Tue 4th & Saturday 8th January

[Moomin]

We played brilliantly, did everything right apart from put the ball in the net. Hopefully Nombe will sort that out whenever he is back.

I can say with near certainty that FGR ain't winning the league. What a fraudlent top place side. They look shocking. Stealing it at the minute. Based on the 2 games I've seen when we've played them, and the Swindon one on TV, they look like a 7th/8th place side. They're lucky they've got points on the board already because they'll need them. Nobody should be worried about them, to be honest.

Agree with your first paragraph, we were excellent and that gives me confidence that we will get back up the table in the coming weeks.

I don’t agree that FGR are a fraudulent top team. We made them look ordinary tonight, but that’s more testament to how well we played. Taylor got his tactic spot on and both Key and Caprice kept Wilson and Cadden quiet. As a result Matt had no service and we looked really solid. FGR will be up there at the end of the season.

 

[Chris FGR]

We played brilliantly, did everything right apart from put the ball in the net. Hopefully Nombe will sort that out whenever he is back.

I can say with near certainty that FGR ain't winning the league. What a fraudlent top place side. They look shocking. Stealing it at the minute. Based on the 2 games I've seen when we've played them, and the Swindon one on TV, they look like a 7th/8th place side. They're lucky they've got points on the board already because they'll need them. Nobody should be worried about them, to be honest.

We’ll see.

We’ve exceeded our own expectations by a mile so far this season tbh, so you could be right. On paper we aren’t the best squad by any means but we’ve played pretty well for most of the season to be 8 points clear, like most sides at this level we won’t play well every game.

Thought Exeter looked good, clearly the better side and totally nullified our danger men, so fair play on that.

 

[valefan16]

Can’t judge FGR on one game surely? They are rightly miles ahead of everyone else, we comfortably dispatched them but the table doesn’t lie.

You could argue the fact Exeter right on it with 16 chances didn’t score or win the game shows the difference, the failure to punish FGR on an off day yet they still ground out the point.

Good result for us and the play off sides mind, keeps Exeter below us with 2 games in hand now. If we can keep in the top 7 after Saturdays games with us not playing a league game for 5 weeks it will leave us in a very solid position with 2-3 games extra on most sides to try and consolidate our position.

 

[Greenacres]

Have to be happy with a point, could have had few complaints if it hadn't been any, Exeter posed far more of a threat...our keeper definitely man of the match for a number of really good saves, particularly one from a free kick that was definitely on target. Can't remember us creating too much, a Cadden free kick was possibly our best chance, other than that we huffed and puffed a bit but never really got going. However, someone who knows far more about football than me once said that the sign of a good team is to get something from a game when they deserve nothing...I guess that means we have a good team.

 

[Chris FGR]

Main issue was in midfield, Stevenson & Diallo were well off their best, Aitchison was a bit better so surprised it was him that came off. I’d have got Sweeney or Hendry on, March isn’t a 10 and Stevens was getting the same lack of service once he came on.

JMT & McGee were excellent as usual.

 

[Sydney Posse]

Superb effort from us tonight. We had a couple of young un's in there who were immense. Our problem is consistency. When we are on fire we are great, but we cannot seem to do it consistently. FGR are miles ahead of everybody points-wise, and the table doesn't lie. We missed some gilt edged chances tonight, Dieng alone missed two. If we can play like that for the rest of the season we have nothing to worry about, but unfortunately I doubt we will. We had lost 4 of the last 5 before tonight.

 

[RLC]

I do expect us to win on Saturday whether it will be at a canter or not is debatable but one thing is for certain is that Mr Hill is in for a rough ride from the Prenton Park crowd many of whom dislike him intensely.

I am not sure the majority of our supporters are that concerned about Hill to be honest. I could not take to the guy at all, but there is nothing he craves as much as attention so I will just focus on the match in hand.

It is a game we need to and should win, but there is bound to be a bit of rustiness after two weeks without a game, and Scunthorpe will set up to frustrate us.

 

[Monkey Tennis]

I can say with near certainty that FGR ain't winning the league. What a fraudlent top place side.

