We were yards away from Jesse Debrah for his first booking. Never a booking. This ref Ben Speedie has form after his performance in last season’s Vale v Accrington game.
We’ll never know if 11 v 11 the result would have been different. Rovers were the better side and had scored before the red card.
Rovers have an array of decent forward players in the form of newly signed Martin, Marquis, Brown and the excellent Collins. Unlike Vale!!
Delighted we have added Uche Ikpeazu to the squad. Not prolific but a battering ram up front. I recall current Prem Ref David Coote sending him off in Burton v Vale game. Hope Ikpeazu is oven ready and not needing weeks of getting match fit. Rovers signed free agent Chris Martin only last week and he played for them last night. We need that degree of readiness from Ikpeazu.
Another fine email Mike. You are learning this journalism thing really quickly.
Hi Mike,very frustrating to watch we seem to like having possesion but lack any sort of creativity & then lose the ball.Poor defending & lack of options up front gives a little cause for concern,reminds me of some of last season’s efforts.
Don't want to see manager lighting them up in public, but I hope what was said behind closed doors was a bit more robust, we were miles off it from the moment Debrah got his first yellow.
Hi Rob. I don't know what the manager said to the players behind closed doors but I wouldn't be surprised if it was, as you suggest, more 'robust' than he said for the cameras.
I might be miles off with that but I just wonder if Andy weighed things up and thought 'these players have done great for me so far, I'm not going to call them out after this one'.
I suppose that's the art of being a manager. From what I know of Andy's man management - for example the way he organised video messages from players' families before Wembley - I think that's one of his strengths.
Thanks Geoff, much appreciated. I’m glad you are enjoying the reports. With Mitch Clarke, Andy said after Saturday’s game that he had tonsillitis so I didn’t go back to that one last night.
Thanks Alastair. Andy said the team selection was a reward for Saturday’s second half performance when Massey played well. Good point about whether he is better coming off the bench. I’ll ask about Ryan Loft at Thursday’s press conference.
I feel that a degree of realism is needed. After the disastrous opening game Andy and the whole team did extremely well and got us within touching distance of the top of the league. However we have now hit a bump in the road as Andy calls it and the injury list is growing and is of concern. The points in the bag are invaluable . In my opinion a middle of the table finish would be good progress following last year's flirtation with relegation. A natural finisher is a priority in the January window.
Thanks Frederick. I’m really pleased you are enjoying the newsletters. I think your point about putting the defeat into context is very fair. It would be interesting to see if other people agree that mid-table this year would be a good finish.
My biggest concern and has been for a while is the lack of goals we are scoring,we don’t look like a team that can go on and win games by a couple or three goals,seems to me that the system we are playing with one up the top is clearly not working,for the life of me I can’t understand why Crosby went with Massey up top with his poor goal scoring record,2 goals in 60 games is nowhere near the return we need,compounded by the fact he left Wilson and Thomas on the bench.
It’s my opinion we don’t get the ball up the pitch quick enough,it’s ok with this possession passing but we do look devoid of ideas and confidence when we get around the box.
Maybe it’s time to give Jason Lowe a bit of a run in the side and give Ollie and Alfie a bit of a rest by alternating them,we have to remember it’s their first season in professional football so they are going to make mistakes,typified when Divine left his man to score their second goal last night.
All in all I think we have been lucky to get a few results,if it hadn’t have been for Ripley in goal with his penalty saves we would have lost a couple more games.
So maybe a change in formation is the answer,that’s just my opinion.
Thanks Gavin. Really interesting analysis. I know the goalscoring issue is something the Vale are looking to address. From speaking to fans about earlier games, I think it's a fair point that a couple of matches that could have gone either way went to Vale. So, maybe eighth is about right overall. Good point about the change in formation. Maybe 3-5-2?
The 3-5-2 could work,I have always thought James Wilson could easily play the no 10 roll,his vision with a pass and his is technically gifted as well,with him just behind Thomas who can make the runs along with the wing/fullbacks,we don’t seem to have any kind of partnerships on the pitch at the moment,I know injuries will play their part in team selection,I think we have a better squad than last year for definite,be great to go another unbeaten run instead of 1 win in 4 and 1 goal in 3.
Cheers Ian. I would have started Wilson but, to be fair to Andy Crosby, the team he picked did start the game well. What would be your XI for Saturday?
We were yards away from Jesse Debrah for his first booking. Never a booking. This ref Ben Speedie has form after his performance in last season’s Vale v Accrington game.
We’ll never know if 11 v 11 the result would have been different. Rovers were the better side and had scored before the red card.
Rovers have an array of decent forward players in the form of newly signed Martin, Marquis, Brown and the excellent Collins. Unlike Vale!!
