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Next Up: Eastleigh (A)


By Joe Torpey
August 18 2017

A look ahead to Rovers' long distance away trip on Saturday as they travel to face Eastleigh at the Silverlake Stadium....

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Silverlake Stadium sounds like it's home to a sweaty horde of over-weight, middle aged ice hockey fans sporting baseball caps and joyously chanting a variety of rousing chants. Actually, nothing could be further from the truth (not sure about the weight issue though) as it is the home of Eastleigh Football Club, and the Rovers head there on Saturday for a game of association football instead. 

We head into the game after a poor run of results (insert own emoji here) with only one win from the opening four, coincidentally the exact same record as our hosts. But Eastleigh will fancy getting all three points from the game as they believe that only bad luck cost them a defeat in their last game at Woking (lost 2-1). 

Eastleigh can be found at 2/1 to gain the victory so the Bookmakers are not totally buying into this Eastleigh optimism and a closer analysis of both squads sheds some light on the thinking behind these odds. 

Eastleigh finished the game with 10 men on Tuesday when Hoyte was injured after all three subs has been made.  Manager Richard Hill (assistant manager at Prenton Park in a previous life) had been praising his 'walking wounded' prior to the Woking game as number of players were playing on through injuries.  In fact, the experienced duo of goalkeeper Graham Stack and Sam Togwell may or not feature on Saturday due to injury. 

The Spitfires also have an experienced look to their squad with James Constable and Mark Yeates available for selection. An average age of 29 suggests that the team we will face will not be over-awed by the prospect of playing the favourites for the title. But perhaps the 12 new faces in their ranks will mean there is still a bedding in process going on. And factoring in the instability in the managers office (4 incumbents last season), there is even more weight to add to view of Eastleigh being a 'work in progress'. 

Our last visit to Eastleigh was a successful one as a second half double from Ben Tollitt secured victory for the super white army. Unfortunately, Tollitt is unlikely to feature on Saturday (Wallace and Kirby too) but Mickey Mellon will have a full squad to pick from apart from that as James Norwood is available again after suspension. 

The travelling fans then will be heading down south with a lot of belief and also hope for a positive result. There is definitely light at the end of the tunnel as we have strength in the squad, the management and the support. Hang on a minute...hope, strength, light...now where have I heard those words before???

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Next Up: Eastleigh (A)
Discussion started by Total Tranmere (IP Logged), 18/08/2017 20:10
Total Tranmere
Total Tranmere
18/08/2017 20:10
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2017:08:26:11:04:31 by mini_andy.

Borough Roaderd
Tranmere69
18/08/2017 20:33
0-2 Rovers.

Hoots Mon
Hoots Mon
18/08/2017 21:52
Enjoyed your preview Joe but James Norwood scored the second goal last season.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2017:08:18:22:40:30 by Hoots Mon.

Cybertron
Cybertron
18/08/2017 22:04
Quote:
Hoots Mon
Enjoy your preview Joe but James Norwood scored the second goal last season.
Correct it was James Norwood who got the second , Tollitt crossed the ball for him. Norwood also scored the season before at Eastleigh, so really has to start.

trfc-boi
trfc-boi
18/08/2017 22:24
0-0

Eric01 Tranmere
Eric01 Tranmere
18/08/2017 22:31
2-0 away win!

TimmySoft
TimmySoft
18/08/2017 22:41
Who's making the trip? I know I am!!

Uglybob
Uglybob
18/08/2017 22:42
Gone for 1-1 in the prediction league . Hope I`m wrong .

Cybertron
Cybertron
18/08/2017 23:05
Quote:
TimmySoft
Who's making the trip? I know I am!!
I'll be there

Fiftyyearsarover
Fiftyyearsarover
18/08/2017 23:20
A draw

luckyseven
luckyseven
18/08/2017 23:45
I'll be there. 0-3 Rovers, Norwood Cook and Buxton the scorers.

MESSAGES->author
hong kong rover
19/08/2017 03:45
Defo need a win today, if we dont then it can be classed as a pretty poor start to the season considering august doesnt look particularly difficult fixture wise. A good start is ESSENTIAL.We are not paralysed by injuries YET, the pitches we play on at the start of the season are in reasonable condition, there is bound to be a lull and a dip in form at some stage during the season, the stronger sides that we will have to play later in the season will take some points off us, the winter weather could be bad resulting in a backlog of matches at the back end of the season, which we dont want. So a win today rovers or else we are playing catch up so early in the season. Not being negative here, far from it. Its being realistic.

