[Archived] Rovers v Derby County: 25th January 2014, 3pm KO

[LDRover]

There's no point playing 2 DMs when all either of them do is drop deep and mark space. How often did either of them get close to Will Hughes - he ran the game when he came on.

We need a couple of proper midfielders who actually want the ball and accept responsibility not actively shirk it. They're bottlers.

As for the substitution of Gestede, well words fail me.

Bowyer has a lot to answer for tonight.

[Leonard Venkhater]

2 points sacrificed on the alter of 4-4-2. Bowyer should have swapped a striker for Dunn 15 minutes before he put Kane on.

Yep. Outcome soooo predictable...

[West Yorks Rover]

He must be saving Dunny for the dingles !

Bowyer's after match interview is very Keanesque !

[rovers11]

Disappointing in the end but not a bad result. They have one of the best away records and have scored the highest amount of away goals. Bamford is a very special player who will easily be a prem player next year.

Three out of the four midfielders today are not good enough for a top 6 finish - Taylor, Lowe and Williamson. Need to get Evans, King and Dabo in the midfield. Also need two new wingers now with Marshall out for a few months.

Only 3 points off so still in the mix. Even if Brighton win their game in hand and Wigan win both their games in hand we'll still only be 4 points off so we are not in a bad position and one I'd have taken at the start of the season.

I know many are complaining about Williamson replacing Marshall but I can see the logic behind it. Dunn doesn't have the legs to play in midfield so he wouldn't track back. Olsson is hopeless and Mahoney is a little to young and inexperienced to play for the length of time, he's more of an impact sub right now.

[West Yorks Rover]

Disappointing in the end but not a bad result. They have one of the best away records and have scored the highest amount of away goals. Bamford is a very special player who will easily be a prem player next year.

Three out of the four midfielders today are not good enough for a top 6 finish - Taylor, Lowe and Williamson. Need to get Evans, King and Dabo in the midfield. Also need two new wingers now with Marshall out for a few months.

Only 3 points off so still in the mix. Even if Brighton win their game in hand and Wigan win both their games in hand we'll still only be 4 points off so we are not in a bad position and one I'd have taken at the start of the season.

I know many are complaining about Williamson replacing Marshall but I can see the logic behind it. Dunn doesn't have the legs to play in midfield so he wouldn't track back. Olsson is hopeless and Mahoney is a little to young and inexperienced to play for the length of time, he's more of an impact sub right now.

And you really think Bowyer is going to drop Lowe, for any of these ?

Lowe and Williamson wouldn't get into Barnsley's team ! that is the reason we struggle in almost every game

even when we win.

3/4th division players at best.

[Stuart]

And you really think Bowyer is going to drop Lowe, for any of these ?

Ooh, I know this one.

The correct answer is: no.

[LDRover]

2 points sacrificed on the alter of 4-4-2. Bowyer should have swapped a striker for Dunn 15 minutes before he put Kane on.

But we conceded when we went 4-5-1?

[rovers11]

And you really think Bowyer is going to drop Lowe, for any of these ?

He has to. If we have Evans or Dabo on the bench for Lowe then it will be very poor decision making from GB. I could see Bowyer saying `Lowe needed a rest` or something like that. Central midfield is a real weak link with Williamson and Lowe so they have to be replaced.

But we conceded when we went 4-5-1?

It's very easy to say that Dunn should have been brought on but would that have solved our problem? Derby were targeting Cairney on the right as they knew he wasn't at his best when defending. We brought on Kane to give Henley some defensive support. How would Dunn have helped that problem?!

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

And you really think Bowyer is going to drop Lowe, for any of these ?

Lowe and Williamson wouldn't get into Barnsley's team ! that is the reason we struggle in almost every game

even when we win.

3/4th division players at best.

You've hit the nail on the head there.

[Cherry Blue]

I think GB could be under severe pressure if we lose at Oakwell on Tuesday, if promotion is really the target this

season, that is !

Promotion is not going to happen. We are not a strong team anf the negative tactics by GB doesn't give players confidence.

[USABlue]

He must be saving Dunny for the dingles !

