[Archived] Rovers vs Wigan

[cesus]

Got to echo what has been said above by dingles staying down 4ever, for every positive we have had this season there is a negative that has gone hand in hand with it. When we kept clean sheets we didn't score, but now we have started scoring we have started conceding at an alarming rate.

As for yesterday in the first half we were magnificent going forwards, I am convinced Craig Conway will have the most assists next season in the league the balls he puts into the box are excellent and with Marshall supplying equally good balls in from the opposite wing Rudy must be rubbing his hands together. For as good as we were going forwards we were equally poor at the back as Wigan looked like scoring with every opportunity they had. Second half we slowed and Wigan looked stronger but a win is a win and the very good run continued to the end of the season.

With regards to next season a strong start is a must, you need momentum in this league and hopefully the good run we have ended on starts again. I think Bowyer has quite a tough job on his hands this summer, the defence needs some serious attention with right back being an obvious place but I'm not massively convinced with the Hanley/Killa combo. I think yesterday gave further evidence that Robbo is not good enough for this level anymore, the other options we have at the club show we would have to look to the transfer market. The goals Robbo concedes low from distance are alarming really, as yesterday showed the strike for the 3rd was a good foot inside the post and a goalkeeper at this level should be getting far nearer to these, if you add this vulnerability to that he has with near post strikes and him not being too keen to come for crosses we really need to be looking for a new number 1. Midfield will also need some attention with regards to freeing up some wages at the moment our midfield department must cost a fortune when you think we have, Lowe, Williamson, Evans, Etuhu, King, Cairney, Conway, Dunn, King, Marshall, Taylor, Rochina, Marrow, Judge off the top of my head all hardly on pennies and bar Dunn still on the payroll for 2014/15. Good Luck Gary!!

[Stuart]

Didn't show the Rhodes sitter on TV.

Can anyone who was sat closer than me explain what he did as it seemed he trapped the ball? It was a great cross and seemed easier to score.

It was a truly awful miss. No idea why he felt he needed two touches. Thankfully it wasn't the difference on the day.

[dingles staying down 4ever]

It was a truly awful miss. No idea why he felt he needed two touches. Thankfully it wasn't the difference on the day.

Looked like a forward lacking in confidence to me. Earlier in the season he'd have taken that first time and scored.

[AggyBlue]

Was the cross behind him and that was why he needed a touch?

That's how it looked from the BBE

[cesus]

Was the cross behind him and that was why he needed a touch?

That's how it looked from the BBE

I'd say it was half a step behind him, certainly could have manoeuvred his body quite easily to hit it first time.

[broadsword]

But a different manager may not have bought Cairney, Conway, Evans, Gestede, Marshall, Spurr etc. Its been these transfers that have taken us to the brink of the play offs. Look at the side a year ago. It's miles better now.

This is true (although he has bought some guff as well, but then no manager is perfect when it comes to transfers).

Has he got the nous to take us up next year (not just get to sixth or better but actually take us up). But more importantly, will he be given the chance to given our no doubt perilous financial situation. It may not be a case of "are the Venky's willing to keep the purse strings open?" but perhaps more a case of "Will Venky's run out of family silver to pledge to ensure the bank keeps the cash pipeline open?"

I've no wish to be churlish, he's bought some class performers. But if it was a case of "promotion this season or bust" then against that criteria he has failed, as harsh as that may sound.

A more experienced manager might not have signed those players, but equally he may not have signed Feeney, Dabo, Marrow, extended Eastwood's contract, played Kean for umpteen games when his confidence was shot, made bizarre subsitutions, played it safe against Yeovil etc. Some quite basic errors, some perhaps fairly trivial, but some no doubt quite costly.

I'm more than prepared to acknowledge where he has gone right, but let's judge this in the round, against a backdrop of continual, chronic loss-making.

Naturally my hope is that we can soldier on for one more season without having to sell off any core members of the squad, and that Bowyer has learned enough this season to get us up next. Because liek it or not, the clock is ticking and we cannot afford to dick around. If the plug gets pulled on us, we're going to be like Charlton Heston at the end of Planet of the Apes, languishing in the Chumpionship, with no way back and just a half-buried trophy in the sand for company.

