[Archived] Barnsley v Rovers Tuesday 28/01 19.45

[chaddyrovers]

great goal by Cairney.

[Parsonblue]

Pound to a piece of s**t Bowyer bleats about it again

Concentrate on the real problems Bowyer

Did you think the ref did well tonight? What did you make of the challenge on Rhodes in the opening minutes? Was that not a penalty? Where you actually at the match or just another WUM?

[Tom]

Calmed down from the heat of the moment (if following a game on twitter counts as 'the moment')

Still feel in any circumstances it's a really poor result

Knowing us we'll beat Blackpool comfortably and start hoping again then get beat the week after and the cycle continues

I hope we have time to build, I hope the plug isn't pulled, I hope that hoping is enough!

[SoldierMo]

I absolutly respect bowyer and for the job his done and for the squad his building....i would love for him to stay and get promotion wether this season or next...the reason i get frustrated is his tactics and team selection will end up costing him his job and will go back to square one...he really needs to stop fearing teams and let the shackles off the players

[Neal]

I don't get to many matches, but sadly I made this one. I have mostly turned a blind eye to the many comments about GBs tactical negativity, but having now seen it first hand, it is rather shocking. I am a huge fan of GB and still maintain that he has performed miracles, albeit mostly off the pitch. He seems honest and genuine and because of this, my pride in my team has slowly started to return after 3 years of shame. However, on the pitch it is not quite right. I know losing Marshall is a blow, but I struggled to understand the starting tactics today. Both wide men spent most of the time in the middle leaving the full backs horribly exposed. Indeed, our repeated inability to stop crosses coming in cost us in the end. The full backs had clearly been told not to advance up the field and because of this we really lacked width. Having said that, at times in the 1st half we played some good stuff through the middle with Cairney and Dunn pulling the strings. We scored two lovely goals and created several other decent chances. This makes the result even more galling. Sloppy defending, poor concentration and not stopping crosses coming in meant that despite our dominance in the 1st half, Barnsley looked like scoring when they advanced and that is exactly what happened.

We were so much better than Barnsley in the first half, they were terrible and we passed rings around them. How we did not beat that team is criminal. They are bottom of the league for a reason and they looked every bit that bad. Why on God's green earth did we just give up attacking in the second half? This must be the negatively that has been lamented ad nauseam. We literally threw in the towel and sat back. Our passing was poor and the front men were completely isolated. Dunn and Cairney tired and Lowe and Williamson just gave the ball away to end any possession we tried to establish. Im not sure whether this negativity was a directive from GB or whether our better players tired, but its just not acceptable against a team this poor. With this negative style Im not sure we'd have beaten Whitehawk FC as we just invited pressure until the inevitable occurred. Im not sure if it was a penalty, but they would probably have scored by other means had it not been awarded. Then frustratingly we tried to attack again when the game was 2-2, but this time with less guile. Overall its just incredibly frustrating that we are clearly far superior to the opposition but failed to win. Most damning is that despite our obvious superiority in terms of ability, they deserved their point.

GB is doing so well to stabilise the club from the shambolic mismanagement of recent years, but it would seem he has much to learn on the management front and I for one hope he succeeds!

Great post. Many of the same feelings as I have had in previous months but unfortunately my patience with Bowyer is wearing thin. Everyone talking about "building a team for the future"... That should be the core of any football club but football is about trying to win your next game. I certainly don't want to use Burnley as an example but is Sean Dyche building a team for the future? No, he's building a team that can win games now and look at what he's spent! Mr Bowyer is underachieving. Most fans on here are using our previous 3 years as an excuse for accepting mediocrity and there is no place for mediocrity in football unless you're in the Premier League. Times are different now & I'm certainly not one for living in the past but seeing as Gary Bowyer is putting up pictures of our highest achievements around the corridors of Blackburn Rovers, perhaps he should remember one thing...

This is the club that Jack built... Dare to dream.

