[Archived] Friendly Against Wigan 01/08/15

[AllRoverAsia]

Many thanks to all of you who posted match updates. Much appreciated.

From @OneRovers ''Today's attendance is 3504 (including 557 visiting supporters).''

[mhead]

Seems to have all changed after the 62nd minute.

Oh Rhodes was subbed!Co-incidence?

Maybe new chant ...."Rhodes goes off -we score when we want"

We need a new pattern,a new fluidity and lots of goalscorers.

Excited by ALF as well.

[Mike E]

On way back from game. Random thoughts:

Give Guthrie a contract. Likes keeping the ball moving whether wing-to-wing or playing forward. Good engine and never shirked a tackle.

Koita has the quality but seemed a bit lazy. Dolphin was pretty good in general play but not a goalscorer.

Conway and Marshall both full of effort and a screamer from the latter. Tomlinson is what I wish Lowe would be. Hassles the opposition and tries to get forward. Not sure I'd start him in league games just yet at 17, though.

Raya very assured in goal. Steele didn't make a single save during shooting practice pre-game.

Petshi a very confident, tidy player...apart from falling over.

Rhodes can go on that performance. Half-arsed at best.

Hanley the better of the centre halves, not that either was brilliant or bad. Both just ok. Henley and Olsson typically good up and down on each wing.

Overall Wigan controlled the first half, our quality shone in the last 30mins. Fairly pleased but 3-0 flattered us imo.

[tkturner]

Dolphin

[Dunnfc]

On way back from game. Random thoughts:

Give Guthrie a contract. Likes keeping the ball moving whether wing-to-wing or playing forward. Good engine and never shirked a tackle.

Koita has the quality but seemed a bit lazy. Dolphin was pretty good in general play but not a goalscorer.

Conway and Marshall both full of effort and a screamer from the latter. Tomlinson is what I wish Lowe would be. Hassles the opposition and tries to get forward. Not sure I'd start him in league games just yet at 17, though.

Raya very assured in goal. Steele didn't make a single save during shooting practice pre-game.

Petshi a very confident, tidy player...apart from falling over.

Rhodes can go on that performance. Half-arsed at best.

Hanley the better of the centre halves, not that either was brilliant or bad. Both just ok. Henley and Olsson typically good up and down on each wing.

Overall Wigan controlled the first half, our quality shone in the last 30mins. Fairly pleased but 3-0 flattered us imo.

Good summary there!

Great post. How did Henley look with Nyambe now looking to get some games?

[Butty]

Raya seems more worthy of a starting place judging from pre season performance but I think Steele will be in goal first game of the season. Henley Hanley Duffy Olsson Lowe Guthrie (if he signs) O'sullivan Marshall Conway Rhodes will be the line-up next week I think. Doesn't look that bad really.

[Mike E]

I think Nyambe being a genuine threat to Henley's place bodes well. Think Nyambe prefers to tackle while Henley prefers going for the block.

Happy with either at rb tbh.

[Gav]

Going up

Going up

Going up

[T J Hooker]

Tomlinson looks like he could be the real deal from what im hearing about him, physically he looks like he'd have no trouble holding his own in a league game judging by the match pictures ive seen of him just now.

Would those that go to friendlies say that its been a good pre season in general on the pitch, it seems it has to me.

[Mercer]

Don't be fooled by the score - it papered over some gaping cracks.

First half, we were woeful - not an attempt on goal that I can recall. Wigan were by far the more accomplished side.

Rovers didn't come to life until Conway crashed one against the bar after about 50 minutes.

Two great strikes from Tomlinson and Marshall worth the admission money alone.

Other than a great save close to the end, Raya didn't have much to do but needs to sharpen up / improve his distribution at times.

Defensively, Hanley and Duffy aren't close enough as a pairing at times and better teams than Wigan will exploit the gaping gaps.

