[Archived] Boro v Rovers - 8th Feb, KO 3 pm, Riverside Stadium

[LDRover]

Top 3 all use 4-4-2. It still works.

[bluefred]

Think it should have been Rhodes taken off not gestede

[davulsukur]

Good result. Clean sheet away from home is always welcome.

[TBTF]

What we still lack are pacy wingers. If we had Boro`s wingers - carayol, adamah, and ledesma - we'd be a top, top championship team. Really feel we lack pace. Hope GB addresses this in the summer.

He thinks he already has in Marshall and Conway, not to mention King. What budget do you think w ewill be working to next season??

[OJRovers]

A point gained rather than 2 points lost. Conway will maybe start next time, along with Evans coming back should improve us. Things looking better, I still think we're building for a proper go at promotion next season.

[JAL]

Puzzling turning out away to Boro with a 4-4-2 with one of the midfield Dunny! It's like handing possession and territory to the home side on a plate! Obvious to all that Dunny can only offer his undoubted quality to the cause by playing in the hole in a 4-5-1 imo.

Yet again another week passes and JR fails to score and when that happens he is an expensive luxury. It's so obvious now that I'm beginning to wonder if Bowyer is actually being forced to play Rhodes?

We have the squad to have a good go at getting in the play offs but not if Bowyer continues to handicap the team with stupid tactics.

Dont think your in touch with whats capable Thenodrog just hope you understand that dear fellow.

What we still lack are pacy wingers. If we had Boro`s wingers - carayol, adamah, and ledesma - we'd be a top, top championship team. Really feel we lack pace. Hope GB addresses this in the summer.

You obviously dont realise this rovers11, a bit like Thenodrog, that rovers have one of the fastest players in this division in Josh King.

Hope that helps you guys.

[Dan]

King is a player that I just can't make my mind up over. He obviously had a lot of potential for RFW to buy him. He has at times look excellent, then the rest of time looked awful. The Man Yoo fans I spoke to thought he looked like a good prospect. He has pace to burn and if he could cross the ball well even 10% of the time, he'd be worth putting in the team. If only we had a Duff or a Ripley! A Ripley and a savage would transform our team.

Ah well, what did Souey used to say about our Willy?

[arbitro]

Our narrow midfield in the first half (we set up like we did last week) was almost our undoing as Kane frequently was faced by two players. To compound this the nonsense of playing players on the wrong side meant that no crosses were put in for our front two as Taylor and Cairney came inside on their natural foot. I'm convinced it was Hanley who told the coaching staff that we needed to change the system. He was very animated during a stoppage when he spoke to the benches. From this Dunn dropped deeper and the wide players swapped sides. In the second half Gestede played wide right in a five man midfield whilst Rhodes had probably his most ineffective game yet. It was an insult to the travelling fans when he got the hook and Rhodes stayed on. Robinson was outstanding today and both centre backs played well.

The real worry for me is that Bowyer doesn't seem to be learning and once again (although on paper it's not our worst result) his tactics are called into question.

[roversfan99]

Awful performance. No urgency, tempo, fluency, pressing, width or ideas going forward. Bowyer again choosing to look for a point, plus why does he never sign pacy players?

[Andy]

Not seen any of the game but the stats suggest we took a bit of a battering.

Take it Robbo had a good game?

Quite a lot of shots on target for them but a clea sheet.

No coincidence that we look more solid at the back since his return.

[Proudtobeblue&white]

So digesting the comments, it appears today was damage limitation, a draw good, loss bad, win, a miracle? Good article in the Guardian today about Leicester, and why they think not going up last year was a bonus.....seems that we are in that place. The X factor is the Loons not really grasping reality, and what they will do in May when we finish 8th.....will there be a next year?

[darrenrover]

Well given that he was the only defensive midfielder playing today I'd imagine he'd have had his work cut out stemming the tide.

btw to anyone who went it appears that Boro had all the possession 1st half but that we evened it up after HT. Was the wind a factor in this?

Not really, it was very much a point won.

Rhodes and Gestede were awful and Lowe had a reasonable game.

We really lack width and without we have no attacking options.

[JAL]

Well given that he was the only defensive midfielder playing today I'd imagine he'd have had his work cut out stemming the tide.

btw to anyone who went it appears that Boro had all the possession 1st half but that we evened it up after HT. Was the wind a factor in this?

What are you Thenodrog Lowes girlfriends dad FFS !

Lowe rubbish again today away from home.

[DE.]

