Sorry I didn’t go back to the Gillingham thread to read Micky’s “post-op" comments, but it’s gratifying to know that it went well. I wore specs habitually and now, for at least some of the time, I can find my way around rhe house without them, the only snag being that really close work of the DIY kind is more difficult.
After securing a win against the league leaders 10 days ago we now face a team who have risen above them after a run of 6 wins scoring 3 four times and 4 twice whilst letting in 11. Of these, they have won 4 at home and taken 4 points from the 2 away games. Looking at their season’s record they have played a cross-section of L2 teams and their only serious reverse was a quite extreme 6-0 at Swindon.
If we had been even average at defending we would surely have stopped at least one of Barrow’s goals because really all three were more or less straight at Jones. The one that went through the wall was curious because it seemed he was standing with the wall right in front of him rather than using the wall to cover one side of the goal with him at the other. But, as almost always, he was not quick enough to react and like the other two he seemed to have to get out of the way to let it in!
So, let’s have Lawlor back because at least he is an athlete with rather quicker reactions. Of course, better defensive organisation would help, but you are entitled to expect something from your goalkeeper when the outfield defence fails. I am also banking on there being some cohesion between defence and attack in the form of the actual presence of a midfield which can convey the ball from the five-man defence to attack. We need, not a scattering of individuals haphazardly wandering expectantly in front of the defence, but players structured into a operational plan to receive and then distribute the ball to those who are in front of them, supposedly for their ability to directly assault the opposition goal. Although Biggins and Close have scored from long range, effectively by passing their forwards, their speciality should be supply. Perhaps it explains why only a relatively low percentage of our goals are scored from close in.
Finally, and I wonder how many readers will have stayed with me so far, I find it rather tiresome to hear about the great talent which we are promised from the loanee forwards. Only Faal has actually proved to be a (fairly) useful asset for his goals and for some visible promise in his ability to beat opponents. If coaching can improve his end-product by channelling his skills more usefully, he could be very dangerous in a good way.
So, I could make two forecasts; one if Jones is in goal and one if it is someone else – anybody else - and that’s what I’ll do. Crawley will then surely score at least 2, so we must get 3 in the first case. If Lawlor or even Bottomley plays I’ll hope for 3-1 to us. Probably this is bordering on insanity, but there we are. Ironside for the first or Faal if he doesn’t start.
DPL v Crawley T
posted on 3/10/23
Here is the up-to-date Table with Crazy hanging on to his slim advantage.
Rovers 2 (Close) : Gillingham 1
>>>>>>> Scorer > Score > Result Bonus > Total > Pts B/F > O/all
Donaldo>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 3 >>>>> 13 >>>>>> 16
PDXMickey> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 3 >>>>> 18 >>>>>> 21
BVZ>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>>> 0
Crazy>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 26 >>>>> 26
Mooligan>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 9 >>>>>> 9
Nookie>>>> 0 >>>>> 4 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 7 >>>> 14 >>>>>> 21
Selby>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>>> 0
>>>>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 4 >>>>> 9 >>>> 0 >>>>> 13 >>>> 80 >>>>> 93
Barrow 3 : Rovers 2 (Ironside)
>>>>>>> Scorer > Score > Result> Bonus > Total > Pts B/F > O/all
Donaldo>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 3 >>>>> 16 >>>>>> 19
PDXMickey> 4 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 4 >>>>> 21 >>>>>> 25
BVZ>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>>> 0
Crazy>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 26 >>>>> 26
Mooligan>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 9 >>>>>> 9
Nookie>>>> 4 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 4 >>>>> 21 >>>>>> 25
Selby>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>>> 0
>>>>>>>>>> 8 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 11 >>>>> 93 >>>> 104
posted on 3/10/23
Rovers 3 - 2,
Close,Ironside.
posted on 3/10/23
Back to normal 🤔
Rovers 0-3 Creepy Crawley
posted on 3/10/23
If Rovers play like last Saturday, and Crawley play with their recent form, logic says we will get thrashed. However, one can never rely on what the Rovers will do! Sometimes Rovers do the impossible or highly unlikely, and may be today is the case.
I'm going with Crawley having an off day and will say 2-1 to the Rovers, with Tommy Rowe scoring the first.
The question is, "Will I watch?" with Luton vs. Burnley available to me on Peacock.
posted on 3/10/23
Steer clear off Luton Mickey!
I see my favourite GK is playing!
posted on 3/10/23
An excellent performance after a wobbly start.
posted on 3/10/23
… fortunately Jones had nothing to do!
posted on 4/10/23
I started with one game on my iPad and one on my iMac. Donaldo summed up Rovers very well "An excellent performance after a wobbly start." I was worried for about 15 minutes, but what I saw of the EPL game I thought "Neither Burnley nor Luton deserve to be in the Premier League!" After Rovers scored, I switched off the other game so do not know if the quality got anywhere near Premier League quality.
While the Rovers' defence was somewhat better than in some games, how did Crawley manage to score all those recent goals?
Ironside was great for the first goal - many strikers would have tried to score for themselves, his unselfish pass to Faal was one for the team. Also his penalty was just about unstoppable.
In some ways, 2-0 flattered Crawley, and we still need to be more clinical in the final third.
What a change from last Saturday.
posted on 5/10/23
Looks like we've got our MoJo working at last.
posted on 5/10/23
Mickey
I think there's more quality in Burnley's squad, but the gap between Championship and PL is worrying now. Leeds showed that and Forest have only recently started to scramble some points together. Bournemouth are quite easy on the eye, but results are hard to come by.
The fact that Leicester are sweeping all before them is a further pointer to the gap in quality.