v Stoke City (a) - 27/11/21

[PotterLog]

Alright Rovers, thought I might as well start a quick thread as the board's semi-resident Stoke fan. I live in Chile but come from Stoke, so finding myself in the unlikely position of being the world's leading expert in the Potteries-Chilean football crossover, I signed up when Brereton (Diaz) got his sensational call-up to La Roja. Crazy crazy story, especially living through it here and him coming from a couple of miles down the road from me on the other side of the world. Looking forward to seeing him on Saturday, and how we deal with him...

Anyway just thought I'd give a bit of Stoke perspective on Saturday's game.. Since O'Neill took over he's been ever-so-gradually turning things round after the disastrous Rowett and Nathan Jones experiments. We were rock bottom and eight points from safety when he took over at about this time two years ago and saved us from potential oblivion, so has an awful lot of credit in the bank. The way he's brought young players like Tymon, Souttar and Ty Campbell through to be key first-teamers is a particular highlight, although the jury's still out on his signings record. We were in desperate need of a defensive mid in the last window and he decided it was unnecessary, which means we have a slightly ragged band of talented but flaky bodies in the middle. Expectations flourish quickly in football and last season, while offering solidity and tantalising glimpses of the team we could be, ended up being underwhelming overall, never really looking like worrying the playoffs and finishing one spot ahead of you in 14th. This season feels like another step up and we find ourselves in a good position to secure a spot in the top six - I think most of us would be very disappointed if we didn't.

As well as our similar league position we've also had very similar recent form, so it should be a close game. In fact our last two fixtures are exactly the same - Posh at home and Bristol C away - from which you've come away with a slightly better record, getting four points to our three. Last night's defeat to Brizzle was one of those games for us, we played pretty well, dominated possession and had about five or six excellent chances but just couldn't put it away. Conversely at home against Peterborough we were bloody awful but came away with a 2-0 win. The main issue for us is injuries and suspensions.. we've had two late red cards in the last two games so Joe Allen will miss Saturday's game (ordinarily this would be a good thing for us but we're so thin on the ground we need bodies in there), meanwhile our best goalie is injured along with Powell and Souttar, probably our two best players, while Campbell is still on the comeback trail. Might start, might not.

Bit hard to pick a lineup before press conference news but it will probably be something like

Davies
Ostigard Batth Chester
Smith Sawyers Vrancic Tymon (or Thompson or Clucas depending on who's fit) Doughty
Brown Fletcher

I'd rather see Campbell starting up top and Ben Wilmot in place of Chester.

Apart from BBD I don't know a great deal about your team other than remembering Dack running the show against us last season (I think? Or the one before). I noticed he wasn't in the squad last night.. How has Pickering been doing? He was always one we kept tabs on at Crewe, seemed a stand-out young player.

Anyway I hear you're bringing 2k or so so should be a decent fiery atmosphere. I think it'll be a good battle but I'm not too confident with our frail midfield and the injuries we've got (and your on-fire Chileno.. if he gets at creaky Chester we'll be in trouble). Enjoy the day if you're going, all the best.. see you in the playoffs in May 😉

Edited November 26, 2021 by DE.

[tomphil]

Similar teams in similar positions, got to be a draw coming up here.

Tickets don't appear to be on sale online ?

[only2garners]

1 minute ago, tomphil said:

Similar teams in similar positions, got to be a draw coming up here.

Tickets don't appear to be on sale online ?

They were a couple of days ago. Could they be sold out?!

is this a record - two out of the last three game previews started by away fans?

[PotterLog]

Wouldn't know about ticket sales but someone on our board said you'd sold 2k.. could be bad info.

I wouldn't normally with a home game but I'd be quite tempted to take a point tbh

 

Edited November 25, 2021 by PotterLog

[tomphil]

1 hour ago, only2garners said:

They were a couple of days ago. Could they be sold out?!

is this a record - two out of the last three game previews started by away fans?

Not on there tonight but if there isn't a lot left maybe they've taken them down.  Must be a hell of a long time since we sold 2k for stoke but you never know. The youth revolution is catching fire it's just a pity the home support isn't as buoyant as the away, unless it's £14.60 of course 😆

[1864roverite]

Welcome pal and thank you for your views.

