Simon ‘Sprout` Phillips is back with another excellent read.
Hi and welcome to the third instalment of the 2012/13 edition of something for the weekend. It`s been quite an eventful week on the pitch at Rovers and not a particularly good one in terms of results, so let`s get stuck into it.
Saturdays 3-0 defeat was disappointing in many ways, but I don`t believe it was as bad as some made out as if we were steam rolled by Morecambe; however it was a poor performance and no argument there. The first half was okay although we didn`t create much anything and it was clear early on that Morecambe were happy coming here for a point judging by the time the ‘keeper took to do anything and in the second half we proceeded to shoot ourselves in the foot gifting three goals and seemingly giving up. Morecambe didn`t beat us, we beat ourselves at the end of the day and everything positive from the Wycombe game was forgotten by the team and a large number of fans who seemed to be wielding the knives. We didn`t play well and we didn`t deserve to win, but then I don`t believe we were played off the park either. The most disappointing aspect of the afternoon, was hearing a sizey proportion of The Blackthorn End chanting off, off, off at Adam Virgo. You can rate him or not, have an opinion on him and even get frustrated with him at a game, but that was out of order. I find it annoying when people talk of players maybe not caring enough, lacking passion and maybe some do, but that sort of behaviour from ‘fans` is hardly going to make any of our players care more if they are treated to such ‘support`.
Tuesday despite seeing the same end result was a markedly different game. I thought we acquitted ourselves well and the team was doing things it wasn`t against Morecambe. Matt Gill especially in the first half was nipping in front of Yeovil players and winning the ball and also getting beyond the strikers and in the box and creating openings. Our first disallowed goal was created by Gill winning the ball and carrying on a forward run to get in the box before apparently fouling the ‘keeper as Michael Smith put the ball in the net. I like Michael Smith as a midfielder, he gets forward and has good energy and will be nice to see him make it his position with Danny Woodards to come back behind him at full back. Lee Brown on the other side of midfield though I am not so sure of despite him showing that he has goals in him. Bolger and Parkes looked a better partnership and it was good to hear them talking and shouting at the back, something easier picked up on with the smaller crowd.
Come the end of the game the score line didn`t tell the story of the game, and I found it amazing (or perhaps not) at some of the reactions to it from people who didn`t witness what happened. I am not one to tell people they shouldn`t have an opinion but some of the comments did rile me I must say. It`s easy to say we conceded three goals again and our defence is rubbish, when you see or hear the score but that doesn`t take in any consideration to what actually happened. In general I thought we defended well and the first two goals were from free-kicks smashed in the net. The first from a free-kick that should never have been given, the second from a good strike that perhaps Sam Walker could have done better with and the third was a late counter when we chased the game and was pretty inevitable. All in all I thought we did quite well against a team a division above us and in good early season form and there were positives to take in to this Saturday`s game.
Saturday we take on Aldershot and it is a bit of a must win. Not because it will be the end of our season or anything but would be nice to get our first official win under our belts and hopefully will subdue some of the Mem crowd getting more restless with the start of our season. Having seen a few games now I still don`t think there is a lot wrong with our squad when everyone is back fighting fit, although I do agree we could do with a pacey forward option to stretch play, make space and obviously chip in with a few goals. Of course this will have to come from the loan market now (at least until January anyway) and maybe we can hope to see some such signing soon.
Anyway hope to see you all Saturday ready to cheer the boys on and help the team to three points. Our support can help the team and the team can obviously help the support but I would urge all Gasheads not to get on the back of the team if things don`t seem to be going our way early on as I can`t see how that is going to help anything.
Bring on Saturday, bring on the Sun and bring on the game!!
UTG
Simon ‘Sprout` Phillips
