DC has announced the squad for Weston today. Adam Smith, Jonny Burn, James Clarke, Lee Brown, Daniel Leadbitter, Rollin Menayese, Chris Lines, Ollie Clarke, Stuart Sinclair, Liam Sercombe, Billy Bodin, Byron Moore, Ryan Broom, Ellis Harrison, Rory Gaffney, plus four trialists. The game kicks off at 7.45pm.
Elliot Richards playing for Gloucester in their friendly tonight What happened to the French GK that was on trial with us, it all went very quite about him
Hopefully we will see some transfer news for Rovers soon. Most of the general transfer movement seems to be contained with the older hasbeens and the younger might be soons. Some of the more serious movements of the mid life good quality players should make headlines in the near future! Let's hope Rovers continue the good work after Liam, Smith and Slocombe......
The trouble is, I think a lot of these type of candidates look at the set up at Rovers and think to themselves, "Nah, I dont think so". We have a relatively young and lets be honest unheard of manager and a shambles of a ground, the manager will only get better, that's for sure but the ground I think puts a lot of players off. It won't be until this situation is addressed that I think you will find 'serious contenders' lining up to play in the quarters.
If the players only come to Rovers because we have a posh new ground then maybe they are not the type of players we need, yes I can understand that players want to play on decent pitches with good surroundings but they should be interested in playing for a team that is looking to progress and 2 promotions in 2 years and a near miss for the playoffs last season rather implies that we want to progress
Report: Weston Super Mare Weston Super Mare 0-3 Bristol Rovers Darrell Clarke took a strong side to Woodspring Park tonight where his side against Weston super Mare in a hugely entertaining game that saw his side knock the ball around with some aplomb, though they had to work hard for their victory against a well organised home defence. Victory was achieved with a first half goal from Rory Gaffney and strikes by Ellis Harrison and Ryan Broom after the break. As on Saturday Ollie Clarke again skippered the side selected for the first half and he had the first attempt on goal after only three minutes, but home keeper Luke Purnell comfortably saved his low effort. The skipper then made a determined run forward and fashioned a shooting opportunity. However he elected to try to find the overlapping run of Lee Brown but his pass was intercepted and the ball cleared. With ten minutes on the clock a low cross from the right by Daniel Leadbitter was met by Liam Sercombe and his first time volley was well saved by Purnell. At this stage in proceedings Rovers were well on top, their quick passing game suiting the greasy surface. Billy Bodin and Leadbitter then combined well down the right and created a chance for Rory Gaffney but the ball was hacked away by a Weston defender. Bodin and then Ollie Clarke both had shots blocked. Sercombe was next to try his luck but ballooned his shot over the bar, giving the home side the chance of a much needed breather. Having weathered the storm, Weston broke and a low ball into the box by Gethyn Hill signalled danger in the Rovers area for the first time in the match, but the ball was eventually cleared. Rovers should have taken the lead on 25 minutes when Bodin played in Sercombe, whose low shot was smothered by Purnell who got down very quickly to deny the midfielder a goal. Rovers took the lead two minutes later when a mazy run by Bodin saw him set up Gaffney whose angled drive found the back of the net in spite of Purnell’s despairing dive. The keeper was in the thick of the action again shortly afterwards, diving low to his left to touch away Bodin’s goalbound shot. Bodin was definitely on fire tonight as moments later he fizzed another low effort just past the post. To their credit Weston attempted to play their way out from the back and former Rovers defender Danny Greenslade managed to get down the right before delivering a cross that evaded everyone and drifted behind for a goal and then Jason Pope hit a shot across the face of goal. Sercombe was denied a goal minutes before the break when Purnell pulled of another fine close range save after the midfielder had met Leadbitter’s cross from the right. Rovers made four changes at the break, but it was the home side who