[Archived] Bowyer

[RevidgeBlue]

Some might argue that Rochina has Berkovic's ability, I would reckon that few would argue that he has Berkovic's nouse

Not saying he is as good as Berkovic, or without faults but he is the most naturally talented player at the Club by a Country mile. Don't understand why Bowyer isn't using him as he seemed to appreviate his positive attributes during his previous managerial spell and before Rochina's shoulder injury at which point he and the team had started the season very brightly indeed against Derby.

Can only assume either there's been a fall out of some description, a contractual issue or he's off/will be sold in Jan. Would be a huge loss imo.

[roversfan99]

when did I say Bowyer is perfect? yet again not reading what I say.

I think Bowyer got his subs wrong yesterday but I'm was pleased that Bowyer went 2 strikers up front. but we have a good home record. winning 6, drawing 3 and losing 2. plus Bowyer has sorted the team out defence with the team keeping 6 clean sheets in last 9 games.

Bowyer and the coaching staff need to work on the attacking side of the game.

2 strikers up front? Did you ignore the fact that if Gestede was any further back he would have been next to Eastwood?

[DE.]

Not saying he is as good as Berkovic, or without faults but he is the most naturally talented player at the Club by a Country mile. Don't understand why Bowyer isn't using him as he seemed to appreviate his positive attributes during his previous managerial spell and before Rochina's shoulder injury at which point he and the team hsd started the sesson very brightly indeed against Derby.

Can only assume either there's been a fall out of some description, a contractual issue or he's off/will be sold in Jan. Would be a huge loss imo.

I think GB has got the team working in a manner he likes - stable, rigid, and to be honest a little boring. Rochina is the antithesis of the type of football Bowyer is getting us to play, his sublime talent often marred by poor decision-making. The reason GB is hesitant, imo, it because he fears Rochina could destabilise the organisation he's implemented.

Nonetheless, I think the time has come to give Ruben his chance - at home at least. He's tried Gestede and DJ and it quite simply has not worked. If Dunny's not available then Ruben has to be given his shot at proving himself in that role, otherwise we might as well sell him in January and forget it.

[Majiball]

Whilst yes Rochina may not be that industrious in defence surely the other 8 players can do enough to get the ball back?

It'll be an even numbers game and surely we're good enough to win that battle against most teams in this league.

[Stuart]

[bowyer's] had unconditional backing on the strength that he's not Steve Kean and if that has expired he perhaps needs to look at himself and his flat-looking team, rather than de-crying a still-bruised fan-base.

This bit resonated with me, Rolo. His comment about 'where we have come from' smacks a little bit of a desperation to cover up his own failings, and he needs to stop relying on it.

'Mediocre' will only look 'good' in comparison for so long. This was certainly the case last season but once he was hired full time, he has to step up to the plate. Mid-table in the PL is a success for this club, mid-table in the Championship, this season, is not.

I just hope that Bowyer's approach with a third of the game remaining on Thursday, is not a cameo for the season,

[JBiz]

I agree with patrickvalery and really really don't want to do Bowyer a disservice; but it doesn't surprise me that faith in him is beginning to erode. Despite the clear issues that have hamstrung us since Venkys bought the club, Gary has had much of his own way since taking control and he's not delivering above the ceiling many feared would impede significant upward momentum.

Free of artistry and gumption yesterday - as with several home fixtures prior - the floor show was lacklustre and sloppy and most players seemed to slump into leaden fatigue. Un-fastening cumbersome and error-prone defences like Sheff. Wednesdays should not be made out to be solving the Gordian knot. They are basement-battling fodder and their form over 18months in this league very much corroborates that. Rhodes' involvement was scant and he cut a mummified figure whilst his props were indisposed to help. Quite how 1million pound was spurned on Ben Marshall whilst superiors like Mcgugan went unnoticed is bewildering, more so with Marshall so vividly unsatisfactory. With the exception of Scott Dann nobody in blue-and-white located Rhodes with precision in 90 minutes which is woeful and worrying.

Bowyer's ashen-face sports this punished frown that is neither inspiring nor endearing and I was disappointed to hear him come out with nostril-offending cack more concurrent with Kean's infamous post-match idiosyncrasies. "Positives" to my mind are an enduring misnomer that seem to germinate when we've played poorly and to swipe at the fans was churlish: He's had unconditional backing on the strength that he's not Steve Kean and if that has expired he perhaps needs to look at himself and his flat-looking team, rather than de-crying a still-bruised fan-base.

