[Archived] Rovers vs Wigan

[rovers11]

How did Evans do today? I think he's a great player, probably our most influential.

[Stuart]

It may have passed us all by in the excitement but today was three wins in a row for the first time in about 5 years.

[Darwen Rover 007]

Very good game in truth we dominated them for bulk of the game aside from about 20 minutes at the start of the second half...

Was it me or did they go 3-1-4-2 at the start of the second half?

Was particularly impressed with Cairney, Conway, Gestede and Ollsson... Gestede is a power house of an all round striker and Ollsson really surprised me if I'm honest...

Iv been a big fan of Rhodes but I really don't think he's string enough on the ball and I think we would be much stronger if we played a 4-1-4-1 with Lowe in between midfield and defence and Gestede up front...

As was mentioned on radio rovers since the Bolton burnley Bournemouth debacle we have seen a significant improvement (aside from Yeovil of course)

Progress has definitely been made and we definitely have a team we can be proud of...

Can't wait to sort my season ticket out!

[Audax]

With 73 points still, Reading getting a draw today, going into this match, it does not seem like Wigan can afford the luxury of playing reserves. After doing very well, Wigan has dropped a number of games lately but that probably means they are being strongly challenged.

[West Yorks Rover]

Very good game in truth we dominated them for bulk of the game aside from about 20 minutes at the start of the second half...

Was it me or did they go 3-1-4-2 at the start of the second half?

Was particularly impressed with Cairney, Conway, Gestede and Ollsson... Gestede is a power house of an all round striker and Ollsson really surprised me if I'm honest...

Iv been a big fan of Rhodes but I really don't think he's string enough on the ball and I think we would be much stronger if we played a 4-1-4-1 with Lowe in between midfield and defence and Gestede up front...

As was mentioned on radio rovers since the Bolton burnley Bournemouth debacle we have seen a significant improvement (aside from Yeovil of course)

Progress has definitely been made and we definitely have a team we can be proud of...

Can't wait to sort my season ticket out!

Let's hope Ollsson doesn't revert to type if he's given a new contract, certainly seems to have improved out of all

recognition in the last 3 games.

Did you get a good look at him, not done a swap with his brother has he ?

[Blue n whites]

Drinking talisker dark storm, suns shining, burgers are on. Oh sorry this ain't facebook.

Overall a frustrating season, but even the most negative fans can see we have made progress. I don't want to count my chickens before they hatch but I genuinely feel that there is a little bit of pride in the shirt again. Even the dingles success can't take away my feeling of quiet satisfaction, even as I write this I'm realising how far we have fallen. But still. Upward spiral from now on, with a little bit of patience while the squad evolves and gels. Much better feeling now than this time last year, even if it was a season of what if.

Couldn't make the last few games and I've been glad, my 4 homes games have been charlton, brum, Bournemouth and dingles.

[JAL]

How did Evans do today? I think he's a great player, probably our most influential.

Did well then tired and eventually subbed.

[Riverside67]

In the cold light of day despite the frustrating finish to the season there are reasons for real optimism

The youngsters emerging in the background such as Rittenberg, Mahoney nad O'Connell could add a real boost to the squad next season as essentailly free signings.

Some prudent use of funds by Bowyer again this next window could see us a put proper side out once more.

Prottecting the back four in midfield is a real issue and Dabo should have been the man. For whatever reason he wasn't but that to me is the key now and has to be two steps up from the current quality we have in that position.

The formation and names in the team are starting to take shape. Just a bit more quality now in ball retention and possession and Bowyer could yet be that man.

The pressure is on Bowyer a bit more now having had this as almost a trial season but the expectation is raised somewhat now as he needs to deliver a further 20% improvment so we will see how he handles it.

[Jim Royle]

It may have passed us all by in the excitement but today was three wins in a row for the first time in about 5 years.

Bowyer out!

[AggyBlue]

He's got his own players in. Only dann might have been wirth keeping out of those who have left.

His team his tactics his set-up his substitutions. His failure.

He said after the game today that it would take another couple of windows to get the squad where he wants it to be.

He's right.

[Stuart]

He said after the game today that it would take another couple of windows to get the squad where he wants it to be.

Heard that. I was wondering about how that would stack up with a transfer embargo in the second of those two windows.

[JAL]

Entertaining game Rovers team looked good until one or two tired. Thought Olsson someone whom I dont rate, but watching him today had me thinking he looks better than Spurr here, what is it about playing for a new contract.

Grant Hanley should have been dismissed and quite possibly the Wigan full back for persistance thankfully the referee had set a very high tolerance level for this end of season game which added to the entertainment of the game.

When Rovers were fit and fresh in the first half, they looked good, had good balance left side, right side, and central and played some very good pleasing to the eye football with Jordan Rhodes as a passenger.

