[Archived] Rotherham

[Stuart]

Got to love BRFCS at times. We win 3 out of PL's first four and on something like a 9 game unbeaten streak, and because Rhodes doesn't score we should cash in and get rid of him.

We are winning WITH him playing that means he is contributing. Maybe even creating space for others simply by being a permanent threat and therefore distraction for defenders. We've now also got other players contributing with goals which was the previous problem.

Why 'so much hate'? He will come good again, he always does.

By the way, there's somebody else still missing during this period of form. Yet if I point out who I get pelters.

[gumboots]

It's odd because it was a dull, scrappy affair, but, unlike matches under Bowyer, I wasn't bored. I think it was because I felt we'd see it out so I wasn't waiting for the inevitable goal and then potentially 2 goals for Rotherham. I always felt we'd scrape it somehow. Lucky we may have been but if luck gets us through to the January window in reasonable good shape, I'll take luck every time

[matt83]

That's the difference between the coach and a manager. We would walked through this league last season if we had PL as manager and add King, Cairney and Rudy to that.

Quite. Who would have thought an actual manager can get more out of average players than a string of cone men. It's not like we've been saying it for the last 5 years or anything.

It's been a decent start but I really believe we will get better, fitter, more organised dare I say someone of lamberts calibre able to attract more quality. Genuinely am optimistic

[Pedro]

Brown was less effective than Rhodes in every way. Seems overweight, unfit and immobile. An inability to jump off the ground or move anywhere with any pace meant that the pressure was immediately back on. We need to create more for Rhodes. Barely gets a sniff of anything meaningful as the timing of our balls is all wrong. I thought Conway, Marshall and Lawrence were all predictable and one-dimensional tonight and Akpan and Evans didn't push on enough. Defence were mostly solid but a few dodgy moments, particularly early on.

Poor game but happy with the win.

I honestly think that you could switch the names around at the minute and it would be accurate. I'm not someone who thinks that any player is beyond criticism and I have to say that Rhodes was VERY poor and an absolute passenger yet again. He is just a finisher and I feel he isn't going to fit into Lambert's system (if that is what this is) and I won't be surprised if he moves on. Although I'd love to be wrong, Lawrence and Rhodes as a partnership doesn't show any signs of life. The ball just kept coming straight back every time it went towards them because they are so weak. Brown put far more effort in but seriously lacks ability. I'd love him to get a goal though...as I would any one of our players.

Got to love BRFCS at times. We win 3 out of PL's first four and on something like a 9 game unbeaten streak, and because Rhodes doesn't score we should cash in and get rid of him.

We are winning WITH him playing that means he is contributing. Maybe even creating space for others simply by being a permanent threat and therefore distraction for defenders. We've now also got other players contributing with goals which was the previous problem.

Why 'so much hate'? He will come good again, he always does.

By the way, there's somebody else still missing during this period of form. Yet if I point out who I get pelters.

When you see Chris Brown warming up with a lot of the game left, and can genuinely consider it might be Rhodes coming off - you know he isn't contributing much at the moment ☺

[Brown-E]

Lambert's still on the 'new manager bounce' at the moment. The trick is to inspire the players that have let us down before to keep going when that runs out. Hopefully the 'bounce' can last til January.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

We would walked through this league last season if we had PL as manager and add King, Cairney and Rudy to that.

It's heartbreaking isn't it.

Paul Lambert is now getting the best out of what is a mediocre Rovers side.The 2001 Souness promotion team would have wiped the floor with this current lot.

I think Lambert can no doubt see this and come Jan there will be a major shake up...a welcome trimming of players who are simply NOT up to promotion standard.

Venkys really do need to back our manager with some hard cash,the results could be so good for everyone.If the decision is made to cash in on Rhodes by our manager then I for one fully trust his judgement.

[riverside returns]

Interestingly, it seems that the majority on here are lamenting Rhodes.

Just a minor point and it has been touched on by a few, the reason Rhodes is in even when not scoring is the mental effect caused by him being there.

Take our fortunate goal last night. The defender felt he had to attack a ball, and a most dangerous ball it was curling away from the defenders towards the goals. Why did he feel the need to do that? The answer is that Rhodes was immediately behind him and if he doesn't get a touch then Rhodes gets the header and we all know what happened if Rhodes gets a header in those positions.

Hence, the effect of having Rhodes here causes panic in the defenders minds and with panic comes stupid decisions.

[Speedie Dived]

Love Rhodes, but we are playing with the handbrake on with him in our side. More than ever expect Lambert to cash in.

