Welcome back Bristol Rovers

[Chippy]

Welcome back Bristol Rovers. Nice to see a Luton old boy Lee Mansell net the winning penalty. Good game to watch if lacking in a bit of quality (have seen both teams this season play far better than that).

Glad it's the Gas back, fed up of Tuesday's in Grimsby, and never been to the Mem.

No better feeling than getting out of that cesspit sh*thole that is the non-league. Think you'll do OK next year.

 

[AdamStag]

To come out after only a sentence of 1 year is a pretty good deal for the Rovers fans. Poor Wrexham will be on their 8th this season - Grimsby and Lincoln must be around 6/7 years down there.

I think that's what made this season so unbearable with us struggling - we knew what was awaiting us, and that we would never get back out of it.

I suspect Tranmere will do alright once they find their feet

 

[Gassy]

Tranmere are going in with apparently a £1m+ budget, unless they completely cock it up, they'll be fighting. I expect Grimsby, FGR, Eastleigh, Tranmere and someone else to make up the top 5 this season. The 3 we played this season were all very good and will likely improve

 

[yellow]

When we played the Gas at our place last year, I said to my mate who is a Gashead that Ellis Harrison has something about him.

As others have said - Clarke has done wonders with him, as he was 'out on his ear' quote Darrell Clarke at the end of last season, and he also seems to have found him a new position upfront, as I believe he was being played off the wing under Ward and for the majority of last season. He also had rape accusations if I remember correctly - but he's certainly sorted himself out, with the help of Darrell Clarke.

Hard to predict how Rovers will do next season, but they have every right to give it a go, with a young manager, a fairly young squad, some good quality in there, such as Mansell, Parkes, Taylor, Monkhouse who all wouldn't be out of place in the top half of L2.

As for Darrell Clarke personally - for Rovers fans he must be an absolute breath of fresh air compared to Ward, and his passion was there for all to be seen at the end of last season when times were hard, and today when he ran half the length of the pitch out of joy over to the many Gasheads. I like young managers being given a chance, and Clarke is pretty fearless and adventurous, and he's converted from coach to manager very well judging by that season.

Fair play Gasheads, be it Non-League or not, it's your time in the Sun for today.

As I mentioned on the non-league board, I will be surprised if Lee Mansell is good enough for league football. The last two years for us he was utter tripe - ran around like a headless chicken with no real quality. Perhaps the move has completely reinvigorated him, but my current stance is that Rovers will need to do a fair bit of work.

The gap between Conference + L2 seems to be getting slowly wider, so I feel both Barnet and Rovers have a bit of work to do, especially if the former lose Akinde this summer.

 

[rudebwoyben]

There's no reason for us to lose Akinde this summer unless we receive an absolutely ridiculous bid for him (I'm talking a fair way above £500k).

 

[LordJord]

Well done Rovers on getting out of that hell hole of a league. That being said I dont agree with the thought that you will be challenging for the playoffs this season, dont think any Rovers fans would complain about a comfortable mid table finish though.

Feel sorry for Grimsby, didnt stop singing throughout.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Tranmere are going in with apparently a £1m+ budget, unless they completely cock it up, they'll be fighting. I expect Grimsby, FGR, Eastleigh, Tranmere and someone else to make up the top 5 this season. The 3 we played this season were all very good and will likely improve

Barrow could be the other, they are throwing huge money at it although claiming that they are 'doing it right' of course.

 

[yellow]

There's no reason for us to lose Akinde this summer unless we receive an absolutely ridiculous bid for him (I'm talking a fair way above £500k).

I didn't mean to imply that there was, but his scoring record this season will certainly have attracted some eyes, I'm sure.

 

[rudebwoyben]

I didn't mean to imply that there was, but his scoring record this season will certainly have attracted some eyes, I'm sure.

Very true, it's only natural that scoring 30 League goals last season will have brought him some attention. He's had a peripatetic career so far, rising too high too fast to the Championship when he wasn't mentally ready for it and not settling anywhere. His last two seasons have been the best in his career and I think he's feeling the benefit of being the main striker here. I believe he's pretty settled here with us and needs a really productive season in the Football League to cement his reputation.

 

[Bobbin']

I can!