[SoldierMo]

I would also like to apologise for my bowyer comments tonight i respect him for what hes done...he has brought my love back for the team...numpty keane days seems far away in memory...i just got too frustrated with the result and 2nd half performance and really do want him to stick around and carry on building the team as he seems to have the right idea...roll on the donkey lashers

[CapeTownRover]

its okay to say things have quietened down behind the scenes, and that things are looking a bit better. however, when you try and justify the recent results by using the "things are alot better" line, then im afraid those fans should rather go and find a seat and watch Shaw and Venkys in action. no doubt Bowyer has managed to calm things down, but alot of fans are beginning to feel a bit irritated by his tactics and team selection. as a man Bowyer seems like a fanatastic guy, but as a manager he clearly looks out of his depth. i think its no use sacking him now, but if we are still in business, and still have the core of this squad, then its vital that we find a real manager who can make proactive decisions rather than reactive ones. if the average fan can see an issue with the team selections, and more importantly the Lowe and Williamson ones, then why is it so hard for Bowyer to recognise that those 2 are not right to start? for a young team like this, there seems to be no desire, no commitment from some of them, and just no sense of urgency. one of the key aspects of a good manager, is that he is able to motivate players on a regular basis.

[Rover_Shaun]

Did you think the ref did well tonight? What did you make of the challenge on Rhodes in the opening minutes? Was that not a penalty? Where you actually at the match or just another WUM?

Here we go again. Another lazy member throwing WUM around just because someone has the temerity to offer a differing point of view.

We lacked passion and that cannot be denied so put your REAL wumming back in its box. (yes yours WAS A WIND UP MERCHANT POST)

I stayed at home (why on earth anyone would travel and pay to watch these undeserving lot) but I did listen to excellent commentary from Radio Lancs and from that can garner a great deal of information as to what went on and what the performance was like. Unless David Thompson is also a WUM because he also had the nerve to disagree with you and some of the conclusions he came to about the side, their passion and application were fairly depressing.

Unless we are once again going down the narrow minded avenue of fan v fan, that some liked to foster during the Kean era, and that only those who go to games can comment. Heaven help those who are overseas or live a long long way from matches in the new 'attending fan only' gestapo messagboard regime

It was painfully obvious that Bowyer was going to bleat like a little bitch again once they got a penalty. He's going to do an even more embarrassing Rafa "facts" rant soon.

I'd much rather he ditched the 'keaneque' rantings and gave an honest assessment for once. We lacked passion and drive again and he needs to start to concentrate on addressing that, a well as his perceived tactical blind spots, instead of taking the Kean way and blaming everyone else

[OJRovers]

Been to Oakwell once before but not to see Rovers. Like most stadiums with "new" stands it's completely sparse inside. I think we forget how luxurious Ewood still is!

I'm going with my Barnsley-supporting mate so I'll be in the home area for this one.

I reckon another draw is on the cards: 2-2.

Mystic meg!

Anyone see the penalty shouts bowyer is talking about?

[ABBEY]

Williamson injured? GET IN

WOW..IS THIS WHAT THIS BOARD HAS BECOME.

[Rover_Shaun]

I think fitness and psychology must be factors. On paper it didn't sound like a negative team selection from Bowyer. Worryingly, Thomson used terms like arrogance, sloppy,unprofessional and lack of desire.in the 2nd half.

I noticed that too. Never like hearing it said of Rovers. I just hope Thommo was over reacting.

[OJRovers]

Until Bowyer picks Lowe/Williamson ahead of a fit Evans and Cairney I won't criticise him because he's not got a lot of options with the injuries we've had. But we need to learn how to see out a game when we're winning.

[adsfortheblues]

So because Bowyer makes mistakes we should all demand that he is sacked?

You're completely missing the point of my post. I have said myself that Bowyer has a long way to go. I appreciate that seeing Lowe and Williamson together is frustrating. I say the same thing myself, and I constantly get frustrated by decisions or selections etc. What I object to is this frankly embarrassing demand to sack the man.

Could you explain to me why anyone would want to sack Bowyer and allow Venkys to begin a new managerial search? Or perhaps even explain to me why some fans feel it is appropriate to call him a 'tw4t', or compare him to that slimy backstabbing worm Kean?

He's a good man with the best intentions for Blackburn Rovers and the changes I have seen in this club, both on and off the field, has been enough for him to earn my respect. It's not his fault that the club has been, and still is a complete shambles at board level and above and is heading towards financial meltdown.

Vent all you like Dan. Stab in the dark but I expect you probably did the same when Allardyce was in charge. The grass isn't always greener.

He will be earnig a damned sight more than most on here. Anyway who's asking for him to be sacked? I haven't seen one post saying "Sack Him".

Secondly, okay people don't know how much he's earning, but the same goes for you, me an everybody else, when people harp on about the "financial plight", yet nobody has a feckin clue about this supposed financial plight. Therefore nobody can really comment on that, if that's the kind of route we are going down (e.g. Only comment if you have facts, i.e. His wages comments).

