[Archived] Rovers v Reading

[FGS5635]

Just back from the game. In isolation todays game wasnt to bad I guess, we created enough to win the game. That said it followed the same pattern as all our recent home games and bowyer needs to change something. Playing lowe and williamson with cairney right is just stupid. Just get cairney in the middle ffs.

King needs to switch to the right side. I cant understand someone who's played so many games on the left wing like he has is still so shockingly inept at using his left foot.

Dunn looked decent consiering he's been out a while.

The subs where baffling from bowyer

Rhodes was poor again, but in his defence he gets nothing from king and nothing from cairney wide right. A few times today he made decent runs only for the ball to not come his way. That said his touch and general effort today where poor

All in all Bowyer needs to find a better formula and quick because his honeymoon period is running out

oh and ruben tweeted earlier in the week that he was changing boot manufacturer and posted a lovely pic of his new boots. Well he needs to burn em or send em back becasue he couldnt stay on his feet. Shocking

[Leonard Venkhater]

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

I was so relieved to read the last word!

[Stuart]

Dunn did more chasing and he's ten years older.

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.

It's not fair to criticise Rhodes because he isn't a creative midfielder.

It seems as though we are going to have to go through this debate after every match that he doesn't score at least 2 in - until he leaves.

Some folk seem to be hoping the latter comes sooner than the former.

The midfielders really need to start pulling their weight but while Rhodes is taking all the blame, why should they.

On a side more, fan's favourite Lowe was virtually anonymous today. I was surprised when they gave Dann the man of the match.

[Amo]

Playing lowe and williamson with cairney right is just stupid. Just get cairney in the middle ffs.

It is funny how the manager can't see what's blindingly obvious, but then this seems to happen with every manager at some stage or another. Somehow, we fans (even the ones who don't attend ) always know best. Wasn't Cairney's first game as right-winger away at Bournemouth (where we won 3-1)? I can't remember if we won that game because Cairney was on the wing or in spite of it.

[FGS5635]

It is funny how the manager can't see what's blindingly obvious, but then this seems to happen with every manager at some stage or another. Somehow, we fans (even the ones who don't attend ) always know best. Wasn't Cairney's first game as right-winger away at Bournemouth (where we won 3-1)? I can't remember if we won that game because Cairney was on the wing or in spite of it.

I cant see him getting a game in the middle now really. Evans will back in a few weeks and then it gets even more congested for a game in there.

Trouble is it impacts us two fold playing him wide right as he naturally drifts inside thus giving us no width and making it even more congested in centre mid. If he must play wide then swap him and king. At least cairney can wip a dangerous cross or 2 in for rhodes if he gets it wide left in final third.

[Paul Mellelieu]

A decent manager with average players can do better than a poor manager with good players. Or something like that.

I can't see how Bowyer can get us close to top. Nice fella and all that, but I'm not convinced he's the best we can get.

[Dunnfc]

Not too disappointed, Reading are a great team with some great players and obviously have just come down from the PL with largely the mainstay of their squad intact. McCarthy saved a few times and is one day going to be playing in the PL, you look at there full backs and they have allot of experience in align with Baird too. Guthrie, Pogrebnyak and Le Fondre would all walk into our team asleep.

Sometimes in these games you need to nick a goal of your arse and unfortunately we didn't get that luck today but we dominated largely in spells and thats encouraging to see especially as the last few years we've gone onto the pitch with our heads already down. 6 Points off the playoffs and 16 games played, not bad considering in games we could have got allot more from and the view of some of our fans at the start of the season.

I would however look to refresh the squad abit for the next couple of games:

Kean

Dann Hanley Killa

Henley Spurr

Dunn Cairney

King Rochina

Rhodes

[Sparky Marky]

Not too disappointed, Reading are a great team with some great players

WTF? Reading were carp and really so were we....two very average teams ....

[West Yorks Rover]

Looking at our next 3 games ( Leeds home, Ipswich away, QPR away, ) It's hard to see where our next points will come

from, our away record has not improved under Bowyer and it seems we can no longer rely on our home form ( whoever

we play) Leeds are on a bit of a roll too and they will be coming for a win.

I know strange results happen in this league, but it ain't looking good folks, 3 defeats and the pressure will really be on.

