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Post by alftupper on Aug 10, 2024 19:04:39 GMT
I thought Bilongo was a bit disappointing until the 89th minute. He justified MT’s faith in pushing him forward tho I thought, he did ok. Certainly doesn`t lack the confidence to run forward with the ball. Did well in the aerial battles, including his headed winner. Was obviously excited at the end. Had some joyful banter with the fans, before making his way down the tunnel.
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Post by baselswh on Aug 10, 2024 20:00:35 GMT
Lots of Gasheads being introduced to players today.I was happy to be introduced to Matt Taylors football strategy. Perhaps I'm slow on the uptake, but today was the first time I can remember seeing a Matt Taylor team,play his way.A way I could understand.
First 30 minutes or so we played long balls down the flanks and channels. When the Cobblers had the ball we pressed them well.Our defence won many challenges and I felt relatively secure we probably would'nt concede,althoughwe did'nt look like scoring either in this period.
The nearest we did go to conceding was when a Griffiths clearance hit one of their strikers,rebounding back towards our goal,luckily wide of.
As said,from about 30 minutes or so,we began to pass the ball and looked more like it.
I thought we looked like we might score a goal and continued to generally get the better of the Cobblers attack.
Second half was quite even,with both teams going close a couple of times.
Issac ought to of perhaps scored for Rovers.
This team give 100% and battle.No passengers. This spirit saw Rovers battle to the end and Bilongo,now pushed up front got on the end of a decent Luke corner.Our new player had a good game and deserved his MOTM.
Others mentioned in dispatches Wilson,Promise,Luke Thomes,Conteh,Hutchinson with all very much sweating for the shirt.
I think we just deserved the 3 points.
Relieved to at last see and get at least some understanding of a Matt Taylor team and strategy.
Other moments as they come to mind.The balloons looked fantastic floating by ,near the Mem.I wondered if Sky spotted them?At one point we had 2 footballs on the field of play and as it was'nt immediately noticed by players and officials, for a while there was two lots of action going on.🙂 Better than penalties to decide a game I briefly pondered?I thought the referee had a decent game.
We have a team that will give it their all and a manager that likes to play football,not only in the right places,but apparently only at the right times of the 90 minutes.
Lovely to win the game and begin getting to know our new team and Matt Taylor.
🏴☠️
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Post by Colyton Gas. on Aug 10, 2024 20:10:55 GMT
Northampton View.
Town put in a big shift and looked to be on course for a hard-earned point but Rovers won a stoppage-time corner that should have been a goal-kick and from it Bryant Bilongo headed in the decisive goal to consign Jon Brady’s men to defeat.
Cobblers were greeted by a fervent atmosphere at the Memorial Stadium but they did not wilt in the sweltering Bristol heat in an even first half that was not rich on goalmouth action.
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Post by a more piratey game on Aug 10, 2024 20:50:06 GMT
I thought Bilongo was a bit disappointing until the 89th minute. He justified MT’s faith in pushing him forward tho I thought, he did ok. Certainly doesn`t lack the confidence to run forward with the ball. Did well in the aerial battles, including his headed winner. Was obviously excited at the end. Had some joyful banter with the fans, before making his way down the tunnel. Yes, fair point He has come from non-league, and started today. I was a bit disappointed based on some pre-season feedback/hype. So maybe somewhere in between The boy done OK, has lots of potential, and I’ve a feeling he won’t be dulll, and might even turn out to be very Gas
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bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 14,758
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Post by bluetornados on Aug 10, 2024 20:51:15 GMT
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bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 14,758
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Post by bluetornados on Aug 10, 2024 21:06:34 GMT
Bristol Rovers 1-0 Northampton Town - Bilongo secures opening day victory..By Daniel Hargraves
BRFC 1 NTFC 0 - Possession: 52% - 48% - Shots: 12-6 - On Target: 5-1 - Corners: 6-6 - Referee: Alex Chilowicz - Attendance: 8,529
