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Matthew
Jones |
Bio
I'm Matthew Jones and I've supported Tranmere
since I was five, being lucky enough to see
Rovers in the three F.A. Cup quarter finals and
one League Cup final, as well as countless
wonder matches, including wins over Bolton,
Everton and Southampton.
I live on the
Wirral, but as of September 2009 I've been at
Sheffield Hallam University studying Sports
Development with Coaching. When money allows,
I'm still trying to get to as many Rovers games
as possible and still feel as passionate as ever
about the team.
Favourite
ever player for Rovers: Andy Parkinson -
I grew up watching him terrorise defences with
his pace and skill.
Favourite
Rovers match: Worthington Cup Final; though
we lost, seeing Tranmere play at Wembley, when I
was nine, was just incredible, an experience I
pray I'll get again.
Favourite
Tranmere goal: Andy Parkinson vs.
Middlesbrough |
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14/2/2010
Matty's musings
Captain
Fantastic
Hello
again all,
It's
nice to be writing on the back of an away win. It's the first
time I've done it afterall! What an important win it was too,
against one of our rivals for relegation and on the back of a
disappointing home defeat against Oldham. It was an unexpected
win certainly but on the back of the performance against
Charlton some would argue a win on the road was not far away.
It was great to see Ian Thomas-Moore on the score sheet in the
match. For me it's no coincidence that when he does well, and/or
pops up to score, Tranmere do well. In three of our four away
league and cup wins this season he has scored, at Wycombe,
Aldershot and now Gillingham. We haven't actually lost a game
that Ian has scored in this season in fact. He's netted eight
goals in seven different games, resulting in us picking up six
wins and one draw.
This speaks volumes for Thomas-Moore's contribution to the team
in my opinion. I think he's a key player. I know many believe he
hasn't put the effort in at times, and I think at times that has
been true (although perhaps not as many times as some people
feel!), but he's a player I was very delighted to see us keep
hold of in the transfer window. Ian is probably our most natural
finisher and our best goalscorer and not only is he capable of
scoring some screamers, but he's also our only striker who
really gets himself in the poachers positions.
I think he's a decent player out on the wing, as Ronnie
sometimes employed him last season. However, with his pace going
somewhat, it'd be great to see him played directly down the
middle in the 4-3-3 with the new lad Sordell and Curran on
either side of him. He'd get more chances then, and hopefully
more goals.
He's never been prolific, but he's always got goals, and not
only is he our leading scorer with eight goals, three more than
Craig Curran with five, but he is our leader on the pitch and
somebody who really does care for the club. Maybe that's a
controversial opinion to have, but I really think it's true.
I'm glad Les reverted to the 4-3-3 formation on Tuesday at
Gillingham. It's a solid formation that when we're under
pressure, or holding on to a league, can be reverted back to a
4-5-1 formation. It's quite versatile and with the players we've
got, it's a solid and effective formation that often stiffles
the opposition's attacking threat because we flood the midfield
and don't give them any room to manouver. With our strikers
constantly running and harrying the opposition defenders, that's
also almost another line of defence.
The only problem for us has been scoring goals. Chances have
been coming our way and we just haven't been taking them, or in
some games, chances haven't been coming at all. At times that
has been down to the lack of creativity in midfield whilst at
other times I think it's just been because the front three
haven't been getting into the goalscoring positions or getting
up high enough to secure the other strikers. Hopefully the new
lad Sordell well chip in with a few goals before he leaves, he's
certainly been getting some good reviews on the forum, so that's
a start, whilst hopefully Ian Moore will find some form and
start scoring some more too.
I write this before the Southend game and hopefully we can
continue our mini-good run away from home. Three points would be
excellent and would actually see us lift above Southend at least
and most probably see us move out of the relegation zone for the
first time since August 22nd when we lost to Leeds at Elland
Road.
Getting out of the relegation zone would be so good for
confidence, it would be such a boost. I believe that once we get
out, and if we could put say five points between ourselves and
the bottom four, we'd begin to pull way completely. The bottom
four at the moment is like a black hole. Lots of team down in
the bottom ten are struggling to pick up points and are
beginning to be sucked into trouble. A run of victories would be
just what we need and is definitely possible for us with the
likes of Leyton Orient and Brentford to come in the coming
weeks. Hopefully we can get these results and pull up towards
safety. I believe we're well capable of it.
Anyway, that's it for now. Keep getting behind the team and
believing in Les and the boys. It's your support that is so
vital to us because the players need the confidence and belief
in themselves, something they can get from the fans. To quote
from one of my favourite Manic Street Preachers songs, "Sparkle
and Believe".
All the best,
Matt
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