harrybuckle
Always look on the bright side
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 5,412
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Post by harrybuckle on Oct 16, 2016 16:03:50 GMT
Steve ....agree very harsh on Sincs (he was man marking their best player Dake. Taylor was far better than Gaffers. Plus Lockyer far better than Hartley. Colkett for me was superb as was Lines. We did miss Jammer for sure. Would like to see Clarke-Salter rather than James Clarke.
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GasMacc1
Les Bradd
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,423
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Post by GasMacc1 on Oct 16, 2016 16:06:35 GMT
A real plus is the fitness levels this side have. It is no coincidence we win these games late. Watching the Gillingham players with their hands on their knees gasping for breath after Linesy scored showed we had driven them into the ground with our workrate. I have never seen so much bad body language after conceding! They were totally beaten. No doubt that the squad is physically fit, but I think our individual and collective mental toughness is the differentiator that helps us to overcome setbacks. I'm not sure how you create mental toughness, maintain it or improve it, but I know that DC has referred to it several times since he's been in charge e.g. the way the team away at Grimsby put Matt Taylor's missed penalty behind them to go on and win the game. I can't remember who said it recently on the radio, but an ex-player tried to explain mental attitude with reference to the difference in boat race crews. Both crews have put in about the same massive effort, but whilst the losers show their exhaustion, the winners look as though they could happily race again. It's in the mind!
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Post by stevek192 on Oct 16, 2016 16:32:37 GMT
That's the great thing about football harrybuckle, we all see things differently and as long as we discuss it in the way that seems to happen with most then its great if my report starts discussion off. I agree about Easter who for me has been our best player this season-great shame he made that silly mistake at Sheffield United.
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Post by minzapint on Oct 16, 2016 16:57:05 GMT
"I could probably count on one hand the number of his passes that went forward", personally I could count them on my sixth finger. Yes, Sinclair is in the side to break the opposition's play up. However, I think it is reasonable to expect a Division 1 player to do that and also score more than once a season / pass forward / not have one big mistake every game.
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crater
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 1,444
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Post by crater on Oct 16, 2016 17:40:16 GMT
Fitness and never settling or setting out for a draw are big factors in the number of wins we've had under Darrell...oh and decent players with a high work ethic and good and winning attitude helps too
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blueginger
David Williams
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 166
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Post by blueginger on Oct 16, 2016 18:48:10 GMT
I think DC manages his players very well, you really cant expect young lads like Clarke-Salter, Roberts and Ellis go off play international football come back and play Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, that's when they start to pick up injuries and lose form by just being tired. Would have been interested to see if Lockyear had played yesterday if he had traveled with Wales midweek. Would not be surprised to see Clarke-Salter and Roberts back for MK and Colkett left out.
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Oct 16, 2016 18:50:01 GMT
Why didn't Lockyer go?
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Post by manchestergas on Oct 16, 2016 19:05:23 GMT
Fitness and never settling or setting out for a draw are big factors in the number of wins we've had under Darrell...oh and decent players with a high work ethic and good and winning attitude helps too Second best thing Nick Higgs ever did was recruiting DC.
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syg
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 1,005
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Post by syg on Oct 16, 2016 19:13:23 GMT
My 1st view of colkett, looked absolute quality, lost the ball once I think, his passing range and little touches, ufff.
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Post by DudeLebowski on Oct 16, 2016 19:30:17 GMT
Curious as to which 'big mistake' of Sinclairs that was exactly!? The one where he lost the ball and it came to nothing seconds later?! Oh dear.
Tiz a sad day when you actively go looking for reasons to slate a player.
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Post by The Concept on Oct 16, 2016 19:38:14 GMT
I read somewhere this morning that he was injured. Think it must have been in Richard Latham's column in the Sunday Independent. All a bit strange as I thought he was just rested for that game against Yeovil, and I don't recall it being mentioned anywhere that he had picked up an injury. Then again DC does like to keep his cards close to his chest at times.
