[Archived] Gary Bowyer Discussion

[mustard]

No arguments with Bowyer and his selections tonight. Think he mostly got it right.

Only real disappointment is that was our last meaningful game of the season and we have absolutely nothing to play for.

Worst thing is, I know he'll be in charge come the end of summer and I know we will be playing for nothing again next season.

[RevidgeBlue]

Bowyer got his tactics spot on tonight.

Only if the aim for tonight was to lose, but to keep the scoreline down to respectable proportions.

Did we win? Did we score a goal? Did we really go for it tonight?

The answer has to be no on all 3 counts.

However I don't think GB should be replaced because of tonight's result, I think he should be replaced because the League season was a dead rubber by mid February and I can see nothing whatsoever to suggest he is capable of improving on his record of missing out on the play offs with a decent squad during the last two seasons.

[Gav]

Gary Bowyer lost my support tonight, which some may think strange because we’ve seen far more lacklustre performances this season than tonight’s.

But we can’t do the simple things right, passing the ball short, passing the ball long, defending corners, hoofing the ball to poor Rhodes, 75% of the time it goes nowhere near the lad, he covers some right miles, we just can’t do the basics and thats down to the manager.

I don’t think the players are good enough either, but they should be able to pass the ball to a team mate and some can’t even do that.

So despite my fears over his replacement he has to go, but I think we’ll be waiting a while yet.

[Baz]

Only if the aim for tonight was to lose, but to keep the scoreline down to respectable proportions.

Did we win? Did we score a goal? Did we really go for it tonight?

The answer has to be no on all 3 counts.

However I don't think GB should be replaced because of tonight's result, I think he should be replaced because the League season was a dead rubber by mid February and I can see nothing whatsoever to suggest he is capable of improving on his record of missing out on the play offs with a decent squad during the last two seasons.

100% correct.

We went 442 too early, when we needed to bolster midfield, just before and after the goal we struggled to get any posession.

Every credit to the team over the 2 games we have been stoic, and looked dangerous from set pieces. Away from the cup games the season has been a big step backwards.

[mustard]

The argument for/against Bowyer rests on this for me... Forgetting the good cup run, with six games left, what do we have to play for now? Hell, you can go back to fifteen or twenty games left and say "what do we look like doing in the league under Bowyer this term?" and the answer is absolutely diddly squat.

[tomphil]

As much as I quite rightly moan about a lot of his league tactics tonight is different altogether. If Rudy had come on and scored and we held out then it couldn't be argued he got it perfect, it's such a fine line. To be honest I would have brought him on earlier but that's GB for you. To highlight it I'm told he was telling Clint to stay but he ignored him and came forward. That's just the way he is he'd rather not risk a gamble of a 94th min goal in case it goes straight down the other end and ends up 2 nil because it seems worse. He'll never change he's not an overly negative boss or a complete long ball merchant he's just an overly cautious manager.

Can't complain about much tonight though, we just aren't good enough to go and press a team like that for 90+ mins and if we'd tried from the off it could have been over in ten mins.

[Tom]

The worst thing is just how tight it is at the top with the likes of Bournmouth looking at the top two and 4 teams within a point or two of them yet we are 14 points off 6th place - that's poor

[Husky]

It's fairly certain that we are going to lose at least a couple of our best players during the summer. GG is still being as selfish as ever and playing for himself (i.e. - try and do just enough to not get sacked) - for example there has been no hint of playing any of the Academy players even though our league season has been over for over one month already.

The largely mundane, slow dross we've seen this season is set to become even worse. Hardly inspiring is it? I can't see any hope - we're set to become the new Blackpool unless there are drastic changes.

[tomphil]

Gary Bowyer lost my support tonight, which some may think strange because we’ve seen far more lacklustre performances this season than tonight’s.

But we can’t do the simple things right, passing the ball short, passing the ball long, defending corners, hoofing the ball to poor Rhodes, 75% of the time it goes nowhere near the lad, he covers some right miles, we just can’t do the basics and thats down to the manager.

I don’t think the players are good enough either, but they should be able to pass the ball to a team mate and some can’t even do that.

So despite my fears over his replacement he has to go, but I think we’ll be waiting a while yet.

The argument for/against Bowyer rests on this for me... Forgetting the good cup run, with six games left, what do we have to play for now? Hell, you can go back to fifteen or twenty games left and say "what do we look like doing in the league under Bowyer this term?" and the answer is absolutely diddly squat.

Writing was on the wall in the Cardiff game right at the beginning of the season. Instead of getting into them we set out to contain and give them too much respect. They sat right back in the 2nd half but we didn't have a good go till the last ten. It's GB and his coaching teams blueprint for a league season and we'll see nothing different next.

[Andyblue2]

We didn't need to score tonight, so he should have swapped the ineffective Rhodes for gestede, kept it very tight in midfield, rhodes wouldn't have been on to lose coutinho for their goal and Rudy might have nicked something in injury time. Unless the industrious Conway was injured I can't see why he didn't bring off the very heavy looking Marshall who seems to be getting slower and larger by the week or Evans.