i2-prod.bristolpost.co.uk/incoming/article9473926.ece/ALTERNATES/s1200/0_PPAUK_Bristol_Rovers_v_Northampton_Town-_090824_054JPG.jpg Bristol Rovers players celebrate their late winner against Northampton TownBristol Rovers ended their 12-season opening day curse as they began the 2024/25 campaign with a 1-0 home win over Northampton Town thanks to a 92nd minute winner from debutant Bryant Bilongo. The hosts started the game incredibly lethargically, struggling to find any sort of rhythm, but eventually found their feet and grew into the match as it went on. Matt Taylor's side were then comfortably the better of the two teams for most of the second half but were still struggling to really threaten the opposition goal. Promise Omochere and Kamil Conteh arguably had the best chances of the second half before Bilongo headed home at the back-post from a Luke Thomas corner in the second minute of added time to send The Mem faithful into raptures. The victory is the first time Rovers have won on the opening day of a season since beating AFC Wimbledon 3-2 away from home in August 2011. i2-prod.bristolpost.co.uk/incoming/article9473971.ece/ALTERNATES/s510b/0_PPAUK_Bristol_Rovers_v_Northampton_Town-_090824_056JPG.jpgBryant Bilongo celebrates his winner for Bristol Rovers against Northampton Town
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Post by emperorsuperbus on Aug 10, 2024 21:31:30 GMT
Useless Sky! Looks like they stopped coverage on all games at 90mins…..bizarre?! they only promised us the full 90 minutes. 🤦♂️
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Post by emperorsuperbus on Aug 10, 2024 21:32:46 GMT
Not that I saw it as Sky+ cut out before the corner. more Sky minus the only good bit than Sky+ There was something a bit Roy Andersson* about sitting in silence waiting for it to blip back on, oblivious to the winning goal being scored. *You, the gasheads
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Cheshiregas
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Joined: May 2014
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Post by Cheshiregas on Aug 10, 2024 21:34:21 GMT
I thought, he did ok. Certainly doesn`t lack the confidence to run forward with the ball. Did well in the aerial battles, including his headed winner. Was obviously excited at the end. Had some joyful banter with the fans, before making his way down the tunnel. Yes, fair point He has come from non-league, and started today. I was a bit disappointed based on some pre-season feedback/hype. So maybe somewhere in between The boy done OK, has lots of potential, and I’ve a feeling he won’t be dulll, and might even turn out to be very Gas When I have seen him interviewed he has a real joy and excitement about coming to the Gas, reminiscent of Stuart Sinclair, although a different style of player. I think he will grasp every moment and I think it will rub off onto the other players.
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Post by emperorsuperbus on Aug 10, 2024 21:43:27 GMT
Lots of Gasheads being introduced to players today.I was happy to be introduced to Matt Taylors football strategy. Perhaps I'm slow on the uptake, but today was the first time I can remember seeing a Matt Taylor team,play his way.A way I could understand. First 30 minutes or so we played long balls down the flanks and channels. When the Cobblers had the ball we pressed them well.Our defence won many challenges and I felt relatively secure we probably would'nt concede,althoughwe did'nt look like scoring either in this period. The nearest we did go to conceding was when a Griffiths clearance hit one of their strikers,rebounding back towards our goal,luckily wide of. As said,from about 30 minutes or so,we began to pass the ball and looked more like it. I thought we looked like we might score a goal and continued to generally get the better of the Cobblers attack. Second half was quite even,with both teams going close a couple of times. Issac ought to of perhaps scored for Rovers. This team give 100% and battle.No passengers. This spirit saw Rovers battle to the end and Bilongo,now pushed up front got on the end of a decent Luke corner.Our new player had a good game and deserved his MOTM. Others mentioned in dispatches Wilson,Promise,Luke Thomes,Conteh,Hutchinson with all very much sweating for the shirt. I think we just deserved the 3 points. Relieved to at last see and get at least some understanding of a Matt Taylor team and strategy. Other moments as they come to mind.The balloons looked fantastic floating by ,near the Mem.I wondered if Sky spotted them?At one point we had 2 footballs on the field of play and as it was'nt immediately noticed by players and officials, for a while there was two lots of action going on.🙂 Better than penalties to decide a game I briefly pondered?I thought the referee had a decent game. We have a team that will give it their all and a manager that likes to play football,not only in the right places,but apparently only at the right times of the 90 minutes. Lovely to win the game and begin getting to know our new team and Matt Taylor. 🏴☠️ My half time opinion was too harsh, reflecting on it now. Throughout the game Gas were doing the hard work, the dirty stuff, that builds the stage to play on - challenging for all the airborne 50/50s, not shirking any challenge, not giving an inch in any duel. Duel, as in “duel monster” is a new football term slipped in from left field, possibly from all the science put into football these days. and having built that stage to play on, Rovers got more and more possession, more into the game the longer it went on, almost like watching self belief sprout out of a pot and grow in front of us. Deserved winners imo.
