The Football.....

[PaulSB]

Well, can't get better than another three points. With Oxford losing to Derby, that's seven points clear now. Probably safe, though no chickens counted yet…

I agree you're probably safe now. Pompey defeating Leicester was a big result for Rovers. We have two games left, the final match being Leicester at Ewood. Rovers absolutely must win as it prevents Leicester catching us.

Oxford would then need nine points from three games to catch Rovers. Oxford are at Millwall on the final day - both sides could be desperate to win that.

The disappointment for me is Rovers should have beaten Coventry on Friday night. Our lack of a decent striker meant it was 0 - 0 at HT rather than the three we could/should have scored. We had five or six superb crosses from the right into the Coventry six yard box in the first half. We didn't take one of those. As Coventry lined up for the free kick that was the equaliser it was obvious they would score. Why our coaches couldn't see it I don't know.

Coventry were vey vulnerable down that side. I was surprised, I thought they would be better.

 

[StuAff]

I agree you're probably safe now. Pompey defeating Leicester was a big result for Rovers. We have two games left, the final match being Leicester at Ewood. Rovers absolutely must win as it prevents Leicester catching us.

Oxford would then need nine points from three games to catch Rovers. Oxford are at Millwall on the final day - both sides could be desperate to win that.

The disappointment for me is Rovers should have beaten Coventry on Friday night. Our lack of a decent striker meant it was 0 - 0 at HT rather than the three we could/should have scored. We had five or six superb crosses from the right into the Coventry six yard box in the first half. We didn't take one of those. As Coventry lined up for the free kick that was the equaliser it was obvious they would score. Why our coaches couldn't see it I don't know.

Coventry were vey vulnerable down that side. I was surprised, I thought they would be better.

Coventry definitely seem to have made life harder for themselves than it should have been. A fourth win on the trot seems unlikely, but…

 

[PaulSB]

Coventry definitely seem to have made life harder for themselves than it should have been. A fourth win on the trot seems unlikely, but…

Based on Friday evening Coventry are definitely beatable and not as good as I had expected. You are away so it will be a tougher task than we had.

 

[albion]

Strange how Lampard, not looking managerial material finally found success.
Maybe he works best with willing to learn players rather than the cauldren of egos in many a top side.

 

[ianrauk]

Notts lose again so Bromley promoted leading to what have been a very odd fixture at Hillsborough next season.

Bromley made hard going of the run in. But thanks to Barnet's result. They got there in the end. Some big clubs coming to the Copperjax next season.

 

[Accy cyclist]

What a cliff hanger that will be on Saturday and amazing how the fixture list has turned out.
Rochdale with a much worse GD than York have got no choice but to go for the win.

From Accrington's point of view, Rochdale going up would mean a local derby with the clubs only 16 miles apart. I hope Rochdale make it and kind of hope York win the play offs, but Carlisle back in League two would be good.🤔

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

From Accrington's point of view, Rochdale going up would mean a local derby with the clubs only 16 miles apart. I hope Rochdale make it and kind of hope York win the play offs, but Carlisle back in League two would be good.🤔

Personally i'd like the Shrimpers to go up.They were in the final last year but lost a close game to Oldham.

 

[postman]

Oh Citeh have made it interesting.Spare game, Burnley next,a win of more than two goals and back to the top they go.How nervous Arsenal must be.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

Squeaky bum time for the Gunners.

 

[Dorset Boy]

Oh Citeh have made it interesting.Spare game, Burnley next,a win of more than two goals and back to the top they go.How nervous Arsenal must be.

They only need a win as they have scored more goals than Arsenal

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

City have a habit of closing out the last few games by winning them all. I have a gut feeling they will win it now. If they do (still a reasonable 'if' I know) then Arteta will have to shoulder a fair bit of blame. I still think he has set them up to be too negative recently and this has spread throughout the team. They should have been out of sight by now.

 

[No Ta Doctor]

City have a habit of closing out the last few games by winning them all. I have a gut feeling they will win it now. If they do (still a reasonable 'if' I know) then Arteta will have to shoulder a fair bit of blame. I still think he has set them up to be too negative recently and this has spread throughout the team. They should have been out of sight by now.

As an Arsenal fan, I think there's a grain of truth in that, but the far larger issue is the availability of key creative players. If we'd had them fit all season we definitely would be out of sight by now.

 

[Accy cyclist]

As an Accrington Stanley fan, with my memories of watching Blackburn Rovers for over 30 years, and still always looking out for their results, I hope Burnley win on Wednesday night!🤫 It probably, very most likely will not happen, but I hope they do!

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

As an Arsenal fan, I think there's a grain of truth in that, but the far larger issue is the availability of key creative players. If we'd had them fit all season we definitely would be out of sight by now.

As a complete neutral I would like Arsenal to win the League as I think it is better all round to have different winners year to year rather than a 1 or 2 club monopoly. I suspect you are right, and I think that it where Arteta has made an error. When your creative players are missing you need to cut loose and trust the players you have. I think he has tried to get them to play within themselves and grind results out, perhaps not quite trusting in the ability of his available players.

It's interesting, the great Wenger sides were a mix of power and finesse, then he went the finesse only way and lost the physical edge to his sides. Arteta built on the finesse side but seems to have maybe veered too much towards power and an over reliance on set piece and rather rigid patterns of play.

 

[gbb]

As a complete neutral I would like Arsenal to win the League as I think it is better all round to have different winners year to year rather than a 1 or 2 club monopoly. I suspect you are right, and I think that it where Arteta has made an error. When your creative players are missing you need to cut loose and trust the players you have. I think he has tried to get them to play within themselves and grind results out, perhaps not quite trusting in the ability of his available players.

It's interesting, the great Wenger sides were a mix of power and finesse, then he went the finesse only way and lost the physical edge to his sides. Arteta built on the finesse side but seems to have maybe veered too much towards power and an over reliance on set piece and rather rigid patterns of play.

I do wonder if this is what changed the Forest game against Burnley. They (Forest) had a pretty poor first half, got boo'ed off at half time apparently.
Then (reportedly) Periera let them loose, go and play, use your flair..and the whole game blew apart.
Too rigid, too constrained, first half?