Hardly Irons
Hardly Irons
19/08/2017 07:13
Hope it's a cracking day out for the travelling fans who've made the journey.

Hoping a 2-1 on the cards with Cook & Norwood sticking them in.

Hardly Irons
Hardly Irons
19/08/2017 07:17
Actually scratch them scorers, just remembered I had a dream last night where Mangan scored a worldy. Someone chipped it forward and he took it over his shoulder and blasted it in from 30 yards. In fact might put a bet on Mangan to score.

Higgosboots
Higgosboots
19/08/2017 08:25
Reckon Alabi will score

mini_andy
mini_andy
19/08/2017 08:32
Can't make this one, I think we'll nick it 0-1 or 1-2

aktrfc
aktrfc
19/08/2017 08:50
This was the first of the games I had worries about, so was going for a draw. Due to results though we now need to win. 2 up front and a good 0-2 all the way.

On another note had a really nice chat with Ronnie Moore at the end of the season, he didn't have much nice to say about Eastleigh other than they are still paying him until his contract runs out next year, laughing all the way to the bank. He did say they have shed loads of money, but didn't give him the time.

MESSAGES->author
Phil65
19/08/2017 08:57
Quote:
Hardly Irons
Actually scratch them scorers, just remembered I had a dream last night where Mangan scored a worldy. Someone chipped it forward and he took it over his shoulder and blasted it in from 30 yards. In fact might put a bet on Mangan to score.

Put that one to bed Hardly, it was only a dream! I can't make this one due to a family wedding event (bloody selfish of them!). I think Eastleigh will make a game of it which I think will benefit us. I'm going for a 1-0 with Cook on the scoresheet.

MESSAGES->author
Yiggsy
19/08/2017 11:30
A scrappy 1-0 would do for me and, as it stands, I'd still say that if we were playing the Craggy Island Priests over 70s.

Hoots Mon
Hoots Mon
19/08/2017 14:21
Sutton and Norwood back in for McEveley and Dunn

Hoots Mon
Hoots Mon
19/08/2017 14:30
4 attackers and Pilling on the bench

MESSAGES->author
hong kong rover
19/08/2017 16:16
For f*cks sake rovers score a b*stard goal.. 250 mins without a goal now.

MESSAGES->author
hong kong rover
19/08/2017 16:18
They ve had one chance and theyve scored.. why the f*ck cant we do this

the kav
the kav
19/08/2017 16:34
2 chances now hkr,

MESSAGES->author
hong kong rover
19/08/2017 16:34
2 down sh*te... need to go on a bloody good run of results now rovers.

ming05
ming05
19/08/2017 16:49
Think it's scrapping into the play offs for us if we are lucky

MESSAGES->author
TranmereFan
19/08/2017 16:57
They're twisting my Mellon man!

MESSAGES->author
Phil65
19/08/2017 16:58
On the bright side we've created a fascinating new equation: striker + striker X striker = 0
Euler and co would be proud!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2017:08:19:17:03:44 by Phil65.

WWStandsure
WWStandsure
19/08/2017 17:00
I think I need to say that I am fast losing faith with MM as a manager. Player selections to formations following training equals NO goals scored in THREE games = NOT ACCEPTABLE. Perhaps time to start looking for a new manager (all the squad players 'not fit' - what's the point in not having them available? - it's like waiting for Mangan to score in consecutive games - it's NOT Happening, and I just do not like what I am seeing) - sorry readers, that's how I feel).

Borough Roaderd
Tranmere69
19/08/2017 17:25
Mid table wasn't what I envisaged at the start of the season. The results haven't gone our way as yet.Hopefully things will change next Saturday with a vociferous P Park cheering the team to a much needed win.
It's still only August ! S W A

aktrfc
aktrfc
19/08/2017 17:29
I'm sure there will be an abundant lack of fans turning up on Saturday.

kennyspint
kennyspint
19/08/2017 17:49
Obviously a bad start but mm is a proven manager and should be given time to put it right. Bromley are currently unbeaten but this does not mean they will be champions.

