Fulham Away

[chaddyrovers]

1 hour ago, CambridgeRover said:

Absolutely disagree with Dack being awful. I was at the game and thought he was by far our best attacking option. When Armstrong and Rothell were not offering anything it was Dack leading the way forward. Particularly in the first half he was superb

We will have to agree to disagree CambridgeRover. I wasn't impressed with him watching it. I would agree on Rothwell. I thought he would be our best player this season. Armstrong final ball has to worked on

53 minutes ago, Stuart said:

We have what we have for the next 4-5 months? The window has only just closed!

We will not overcome our problems, let alone start winning games, by having Armstrong and Rothwell (or whichever non-winger he plays out wide) practise crosses. If our game is to be built on crosses we should have bought wingers instead of centre midfielders and forwards.

As you say though, the substitutions yesterday were questionable and in my view he had completely lost the plot and went into kitchen sink mode. That can have merits but the personal involved made us more negative as a team. Bell for Downing? Travis off? Rothwell off?

His loyalty to Bennett is going to be his undoing. If Nyambe isn’t up to it then he should have targeted a right back. We weren’t able to move Smallwood or Evans on but we still bought Johnson. He seems to value versatility but in my view that means jacks of all trades and masters of none.

Stuart, The team need to be working on their crossing and improve it. 

You are correct that our subs in the 2 games haven't improve us 

8 minutes ago, Bbrovers2288 said:

 For some reason he hasn’t started European scouting until recently. 

Would you not say this a club issue and having the proper structure in place whoever the manager is? 

we had this structure when Hughes and Sam Allardyce was here, so I would which manager got rid of it? 

[Exiled in Toronto]

I’m not sure where the narrative that we didn’t create chances came from; first seven passes from kick off and Johnson has a free header at goal. Plus Gallagher’s two headers were decent chances, both efforts being far too weak when not under much pressure.

Before Cairney gets the ball you can hear Mowbray shouting “Higher, Higher!!” and he was right: Johnson and Gallagher just ambled out when a sprint would’ve closed Cairney right down.

Armstrong has had more than enough chances for me, I’m getting sick of him. 

[LDRover]

For me, the manager gets a free pass from many despite spunking close to 14 million on 3 shite strikers. With recruitment that bad allied to a complete lack of tactical nous or style of play I cannot see how there is an argument for him to stay.

[briansol]

19 hours ago, Roboftherovers82 said:

just worked out its been 17 points from 19 games including last season. Struggling to see how Mowbray turns this around

I'll do you one better. We have 13 points from the last 8 games including last season. That is play-off form. 

[Mattyblue]

Just now, LDRover said:

For me, the manager gets a free pass from many despite spunking close to 14 million on 3 shite strikers. With recruitment that bad allied to a complete lack of tactical nous or style of play I cannot see how there is an argument for him to stay.

Because of relegation and subsequent promotion.

If we’d had stayed up in 2017, and plodded along in the Championship since he’d have been given plenty by now (if not already potted).

Edited August 11, 2019 by Mattyblue

[1864roverite]

Strikers are only as good as the supply line on the pitch. 

From some comments it seems Rovers were better balanced but despite this they still contrived to concede 2 goals. Nil points and 4 against with only 1 scored (and an own goal at that) worries me greatly. Lets hope it turns itself around pretty damn quick. Brereton MUST start the next match for me.

[Vilesinner]

Just now, 1864roverite said:

Strikers are only as good as the supply line on the pitch. 

From some comments it seems Rovers were better balanced but despite this they still contrived to concede 2 goals. Nil points and 4 against with only 1 scored (and an own goal at that) worries me greatly. Lets hope it turns itself around pretty damn quick. Brereton MUST start the next match for me.

I would've started Ben B in the first game. He was in a rich vein of form after his 4 preseason goals. Confidence is a wonderful thing. 

[Husky]

20 hours ago, Tugay-is-God said:

Swapping Raya for Walton on loan just seems criminal

Although I note that Raya almost did his usual 'cock-up cost the game' for Brentford yesterday.

 

[Exiled in Toronto]

14 minutes ago, LDRover said:

For me, the manager gets a free pass from many despite spunking close to 14 million on 3 shite strikers. With recruitment that bad allied to a complete lack of tactical nous or style of play I cannot see how there is an argument for him to stay.

