[Archived] Rovers v Reading

[perthblue02]

Looking unlikely that getting promoted this season and a top 4 finish in the Prem next season is going to happen, so do you think our march into Europe in 2015 is going to come from winning the FA cup? or can you still get into Europe from the League cup ?(obviously not this season)

Wish Mrs D's script writer would let us know , want to book flights home

[Wing Wizard Windy Miller]

Rhodes was feckin poor today. Why wasn't he subbed and king put through the middle?

[West Yorks Rover]

Looking unlikely that getting promoted this season and a top 4 finish in the Prem next season is going to happen, so do you think our march into Europe in 2015 is going to come from winning the FA cup? or can you still get into Europe from the League cup ?(obviously not this season)

Wish Mrs D's script writer would let us know , want to book flights home

now listen hear Perthy !

No need for cynicism at this stage, I thought you'd be in bed down there anyway ?

[tomphil]

What is the best that can be gotten out of a team largely cobbled together from free transfers and loans? Worth remembering this was Dunn's first game back in a while, Rhodes was likely not 100% fit and we still have Rochina and eventually Evans to come back.

We'll finish around mid table this year and that's about right with the managerial staff and squad taken into account.

I know what your saying but even if everyone was fit i still feel he wouldn't know his best 11 or the right formation. I certainly don't want him sacked but in some areas it's jobs for the boys yet others get swapped around and changed. I just feel a bit more could be ringed out of this team even as it is.

[perthblue02]

now listen hear Perthy !

No need for cynicism at this stage, I thought you'd be in bed down there anyway ?

Least I can do is stay up and listen to radio Rovers to cap a miserable night, after enduring an evening match at Perth Glory

[tomphil]

Rhodes was feckin poor today. Why wasn't he subbed and king put through the middle?

Rhodes is jaded, needs a rest and a chance to freshen up and let his niggles heal. Perfect excuse for GB to rest him today and not get people on his back after his injury Ideal opportunity today to try something different but of course Best keans it up with his big mouth.

[Stuart]

Rovers well on top in the first half but couldn't break them down. Second half Adkins made changes and could have nicked it. Draw probably fair but what a dull and cold way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Kean's time-wasting - when we need a result - is going to win him no friends on the Riverside.

[West Yorks Rover]

Least I can do is stay up and listen to radio Rovers to cap a miserable night, after enduring an evening match at Perth Glory

Is that proper football ? sounds like they lost anyway !

[Leonard Venkhater]

Rhodes was feckin poor today. Why wasn't he subbed and king put through the middle?

Maybe that word is redundant?...tin hat?

[den]

What is the best that can be gotten out of a team largely cobbled together from free transfers and loans? Worth remembering this was Dunn's first game back in a while, Rhodes was likely not 100% fit and we still have Rochina and eventually Evans to come back.

We'll finish around mid table this year and that's about right with the managerial staff and squad taken into account.

That's what I said DE. unambitious managerial appointment, unambitious signings - all 13 of them - we needed quality not quantity. And don't get me started on £8m wasted.

[arbitro]

Some real limitations on and off the field today were clear to me. Why did Kean aim every ball to King? Reading sussed this out early on and just moved one of their centre backs across to win every ball that didn't go out of play. One three occasions we go in behind them and didn't beat the first man when (for once) we have players in the penalty area. We played the second half like the away team and at every Reading corner we had everybody back. I really think that if we had pushed King further forward and central we could have won the game. Far too negative and for me Bowyer carries the can for this.

I haven't felt as frustrated at Ewood for a long time and anybody who thinks we are going to be near the play-offs is dreaming.

[LDRover]

I'm tired of the negative way we're set up with 2 defensive midfielders and the way we retreat into our final third when the opposition have the ball.

There's nothing to fear in this league but the manager seems more intent on not losing rather than going out for the win. It's unforgivable,especially at home.

We should be pressing teams up the pitch and playing in their final third. As it is we're hoping King can sprint 50 metres to stretch the opposition before hopefully winning a corner or throw in.

[Blue blood]

Disappointing result today especially as though it sounds as if Reading were there for the taking. Bit surprised really, given the quality they have, but it seems as though we didn't take advantage of this at all.

Again, the result throws into question Bowyer's ability to have a plan B. These dropped points against teams that aren't playing well are killing us. 3 points (which wouldn't be too much of a stretch of imagination) against Hudds, Charlton and today would see us 7 points better off - in other words, in the play off places.

With hindsight I think moving Cairney to the 2 with either Williams or Lowe, and bringing on Taylor, switching King to the right, would have been a better move, and a bit earlier too. We sounded like we were in control, and could easily have done with a bit less bite for a bit more nous. As well as adding another wide player, Cairney is much better in the center, especially when playing that bit deeper, so it'd have been double the attacking impetus for one substitution.

Still I'm fairly happy with a point, if not the performance. Hopefully Bowyer and the team will learn from this, and a clean sheet and a point vs good opposition is not a bad day's work and will see us kick on to better performances.

However if this season really is promotion or bust, as it seems, then today is another worrying sign that bust is getting ever closer...

[Doug]

Well, that was a game we should have won. Reading got what they came for. We were much the better team but not many chances created. Kane had his best game as did Williamson. Kean had a steadier game but the tactic of always booting it towards King is wearing a tad thin!

Kean - Ok, but had very litle to do.

Kane - Much better

Hanley - MOM for me

Dann - Good

Spurr - good

King - quieter game, would prefer him on the right or up front.

