League Two Stags v Rovers

[aldoes mustache]

if I was Maynard I would be off now if mani gets the not over him would be more effective having Morris up top wrong team today something needs to change we are going to struggle we have played ok against most of the top teams, but have lost to two of the worst teams in the LG and another in the cup, I am not going to rant but it is nearly 30 games since we scored 3 goals in a LG game, the middle of the park is too old and slow i am not going to say anything else now

 

[Sparky]

Agree with Ian that Maynard and Nevitt haven’t had anywhere near enough time to play together. Also agree that Watson is a decent player - Northampton’s player of the year last season in league one. We’ve just not had a system to get the best out of him.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

Micky frank in his assessment of our failings today.

On the Nevitt-Maynard combo being our best option up from, in the early games they played together there were signs of potential for a future pairing. However v Northampton, they didn't appear to link up at all.

The Northampton game was a collectively woeful performance, so unfair to judge them on that.

 

[aldoes mustache]

the last two games have been woeful, with no creativity no flare and a very big lack of goals, says it all when we have a 40-year-old who is our top scorer, and we have a guy who has scored 15 in 50 games if you put his sub on too 109 games 15 goals says it all my mum could score more than him

 

[Boz]

The Northampton game was a collectively woeful performance, so unfair to judge them on that.

True, but Maynard barely touched the ball in that game, though like Watson brought on when the game had effectively gone. He’s never given the impression of wanting to be with us, from the joining interview onwards. There were signs of a partnership developing with Nevitt in the early games, so suppose worth another go. Think I’d prefer trying Watson as a no 10 given his goal scoring last season.

 

[drwhoman]

What can you say that is new? The same number of goals scored as the bottom four teams - eleven. Ollie Banks alone has seven for Barrow. We can criticise the defence for the goals being conceded but they are keeping us afloat. A shame that MM left at all as a whole season was lost in identifying top targets for 21-22. We have been left with a dogs breakfast of a strike force non of of whom can be relied upon whatever the playing system used. It may be grasping at straws but you can only hope that some miraculous transformation can be engineered in the January transfer window oor else it is going to be a long long season. I know that my comments are probably a rehash of what others have said but it is all very frustrating!

 

[keep the faith]

what's scary is that no matter what league we find ourselves in next season the squad overall will be massive under micky we rely on too many players effectively at the ends of their careers, he doesn't appear to trust bringing youth forward assuming we have any one to come through,

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

True, but Maynard barely touched the ball in that game, though like Watson brought on when the game had effectively gone. He’s never given the impression of wanting to be with us, from the joining interview onwards. There were signs of a partnership developing with Nevitt in the early games, so suppose worth another go. Think I’d prefer trying Watson as a no 10 given his goal scoring last season.

All we did was punt long balls vaguely in the direction of Maynard, which is why he never touched the ball. However grumpy he looks in interviews, he is more likely to score a goal than any of the other forwards. He is a natural goalscorer who has never been renowned for his workrate. Nevitt provides the workrate.

Watson scored eight goals in total least season. Foley is already on course to match that total, but the odd gaol from midfield is not the issue. We need more from the forward line.

 

[Ian]

Yes, I think he calls himself a 'fox in the box'. Not sure why all the negativity for Maynard though @Boz ?

 

[Sparky]

Just watched the goals back and the penalty. Shocking defending for all 3.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

What can you say that is new? The same number of goals scored as the bottom four teams - eleven. Ollie Banks alone has seven for Barrow. We can criticise the defence for the goals being conceded but they are keeping us afloat. A shame that MM left at all as a whole season was lost in identifying top targets for 21-22. We have been left with a dogs breakfast of a strike force non of of whom can be relied upon whatever the playing system used. It may be grasping at straws but you can only hope that some miraculous transformation can be engineered in the January transfer window oor else it is going to be a long long season. I know that my comments are probably a rehash of what others have said but it is all very frustrating!

It was not MM's departure that led to poor recruitment in the centre forward position. It is the whole recruitment process, from the top of the club down, that has left us strong in some areas of the pitch and incredibly weak in another.

Other clubs with similar resources to us, such as Port Vale and Orient, have recruited far better strikers without spending a fortune.

 

[Charlton1975]

Just checked something, the 7 oldest starting lines ups in league 2 this season have all been from Tranmere. My big concern at the start of the season was that we have so many ageing players, and that will then dictate that we play in a very slow and conservative manner.

We need some young and exciting legs, bar Hawkes, we just dont have anything going forward, and that is probably why our top scorer is a centre back.

 

[Keith Hill (Bolton)]

It was not MM's departure that led to poor recruitment in the centre forward position. It is the whole recruitment process, from the top of the club down, that has left us strong in some areas of the pitch and incredibly weak in another.

Other clubs with similar resources to us, such as Port Vale and Orient, have recruited far better strikers without spending a fortune.

Been saying this since summer.
Also better players going to non league clubs rather than us.

 

[Ian]

Blink and you might miss the Tranmere highlights..

 

[Boz]

I think the defence and midfield are strong, but there are huge shortcomings in the centre forward position. None of the five forwards are good enough, for differing reasons.

All we did was punt long balls vaguely in the direction of Maynard, which is why he never touched the ball. However grumpy he looks in interviews, he is more likely to score a goal than any of the other forwards. He is a natural goalscorer who has never been renowned for his workrate. Nevitt provides the workrate.

Watson scored eight goals in total least season. Foley is already on course to match that total, but the odd gaol from midfield is not the issue. We need more from the forward line.

Yes, I think he calls himself a 'fox in the box'. Not sure why all the negativity for Maynard though @Boz ?

RLC, your first quote suggests that you're not totally convinced by the Maynard option either?

In fact Maynard scored less goals than Ryan Watson last season, though that can be partially attributed to an inability to force his way into Mansfield and Newport's team as he only played roughly half a season's worth of games. While I agree Nicky was given little to feed off in the Northampton game, but he looked dis-interested and made minimal effort to get involved.

For the same reason that I would like to see Walker involved until Hawkes is fit again, despite my reservations I would go along with trying the Nevitt-Maynard combo to see if it can deliver the goals that our current 1 up top is failing to. However it will depend on how good Maynard is in attacking the decent balls put into the box as Nevitt's work is mainly done further back and his anticipation skills are still a work in progress.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

I think Maynard is the best of a bad bunch. He is the only striker with any goalscoring pedigree.

He has been far more prolific than Ryan Watson in the last decade.

 

[Boz]

I think Maynard is the best of a bad bunch. He is the only striker with any goalscoring pedigree.

He has been far more prolific than Ryan Watson in the last decade.

As you'd surely expect from a fox-in-the-box striker as opposed to an attacking midfielder?

I'm hoping Ryan Watson won't prove to be a one season wonder as in terms of goals scored although he had a reasonable tally at MK franchise before joining the Cobblers. Too early to call that one.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

As you'd surely expect from a fox-in-the-box striker as opposed to an attacking midfielder ?

That was my point.

 

[ADD]

As you'd surely expect from a fox-in-the-box striker as opposed to an attacking midfielder?

I'm hoping Ryan Watson won't prove to be a one season wonder as in terms of goals scored although he had a reasonable tally at MK franchise before joining the Cobblers. Too early to call that one.

There's a pretty good chance he will be a one season wonder when he doesn't play.....

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

There's a pretty good chance he will be a one season wonder when he doesn't play.....

He was a regular in the side in the opening weeks of the season and was very poor. There is an argument for freshening things up now, but Foley deservedly took his place.