Also, as someone else has said, I for one, am not willing to sit back and accept rubbish, just because people think we should be grateful after the Kean saga.

Therefore to sum up:-

Financial Plight - Nobody has a feckin clue, and if the owners are willing to continue to fund then end of. And if they are making cuts then GOOD, there is a lot of unecessary outgoings (okay a lot down to them, but at least they are shredding that now).

Manager - No Plan B, Tactics astonishing at times. I for one am not asking for his head, predicted 10th-12th and we will probably be there or there abouts. However I will still rant and moan if I don't feel his decisions etc are right.

Progress - Okay off the field there has been improvements, but again, I don't care, I just care about match days and winning games. Then onto next season, people are saying progress will continue, okay, let's hope it does. However, Rhodes will be gone, we all know that, so that's a good 60% of our goals wiped out in one, therefore I can only see a similar if not less succesful season, which leads me to believe we will be in this division for a long time, and even though I expect that, again, I will still moan and rant if I think we have played @#/?.

WOW..IS THIS WHAT THIS BOARD HAS BECOME.

Yes he's @#/?, he's not seriously hurt, therefore if it means I don't have to see him in a rovers shirt again, because his replacement actually performs like a footballer, then good.

[thenodrog]

Pace is often overstated.

.

Not when you are lacking in it and up against somebody with pace to burn.

As for tugay the first 2 yards were in his head.

[Parsonblue]

Here we go again. Another lazy member throwing WUM around just because someone has the temerity to offer a differing point of view.

We lacked passion and that cannot be denied so put your REAL wumming back in its box. (yes yours WAS A WIND UP MERCHANT POST)

I stayed at home (why on earth anyone would travel and pay to watch these undeserving lot) but I did listen to excellent commentary from Radio Lancs and from that can garner a great deal of information as to what went on and what the performance was like. Unless David Thompson is also a WUM because he also had the nerve to disagree with you and some of the conclusions he came to about the side, their passion and application were fairly depressing.

Unless we are once again going down the narrow minded avenue of fan v fan, that some liked to foster during the Kean era, and that only those who go to games can comment. Heaven help those who are overseas or live a long long way from matches in the new 'attending fan only' gestapo messagboard regime

It was painfully obvious that Bowyer was going to bleat like a little bitch again once they got a penalty. He's going to do an even more embarrassing Rafa "facts" rant soon.

I'd much rather he ditched the 'keaneque' rantings and gave an honest assessment for once. We lacked passion and drive again and he needs to start to concentrate on addressing that, a well as his perceived tactical blind spots, instead of taking the Kean way and blaming everyone else

So did your radio commentary not mention the penalty we should have had in the opening minute or were you making a cup of tea at that point and missed it. They are a young side that will have ups and downs, as they did in this game. The first half they played some decent stuff. In the second they lost their way, particularly after Williamson was injured. Sadly, the negativity of some fans it getting pretty boring now. Of course the players and manager will make mistakes they are young and learning. Supporting means sticking with a club through good times and bad and not just turning up when we are winning. Unfortunately, there are a generation of fans who have grown up believing that Jack Walker/Walker Trust is the norm at Blackburn. A glance at the club's history will show you it isn't. We have had tough times before and we will have tough times again but you stick with the so called "undeserving lot" because that's what supporters do.

[JonnyBRFC]

Didn't go to the game. Sounds like a frustrating one. Hopefully Evans is back soon as he could really be a bit of a 'missing link' for us.

Friends who went to the game say Williamson played well, not sure celebrating a players injury is the right thing to do.

All in all shows what we have been all season, inconsistent. Everyone was saying we won't make the playoffs and yet after a disappointing result people are calling for Bowyers head? Crackers.

Am I right in saying we play a lot of the teams in the top 6-10 position shortly. Key run of games, never know what might happen.

[broadsword]

At least when we had tough times before they weren't self-inflicted.

That's what we have now, which is where I think the frustration comes from. And from the frustration comes negativity.

[Parsonblue]

This is the club that Jack built... Dare to dream.

Actually this is the club that John Lewis and Arthur Constantine built over 100 years before Jack took control. Some seem to think that Blackburn Rovers started in 1991 for some reason. Jack did what Lawrence Cotton did before him and probably, hopefully, at some distant point in the future some other supporter with sufficient cash will be able to do again. In between those times life has its up's and down's.

[Rover_Shaun]

At least when we had tough times before they weren't self-inflicted.

That's what we have now, which is where I think the frustration comes from. And from the frustration comes negativity.