Well done Rovers, imagine you'll do ok next season

Yeah, I have a rough idea too! Feel sorry for any fan that has to sit through it, pure torture. Worth it if your side wins the shoot-out though.

 

[Judge Dredd]

There's no reason for us to lose Akinde this summer unless we receive an absolutely ridiculous bid for him (I'm talking a fair way above £500k).

How long does he have left on his contract? It was a two year deal when he initially signed wasn't it?

 

[rudebwoyben]

http://www.barnetfc.com/news/article/retained-list-for-new-season-announced-2449190.aspx
According to this, he has two more years left on his contract.

 

[ComeOnIrene]

Really? Any need for the City bit? We have offered our congratulations yet you have the need for a dig?
Just enjoy your moment and don't compare your club to ours as, with all possible respect, you wouldn't like the result.
You are a long, long way from City my friend. We, in case you didn't notice, pissed L1, won the JPT in front of 43000 City fans and are half way through a beautiful ground rebuild.
Concentrate on your club and stop trying to compare with us. It will chew you up.

Well done again.

I'm making no comparisons and I honestly couldn't care less about City now. You are off my radar completely as you are two divisions above us. As Bobbin' says, you guys infiltrated the Conference forum and now this thread to talk about US! Surely most fans wouldn't dream of posting on threads to do with their local rivals when they have been promoted - why would you? I know it wouldn't cross my mind to go on to a City thread - the thought of it makes me cringe.

It wasn't intended to be a particular dig at you CU as I know you are a knowledgeable and very fair poster, but it's as if a lot of City fans come on here ready to antagonise and point out at every opportunity the superiority of their club. I just find it strange that despite the success they still want to talk about Rovers.

Anyway, back on topic. Delighted to be back in what looks set to be a very competitive League Two next season.

 

[Gashead]

Welcome back Bristol Rovers. Nice to see a Luton old boy Lee Mansell net the winning penalty. Good game to watch if lacking in a bit of quality (have seen both teams this season play far better than that).

Glad it's the Gas back, fed up of Tuesday's in Grimsby, and never been to the Mem.

No better feeling than getting out of that cesspit sh*thole that is the non-league. Think you'll do OK next year.

Yes, I was going to say that it was a very poor game - though that was always expected given the implications of winning, and more importantly losing. We were particularly edgy and I thought we were quite poor, so I hope no neutrals watched it and judged us on that 'performance', especially not Tranmere fans who would now think that non-league is a piece of piss

There's no reason for us to lose Akinde this summer unless we receive an absolutely ridiculous bid for him (I'm talking a fair way above £500k).

I think clubs may wait to see if Akinde can replicate his form in the FL, I know Gray has made the step up but given Akinde's previous record in the league it wouldn't surprise me if clubs held off before making a hefty bid, especially if its anywhere near what you state.

 

[Murphy]

Like Gashead says, from experience I'd be very surprised if any Football League club bid significant money for him. The only club I could say paying that sort of money is an Eastleigh or Forest Green as they know he can perform in the Conference - he's never been prolific in the league, although he's always been a useful player to have for any club, that's certainly what I found anyway.

Also, good to have Rovers back as we should have some more activity on this board from now on

 

[Judge Dredd]

I think clubs may wait to see if Akinde can replicate his form in the FL, I know Gray has made the step up but given Akinde's previous record in the league it wouldn't surprise me if clubs held off before making a hefty bid, especially if its anywhere near what you state.

Gray has made the step up, but then he scored the same number of goals as Akinde whilst playing essentially as a right winger. He also only took one penalty all season, meaning 29 of his goals were from open play - didn't Akinde score something like a third of his goals from penalties?

 

[miagsygas]

Thanks for the warm welcome.

Now the dust has settled, I thought i'd talk about our team a little.

At present, and from watching a lot of L2 football over the years, i'd say we're about a midtable team. Excellent defensively, the most we conceded in any one game was 2 throughout the season, and that was early on, away, against the eventual league winners, when we had a slow start. We only lost 5 games all season. Our weakness was scoring goals but that got fixed at the end of the season. A couple of decent signings (Lines and Adam Dawson are already virtually nailed on) and we've got a real good chance at pushing for playoffs. Jermaine Easter getting to full fitness will also be like a new signing.

