Defence

[jim mk2]

1 minute ago, scotchrover said:

Would agree with that about Mowbray after what I saw against Reading. I’ve got a season ticket too, before anyone comments ?. 

The big difference between Allardyce and Mowbray is that we commit more men forward. Allardyce basically had 10 men defending for 80 minutes of the game, where as Mowbray likes to commit men forward, and rightly so, in order to give us the best chance of scoring. Allardyce’s brand wasn’t half crap to watch too. I refused to renew my season ticket after his first full year in charge.

Mowbray’s biggest downfall is the way he organises the team to defend. We never man mark, unless it’s a set piece. It’s all zonal marking. Those goals on Weds night, and ones previous to that, show our back line to be very lax in the way they pick oppositions players up. They need to be bang, smack next to them, not close them. 

The other issue we’ve got is pace. Mulgrew and Rodwell, albeit it  technically gifted, are ridiculously slow. I’d be looking to move those to next to Lewis Travis in a deep lying midfield role, and investing some younger lads to sit alongside Lenihan. 

To contradict my last point though- we probably could sign some decent, younger defenders, but unless Mowbray tells them to be breathing down there neck, when we’re on the back foot, we are absolutely goosed! 

Yes, we're a slow team all right, which is why Rothwell made such a difference when we came on , a fast player  who takes the ball past people.

Getting defenders to defend properly shouldn't be that difficult for Mowbray, who was a rugged, old school defender in his day. But he seems to be incapable of doing it. I don't think he really knows how to set up a team properly.

Have to disagree about Sam. Loved him to bits; the day he was sacked I knew as a club we were doomed to relegation. But that's another debate

[scotchrover]

8 minutes ago, jim mk2 said:

Yes, we're a slow team all right, which is why Rothwell made such a difference when we came on , a fast player  who takes the ball past people.

Getting defenders to defend properly shouldn't be that difficult for Mowbray, who was a rugged, old school defender in his day. But he seems to be incapable of doing it. I don't think he really knows how to set up a team properly.

Have to disagree about Sam. Loved him to bits; the day he was sacked I knew as a club we were doomed to relegation. But that's another debate

It’s a bizarre one alright! Mark Venus, his right hand man, isn’t exactly short of experience either is he? 

Agreed- the team wasn’t up to playing pretty football, with the money drying up. I started watching Rovers under Souness though, being the age I am. Up until that point, I only knew that we could play football to entertain. 

[47er]

5 hours ago, Exiled in Toronto said:

If you count making Samba lumber up and down the field to not win Pedersen’s ‘long’ throws as better.

Yes that's all Sam did! 

[SBlue]

6 hours ago, jim mk2 said:

And they made them (and the team) better. 

You think that Nelsen and Samba were better under Big Sam than Hughes? 

It’s debatable.

Edited February 15, 2019 by S8 & Blue

[SBlue]

2 hours ago, jim mk2 said:

Have to disagree about Sam. Loved him to bits; the day he was sacked I knew as a club we were doomed to relegation. But that's another debate

Couldn’t agree more with this.

But I feel the “grass might be greener” crowd are falling into the same trap right now with Mowbray.

I’ll take midtable “consolidation” this year and hopefully knocking on the door next. But I won’t sweat it if we take our time - it’s a massively competitive league and we have no god given right to get out of it.

I might not agree with every decision and I feel frustrations too - but I enjoy having someone in the dugout that I trust.

If that’s naive or not I suppose I’ll only really find out in time.

 

Edited February 15, 2019 by S8 & Blue

[JacknOry]

Of course we need to stick with TM, as despite his flailings, you have to say we have progressed season on season with him in charge. Relegated on a record points haul by GD with his points per game average putting us midtable, so that relegation was not down to him. We then bounced straight back up and are now consolodating with a probably midtable finish.

Progress each season. That said, I can see why some might not see him as being able to take us to the next level which is to challenge in the top half and potentially break into the top six. He deserves the chance though and unless we really start going backwards he should be in charge.

[blueboy3333]

15 hours ago, BlackburnEnd75 said:

I don't think he is. He's better in the air that's about it. He's been abysmal this season

Defensively, Bell has been worse. 

[Giant]

One of the main problems in Feb has been the drop in form of Reed. He does so much covering across the back four but has not been as effective in the last three games. A dominant keeper who can organise the back four also needed, Raya nowhere near the finished article and has no real competition.

[47er]

3 hours ago, JacknOry said:

Of course we need to stick with TM, as despite his flailings, you have to say we have progressed season on season with him in charge. Relegated on a record points haul by GD with his points per game average putting us midtable, so that relegation was not down to him. We then bounced straight back up and are now consolodating with a probably midtable finish.

Progress each season. That said, I can see why some might not see him as being able to take us to the next level which is to challenge in the top half and potentially break into the top six. He deserves the chance though and unless we really start going backwards he should be in charge.

 

i agree with that and I've actually said it earlier this season. I have doubts about his ability at the highest level but he deserves the chance to try. 