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Post by mrbluesky on Oct 16, 2016 22:41:06 GMT
the constant match after match snipes aimed at sinclair by the op leaves a bad taste in my mouth to be honest. sinclair subdued a talented player yesterday and clearly carries out dc"s instructions to the letter. i could probably name 50 players from the highest level down that have done the job hes doing for us now and just play the simple pass when on the ball from nobby stiles to frankie prince to nicky butt and so many more.
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Post by tanksfull on Oct 17, 2016 7:49:13 GMT
the constant match after match snipes aimed at sinclair by the op leaves a bad taste in my mouth to be honest. sinclair subdued a talented player yesterday and clearly carries out dc"s instructions to the letter. i could probably name 50 players from the highest level down that have done the job hes doing for us now and just play the simple pass when on the ball from nobby stiles to frankie prince to nicky butt and so many more. The OP mentions more than just passing the ball. The players around them pretty much knew where all of the players you mention (and the 47 others) were going to be at any time within the formation. You could totally rely on them doing that specific job and keeping it simple. Yes many of the consistently great teams have had one. The issue, for me, with Sinclair is that those players around him don't know where he is going to turn up next and are constantly looking at a gap which might need to be covered. Neither is he a box to box player like quite a few others of that nature - Disley, Vieira, Keane. Players around them knew when and where they were going so were easy to cover for. On a slightly different note we seem to concede a lot of goals as a result of our right back being pulled into the centre (or being caught up field) and leaving wide open space near to goal for a spare player on the oppositions left.
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2016 8:17:03 GMT
An average score of 6.25 for a home win, we've had it too good the last two seasons obviously.
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Post by mrbluesky on Oct 17, 2016 9:32:17 GMT
the constant match after match snipes aimed at sinclair by the op leaves a bad taste in my mouth to be honest. sinclair subdued a talented player yesterday and clearly carries out dc"s instructions to the letter. i could probably name 50 players from the highest level down that have done the job hes doing for us now and just play the simple pass when on the ball from nobby stiles to frankie prince to nicky butt and so many more. The OP mentions more than just passing the ball. The players around them pretty much knew where all of the players you mention (and the 47 others) were going to be at any time within the formation. You could totally rely on them doing that specific job and keeping it simple. Yes many of the consistently great teams have had one. The issue, for me, with Sinclair is that those players around him don't know where he is going to turn up next and are constantly looking at a gap which might need to be covered. Neither is he a box to box player like quite a few others of that nature - Disley, Vieira, Keane. Players around them knew when and where they were going so were easy to cover for. On a slightly different note we seem to concede a lot of goals as a result of our right back being pulled into the centre (or being caught up field) and leaving wide open space near to goal for a spare player on the oppositions left. well on saturday every time bradley dack got the ball sinclair was there snapping at his heels so lines and colkett knew exactly where he was. i watched some of the chelsea v leicester game and kante plays a holding midfield role very well but he still makes surging forward runs at times,then another midfielder holds,very simple,its a fluid game not a rigid static one
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Post by stevek192 on Oct 17, 2016 10:05:40 GMT
mrbluesky, I report the game as I see it. Not everybody are going to agree with it either in whole or part and if it leaves a nasty taste in your mouth then the whole point of a forum is you spit it out. As regards Sinclair and the "simple pass" to which you refer I agree there are lots of players who win the ball and then make the simple pass however not every simple pass has to go back or sideways especially if, like us the distribution of the back four is questionable. Sinclair is an average footballer who works bloody hard.I have no qualms with that and he is a great clubman. Is he a League 1 quality player? I am not so sure but his presence in the midfield can be important in some games and IMO he is a more than useful player to bring on from the bench or play in certain away games. Just my opinion and obviously not DC's opinion which is the most important.
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Post by DudeLebowski on Oct 17, 2016 10:17:05 GMT
In the last 6 league games we've scored 6 goals after the 80th minute, gaining us 9 extra league points (I think) than we would have had.