Wigans first goal goes to Paul Robinson for failing to punch or catch a clearance that led to an easy tap in for Wigan .....what is it with Rovers keepers this season..... one can only point to the goalkeeping coach not being upto improving the keepers though Eastwood cant ever see him being any better than he is.

[chaddyrovers]

who says the transfer embargo will happen or the FFP rules?

last I heard was the football league were looking at them and most likely changing them ahead of possible legal challenges from Some clubs

thought Olsson has played very well last 3 games and improve. will he get a new deal? would any Rovers fan give him a new deal?

Thought Wigan were very lucky not to happen have Stephen Crainey(their right wing back) and James McClean(winger) send off today. didn't think Hanley should have been send off at all.

Wigan played 3-4-3 today like they used to under Robert Martinez

[West Yorks Rover]

Heard that. I was wondering about how that would stack up with a transfer embargo in the second of those two windows.

I was just about to post the same, surely he's only got the summer ?

[had.e.nuff]

That is a little harsh - they rested a couple of players - and in truth we could have scored far more than we did. We hit the bar - Carson made two excellent saves - had a goal disallowed - and managed to miss numerous presentable opportunities - all with a referee who was absolutely useless and offered little protection to our players.

Somehow we need to keep the majority of that starting eleven together - but players like Cairney and Gestede may attract some unwelcome attention from the teams promoted out of the division.

Dont see why promoted clubs will be looking at Crairney and gestede both where released by promoted clubs.

[sharpysharps]

For a supposed reserve team I saw quite a few regular starters in that Wigan side. Decent result against a very attacking team.

First half was very free flowing and enjoyable to watch, felt like we would score at any moment when pushing forward.

Very pleasing to end the season with 3 wins on the bounce. Keeping this core group together, shifting the remaining deadwood and getting in 3 or 4 new faces to build on GBs already solid record in the transfer market is what I want from this summer.

First time in 3 years I have genuinely felt optimistic about Rovers at the end if a season. Good times for now.

[perthblue02]

Now that's what you call going for it - Scottish Championship - Hamilton 10 (ten) Morton 2 - and still possibly missing out on promotion

[den]

21 players in, in just over a year, played a very defensive central midfield most games - yet the clubs in this crap league scored 101 goals against us in 46 games. Finishing 8th wasn't great and I still think another manager with more nous and a better transfer/game plan would have got us at least into the playoffs.

[Amo]

I have no idea what Bowyer says during his H/T team talks but it needs to change.

Half-time table

 	 	          P	 W	 D	 L	Pts
1	 Derby County	 46	 21	 17	 8	80
2	 Watford	 46	 18	 18	 10	72
3	 Blackburn	 46	 17	 20	 9	71
4	 Burnley	 46	 16	 22	 8	70
5	 Bolton	         46	 16	 21	 9	69
6	 Nottm Forest	 46	 18	 15	 13	69
7	 QPR     	 46	 13	 25	 8	64
8	 Leicester City	 46	 16	 16	 14	64
9	 Yeovil Town	 46	 13	 24	 9	63
10	 Middlesbrough	 46	 12	 26	 8	62
11	 Sheffield Wed	 46	 15	 16	 15	61
12	 Bournemouth	 46	 13	 20	 13	59
13	 Wigan Athletic	 46	 14	 17	 15	59
14	 Blackpool	 46	 12	 22	 12	58
15	 Ipswich Town	 46	 11	 23	 12	56
16	 Brighton 	 46	 11	 23	 12	56
17	 Reading	 46	 12	 18	 16	54
18	 Huddersfield	 46	 9	 25	 12	52
19	 Doncaster	 46	 11	 18	 17	51
20	 Leeds Utd	 46	 9	 22	 15	49
21	 Millwall	 46	 9	 20	 17	47
22	 Barnsley	 46	 9	 20	 17	47
23	 Birmingham	 46	 10	 14	 22	44
24	 Charlton	 46	 6	 20	 20	38

[Amo]

Also,

Half-time table (at home)

