[Archived] New Manager? What would you do?

[JAL]

Serious question - do you think this current squad has under achieved this season?

No! definitely not!

[LDRover]

I've not come away from one game this season feeling that the opposition is better than us and would struggle to name a stand out player in any opposition team.

Our squad is far from great but it's a far from great league. Our main problem is mentality, especially from the manager.

[Waggy76]

I've not come away from one game this season feeling that the opposition is better than us and would struggle to name a stand out player in any opposition team.

Our squad is far from great but it's a far from great league. Our main problem is mentality, especially from the manager.

Got it one !

[Andy]

We are six point from the play off places, the owners will see this as doing a good job.

Bowyer isn't going anywhere.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Serious question - do you think this current squad has under achieved this season?

Yes.

[Parsonblue]

We've just lost to our local rivals for the first time in decades, it's the latest in a long line of slaps in the face that could have been avoided only for greed and a host of none footballing matters.

The comparison between Utd fans moaning and Rovers fans continuing devastation just doesn't work. It's nothing like it at all.

Booth, it may come as a shock to you but the 35 year thing is complete and utter rubbish. We didn't play them for 29 of those 35 years. How can not being beaten by someone you don't play be a cause for celebration? Over that period, including today, we have met on just twelve occasions, in League & FA Cup, spread over six seasons and have won 7, drawn 4 and lost 1. It's hardly earth shattering whichever way you look at it.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Todays result is just the catalyst Parson. Hand on heart how many games this season have we played well for a full half never mind a whole game ? Do you seriously think our players are no better than mid table ?

[bob fleming]

Booth, it may come as a shock to you but the 35 year thing is complete and utter rubbish. We didn't play them for 29 of those 35 years. How can not being beaten by someone you don't play be a cause for celebration? Over that period, including today, we have met on just twelve occasions, in League & FA Cup, spread over six seasons and have won 7, drawn 4 and lost 1. It's hardly earth shattering whichever way you look at it.

Ah, but Parson, for 29 of those 35 years they weren't even good enough to be in the same, higher, division as us. That's what mattered. If we'd have drawn today and they get promotion it would have been a tad hollow.

Still, 34 years. Not so bad. If they go 34 years without us beating them I'll be quite pleased, if only cause I'll still be alive!

[47er]

I'm fickle and deserve the Raos, do I? Well thanks for that.

You want to be careful believing your own hype, mate. Just because the likes of Chaddy think your opinion is unquestionable doesn't make it so.

Bowyer is not up to the task, it is not an overreaction based on today either. It's based on his constant negativity. If you stand still in football, you go backwards. Well under Bowyer we are currently statuesque.

Tonight is the wrong time to have this debate, defeat is still ringing in our ears. But Parson Blue is right to be philosophical about it.

The record has lasted so long because we really have not played each other much till the last few years. We were bound to lose one at some point WHOEVER THE MANAGER WAS. In fact, lets be honest we have been hanging on for a draw in recent times. We can't expect all the luck against them all the time.

Normality returns exactly as it operated in past decades. Sometimes we win, sometimes they do.

What's important is that we learn the lessons. A manager chosen solely on what his club saw in his previous record, NO OTHER CONSIDERATIONS (except perhaps the salary). A small tightly- knit group of players, assembled at not much cost where the manager knows his best team, knows his players' best positions and plays them there and doesn't change the side unless he has to.

A winning formula we could easily emulate. Far from plunging us into despair, Burnley's success and certain promotion should give us hope. It can be done.

The only problem is can it be done under the Raos?

[Stuart]

Thing is there's a paradox here. We are to believe that Bowyer has been allowed to get on with things because Venkys are only really now in charge, and only now are they listening to the right people. And Degsy.

Yet talk about replacing him and it's all about how Venkys track record (during the same period that they supposedly weren't fully in control) means they won't do any better.

Which is it?

Roll on April and the end of the 10 point deduction being applied this season. Maybe the loons will put is in admin on 1st April and then scratch their heads as to why they've just hamstrung us next season not this.

[darrenrover]

Thing is there's a paradox here. We are to believe that Bowyer has been allowed to get on with things because Venkys are only really now in charge, and only now are they listening to the right people. And Degsy.

Yet talk about replacing him and it's all about how Venkys track record (during the same period that they supposedly weren't fully in control) means they won't do any better.

