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Post by Prof on Dec 16, 2016 22:13:56 GMT
Another big game for our guys tomorrow at Ochilview Hard to predict as the form of both teams has been very erratic lately. However, our record against Stenny on their patch has been great over the past few seasons. With that in mind I'll go for a narrow 2-1 victory to the MIGHTY 'Vers!
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Post by d7 on Dec 16, 2016 22:23:47 GMT
Stenny have won at home only twice in the league in the whole of 2016. Got to be an away win tomorrow.
Any info on our injury list?
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Post by Roy of the Rovers on Dec 17, 2016 11:34:44 GMT
Expecting a Rovers win so it'll be 1-1
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Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2016 11:48:10 GMT
3-1 to the Rovers.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2016 12:38:26 GMT
2-1 to the Rovers. Safe trip for the team and supporters traveling. Good luck on the plastic park.
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Post by tommysermanni on Dec 17, 2016 14:26:19 GMT
2-2
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Post by harriskid44 on Dec 17, 2016 17:07:30 GMT
Things are just getting bad to worst for rovers, what a bad score line that was today, against bottom of the table stenny, and the changes rovers had to win, thats not good,we need to improve next week against East fife, but thats going to be another hard game.
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Post by stewmelrover on Dec 17, 2016 17:58:22 GMT
Really missed Davidson, Wallace and Stewart. Had several chances to win, but two pretty poor teams on show. Oh well!! Could be worse...Injuries and suspensions a nightmare at the moment.
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Post by d7 on Dec 17, 2016 19:08:59 GMT
Brutal again. I hope the Prosecco is in the fridge when I get home cos I'm gonna need it.
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Post by stewmelrover on Dec 17, 2016 19:49:01 GMT
Come on chaps!! One defeat doth not a winter make! If we get our injured men back we will get it together again. All part of the fun of being a Rovers' supporter. Was at Third Lanark's ground last Saturday, so am thankful we have-against all odds-still got a team to support.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2016 20:58:05 GMT
Didn't think their was much between the teams except a unstoppable strike by Stenny. Hopefully get some players back soon but midfield has to start working to get to the ball first. On a plus note nice to see James Ward at the game. Top bloke.
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Post by d7 on Dec 17, 2016 21:20:01 GMT
As Einstein may (or may not) have said: The definition of insanity is "Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results". Well clearly Stenny have that particular quote glued to the dressing room wall and today they decided that actually they would just go out and make a game of it and see what happened for a change. And look how that panned out for them.....
Befitting the somewhat sombre brand of football on show, both teams emerged in virtually identical black or near black-maroony kit which didn't make it any easier on the eyes. First thing that struck me was Fish sporting a virtual clean shave - just the trendy designer stubbly looking thing remaining. Takes about 20 years off him and in truth I'd forgotten just how handsome he is. Fish - in the unlikely event that you're reading this; PM me, ha!
We had a number of key players missing today and it showed. The bench seemed to be made up of our under 19's I guess with even Darren listed as a sub. Kyle was restored to LB but all the changes left us looking a bit thin up front and short of options.
In truth it was a fairly even contest between two poor to poorish sides. Competitive and passably entertaining but short on quality. The ball fairly pinged from end to end and the first clear cut chance fell to Stenny. Ross Dunlop attempted a long clearance but only succeeded in rattling the ball of Fish. The ball broke to the Stenny forward and he hit a tame effort past the post when he should have done better.
We had the better of the chances with surprisingly both falling to Ross Dunlop. With the first he got on to the end of a long free kick which was flicked on and he hit a great shot which the keeper did well to save. The ball broke free and we had a number of half chances in quick succession but couldn't take them. The second also came from a free kick which was flicked on by McBride before Ross managed to edge the ball past the keeper. McBride was leaning a wee bit into the defender and the ref blew for a foul. So 'goal' disallowed and it was a very soft free kick to give and we have a right to feel aggrieved at that decision. Most of the Rovers fans behind the goal had a better look at it than me and they weren't best pleased.
Furtado caused us a few problems down the left hand side but Kyle was giving him a run for his money. A fairly even first half where Stenny played some nice, if ineffective stuff and having the bulk of the possession finished 0-0.
Into the second half and Stenny still seemed to have the bulk of the possession. If a goal was going to come it looked like it would be for Stenny. Furtado was quiet and had only touched the ball once in the second half when he latched onto a long through ball. He drifted inside Kyle and hit a cracker of a shot behind keeper Ross for 1-0 from just inside the box. It was a cracker of a strike and to be fair worthy of winning any game.