Really tough game if you ask me. Stoke are NOT the Stoke of old where they bombard the box with high balls but they do play some good football.

A close game and I see only a 1 goal win, first to score takes the points.

[Cherry Blue]

We've sold 1,500 with about 400 left. No tickets sold on the day.

[Mattyblue]

Notice there’s a lot of ‘no sales on the day’ this season - ‘’cos o’ covid”, obviously!

Edited November 26, 2021 by Mattyblue

[Admiral Nelsen]

Ordinarily I'd see an away point here as a very good one, but it seems as though it's a very good time to play the Potters with their absentees. 

 

Big opportunity of our midfield three of Travis, Rothwell and Buckley to dominate the game with their lack of a proper holding midfielder. Powell missing is a bonus too.

 

Going for an optimistic 1-3 Rovers. 

[tomphil]

48 minutes ago, Mattyblue said:

Notice there’s a lot of ‘no sales on the day’ this season - ‘’cos o’ covid”, obviously!

I thought there's something unusual about that this season it seems like they don't want people arriving unannounced at a lot of grounds.

Another industry using the old 'rona' as an excuse for something else.

I'm one of those who only knows if i can be free to go either later on Friday or Sat morning so with no pay on the day it's a no show.  You'd easily get a few hundred extra pitching up on the day for one like this, football pissing fans off yet again !

[Bigdoggsteel]

17 minutes ago, Admiral Nelsen said:

Ordinarily I'd see an away point here as a very good one, but it seems as though it's a very good time to play the Potters with their absentees. 

 

Big opportunity of our midfield three of Travis, Rothwell and Buckley to dominate the game with their lack of a proper holding midfielder. Powell missing is a bonus too.

 

Going for an optimistic 1-3 Rovers. 

Didn't realise they were missing a few. Huge if we can get a win here mentally 

[Admiral Nelsen]

10 minutes ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

Didn't realise they were missing a few. Huge if we can get a win here mentally 

 

Neither did I, but I had a quick scan on their forum and they're really struggling in midfield. They have Vrancic and Sawyers, so they have decent quality there, but you wouldn't describe either of them as ball winners. After that it seems as though they have literally nobody. Didn't realise how unpopular Joe Allen is over there, but there are plenty saying that he'll be missed just as someone to fill a shirt.

 

Having said all that they were still bang unlucky not to get something from Bristol City away, so they've obviously still got the players to be dangerous, but if I were Rothwell I'd be licking my lips at this game. 

[Oldgregg86]

Got a good feeling about this one. A game that could go either way and impossible to predict but i fancy a win on what should be a good entertaining game. New ground for me to . I will go 3-2 rovers 

COYB

[PotterLog]

20 minutes ago, Admiral Nelsen said:

 

Neither did I, but I had a quick scan on their forum and they're really struggling in midfield. They have Vrancic and Sawyers, so they have decent quality there, but you wouldn't describe either of them as ball winners. After that it seems as though they have literally nobody. Didn't realise how unpopular Joe Allen is over there, but there are plenty saying that he'll be missed just as someone to fill a shirt.

 

Having said all that they were still bang unlucky not to get something from Bristol City away, so they've obviously still got the players to be dangerous, but if I were Rothwell I'd be licking my lips at this game. 

That’s about the size of it.. Allen suspended, Powell injured, don’t think Thompson or Clucas will be fit. Our wing back Tymon may have to fill in, which he’s done before to reasonably good effect to be fair. Crossing fingers but if you’ve got any steel and guile in there you’ll play through us piss easy.

[Admiral Nelsen]

5 minutes ago, PotterLog said:

That’s about the size of it.. Allen suspended, Powell injured, don’t think Thompson or Clucas will be fit. Our wing back Tymon may have to fill in, which he’s done before to reasonably good effect to be fair. Crossing fingers but if you’ve got any steel and guile in there you’ll play through us piss easy.

 

We have both when it suits us, but as you might have already gathered, we don't show it every week!

