[Archived] Why Is Our Defence So Great

[Paulo]

Why is Warnock playing in midfield?? It's no good he can do a job there, the blokes best position is left back. This aint sunday league, where you stick at fat boy center back because he can ''do a job.'' This is the Premier League, the best league in the world, it's no good doing a job, you need your best players playing in their best poisitions!

What's wrong with Zurab??? Zurab is easily our best center back, why no love from Hughes or Ince?? He read's the game so well, hardly puts a foot wrong, but we always seem to prefer the donkey that is Ryan Nelsen and Chris Samba. Andre Ooijer is also better then Samba & Nelsen, yet we stick him left back lately? Why is this?? He's not even great at right back, let alone on the left? The blokes got less pace then my nan.

Ryan Nelsen skipper???? Why is this clown captain? Actullay i know the answer, he's the only 1 with a gob. But adly he shouldn't be in the team, i been saying for ages he's useless, a very very very poor man's John Terry. He's like the credit crunch of defenders. Mistake after mistake, no pace, clumsy, can only pass the ball backwards to the goal keeper, or toe punts it for a throw. And people worship this joker?? please.

Why not play Emerton right back? We have had this guy for years now, he nearly went Boro and i was gutted when he didn't. The we start playing him right back, and he has the season of his life. We found a place where he can play well, and use his pace as a threat over lapping the wings. So what do we do?? We get Simpson on a loan deal. Why do that Ince? Because he thinks Emerton can be our main man on the wing? Wel he cant, despite him playing well this season, he needs to be right back, or a squadie, he aint the answer to our midfield problems.

Tosum up, we have had a terrible defence for a while, but no one's picked up on it. Last season we was out scoring teams and it took the light of them a bit, but now we aint scoring, it's becoming obvious to see. Not having a decent holding role player dont help, Vogel is havin another Betis episode, Grella keeps getting rushed back to early, and Mokoena never has and never will be the answer, and relying on a 38yr old in this league aint worth thinking bout.

So sod Pennant, Villanueva and co, make us hard to beat again.

Hughes had a transition, so he started by making us touch to beat, you dont start a transition by making us play beautiful football...Mr Ince.

Ask Wenger, it dont get you where you need to be.

[den]

A team's defence, is just that - a team defending. It starts from the front and involves everyone. It's about concentration and discipline.

So what's all this ###### about a defensive coach? How can Winterburn coach the defence for two days, without involving the whole team? Or if he does involve the whole team, what do the rest of the coaches do? Does Ince not know anything about defending, can he not do it himself?

I just find it all baffling.

[Paulo]

Well thats the biggest joke of all that Gooner we got popping in 2 days a week. Will he get respect off the players?? No, of course he wont. Does Ince think its acceptable, apparentley so. It's a circus

Another thing bout Winterburn, when he's on Soccer AM, and they ask him about what he does now, does he bring up Rovers?? No. He talks about watching the Gooners and playing Sunday league football, in which his team is bottom.

[Hasta]

Why is Warnock playing in midfield?? It's no good he can do a job there, the blokes best position is left back. This aint sunday league, where you stick at fat boy center back because he can ''do a job.'' This is the Premier League, the best league in the world, it's no good doing a job, you need your best players playing in their best poisitions!

Problem is that with our current fit squad he's also our best midfielder.

[tony gale's mic]

Problem is that with our current fit squad he's also our best midfielder.

If he gave Vogel a run out....

[T4E]

A team's defence, is just that - a team defending. It starts from the front and involves everyone. It's about concentration and discipline.

So what's all this ###### about a defensive coach? How can Winterburn coach the defence for two days, without involving the whole team? Or if he does involve the whole team, what do the rest of the coaches do? Does Ince not know anything about defending, can he not do it himself?

I just find it all baffling.

As do I. I think many do. The backroom setup has never been so confusing.

Warnock in CM just highlights the bizarreness of the Vogel situation still further. Why isn't he getting a chance? We're on our arse as far as midfielders go - Vogel should be in the reckoning atleast. As long as Ince is pretending he doesn't exist, that one isn't going to go away.

[Amo]

I'm afraid the Vogel debate is going to go around in circles. It's nothing to do with Ince not rating him. Why isn't he even in the reserves? You'd think he'd get a run out, since we're so thin on the ground. But no.

