[Archived] Rovers away day on the South coast - Brighton, Sat 9th November

[PAFELL]

Here we go again. We lose and it's all Rhodes' fault.

I wouldn't blame Rhodes for the loss. The way Brighton's keeper played, there could have been two Rhodes and Rovers would still have lost. Brighton took their chances - Rovers chances were saved by an inform keeper. The 3 0 loss actually flattered Brighton - this is being said from Brighton fans who I spoke to today. When it was 1 0, they feared rovers making it 1 1. Brighton fans were not happy with their teams performance, as they have seen a lot better. before the penalty, they were cursing the dingles for not pursuing their interest in Barnes - who scored two - many detest him at Brighton.

From my seat at the half way line, apart from individual errors that cost Rovers the goals - although they did not dominate, bar the first 20 minutes of the 2nd half - Rovers were doing ok. But the errors were costly at crucial times.

All this pathetic talk of replacing Bowyer is daft. every manager has to start at the beginning. Rovers, moneywise, are in the position where they have no choice but to stick by him. The club has been screwed left right and centre by the pathetic ownership of venkys. NOT BOWYER or the players on the pitch. As Rovers fans we have what we have - we have to make do with what we have. Nice to be able to turn the clock back 3 years or so - but we cannot.

From where i was sat, I could hardly hear the Rovers fans.

Some Rovers fans are their own worse enemy at times - if some conversations i have had with some stewards today is correct.

[thenodrog]

Stone me. Please don't tell me that lack of a goalscorer is our problem now? Yet our only natural goalscorer is being asked to do less goalscoring and more work off that ball, hold the ball up for others, yada yada. Now that he obliges and score less, that's a problem? Grief.

Shut the back door and those 5 goals become so much more use to us. Just ask Mourinho what he thinks of 5 goals in 6 games. He is probably salivating at the prospect of 16 more points on the board!

Fact remains there is no 'i' in team.

Not saying this happened yesterday but though he is a fine finisher he still needs hauling off if we are in an under pressure situation e.g. 1-0 up away from home in the last 30 and looking for an outlet to hold the ball up long enough to relieve incessant pressure on the defence.

[Majiball]

Fact remains there is no 'i' in team.

Not saying this happened yesterday but though he is a fine finisher he still needs hauling off if we are in an under pressure situation e.g. 1-0 up away from home in the last 30 and looking for an outlet to hold the ball up long enough to relieve incessant pressure on the defence.

there maybe no I in team, but there is a me.

[thenodrog]

there maybe no I in team, but there is a me.

ta for that.

[RussP]

Some Rovers fans are their own worse enemy at times - if some conversations i have had with some stewards today is correct.

Hi mate, what does that mean?

[JAL]

that's is Why Bowyer is after Lucas Jutkiewitz to give him another type of striker and different option to Rhodes.

If hes any good why are Boro letting him go ?

[Majiball]

If hes any good why are Boro letting him go ?

'them lads at Middlesbrough haven't got a clue. he was highly rated once. you know we could turn him around.'

[arbitro]

5 goals for in the last 6 games! Defendings prob poor but do you consider that a good attacking stat?

Quicker and easier to refer to them as 'the easy bits' of centre forward play Leonhard..... at least for strikers with plenty of heart, enthusiasm and desire.

Potentially five goals in six games could mean 15 points. A recent manager of ours would probably have garnered a few points from such numbers (clue - he loves clean sheets).

[SoldierMo]

Fact remains there is no 'i' in team.

Not saying this happened yesterday but though he is a fine finisher he still needs hauling off if we are in an under pressure situation e.g. 1-0 up away from home in the last 30 and looking for an outlet to hold the ball up long enough to relieve incessant pressure on the defence.

There seems to be the problem how many times have we conceded the first goal? Hardly ever have we been one nil up and the ones that we have we have ended up winning

[J*B]

At some point in the near future, our strike force will be Leon Best and DJ Campbell. If you think Rhodes doesn't do enough 'off the ball', just wait until your stuck with that torture. No effort, no finishing capabilities and numerous paddies every game. It'll be watching the poorer side of Rhodes' game (running the channels, holding the ball up), without the good side of Rhodes' game (finishing, composure, self assurance, hope, a chance) but in double vision, combined with a touch of 'gangsta'.

