In your defence, I would be surprised if Robinson is keen to keep him. But surely a guy who has played in the Champions League has the ability to play in League 1.
Well Mowgli, our resident Football Manager scout certainly thought so!
Also, there have been dozens of teams with squads full of sub League 1 standard players to qualify for the Champions League by default, due to the standard of domestic competition.
ok go on then, tell me the dozens of teams who have qualified for the Champions League group stages who couldn't cut it in League 1?
To be honest I don't really feel the need to justify my argument anymore than I already have. You needn't look far though if you fancied doing a bit of research - I never mentioned the latter stages of the competition either.
And you'll noticed I haven't had a pop at you for digging out KAG - a promising 19 year old academy graduate who is also one of our own. I thought he played very well. A positive and hard working performance.
You're entitled to your opinion
Well Sarr played in the group stages, that is why I said about teams at that stage.
The comparison with my opinion on KAG is completely irrelevant. You are digging out Sarr because he is "pants", I am saying (IMO) KAG didn't have a good game tonight, nothing about him not being good enough. I also mentioned it probably isn't his best position. I believe KAG is promising enough, albeit on limited viewing, but I would prefer he spent some time in League 2 and scored a few goals as I don't think he's ready to play in a promotion winning League 1 side, especially not in a 4231. Being "one of our own" is also irrelevant, should a player be given more game time because he is from the academy, certainly not. He should be played on ability.
I also think you are entitled to your opinion, I also believe it's fair to say you are giving a player stick because you don't rate him. You should have just said that from the start as it's not even an unfair assessment really. But what is, is finding something to attach blame to him purely because he is "shit".
In a pre season friendly match when we are making a load of changes , I don't know how many oppo made , those odds aren't that unrealistic and the bookies give fuck all away . Surely people aren't that sad to make a shit bet like that up.
From someone who's made a fair living from gambling, and specialising in European friendlies (lines of gulf are usually well off, and a lot more variance in team news and info which plays into punters hands) - those odds are stingy but not wrong. Doubt you'd get much more than 50's even at 0-2 HT, 30's isn't that unrealistic - a shade stingy but not wrong. Had they started at 10's on that bookmakers, 30's at 0-2 isn't hard to believe, they still would have had Charlton at 1/100 or so at the time. Obviously it's case dependant and I wasn't monitoring this one - only takes a few people to take the + handicap on Limerick in the 2H (we had a weaker XI out and they had their stronger) and a 40/1 shot will drop into 30's, bookmakers would have the price running even from a few notes on it.
It's a friendly, as long as players got game time and no one got injured then it's fine. Doesn't matter if we won 6-0 or lost, it's totally irrelevant come August 5th.
I wonder if the form of Ceballos so far means we won't be too fussed on getting Reeves now.
It's a friendly, as long as players got game time and no one got injured then it's fine. Doesn't matter if we won 6-0 or lost, it's totally irrelevant come August 5th.
I wonder if the form of Ceballos so far means we won't be too fussed on getting Reeves now.
Winning is a habit, so is losing. Either result is also opinion forming. Last night's result is understandable given it was only the second pre-season game and it was the second in 24 hours plus it was against a team who should have been running rings around us in terms of fitness but if you were to take a straw poll of which players will form the starting line up for 5th August then the good result will pencil players in and the bad result will have players crossed out. Every game matters.
Got to watch this at a friends house (so big thanks George and Lee for the telly and conversation). The result was totally academic in my opinion. At this stage we are building fitness and trying to gel. This may be undone by late signings but as of now we sre in early pre season. And the odd duff performance inevitable. A lot of managers eould learn more from last night than the previous 5-0 win. Chill.
After the 5 - 0 crushing of third tier Crumlin Utd last night a phone call was made to the football league asking if promotion could now be granted automatically. The blazers, in their typical anti-Charlton manner, insisted that we still had to play 46 games against the other league 1 sides and the friendies don't actually count.
It's a friendly, as long as players got game time and no one got injured then it's fine. Doesn't matter if we won 6-0 or lost, it's totally irrelevant come August 5th.
I wonder if the form of Ceballos so far means we won't be too fussed on getting Reeves now.
Winning is a habit, so is losing. Either result is also opinion forming. Last night's result is understandable given it was only the second pre-season game and it was the second in 24 hours plus it was against a team who should have been running rings around us in terms of fitness but if you were to take a straw poll of which players will form the starting line up for 5th August then the good result will pencil players in and the bad result will have players crossed out. Every game matters.
Disagree with that. Assuming everyone is fit, then KR probably already has in mind a good 8-9 of his starters for Bristol Rovers.
Solly, Pearce, Bauer, Da silva (if signed), Kashi, Holmes, Marshall, Ceballos/Clarke, Magennis will almost certainly start irrespective of pre season results.
I have found it very odd that we are playing 3 matches in 3 days with almost the same squad.
I still cannot see the logic behind this strategy.
Wondering ifs a fast-track attempt from Robinson to get them up to Match Fitness as quickly and safely as possible.
Quite like the approach provided we dont get injuries... Hopefully the likes of Solly | Fosu | Kashi who were rested (Because of niggles) last night will be back to play some part of this evening - Only strange thing is we dont have any further Goalkeepers out there other than Phillips and Maynard Brewer although I guess if they'd taken Beeney as well, who would play in goal for the U23s
I have found it very odd that we are playing 3 matches in 3 days with almost the same squad.
I still cannot see the logic behind this strategy.
Didn't you play football every day when you were a kid ? Once upon a time over a bank holiday weekend teams would play Friday, Saturday and Monday...and they weren't friendlies where you could rotate the players in the pitch throughout the match.