This ^

[ABBEY]

So did your radio commentary not mention the penalty we should have had in the opening minute or were you making a cup of tea at that point and missed it.

Cmon Parson your better than that. Didnt know you was snidy . As for members popping at the negative brigade ,I say its more the realistic brigade.

[Parsonblue]

Cmon Parson your better than that. Didnt know you was snidy . As for members popping at the negative brigade ,I say its more the realistic brigade.

Apologies Abbey, but I'm afraid the negativity is beginning to get to me. We have a young manager with a young team trying to restore a bit of pride after the last three years. Of course they will make mistakes, of course they are going to be inconsistent. If these players were the cream of the crop they wouldn't be here. They are decent, honest professionals who have flaws in their game which the coaching staff are trying to improve. The manager will make mistakes, it's his first job after all. It takes time and yet all we get is more and more criticism. Of course things aren't great off the pitch but the least we can do it support those on it and those trying to restore a bit of order about the place. You and I both know, from bitter experience, that supporting a club like the Rovers is no bed of roses. It's the tough times that make the successful times all the sweeter. Something which those supporting the likes of Utd., Arsenal etc. will never appreciate.

[roversR4ever]

My perspective.

Bowyer has been in the job properly for just over half a season. No one could argue that he was facing a huge rebuilding job.

We look more solid than last season.

Ok there is an obvious issue central mid.

1. Wiliamson and Lowe don't really compliment each other that well.

Often they get pulled deeper as the game goes on and that does cause us issues. A lot of fans want Cairney in the middle. I can understand why but something that does worry me slightly is Cairney fades later in a game, now whether that's because Lowe and Williamson get pulled deeper or whether because he fades we keep even less of the ball and that encourages Lowe and Williamson to drop I don't know. Also there is no doubt that we rely a lot on Cairney to get involved to help keep possession because of the lack of ability on the ball with Lowe and Williamson.

I honestly believe that Bowyer probably recognises this issue. Look at it another way - he signed Evans who he would play in that position - in fact when he was playing we probably looked the most convincing in central mid. Unfortunately he lost him through a bad injury. I do think he believes at the moment that Cairney plays well in the role he is in, you could argue he has done better in that position/role than anyone else in the squad. The loan signing of Dabo probably indicates Bowyer is not happy with the Lowe Williamson combination. The return of a fit Evans changes things dramatically as well.

Now the other issue is that he is trimming the squad dramatically. Now because of what Venkys have done to us we have absolutely no choice - it just isn't sustainable. Most of the players he is moving out most fans would be happy about. Look at it another way one of the biggest wages earners but hasn't contributed is a CM player - who seems to be constantly injured. The only issue is that it is leaving us with a smaller squad obviously. The bench the last game gives a good indication of it. Now he has been unfortunate in losing Marshall just as he released one or two others on loan. A lot of the players he is getting rid of were on large wages and not contributing - certainly not to the level of the wages.

Unfortunately I do believe we have to give him time - just over half a season isn't exactly a lot time in my view. When you consider the mess we were in. To my mind he has brought in on pretty low money some decent players for this league - Gestede is playing very well, Cairney, Evans, Marshall, Taylor. Kilgallon looks solid as well. In fact most of the players he has brought after Judge and Marrow certainly look good buys!

Its quite a big ask to get us into the playoffs this season in my view. The strange thing is that the return of Evans could make a huge difference IF he returns and captures the form he was starting to show. The signing of Dabo is interesting - I don't know much about him but it does look like they have had a good look at him. Id like Conway as a replacement for the injured Marshall.

As to Varney - well he isn't earth shattering but maybe Bowyer believes when required he could play a role alongside one of our first choice strikers. In Bowyers defence with regards DJ - I think at this level he is a good player but he doesn't combine that well with Rhodes who is our first choice so unless Rhodes gets injured I can understand why Bowyer is changing things.

The way I look at it is its a building process and most of the time I can see and understand what Bowyer is doing. Especially when you consider just how much his hands are or were tied by the fact he had players already in place on pretty big wages who just weren't performing. There is absolutely NO doubt in my mind if he had been in charge last season we would be in a MUCH better position now. It terrifies me who we could end up with if Venkys decided they wanted to change manager now!

If we had got some luck with injuries this season (in that if the big long term injuries had happened to fringe squad players rather than key in form players) then we could well be in a play off position.

Im not going to get on Bowyers back this season. Id like to see how we have progressed over the whole season at least.

