A bit early but here we go Darrell Clarke "Ryan Brunt will feature at Yeovil, which is good news, as heâs trained really well and is looking sharp" "Michael Smith still our player. He's had had a slight injury. It's too early to say if he will feature on Tuesday"
Must admit I'm looking forward to seeing Brunt and White make a decent pairing upfront but I still feel Brunt will be the next to go and I still think The Posh will be back in for Smith and Brentford will most likely wait until January before making a bid for Parkes.
Brunt's still got a lot to prove. I think he will attract serious interest if he actually gets in a full season and does ok. There is too much competition out there for Brunt to be a serious option for anyone at the moment. All that could change if he has made an impact by Christmas. I really hope he does. It will be good for him and for us...
Rovers travel to Huish Park tonight (kick off 7.45pm) for their latest pre-season friendly. Tickets for the game have been priced at £10 for adults, £5 for 65+ and 16-21 year olds and £2 for U16s. Tickets will be able to buy in advance directly from Yeovil by calling 01935 847888. Tickets will also be available to buy this evening. Rovers are also set to play the following games during pre-season; Mangotsfield at Cossham Street on Wednesday July 23rd (7.45pm), Gloucester City on Saturday, July 26th (3pm) and Coventry City at the Memorial Stadium on Friday, August 1st (7.45pm).
Team; Mildenhall, Higgins, Brown, Lockyer, McChrystal, Parkes, Mansell, Clarke, Brunt, Taylor, Gosling Subs: Sinclair, White, Thompson, Trotman, Harrison, Thomas, Preston
Pre-season: P4 W0 D1 L3 F1(scored by a departed trialist) A5 Just as well that pre-season games mean nowt! Clarke's record so far: P12 W2 D2 L8 F9 A16 I know this isn't really fair...but where's the new manager factor?!
Awful record to date and as for being the bigger teams comment above. Yeovil and the other we have lost to being bigger than Rovers F8ck Me things are even worse than I thought. 1 goal in 4 games, our scoring ration is worse than ever. Its easy to brush things over as unimportant in these games but sorry DC WRONG BLOODY ATTITUDE, winning is always important , would have been nice to be able to hit the ground running when it matters not bumbling along which looks like it'll happen. Can things get any worse, just hope we font draw the filth if we manage to qualify for the decent rounds of the FA Cup as no evidence of the old Rovers Spirit. The Teds would hammer us !
Taken from the OS. Manager Darrell Clarke was happy with his side’s workout against Yeovil Town at Huish Park last night, though disappointed in the manner that they conceded a goal straight after half time. The Glovers won the match 2-0 thanks to two goals from Ajay Leitch-Smith early in the second period. Clarke said: "It was a good workout against a really good Yeovil team that’s just come out of the Championship. I thought we matched them really well for 45 minutes and at the end of the first half we were getting on top. The fact that we picked up two or three injuries is a disappointment and we are hoping they aren’t too serious, but it was a good workout for our boys.” During the half time interval the players had been praised for a good first half performance, but conceded straight after the break. Clarke said: “I praised the boys for the way we defended as a team and then we switched off after 20 seconds of the second half and that’s not acceptable. We have to start the second half of games quickly and a lot quicker than we did tonight. We looked quite attack minded at times. I played Lee Brown further up the pitch in a system the boys aren’t used to but we are working and progressing with it. The lads are all familiar with a 4-4-2 system and we are working hard at the moment on playing three at the back in order that we can be flexible with our formation during the season.” Up front there was disappointment that Ryan Brunt had to go off in the first half, but there were some encouraging runs from Matty Taylor and his second strike partner of the evening, Jamie White, was only denied a second half goal by a superb save from Chris Weale. Clarke said. “Matty’s runs in the first half were very good and if the quality of our through balls had been a little bit better then he would have been through on goal. I think that he and Jamie White, when he is a little bit fitter, will score goals for us. Of the injuries the manager said: “Ryan Brunt came off as a precaution, but it was nothing to do with his knee problem. It was because of a tight muscle down the side of his shin. Ollie Clarke has been suffering with a tight thigh and I don’t see him and Ryan have major problems. As for Lee Mansell, we will have to assess his knee injury in the morning.”
a manager will always say this and so will the fans because these games means nothing. but ask a player if they mean something. keepers and defenders will say they want to keep a clean sheet in pre season as it gives them confidence going into the new season. midfielders will want to be setting up chances and scoring themselves in pre season as it gives them confidence going into the new season. strikers will want to be scoring goals in pre season as it gives them confidence going into the new season. i remember lambert having an interview with us during pre season saying he took pre season seriously as wants to get off the mark asap scoring as it gives him confidence. he spoke about the nerves setting in after each game that passes by without scoring. so again, the manager and fans will say results are not important in pre season and that is right. but for the players its a different matter. and if they come out of pre season struggling for form, we will be in deeper trouble than what we already are in.
The defence are pretty good, midfield ok'ish but **** all up front. The similarities to last season are a big worry.
I was a player albeit at a lower level (actually maybe not now, sorry couldn't resist) and I couldn't stand friendlies. I didn't see the point in them as they had no bearing on the season and could lead to possible injuries, which appears that both clubs have suffered this week. So CJS dont get too despondant. I recall in the past having a good preseason and a shocking season and vice versa.