[arbitro]

Love Rhodes, but we are playing with the handbrake on with him in our side. More than ever expect Lambert to cash in.

I think simply Rhodes is being asked to do more for the team than he has ever done in his career (as have most of our team) and Lambert himself said recently that Rhodes has to add more to his game. Last night he visibly wilted in the second half and it was no surprise to a lot of Rovers fans when he got the hook. I believe Lambert is too shrewd to dispense with what Rhodes brings to the team in terms of goalscoring, it's the other elements where he has to improve. From memory I think Lambert has taken him off in three of his four games. If he does this I think he will be a regular international player too.

On a more general note several of our players look like they are having another pre season such is the poor levels of fitness.

[Wing Wizard Windy Miller]

Got to love BRFCS at times. We win 3 out of PL's first four and on something like a 9 game unbeaten streak, and because Rhodes doesn't score we should cash in and get rid of him.

We are winning WITH him playing that means he is contributing. Maybe even creating space for others simply by being a permanent threat and therefore distraction for defenders. We've now also got other players contributing with goals which was the previous problem.

Why 'so much hate'? He will come good again, he always does.

By the way, there's somebody else still missing during this period of form. Yet if I point out who I get pelters.

Question Stu.

If Rhodes was dropped or injured for Monday, do you think PL can manage us to a win without him?

Interestingly, it seems that the majority on here are lamenting Rhodes.

Just a minor point and it has been touched on by a few, the reason Rhodes is in even when not scoring is the mental effect caused by him being there.

Take our fortunate goal last night. The defender felt he had to attack a ball, and a most dangerous ball it was curling away from the defenders towards the goals. Why did he feel the need to do that? The answer is that Rhodes was immediately behind him and if he doesn't get a touch then Rhodes gets the header and we all know what happened if Rhodes gets a header in those positions.

Hence, the effect of having Rhodes here causes panic in the defenders minds and with panic comes stupid decisions.

Surely any defender will attack the ball ahead of the opposition striker, regardless of who it is? It is the job of a defender!

[Doug]

I think I read that PL feels he can use Brown going forward.

I have seen some poor forwards at Ewood since the late sixties and struggle to think of a worse CF / footballer to play for us, including the likes of O'mara, Bell, Radford etc.

This isn't a dig at PL as he has my full support, but can anybody who attends Ewood, and watches this Sunday League player, please tell me, if I'm missing something. what is it?

[oldjamfan1]

That'll do.

In gardening you first have put your back into it, do some digging and spread some horse sh!t around before you can get the flowers to grow.

Beautifully put

[Brown-E]

Bloody hell. Get off browns back. It embarrassing how we victimise our own!

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Seems to have passed by without mention, but yet another goal created by a dangerous Conway centre.

Yeah great ball in, he lured the defender into going for a ball he was always struggling to reach with a predicable outcome.

[Doug]

Rhodes is not a promotion material forward(and definatly not a prem one). Boro should be so thankful they got Nugent instead.

Hmmmmmm

Fair enough, I disagree. Lawrence ain't good enough for 1.

Hmmmmmm!!

Bloody hell. Get off browns back. It embarrassing how we victimise our own!

[Pedro]

I think simply Rhodes is being asked to do more for the team than he has ever done in his career (as have most of our team) and Lambert himself said recently that Rhodes has to add more to his game. Last night he visibly wilted in the second half and it was no surprise to a lot of Rovers fans when he got the hook. I believe Lambert is too shrewd to dispense with what Rhodes brings to the team in terms of goalscoring, it's the other elements where he has to improve. From memory I think Lambert has taken him off in three of his four games. If he does this I think he will be a regular international player too.

On a more general note several of our players look like they are having another pre season such is the poor levels of fitness.

I think that they look knackered because he is pushing them so hard. This is effectively Lambert's pre-season with them and I am certain the sharpness and fitness will be apparent in the run in after they become conditioned. I am really excited about the second half of the season. We are winning and winning ugly. The points he is wracking up are fantastic. We obviously aren't out of second gear yet and Lambert is no fool, he sees what we see and there will be some experience, speed and power coming in in January. Onwards and upwards!

[JAL]

Bloody hell. Get off browns back. It embarrassing how we victimise our own!

Our own ?

Your having a laugh surely!

[Tallrover]

One thing for certain we played with 20% more urgency and threat the moment Brown came on.

By the way John Radford was an excellent forward for us! He was on his way out at the time having served Arsenal so well. He had a nice little swan song at Ewood.

[had.e.nuff]

I think some on here should get real there is not a side in this league that would not want Rhodes in their starting line up all strikers go through lean spells.

