Devon White vs John Taylor plus 90k (B.Rovers vs Cambridge)

[Vanni]

Or when our board, after partying for a whole week and taking copious amounts of crack, speed and every other Class A drug known to mankind, decided to make one of the biggest mistakes our beloved club has ever made. Some will undoubtedly point to the recent sale of Gaffney to The Gas as another mistake, but I have no doubt at all these fans are wrong this time, and time will prove those who wanted the little irritant gone to be on the right side of history, ahem.

Rovers have steadily improved and now find themselves in third place and auto promotion, and should they hold onto 3rd and go up, then no one can say anything as apparently they've been one of this division's best sides. I only say apparently because they were no great shakes when we played them at The Abbey. Fair to say they only got all 3 points because, at the time, our inept bunch of over paid tossers had one of the worst halves we've ever had the misfortune to witness. So pitiful was the performance that Richard Money got the sack right after this match.

We'll be missing Ledson, and I'm concerned about this, as I think Derry had found his preferred starting eleven and formation recently. Don't know who'll replace him but I hope it is Sir Jimmy Spencer, as that would mean The Gas will be wary of committing too many men forward as we would have two strikers on the pitch.

 

[TheGas]

1-1 draw. Due to missing some important players through injury and international duty

 

[Habbinalan]

Plans already in place for this one. Hope the weather behaves for the open terrace. Heading for food, beer and parking at/near the Annexe Inn unless alternatives are suggested???

I'd be happy with Sir Jimmy in for Ledson but that implies 442 - which tends to be Plan B. Happy that O'Neil has also got an international call up - removing that temptation. I'd probably go with Robbie Simpson to add a bit more steel and guile (remembering Burton), with Sir Jimmy on the bench.

I feel no pressure or expectation going into these Easter matches (Bristol and Oxford have both only lost 1 in the last 6) but we should put up a decent show and if we should get something on Friday, Monday will be even more fun. Easily satisfied, the prospect of 2 winnable matches against decent in-form sides in front of good crowds in proper stadiums puts a spring in the step. Even the trips to Newport and Accrington will look more welcoming if we can get something from one or both of them.

 

[TommoCUFC]

1-1 draw. Due to missing some important players through injury and international duty

Who are you missing? We'll be without Ryan Ledson and Shane O'Neill. Fair to say Ledson is a much bigger loss

 

[Tom_CUFC]

Excited for this one, been to Rovers before but I was in the early days of galivanting around the country by myself and certainly didn't look old enough to drink, any pub recommendations Rovers fans? One nearish to Temple Meads and one closer to the ground that will cater for both CAMRA snobs and normal people would be good.

It's boom or bust for us this weekend I think (and I'm completely fine with that because my May weekends are still free as a precaution and I'd like to be able to make some commitments....), even 4 points might not be enough to keep any lingering top 7 hopes alive so we're probably going to have to be a bit more adventurous than we were at Northampton, although I suspect we'll try and contain it to start with. 4-4-2 seems the logical option, hopefully the wingers can be as effective as they were on Saturday again, and then maybe we have a chance.

 

[TheGas]

Who are you missing? We'll be without Ryan Ledson and Shane O'Neill. Fair to say Ledson is a much bigger loss

Harrison, mcburnie, lockyer out for international and Lawrence, sinclair, mansell all injured

 

[TheGas]

Excited for this one, been to Rovers before but I was in the early days of galivanting around the country by myself and certainly didn't look old enough to drink, any pub recommendations Rovers fans? One nearish to Temple Meads and one closer to the ground that will cater for both CAMRA snobs and normal people would be good.

It's boom or bust for us this weekend I think (and I'm completely fine with that because my May weekends are still free as a precaution and I'd like to be able to make some commitments....), even 4 points might not be enough to keep any lingering top 7 hopes alive so we're probably going to have to be a bit more adventurous than we were at Northampton, although I suspect we'll try and contain it to start with. 4-4-2 seems the logical option, hopefully the wingers can be as effective as they were on Saturday again, and then maybe we have a chance.

Just go Gloucester Road theres a pub everywhere you look! How many you bringing? Should be a 9,000 crowd

 

[Gassy]

If we now have 3 players out, why on earth aren't we getting this called off?!

 

[TheGas]

If we now have 3 players out, why on earth aren't we getting this called off?!

Momentum probably..

 

[miagsygas]

The three international call up rule doesn't apply if any of those players are loan players, therefore McBurnie doesn't count and technically only two Bristol Rovers players are called up.

All are a miss, even though Harrison and McBurnie haven't had masses of game time, it does leave us light up top. Going to rely heavily on Taylor and the ginger Messi now. The big miss however has to be Lockyer, who for my reckoning has been our player of the season.

Tough game. Our form has been spectacular and in particular our home form, so in normal circumstances you'd predict a win but I don't see this being easy whatsoever. 1-1

 

[Laker]

I'd go 4-4-1-1 and have Berry dropped back in to a deeper role with Dunne, then play Williamson behind Spencer or Simpson behind Williamson (or vice versa) - something like that. Everyone will moan that Berry is crap and a shadow of his former self but at least it should retain some steel in midfield which we'll need against a confident Rovers.

Anyway, as usual we'll stuff the fuckers. 3-0 U's.

 

[Aber gas]

Hard game be fucked, 4-0 Gas with a spectacular Messi hat trick. Taylor can have the other one.
The Gas go marching on .. Etc ..

 

[Tom_CUFC]

Just go Gloucester Road theres a pub everywhere you look! How many you bringing? Should be a 9,000 crowd

Our arrivals are staggered so need a meeting point near the station but it'll only be for one so we'll find a shit one anyway.