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JeffNZ
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Jimmy Morgan
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Post by JeffNZ on Aug 10, 2024 22:17:36 GMT
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TaiwanGas
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Tom Ramasuts Left Foot.
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Post by TaiwanGas on Aug 10, 2024 22:28:40 GMT
And throughout the game more buffering than i get when using the fire-stick. Have to say the BRTV coverage was excellent. Agree, it was excellent, only problem was me. I fell asleep mid way through second half, woke this early morn convinced it was a 0-0 result overjoyed to find we won it.
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Post by a more piratey game on Aug 11, 2024 4:30:53 GMT
That tackle by Moore And when Bilongo scored Brady played for a draw But the Mem was bouncing
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Post by o2o2bo2ba on Aug 11, 2024 8:07:30 GMT
Just got back..
Where else would you get to see nice sunny eve, with a crescent moon, aeroplanes coming in to land at Bristol airport, balloons rising and in chorus for the same direction, and a Gas win clean sheet and a debutant scorer?
So we start at at an unusually bouncy mem. A brilliant idea to unroll the flag ...but can we please have it going around 3/4 of the ground?!
First 30 mins we played like complete strangers. Last 15 marginally better...we actually tried shooting on sight, Promise decent effort, one more from Grant (I think) both outside box. Improving. But we were still behind the possession stats at 43% at one point. Within the first half Northampton created a few chances, one notable was a counter attack where their no5 was hauled to the ground before he got into our box, then their attack continued, fizzled out, no consequence to bear for us - the referee had an indifferent game for me. (At the time, I agreed with Northampton on the corner that should never have been given - to me it looked like a goal kick but can't 100% be sure).
Second half we played more like a cohesive team. As in the first half, it was refreshing to see a left sided flank player trying to go past his opponent on the outside (!?), the old fashioned way by creating space and pace : this led to no end of trouble for Northampton, but for me the final pass cross shot left a lot to be desired.
Much has already been said about mid and attack players, some of which are makeshift on position and won't play every match in those positions, so I won't dwell too much.
Scotty captain is a graceful move, one which I support as to me he's already a Gas legend. Up front all out striker, I'm not so sure.
Promise, I really liked his contribution, it was a physical contest - like Northampton matches usually are, and his rawness was exposed at times. Plenty to work with there. I like his work effort and engine.
Mid I will give a swing by because Conteh and Grant put in a shift, and for me Hutch was inconsistent but showed sparks of what he can do but too many times gave away possession too easily.
I thought the Keeper was lackluster to come out to claim a few desperate crosses, but over all had a good game of stopping shots and ball keeping.
But then we move on to best i m o: Quite impressed with defence in Mola, he done all the tidying up and breaking down with no fuss....Wilson, steady.....but up there with the eventual m o m, Taylor Moore. TM was my m o m until the 90+ as his right sided defending and general "unit" was masterful - even culminating in a last ditch sliding tackle after we had scored which was expertly timed preventing opponent going through on goal - he fist pumped himself for such a sublime intervention - we desperately needed that last season. The defence gets my m o m as they performed heroics with blocking shots and crosses. We seem to have upgraded our defence from last season! This is the foundation of a successful campaign, and everyone's m o m Bilongo scoring the winning goal on debut appitamises the effort and passion we've not seen for a while on and off pitch to get the Mem rocking like we remembered.
After the Barton embers have finally been extinguished by some of his Scouse players departing, and the twilight of CEO and his nepotistic favourite departing, we turn our heads to a different era, a new way of playing and conducting yourself on the pitch....an MT era.... could he possibly be the one that helps unite the fanbase and disconnect between club and humble supporter?
Only time will tell..
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Post by alftupper on Aug 11, 2024 8:54:02 GMT
That tackle by Moore And when Bilongo scored Brady played for a draw But the Mem was bouncing Pirates on our shirt Finally awaking Fans all in concert Three points for the taking.