 	 	         P	 W	 D	 L	Pts
1	 Blackburn	 23	 9	 12	 2	39
2	 Nottm Forest	 23	 11	 6	 6	39
3	 Burnley	 23	 8	 14	 1	38
4	 Bolton	         23	 9	 11	 3	38
5	 QPR     	 23	 9	 11	 3	38
6	 Derby County	 23	 10	 8	 5	38
7	 Middlesbrough	 23	 8	 13	 2	37
8	 Leicester City	 23	 9	 8	 6	35
9	 Bournemouth	 23	 8	 9	 6	33
10	 Watford	 23	 8	 8	 7	32
11	 Reading	 23	 8	 8	 7	32
12	 Wigan Athletic	 23	 7	 11	 5	32
13	 Blackpool	 23	 7	 11	 5	32
14	 Yeovil Town	 23	 6	 13	 4	31
15	 Ipswich Town	 23	 6	 12	 5	30
16	 Doncaster	 23	 8	 6	 9	30
17	 Sheffield Wed	 23	 7	 9	 7	30
18	 Brighton	 23	 6	 11	 6	29
19	 Barnsley	 23	 7	 8	 8	29
20	 Huddersfield	 23	 6	 10	 7	28
21	 Leeds Utd	 23	 5	 11	 7	26
22	 Millwall	 23	 4	 11	 8	23
23	 Charlton	 23	 3	 12	 8	21
24	 Birmingham	 23	 4	 8	 11	20

[Proudtobeblue&white]

Simples, we ask Madame to ask the league if we can only play 45 minutes?

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

The result at home against a p!ss pot Yeovil comes a haunting.

[Jim Royle]

I have no idea what Bowyer says during his H/T team talks but it needs to change.

Half-time table

 	 	          P	 W	 D	 L	Pts
1	 Derby County	 46	 21	 17	 8	80
2	 Watford	 46	 18	 18	 10	72
3	 Blackburn	 46	 17	 20	 9	71
4	 Burnley	 46	 16	 22	 8	70
5	 Bolton	         46	 16	 21	 9	69
6	 Nottm Forest	 46	 18	 15	 13	69
7	 QPR     	 46	 13	 25	 8	64
8	 Leicester City	 46	 16	 16	 14	64
9	 Yeovil Town	 46	 13	 24	 9	63
10	 Middlesbrough	 46	 12	 26	 8	62
11	 Sheffield Wed	 46	 15	 16	 15	61
12	 Bournemouth	 46	 13	 20	 13	59
13	 Wigan Athletic	 46	 14	 17	 15	59
14	 Blackpool	 46	 12	 22	 12	58
15	 Ipswich Town	 46	 11	 23	 12	56
16	 Brighton 	 46	 11	 23	 12	56
17	 Reading	 46	 12	 18	 16	54
18	 Huddersfield	 46	 9	 25	 12	52
19	 Doncaster	 46	 11	 18	 17	51
20	 Leeds Utd	 46	 9	 22	 15	49
21	 Millwall	 46	 9	 20	 17	47
22	 Barnsley	 46	 9	 20	 17	47
23	 Birmingham	 46	 10	 14	 22	44
24	 Charlton	 46	 6	 20	 20	38

Heck n how many points did we end with after fulltime?

[somersetrover]

I have no idea what Bowyer says during his H/T team talks but it needs to change.

Half-time table

 	 	          P	 W	 D	 L	Pts
1	 Derby County	 46	 21	 17	 8	80
2	 Watford	 46	 18	 18	 10	72
3	 Blackburn	 46	 17	 20	 9	71
4	 Burnley	 46	 16	 22	 8	70
5	 Bolton	         46	 16	 21	 9	69
6	 Nottm Forest	 46	 18	 15	 13	69
7	 QPR     	 46	 13	 25	 8	64
8	 Leicester City	 46	 16	 16	 14	64
9	 Yeovil Town	 46	 13	 24	 9	63
10	 Middlesbrough	 46	 12	 26	 8	62
11	 Sheffield Wed	 46	 15	 16	 15	61
12	 Bournemouth	 46	 13	 20	 13	59
13	 Wigan Athletic	 46	 14	 17	 15	59
14	 Blackpool	 46	 12	 22	 12	58
15	 Ipswich Town	 46	 11	 23	 12	56
16	 Brighton 	 46	 11	 23	 12	56
17	 Reading	 46	 12	 18	 16	54
18	 Huddersfield	 46	 9	 25	 12	52
19	 Doncaster	 46	 11	 18	 17	51
20	 Leeds Utd	 46	 9	 22	 15	49
21	 Millwall	 46	 9	 20	 17	47
22	 Barnsley	 46	 9	 20	 17	47
23	 Birmingham	 46	 10	 14	 22	44
24	 Charlton	 46	 6	 20	 20	38

What a pointless stat, all that basically says is that we would have ended up with 1 point more. Also you could flip that stat and say that Bowyer has us ready for games from the first whistle unlike teams like Wigan, Brighton, Ipswich and Reading.

On today's game it's probably the most enjoyable game that I have seen at Ewood in a good few years. Gestede and Conway were fantastic, as were King and Cairney. Hopefully these last few game have shown Bowyer to go for it more next season and play Cairney and Evans central.

[Stuart]

The result at home against a p!ss pot Yeovil comes a haunting.

The way it's worked out, that one result wouldn't have been enough.

Unless we had laced them 7-0.