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Post by mftc on Apr 1, 2024 17:56:04 GMT
Never started a matchday thread before. I'm going for a repeat of the 7-0 victory from the early 70's with both Wards and Flash to score. Well it is April Fool's Day. Difficult to predict. I bet MT is cheesed off with JB's players, so maybe a few youngsters in the squad, as really not much he can change in terms of personnel, or formation. I would like Ward and Macca to start but they probably have to be re-introduced gradually. Aguilera should definitely be in the side as long as his parent club agree. Rather than predicting the match result, maybe it would be easier to predict at least 10 Shrewsbury dives, a total of 200 yards stolen at throws and ten minutes of wasting time if they take the lead. Let's hope we get a strong ref. Wouldn't it be great to get a "homer" as they used to say. (Why in the last 3 years have we often had a neutral or an "awayer"?) Well I was almost right! We probably had 7 chances, but I was well short on the 200 yards stolen at throws. More like two miles. I like how the ref warned them twice early doors and then let them get away with 5he rest of the game!
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Post by mftc on Apr 1, 2024 11:28:33 GMT
Not sure but I think his beard fell off after he retired. Heard he was in living in Canada with his partner in works in the fire service. Don't quote me, only what I was told. (Cos I'm so ITK!) Was a fantastic person. Spent hours of his free time doing charity and community work, like visiting children in hospital.
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Post by mftc on Apr 1, 2024 11:20:38 GMT
Wasn't the Pink Shirts originally an April Fool's joke until a few fans (the SC?) actually said it looked good and the club should produce them.
Wasn't Ken Stuckey actively involved? Was that his name - the SC reps at the time?
Went to raise thousands of pounds for charity.
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Post by mftc on Apr 1, 2024 7:35:31 GMT
Happy to delete mine and make this the main one! If we have two threads does that mean the football gods will give us twice as many chances in the match?
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Post by mftc on Apr 1, 2024 7:32:54 GMT
Didn’t even realise we had a match today. The thing I don’t get about people saying “players are on holiday” is most people want to win regardless. Nobody plays football to not try and win? City v Coventry or Austria v West Germany. Both fixed results as not winning suited them.
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Post by mftc on Apr 1, 2024 7:20:08 GMT
Never started a matchday thread before.
I'm going for a repeat of the 7-0 victory from the early 70's with both Wards and Flash to score.
Well it is April Fool's Day.
Difficult to predict. I bet MT is cheesed off with JB's players, so maybe a few youngsters in the squad, as really not much he can change in terms of personnel, or formation.
I would like Ward and Macca to start but they probably have to be re-introduced gradually.
Aguilera should definitely be in the side as long as his parent club agree.
Rather than predicting the match result, maybe it would be easier to predict at least 10 Shrewsbury dives, a total of 200 yards stolen at throws and ten minutes of wasting time if they take the lead.
Let's hope we get a strong ref. Wouldn't it be great to get a "homer" as they used to say. (Why in the last 3 years have we often had a neutral or an "awayer"?)
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Post by mftc on Mar 31, 2024 13:00:27 GMT
We don't know the ins and outs of contracts. People say play 2 up front (which I agree with) but what if Big John makes 2 more starts which trigger a new contract with a 5% wage increase. It's been heard of. We have no option than one upfront. Greenslade has a deal with Oxford City until the end of the season. I think Kofi Shaw is a midfielder, so unless Crama or a n other fills in when he is fit, it just means another player out of position. Or do we have another youngster coming through? The set up of the squad with just 3 strikers (JM, AC, HG) at the start of the season and 9-10 midfielders was just madness. Taylor is bearing the brunt of a poor recruitment legacy.How does poor recruitment lead to the first goal on Friday or the fact two players couldn't put in a decent tackle to stop the second goal? If recruitment was so poor how did AM get a reasonable PPG return even without a transfer window to bring in additional players? What was MT's excuse at Rotherham where he brought in all his own players? The ball is played forward by us. To Martin and ? (No one) So we lose possession and the ball comes back at us. Lennie once said Haldane made Elliott. Steve had all the attributes of a Prem player but was not "on it" for 90 mins. If we cleared the ball Haldane may well have run the ball out of touch, or crossed the ball in the middle when Walks and Lambo were 20 yards behind as they lacked pace and given the ball away but the ball was 60 yards from our penalty area and gave our defence a breather. If he was in this side, Elliott would look average as we just don't hold the ball up and it invites constant pressure. As a defender do you stay with your man, go to the ball, anticipate the cross, or follow the midfield runners that our midfield don't pick up. Every game our defenders have to make those decision. They may get 10-12 right but we get punished if we make 3-4 wrong. If we dont give the all away (or have anyone to help Martin, our midfield do their job, it makes defending so much easier.
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Post by mftc on Mar 31, 2024 9:59:08 GMT
We don't know the ins and outs of contracts.
People say play 2 up front (which I agree with) but what if Big John makes 2 more starts which trigger a new contract with a 5% wage increase.
It's been heard of.
