Tranmere Rovers
February- will we shiver?
By Tommy Moore
January 22 2022
I think it's endemic amongst Rovers supporters, a collective mindset developed over years of nervousness and looking over our shoulders. When we think things are going well we anticipate they must be about to go badly. February looks challenging, but not impossible. Dare I say it, get through the month of pancakes and valentines cards and it's relatively simple going forward. Well, as simple as anything as far as Tranmere are concerned.
I'm writing this before the home game against Forest Green. At the away game we matched them. We almost did enough to win it when an early effort rebounded off the post. We just need to be a bit better and be more clinical in front of goals. Back in September we didn't have Charlie Jolley, or Kane Hemmings. I am pessimistically optimistic.
February has Stevenage at home, Barrow away, Swindon at home and then Walsall away. That's followed by games against Hartlepool (rearranged fromDecember), Port Vale at home, and then a final trip to Newport away. Three of those teams are, at the very least, play off contenders, Swindon, Port Vale & Newport. Stevenage & Barrow are battling at the other end of the table. That leaves Walsall & Hartlepool, neither happy hunting grounds for us. 7 games in a month is a shed load of football. If we could take 18pts from that lot I'd be a happy bunny. However, that would be a fantastic achievement. Anything above that and I might start to allow myself to dream.
The other thing is that with so many games we have to keep our fingers crossed regarding injuries. The lynchpin of the team is Peter Clarke, he's close to 60 than he is 18, but he needs to stay injury free. We don't really have cover for him. Makes me wonder if another central defender will come in before the end of the transfer window. Even up front, we don't have a luxury of riches. So if Charlie, Elliot or Kane get crocked, we might struggle.
I'm confident that I'm being over pessimistic. Yet this is Rovers. We've had seasons like this before. Remember 77/78. Cruising until February, then a home defeat against Cambridge and everything went south. However, I'm going to stick my neck out and say we will definitely, well, most probably, or even possibly make the play-offs. I'm equivocal about that. And I'm sure that we will have plenty to talk about in the month ahead.
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22/01/2022 16:23
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Onwards and Upwards!!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:01:22:18:55:13 by EgoEgoEgo.
Hard run of fixtures that - I'd be happy with 12 points from that lot - reckon we would still be 2nd and have got loads of tough games out the way
Thinking we need to get more than 12 pts even if it is 1-0 all the way
My hope is that we have the resilience to ground out results. I just hope that the McPake and Spearing injuries are not bad ones. We may have cover but it would erode the squad depth.
Quote:DevonExile
I tend to discount Warrington. The step up from Youth football to the dog fight of L2 is massive and we have no soft competitions in which he can be blooded. It would require an injury crisis before he is used and such a crisis could well derail us.
My hope is that we have the resilience to ground out results. I just hope that the McPake and Spearing injuries are not bad ones. We may have cover but it would erode the squad depth.
I agree but hoping Warrington has something to offer. Thinking & hoping him & Davies will replace Jay & Mcpake in squad for Saturday.
Foley in for Jay
Hawkes in McPake
I’d say we are just as, if not more stronger in our starting 11 with good options still on the bench. Squad depth is about keeping the starting 11 strong/reinforced, which I believe we have got. Still with good attacking & defensive options on the bench