MESSAGES->author
Phil65
19/08/2017 17:49
Perhaps we're not underachieving. Perhaps the pre-season hype's to blame; we all love a scapegoat! Only listened on Wirral radio, but the commentary was surprisingly damning; slow buid-up, slow to get crosses in allowing their defence to get in position, poor crosses (Ridehalgh singled out), not hitting the target/making the keeper make a save, all going for the same ball when crosses did come in..... The list goes on. Those of you who went might have a different perspective. Hugely frustrating; I'm as guilty as any believing we would take this league by the scruff of the neck this season; it's more like we're carrying the doggy bag at the moment and dealing with the unsavoury deposits. Come on Rovers, clean up your act!

ming05
ming05
19/08/2017 17:51
Well I can say that my pre season hopes have vanished

MESSAGES->author
BELMONT
19/08/2017 18:11
Quote:
ming05
Think it's scrapping into the play offs for us if we are lucky



Question is can we even make eighth place,never mind a high flying seventh?

kennyspint
kennyspint
19/08/2017 18:14
Come on great start last season we didn't win the championship

nwindsor
NickNotTheGreek
19/08/2017 18:24
WTF. Not constructive to have a meltdown however. The team will be hurting now and will need our support more than ever. Bloody difficult though.

warren r
Wozza
19/08/2017 18:26
Quote:
kennyspint
Come on great start last season we didn't win the championship
and we won't this season to slow one dimensional easy to read stuck in this division for a long time unfortunately

trfc-boi
trfc-boi
19/08/2017 18:30
I think we know by now playing great football wont get us out the league, we need goals, maybe thats why mainly strikers on the bench, we need creativity in midfield to create better chances & goals

ming05
ming05
19/08/2017 18:39
Sad to say already resigned self to being here for another season and it's only August.
We might turn it about but we have not corrected the problems of last year after losing some of our better players. We still haven't sorted our lack of goals from last season.

Borough Roaderd
Tranmere69
19/08/2017 18:57
Not too long ago we topped League 1.Propping up the league were Bournemouth. There was a reversal in fortunes.While we slid down the league they were promoted and have gone from strength to strength. Anything can happen in football.!!
It's only August.!! S W A

Kenny_Crons
Kenny_Crons
19/08/2017 19:13
There is clearly some background stuff going on at the moment because the X factor is missing.

I also don't believe that Mickey was planning on having 5 strikers on the books, whatever he has said in public.

There are coded messages being sent at the moment regarding budgets and transfers.

warren r
Wozza
19/08/2017 19:24
Quote:
Tranmere69
Not too long ago we topped League 1.Propping up the league were Bournemouth. There was a reversal in fortunes.While we slid down the league they were promoted and have gone from strength to strength. Anything can happen in football.!!
It's only August.!! S W A
2 or 3 billionaires helped along the way

aktrfc
aktrfc
19/08/2017 19:34
Quote:
Wozza
Quote:
Tranmere69
Not too long ago we topped League 1.Propping up the league were Bournemouth. There was a reversal in fortunes.While we slid down the league they were promoted and have gone from strength to strength. Anything can happen in football.!!
It's only August.!! S W A
2 or 3 billionaires helped along the way

We had a millionaire then, they didn't. They now do, we now don't. It's all about money and if you don't realise that by now it's too late. We don't have any money because our chair isn't a millionaire. We are a business now, not a football club.

Hoots Mon
Hoots Mon
19/08/2017 20:15
Quote:
BELMONT
Quote:
ming05
Think it's scrapping into the play offs for us if we are lucky



Question is can we even make eighth place,never mind a high flying seventh?

Bromley,Sutton and Maidstone cannot be in the playoffs with their current plastic pitches

Hoots Mon
Hoots Mon
19/08/2017 20:21
Quote:
kennyspint
Obviously a bad start but mm is a proven manager and should be given time to put it right. Bromley are currently unbeaten but this does not mean they will be champions.

Borehamwood are next up but Bromleys plastic pitch will count against them regarding promotion or playoffs

DevonExile
DevonExile
19/08/2017 20:22
In the first half we were very dominant and today created chances.We opened them up down the right where Buxton was prominent in getting crosses over. Most where angled crosses because Buxton is not the kind of player that will get behind a defender. In general the side looked balanced and it felt like only a matter of time before we scored.At half time I was totally encouraged by the better performance
As soon as the second half started we switched to using longer balls down the middle and although we continued to have the better of possession their central defenders where far more comfortable.
Around the hour mark we Harris was replaced by Dunn and we immediately looked more vulnerable.Sutton lost possession driving forward over the half way line and there was no cover behind giving them their first real opportunity from which they scored.From then on without Harris we were exposed with Eastleigh catching us on the break far too often when Ridehaigh drove forward.4-4-2 in the last twenty minutes left us no where near as effective as in the first half.Norwood had a good first half but in the second half was caught offside far too often.
It is possible that Harris was carrying a knock from the first half a like for like substitution would have been better but there was no option on the bench.
I will be shot down by others but I feel that it was the decisions made by MM that cost us the game. The change of tactics to long balls was clearly an instruction and the first substitution allowed them space previously denied

warren r
Wozza
19/08/2017 21:18
Quote:
Hoots Mon
Quote:
kennyspint
Obviously a bad start but mm is a proven manager and should be given time to put it right. Bromley are currently unbeaten but this does not mean they will be champions.

