rovers v torquay

[aldoes mustache]

I know that torquay have had a few good results of late. But are home form . Apart from the cup . Has been great of late. 10 goels in 3 games and noors has got 5 of em. . Lets get at em fast dont change a winning team . And with cookie also getting some good form . And at last we have someone who can score from midfield in Norborn. The amazing clark has to play . Been great since he got in the team . Im on for another 4-0 both cook an noors to bet 2 each 5k plus an me winning the half time draw lol

 

[bring back the cowshed!]

I'd settle for that, AM. Hope you make it to the match this time.

 

[Ian]

It's a shame in a way that we had the 2-week break as although you could say the team have rested they've also lost a bit of that momentum especially after the good 4-0 win against Maidstone. I agree with AM, we need to keep that momentum going and probably wouldn't disturb the team for this reason. Boz and RLC touched on this in another thread but I would be inclined to go with Boz and keep the team that won so convincingly against Maidstone.

They all played well and I think they should keep their place on merit otherwise I think it sends out the wrong message. Having said that I'm not sure how helpful having McNulty would be sitting on the bench. One thing I am sure about, Clarke has to play ahead of Ridehalgh. His crossing is miles better and he has bags of energy running up and down the left side.

Hope Cook and Norwood continue their good form together. I want to see a similar performance with the players chasing the ball down and putting in lots of effort.

 

[Sparky]

Rightly or wrongly I'll be amazed if McNulty doesn't come back into the side. He's the club captain and whilst he has his moments and Gumbs did ok last time out, knowing Micky he'll bring big Steve back in.

Agree Clarke should stay in even if Liam fit and we should keep the same eleven with Harris returning to the bench.

Torquay won't be easy given their half decent recent form but it's an opportunity for another 3 points.

 

[bring back the cowshed!]

This is the sort of game we should be winning by 3-1 or so. It won't be easy, it never is. Maidstone certainly wasn't until the last 15 minutes. But a solid performance with a good work rate should secure the points.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

Torquay have kept clean sheets in their last three matches, including games against Sutton and Aldershot, so I don't think this is going to be a goalfest. The Gulls seem to be a well organised team under Gary Owers, and we might have to be patient in this one.

In terms of our own selection, I think McNulty should and will start. Nothing against Gumbs, but Big Mac is the best and most experienced defender and organiser we have and you don't leave key players out of must-win games. As I have said previously, Eddie Clarke deserves to start ahead of Ridehalgh purely on merit and I think the rest of the side will be unchanged.

The weather forecast for the weekend is not great but I think the game will go ahead.

Prediction: a narrow Rovers victory in front of a crowd of 4,000 - 4,500 with about 100 visitors.

 

[Boz]

We managed our biggest win of the season without McNulty in the side, against an opponent who were higher placed than Torquay, albeit in a run of poor form. We conceded NO goals in that game, so Big Steve's return arguably wouldn't improve things as it's not possible to concede any fewer than last time out. Mellon's man-management of Gumbs has been poor compared to his treatment of the other youngsters Duggan and Clarke and I would be very disappointed, though not surprised, if he changes a winning side to put McNulty straight back in. Haven't read anything about whether Ridehalgh is fit again, but even if he is, Clarke also deserves to retain his place for the same reasons. However, while Eddie certainly offers more going forward than Liam, at this stage they seem more evenly matched defensively.

Torquay are in reasonable form at present as RLC indicates and this will be a tight game. Both previous NL home clashes ended with a 2-1 win to Rovers. Ex Rovers player Jennison Myrie-Williams and loanee Sean McGinty now turn out for the Gulls.

Prediction: It is hard to assess turnout for this one, given we got more than expected for Dagenham but a disappointing crowd for Maidstone, which cannot totally be blamed on the motorway problem. With the Scouse derby being on a Sunday, but the weather forecast not being great, I'd reckon about 4.1k, with the 100 from Torquay RLC suggests. I fear that we'll be ring-rusty and share the spolis in this game.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

I don't particularly want to labour the point about McNulty. If Gumbs started on Saturday I would be pleased for him and perfectly happy. However, it annoys me that a large section of our support underrate and undermine Mac purely because of his weight, despite the fact he has been our most consistent defender at this level.

The argument that 'we did not concede without McNulty, therefore his replacement is necessarily better' is a bit thin I must say.

 

[Boz]

I have made no reference to McNulty’s weight, if anything he has lost weight and improved his fitness over the summer break. There will inevitably be an assessment as to whether the pros of playing McNulty in terms of his experience and organisational ability outweigh the cons, primarily the need to defend deeper due to his lack of pace and my own view fluctuates on this. All our defenders, save McEveley, have done reasonably well when called upon this season.

Your second paragraph seems to have been based on a straw man argument. My point was that as a defender,Gumbs could do no better than be part of a defence which did not concede and there is no reason to change that defence. I did not assert that he was a better player than McNulty, which is a different discussion entirely.

 

[aldoes mustache]

Would be good if the boys would stop messing around at the back . Trying to be man city at the back . Its caused lots of problems just get rid an clear the lines. As for big mac . He is one of are better defenders. And like all of em he makes mistakes he is human . And would have him over jay mmceverly who should never play in a white shirt again

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

Is gumbs actually that much more mobile than McNulty ? He is quite heavily built himself. We actually defended very deep in the second half against Maidstone. While you might not have specifically referred to his size, there is no doubt that underlies a lot of the criticism of him. McNulty is ahead of gumbs in the pecking order in most people's eyes and that obviously influences the decision of who to play on Saturday.

 

[Ian]

To be fair to McNulty he’s lost a lot of weight compared to when he first arrived. I would agree he’s our best defender and captain so to leave him out doesn’t make sense. I just think it’s a bit harsh on Gumbs who grew in confidence and had a solid game. I’d like to see more of him and he needs games but we’ve had this debate before about when is the right time to be blooding the youngsters, so probably just best to assume Big Mac will be back on Sat.

 

[Sparky]

I have no issues with his weight. Plenty of centre halves are slow but Big Mac is so good at reading the same.

I think he has had a few lapses this season which I've mentioned in previous threads. At times I still think he is liable to mess about at the back a bit or try a cushioned header in the box instead of finding row z - but I'd still pick him tho. I also think he is a marked man by some refs and has contributed to this in the past getting involved in incidents and swinging the odd arm. Incidentally I think Sutton has been our best defender this season.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

Yes, I would agree that Sutton has been excellent this season.

 

[Sparky]

Pitch inspection tomorrow morning unsurprisingly

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

There is no snow forecast until Sunday but heavy rain is expected tomorrow morning and afternoon, so a waterlogged pitch is a possibility. Have to hope this goes ahead as we don't want to be cut adrift any further.

 

[bring back the cowshed!]

Yes, but I think a boggy pitch would only help our visitors. I would be less bothered about a home postponement than an away one. Torquay won't want a,midweek winter trip to PP.

 

[Boz]

Torquay won't want a,midweek winter trip to PP.

Neither would I!

While on balance, would rather the game goes ahead (in decent conditions).

 

[drwhoman]

I see your point regarding a midweek trip to Prenton Park BBTC, but the downside is that it would be another game in a crowded programme in which our players might be struggling with niggles or injuries. We have limited selection options with such a small first team squad. The odds are that other games will be postponed in January and February and therefore it is probably best if we complete this fixture now. With a win of course!

 

[aldoes mustache]

13 hrs till home cant wait loved aus . But love my own country more . With the weather forecast hopefully will get to pp with my family . Come on whites . They are poo lets do this . And warm us up . My little girle and me are donna do snow angels on sunday . Love it . My mum says she is snowed in in Leicester ☺