[Archived] Rovers v Brentford: 17th March

[Proudtobeblue&white]

See the crowd of 13,400 ish, of which Brentford brought the 3-400.

The three ticket deal didn't work then.

Many left after their goal.

Feel good factor still miles off.

Cup replay the last hurrah.

[LWX]

It was nice while it lasted...

haha, no it wasnt

[DE.]

haha, no it wasnt

Just trying to be positive pal... us realists are killing the MB, don'tcha know?

[adsfortheblues]

Outplayed in midfield yet again. Cairney is weak and overrated.

Say this every week, but there is plenty if Cairney supporters.

[Tom]

More random thoughts

We can't really have excuses tonight; leading after 5 minutes, leading with a goal going into half time yet lost in the end after all the subs were made and the half time talks done.

Sadly we showed that we aren't inmune to schoolboy defending even without Hanley.

Steele made some great saves but showed some very poor goalkeeping.

Spurr was very poor overall he's gone backwards and is just a long throw now

With Mahoney and Lenihan on the bench and I thought I saw Devarn Green warming up at half time we may as well give a couple a chance now the season has gone

[LDRover]

Shame about the result because that was as enjoyable game as I've seen this season.

I thought at 2-1 we were reasonably comfortable but Marshall's appalling piece of play did for us and left us wide open. If he was injured he certainly didn't look it when he tried to take their defence on rather than laying Spurr in who'd made a lung bursting run on the overlap. He then sauntered back with no urgency leaving Spurr to try and cover his mistake. Poor attitude and application from Marshall there and it's not the first time in recent weeks that I've thought that.

The 4-4-2 worked well enough at times as we actually had width but after the inevitable Marshall sub we went back to the tried and failed 'inverted' wingers formation meaning we went too narrow and had no out ball. Cairney looked good centrally (and certainly laid to rest the myth that he can't tackle) but faded when he went out wide and our ability to keep the ball and play through midfield went with it.

The Rudy for Brown sub was as predictable as it was ineffective as surely it was time to go 3 at the back as a draw was no good anyway. Again Brown for me looked poor, probably playing at least a division above his capabilities. An honest trier at best for me.

Bright spots were Henley and Baptiste, the latter looking our best central defender by far. However, the biggest concern for me is the way we finished the game, all of our players looked shattered while Brentford's looked like they could play another 90 minutes. There's no way these players are being conditioned right and that's something there's no excuse for.

So, the top 6 is most definitely out of reach now with an unlikely shot at the cup and only pride in the league to play for. What a waste.

[the original david brent]

I wasn't adverse to brown coming on but why not bring him on for a defender or midfielder and just all out go for it. We needed to win tonight to keep the season alive. In fact a win would have been massive. A draw was no good. If we had gone all out in the last 20 mins but ultimately lose then so be it. Nobody would begrudge it.

To take Gestede off was just ridiculous. I accept he can go through patches of being anonymous but he then has the ability to pop up from nowhere and score.

Bowyer is so obsessed with not losing and unbeaten runs. Unbeaten runs do not get you promoted. Having the ability to win more than 3 games in a row gets teams promoted! He hasn't got that.

Even at 3-2 down, 8 mins to go, make a final change to try and get the 2 goals we need to keep the season alive. Why not roll the dice? Gamble and bring young Mahoney on to make a name for himself. Stick 4 up front. Anything! But he didn't do a bloody thing.

Extremely frustrating.

[LDRover]

Say this every week, but there is plenty if Cairney supporters.

He's the only midfielder who can receive the ball in tight positions, get his head up and keep it. It was noticeable that our ability to play through midfield (that we often did in the first half) stopped when he was switched wide.

I'll put money on that he made more tackles in that game than all the other midfielders combined as well.

[Proudtobeblue&white]

I agree LD, this year has been a waste in light of the "stability" GB brought. We haven't taken advantage of the end of last season, and our record against the teams above us speaks volumes.

In a way I'm relieved we can now start talking about next season, and the chances of us keeping the backbone of this team. In reality I think it won't happen, and Brown & Varney will be our strike force. Shivers, and has glass of something strong.

[arbitro]

Tonight and on many other occasions this season I witnessed a stark difference between us and most of other teams above us. Generally our system is far too rigid and the players unwilling or not allowed to express themselves. Tonight for example it was as if the back and midfield four were tethered with a rope across the width of the field. So many teams have come here and played a fluid system with pace and lots of movement.