The points return is almost scientifically average with 1.4 per game and although the squad is spartan and often shorn of the artful and experienced Dunn it would be remiss to overlook the deficiencies of the majority of this leagues sides. Wednesday for instance are evidently a side short on goals and of their starting eleven yesterday only Reda Johnson is a goalscorer of any renown and frequency.... and he's a left back! Who, QPR aside, have a squad more expensively-assembled and generously-remunerated than ourselves?

Sorry, but just preventing the opposition playing is not enough in a league that it has become increasingly clear with most visitors to Ewood is populated by such frail sides. An unambiguous improvement is a must on Sunday; allowing the season to peter-out into a middling conclusion would be injudicious because of the shortage of genuine promotion probables outside of QPR and perhaps Leicester. Gary has indeed done exceptionally well to solidify the back line but in this league that solidity should only be a detail. Home form good; back-to-back away clean sheets unprecedented in recent years; but where is the enterprise and potency to break down the sides that have thwarted us with seemingly effortless aplomb?

For me the half-term report would at best read C with play-offs in reach but still feeling strikingly remote

Eloquent but essentially negative. When forming an opinion, it would be my advice to look a little bit deeper. Perhaps our expectations are a different level, but halting the magnificent slide and talent haemorrhaging is a massive positive, which could not be achieved by 9/10 managers IMO. When you use scope, Venkys have proven themselves to be complete failures when deciding who to employ - what makes you think the fans who believe dumping GB can be understood?

I personally cannot understand it. To me the fans just look like they have no memory - we are creeping towards improvement. Sort the defence out first, then work forwards. I can name another 10/15 improvements based on this time last year, and in my humble opinion, swapping this for another manager with the lure of a faster improvement is just too risky.

We should all accept that if Bowyer goes - he will most likely be replaced by McPhillips, or even Hendry (shudder)

I came away after the Wed game as disappointed as any in recent years, due to the frustration of seeing the team under performing in such a negative, unambitious manner for which Bowyer has to accept responsibility. he needs to show some courage and ambition in his tactics and team selection. Everybody hides behind the 'average team / players' argument, which, relative to the dross we've seen visit Ewood in the championship i do not accept.

The question I would ask is, are we getting the best out of each player, or indeed are we getting the best out of any player?

Why is is so difficult to give the opposition credit? Sheffield Wednesday defended like a team possessed at parts of the first half - We can/should have done more, but writing off a team is daft in this division - Doncaster away?

They also have the "new" coach bounce. I don't need to mention which team (at the top of the league) lost to a bottom side on boxing day for similar reason.

In terms of your question - defensively we are getting it right (the clean sheets say it all) and with more time and possibly one or two more faces - we will be improve elsewhere

Not saying he is as good as Berkovic, or without faults but he is the most naturally talented player at the Club by a Country mile. Don't understand why Bowyer isn't using him as he seemed to appreviate his positive attributes during his previous managerial spell and before Rochina's shoulder injury at which point he and the team had started the season very brightly indeed against Derby.

Can only assume either there's been a fall out of some description, a contractual issue or he's off/will be sold in Jan. Would be a huge loss imo.

MAN. It's not a @#/? conspiracy theory its simple; ROCHINA GIVES THE BALLL AWAYYYYY AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

2 strikers up front? Did you ignore the fact that if Gestede was any further back he would have been next to Eastwood?

He actually played false nine - same shape as last couple of games but filed in for Dunn. (who is arguably our most impressive player this season)

This bit resonated with me, Rolo. His comment about 'where we have come from' smacks a little bit of a desperation to cover up his own failings, and he needs to stop relying on it.

'Mediocre' will only look 'good' in comparison for so long. This was certainly the case last season but once he was hired full time, he has to step up to the plate. Mid-table in the PL is a success for this club, mid-table in the Championship, this season, is not.

I just hope that Bowyer's approach with a third of the game remaining on Thursday, is not a cameo for the season,

Mid table in the PL is a success for Everton/Villa etc - To even be mentioned in the same breath as these teams again will take years. I know its hard work to accept "mediocracy" (as you put it) but the damage done by Kean, Desai et al nearly put us into the third tier.

It's going to take a while but I think Gary and his team are the best we can expect under the current regime.

My question to the people who feel a change would be needed sooner rather than later;

Do you really want Shebby Singh picking us another manager?

