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.
I dont think there’s much in that slip. Same with the slip from the co comms o Saturday that I picked up on when she desperately tried not to say Kone was out for the foreseeable future.
He’s come across as a bit jittery in most of his interviews to me, but I think that’s more to do with inexperience in media work and certainly not a dig. Thought the substance he said about the Dane’s was interesting and he thinks they are both going to come good for us once upto speed
On the pronunciation of Simons, Phil admitted that one of the players had done him up like a kipper by telling him the correct pronunciation was Eck-zayvea Simmonns.
Was Dodds a little prickly over the question about Kone? “He’s back in training so he’s got to get himself back into the team…”. Seemed very short with Sam Avery despite the perfectly reasonable question. Or maybe I misinterpreted it?
i think having a ‘proper’ right back in Back had the double benefit of allowing Harvie to play much more like he was before Christmas. That was the best I’ve seen home for a while
Crikey, even I (geriatric night owl) am usually up by mid morning. Only time I can remember sleeping until the afternoon was in HM Treasury decades ago when I’d been up all night nominally in charge of Budget Day reprographic services. I’d never done it before and was very nervous, not helped by hearing a charming line manager saying “that’ll put the cat amongst the pigeons” as he left me to “get on with it”.
Fortunately the ladies in the reprographic unit had done it all before and all went well. The best part of that night was eating curry in the canteen in the early hours alongside John Major and his private office staff. I was also in charge of the red box !
I was in the office so could only watch the match with half an eye but it sure looked to me like sexy football has returned, finally.
Interestingly Dodds seems to be entirely copying the Bloomfield template - a 433 formation, playing it out from the back, full backs bombing forward and a maestro in midfield dictating play. It's early days for Fin Back but dare I say it, he, Norris and Simons all look like upgrades on their predecessors (especially now we know Norris CAN play the simple ball out effectively) and I'm very excited by Lowry, especially as Humphreys can tire a bit and has the odd off game.
I listened to the interview on the Danes, I'm impressed by Dodds' candour there - reading between the lines I think he's pretty nonplussed by being saddled by a couple of star signings that probably aren't League One level and aren't even likely to be fit enough to play for the rest of the season. So data doesn't always get it right but I'm much more impressed by its success rate in January signings after tonight than I was at the weekend!
I almost feel relieved if the Danes are not (yet) fit or good enough, as we already have Skura/Low and Bradley/Taylor at the CB spots and Scowen/Simons/Humphreys as a brilliant starting midfield with Leahy/Bakinson/Lowry as able backups. I know you can never have too many good players, but not having to shoehorn an extra couple in may actually give us a better sense of continuity.
I live in hope that we will see this XI before the end of the season:
I’m just reserving judgment for now on ‘Full’ Back.
I thought he did really well too, but Brizzle never put us on the back foot for a sustained period which is when we would have got a better opinion of him defensively.
That said, when the opportunity arose in the middle third he looked keen to get strong tackles in on his man which I loved to see.
Young lad who I’m sure will turn out to be a good signing, but a bit soon to be saying he’s an upgrade on Captain Grimmer I feel.
Really positive performance, albeit against a very poor Bristol side. Good to see Low and Taylor back together, and a great save by Norris in the first half.
Back looked excellent I thought - felt more similar in play style to Pattenden but he really good stuck in which is good to see.
Xavi I think has surely cemented a full time role next to Scowen with that performance. Having Josh in the middle is enough of a tough ask for the opposition, but adding Xavi next to him gives us one of the best midfield pairings in the league (if not the best).
I think Dodds gave pretty good answers to the questions on the Danes and Kone. The Danes are coming into the side in a different place from a match fitness perspective and on top of that, they’ve got to adjust to a new culture and environment. I think it’ll be next season before we start seeing the fruits of their signings.
Kone I’m sure will be back in as soon as possible. As much as I like Bez and Udoh, they don’t offer what Richard does.
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.
Really impressed with our performance last night. Simons looks exactly the kind of midfielder we need. Composed on the ball, strong in the tackle, and frees up Scowen and Humphreys to do what they do best. It's exactly what our team has been missing since Morley left, and I'm pretty confident is the primary reason for our slip in form. If he starts most games, I'd be much more confident of our chances of holding on.
I thought Back looked superb for a debut. Positive going forward and good enough defensively (though rarely tested in truth) and as others have said, it allows Harvie to do what he does best.
What those signings have done is improved the balance of the team. Other posters didn't like it when I said it, but Skura at right back is not an ideal substitute whilst Grimmer and Pattenden are out as it affects our shape and style of play, in the same way that Leahy in midfield for someone like Simons / Morley does. A natural right back comes in, and we look much better.