[ABBEY]

You like me, den, well remember Rovers challenging for the title alongside Everton and what did we do? - sell Fred Pickering to Everton. Clubs like the Rovers always fall prey to the big city clubs who can offer more money. FFP is a fact - what we should or should not have done when we were relegated is now irrelevant. We live in the here and now and at the moment we can't buy players we can only loan - and even then there are restrictions - or bring on our own and when a player catches the eye of a "big club" they are ripe for picking. Even Liverpool are struggling to keep Sterling and they are far higher up the food chain than the Rovers. As for our natural position it all depends on the situation. Between 1936 and 1991 our natural position was the Second Division. For most the past twenty odd years our natural home has been the Premiership. Now, sadly, it looks like it might be the Championship again. With the restrictions placed upon us it is going to be difficult but there is no other alternative than a slow rebuild unless you can think of genuine quality players who other clubs are prepared to give away and players who are prepared to take a drastic wage cut to meet the FFP wage restrictions placed upon the Rovers.

LETS NOT MENTION SHEARER SUTTON ETC ...WEVE ALWAYS SOLD ..VENKYS ARE ARE AWASOME AFTER TONIGHT LISTENING TO FANS

Writing was on the wall in the Cardiff game right at the beginning of the season. Instead of getting into them we set out to contain and give them too much respect. They sat right back in the 2nd half but we didn't have a good go till the last ten. It's GB and his coaching teams blueprint for a league season and we'll see nothing different next.

SAT IN A BAR AND SAID NO CHANCE OF PROMOTION .

[glen9mullan]

Nice to see Ewood Rocking tonight for the quarter final match , with a big turn out from the home support .

However that is a one off crowd, and normal service will resume in our next home game with less than half that crowd attending .

This season overall has been very disappointing .

We have not looked a top 6 side all season under Bowyer , yet I do think the squad was more than capable .

Tactically 9 times out of 10 it's been poor and the football bland .

Hopefully the right decision will be made in the coming weeks and an experienced head is brought in to manage the team .

[Gav]

We didn't need to score tonight, so he should have swapped the ineffective Rhodes for gestede, kept it very tight in midfield, rhodes wouldn't have been on to lose coutinho for their goal and Rudy might have nicked something in injury time. Unless the industrious Conway was injured I can't see why he didn't bring off the very heavy looking Marshall who seems to be getting

slower and larger by the week or Evans.

The service to Rhodes was atrocious, like it is most weeks. Most balls go nowhere near him and the ones that do are around his ears.

[Stuart]

We worked hard, no question.

But for me there is a difference between that and being 'brave' enough to take the risk that could win you the tie.

The last twenty minutes was screaming out for a bit of width, bring young Mahoney on, just give it a go, this may be the last time we see Ewood like this or reach a cup QF for years- now's the time! But nothing comes from Bowyer.

The frustrating thing is that we do have the players, the support wants to be re-engaged, but we are blowing our last good few years on Gary Bowyer, it makes me just so very frustrated.

100%.

[blueboy3333]

As much as I quite rightly moan about a lot of his league tactics tonight is different altogether. If Rudy had come on and scored and we held out then it couldn't be argued he got it perfect, it's such a fine line. To be honest I would have brought him on earlier but that's GB for you. To highlight it I'm told he was telling Clint to stay but he ignored him and came forward. That's just the way he is he'd rather not risk a gamble of a 94th min goal in case it goes straight down the other end and ends up 2 nil because it seems worse. He'll never change he's not an overly negative boss or a complete long ball merchant he's just an overly cautious manager.

Can't complain about much tonight though, we just aren't good enough to go and press a team like that for 90+ mins and if we'd tried from the off it could have been over in ten mins.

bobbins, he told Eastwood to go forward, i saw him do it.

[tomphil]

bobbins, he told Eastwood to go forward, i saw him do it.

Someone told me different so I don't know but he has done it before with Steele and I saw that so wouldn't have been surprised.

[ABBEY]

NEGATIVE TACTICS = NEGATIVE TEAM= NEGATIVE RESULTS..BOWYEER OUT

[ABBEY]

BE HONEST GAZ ...WHAT IS NEXT?

[Stuart]

Someone told me different so I don't know but he has done it before with Steele and I saw that so wouldn't have been surprised.

Hahahaaha @ Bullboyzzzzz.

I was quoting Eastwood HIMSELF on Radio Rovers after the match! But you carry on spinning in spite of the facts.

