Confidence in Martin Rice???

PhilGull · Post by **PhilGull** » 03 Dec 2014, 14:14

Rice is not a great 'keeper, we all know this but I don't think we can solely blame him for all our problems.
The biggest problem as I see it is the players we have throughout the team.
Our midfield needs a defence playing a high line to maintain pressure. We simply don't have the hard-working, tough tackling deep lying midfielder that would allow the defence to sit deeper, however a defence playing a high line need a "sweeper 'keeper" behind them which Rice is most definitely not. Rice is a 'keeper who needs the defence sitting deep but that then leaves massive gaps in the middle of the park.
There are a few options of which a new keeper is one, a new "defensive midfielder" is another or a change in formation/tactics the other. Personally I prefer the latter, at least in the short term. Playing as we do at home is fine for an hour but we need to change things to be able to close out games, and away from home we really need something else all together instead of our open 4-4-2.

tomogull · Post by **tomogull** » 03 Dec 2014, 15:14

brucie wrote: This league is poor. Thats why a part time mickey mouse outfit like Dover managed by a schoolteacher can go god knows how many games unbeaten.

Really? Is this league as poor as you suggest, Brucie? The stark reality is that we were not good enough to stay in Div 2 last season and Dover were good enough to come up from the Conference South. We are in the same league - competing at the same level. Last Saturday, Dover won away to Gateshead who are arguably the best side seen at Plainmoor so far this season. So whoever their manager is, he's doing something right and good luck to them.

I have seen some decent sides which maybe with a little strengthening would more than hold their own in Div 2 (which last season was a poor league). I'm thinking of Grimsby, Gateshead, Forest Green and even Woking. I missed the Eastleigh match but I was told that they were a useful side. Two seasons ago, Fleetwood and Newport were promoted. Fleetwood went straight through to Div 1 whilst this season Newport are up amongst the frontrunners. Last season, Luton and Cambridge were promoted. Luton look as if they could well do a Fleetwood and go straight up whilst Cambridge (I think without checking) are in the top half of the league. So I wouldn't call this a poor league. Perhaps the defending by some teams is naive at times but I reckon there are probably half a dozen teams (not including the Gulls cos I don't think we're ready yet) that could survive in Div 2. What do others think?

SBP · Post by **SBP** » 03 Dec 2014, 15:40

From what i have seen up to now this season i cant see any of the conference sides doing much in League 2. Barnet are top and i don't really think they would do much in League 2.
As it stands at the moment we are some way off imo.

Rjc70 · Post by **Rjc70** » 03 Dec 2014, 15:45

Thought Seabright played well on his debut at Aldershot. Wasn't given enough time before Rice came back in. I would have stuck by him. I don't blame Rice for their first goal last night and didn't have a good view of the second.

Post by **bixieupnorth** » 03 Dec 2014, 16:34

i think this is the article referred to

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/footba ... t-now.html

friendlygas · Post by **friendlygas** » 03 Dec 2014, 16:54

"This league is poor. Thats why a part time mickey mouse outfit like Dover managed by a schoolteacher can go god knows how many games unbeaten."
And that Brucie is why you and us are where we are. That sort of comment would meet with utter contempt (and rightly so) if in the same context it was made by our supporters towards yourselves. Dover drew at our place with the last kick of the game but were a reasonable side We should have won based on the game but they were certainly NOT a Mickey Mouse outfit!!
As regards comparisons to league 2 it is impossible to judge but any League that has Exeter in 9th place with the squad they have I would say we would do well in with our present squad and I also think there are 6 or 7 other sides in this league that would compete at the higher level.

portugull · Post by **portugull** » 03 Dec 2014, 17:48

Bixie thanks this is indeed the excellent article by Gary Neville who has become a real star in the media since he retired.

So much of what he says is right on the money.

tomogull · Post by **tomogull** » 03 Dec 2014, 20:54

friendlygas wrote:"This league is poor. Thats why a part time mickey mouse outfit like Dover managed by a schoolteacher can go god knows how many games unbeaten."
And that Brucie is why you and us are where we are. That sort of comment would meet with utter contempt (and rightly so) if in the same context it was made by our supporters towards yourselves. Dover drew at our place with the last kick of the game but were a reasonable side We should have won based on the game but they were certainly NOT a Mickey Mouse outfit!!
As regards comparisons to league 2 it is impossible to judge but any League that has Exeter in 9th place with the squad they have I would say we would do well in with our present squad and I also think there are 6 or 7 other sides in this league that would compete at the higher level.