King is a player that I just can't make my mind up over. He obviously had a lot of potential for RFW to buy him. He has at times look excellent, then the rest of time looked awful. The Man Yoo fans I spoke to thought he looked like a good prospect. He has pace to burn and if he could cross the ball well even 10% of the time, he'd be worth putting in the team.

Lots of pace, no brain. Has the ability to wipe the floor with slow, less intelligent defenders but will always come up short against a well organised unit.

[Neal]

Did we have a shot on target? Yet more anti football tactics from Bowyer and his boys. He's got a comfortable little number here, playing not to lose, no owners on his back but it's alright because he's brought stability and balanced the books... I get it. Shame we're an absolute shower on the pitch.

Bowyers says he's glad he's finally got the physical presence up front in Gestede. Bowyer says he's happy he's got the delivery of Conway... So what decision does he make when we have a chance to nick it? Conway for Gestede. That makes sense these days, they're tactics reminiscent of Paul Ince.

Everyone blaming Kane for getting roasted... What protection did he get? From someone who's not a winger and shouldn't be playing on the right.

I have faith that this team has the potential to beat anyone in this league but this fella obviously doesn't share that faith. We're garbage at the moment and to be honest, I've given up any small hope of playoffs because we're not a team given the confidence to go and win games. Every decision made is concious of our opponents rather than what we have to upset the opposition.

I like Bowyer, good in the transfer market, likeable fella, deserves the job but he's tactically retarded. I'm not saying sack him, I'm just unwilling to accept what I'm seeing at the moment unlike most of the Rovers faithful.

Our wins are unconvincing, our draws are unconvincing and our losses are convincing. Hopefully this is all down to Bowyer not knowing his best 11 yet but when King and Evans are fit he needs to work it out... And fast.

[Jackie_Moon]

Did we have a shot on target? Yet more anti football tactics from Bowyer and his boys. He's got a comfortable little number here, playing not to lose, no owners on his back but it's alright because he's brought stability and balanced the books... I get it. Shame we're an absolute shower on the pitch.

Bowyers says he's glad he's finally got the physical presence up front in Gestede. Bowyer says he's happy he's got the delivery of Conway... So what decision does he make when we have a chance to nick it? Conway for Gestede. That makes sense these days, they're tactics reminiscent of Paul Ince.

Everyone blaming Kane for getting roasted... What protection did he get? From someone who's not a winger and shouldn't be playing on the right.

I have faith that this team has the potential to beat anyone in this league but this fella obviously doesn't share that faith. We're garbage at the moment and to be honest, I've given up any small hope of playoffs because we're not a team given the confidence to go and win games. Every decision made is concious of our opponents rather than what we have to upset the opposition.

I like Bowyer, good in the transfer market, likeable fella, deserves the job but he's tactically retarded. I'm not saying sack him, I'm just unwilling to accept what I'm seeing at the moment unlike most of the Rovers faithful.

Our wins are unconvincing, our draws are unconvincing and our losses are convincing. Hopefully this is all down to Bowyer not knowing his best 11 yet but when King and Evans are fit he needs to work it out... And fast.

Daft comments. This team is still in it s first year together. Look at your leicesters, derbys, forests etc, they wern't lighting the division up a year or so ago. They took time to develop into the squads they have now. Playoffs is not going to happen this year. If we were to go up via the playoffs this year we would probably get a record low points in the prem the following season. This is a team in the making and is going to take time to get them playing the right football and get the results. I've seen enough this season to suggest that we have a lot of potential and will make it back to the prem in the next few seasons. Problem is a lot of rovers fans seem to want an instant fix and believe we have got some god given right to play in the prem. I'm afraid it doesn't work like that..... Bit more realism is needed by a lot of fans!!

[Husky]

Conway for Gestede. That makes sense these days, they're tactics reminiscent of Paul Ince.

Conway came on for Dunn (anonymous) - good substitution.

Varney came on for Gestede later. - slightly dodgy substitution. I get what you're saying. I actually said during the match that Rhodes (anonymous) should be taken off - first mention of him was on 75 minutes when he was down on the floor. Gestede at least had a presence and was also likely to nick a set-piece goal (which seemed to be our tactics for this game).

[Neal]

Daft comments. This team is still in it s first year together. Look at your leicesters, derbys, forests etc, they wern't lighting the division up a year or so ago. They took time to develop into the squads they have now. Playoffs is not going to happen this year. If we were to go up via the playoffs this year we would probably get a record low points in the prem the following season. This is a team in the making and is going to take time to get them playing the right football and get the results. I've seen enough this season to suggest that we have a lot of potential and will make it back to the prem in the next few seasons. Problem is a lot of rovers fans seem to want an instant fix and believe we have got some god given right to play in the prem. I'm afraid it doesn't work like that..... Bit more realism is needed by a lot of fans!!

