The remaining competition in which we are still competing with an actual chance of winning, or reaching the Wembley Final is upon us.
There is an assumption that League 1’s standard is not much better than League 2 which is borne out by the fact that only 1 of last year’s 4 promotees is finding it too tough up there. Wigan would be somewhat higher had they not been in breach of the regulations resulting in an 8 point deduction, but even then they would only be half way up.
So having established the perspective, it may well be tougher to win than if we were playing a better-than-average L2 team. This obviously makes it tough, but if I can lift my own spirits out of despondency, my rational assessment would be that a draw would at least be possible.
Of course I am unable to make a judgement based on Rovers playing an under-strength side, although if I were McCann I might have difficulty in deciding which players would make up my full-strength eleven. I think I’d put Bottomley in goal and bet that he could not be worse than “HAD-NO-CHANCE-JONES".
Some of the newcomers are ineligible including the Spurs loanee, Craig, and Carty I think.
Perhaps we will be surprised or should I say “shocked" with a win. I shall be out tonight, so my emotions will not be heavily invested as the match goes on.
I’m going to extend my neck and say 2-0 with Faulkner/Ironside/McGrath there for the first. (Of course Faulkner probably won’t get picked to start anyway, but I thought I’d be a bit mischievous.)
DPL v Wigan Athletic
posted on 16/1/24
Not a game to be really bothered about from my perspective but GM might think otherwise. Without the new blood we'll be back to where we were. So 2-0 to Wigan.
posted on 16/1/24
Rovers 2-4 Wigan
Carry to score ⚽
posted on 16/1/24
Carty not carry. 😅
posted on 16/1/24
2-0 to Wigan.
posted on 16/1/24
iFollow not yet showing the line-up. I'll say Rovers 1 Wigan 2. Biggins to score if he starts or Ironside.
posted on 16/1/24
Just heard the teams, and I'll change the scorer to Hurst, as my other two are not there!
posted on 16/1/24
Talk about a game of two halves! First half was all Wigan, but they had only two shots on target, and Jones was glued to his line for the goal, and the commentators said "giving Jones no chance".
Second half was mainly all Rovers, but just one shot on goal which was a thumping header by Bailey.
Wigan woke-up and we were hanging on in added time, and Jones did make a good save, but if his punch just before had been better, he may not have had to make the save. Then in the PK shoot out, he guessed the right way and made a good save that sent us through.
posted on 17/1/24
Nothing ever seems straightforward with Rovers at the moment. 90 minutes of consistency is too much to expect from any team, but Rovers seem impossibly inconsistent.
I feel that there must be some conclusion to reach from any set of circumstances, but when faced with a situation such as this following on from previous complicated and contradictory events, I am suspending that urge.
We can only wait and see what comes next!
posted on 18/1/24
There are many things that frustrate me about the Rovers play at the moment – here are a few:
Throw ins: why are our players running around with no obvious plan, whereas the opposition often get a great break. Should we get a long throw specialist?
Corner kicks: Earlier in the season we caused some surprises and scored a few goals. The last few games we seem to waste opportunities. What do Close and Molyneux talk about?
Free kicks in the opposition third: see above!
Playing backwards: we all know about that, but it seems to be getting worse. Is it that players do not have the confidence to turn and beat their marker?
Playing out from the back: This seems to be the thing in the Premier League with the likes of Man City, but it is dangerous if you do not have the players to control the ball and get out of defence. Sometimes it puts the GK in a difficult position with a dangerous back-pass and he quickly kicks long which could have been done by the defender. Also see above about not being able to turn an opposition player.
Now for comments about some players:
Molyneux: in pre-season last season, what I saw of him was good, but he then got injured against Rotherham, and did not seem the same when he got back. This season he has been a good outlet with good foot work leading to good crosses. He can score some great goals, but being on target must be 1in 8, or worse. I want players to go for goal, but sometimes a pass to a better positioned player is the better choice.
Hurst: last season I thought he was a great find, and I still do. After his injury he seemed to lose confidence, but after a good game against Wigan, I hope Grant starts him on Saturday. I do not know why his shooting is so tame after last year, but in the Wigan game before they scored he created a chance and his shot was on target for the corner but so tame their GK had no problem. That was not in the Extended Highlights. Later, after a great run, he planted it on the plate for Molyneux who shot over from about 8 yards. OK, it came fast to him, but Molyneux made the run and at least should have been on target.
OK, enough of player comments (otherwise I’d go on about Olowu), or I’d go on for hours. I believe the above two could win many games for us.
posted on 18/1/24
Apart from the slide post Moore, I cannot remember a Rovers side that had so many incomplete components. Molyneux attracts the most attention perhaps because he seems close to becoming an efficient unit and although we have seen some marginal movement in that direction he seems slow to improve his judgement.
If Hurst worked for you, he would be one to whom you would be having serious talks about his future if he didn’t make better use of his ability.
Olowu has his admirers, but they are in the minority and his liability to make serious mistakes makes him a permanent risk.
I like what I have seen of Maxwell (who is injured of course) and Ironside is very good value. I don’t see enough full matches to really have the evidence to comment on the rest of the outfield players.
I don’t envy McCann in trying to weave them together as a team.