Delighted we have added Uche Ikpeazu to the squad. Not prolific but a battering ram up front. I recall current Prem Ref David Coote sending him off in Burton v Vale game. Hope Ikpeazu is oven ready and not needing weeks of getting match fit. Rovers signed free agent Chris Martin only last week and he played for them last night. We need that degree of readiness from Ikpeazu.
Another fine email Mike. You are learning this journalism thing really quickly.
Eddie
Thanks Eddie. Hopefully I’m getting the hang of it. Please give my regards to Ben Speedie on your next Christmas card..
Hi Mike,very frustrating to watch we seem to like having possesion but lack any sort of creativity & then lose the ball.Poor defending & lack of options up front gives a little cause for concern,reminds me of some of last season’s efforts.
Cheers Les. I think ‘poor defending and lack of options up front’ is fair about the Bristol Rovers game.
Don't want to see manager lighting them up in public, but I hope what was said behind closed doors was a bit more robust, we were miles off it from the moment Debrah got his first yellow.
Hi Rob. I don't know what the manager said to the players behind closed doors but I wouldn't be surprised if it was, as you suggest, more 'robust' than he said for the cameras.
I might be miles off with that but I just wonder if Andy weighed things up and thought 'these players have done great for me so far, I'm not going to call them out after this one'.
I suppose that's the art of being a manager. From what I know of Andy's man management - for example the way he organised video messages from players' families before Wembley - I think that's one of his strengths.
Hi Mike
Great report again. Surprised you didn’t try for clarification on another missing player, Mitch Clarke
Thanks Geoff, much appreciated. I’m glad you are enjoying the reports. With Mitch Clarke, Andy said after Saturday’s game that he had tonsillitis so I didn’t go back to that one last night.
As soon as I saw Massey up top, it had a look of port vale nil.
Were Thomas/Wilson not fit?
I like Massey, he gets some stick, but , he’s a winger, a great player to bring on with 20 mins to go.
He runs at people, takes the pressure off.
He ain’t no centre forward.
Where’s loft?
What’s the point of panic buying a forward that isn’t fit?
Crosby has sone questions to answer for sure.
Thanks for the report Mike
Thanks Alastair. Andy said the team selection was a reward for Saturday’s second half performance when Massey played well. Good point about whether he is better coming off the bench. I’ll ask about Ryan Loft at Thursday’s press conference.
Good read Mike., really enjoying the Newsletters.
I feel that a degree of realism is needed. After the disastrous opening game Andy and the whole team did extremely well and got us within touching distance of the top of the league. However we have now hit a bump in the road as Andy calls it and the injury list is growing and is of concern. The points in the bag are invaluable . In my opinion a middle of the table finish would be good progress following last year's flirtation with relegation. A natural finisher is a priority in the January window.
Thanks Frederick. I’m really pleased you are enjoying the newsletters. I think your point about putting the defeat into context is very fair. It would be interesting to see if other people agree that mid-table this year would be a good finish.
Hi Mike,
My biggest concern and has been for a while is the lack of goals we are scoring,we don’t look like a team that can go on and win games by a couple or three goals,seems to me that the system we are playing with one up the top is clearly not working,for the life of me I can’t understand why Crosby went with Massey up top with his poor goal scoring record,2 goals in 60 games is nowhere near the return we need,compounded by the fact he left Wilson and Thomas on the bench.
It’s my opinion we don’t get the ball up the pitch quick enough,it’s ok with this possession passing but we do look devoid of ideas and confidence when we get around the box.
Maybe it’s time to give Jason Lowe a bit of a run in the side and give Ollie and Alfie a bit of a rest by alternating them,we have to remember it’s their first season in professional football so they are going to make mistakes,typified when Divine left his man to score their second goal last night.
All in all I think we have been lucky to get a few results,if it hadn’t have been for Ripley in goal with his penalty saves we would have lost a couple more games.
So maybe a change in formation is the answer,that’s just my opinion.
UTV Gavin O’Connell
Thanks Gavin. Really interesting analysis. I know the goalscoring issue is something the Vale are looking to address. From speaking to fans about earlier games, I think it's a fair point that a couple of matches that could have gone either way went to Vale. So, maybe eighth is about right overall. Good point about the change in formation. Maybe 3-5-2?
The 3-5-2 could work,I have always thought James Wilson could easily play the no 10 roll,his vision with a pass and his is technically gifted as well,with him just behind Thomas who can make the runs along with the wing/fullbacks,we don’t seem to have any kind of partnerships on the pitch at the moment,I know injuries will play their part in team selection,I think we have a better squad than last year for definite,be great to go another unbeaten run instead of 1 win in 4 and 1 goal in 3.
Totally wrong starting formation from Crosby must do better.
Cheers Ian. I would have started Wilson but, to be fair to Andy Crosby, the team he picked did start the game well. What would be your XI for Saturday?
Ukpezu straight in ,Saturday
Obviously if he s match fit