[Archived] A Journey Into Mordor

[Amo]

Another thing about Akpan; when everyone looked tired he looked like he could do another 90.

Be interesting to see who comes in with him in the next game I imagine Williamson.

Hopefully we can keep Lawrence for the season then beyond, for all his flaws GB does very well with the freebies and sometimes loans

How far is Guthrie from a return?

[Mercer]

Always good to win, however, Leeds really were woeful and if we can't beat sides like that.......

Interesting to see if we now 'lift off' or will this prove another false dawn.

No Evans at Brum will make it harder , however, we do have an extra two days' rest and we should get at least a point.

[Amo]

Outstanding performance. We looked incredibly well organised and had talent going forward. Lawrence, Evans, Conway and Evans were brilliant. The two centre backs have improved dramatically this season, looking very solid.

Leeds were atrocious but we still played well.

Let's not start getting carried away throwing around superlatives. It was a decent showing against a shocking Leeds side...and we still had a few wobbly moments.

[Neal]

Has Jabba the Hut been sacked yet?

Tickled me.

[chaddyrovers]

Excellent win against a Leeds.

Lawrence was very good and I thought Evans/Akpan in centre midfield won the battle and did good in there.

Defensively spot on and the entire back 4 were solid.

I really did think Leeds in the second half would come out fighting but they didn't.

Steve Evans has a big job in there.

4-4-2 wins the day.


For now though, excellent result. Please learn from it Mr Bowyer and continue to play to our strengths rather than try to nullify those of our opponents.

Stuart, we didn't play 4-4-2 tho. We played 4-4-1-1 formation and Lawrence caused them problems all game until he went off.

We have played like that in most games since the September international break.

Outstanding performance. We looked incredibly well organised and had talent going forward. Lawrence, Evans, Conway and Evans were brilliant. The two centre backs have improved dramatically this season, looking very solid.

Leeds were atrocious but we still played well.

You are totally right there

Let's not start getting carried away throwing around superlatives. It was a decent showing against a shocking Leeds side...and we still had a few wobbly moments.

Really???

It was a very good win. Defensively solid. and we control the game for most of it

[TeamGB-11]

As shebby has confirmed now, he's going nowhere. Many more displays like this and we'll be glad too..

Gary bowyer's blue and white army it is..

[joey_big_nose]

Really like Marshall at RB. Gives us an extra dimension going forward and is good at the defensive stuff.

Agreed. Against pace he struggles but outside of that having both him and Olsson at full back is very aggressive and effective. And if the opposition sits back he slots into midfield which is helps hugely with ball retention and creativity.

Issue though is if he plays at RB who plays on right wing? Im not convinced by Taylor or (certainly not) Delfy on what I've seen.

So we could potentially wait for Koita to come back and then stick Lawrence on the right. However Lawrence is so good through the middle that looks a waste.

So we could stand to sign another right winger imo. Maybe Taylor will get better as fitness comes back but he looks more comfortable in the hole for me.

[Neal]

Dream scenario...

We sell Lowe to some mugs, get out of embargo and sign Lawrence.

[TeamGB-11]

Still not happy with our defending on set pieces, but its a minor annoyance that can be worked on..

[USABlue]

Great win, hard to watch though. Leeds are a mess.

[tomphil]

Great effort and result, big credit to all concerned although like I said Leeds are crap. Rovers got everything right though by taking the game right at them from the first sec which is a bit alien to us and certainly won't happen often. They capitalised on the nervousness of the Leeds players and crowd which was great to see.

Yet again massive difference having a solid midfield who when the correct personal are in it actually play like a midfield for the first season since we've been in this div. Won't get carried away though and stand by all that was said before because we'll be having the same debate as the last few days in a few weeks time probably.

Really hope not though and i'll just enjoy that result, any win over Leeds Utd is one of the best sights in football

[LewisF]

Great win hope we can push on against brum. Rhodes' goal was great, and Lawrence's run leading to the goal was brilliant

[JAL]

Commentator raving about Leeds' attendances.

