Form suggests good things from a DRFC viewpoint for the forthcoming encounter with Fleetwood. Fleetwood have had a succession of home draws which followed their last win and of course we know that we have been rather better on the road than most. Against that, we have not done well against them in the past and most recently they drew at home against Coventry.
Their strength seems to be built on a solid defence having only conceded more than 2 goals twice, at Blackpool and Southend who each got 3. My impression is that they have what is generously described as an uncompromising style.
It would seem that we are on the verge of signing “very promising" midfielder Jacob Ramsey on loan from Aston Villa who was a member of their U23 team that our U23s beat 4-0 this very week. Since it is 11 vs 11 and Ramsay is only 18 perhaps this is only superficially ironic. It was good to see that Max Watters scored twice too; there has not been a great deal of time to show us what he can do at first team level so far, but he looks big and strong.
Okenabirhie from Shrewsbury seems to have had a mixed history in the game. He was and presumably still is seen as having potential and until this season was doing a good job for Shrewsbury. DM obviously believes in him and we have to trust his judgement.
More generally the philosophy of the market at this point in the season is based around paying big money both in wages and transfer fees for proven talent or in taking a risk which is what we are doing here. It worked with Marquis, so maybe it could here. Strikers do seem to fit in at some clubs having not found their niche before. They are more dependant on the team mates behind them than those in positions who are surrounded - which is everyone else on their side apart from the Goalkeeper.
Incidentally I agree with most that has been said about Tuesday’s match except that I did not think Sheaf had a bad game. Wright did not do very well in his first game back and Blair who is older may take a little time to reach 100%. Although the goal was a deflection they did hit the post once and came very close on another occasion. With Gomez improving we seem to be building a viable squad.
DPL v Fleetwood
posted on 2/2/20
Just a feeling we'll end up 7 th or 8 th this year. Too much experimentation and a little inexperience from DM. Dont really get the home and away changes to formations and style of play. Why mess with a very successful back four?
posted on 2/2/20
Thanks lads.
Flying home Monday so off to Tranmere
posted on 2/2/20
Thanks Micky. Unfortunately I did miss a few bits of the commentary which also suffered some technical problems - breaks - due to the primitive Highbury facilities in the high winds.
I detected poor passing from the otherwise reasonably competent Sheaf again which seemed to me at any rate, improved vs Southend. He really must work on this! It's like a striker who is very capable of getting himself right in position and always misses the target.
You could say that the home team are always at an advantage on their home territory whatever the conditions and our enclosed field of play is totally opposite to theirs which may explain why we can't succeed there.
Perhaps the emphasis should have been more on preserving a clean sheet and horses-for-courses and their ex-player Cole should have started.
I propose we dismiss this as a one-off
posted on 2/2/20
Expect worse conditions on Tuesday. The pitch today is a quagmire with hardly any grass. The Liverpool Ladies game due today was called off as the ref said it was unplayable
posted on 2/2/20
Yes mostly sand it seems; but even so, they do not seem to be able to gain much advantage even if they are used to it, judging by their home record which is not much better than their away form.
posted on 3/2/20
Was hoping for a win, but, they dont tend to play by the rules and we cant stand up to bullies as yet. Once I saw James was not starting I thought why? Why change a back four that has been Brilliant all season. So I went for a defeat.
Another thing that may upset a few fans is, on Tuesday, start with Cole and Feji, leave Ennis on bench. Yes he's scored 2 in 2, but this pitch isn't suitable for his type of player, plus my argument is these other two will/could be here next season, Ennis wont. We have to start looking at the big picture, this season maybe to soon, plus he has other loans, Ramsey, that will need to be tried out. Big Dave has some big decisions to make from now till end of season. A lot different to the decisions he was making a few weeks ago when he couldn't fill the bench. Onwards n upwards.
posted on 3/2/20
BVZ, I must admit I do not like teams such as Fleetwood where one of their main objectives seems to be to get opponent players booked. Often, with minimal contact, their players fell to the ground and acted like they were mortally wounded - must have watched Neymar in the World Cup. In addition, their manager was always complaining to the fourth official, I assume asking for a card to be given.
Some may call it "gamesmanship", I call it disgusting.
posted on 3/2/20
BVZ, I must admit I do not like teams such as Fleetwood where one of their main objectives seems to be to get opponent players booked. Often, with minimal contact, their players fell to the ground and acted like they were mortally wounded - must have watched Neymar in the World Cup. In addition, their manager was always complaining to the fourth official, I assume asking for a card to be given.
Some may call it "gamesmanship", I call it disgusting.
posted on 3/2/20
Perhaps it is not surprising that Fleetwood's style of play does not attract many spectators. Despite attempting to play a purer form of the game, to succeed against them it is often not enough to be better footballers, you have to be much better or prepared to employ their own tactics.
Obviously those few people who turn out to see them
value winning above witnessing good football from which they will only see from visiting teams.
It is really quite a long time since the Fleetwood style of play was often encountered and one would hope that referees would be rather firmer with their kind of gamesmanship given the increasingly stringent official support for the enforcement of the Laws of the Game.
Rovers 3(Ennis) : Southend U 1
>>>>>>> Scorer > Score > Result Bonus > Total > Pts B/F > O/all
Donaldo>>> 0 >>>>> 4 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 7 >>>>> 53 >>>> 60
PDXMickey> 0 >>>>> 4 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 7 >>>>> 52 >>>> 59
Yorks Lad>> 4 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 7 >>>>> 55 >>>> 62
BVZ>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 3 >>>>> 25 >>>>>> 28
Crazy>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 39 >>>> 39
Uthred>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 40 >>>> 43
Mooligan>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 3 >>>>> 54 >>>> 57
King Chmprr 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0
Small Azza> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 39 >>>> 42
Azza>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 11 >>>>> 11
Cheltenham 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0
Nookie>>>> 4 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 4 >>>>> 80 >>>> 84
Selby>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0
Lanza>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 42 >>>> 45
>>>>>>>>>> 8 >>>>> 8 >>>> 24 >>>>> 0 >>>> 40 >>>> 490 >>> 530
Fleetwood T 2 : Rovers 1 (Ennis)
>>>>>>> Scorer > Score > Result Bonus > Total > Pts B/F > O/all
Donaldo>>> 4 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 4 >>>>> 60 >>>> 64
PDXMickey> 4 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 4 >>>>> 59 >>>> 63
Yorks Lad>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 62 >>>> 62
BVZ>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 28 >>>>>> 28
Crazy>>>>> 4 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 4 >>>>> 39 >>>> 43
Uthred>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 43 >>>> 43
Mooligan>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 57 >>>> 57
King Chmprr 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0
Small Azza> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 42 >>>> 42
Azza>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 11 >>>>> 11
Cheltenham 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0
Nookie>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 84 >>>> 84
Selby>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0
Lanza>>>>> 4 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 4 >>>>> 45 >>>> 49
>>>>>>>>>> 16 >>>>> 0 >> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 16 >>>> 530 >>> 546
posted on 4/2/20
The thing what does my head in, is how can they pay the wages they're paying on the gates they're getting.
Not a fan or theres at all, wouldn't be sorry to see clubs like this end up in conference.