DONCASTER ROVERSV
BARNSLEY
Forget the traditional Glasgow New-Year's Derby, the Keepmoat is the place to be for the clash of the two football power-houses of South Yorkshire! Its a very appropriate date for the Doncaster to avenge their 2:0 defeat at Oakwell in November, when Rovers were frankly, terrible.
Doncaster Rovers
We owe the fans and we need to show them what we’re made of. - Dean Saunders
I think that's a quote we'll all drink to, Dean!
Christmas 2011, like the rest of the year has brought Rovers' fans very little goodwill as two defeats, plus two victories for Coventry has seen us end the year rock-bottom of the championship. From the year Rovers have had, I guess its appropriate that we should be bottom of the league. Its also an appropriate place from which to start a New Year that we all hope will prove to be more successful on the pitch than the last one.
But its a New Year so let's be positive. One positive is that Rovers are at home, where we are unbeaten in three matches and against opponents who, theoretically at least should pack more of a punch than Barnsley. A second positive is that we have signed a 'Keeper. He's an ex-Spurs academy player who has been on loan at nine clubs prior to Rovers. Carl Ikeme he is not, but at the moment, with just one fit 'keeper, he is a welcome addition.
Continuing the positive messages is difficult. Dean is forced into two changes with Pascal Chimbonda going off early in Saturday's 4:1 defeat and Herold Goulon seeing red in the second half. Aha, something more to be positive about. Until Goulon's exit, Rovers were level with Watford and were having the better of the second half.
Clutching at straws? You bet. Rovers are going to have to clutch every passing straw and hope it floats if we're going to playing Championship Football this time next year!
BARNSLEY
OK - time to get it over with. It's New Year, so when I look back I can blame it on drink so here goes. BARNSLEY ARE A DECENT SIDE! There. Now I need a drink to recover
Joking aside, a 4:1 beating of Leeds has to be admired as has the fact that Barnsley now have picked up the double against our mutual rivals. What is concerning for Doncaster is reading Keith Hill's interviews before the Leeds game. Barnsley have been stripped to the bare-bones by injuries. How they must wish that they had a Willie McKay in the background able to pick up quality players at the drop of a hat. No need to rely on out-moded concepts like team-spirit when faced with an injury crisis!
 |
| Ricardo Vaz Tê |
Funnily enough, there are plenty of options when it comes to viewing Saturday's match on Barnsley's website. I chose to be entertained by the 32 minutes of extended highlights. It was typical Barnsley, tough and committed in everything they did but there was soemthing else that I liked. There is an ability to play football particularly around the edge of the opponents area. They seemed to try a couple of probing runs, knocking the opponents defence out of position before moving the ball into truly dangerous areas.
Ricardo Vaz Tê was the star man of the performance with a great hat-trick off the bench. The Portuguese Midfielder certainly can finish even if he was aided by some very tame defending. Plenty of good performances were on show and starngely, one of them was from Luke Steele who brought off a couple of real top drawer stops.
The only negative I could see was the defence not being so quick to close down at the edge of their area. Some of the defensive headers also left a bit to be desired.
Against Ipswich, you see the more vulnerable side of Barnsley. They were cruising, two goals up at half time against the Tractor-Boys only to lose 5:3. The defence's standing off at the edge of the area was a part of their downfall as was the defending of set-pieces.
I'm not going to try and kid anyone though. Rovers have tough opponents tomorrow.
Happy New Year to all Donny and Barnsley fans and enjoy the match!
No comments:
Post a Comment