Tonight will identify players that want to win as opposed to ones that would like to win.
I thought Ceballos had an excellent half and I thought Sarr did nothing wrong. Baeur looked susceptible to balls played over his head where he had to turn. I know it is sacrilege to blame Jackson for the third goal but he can't play left back anymore. Magennis was threatening and I thought Barnes looked good playing out of position. Marshall and Clarke had quiet games. Charles- Cook is a better midfielder than a right back.
I can't believe that we have not bought a goalkeeper yet. I like Phillips but we can't go into the season with effectively one goalkeeper. We need to get a keeper in for the rest of the pre - season games to get him used to our players. Amos or Lindegard for me, they are both on a free.
Reckon it'll be the same approach with two teams playing 45mins each for Welling | Greenwich | Dover and then for the next two (Stevenage | Norwich) we'll have two different sides for each match with the players playing around 60-mins each.
Then for our last friendly against Ipswich we'll again see an experimental side playing about 90mins
I have found it very odd that we are playing 3 matches in 3 days with almost the same squad.
I still cannot see the logic behind this strategy.
They are only playing half a game per night and it is getting them closer to match fit It is certainly more fun than training and gives them differant tactics to deal with.
Also helps them to gel and get to appreciate how others play and move; especially with players who may not be in the 'first team' next season but maybe called into play. Quite important if you are going to be playing triangular passes in the new system.
Although the main reason will be to treat us fans to 3 nights of footie during the close season. Gotta love Robbo!
Bauer gets cut so much slack. He looked properly dodgy last night. Sarr did nothing wrong and has still been described as shit. He may well be, but he wasn't last night.
Jackson culpable for the 3rd goal IMO. 1st was a fluke and the 2nd a cracking strike.
Lots of work to do, but that is inevitable given it is the second game of pre-season.
Left back and goalkeeper have to be the priority for signings. Some genuine pace up front would be nice as well.
Don't think we need a right back Barnes looks more than capable and when you consider we have Tex and Konsa who can cover there we should be fine.
Has anyone noticed the irony that we've played two sides who also have Hummel kits?
No irony. That's part of the reason we played them.
Oh I genuinely thought it was just coincidence and as per commentary last night the friendly arrangement suited Limerick because they're now not playing a League game on the weekend because Shamrock Rovers have Europa League Qualifying.
I guess UCD are also a Hummel side then? - Either way hope its not blue with white sleeves!
Lot of discussion about Sarr. As far as I'm concerned he's our player and if he's in Robinsons opinion good enough to play and improve the squad then that's a real bonus.
You never know do you ? ........."Naby Sarr...He used to be shite, now he's alright"
But Sarr needs to be the scapegoat. We paid a lot of money for him and he was given a long contract. It was his fault that this happened. It had nothing to do with Driesen, Duchatelet or Meire. Until Page is fit I think it is only right to boo Sarr at every opportunity.
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As @Nicholas said those odds are not right at 2-0 down.
The comparison with my opinion on KAG is completely irrelevant. You are digging out Sarr because he is "pants", I am saying (IMO) KAG didn't have a good game tonight, nothing about him not being good enough. I also mentioned it probably isn't his best position. I believe KAG is promising enough, albeit on limited viewing, but I would prefer he spent some time in League 2 and scored a few goals as I don't think he's ready to play in a promotion winning League 1 side, especially not in a 4231. Being "one of our own" is also irrelevant, should a player be given more game time because he is from the academy, certainly not. He should be played on ability.
I also think you are entitled to your opinion, I also believe it's fair to say you are giving a player stick because you don't rate him. You should have just said that from the start as it's not even an unfair assessment really. But what is, is finding something to attach blame to him purely because he is "shit".
Surely people aren't that sad to make a shit bet like that up.
I wonder if the form of Ceballos so far means we won't be too fussed on getting Reeves now.
Solly, Pearce, Bauer, Da silva (if signed), Kashi, Holmes, Marshall, Ceballos/Clarke, Magennis will almost certainly start irrespective of pre season results.
I still cannot see the logic behind this strategy.
Quite like the approach provided we dont get injuries... Hopefully the likes of Solly | Fosu | Kashi who were rested (Because of niggles) last night will be back to play some part of this evening - Only strange thing is we dont have any further Goalkeepers out there other than Phillips and Maynard Brewer although I guess if they'd taken Beeney as well, who would play in goal for the U23s
It's all about getting match fit the serious stuff starts in a week or two.
Tonight will identify players that want to win as opposed to ones that would like to win.
I can't believe that we have not bought a goalkeeper yet. I like Phillips but we can't go into the season with effectively one goalkeeper. We need to get a keeper in for the rest of the pre - season games to get him used to our players. Amos or Lindegard for me, they are both on a free.
Then for our last friendly against Ipswich we'll again see an experimental side playing about 90mins
Also helps them to gel and get to appreciate how others play and move; especially with players who may not be in the 'first team' next season but maybe called into play. Quite important if you are going to be playing triangular passes in the new system.
Although the main reason will be to treat us fans to 3 nights of footie during the close season. Gotta love Robbo!
Jackson culpable for the 3rd goal IMO. 1st was a fluke and the 2nd a cracking strike.
Lots of work to do, but that is inevitable given it is the second game of pre-season.
Left back and goalkeeper have to be the priority for signings. Some genuine pace up front would be nice as well.
Don't think we need a right back Barnes looks more than capable and when you consider we have Tex and Konsa who can cover there we should be fine.
I guess UCD are also a Hummel side then? - Either way hope its not blue with white sleeves!
You never know do you ? ........."Naby Sarr...He used to be shite, now he's alright"