Bristol Rovers (a) match thread 17/08/16

[thebish]

cracking night out - made all the pleasanterer by the company of DSB and his encyclopaedically-knowledgeable mate Chris...

At no point in the proceedings would I have been happy to "take a point now"

first half - men against boys - we showed a gulf in class and pretty much walked it... two cracking goals (Vela's by way of a helpful deflection) - and Spearing's f/k - who knew??

slight moan - we STILL don't look like scoring from corners... we have assembled a load of big lads - and still, more often then not, Spearing boffs up the delivery.

second half - different story. dunno if (being 2 up) we had an eye on saturday and were told just to contain them for 45mins... or if we just went off our game a bit... either way, we struggled for possession - and they had lots of it..

having said that (and - frustratingly this mean that just about ALL the action was down the far end) there was a kind of nervousness in the bolton fans - and suddenly - after their goal - all the players were "f-ing shite" and "useless fat wankers" etc.. (how quickly that turns!) - BUT - the nervousness didn't have the edge of inevitable doom that have characterised such situations in the past. I was nervous - but I didn't believe The Gassy Pirates would score every time they got the ball... it's a weird feeling to be nervous but kinda chilled at the same time! They had lots of the ball in the second half - but they didn't hurt us with it. Aside from the goal (following a cracking save from Howard and a failure to chase the rebound by our lads) I can't remember him being tested. They were reduced to shooting from distance straight at him - or running into our defensive wall (which they did often). We are getting bodies in the way now - it looks like we care - much like we did under BigSam. also - I don't think we are as panicked - and as a defensive unit we were marshalled well enough for all their posession to count for very little.

Wilkinson... hmmmm... not great - I shall leave DSB to elaborate 0- it's one of his specialist subjects!

Cloughy - one great mazy dribble where he went past 5? of theirs only to lose it in his feet before pulling the trigger

Vela - had a great game. no lack of effort or application or commitment on show last night...

nice touch - after the game Parky brought ALL the players over and applauded the fans with them - good PR!

oh - yeah - one of their stands is a gazebo!

here's Spearing about to shank a corner to their first defender... he spends ages placing the valve (for extra awesome swerve) - then puts it too close to the flag for him to get his leg round it! (gazebo in background!)

[Beefheart]

Why are so many people photographing/filming a corner?

[thebish]

Why are so many people photographing/filming a corner?

dunno - I think it is a desire to capture the moment we finally score from a corner - in case people don't believe it actually happened!

incidentally - next to the gazebo there - that's a stand stolen from a racecourse, surely?

[Beefheart]

Why are so many people photographing/filming a corner?

dunno - I think it is a desire to capture the moment we finally score from a corner - in case people don't believe it actually happened!

incidentally - next to the gazebo there - that's a stand stolen from a racecourse, surely?

It's a good hodge podge of stands.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Apparently that stand really was 'repurposed' from a racecourse, according to a (similarly encyclopaedic) colleague

[Hoboh]

cracking night out - made all the pleasanterer by the company of DSB and his encyclopaedically-knowledgeable mate Chris...

At no point in the proceedings would I have been happy to "take a point now"

first half - men against boys - we showed a gulf in class and pretty much walked it... two cracking goals (Vela's by way of a helpful deflection) - and Spearing's f/k - who knew??

slight moan - we STILL don't look like scoring from corners... we have assembled a load of big lads - and still, more often then not, Spearing boffs up the delivery.

second half - different story. dunno if (being 2 up) we had an eye on saturday and were told just to contain them for 45mins... or if we just went off our game a bit... either way, we struggled for possession - and they had lots of it..

having said that (and - frustratingly this mean that just about ALL the action was down the far end) there was a kind of nervousness in the bolton fans - and suddenly - after their goal - all the players were "f-ing shite" and "useless fat wankers" etc.. (how quickly that turns!) - BUT - the nervousness didn't have the edge of inevitable doom that have characterised such situations in the past. I was nervous - but I didn't believe The Gassy Pirates would score every time they got the ball... it's a weird feeling to be nervous but kinda chilled at the same time! They had lots of the ball in the second half - but they didn't hurt us with it. Aside from the goal (following a cracking save from Howard and a failure to chase the rebound by our lads) I can't remember him being tested. They were reduced to shooting from distance straight at him - or running into our defensive wall (which they did often). We are getting bodies in the way now - it looks like we care - much like we did under BigSam. also - I don't think we are as panicked - and as a defensive unit we were marshalled well enough for all their posession to count for very little.

