3 very poor today, his mistake for goal was unforgivable
Leadbitter 6.5 generally our best defender but didnt look to be moving totally naturally and his defending can be a little irractic Lockyer 5 not at his best today, struggled against 2 strong and confident strikers although he was not helped by his partner Parkes 2 as bad a performance as I have seen, I have said it before but Parkes is looking more like the Parkes of 2 seasons ago, overweight and unfit. He also appears to lack confidence and often makes bad mistakes/choices. Brown 5 steady if unspectacular would have got 6 but he turned his back for their 4th, never turn your back
Bodin 6 gets a 6 based on his outstanding goal, other than this he would have been a 5 as offered very little Mansell 5 not at the races today, tries but lacks creativity and looked tired Sinclair 5 looked laboured from the start today, lack of quality on the ball Gosling 5 anonymous
Taylor 4 poor for me today and should have done better with several guilt edge chances Easter 6 worked hard but didnt get the breaks, not helped by Taylor
Subs: Lines 4 offered nothing, played way to deep, couple of wayward passes and looked to me at half time that he was sulking Montano 4.5 offered little more than Lines Harrison 5 looked quick, strong and won some headers, should have played ahead of Taylor or at the very least should have come on 20 minutes earlier, know your players, Ellis is a Newport boy, he would have been right up for it today, his strength and pace would have troubled them more than Taylor
Crowd 5 quiet, in shock Ref 6 missed a few but generally ok Newport 6 thought they looked decent at times, we helped but I liked the boys up front. They didn't look like a bottom of the league team
|
|
|
Post by horseshoegas47 on Sept 30, 2015 5:52:02 GMT
Very brave decision by DC in terms of team selection, had Leadbitter not failed his fitness test I suspect we would have had a different formation but I think DC would have still changed Macca for Parkes, Mansell for Lines and started Taylor over Harrison. Parkes, Lines and Harrison have all been poor in recent weeks BUT all three are good players and are just having a difficult spell, I think all three apear to have a bit of an attitude/motivational problem from time to time and they may all benefit from being left out, a kick up the backside. We are all entitled to our opinions but I think Lines is a good player and I think DC wanted to sign him but he just needs to get his motivation and then find his form. I am delighted we scored 3 and won but let's keep a little perspective Hartlepool were sh**e, we were very dominant against a poor Yeovil side and even Luton with the same 3 players in the team! Peoples form will come & go, they have been poor and deserve to be dropped hopefully they will come back stronger ....... Another 3 points Saturday please
|
|
|
Post by horseshoegas47 on Sept 29, 2015 18:22:15 GMT
Wow, thats a big shout, lets hope fortune favours the brave. No one can argue Parkes has been poor, Lines has equally not been at his best and O Clarke's early season form has deserted him but 5 changes is a lot. I love the character and attitude of Sinclair and Mansell, however there is a severe lack of quality and creativity there. I dont think Ellis has been on his game but Taylor and Easter feel too similar, in for a penny why not start Lucas i.e little and large!! The biggest shock is Leadbitter not even on the bench?!? All that said, good luck Darrell, good luck boys UTG
|
|
|
Post by horseshoegas47 on Sept 26, 2015 22:19:22 GMT
As always a great read, I am usually aligned with your thoughts and today is no exception although I think you have been a little over generous with Lines today, he left his man for their first goal and I felt he went missing in the second half but I do agree he needs something or rather someone else alongside him before we will see the best of him. Neither Clarke or Mansell are the answer and whilst I feel bad to feel /say it I don't think Sinclair possesses the quality for league 2 although I do love his work rate. Also, I thought J Clarke struggled today....
Keep up the great work, always look forward to your report and hope your going to Hartlepool as it is unfortunately the first game I will miss this year.
|
|
|
Post by horseshoegas47 on Sept 26, 2015 21:47:16 GMT
Nicholls 7 Made some good saves, moved the ball quickly and accurately
Leadbitter 7 Good return to the team, his pace is his greatest attribute J Clarke 5 Not at the same level as his early season performances, poor distribution and lacking quality today Lockyer 7.5 Solid, reliable, dependable, my MOTM for Rovers Parkes 4 Looking increasingly weak, doesn't look as fit as last year, slow, clumsy and his distribution was very poor Brown 6 Steady game, didn't contribute enough offensively
Sinclair 7 Busy with an excellent work rate but unfortunately he lacks quality and doesn't create enough O Clarke 4.5 A few good tackles early on but faded and became a little anonymous before substitution Lines 5 Made a few strong runs in the first half and some good touches but left his man for their first goal. Weak second half, went missing a little and left Sinclair exposed, I felt they ran rings around our midfield.