A word for the Rovers manager changing to a back 5 at half time. What was that all about?! Yes, we were by far the stronger side at half time, but that just invited us on even more and eliminated any potential threats they had out wide from Thomas and Sinclair. Strange decision.
On to Wigan - another 3 points set us up nicely for Birmingham away.
Very impressed by The Dodmeister’s post match interview. Very interesting what he had talked to Humphrys about in training between Saturday and last night and how clearly delighted he was for the player, the process and the outcome. Confidence builder all round.
"Some facts about Bristol's population: The population of Bristol is estimated to be 483,000 (mid-2023) Bristol is one of the 11 UK Core Cities and the 8th largest city in England and Wales outside of London. Over the last decade (2013-2023), Bristol's population grew by an estimated 44,000 people - a 10.0% increase."
Yep I don't take the overreading into manager's comments that some do.
There's nothing in anything Dodds said that suggests he feels he's been "saddled" with the Danes.
Simply they've come from a league where the season finished months ago and are naturally off the pace. What most reasonable posters had surmised anyway
Possibly less ‘upgrade’ and more ‘succession planning’. We have two capable lads who are yet to reach their prime in Jasper and Back, plus Kodua as a potential back up RB if we sign him on a permanent in the summer.
Comments
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.
Despite what’s felt like an elongated rough patch, we’ve acquired 16 points from 9 matches since NYD.
Repeat that rate for the last 15 games and we’ll finish on 90 points, hopefully plenty enough for 2nd.
Wrexham would need 33 from 15 to pass us, a stretch with their number of away games and a very challenging March schedule for them.
I dont think there’s much in that slip. Same with the slip from the co comms o Saturday that I picked up on when she desperately tried not to say Kone was out for the foreseeable future.
He’s come across as a bit jittery in most of his interviews to me, but I think that’s more to do with inexperience in media work and certainly not a dig. Thought the substance he said about the Dane’s was interesting and he thinks they are both going to come good for us once upto speed
On the pronunciation of Simons, Phil admitted that one of the players had done him up like a kipper by telling him the correct pronunciation was Eck-zayvea Simmonns.
Was Dodds a little prickly over the question about Kone? “He’s back in training so he’s got to get himself back into the team…”. Seemed very short with Sam Avery despite the perfectly reasonable question. Or maybe I misinterpreted it?
Well back home and happy, we played well even though Rovers were poor loads to talk about but I’m up for work at 4.30pm night peeps.
i think having a ‘proper’ right back in Back had the double benefit of allowing Harvie to play much more like he was before Christmas. That was the best I’ve seen home for a while
Enjoyed that. I always find it strange watching us look so comfortable, never looked like losing.
Xavi looks class, when he ran with the ball he looked so good.
Just need to get a front 3 going.
And my boy enjoyed it, though car sickness was not ideal only 5 minutes from home.
After tonight's performance alone, I think Fin Back should change his name from "Fin" to "Right". That should cement his place in the team.
Crikey, even I (geriatric night owl) am usually up by mid morning. Only time I can remember sleeping until the afternoon was in HM Treasury decades ago when I’d been up all night nominally in charge of Budget Day reprographic services. I’d never done it before and was very nervous, not helped by hearing a charming line manager saying “that’ll put the cat amongst the pigeons” as he left me to “get on with it”.
Fortunately the ladies in the reprographic unit had done it all before and all went well. The best part of that night was eating curry in the canteen in the early hours alongside John Major and his private office staff. I was also in charge of the red box !
I was in the office so could only watch the match with half an eye but it sure looked to me like sexy football has returned, finally.
Interestingly Dodds seems to be entirely copying the Bloomfield template - a 433 formation, playing it out from the back, full backs bombing forward and a maestro in midfield dictating play. It's early days for Fin Back but dare I say it, he, Norris and Simons all look like upgrades on their predecessors (especially now we know Norris CAN play the simple ball out effectively) and I'm very excited by Lowry, especially as Humphreys can tire a bit and has the odd off game.
I listened to the interview on the Danes, I'm impressed by Dodds' candour there - reading between the lines I think he's pretty nonplussed by being saddled by a couple of star signings that probably aren't League One level and aren't even likely to be fit enough to play for the rest of the season. So data doesn't always get it right but I'm much more impressed by its success rate in January signings after tonight than I was at the weekend!
I almost feel relieved if the Danes are not (yet) fit or good enough, as we already have Skura/Low and Bradley/Taylor at the CB spots and Scowen/Simons/Humphreys as a brilliant starting midfield with Leahy/Bakinson/Lowry as able backups. I know you can never have too many good players, but not having to shoehorn an extra couple in may actually give us a better sense of continuity.
I live in hope that we will see this XI before the end of the season:
Norris
Back
Low
Taylor
Harvie
Scowen
Simons
Humphreys
Sadlier
McCleary
Kone
I’m just reserving judgment for now on ‘Full’ Back.
