[Archived] Rovers v West Ham

[Tim Southampton Rover]

Easy team talk:

Stop making mistakes!!!!!!!

[philipl]

Are you close friends with John Williams or something? You seem to have the same love affair with an average manager that he had.

Oh dear you are sooo slow.

(See the Winjay rip immediately before my post)

[Bobby G]

We may have the ball but we arent doing anything with it to threaten the opposition. Passing it along the half way line or middle third won't take us far.

We need to become a bit more direct and push them back and test the keeper.

[DE.]

Sorry to abandon the 'thinking big' principles for a moment, but that half was perfect proof of why sacking Sam last week was a huge error.

This is no attack on Kean as a coach or manager, he hasn't had time to implement any changes in style and I'm not in any way having a go at him.

However, the reason Allardyce had us playing the way we did was because our team lacks the basic skills neccassary to utilize "entertaining football", as Venky's put it. Very few players in our team seem capable of anything above a simple short pass, our crossing is diabolical, our link up play never works and the players don't move into space quickly enough for each other. This team will never be able to play nice, free-flowing football.

So in short, either Venky's stump up some serious cash in Jan and replace a lot of our squad, or we should have just kept Allardyce and continue playing football that works to the strengths of these players. Ie a style that doesn't involve much creativity, just hard work and graft, which they are capable of.

Now, back to big thinking, sorry for the moment of madness there.

[Steve Moss]

Robinson has done well, when called upon. I think there are too many players who don't know what to do and simply pass it back to him.

I also think Salgado has been one of our more creative players today. At least he is running and trying to get the ball in.

[Gogger]

Benjani is so useless its scary. Makes me wonder what Kalinic actually does at training and how on earth we could pay 6 mill for him. I want to see Kalinic with a partner up front.

[pksrover]

Givet and EHD or Benjani off please... and Olsson and Hoilett on!

Awful awful game so far... Everyone is misplacing passes, Bert is no longer a MK IV, back to version MK I...

[B.R.F.C]

Unsurprisingly when we get the ball in midfield in their half we look lost. My main worry however is how easily they are getting in behind us with little or no pace.

Get Olsson and Junior on please!

[Presty On Tour]

I like the fact we are trying to play the ball on the deck apart from Robbo who likes the hoof.

When we get the 1st, we can rip them apart

[philipl]

Getting slaughtered in the analysis.

Both sides nervous is the nicest comment.

Sam would have put that keeper under pressure that is for sure.

[alexanders]

I can't understand why Kalinic is still on the bench and Benjani was preferred when Roberts had to go off.

Should've been a penalty.

[Sparky Marky]

we'll let in our customery goal within 10 mins of the 2nd half starting...you can bet on that.

[Exiled_Rover]

We may have the ball but we arent doing anything with it to threaten the opposition. Passing it along the half way line or middle third won't take us far.

We need to become a bit more direct and push them back and test the keeper.

Oh god. Has Allardyce really brainwashed our fans in two short years?

[Tim Southampton Rover]

I can't understand why Kalinic is still on the bench and Benjani was preferred when Roberts had to go off.

Should've been a penalty.

I think it was a case of like for like and not having to change tactics........to be fair to them, they haven't had any proper opportunities created for them.

[LeChuck]

If Newcastle can get a 3-1 win under Pardew, then I expect us to at least get the same.

I'm trying to find logic in there, but I'm struggling.

[philipl]

Going to the kitchen so I am not around in the 47th minute...

[Exiled in Toronto]

Plusses:

- we're winning the ball much further up the pitch

- Samba isn't trundling uselessly forwards for throw-ins

- 4-4-2 looked good until Roberts was replaced by the usless Benjani

Negatives:

- Benjani

- our weak spot of a lack of pace in our fullbacks has resulted in all WHU's chances

- Little to no creativity from the players whose job it is to provide it: EHD, Dunn, MGP

- Zero pace out wide (EHD, Dunn)

On 60 mins I would get EHD and salgado off. Emerton to RB, Dunn to CM, Olssen LW, Junior RW

[Gogger]

Yes silly fans who enjoys winning with hoofball rather than looking at the players doing things that they dont are close to having the ability to do.

[LeChuck]

Oh god. Has Allardyce really brainwashed our fans in two short years?

We haven't threatened the goal, or tested the rookie goalkeeper.

When is the last time we failed to score under Allardyce?

Of course, long term, we want better football. But to get 3 points today we need to do what we're good at - physical, direct play. It's rubbish so far.

[Exiled_Rover]

Oh dear you are sooo slow.

(See the Winjay rip immediately before my post)

It's actually directed at your stance since Monday. I don't think you've said one positive thing, it's all been snide remarks about Kean and the Rao family.

[AggyBlue]

[quote name='Gogger' date='18 December 2010 - 15:53 PM'

I want to see Kalinic with a partner up front.

I want to see him stay on his feet next time he gets a chance

[adopted scouser]

We'll win, Grant will get sacked and Sam will take his place at Upton Park.

His management 'style' will keep the Hammers up as we go down, and the Venky press office will admit that £5m is a war chest for the blue square premier.

Omelette anyone ?

[Commondore]

Sorry to abandon the 'thinking big' principles for a moment, but that half was perfect proof of why sacking Sam last week was a huge error.

This is no attack on Kean as a coach or manager, he hasn't had time to implement any changes in style and I'm not in any way having a go at him.

However, the reason Allardyce had us playing the way we did was because our team lacks the basic skills neccassary to utilize "entertaining football", as Venky's put it. Very few players in our team seem capable of anything above a simple short pass, our crossing is diabolical, our link up play never works and the players don't move into space quickly enough for each other. This team will never be able to play nice, free-flowing football.

So in short, either Venky's stump up some serious cash in Jan and replace a lot of our squad, or we should have just kept Allardyce and continue playing football that works to the strengths of these players. Ie a style that doesn't involve much creativity, just hard work and graft, which they are capable of.

Now, back to big thinking, sorry for the moment of madness there.

No, the reason Allardyce had us playing the way we did is that he honestly believes it is the best approach to playing football. He played the exact same way with superior squads at both Bolton and Newcastle.

I think Rovers have gotten some good balls into the box, but neither Mame Diouf nor Benjani (terrible so far) have gotten close to them.

[Tim Southampton Rover]

We've come out this half looking pretty decent.

No 47th minute goal for the opposition either!

Come on Rovers!

GOALLLLLLLLLLLL NELSEN!!!!!!

[DE.]

A scrappy Allardyce style goal. Big Sam's spectre lives on! 1-0.