[Parsonblue]

Stone me. Please don't tell me that lack of a goalscorer is our problem now? Yet our only natural goalscorer is being asked to do less goalscoring and more work off that ball, hold the ball up for others, yada yada. Now that he obliges and score less, that's a problem? Grief.

Shut the back door and those 5 goals become so much more use to us. Just ask Mourinho what he thinks of 5 goals in 6 games. He is probably salivating at the prospect of 16 more points on the board!

No Stuart, he is being asked to improve the aspects of his game which he is weak at. In the same way that Kean needs to improve aspects of his game, so does Rhodes. Can you honestly say that he contributed anything yesterday? Do you think he put in a decent shift? Do you think he held the ball up and played others into the game? It's all very well saying that is not his game but when he is selected as the lone striker that HAS to be his game. Mourinho dropped Mata because he doesn't believe he works hard enough when Chelsea don't have the ball. All players need to make a contribution in all areas of the game not just the bits they are good at. Rhodes is not immune from improving the things he is not good at.

Our away performances have been shocking for some time now and a number of players need to contribute rather more away from home, including Rhodes.

[SoldierMo]

Omgggg if dey improved there games anymore they will not be here in jan as for jutkiewickz tink he would be a brill signing

[thenodrog]

At some point in the near future, our strike force will be Leon Best and DJ Campbell. If you think Rhodes doesn't do enough 'off the ball', just wait until your stuck with that torture. No effort, no finishing capabilities and numerous paddies every game. It'll be watching the poorer side of Rhodes' game (running the channels, holding the ball up), without the good side of Rhodes' game (finishing, composure, self assurance, hope, a chance) but in double vision, combined with a touch of 'gangsta'.

So in your opinion JR is the finished article and couldn't improve his game at all J*B?

[bluebruce]

Rem Chelsea sent him here to help his development by getting some 1st team football so whether written or unwritten I'm pretty sure that automatic selection would be a condition of his loan

Unless it is written, I don't care. The only chance we have of avoiding financial oblivion is to go up, soon. I don't care if we have to irritate Chelsea along the way. And if it is written, what the hell are we doing putting automatic selection in any arrangement? Even our best players aren't guaranteed to start every week. Kane is playing crap, drop him, end of.

[rovermagic]

Watched MOTD and Football League show. And the two clumsiest errors of some 16-17 matches on view were Etuhu's and Kean's. Kean's error put Peter Cech's to shame. And Etuhu looked like a massive, slow blob that didn't deserve to be on the pitch in any league.

[DE.]

Watched MOTD and Football League show. And the two clumsiest errors of some 16-17 matches on view were Etuhu's and Kean's. Kean's error put Peter Cech's to shame. And Etuhu looked like a massive, slow blob that didn't deserve to be on the pitch in any league.

Yep, both absolutely horrific mistakes and yet people are going on about Jordan Rhodes weaknesses again. Unbelievable.

Potentially five goals in six games could mean 15 points. A recent manager of ours would probably have garnered a few points from such numbers (clue - he loves clean sheets).

Indeed.

[J*B]

So in your opinion JR is the finished article and couldn't improve his game at all J*B?

No. Nobody is the finished article in any career in the world. Everyone can improve.

However I do think it's ridiculous to question a player that is quite clearly our best. He's one of the few left that would interest other clubs for a reason. I think when he does eventually leave, everyone will see just how much they've taken him for granted.

[Tom]

Yep, both absolutely horrific mistakes and yet people are going on about Jordan Rhodes weaknesses again. Unbelievable.

Indeed.

Apparently Rhodes missed a simple chance at 2-1 now its not the reason we lost but again its fair to mention it

In some circles it seems you can't say anything against him even when he plays with a strike partner its always - 'Best was crap and Rhodes had no service', sometimes he has bad games and doesn't do enough it's quite simple

He hasn't been picked out as the main issue at weekend far more people have discussed errors made by Kean, Kane, Etuhu and Bowyer

[Howler]

Thoughts on the game:

Before Wililamson went off we were competitive in what was a dull match. After half time we attacked well for 20 minutes with King and Cairney temporarily looking like world beaters.

It wasn't a 3-0 game, we matched them for long periods but it is alarming that we can lose 3-0 to a very average team, even when we outplay them for periods. Shows a soft underbelly.

Etuhu was atrocious, but Kane had a chance to clear the ball before the penalty incident and was skinned by their attacker.

Judge buzzes about but just doesn't offer anything.

