Tranmere Rovers’ Sherriff

We speak to editor of Tranmere Rovers Vital, The Sherriff ahead of the playoff clash between Rovers and Blackpool.

The Vital site for Tranmere is www.tranmere.vitalfootball.co.uk

1. Has this year been a good one for Rovers, considering you were tipped as promotion contenders early doors?

This season is rapidly turning into one of two halves. We started very well, but since the end of November we’ve only won 6 in 22, which isn’t really good enough. However after last season’s mess no one can really complain at being 8th in the league at this stage, and still being in with a shout of the play-offs. Realistically this was always going to be a season of consolidation, but after starting well fans aspirations were upped slightly I think.

2. We lost out to Tranmere in the race to sign Chris Shuker. Was he worth the hassle?

Yes, definitely! Shukes is probably my favourite Rovers player at the moment, and is one of the best attacking players in this division.
Like most players he’s had his off days, but he’s been given a lot of responsibility in this team and has done very well. It was a coup to sign him, and hopefully we’ll sign some similar players int he summer to compliment him.

3. How has John Mullin (another missed seaside target) done this season?

Well, not as well as Chris to be frank. He started brightly, but has faded
away somewhat. He’s got a goal in him though, and hasn’t been a disasterous signing.
He would perhaps benefit from having some younger legs around him, or some
greater competition for his central midfield berth.

4. Is Ronnie Moore the man to take Rovers into The Championship?

Fans are starting to doubt him ever so slightly now, but I’ll say yes, he is.
He’s got his bad points; namely advocating the long ball game a little too much in our general style of play and not always changing things around in games via substitutions early enough.
However he’s a Tranmere legend and has the club in his heart. He demands committment and passion, and commands respect. Give him time and promotion is possible with Ronnie at the helm.

5. Who is the identifed danger man for us?

Well Shuker like I said is always dangerous, whilst fans’ favourite Chrissy Greenacre has been scoring the goals, with 18 to his name so far this season. It’s difficult to look past those two!

6. Is Saturday really make or break for you with regards to catching us and breaking into the top 6?

Well it’s never over ’til it’s over is it? And the old adage of course is that we’ll keep on going for the play-offs whatever the result as long as it’s mathematically possible.
But, if you win it will be a huge, huge task for us to get back in there. I
would say that it’s a must win for us, rather than a must not lose.

7. Prediction for Saturday?

Difficult to say, but I’ll be positive and hope that we can carry on our reasonably good form against the top sides in the division, and scrape a 2-1 victory. Greenacre will open the scoring, Hoolahan will equalise, and then Chris Shuker will net late on to get us the win!