went close early on, through Pope, whose ferocious cross shot was headed clear. Rovers’ first attack of the half saw Ellis Harrison exchange passes with Ollie Clarke before firing high and wide of the target. Stuart Sinclair was next to try his luck with an audacious long range effort that just cleared the bar. Ryan Broom, who was looking lively following his introduction at half time, tested goalkeeper Purnell shortly afterwards but the shot stopper saved well. Cameron Hargreaves, played in by Harrison, was denied a goal by a last ditch challenge by Jake Lee. Rovers, though doubled their lead on 64 minutes when Hargreaves played in Michael Kelly and his cross to the back post was headed in by Harrison. Weston went close to pulling a goal back when a shot from Jordan Ricketts hit the side netting before Harrison broke for Rovers, only to be denied a shooting opportunity by Jamie Laird’s fine block. Goal number three duly arrived when former Weston defender Michael Kelly picked out Harrison down the left and his ball into the box was backheeled into the net, from close range, by Broom. Rovers: Adam Smith, Daniel Leadbitter (Jonny Burn, 46), James Clarke, Tom Broadbent (Luke Russe, 60), Lee Brown (Rollin Menayese, 55), Ollie Clarke (Michael Kelly, 55), Stuart Sinclair (Cameron Hargreaves, 55), Liam Sercombe (Lewis Hall, 46), Billy Bodin (Brandon Fox, 55), Rory Gaffney (Ellis Harrison, 46), Byron Moore (Ryan Broom, 46) Goals: Gaffney (27), Harrison (64), Broom (75) Attendance: 710
Squad Announced for Pre-Season Fixture Against Mangotsfield Tonight we continue our pre- season programme of fixtures when we take on Mangotsfield United at Cossham Street (kick off 7.45pm). Chris Hargreaves will be in charge of a young Bristol Rovers side containing a mix of first year pros and triallists, similar in make up to the side that travelled to Yate last Saturday. On that occasion Hargreaves said that he felt his youngsters put in a creditable performance against a senior side and was pleased with the outcome, a 0-0 draw. Tonight’s squad includes first year pros Toby Rennie, Rollin Menayese, Cameron Hargreaves, Luke Russe, Connor Jones and Lewis Ellington. We are always made to feel welcome at Cossham Street and hope as many of our supporters as possible will be at the game this evening.
I have to agree with Old Timer on this one. I don't think the attraction to a club is the ground as much as the potential. DC is high on the list of EFL managers, only half a dozen preferred at Championship level head him. We have two recent successive promotions under our belt. I'm sure that players would prefer a medal to hang in their cabinet to a photograph of themselves in a half empty 27,000 seater posh stadium.
I'm disappointed we didn't sign Kightly who went to Southend - good experienced winger with lots of Championship experience. We need a winger, striker & central defender minimum. Also, haven't seen Lockyer in pre season so far - is that a worry? Could he be leaving?
Lockyer is training but a tiny bit behind the others as he only just returned to pre season as he was given more time off as he was invoved with the Wales set-up at the end of the season. Those involved on international duties get extra time off when the non internationals return to pre season. Usually return a week later after the non internationals, unless they been involved in a competition and got to the later stages and then they return 2 or more weeks after the non internationals. Also Lockyer has done an interview since his return to training which you can hear back on comment 180 And Wael tweeted about his return too
Steve Phillips in goal for Mango and he is their captain tonight too! Most of our players are trialist as you can tell!
The full draw has now been made for the micky mouse cup which I will continue to botcott. We already knew that Swindon and Wycombe were going to be in our group but we were waiting until today for the cat 1 clubs to be drawn into the groups. West Ham are the lucky team to be added to our group. Or shall I say the West Ham youth side has been added to our group! Full fixture details here... Match Day One (w/c 28th August) Wycombe Wanderers v Bristol Rovers Swindon Town v West Ham United Match Day Two (w/c 2nd October) Swindon Town v Wycombe Wanderers Bristol Rovers v West Ham United Match Day Three (w/c 6th November) Bristol Rovers v Swindon Town Wycombe Wanderers v West Ham United
