GasMacc1
Les Bradd
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,423
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Post by GasMacc1 on Oct 6, 2020 15:27:04 GMT
Unless the rules have changed for this dreadful Trophy, a certain number of the team which played in the previous league game(s) have to play in each trophy game. Also remember we got fined for subbing our regular keeper after five minutes or so. I think we can make 10 or 11 changes if we want, if I'm reading the rules (below) correctly. (Six outfield players can change; Goalkeeper can change; Jaydon Mitchell-Lawson on loan from a Cat 1 Academy; Ed Upson has made more than 40 appearances; Alfie Kilgour is probably on the list of ten players at the club with the most starting appearances in the same season, as are Luke Leahy and Alex Rodman). Link to Rules of EFL Trophy7.3 Each EFL Club shall play its Full Available Strength in and during all Matches. Full Available Strength means the EFL Club must include at least four Qualifying Players in the ten outfield Players named in the starting eleven on the Team Sheet. 7.4 Qualifying Player means any Player who: 7.4.1 had started the immediately preceding First Team Fixture (as defined below); 7.4.2 subsequently starts the immediately following First Team Fixture; 7.4.3 is in the list of ten Players at the Club with the highest number of starting appearances in First Team Fixtures in the same Season; 7.4.4 has made forty or more starting appearances in First Team Fixtures or international equivalents (and not limited to the same Club or Season); or 7.4.5 is on standard loan from a Premier League Club or any EFL Club operating a Category One Academy. 7.5 First Team Fixture means the League Competition, Premier League, EFL Cup or FA Challenge Cup (but shall, in the context of Rules 7.4.3 and 7.4.4 only, also include this Competition). 7.6 Any EFL Club failing to meet the requirement to play Full Available Strength will be required to pay a fine of up to £5,000.
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GasMacc1
Les Bradd
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,423
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Post by GasMacc1 on Oct 6, 2020 13:29:49 GMT
In August, League One looked to me to have ten clubs who had (and, now, have) a realistic chance of promotion. Of the remaining 14, I didn't see any that looked obviously out of their depth or doomed (like Bolton and Bury last season). In other words, I thought (and still think) that there is going to be a terrific scrap amongst the 14 to avoid finishing in the bottom four. Like it or not, it is a fact that, in League One, only Rovers had to face, in all three of the opening matches, clubs that I would class in the top 10. (Trust me, I have a spreadsheet!). Oh - I do like a spreadsheet. Would you agree with the bookies? Currently the one I 'rely' on have (in order of likelihood for relegation): Dale, The Gas, N'ton, Burton, W'don, MK Dons, Wigan, Plymouth, Crewe, Shrews, Accie, Charlton, Gills, Swindle. Dale 8/11 going out to Swindle at 11/2. The Gas are 2nd favourites for the drop at 6/5. This is a very very tight race for these 14 before you leap to Blackpool at 10-1. I agree - there will be a very close season long battle down at the bottom (I reckon you had Charlton as a top 10 side - swap that for Lincoln and I think your list will reflect the above). UTG. I'd settle for SUTG this season. (S for Stay). Nearly. Your'e right about the Addicks and the Imps, but I also had Wigan in the top 10 and Blackpool in the bottom 14. Now that the season is underway, it's not just Lincoln's current position in the table that makes me think I've misjudged them. I saw their Carabao Cup match on TV against Liverpool's "reserves". Perversely, despite conceding 7 goals, Lincoln looked to have a good shape and did the right things. Also, even at 5-0 down, they kept working and battling to the end, and managed to get a couple of goals. Liverpool were just far too good. I also watched Wigan at Ipswich. Having seen us struggle in the opening Carabao Cup match, I thought Wigan seemed to pose the home team more of a threat, even though they ended up being beaten 2-0. The popular view on Wigan, I suppose, is that their recent financial crisis will make them struggle in League 1 this season, but they didn't look too bad at Portman Road. P.S. Worryingly, Burton also looked competent and well-organised in their defeat against a Villa side packed with Premier League starters!
