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Post by Centenary Gas on Nov 3, 2014 12:02:49 GMT
sorry he's not for me. yes he has brought grit and a will to win but it is in the 5th league. Go back to his interviews in the summer and pre-season and read what he said about the football he was going to play ( a change from John Ward ) . he hasn't got anywhere near carrying that out and he's gone into his shell (bunker mentality !!). Teams like Woking , FGR play footy how it should be played so it can be done even in L5. Look at what Bournemouth and Swansea are achieving (clubs our size or even smaller) playing football using a style/philosophy which makes you applaud creativity, skill, movement and passing and of course the goals to go with it. Like JW? When we are drawing away from home with 5 minutes left its an open game with end to end action, the complete opposite of shup up shop. When we went 2-0 up away at Lincoln DC talked about going for a third. DC isn't perfect, but we could have a hell of a lot worse. Especially with the current boards record of appointing managers and handing out contracts.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2014 12:07:06 GMT
So when we get red cards we are poor. When other teams play dirty they are manning up? I thought the ref in the FGR game missed a lot of the 'professional' roughing up in that game. From some of your posts, nothing we do as a club seems to be good enough for you. We have a young manager who is improving now. We have already recorded more away wins than last season. We have yet to be convincing but we are still 4th. The manager can see the same problems as us and is trying to get another striker. I'm sure he felt White, Taylor, cunnington and Harrison would get goals, but that's not happened. Last year our manager could not see what we could, so again some improvement. We look fitter this year and play the full 90 mins. We have 11 players who look like they give a toss now, again an improvement. Tactically, I think DC is doing ok too. How many bizarre substitutions can you remember or how many players played out of position? Yes, there is some hoofball, but we are grinding out wins when we have to. I think there are signs of some improved play too, and with a goal scorer in the team scrappy wins like Saturday will be bigger wins and people will be less critical of style. The club have put on some good promotions for free tickets and deals this year. Again, this is an improvement. There is a marked change in the atmosphere from the club imo. Less negativity and bitterness and more pulling together. Little things like NH coming on and getting a bucket of water on his head makes him more human and approachable. DCs handling of that 'fan' Saturday shows growing maturity and a willingness to engage with and challenge fans in an appropriate way. The swift and positive way the club faced up to the racism stuff. Again, they did something, it was done quickly and was effective. For me, the last few years its felt like we've been a giant tanker that takes forever to change direction, so liking the idea or not, it was an improvement. There is a lot more to be positive about these days. I don't know, but I'm just trying to make the most of the improvements as I see them. Promotion may be a big ask, but we are having more good days than bad and I fancy us to give most of the teams a good game over 2 legs so who knows? Yes, there are still some things to address and maybe people like yourself are right to keep the club on their toes but how you can say (elswhere) you can't find anything to get excited about (or whatever phrase you used) just seems really sad. I'm not positive about our style of play, the manager's forward signings especially and the quality of our team considering we have more than half a team of ex-League 2 players in it. I am relieved we are making a good fist of it. I am countering your views with my own - if they are different accept them like I accept yours. I am not writing anything negative without trying to back it up with some arguments. I will stop now - don't want to rock the boat anymore ( The Darrell love in ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/grin.png) ). Indeed, an exchange of views. That's what forum debates should be about. Argument and counter argument. I'm sure no feelings were hurt in the making of these posts. ![;)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/wink.png)
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Post by Centenary Gas on Nov 3, 2014 12:08:04 GMT
Hugo they walked the first half by playing good football - second half they sat on their lead . Just because they got stuck in doesn't make you into a team of thugs - it's called desire to win. Can you recall them getting many red or yellow cards in the game ? Whenever the Gas don't get a win these days it always seems to me - blame the ref ! Of course there are a few bad decisions but there are in every division ! By the way, I wonder which team has more red cards this season FGR or Rovers - haven't checked but I wonder ...... So when we get red cards we are poor. When other teams play dirty they are manning up? I thought the ref in the FGR game missed a lot of the 'professional' roughing up in that game. From some of your posts, nothing we do as a club seems to be good enough for you. We have a young manager who is improving now. We have already recorded more away wins than last season. We have yet to be convincing but we are still 4th. The manager can see the same problems as us and is trying to get another striker. I'm sure he felt White, Taylor, cunnington and Harrison would get goals, but that's not happened. Last year our manager could not see what we could, so again some improvement. We look fitter this year and play the full 90 mins. We have 11 players who look like they give a toss now, again an improvement. Tactically, I think DC is doing ok too. How many bizarre substitutions can you remember or how many players played out of position? Yes, there is some hoofball, but we are grinding out wins when we have to. I think there are signs of some improved play too, and with a goal scorer in the team scrappy wins like Saturday will be bigger wins and people will be less critical of style. The club have put on some good promotions for free tickets and deals this year. Again, this is an improvement. There is a marked change in the atmosphere from the club imo. Less negativity and bitterness and more pulling together. Little things like NH coming on and getting a bucket of water on his head makes him more human and approachable. DCs handling of that 'fan' Saturday shows growing maturity and a willingness to engage with and challenge fans in an appropriate way. The swift and positive way the club faced up to the racism stuff. Again, they did something, it was done quickly and was effective. For me, the last few years its felt like we've been a giant tanker that takes forever to change direction, so liking the idea or not, it was an improvement. There is a lot more to be positive about these days. I don't know, but I'm just trying to make the most of the improvements as I see them. Promotion may be a big ask, but we are having more good days than bad and I fancy us to give most of the teams a good game over 2 legs so who knows? Yes, there are still some things to address and maybe people like yourself are right to keep the club on their toes but how you can say (elswhere) you can't find anything to get excited about (or whatever phrase you used) just seems really sad. Good post, and don't forget shorter contracts, on a lot less money and a much improved player attitude and effort all round.