Borehamwood are next up but Bromleys plastic pitch will count against them regarding promotion or playoffs
strawd

chrisprover
chrisprover
18/08/2017 15:16
Ok we need to start winning get the ball forward and start creating chances my prediction 2-1 to rovers Norwood with a one on one and Mcnulty with the goals.

Higgosboots
Higgosboots
18/08/2017 18:13
It's a big one, we have to win otherwise it will become a thing. Will we win, I'm not to sure, we couldn't dispatch of Guisley who conceded 8 in the previous 2 games at home, Eastleigh are certainly the biggest challenge thus far. If they try and play I think we'll win, if they do a "Sutton" we'll struggle.

Temple Road
Temple Road
18/08/2017 18:48
Time to start showing everyone what the SWA can do.

Goals from the Midfield and Cookie on the way tomorrow

Keep The Faith

Borough Roaderd
Tranmere69
18/08/2017 19:00
Rovers a battling 0-2 win.

coltran
coltran
19/08/2017 10:30
I would play Norwood in place of Dunn and Sutton in place of McEveley, then a 2-0 win for Rovers.

HardlyYardley
HardlyYardley
19/08/2017 21:43
Alternatively, play Norwood in place of Dunn and Sutton in place of McEveley, then a 2-0 defeat for Rovers.

Higgosboots
Higgosboots
19/08/2017 22:37
It just sounded so dull on the radio,

MESSAGES->author
Matt34
20/08/2017 00:21
This is not disastrous but it raises questions about either players, Mellon or both.

Micky must arrest this indifferent form or he could start writing his own obituary before too long. The quality is there to win a game 3-1, so there is no reason why Tranmere could put a good run of 4 or 5 on the bounce at some point and players out injured since the season began could prove very useful, but for now the quality available is enough to put a run of at least 3 back to back wins in theory, so hopefully a week between games might created a desirable effect.

Then I ate his Liver.......... with some baked beans and a can of coke.

luckyseven
luckyseven
20/08/2017 00:41
I thought we played ok first half, despite not having too many clear cut chances. The team looked better for Norwood being back, he offers something none of our other strikers do.

Second half was long ball, and didn't work, again. Find it puzzling why we keep playing that way when it clearly isn't working.

As an aside, there's a portion of our fan base who seem to get off on being incredibly negative and hurling abuse at our own players at the match. Old fella behind me was giving Steve a good going over most of the game, I don't really get it to be honest. He had a moment where he got caught daydreaming, but other than that he was fairly solid, and the defence looked better with him in it than the shakey nervous performance against Sutton. I think the negativity spreads and doesn't help on pitch matters when our fans are bearing down on every misplaced pass or mistake. Why travel that far to complain all match? Wish he'd stayed at home. The contrast between him and the lad a few down who was positive and actually offered support, wish we had more fans like that.

DevonExile
DevonExile
20/08/2017 07:24
Odd My impression was a high volume of noise all positive and in contrast to the silence of Eastleigh support

luckyseven
luckyseven
20/08/2017 09:21
Not odd at all, as I said, a portion of our fan base.

Fiftyyearsarover
Fiftyyearsarover
20/08/2017 09:37
Don't get hopes up of the teams with plastic pitches not getting promoted they will l am sure find the money to returf if needed then recoup the money from the FL payout or is it true can't be in playoffs with a plastic pitch

Fiftyyearsarover
Fiftyyearsarover
20/08/2017 09:43
Don't get hopes up of the teams with plastic pitches not getting promoted they will l am sure find the money to returf if needed then recoup the money from the FL payout or is it true can't be in playoffs with a plastic pitch

Higgosboots
Higgosboots
20/08/2017 10:06
Quote:
Fiftyyearsarover
Don't get hopes up of the teams with plastic pitches not getting promoted they will l am sure find the money to returf if needed then recoup the money from the FL payout or is it true can't be in playoffs with a plastic pitch

It's a sorry state of affairs when this is even a discussion, discounting 3 sides above us due to plastic pitches.