[FGS5635]

WTF? Reading were carp and really so were we....two very average teams ....

yeah I was quite suprised how poor reading looked. On paper they have a decent side at this level, top 6 and a good manager. Thats what makes today frustrating as it was a game we could have and should have won

[Wing Wizard Windy Miller]

It's not fair to criticise Rhodes because he isn't a creative midfielder.

No he isn't - he's a striker playing the lone role and clearly isn't capable of it. To be fair to the lad, that's not his fault, the buck stops with Bowyer who keeps picking him for it.

Bowyer also needs to get Cairney in the middle pronto. What was the point in bringing in wingers during summer only to stick Cairney out there.

[Proudtobeblue&white]

Leeds are playing well, difficult game next Sat, then two tricky away days at Ipswich & QPR....three winnable home games in Dec, but we have no momentum. Not sorry I missed today, but hope we put up a good show next Sat. Until GB, the club solve the JR riddle, by Dunny/Rochina or another helping him, or loaning/buying in Jan, we are mid-table fodder.

[Doug]

Did they announce the attendance today? Looked very low from where I was sat.

[RussP]

Did they announce the attendance today? Looked very low from where I was sat.

12,903 with 450 from Reading

[FGS5635]

Did they announce the attendance today? Looked very low from where I was sat.

12.5k according to rovers twitter account

[West Yorks Rover]

Did they announce the attendance today? Looked very low from where I was sat.

12,903, chap on Talksport gave it on his HT report , he was rather surprised to have it so early, said there's nothing wrong with their accounting,

meaning Rovers.

You could'nt make it up ! could you ?

[adsfortheblues]

12,903, chap on Talksport gave it on his HT report , he was rather surprised to have it so early, said there's nothing wrong with their accounting,

meaning Rovers.

You could'nt make it up ! could you ?

Oh you could......

Bowyer does find it very difficult, when opposition managers either change tactics or make subs. Of the games we've won, 2 of them Watford and boro, we went 1 up and really had to hold on and were lucky to come away with the wins (hard fought yes, but lucky). Another 2 in Bolton and Bournemouth, this was the best evidence of what it's like playing under bowyer, in both games, we completely rolled over the opposition and didn't give them chance to come back into the game, therefore they didnt have chance to change things around, as we had already won both these games, this seems to be what we have to do under Bowyer, but as we know, you can't do that every game.

[Doug]

12,903 with 450 from Reading

12.5k according to rovers twitter account

Cheers, there must have been a lot in the BBE lower then, that's the only part I couldn't see.

[Stuart]

12.9k I think

[Waggy76]

WTF? Reading were carp and really so were we....two very average teams ....

Thats how , I saw it too

[Waggy76]

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...

In the 70s and 80s we all pulled together , Chairman , Manager and fans ..

We now have owners who just do not give a flying , haven;t had a manager for 3 years ,,,Is it any wonder the fans feel like we do ?

Why are there 100 guests viewing the messageboard ??

[Sparky Marky]

Why are there 100 guests viewing the messageboard ??

Probably members who can't be arsed loggin in....

[Stuart]

Thats how , I saw it too

I was surprised how bad Reading were. They even brought on, Rovers reject, Nick Blackman at one point!

[rovers11]

Decent result today, would have taken that before the game. A lack of goals is a worry but hopefully that will be rectified with the return of rochina, Dunn, DJ and new striker. Gestede is good so hopefully we can get him.

Looking at the positives, we are looking solid at home; only conceded one in last 3. Also in the middle of a tough set of games: Blackpool away, Brighton away, reading at home, Leeds at home and QPR away are all tough games. We have slightly easier games after the qpr game.

We are too defensive at home for my liking. Don't know why we play two holding midfielder in Lowe and Williamson. It should be one or the other alongside cairney with either Taylor or Marshall out wide. Evans is a more all round midfielder so he should add more attacking impetus when he's back. We've really missed Evans, such a key player.

[neophox]

I Think to have Dunn and Rochina back is a massive boost.

It will kick some of our players arses to start perform....

Maybe time to rest Rhodes against Leeds and start with Dunn and Rochina.

I would try this:

.....................Kean

Kane......Dann.....Hanley.....Spurr

....Williamsson...Lowe...Cairney.....

.....Dunn, Rochina, King..........

.4-3-3 at home....