More than anything else, we've got an exceptional young manager.

Never been so happy to be back League 2.

Can't wait for the season now.

 

[Gashead]

Gray has made the step up, but then he scored the same number of goals as Akinde whilst playing essentially as a right winger. He also only took one penalty all season, meaning 29 of his goals were from open play - didn't Akinde score something like a third of his goals from penalties?

Yes, this is true - maybe not a third but a number were pens.

I didn't really know the ins and outs of Gray's Luton career, but to score that amount without penalties and from a wide position is excellent - no surprise then that he has made the step up.

I think there are more questions re: Akinde, I'm not doubting he's an excellent striker at Conf level but the question remains as to whether he can step up to the FL. I think he will, but not necessarily as a 30-goal a season striker.

 

[Shrimpurh]

I look at Bristol Rovers and think they are exactly the same as us in terms of size and everything and we are both having problems with Sainsbury's about new stadiums. I haven't been Rovers and have been Grimsby so prefer them to come up. Possibly a little night out on the cards but hopefully we don't even play you but congrats!

 

[BeesKnees]

A discussion as to who is better between Gray and Akinde is clearly pointless. Gray stepped up and succeeded, Akinde didn't and is now rebuilding a career and reputation. He has shown he is capable at conference level where defenders and goalkeepers have a heart attack every time he runs at them, things wont be anywhere near as easy for him next season.
I also disagree with holding Akindes penalty count against him as they were nearly all because the defence decided they couldn't stop him any other way and he didnt take all the penalties he was awarded.

 

[Judge Red]

There's no reason for us to lose Akinde this summer unless we receive an absolutely ridiculous bid for him (I'm talking a fair way above £500k).

That sounds quite funny to anyone at Crawley. I think he scored one goal for us in quite a few games. The daft thing is that I reckon he's a decent player - he just couldn't score. We loved him here. For all his lack of goals, he never stopped trying. He created havoc in defences and caused goals to be scored by others - he just couldn't get them himself.

 

[rudebwoyben]

Yes, we know all about his record for league clubs before he joined us (although he had a good loan spell at Wycombe). He played in your League 2 promotion season didn't he? He wouldn't have been the main man for you then and it seems like it's taken a few years for him to reach his peak.

 

[George Reilly's Hairpiece]

Like Gashead says, from experience I'd be very surprised if any Football League club bid significant money for him.

When did Peterborough stop paying well over the odds? If they gave us £150k for Hatch, £500k for Akinde would be no sweat for them.

 

[JJH]

https://www.facebook.com/FootyAccumulators/videos/462676087224310/ - Darrell Clarke's latest venture into The Vic pub.

 

[LongEatonPie]

When did Peterborough stop paying well over the odds? If they gave us £150k for Hatch, £500k for Akinde would be no sweat for them.

I think it has something to do with the FFP farce!

 

[JJH]

To the Gasheads moaning about us City fans on here - to be fair, I've offered my congratulations, and gave a favorable opinion to Rovers and their chances next season.

It's a football forum hey, and I haven't said anything bitter or that would upset someone, but living in North Bristol surrounded by Gasheads, and seeing them play a fair few times on the Box this season, I'd like to think my opinion on Rovers is a valid one.

 

[Heisenberg20]

https://www.facebook.com/FootyAccumulators/videos/462676087224310/ - Darrell Clarke's latest venture into The Vic pub.

Cant watch it, when I watched the last one that was cringey enough. Congratulations on getting promoted though to Rovers, no need to be bitter about it from our behalf they aint no threat.

 

[JJH]

Cant watch it, when I watched the last one that was cringey enough. Congratulations on getting promoted though to Rovers, no need to be bitter about it from our behalf they aint no threat.

It's actually quite funny to be honest - certainly better than the last one

 

[ConnorFackinThomas]

https://www.facebook.com/FootyAccumulators/videos/462676087224310/ - Darrell Clarke's latest venture into The Vic pub.

Genius tbh. Rather this Clarke than the one sobbing in a post match interview.

 

[Heisenberg20]

It's actually quite funny to be honest certainly better than the last one

Good old Dopey Darrell, got his work cut out next season IMO. Personally for me my dislike for Swindon is far greater than Rovers.