We have no option than one upfront. Greenslade has a deal with Oxford City until the end of the season. I think Kofi Shaw is a midfielder, so unless Crama or a n other fills in when he is fit, it just means another player out of position.
Or do we have another youngster coming through?
The set up of the squad with just 3 strikers (JM, AC, HG) at the start of the season and 9-10 midfielders was just madness. Taylor is bearing the brunt of a poor recruitment legacy.
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Post by mftc on Mar 31, 2024 9:47:21 GMT
Surely this would sit well under the post headed clueless?
I remember someone at the FC answering a question "that's what all football clubs do".
Change the manager, change the players, change the staff etc etc, but until someone rocks the boat and says the money we waste is ridiculous then will it ever change.
The club listen to "experts" who say we need to rip up the pitch and start again each season, we get taken for a ride by agents and pay exaggerated fees, wages and add ons and many more.
How many players are out of work each summer? You can't tell me that faced with losing their homes they won't play for a weekly wage of £500 plus £200 appearance bonus and £200 win bonus.
I'm sure someone in league 1 or 2 will eventually do this.
Haven't Southend done something similar. A squad of 14 for the first 25 games a season and funny enough not many injuries.
Look at the players wage bill when the accounts come out. No business model would take up 80% plus of income on wages.
When people moan about the reduced budget, maybe the owners are actually being sensible?
Maybe a return to ragbag Rovers would not be such a bad thing, rather than upping the anti and spending millions to still get half hearted ragbag performances.
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Clueless
Mar 30, 2024 13:33:31 GMT
via mobile
Post by mftc on Mar 30, 2024 13:33:31 GMT
I suspect the players wanted Mangan as manager but I guess his closeness to Barton ruled that out from the owners perspective. I suspect the owners were right as the links with Barton needed to be fully severed and it was clear the pair were close. I thought MT might well be a good fit but I do now have some doubts. His honesty in interviews can come across as rather negative and if players are struggling with confidence then listening to MT may not exactly be confidence building or motivating. I'm not convinced he is that great in terms of team strategy but the squad might limit what he can do. That said perhaps he tried encouragement and has now moved to telling them as it is. His only permanent signing Conteh has been positive and I hope this suggests he has a good eye for a player. I think we have to give him the summer to judge and he will know that if the team's outside the top 10 as Christmas approaches then his days might be numbered. I think he knows what is expected and the test is whether he can attract the quality of the players needed to achieve it. I agree with everything you’ve said here. I think if rumours of budget are correct, a top ten position by Christmas is miles wide of the mark. A massive change to the squad, plus a nervy first window as Evans and Conteh must be looked at by other clubs. Not all the new players (and their partners/kids etc) are going to settle straight away. With the teams coming down and the momentum of the teams coming up, it is going to be a very difficult league next season.
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Post by mftc on Mar 30, 2024 8:55:29 GMT
Isn't this very similar to JBs first season? They couldn't win for toffee.
He was allowed time and very good money for that level in his first summer to turn it around.
It seems Taylor will get a lot less money but he will fall on his sword (or hopefully not) based on his and Friends recruitment.
My only hope is to avoid relegation next season as it will be a strong division.
I see it as similar to 87/88 and hope that some of the new signings can become legends like Big Dev, Martyn and Reecey and I the next few years a well balanced, organised side with grit and determination can improve and get us nearer the top.
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Clueless
Mar 29, 2024 18:00:23 GMT
via mobile
Post by mftc on Mar 29, 2024 18:00:23 GMT
Manager clueless team totally lacking motivation. Keeper- Not strong enough or tall enough Non league standard Full backs both League Two standard Hoole and Gordon Centre halves Taylor and Wilson look totally disinterested Midfield we have some decent players but with only one player up front they have little to do but to defend. Tactics under Taylor are a total embarrassment. Owners- A bag of wind started with the 1m JCH scandal and I have seen nothing to make me believe anything other than League 2 football looking a lot closer than the Championship. With the football shown under Taylor there will be no need for any increased capacity.Clueless from top to bottom. Not saying I disagree but what other players (not including not fully fit players returning from injury would you have selected in the first XI?) I think Cox, Vaughan and Lawrence were available but not in the squad. Crama and Baggott had knocks, so I can't think of many options. Perhaps Connolly or Marquis to start?
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Post by mftc on Mar 29, 2024 16:09:36 GMT
What are you doing holding that shirt in the pic? Did you run out of barge poles?
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Post by mftc on Mar 29, 2024 16:04:28 GMT
I suppose it depends if they are match fit but I would think 2 of the 3 midfield choices would come on in the second half.
I like Finley. It doesn't always work out but he does try, but he has to many off days.
Ward is class but his injury record means a new contract is a risk.
I am not sure if Evans will stay, so maybe it is worth persevering with Macca. He has been very good in the past and at other clubs.
I like youngsters coming through but Luca just hasn't progressed. Maybe the injury was worse than we thought?
