[Archived] Rovers V Citeh

[Pugg]

If you want to criticise Mokoena then fine but maybe in that vein you have to level some blame at Tugay for looking like he was trying his best to get himself sent off needlessly ala Middlesborough a few years back.

I'm not blaming Moko, i'm saying that it was when Tugay went off/Moko came on/change in formation etc etc, that to me we started to get a lot more pressure from City. I said when Moko came on, not that it was his fault. Does that make any sense?

[Montfort]

Emerton has improved over the past few years and is now one of our most important players but his lack of quality was evident with his free shot at the start of the second half. A top player would have buried that chance or at least hit the target setting up a possible chance on the rebound.

I would have stopped after " is now one of our most important players ". He has made an imense contribution this season

[waggy]

I would have stopped after " is now one of our most important players ". He has made an imense contribution this season

how emerton did not get the motm yesterday is beyond me.

[Majiball]

OK this is for all the people on here blaming Ooijer for the second, below is a link to the highlights stop the second half on around 39-40 seconds.

Highlights

So have a look at the situation, should Ooijer be where he was, yes, if Ooijer goes out and marks Robinho who marks the man he is? If Ooijer goes out to pick up Robinho we have an overload in the middle, behind the perspective of the centre half in front of him. Where do you think the ball would have gone then?

You could shuffle the whole lot along one so Ooijers free to pick him up, but as I have said its safe till derb's moves.

Derb's is covering the pass, but as all strikers he only sees the danger in front of him. As long as Derb's does not move the pass is not on and its safe. Put Ooijer out there and its not safe. Watch and see the timing of the pass stop the video the second you see it and check out what derbs is doing.

Its not his fault, the first yes, Nelsen was there and had a better position to clear, but not the second.

[Guest Kamy100]

After a sleepless night (I kid you not) and if the wife says one more time 'it is only a game' I am gonna scream. I still can't believe how city managed to get back into the game. Although Robinho's finish was sublime. I take comfort from the performance, we played as a team and if we maintain that level of performance we will be fine. I really hope that Roberts in particular takes heart from yesterday's performance as he was almost unplayable and on that form heis going to be a massive player for us in the run in.

Been looking at our remaining fixtures and with having to play the 'big four' away key to survival is going to be home wins, two consuctive MASSIVE home games in January against Newcastle and Bolton, if we win them it will set us up nicely and drag them into trouble. I also firmly believe that Hull are going to drop into trouble.

Still can't get over yesterday but compared to a few games ago at least we have hope now.

[jim mk2]

I'm a great believer in fate and the footballing gods are not smiling on us.

We're doomed.

[waggy]

I'm a great believer in fate and the footballing gods are not smiling on us.

We're doomed.

i agree

[T4E]

I think 8 wins should be the target now.

8 out of 18.

Gonna get very very tight.

Bear in mind we don't have to earn all our points from wins.

6 wins, 6 draws, 6 defeats leave us on 42 points, that is definitely achievable.

[Sandiway Blue]

I'm a great believer in fate and the footballing gods are not smiling on us.

We're doomed.

No surprise there then.

http://www.skysports.com/football/league/0...0,11660,00.html

We are 5 points away from 11th place,and we are a team on the up and there are quite a few on the way down.I firmly believe we will not only stay up but we will finish comfortably mid-table.

The transfer window will be crucial,but hopefully Sam has a few targets in mind.

[Iceman]

I'm a great believer in fate and the footballing gods are not smiling on us.

We're doomed.

you doing my head in Jim lol... there was something about Robinho's goal that bothered me, and after watching it again i must say the entire back line must be held responsible. Sturridge plays a ball right across and nobody looks behind them. also Robbo(either unsighted,or slow) reacted very late to coming out, to close down Robinho.

we will not get relegated, my theory is that we just need to pick up points, and watch those in and around us, drop points. Whether we draw or win, those around us will lose. Im very confident now, with Sam in charge im much more optimistic about our survival. We look like the Rovers of a few season ago, where we pressured the opposition, ran our socks off,worked hard, defended well and look like a tough team to play again. Benni looks like his 1st season performance is returning, and Roberts looks determined to stake his claim for a permanent place up front.

Still the areas of concern is at Right back at and a quality right winger. Bert is doing well, but still cant beat a player. If we can get a right winger,and Emerton goes back to right back then we will look strong

[den]

Been looking at our remaining fixtures and with having to play the 'big four' away key to survival is going to be home wins,

With the change of manager, I doubt the players or fans will go into these games already beaten. There's certainly a small chance of picking the odd point up now. How on earth did Ince get away with writing off completely 8 games in the season?

[whittle blue]

How on earth did Ince get away with writing off completely 8 games in the season?

He didn't Den. He got sacked!

[broadsword]

We are 5 points away from 11th place,and we are a team on the up and there are quite a few on the way down.I firmly believe we will not only stay up but we will finish comfortably mid-table.

Dangerous thinking.

Granted, there are another 18 games left to make up only 2 points.

But it's not quite so simple making points up. We have to win and other teams have to lose. We need 2 wins on the spin, and even then we can't afford to lose the next two after that. Then we might be in a position to put some daylight between us and other teams. If only we could've won yesterday.

Once you're in the bottom 3 it's one hell of a battle to get out. You have to keep on ratcheting points up and eventually you will get out of it. Lose a couple and you're right back in it.

Make no mistake, we're in a battle now, we're up against it. Thankfully there are some good signs there, but we need wins. 18 games to get 8 wins.

[chris]

I'm a great believer in fate and the footballing gods are not smiling on us.

