Luton Town home

[rossyrover]

No pattern of play the need for two proper centre halves is shown again two easy headed goals conceded just the same as last season both crosses came from our left thought cunningham was supposed to tighten that side of our defence up our goal threat zero Mowbray clueless.

[Maji]

Did TM really say "the individually of a Rothwell"? 

Disappointing loss yesterday, typical football. Start playing well and falter at the 'easy' stage. 

[philipl]

Rovers don't half know how to turn a great weekend into an absolute bummer.

Luton are easy to beat

1) You play with a bit of zip

2) You disrupt the lumps in the back four across the edge of the area by shooting on sight from distance and mixing it with crossing from the byline.

We did everything by the book which reads "how to lose to Luton at home- not likely but not impossible"

And as for criticism of Gallagher, it was the 40th minute before he received a cross anywhere remotely within heading distance. Criticism maybe due of Gallagher and Dack but we played in a way totally designed to nullify their threats completely.

Barnsley and Wigan will be hating us for the charity for southern relegation candidates.

[Ossydave]

Almost an exact replica of the Charlton shambles first game.

Absolutely livid at the inept performance yesterday, one that pretty much condemns us to another season of mid table mediocrity. We just cannot play against these type of teams.

[AAK]

First home game ive attended this season, we look worse than last season.

Johnson is useless with the ball. We play far too narrow, we migt as well just have 4 cetre mids playing. Gallagher is pretty useless, as my grandad said, who is pretty level headed "that big lad up front and that bennett look like non-league players"

Shooting accuracy was woeful. Defending inept, i thought the defending had improved going off this board, evidently not. Then to sum it all up he brings on donkey dom and puts him at right mid, absolutley pissed off with seeing shite like that. 

Holtby was good, only good thing really.

 

[Atko's Engine]

Very disappointing result and performance from Rovers yesterday to say the least. I've not seen any replays so what follows is my take from the stands.

After a bright start with some fine approach play & recycling of possession, we went to pot after they scored through some weak defending (though offside?). Got it back again a bit after Travis scored, but again weak defending from a free kick did for us.

There were too many players who, across the piece, were below par. Walton, Williams & Lenihan not dominant enough, Johnson too slow playing forwards, Downing not incisive, Armstrong & Dack anonymous, Gallagher ineffective.

I personally think this defeat was down to the players though, more than the manager. They were too complacent, and that can't be the manager's doing because he always warns of the opposition's dangers, as is oft pointed out on here.  The starting 11 was strong, as most agreed on here who commented, and should have done a lot, lot better.

The officials were awful, allowed time wasting from the 6th minute. The booking in injury time was laughable. 2 offside decisions went against us, and their second goal was a v weak free kick to give against Cunningham. But the reasons we lost go beyond that.

It's sad to see some more "Mowbray Out" posts. OTT again for me, far too overreactive after a (albeit very disappointing) defeat. Yes he could have made changes a bit earlier or more effectively, but it's the players that should take the lion's share of the blame, they just weren't good enough individually. At least there's a chance on Tuesday to correct the position, but there's a lot more unnecessary pressure on that game now.

[Guest]

Officials let the time wasting go on to long, admittedly, but for me the goal was offside and most decisions weren't far off. No way at all we could sit here and blame the refs for that one. To be playing the ball around the back four from the second we went 2-1 would've been bad enough, but at 90+ minutes, to be fucking around at the back and not just lumping it forward is dismal.

Why do we have to play this stupid possession based game? We didn't play this way at Reading, or Hull? Why is it that every team now thinks they have to play like Pep's Man City to look attractive. 

We'd have all took a 1-0 win and lumping the ball to Danny Graham all day. Surely its results over "a style of play".

[BankEnd Rover]

Graham & Holtby to start the next game. Rothwell for Downing also.

[Pedro]

13 hours ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

Two types of midfield players cause defenders problems - the Damien Duff/Scott Sellars type that can get around teams and up the side and the David Dunn/Eyal Berkovic type who can carry the ball from the half way line and draw defenders out. If we have any players who can do this we need to play them.

Rothwell and Chapman.

 

But Tony won't start one or select the other.

[Pedro]

Just now, JoeH said:

Officials let the time wasting go on to long, admittedly, but for me the goal was offside and most decisions weren't far off. No way at all we could sit here and blame the refs for that one. To be playing the ball around the back four from the second we went 2-1 would've been bad enough, but at 90+ minutes, to be fucking around at the back and not just lumping it forward is dismal.