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Post by baggins on Nov 3, 2014 12:08:51 GMT
I'm not positive about our style of play, the manager's forward signings especially and the quality of our team considering we have more than half a team of ex-League 2 players in it. I am relieved we are making a good fist of it. I am countering your views with my own - if they are different accept them like I accept yours. I am not writing anything negative without trying to back it up with some arguments. I will stop now - don't want to rock the boat anymore ( The Darrell love in ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/grin.png) ). Indeed, an exchange of views. That's what forum debates should be about. Argument and counter argument. I'm sure no feelings were hurt in the making of these posts. ![;)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/wink.png) I'm actually very very upset by all of this.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2014 12:46:41 GMT
I'm a massive fan.
Only two clubs have ever bounced straight back from L2 relegation from the Conference. Currently, our relatively novice and inexperienced manager has us fourth. The only club who looks relatively better than us has probably the best manager you could reasonably attract in the Conference, a man of lots of experience. But I really don't think you can say anyone else is better than us.
All of this and we know exactly where we need to improve. Clarke left room in the budget, too, something I can't remember any of our managers doing. Not bad for a novice.
Yeah, it's pretty ugly and yes, he has his flaws. But as i've said on here before, name us a option other than a certain Martin Allen who is a guarentee in the Conference, who will get us playing good football aswell as good results and who will reasonably come here. If you can, you're a better man than me.
As for talking about FGR, yes, they outplayed us in the first half of our game at the Mem. We played them off the park in the first half of our game at theirs too. The difference was they got a extremely lucky goal at theirs and we didn't put away our chances, hopefully a problem that will soon be corrected.
You cannot knock being fourth in this league, regardless on how we play. I genuinely thought we'd be in for a struggle this season. Beat Barnet at home this month (not impossible, we have good home form) and win our game in hand and we'll be four points off the top.
Look at Torquay, for example. Yeah, they play pretty decent football and their CB would be our top scorer. But their manager (a novice, like ours) lost a game and so far hasn't got them to bounce back. You can list the negatives of this squad, they may not have worlds of quality and they may not score enough goals, but they are resilient, they are battlers, they all seem to care, they remind me of everything we've not had in terms of spirit for the last 5 or 6 years.
I enjoy watching this squad play. Don't get me wrong, it's not exciting, but for years I've said I'll fully get behind a team that puts in 100%. JJO'T might have more ability than any of this years teams, but give me Mansell and Sinclair over him every day of the week.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2014 12:59:21 GMT
With regard to DC's comments in the summer, at that point I think he was expecting to be shopping in Waitrose, whereas once Toni the Till actually figured out the financial implications of relegation, DC ended up with a loyalty card for Poundstretcher. This has obviously affected the standard of players he was able to bring in, no disrespect to any of those currently wearing the quarters though - they all put in a shift and want to do well. It must have been difficult to build a good team spirit, given the wide differential of wages within the squad. Credit to DC, and the new players, that this does appear to be have been achieved - no mean feat in my eyes. Carry on Darrell ![:applause:](http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/happy/happy0100.gif)
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Post by althepirate on Nov 3, 2014 13:09:26 GMT
With regard to DC's comments in the summer, at that point I think he was expecting to be shopping in Waitrose, whereas once Toni the Till actually figured out the financial implications of relegation, DC ended up with a loyalty card for Poundstretcher. This has obviously affected the standard of players he was able to bring in, no disrespect to any of those currently wearing the quarters though - they all put in a shift and want to do well. It must have been difficult to build a good team spirit, given the wide differential of wages within the squad. Credit to DC, and the new players, that this does appear to be have been achieved - no mean feat in my eyes. Carry on Darrell ![:applause:](http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/happy/happy0100.gif) Lol, glad it wasn't Sainsbury's ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png)
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2014 13:15:15 GMT
As mentioned above, Torquay played attacking football at Telford and lost 4-3. A month on and they're 12th. Would rather take a 1-0 win any day of the week - not too arsed about the entertainment value, if Rovers are involved I find it very difficult to sit back, relax and appreciate any small form of entertainment on offer anyway ![:P](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/tongue.png) I do worry about our inability to break down some teams at home (Forest Green, Dover, Dartford to an extent even though we won) and score 3 or 4 to secure a comfortable win. I think the next couple of months are important in terms of recruitment, Luton brought in Paul Benson in January last year, and a natural finisher is needed I feel if we are to compete with Barnet/the other play-off contenders.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2014 13:21:15 GMT
just posting because i'm going away for the week and I didn't want my posts to stand at 666....