[thenodrog]

I do want Bowyer to leave in the Summer, I think he is responsible for us not getting in the playoffs.

Grief! If that is the case then by applying similar thought processes there will be another 16 clubs who must sack their managers too!

Plus do you also expect Chelsea to sack Mourhino cos they didn't win the Prem? Maybe Everton will sack Martinez for not making the Champions league?

[thenodrog]

People seem to forget what a mess we were in when Bowyer took over. He's had to rebuild huge sections of the squad with a vast number of new players - many of them young players who he wishes to develop. You can't expect a team like that to gel instantly. Success does not come overnight, especially for a playing squad that was an absolute shambles of overpaid, under-performing wastrels.

We're clearly on an upward trajectory and sacking Bowyer now would be madness.

Good result today. Three on the bounce.

Exactly right xtp. Anybody ever thought that but for a last ditch away win at Plymouth that even with the full weight of Jack Walkers cheque book behind him Kenny Dalglish would have missed the play offs too?

Thought not! One aspect of t'internet and mboards is that it provides a constant reminder of how mind numbingly thick some of our fellow supporters can be.

[JBiz]

Exactly right xtp. Anybody ever thought that but for a last ditch away win at Plymouth that even with the full weight of Jack Walkers cheque book behind him Kenny Dalglish would have missed the play offs too?

Thought not! One aspect of t'internet and mboards is that it provides a constant reminder of how mind numbingly thick some of our fellow supporters can be.

That's fo sho! But remember football is all about opinions.

An example where we would disagree, Jordan's 54 league goals in 2 seasons have been as important as anything else to achieve safety, stability or whatever we'd call it!

[thenodrog]

A shocking defensive display from Rovers. This game could have been 6-6, we could not defend for peanuts and outwitted in midfield except for Cairney who was impressive.

Also good games from Conway and Gestede, Rhodes was disinterested for most of the game.

Not impressed at all.

1. Conway plays midfield.

2. Rhodes has appeared disinterested most of the season..... but apparently if anyone dares to point that out they become a 'hater'. btw how on earth did he miss that sitter???

3. Scores could have been higher admittedly but we did create the better chances and could easily have been out of sight by half time.

As for my own opinion....

a. No panic to do it but Robinson needs replacing .... bearing in mind that GK is a very difficult position to get right.

b. Kilgallon was mighty poor and whilst I'm happy to keep him for back up we really need to sign a stronger CH.

c. The RB position needs sorting as does most other aspects of defending. Pullis stated last week that defence is the duty of the entire team and not just the back 4. We give away possession to easily and when we do not enough players look to get 'goal side' of their opposite number.

1st goal for Wigan would quite simply not have happened if we'd had a man on the back stick, and with Robinson as immobile as he is I'd suggest both posts should be guarded for corner kicks.

btw Anybody know why the first half goal was disallowed? I was enjoying a spot of corporate behind the Blackburn end and did not have my normal half way line viewpoint.

[thenodrog]

Bit of an exhibition game really with a 2nd string Wigan side not having anything to play for and us having a very slim chance of something to play for.

Started well, and even had some kind of hope at 3-1 and with other results starting to go our way. But ultimately it proved a false dawn (summing up our season). 2nd half didn't live up to the first and after Wigan pulled their second goal back and the other scores turning against us it all went a bit flat, plus we also started to look knackered - although kept on going and going as much as possible and I guess overall should have had a couple more goals.

Nice to see Jordan making it to 25 goals - always looks good on paper- and that should ensure a decent price should we end up going down that route this summer. Robbo getting beaten yet again by a low shot is a concern.........

Conway deserved MOTM yet again................

Had we really been in with a chance though and needed a goal late on............well, no "Rochina" or similar on the bench.........the laughable Feeney and the prolific Varney??? Well, thank god it didn't come to that in the end...................

We won and it didn't rain, so it's all good. Though no appearance from the Legend that is DABO did put a dampener on things.

Anybody else think the no show by Dunny a sign that he will still be around next season?

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.

We should make a shed load should Rudy go although I doubt it will offset the amount that we will spew on JR.

