[Archived] Keith Andrews - Rovers Newest Signing

[daveoftherovers]

Jonno, don't be providing facts matey, that will cut no ice with the Keith haters. For me, he is a trier, puts his foot in, makes himself available (Instead of hiding) and would actually be a very good championship player.

So, he isn't good enough for the prem, however, clearly, neither are the rest of our midfield, so, to persecute the guy because, stastically, has a greater chance of dropping a clanger as he sees far more of the ball and tries to be creative is a bit much, considering how woeful everyone else is bar 2 players in our entire squad is a bit much for me.

[Paul]

Well he didn't score the winning goal at Stoke but he did create it, all on his own.

He may have made a bad mistake but he was no more responsible for our defeat than the rest of the team and management

[Eddie]

Exactly and whilst the pass was a poor one, giving the way the ball on the halfway line in no way means that the goal was a foregone conclusion. It took a while for the goal to be scored and two more errors that were just as bad as his (terrible Givet defending and Robinson should have saved it).

[47er]

Exactly and whilst the pass was a poor one, giving the way the ball on the halfway line in no way means that the goal was a foregone conclusion. It took a while for the goal to be scored and two more errors that were just as bad as his (terrible Givet defending and Robinson should have saved it).

It wasn't on the halfway line at all and it wasn't a poor pass it was utterly incredible. I still don't understand how he could have done it!

[thenodrog]

Taking away the injury's to the strikers our central midfield players of yesterday is why we are where we are and imo is also why the rest of the midfield and attackers have been woeful. I don't care what the stats say about Keith Andrews neither him nor the axe should even be in the squad. We can just about live with one in the team but not both together and that illustrates how much we need to clear out the dead wood asap should we survive.

[den]

Jonno, don't be providing facts matey, that will cut no ice with the Keith haters. For me, he is a trier, puts his foot in, makes himself available (Instead of hiding) and would actually be a very good championship player.

Mokoena and Andrews in midfield, wouldn't get us out of the second division.

The thing is, at least we know why Moko's there. He sits in front of the back four and allows the others in front of him to play and create. He's utterly useless at it nowadays - but what on earth is Andrews role? Is he there to be the hard man and give protection to the defence, or is he there to be the creative influence? Or is there to just run around a bit? - Serious question!

[Exiled in Toronto]

I actually thought the Axe did OK yesterday - defensively.

I'm surprised at the passing stats as I thought it was Andrews worst game for us - some very poor passes - but he doesn't hide, unlike the blonde bombshell. He made a couple of telling defensive contributions - nudging that bloke at the far post header who otherwise could well have scored - again, not bad considering he had been picked to play on the right flank (I think - who can tell these days the way we play) and a lot more than the bloke on the other flank did.

He's clearly out of his depth, but the Saviour has been in charge for 20 games now and is still picking him in three different positions, so perhaps that's where the blame should lie. I thought Andrews was a 6th choice centre mid cover - Allardyce seems to think he's the new Paul Madelely.

[QOTSA]

I think that guy has visited this site is all I'll say

'That guy' is me. Yesterday was a horror show from Andrews. The guy's never been a top-flight footballer.

We're going to have to muddle through until the end of the season and then reassess in the summer.

[1864roverite]

Andrews for all his passing success rate is a poor player. Look closely at his passing and its sidways or backwards, it is very rarely forwards because when he does pass forward invariably he gives the ball away.

Case in point yesterday when he cost us the game.

The man is a liability. he can run but cannot do anything else apart from make mistakes, he is not alone in that department by any means its just that HIS mistakes COST US.

Unless he scores the winner versus Wigan, Pompy and WBA I do not want to see him wearing my clubs colours again

[Eddie]

It wasn't on the halfway line at all and it wasn't a poor pass it was utterly incredible. I still don't understand how he could have done it!

Maybe people should watch this and tell me how it was impossible for us to avoid a goal from the point Andrews gave the ball away? You don't even see the misplaced pass from this highlight and when the clip starts we are in a position to defend. It was a very poor pass and we should have better central midfielders, but passes get misplaced and possession is lost in that sort of position several times throughout any match and a team can't blame a goal just on that one mistake.

[1864roverite]

Yes we can Eddie.

Not only did Andrews give the ball away with a misplaced pass, he then went and turned his back on the initial crosser instead of having the nerve to face what is only after all is said and done a bag of wind.

[Exiled in Toronto]

I've found a 4th culprit. Stop the clip at 74.34 and we have TWO players behind Nelsen - watch the one stood right next to the goalscorer - pathetic. I believe it is our old friend MGP

[Eddie]

Yes we can Eddie.

Not only did Andrews give the ball away with a misplaced pass, he then went and turned his back on the initial crosser instead of having the nerve to face what is only after all is said and done a bag of wind.

He doesn't turn his back. He is in a position to cut off a pass and as the cross is hit he turns away (as almost every defender does), but turning away doesn't prevent him from stopping the ball, nor could he have stopped the cross from that initial point. If that had been any player apart from Andrews you wouldn't have mentioned it. You're not mentioned Nelsen not winning that header, or MGP and Givet not winning the second ball or the fact that Givet does an absolutely terrible job of defending.