While I agree his striker purchases will be the most likely cause of his demise, perhaps I’m not the only one who sees arguments about him staying or going as a waste of time. He’ll go when either he or Pune decides - it’s their £14 million - and there is no evidence whatsoever they’ll pick anyone better and plenty they’ll pick worse.

[Tormund]

I do think some of these players would improve under a better manager with new ideas. Some of these lads are probably sick of it too.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

2 hours ago, den said:

To be honest Philip, I don’t see anything in Armstrong that tells me he is a talent. Never have done and doubt I ever will. 

He's a finisher pure and simple Den, he's not an all around football player. Put him up front alongside somebody like Newall 20 odd years ago and he'd score goals. Trouble is it's 2019 now and we don't play that way anymore. It's a bit like playing Gary Lineker or Michael Owen out wide on the right or left although I daresay they'd make a better job of it.

Edited August 11, 2019 by Tyrone Shoelaces

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

56 minutes ago, Exiled in Toronto said:

I’m not sure where the narrative that we didn’t create chances came from; first seven passes from kick off and Johnson has a free header at goal. Plus Gallagher’s two headers were decent chances, both efforts being far too weak when not under much pressure.

Before Cairney gets the ball you can hear Mowbray shouting “Higher, Higher!!” and he was right: Johnson and Gallagher just ambled out when a sprint would’ve closed Cairney right down.

Armstrong has had more than enough chances for me, I’m getting sick of him. 

I got shouted down when I suggested that for a very tall striker Gallagher is not a good header of the ball. If you rolled Gallager and Brereton into one you wouldn't have a good header of the ball. You wouldn't even have a player of Matt Jansen's heading ability and what was he 5' 9" -5' 10".

Edited August 11, 2019 by Tyrone Shoelaces

[JHRover]

Amazing how David Raya can start for Brentford at Middlesbrough and come away with a clean sheet and 3 points. Mowbray reckons he was too inexperienced for us, then signs someone on loan with less experience.

I think the coming weeks will prove that Mowbray is incapable of assembling or organising a competent defence. Last season he got away with it as people believed the problem was Mulgrew and Raya. 

[Vilesinner]

Just now, JHRover said:

Amazing how David Raya can start for Brentford at Middlesbrough and come away with a clean sheet and 3 points. Mowbray reckons he was too inexperienced for us, then signs someone on loan with less experience.

I think the coming weeks will prove that Mowbray is incapable of assembling or organising a competent defence. Last season he got away with it as people believed the problem was Mulgrew and Raya. 

Maybe Brentford play with a defence. Raya was very lucky guy though, he was at fault for the goal that was incorrectly ruled out. 

[Vilesinner]

Just now, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

I got shouted down when I suggested that for a very tall striker Gallagher is not a good header of the ball. If you rolled Gallager and Brereton into one you wouldn't have a good header of the ball. You wouldn't even have a player of Matt Jansen's heading ability and what was he 5' 9" -5' 10".

Solid enough headers both Gallagher and Ben B. Nice headed goal Ben B scored preseason and Gallagher has scored plenty with his head for us in the past. I am certain they will come good.

[JBiz]

Just now, Vilesinner said:

Solid enough headers both Gallagher and Ben B. Nice headed goal Ben B scored preseason and Gallagher has scored plenty with his head for us in the past. I am certain they will come good.

Also the best headed chance I remember Gallagher getting yesterday was a Bennett on the overlap cross. About a yard wide though, looping across the keeper from about 10 yards out

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

Just now, JHRover said:

Amazing how David Raya can start for Brentford at Middlesbrough and come away with a clean sheet and 3 points. Mowbray reckons he was too inexperienced for us, then signs someone on loan with less experience.

I think the coming weeks will prove that Mowbray is incapable of assembling or organising a competent defence. Last season he got away with it as people believed the problem was Mulgrew and Raya. 

I’m not convinced by the Raya sale or Walton. But did you see Raya play yesterday? I understand that it helps your argument but I think judging on one weekend isn’t going to determine anything. Fulham are a better side than Boro and we have a worse defence than Brentford. Give it a couple of months. Walton did nothing wrong yesterday imo.

