I am fully aware that today's result was extremely disappointing, not to mention embarrassing. Not as embarrassing as Altrincham, because Braintree are a competitive side in the Conference and are looking for their fourth consecutive top 10 finish, but embarrassing all the same, as at the end of the day they are a part-time team and a much smaller club.
However, I believe that there has been a little bit of an overreaction from my fellow Rovers supporters and Not 606 contributors. It's as if the last three games have been totally forgotten. I for one will refuse to believe that they were a flash in the pan. They provided signs of a team growing in confidence, and we outplayed a side in Forest Green who are one of the best sides in the division, and then ground out a win against a Halifax side who had a 100% record. Winning that game when we weren't at our best was something to be very positive about.
The expectation is from most supporters is that we should be going to places like Altricham and Braintree and rolling them over. That will not happen until we completely settle down into the reality of this division. Darrell Clarke is refreshingly realistic and refreshingly honest. I still truly think he can be a very good manager for us. I've seen the odd comment on this site that he couldn't manage a pub team. I'm sorry but that is total garbage. What he achieved with Salisbury cannot be ignored - no matter what size the club is. He also knows this division - as well as League Two very well. My only concern about him is his lack of contacts regarding recruitment.
As for our summer signings, a couple clearly aren't good enough. Leadbitter and Gosling can't seem to get in the team, which makes me wonder why we bothered bringing them in in the first place. Monkhouse is good on the ball and is an intelligent footballer, but he doesn't look as though he fits into our system. White was a gamble, Taylor seems to lack something in front of goal, while Sinclair works really hard but seems to have little quality. Mansell and Trotman have proved to be outstanding acquisitions, but the recruitment still hasn't been good enough, and that isn't much down to Clarke. It is mostly down to those upstairs who cannot be bothered to implement any kind of scouting network.
For me, the blame for most of our problems has to lie with the board and those who make all the decisions at the top of the club. Clarke has made a few mistakes, I'm not denying that, but he is too easy a target. Higgs and Jelf have openly said it - BLAME THE BOARD.
One last thing - Clarke and the players cannot legislate for the fact that each and every referee in the Conference seems to have a personal vendetta against Rovers.
However, I believe that there has been a little bit of an overreaction from my fellow Rovers supporters and Not 606 contributors. It's as if the last three games have been totally forgotten. I for one will refuse to believe that they were a flash in the pan. They provided signs of a team growing in confidence, and we outplayed a side in Forest Green who are one of the best sides in the division, and then ground out a win against a Halifax side who had a 100% record. Winning that game when we weren't at our best was something to be very positive about.
The expectation is from most supporters is that we should be going to places like Altricham and Braintree and rolling them over. That will not happen until we completely settle down into the reality of this division. Darrell Clarke is refreshingly realistic and refreshingly honest. I still truly think he can be a very good manager for us. I've seen the odd comment on this site that he couldn't manage a pub team. I'm sorry but that is total garbage. What he achieved with Salisbury cannot be ignored - no matter what size the club is. He also knows this division - as well as League Two very well. My only concern about him is his lack of contacts regarding recruitment.
As for our summer signings, a couple clearly aren't good enough. Leadbitter and Gosling can't seem to get in the team, which makes me wonder why we bothered bringing them in in the first place. Monkhouse is good on the ball and is an intelligent footballer, but he doesn't look as though he fits into our system. White was a gamble, Taylor seems to lack something in front of goal, while Sinclair works really hard but seems to have little quality. Mansell and Trotman have proved to be outstanding acquisitions, but the recruitment still hasn't been good enough, and that isn't much down to Clarke. It is mostly down to those upstairs who cannot be bothered to implement any kind of scouting network.
For me, the blame for most of our problems has to lie with the board and those who make all the decisions at the top of the club. Clarke has made a few mistakes, I'm not denying that, but he is too easy a target. Higgs and Jelf have openly said it - BLAME THE BOARD.
One last thing - Clarke and the players cannot legislate for the fact that each and every referee in the Conference seems to have a personal vendetta against Rovers.