Fine but that's just how I feel. Where we differ is that I haven't seen anything from Bowyer tactically this suggest he can do better next season. If some people do then I just can't see where they're getting that impression... Adding to the fact we're marginally better off points tally wise. I wasn't even going to comment about today's game as we're that boring. I'm more positive about the state of us financially given what we've shipped out but that's about it.

I'd also like to make it clear that result isn't a bad one but the performance and managers decisions are just infuriating... It's the same week in week out.

I don't like how you get slapped with the "silver spoon" "god given right to play in the prem" & "quick fix" comments everytime someone gives our manger some stick... It's crap. I'm as realistic as anyone in here and a few more took their own advice they'd see that what they're watching is an underachieving team with an underachieving manager. There very few games I've seen this season that suggest Bowyer will turn us into the promotion chasers we should be. I hope he does.

Conway came on for Dunn (anonymous) - good substitution.

Varney came on for Gestede later. - slightly dodgy substitution. I get what you're saying. I actually said during the match that Rhodes (anonymous) should be taken off - first mention of him was on 75 minutes when he was down on the floor. Gestede at least had a presence and was also likely to nick a set-piece goal (which seemed to be our tactics for this game).

My apologies, it's hard to hear radio lancs in my area more static than commentary... Wasn't Gestede shoved out wide at this point anyway?

[Old Bay]

Also I think that the Dabo signing is a very strange one because he isn't starting in this current system and I doubt that he is a better player than Evans and Bowyer is clearly a fan of Williamson. So I don't really see where he features in the team, with Cairney, Taylor, Evans, Lowe and Williamson ahead of him.

Agreed. I would say cover, but considering the size of our midfield I'm not sure. Hopefully it'll come good somewhere down the line.

[RussP]

Gestede tired visibly, like Dunny often does. He'd also taken a knock minutes earlier in a very heavy challenge.

So, it was the right substitution in the circumstances, irrespective of contribution up to that point.

[thenodrog]

Think it should have been Rhodes taken off not gestede

Were you at the match?

[thenodrog]

Our narrow midfield in the first half (we set up like we did last week) was almost our undoing as Kane frequently was faced by two players. To compound this the nonsense of playing players on the wrong side meant that no crosses were put in for our front two as Taylor and Cairney came inside on their natural foot. I'm convinced it was Hanley who told the coaching staff that we needed to change the system. He was very animated during a stoppage when he spoke to the benches. From this Dunn dropped deeper and the wide players swapped sides. In the second half Gestede played wide right in a five man midfield whilst Rhodes had probably his most ineffective game yet. It was an insult to the travelling fans when he got the hook and Rhodes stayed on. Robinson was outstanding today and both centre backs played well.

The real worry for me is that Bowyer doesn't seem to be learning and once again (although on paper it's not our worst result) his tactics are called into question.

Really? Playing gestede wide right and leaving Jr at centre forward is just craziness.

Not really, it was very much a point won.

Rhodes and Gestede were awful and Lowe had a reasonable game.

We really lack width and without we have no attacking options.

Really? That tomphil said Lowe was awful.

[arbitro]

Gestede tired visibly, like Dunny often does. He'd also taken a knock minutes earlier in a very heavy challenge.

So, it was the right substitution in the circumstances, irrespective of contribution up to that point.

I can't agree. Rhodes offered absolutely nothing and it was him who looked lethargic and dare I say it uninterested. Gestede was laughably put on the right side of the midfield five and worked the line reasonably well but at times looked like a fish out of water. Strange tactics again.

[dingles staying down 4ever]

Awful performance. No urgency, tempo, fluency, pressing, width or ideas going forward. Bowyer again choosing to look for a point, plus why does he never sign pacy players?

Usually because any decent players with pace cost top dollar.

Top Dollar we haven't got.

Get used to players who have ability but no pace or players with pace but little ability.

Welcome to the also rans of the championship.

[thenodrog]

I can't agree. Rhodes offered absolutely nothing and it was him who looked lethargic and dare I say it uninterested. Gestede was laughably put on the right side of the midfield five and worked the line reasonably well but at times looked like a fish out of water. Strange tactics again.

Hence my earlier suggestion that bowyer is under Orders to play Rhodes. His current form is terrible.

.