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oldie
Joined: September 2021
Posts: 6,497
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Post by oldie on Aug 11, 2024 10:05:51 GMT
Just got back.. Where else would you get to see nice sunny eve, with a crescent moon, aeroplanes coming in to land at Bristol airport, balloons rising and in chorus for the same direction, and a Gas win clean sheet and a debutant scorer? So we start at at an unusually bouncy mem. A brilliant idea to unroll the flag ...but can we please have it going around 3/4 of the ground?! First 30 mins we played like complete strangers. Last 15 marginally better...we actually tried shooting on sight, Promise decent effort, one more from Grant (I think) both outside box. Improving. But we were still behind the possession stats at 43% at one point. Within the first half Northampton created a few chances, one notable was a counter attack where their no5 was hauled to the ground before he got into our box, then their attack continued, fizzled out, no consequence to bear for us - the referee had an indifferent game for me. (At the time, I agreed with Northampton on the corner that should never have been given - to me it looked like a goal kick but can't 100% be sure). Second half we played more like a cohesive team. As in the first half, it was refreshing to see a left sided flank player trying to go past his opponent on the outside (!?), the old fashioned way by creating space and pace : this led to no end of trouble for Northampton, but for me the final pass cross shot left a lot to be desired. Much has already been said about mid and attack players, some of which are makeshift on position and won't play every match in those positions, so I won't dwell too much. Scotty captain is a graceful move, one which I support as to me he's already a Gas legend. Up front all out striker, I'm not so sure. Promise, I really liked his contribution, it was a physical contest - like Northampton matches usually are, and his rawness was exposed at times. Plenty to work with there. I like his work effort and engine. Mid I will give a swing by because Conteh and Grant put in a shift, and for me Hutch was inconsistent but showed sparks of what he can do but too many times gave away possession too easily. I thought the Keeper was lackluster to come out to claim a few desperate crosses, but over all had a good game of stopping shots and ball keeping. But then we move on to best i m o: Quite impressed with defence in Mola, he done all the tidying up and breaking down with no fuss....Wilson, steady.....but up there with the eventual m o m, Taylor Moore. TM was my m o m until the 90+ as his right sided defending and general "unit" was masterful - even culminating in a last ditch sliding tackle after we had scored which was expertly timed preventing opponent going through on goal - he fist pumped himself for such a sublime intervention - we desperately needed that last season. The defence gets my m o m as they performed heroics with blocking shots and crosses. We seem to have upgraded our defence from last season! This is the foundation of a successful campaign, and everyone's m o m Bilongo scoring the winning goal on debut appitamises the effort and passion we've not seen for a while on and off pitch to get the Mem rocking like we remembered. After the Barton embers have finally been extinguished by some of his Scouse players departing, and the twilight of CEO and his nepotistic favourite departing, we turn our heads to a different era, a new way of playing and conducting yourself on the pitch....an MT era.... could he possibly be the one that helps unite the fanbase and disconnect between club and humble supporter? Only time will tell.. I wasn't there but this summary is very nice to read.
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Cheshiregas
Global Moderator
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,644
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Post by Cheshiregas on Aug 11, 2024 10:10:35 GMT
Considering the ground had 8,500+ in it there looks to be lots of room. How did it feel to those who went, what was the atmosphere like?
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Post by toteend3 on Aug 11, 2024 10:21:25 GMT
Attendance 8,529 according to the BBC. Feels like that's lower than previous years. According to the BBC……Well I would take that with a very large pinch of salt!
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Post by rowdenhill on Aug 11, 2024 10:34:26 GMT
Will 138 points be enough to go up?
(and gd 46)
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warehamgas
Predictions League
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Post by warehamgas on Aug 11, 2024 10:57:42 GMT
Bilongo brings an enthusiasm which is great. Pretty good in the air, two good feet and able to use both. Looks to be fit and he kept going. Perhaps the first full back since Leadbitter 10 years ago to have some speed to overlap. Looks a very good addition. I’d say he’s played himself into the team during pre-season when he may not have been the first choice. Score the winner at Rotherham next week and he’ll be a fans favourite.
UTG!
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