Tuesday 9th March 2021

[Pablosammy]

It’s crazy how not very good you need to be to get promotion this season.

I disagree, I think this is the most competitive promotion race I've seen in a long time, with a number of good footballing sides in the top 7.

 

[AdamStag]

So we’ve won 9 out of 33 which is a crappy return but beat 4 out of the top 5.

typical mansfield haha

 

[AdamStag]

I disagree, I think this is the most competitive promotion race I've seen in a long time, with a number of good footballing sides in the top 7.

i think that backs up conkers point - the quality at the top is good at all, there’s no stand out sides. we’re comfortably bottom half and have been all season yet have beaten 4 out of the top 5.

Not taking anything away from those up there as they’re the ones making the most of a bad deal but the league as a whole had been poorer this season

 

[Pablosammy]

i think that backs up conkers point - the quality at the top is good at all, there’s no stand out sides. we’re comfortably bottom half and have been all season yet have beaten out of the top 5.

Not taking anything away from those up there as they’re the ones making the most of a bad deal but the league as a whole had been poorer this season

Sorry, I still disagree. I think it's tight at the top because there are a number of excellent sides all going toe to toe, not because (like usual) clubs are falling over each other not to get promoted. Just an opinion though.

 

[AdamStag]

Sorry, I still disagree. I think it's tight at the top because there are a number of excellent sides all going toe to toe, not because (like usual) clubs are falling over each other not to get promoted. Just an opinion though.

was meant to say 4 out 5, what you get when you type and walk.

Like the sides we both had in the playoffs 2 seasons ago would have walked this league.

 

[Conker]

I disagree, I think this is the most competitive promotion race I've seen in a long time, with a number of good footballing sides in the top 7.

To be fair I never made a remark on it being competitive, because it is, but nobody is up to much for me, in comparison to previous seasons. We will see a decent improvement next season assuming it’s a normal season.

It doesn’t matter really though, if ya competing in the standard that is L2 this season that’s all that matters.

 

[Conker]

Last night further confused me with this Mansfield side, when we don’t have a self destruct day we seem okay, despite the fact we lack serious quality at both ends of the pitch.

I’ll give Mansfield one thing though, they play tidy football in the opponents half. Dunno if that was a off day for Cheltenham because they were pretty poor although it was a good goal for them.

 

[Pablosammy]

was meant to say 4 out 5, what you get when you type and walk.

Like the sides we both had in the playoffs 2 seasons ago would have walked this league.

I'm going to stop being disagreeable or I'll get a reputation, but we're much better technically than the side which won promotion two years ago. Most of that squad wouldn't get into our side now, with a few big exceptions - we could do with Norwood right now!

 

[AdamStag]

I'm going to stop being disagreeable or I'll get a reputation, but we're much better technically than the side which won promotion two years ago. Most of that squad wouldn't get into our side now, with a few big exceptions - we could do with Norwood right now!

you don’t have to apologise for disagreeing matey. it’s when “some” get aggressive there’s a problem. if there isn’t that element, which there isn’t then disagree away

 

[Boz]

I wouldn’t say this Rovers side is weaker than the one going up by the play-offs two years ago. It may be salary cap related but there seem to be a lot of sides at a similar level, which makes it an interesting contest. Wonder if notlob regret their choice of an inexperienced manager, as if they’d recruited better in the summer, on current form would be heading the table.

 

[Si Robin]

Last night further confused me with this Mansfield side, when we don’t have a self destruct day we seem okay, despite the fact we lack serious quality at both ends of the pitch.

I’ll give Mansfield one thing though, they play tidy football in the opponents half. Dunno if that was a off day for Cheltenham because they were pretty poor although it was a good goal for them.

Sounded like we weren't up for the fight. It was similar to Barrow, Mansfield got in our faces and we backed down. If our defence is got at it can go into itself a bit and that's what happened last night.

Fortunately, we're usually bang up for the next game after a defeat.

 

[Boz]

I'm going to stop being disagreeable or I'll get a reputation, but we're much better technically than the side which won promotion two years ago. Most of that squad wouldn't get into our side now, with a few big exceptions - we could do with Norwood right now!

Could do with a Connor Jennings type no 10 too.

 

[Si Robin]

On the subject of the league this season - I actually think last season's Cheltenham team would destroy this current team, and we're top.

Make of that what you will.

 

[Railway Blue]

1-0 to us, Sam Smith again - great signing he's been.

Has he given up being a pop star?

 

[valefan16]

The league is weaker, maybe the case the quality is more evenly distributed because of the salary cap but I haven’t really seen a good side this year, it’s all been much of a muchness. (Although we beat all the top sides last year so!)

Tranmere were the only side that impressed and even then it took a red card and collapse from us to lose to them in that game.

That said judging off one game is hard, Cambridge were distinctly average to poor at VP, Salford were modestly solid but nothing else and lacked any real quality and Cheltenham were nothing special and relied mainly on our balls ups, although in fairness to Cheltenham they were decent at our place and in the cup game on TV.

The biggest thing to take from my point of view though is if the league is as bad as it seems is just how awful we’ve been!

 

[Robshep]

you don’t have to apologise for disagreeing matey. it’s when “some” get aggressive there’s a problem. if there isn’t that element, which there isn’t then disagree away

I heard an interesting comment about this season. It was that its difficult to judge players due to the lack of crowds. Some players are having better than average seasons because they are not feeling the same pressure as usual from not having to perform in front of supporters. The ones who are great on the training pitch but awful in matches are more comfortable. The ones who love playing to the crowd aren't enjoying it as much. Could very well be true.