[MarkBRFC]

The club would be making a huge song and dance about it if we were close to selling the 2k allocation.

Think around 1500 or so is about right usually for Stoke.

Big game, but still don't see us having enough about us to beat someone above us in the league, especially away from home.

1-1 or a 2-1 defeat.

[dallydally]

29 minutes ago, MarkBRFC said:

The club would be making a huge song and dance about it if we were close to selling the 2k allocation.

Think around 1500 or so is about right usually for Stoke.

Big game, but still don't see us having enough about us to beat someone above us in the league, especially away from home.

1-1 or a 2-1 defeat.

They have a lot of injuries and recent form is poor so good time to play them. I'll go for a tight game and 1 nil to Rovers

[joey_big_nose]

Team for me (lets matchup 3 at the back) : 

  -------------Kaminski

-----Lenihan---Johnson----Wharton

Nyambe----Travis----Rothwell-----Pickering

-----------------Buckley

-----------Dolan--------BBD

Wrote it out and it's the same team that finished against Peterborough. 

A fully fit Ayala and JRC in that team would be very formidable I think. JRC has got his detractors but his delivery is excellent and he has a great engine to get up and down the right when he's not injured. Having someone who can cross in that role will make a big difference. Ayala is one of the best defenders in the Championship of the last 10 years.

 

[Admiral Nelsen]

4 minutes ago, joey_big_nose said:

Team for me (lets matchup 3 at the back) : 

  -------------Kaminski

-----Lenihan---Johnson----Wharton

Nyambe----Travis----Rothwell-----Pickering

-----------------Buckley

-----------Dolan--------BBD

Wrote it out and it's the same team that finished against Peterborough. 

A fully fit Ayala and JRC in that team would be very formidable I think. JRC has got his detractors but his delivery is excellent and he has a great engine to get up and down the right when he's not injured. Having someone who can cross in that role will make a big difference. Ayala is one of the best defenders in the Championship of the last 10 years.

 

 

As much as he let everyone down vs Fulham, I liked what I saw in Van Hecke until that point, so I'd have him there in front of Johnson. Other than that, that's the team I'd go for with Khadra to come on from the bench. 

[Bigdoggsteel]

17 minutes ago, Admiral Nelsen said:

 

As much as he let everyone down vs Fulham, I liked what I saw in Van Hecke until that point, so I'd have him there in front of Johnson. Other than that, that's the team I'd go for with Khadra to come on from the bench. 

Ya, agreed. Johsnson could play there, but he had a stroll in the park against Peterborough , so its not a barometer 

[Admiral Nelsen]

1 minute ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

Ya, agreed. Johsnson could play there, but he had a stroll in the park against Peterborough , so its not a barometer 

 

Agree, I wouldn't especially mind Johnson there if we're playing at home or against a team we should dominate - if we're playing three at the back then you need someone there who can play a bit as well as defend. 

 

I worry about Steven Fletcher though. With some pace around him too it's definitely a tougher prospect than it was against Peterborough. 

[Bigdoggsteel]

12 minutes ago, Admiral Nelsen said:

 

Agree, I wouldn't especially mind Johnson there if we're playing at home or against a team we should dominate - if we're playing three at the back then you need someone there who can play a bit as well as defend. 

 

I worry about Steven Fletcher though. With some pace around him too it's definitely a tougher prospect than it was against Peterborough. 

Ya, e's a big strong lad. My concern with Van heck is he could get sucked into a physical battle. I remember us keeping Fletcher well shackled when he has played us though

I think they have plenty to fear from us 

[rigger]

In past seasons we would probably have taken three points from our last two games and Stoke. We have four already, so I see it as a free hit. I think we should concentrate on our strengths, and see what that gets us.

[only2garners]

1 hour ago, dallydally said:

They have a lot of injuries and recent form is poor so good time to play them. I'll go for a tight game and 1 nil to Rovers

Three wins in a row before Wednesday and they deserved something at Bristol City?

Still if Powell isn't playing that's good news, given the number of times he has scored against us.

[rigger]

I reckon the trains tomorrow are going to be all over the place, because it's going to be windy ?