Regular followers will know that I am not very happy with how we are playing right now; Carlisle were awkward opponents who set out to frustrate us and succeeded and it was fortunate that we got two opportunities which Whiteman took quite exquisitely. That was a huge improvement on our recent record of chances created versus chances taken.
With Wilkes marauding up the right wing, we have to field a decent left back and James is badly needed there; at least we, more than any other side in League 1, know Malik’s formidable capabilities better than any other team in the division.
As for the other 10, we need to cohere better than ever before, and perhaps giving Hull plenty to think about in other areas is the best plan. If John plays, let it be up front, because he is imaginative and we must also hope that Gomes is at his best and Sims returns to top form. Richards got more marks out of ten from others than I gave him and J-J could be our Wilks.
So I would give us a good chance of avoiding defeat and even winning if we could replicate and consolidate on our early season form. We are owed some joy after yet another demoralising 3rd Round FA Cup draw and I have followed Rovers for over 70 years! (Liverpool twice in all those years are the only really top team I remember.)
This all seems a long shot though; too many things need to go almost perfectly and what a great encouragement would it be if we could get back on track in such a key fixture.
So, you know what I would love to see. However, DPL calls for realism over sentiment, so I regret that whilst I hope for the best, I fear the worst which makes me say 0-3.
DPL v Hull City
posted on 2/12/20
11 mins late 1-1 okenbirbie
posted on 2/12/20
Ok Mickey - sorry. I've corrected my computations.
Half time and I thought Rovers started well and the foul which gave them their free kick was difficult to perceive. I thought Rovers held their own and made Hull look fairly ordinary, but the commenators began to see them as very much in command which was not my impression.
I am quite pleased with how we did in the first half.
posted on 2/12/20
Donaldo, when I saw the background of the ref we were to get, I thought we would get some questionable decisions because of his inexperience, and that he throws cards around like confetti. I agree with you about the free kick goal from a non-foul, and he gave others that nearly led to goals. Anderson's yellow was very harsh as he was just expressing what most people thought.
As far as our play was concerned, there were too many poor passes, with Smith, Richards, John and James being the worst culprits.
When will Okenabirhie be capable of getting the ball to stick to him - he occasionally had flashes of quality, but to me he is too much of a liability, often breaking down good attacking play with his inability to control the ball quickly. I know I'm very critical of strikers, and it is probably good the Hound is no longer active here or I'd have the Strikers' Union all over me!
Not quite as much backward play this time, but still too often we reach their penalty area and then the ball finishes all the way back with Lumley. I felt sad for him his only real mistake cost us a draw.
posted on 2/12/20
I agree that the ref was harsh with his cards. They fouled twice as much as we did, yet we picked up cards for Halliday's touch on Wilks's shoulder as well as Anderson's for mild dissent.
I thought the performance was one of the best we have seen recently. After what I thought was a fairly even opening quarter, I was puzzled by the commentators seeming eager to promote the home side as the more dominant force. Hull did defend well to restrict the space allowed to our best players like Sims, who was still our most dangerous attacker. And Smith, another key player was not at his best, but he, like all his team mates had mixed fortunes with the Hull defence standing firm, not permitting us to really complete decent moves which we begun with enough movement to out-pace most teams. Once the ball was lost it was not easy to get it back, yet possession was even. Okenabirhie had a better game, but that was not too difficult. The role is always a difficult one though and perhaps J-J's style up-front is a better option.
Hull were eminently workmanlike rather than impressive probably because they have more experienced players, yet with a bit more luck we might have at least drawn. They took their opportunities and were fortunate that Eaves was just where he needed to be and kept his head and them making the most of a free kick for a dubious foul for their first goal. They were hardly dominant.
Certainly it was an improvement on the previous game and with Taylor and Gomes back (why was he not on the bench I wonder?) we have the potential to return to winning ways.
posted on 3/12/20
Well done again Nookie.
Hull C 2 : Rovers 1 (John-Jules)
>>>>>>> Scorer > Score > Result > Bonus > Total > Pts B/F > O/all
Donaldo>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 3 >>>>> 33 >>>>>> 36
PDXMickey> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 3 >>>>> 26 >>>>>> 29
Yorks Lad>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>>>> 0
BVZ>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 13 >>>>>> 13
Crazy>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 32 >>>>> 32
Uthred>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>>> 0
Mooligan>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 31 >>>>>> 31
King Chmprr 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>>> 0 >>>>>> 0
Small Azza> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>>> 0
Azza>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>>> 0
Cheltenham 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>>> 0
Nookie>>>> 0 >>>>> 4 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 0 >>>> 7 >>>> 47 >>>>> 54
Selby>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 16 >>>>> 16
Lanza>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>>> 0
>>>>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 4 >>>>> 9 >>>> 0 >>>> 13 >>> 198 >>>>> 211
posted on 3/12/20
Its worrying that DM cant seem to realise after several attempts that John isnt a left full back, James isnt a mid fielder and Oke isnt a centre forward.
posted on 3/12/20
Where would you play them Nookie?
posted on 4/12/20
James goes to left back. Now John Jules is fit, Id relegate Oke to the bench. Not sure I can really see where CJ fits in to a starting 11 if we had everyone fit. Cover for Anderson or Wright or James, but he is a bit too sloppy with his tackles and marking so could be a liability there. Id try him as front man to cover JJ rather than Oke. We just seem a bit directionless and unsettled at the moment. Not sure its all down to injuries either. Somethings not quite right at the moment
posted on 4/12/20
Im old fashioned in thinking Rovers may be better served adopting a 4-4-2 formation in most games . For me that would be. Halliday,Wright, Anderson, James as back 4. Sims, Whiteman, Smith, Taylor as middle 4 with Gomes and John Jules up front. Id give Gomes a roving brief .
posted on 4/12/20
That sounds a workable combination. I'm not great on formations, but I suppose you need people to operate in agreed zones.
I do believe that the injuries to every one the loanees and Gomes and then Taylor, all serious first team contenders, must have upset the way plans would develop.
During matches I sometimes have difficulty in controlling my anger, but once I put my emotions aside I still believe that we have the talent to succeed.
McCann said after the game that we showed true promotion ability; he praised the defence in particular.