[Parsonblue]

NEGATIVE TACTICS = NEGATIVE TEAM= NEGATIVE RESULTS..BOWYEER OUT

How was it negative? Denying Liverpool space to operate in midfield. When we went to two up top they got the space they needed but in fairness, with the injuries, he went for two strikers as there was no way the team could have gone into extra time. For me he got it right both these games against Liverpool and in this one and had little room to alter things with what was on the bench. The best of the youngsters on the bench were Nyambe, just turned 17 and a defender and Lenihan a defensive midfield player. There was little scope for change in an attacking sense.

[Mattyblue]

Hi Parson, always been a fan of your posts and your much missed match reports.

However, I can remember your match reports from around 12/18 months ago, you were pretty down about the prospects of the club, then there seemed to be a fairly radical change in your mindset, to the point where you now seem totally convinced by Bowyer.

Can I ask what made you change? For me, this last 12 months (in fact, ever since the 3-3 at Sheffield Wednesday a year ago ,pretty much to the day) we have been poorly managed by a manager who at has a decent set of players at his disposal.

To watch us get played off the park week after week at Ewood, often by young and/or inexperienced managers, has been massively worrying. I believe there is a malaise through the playing staff that comes from not having a manager with a winning mentality, nor the tactical nous to turn things round.

I believe football teams are an image of their manager, ergo watch Burnley press and harry and make every game a battle, their seemingly indistructable small squad, an actual 'real good go'. Then watch our never fully fit squad limp off one after the other, the labouriously slow and cautious build up play and lack of a pressing game.

He is in a very lucky situation at Ewood Park, as he seems to be in an even stronger position then pre Shebby Singh Steve Kean, he will certianly be here next season, but I wonder how many more fans won't be?

[Tom]

Brilliant post Matty and sums up the thoughts of me and many I know.

Not being very good isn't the issue, never ever controlling a game at home is an issue

[martonrover]

Hi Parson, always been a fan of your posts and your much missed match reports.

However, I can remember your match reports from around 12/18 months ago, you were pretty down about the prospects of the club, then there seemed to be a fairly radical change in your mindset, to the point where you now seem totally convinced by Bowyer.

Can I ask what made you change? For me, this last 12 months (in fact, ever since the 3-3 at Sheffield Wednesday a year ago ,pretty much to the day) we have been poorly managed by a manager who at has a decent set of players at his disposal.

To watch us get played off the park week after week at Ewood, often by young and/or inexperienced managers, has been massively worrying. I believe there is a malaise through the playing staff that comes from not having a manager with a winning mentality, nor the tactical nous to turn things round.

I believe football teams are an image of their manager, ergo watch Burnley press and harry and make every game a battle, their seemingly indistructable small squad, an actual 'real good go'. Then watch our never fully fit squad limp off one after the other, the labouriously slow and cautious build up play and lack of a pressing game.

He is in a very lucky situation at Ewood Park, as he seems to be in an even stronger position then pre Shebby Singh Steve Kean, he will certianly be here next season, but I wonder how many more fans won't be?

Totally agree with all points.

The fitness issue cannot simply be due to bad luck. I would wager we will have the same problems next season.

I think Bowyer will be happy with last night as Henley's performance satisfied his top priority of increasing player values.

[Parsonblue]

However, I can remember your match reports from around 12/18 months ago, you were pretty down about the prospects of the club, then there seemed to be a fairly radical change in your mindset, to the point where you now seem totally convinced by Bowyer.

Can I ask what made you change?

Fair question Matty. Perhaps it's been a dose of realism that has crept into my mindset. I've always been one for looking to the future rather than dwelling on the past. We can't change the past, we can look back fondly and remember the good times, but we can't alter what happened. However we can deal with the present and plan for the future. As Blackpool and Wigan have found, the Championship is far easier to get out of the wrong way than the right way. I believe that at the very worst, Bowyer will ensure Championship survival even with losing players, as we are likely to do in the summer. Whilst we are under the transfer restrictions caused by FFP, it's going to make any promotion challenge extremely difficult. A combination of free transfers, loans and youngsters is going to be the immediate future unless we can get the restrictions lifted which seems highly unlikely due to the wage bill and the very limited income streams. Bowyer has proved adept at working within that market.

I've said before that I believe than any manager needs time and we have seen this season swapping managers doesn't always produce the results you want - who'd have thought Wigan would be in this situation with the previous two managers they employed or who'd have thought Holloway would have sunk Millwall in such spectacular fashion?

For me the challenge for Bowyer is to produce greater levels of consistency within the team. Too many individual errors - at both ends of the pitch - have cost us valuable points. It's somewhat ironic that of late it has been the Rovers who have been travelling away and producing the type of performance that away teams often produce at Ewood. Why the players should perform better away from Ewood is a puzzle but one that needs to be solved for next season. I don't know if Bowyer will be here next season, I suspect he will and in many ways hope he will, but at the moment it's a tough gig managing at Ewood but personally, I've seen enough this season to give me some hope for the future under the present management team.

[Rover_Shaun]

As we sleepwalk to the summer the question of next season looms large.

Season 2015/16 - Something's Gotta Give

But what?