Fantalk

Armagh Rover · Joined: 25 Jul 2008 Posts: 5399 Location: Nottinghamshire

The big fella isn't being used in the way that Poplatnik or even Gozie was , cant judge him on the limited highlights but happy hes only here till end of season just incase hes another dud

bistogravy · Joined: 27 Jan 2022 Posts: 65 Location: Glenrothes

lots of doom merchants on the forum.

so we likely aren't going to challenge for promotion - i don't think that was ever a realistic goal this season

we are going to be in transition for at leaest another couple of transfer windows, imho.

our home form will dictate whether we end up in relegation trouble or mid table so we need to get right behind the lads and stop the negativity.

i haven't, in the games i've managed to get along to, seen any other team that looks like they are a level above us, so i'd expect teams to continue taking points from games you might not normally expect them to.

I'd be happier if we converted more of the chances we are creating, but other than that i think the style of play is good to watch. Hopefully we don't adopt the long ball game up to the big fella as our main style of play, that would be a mistake.

i think the long term injured players returning to the squad will give us a boost in the coming weeks.

We are the RR the RRFC!

Vinnie · Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2022 9:33 am Post subject:

Agree with most of that bistogravy

We have the 2nd best defensive record in the league behind Caley but the 3rd worst goals scored so its fairly obvious where the problem lies
_________________
THERES FIVE OF ME

Castle · Joined: 24 Jul 2010 Posts: 4739

Thing is if we had a better record in scoring goals we might have a worst defensive record. Maybe we are too cautious which means we won't conceed many but also won't score many.
Not sure I understand this narrative that has been going on for a while now of how we shouldn't have expected a play off push this season. Why not? We were top half finishers the last two seasons and wasn't that the line from many when McGlynn left, that we needed someone to take us on a bit further? We took a roll of the dice and we'll have to see if the gamble pays off.
I'm always just happy to avoid relegation comfortably and avoid cup defeats to lower league opposition so Murray continues to have my support. Even if we were to go down, depending on the manner, I'd maybe say we'd be better off sticking with Murray.
_________________
Fantalk~Often wrong but never in doubt

red zebra · Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2022 12:15 pm Post subject:

Whether it was a dive for the pen or not, Ngwenya got wrong side of the Morton lad and gave him the opportunity to go down, Dick was covering over so he didn't need to get near him but covered round the back of Dick, that is an experience thing that these young lads don't really have yet. Am sure IM will chat to him about his positioning going forward.
It's indicative of where we are, getting young inexperienced loans to bolster the squad. As bistogravy said, it may be a couple of windows before we get a settled squad and don't need to rely on these young lads.
_________________
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/

Long time fan · Joined: 18 Jan 2022 Posts: 43 Location: Kirkcaldy

Cuparman · Joined: 12 Jul 2008 Posts: 1557 Location: Irvine

Seams to me that there is a fair bit more common sense being written atm.

It a long old season. Everything was rosey last season up till Xmas, then it was all downhill for the most part thereafter, at least when compared to the first half of the season.

Plenty of time for this team to click into a higher gear. New manager, new players and some really good players to come back into the team.

There is promise there and we have to get behind the club and players.
My only real complaint is hoofing the ball up to big jock, that is not where he will be dangerous.

Crosses into the box is a different thing altogether.
I am rarely confident regards our team, however I believe that this is a team “ in the making”.
Murray will no doubt be studying the videos and will be learning himself.
_________________
Born a Rover Live a Rover Die a Rover

Heilan Rover · Joined: 24 Dec 2018 Posts: 435 Location: Lorient

Guys
I wasn't at the game but listened to the commentary. It was clear we had the lion's share of the first half, but failed to score. Equally, Morton had the Majority of the second half and until the 93rd minute they also, failed to score. They were awarded a dubious penalty and scored with the last kick of the ball.

This was not a season ending performance, and I seriously doubt the Big Black Deil is chapping on the door of Starks park right now as others here obviously think?

I accept IM's thinking that it will Turn in our favour given the team's increasing performances. Like most of you, I am disappointed we have not yet hit these heights, but some patience is required from us all. We are fortunate we are in a very tight league and a run of form, which may be just around the corner, could change everything.

Let's get behind the team for Wednesday.