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Post by mftc on Mar 29, 2024 14:02:17 GMT
I've never enjoyed watching Rovers play there. I can remember Bob Newton playing as a striker for Rovers. He had been a legend at Vale. He was so bad against them that at half-time I genuinely felt like asking if I could replace him and my leg was in plaster. Oh there was also the loss in the play-offs. If we had won that then maybe we could have kept Nigel Martyn and Gary Penrice for longer but then again we wouldn't have had the joy at beating 82 to the title the following season. On another occasion we won 1-0 but I missed the goal as I'd gone for a pee. Bob Newton has to be in the top 2 crap Rovers signings (in my time watching anyway). The other was Andy Spring. 3rd place for his appalling attitude and arrogance alone, is David "I've got a Championship winner's medal" Hillier. What a twat. Anyway Burslem. Shudder. Agree with first two but Moussa Dagnogo has to get in the top 3. I'm sure Nathan Ellington was on a hat trick and Dagnogo was two yards out and flicked on a Duke effort from a corner, putting it over the bar, when it would have gone in if he wasn't there!
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Post by mftc on Mar 29, 2024 13:58:43 GMT
I can't really understand his rant yesterday about the players not being able to defend, as given most of the players have Championship backgrounds, Crama, Taylor, Connolly etc, then surely they've been taught the basics of defending by those clubs, even if JB apparently decided he wasn't going to concentrate on that side of their game. You defend as a team, so no point in just referencing a couple of defenders. We don't seem to win too many 50/50s though especially in the air and when the ball drops we are reacting instead of anticipating. Taylor is right defending is more than being in good positions and being able to pass. Look at the conference game at Lincoln when there was a 30 second spell where the ball just didn't leave our penalty area with a minute to go. Clarke, Sinclair, Mildy, Leds and Manse all threw themselves in the way of shots to keep the ball out. If the same situation occurred this season we just wouldn't have held out. They may be better "players" now but the will to not let the ball go in is not as strong as previous teams. They talk about Martin being a forwards coach but Vaughan Jones would be great just to get the defensive players pumped up and installing a will to win, in my opinion.
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Post by mftc on Mar 29, 2024 13:46:22 GMT
I hope that we use the last few games to give some of the youngsters a game.
If Lawrence and Shaw are going to be here next season a few 5-10 minute cameos in the last 4-5 games might be a big help to their careers.
Sink or swim maybe, but a good time to find out, rather than a potentially crucial game next season when every point could be precious.
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Post by mftc on Mar 29, 2024 13:41:56 GMT
I think everyone at the club hope they stay up.
For the club finances it would be much better.
Next season who would bring bigger away support Cheltenham, Burton or Cambridge? With that comes more food and drink sales and a few ancillary benefits such as more programme and 50/50s and possibly shop sales.
There would be less travel costs, a better carbon footprint for the team, scouts and fans so it would be a win/win situation. (Although if DC improves them as much as he has done, they will probably have more chance of taking the 3pts of us than the other two, albeit Burton are one of many bogey sides).
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Post by mftc on Mar 27, 2024 15:27:05 GMT
Best of luck to Slam, he had a poisened chalice with that role. With regard to the SC attracting young and dynamic supporters, sadly, I think that ship has sailed. The FC don't have many. (Young and dynamic fans that is). Many of the kids I see at matches are more interested in looking at their screens to see if Arsenal have won a corner so they win their bets ( loads of under 18s say they have won a tenner when Liverpool win etc). Well they look about ten years old to me. They're probably fresh faced junior doctors or sommat.
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Post by mftc on Mar 27, 2024 15:20:54 GMT
The SC once upon a time had some influence, sway and experience from individuals on a level with our then owners. That changed when football started getting more expensive and the levels changed and the SC voted away their rights. So now its nothing more than token gesture system when it comes to being able to influence to get the club to do anything. Has to be said they did a great job of arranging the evening with the owners and we need more of that kind of thing. It will create much more of a togetherness between supporters and owners rather than a them and us sort of situation. The SC needs to be more dynamic in getting some younger members on board at club level which then can move into the executive ranks and only then will it become more of a force again. The last time the directorships were available JC blackballed everyone he didnt like or who questioned his ability to chair. I'm not saying Steve and Helen were poor picks, but it was a good opportunity to advertise it to ones who could bring experience and skills which would help modernise the club and draw a younger audience. Hopefully that could happen this time around. I thought they did advertise and as always no one offered! There used to be a route from YP to the SC as fans. With that gone, the SC membership will be less and less as us old fogeys die off. I thought SLAM and Helen took over the thankless task only because no one else would do it. Your right the SC reps is just a gesture and a box ticking exercise. Looks good on engagement awards nights though! I get the impression if the SC reps ask for anything the board don't even listen - cashless, programmes, SC events at the Mem etc I'm sure they have raised more issues, probably ST fiasco, communication, disabled access, Gas Girls at the Mem, kids prices etc but they are probably told to keep schtum, so we never hear about it. As you say let's hope some 30 / 40 year olds want to refresh the club. Good luck to em.
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