League Two Newport v Rovers

[Ian]

We probably shouldn't be too surprised at the lack of goals because we aren't going to score a hatful with Hemmings and Nevitt. As Sparky mentioned, there's no competition for places, midfield aren't chipping in with goals and we are back to last season where we are mustering one shot on target. Also, where's the risky play Mellon promised? Playing five at the back all game is not what I would call risky football. Jameson should have gone off too, he had a pretty bad game.

 

[Sparky]

2 away wins in the league since January and one of them was Orient away at the end of last season who were thinking of their summer holidays.

So it’s 3 defeats from our opening 5 games. Not panic time yet but if the same again after another 5 then questions will be asked

 

[Keith Hill (Bolton)]

Just have to say that if we play someone in poor form, they will win!

There will be a former Rovers player and a local lad quite happy this evening, he came through our academy, was never given a chance by the club and moved on. Due to the crap contract he was offered.

Any guesses?

And yes he is better than any player out on that park today in a Rovers shirt!

 

[Boz]

It’s hard to evaluate from just the commentary and I appreciate our threadbare squad is depleted by injuries, but not convinced that Micky made the best use of the players at his disposal this afternoon. The first half seemed to be characterised by a combination of poor finishing and defending. Rovers didn’t have any forwards on the bench, so unable to change things there, but we could easily have taken Jamieson off at half time, gone to a back four and put Hawkes on. The choice that he did make to change the midfield were puzzling. Merrie didn’t seem to be having a bad game. Lewis perhaps was, but if you’re going to either switch to or allow your opponents to impose a more aerial game, then his height is useful. It didn’t sound that either Nolan or O’Connor imposed themselves on the game in any meaningful way. The reality was Rovers barely had an attempt worthy of the name in the second half and had it not been for Bogel wasting opportunities and a good save from Doohan, the scoreline could easily have been worse.

 

[Sparky]

Agree with a lot of what you say boz although merrie was poor in my opinion. He’s been great of late but today had an off day. It happens.

I suspect Micky and many of the SWA will just say this is what happens with a new system and new players. It takes times. We’ll have good days like gillingham and bad days like today.

That is all well and good but in this day and age it’s results that count and 1 win from 5 isn’t great

 

[bigmart]

We probably shouldn't be too surprised at the lack of goals because we aren't going to score a hatful with Hemmings and Nevitt. As Sparky mentioned, there's no competition for places, midfield aren't chipping in with goals and we are back to last season where we are mustering one shot on target. Also, where's the risky play Mellon promised? Playing five at the back all game is not what I would call risky football. Jameson should have gone off too, he had a pretty bad game.

Supposed be playing a high pressing game but it's not happening, 1 point away against 2 poor teams is not good enough

 

[Boz]

Agree with a lot of what you say boz although merrie was poor in my opinion. He’s been great of late but today had an off day. It happens.

I suspect Micky and many of the SWA will just say this is what happens with a new system and new players. It takes times. We’ll have good days like gillingham and bad days like today.

That is all well and good but in this day and age it’s results that count and 1 win from 5 isn’t great

It’s difficult to judge from the commentary re Merrie. Both you and Ian who were watching seem to think he should have come off, others feel that he was at least trying to play the ball on the deck and look for attacking options, the Rovers match commentators felt that there was a lack of movement off the ball ahead of him. It didn’t sound like he was the worst player on the park during the first half. Did you think that either Nolan or O’Connor made much impact when they came on?

 

[ALDO MUSSY]

At the end of the day, we knew what mm would play he won't change he was as stubborn as they come as for recruitment again we have come into the season with 3 main forwards one of which is supposed to be learning his trade and one who looks like he will be out more than in the team and with one winger we are never going to attack attack attack, so is it JV as Director of football making the decisions on players who knows but apart from a couple of the recruits some again are piss poor Jamerson for one should not be any near the team he is a liability and the Oldham fans warned us about him

 

[ALDO MUSSY]

going for a beer I need one

 

[Sparky]

It’s difficult to judge from the commentary re Merrie. Both you and Ian who were watching seem to think he should have come off, others feel that he was at least trying to play the ball on the deck and look for attacking options, the Rovers match commentators felt that there was a lack of movement off the ball ahead of him. It didn’t sound like he was the worst player on the park during the first half. Did you think that either Nolan or O’Connor made much impact when they came on?