Bowyer's after match interview is very Keanesque !

Also very keanesque is players backing off and sitting back. I had great faith in Mr Bowyer early doors but his stubbornness is starting to make me lose that faith. I feel we are capable of more than Bowyer is getting out of us right now. I don't know if he has a master plan but he had better tip his hand if he does.

[West Yorks Rover]

He has to. If we have Evans or Dabo on the bench for Lowe then it will be very poor decision making from GB. I could see Bowyer saying `Lowe needed a rest` or something like that. Central midfield is a real weak link with Williamson and Lowe so they have to be replaced.

It's very easy to say that Dunn should have been brought on but would that have solved our problem? Derby were targeting Cairney on the right as they knew he wasn't at his best when defending. We brought on Kane to give Henley some defensive support. How would Dunn have helped that problem?!

But he won't and it will probably cost him his job, we can't afford to carry passengers, who are simply not good enough at this level.

[Stuart]

He has to. If we have Evans or Dabo on the bench for Lowe then it will be very poor decision making from GB. I could see Bowyer saying `Lowe needed a rest` or something like that. Central midfield is a real weak link with Williamson and Lowe so they have to be replaced.

You are in denial, rover11.

A fit Lowe will be first on Bowyer's team sheet every match. I actually thought he was being pretty positive until Marshall went off. I had been glad to see Bowyer drop one of the gruesome twosome but was very disappointed when Bowyer reverted to type rather than trying to replace Marshall like-for-like. I guess Josh Morris is way down the pecking order.

[CapeTownRover]

well here i go again, i really like Bowyer, and he has done well to steady the ship. However, im now sick and tired of this negativity, and once again his tactics and substitutions have cost us 3 points. why the hell does he persist with Lowe and Williamson, in fact, why does he persist with Lowe. i would love to know from Bowyer, what Lowe has done, to be one of the 1st names on the team sheet.

[Hasta]

Too manu people saying a draw is a good result because Dery are a good team. If (big if) we got in the play offs we have to be beating teams like this.

IMO they looked a marginally better side, we took the lead but became negative and the inevitable happened. If there was a 2nd leg it would be crisis point on here.

[Tom]

By the way the authorities need to look into that keeper at half time

Sure he let the first two in on purpose

[rovers11]

You are in denial, rover11.

A fit Lowe will be first on Bowyer's team sheet every match. I actually thought he was being pretty positive until Marshall went off. I had been glad to see Bowyer drop one of the gruesome twosome but was very disappointed when Bowyer reverted to type rather than trying to replace Marshall like-for-like. I guess Josh Morris is way down the pecking order.

We'll see but I'm not sure he's had much choice but to play Lowe this season. Etuhu and Evans have constantly been injured and Williamson has been injured/poor. Evans and Cairney are more attack minded CM players and not really sitting defensive midfielders. Etuhu and Willaimson are sitting midfielders but are poor/injury prone.

Dabo is a defensive midfielder I think which will put pressure on Lowe as it will be either Dabo or Lowe that partners Evans.

[Husky]

One word to sum up the game; Acceptable.

Could have got away with a 1 niller and everything would have been hunky dory. Reminded me of the Doncaster game really - but Derby had much more class and so managed to get their equaliser and then were trying to push on for a win, which they could easily have got. A draw was probably a fair result.

Seemed to all go tits up after Gestede was subbed. He wins a lot in the air - some good flicks - most of them seemd to be wasted though. I can't help thinking he'd be better playing with a striker with some pace - Rhodes is a finisher - not really one to latch on to flick on with pace. Or perhaps an attacking midfielder playing in the hole. Rochinaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, lol.

I don't know if anyone else noticed this, but (goal aside) the first 10 mnutes of the second half just seemed like a Paul Robinson kicking exercise.

Our set pieces are awful too - extra training ground practice needed.

What else can i say, it was just the "usual" home performace I guess (far from great). Nothing much in it and an aceptable result against a team above us in the league. Need to win the next 2 games though (don't we always, lol). I think most of us would probably have accepted 7 points from 9.

It's hard to see how things can change unless we make a magic signing in the transfer window. Any news on Ben Marshall; he was down for a while.