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GasMacc1
Les Bradd
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,423
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Post by GasMacc1 on Oct 5, 2020 18:35:08 GMT
All the positive posters have vanished,all thats left is the 9 or 10 ultra negative posters. Sickening really. Yes. I'm a little ashamed that I haven't posted on this subject. In keeping schtum, I - and others who have a similar view - have given those who want to excoriate Ben Garner the run of the forum. Taking the results from last season and this season together, the outcomes have been poor. Not many of the matches so far have shown much evidence of fluent football. So, those of us who might be hopeful of an upturn in performances and results have little or nothing to back up any argument we might make. If you are a supporter, then I believe you should support. If you even post on a thread that poses a question about Ben Garner's employment, it could be considered unsupportive. I have no wish to do anything to undermine our manager. Having said that, I don't believe it's very helpful to try to counteract the insults in like-fashion. Instead, I would make these points: I was astonished at the perception of many on social media in the summer that our recruitment was going to guarantee us a play-off place. My view (considering the awful run in Spring 2020, the churn of playing staff, the much-touted transformation of playing style and the inexperience of the manager as a manager) was that we could consider 2020-21 a satisfactory season if we finished about 16th place. In August, League One looked to me to have ten clubs who had (and, now, have) a realistic chance of promotion. Of the remaining 14, I didn't see any that looked obviously out of their depth or doomed (like Bolton and Bury last season). In other words, I thought (and still think) that there is going to be a terrific scrap amongst the 14 to avoid finishing in the bottom four. Like it or not, it is a fact that, in League One, only Rovers had to face, in all three of the opening matches, clubs that I would class in the top 10. (Trust me, I have a spreadsheet!). In the month of October, we have seven League matches. Before the Northampton match, I reckoned we needed to get a minimum of 8 points in October to add to the one achieved at Sunderland to be on track for a satisfactory end-of-season placing. Of the seven League matches in October, only one is against a club I view as being a promotion candidate - Hull City. Having seen their play-off final against Exeter recently, I thought Northampton would be more difficult opponents than they proved last Saturday. However, our win was a first small step towards showing that we might have a chance of getting a decent haul of points in the bread-and-butter matches. When confronted by a local radio microphone 10 minutes after a match, with emotions running high, managers must find it difficult to organise their thoughts. It is part of the job, though. With experience, I believe, come the coping strategies: Darrell seemed to work out what he didn't want to say and effected an abrasive tone to steer the conversation off anything controversial, keeping things like injuries secret; Graham Coughlan spoke in riddles, emphasising fighting qualities and core values. Even so, both men came in for constant criticism for the content of their media interviews. On social media, people mocked DC for phrases like "dust ourselves down" etc., just as some people are now picking on an innocuous comment that Ipswich is a long way from Bristol. So, I take little notice of similar criticism of Ben Garner as he learns how to shape what he says pre- and post-match. I believe he was completely within his rights to feel aggrieved about the outrageous refereeing decisions at Sunderland (which might have cost us two points at one of my top-10 picks) and at Doncaster (which, giving Doncaster a buffer at 2-0 did - as Ben said - massively affect the remaining course of the match). However, I also think he should reflect on whether it does any good to include those thoughts in his after-match interviews, when it's too late to do anything about it, however indignant he feels. In DC's time, people like Lee Mansell seemed to build a rapport with the ref, and sought to influence him on the pitch during the game. I saw some signs of that in the match against Northampton: that's a positive move. I'm conscious that I'm writing this after a 2-0 victory over Northampton. Would I have been so brave if we had drawn or lost? Probably not. But the fact that we did get three points - with the whole team performing well, and some having their best games for Rovers that I have seen - helps me to give Ben Garner a little bit of support.
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GasMacc1
Les Bradd
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,423
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Post by GasMacc1 on Oct 5, 2020 15:32:25 GMT
The many photos showing how the pitches have taken shape have been heart-warming. I have been a little concerned, though, that none of the camera angles seem to have shown any building construction. Yet I thought the facility was supposed to be ready for the start of the season - which is now a month old!
Looking back to the first page of this thread [from 4th June 2020], we find:
"The club is delighted to confirm that work will begin next week at [the training ground] to convert it into the training facility for the Bristol Rovers First team for the start of the 2020/21 season.
Contractors have been appointed to start phase one of the project, with an initial installation of first-team pitches and training area, gym, medical area, changing facilities, staff offices and communal areas being concluded this year".