But we really have to get going again or we'll finish near the bottom.

That would be hard to forgive.

[G Somerset Rover]

2 hours ago, Giant said:

One of the main problems in Feb has been the drop in form of Reed. He does so much covering across the back four but has not been as effective in the last three games. A dominant keeper who can organise the back four also needed, Raya nowhere near the finished article and has no real competition.

Problem is with Reed he gets shunted around everywhere so understandably he’s finding it hard to keep high levels of consistency. Another Bennett in TM’s eyes. I’d wager he doesn’t want to be and probably sees himself as a CM. Can’t see him coming back next season unless Saints and other south based clubs don’t want him.

Edited February 16, 2019 by Gavlar Somerset Rover!

[Ewood Ace]

12 minutes ago, Gavlar Somerset Rover! said:

Problem is with Reed he gets shunted around everywhere so understandably he’s finding it hard to keep high levels of consistency. Another Bennett in TM’s eyes. I’d wager he doesn’t want to be and probably sees himself as a CM. Can’t see him coming back next season unless Saints and other south based clubs don’t want him.

The crazy thing is, he is by far our best central midfielder. His performance in the centre of midfield at West Brom was the most complete performance that I have seen from a Rovers players since we were relegated from the Premiership. 

 

 

[Bbrovers2288]

Sam hart on show v Pompey just now, left just say he isn’t the answer to the Williams/ bell problem 

[roversfan99]

3 minutes ago, Bbrovers2288 said:

Sam hart on show v Pompey just now, left just say he isn’t the answer to the Williams/ bell problem 

Has a new contract though because we dont want to be spending our budget on defenders now do we?!

[Oldgregg86]

9 minutes ago, Bbrovers2288 said:

Sam hart on show v Pompey just now, left just say he isn’t the answer to the Williams/ bell problem 

Can't believe this lad got a new contract. 

He has been run ragged today.

Very poor player

[LDRover]

I know. Who scouted him? Stevie Wonder. I've seen better pub players.

[tomphil]

One of Connings lads ?

Anyway if they leave him out on loan over the next 12 months most of that contract should be covered, maybe we are in the hiring players out game as well now....

Edited February 16, 2019 by tomphil

[Bigdoggsteel]

On 15/02/2019 at 16:15, blueboy3333 said:

If you think Lenihan or Mulgrew should go then I question your judgement.

And Williams is a better defender than Bell IMO. 

Raya needs serious competition. He has cost us more goals than he's saved this season. 

But you are saying Mulgrew should go in the Boro match thread now? I'm confused!  So are you questioning your own judgment now?

[blueboy3333]

1 minute ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

But you are saying Mulgrew should go in the Boro match thread now? I'm confused!  So are you questioning your own judgment now?

He's played poorly but he's our 2nd best CB. He's our 2nd best CB but he's still a bit shit. It's not difficult. You think Lenihan should leave. That's why I question your judgement. OK hun now? 

[Bigdoggsteel]

Just now, blueboy3333 said:

He's played poorly but he's our 2nd best CB. He's our 2nd best CB but he's still a bit shit. It's not difficult. You think Lenihan should leave. That's why I question your judgement. OK hun now? 

No, I said one of. You said neither should leave. Which is silly as our defence is shit. But you have now changed your mind and are saying Mulgrew should leave, haven't you hun? 

[CD_93]

Downing lining up against Palace in a few minutes..

[roversfan99]

1 hour ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

No, I said one of. You said neither should leave. Which is silly as our defence is shit. But you have now changed your mind and are saying Mulgrew should leave, haven't you hun? 

Part of the problem now is there is no viable alternative to Mulgrew and Lenihan. No other centre backs. Rodwell, Williams, Nyambe, not centre backs. Even if we sign a centre back or 2 which we need to, we need competition.

[Sparks Rover]

5 minutes ago, CD_93 said:

Downing lining up against Palace in a few minutes..

Yes. and Whiteman in midfield who Pompey will buy in summer.  We should have a look 

[alcd]

On 16/02/2019 at 08:22, JacknOry said:

Of course we need to stick with TM, as despite his flailings, you have to say we have progressed season on season with him in charge. Relegated on a record points haul by GD with his points per game average putting us midtable, so that relegation was not down to him. We then bounced straight back up and are now consolodating with a probably midtable finish.

Progress each season. That said, I can see why some might not see him as being able to take us to the next level which is to challenge in the top half and potentially break into the top six. He deserves the chance though and unless we really start going backwards he should be in charge.

Mowbrays managerial record shows that his teams results go into freefall after a couple og seasons and he doesnt know how to stop it. 

[Bigdoggsteel]

Clearly we shouldnt have let Downing go. Mulgrew looks better with him. It's weird. Mulgrew and Downing looked good together as did Lenihan and Rodwell. 

Lenihan and Mulgrew don't convince me and Mulgrew and Rodwell is not going to work. 

[G Somerset Rover]

I called it that you can’t play two cultured centre halves together nowadays. They’re the worst partnership I’ve seen in some time.