Match Day The Matty Taylor Derby

[LordJord]

Not sure why some Matts become Mattys, but certainly applies to ours and Brizzles.

Looking forward to this one after our win at Swindon. Rovers seem to have done pretty well so far, solid I think its fair to say. Can see us edging this one 2-1.

 

[Strawberry_Jam]

I read somewhere that Matty Taylor was injured?

edit: the Bristol one.

 

[ComeOnIrene]

Our Matty has missed the last two and nobody knows whether he'll be back for this game or not. It was suggested last weekend that it was only a slight problem and he'd be back soon, so hopefully he'll be fit enough to play on Saturday.

We are playing really well and probably don't have as many points as our performances have deserved, but for some reason we continually concede sloppy goals even when our all-round defensive performances have been strong. It's something we need to stamp out of our game pretty sharpish if we want to win games and remain in and around the top half of the table.

I am definitely encouraged by how we have played so far and I am looking forward to seeing how we get on against an in-form side on Saturday.

 

[EricSabin]

Losing at Chesterfield seems to have freed us up a bit, with 7 goals in our last two leagues and only one conceded. We look much better at home and I'm hoping we can continue that trend after a thumping of Southend in the last home game. Haven't lost since December 19th in the league at home and only 2 league games in the last 42 I think which is still ridiculous.

Team wise I'd bring McCourt back in and play the same side as the Southend game and keep using Gorre odd the bench as an impact sub. Gonna go for 2-1 Cobblers, us up to second and a top of the table clash with Scunny a week after.

 

[Pirateer]

I'm looking forward to this game as I've not bothered going to Northampton in ages but have been persuaded by a few beers in London and ticking off a new ground.
As for the game Northampton are very strong at home (see above) so with doubts on the fitness of "the" Matty Taylor and Easter being banned after being sent off on Tuesday leaving us a with our 2nd string attack I'm hoping for a draw or a very very sneaky against all odds 0-1 away win.

 

[LordJord]

Are you looking for mid table consolidation this year than Brizzle fans? We havnt played any of the teams at the top of the table yet but I think its reasonable to think a play off push for is possible, especially as I have no doubt we will strengthen in January. The original Matty Taylor has scored free kicks in our last 2 home games now, wouldnt bet against him making it 3.

 

[LordJord]

Also, is John-Joe O'Toole hated for leaving after you went down? Hes become an absolute cult figure here since thriving in a deeper role whilst still getting plenty of goals.

 

[Pirateer]

The sensible ones amongst us would be happy with mid-table and an outside chance of a play off push. tbh i think we still need to re-jig the squad a little as we have 3 or 4 players who may not be up to this level before we can push on, however DC is very good at getting the best out of the players he has and building momentum as proven by the last two seasons.

 

[ComeOnIrene]

Are you looking for mid table consolidation this year than Brizzle fans? We havnt played any of the teams at the top of the table yet but I think its reasonable to think a play off push for is possible, especially as I have no doubt we will strengthen in January. The original Matty Taylor has scored free kicks in our last 2 home games now, wouldnt bet against him making it 3.

Also, is John-Joe O'Toole hated for leaving after you went down? Hes become an absolute cult figure here since thriving in a deeper role whilst still getting plenty of goals.

Mid-table would represent a good season given our rise over the last couple of years and most supporters would gleefully take that. DC, however, will be aiming higher because that's the sort of manager he is, especially as we've played most of the top sides already and more than competed with them all.

Yeah, John-Joe is widely disliked after his conduct whilst with us. The fact he was part of a team that took us out the FL is enough reason for people to view him negatively, but the way he acted in his final few months with was shocking. He undermined his team-mates in an interview with a national paper and then unlike the other players under contract after relegation, didn't want to hang about to right the wrongs he was a part of. I'm glad he made that choice in hindsight as his wages were big and he didn't justify them, but all these things combined mean Gasheads are not O'Toole's biggest fans. He can have no complaints that that is the case either.

At his best he is very good - a real presence in midfield and a threat in the opposition's penalty area. We saw that side of him when we had him on loan the year before but obviously it never lasted. He seems to have settled in with you guys after initially being transfer listed (?) and you are reaping the rewards.

 

[THE LAST WALTZ]

I don't think anyone really knows who the 'top' sides are at the moment.