[CambridgeRover]

Agree with you on the crossing Chaddy. The ball in was struggling to get past the first man a lot of the time. Really need to be more clinical and make more of the opportunities we get. Armstrong's final ball is horrendous

[Stuart]

Just now, CambridgeRover said:

Agree with you on the crossing Chaddy. The ball in was struggling to get past the first man a lot of the time. Really need to be more clinical and make more of the opportunities we get. Armstrong's final ball is horrendous

Our crossing is horrendous because we’ve only bought one winger in 5 windows - who doesn’t play. We play centre midfielders or strikers out wide.

Nobody should be surprised we can’t get crosses into the box.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Just now, Stuart said:

Our crossing is horrendous because we’ve only bought one winger in 5 windows - who doesn’t play. We play centre midfielders or strikers out wide.

Nobody should be surprised we can’t get crosses into the box.

Any outfield player should be able to cross a decent ball Stuart. One of the best crossers of a ball I've seen at Ewood was Alan Shearer. especially off the right wing. 

[JHRover]

13 minutes ago, magicalmortensleftpeg said:

I’m not convinced by the Raya sale or Walton. But did you see Raya play yesterday? I understand that it helps your argument but I think judging on one weekend isn’t going to determine anything. Fulham are a better side than Boro and we have a worse defence than Brentford. Give it a couple of months. Walton did nothing wrong yesterday imo.

No I didn't see him play yesterday. I'm not judging Raya or Walton on one game, just pointing out that Mowbray pointed to Raya's 'inexperience' as an issue and reason he was replaced yet he's now keeping clean sheets for a rival whilst we continue to concede. Think people will realise this season that our defensive woes were as much to do with our coaching than players.

[Roverinbelfast]

4 hours ago, DE. said:

Not trying to go into conspiracy territory here, but I do wonder if the owners have demanded that Gallagher play full matches unless he absolutely cannot. Against Charlton he was clearly tiring but instead of bringing him off, Mowbray pushed him over to the right wing and instead put Graham on for Armstrong. Yesterday the obvious choice seemed to be a like-for-like swap with Gallagher/Graham, but instead bafflingly Travis is the one hooked. Hopefully I'm just seeing things that aren't there but I do find it odd.

I was thinking similar yesterday. Although I'd say that TM is more worried that the owners will  ask serious questions if he dosnt play the forward he's just spent 5 million on, and why a 34 year old free transfer is still much better than the two players he has spunked a combined 12 million on. 

[AllRoverAsia]

14 minutes ago, CambridgeRover said:

Agree with you on the crossing Chaddy. The ball in was struggling to get past the first man a lot of the time. Really need to be more clinical and make more of the opportunities we get. Armstrong's final ball is horrendous

Armstrong, in particular, plays with his head down so has no idea where he or who he is crossing to or what is in the way. It also explains why he misses the target so much when shooting. Looks good when it all goes ok but that is rare. He's not the only one either.

We did have decent chances yesterday but they all missed, Johnson should have scored and very very poor to miss altogether with that early header from a very good pacey cross.

Excellent cross also into Gallagher who only succeeded in taking all the speed out of the ball/cross.

[Husky]

1 hour ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

He's a finisher pure and simple Den, he's not an all around football player.

He does seem to be more of an instinctive player. The more time he has to think (like when he's out wide) the worse his play often becomes (crap crosses etc. - though the fact we have useless strikers and other non-finishers that can't make anything of them doesn't help).

[Stuart]

Just now, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

Any outfield player should be able to cross a decent ball Stuart. One of the best crossers of a ball I've seen at Ewood was Alan Shearer. especially off the right wing. 

Shearer was a one-off. That’s the equivalent of comparing manager’s to Ferguson.

However, Mowbray would probably have agreed with you and played Shearer out wide with Ripley on the bench and Warhurst up front on his own.

I personally believe that every professional footballer should be able to use both feet but, much to my disgust, that isn’t the case.

Footballers become specialists in certain areas and good managers knit these specialists together as much as possible with as few as possible played out of position. Mowbray seems to think that versatility is the future but results don’t seem to back him up.

For me we have a poorly balanced squad with every player a narrow one and at different times they take turns in trying to make up for Mowbray’s poor recruitment. We have blown a £15m budget in the last 12 months (over three windows) and this imbalance still hasn’t been addressed if anything it has been made worse.

Below is where I would say our players naturally play. In some cases these could even overlap. Blue are Tony’s XI from yesterday. Is it any wonder we are not playing with any real style?

I could scarcely bring myself to include Hart.