The centre forward(9) at Rovers used to play with my sons at Gravesend (John Akindi). I thought he would cause a lot more trouble as he is a strong hold up player, and the smaller forward who he partnered looked far more lively and skillfull.
As others have posted, they nicked the lead and then just wanted to time waste, and frustrate us!.
They kicked the ball off at least 6 times the first half from poor passing!
Although we had our chances, and the possession, I though that Rovers were a poor team, and we should have beaten them!.
After saying that they had a couple of chances on the counter so I guess a draw is not the worst outcome!.
I agree that there keeper seemed to make two or three decent saves, but too many times did we shoot/head straight at him!.
They came with little, created even less, and frustrated me even more. I did expect a bit more than we acheived.
I get the impression on here that I am somewhat 'unrealistic' and in a minority by the sounds of it!
I think if we had started the game with the personnel that ended it, we would have probably won by 2 or 3. Rovers timewasted before they scored and it was as much to stop us getting into our stride as anything else. It suceeded to a degree although 2 of their keeper's saves were as good as we are likely to see this season so it is just bad luck to a degree.
I do agree that Martin is easy on the eye and he also works very hard but you watch a move break down because the better option is not taken, then another, then another - you start to see a pattern. There is something in there that has to be opened and I think the coaching staff have to find a way to do it but I think having Sodje with Benson from the start would have been a better bet yesterday with Marting coming on as an impact sub against tiring defenders. Don't think it should be a question of destroying his confidence but maybe he is a little too confident.
Brizzle reminded me of us in early season. Strong defence, hard working midfield with very little imagination and creativity up front. I dont think they were a bad side-they just lacked any flair or style like most of the teams in this league except Brighton.
We were much better, but then Brizzle were hopeless so that was not difficult. I was crying out for Akpo to come on at Half Time. Benson & Martin are just too similar to play together upfront, both small with a lack of power and neither has blistering pace. We had most possession but did not create enough and their keeper made 3 decent saves.
Should have won, and if we had shown the urgency and desire we showed after going 1 down from the start then we would have done.
Cant win them all can you i fort that Bristol Rovers defended really well, with there goal kepper having the game of his life first time this season weve come from a goal down and did not lose if we had joey fort would of been a win akpo is looking sharp when he comes on though
Inclined to agree but in the context of 5 wins previously, you have to expect the odd draw. Martin and Benson are not similar but I know what you mean. There is a certain type of threat that Anyinsah and Sodje pose which is to do with their strength and to a degree pace. Benson does better playing alongside one of these. I'm very happy with Benson, after a slow start he has done a great job and is a terrific signing but I'd like to have a longer look at Sodje and Anyinsah together - Maybe it is better to use Sodje against tiring defenders when Joe tires but I have a feeling at this level which has lots of static, slow defenders that they would be too much to handle for many sides. If you have both of them, there is no respite and the game then opens up more for other players.
Understand that it is hard to change a winning team but Luton on Saturday would be a decent opportunity to have a look at this.
Remember Parky had been playing Joe and Martin together until Joe was injured at Peterboro. Martin and Benno worked very well together v the Posh and we won 5 - 1.
So he is aware of both combinations. Sodje also played with Anyinsah v Notts Co and it worked well.
It maybe that he picks different combinations depending on how the other team set up.
On Saturday Martin can't play so expect to see Benson and either JA or AS.
Would love to see JA and AS on Saturday. Like you said, we saw it worked agains Notts County - but how long did we see it for- 10 -12 minutes? This was in a game where we were truely awful - as bad as I can remember - unusual to turn that around but bringing them on did it. A defence that was comfortable were suddenly grateful they were not wearing white shorts! I know circumstances may have contrived to prevent the combination and it is difficult to drop Benson who has been excellent - It's just I want to see more than that tantalising 10 minutes. It might not work so well but it could be a revelation for us.
[cite]Posted By: Henry Irving[/cite]Remember Parky had been playing Joe and Martin together until Joe was injured at Peterboro. Martin and Benno worked very well together v the Posh and we won 5 - 1.
So he is aware of both combinations. Sodje also played with Anyinsah v Notts Co and it worked well.
It maybe that he picks different combinations depending on how the other team set up.
On Saturday Martin can't play so expect to see Benson and either JA or AS.
I know he scored but I thought benson lookede tired and had lost a bit of sharpness last night and would not mind him sitting on the bench on Saturday with Akpo starting with Joe or if injured Abbot.
Comments
I thought he would cause a lot more trouble as he is a strong hold up player, and the smaller forward who he partnered looked far more lively and skillfull.
As others have posted, they nicked the lead and then just wanted to time waste, and frustrate us!.
They kicked the ball off at least 6 times the first half from poor passing!
Although we had our chances, and the possession, I though that Rovers were a poor team, and we should have beaten them!.
After saying that they had a couple of chances on the counter so I guess a draw is not the worst outcome!.
I agree that there keeper seemed to make two or three decent saves, but too many times did we shoot/head straight at him!.
They came with little, created even less, and frustrated me even more. I did expect a bit more than we acheived.
I get the impression on here that I am somewhat 'unrealistic' and in a minority by the sounds of it!
I do agree that Martin is easy on the eye and he also works very hard but you watch a move break down because the better option is not taken, then another, then another - you start to see a pattern. There is something in there that has to be opened and I think the coaching staff have to find a way to do it but I think having Sodje with Benson from the start would have been a better bet yesterday with Marting coming on as an impact sub against tiring defenders. Don't think it should be a question of destroying his confidence but maybe he is a little too confident.
Should have won, and if we had shown the urgency and desire we showed after going 1 down from the start then we would have done.
2 points thrown away.
i fort that Bristol Rovers defended really well, with there goal kepper having the game of his life
first time this season weve come from a goal down and did not lose
if we had joey fort would of been a win
akpo is looking sharp when he comes on though
Understand that it is hard to change a winning team but Luton on Saturday would be a decent opportunity to have a look at this.
So he is aware of both combinations. Sodje also played with Anyinsah v Notts Co and it worked well.
It maybe that he picks different combinations depending on how the other team set up.
On Saturday Martin can't play so expect to see Benson and either JA or AS.
I know he scored but I thought benson lookede tired and had lost a bit of sharpness last night and would not mind him sitting on the bench on Saturday with Akpo starting with Joe or if injured Abbot.