Wilkinson... hmmmm... not great - I shall leave DSB to elaborate 0- it's one of his specialist subjects!

Cloughy - one great mazy dribble where he went past 5? of theirs only to lose it in his feet before pulling the trigger

Vela - had a great game. no lack of effort or application or commitment on show last night...

nice touch - after the game Parky brought ALL the players over and applauded the fans with them - good PR!

oh - yeah - one of their stands is a gazebo!

here's Spearing about to shank a corner to their first defender... he spends ages placing the valve (for extra awesome swerve) - then puts it too close to the flag for him to get his leg round it! (gazebo in background!)

What a load of snowflakes, more interested in taking pics than actually watching the game in cinema scope, wide screen.

[thebish]

oooh - were you there Hobes?

(or is this someone NOT AT THE GAME slagging off fans who WERE AT THE GAME for not watching the game??)

[BWFC_Insane]

Bish - the two games I've seen this season our corner delivery was good in when Spearing played and awful when he didn't.

So the worry would be if he's reverted to poor delivery we seemingly haven't a better option.

Nice to hear we look organised we certainly did against Sheffield United and I think that will be key. If we can add some pace and threat out wide then this could be very good....still think we don't carry quite enough attacking threat to really keep this going....

[BWFC_Insane]

What a load of snowflakes, more interested in taking pics than actually watching the game in cinema scope, wide screen.

I'm gonna have to create a 'the-wanderer' bingo sheet. Fairly sure that I'd have bingo by now.

But seriously mate your first thought for our third win, second away from home, was to post an insult rather than enjoy the result?

Don't mind Hoboh, he's just waiting for us to get beaten so he can berate our "pub team manager".....

[LeverEnd]

Bish - the two games I've seen this season our corner delivery was good in when Spearing played and awful when he didn't.

So the worry would be if he's reverted to poor delivery we seemingly haven't a better option.

Nice to hear we look organised we certainly did against Sheffield United and I think that will be key. If we can add some pace and threat out wide then this could be very good....still think we don't carry quite enough attacking threat to really keep this going....

Indeed his early days his set piece delivery was streets ahead of anyone else then inexplicably went to shit. Looked good against Sheff Utd. Beevers can cause real problems from set pieces so let's hope spearing can deliver regularly. I think Clayton takes them as well. The long throw-beevers flick on has looked useful too.

[Andy Waller]

Awful second half. Conor Wilkinson not even close to good enough. However, very good result. Solid. Will win more than we lose paying like that. Fleetwood hopefully 4 from 4. Decent turnout from BWFC about 1200 apparently

According to Marc Iles Wilkinson had an impressive cameo.

On his lapel worn as a brooch, or as a necklace pendant ???

Stop being pendantic

[Prufrock]

Meh, corners are one of those things that always look like your team is crap at. For all the talk about "beating the first man, there's a reason v few people (Palace, a team of giants aside) just chip it into the box. It's easier to score if it's got pace and whip on it. It's much harder to beat the first man if you're aiming for six inches above his head with pace and whip. It also comes and goes. You can be hitting them bob-on one week and miles off the next.

[BWFC_Insane]

Bish - the two games I've seen this season our corner delivery was good in when Spearing played and awful when he didn't.

So the worry would be if he's reverted to poor delivery we seemingly haven't a better option.

Nice to hear we look organised we certainly did against Sheffield United and I think that will be key. If we can add some pace and threat out wide then this could be very good....still think we don't carry quite enough attacking threat to really keep this going....

Indeed his early days his set piece delivery was streets ahead of anyone else then inexplicably went to shit. Looked good against Sheff Utd. Beevers can cause real problems from set pieces so let's hope spearing can deliver regularly. I think Clayton takes them as well. The long throw-beevers flick on has looked useful too.

Have a worry that Clayton will never really be fit again....got all the signs so far.

[thebish]

Bish - the two games I've seen this season our corner delivery was good in when Spearing played and awful when he didn't.

So the worry would be if he's reverted to poor delivery we seemingly haven't a better option.

Nice to hear we look organised we certainly did against Sheffield United and I think that will be key. If we can add some pace and threat out wide then this could be very good....still think we don't carry quite enough attacking threat to really keep this going....