[D-side17]

You are in denial, rover11.

A fit Lowe will be first on Bowyer's team sheet every match. I actually thought he was being pretty positive until Marshall went off. I had been glad to see Bowyer drop one of the gruesome twosome but was very disappointed when Bowyer reverted to type rather than trying to replace Marshall like-for-like.

I'm afraid that you're bang on there Stuart. An acquaintance of mine spoke to Bowyer recently and Bowyer actually told him that Lowe is the first name on his team sheet.

[Waggy76]

Dire 1st half , then we score a good goal , that should have seen us in the ascendency but like the Doncaster game , the reverse happenend ..

Bowyer is far far too negative in a poor league ...

For gods sake attack the opposition..

[cn174]

You are in denial, rover11.

A fit Lowe will be first on Bowyer's team sheet every match. I actually thought he was being pretty positive until Marshall went off. I had been glad to see Bowyer drop one of the gruesome twosome but was very disappointed when Bowyer reverted to type rather than trying to replace Marshall like-for-like. I guess Josh Morris is way down the pecking order.

Well I don't thnk Morris would bring anything, but I dont see why we couldn't have put Dunn on for as long as he could manage and then subbed him off for Williamson if necessary. I dont like either Lowe or Williamson, but I especially dont understand what Williamson brings to the team at all. Lowe does actually run aound (tho doesnt achieve much) but WIlliamson just does nowt.

Need to get somat at Barnsley now

[Proudtobeblue&white]

My take, having been, was that he started positively by dropping Williamson, and Marshall's departure was unfortunate. Derby weren't dominating at that point, so why not put Cairney inside with Lowe and bring Kane on at right midfield. Statement of intent. But seems Marshall's departure gave GB his chance to regress to type.

When we went one up, we closed shop, he was lucky against Donny, but DC are a bit better, and we invited pressure, and time after time we have shown L&W aren't good enough to see games out, let alone help win them. Dunn should have come on to give Derby something to think about. Missed opportunity to gain ground, GB - Dingles will love that outcome!

[rovers11]

Too manu people saying a draw is a good result because Dery are a good team. If (big if) we got in the play offs we have to be beating teams like this.

IMO they looked a marginally better side, we took the lead but became negative and the inevitable happened. If there was a 2nd leg it would be crisis point on here.

That's the thing though, Hasta, we are not a top 6 side so a draw against Derby is a decent result. We are a few players short of being top 6. Are Lowe, Taylor and Willaimson top 6? No. They are good squad players but not regular starters.

If we had our full team out I'd say we are top 6: Evans, Cairney, Marshall, King, Dabo (?) are top 6 midfield calibre.

[Doug]

Crikey, what a poor show. Ok until the Marshal injury but then the 'dead weight' was introduced. How poor was our midfield today!!

They cannot track a player, cover their runs, help out the full backs, hold the ball.....the list is endless!

Cairneys worst game, he left Henley marking two almost every time. We were lucky to get a point in the end.

Subs were sooooo poor, Marshalls replacement (I can't bring myself to mention his name now), is woefull! Why take Gestede off when Rhodes was having such an indiferent game? Thought Robbo was decent, Hanley ok, Spurr beginning to worry with his poor positioning when they were attacking, can't warm to Killy, Cairney central PLEASE!!.

Sorry if thats a tad negative, just got home and need to vent the old spleen!!

Onward and ........?

[Stuart]

Dabo is a defensive midfielder I think which will put pressure on Lowe as it will be either Dabo or Lowe that partners Evans.

Don't remember Evans being all that attacking. Why not Evans and Cairney?

Well I don't thnk Morris would bring anything, but I dont see why we couldn't have put Dunn on for as long as he could manage and then subbed him off for Williamson if necessary. I dont like either Lowe or Williamson, but I especially dont understand what Williamson brings to the team at all. Lowe does actually run aound (tho doesnt achieve much) but WIlliamson just does nowt.

Need to get somat at Barnsley now

Probably too much of the game left for Dunn. I'm not sure you should ever plan to sub a sub in advance.