Bradford, Swindon, Northampton & Gillingham all suffering at the hands of our never say die attitude and immense fitness levels!
Awesome.
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kingswood Polak
Without music life would be a mistake
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10,255
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Post by kingswood Polak on Oct 17, 2016 10:40:15 GMT
Thanks Steve. Couple of comments. Sinclair: I think you are way too harsh. He had a real battle yesterday with an (as usual) physical Gillingham side. He got stuck in where Lines and Colkett feared to tread. Breaking up play, winning tackles and then laying it off side-ways/backwards. That's his job! Best move of a poor first half ended with a great Sincs run and a shot that flashed past the wrong side of the post (couldn't see from the SW Stand how close it was). He is the heartbeat of Bristol Rovers FC. Gaffney: I would conclude that he is planning his future for the over-50's walking football. Way off the pace. He is just not the same player he was before that injury he got around March last year. Won hardly anything in the air. He is 'big' so we revert back to the hoofball which DOES NOT WORK. Harrison caused far more damage in the air and has great pace. And then scored. I guess the only reason for Harrison not to start is that maybe he needed a bit of a rest. Formation: I hate 5-3-2. It's defensive. Too cautious. We are not on the front foot and teams exploit that. But looks like we then tire our opponents out - go back to 4-4-2 - and win. Bit like the old Ali rope-a-dope trick. It works - so I guess you can't knock it. Crowd: 9500. 4 of which I twisted arms to get them down and take advantage of with the family ticket £30. They will be back. UTG. When Gaffney plays he is very often alone upfront and no one is there when he holds the ball up and he then plays wider to try and get the ball. I think it's unfair to say what you do. He is not getting any service and is working his nads off to try and create a chance. I think he either hit the post or came close. He will come good, mark my words on this. Right now and for some unknown reason, it seems no one is running close to him so he has no one to flick onto or one 2 with. He is coming wide out of sheer frustration. Leadbitter is so lacking in confidence that you can nearly smell the fear. He is our biggest player yet is never in the box for corners. That says a lot to me. He needs to rebuild his confidence as he is not going into tackles fully and can't get rid of the ball quick enough. He was our worst player on Saturday in my opinion. We are, in effect, carrying him. We had very little play down the channels and it was a midfield slugfest. Worst first half I've seen at home this season and against a team who had nothing but physicality to offer. The linesman running the line by the West stand bottled a blatant goalkeeper handball and then this got Matty booked for asking why he didn't give it. The resultant free kick was 5 yards outside the box so what was that all about ? Poor game with only Lines standing out for me. Hartley is getting better too and always a danger with free kicks and corners. Anyway. We still win after playing badly, that brings some deja vu. Is it going to happen again ? 1 point off of play off and 5 from autos and when we are not yet firing well UtFG
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kingswood Polak
Without music life would be a mistake
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10,255
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Post by kingswood Polak on Oct 17, 2016 11:14:29 GMT
If Justin Edinburgh is "excellent", what is Darrel Clarke? DC has to be and have the best record over past 2 season of management than any other English manager in the game. Its looking like a 3rd good to very good season in row if we keep the results going. Alright maybe Bournemouth you would argue stands out, but after that with the resources he has had cant think of anyone else that come too close in very recent time. Very lucky to have DC. On football focus they said best run we have had in 35 years. Still, some will say DC doesn't know what he is doing. Oi vey
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Post by DudeLebowski on Oct 17, 2016 11:18:41 GMT
More often than not most weeks since August, you'll hear someone mention "Two years ago we were playing [Enter terrible part time conference outfit here] and now look at us"! The best part of these statements is that we are back playing league one football with the majority of our non league squad and I'm still yet to see us be outplayed/hammered in any single fixture yet. We are more than at home at this level and loving it!
*No blame if I've gone and jinxed it ahead of tomorrow night*
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