Forest Green v Rovers

[Rockford's Love Child]

Rovers head to The New Lawn for a first ever counter with Dale Vince's maverick club. Like Eastleigh, FGR have spent a fortune in recent years and it finally seems to be paying off. I saw their recent televised game against Aldershot when they looked an excellent side, the best I have seen this season other than Rovers in their good spell. However, they are currently in patchy form and have arguably their best two players missing through injury for this game, Jon Parkin and Darren Jones, although others such as ex-Newport striker Aaron O'Connor will certainly prove a handful.

In terms of selection, if there are no new arrivals I would return Maynard to midfield in place of Jennings and start with Ridehalgh ahead of Jackson. Whatever shortcomings we have with the absentees, we surely can't play as badly as we did on Tuesday night, and I certainly don't see this game as a foregone conclusion. The Ryan Lowe rumour has surfaced again today, but has been strongly denied by Brabin, but any new arrival would probably not be ready for ninety minutes in this game anyway.

Given FGR's league position, the novelty of a first visit, and the picturesque setting of the ground, I can see a healthy Rovers turnout of about 400 for this game, but our following would have been bigger had the game been played seven days ago. Rovers fans hoping for a burger will be disappointed due to the vegan only menu insisted upon by Mr Vince !

 

[Boz]

Not the game you'd be wanting on the back of two defeats. The hosts, even with two key players absent, look like difficult opponents and Rovers will have to work hard to come out of this game with anything.

It will be interesting to see what reception James Norwood gets, returning to the club where he was leading scorer. Their forum seems to have mixed opinions on him, is he more likely to score against his old side, get wound up and sent off or even both?

I'm unsure that Brabin's strong denials re Lowe carry much weight from a man who said Marlon Jackson wouldn't be playing for us. It's understandable that the manager doesn't want to show his hand.

Assuming no new arrivals, I'd be inclined to play Maynard behind Norwood in a 4-4-1-1 formation, with Ridehalgh on the left and Jennings and Harris in the middle. Expect the back four to stay the same, though only Hill had a reasonable game in midweek. It would be good if we take 400, but I'm expecting nearer to 300. Hope they don't return disappointed.

 

[Sparky]

This will be a very tough encounter and the thought of 3 defeats in a week isn't a nice one. Despite FGR missing some players they will still be a challenge and as RLC says, former Newport man O'Connor is a real handful at this level.

My team would be the same as Boz's. Drop Margetts and bring in Maynard just behind Norwood. Lois has a goal in him and gives some height at set pieces. You would like to think given Norwood's reputation GB will have had a strong word about not getting wound up and sent off. Lets hope nothing untoward happens. I'd also bring in Ridehalgh on the left with the hard working but not particularly talented Mekki on the right. Harris/Jenno in the middle.

I did wonder if the option of restoring Ihikwe was possible. Not great at RB but part of me would prefer Sutton alongside Hogan in the middle rather than Riley.

Prediction (sort of): Defeat or a draw. Hoping its the latter

Re: Lowe. Whether you like or dislike him, there must be major concerns about his match fitness as I don't think he has started a game all season. We can't afford to bring in players playing catch up with their fitness.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

The team suggested by Boz and Sparky above would probably be the best bet for this game. I also like the idea of returning Ihiekwe to the team in place of Riley, who has struggled with the physical side in recent games.

 

[Tartantranmere64]

Icky should play centre half. End of.

 

[bring back the cowshed!]

If only this game had been a week ago, I'd be looking forward to it. On paper, we are really up against it and would do well to get a point or even lose by a single goal. However, we do seem to raise our game against the better sides, so I have a sneaky feeling we might spring a surprise. Again, we'll need the right tactics and attitude plus the run of the green, as happened at Whaddon Road. If we could sign a decent player, such as Gary Taylor-Fletcher, that would lift everyone.

 

[Ian]

I would like to see Sutton back in the centre but we haven't got anyone decent to fill in at right back.

 

[Ian]

Yes 2-0. This is going far too well.

 

[Ian]

Sounded like one of the best 45 mins this season considering we are away to the league leaders. GTF seems to be making a big difference with his quality and it's been pretty much all Rovers in that first half. Lots of chances, very positive and two quality goals. Hope for more of the same in the second half.

 

[bigmart]

great 1st half lets hope for more of the same in the 2nd

 

[bring back the cowshed!]

Two disasters followed by a miracle in just one week! That's what following Rovers can be like this season. Other results went well today, so we've scraped back into the play-offs. Look forward to the reports.

By the way, after my earlier post today, do you think I should buy a lottery ticket?