Why do we have to play this stupid possession based game? We didn't play this way at Reading, or Hull? Why is it that every team now thinks they have to play like Pep's Man City to look attractive. 

We'd have all took a 1-0 win and lumping the ball to Danny Graham all day. Surely its results over "a style of play".

That is how I saw it. The ref was a mug who kept getting in the way of our play, but our cluelessness, terrible final ball, lack of shots at a dodgy keeper and lack of intensity was to blame yesterday.

[Ossydave]

Just now, BankEnd Rover said:

Graham & Holtby to start the next game. Rothwell for Downing also.

Downing was terrible yesterday, looked completely off the boil. Not sure if he was ill or something but he's impressed me most games. A few times there was an obvious overlap and he just stood there instead of giving the option.

[AAK]

Just now, Ossydave said:

Downing was terrible yesterday, looked completely off the boil. Not sure if he was ill or something but he's impressed me most games. A few times there was an obvious overlap and he just stood there instead of giving the option.

The new signings johnson and downing have improved our mentality at seeing out games, however we still seriously lack creativity. I cant see much improving really in that respect unless chapman and rothwell get extended runs in the team. Holtby could make a difference but then you arent going to get rothwell, chapman, holtby and dack all starting. We just arent scoring enough goals, 66% possession yesterday but yet luton still manage 3 more shots on target. We cant carry on with armstrong on the wing it simply doesnt work.

With gallagher playing we need the ball out wide, whipping in early crosses, but their far too laboured and everytime we get into final 3rd we play it backwards. The team is just disjointed every game, its like we are confused as to how we want or should play.

Edited September 29, 2019 by AAK

[Sparks Rover]

1 hour ago, AAK said:

as my grandad said, who is pretty level headed "that big lad up front and that bennett look like non-league players"

 

 

Half the board arguing that Benno is a world beater last week .  Back to his usual crap performance whilst Nyambe doesn’t even get his kit on.

Mowbray Out!

[rigger]

Bennet had so much time and space in the first half yet produced nothing. His poor passing is only beaten by his dreadful crossing

[Hasta]

12 hours ago, chaddyrovers said:

Graham shot was on target but weak. He was poor when he came on

Not sure about that. Within minutes of coming on he had knocked a couple of balls down into Dacks path. 

As much as Mowbray may want to move away from that particular combo, it is the most effective play we have if Graham is allowed to use his body against the defender.

Gallagher may well be better in the air, but he really does need to learn how to play that role and bring others into the game. 

[JHRover]

The referee was half the story. He failed in his duties to prevent time wasting.

His decision to issue a yellow card in the 94th minute for time wasting was a disgrace. They took more time on many, many earlier throws and goal kicks yet all he did was wave his arm. Then when protected by a lack of time remaining and to try and shield himself from criticism he issues a yellow for timewasting. Coward.

But the other side to the story is our ineffectiveness in the final 3rd. We could have played all night and we probably wouldn't have scored. Same with Charlton earlier this season. Possession on the halfway line is meaningless.

[Uddersfelt Blue]

Gallagher needs to have the ball played in front of him from behind the defence. The constant crossing by Bennett and Downing from the front edge of the area gave the defenders an advantage as the ball was in front of them and usually over Gallagher's head. 

We do need players who can cause defenders problems on the ground with their trickery and interplay. I believe Holtby is one but we need Dack to show more in the area, not picking up the ball in our half. Maybe Chapman is worth trying too.

 

[Hasta]

33 minutes ago, Pedro said:

Rothwell and Chapman.

 

But Tony won't start one or select the other.

Chapman is a funny one. I don't see the under 23s. He has scored and been involved in goals, and up for player of the month, but some people say his attitude looks wrong and he is underperforming.

I can only go off what we saw of him in that league one season.

However one thing I saw was that when he gets into dangerous positions he seemed to have some end product. So many times yesterday Armstrong, Bennett and Downing got into lots of space wide but couldn't do anything with it. Chapman would have been driving into the box trying to commit the defender. Playing  him may weaken the team dynamic in other areas, but at the minute we look like a team who are solid in midfield, but whose midfielders have no ideas how to break a team down other than simply trying to pass it around and hope space opens.