Which is it?

Roll on April and the end of the 10 point deduction being applied this season. Maybe the loons will put is in admin on 1st April and then scratch their heads as to why they've just hamstrung us next season not this.

I don't think either will apply Stuart and if it did do you think they'd give a @#/? what day it was?

[Parsonblue]

I'm fickle and deserve the Raos, do I? Well thanks for that.

You want to be careful believing your own hype, mate. Just because the likes of Chaddy think your opinion is unquestionable doesn't make it so.

Bowyer is not up to the task, it is not an overreaction based on today either. It's based on his constant negativity. If you stand still in football, you go backwards. Well under Bowyer we are currently statuesque.

Stuart it is about how you take defeat. Yes it's unpleasant and yes we aren't happy, but, with all due respect, I do believe that there is an over reaction based on the 34 year myth. If we had played them every season I could accept it but we haven't. We've only met them in 6 out of those 34 years.

Bowyer is a young manager who will make mistakes. Look at Fulham, look at WBA both clubs have chopped and changed and will probably be with us in the Championship next season.

An experienced manager guarantees you nothing - just ask QPR fans. I would have bet any money on Harry getting them up but now it looks like they will be destined for the play-offs. Coyle flopped at Wigan. Look at McDermott at Leeds - did a great job at Reading but will be out before long at Elland Road.

Some Leicester fans wanted Pearson out last season after they faded away but the club stuck with him and will reap the rewards in May.

As for my opinion, it is simply that MY opinion. I simply refuse to reach for the razor blades or demand the head of the manager because of a record of P12, W7 D4 L1 against Burnley since 1979. Last season we were almost relegated. This season we sit comfortably in mid-table. It may not be much but it is progress.

We have got rid of around 19 players this season. That is a huge turnover and combined with injuries to key players was always going to impact on the results on the pitch.

[Tom]

One thing I wish bowyer had more of is 'aggression' in the way we set up

Far too often (even in games we have won at times) I feel we allow the game to happen around us and never seem to control the game and take it to the other team

The second half today was mainly about if they were smart enough to break us down rather than us going at them and pushing them back

[Parsonblue]

What's important is that we learn the lessons. A manager chosen solely on what his club saw in his previous record, NO OTHER CONSIDERATIONS (except perhaps the salary). A small tightly- knit group of players, assembled at not much cost where the manager knows his best team, knows his players' best positions and plays them there and doesn't change the side unless he has to.

A winning formula we could easily emulate. Far from plunging us into despair, Burnley's success and certain promotion should give us hope. It can be done.

The only problem is can it be done under the Raos?

I think you make an excellent point 47er and in many ways it is the key issue. We need a small town club in the Premier League if only to remind people that life exists outside London, Manchester and Liverpool. If not us then, as much as it pains me to say it, then let it be Burnley as they have found a formula that works given a certain amount of luck in terms of avoiding injury to key players. There is no reason why the Rovers can't follow the same formula and hopefully Bowyer will have gained sufficient experience this season to enable him to do better next time.

[Stuart]

Stuart it is about how you take defeat. Yes it's unpleasant and yes we aren't happy, but, with all due respect, I do believe that there is an over reaction based on the 34 year myth. If we had played them every season I could accept it but we haven't. We've only met them in 6 out of those 34 years.

Bowyer is a young manager who will make mistakes. Look at Fulham, look at WBA both clubs have chopped and changed and will probably be with us in the Championship next season.

An experienced manager guarantees you nothing - just ask QPR fans. I would have bet any money on Harry getting them up but now it looks like they will be destined for the play-offs. Coyle flopped at Wigan. Look at McDermott at Leeds - did a great job at Reading but will be out before long at Elland Road.

Some Leicester fans wanted Pearson out last season after they faded away but the club stuck with him and will reap the rewards in May.

As for my opinion, it is simply that MY opinion. I simply refuse to reach for the razor blades or demand the head of the manager because of a record of P12, W7 D4 L1 against Burnley since 1979. Last season we were almost relegated. This season we sit comfortably in mid-table. It may not be much but it is progress.

We have got rid of around 19 players this season. That is a huge turnover and combined with injuries to key players was always going to impact on the results on the pitch.