Indeed his early days his set piece delivery was streets ahead of anyone else then inexplicably went to shit. Looked good against Sheff Utd. Beevers can cause real problems from set pieces so let's hope spearing can deliver regularly. I think Clayton takes them as well. The long throw-beevers flick on has looked useful too.

Have a worry that Clayton will never really be fit again....got all the signs so far.

what would all the signs of never really being fit again be?

[BWFC_Insane]

Bish - the two games I've seen this season our corner delivery was good in when Spearing played and awful when he didn't.

So the worry would be if he's reverted to poor delivery we seemingly haven't a better option.

Nice to hear we look organised we certainly did against Sheffield United and I think that will be key. If we can add some pace and threat out wide then this could be very good....still think we don't carry quite enough attacking threat to really keep this going....

Indeed his early days his set piece delivery was streets ahead of anyone else then inexplicably went to shit. Looked good against Sheff Utd. Beevers can cause real problems from set pieces so let's hope spearing can deliver regularly. I think Clayton takes them as well. The long throw-beevers flick on has looked useful too.

Have a worry that Clayton will never really be fit again....got all the signs so far.

what would all the signs of never really being fit again be?

Back in training...seems ok.

Then a swollen knee suddenly. Then back again. Then a recurring knee problem.....

Swollen knee after coming back, looking ok, then going again...almost identical to Holden...

[boltonboris]

And Holden..

What a fantastic start. I expected 6/7 - Ecstatic with 9.

If we beat Fleetwood, we equal last seasons total of league wins!

Nice to see Sparky delivering and hopefully being in a winning team with a bit of confidence will show people exactly what he's capable of.

I'm liking Proctor more and more and he seems realy lively and a handy link up player,w ithout looking much of a goal getter (yet). We've got goals in the team and whilst a 20 goal a season striker is great, it's not absolutely critical if we stay organised and share the goals around our talented team

[KeyserSoze]

And Holden..

What a fantastic start. I expected 6/7 - Ecstatic with 9.

If we beat Fleetwood, we equal last seasons total of league wins!

Nice to see Sparky delivering and hopefully being in a winning team with a bit of confidence will show people exactly what he's capable of.

I'm liking Proctor more and more and he seems realy lively and a handy link up player,w ithout looking much of a goal getter (yet). We've got goals in the team and whilst a 20 goal a season striker is great, it's not absolutely critical if we stay organised and share the goals around our talented team

Would also be the first time we've won four league games at the start of the season since 1934 according to Iles!

[boltonboris]

So that's fvcked it then

[BWFC_Insane]

And Holden..

What a fantastic start. I expected 6/7 - Ecstatic with 9.

If we beat Fleetwood, we equal last seasons total of league wins!

Nice to see Sparky delivering and hopefully being in a winning team with a bit of confidence will show people exactly what he's capable of.

I'm liking Proctor more and more and he seems realy lively and a handy link up player,w ithout looking much of a goal getter (yet). We've got goals in the team and whilst a 20 goal a season striker is great, it's not absolutely critical if we stay organised and share the goals around our talented team

Agreed, and I meant Holden.

Still need something out wide and a different sort of striker. We won't win this league IMO playing 4 CMs every week. We'll eventually be found out without some different options to change it up.

[boltonboris]

And Holden..

What a fantastic start. I expected 6/7 - Ecstatic with 9.

If we beat Fleetwood, we equal last seasons total of league wins!

Nice to see Sparky delivering and hopefully being in a winning team with a bit of confidence will show people exactly what he's capable of.

I'm liking Proctor more and more and he seems realy lively and a handy link up player,w ithout looking much of a goal getter (yet). We've got goals in the team and whilst a 20 goal a season striker is great, it's not absolutely critical if we stay organised and share the goals around our talented team

Agreed, and I meant Holden.

Still need something out wide and a different sort of striker. We won't win this league IMO playing 4 CMs every week. We'll eventually be found out without some different options to change it up.

The lack of real width will be why we're playing 2 strikers. That seems to be working for us. As long as Proctor charges the lines (which he does) and the FB's help out, it's ok.

I actually prefer letting a striker do the wing work and letting midfielders make deep runs. Unsettles them more and brings defenders out of position. I think proper wingers only really work if you have a good one. The good ones are out of our range