League Two Northampton v Rovers

[Ian]

Under massive pressure here and just booting it out when we get it. What have they been working hard on this week in training?!? Shambles of a half.

 

[ALDO MUSSY]

down to 5th and 2 points from being out of the playoffs Melon this is shit sort it fkn out

 

[Ian]

We just had a shot, the keeper had to make a save!

 

[frenchrover]

Just cant believe Palios is happy with this.....never thought I'd ever say this but this is worse than Hill

 

[bigmart]

Absolutely embarrassing, tactically woefull

 

[Ian]

We have to have a go here, surely...

 

[Boz]

I don’t think subbing Doohan now will do anyone any good. However he appears to be one of Micky’s sacred cows; undroppable. No changes at h/t

 

[Sparky]

No subs brought on. We have options on the bench so hopefully they get used

 

[ADD]

Never a foul.

 

[Ian]

Never a foul.

Agreed.

 

[frenchrover]

Just had a good goal from Hemmings...disallowed...when it was a good goal

 

[frenchrover]

This referee is an absolute joke

 

[Sparky]

Mcpake gets one back. But the damage has been done

 

[Sparky]

3-2. Hemmings penalty. Surely not???

 

[Sparky]

Game over. 3-2 defeat. All Those clean sheets seem a long time go. Did the changes to the starting 11 work? Not really given Burton and mcmanaman were both subbed at 3-0. The league position looks worse week after week

 

[bring back the cowshed!]

I am looking forward to the reports. We were trying new players in a new system. How close were we to grabbing a draw?
Other results could have been a lot worse. We are still in the playoffs but need to start to pick up some points.

 

[frenchrover]

The score line disguises how poor we were today, particularly in the first half and the first 30 minutes of the second. The game turned for us with the substitution of Hawkes for McManaman when at last we were able to play football rather than the defensive hoofball we played for the previous 75 minutes. But the terrible defending which led to conceding 3 goals was always going to prove too much to reverse. Dreadful performances by Doohan, Knight-Percival, Cogley and Warrington, exacerbated presumably by the total uncertainty of the shambolic team line-up, are hard to accept. Undoubtably Mellon was endeavoring to make a point regarding performances in respect of the run of previous poor results. Well, if so, that back-fired good style. Why oh why was Morris, one of, if not our most creative forward player, asked to play as full back...when McDonald was good enough to make the bench...just beggars belief. Why was Burton who has never figured in the first team given preference over....Hawkes, Jolley or Glatzel...just crazy.
Some serious questions need to be asked of management for their team selection for what was such an important game likely to seriously impact on our promotion chances. Smacks of total desperation.

 

[Boz]

It's hard to evaluate the game from commentary, but it sounded like their goals came from sucker punches, while they didn't say much about the Hemmings disallowed effort. We certainly improved after the changes. I think Burton for Glatzel was almost pre-planned and while it sounded like Jake was out-muscled at time, he didn't have a bad game. Warrington was struggling a bit today, so fair to bring the more experienced Foley on. Mcmanaman on what I've heard didn't do anything to justify his start and Hawkes seemed to improve our attacking play. It will be interesting to see if we stick with a similar formation, if not personnel in the game v Mansfield.

I'd disagree with BBTC in that save for Port Vale losing, the results went as badly as they could for us.

 

[Sparky]

Agree some bizarre team selections which must have some of the senior players wondering what’s going on. Burton starting just looked like a major panic. Ok Davies hasn’t looked too good of late but NKP isn’t good enough. McDonald has had a great season overall - yes not great recently but to play Morris on the left is a joke. Mcmanaman has been poor all season so to start ahead of hawkes is bizarre

 

[bring back the cowshed!]

Maybe Micky needed to make his point that no one’s place is certain. We’ll see how we line up next week. With the exception of Merrie and Maguire, every fit squad member has featured recently.