Midfield dire. Problems remain. Still think Lowe is robbing a living from the game - totally ineffective. Guthrie at least wanted the ball and was neat and tidy without being threatening. Take Conway and Marshall away, and we would have no spark or threat. Petshi came on for last 10 minutes - this guy is so laid back, in another world. Nowhere near what's required in the Championship and would get eaten alive.

Up front, Rhodes hardly broke sweat but to be fair to the lad, he had no service. Maynard lasted 30 minutes, made no impact and was unbelievably slow. As for Delfy, have seen better at Pleasington. Koita replaced Rhodes after 60 minutes and is a big lad and that's about it.

Interestingly, Bowyer sat next to Shelfy in the directors' box until minutes from the end.

Coming off, my friend from Wigan felt far more optimistic about his team's chances this season than I did.

[joey_big_nose]

Mercerman in bad news shocker!

[Ricky]

Nice to see you back Mercer. It's a week since the Rhodes transfer was 'moving quickly' according to your Boro source. Do they have a different meaning to the word quickly up there??

[West Yorks Rover]

To be fair to Mercer, everybody seems to be saying Wigan dominated the first half, which doesn't bode well, we're a division

above them and were playing at home.

Maybe we were playing possum for the Wolves spies.

[T J Hooker]

Cheers mercer'bearer of good news'man😀 so does anybpdy have an alternative view to my question? (Or is mercer pretty much on the money this time)

[chaddyrovers]

Second half was much better and I feel that Bowyer has learned lessons from last season and that we cant play 4-4-2 formation and that playing 4-2-3-1/4-3-3 formation gives us more better balance to the team.

Guthrie was fairly good. Put a couple of tackling in, only available to recieve the ball. I hope we sign him on a permanent basis.

Rhodes was lacking match sharpness and that was clear to see.

Marshall was good. Worked hard for the team. Suit him playing in the 10 role/free role. Can deep and sometimes needs to abit further up the pitch.

[T J Hooker]

Surely it has to be yslen into account that there where a lot of new faces in the squad, some that have only been here for days(maybe just hours in sicknote maynards case)

[Mercer]

Nice to see you back Mercer. It's a week since the Rhodes transfer was 'moving quickly' according to your Boro source. Do they have a different meaning to the word quickly up there??

It's summer and had a few days' break - and a good one it was !

Friend from Wigan dragged me down today.

As for Rhodes, as last Sunday, my colleague's understanding was that a break through had been made and at least one of the parties involved thought it was going to happen. Clearly, that has not proved correct. Perhaps the word 'dysfunctional' may be appropriate in some quarters.

[tomphil]

Comfortable in the end and a couple of great strikes. Problem for me is defence in the centre unsurprisingly looked shaky, those two will never gel. Duffy is still on the comeback though so I'm praying they are just letting him get games under his belt and Killa will start next week. Being so poor in the first half against the likes of Wolves will see us 2 nil down. Same old same old but both Guthrie and Tomlinson look better than Lowe on that showing,

Positives. Far better effort second half.

Guthrie moves the ball about at a quicker pace than any of our other mids.

Tomlinson could be a handy squad player this season if he gets a chance. Delf is better on the ball than Browny

Hanley looks fitter than he's done for the past 2 years.

No sign of GB slumped on the dugout wall to irritate me. I don't think it makes a jot of difference him sitting in the stand as his presence on the touchline offers nothing. Stay up there and leave the animated stuff to the coaches

[chaddyrovers]

Interestingly, Bowyer sat next to Shelfy in directors' box until minutes from the end.

Coming off, my friend from Wigan felt far more optimistic about his team's chances this season.

I don't see the problem sat in the directors box. Gives him a better view than being on the touchline. Some managers like Big Sam and McClaren prefer it.

I didnt rate Wigan one bit tbh. Some neat passing and movement but nothing special. Think They might struggle in League 1 tbh. Dont rate their strikeforce. They lack a quality striker tbh. Played 3-4-3 formation. Good luck to them.(they might need it)

[RevidgeBlue]

.

Coming off, my friend from Wigan felt far more optimistic about his team's chances this season than I did.