Good post FG. We beat Dover 2 - 0 at home - our second goal being an own goal right at the death. Before the second goal, a Dover forward put wide of an open goal after a disastrous mix up between our goalkeeper and central defender - one of the worst misses I have ever seen. I remember them as being a solid well organised side but rather powder puff in attack. I think that since we played them in September, they have strengthened their attack although on gates of less than 1000, it's a mystery how they have managed to do so. Boxing Day and New Year's Day looms closer. Looking forward to two good games. I think we will win at Plainmoor and your lot will win at ...... whatever strange name your new stadium is called !

lucy6lucy · Post by **lucy6lucy** » 03 Dec 2014, 21:20

tomogull wrote: Good post FG. We beat Dover 2 - 0 at home - our second goal being an own goal right at the death. Before the second goal, a Dover forward put wide of an open goal after a disastrous mix up between our goalkeeper and central defender - one of the worst misses I have ever seen. I remember them as being a solid well organised side but rather powder puff in attack. I think that since we played them in September, they have strengthened their attack although on gates of less than 1000, it's a mystery how they have managed to do so. Boxing Day and New Year's Day looms closer. Looking forward to two good games. I think we will win at Plainmoor and your lot will win at ...... whatever strange name your new stadium is called !

Plainmoor? Are you sure about that

tomogull · Post by **tomogull** » 03 Dec 2014, 21:39

lucy6lucy wrote: Plainmoor? Are you sure about that

Lucy - at my age, it'll always be Plainmoor !!! And for us old farts, it's far less strenuous than typing out Launa Windows Stadium ................

brucie · Post by **brucie** » 03 Dec 2014, 23:16

Friendly Gas - if you have got such a great side and great squad then basically you should be ashamed of yourself as you are not top of the league then. Saying you would do well in league 2 is nonsensical when your no better than the likes of Macclesfield (when your gates are six times bigger than they are)
I actually hate Bristol Rovers and their big time big club mentality.
You havn't got a great squad - you have players like Mansell
Dover are a part time club managed by a bloke whose full time job is a PE teacher so if you cannot beat them you should start with your own club first.
I saw Barnet Arsewipe Dover earlier in the season - no doubt thats why they are top of the league and both Torquay and Yourselves are nowhere near them.
Trust me you do not have a great squad - you are in denial as usual.
So far this season you have failed to beat (or indeed lost to) ahem...Altrincham (lost) FG (drew) Braintree (lost) Eastleigh (drew) Dover (drew) Aldershot (drew) FG again (lost) ALfreton (drew) Kidderminster (drew) Chester (drew) Add to that you have had 1-0 wins against ahem the mighty Telford,Southport,Dartford,Telford (again)
Call me old fashioned but if you think that this set of results makes you some loss to league 2 then you are a total idiot.

Gullscorer · Post by **Gullscorer** » 04 Dec 2014, 01:29

There are worse keepers whom we can't afford:

[youtube]VK9pi-XsV0M[/youtube]

PhilGull · Post by **PhilGull** » 04 Dec 2014, 08:57

brucie wrote:Friendly Gas - if you have got such a great side and great squad then basically you should be ashamed of yourself as you are not top of the league then. Saying you would do well in league 2 is nonsensical when your no better than the likes of Macclesfield (when your gates are six times bigger than they are)
I actually hate Bristol Rovers and their big time big club mentality.
You havn't got a great squad - you have players like Mansell
Dover are a part time club managed by a bloke whose full time job is a PE teacher so if you cannot beat them you should start with your own club first.
I saw Barnet Arsewipe Dover earlier in the season - no doubt thats why they are top of the league and both Torquay and Yourselves are nowhere near them.
Trust me you do not have a great squad - you are in denial as usual.
So far this season you have failed to beat (or indeed lost to) ahem...Altrincham (lost) FG (drew) Braintree (lost) Eastleigh (drew) Dover (drew) Aldershot (drew) FG again (lost) ALfreton (drew) Kidderminster (drew) Chester (drew) Add to that you have had 1-0 wins against ahem the mighty Telford,Southport,Dartford,Telford (again)
Call me old fashioned but if you think that this set of results makes you some loss to league 2 then you are a total idiot.

Stones and glasshouses come to mind Brucie. This is exactly what I'm reading from you and others on this forum, suggesting that we shouldn't be losing to the likes of little ol' Dover et al...

tomogull · Post by **tomogull** » 04 Dec 2014, 11:19

brucie wrote:Friendly Gas - if you have got such a great side and great squad then basically you should be ashamed of yourself as you are not top of the league then. Saying you would do well in league 2 is nonsensical when your no better than the likes of Macclesfield (when your gates are six times bigger than they are) I actually hate Bristol Rovers and their big time big club mentality.

Call me old fashioned but if you think that this set of results makes you some loss to league 2 then you are a total idiot.

I don't particularly like Bristol Rvrs, partly because of the minority of rabble 'fans' who give the club a bad name by looking to cause trouble and partly because two of my mates are fanatical Bristol City supporters and their hatred of Rovers is even greater than our dislike of Argyle ! However, Friendlygas comes on here, posts his points of view which we may not always agree with (that's the purpose of the Forum) but he's never abusive to anyone. Personally, I have always found that those who go around calling others idiots are invariably bigger idiots themselves ...........

Gullscorer · Post by **Gullscorer** » 04 Dec 2014, 11:44

I like FriendlyGas..

His posts make a refreshing change from some of the drivel we see on this forum..

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