[Amo]

That's all well and good, Jbizzle, but the club literally can't afford to 'creep' towards improvement. If Rovers don't get promoted this season, they're goosed. Bowyer made up his mind to settle for a point with over a 3rd of the match left to play. Against Sheff Wed, who have no manager and sit in the bottom three. The progress we've made since last season is quite irrelevant to whether Bowyer did everything to win that game or not. Because he didn't.

[roversfan99]

I read that we are loaning Judge to Brentford for the rest of the season. What a waste of a signing, he has looked half decent so why hasn't he been in our squads?

Place him with Marrow and Songo'o under wastes of time and money.

[Whyoy]

Part of the problem is Bowyers insistence in playing two wingmen in every game. Unless they are effective, which Taylor and Marshall weren't on Thursday, they add little to the team. That left Lowe and Cairney to fight for midfield control against a five man Wednesday midfield. Both Wednesday full backs had pace to spare against our widemen and it wasn't until King came on that we had any joy down the flanks

There are too many palyers in this squad that have yet to prove to me that they are good enough to wear the shirt. Too many seem content with average performances. The collective standard has to improve if we are to harbour any thoughts of reaching the play-offs. let alone winning when we get there.

[Majiball]

MAN. It's not a keaning conspiracy theory its simple; ROCHINA GIVES THE BALLL AWAYYYYY AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Do you really want Shebby Singh picking us another manager?

What's the difference between lumping it forward to Rhodes to watch the ball come back and Rochina giving possesion away?

Most aren't calling for GB's head, but he needs to up his game if we are to achieve what the club has stated is the aim this season, promotion.

[Guest Norbert]

I think he's done OK so far. Not brilliant, or badly, but reasonable. We should not bin him as goodness knows who would be appointed. Probably Paul Ince, Sachin Tendulkar or Ken Dodd.

[DE.]

I read that we are loaning Judge to Brentford for the rest of the season. What a waste of a signing, he has looked half decent so why hasn't he been in our squads?

Place him with Marrow and Songo'o under wastes of time and money.

Judge has been ineffective every time he's played. Nowhere near good enough for this league which is why he was playing in League 1 before we signed him on a free transfer. I don't think we've wasted much money on him as his wages must be low, but it was an unnecessary signing. Marrow certainly falls under that category as well, Songo'o will hopefully get his chance in future.

When you're operating in the market we're operating in (freebies/loans and the odd <£1M signing) there are always going to be punts that don't work out. In Spurr, Taylor, Cairney and Evans GB has done some very good business imo. Marshall has shown flashes of talent but there's a reason he's never really gotten anywhere in his career and he's yet to show any consistency which suggests he's overcome that obstacle.

[Majiball]

That's funny as in the summer he was going to be a cracking signing according to all on here.

[JBiz]

What's the difference between lumping it forward to Rhodes to watch the ball come back and Rochina giving possesion away?

Most aren't calling for GB's head, but he needs to up his game if we are to achieve what the club has stated is the aim this season, promotion.

The difference is when we give it away lumping the ball 10/11 players are behind it. When a playmaker keeps it too long and gives it away, with players rushing on - your almost certainly going to get counter attacked.

Personally I really like Rochina, talented bugger. The way SW played though negated his impact. They where solid. This is the FACT that too many on here negate - bottom three or not, they defended stoutly against - admittedly not our most creative foray.

We would be all talking differently if those early chances go in. Jordan had two great chances in the first half, and I could almost guarantee that we win that game by a few if one of them goes in.

[Majiball]

I don't see too much difference both result in us not having the ball and being on the defence and at a disadvantage.

What impact could he have in 8 minutes, it will take him that long to get up to the pace of the game and for his body to reach peak, brain as well. I don't really see much point in a sub that late.

We appear to be doing this quite a lot IE missing chances, now even JR is doing it. I am beginning to wonder how they are physically and mentally and whether we are seeing fatigue kick in. We need much better focus and concentration to get the 3 points off Brum that we've seen in the last two matches.

[den]

"We should stick with Bowyer, because no one else would come".

What a pathetic defence of his capabilities that is.

[DE.]

Nobody of any notable intelligence is arguing that to be fair, so anybody who does come up with that argument alone is indeed silly.

[den]

Nobody of any notable intelligence is arguing that to be fair, so anybody who does come up with that argument alone is indeed silly.

Well there must be a load of thicko's on here then. I've read it loads of times.

