Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2022 11:12:37 GMT
I think we have had a masterclass in the last few months.
Its been building from the Autumn when the tide stared turning, but the way that JB has remained calm and focussed the players on the target has been outstanding.
Since December we were the best team in the league by some distance, the playing record bears that out. Some did not/would not believe but you could see it, smell it, sense it.
The togetherness and fight in this team is something to behold - they are relentless. As an example I can recall Collins running the full width of the field in the 89th minute to win the ball back after making a poor cross. We were 3-0 up and it was against Harrogate. One minute later he was heading clear a dangerous cross in our penalty area ( a goal then in that match and we may have not gone up saturday, who knows).
JB has them running through brick walls for him/each other/us fans. They do not accept anything less.
And the quality has been exceptional. Look at the Collins second goal saturday, the movement of Harry Anderson ready for the superb pass from Evans, the movement of Collins to make it a tap in. Outstanding. And the bravery to keep playing football both when down at Rochdale and when chasing on saturday. Passing and moving, patience, no lumping.
JB chose 2 defenders saturday, we had 2 wingers as fullbacks.
This has been outstanding
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2022 11:38:13 GMT
Spot on in every single word of that. It's been joyous to watch.
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2022 13:10:09 GMT
There are a few more things to add too.
I cant remember a Rovers team as fit as this, the number of goals scored towards the end of the games has been staggering. Full marks to the fitness guys. You just witness us getting stronger in games as the opponents flag. JB said last season we were not fit or professional enough and that he would get people in to fix it and was proved spot on.
Some people on here did not believe this to be true this season, did not believe there to be any correlation or evidence of better fitness but the evidence is clear by using your eyes during games and looking at how many times we scored late on.
The dressing room - can you imagine for one minute the likes of Coutts, Whelan and Anderton accepting what went on last season? These are the type of characters every successful club needs, to run the dressing room and to influence the younger guys. There are stories of Coutts and Whelan dragging Luke Thomas out for more fitness work and you see the end result, and the likes of Luca Hoole will see that and understand what you need to do to be successful, day in day out. Top recruitment, and not just for out on the pitch.
Standards have been raised, the bar has been raised.
Top stuff.
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keygas
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 177
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Post by keygas on May 10, 2022 13:13:40 GMT
When an intelligent footballer like Alex Rodman who’s had a long career & played for a fair number of clubs states this on Twitter then you can see the club is definitely going in the right direction.
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gasprom
Joined: January 2016
Posts: 335
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Post by gasprom on May 10, 2022 21:02:14 GMT
There were a lot of things the manager has said I thought were ridiculous this year. Almost every one of those statements he made turned out to be spot on.
The famous post Exeter promotion claim That we’d start delivering after Christmas That we’ll have the fittest team in the league The blocks of 10 games where we’d improve in each block Plus getting shot of Starnes and Tommy
Humble pie has never tasted so good.
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Post by Blue Mist on May 11, 2022 8:49:04 GMT
Do you think having The Quarters contributed significantly to the players fitness levels? If so then the investment is certainly justified. I dont think Ive seen a team in L2/L1 play at the pace they did for the entire game on Saturday.
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Post by irenestoyboy on May 11, 2022 11:30:48 GMT
Do you think having The Quarters contributed significantly to the players fitness levels? If so then the investment is certainly justified. I dont think Ive seen a team in L2/L1 play at the pace they did for the entire game on Saturday. Absolutely it does. Management have full control over everything under one roof. Pitches are in top condition allowing for greater simulation of games.
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Post by Bath Gas on May 11, 2022 12:51:47 GMT
Here's an excerpt from a message which I received from one of our players following the defeat at Exeter, in August.
"Such a disappointment we weren’t able to put on a show for you, but stick with us because I think when the main body of the squad is fully fit I think we will be a different animal!"
From that moment on, I was a believer!
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