Lets hope it will be called off I have Christmas shopping to undertake.It will also give Ward more time to asses players staff and agree tactics and a formation that works. I would say on current form 2 or 4 points max. If Ward actually makes a difference then maybe 7. COR View attachment 19794
John on his first game in charge John Ward knows that he has to hit the ground running going into Saturday’s game against Rotherham. John joined Rovers for his second spell as manager on Monday, and he knows that he does not have much time to change things around. But it is an opportunity that the new boss is relishing. He said: “I am enjoying it; I have been out of it for two or three months, and you miss the day to day side of it. It has been hectic, but it has been good. “I have met a lot of good people around the football club, some I knew from years ago, and some I have met for the first time. “But most importantly I have had a chance to meet the players and get to know them a little bit, and now we are getting down to the nitty gritty come this weekend, this is the bit that matters the most. “I am back at a place I know a little bit about with a real cause, we have got to try and protect and look after the club. “It is a responsibility, but it is also an opportunity, and that is the way we have to look at it.” The manager has only just met his players, but his aim is to get everyone around the club pulling together. “I like football, I like getting my boots on, and if I can get a group of players with the same enthusiasm that I am coming back into the game with, then we have a good chance.” “What the players want to do above all else is to get winning again, that is the key for Saturday. “It is a tough game, as they a very good opponent, but if we can get these players to work as hard as they possibly can and get the crowd behind us, then who knows, we could get those three points. “They are here because they are good players, you don’t become a bad manager, a bad player or a bad supporter overnight. “The one thing that bonds us all together is that we are working hard to keep Bristol Rovers in the Football League.” And the manager is taking advice from those around him. “I have to take advice. I have Marcus Stewart and Shaun North working alongside me and they both saw Rotherham play on Tuesday. “Everyone is pulling their weight to try and do those things and we are looking at getting things right as quickly as we can because I have no time to build. It is important to hit the ground running. “There is a big part to play for supporters and players alike, but can make this a really difficult place for Rotherham to come on Saturday. “They are a good side with good players, but at the same time they could come and have a bad day, and we could have a good day and we could beat them.” And in team news, Cian Bolger is in contention for a place in the team on Saturday. John said: “Cian Bolger is back around the group and we have Tom Parkes fit and well after taking a knock in the week. “The good thing is we are getting people back out there who want to play and want to be involved. Cian has worked his socks off this week to be there on Saturday, and that is what the supporters want to see.”
bolger and parkes starting at the back, bit of pace and they have that bond already. that be my choice. looking forward to seeing wards starting line up to see how far away he is from MM's line ups. hope he plays players in the right positions. that be an improvement in itself.
2 wins and 2 draws for me! Will be at all apart from Aldersh!t, so being positive from the start! Draws Plymouth and Rotherham, wins Cheltenham and Aldersh!t. No real reason...just festive cheer and gut instinct. I await your ridicule when we destroy Rotherham 4-0 on saturday!!
TEAM NEWS John Ward takes charge of his first game since returning as Bristol Rovers manager, with the club second bottom in the League Two table. Loan defender Cian Bolger is set to make his return to the team after three months out with a knee injury. Rotherham welcome back defender Ian Sharps, who was banned for the 3-0 FA Cup win over Notts County in midweek. Full-back Liam Ridehalgh, on loan from Huddersfield, was ineligible for that game but returns to the squad. VIEW FROM THE TRAINING GROUND Bristol Rovers manager John Ward told BBC Radio Bristol: "The players want to, above all else, get winning again and that's the key for Saturday. "It's a tough game, but if we can get these players to work as hard as they can and get the crowd behind us then we can get those three points. "Everyone is looking to get this right as quickly as we can." Rotherham boss Steve Evans told BBC Radio Sheffield: "They've got a new manager, they're at home and they've reduced admission prices, so they've got every reason to want to go out and beat Rotherham. "They've lost their way a little bit, but in John Ward they've got a guy who I really respect and who I think will do a good job. "I expected one or two players to be tired after the Notts County game, but they came in the next day and they were absolutely bouncing. "We're in good shape, but we know if we drop our performance then we will get beat."
