Stockport County were not the first National League champions predicted to cruise to the top of League 2, but they have not lived up to expectations entirely so far and we got the better of them at the beginning of the season albeit against their 10 men for over three quarters of the match.
At that time we seemed a more competitive force playing rather more entertaining football than we have been seeing lately.
It is not easy to get enthusiastic watching the Schofield version of the game and the disenchantment is quite widespread. The technical-minded perceive method in the way he plays and urge that he be given time, but doubts surround the capability of his players to execute his system.
The Bradford match was characterised by a lack of enterprise and somehow the life and passion looks as though it has been eliminated at the expense of working to a coaching plan.
Playing away against a well-supported side who are either top or second in the recent Form Table suggests we will lose. And I agree - by 3 goals to nil.
DPL v Stockport County
posted on 4/3/23
Again, it is a crap shoot to predict anything. I can't see anything but a loss, and will say 3-1 to Stockport with Hurst scoring.
Just watched the Meet the Owners Meeting - I liked the honesty of the three owners, but it was hard to judge Copps and DS as we were not allowed to see Copps' presentation. The financial efficiency of Club Doncaster is impressive, and despite what many say, is good for Doncaster.
I do not want some "foreign" take-over, but the club does need more investment than the current owners can do. I do not blame them as they have put a lot of money into the club, and as they said, it is a case of seeing it spent wisely.
I saw on the Free Press that Miller had not scored since DS took over after he seemed to our first 20+ scorer since Marquis. Very interesting - comments, anyone?
posted on 4/3/23
I think 2-1 to Stockport. Hope the team can surprise us and secure a win. Miller G with our goal. Lavery if Miller dropped.
posted on 4/3/23
Yet again, who knows?
Stockport 2-1 Rovers
Lavery to score ⚽
Not sure that we will score.
posted on 4/3/23
Too late to predict. Guess it's indicative of my waning interest in the current Rovers team and manager. I'd have predicted a loss. See Millers been dropped.
posted on 5/3/23
I think we may have played Grimsby under the Schofield leadership when Miller scored 2, but you might say that the style then did not reflect what is his current template. Miller obviously only got 20 minutes or so as a sub yesterday and the emphasis was away from attack and largely on keeping the opposition at bay.
The success of that could be seen as an unlikely achievement, but attacking often seemed a token by-product of getting the ball into the opposition half. Having seen the extended highlights and endured the first 25 minutes or so of the full match replay, it certainly seemed dour fare.
Those who sympathise with the Head Coach's apparent objectives find comfort in a result such as this, although there is a reluctance to credit Mitchell with another excellent performance.
It is an untidy, unattractive-looking barrier that we see put up by our team though and despite their position above us in the league Stockport looked somewhat haphazard in the way that they played. It makes you realise what a low standard this league is.
posted on 5/3/23
I agree with all the comments about it being hard to have real interest in watching the Rovers at the moment. Until yesterday I’d always started watching the Rovers at 07:00 Pacific Time, but sometime then switching to a Premiership game on NBC Peacock streaming service if the Rovers game was boring. Yesterday I started with Arsenal vs. Bournemouth on my iMac, but did have iFollow on my iPad with the volume almost off but I turned to it when the commentator sounded to be getting excited. This was rare, but I did see a couple of very good saves by Mitchell, and the good run by Hurst that ended in a very weak finish.
It was amazing watching the Cherries leading the Gunners 2-0, and then the Gunners’ great comeback all Champion teams have in their locker. I’ve never been much of a Gunners fan (although a fan of such players as Thierry Henri), but do want some team to beat Man City to win the Premiership!
Watching the Rovers extended highlights I agree with Donaldo about quality. I do not think it is the National League getting to the level of League Two as some people say, but League Two sinking to the level of the National League. Either of the teams on display yesterday would not have a chance in League One.
On Tuesday, I do not have competition from a Premiership game, just Chelsea vs. Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League over-the-air on CBS…!!!
After supporting the Rovers for over 70 years, it is hard to grasp how I feel at the moment, even though I stayed with them during the five years in the wilderness of non-League football. My only hope is that our current situation could turn into what has happened with Mikel Arteta at the Gunners.
posted on 6/3/23
I was one who stressed the importance of sorting the defence first. Its not long ago we were shipping 3 goals per game. So I take positives from this game. However its hard to see the DS plan for scoring goals at the moment. It's a funny old game though. One minute you're a form team riding high then you get beaten 7 - 0 by a team that has been struggling for form all season. Who knows!
posted on 6/3/23
When it comes to attacking I see Danny Schofield in the same sort of bracket as getting Geoffrey Boycott to open the innings in a T20 game.