 

[Railway Blue]

mansfield, for some completely unknown and unexplainable reason will go be shit against the bottom sides (eg losing 2-0 to barrow on saturday) but then play top of the league and beat them.

We’ve been doing this for years, it’s utterly bizarre, i remember one of my first seasons of following us around 1997 - we beat top of the table rotherham 3-2 away then lost the next game to bottom of the table chester 5-0

That was 2000, the year we got relegated from the league under American Mad Terry. He had managed the team for 25 games and about 16 points using his American football knowledge. Ian Atkins came in and almost saved us. Relegated on goal difference.

 

[Robshep]

Could do with a Connor Jennings type no 10 too.

Danny Lloyd?

 

[Robshep]

I wouldn’t say this Rovers side is weaker than the one going up by the play-offs two years ago. It may be salary cap related but there seem to be a lot of sides at a similar level, which makes it an interesting contest. Wonder if notlob regret their choice of an inexperienced manager, as if they’d recruited better in the summer, on current form would be heading the table.

Same applies to us manager wise although he did sign some good players. He just used them wrong.

 

[Boz]

Danny Lloyd?

Could be, but don’t think Keith has used him that way. Danny had a great game last night, playing out wide, stamina/fitness seem to have returned after his illness.

 

[Pablosammy]

I heard an interesting comment about this season. It was that its difficult to judge players due to the lack of crowds. Some players are having better than average seasons because they are not feeling the same pressure as usual from not having to perform in front of supporters. The ones who are great on the training pitch but awful in matches are more comfortable. The ones who love playing to the crowd aren't enjoying it as much. Could very well be true.

I completely agree that spectator free games are making this season odd. There seems to be far more weird results across all of the leagues this season.

Fans are one obvious aspect, but the whole background to the current situation will be affecting people subconsciously too. So yeah, it is difficult to judge.

I think it's better than the start of the season, when a lot of games seemed to play out like friendlies. Players have gotten used to it a bit.

 

[Railway Blue]

That was 2000, the year we got relegated from the league under American Mad Terry. He had managed the team for 25 games and about 16 points using his American football knowledge. Ian Atkins came in and almost saved us. Relegated on goal difference.

Also remember in about 2005/6, when after being 2nd at the end of October under Keith Curle when we were back in L2 ~ going 17 games with just 1 point, then winning 2-1 at Mansfield and having a 5-game winning run which saved us from relegation. The difference was Derek Asamoah coming into the side. He may even have been on loan from Mansfield?

 

[valefan16]

I completely agree that spectator free games are making this season odd. There seems to be far more weird results across all of the leagues this season.

Fans are one obvious aspect, but the whole background to the current situation will be affecting people subconsciously too. So yeah, it is difficult to judge.

I think it's better than the start of the season, when a lot of games seemed to play out like friendlies. Players have gotten used to it a bit.

Lack of fans makes a difference certainly, we’ve had games where the home crowd have pushed us on if behind or what not. Would the referee have given this or that decision with a baying crowd?

Is it easier for poorer sides to park the bus without the pressure of the crowd on top of a side knocking on the door?

It’s played a part certainly. Going to Bradford away is no more daunting for players than going to Salford or Morecambe if there are no fans.

 

[Robshep]

Could be, but don’t think Keith has used him that way. Danny had a great game last night, playing out wide, stamina/fitness seem to have returned after his illness.

The tactic of having no recognised striker occasionally has served us well so far. Connor Jennings would have been perfect in that kind of side.

 

[Robshep]

I completely agree that spectator free games are making this season odd. There seems to be far more weird results across all of the leagues this season.

Fans are one obvious aspect, but the whole background to the current situation will be affecting people subconsciously too. So yeah, it is difficult to judge.

I think it's better than the start of the season, when a lot of games seemed to play out like friendlies. Players have gotten used to it a bit.

Some of them will get stage fright when we are allowed back in.

 

[AdamStag]

I heard an interesting comment about this season. It was that its difficult to judge players due to the lack of crowds. Some players are having better than average seasons because they are not feeling the same pressure as usual from not having to perform in front of supporters. The ones who are great on the training pitch but awful in matches are more comfortable. The ones who love playing to the crowd aren't enjoying it as much. Could very well be true.

certainly an element, though morecambe are having a good season, and they clearly can’t be influenced by not playing infront of big crowds!

 

[Robshep]

certainly an element, though morecambe are having a good season, and they clearly can’t be influenced by not playing infront of big crowds!

Every game is a home game.

 

[Si Robin]

I think the sheer number of games in a short space of time is a massive influence as well. It's been Saturday-Tuesday practically all season and exhaustion is going to settle in at points.

 

[Conker]

Results get more weird on the Tuesday generally .

 

[Robshep]

I think the sheer number of games in a short space of time is a massive influence as well. It's been Saturday-Tuesday practically all season and exhaustion is going to settle in at points.

I don't get this Hoolahan can't play twice a week situation. Peter Clarke is 39 and plays saturday/tuesday. He has played over 800 games in 20 years and if he stays injury free looks like he could carry on for a while yet. Could just be one of those people who defy the natural order of things.