[EWOODACE1]

Lol. Our fans are so fickle. This mb is a joke sometimes. So many people harping on about dj scoring and bowyer is stupid to let him go is beyond belief. Before dj left I don't think I read 1 positive comment about him but all of a sudden he is missed.

Bowyers ht talks do seem negative and infuriating but anyone who calls him obscene names to me are morons. Slating his tactics is one thing but some of the comments about him are pathetic. I'm glad I think of my self above that and I don't embarrass myself.

Some of Bowyers signings have made us better and hopefully he will start to see his errors in tactics but we are a much better unit under him than we were under anyone else on the past 3 or so years

When I'm sat at rovers and I hear some of the language and unbelievable anger aimed at people it borders lunacy. Spit hanging out their mouth and idiotic comments is such a look.

Why can't they just talk about something instead of going off on one all game so everyone can hear them. I've been sat in the same seat for I think 20yrs now and it's been the same people over and over again who attention seek and I presume it's the same people on here that make ridiculas comments for the same thing. Pretty sad really

As for bowyer I hope he can improve and push us on the bit more we need but from where we where and where we are in such a short stint is a credit to bowyer

[Kamy100]

I wasn’t at the game last night so can’t comment on who did well or not. Generally I can’t form any real opinion on performances from listening to a radio commentary.

I have seen some brief highlights and it is clear from those that we had at least one blatant penalty turned down and if you give the Barnsley one then we can say that the second shout should also have been given. I have sympathy for Bowyer because that is three consecutive games (Forest, Derby and Barnsley) in which we have seen some atrocious refereeing decisions and he was absolutely right to highlight that at the end of the game yesterday, any manager would have done the same.

[Blue blood]

Demanding he is sacked is ridiculous IMO but I think he needs help tactically

I'm starting a new job at the minute and it's a total new field for me, my boss has told me he expects me to make mistakes but if I was to make the same mistake consistently then there would be cause for concern!

For me Gary is consistently making the same mistakes in games, he needs to either learn from that sharpish or bring someone in alongside him who can help him out with in game changes etc

Apologies Abbey, but I'm afraid the negativity is beginning to get to me. We have a young manager with a young team trying to restore a bit of pride after the last three years. Of course they will make mistakes, of course they are going to be inconsistent. If these players were the cream of the crop they wouldn't be here. They are decent, honest professionals who have flaws in their game which the coaching staff are trying to improve. The manager will make mistakes, it's his first job after all. It takes time and yet all we get is more and more criticism. Of course things aren't great off the pitch but the least we can do it support those on it and those trying to restore a bit of order about the place. You and I both know, from bitter experience, that supporting a club like the Rovers is no bed of roses. It's the tough times that make the successful times all the sweeter. Something which those supporting the likes of Utd., Arsenal etc. will never appreciate.

I think Tom's post really sums up where frustration really kicks in. Aside from promotion or bust - because if that's the case, however unrealistic it is for Bowyer to get promoted and no matter how much his hands are tied that has to be the criteria by which he is judged on - we're probably where we are supposed to be.

What's a bit frustrating is that we have the potential to be a top 6 team. King when he was on fire early on in the season, the best finisher in the division, Cairney, Gestede in excellent form, the option of Dunn when fit being streets ahead of this division ability wise, a solid defense, and finally keeper - the ingredients are there for a promotion push. I guess a lot of teams would say the same thing too and think they have a good shot at playoffs.

But getting all these components working at once, having injuries to key players - Evans and Marshall - the experience of other managers and their tactics, some clubs with more resources, all suggest that it'd be hard for Bowyer to get us into the playoffs, even with the potential to do so. In light of this, most people would be happy with us being where we are. A more experienced man probably could do a bit better, but would we get one? And stability and normality is nice.

Tom's post sums up what's really frustrating is not the mistakes, or being a little bit adrift of playoffs but the fact it seems to come because Bowyer keeps making the same mistakes. We always play Williamson and Lowe which doesn't work, and we always seem to sit back when winning/trying to hold on to a point, rather than trying to kill games off. And in both cases it doesn't work. For this to not work once or twice is one thing - but repeatedly is worrying and suggests Bowyer isn't learning from his mistakes.

I like the guy, but he's doing a decent job. Which means he should get praise for the good things that he does - from signings to some good tactical surprises - but it doesn't make him exempt from having his mistakes acknowledged. And whilst there is leeway as he's learning, this must apply less to repetitive mistakes, because clearly this shows that Bowyer is being worryingly slow to learn.