Harrison 4.5 Poor work rate and NO runs in behind to create a pass opportunity for the midfield Easter 5 Would have been 4 but got an extra point for the goal. Limited impact and like Ellis NO runs in behind
Bodin 6 A few good touches, would like to see more of him Gosling 5 Sorry I just don't see what Gosling offers the team, I would have rather seen Montano given a try Taylor 4 Made no contribution, service very poor BUT is the strokers movements that can create an opportunity none of the strikers movement was good enough
Crowd 6 Started well but faded as their frustration took its toll Ref 7 Decent Portsmouth 7.5 Best team I have seen, on a par with Leyton Orient, organised, great possession and good movement, looked fitter than us which is very unusual
DC: I thought his post match interview was spot on, we were not good enough today. We were lacking in quality and poor in terms of ball retention. We left a man in the box for their first goal (Lines) and failed to deal with their cross for the second. The better team won today and the pressure is building but looking at the squad other than one or two promising youngsters what options does he really have? This team needs some investment if we are to be top half let alone top 7 ...... we need a replacement for Parkes, one (or two) new strikers, a quality winger and possibly a central midfielder as I don't think Mansell or Clarke possess the quality for league 2, Sinclair is a a workhorse with a fantastic attitude but again he lacks the quality to hurt teams offensively and Lines just doesn't seem on it.
|
|
|
Post by horseshoegas47 on Sept 12, 2015 20:54:16 GMT
Nicholls 6 very little to do, communication seemed a little off at times but I guess he is just getting to know his teammates J Clarke 6 steady but not up to early season form and didnt look as confortable on the right and got exposed s couple of times Lockyer 7 my MOTM pick from a poor performance Parkes 5 sloppy today Brown 6.5 better as the game went on Mansell 5 off the pace O Clarke 5 early season form deserted him today, back to the Ollie of the last few years who occasionally breaks up play but limited quality and gives the ball away too easily Lines 6.5 tried hard to get things going but a complete lack of movement up front made life difficult for him today Sinclair 6 tried hard but didnt appear to have his usual energy levels, I do usually love his endeavour but he lacks quality with product. MOTM AGAIN ........... really!!!! Harrison 4 poor today and didnt look interested Taylor 4 again poor and needs to stay on his feet
Easter 5 limited impact Gosling 5 no impact Bodin 6 the more I see the more I think he deserves a chance
Ref 5 missed a fair bit & I actually thought he was very average DC 4 cant argue too much with starting 11 given whats available but the formation wasnt quite right today and too many players had an off day
Stanley 7 efficient, organised and effective
|
|
|
Post by horseshoegas47 on Aug 30, 2015 11:49:03 GMT
Hi Steve
Excellent report I have to agree with everything, as I said on my player rating post I think DC got the formation wrong today given the players available and it was a big ask for Lyttle, whilst he has clear potential he has not even had previous experience from the bench.
Additionally the midfield didnt perform well today, Sinclair who I admire for his attitude and workrate showed a lack of quality (or experience) on the ball and Ollie Clarke's performance was significantly below that of recent weeks. I suspect that one sub par game will be sufficient motivation for DC to reintroduce Mansell, and probably rightly so.
All that said, 3 wins from 5 on our return to the FL is not too shabby and I think we should be satisfied with our start, I am sure there will be better to come.
|
|
|
Post by horseshoegas47 on Aug 30, 2015 7:21:05 GMT
Chapman 7
Lyttle 4 J Clarke 6 Lockyer 7 Parkes 6 Brown 6
Sinclair 5 Lines 4.5 O Clarke 5
Easter 6 Harrison 4
Montana 6 Monokana 4 Taylor 5
Crowd 7 Ref 3 Orient 8
DC 5. I love what he is doing for our club but I feel he got it wrong today, I lappriciate that he has the courage to put the young lads in, I was really pleased to see so many academy graduates in but I said before the game (actually immedately after last weeks game), with the Leadbetter injury and the players available he should revert to a 4-4-2 with JC or TL a right back, if he really didnt want to break up the 3 centrehalves he should have started Sinclair as right wing back. Before anybody screams I agree Sinclair loses something when wide but needs must, he has the energy to do it, did it against Barnet and at least has some FL experience which is helpful away against top of the league.
In respect to the young ones, we dont have a regular U21 team so if they are not on loan they get little game time, I would love to see them in the team but they need to be bleed gently, I know, due to Mansell's injury, Malpas was on bench for 3 of the first 4 games, this experience helps them to get use to the pressure, young Lyttle hasnt even had that prior experience. Ideally young lads need bench time, then a few 15-20 minutes in suitable games at suitable times, if they are to get thrown in it should be against weaker teams.
I do hope people recognise Lyttle needs our support, from what I saw in pre-season he looks a good 'prospect', yesterday will have damaged his confidence, he is a Bristol Rovers player and we should all support him.
|
|
|
Post by horseshoegas47 on Aug 19, 2015 18:10:29 GMT
It is healthy to debate, we all understand that football is about opinions but we are only 3 league games in. I am shocked by the extreme views on Chris Lines, I dont think anybody can argue that he made a positive contribution last season equally nobody can really challenge that he had a very poor preseason (I was at every game). I think by his own standards he has been below par in our first 3 league games (I have been at every one) but I dont doubt he is trying. He really struggled in the first half last night but I thought he improved as the game went on and he made a positive contribution in the second half, excluding his freekicks, and I hope that kickstarts his season.
My one other thought is that as much as the current formation suits Sinclair and Clarke I dont thinks it suits Lines, he likes to drop pick up the ball and be a playmaker and with 3 in there its all a little crowded for Chris. The overload allows us to dominate but means Lines will need to adapt his game and that will take a little
|
|
|
Post by horseshoegas47 on Aug 16, 2015 15:46:04 GMT
As usual a good report, even thou I was at the game I still look forward to reading Steve's report. Agree with all and would reinforce the Ollie Clarke comment, I have never rated the lad at this level but I thought he did well against Birmingham and was strong again yesterday, much improved, credit to him. Excited for Tuesday ...........
|
|