 

[Ian]

With the addition of GTF, we now have two really excellent forward men at this level. We are now only five points behind the leaders so we are well back in the mix. We are obviously a very good team in this league but we need more consistent performances and not like the ones we saw last week. If we can sort that out, we'll be pushing for top spot.

 

[Tartantranmere64]

Great performance, not a bad player out there - even Mekki did a job. We could - should - have scored five. The first goal was a picture. The back four was immense, especially the two centre-halves who survived a torrid opening from their two giants and got the better of them as the match wore on.

Other than a Davies save on 44 and one off the line on 88 we bossed it. Maynard deserves a mention at right-back. GTF WAS IMMENSE in so many ways, from his ripped shirt (he's enormous) to his touch and movement.

Great backing by 500 SWA. Great day out!

 

[Sparky]

Thanks for the report TT. Well who would have thought that result would come off after Tuesday night. It just shows how frustrating rovers can be!! Great on our day but poor on others.

Sounds like GTF impressed the rovers faithful. When I saw the team I wondered how we would line up given Sutton was dropped. Sounds like Maynard once again did a job for a team in a position he doesn't like. Other results weren't too bad either. Pleased that the defence impressed too.

 

[Ian]

from his ripped shirt (he's enormous) to his touch and movement.

Was he green too?

From what I could make out, his awareness was excellent and that's something a lot of players in this division don't have. If he can setup goals as well as score them we'll be laughing.

 

[Sparky]

Mcnulty signing from Luton rumours have resurfaced today. Some Luton fans saying it's a done deal and he was left out of their squad today for 'family reasons'

 

[Tartantranmere64]

Wouldn't need McNulty if those two play like that every week. Mind you, as GTF SHOWED, experience counts for loads.

When was the last time a player went from Premier League to National league in five months?

 

[Boz]

Sounds like an impressive performance. Was a little surprised at the starting xi as I felt both Hogan and Riley were poorer than Sutton at the Barrow game. Maynard filled in quite well at right-back before, but think his attacking abilities are more use to us. GTF seems to have settled in very quickly, we've only got him until the end of the year and there may be an element of putting himself in the shop window, but hopefully we'll have Mangan back by the end of November and options.

McNulty is a more than reasonable player at this level, but we've already got Hogan, Riley, Sutton, Ihiekwe, Holness as primarily central defenders and a couple of others who could fill in there. When we lack a specialist right-back, another creative central midfielder and winger bringing him in would only make the squad even more unbalanced.

 

[Sparky]

Although only one match we should snap GTF for longer if we can.

Talking of right backs, Danny Holmes was dropped by Newport today. Maybe worth a punt on loan if available.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

An immense performance from Rovers, surely our best of the season given the circumstances. As their manager admitted, we controlled the game from first minute to last and the scoreline is very, very flattering to Forest Green. I have not seen such a one-sided game for a long time, and it looked like top versus bottom, not a top of the table clash. FGR had three shots, two of them miles off target. Incredible. If they are top, we can win this league.

What really impressed me was our second half display. Two goals up it would have been easy for us to try and sit on the lead, but we pushed high up the pitch, pressed and harried and strangled the life out of the opposition. We could have scored four or five in the second half alone.

Collectively and individually we were superb. The back four let nothing past them virtually all game, with Riley much more assured than on Tuesday and winning everything in the air. The midfield duo worked incredibly hard to prevent FGR getting any decent possession and momentum, and Adam Mekki was excellent, his efforts noted by the SWA. I was pleased for him, as you can't fault his commitment. Lois Maynard had a terrific game at right back, and his ability to get forward and create is really useful in that position. Scott Davies was called upon to make one save, a brilliant tip round the post just before half time, at a crucial moment in the game.

However, it was the forwards that were the difference. Norwood was clearly well up for the game and was a constant menace with his energy and movement. Man of the match, however, was GTF who was on a different footballing planet to any other player on the pitch. His vision, awareness and first touch was fantastic and he seemed to develop an instant understanding with Norwood. FGR could not live with our front line. It has been suggested above that we should be happy to let him go when Mangan returns. We certainly should not, as he could be the difference between winning the league and play offs. He will be SUPERB at this level, the best player in this division and better than most in the two above. If McNulty comes in as well, all the better. We need as much quality as we can get.

Having seen us play Grimsby, Cheltenham, Wrexham, Eastleigh and FGR, I believe we are the best team in this division and we certainly have no trouble in 'difficult' games. We just need to be more professional in seeing off the dross and this could be a season to remember.

A perfect away day: a lovely location, friendly locals, superb turnout from the SWA and a fantastic performance.