[chaddyrovers]

2 strikers up front? Did you ignore the fact that if Gestede was any further back he would have been next to Eastwood?

when the game started we played 2 strikers right up front. but within 10 mins of the game we need to drop a striker off the forward line due to Sheff Wed playing the extra man in Centre mid.

so when we had the ball Gestede tried to get close to Rhodes and when we were without the ball he drop of and played the number 10 role

I read that we are loaning Judge to Brentford for the rest of the season. What a waste of a signing, he has looked half decent so why hasn't he been in our squads?

Place him with Marrow and Songo'o under wastes of time and money.

Bowyer made 13 signings this summer. not every signing was going to be a good signing.

Judge was a low cost free transfer signing. maybe Judge wants to play first team football and Bowyer can't guaranteed hi this so wants to play football. fair play to Judge to wanted to play and NOT just on the bench picking up his wage.

Of Bowyer's signings, Spurr, Cairney, Evans, Taylor and Marshall have been good ones IMO. DJ wasn't GB signing. Kilgallon is a good back up Centre back.

Every manager has made bad signings. Even Ferguson made bad signings like Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba, Talbi(Italian Keeper), Anderson, Nani.

Big Sam here made a number of poor signings like Bastruk, Goulan, Linganzi, Chimbonda, Benjani

I cant remember Hughes making many bad signings here he made when Blackburn Rovers manager. just wish he had been able to signings he wanted in Jnauary before he left for City in summer. think he was looking at Michael Bradley and Lassada Diarra to sign

[roversfan99]

If we are going to play like that then surely you would have Gestede where Rhodes was with Rhodes getting the knock downs.

I hope Gestede is dropped tomorrow and doesn't sign.

And I agree, I was just pointing out that I feel that Judge has been wasted and thus his signing has not been a success. Whereas I never expected Marrow and Songo'o to have an impact and they always seemed like wastes. Eastwood is also poor IMO.

I know that all managers make poor signings and agree that Cairney, Spurr, Evans and Taylor are in particular good signings.

Hughes signed Vogel, Rigters and Bruno Berner.

[Roverthechimp]

Raised expectations = Bowyer doing a decent job (in the big scale of things)

Relegation is no longer being mentioned - the pressure is being put on because "we have to get promoted this season". The only people who can answer that are the Venkys who are providing a 36 million pound interest free loan.

[DE.]

Well there must be a load of thicko's on here then. I've read it loads of times.

Name some names pal, blanket statements are meaningless.

[Parsonblue]

"We should stick with Bowyer, because no one else would come".

What a pathetic defence of his capabilities that is.

You're right den. That is no reason for sticking with a manager. The reason we SHOULD stick with Gary is because he is doing a very good job in rebuilding things after three years of chaos. I don't think many fans believed that we would go from near relegation candidates to promotion certainties within twelve months. The fact that he has been told he can't add to the squad until the wage bill is reduced indicates that promotion on the cheap is the aim and that ain't going to happen no matter who the manager is.

[JBiz]

"We should stick with Bowyer, because no one else would come".

What a pathetic defence of his capabilities that is.

I havent seen anything as black and white as that. It would be the same as saying we should sack him because we are only mid table.

In essence; The positives outweigh negatives.

Suggesting we change manager without citing the past mistakes made by the current management, "what a pathetic" suggestion that is.

[patrickvalery]

You're right den. That is no reason for sticking with a manager. The reason we SHOULD stick with Gary is because he is doing a Veryan good job in rebuilding things after three years of chaos. I don't think many fans believed that we would go from near relegation candidates to promotion certainties within twelve months. The fact that he has been told he can't add to the squad until the wage bill is reduced indicates that promotion on the cheap is the aim and that ain't going to happen no matter who the manager is.

Bravo Parson. The voice of reason.

Its been said a few times by a few different posters, but its worth saying again. People have short memories.

What I find amazing is there are a few on here who continue to bash others who they perceived to advocate Allardyces departure. Yet the same people now seem to suggest they want Bowyer gone. Its pure hypocrisy. You can't take the moral high ground one minute and not the next. Would these supporters happily bin Bowyer and then put their trust in Venkys to appoint a better candidate? And yes I know promotion is a must, but as Parson rightly says, it ain't happening with our finances no matter who's at the helm.

As theno correctly pointed out the other day. Champagne tastes on beer budgets.

We have got a good honest manager in charge. One who is determined to build a young side who will play with some heart. After the last few years of destruction I can't believe people are so short sighted as to criticise him when he has imoroved our fortunes. And his comments about booing were justifed and not at all ott.

Is it any wonder football is so shallow nowadays when some of the people who pay to watch it are so dim?