MESSAGES->author
TranmereFan
20/08/2017 10:55
Wel this time last season we had played 5 and won 5 and top of the league... we still didn't get promoted... the season has barely started, I have the faith that super Melon man will turn it around and we start bagging Goal after goal. SWA

MESSAGES->author
hong kong rover
20/08/2017 13:05
has to be serious serious question marks as to the substitutes on the rovers bench yesterday. no defensive cover whatsoever???. if Sam Allison had reffed yesterdays game we could have been up sh*t street. one defender sent off and another forced off thru injury could have seen us in big trouble. anyway, at the final whistle even with 11 men on the pitch we still ended up down excrement street. what would it have been if a defender had got injured yday? alabi or waring brought on as a makeshift defender/central defender???



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2017:08:20:13:11:00 by hong kong rover.

Cybertron
Cybertron
20/08/2017 14:03
Quote:
hong kong rover
has to be serious serious question marks as to the substitutes on the rovers bench yesterday. no defensive cover whatsoever???. if Sam Allison had reffed yesterdays game we could have been up sh*t street. one defender sent off and another forced off thru injury could have seen us in big trouble. anyway, at the final whistle even with 11 men on the pitch we still ended up down excrement street. what would it have been if a defender had got injured yday? alabi or waring brought on as a makeshift defender/central defender???
I assume that Hughes would have gone into the back 4 as fullback.

coltran
coltran
20/08/2017 14:16
Its a risk that MM seems prepared to take for most games.

Hoots Mon
Hoots Mon
20/08/2017 14:49
Quote:
hong kong rover
has to be serious serious question marks as to the substitutes on the rovers bench yesterday. no defensive cover whatsoever???. if Sam Allison had reffed yesterdays game we could have been up sh*t street. one defender sent off and another forced off thru injury could have seen us in big trouble. anyway, at the final whistle even with 11 men on the pitch we still ended up down excrement street. what would it have been if a defender had got injured yday? alabi or waring brought on as a makeshift defender/central defender???

Some people who were there said Buxton was injured but had to stay on.

DCTRFC
DCTRFC
20/08/2017 15:20
I lived in Southampton for 2 years when Eastleigh were still in the Wessex league, We were still in the Championship and had just lost in the league cup final. All they had was that little stand and some sheds (they were still there too) apart from that their ground was an open field. Yesterday was a new low point for me

Uglybob
Uglybob
20/08/2017 16:06
Quote:
Cybertron
Quote:
hong kong rover
has to be serious serious question marks as to the substitutes on the rovers bench yesterday. no defensive cover whatsoever???. if Sam Allison had reffed yesterdays game we could have been up sh*t street. one defender sent off and another forced off thru injury could have seen us in big trouble. anyway, at the final whistle even with 11 men on the pitch we still ended up down excrement street. what would it have been if a defender had got injured yday? alabi or waring brought on as a makeshift defender/central defender???
I assume that Hughes would have gone into the back 4 as fullback.
We've had to do that before . I remember Max Power moved to right back at Shrewsbury when Danny Holmes got injured in the warm up . We were 1-0 up after 89 minutes and got beat 2-1 !

Aldo'smuzzy
Aldo'smuzzy
20/08/2017 17:44
It was only a few months ago that we spewed a two goal lead against Bromley because we didn't have a defender on the bench and lost both McNulty and Buxton during the game. MM held his hands up about that after the game and we've generally had a reasonable balance on the bench since then. Until yesterday's bizarre selection.

Hoots Mon
Hoots Mon
20/08/2017 20:34
Quote:
Aldo'smuzzy
It was only a few months ago that we spewed a two goal lead against Bromley because we didn't have a defender on the bench and lost both McNulty and Buxton during the game. MM held his hands up about that after the game and we've generally had a reasonable balance on the bench since then. Until yesterday's bizarre selection.

3 strikers is one too many but 4 is ......

Uglybob
Uglybob
20/08/2017 21:01
Quote:
Hoots Mon
Quote:
Aldo'smuzzy
It was only a few months ago that we spewed a two goal lead against Bromley because we didn't have a defender on the bench and lost both McNulty and Buxton during the game. MM held his hands up about that after the game and we've generally had a reasonable balance on the bench since then. Until yesterday's bizarre selection.

3 strikers is one too many but 4 is ......
Two too many ? (Sm101)

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