 

[Strawberry_Jam]

Yeah, John-Joe is widely disliked after his conduct whilst with us. The fact he was part of a team that took us out the FL is enough reason for people to view him negatively, but the way he acted in his final few months with was shocking. He undermined his team-mates in an interview with a national paper and then unlike the other players under contract after relegation, didn't want to hang about to right the wrongs he was a part of. I'm glad he made that choice in hindsight as his wages were big and he didn't justify them, but all these things combined mean Gasheads are not O'Toole's biggest fans. He can have no complaints that that is the case either.

At his best he is very good - a real presence in midfield and a threat in the opposition's penalty area. We saw that side of him when we had him on loan the year before but obviously it never lasted. He seems to have settled in with you guys after initially being transfer listed (?) and you are reaping the rewards.

That season we were both in a relegation fight on the last day. One thing that stood out was that our top scorer was Darren Carter with 5, and JJOT had around 15, from midfield! It seemed from the outside that he had carried the side, and had the right to at least call out his teammates. Maybe you should have focused more on all the other players that underperformed. When you are in the PFA team of the year, I think you deserve to stay in the league.

His first year wasn't the best and even played against us on loan for Southend. I think the majority of our proper fans always thought there was a great player amongst his mercurial temperament, unfortunately the loud minority of boo boys wanted him out around that time. Then we had a John-Joe O'Toole day with wigs and everything, he got sent-off but I think this somehow endeared him more.

Considering all that, my favourite O'Toole moment was Bristol's first game back in the league and at home, he scored the winner in front of the home end. It was perfectly scripted. At the time he was transfer listed I think, and probably wouldn't have started if it wasn't against Rovers. He then couldn't get into the team again until someone got injured and he scored again. He never looked back after that and was intergural alongside Byrom/Rose in the best midfield I think I've seen for us, maybe except for the Taylor, Jess, Smith year. Winning POTS and steadily becoming one of the greats for us.

...

#ILOVEJJOT

 

[ComeOnIrene]

That season we were both in a relegation fight on the last day. One thing that stood out was that our top scorer was Darren Carter with 5, and JJOT had around 15, from midfield! It seemed from the outside that he had carried the side, and had the right to at least call out his teammates. Maybe you should have focused more on all the other players that underperformed. When you are in the PFA team of the year, I think you deserve to stay in the league.

His first year wasn't the best and even played against us on loan for Southend. I think the majority of our proper fans always thought there was a great player amongst his mercurial temperament, unfortunately the loud minority of boo boys wanted him out around that time. Then we had a John-Joe O'Toole day with wigs and everything, he got sent-off but I think this somehow endeared him more.

Considering all that, my favourite O'Toole moment was Bristol's first game back in the league and at home, he scored the winner in front of the home end. It was perfectly scripted. At the time he was transfer listed I think, and probably wouldn't have started if it wasn't against Rovers. He then couldn't get into the team again until someone got injured and he scored again. He never looked back after that and was intergural alongside Byrom/Rose in the best midfield I think I've seen for us, maybe except for the Taylor, Jess, Smith year. Winning POTS and steadily becoming one of the greats for us.

...

#ILOVEJJOT

It was deceiving really. He scored a number of goals which is fantastic for a midfielder, but his performances were really poor. He wasn't the same player we had on loan the previous year who would tackle, bully and be a real force in the middle of the park. Perhaps he felt the pressure of playing in a struggling team and couldn't rediscover his best form, but the fact he dug out his team mates when even he wasn't playing well was poor form really. No matter how you feel, you're best off keeping quiet in those situations I think.

You could have put money on the fact he'd score against us on the opening day last season. The minute I saw his name on the team sheet (despite the fact he was transfer listed) I turned to my mate and said 'he'll scoring today', and of course he did and we lost 1-0. Typical bloody John-Joe.

Thankfully we've come a long way since then and our midfield options now are really decent. Darrell Clarke doesn't like having potentially disruptive personalities in his squad which is why John-Joe wouldn't work very well in this Rovers team anymore, but you undoubtedly have him playing really well and are reaping the rewards.

 

[MarioBalotelli]

Give me a Stuart Sinclair over a JJOT any day.

