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Clueless
Mar 30, 2024 13:33:31 GMT
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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
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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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Post by mftc on Mar 26, 2024 10:37:15 GMT
Evans v Stevenage, or v Newport or Browns goal from the start of the season.
Haven't been to many always so have not seen them all, but not that many "worldies" either for or against this season.
Had to start a new non JB, TG, Stadium thread for my own sanity!
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Post by mftc on Mar 23, 2024 9:55:33 GMT
The ST fiasco was a known to be a potential issue beforehand. Some on here said Tom told them individually there could have been issues before matches.
A big problem was the fact that any potential issue was not immediately disclosed on the website or other social media to let other fans know.
It was a lottery to know if you could get in or not.
It seems too often TG communicates to individuals when the wider fan base should be told something.
Hopefully he and others at the club learns from this type of mistake.
It's not right that I get more information from posters than the club. Hopefully the new media man can improve things ready for next season.
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Post by mftc on Mar 23, 2024 9:43:08 GMT
It says something when the best players mentioned are:
Evans, Martin, Ward, Thomas, Jed, Conteh, Taylor
And only one of those is likely to appear in over 35 league games. Some won't have hardly played half the number of games a season.
They say it is a squad game nowadays, but there is such a disparity between our best possible fully fit X1 and the side we have scrambled to put together in many games, with too many like Vale having to put in a shift when out of position.
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Post by mftc on Mar 22, 2024 14:16:03 GMT
Evans for me based on the whole season. Ward has been out most consistently good player, when fit.
Young player will be closer Conteh, Taylor or Jed.
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Post by mftc on Mar 19, 2024 13:52:59 GMT
Fair play, seems to have already made improvements to the website.
Interesting article about the international players.
Aguilera v Messi could be one to watch!
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Post by mftc on Mar 18, 2024 14:05:49 GMT
I think both Taunton and Torquay are at home.
As mentioned don't forgot the chance to see a Rovers team lift a trophy at the Mem on Sunday
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Post by mftc on Mar 16, 2024 15:40:59 GMT
Just got in and turned on the radio.
Had to double check we are not playing Whelan as a lone centre back again.
If Gordon was fit and we played 4 at the back with Hoole would that have made a difference?
Chance for Beefy to show he is worth the £100k plus that JB paid for him.
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Post by mftc on Mar 15, 2024 8:24:56 GMT
Brown has been a disappoinment especially with all the shenanigans and JB bigging him up.
Hopefully he gets the second year bounce a la Hinton, Campbell, Lescott etc who were much better after their initial season at the club.
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Post by mftc on Mar 15, 2024 8:21:23 GMT
Call me greedy but when in my lifetime have we had much success, so I want both!
So England for Euro, WC, Home Championship, Inter toto malarkey, and Rovers for promotion, Mickey Mouse, League Cup and FA cup.
Alternatively, I'd settle for the youth/ reserves winning the Gloucestershire Cup, or the Fry's sixes!
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