it would ruin my holiday....
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Post by Strange Gas on Nov 3, 2014 13:31:59 GMT
With regard to DC's comments in the summer, at that point I think he was expecting to be shopping in Waitrose, whereas once Toni the Till actually figured out the financial implications of relegation, DC ended up with a loyalty card for Poundstretcher. This has obviously affected the standard of players he was able to bring in, no disrespect to any of those currently wearing the quarters though - they all put in a shift and want to do well. It must have been difficult to build a good team spirit, given the wide differential of wages within the squad. Credit to DC, and the new players, that this does appear to be have been achieved - no mean feat in my eyes. Carry on Darrell ![:applause:](http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/happy/happy0100.gif) Bang on Tilly. To keep the squad motivated and up for it in this transition is itself no mean feat bearing in mind the whole club is having to make a big gear shift to get used to life in the conference and live within our means. Hopefully conference won't be for long but living within our means is vital and here to stay!
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Post by Topper Gas on Nov 3, 2014 13:32:40 GMT
As mentioned above, Torquay played attacking football at Telford and lost 4-3. A month on and they're 12th. Would rather take a 1-0 win any day of the week - not too arsed about the entertainment value, if Rovers are involved I find it very difficult to sit back, relax and appreciate any small form of entertainment on offer anyway ![:P](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/tongue.png) I do worry about our inability to break down some teams at home (Forest Green, Dover, Dartford to an extent even though we won) and score 3 or 4 to secure a comfortable win. I think the next couple of months are important in terms of recruitment, Luton brought in Paul Benson in January last year, and a natural finisher is needed I feel if we are to compete with Barnet/the other play-off contenders. I think one of the big concerns is not the entertainment value but how close a lot of the recent 1-0 wins could have been draws or worse due to our lack of attacking flair/our ability to score. If our luck runs out our 1-0 wins may not continue. If DC gets us at least into the Play offsd fair play to him but if he doesn't don't say some of us didn't see the warning signs. DC put together an average Conference strike force in the summer when we clearly needed a top 5 one. As far as other clubs not bouncing straight back which other club was averaging 5,500 to 6,000 fans at home and didn't have dire financial problems when they went down? DC probably as a budget at least twice as big as most teams in Div 2 if the board are passing on a reasonalbe proportion of the gate receipts?
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Post by bs10er on Nov 3, 2014 13:35:53 GMT
Paul,just before you go away(where?),see todays Post,picture of your Dad at Telford.(Guess you must have still been at the bar/out having a fag?!!!)
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2014 13:46:23 GMT
I think the next couple of months are important in terms of recruitment, Luton brought in Paul Benson in January last year, and a natural finisher is needed I feel if we are to compete with Barnet/the other play-off contenders. We need to replicate this,then i honestly believe we can do it.
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Post by althepirate on Nov 3, 2014 13:54:15 GMT
As mentioned above, Torquay played attacking football at Telford and lost 4-3. A month on and they're 12th. Would rather take a 1-0 win any day of the week - not too arsed about the entertainment value, if Rovers are involved I find it very difficult to sit back, relax and appreciate any small form of entertainment on offer anyway ![:P](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/tongue.png) I do worry about our inability to break down some teams at home (Forest Green, Dover, Dartford to an extent even though we won) and score 3 or 4 to secure a comfortable win. I think the next couple of months are important in terms of recruitment, Luton brought in Paul Benson in January last year, and a natural finisher is needed I feel if we are to compete with Barnet/the other play-off contenders. I think one of the big concerns is not the entertainment value but how close a lot of the recent 1-0 wins could have been draws or worse due to our lack of attacking flair/our ability to score. If our luck runs out our 1-0 wins may not continue. If DC gets us at least into the Play offsd fair play to him but if he doesn't don't say some of us didn't see the warning signs. DC put together an average Conference strike force in the summer when we clearly needed a top 5 one. As far as other clubs not bouncing straight back which other club was averaging 5,500 to 6,000 fans at home and didn't have dire financial problems when they went down? DC probably as a budget at least twice as big as most teams in Div 2 if the board are passing on a reasonalbe proportion of the gate receipts? Agree with this, there is no room for complacency and we need to invest well asap.