What on earth has gone on at Leeds they are dreadful, far, far, far worse than Rovers.

[Doug]

Agreed. Against pace he struggles but outside of that having both him and Olsson at full back is very aggressive and effective. And if the opposition sits back he slots into midfield which is helps hugely with ball retention and creativity.

Issue though is if he plays at RB who plays on right wing? Im not convinced by Taylor or (certainly not) Delfy on what I've seen.

So we could potentially wait for Koita to come back and then stick Lawrence on the right. However Lawrence is so good through the middle that looks a waste.

So we could stand to sign another right winger imo. Maybe Taylor will get better as fitness comes back but he looks more comfortable in the hole for me.

I'm not convinced by Taylor either, but RB seems to keep Marshall more involved.

Get the feeling that he rather enjoys playing there.

[Neal]

Rovers fans seem to be ripping into Akpan on twitter... Always maintained that a majority of our fans have absolutely no idea what they're talking about.

Class act.

[A cup of beans]

Rovers fans seem to be ripping into Akpan on twitter... Always maintained that a majority of our fans have absolutely no idea what they're talking about.

Class act.

Agreed. Protector and hunter for me.

Comfortable win. Makes a change. I'll enjoy it.

[DE.]

Rovers fans seem to be ripping into Akpan on twitter... Always maintained that a majority of our fans have absolutely no idea what they're talking about.

Class act.

None of our players deserve any criticism after that performance. The only player who concerned me a little was Steele - not sure what was going on there, but fortunately he had an off night against a team like Leeds rather than the likes of Boro.

[Neal]

Seriously though, so far he looks like what we've been missing for years... Presence and physicality in the middle of the pitch and generally effects play. Not asking a lot to just be able to notice a centre midfielder being involved in the game is it? Simple but effective player, pleased with him.

[JAL]

I'm not convinced by Taylor either, but RB seems to keep Marshall more involved.

Get the feeling that he rather enjoys playing there.

Thought Ben had far more of a physical presence at RB than Adam Henley.

[Amo]

Really???

It was a very good win. Defensively solid. and we control the game for most of it

Steele was a liability at times and we were all at sea from a few set-pieces, from a Leeds side who rarely threatened.

We did well, it was a good result, but not one worthy of such hype.

[Neal]

None of our players deserve any criticism after that performance. The only player who concerned me a little was Steele - not sure what was going on there, but fortunately he had an off night against a team like Leeds rather than the likes of Boro.

Steele was dodgy on the odd 2-3 times he had something to do against Burnley... Not convinced.

[G Somerset Rover]

Forgot we have Koita to come back. Not a chance that GB should move Lawrence from that position just behind Rhodes though - he's superb there for somebody so young.

As DE said, the only player who looked a little shaky was Steele. I was nervous anytime the ball went near him.

[TeamGB-11]

Let's not start getting carried away throwing around superlatives. It was a decent showing against a shocking Leeds side...and we still had a few wobbly moments.

Leeds have had decent results in their previous 2 against sides in OK form.. Don't understate the performance and result.. Bowyer deserves credit where its due for such a composed display under fan pressure..

[Billy McBalcony]

Always maintained that a majority of our fans have absolutely no idea what they're talking about.

Just look at most of the threads and poll results on here!

[Commondore]

Still not enamored with Marshall at right back, he played well there tonight but when in top shape he offers the team more from the wing. Taylor played OK in that position, but didn't pull up any trees and will hardly produce many match winning performances throughout a season. If Marshall stays on at right back, which seems likely, it would be interesting to see O'Sullivan or even Mahoney be given a chance to play in front of him.

Very impressed with Akpan (although he really should see as little of the ball at his feet as possible) and Lawrence. The former adds steel and that crucial shield in front of our defense that has been missing since Savage, while the latter is the closest thing we have to a pacy attacking player who also makes deadly forward runs with the ball.

Steele had a shaky game, and might very well have been made to pay for it against more on-point opposition.

Hanley looks stupid in that beard.