So, I should have read the initial press-release more carefully; the buildings are not due to complete for another few months. I'm not sure how the first timeline "start of the 20/21 season" ever squared with the "concluded this year" statement - unless the players were expected to be bussed in in their kit, train, and be bussed out again to change!
How long is the construction of the buildings - from scratch - likely to take, though? Is it already underway, and all the camera angles have missed it?!
Anyway, I'm not quibbling. We can wait a few months for a facility of which to be proud.
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GasMacc1
Les Bradd
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,423
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Post by GasMacc1 on Oct 3, 2020 14:57:42 GMT
First half OK from iFollow point of view. I'm only getting the "Listen Live" option at the moment, not "Watch Live".
By the way, no way was Hanlon offside when he went through and shot wide. Lino seems to be on a hair-trigger to give offside.
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GasMacc1
Les Bradd
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,423
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Post by GasMacc1 on Oct 2, 2020 20:55:21 GMT
Just watched a very entertaining match on Sky: Coventry 1 Bournemouth 3. I noticed that the Cherries' shirt sponsors were one "MSP Capital". Refreshing to see that the money earned from us in interest is being re-invested in the game.
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GasMacc1
Les Bradd
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,423
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Post by GasMacc1 on Sept 27, 2020 18:14:01 GMT
Paddy Kenny.
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GasMacc1
Les Bradd
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,423
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Post by GasMacc1 on Sept 25, 2020 13:13:08 GMT
On the Official Site:
"Over 1,600 Season Ticket holders redeemed codes to watch last Saturday's game, adding to sales [of] over 800 match passes for the fixture against Ipswich.
In recent weeks, the Gas has been backed by an online following of over 1,300 fans for our visit to Sunderland - with the Club retaining 80% of the revenue generated by iFollow sales".
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GasMacc1
Les Bradd
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,423
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Post by GasMacc1 on Sept 24, 2020 10:09:15 GMT
MK Dons got a 1-1 draw there a fortnight ago after missing a point-blank header in the last minutes.
I had a quick look at Doncaster's line-ups in that game and their 3-1 win at Charlton last week and compared with the team that scored two late goals at the Memorial Stadium earlier this year. In short, their defence is pretty much the same, but their forward players are completely different.
One thing has not changed: James Coppinger is still there! A member of the Doncaster side that beat us at the Millennium Stadium in 2007, these days he usually enters the fray around the 80th minute and then makes a telling contribution!
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GasMacc1
Les Bradd
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,423
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Post by GasMacc1 on Sept 23, 2020 14:28:35 GMT
Another thought. Maybe the "500" quoted by the Colchester chairman is the figure for League Two only. Perhaps a different figure applies in League One.
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GasMacc1
Les Bradd
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,423
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Post by GasMacc1 on Sept 23, 2020 14:26:23 GMT
... I imagine that the number of iFollow passes, similarly, is under 500 for away matches this season, ... On reflection, this is a gross assumption. (Especially if Bolton fans bought 2252 passes for their away game in League Two at Colchester - which they lost 2-0 by the way). If the true picture is that we are near or above the "tipping point" where each additional match pass for a Rovers away match generates revenue for Rovers, I wonder why the data is not made public. Would it not be an incentive to Rovers supporters to buy a match pass if they knew that their purchase was going to BRFC and not to the home club?
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GasMacc1
Les Bradd
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,423
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Post by GasMacc1 on Sept 23, 2020 14:13:09 GMT
My interpretation is that the Football League, in recognition of the current unusual circumstances, have altered the rules, to try to make things as normal as possible.
In effect, Tom is saying that last season, when I bought a match pass from Rovers to watch MK Dons v Rovers, that revenue (less VAT) would have gone to Rovers.
This season, whilst matches are played behind closed doors, my cash would go not to Rovers, but instead to the home team. At least, this would apply for most of Rovers' away matches.
The Football League is simply trying to ensure that the home team gets some cash from the away fans, as they would do from fans who would be there in person in normal circumstances.
The crunch comes when the number of iFollow passes purchased by the away fans (from their own club's website) reaches a certain point. Above that point, whatever it is, the additional revenue goes to the away club.