We huffed and puffed a bit after that and started to go forward a bit more. Fish hit a couple of shots which were close but didn't really trouble the keeper. McBride hit a good shot from outside the box but the keeper held the ball well.
It was only a matter of time before we went for our last throw of the dice and something else to add to the two certainties in life of death and taxes - namely putting big Mick up top in the last 10 minutes in search of a goal when we are chasing the game because it always pays off. And so it came to pass and Mick did indeed bag yet another hat trick meaning we actually won the game 3-1. So that's all good then.
We were actually lucky that Stenny didn't score more towards the end. With free-scoring Mick running riot up top we left the back door well and truly open. Stenny got forward three times, hitting the post and sclaffing another two efforts wide.
So 1-0 it finished and that's where we are at the moment. When we gubbed Stenny at Cliftonhill earlier in the year they were absolutely rank rotten. Today they were still pretty dire but, and this is the scary part, they absolutely deserved their win. They looked fitter than us and controlled the game for long periods without ever really looking like scoring more than maybe the 1 wonder goal they got. We did okay but were beaten by a better team today in my view.
Not sure where that leaves us but we've a bit of work to do. Yes we had a few players out and it showed . When we get them back we'll be better. I don't really blame Darren for putting Messi-Mick up top, he's short of alternative options and has to try something. Mick actually got stuck in and has a decent touch for a thirty-something defender-cum-striker.
Being beaten by the leagues bottom club, who never, ever beat us, just a week after being beaten by QP, who never, ever beat us is indeed a wee bit worrying.
In truth everyone did okay today up to a point and I don't really want to slaughter anyone on here as I've re-read some of the things I've put on here before and I wouldn't like to be reading that about me if I'm honest. We'll see how long that lasts right enough. Not long as it happens so very quickly then - Boydy needs to be told to pass more, he's too greedy. And I saw Ferry make a few forward passes today and do a nice wee flick.
I thought our best performers today were probably Fish and Ross Gilmour. Both put in decent shifts in the midfield with Ross getting booked and then committing a few more fouls for good measure. Fish put in a few great tackles and actually there were a few times today when I thought he was going to slide in but instead he stayed on his feet and won the ball. Handsome and intelligent, what's he like?!?!!?
Not disastrous yet but we could do with getting back to winning ways in the next few weeks. The league is super tight and we need points on the board. Decent-ish crowd today with a good few Rovers fans in the stand and behind the goal.
I sat with my Stenny supporting mates today just in front of the Director's box where the Rovers Directors were sitting. A few in that part of the box were giving Kyle and Fish some verbals, particularly first half. Not bad, not too loud and certainly not as bad as I've given out at times when frustration takes over. Now I don't know who gets in the Directors box - more than just Directors that's for sure as there were a fair few of them - but is that acceptable? Not sure it is but who died and left me in charge?
Don't know how others feel but I can't see any discernible shape or pattern to our play. In the last two seasons we've been really difficult to break down and haven't conceded many goals as a result. Since after the Dunfermline game in Feb 2015 I think it was and Sandy Clark switched us to a 4-2-3-1 formation we've stuck with that through thick and thin and it's worked. Now we have 4 at the back, 2 in front of them and then the rest is just a riot. Quite often instead of tracking back we have, for example today, Conor, McBride and Boydy not tracking back and it leaves us exposed. I tell you what we need to sort that out - a Director of Football, ha!
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Post by fineen on Dec 17, 2016 22:02:49 GMT
I don't know D7 but his summaries are usually pretty decent and today he has everything spot on, in particular about Gilmour who is looking more and more like a decent player. We'll be OK if we keep our players fit and free from suspension, but today shows we are a wee bit thin: Connor has had a couple of starts and looks like he can get at defenders, but only with a better supply.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2016 22:11:28 GMT
See to be fair from my OPINION the game was absolutely sh*te
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Post by d7 on Dec 17, 2016 22:18:39 GMT
Stenny have won at home only twice in the league in the whole of 2016. Got to be an away win tomorrow. Any info on our injury list? Make that 3 wins in 2016. Brutal and what MFRSC#1 says right enough. My predictions are always absolutely cr@p and I'm therefore banning myself from making any more. About time too.
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