We're doomed.

there is a huge postive potentially out of conceding two goals, Oojier is a disaster waiting to happen, I think it very important that this was identified before the Jan window, I think its on Sam's mind now.

His mistakes could easy cost us another 6-8 points this season(he is nearly 35 and playing right back), he could have got sent off in the Sunderland game for a dangerous tackle, and I think the foul in the first half Man City was a bad tackle and penatly.

Geting a soid younger right back or getting a right midfield allowing Emerton to play right back could really help us push on in 2009

Jan has come at perfect time, other teams will fall

[Exiled in Toronto]

OK this is for all the people on here blaming Ooijer for the second, below is a link to the highlights stop the second half on around 39-40 seconds.

Highlights

So have a look at the situation, should Ooijer be where he was, yes, if Ooijer goes out and marks Robinho who marks the man he is? If Ooijer goes out to pick up Robinho we have an overload in the middle, behind the perspective of the centre half in front of him. Where do you think the ball would have gone then?

You could shuffle the whole lot along one so Ooijers free to pick him up, but as I have said its safe till derb's moves.

Derb's is covering the pass, but as all strikers he only sees the danger in front of him. As long as Derb's does not move the pass is not on and its safe. Put Ooijer out there and its not safe. Watch and see the timing of the pass stop the video the second you see it and check out what derbs is doing.

Its not his fault, the first yes, Nelsen was there and had a better position to clear, but not the second.

I agree with that having seen it again. They had 3 men in the middle and Ooijer was one of our 3 men marking them. The big mystery for me is where was Emerton in this move? Why isn't he where he should be and over in that space?

[tony gale's mic]

The last 5 minutes were incredibly frustrating, despite the fact that Robinho's goal probably won me £100, it was still utterly soul destroying to see that goal go in and I would happily exchange that money for the extra 2 points. Why was noone picking him up?!

Still, I have seen enough in that display to convince me we won't go down this season. There's 5 points between us and 11th, and I think Stoke will run out of steam like promoted teams usually do in the second half of the season and will join West Brom in the Championship. We have three games coming up, three very winnable games which IMO we will get at least 6 points from if we've been playing the way we have done. At times in the second half yesterday we were excellent, something you could definitely not say while we were losing under Ince. With either a rejuvenated RSC back or the proceeds from his transfer to come in January we will be strengthened, plus Grella should at least add some unspectacular steel in the midfield.

And with it being so tight, we only need one or two out of those 6 or so sides to go through a poor run of form if we pick up a few points. Boro and Pompey are looking like particularly good candidates for that third relegation spot, although Boro could well strengthen in January their transfer record over the years isn't exactly superb.

[ScottishRover]

Im gutted that we didnt come away with 3 points, also the same for the Sunderland game.

BUT we have to remember what state we where in and the difference already that Sam has made. Lots and lots of positives out of the 3 games he has been in charge. 2 clean sheets and no loss.

Im confident Sam will keep us up and now i actually look forward to Saturdays. I dont get to go to matches because i live in Scotland but its clear to see we are making improvements.

[bennyboyt11]

I'm a great believer in fate and the footballing gods are not smiling on us.

We're doomed.

works the other way too, how lucky was tugay for not getting sent off?!

[Majiball]

Has anyone else noticed our resurgent form has coincided with Burnleys form dropping off.

[Bobby G]

Balance of the universe must remain I guess.

[Eddie]

works the other way too, how lucky was tugay for not getting sent off?!

No luckier than Ireland.

[CrazyIvan]

Two things from yesterday, purported to be the best ref in the Premier League Howard Webb was not clever. He did avoid sending Tugay off but missed a two footed lunge on Pedersen by Ireland that was, in itself, a red card offence. Two penalties, one would have been harsh (on Robinho) but the other was blatant and obvious. The second thing was how poor we were and lucky to go in at one - nil at the half and then played much better in the second half but conceded two very silly late goals. Big Sam has a job to get them playing until 95 minutes and to think smart and about taking the ball into the corner for the last 4 if needed. Silly decisions cost us yesterday but we're looking better overall than we were.

[dellinsert]

I'm far from anti-Allardyce, but in my view the blame for the last 5 minutes must lie squarely with him. The decsion to bring on Derbyshire as part of a 5 man midfield only aided City, and they were allowed to increase the pressure with wave after wave of attacks. With them only having Roberts to worry about up front, it also enabled them to forsake a defender and lump Richards up front. Surely with 2 strikers this wouldn't have happened?

Also being there yesterday I though Robinson could have commanded slightly more for the first goal and swept up, but seeing it last night, perhaps that's a little harsh. Although he doesn't command his area nearly enough.

[joey_big_nose]

The two goals at the end were gutting, but by and large I thought we were absolutely excellent yesterday. So so organised - you can see how much we have come on since Ince - with the wide players in particular working their socks off. Sickening to concede two at the end but that is arguably one of our best performances of the season in terms of organisation and discpline... save the last five minutes.

We need to kick on and sign a few players, but I am very heartened.

[tony gale's mic]

I'm far from anti-Allardyce, but in my view the blame for the last 5 minutes must lie squarely with him. The decsion to bring on Derbyshire as part of a 5 man midfield only aided City, and they were allowed to increase the pressure with wave after wave of attacks. With them only having Roberts to worry about up front, it also enabled them to forsake a defender and lump Richards up front. Surely with 2 strikers this wouldn't have happened?

Disagree with this. If we kept with 2 strikers and conceded then many would rightly ask why we didn't pack the midfield. After we scored that second surely City would have attacked us anyway and put Richards up front, since a third goal wouldn't have changed things either way.