We were bad today, very bad. Virtually no-one had a good game. Tommo made some good saves to stop it being 7 again. One wonders whether it was a one game too far for a lot of them. Maghoma didn't even look match fit.
That said, it is a disgrace that Bristol Rovers are allowed to let football matches take place on that pitch. Dreadful. Odd bounces and bobbles led to an afternoon of pitiful ball control and passing by both teams. It was a lottery out there.
The BBC website states that we had 6 shots on target. They were akin to backpasses or catching practice for their 'keeper so don't be fooled by that statistic. The closest we got was when their 'keeper inexplicably nearly took the ball in to the net from a free kick that was a simple save.
Macdonalds loan is up now. We are trying to make the loan until the end of the season. After a much better game against Morecambe (having been dire in every other game) he was back to being woeful again today. He actually makes Cleveland look quite good.
You can't expect to win every game and we lost today fair and square. I'll take it on the chin. I enjoyed our unbeaten run and its victories. Nothing lasts forever. Most teams around us didn't do very well today and that's a consolation.
Gas 3 Brewers 0
posted on 2/3/13
Got to agree Otep, the pitch was as bad as Oxford's and that was shocking!
We had nothing today. Rovers were up for it and won every first and second ball. Mags wasn't fit, MacDonald I agree was woeful again, I hope we do not extend his loan, I want to see Drury get another run.
Up front Symes huffed and puffed but Billy was nowhere today. Stand up Tommo and Holness two good performances, the rest mehhhh.
I don't understand GR - our players are playing terribly and we have Zola and Paterson on the bench - his 'preferred' partnership first half of the season - why wait so long to get one of them on??? Zander our team Captain fit and ready, but doesn't get a start??? Sorry to moan but we were knackered after the Morecambe game, and there's three players who would have given us an injection today - which was sorely needed.
Use your squad Mr Rowett, it is all of them that have got us to where we are.
Luckily as you say Otep most the teams around us fair little better, need to get over this one as soon as possible and look forward to a massive game against Cheltenham.
posted on 2/3/13
I agree, it was a game for Zander and Zola today and as I saw them warming up I thought it was strange to have such good players on the bench.
However, I will defend GR on that one. He had to stay loyal to those who had got such good results. He was a bit damned if he does, damned if he doesn't. Had he made lots of changes and we had still lost he would have been criticised for that.
That said, after 15-20 minutes I was thinking that we needed to make some substitutions, Very early perhaps but they just looked so lethargic.
Back to the pitch. Barcelona would have struggled to get a result on it.
posted on 3/3/13
Pitch was terrible, atmosphere was terrible, our play was terrible, we got spanked, really spanked and if it wasn't for Tommo it could have been another seven goal nightmare!!
Nothing we showed absolutely nothing. Mags and McDonald might as well have stayed at home, Billy not far behind. Symes looks knackered as does O'Connor and McCrory defensively was as shakey as ever.
Why change a winning team - that's what a manager has to make a call about, I agree with DY we should have started with Zander and Zola and with Pato gagging for a game we have impetus. Not making the changes I'm afraid left us wanting all over the pitch - so for the first time in a long time I will say GR cocked up.
Results did go for us yesterday so Cheltenham is now a must win game if we are serious about automatic promotion.
posted on 3/3/13
Oh, and Jimmy Phillips - WTF????????????
posted on 3/3/13
Mistyfying that probably one of the best defenders we have ever had play for us was left sitting on the bench.
Yes it was a winning team but we had actually conceded 4 in the last 2 games.
Zander should have been straight back in and was a big mistake leaving him out.
He should have come on at halftime after the way we played first half.
Had he done we mave have taken something from the game,sadly that didnt happen.
Any manager worth his wages will work out to attack us down our right flank because McCory gets no help at all from Maghoma on a good day and as most have said he didn't look fit and every 50-50 ball he went for was actually 90-10 to the opposition because he was awful.
All 3 goals came via that wing.
Yes Burtonboy gasp Jimmy Phillips.
Say no more but its that time of season were he plays a few games to guarentee next years contract.
Rowett again missed the chance to stake a claim for a automatic promotion place.
he said in the week the team needed to be freshened up then he fails to do it.
Having said that lifes not that bad as i remember this time last year we were in the middle of a massive losing run
posted on 3/3/13
I think philiips has already got a contract for next year pez im sure he was given two years in pre season then got injured he is a waste of space.