hinsleburg

I thought the substitution looked pre-meditated to me (Which would have been bold given the state of the game!) I don't think he was ever going to play the full 90 especially with a game coming up Sunday, but an hour will help match fitness and hopefully prevent these niggly injuries for him. Was in constant communication with the physios and bench 2nd half, think he was desperate to stay on but the decision was made to haul him off (Which seems sensible if he was suffering from tightness) Wasn't as good last night as Saturday but thought he still had a really solid game in there other than the obvious error. Think he really contributes to the 'bite' and gives other players confidence to throw themselves about a bit as there's a bit more fight in the team with him in it! Hope it was pre-meditated and precautionary as think he'll be needed again Sunday

Much better last night

Think Williams will get the best out of James too, think Matty James is wasted at the moment as he needs to do all the hard work! Somebody to take the brunt of that frees him up a lot more and gives us a really solid spine to build off!

Williams sprinting 15 yards to take out (fairly somehow as well) Brereton from the throw in was fantastic too! There were a lot of verbals for about 5 minutes (most of the game tbf but particularly the last 5) building up to that so to see Williams have the last laugh was a great psychological win and helped change momentum after their goal. Think we showed a lot of heart Saturday and to see the young guns being front and centre of that was great.. Benarous seemed a lot like Scott, in the nicest possible way he was a dick and we need more of those!

Yep, pretty much every week but Saturday seemed particularly bad! It was the bloody yellow sky bet advert, couldn't make out any of the opposition along the Dolman side!

What a drive from Fernando yesterday! Helped by the VSC and a strange strategy from Perez but fair play to him! Not really a fan of LH or MV but really hope they're as close as possible, as well as the constructors, going into the last race. Will be toxic and fantastic, whatever people's opinions they've both had fantastic seasons and nice to have a proper rivalry!

As a sidenote on this , one of the Stewards out the back of the KFC entrance was a proper jobsworth. Upon arrival at about 2.15 when the queue was crazy long i asked if I could go to the front with my Grandad who wouldn't have made it to the back of the queue let alone stood in it! His exact response was 'well that's unfortunate, tough luck'... I then said are we supposed to sit in the car until 3pm and he simply replied 'that's not my problem'. Fortunately another steward heard this exchange and ushered us straight through. No issue with extra security but needs to be communicated (although I do get that somewhat lessens the impact) and some common sense. Also, I get the Stewards have it tough, but don't be a dick!

Believe it's two but unsure if that applies to Non league? He hasn't played for us yyet so no issue with another loan but just means he can't play for us (Depending on non league status)

Wasn't it Derek Riordan (or something like that) which prompted the thread in the classics section?

I was sat in the row behind, his reaction when the two goals went in is my moment of the season and won't be topped! I'll be honest, I feared for you both first half hour as it was pretty toxic but glad it improved very quickly. Glad you both enjoyed the day, watching your experience makes me even more excited to bring my young one in a couple of years!

The Linesman on the Lansdown side couldn't even dress himself,spent the whole game with his label hanging out the back. Strong chance his shorts were on inside out which would sum up the officials performance to be fair.

I think it would have been Simpson which is a scary thought. Somebody round me said COD as we've tried him pretty much everywhere else.. ?

Yeah I knew it hadn't been for a while but didn't expect that long!

Not really sure what to make of COD yesterday, as alluded to you could argue he was our only bright spot offensively but his off the ball work was horrendous. Ultimately, whilst it eventually backfired with King, I would have said the sub and change of shape actually worked. Dasilva and Tanner playing more advanced then became pretty much our only attacking outlet and any half chances came from them. Think COD suffers on here with same issue Pack had on here where people are so strong in their views. Those that rate him really rate him and vice versa, for me he lands somewhere in the middle. A bang average midfielder and if we want to progress cannot be first choice but could do a role as a 'squad player'. Part of me would like to see him play in the middle like he does for Ireland and if King/Williams aee out and HNM not fit we could see that...

I thought if it led to a Red Card or penalty there's the potential for a 3 game ban with this? Is it not what Bailey Wright got ridiculously done for at Fulham a few years back, albeit this one there is absolutely no contact? Edit - Kiwicolin beat me to it regarding the 3 game ban!

So I've heard that there has been a 'pretty spectacular' falling out behind the scenes at Rovers and a number of coaches (believe mostly youth) have left/will be leaving. Will be interesting to see if anything comes out next few days! (I know nothing more than the above so don't have details)

Thought he was like having an extra two players when he came on. Thought it was an unbelievable cameo and just hoping he can somehow stay fit!

Yeah its a weird one as I thought his record wasn't too bad either. Probably one of those instances where fans are unable to see past a perceived lack of effort.

Pitman wasn't the most mobile bloke when he was with us but I don't think we used him properly and you knew that if the ball fell to him in the box it would likely go in. However chatting to a Swindon fan earlier this year they couldn't wait to get rid of him, sounds like he can barely/is unwilling to move and has seemingly lost all finishing ability. Now it could be a confidence thing or simply being at Swindon but I wouldn't get mu hopes up too much if I were a Rovers fan...

I've been really impressed with Semenyo this year compared to what we saw previously when he played for us. Ideally, I think he would best be utilised as an Impact sub currently, I think him running at tired defences for a shorter period of time would benefit him and the team a lot more. But the issue with that is we have nobody else who offers us the pace and power that he does from the start, so unless we went back to 532 I feel like he has to play. The issue with 532 for me is the midfield currenrtly, if we assume that Nagy has to play on current form and likely Bakinson due to his deeper lying nature who takes the 3rd spot? Massengo would offer energy and feel like he needs a role where he can harass and press players as opposed to being the holding player like he was at the start of the season. Think with a run of games he could be very effective but currently he's not offering enough to be given a run of games... Palmer, if fit, would offer the creativity and 'x factor' that would be missing without Semenyo. Contrary to popular opinion I also don't believe he's lazy and felt at the start of last season he offered a LOT defensively and covered a lot of ground. Obviously then he was out of the side and we didn't really see that again from him, in a weird way I think he was probably told to go on and NOT press/harass and try to be in space for breakaways for when we won the ball back. As mentioned elsewhere think Palmer is reliant on players around him to be effective so Wells would need to play however the lack of width with JD injured would limit his passing opportunities and I guess lead to giving the ball away/taking too long. With all that in mind I'd quite like to see a Midfield 3 of Vyner, Nagy and Bakinson. Gives Bakinson a bit more freedom and potentially he can be that more creative outlet with Nagy moving the ball quickly and buzzing about. Think those 3 in midfield gives us the option to play 532/352 without Semenyo or 433 with him. For me, I'd be tempted to go back to 532 with Mawson back and use Semenyo as a plan B. Think there is a definite player in there but his game time needs to be managed to ensure he's as effective as possible whilst on the pitch. Right now I see him as more of a winger than a central striker so to have the option of changing formation mid game is a big positve for Holden and hopeully he can find a way to utilise that, and Semenyo as effectively as possible. If he does get a goal, I think he could blow up in the best possible way.

he was doing such a good job. i blame scotty

cue breaking news on SSN, 30 minutes late, league 2 beckons i fear hope.