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Post by rocknrollaayatollah on Nov 3, 2014 13:55:04 GMT
markczgas and Toppergas would you sack DC now?
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Post by baggins on Nov 3, 2014 13:58:32 GMT
[quote author=" althepirate" source="/post/34423/thread" timestamp="1415022855"it I think one of the big concerns is not the entertainment value but how close a lot of the recent 1-0 wins could have been draws or worse due to our lack of attacking flair/our ability to score. If our luck runs out our 1-0 wins may not continue. If DC gets us at least into the Play offsd fair play to him but if he doesn't don't say some of us didn't see the warning signs. DC put together an average Conference strike force in the summer when we clearly needed a top 5 one. As far as other clubs not bouncing straight back which other club was averaging 5,500 to 6,000 fans at home and didn't have dire financial problems when they went down? DC probably as a budget at least twice as big as most teams in Div 2 if the board are passing on a reasonalbe proportion of the gate receipts? Agree with this, there is no room for complacency and we need to invest well asap. [/quote] We really got the cash to do that? Not wanting to start a major argument about it but just interested.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2014 14:01:35 GMT
Be honest, at the start of the season if anyone has said we'd be fourth after 18 games we'd have bitten their hands off for that !
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2014 14:16:40 GMT
A guy on a forum I go said something along the lines of: "Barnet are so bloody lucky, always getting these late winners". To which a Barnet fan responded "When does it not become luck? We keep doing it, we're just good at it".
People say "One day our luck will run out on getting 1-0 wins" but is it always luck? We seem bloody good at doing it. Don't get me wrong I'd prefer to be winning 6-0, but is it that different from Barnet?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2014 14:17:06 GMT
Its clear that some people see everything in black and white and only seem to surface to critique. If that's your bag then whatever but I see it differently myself. There's good and bad in everything DC included. The football hasn't been all that great at times sure but grinding out results is something I haven't seen a Rovers side be able to do for years. Same with having passionate committed players. With DC we have all these things and I'm massively grateful. I think given what other relegated league teams were telling us at the start of the season our league position speaks for itself. We are right in the mix.
Another thing you don't get from DC is nonsense denial of any problems. He publicly said the football wasn't that good and he publicly acknowledges he needs to strengthen the team. Cant say fairer than that and is on par with where we as fans see our position also.
All I ever wanted for the last few years was to stop the freefall and to develop a team who have pride and commitment after so long with spineless money grabbing wasters who were ripping the heart out of the fans and the club. Now we have it and DC is to thank for that.
I guess the best example of it is this. If DC doesn't find a new player who fits the ethic then hes going to be ripped a new one by some on here whereas others will understand how one bad egg can ruin the dynamic we have at the moment and would rather go without. If he does get someone in he will be judged on the performance on that player and if it doesn't come off he will take the blame. I just don't think some people get how difficult a first season in the conference can be. You can even push that across to saying any league. Look at how catastrophically wrong Paul buckle got it. Compare that to what DC gas done and its right on track to being a good season. We are 4th.
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Post by Mark Ash on Nov 3, 2014 14:34:43 GMT
I like Clarke because he shows tactical nous, his squad seems happy together with not one whiff of bad attitude, he displays a very consistent, calm and determined attitude and because he is relatively successful. (I'd rather we were in Barnet's position but we are in the playoff spots.)
Alf Ramsey(?) said that managers get too much blame when the team loses and too much praise when it wins. DC is a good man doing a good job, but not everything is in his power. He may have tried to get the team playing smarter football, but found it beyond them at the moment and settled for what works. If so, that's good, pragmatic adapting to circumstances. He is certainly trying to find good players, but with little or no money, in autumn, down in the Conference, it is difficult and he's not going to settle for a dud.
He strikes me as totally committed to the cause and it is working pretty well, having started virtually from scratch. I wouldn't go quite as far as some in saying that the style or quality of football is immaterial to me, because I'd rather win beautiful than ugly, but winning is what counts and that ugly little scuffle at Telford on Saturday produced another beautiful 3 points. That'll do me.
Let's give DC some credit, because he'll sure as hell get the blame when we lose, rightly or wrongly.
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