Darrell Clarke has not ruled out the possibility of turning to the loan market after Liam Lawrence was added to a growing injury list following a 2-0 success over Notts County at Meadow Lane today. Lawrence pulled up with a calf problem after only two minutes and had to be replaced by Cristian Montano, who scored his first goal for the club to open the scoring. Clarke is already without Stuart Sinclair (groin), Rory Gaffney (hamstring) and Ellis Harrison (ankle) before Rovers entertain promotion rivals AFC Wimbledon at the Memorial Stadium on Tuesday night. “I’m not one to harp on about injuries,” said Clarke. “Everybody will be saying we need to bring two or three in, but we have built a squad and there are those like Monty who are dying to get an opportunity. “It would be ideal to maybe add one or two new faces but that was my thinking before the game anyway. We’re hoping Gaffney and Ellis aren’t going to be too long so we’ll just wait and see.”
Got to be the right players though. I think Lawrence coming in had distrupted things. Our bad run recently co-insided with his arrival. I may be a bit harsh as im not keen on him though We just got to make sure what players come in improves results, morale and confidence. Instead of causing distruption and resentment. If DC sticks with 442 then Montano deserves a place. I think we need LB cover. If Brown gets suspended or injured then who do we have? Lockyer will go LB. We need another option on the wing, someone who can play both sides. Whats Dawson up to these days? With Sinclair injured, do we need another CM? 442 we got Clarke cover for Mansell and Lines. If we play 352 then we need another CM. With Harrison and Gaffney out injured, we are left with Taylor, Easter and Fallon. DC doesnt seem to trust Fallon and Easter couldnt score in a brothel now. Taylor scores when he wants. I know it depends on how long Gaffney and Harrison is out for but as Easter aint doing it and Fallon is not trusted to do it, surely we need another CF? So thats... 1 LB 1 CB 1 winger who can play both sides 1 striker No way will DC bring in 4. So what do I know
A striker, winger and maybe a midfield central not going to happen though DC prefers the challenge of using what he's got.
I have been saying for a while I thought we needed a L/B, a C/B who can pass the ball a creative M/F and a striker who can hit the net on a regular basis. Well I can dream can't I
A striker would be good. It was a great result in Nottingham, but the strikers could and should have bagged a goal or two...
So Thursday is the last day to make loan signings as Lockyer is unavailable for two games and we only have three centre backs available I would like to see one coming as cover just in case.
Or stay 442 meaning 2 CB's playing and 1 CB on the bench I prefer 442 at the moment at thats the only formation that suits Montano who deserves to be playing right now.
So if we do stick with 442, what back 4 do we play? 1) Leadbitter Clarke Parkes Brown 2) Leadbitter Clarke McChrystal Brown 3) Leadbitter Parkes McChrystal Brown 4) Clarke Parkes McChrystal Brown
Then no CB cover on the bench then. But Leadbitter on the bench who can come on to go RB to replace Clarke if needed or Leadbitter on and Clarke can move across to replace either Parkes/McChrystal depending on who needs to go off. There is a way around it of course.
J.Clarke is a very useful player I think he can play left back to I would still bring in a CB on loan just case but hey what do I know
Good, now is definately the time to strengthen, a couple of hurdles left to jump and then were on the home straight, if the resources are there it would be daft to not now use them....onward and upward
Looks like Gosling could be back in the squad at the start of next week. Evil post. BRISTOL Rovers boss Darrell Clarke says it is "unlikely" that he will bolster his squad before the deadline for loan transfers later this afternoon. Speaking this lunchtime, Clarke says he would be open to doing a deal if a player with the right amount of "character" and "experience" becomes available before 5pm, but is confident that the current situation in terms of injuries has eased considerably over the last few days. He confirmed that he had been offered several Under21 development players – but says he would prefer to utilise the young players he already has at his disposal and "would not hesitate for a minute" to ask any of them to plug any gaps that need filling between now and the end of the season. Clarke is without Tom Lockyer, Ellis Harrison and Ollie McBurnie, who are all away on international duty, but he has already recalled central midfielder Jay Malpas from Chippenham and young defender Alfie Kilgour from Mangotsfield United as cover ahead of the first game of Rovers' Easter programme against Cambridge United tomorrow. The manager has said that Liam Lawrence is "likely" to be fit for the Easter programme and is also expected to welcome Jake Gosling back into his squad early next week once his current loan spell at Newport County comes to an end. On the players currently injured, Clarke said Stuart Sinclair is "flying" in his recovery following a recent groin operation. He was joined by Lee Mansell, who has had a course of acupuncture on a calf problem, in running drills with physiotherapist Paul Maxwell on Thursday morning. "I'm always open to doing something if the right player comes along," said Clarke, "but, as it stands, I am happy with both the strength and depth I have in the current squad. "Liam Lawrence is likely to be fit for the weekend, Stuart Sinclair is flying in his rehab and Lee Mansell's problem isn't as bad as initially feared. "I have been offered a number of Under 21 players on loan, but what is the point of us having an academy if we are not prepared to put any trust in our own players who are coming through it. "These boys are very much a part of the squad and as second year professionals I would have no hesitation on asking them to do a job for me if needed at any time between now and the end of the season." Rovers, meanwhile, are closing in on completing a Memorial Stadium sell-out for tomorrow's game against Cambrige United. The club had sold close to 10,000 tickets earlier this morning.
