Post by stevek192 on Dec 12, 2015 23:59:10 GMT
If there is one thing about this Bristol Rovers side I cannot really understand, it is that whatever team DC starts off a match with and whatever formation; I might add that a lot of the time, especially in recent times I have agreed with his starting selection; he has to make changes for the second half in order to get a better performance. Today was no exception as it has to be said that both wingers who finished the last match so well could not produce a similar performance when starting. This has been particularly applicable to home games but at least today the final result went the right and deserved way which has not been the case on many occasions.
Nicholls 6.5 Didn't have to do much but what he did have to do he did well in what is his last loan appearance. He has looked recently to be the keeper we thought we were getting, quick on his feet and off his line,good handling and quick accurate distribution. he had no chance with the goal today as the cross should have been defended so much better and it was a miracle that he managed to get a touch to the final shot. Should we sign him? I think so but if DC does not think he is good enough then I would prefer to see him sign a taller keeper.
J. Clarke 6. Solid performance.Personally I would prefer Leadbitter for his attacking threat and for his speed but James Clarke seems to make us a better unit at the back across the middle .
I would put the York goal down to his failure to get tight to his man but his general play both defensively and bringing the ball out was reasonable and there was one superb cross which should have brought us a goal.
Lockyer 6.5. Solid throughout and that was true pretty well of all the defence. strong in the air and his pace whilst not up to that of Leadbitter still manages to hold off most opponents and clear the lines. Was it him who cleared Parkes shot inadvertantly off the line and stop us scoring? It looked like it but not 100% sure
Parkes 7 Back to near his best take for a couple of moments. It does worry me how him and Brown keep playing the ball between each other rather than clear it straight away. At the moment we are in a period where,at least they are coming off instead of putting us in a lot of trouble. He was very unlucky not to score late on where I think his shot was stopped on the line by our own player.
Brown 6.5 Couple of slack moments and does overdo the taking the ball forward sometime and particularly in the first half he did not move the ball into the midfield or down the wing quick enough for my liking. This improved as it often does in the later stages of the game. To be fair to him we did not have great moments from our wingers today so it was probably just as well he was a willing runner and he certainly has great fitness to get up and down the line. Not sure if he should have done better on the goal or was it Parkes man who put the ball in.
Cowan-Hall 4. Not his day. Everything he did went wrong and doesn't look the answer on the wing although to be fair I thought he was up against Yorks best player,their left back.Maybe he will get another chance at least. Can't say if any of Gosling, Montano or Cowan Hall are really good enough for a promotion chasing team that we seem to be coming. Not convinced either that Leadbitter is the answer as a winger. Strange thing that Montano and Cowan Hall have both played at a higher standard as had Balanta but DC does not appear to be able to get that sort of form out of them.
Mansell 8 MOM. Thought he did a great job of breaking up attacks and winning the ball as well as providing a couple of scorching shots. Did very little wrong and is a good leader of men. Him and Sinclair have to be at their best when we play with only two in central midfield and neither really let us down today. Personally I would sacrifice one of our wingers and play Easter in the centre of midfield just in front of Sinclair and Mansell at least for home games as Easter has class and rarely gives the ball away.
Sinclair 7 Running around winning the ball as usual and formed a solid midfield two with Mansell and were only beaten when outnumbered.
Bodin 5.5 Not one of his best games. but at least he had a few skilful moments.
Taylor 7.5 Great winning goal kept his recent run going and should have scored at least one in the first half. He is so much more than a goalscorer and his touch is great to watch. I very much hope we can hold on to him in January and that he can go forward to a higher standard with us.
Gaffney 6. Very good at holding up the ball and covers a lot of ground. Wish he would hold a central position more often and we definitely either need to keep him or sign a player who can do that job.It seems it will take a cash bid to sign him and that may prevent that deal but it is likely to cost some money to get anybody who can do that role. Him and Taylor seem to compliment each other well and his previous goalscoring record would suggest he can score goals and it may be a case of hoping he doesn't score too soon to enhance the chances of signing him and then when we do sign him he starts scoring!!.
Subs: Leadbitter 6
Ran the line a few times and did quite well although his final ball is not the best and I don't think he is an out and out winger.
Gosling 6
A few good moments but he is too like a long list of players who have no consistency and this is the problem we have in certain positions where nobody has done enough to make a place their own.
Easter 6.5 For me has far too much ability to be on the bench and should start just in front of Mansell and Sinclair at the expence of a winger. Took his header very well with I believe his first touch after coming on.
Crowd 5
Trouble with scoring so late all time and often going one down is that there is not enough to cheer. Today was another case of this where too often our attacks took one pass too many.
Ref 4 Another poor one. League Two seem to be able to roll these out almost without trying!!
York 4.They are where they are for a reason and on todays form will stay around where they are for a long time.Very good left back. Plenty of time wasting and it was sweet to beat them in injury time.
