Atko's Engine

I'm sure the January transfer window thread will be up n running by Saturday...

He's still last sadly, with just 2% of the vote...

Four nil to Rovers then Mercer?! ?

Brandon Lonsdale nominated for LFE goal of the month for September https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2020/october/lonsdale-goal-up-for-monthly-award/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54496129 West Ham seemingly losing interest in Josh King & moving onto Benrahma. I can't see us getting anything useful out of King this window, whether for transfers or to plug covid-related gaps in income.

Speedie did absolutely nothing wrong there! A good, strong full blooded shoulder charge between both players, but then Bennett's response was completely one sided, Speedie didn't retaliate one little bit! Don't get me wrong, he was a spikey character & I wouldn't be surprised if there's a bit of a back story to the incident in the game previously, but he was entirely innocent of anything in that clip! The same can't be said of Lee or Hunter though...

I just checked, he scored 23 goals in 36 apps, a tremendous record, the most prolific spell of his career (albeit most of it having been spent in the top tier). Like you say he played like every game was his last, a real terrier of a striker who I bet most CBs hated playing against. I was sad when he left, it felt unfair and too soon, but that decision really can't be criticised & the plus side is he can now be considered an untarnished Rovers hero.

Speedie leapt like a salmon there & hung around for an age, fantastic technique! He really was superb for us in that 1 season, perhaps amongst the best players we've had who only spent one season here? Bellamy another.

Got to say he's had an excellent start to this season. The games come thick & fast from next weekend so there will have to be a certain amount of squad rotation to avoid burnout; I therefore doubt he will feature from the start in all of them, but then his style is more suited to certain types of opposition than others so hopefully TM can select wisely & utilise Davenport or a loanee in his place for the so-called easier games.

Looking at that programme & the league table, Rovers were 3rd after 11 games but with only 14 goals scored & 10 conceded. Blackpool a place below us with a similar record. That's a bit boring & perhaps not too impressive, but look at Brum, the entertainers in the division with 24 scored and 27 conceded, in 11 games!!

Shame I can only like this once. His engine was most definitely world class, but then I would say that...

That's a bit optimistic philipl, even for me; I'll settle for a goal difference of +90!!

I accept today was a bit disappointing, but that's not necessarily a bad thing & it helps keep everyone grounded after the previous 2 results. There are certainly positives to take from today, albeit mostly defensively; Kaminski, Ayala & Bell were pretty much faultless I thought. Reading & Bristol City are flying now, but I bet they're not come Christmas. The key question is, would we have taken 6th place / 7 points / GD +8 at the start of the season? Of course we would, all of us, so let's not overreact to today's minor setback.

You're a glass half full guy, right?

Anyone else having ifollow problems? I've redeemed my pass ok, but the live feed is just buffering. I've switched my laptop & router off & off again but no different. ?

Yeah, it's a really uncertain time, and to a point professional football is low down the scale of importance economically, but the psychological benefit of it continuing now & into the future (be that in its current form or something more modest) cannot be underestimated as it is a social crux for so many communities, financially & sociologically. Someone posted a link on another thread though about how the PL are reluctant to give handouts to Championship clubs due to their owners having a combined worth of over £30bn, which I can understand. I guess though that with FFP still being a thing despite loss of huge income streams, owners are technically stopped by the rules from plundering their life savings, should they wish too. (That's certainly the rationale behind the rules, whether or not there are imaginative ways around them.) Anyway, I digress; hopefully we put in another good performance (or at least a good result) today and it encourages a few more fans to take advantage of the extended sales period & sign up.

Haha, I think all true fans are, to the point of irrationality, if there is such a word. There's lots of different levels to it and I'm far from a superfan like many on here (I've barely been to an away game in 20 years unfortunately, and that's not gonna change anytime soon!), but I just couldn't imagine not being able to call myself a Rovers season ticket holder after 30+ years. Madness is the only word for it!

I renewed this morning, as much out of habit as anything. I just love the club I guess and couldn't bear not to be involved in my own little way, but fully understand those who don't feel able to commit in these horrendous times. The lady on the ticket office phone said it was v busy, I was on hold for about 10 mins before I got through. Read into that what you will. My wife thinks I'm mad, for what it's worth...

Was much happier the following season...

Dunno but they scored 3 today.

If we'd have been given 3 penalties, we would have scored more too. ?

True, though most teams in this div won't produce the precision finishes that Bournemouth did.

Yes I read about that re the sky ones, I'm hoping Quest is a little more accurate; maybe that's forlorn, but in a way I don't care as we all know the truth about our dominance yesterday! It's worth noting actually that although the last two results were very similar, they were achieved in 2 very different ways. Against Wycombe we dominated possession (even before the sending off), whereas yesterday we only had about 40% of the ball. Yet the key stats (goals for / against, shots for / against, on target / off target) were broadly similarly strong in both games. That bodes really well imo, as to be able to create lots, score lots & not concede in 2 such different types of games points to a good chance of being able to perform like that consistently, injuries & fitness levels allowing.

I've not seen any highlights, am saving the pleasure for later today. What an excellent start to the season we've had in term of performances. Bar the start of the 2nd half v Doncaster, we've oozed confidence & fluidity going forwards, with pace, creativity and expansiveness to our approach play which scares defenders to death. We're it not for some worldy finishes from Bournemouth we'd be unbeaten this season in the league. Yes Wycombe & Derby were not the most challenging of opponents but we've actually put them away comprehensively, which we're not known for. If anything, both wins ought to have been even more comprehensive, but maybe that's being greedy. I think I'm most pleased with Holtby's emergence. I knew there was a top player in there just waiting to shine. Comparisons with Tugay are a little premature (I did it myself on here a few months back & was told by someone Holtby wasn't fit to place Tugay's boots!) but if he can perform in that role consistently throughout this season, then I'd say well founded. Almost equalling that is BB. Again, I've always thought there was some ability in there (admittedly very well hidden at times!) but in this formation and with loads of pace around him (Arma, Rothwell, Dolan) he will cause defences proper headaches with his on-the-ball swashbuckling up & at 'em style. Just needs to add goals to his game & folk might start to think there's some value to the £7m investment or whatever turns out to be. Loads of other positives (Kaminski looks reliable & progressive, Williams solid, Rothwell purposeful, Johnson a bully, Arma, Dolan - what a bonus! - even Chapman having effective cameos, plus Ayala, Dack, Gallagher yet to feature at all, Buckley & Evan's barely, & another LB hopefully). There are some negatives; injuries are mounting up, the squad lacks depth in a couple of key areas, and there are several key contract issues to sort out in the next couple of months at a difficult time financially, and other off the field stuff is concerning. But for now, I think we can afford to revel a little in our new-found status as the league's entertainers! Same again v Cardiff then take a well-earned international break after which time hopefully we'll have added a new LB & a got some depth with loans & the likes of Ayala, Evans & Gallagher back, and Dack not long after... COYB!!

These are words you don't read on here very often...!