Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th January

[dannyc5]

Having 2 midfielders who actually wanted to get on the ball made a huge difference. I'm going to sound harsh on Tabiner, but we've carried him for the most part this season. 2 goals and 2 assists despite starting every week is poor. Been outperformed by Holicek, who is a year younger and even Billington, who has barely played this season, matched his season output for assists. He's a ghost and is averaging about 20 touches a game. Just has no feel for the CM position, in or out of possession. Needs a spell on the bench and we need to roll with this midfield trio for a few weeks to see if they can replicate what they showed today.

I think you are being slightly harsh on Tabiner, although he has clearly been underperforming. The shape with him, Sanders and Holicek was an absolute cluster fuck, and made no tactical sense. The shape today was exactly how it should be when playing a 352. None of this hybrid role that we've seen Holicek playing on the right. It was nice and simple, 2 deeper with 1 in front.

Having said that, I do think having Powell in there regardless of the shape improves us. He's so calm, and is only interested in getting the ball down and playing Football, which is what our midfield has been missing.

 

[Wootball]

I think you are being slightly harsh on Tabiner, although he has clearly been underperforming. The shape with him, Sanders and Holicek was an absolute cluster fuck, and made no tactical sense. The shape today was exactly how it should be when playing a 352. None of this hybrid role that we've seen Holicek playing on the right. It was nice and simple, 2 deeper with 1 in front.

Having said that, I do think having Powell in there regardless of the shape improves us. He's so calm, and is only interested in getting the ball down and playing Football, which is what our midfield has been missing.

I also think in a few of the games we've badly missed Connor Thomas to break up attacks. Sanders has been a lot better at it, but we do miss Thomas' ability to stop teams trying to play through us. Today though, it was just brilliant to watch how balanced we were. Aside from Zac Williams I honestly think that's the best starting 11 we've got right now.

 

[leedsvaliant]

Bromley looked leggy, but I don't think extra rest would have helped them as we were in the sort of mood that wins you most games at this level. Lankester and Bogle were unplayable, the midfield were controlled and the defence mopped up everything their giants threw at them. 3 games coming up now against the sides in 22nd, 23rd and 19th. It's a big if, but if we can get 9 points from them, we'll be over 50 points and well positioned for a challenge for one of the top 3 spot.

That's a handy run of games! I honestly thought that Lankester and Bogle were pretty average signings but it seems like they've really worked for you. Sometimes, signings just work. Like when we signed Sodje who had been a bit of a journeyman but was awesome for us. The recruitment team is one of the most important jobs in a football club now, because the best ones can often spot unfulfilled potential and turn a mid table team into a top one.

 

[leedsvaliant]

You were in great form when you played us before your big drop off. Were you top then or close? But yes out style struggles against the better sides especially the ones who are better without the ball. That's what we' got to sort out we openly admit we are flat track bullies.

As for peak Premier League yeah the Ferguson Vs Wenger period and then Mourinho were great. That Chelsea side was the best example I've seen of direct, strong, fast paced football because they had the players to do it.

If you've not seen a full Premier League for a while not sure you can judge. This season and the last few see more goals in Premier League than ever before. Some great games especially if you look outside the top 6.

Attendances have increased for many clubs as you say at this level, style of play isn't a major reason but if you play nice football, score loads of goals as a result and win plenty it surely does help. Not sure many clubs in L2 that have seen a jump in crowds like we have at Notts.

As for international tournaments , it's a personal view obviously, did you watch Italia 90?

I've watched enough of bits of games recently to know that I hate the current style of play. Goals are of course important but they're not the marker for entertainment. It's just way too side to side and dull nowadays. There's mainly athletes nowadays and very few mavericks in the Gazza mould. There's zero personality too...remember players like Cantona....Real characters who made the game interesting. Now they're only interested in headphones and social media.

Yep, Italian 90 was pretty crap to be fair, particularly in the group games. Euro 96 and World Cup 98 were much better. Since 04, I couldn't name a decent international tournament, Spain were dominant but fuck me they were boring. Italy have won major trophies twice and are the epitome of dull. I didn't even watch the Qatar final in spite of the fact that it was a half decent game. The rest of the tournament was dire. This last Euros was also dull. A decent but pretty uninspiring Spanish team winning said it all.

 

[dannyc5]

I also think in a few of the games we've badly missed Connor Thomas to break up attacks. Sanders has been a lot better at it, but we do miss Thomas' ability to stop teams trying to play through us. Today though, it was just brilliant to watch how balanced we were. Aside from Zac Williams I honestly think that's the best starting 11 we've got right now.

Absolutely spot on. It's the balance that's the important thing. And that came with the shape of the midfield, imo. It meant we could progress the ball through the midfield, which in turn meant we frequently got the ball into dangerous attacking areas. And if you get Jack Lankester on the ball close to the opposition goal, you are guaranteed goals.

