We should be taking games like this in our stride, but unfortunately we have been more inclined to stumble than go forward confidently.
In fact we rather bumbled our way through the Morecambe encounter, more than ready to match the mediocrity facing us, instead of rising above it. Street was ahead of most of the team in providing hope of the goals that we need to score, not only to win and improve the important differential, but to instil some confidence into the team and those of us whose emotions they regularly damage.
Accrington are way down the form table, both overally and at home meaning that most of the “Whamming" has fallen upon them.
However the last team they beat at home was Grimsby which is one of many reasons why a heavy wager on our success might be ill-judged.
Gone are the days when one could rely on Rovers to perform to an acceptable minimum standard and and although I do not wish them ill, my sentiments are now pre-set to “pessimistic", coupled with a fear of what new phase of mediocrity might soon be upon us.
I’m not inclined to offer advice to the manager, beyond the suggestion that Anderson has proved valuable recently and dropping him would be unthinkable. We have Nixon playing again instead of being perpetually injured and perhaps he should be accommodated, though not at Sterry’s expense and I suppose when it comes to choice between old and loanees I’d favour the latter.
Deep down I want them to win, but for DPL purposes I want some satisfaction if they don’t, so 2-0 to AS.
DPL v Accrington Stanley
posted on 21/2/25
This has all the makings of 0-0.
posted on 21/2/25
Ever the optimist, I'll go for 1-2 to the Rovers. Street to score if he starts, otherwise Molyneux.
posted on 22/2/25
2-1 to Rovers. Molyneaux.
posted on 22/2/25
Accrington 1-3 Rovers
Molyneux to score ⚽
posted on 22/2/25
Another great start, and then, oh no, not another Morecambe game! Again, it should have been at least 3-0 by halftime.
When I saw the details of the ref before the game I was worried as it would be only his third in the EFL, and in the National League he was averaging 5 yellow a game and a red about every four. He turned out to be an inconsistent and inexperienced ref who spoilt the game for me. Both sides gained some by some crazy decisions, or lack of decisions. Whether it is Street or Ironside, it seems shoving and/or pulling their shirt is not a foul. I can well understand Street's gesticulations that got him a yellow. These days everyone one is supposed to be completely lacking in emotion.
I know Gibson created the first goal, and does have clever footwork at times, but his finishing continues to be absolutely dreadful. I would not start him.
In the second half we just did not use width anywhere enough. When they put Ennis on, he never got a sniff at the ball, and then was taken-off to add a defender. I hope he starts next Saturday.
On the red card issue, it seems very difficult these days to do sliding tackles. I could not see if both feet were off the ground as one of the commentators said.
Even refs in the Premier League drive me nuts at times. I see today the same Arsenal player got sent off for the second time for "denying a goal scoring opportunity". The first was overturned on appeal, and from what I saw from the highlights, this could well be. The only reason for it I saw was that the goalkeeper was way out of his goal, and could be lobbed. However the player was a long way from goal, and defenders could run back.
I know rules are rules, but at times things seem to have gone too far.
posted on 23/2/25
I’ve read a number of reports and comments on the game via Viking Chat and none really match yours Micky. Of course all I have to go on is the sound commentary and this time instead of Liam Hoden who is now good, we got the Radio Sheffield output which is less precise than Liam and suffers from seemingly interminable comment largely stating the blindingly obvious of Micky Walker.
Referees get persistent criticism form football fans and none are ever even satisfactory let alone goodM in the eyes of the faithful, so it’s easy to be cynical about the inbuilt bias. Fundamentally I’m sure none set out to favour one team, but all sorts of unconscious factors must influence them and Rovers having already collected 6 red cards before this game would surely be known to yesterday’s man. It is a most difficult occupation where there is an audience monitoring your every action and I’m sure no normal occupation is quite the same as officiating at a sports event where every action is filmed and can be analysed.
M
posted on 23/2/25
….continuation.
The time has perhaps come for the manager to consider imposing sanctions on players whose discipline is questionable because our reputation is going to disadvantage us in the run-in.
For a team second in the table, quite apart from the poor discipline we are not playing football that I find very attractive and the standard in the last couple of games has scarcely qualified for the description “entertainment”.
As you say Micky we don’t seem to use the full width of the pitch and one of our best attackers is Sterry who seems far less predictable than Molyneux. We owe a good deal to the defence and if we were to lose Olowu, survival at the level above might be difficult.
There do not seem to be any easy answers, possibly not any answers at all to deal with the challenge of manainting sufficient form to finish in the top 3 when all our rivals have played their games in hand.
The play-offs look like our best chance of escape.
posted on 23/2/25
I think GM is suffering from over thinking how the opposition are going to play and adapting the squad rather than how best our own squad should be set up to play at their best. He's got it badly wrong on several occasions. Though in his defence in League 1 and 2 it's difficult to win or draw unless you adapt to some teams tactics.
posted on 23/2/25
On Rovers+, both the last two matches have been the Radio Sheffield commentary - and yesterday it was not even the Rovers game for the first few minutes! You can see why I am getting more and more p----- off with it.
My comments were not meant to say the ref was biased against the Rovers (except maybe our centre-forwards, but that happens in most games), it was the inconsistency where both sides lost and gained unnecessarily. On Saturday he threw out yellow cards for relatively innocuous events, and then more serious fouls were just fouls, and this happened to both sides.
Inconsistency exists in the Premier League, even with the "help" of VAR.
VAR does help offside decisions, although it is sad when a few centimeters can disallow a goal. However I do ask "Are we sure the picture is frozen at the exact instance the ball leaves the passers foot or head? A split second could change these very tight decisions.