Fair enough but what you are missing in your eagerness to be philosophical, and defend an individual I'm sure you are very close to, is that for many of us, this is the first time we have felt defeat at the six-fingered hands of 'that lot'. Try to remember what it felt like the first time you had that experience.

Now stick 34 years on.

We may have only played them for 6 seasons but we've all grown 34 years older since then - like it or not.

[adsfortheblues]

Gary Bowyer, get your stuff together and resign, disgraceful performance, bowyer out!

[K-Hod]

Unconvinced he can turn it around after these two results.

[Parsonblue]

Fair enough but what you are missing in your eagerness to be philosophical, and defend an individual I'm sure you are very close to, is that for many of us, this is the first time we have felt defeat at the six-fingered hands of 'that lot'. Try to remember what it felt like the first time you had that experience.

Now stick 34 years on.

We may have only played them for 6 seasons but we've all grown 34 years older since then - like it or not.

Stuart, I grew up - sadly in terms of age now - in an era when the Rovers and Burnley regularly beat each other, when the players gave everything on the pitch and yet they were best of friends and socialised with each other off it. When fans could travel to the Turf or Ewood and stand side by side with opposition fans and have a laugh and joke about the game in a friendly atmosphere. It was rivalry, but not as we know it today and, I accept it makes me sound like the old git I am, but it was more fun and that is what football should be. There simply wasn't the same hatred surrounding the fixture - that was something that crept in during the 1970s, although the seeds were probably sown in 1965-66.

Clearly, because I grew up in a different era my views are different and perhaps that is why I find it difficult to understand the reaction to losing on this occasion.

[Riverside67]

Parson i am an old git as well and I agree we should be patient with Bowyer.

It is a gut wrenching defeat today so soon after the Bolton game but I really want the guy to succeed.

It is a long road back for us now and I wonder when we will ever see another 20k plus crowd at Ewood. It will be many years I guess.

I will be there versus Bournemouth to begin the long road back,,,,,,,,,,,,,,but then we have done this before.

[Parsonblue]

Parson i am an old git as well and I agree we should be patient with Bowyer.

It is a gut wrenching defeat today so soon after the Bolton game but I really want the guy to succeed.

It is a long road back for us now and I wonder when we will ever see another 20k plus crowd at Ewood. It will be many years I guess.

I will be there versus Bournemouth to begin the long road back,,,,,,,,,,,,,,but then we have done this before.

We have indeed Riverside67, we have indeed. It's a long, hard road ahead with no easy options I'm afraid. I never thought we would ever return to this but, sadly, the owners have destroyed everything that 'Jack built' and we have no option but to start again.

[somersetrover]

Parson i am an old git as well and I agree we should be patient with Bowyer.

It is a gut wrenching defeat today so soon after the Bolton game but I really want the guy to succeed.

It is a long road back for us now and I wonder when we will ever see another 20k plus crowd at Ewood. It will be many years I guess.

I will be there versus Bournemouth to begin the long road back,,,,,,,,,,,,,,but then we have done this before.

We all want Bowyer to succeed not only because we want Rovers to do well but also because he seems to be a genuinely nice bloke. But we are a business and not a charity and I unfortunately can't see him getting us back up. However not matter who is manager I will be there Wednesday night and at Huddersfield on Saturday.

[Darwen Rover 007]

I'm in two minds...

Option 1

Give bowyer till the end of next season I feel like he's building something (however his lack of tacticL awareness and not playing to strengths is immensely frustrating)

Option 2

Get an experienced manager aka Mackay and move bowyer to head of recruitment / chief scout??

[roverandout]

im pretty sure had bowyer not come from the youth team set up etc, had he been an outsider then a lot more people would have been calling for his head, nothing like sentimental blinkeredness to cloud someones judgement.

[Riverside67]

Somerset agree there can be no sentiment in business but the guy deserves a chance. The injuries and disruption he has had to deal with have been immense and he has done it with great dignity. Still that cannot disguise there are real question marks about his motivational and tactical nous but the time to judge him on that is the end of next season rather than this.

Any team in the championship would miss King,Cairney, Marshall and Kilgallon so he has had a lot to contend with.

One plus today for me was the performance of Keane who did bring some quality to the side.

[roverandout]

hes paid to deal with these things and what do you mean great dignity? hes certainly blamed a lot more people than himself for defeats this season