My new pre-match feature is back after a 2 game hiatus. 'In Focus' gives Gasheads exclusive content from the view of the opposition to complete their pre-match preparation. This will go live before every league and cup clash Rovers play this season to offer a greater lowdown on the team we are about to face.
The feature will be from the perspective of an opposition supporter (in this case Yeovil Town) and they can talk about any thoughts, predictions and hopes they have for the game itself and can offer some advice to Rovers fans should we be playing them away from home. They may explain who they feel can prove a key player for them in the game, players who may be unavailable due to suspension or injury and what they expect from Rovers - both on the field and off it.
In the fourth edition of this new feature Yeovil fan Bill Biss talks ahead of our Johnstone's Paint Trophy game at the Mem this evening (7.45pm KO):
It's been a while since Yeovil Town have visited the Mem, so much so
 |
| Ex-Gas Dom Blizzard could start |
Rovers fans probably won't recognise anyone bar those in the dugout where some of the old heads that caused you some torment back in the day now reside. There's Terry Skiverton, ex-centre back, ex-manager, now reduced to assistant since the return of our hero and yours, Gary Johnson in the hotseat.
Okay, so maybe not your hero what with his connections to us and well that lot on the other side of Bristol! There's also Darren Way who was a big player (not literally) in our midfield when we came up out of the Conference.
On the pitch we yet again have a new look side with probably only 4 regulars who completed last season now with us. Of those, you'll recognise Dominic Blizzard who seems to come into his own playing as a midfield lynchpin breaking up play alongside his more adventurous central partner, Ed Upson. Keeping the later was probably Johnson's masterstroke during the summer months, his form has been brilliant again and well, he might be somebody we actually make some money on in the future.
On the pitch we yet again have a new look side with probably only 4 regulars who completed last season now with us. Of those, you'll recognise Dominic Blizzard who seems to come into his own playing as a midfield lynchpin breaking up play alongside his more adventurous central partner, Ed Upson. Keeping the later was probably Johnson's masterstroke during the summer months, his form has been brilliant again and well, he might be somebody we actually make some money on in the future.
Defensively speaking we've retained Richard Hinds and Luke
Ayling who make up the right-hand side of our back 4, both are no-nonsense traditional defenders who won't fancy themselves against pace if you have any of that at your disposal.
I don't think they'll be a place for Gavin Williams tonight, another of your old boys (albeit briefly). He's yet to play this season following another injury picked up in the summer.
The rest of the team is all new to us and thankfully appears to be full
of goals! Keanu Marsh-Brown, James Hayter, Reuben Reid and Gozie Ugwu
(on loan from Reading) are all firing early. Also, look out for the pace
of Lewis Young (Ashley's younger brother) and Nathan Ralph who've been
used to good effect late in games so far this term.
Another big change for us is actually having someone who can stop goals
as well, with Marek Stech (Czech Republic U21) joining us. He's our
first permanent goalkeeper since the 2008/09 season and what a
difference it's made already. He's clearly destined for much bigger
things and from West Ham fans I know, they were surprised he was
released by them. For what it's worth, the vast majority of Yeovil fans
will have been relieved it was Stech that signed up and not the touted
return of last season's loan keeper, Chelsea's Sam Walker. Um yeah,
sorry about that!
Also worth a mention is probably ex-Robin, Jamie McAllister but then I'm
sure you'll make him feel welcome! The same sort of welcome, sadly I
expect our small travelling army will give to the aforementioned Walker
plus Virgo and Harrold should they be playing? None of these players
particularly enamoured themselves to our fans despite promising starts
when they were with us.
I say small travelling army as I suspect there won't be many making the
short journey north. Despite our great (and unexpected) start to the
League season our Cup form for almost the last 10 years has been
abysmal, our recent honourable defeat to West Bromwich Albion aside.
Also, it's really only the Football League Trophy after all isn't it?
Obviously it'll be nice to get one over on you and looking at our
respective league form, we really should be doing that (sorry!) but I
don't expect that to happen tonight. The not so well kept secret is that
we've actually only got a squad of 18 players to choose from and with
League games coming thick and fast already, I expect Johnson to mix
things up tonight. This'll mean virtually untested fringe players such
as Rohan Ince and Archange Nkumu (both Chelsea youths) may start.
My prediction is a fast and open game resulting in a score draw and then
Sam Walker haunting us with a stunning penalty shootout performance!
That'll really annoy us. Losing to you guys is bad at the best of times
but if he, or perhaps Harrold prove to be the hero, we'll really be
peeved!
Enjoy the game.
Ayling who make up the right-hand side of our back 4, both are no-nonsense traditional defenders who won't fancy themselves against pace if you have any of that at your disposal.
I don't think they'll be a place for Gavin Williams tonight, another of your old boys (albeit briefly). He's yet to play this season following another injury picked up in the summer.
The rest of the team is all new to us and thankfully appears to be full
of goals! Keanu Marsh-Brown, James Hayter, Reuben Reid and Gozie Ugwu
(on loan from Reading) are all firing early. Also, look out for the pace
of Lewis Young (Ashley's younger brother) and Nathan Ralph who've been
used to good effect late in games so far this term.
Another big change for us is actually having someone who can stop goals
as well, with Marek Stech (Czech Republic U21) joining us. He's our
first permanent goalkeeper since the 2008/09 season and what a
difference it's made already. He's clearly destined for much bigger
things and from West Ham fans I know, they were surprised he was
released by them. For what it's worth, the vast majority of Yeovil fans
will have been relieved it was Stech that signed up and not the touted
return of last season's loan keeper, Chelsea's Sam Walker. Um yeah,
sorry about that!
Also worth a mention is probably ex-Robin, Jamie McAllister but then I'm
sure you'll make him feel welcome! The same sort of welcome, sadly I
expect our small travelling army will give to the aforementioned Walker
plus Virgo and Harrold should they be playing? None of these players
particularly enamoured themselves to our fans despite promising starts
when they were with us.
I say small travelling army as I suspect there won't be many making the
short journey north. Despite our great (and unexpected) start to the
League season our Cup form for almost the last 10 years has been
abysmal, our recent honourable defeat to West Bromwich Albion aside.
Also, it's really only the Football League Trophy after all isn't it?
Obviously it'll be nice to get one over on you and looking at our
respective league form, we really should be doing that (sorry!) but I
don't expect that to happen tonight. The not so well kept secret is that
we've actually only got a squad of 18 players to choose from and with
League games coming thick and fast already, I expect Johnson to mix
things up tonight. This'll mean virtually untested fringe players such
as Rohan Ince and Archange Nkumu (both Chelsea youths) may start.
My prediction is a fast and open game resulting in a score draw and then
Sam Walker haunting us with a stunning penalty shootout performance!
That'll really annoy us. Losing to you guys is bad at the best of times
but if he, or perhaps Harrold prove to be the hero, we'll really be
peeved!
Enjoy the game.
Follow him on Twitter Gasheads; @WilliamBiss - could be good value pre-match!
Bristol Rovers vs Yeovil Town - Memorial Stadium - JPT - KO: 7.45pm
Excellent article Bill, thanks for the insight. And thanks to Nath for getting it out to us. Keep it up.
ReplyDelete