I thought he did really well too, but Brizzle never put us on the back foot for a sustained period which is when we would have got a better opinion of him defensively.
That said, when the opportunity arose in the middle third he looked keen to get strong tackles in on his man which I loved to see.
Young lad who I’m sure will turn out to be a good signing, but a bit soon to be saying he’s an upgrade on Captain Grimmer I feel.
Really positive performance, albeit against a very poor Bristol side. Good to see Low and Taylor back together, and a great save by Norris in the first half.
Back looked excellent I thought - felt more similar in play style to Pattenden but he really good stuck in which is good to see.
Xavi I think has surely cemented a full time role next to Scowen with that performance. Having Josh in the middle is enough of a tough ask for the opposition, but adding Xavi next to him gives us one of the best midfield pairings in the league (if not the best).
I think Dodds gave pretty good answers to the questions on the Danes and Kone. The Danes are coming into the side in a different place from a match fitness perspective and on top of that, they’ve got to adjust to a new culture and environment. I think it’ll be next season before we start seeing the fruits of their signings.
Kone I’m sure will be back in as soon as possible. As much as I like Bez and Udoh, they don’t offer what Richard does.
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.
Really impressed with our performance last night. Simons looks exactly the kind of midfielder we need. Composed on the ball, strong in the tackle, and frees up Scowen and Humphreys to do what they do best. It's exactly what our team has been missing since Morley left, and I'm pretty confident is the primary reason for our slip in form. If he starts most games, I'd be much more confident of our chances of holding on.
I thought Back looked superb for a debut. Positive going forward and good enough defensively (though rarely tested in truth) and as others have said, it allows Harvie to do what he does best.
What those signings have done is improved the balance of the team. Other posters didn't like it when I said it, but Skura at right back is not an ideal substitute whilst Grimmer and Pattenden are out as it affects our shape and style of play, in the same way that Leahy in midfield for someone like Simons / Morley does. A natural right back comes in, and we look much better.
A word for the Rovers manager changing to a back 5 at half time. What was that all about?! Yes, we were by far the stronger side at half time, but that just invited us on even more and eliminated any potential threats they had out wide from Thomas and Sinclair. Strange decision.
On to Wigan - another 3 points set us up nicely for Birmingham away.
I’d play Udoh on the left with Kone down the middle.
Most exciting finding of the night. The jutting chin or the strut? Either way, good to know he's a closet Feelgood fan.
Very impressed by The Dodmeister’s post match interview. Very interesting what he had talked to Humphrys about in training between Saturday and last night and how clearly delighted he was for the player, the process and the outcome. Confidence builder all round.
And the sour grapes are starting to weed their way out of the BR forum.
Apparently what’s the point of us as a club? Well, I believe the international standard response to that is, by taking 6 points off you.
Bristols appear to have an average attendance of just under 8,000 in a city of almost 500,000 people.
We have just under 5,000 in a town of 75,000.
So....if around 6% of the locals come to our games and 1.5% go to theirs then I think darkbluegas should have a lie down.
I read this:-
"Some facts about Bristol's population: The population of Bristol is estimated to be 483,000 (mid-2023) Bristol is one of the 11 UK Core Cities and the 8th largest city in England and Wales outside of London. Over the last decade (2013-2023), Bristol's population grew by an estimated 44,000 people - a 10.0% increase."
Some fans are so obsessed with attendances aren't they.
But how Rovers fans can call another team that usually beat them, pointless is a bit comedy. Being the tiny relation of a club in their own City.
Yep I don't take the overreading into manager's comments that some do.
There's nothing in anything Dodds said that suggests he feels he's been "saddled" with the Danes.
Simply they've come from a league where the season finished months ago and are naturally off the pace. What most reasonable posters had surmised anyway
The Rovers forum is great entertainment tbf. It has been for years
Karma for 2014.
I like the arm round the shoulder nickname ‘The Dodfather’, the terrace already running with this apparently.
There is a joke there somewhere re the punchers and horses heads in bed but probably not for a Wednesday morning.
Possibly less ‘upgrade’ and more ‘succession planning’. We have two capable lads who are yet to reach their prime in Jasper and Back, plus Kodua as a potential back up RB if we sign him on a permanent in the summer.
I would simply reply "fewer"
The origins....
Mikhail: My credit good enough to buy you out?
Rob Couhig: Buy me out?
Mikhail: The ground, the fireworks. The Lomtadze Family wants to buy you out.
Rob: The Lomtadze Family wants to buy me out? No, I buy you out, you don't buy me out.
Mikhail: Your club loses money, maybe we can do better.
Rob: You think I'm skimmin off the top, Mikhail?
Mikhail: [Mikhail shakes his head] You're unlucky.
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.