We'd sold 260 tickets as of today, so probably about 350.

 

[Arbury]

Ledson and o'neil not plying leaves us short in midfield, we're stretched but I quite fancy us for this for no other reason than a gut feeling.

1-2.

KTF

 

[Roger Stone]

Cornubia on Temple St is a tidy real ale pub, bout 5 mins walk from TM. Good for a lunchtime / after work bevvie anyway.

 

[TommoCUFC]

I actually think Berrys pretty good when he's played deeper - the issue is that he's nowhere near as good as he is higher up the pitch. I'd probably drop him back and go with two up top on Saturday

 

[GasAttacK]

We're missing some important players for this match - including our player of the season Lockyer - so I'm not overly confident.

Harrison, Lockyer and McBurnie are all away on international duty and Mansell, Sinclair and Lawrence are all out injured. Gaffney managed 55 minutes against Newport after his injury lay off so hopefully he'll be okay to play some part, if not we're really struggling for numbers.

DC likes to change formations and tactics depending on the opposition but with 3 central midfielders out he has no choice but to go 4-4-2.

If we get any more injuries before Friday we'll be in serious trouble.

Given Yeovils recent form that was an excellent win for Cambridge last week and they managed an impressive draw at runaway leaders Northampton in their last away game.

If we had a full squad to choose from I'd expect us to win this one at home but with 6 or 7 missing I think we might have to settle for a point.

 

[Aber gas]

We're missing some important players for this match - including our player of the season Lockyer - so I'm not overly confident.

Harrison, Lockyer and McBurnie are all away on international duty and Mansell, Sinclair and Lawrence are all out injured. Gaffney managed 55 minutes against Newport after his injury lay off so hopefully he'll be okay to play some part, if not we're really struggling for numbers.

DC likes to change formations and tactics depending on the opposition but with 3 central midfielders out he has no choice but to go 4-4-2.

If we get any more injuries before Friday we'll be in serious trouble.

Given Yeovils recent form that was an excellent win for Cambridge last week and they managed an impressive draw at runaway leaders Northampton in their last away game.

If we had a full squad to choose from I'd expect us to win this one at home but with 6 or 7 missing I think we might have to settle for a point.

Chill mate, we're fine. Don't worry we're going up and this bunch of cloggers aren't going to stop us.

 

[Laker]

Given Yeovils recent form that was an excellent win for Cambridge last week and they managed an impressive draw at runaway leaders Northampton in their last away game.

I wouldn't read too much into those results. I didn't go to Northampton and while a draw is a good result, reports were that we were poor for 89 minutes and rather stole a point with a moment of magic from Spencer.

Against Yeovil we got an early goal and then they lost a man through a moment of madness/the ref helped us out a bit and though I feel we had a decent chance against them, 9 times out of 10 we wouldn't win that game 3-0.

But who knows? We're capable of resounding results from time to time. I'd quite like us to start Luke Chadwick to see if he can replicate his efforts of last season by finishing Gaffney off for this season too. ;-)

 

[Youpies]

Loved big Devon White - what a guy. One of our managers said about him "The defenders don't know what he's going to do, because he has no idea"

One of my first footballing heros

 

[SVH]

Lump on Gaffney anytime goalscorer.

 

[TheGas]

Lump on Gaffney anytime goalscorer.

I was thinking more hat trick?

 

[Pirateer]

Our arrivals are staggered so need a meeting point near the station but it'll only be for one so we'll find a shit one anyway.

We'd sold 260 tickets as of today, so probably about 350.

There the Knights Templar which is a spoons right next to the train station which is a good meeting point. i'd also look into getting the train from TM to Montpelier which is a quick and cheap way to get across town and as good a stating point on Glos Rd as any.

UTG!

 

[TheGas]

Over 8,500 tickets sold so far

 

[Centenary Gas]

Over 8,500 tickets sold so far

Can see this being made all ticket to avoid a lockout/home fans in the away end...

 

[Habbinalan]

Can see this being made all ticket to avoid a lockout/home fans in the away end...

Bit late isn't it? We sold the 300 tickets supplied earlier in the week. Folk were told to buy on the day and there was plenty of room.

We'd be happy to share the tent with a few of you (I'm on the terrace ). I'm sure you'll generate a bit more atmosphere than our biggest away gate of the season - the 15,000 Pompey fans were decidedly distracted and quiet.

 

[Centenary Gas]

Bit late isn't it? We sold the 300 tickets supplied earlier in the week. Folk were told to buy on the day and there was plenty of room.

We'd be happy to share the tent with a few of you (I'm on the terrace ). I'm sure you'll generate a bit more atmosphere than our biggest away gate of the season - the 15,000 Pompey fans were decidedly distracted and quiet.

I mean all ticket for home fans...

 

[Gassy]

Less than 1000 home tickets left. Should be 10,000 home fans then

 

[gashead88]

Should of given Cambridge full amount of tickets to sell, as less than 500 tickets left in the home areas.
Chat of people going in the away end, get there early if you're a travelling away fan without a ticket

 

[Habbinalan]

Should of given Cambridge full amount of tickets to sell, as less than 500 tickets left in the home areas.
Chat of people going in the away end, get there early if you're a travelling away fan without a ticket

Didn't know we were such a draw

Obviously it's a big match for you and these are just the type of games we were starved of in the Conference. It will be an excellent test of the mentality and tactics that Mr Derry can produce from a team that are likely to be well up for a contest. Really looking forward to a great atmosphere and hoping that folk are sensible.