Rhodes, despite his obvious strenghs, could do with improving his all round play. I was disappointed at his lack of movement, especially when cairney and king were cutting in and looking for options. He is a great finisher but not above criticism. If I were Bowyer I would be tempted to rest him for the odd away game to keep him fresh and give us a plan B - he may just be tired and need a rest.

The minute's silence was impeccably observed.

[Parsonblue]

Apparently Rhodes missed a simple chance at 2-1 now its not the reason we lost but again its fair to mention it

In some circles it seems you can't say anything against him even when he plays with a strike partner its always - 'Best was crap and Rhodes had no service', sometimes he has bad games and doesn't do enough it's quite simple

He hasn't been picked out as the main issue at weekend far more people have discussed errors made by Kean, Kane, Etuhu and Bowyer

Rhodes missed a simple header when we were 1-0 down just before half-time. I don't have a problem with that. He was in the right place at the right time but fluffed the chance - strikers do, they don't all hit the target every time. My concerns about Rhodes, particularly in away games, are his inability to hold the ball, retain possession and bring others into the game. Of course these are not his strengths because he is a goal poacher who relies on service from others. However, we tend to play one up front and that means the lone striker has to be able to do more than wait for someone to create a chance or two for him. He has to be able to keep the ball, even under pressure, to retain possession and then feed the likes of King, Cairney, Dunn, or Judge etc. On Saturday he was static and Greer and Upson simply had an easy ride knowing that any ball played to Rhodes would end up in their possession - which it did. The one away game in which he has looked dangerous this season was at Bournemouth when Best had a decent game playing up alongside him as a target man.

However, I do agree with you that he is becoming a figure who seems to be above criticism to some. On Saturday Rhodes was shocking. He wasn't alone in that. There were a number of performances that left much to be desired. If rumours are to be believed the manager is looking for another striker so clearly he must think something is not working as it should.

Our away record is appalling and if we want to continue the illusion that we are play-off contenders we need to start winning matches away from home.

[thenodrog]

Potentially five goals in six games could mean 15 points. A recent manager of ours would probably have garnered a few points from such numbers (clue - he loves clean sheets).

Indeed.

Maybe a long time ago but that would be 16 points when I was at school.

No. Nobody is the finished article in any career in the world. Everyone can improve.

However I do think it's ridiculous to question a player that is quite clearly our best. He's one of the few left that would interest other clubs for a reason. I think when he does eventually leave, everyone will see just how much they've taken him for granted.

Maybe but he not only owes it to us who have paid 8m and are stumping up a reputed 40k pw for him to improve the weaker aspects of his game, he also owes it to his country and most of all to himself.

[Guest Wen Y Hu]

Parsonblue's match report is now published to the front page here.

[DE.]

Maybe a long time ago but that would be 16 points when I was at school.

Didn't really note the maths, more important is the overall conclusion that if we conceded less we'd have more points. The best managers build from the back - the 'you score one, we'll score two' mentality can be enjoyable but ultimately is almost always frutiless when it comes to winning trophies. I'm sick of us conceding goals left, right and centre and this is far more of a concern than our forward line.

[thenodrog]

I don't disagree..... but there is already a thread on Mr Kean.

[BRFC95]

Rhodes missed a simple header when we were 1-0 down just before half-time. I don't have a problem with that. He was in the right place at the right time but fluffed the chance - strikers do, they don't all hit the target every time. My concerns about Rhodes, particularly in away games, are his inability to hold the ball, retain possession and bring others into the game. Of course these are not his strengths because he is a goal poacher who relies on service from others. However, we tend to play one up front and that means the lone striker has to be able to do more than wait for someone to create a chance or two for him. He has to be able to keep the ball, even under pressure, to retain possession and then feed the likes of King, Cairney, Dunn, or Judge etc. On Saturday he was static and Greer and Upson simply had an easy ride knowing that any ball played to Rhodes would end up in their possession - which it did. The one away game in which he has looked dangerous this season was at Bournemouth when Best had a decent game playing up alongside him as a target man.

However, I do agree with you that he is becoming a figure who seems to be above criticism to some. On Saturday Rhodes was shocking. He wasn't alone in that. There were a number of performances that left much to be desired. If rumours are to be believed the manager is looking for another striker so clearly he must think something is not working as it should.

Our away record is appalling and if we want to continue the illusion that we are play-off contenders we need to start winning matches away from home.

So what would you suggest PB, we leave Rhodes at home when we play away? Who would your lone forward be?