When it was 2-2 Brentford kept three men up at one of OUR corners. When they were 3-2 up they kept two men up at one of OUR corners. When we were 3-2 down in the last minute we pulled every back at one of THEIR corners. Adventurous Gary motioned for Evans to stand half way inside our half. And, in my opinion these are just two of the reasons why we will never get out of this league with Bowyer at the helm. Too predictable, players taking too many easy options, poorly coached and easy to play against.

[Doug]

Poor performance from too many players tonight, and we must have the slowest forward line in the football league. I almost posted before the game that only one of Rudy or Rhodes should start as they simply do not click. Brentford pressed us and showed who were the more comfortable with the ball,

Steele - had a decent first half, fantastic save and was unlucky with the deflection. Couldn't tell if he was to blame for any in the second.

Henley - Not sure he was MOM as announced but is looking better at RB. Looks like he's bulked up.

Baptiste - Played well most of the match.

Killa - Good at reading the game but his passing is possibly the worst I've ever seen.

Spurr - Poor game, poor distribution - we miss Olsson.

Overall, the back four had a poor game, we certainly could not play the ball around like they did at the back.

Marshall - Bit disappointing knowing how good he can be.

Taylor - Scored and looks busy, but still not a first choice player.

Evans - covered huge amount of ground but ineffective.

Cairney - Steady but too lightweight in a four man midfield.

Really needed an extra man in midfield for this one as we never seemed to have a spare man to pass to.

Gestede - scored but that's about it.

Rhodes - One of his non productive nights, but looked up for it more than Rudy.

Our forwards were not at the races. Barely caused their defence any problem. Brentford put two men on Gestede and didn't allow him any free headers.

Spearing - we looked better when he came on, probably should have started (hindsight is a wonderful thing).

Brown - We needed to replace a forward so he was the obvious choice.

Brentford were a nippy team with quick passing and never gave us a moment on the ball. Sadly we were second best for a big part of the game.

[Tom]

I wasn't adverse to brown coming on but why not bring him on for a defender or midfielder and just all out go for it. We needed to win tonight to keep the season alive. In fact a win would have been massive. A draw was no good. If we had gone all out in the last 20 mins but ultimately lose then so be it. Nobody would begrudge it.

To take Gestede off was just ridiculous. I accept he can go through patches of being anonymous but he then has the ability to pop up from nowhere and score.

Bowyer is so obsessed with not losing and unbeaten runs. Unbeaten runs do not get you promoted. Having the ability to win more than 3 games in a row gets teams promoted! He hasn't got that.

Even at 3-2 down, 8 mins to go, make a final change to try and get the 2 goals we need to keep the season alive. Why not roll the dice? Gamble and bring young Mahoney on to make a name for himself. Stick 4 up front. Anything! But he didn't do a bloody thing.

Extremely frustrating.

He didn't even have anyone warming up he didn't even toy with the idea of changing it up at thay point

[bazza]

Beaten by a far better side tonight. It's time we gave Brentford the credit they deserve.

[LDRover]

One more thing, the formation didn't lose us that game, individual errors cost us the first 2.

Spurr and Kilgallon not attacking the ball for the 1st and Marshall's hapless surrender and the 2 central defenders not closing down for the 2nd.

Take those errors out of it and for all their possession they only threatened our goal from set pieces and of course the calamity for the winner.

[Proudtobeblue&white]

Beaten by a far better side tonight. It's time we gave Brentford the credit they deserve.

No problem with that, they have taken 6-points off us this season. It's the way we fell apart second half that grates. Just gone 2-1 up end of first half, doesn't sub an obviously injured Marshall, give away an unforgivable equaliser and when we need to give it a reet good go and win, we play for a draw and lose. That's why Gary is not the manager to lead us next year. Just my view.

[G Somerset Rover]

Our routine of leaving everyone back for an opposition corner infuriates me too Arbitro. Why not put Marshall or similar on the half way line? What's he going to do in our area? It's so basic it's laughable. Again it all boils down to Gaz being too negative.

[K-Hod]

A few questions over Henley's MOM but imo it was well deserved. He's come on leaps and bounds since getting a regular run in the team.

Taylor was alright enough, I thought Baptiste had a poor game, Kilgallon was decent enough but I agree with others above that his distribution is poor.

[Proudtobeblue&white]

A few questions over Henley's MOM but imo it was well deserved. He's come on leaps and bounds since getting a regular run in the team.

Taylor was alright enough, I thought Baptiste had a poor game, Kilgallon was decent enough but I agree with others above that his distribution is poor.

