[Archived] Rovers v QPR - 8th April, KO: 7.45

[Kie_BRFC]

They are views about his strengths and weaknesses. Why wouldn't that be acceptable?

Except when Stuart comments about lowes weaknesses he is shot down...

[yoda]

As you said previously, logic doesn't apply but perhaps consciences may!

oooooo! there you go again

Chaddy will be on my case

[Kie_BRFC]

You'll note that the Rhodes thread has been quiet for quite some time now, and that very few people have mentioned him in this thread. That's probably because not only has he been scoring, but he has also worked harder for the team. The difference is that anyone who criticises Rhodes from time to time (completely justifiably because he deserves it sometimes), also praise him when he plays well or scores... those that HATE Lowe can't give him credit whether he plays well or not.

There's a long list of players who have suffered the same treatment Kieran, had you not noticed? MGP and Lucas Neill in more recent history - before then Sherwood, Wilcox, Atkins. A certain section of Rovers fans always need a hate figure. N'Zonzi narrowly escaped the same unjust abuse, despite being a good player and now plying his trade comfortably in the PL.

You aren't the lad that wrote the article on Rhodes 'going right to the very top of World football' are you?

No I'm not. I understand Rhodes has his weaknesses but that's why he plays for rovers, if he was the all round player he wouldn't be here. Far more of our players have bigger weaknesses than Rhodes, yet he gets all the stick, despite scoring most of our goals with rubbish service

[thenodrog]

You need to stop quoting posts from hours/days previously where the conversation has moved on - as you do frequently. Read a thread, take a deep breathe and try again.

You are in danger of forever living in the past.

12 hours ffs??? I didn't know there was a time limit! Has your opinion on lowe changed then?

[yoda]

12 hours ffs??? I didn't know there was a time limit! Has your opinion on lowe changed then?

Pythonesque!

Times up

[den]

No I'm not. I understand Rhodes has his weaknesses but that's why he plays for rovers, if he was the all round player he wouldn't be here. Far more of our players have bigger weaknesses than Rhodes, yet he gets all the stick, despite scoring most of our goals with rubbish service

"Stick"?

They are points of view and IMO, valid points of view. He's an excellent finisher, but a poor footballer.

[darrenrover]

"Stick"?

They are points of view and IMO, valid points of view. He's an excellent finisher, but a poor footballer.

Agreed and if the poor lad didn't have an £8million millstone round his neck through no fault of his own, there'd be much less focus on his negatives.

At least it's a relativish positive from lavish spending as opposed to ..........................

[Stuart]

12 hours ffs??? I didn't know there was a time limit! Has your opinion on lowe changed then?

'A week is a lifetime in football".

I've given a fuller explanation. You can give me some feedback on that if you like.

Although my opinion on Lowe has changed. I used to think he could do a job at right back.

[Steve Kean's Hypnotoad]

"Stick"?

They are points of view and IMO, valid points of view. He's an excellent finisher, but a poor footballer.

I'd disagree that he's a poor footballer. He's got a good first touch, good movement, can pass, shoot, cross, head. Rhodes' biggest flaw is that he's extremely lightweight, but physical presence doesn't come into the footballing ability category for me. Certainly nobody ever linked used to link Roberts' pace and strength to being a good footballer.

[No Nay Never]

On Lowe I thought he was ok enough and certainly not stand out bad but I agree with Stuart that Bowyer singling him out for praise had nothing to do with his actual performance because there were a good handful of players out there who performed better.

As long as we keep winning I don't care who's selected in the long run it's just when stubbornness in picking favourites ends up being to the detriment of the team

He isn't in the team to be stand out, his job last night was to stop Ravel Morrison - Mission Accomplished

[ABBEY]

Except when Stuart comments about lowes weaknesses he is shot down...

Rhodes haters gonna hate

[Roverthechimp]

Excellent performance last night, I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. I confess to putting head in hands when Willowe were announced as our central midfield pairing.

I put the enhanced performance down to playing a much higher line and being more combatative further up the field. Keane also had an excellent game at right back.

Begs the question, why has it taken so long?

As (some) people like to point out - 19 new players and not all of them from the start of the season. Throw in some injuries, unrest amongst "senior" players and suddenly time is required to gel and build confidence. That said - i think losing to Burnley and the Bournemouth fiasco probably caused a more intense discussion between manager and players about what is acceptable...

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

But people's constant slating of Rhodes is acceptable? Rhodes does his job consistently, Lowe doesn't

Hmmm ..... interesting perspective.

Rhodes job ultimately is to score goals - which he obviously does. However he doesn't link play, lead the line etc as well as he should.

Lowe's job is to help screen the defence - and generally be the water carrier for the more talented footballers in the team - which IMO he does. However, he doesn't score goals, or provide inventiveness in midfield - on the whole is passing is usually short and mainly defensive in nature.

So both players are called for what they don't do - rather than what they add to the team. Their weaknesses have an impact on the team - just a question of whether their strengths out weigh that.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

I'd disagree that he's a poor footballer. He's got a good first touch, good movement, can pass, shoot, cross, head. Rhodes' biggest flaw is that he's extremely lightweight, but physical presence doesn't come into the footballing ability category for me. Certainly nobody ever linked used to link Roberts' pace and strength to being a good footballer.