TxRover · Joined: 02 Jun 2018 Posts: 2658 Location: North Texas, USA

There is no doubt there is too much knicker wetting and not enough recognition of the challenges of this season. This season was never going to be smooth sailing: DG, and associated financial challenges; change of manager, and associated challenges; complete overhaul of the attack and defence, and associated challenges; changes in the league with Queens, Dundee and Cove bringing in teams with better financials/resources than those they replaced.

After the fiasco that was mid-December on last year, there is much discontent and turmoil in the fan base, and that is reflected in the rising calls to punt a manager who hasn’t even really been given a chance to get his feet wet at a new level to him as well. Let’s be honest:

-Keeper…was, and is, established, but IM is certainly looking at what we will do next season, as MacDonald no longer looks the worldbeater he did last season.

-Defence…tough job, enforce by the clubs decision before IM arrived. Add to that the incredibly difficult recruitment season this year, and what we have put together is a miracle. To have one of the top defences in the league with this mishmash of parts and borrowed bobs and bits, is pretty impressive…and more so as Millen is finally looking a bit better.

-Midfield…the strength of the team coming in, and has been somewhat strengthened. Brown works at this level, the jury is out on Easton, Ross seems missing something…is he injured somehow?

-Attack…never a strength in recent years, and suffered even more due to lack of talent available for recruitment. This is IM Achilles heel, if we are passing blame…but given the available choices in a terrible recruiting season, who would have done better?

In summary, those calling for IM to be punted are knee-jerk, reactionary types who are seldom happy. Who would step in and improve the team? If we are still stinking at Christmas, perhaps a discussion must be had, but it truly seems the DG saga has crippled the team more than we knew.

CALDERON · Joined: 14 Jul 2008 Posts: 1704 Location: Aberdeenshire

We are 5 points behind top 4 with a game in hand. That's in line with most reasonable expectations, i would imagine.

There is cause for concern. 6 defeats out of 10 isn't good. If you pro rata that out for the rest of the season, you get 21 defeats. A very linear and crude way of looking at it, but a bit scary none the less. The Hughes/Locke season saw us lose 17 over the whole season, and we already over a third of the way there having played less than a third of the games, and with 2 tricky away games to come in the immediate term.

We've conceded the 2nd lowest amount if goals , yet scored the 3rd lowest. Its as simple as that as to where the issues lie. If you look at every remaining fixture, they are all games we could quite conceivably lose 1-0. I've said it a few times this season, but you would struggle to see a team as wasteful as this current side when in front of goal.

All isn't lost, we are a decent enough side largely. But I do get the feeling that our season is hanging on either the Big John experiment working, or Lewis Vaughan giving us a consistent run in the team from now until the end of the season - for only the 2nd time since he's been at the club. As things stand, this side simply won't score enough goals. Someone made the point that even against Cove, we needed 5 or 6 really good chances to score 3. In tight games, especially away from home, we need to see a fairly drastic improvement up top

Northern_Rover · Joined: 15 Jul 2008 Posts: 2637 Location: Granite City

embow · Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2022 7:45 pm Post subject:

Calderon's post absolutely hits the nail on the heid.
Balanced and with more than a bit of perspective on the overall current state of affairs.👍
_________________
Talk on! Talk on!
You'll never talk alone.
🤗🤗

TxRover · Joined: 02 Jun 2018 Posts: 2658 Location: North Texas, USA

Cuparman · Joined: 12 Jul 2008 Posts: 1557 Location: Irvine

Neil M · Joined: 16 Aug 2008 Posts: 2327 Location: Aberdeen

Wasn't at the game, so can only say so much. Morton penalty - if it was a dive, they had nothing to lose at that stage of the game - but everything to gain if the ref bought it - and he did! Seems even Sportsound jumped on the bandwagon of lampooning Big John with sideways pops - "pretty in pink" - "too thin to play for Man City" etc. You wonder what professional presenters would have to say about them and their muffled wailing - three of them talking over one another about three different games and their muddled, ambiguous reporting!

It's early days. Do we know for sure if IM actually instructed the long-ball - or was it just a reaction from the players? I can't honestly see Murray repeating it - or letting the players repeat it - and I guess Big John has not has the chance to show how he best fits into the side either. While the Faroe Islands are not Denmark, they punch far above their weight and making the first team is not to be scoffed at in this league.

They've been the Achillies-Heels of the Rovers - hoof-ball, one fixed game-plan and managers who make the same mistakes week-in-week-out while somehow hoping for better results. I do believe that IM is a bit cleverer than that.
His Airdrie side only came into their own around the New Year last year (if I remember rightly). I believe him when he says that the goals will come.