The Colchester chairman has defined that threshold as an absolute number: 500. Tom described it as the "usual away attendance". Since Rovers' normal away attendance at the majority of matches is under 500, and I imagine that the number of iFollow passes, similarly, is under 500 for away matches this season, Tom and the Colchester chairman are not, to all intents and purposes, in disagreement.
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GasMacc1
Les Bradd
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,423
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Post by GasMacc1 on Sept 23, 2020 12:47:21 GMT
I asked Tom Gorringe this question and posted his reply on this forum on 4th September. Link to thread on iFollow revenues
Tom's reply was not quite the same as that from the Colchester chairman. The advice to buy iFollow passes for away games only from Rovers website would seem to hold, though.
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GasMacc1
Les Bradd
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,423
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Post by GasMacc1 on Sept 21, 2020 20:14:04 GMT
Good work. Congratulations on spelling the name of our former manager correctly. Nine times out of ten, people spell it wrong. You are right, Rodman ought to be pushing for a place in the team, from the bench or in the starting line-up. Where is he? Is he injured?
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GasMacc1
Les Bradd
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,423
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Post by GasMacc1 on Sept 20, 2020 12:22:23 GMT
You can still see extended (nine minutes) highlights of the game on iFollow. They don't show the incident conclusively - there's only one camera and it was focused on the ball to be played from fifteen yards inside our own half - but what you CAN see is that in the half-second between the release of the ball and the camera switching to show Hanlan, there's every chance that he was onside when the ball was played. When the camera catches up with him, he was already just accelerating past the Ipswich left-back who was static or moving slowly forward.
Apart from the Hanlan chance, we also had two near misses by Kilgour on the end of crosses and the Upson shot from range. Arguably, before the 70th minute, we had had more and better chances than Ipswich. It all changed with the Ipswich substitutions, as though Paul Lambert had switched into "go for it" mode. The big disappointment was that we were unable to summon up a response.
I like those extended highlight packages, as they tend to show Rovers in a much better light than my recent memory of the whole live game!
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GasMacc1
Les Bradd
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,423
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Post by GasMacc1 on Sept 20, 2020 11:10:51 GMT
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GasMacc1
Les Bradd
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,423
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Post by GasMacc1 on Sept 20, 2020 7:58:17 GMT
"In his mind his side did the right thing, kept it tight and themselves in the away match for 70 minutes...and switched to more aggressive press and quick counter attack tactic".
Yes. DC used to have a similar approach, didn't he? Keep yourself in the game for an hour, then start to play more expansively, when the opposition is tiring. "What doesn’t help is errors..."
I usually take the iFollow stats with a pinch of salt, and trust what I see in the game, but two categories stood out for me: | Rovers | Ipswich | Passing Accuracy | 66% | 76% | Passing Accuracy in Attacking Third | 44% | 70% |
In plain English, Ipswich were able to pass the ball to a team-mate more successfully than Rovers. Ipswich were almost as successful at doing that when closing in on Rovers' goal. Rovers were noticeably less successful with their passing as they moved further up the pitch.
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GasMacc1
Les Bradd
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,423
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Post by GasMacc1 on Sept 19, 2020 12:43:58 GMT
Almost as exciting as the prospect of the match is whether the bumper programme I ordered on Tuesday will arrive before 3pm today! I'll keep you all "posted". Bad news. Post has come. No programme. ... Come on, Rovers!
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GasMacc1
Les Bradd
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,423
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Post by GasMacc1 on Sept 19, 2020 9:47:19 GMT
Almost as exciting as the prospect of the match is whether the bumper programme I ordered on Tuesday will arrive before 3pm today!
I'll keep you all "posted".
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GasMacc1
Les Bradd
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,423
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Post by GasMacc1 on Sept 18, 2020 7:56:59 GMT
When my Dad and I turned up at Twerton in the summer of 1986 to do some voluntary painting of the Popular Side stands, Gordon Bennett smilingly brought us out a tray of tea. We drank it whilst having a chat with Jackie Pitt.
When recalling Rovers' characters of the past, Gordon Bennett sometimes referred to them as "the golden thread that runs through the rich fabric of Bristol Rovers". He was one of those golden threads.
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