I don't think he's a good header of the ball. He misses as many as he gets on target.

[den]

I'd disagree that he's a poor footballer. He's got a good first touch, good movement, can pass, shoot, cross, head. Rhodes' biggest flaw is that he's extremely lightweight, but physical presence doesn't come into the footballing ability category for me. Certainly nobody ever linked used to link Roberts' pace and strength to being a good footballer.

If he was all that he would be in the premier league. He isn't though is he?

[JAL]

Williamson was very good..improving game by game.

Lowe is good player.

Varney ok player.

I'm totally writing Eastwood, Williamson and Varney off simple as not being good enough.

Regarding Lowe he needs to be able to take the ball and turn in tight situations, be able to accelerate away from his marker and hit hard in the challenges. Plus not to keep passing sideways and backwards passing on the responsibilty to a fellow colleague.

If that doesnt happen then it leaves questions about the manager and his coaching team.

Great strike from Rudy Gestede though.

[Amo]

"Stick"?

They are points of view and IMO, valid points of view. He's an excellent finisher, but a poor footballer.

Problem is, those "valid points of view" have been heard ad nauseam now. We know in no uncertain terms that a small group cling stubbornly to the entrenched belief that Rhodes is a poor footballer and that we are weaker for having him and his 25 goals a season. There comes a point where you need to advance that well-worn argument, otherwise it becomes wearisome and does not solicit healthy debate.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

I'm totally writing Williamson and Varney off simple as not being good enough.

Regarding Lowe he needs to be able to take the ball and turn in tight situations, be able to accelerate away from his marker and hit hard in the challenges. Plus not to keep passing sideways and backwards passing on the responsibilty to a fellow colleague.

If that doesnt happen then it leaves questions about the manager and his coaching team.

Great strike from Rudy Gestede though.

Good midfield players have the ability to turn away from trouble. We've had plenty of players of could do that. Simon Barker was one I remember being brilliant at this particular skill. Tugay wasn't bad either.

[Kie_BRFC]

Hmmm ..... interesting perspective.

Rhodes job ultimately is to score goals - which he obviously does. However he doesn't link play, lead the line etc as well as he should.

Lowe's job is to help screen the defence - and generally be the water carrier for the more talented footballers in the team - which IMO he does. However, he doesn't score goals, or provide inventiveness in midfield - on the whole is passing is usually short and mainly defensive in nature.

So both players are called for what they don't do - rather than what they add to the team. Their weaknesses have an impact on the team - just a question of whether their strengths out weigh that.

I think the points already been made that Lowe is supposed to be our defensive midfielder and like you say, screen the defense. But does he do that? Imo, no. He hardly ever makes a tackle and yes he is a good athlete and can cover a lot of ground but he's a very poor footballer

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

I think the points already been made that Lowe is supposed to be our defensive midfielder and like you say, screen the defense. But does he do that? Imo, no. He hardly ever makes a tackle and yes he is a good athlete and can cover a lot of ground but he's a very poor footballer

A lot has been made of his lack of tackling. I personally wonder whether he plays under orders not to dive in - which can subsequently leave the defence exposed. Indeed his pace and athleticism does mean he doesn't have to dive in - as you often see Williamson doing.

[Mike E]

You need to stop quoting posts from hours/days previously where the conversation has moved on - as you do frequently. Read a thread, take a deep breathe and try again.

You are in danger of forever living in the past.

Tbh, not everyone looks at the forum (or even a single thread) every couple hours. Think your post says more about your presence on here than Theno's

But I can talk! I read the damn thing all day!

[Stuart]

Tbh, not everyone looks at the forum (or even a single thread) every couple hours. Think your post says more about your presence on here than Theno's

But I can talk! I read the damn thing all day!

I try to read a thread through and join the current conversation, maybe going back if something really stuck in my mind that went uncountered or unexplained.

Bit of a desperate refuge to have a pop at 'resident posters' for being resident posters though, Mike. Providing they stick within board rules they should be seen as valued contributors even if they don't share the popular opinion. Not enough folks recognise there is a human being behind the handle.

[ABBEY]

Is ethuhuhu out injured again ?

[Al]

what are you hinting at then?

if it what i think it then the claim is totally pathetic, unjustify and stupid.

Imo Bowyer is learning on the job and developing as a manager and getting better..got to give GB and his staff credit for last night performance and the high standard of it

If you can't take criticism without squealing I suggest you refrain from posts like this.

[roversR4ever]

Im not saying Lowe should be in the first team when everyone is fit.

You don't see him dive in tackle wise even as much as some of our other players like Williamson. What I do think is that people equate that to him being a poor defensive midfielder. In my view what is not always recognised is that he gets the right side of a player quickly. He is very athletic and quicker at times than you realise. So he doesn't need to dive in as much. I actually think he can be a decent tackler but his strength and athleticism means he can harry and get the ball back without diving in. Also he does seem to intercept quite a lot of passes - in my view more so this season than any other season.

He covers a huge amount of ground.

When or a big IF we ever have all our midfielders fit then he may not always be in the team. You could see Marshall Evans Cairney and Conway as our midfield.