Best Of
Re: Match Day Thread: Bristol Rovers
I said this at the weekend and I stand by it: Dan Udoh is not the problem. He's a good, powerful striker with an eye for the goal and an accurate shot. He holds the ball up well and is fast when running onto goal. He was clearly brought in to be our first choice striker and when given the opportunity to play centrally, normally seizes it and does well. The problem has come from lack of service. That has now been rectified with Simons firing pinpoint balls at him or releasing our creative playmakers to do so. If Udoh stays in the team, we'll continue to score.
What's more - if Kone stays out of the team, he'll be bloody motivated when he comes off the bench, just like he was for his hattrick against Peterborough in October. More competition should mean more goals. I'd start Udoh on Saturday even if Kone is fit. Then unleash the king at the sixty minute mark and see what effect that has.
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Re: Match Day Thread: Bristol Rovers
In the end a good night. We started so well and we simply expected the goal to come. When it didn't I was worried that we would revert to long balls like we have tended to do time and time again. But we stuck with it and when the goal came there was never a chance we were going to lose. Opponents now play us like we played for years by stopping others play. And this might be why we fare better against teams who think they can go toe to toe with us. Back was very good against Sinclair. Robust in the tackle, getting forward, and when it was needed simply doing defensive stuff. But Simons was the key for me. He anchored the midfield and allowed Josh to burst forward and Humphreys to roam and be magical. And of course had a killer pass for the 2nd goal.
Good interview with Dodds at full time. You could see that Humphreys was playing slightly differently compared to Saturday. And you could see that in the second half the players retained their shape, tactics and belief.
Disappointed in Fred, and I hope that Dodds can see something that will get him firing again. He's such a threat but seems to have gone into his shell.
Smiling faces all round, on and off the pitch.
Re: Match Day Thread: Bristol Rovers
I quite like Dodds interviews. He actually seems to be thinking about the answering and trying to say something moderately meaningful, rather than just trotting out a cheap line.
Also like the answer re Udoh/Kone. Dan has come in to fill the boots of the league's top scorer. Lots of pressure on him and he's managed to bag 2 in 2, as well as leading the line well away at Crawley on a poor pitch against a scrappy side. It's very rare that we'll ever be able to field the first choice 11 so need the backup players to step up and deliver when the moment comes. Dan has done exactly that and rightly deserves to keep his place in my view. I'd expect Kone to reclaim the starting spot in the end but it sends an important message to the other squad players that Dan's contribution over these games is rewarded.
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Re: Match Day Thread: Bristol Rovers
What Dodd's has done is make us extremely solid at the back since he has arrived. Know as he has said in interviews he can work on the with the ball stuff which will take a little longer. Yes he is not the best in interviews, but I think he is the right man for the job.
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Re: Match Day Thread: Bristol Rovers
Very very interesting interview. A bit jittery and coy about the Danes. Clearly pre-planned his answer on Kone though. Can’t imagine we’ll be seeing Skura any time soon - Freudian slip of ‘drops’ to the bench, ‘oh wait I mean moved to the bench’. Seems to be big on control. Well he’s got that in abundance with Xavier Simons.
Re: Match Day Thread: Bristol Rovers
Get in - what beautiful pass from Simons to release Udoh who stayed calm and slotted home for our second.
Re: Match Day Thread: Bristol Rovers
One could almost wonder what the point of Rovers is when there is a better team higher in the league system within the same city of Bristol.
Re: Match Day Thread: Bristol Rovers
Regarding Dodds comments on Kone - there’s a little problem in Kone coming back into the side and that’s called Danial Udoh that’s now scored two in two.
I personally think that’s what he was hinting at when he said Kones got to get himself back into the team.
Would I drop Udoh for Kone? Absolutely. But I wouldn’t say it that quickly and easily when I have another striker on an, albeit it small, goal scoring run and likely need to be in that frame of mind in the next game.
Re: Man of the Match - Bristol Rovers (H)
If he keeps the lads playing like this. .. we can Christen him
"The Dodd Father"
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