DC Good substitutions but feel a bit sorry for him because he selects what looks the best starting line up after the previous game but they fail to produce their form from the start. in truth we have a long list of players who have not produced any consistency at all Harrison, Lines, Ollie Clarke, Montano, Cowen Hall, Bodin Gosling, Easter have all failed to stamp their name on a place and January is going to be very interesting as personally I feel some good wheeling and dealing is going to be needed if we are to continue to push up this League.
Nicholls 6.5 Didn't have to do much but what he did have to do he did well in what is his last loan appearance. He has looked recently to be the keeper we thought we were getting, quick on his feet and off his line,good handling and quick accurate distribution. he had no chance with the goal today as the cross should have been defended so much better and it was a miracle that he managed to get a touch to the final shot. Should we sign him? I think so but if DC does not think he is good enough then I would prefer to see him sign a taller keeper.
J. Clarke 6. Solid performance.Personally I would prefer Leadbitter for his attacking threat and for his speed but James Clarke seems to make us a better unit at the back across the middle .
I would put the York goal down to his failure to get tight to his man but his general play both defensively and bringing the ball out was reasonable and there was one superb cross which should have brought us a goal.
Lockyer 6.5. Solid throughout and that was true pretty well of all the defence. strong in the air and his pace whilst not up to that of Leadbitter still manages to hold off most opponents and clear the lines. Was it him who cleared Parkes shot inadvertantly off the line and stop us scoring? It looked like it but not 100% sure
Parkes 7 Back to near his best take for a couple of moments. It does worry me how him and Brown keep playing the ball between each other rather than clear it straight away. At the moment we are in a period where,at least they are coming off instead of putting us in a lot of trouble. He was very unlucky not to score late on where I think his shot was stopped on the line by our own player.
Brown 6.5 Couple of slack moments and does overdo the taking the ball forward sometime and particularly in the first half he did not move the ball into the midfield or down the wing quick enough for my liking. This improved as it often does in the later stages of the game. To be fair to him we did not have great moments from our wingers today so it was probably just as well he was a willing runner and he certainly has great fitness to get up and down the line. Not sure if he should have done better on the goal or was it Parkes man who put the ball in.
Cowan-Hall 4. Not his day. Everything he did went wrong and doesn't look the answer on the wing although to be fair I thought he was up against Yorks best player,their left back.Maybe he will get another chance at least. Can't say if any of Gosling, Montano or Cowan Hall are really good enough for a promotion chasing team that we seem to be coming. Not convinced either that Leadbitter is the answer as a winger. Strange thing that Montano and Cowan Hall have both played at a higher standard as had Balanta but DC does not appear to be able to get that sort of form out of them.
Mansell 8 MOM. Thought he did a great job of breaking up attacks and winning the ball as well as providing a couple of scorching shots. Did very little wrong and is a good leader of men. Him and Sinclair have to be at their best when we play with only two in central midfield and neither really let us down today. Personally I would sacrifice one of our wingers and play Easter in the centre of midfield just in front of Sinclair and Mansell at least for home games as Easter has class and rarely gives the ball away.
Sinclair 7 Running around winning the ball as usual and formed a solid midfield two with Mansell and were only beaten when outnumbered.
Bodin 5.5 Not one of his best games. but at least he had a few skilful moments.
Taylor 7.5 Great winning goal kept his recent run going and should have scored at least one in the first half. He is so much more than a goalscorer and his touch is great to watch. I very much hope we can hold on to him in January and that he can go forward to a higher standard with us.
Gaffney 6. Very good at holding up the ball and covers a lot of ground. Wish he would hold a central position more often and we definitely either need to keep him or sign a player who can do that job.It seems it will take a cash bid to sign him and that may prevent that deal but it is likely to cost some money to get anybody who can do that role. Him and Taylor seem to compliment each other well and his previous goalscoring record would suggest he can score goals and it may be a case of hoping he doesn't score too soon to enhance the chances of signing him and then when we do sign him he starts scoring!!.
Subs: Leadbitter 6
Ran the line a few times and did quite well although his final ball is not the best and I don't think he is an out and out winger.
Gosling 6
A few good moments but he is too like a long list of players who have no consistency and this is the problem we have in certain positions where nobody has done enough to make a place their own.
Easter 6.5 For me has far too much ability to be on the bench and should start just in front of Mansell and Sinclair at the expence of a winger. Took his header very well with I believe his first touch after coming on.
Crowd 5
Trouble with scoring so late all time and often going one down is that there is not enough to cheer. Today was another case of this where too often our attacks took one pass too many.
Ref 4 Another poor one. League Two seem to be able to roll these out almost without trying!!
York 4.They are where they are for a reason and on todays form will stay around where they are for a long time.Very good left back. Plenty of time wasting and it was sweet to beat them in injury time.
DC Good substitutions but feel a bit sorry for him because he selects what looks the best starting line up after the previous game but they fail to produce their form from the start. in truth we have a long list of players who have not produced any consistency at all Harrison, Lines, Ollie Clarke, Montano, Cowen Hall, Bodin Gosling, Easter have all failed to stamp their name on a place and January is going to be very interesting as personally I feel some good wheeling and dealing is going to be needed if we are to continue to push up this League.