Interesting - earlier this season you said you couldn't tell how a team will do based on one game.

 

[Topher]

I dunno how people are able to remark such asinine cliches as "the table doesn't lie" without it being ironic.

 

[Kauto Star]

It's amazing how these lot are top of the league though. Goes to show how crap the quality is in this league if we're all over top of the table, who are 8 points clear and we have a depleted squad. Blimey.

Although they sneaked a lucky point at Valley Parade a few weeks ago, Forest Green were indeed very average to say the least. I agree, cannot get my head around their league position on that showing. That said, it shows how poor the rest of us are in a very poor league this season

 

[Devon_Lad]

Can’t judge FGR on one game surely?

Seen them play 3 games not one, I did say that. We've played them twice and they also got battered by Swindon on TV. They definitely won't finish the season 8 points clear, I'm pretty confident on that.

 

[Devon_Lad]

Interesting - earlier this season you said you couldn't tell how a team will do based on one game.

Why can't you read Monkey boy? I've seen them play 3 games and made reference to that earlier. Granted its not the best sample but its been very clear they're not good enough to be running away with the league like they are.

 

[Devon_Lad]

You could argue the fact Exeter right on it with 16 chances didn’t score or win the game shows the difference, the failure to punish FGR on an off day yet they still ground out the point.

Made a few good saves yeah, but I'd put it down to the fact our main striker is injured and we only really have Podge up front who's any good, and he struggles over 90 minutes with match fitness. If Nombe was on the pitch it would've been a cricket score

 

[Huntsman94]

Can’t judge FGR on one game surely? They are rightly miles ahead of everyone else, we comfortably dispatched them but the table doesn’t lie.

You could argue the fact Exeter right on it with 16 chances didn’t score or win the game shows the difference, the failure to punish FGR on an off day yet they still ground out the point.

Good result for us and the play off sides mind, keeps Exeter below us with 2 games in hand now. If we can keep in the top 7 after Saturdays games with us not playing a league game for 5 weeks it will leave us in a very solid position with 2-3 games extra on most sides to try and consolidate our position.

Not sure stacking your games in hand is necessary a good thing. The later you go into the season you have teams near the bottom that early/mid season aren’t playing for much but later on end up playing for their lives.

There’s also a weird expectation from all fans that a game in hand is going to be a win but when that doesn’t happen it puts a lot of pressure on any other games in hand!

I know we’re nowhere near the end of the season at the moment but I’d much rather have points on the board

 

[Greenacres]

Not sure stacking your games in hand is necessary a good thing. The later you go into the season you have teams near the bottom that early/mid season aren’t playing for much but later on end up playing for their lives.

There’s also a weird expectation from all fans that a game in hand is going to be a win but when that doesn’t happen it puts a lot of pressure on any other games in hand!

I know we’re nowhere near the end of the season at the moment but I’d much rather have points on the board

Definitely agree, can never assume that games in hand will be converted into points, regardless of who they games might be against...history teaches us that that is rarely the case and, like a lot in football, often leads to disappointment.

 

[FGR Stroud]

We played brilliantly, did everything right apart from put the ball in the net. Hopefully Nombe will sort that out whenever he is back.

I can say with near certainty that FGR ain't winning the league. What a fraudlent top place side. They look shocking. Stealing it at the minute. Based on the 2 games I've seen when we've played them, and the Swindon one on TV, they look like a 7th/8th place side. They're lucky they've got points on the board already because they'll need them. Nobody should be worried about them, to be honest.

Exeter is FGR's bogey team with just one league win since promotion to the EFL.
Exeter 4 wins [including double in 2019/20], 5 draws and one win FGR back in 2018.

 

[kieran_vale]

Not sure stacking your games in hand is necessary a good thing. The later you go into the season you have teams near the bottom that early/mid season aren’t playing for much but later on end up playing for their lives.

There’s also a weird expectation from all fans that a game in hand is going to be a win but when that doesn’t happen it puts a lot of pressure on any other games in hand!