Same applies to Rothwell and his ability to create. One of those two should replace Arma.

Holtby could prove to be an alternative solution. A few things didn't come off for him yesterday, but he looked like he could do something that little bit different to create.

Im not even going to bother mentioning then defence and the goals conceded. 6 transfer windows, same defensive spine.

Edited September 29, 2019 by Hasta

[Guest]

Just now, Sparks Rover said:

Half the board arguing that Benno is a world beater last week .  Back to his usual crap performance whilst Nyambe doesn’t even get his kit on.

Mowbray Out!

Bennett didn't have his best game, but you have to admit with Gallagher up front he has nothing to aim for. Lets not forget Bennett also grabbed another assist too. I don't think he's an amazing player or RB, but to say then Nyambe is better than him isn't backed up in fact at all. They're both WELL below average and signing a new on in January is key.

[harryhealless1928]

Danny Graham came on a free(high wages maybe)but is far and away still the only decent striking option we have other than midfielder Dack.

We need to seriously trawl the free-transfer market in January,as clearly Mowbray is incapable of spending the money on strikers wisely. It makes no sense spending any more considering the debt we are in.

[Waggy76]

Mowbray is not brave enough ...Same in the 3rd Division , would talk up poor teams !! 

The players must be bewildered at times ..

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Just now, Waggy76 said:

Mowbray is not brave enough ...Same in the 3rd Division , would talk up poor teams !! 

The players must be bewildered at times ..

Bill Shankly used to trash Liverpools opponents in the changing rooms before the game - " Denis Law, he's crap, two bad knees, he can hardly walk,  Bobby Charlton, he's crap, he couldn't tackle a meat pie, George Best, he's crap, he's probably still pissed from last night. " etc etc.

Edited September 29, 2019 by Tyrone Shoelaces

[Sparks Rover]

13 minutes ago, JoeH said:

Bennett didn't have his best game, but you have to admit with Gallagher up front he has nothing to aim for. Lets not forget Bennett also grabbed another assist too. I don't think he's an amazing player or RB, but to say then Nyambe is better than him isn't backed up in fact at all. They're both WELL below average and signing a new on in January is key.

We’ve not seen nyambe for ages have a good run in the team so I don’t know how you fathom that out.  Nyambes international manager thinks he’s decent, he made him captain.

 

if I were Ryan I’d be off in January and there will he loads of takers.  Flip that round and there would be no takers for Bennett as a right back or defensive specialist.

[Sparks Rover]

Just now, Waggy76 said:

Mowbray is not brave enough ...Same in the 3rd Division , would talk up poor teams !! 

The players must be bewildered at times ..

He’s got a job for life, why rock the boat by putting pressure on himself? The guy knows it too

[Pedro]

16 minutes ago, Hasta said:

Chapman is a funny one. I don't see the under 23s. He has scored and been involved in goals, and up for player of the month, but some people say his attitude looks wrong and he is underperforming.

I can only go off what we saw of him in that league one season.

However one thing I saw was that when he gets into dangerous positions he seemed to have some end product. So many times yesterday Armstrong, Bennett and Downing got into lots of space wide but couldn't do anything with it. Chapman would have been driving into the box trying to commit the defender. Playing  him may weaken the team dynamic in other areas, but at the minute we look like a team who are solid in midfield, but whose midfielders have no ideas how to break a team down other than simply trying to pass it around and hope space opens.

Same applies to Rothwell and his ability to create. One of those two should replace Arma.

Holtby could prove to be an alternative solution. A few things didn't come off for him yesterday, but he looked like he could do something that little bit different to create.

Im not even going to bother mentioning then defence and the goals conceded. 6 transfer windows, same defensive spine.

It was driving me mad seeing Bennett in acres of space but not carrying the ball and whipping a ball in. His deliveries are awful, to the point that Luton didn't even mark him. Chapman or Rothwell would have had a field day yesterday.

Bringing Samuel on as a pretend winger sums Mowbray up. Ever since he's been here, he is obsessed with playing people out of position. He loves seeing past the necessary and just stuffing a striker out wide. Also, I cannot think of a Rovers side that lacks effort and intensity in the last 10/15mins as this lame lot. I honestly now look forward to the day he is moved on because we have the personnel to mix it with almost anyone in this league and should get in the playoffs but we have absolutely no chance of doing it under him.