League Two Stags v Rovers

[Boz]

Nolan on for McAlear with about 15 minutes to play. Midfield has been fairly quiet.

 

[frenchrover]

Another hopeless attempt at a corner...what the hell do they do all week at training

 

[frenchrover]

"Fairly quiet " Boz, that's being very kind..I'd say "Non existent"

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

Lewis should score after a cross from Cogley.

 

[Ian]

Ohh a great chance for Lewis. Scuffs it with no power, easy save for keeper.

 

[Sparky]

Good to hear about some chances but is it too little too late?

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

"Fairly quiet " Boz, that's being very kind..I'd say "Non existent"

Tough afternoon for them up against Boateng and Quinn, probably the two best midfielders in the division.

 

[Sparky]

Is our lack of striking options an issue again? Young Sam Taylor on the bench when we need a goal. Doesn’t sound like Nevitt close to scoring

 

[Ian]

Great effort Akins, great save Doohan. Game over surely.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

It sounds like an improved performance and we did create several chances. However, frustrating to lose to another soft goal from a set play.

Hopefully we will have some players back by next Saturday.

 

[Sparky]

Well no need to go overboard but that’s two defeats from two games. Sounds again like we badly need Davies and turnbull in the side but also need more of a goal threat. Nevitt working his socks off sadly isn’t enough.

Surprise surprise Clarke/Monthe lead Walsall to another clean sheet and 3 points. Next weeks opponents Gillingham pick up their first win

 

[Ian]

Hopefully we will have some players back by next Saturday.

Until players return it could be a rough few weeks. We are missing some key players and it shows.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

Well no need to go overboard but that’s two defeats from two games. Sounds again like we badly need Davies and turnbull in the side but also need more of a goal threat. Nevitt working his socks off sadly isn’t enough.

Surprise surprise Clarke/Monthe lead Walsall to another clean sheet and 3 points. Next weeks opponents Gillingham pick up their first win

Turnbull, Davies and probably Byrne are all better than Monthe, and Clarke can't go on forever. It was not even our second choice defence out there today, so we should judge when our first choice back line is available and has been playing together for several weeks.

 

[Sparky]

Yes I agree RLC. The question is how long that will take of course. We can’t afford to be too Patient

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

Yes I agree RLC. The question is how long that will take of course. We can’t afford to be too Patient

I don't think we have any choice but to be patient.

 

[Boz]

I’m unsure that an improvement from an exceptionally poor opening game is much consolation, especially when we lose again. The only change in personnel Micky made after we fell behind was bringing Nolan on, he was barely mentioned by the commentators. The other adjustment pushing the wing-backs further forward seemed to be more promising with both Bristow and Cogley featuring in promising attacks.

 

[Sparky]

I think the points you make Boz are valid. Recruitment seems to have been solely based around 5-3-2 meaning we don’t have enough wingers. Yes Morris is injured but hawkes could have been brought on to give us more of a goal threat as he can score. Yet we have plenty of defenders and centre mids on the bench…

 

[bigmart]

Even with everybody fit there are not enough goals in the squad, Nevitt works hard and is a great story but he won't score many goals

 

[Ian]

Again, we don’t know until the squad is stronger. Mumbongo might be a great pairing for Hemmings. We are missing two key central defenders, Morris in midfield, and even the likes of Nolan can be a real asset if he gets fit and stays fit.

Although I’m not sure about Mickys risk taking rant. I don’t see that much change to the way we are playing but we are only two games in so will hold fire for a few weeks to see how the team is shaping up.

I don’t expect it to be an easy couple of weeks though.

 

[Sparky]

Yes but why did we change the policy so much when we were close to the top 7 last season? We’ve made a deliberate decision to remove some of the oldies and bring in a much younger side risking the chance that when the few experienced players we do have are injured, we’re struggling.

At this rate even when Davies etc are back I’m not convinced we’ll finish with more points than last season which is surely the objective?