It's weird how the defence has been better without Hanley, and yet tonight fell apart. I'm not sure about MOTM, Henley was our only quick player and going forward he worried them. Taylor started off slowly but grew into the game & scored a well taken goal, kept going all second half, so yes for me he was just. But it's like after the Lord mayors show, doesn't mean a jot when you've lost.

[chaddyrovers]

very entertaining game tonight. end to end game.

very impressed by Brentford style.

we have some good chances tonight to score and we should have scored 3 or 4 goals.

all Brentford's goals were preventable by us closing the ball quickly instead of backing off.

Steele should have saved the 2nd goal and the 3rd goal he should have done better.

Gestede looked shattered after 65 mins or so. so I do understand why Brown came on but wish King had been fit cos he could have caused them problems with his pace.

Spearing help us in centre midfield and we starting winning the ball back quicker.

Marshall was injured when he came off.

I wish he would give Mahoney 5 or 10 minutes tonight.

[Hasta]

Gestede looked shattered after 65 mins or so. so I do understand why Brown came on but wish King had been fit cos he could have caused them problems with his pace.

Spearing help us in centre midfield and we starting winning the ball back quicker.

It's funny watching people desperately trying to justify the substitutions despite the evidence before their eyes.

When Spearing came on we lost the midfield and when Gestede went off we lost any presence up front.

Gestede looked shattered? About 5 minutes before the substitution Rhodes tried to close down and chase after a defender and he was ambling. Gestede was still running, still moving (the chance over the bar) and had just flicked on another two headers immediately before he went off. It was so obviously a wrong substitution that it defies belief that people witnessed it and can understand any logic behind it.

edit - just to add Brentford were as good a team as we have seen at Ewood going forward. Not sure they are good enough at the back to get into and through the play offs.

[Rover_Shaun]

Just read GB's comments and this jumped out at me

"The lads showed a tremendous effort bearing in mind we are down to bare bones, but they dug deep and had a right good go."

Now ignoring his usual catchprase I didn't see the team as greatly weakened by the injuries. Spurt would have been 1st choice but for his injury and fans have been banging Taylor's tub for weeks whilst we had arguabley everyone's preferred central defensive pairing.

It feeble excuses like that that shows we will never do anything in the league under him. Shameless.

[RevidgeBlue]

Shame about the result because that was as enjoyable game as I've seen this season.

I thought at 2-1 we were reasonably comfortable but Marshall's appalling piece of play did for us and left us wide open. If he was injured he certainly didn't look it when he tried to take their defence on rather than laying Spurr in who'd made a lung bursting run on the overlap. He then sauntered back with no urgency leaving Spurr to try and cover his mistake. Poor attitude and application from Marshall there and it's not the first time in recent weeks that I've thought that.

The 4-4-2 worked well enough at times as we actually had width but after the inevitable Marshall sub we went back to the tried and failed 'inverted' wingers formation meaning we went too narrow and had no out ball. Cairney looked good centrally (and certainly laid to rest the myth that he can't tackle) but faded when he went out wide and our ability to keep the ball and play through midfield went with it.

The Rudy for Brown sub was as predictable as it was ineffective as surely it was time to go 3 at the back as a draw was no good anyway. Again Brown for me looked poor, probably playing at least a division above his capabilities. An honest trier at best for me.

Bright spots were Henley and Baptiste, the latter looking our best central defender by far. However, the biggest concern for me is the way we finished the game, all of our players looked shattered while Brentford's looked like they could play another 90 minutes. There's no way these players are being conditioned right and that's something there's no excuse for.

So, the top 6 is most definitely out of reach now with an unlikely shot at the cup and only pride in the league to play for. What a waste.

Excellent post Jason, agree entirely with that although I think it's worth pointing out that our ability to ship 3 goals at home does not begin and end with the usual scapegoat Grant Hanley. It's more to do with how the midfield and defence defend as a whole.

[ABBEY]

They were hungrier , faster and fitter . Defence was absolute abysmal . Improvements on last season ? Not a chance.

[Proudtobeblue&white]

Rudy had a rest at the weekend! Why should he shattered after 65 mins Chaddy? Don't be an apologist for a well paid member of our squad! If anything I thought he looked @#/? off to be taken off!

Brentford, this season, are better than we are, and by some distance - perhaps Loonland should be informed.....and they are getting rid of their manager......Loonland wake up!

[ABBEY]

Rudy shattered ha ha .. He's a young professional athlete chaddy !! Get real