[joey_big_nose]

For me I don't think Gestede or Rhodes will attract serious Premiership offers this window. Rhodes is too expensive for how one dimensional he is, Gestede has only been really top performing for three months and has a big injury history. The one that worries me more is Cairney. He will be a top prem league player, no doubt, it's clear to see on the pitch. I could see someone like Swansea, Everton, Southampton etc taking an early punt on him with a view to develop him over time. Probably not this window though. Of everyone at the club he is the once who could go furthest in his career I think.

[thenodrog]

Grant Hanley should have been dismissed

Why? From what I saw the Wigan player had him in a headlock and he didn't react?

[thenodrog]

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.

The attack can't be cribbed on the goals for side of it but defence has certainly been our Achilles heel den... so brittle and an absolute suicide declaration should we have been promoted. Bowyer has performed well overall but if I were him and for the sake of his career I'd be looking to get tough, bin off some of my assistants and bring in people with different and proven skills in that direction.

Well said Den. We need a decent manager, not GB.

Can we assume that is also the opinion of all the others in the appropriately named 'Bullsh1t corner' PB? .

[thenodrog]

Big drop in parachute payments coming up. We'll be getting into deeper and deeper waters financially. Appointing bowyer could've been the worst mistake venkys have made so far. Not the worst appointment but the worst decision. A better manager could've taken this squad a lot further. The window of opportunity could now have closed

Bryan, that's proper 'If my Auntie had knackers she'd have been my Uncle. Best players since Christmas have all been brought in by GB.... Gedstede, Conway, Cairney, Marshall and Evans.

[Neil Weaver]

btw Anybody know why the first half goal was disallowed? I was enjoying a spot of corporate behind the Blackburn end and did not have my normal half way line viewpoint.

Think it was for offside Gord, seem to remember a linesman's flag.

[cn174]

I thought it was straight from a corner so maybe the ball swubg out then in again.

[Hullrover]

btw Anybody know why the first half goal was disallowed? I was enjoying a spot of corporate behind the Blackburn end and did not have my normal half way line viewpoint.

I was in the Darwen End and had a good view of this. Two players were offside before the cross or corner came in; one moved back and the other(Rhodes) didn't .

[thenodrog]

I thought it was straight from a corner so maybe the ball swubg out then in again.

Wrong Clur it was from a free kick so offside seems favourite but I haven't seen it on video anywhere yet.

[bazza]

I was in the Darwen End and had a good view of this. Two players were offside before the cross or corner came in; one moved back and the other(Rhodes) didn't .

It was a free kick. Cannot be offside from a corner.

[JAL]

Why? From what I saw the Wigan player had him in a headlock and he didn't react?

Hanley went through the back of a Wigan player first half around the centre circle the referee played an advantage, that was caution in itself. Then Grant deliberately got himself in a confrontation on the floor in front of the enclosure, OK after the first one, this one provided the ref with the opportunity to caution Grant.

But then after getting away with these two Grant flies right into the Wigan forward leading with his forearm smashing the Wigan lad to the floor, now this could be interpreted as a straight red in itself but yellow at the minimum.

So wether it was straight red or a second yellow Grant should have been dismissed during that first half.

[JAL]

Looking at Wigans last two goals Killgallon doesnt look too clever for Rovers.

[thenodrog]

Looking at Wigans last two goals Killgallon doesnt look too clever for Rovers.

He certainly did have a poor game.

[m1st]

What worried me was the way the back 4 weren't playing to the whistle.

The Pie-eaters' first goal came from a corner conceded from an attack in which the back 4 thought that at least one of the Wigan players was offside and were berating the Assistant Referee on the Riverside.

They may well have been right, but I'm convinced they weren't properly concentrating on defending the corner. There was another example in the first half, too.

[thenodrog]

What worried me was the way the back 4 weren't playing to the whistle.

The Pie-eaters' first goal came from a corner conceded from an attack in which the back 4 thought that at least one of the Wigan players was offside and were berating the Assistant Referee on the Riverside.

They may well have been right, but I'm convinced they weren't properly concentrating on defending the corner. There was another example in the first half, too.

A man on the back post would have stopped that goal. A simple time honoured tactic that so many seem to reject these days. I wonder what they teach em at coaching school these days.