Cairney - wasted on right, needs to be in middle, good player

Williamson - much better game

Dunn - excellent while he was on pitch - how we've missed him

Lowe - steady game

Rhodes - usual - didn't score so not much else

Overall a good performace just missing the goal that would have made Reading come out a bit.

[danger19_80]

Don't forget the absolute stonewall penalty for them second half after a lumbering challenge from Hanley. Somehow their lad got booked.

[Leonard Venkhater]

Uninspiring, disappointing...boring.

Having had a break from Rovers after THE Wigan game until last January, I have never really enjoyed the atmosphere again or the occasion. I keep wondering how I carried on watching so much s**** in the 70's.

It is like spending Saturday afternoon with a polythene bag over your head....Off to phone the Samaritans, but if they are sponsored by Venky's they'll be engaged...

[Stuart]

Rhodes was feckin poor today. Why wasn't he subbed and king put through the middle?

He was doing all that extra stuff today that the fans want him to do. He's coming deeper and wider, and creating space for all the "others" to take advantage of.

The fans have got what they wanted. Score less and do more of the ugly stuff. I can't understand why people aren't pleased?

Maybe it's because the 'others' are garbage at finishing? Or that every cross went straight into the arms of their keeper? Or because that means that he can't also contribute with his usual knack of being in the right place at the right time.

Time to revert to Plan A and just ask Rhodes to do what he is good at. Y'know, scoring goals.

The fact Dann was MoTM should tell a story of our lack of creativity. (Dunn excepted).

P.S. King through the middle is NOT a better option. His finishing is lousy.

[Willie Eckerslike]

Third depressing home match on the trot.

If it hadn't been for Lowes long range shot against Boro, that would also be three home matches without a goal and with seemingly no idea how to set up or change our team to counter an opposition out to frustrate us.

At least the Venkys had to suffer it with us ( or whoever it was in their seats).

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Still I'm fairly happy with a point, if not the performance.

With all due respect Blue blood this comment just highlights my real fear, the total dumbing down of fans expectations,the acceptance of medocrity...we really have fallen through the floor as a club.

[Wing Wizard Windy Miller]

He was doing all that extra stuff today that the fans want him to do. He's coming deeper and wider, and creating space for all the "others" to take advantage of.

The fans have got what they wanted. Score less and do more of the ugly stuff. I can't understand why people aren't pleased?

Maybe it's because the 'others' are garbage at finishing? Or that every cross went straight into the arms of their keeper? Or because that means that he can't also contribute with his usual knack of being in the right place at the right time.

Time to revert to Plan A and just ask Rhodes to do what he is good at. Y'know, scoring goals.

The fact Dann was MoTM should tell a story of our lack of creativity. (Dunn excepted).

P.S. King through the middle is NOT a better option. His finishing is lousy.

Can't say I saw Rhodes doing anything different to his last 3 home performances. He couldn't win a ball in the air and his first touch was awful. He made some token gestures at closing defenders down but I thought Dunn did more chasing and he's ten years older. Rhodes is an exceptionally limited player.

King's finishing may be wasteful but at least he moves the defenders around and forces them to drop deep. He aslo competes in the air better. The game needed changing and teams are handling Rhodes with ease at the moment.

[arbitro]

Does anybody know where Etuhu and Best were today?

[perthblue02]

Uninspiring, disappointing...boring.

Having had a break from Rovers after THE Wigan game until last January, I have never really enjoyed the atmosphere again or the occasion. I keep wondering how I carried on watching so much s**** in the 70's.

It is like spending Saturday afternoon with a polythene bag over your head....Off to phone the Samaritans, but if they are sponsored by Venky's they'll be engaged...

How do you spend a full afternoon with a polythene bag over your head ? I think your cheating and theres a gap somewhere, if not pretty impressive

Is that proper football ? sounds like they lost anyway !

yes and yes lost in last minute to gifted goal, certainly wouldn't pay to watch the other football here , might as well go in the city centre on sat night wait for a massive fight between thirty people and chuck an odd shaped ball in the middle of em watch it bounce around for a bit to see if one of em can kick it or pick it up.

[Ossydave]

Does anybody know where Etuhu and Best were today?

etuhu injured, best left out after his latest twitter antics

First half we should have bagged a few, well on top, mainly due to Dunny. Second half he got tired and we were less threatening. That's pretty much my take on it anyway.

[West Yorks Rover]

How do you spend a full afternoon with a polythene bag over your head ? I think your cheating and theres a gap somewhere, if not pretty impressive

yes and yes lost in last minute to gifted goal, certainly wouldn't pay to watch the other football here , might as well go in the city centre on sat night wait for a massive fight between thirty people and chuck an odd shaped ball in the middle of em watch it bounce around for a bit to see if one of em can kick it or pick it up.

Well you have to let let-off a bit of steam after all that sheep shearing.

[Tom]

He was doing all that extra stuff today that the fans want him to do. He's coming deeper and wider, and creating space for all the "others" to take advantage of.

The fans have got what they wanted. Score less and do more of the ugly stuff. I can't understand why people aren't pleased?

Maybe it's because the 'others' are garbage at finishing? Or that every cross went straight into the arms of their keeper? Or because that means that he can't also contribute with his usual knack of being in the right place at the right time.

Time to revert to Plan A and just ask Rhodes to do what he is good at. Y'know, scoring goals.

The fact Dann was MoTM should tell a story of our lack of creativity. (Dunn excepted).

P.S. King through the middle is NOT a better option. His finishing is lousy.

I would say he did all that he was just bad at what he did

Got put in two great positions at the byline and put in awful balls

He probably wasn't fit in which case the manager shouldn't have played him