If I were writing from the perspective of Bristol Rovers I might regard tomorrow's game as being the easiest so far. Starting with a match which they held out with a 1-0 lead until 8 minutes from the end at Sunderland and then falling to 2 late goals at home to another of the promotion favourites, Ipswich, they might feel that one point out of 6 is not a bad start. They also had the misfortune to get drawn at Ipswich in the EFL Cup only to lose 3-0, so it's been tough so far.
So they could easily regard coming to us as a relatively straightforward assignment, although I see that their local paper reminds its readers of their rather poor record against us. They were more fancied for success than we were pre-season too and the pressure will be on them to pull things around.
Their stats for those 3 matches suggest that they have successfully withstood a fair amount of pressure before capitulation too, so our (lately much vaunted) attacking threat will be tested.
I suppose that there are good grounds for expecting victory and I do not want to be cynical about our chances, but this will be more of a test than I imagine those who were so confident after the Charlton result will anticipate.
So a hard-fought 2-1 win and I'll put my bet on Big Tom.
DPL v Bristol Rovers
posted on 27/9/20
OK, maybe just relegated Charlton are considered a "top team"!
posted on 27/9/20
It will be interesting to see how Charlton get on against Lincoln today. That should tell us more about our victory against them last week.
posted on 27/9/20
The main issue is will the season be completed? Many clubs in the League system are only a few weeks away from collapse. I cant see crowds back in any form until well after Christmas. Im not confident that the EFL can arrange suitable financial aid in time either. I hope Im wrong. From what I saw on the League One highlights last night on Quest Rovers do look like contenders at the moment. I didnt really rate Ipswich or Hull as outstanding.
posted on 27/9/20
In a message to the Commentary team someone likened one of the players to Jay Emmanuel-Thomas in the way he came away from a tackle with the ball and it struck me that there have been innumerable instances of this from all the young players DM has recruited.
As I said last week the talent is raw, but gifted and improving with Lokilo far more decisive and Richards getting more confident. There is specatacle even if some of it is of the blundering kind, but two of the goals had the "wow" factor.
Defence is more of a science which can be learned whereas attack is imagination born of talent and perhaps Wilks and Kane were more formed, yet who is to say Lokilo and Co do not have at least as much potential if not more?
posted on 28/9/20
Donaldo, as always, some good commentary; we have raw talent indeed. To me, Lokilo in his time on the field was beginning to show the potential he showed in his brief appearance last season. Tulloch, I just have not seen enough, but J-J could be the crown jewel. His first touch and foot work at times are dazzling; I just wish he had gone for goal when he had that chance. I know he saw two Rovers more free, but his pass went between them. Just a young guy trying to be good, but messing it up! As I said to my season-holder nephew, if Marquis had that first touch, he would have scored 30+ in his seasons with the Rovers! OK, you Marquis defenders, I'll take want you fire at me! My nephew agrees with me!
posted on 28/9/20
I have followed Marquis’s fortunes at Portsmouth and he seems admired there for the same reasons as he was here; for his chasing and effort and because whoever is marking him can’t allow him room. And as you say unlike the type of young player that DM has brought in, he and the vast majority of players require space for control.
Being able to receive and effectively use the ball coming at them from an awkward angle or height is a talent that only the very best possess and cultivating it productively on the pitch is what we all hope for of J-J and the rest.
Following up Crazy’s point about the relative strength of Charlton (and Lincoln for that matter), I see that it went 2-0 Lincoln’s way yesterday with the BBC report suggesting that the home team were not hugely impressive. However they beat MK Dons away, again not entirely convincingly, but they did overcome Oxford 2-0 in the opening match and they had less possession in all 3. Charlton losing and Lincoln’s 100% record probably suggests that Lincoln have shown the capability to deliver slightly more than Rovers and that Charlton need to tighten up if they are going to make a mark.
posted on 29/9/20
Donaldo, I was trying to wind up Hound over Marquis. But where is everyone these days? I really hope they are all OK.
Things look good at the moment - the Belles won, our Timbers won again, and our Thorns do not play again until Wednesday night.
What is happening to Man City? I watched 14 minutes of highlights and they have no fire-power. I know Aguero and Jesus are injured, but Sterling is not good as a faux #9.
posted on 29/9/20
I watch some football on Sky yesterday and saw an improving Arsenal lose at Liverpool. Both sides played out from the back with Arsenal rather pinned in their own half, yet creating some good opportunities on the break. You can appreciate that the style works well when the other side is dominant... especially if you can finish and Arsenal couldn’t.
Ramsey came on as a late sub for Villa vs Fulham and despite positioning himself well was largely ignored by his team-mates. He didn’t do anything wrong and “won” two free kicks when crudely pushed off the ball when he was allowed to be involved. He certainly found suitable space within the set-up and perhaps as well as being “accepted” he needs a bit more bulk and strength.
I see the Timbers are 2nd in the Western Conference.
posted on 30/9/20
I apologise for forgetting to put up the Charlton results sooner, but here they are together with those for Bristol Rovers.
Crazy is alone in sensing what lay in store at the Valley, but gets only 3 points for his foresight.
No one seems to anticipate where the goals will come from and this reflects how genuinely exciting this team is.
19/09/2020 Charlton 1 : Rovers 3 (Gomez)
>>>>>>> Scorer > Score > Result > Bonus > Total > Pts B/F > O/all
Donaldo>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 7 >>>>>> 7
PDXMickey> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>>> 0
Yorks Lad>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>>> 0
BVZ>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>>> 0
Crazy>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 0 >>>>>> 3
Uthred>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>>> 0
Mooligan>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 4 >>>>>> 4
King Chmprr 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>>> 0 >>>>>> 0
Small Azza> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>>> 0
Azza>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>>> 0
Cheltenham 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>>> 0
Nookie>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>>> 3
Selby>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>>> 0 >>>>> 7 >>>>>> 7
Lanza>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>>> 0
>>>>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 3 >>>>> 21 >>>>>> 24
26/09/20 Rovers 4 (Wright) : Bristol R 1
>>>>>>> Scorer > Score > Result > Bonus > Total > Pts B/F > O/all
Donaldo>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 3 >>>>> 7 >>>>>> 10
PDXMickey> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 3 >>>>> 0 >>>>>> 3
Yorks Lad>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>>> 0
BVZ>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>>> 0
Crazy>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 3 >>>>>> 6
Uthred>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>>> 0
Mooligan>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 4 >>>>>> 4
King Chmprr 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>>> 0 >>>>>> 0
Small Azza> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>>> 0
Azza>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>>> 0
Cheltenham 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>>> 0
Nookie>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>>> 3
Selby>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>>> 3 >>>>> 7 >>>>>> 10
Lanza>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>>> 0
>>>>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 12 >>>> 0 >>> 12 >>>> 24 >>>>>> 36
posted on 3/10/20
I got the result right Donaldo