Nolan looked neat and tidy but isn’t the most mobile. He’s quite similar to merrie in that he’s a good passer but can’t really get up and down. OConnor was neither good or bad and I can’t remember him doing anything worthwhile.

The second half was the most disappointing aspect as we created nothing when Micky could have gone to 4 at the back and for hawkes on earlier

 

[ALDO MUSSY]

for Mellon's sake, we need to win Against Colchester next weekend, as we play Orient away on the 3rd and I am saying it now we will get Tw74ted against them the way we are playing and the way they are too god help us if Newcastle play some first teamers

 

[Ian]

To be fair to Merrie, he does like to pass it on the floor and pass it around but his mobility is not great. He was nowhere near the worst player in the first half but we needed an injection of pace and something different. Nolan still doesn't look fit enough for me, he is good with the ball but was off the pace.

Don't want to sound like a broken record but the forward play really need an overhaul. It just doesn't work and makes little impact. Hemmings far too deep sucking up high balls. Nevitt running around but most of the time to little effect. Not using the wide men enough. Bristow and Cogley have great pace and should be running at their defenders, getting crosses in, causing problems in the box but it is too easy to defend as it is now.

Looking at the stats, we had 61% possession and 1 shot on target as opposed to Newport's 5 sot. Micky has to start making changes and trying different things as clearly this is not working.

 

[ALDO MUSSY]

Hemmings need to be in the box and again looking at the Bench today it is plain and simple a cheap Recruitment policy they can talk About stats and all that shit but they think we are fools no chance

 

[Sparky]

Like Ian I don’t want to sound like a broken record but we were only a few points off the play off last season. We had the best home record in the division.

We’ve ripped all that up and are trying to reinvent the wheel. Such drastic changes weren’t needed at all and it could cost Micky his job

 

[Ian]

I actually feel a little bit for Micky after listening to his post match interview. Sounds like he's desperate for players but in his own words 'we have what we have'. However, I think he could help himself but ditching the five at the back and going risky! It is quite limited though with the shortage of attacking options in the squad. Doesn't sound like he has any answers though.

Fair play to DJ too. He did ask him about the limited options and the depth of the squad, or lack of it which I think it pretty obvious for all to see.

 

[Outoftowner]

It’s difficult to judge from the commentary re Merrie. Both you and Ian who were watching seem to think he should have come off, others feel that he was at least trying to play the ball on the deck and look for attacking options, the Rovers match commentators felt that there was a lack of movement off the ball ahead of him. It didn’t sound like he was the worst player on the park during the first half. Did you think that either Nolan or O’Connor made much impact when they came on?

I was watched the game and thought Merrie did ok in first half he certainly should not have been substituted at half time. IMO they performed worse in the second half than the first !

 

[Ian]

 

[bigmart]

I actually feel a little bit for Micky after listening to his post match interview. Sounds like he's desperate for players but in his own words 'we have what we have'. However, I think he could help himself but ditching the five at the back and going risky! It is quite limited though with the shortage of attacking options in the squad. Doesn't sound like he has any answers though.

Fair play to DJ too. He did ask him about the limited options and the depth of the squad, or lack of it which I think it pretty obvious for all to see.

That's worrying on several counts, the squad is nowhere near strong enough and Micky doesn't know how to get improvement out of the team

 

[Sparky]

Interesting Micky mentions ‘seasoned pros’ and the consistency they give you. The club have made a specific decision to go down the young players route and removing the number of these pros from the group. Another clean sheet for Clarke today and I can’t help thinking we need people like him to be defensively strong in league two.

It feels to me that we’re as impotent up front this season as we were last season, but worst at the back.

 

[Boz]

I can understand why he couldn’t change the attack, but find Micky’s explanation for changing the midfield unconvincing. Bringing on a more defensive pair when MM accepts we needed attacking movement makes no sense. He should have been looking to get Hawkes on sooner.