JJOT was brilliant in his loan spell with us, didn't find the back of the net much, if at all but he was fantastic. After we signed him permanently he just seemed a totally different player and slagged the team off for not being as good as him in multiple interviews before the season was even over. He was so adored by the fans and he only has himself to blame for fucking it up.

I'm glad we didn't keep him, I don't think we would have went back up with a player with an attitude like that in the squad.

As for the game, I hope we get a point at the very least(obviously). I'll be disappointed if we lose.

 

[miagsygas]

No animosity from me towards O'Toole. Great when he first arrived, average to good during the beginning of the relegation season finally ending completely awful, also a terrible influence to some young players. But, relegation was something that was desperately needed to hit rock bottom and was ultimately the best thing to happen to the club. O'Toole himself may have learnt from that season and the following season and changed his ways somewhat as talent was always there and fair play to him, he was a bad egg here but it's been and gone, there was worse eggs here who had less talent and hindered even more but won't get as much stick because they were lesser profile.

As for the game, I worry about it if Matty Taylor isn't fit now Easter's suspended. 2-1 Northampton. Might be very different if MT is back though

 

[07.05.16]

Get in! Fantastic result!
Sounded completely deserved too.
Could have been 4-2 or 5-2 if it weren't for 2 brilliant saves from Smith.

 

[EricSabin]

Think we've been done out of a point by some inept officiating. They were fucking terrible all day for both teams without having a massive say on the result then the third goal happened. Taylor went through a yard offside, Zakuani fouled him (debatable in itself) and the ref sent him off. From the resulting passage of play Rovers take advantage of the confusion and score the winner.

First half was pretty comfortable for us at 1-0, Rovers weren't great and we looked dangerous when we went forward. Then it all went mental, in a flash it was 2-1 Rovers and they looked very good up front, direct fast attacking play. Then we came back at them, Gorre with a good run and slipping in Revell to equalise. Then Gorre and one of their blokes could have won it, phenomenal saves from both keepers. But it's a sickener to lose it like that, with a contentious decision

 

[Strawberry_Jam]

Think the worst thing that could have happened to us is the referee getting injured. We hardly lose when Horwood is in charge.

Amazing how it changed in a couple of minutes.....

Saying that Rovers upped the tempo in the 2nd half and out played us.

 

[MarioBalotelli]

We were more than worth the win based on the 2nd half performance and it could have finished 4 or 5.

 

[GasAttacK]

I didn't think either side looked much like scoring in a fairly even first half. Northampton probably just edged it but were gifted the goal when Lockyer misjudged a long ball forward.

However, second half we were superb and could have easily won but 3 or 4. As it was a sloppy pass from Lines let the Cobblers back into the game at 2-2 and we needed another grand stand finish to take the points our performance definitely deserved.

The statistics tell the story, twice as many attempts on goal, twice as many shots on target and twice as many corners. If it weren't for 3 fantastic saves from Smith and a goal line clearance it would have been far more comfortable. Think we had at least 2 good shouts for a penalty too.

We had 21 shots in the match and I think 18 of them were probably in th second half.

 

[Deepcut Cobbler]

I didn't think either side looked much like scoring in a fairly even first half. Northampton probably just edged it but were gifted the goal when Lockyer misjudged a long ball forward.

However, second half we were superb and could have easily won but 3 or 4. As it was a sloppy pass from Lines let the Cobblers back into the game at 2-2 and we needed another grand stand finish to take the points our performance definitely deserved.

The statistics tell the story, twice as many attempts on goal, twice as many shots on target and twice as many corners. If it weren't for 3 fantastic saves from Smith and a goal line clearance it would have been far more comfortable. Think we had at least 2 good shouts for a penalty too.

We had 21 shots in the match and I think 18 of them were probably in th second half.

Can't disagree with most of that, deserved victory on their second half performance.
Can't blame the officials...

 

[JJH]

Chelsea loanees doing the business in Bristol.

 

[ComeOnIrene]

Chelsea loanees doing the business in Bristol.

Too right. Little Charlie Colkett was outstanding yesterday - glad he got the winner.

Can't add too much that hasn't already been said really. It was a thoroughly deserved victory based on our excellent second half performance. It's nice to be the team to inflict a home defeat on Northampton for the first time since December, especially given their good start to this season. I love the strength in depth we possess in the squad and the fact DC is happy to rotate means that everybody (near enough) feels part of our good form, which can only be a good thing.