[sussexrover]

My folks texted me from the game criticising Andrews for the goal - but watched it this morning with a non-Rovers mate. His comment was that its the kind of thing you could pin on Andrews if you were looking for an excuse to blame him - but there was plenty of time for it to be dealt with after the admittedly poor pass.

[Dan]

Why can't Sam see how ###### Andrews and Moko are?! What did Ince see in him?!! You don't need to be manager of year to know that a player at Andrews age, can't make that much of a jump in leagues! JW should have never let him buy him either, I thought transfers had to go through him? Surely he must have thought, WTF?!!

[LeChuck]

Why can't Sam see how ###### Andrews and Moko are?!

I'm 99% sure he can see it, he just doesn't have any alternative. Don't expect either to figure next season, whatever division we're in.

[Dan]

I'm 99% sure he can see it, he just doesn't have any alternative. Don't expect either to figure next season, whatever division we're in.

But Surely a prehistoric Tugays, a half fit Dunn/Grella or a 15 year old would be a better option than them two clowns?

Sam was playing for a 0-0 which is why he picked a team with absolutely no creativity. Going for a 0-0 at stoke?!! Depressing. Wonder if we'll be able to hold Wigan and Portsmouth to a goalless draw? I heard Robinson is going to be up front on his own for the Chelsea game.

[Paul]

My folks texted me from the game criticising Andrews for the goal - but watched it this morning with a non-Rovers mate. His comment was that its the kind of thing you could pin on Andrews if you were looking for an excuse to blame him - but there was plenty of time for it to be dealt with after the admittedly poor pass.

Quite right. The move started from Andrews terrible pass but there other errors after that. Firstly, I'm not saying this is an error but it happened, the cross is probably the only header Nelsen missed all afternoon. Second Samba should have been moving diagonally behind Nelsen to fill the gap created by Nelsen moving to head the ball. Instead of being in the six yard box towards the near post the goal was scored at Samba was outside the six yard box nearer the far post.

[47er]

Maybe people should watch this and tell me how it was impossible for us to avoid a goal from the point Andrews gave the ball away? You don't even see the misplaced pass from this highlight and when the clip starts we are in a position to defend. It was a very poor pass and we should have better central midfielders, but passes get misplaced and possession is lost in that sort of position several times throughout any match and a team can't blame a goal just on that one mistake.

Are you still saying the pass was made on the halfway line? In which case you are as blind as Andrews.

[Eddie]

He made the pass from the edge of the centre circle and the Stoke player picked up the ball basically right on the halfway line.

[beerwins]

Blame whoever you want but if the ball wasnt given away we wouldnt have been in that situation, he took the goal pretty well actually and if givet had have dived into the challenge it would have been a certain penalty, It was a bad pass because it was very halfhearted and nowhere near any rovers player, did it gift them a goal ? well it didnt help thats for sure.

[thenodrog]

Not only did Andrews give the ball away with a misplaced pass, he then went and turned his back on the initial crosser instead of having the nerve to face what is only after all is said and done a bag of wind.

I noticed that too. He left loads of room for the crosser to cross whilst simultaineously turning his back, the puff.

[dingles staying down 4ever]

I finally brought myself to look at anything to do with Saturday. But to blame any one player for that goal is wrong. Collectively it was a very bad goal to concede. The bad pass and subsequently being slow to close down the crosser of the ball means Andrews has to take a high degree of blame but so does Givet for being turned so easily. Robinson being beaten at the near post must take blame as well.

Andrews and Mokoena must be the worst pairing of midfielders that I've seen in blue and white an that includes the fine pairing of Tony Finnegan and Ronnie Hildersley. I've defended both players on this website but there is no way on God's planet that they can play together as a pair or in a trio with Warnock.

I'd argue that if Sam plays Grella, Tugay or to a lesser extent Dunn then he has include Andrews and/or Warnock in a midfield to be the legs for the less mobile but technically more gifted players.

[67splitscreen]

Very poor defending, regardless of where we lost possession.

You can blame at least six players, they all had there part to play in a shocking goal to give away.

To much space and time given to a situation which could and should have been nullified.

Ooijer and KA for not getting a tackle in before the ball was played back for the cross. It goes on, and finally a poor attempt to save from Robinson, he seems to anticipate that the strike is going to the far post, then tries to recover for the near post shot.

Just before the cross is hit, a Stoke player comes short, drawing Samba out of the box, there were enough players around to pick him up, if you watch the run it's was nothing more than a decoy as the player never calls for the pass, he only looks over his shoulder to see if he drew Samba with him.

At the same time Beattie comes off Givet leaving Nelson to make up several yards to get to the ball, when Beattie gets the flick on MGP is back tracking into the box with a Stoke runner, as the ball bounces in front of Givet and Lawrence MGP seems to think Givet will clear it, and starts to turn away instead of getting in closer to the ball.

Complete shambles.

[CrazyIvan]

This guy has this situation pretty much right. http://blog.ireland.com/itb_soccerpb?entry=81