Tyrone Shoelaces

If goalkeepers can win you matches Toth won that one for us today.

At least that many.

Two poor teams in the first half. I can see why Southampton are down there with us. They got lucky with the rebound that ended up as good as a pass. Their guy took the chance well though. If we are going to play 5 at the back with wing backs we can’t have two water carriers in centre midfield. You end up playing seven at the back. When you actually win the ball it’s hard to find a player down field. We are crying out for a player ( Baradji ? ) who can win the ball back there and carry it into the last third. I thought Gudjonnson was the love child of Ashley Ward in that first half. He got hardly any service but you’ve got to do more yourself to make things happen. Once he got the goal he looked a different player. Second half was much better and the last 25 minutes was what I expect from a Rovers team. All of a sudden we were winning tackles, headers, 50/50 balls. Launching ourselves into tackles. When Morshita missed that chance I thought - “ We won’t get a better chance than that “ . That seemed to inspire us though and we really took the game to Southampton after that. I also thought Southampton playing into our hands by dropping back and just playing on the break, thanks to Toth we rode our luck in that respect. I was expecting Armstrong to put both of those chances away but Toth faced him down each time. Play like we did in the last 25 minutes and we’ll give ourselves a chance. We were definitely trying for the whole game, I can’t fault our effort at all, we just lack composure at the moment. One thing is for sure, they are playing for the manager.

Kean is in a class of his own. Nobody else comes near.

I know how she feels.

I thought he wanted to keep most of the players that have left. Any other club and a loss tomorrow would equal the bullet. At Rovers normal rules don’t apply.

Me too.

Don’t worry we’ll be able to get O’Riordan back in January. It’ll be like signing a new player !

Dobie Grey - Out On The Floor

My grandson is the same. I thought I knew a lot about football teams when I was his age but he’s like a walking encyclopaedia regarding who plays where and who for. I suppose we can thank the internet for that. He’s really keen but I think he’s got the resilience of youth to keep him going. I was the same age as he is when we dropped out of the old Div 1 in 1966 and I’d be in my early twenties when we dropped out of Div 2. In spite of that I never lost the faith back then. The difference is the club wasn’t being sabotaged by the directors regardless of us not having two pennies to rub together.. His dad is still a fan but he no longer goes, he watches us on TV.

Dear or dear, Hedges and DeNeve on the wings ? Is that what we’ve finally come down to ? I’m not having a go at all but I grew up when we had the two Mikes on the wings. Now they were real wingers. We had better wingers when we were bumping around the old Div 3 at times. Mecky, Johnny Price, Noel B. All better than what we have now.

My grandson and I will be going over. I’m desperate to keep Rovers in our family. He’s the only one of the assorted grand kids that has shown any interest. At least none of the other grand kids support other teams. I used to walk up to the ground from the Boulevard with a spring in my step and with a bit of optimism in my mind. Not these days, it feels like going to the dentist.

Unlucky going off those highlights. A lot of heads down and looking at each other when the goal went in though.

I always thought that way you had twice the chance of getting selected.

A dingle player is being investigated for spitting at the Leeds fans last Saturday. He must be a real prick, according to the report he came on after 83 mins with his team winning 2-0. Why get involved ? Winners are grinners. That should be enough.

I look at their team and then I look at our team. I can’t see us winning I’m afraid.

I just had a look at their team yesterday. They’re certainly in a false position. Some good players with plenty of experience.

It’s a poor do when you can’t manage to play on either side when you’re a professional. Even as an amateur I could manage playing on the left or the right. It’s just a matter of practice, practice, practice. We used to have small scale games with one sock rolled down. That was on your “ weaker “ foot and you could only pass or shoot with that foot.

That team would probably beat out current lot. If we do go down this season I’m not convinced the current lot are good enough to get us back up either.

I’d have brought Ribeiro on before Montgomery. I thought he’d had previous experience at centre half.

Things that are hard to coach into players.

That’s what I do if I’m not watching the game. That way I reckon they can only spoil my day from 4-55 pm.

Re their back four - everybody wants to play when you’re winning. “ How’s that knock you got last week son, Oh that, it’s nothing boss, I’ll be fine for Saturday “. On the other hand ———-.

Are we doing too much in training ?

You can get used to losing and we look like a team that is becoming used to losing I’m afraid. I’ve seen Rovers get relegated several times and “ We played well but it just didn’t go for us “ ran through each of those relegations.