Lankester btw is now top of the tree in the whole of the EFL in goals and assists per 90 mins. He has no business being in League 2. I genuinely think he is the best player in this League, although I guess Nathan Lowe would argue that point.

 

[Wootball]

Absolutely spot on. It's the balance that's the important thing. And that came with the shape of the midfield, imo. It meant we could progress the ball through the midfield, which in turn meant we frequently got the ball into dangerous attacking areas. And if you get Jack Lankester on the ball close to the opposition goal, you are guaranteed goals.

Lankester btw is now top of the tree in the whole of the EFL in goals and assists per 90 mins. He has no business being in League 2. I genuinely think he is the best player in this League, although I guess Nathan Lowe would argue that point.

Lowe isn't a League Two player though, he's on loan. Lankester is ours!

 

[Crewelad87]

Absolutely spot on. It's the balance that's the important thing. And that came with the shape of the midfield, imo. It meant we could progress the ball through the midfield, which in turn meant we frequently got the ball into dangerous attacking areas. And if you get Jack Lankester on the ball close to the opposition goal, you are guaranteed goals.

Lankester btw is now top of the tree in the whole of the EFL in goals and assists per 90 mins. He has no business being in League 2. I genuinely think he is the best player in this League, although I guess Nathan Lowe would argue that point.

Lankester definitely in that conversation, hard to say who's the definitive best, be surprised if he's not in the top 3 though, he just oozes class.

 

[valefan16]

Lankester definitely in that conversation, hard to say who's the definitive best, be surprised if he's not in the top 3 though, he just oozes class.

Surprised a little bit, never seemed to be much of a stand out at Cambridge in L1 but maybe benefiting from the drop in level and done well.

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

Was gonna say ours will be off, but Blundell Park must have under soil heating right?

 

[jacobncfc]

Was gonna say ours will be off, but Blundell Park must have under soil heating right?

Doesn’t look as cold out their way, not really below freezing on Thursday and Friday night so as long as they’ve got the covers on it should be alright you’d hope.

 

[ROVERS⚽️]

Did they? Never heard them throughout.

Worst home supporters all season. Thought they were doing a sponsored silence at one point.

They were also dire. Absolutely awful.

Death, taxes and winning away at Doncaster.

I sat in the west stand behind the dugouts. Vale fans were in decent voice throughout most of the game, as were our supporters behind the goal, effectively our signing section. A lot of rovers fans felt we were the much better team, I disagree, I thought it was an even game where we probably had more of the overall attacking play but huffed and puffed throughout, again. It was to be expected against a Moore outfit, you had 3 clear chances and scored twice and then held out relatively comfortably, whether we did anything with our attacking play/possession is the most relevant point, we didn’t. How both teams have played recently we’ll drop out the mix into mid table unless something changes. Credit to the vale fans above with those more sensible posts after the game, unfortunately if we are dire I wouldn’t get too optimistic just yet then.

 

[kieran_vale]

I sat in the west stand behind the dugouts. Vale fans were in decent voice throughout most of the game, as were our supporters behind the goal, effectively our signing section. A lot of rovers fans felt we were the much better team, I disagree, I thought it was an even game where we probably had more of the overall attacking play but huffed and puffed throughout, again. It was to be expected against a Moore outfit, you had 3 clear chances and scored twice and then held out relatively comfortably, whether we did anything with our attacking play/possession is the most relevant point, we didn’t. How both teams have played recently we’ll drop out the mix into mid table unless something changes. Credit to the vale fans above with those more sensible posts after the game, unfortunately if we are dire I wouldn’t get too optimistic just yet then.

It was basically a closely fought game whoever scored first wasn’t going to lose I think and that’s how it played out. Can look back on Amos tipping Sharps shot on to the post as the key moment. Think it was two well matched sides who I think will be in the mix but both seem to play with the handbrake on a lot.

 

[ROVERS⚽️]

It was basically a closely fought game whoever scored first wasn’t going to lose I think and that’s how it played out. Can look back on Amos tipping Sharps shot on to the post as the key moment. Think it was two well matched sides who I think will be in the mix but both seem to play with the handbrake on a lot.

I think that’s a fair assessment. We had a few openings in the first half but were wasteful. Our wingers Gibson and Molyneux have been largely poor for a while now, whether Molyneux coming off at halftime was tactical or not I don’t know. I feel you was dangerous on the break, within the first minute it looked like one of your attackers was through on goal and a penalty may have been awarded when he hit the deck, the referee refused to give anything including 2 penalty claims for Vale early on.. but gave us absolutely nothing after that, I’m not blaming the ref for our loss though.

I think we both should be in the mix come April, but have both been out of form and I think neither of us looked at our best on Saturday. Nothing against Vale you came and won but you’ve been threadbare with injuries and out of form for a while before Saturday, an early goal for us may have knocked your confidence further. Once we bring in a couple of players this month I think will be right up there again and may go on a run, I expect you will improve too as the quality is there, its whether Moore can bring the best out of the team over the course of the season and it's automatic?.