I agree with the rest of what you've said. Nelsen is living off his captaincy, if you ask me. Honest professional and he works hard, but he's been off the pace for awhile now. I also think it doesn't help having our defence shuffled from one game to the next. And keeping Ooijer at left-back after the Bolton game completely diminished any tactical nous we thought Ince had there.

[AHoyle90]

Stupid how Vogel isnt given a chance when were so thin on the ground, cant they put their personal differences to the side and Ince use him. He says he knows a midfielder when he sees one so surely he most know Vogel has something to offer?

Warnock isnt out best midfielder, id sooner have Mokoena and Andrews in CM than Warnock, get Warnock back at left back.

As for Brett, hes been our most creative and threatning player this season, why would we want him back at right back now, Simpson is doing alright. I think its as a team we cant defend, and we missed Nelly bigtime on Saturday.

[Claytons Left Boot]

The best right back at the club is Emerton - get him there.

The best left back at the club is Warnock - get him there.

The best two centre backs at the club are two from Samba, Kish & Ooijer - get them there.

Every successful team builds from the back. Stop pussyfooting around, get the best players in their best positions and get rid of the fraudster Winterburn.

Nothing against Nelsen. I think he's done Rovers a great service but since his injury he's not been the same and I don't see him leading enough. If Ince feels Warnock is up to being captain, let's have a change and give it to him on a permanent basis.

We're drifting at the moment and drifting down. When Tony Parkes used to come in and perform his miracle acts, he used to make changes and shake things up.

That's all we need - change - the squad at present is good enough to stay up and with a bit of sound investment in January good enough to be mid table.

Change it!

[Amo]

We're drifting at the moment and drifting down. When Tony Parkes used to come in and perform his miracle acts, he used to make changes and shake things up.

What are you talking about? We've got a different eleven for every game!

[Lurid Coat]

Warnock in CM just highlights the bizarreness of the Vogel situation still further. Why isn't he getting a chance? We're on our arse as far as midfielders go - Vogel should be in the reckoning atleast. As long as Ince is pretending he doesn't exist, that one isn't going to go away.

I wish Nicko would shed light on this situation. I'm a big fan of Vogel, and I find it absurd that he hasn't even featured for us this season.

[roversactive]

Couldn't agree more with the Warnock comment, just can't understand why we don't play our players in their best positions. Same applies to Derbyshire too (when he plays).

[philipl]

Rovers are just not defending as a unit.

[Karembeu]

Why is Warnock playing in midfield??

After what I saw today

I totally agree with you. Come on! Olsson is totally a flop!!!! And I do totally mean it. He is really playing crap! Throughout the whole time he was playing. Please Ince, We no need player that get red carded in the first half to played... I understand he is young and maybe he would be a better defender somedays but at the rate it is going. I don't think ince will see that day to come.

[Amo]

I don't think Ooijer, Nelsen, and Samba did badly against Spurs. It was a bit desperate at times, but we didn't allow Tottenham many chances (that I can remember). Olsson on the other hand was just completely naive and got himself sent off.

[Sysagent]

Is it because our "defence coach" is busy commentating on other teams matches and not actually bothering to see what the one he really should be bothered about is doing?

[Amo]

Winterburn is an easy scapegoat.

The problem lies not in our defence but in our attack. If you haven't got the players to threaten the other team, you'll do nothing but invite pressure all day. Emerton, Pedersen, Andrews, and Mokoena didn't do anything to test Spurs.

[philipl]

Just seen the experts/pundits absolutely lay into the inadequacy of Rovers' defending today. Players weren't attacked except Olsson for being naive but our defensive system and organisation got slammed.

[jim mk2]

Winterburn is an easy scapegoat.

The problem lies not in our defence but in our attack. If you haven't got the players to threaten the other team, you'll do nothing but invite pressure all day. Emerton, Pedersen, Andrews, and Mokoena didn't do anything to test Spurs.

Pointless blaming individual players or systems ; the problem is at the top.

[DE.]

Emerton, for me, has been a bright spot in an otherwise so far dark season. The lad is pacy, and one of only a couple of threats we possess (the other being RSC).