I know we’re nowhere near the end of the season at the moment but I’d much rather have points on the board

That’s fair and I guess it depends how you look at it but I’d rather we played those games we’ve got in hand now with our first choice team available which was not going to be the case otherwise so would likely be talking no more than a point or two if they were played at the time. With the likes of Wilson and Proctor back in the lineup it makes it far more likely we will cash in on them.

 

[Monkey Tennis]

Why can't you read Monkey boy? I've seen them play 3 games and made reference to that earlier. Granted its not the best sample but its been very clear they're not good enough to be running away with the league like they are.

The +25 goal difference says otherwise.

 

[Devon_Lad]

Based on the 2 games I've seen when we've played them, and the Swindon one on TV, they look like a 7th/8th place side.

Just re-posting this as lots of people on this forum can't read.

 

[Devon_Lad]

On another note, Kane Wilson is a class act and player, I was surprised that Caprice was all over him last night.

 

[Indian Dan]

I’ve said from the very start of this season - every season, really - the team(s) with the strongest squad depths will do well. Sure, some starting XIs are better than others but when injuries/suspensions bite they struggle. Replacements are key.

 

[The Jovial Forester]

We deliberately played shit to bring Tory boy out of hiding where he's been during super Exeter's string of defeats

 

[GEORGE]

I’ve said from the very start of this season - every season, really - the team(s) with the strongest squad depths will do well. Sure, some starting XIs are better than others but when injuries/suspensions bite they struggle. Replacements are key.

Agreed -- Think we will see a few changes to the table positions by Mid March.

 

[Ninety Per Cent]

How the games goes depends on a number of factors, crucially which Rovers players are still unavailable through covid/injury, whether Hawkes has been recalled by Sunderland and what others comings and goings have taken place at both clubs.

I don't think it will be a comfortable win at all, might not even get a win. If it does happen then there might be some comment on your social media. This isn't a reflection on Scunny, rather Hill who for reasons only known to himself used to enjoy sniping at Rovers fans while managing the club.

I saw a comment saying beating Tranmere was "our cup final". That's Twitter for you, i suppose.

 

[Huntsman94]

That’s fair and I guess it depends how you look at it but I’d rather we played those games we’ve got in hand now with our first choice team available which was not going to be the case otherwise so would likely be talking no more than a point or two if they were played at the time. With the likes of Wilson and Proctor back in the lineup it makes it far more likely we will cash in on them.

Yeah I get that. Want to be playing them in the next month or two definitely!

 

[Huntsman94]

The table doesn’t lie. Forest Green are cruising at the top because they deserve to be. I didn’t see the game yesterday but if they played as poorly as some are saying, they still didn’t get beat. I think they’ll win the league comfortably.

 

[kieran_vale]

FGR are clearly the best team in the league if everyone is available. Probably wouldn’t say that for their squad overall but results don’t lie and after half the season and so far clear it’s not a fluke.

I’ve always thought just based on games where we have played them and often had some success they look vulnerable to teams who can press high and break quickly on them once getting the ball. Obviously it’s never as simple as that as every team would do it against them and beat them if that were so but it’s usually been the difference when we have played them.

 

[FGR Stroud]

The table doesn’t lie. Forest Green are cruising at the top because they deserve to be. I didn’t see the game yesterday but if they played as poorly as some are saying, they still didn’t get beat. I think they’ll win the league comfortably.

I wish I could be as confident as your forecast.
The January transfer window will go a long way to sorting out promotion prospects. If we lose either or both Wilson and Cadden then we will struggle.
New arrivals could be their equal but usually it takes a few games for new players to settle into team's game pattern with a new set of team mates.

 

[Moomin]

On another note, Kane Wilson is a class act and player, I was surprised that Caprice was all over him last night.

Caprice also had a really good game against Wilson at SJP earlier this season. Seems like he knows what to do to keep Wilson quiet. Kane is a great player though and will make it to a decent level.

 

[Chris FGR]

I dunno how people are able to remark such asinine cliches as "the table doesn't lie" without it being ironic.

I can’t think of many better ways of deciding who the better team is then looking at the league table. How else do you judge it.

Kane Wilson will be very hard to hang onto I reckon, been outstanding and still only 21. Can definitely play 1 or 2 leagues higher.