There's a surprise!

[Mercer]

There's a surprise!

We were poor and didn't see anything to suggest we will make an impact this season - can envisage similar dross to what I saw in the games I attended last season. Season tickets' (plural) money staying in the bank for other things.

[RevidgeBlue]

We were poor and didn't see anything to suggest we will make an impact this season - can envisage similar dross to what I saw in the games I attended last season. Season tickets' (plural) money staying in the bank for other things.

Ok we'll have to see what happens. Just amused your mate was allegedly more optimistic than you coming off after losing 3-0.

[mustard]

I can relate to both Mike and Mercer's reports on the game. First half we were terribly poor. Sat back, hoofed it. We were miles off the pace and Wigan looked the fitter and stronger side throughout, with us often camped in our half. Made dull Viewing. Guthrie looked ok but no one else did anything of note. Rhodes didn't get any service at all and was often left isolated and wasn't at his best on the ball for the most part.

Second half we had more about our game. More passing on the floor and a bit more of a threat about us. Neither of the new signings nor other trialists were great. At start of half Conway had a powerful shot deflected onto the bar and Wigan threatened with a couple. Tomlinson then bagged a great goal from nothing, though I do think the keeper should have done better. We started to control the game more, without being too threatening and Hanley bagged. I think Hanley and Duffy looked shaky first half but much improved second half, with Hanley being the better of the two. Wigan started playing more direct and it suited our defence. Marshall had been largely off the pace, with Conway looking much more threatening and then Marshall scores the wonder goal. Tomlinson looked bright when he came on and think he made a difference in the centre. Raya didn't have much to do but did well. I thought Henley and Olsson were solid throughout, with Henley being the best player for me today.

Overall, I'd say the scoreline was a touch flattering, though we definitely had the better of the chances (and finishes) in the second half. Just a friendly though and all that matters is how we start the season.

[SoldierMo]

Don't be fooled by the score - it papered over some gaping cracks.

First half, we were woeful - not an attempt on goal that I can recall. Wigan were by far the more accomplished side.

Rovers didn't come to life until Conway crashed one against the bar after about 50 minutes.

Two great strikes from Tomlinson and Marshall worth the admission money alone.

Other than a great save close to the end, Raya didn't have much to do but needs to sharpen up / improve his distribution at times.

Defensively, Hanley and Duffy aren't close enough as a pairing at times and better teams than Wigan will exploit the gaping gaps.

Midfield dire. Problems remain. Still think Lowe is robbing a living from the game - totally ineffective. Guthrie at least wanted the ball and was neat and tidy without being threatening. Take Conway and Marshall away, and we would have no spark or threat. Petshi came on for last 10 minutes - this guy is so laid back, in another world. Nowhere near what's required in the Championship and would get eaten alive.

Up front, Rhodes hardly broke sweat but to be fair to the lad, he had no service. Maynard lasted 30 minutes, made no impact and was unbelievably slow. As for Delfy, have seen better at Pleasington. Koita replaced Rhodes after 60 minutes and is a big lad and that's about it.

Interestingly, Bowyer sat next to Shelfy in the directors' box until minutes from the end.

Coming off, my friend from Wigan felt far more optimistic about his team's chances this season than I did.[/quote

Not positive news if mercerman does not reflect it with the negatives...now you have said the negatives i feel better about positives

[roversoutsider]

Very intrigued by Tomlinson. Many on Twitter raving about him as well. Really hope he doesnt get carried away, keeps his head screwed on or else he'd turn out to be like Robbie Cotton(what is he doing these days). I'd be made up with a midfield of Tomlinson and Lenihan. Again, I wonder if Tomlinson is a CDM or a box to box and creative type? Glad to see so many coming through the Academy.

An academy 11 for fun sakes

----------------Raya--------------

Nyambe---Hanley--Lenihan---Henley

Tomlinson----Lowe

Green------O'Sullivan-----Mahoney

------Forrester-------