Possible line ups The Gas Walker Woodards_Kenneth_Branston_Paterson Clarkson_Parkes_Lund_Broghammer Anyinsah_Eaves Rotherham United Warrington Bradley_Mullins_Arnason_O'Connell Taylor_O'Connor_Pringle_Frecklington Nardiello_Revel
At A Glance: Rotherham United please log in to view this image Last Five League Games. Wycombe Wanderers - H - L 2-3 Exeter City - A - W 0-1 Acrington Stanley - A - W 1-2 Gillingham - H - L - 1-2 AFC Winmledon - A - W 0-1 Current League Position- 4th - PLD 22 W 11 D 4 L 7 F 35 A 31 PTS 37 Key Player - Daniel Nardiello - Scored 11 in 6 Appearances How Will It Go. Both clubs will be on a high going into this game Rotherham travel to Bristol having dumped out Division 1 play off chasers Notts County 3-0 in an FA Cup replay on Tuesday evening and of course The Gas have John Ward back at the helm. Rotherham are hard to work out one minute there beating promotion and Yorkshire rival Bradford City 4-0 the next there getting battered by lowly Dagenham And Redbridge 5-0. The Gas haven't won a game since we beat Chesterfield 3-2 at The Mem on November 10th and The Millers can be quite patchy at times. Rovers players will be out to prove themselves in front of a new manager so I say you can expect a entertaining close match up (not the same as last seasons 5-2 home victory for The Gas) ,however I think Rotherham will still have there chins up after there impressive win in Nottingham mid week and with Rovers players still trying to find some confidence and fighting spirit again (which may take a few games) I think The Millers will just shade this game. Final score Bristol Rovers 1-2 Rotherham United
I think tomoz we will shade the game 3-2......we will beat the shots 2 or 3-0.........cheltenham will be ...0-0 1-1 or a 1-0 win.........plymuff........ah sod it.......4-0 the gas......I feel like a little kid who has been let loose in a sweet shop or toy shop.........aint felt like this in a long while...........we can do this.....UTG
So we're bottom after Barnet's 3-2 win against Burton even if we draw will stay bottom as Barnet and AFC Winmledon have better goal differences that a depressing stat so hopefully JW can work some magic today
Pitch currently playable The playing surface at the Memorial Stadium is currently playable. The referee will be in at midday as usual, but there is no pitch inspection currently planned. We will keep you updated as the day progresses.
The weather mot looking great in Aldershot next week either. May get called of to and could be a complete festive wash out. http://uk.weather.com/weather/10day-Aldershot-UKXX0858
Rotherham to make complaint over Bristol Rovers postponement Rotherham have confirmed they will make an official complaint after their game at Bristol Rovers was postponed on Saturday morning. The Memorial Stadium pitch was playable at 11:00 GMT, but after continued heavy rain, referee James Linington called off the game when he arrived. The Millers said there was a "lack of communication" from their hosts. In a statement they said: "The club is disappointed that we were not kept informed as to the situation." It continued: "While we fully appreciate the weather has got the better of things, we believe had communication been better, supporters could have been better informed so as to not make the journey." The League Two clash was one of 14 Football League games postponed on Saturday because of waterlogged pitches. No new date has yet been set for the rearranged fixture.
we complained about wycombe and got sod all. whats the bets where rotherhame complains about our lack of communication that we get done and fined we should have just played the game and if we were losing then to help ward out, get our H&S officer to get the game abandoned
Weather update for Bristol and Aldershot http://uk.weather.com/weather/10day-Aldershot-UKXX0858 http://uk.weather.com/weather/10day-UKXX0076?cm_ven=yahoo_uk&cm_cat=citypage&cm_ite=weather&cm_pla=10day Not looking good plus Bristol played today so pitch won't be up to much
pitch will be fine. no one knows the damage if there is any damage. and if there is damage then the groundsman who have done a great job this season will have to the 01/01/13 to fix the problem which is plenty of time. this season even with bad rain and rugby playing, the pitch has been looking great.