[Doug]

One thing for certain we played with 20% more urgency and threat the moment Brown came on.

By the way John Radford was an excellent forward for us! He was on his way out at the time having served Arsenal so well. He had a nice little swan song at Ewood.

Tallrover, we are both entitled to an opinion. We should agree to disagree on this point.

[JAL]

One thing for certain we played with 20% more urgency and threat the moment Brown came on.

By the way John Radford was an excellent forward for us! He was on his way out at the time having served Arsenal so well. He had a nice little swan song at Ewood.

January can't come soon enough for Chris when he can speak to other clubs and move on for the good of everyone.

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

Interestingly, it seems that the majority on here are lamenting Rhodes.

Just a minor point and it has been touched on by a few, the reason Rhodes is in even when not scoring is the mental effect caused by him being there.

Take our fortunate goal last night. The defender felt he had to attack a ball, and a most dangerous ball it was curling away from the defenders towards the goals. Why did he feel the need to do that? The answer is that Rhodes was immediately behind him and if he doesn't get a touch then Rhodes gets the header and we all know what happened if Rhodes gets a header in those positions.

Hence, the effect of having Rhodes here causes panic in the defenders minds and with panic comes stupid decisions.

There is definitely an element of that - and was at times noticeable last night.

Personally I wouldn't call Rhodes at the moment - as we just aren't playing to his strengths. He has had limited chances over the last few matches - and the service to him has been rubbish.

Truth is PL seems to be playing more of a long ball style - and Rhodes doesn't have the ability to hold the ball up consistently - or the pace to run onto long balls over the top. Having said - what he does do is close down defenders - which means we often end up with throw ins in the opposition third.

It is a shame that we can't (at the moment) continue with the relatively good football we saw under the latter stages of GB's reign - but merge it with the noticeable improvement in urgency and closing down we have seen under PL. Somebody like Gayle would be perfect for the style of play PL is trying to play - and could possibly even complement Rhodes (rather than replace him).

[Stuart]

Question Stu.

If Rhodes was dropped or injured for Monday, do you think PL can manage us to a win without him?

Better hope so! I certainly hope he isn't injured before we bring in reinforcements because if Brown is the answer then it was a pretty terrible question.

Just makes me smile when people keep writing off Rhodes whenever he has a barren spell.

Every other Championship club would want him in their side rather than against them.

It's not just me saying it:

http://www.football-league.co.uk/news/article/2015/football-league-survey-the-most-in-demand-players-2601444.aspx

[philipl]

I think one of the reasons why we are getting on the players backs is that we are all so used to Premier league football.

We still had the Premier league quality footballers, albeit being horribly mismanaged, in the first seasons in the lower league but now, not beating about the bush, most of our players are dross and would have fewer points than Aston Villa were, by some miracle, the current Rovers team in the Premier league this season.

So we need a set of pedigree donkeys to get us out of this league, then thoroughbreds to keep us safe from returning to it.

Where we are now is we have some good quality donkeys and we even have one or two thoroughbreds. The problem is donkeys don't recognise thoroughbreds and thoroughbreds have precious few motivators to play alongside donkeys. Watch any clip of Rovers in the 2000s and compare with any clip today and today's football is woefully pedestrian, ponderous in passing and lacking in skill. Tugay's imaginary friend was better than most of what we're watching at the moment.

Rhodes is a thoroughbred who he can do things which other players can't and most of the time is a devastatingly effective finisher. But he is mostly surrounded by donkeys who can neither spot nor play the passes into channels Rhodes needs.

Conway and Marshall are probably thoroughbreds but they are playing below their potential and are still in poor form compared with the best we have seen of them.

The essence of our problem is that we do not have one or two commanding strong defensive midfielders who can take the pressure off our defence which will reduce the excessive number of Errors our defenders make. That said, the improvement in the defence is the clearest indicator that Lambert really knows what he's doing.

Upfront, we lack either devastating pace and/or a Physical presence. Without one or both of these, we cannot terrify opposition defences making the job of Rhodes many times more difficult.

The great pity is that in King and Gestede, we had everything we needed up front to achieve promotion but that incompetent nitwit Shaw totally mismanaged the situation dumping us into a transfer ban and so we lost both of them.

So here is to Lady luck for the next four games and Paul Lambert being supported in the transfer window.

[Tallrover]

I'm not saying he was was solely responsible but you cannot deny the intensity was upped and the crowd started singing etc. There was a marked difference!

Perhaps I'd fallen asleep by that point and was dreaming it..?