Leeds (A) - Same as last year lads... kind of.

[chaddyrovers]

Just now, MCMC1875 said:

Flowers

Berg

Hendry

Pearce/freebie from West Ham

Le Saux

Ripley

Sherwood

Wilcox

Shearer

Sutton

Did we only play with 10? 

Frebbie from West Ham was Tony Gale. 

We signed Jeff Kenna that season

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

29 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

It was rumoured for a few weeks before hand that Rovers was looking to sack Bowyer and if I remember correctly the 4 man shortlist was Paul Lambert, Nigel Pearson, Ian Holloway and Jokanovic..

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/blackburn-want-former-watford-boss-6807462

Ok. To be honest I was staying off the board at the time because the whole Coyle situation was seriously doing my head in !

Edited November 10, 2019 by Tyrone Shoelaces

[chaddyrovers]

Just now, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

Ok. To be honest I was staying off the board at the time because the whole Coyle situation was seriously doing my head in

that was well before the Coyle situation. 

I will say that I wish we moved for Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill. Got Stoke back to basics yesterday and play McClean and Ince in the correct positions and bought Ryan Woods back into the team

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Just now, chaddyrovers said:

that was well before the Coyle situation. 

I will say that I wish we moved for Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill. Got Stoke back to basics yesterday and play McClean and Ince in the correct positions and bought Ryan Woods back into the team

When Coyle was obviously relegating the team I decided to stay away from to much Rovers related stuff before my head exploded. When Coyle was sacked and Lambert and Co appointed I was back like a shot. Only for that to go tits up rapidly !

[booth]

Just now, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

When Coyle was obviously relegating the team I decided to stay away from to much Rovers related stuff before my head exploded. When Coyle was sacked and Lambert and Co appointed I was back like a shot. Only for that to go tits up rapidly !

Lambert was appointed after Bowyer. Then quickly went from Lambert to Coyle.

[Stuart]

4 hours ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

When a new manager arrives, as Mowbray did,  you have to work with what you've got player wise. I can understand that. You then evaluate who plays best in which position and sort out a formation that suits their particular skills. It may not be how you want to play but it is what it is for the time being. You have to go with what you've got.  Once you've got yourself established and the transfer windows come along you can start building teams to play in whatever style of play you favour. When Dyche came in at the Dingle Dome he said 4-4-2 is my way and they've played that way 99% of the time ever since. No chopping and changing. By and large all his signings have been players who can fit into that system.

My criticism of Mowbray is he has never created a team with a consistent style or coherent shape or a recognisable pattern of play in over 2 seasons.  Almost from the day we got relegated we've never really known our best 11. You could almost pick 2 entirely different teams from what we have now and one team would be no better than the other team, that's just ridiculous in our position. It's laughable to me that before a game 20 knowledgeable fans on here who go regularly can pick what they think will be the team for the next week and they'll be 20 different teams !  He's chopped and changed relentlessly without ever stumbling across a consistent side.  In my book all he's done is collect players without much regard to how they'll fit into a team shape. Look at all the midfielders he's signed ! It makes me wonder who is really behind the signing of some of them.

I felt the same way even when we were on the way to promotion. I just didn't think he really knew what he was doing. Most of the time we were less than convincing for more than half a game and it was only a flash or two of individual skill that got us through.

I think the bottom line is the players must be thinking that way too and they're just as sick of hearing his voice as we are. Time for a change, let's hope the dice rolls in our favour for once. It happens in football all the time, you outstay your welcome.

 

Great post but just adds to the feeling of frustration.

How many managers would bring on a defensive midfielder to contain a match when losing 2-1, while leaving a player who can unlock a defence on the bench?

We are on a steady decline, a managed stagnation, but as long as he can bring enough fans along with him on his journey to mediocrity he will survive. When a manager wasn’t potted for not being up to the task, it used to be ‘Sack The Board’ now the equivalent is ‘Venkys Out’. As long as there is none of that then all will be made out to be fine during the Pune junkets.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

38 minutes ago, booth said:

Lambert was appointed after Bowyer. Then quickly went from Lambert to Coyle.

You're right, I'm obviously blanking out a lot of bad memories !

[Guest]

3 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

It seems a totally baseless statement to make. Which of our players are top 6 quality? Only Dack IMO. We finished 15th last season and have regressed since. The manager takes much of the blame I agree, and I also think that the quality of the games in this league is poor, but ultimately Mowbray has not built a particularly good squad for the money hes had. Poor goalkeeper, incompetent defence, no width, no goals, no leaders, its a bottom half squad hes built I think, maybe a good manager could have us in mid table.

It's easy to look at Preston's side and ask, which of their players are Top 4 quality? Pearson and Browne maybe? It's not about just individuals. I firmly believe that this team shouldn't be two places lower than the team Gary Bowyer left behind. We've finished in more positive positions with Danny Guthrie, Hope Akpan and Jason Lowe making up our midfield, and we now have Lewis Travis, Lewis Holtby, Stuart Downing, Bradley Dack and more... we shouldn't be where we are - and a decent manager would have us in promotion play off contention (in my opinion).

Edited November 10, 2019 by JoeH

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Just to carry on my point earlier, How would this game pan out ?

Blues.

Leutwiler

Rankin Costello, Lenihan, Wharton, Willams.

Johnson, Travis.

Buckley, Dack, Downing.

Gallager

Versus

Reds

Walton

Bennett, Nyambe, Tosin, Bell.

Smallwood, Evans.

Holtby, Davenport, Rothwell

Graham.

Which team is better ? As I see it you can mix and match all that lot and still not have a great team. I couldn't find a place for -

Chapman, Butterworth, Brereton, Hart, Mulgrew.

That I suggest is a ridiculous amount of players for us to have and still be mediocre.

Edited November 10, 2019 by Tyrone Shoelaces

[Leonard Venkhater]

Just now, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

Just to carry on my point earlier, How would this game pan out ?

Blues.

Leutwiler

Rankin Costello, Lenihan, Wharton, Willams.

Johnson, Travis.

Buckley, Dack, Downing.

Gallager

Versus

Reds

Walton

Bennett, Nyambe, Tosin, Bell.

Smallwood, Evans.

Holtby, Davenport, Rothwell

Graham.

Which team is better ? As I see it you can mix and match all that lot and still not have a great team. I couldn't find a place for -

Chapman, Butterworth, Brereton, Hart, Mulgrew.

That I suggest is a ridiculous amount of players for us to have and still be mediocre.

Mediocre..are you joking?

[Waggy76]

Just now, JoeH said:

It's easy to look at Preston's side and ask, which of their players are Top 4 quality? Pearson and Browne maybe? It's not about just individuals. I firmly believe that this team shouldn't be two places lower than the team Gary Bowyer left behind. We've finished in more positive positions with Danny Guthrie, Hope Akpan and Jason Lowe making up our midfield, and we now have Lewis Travis, Lewis Holtby, Stuart Downing, Bradley Dack and more... we shouldn't be where we are - and a decent manager would have us in promotion play off contention (in my opinion).

I am not sure about , if he took over now ...

If a decent manager had had the last transfer window , I would agree  with a top ten finish... 

[Stuart]

Just now, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

Just to carry on my point earlier, How would this game pan out ?

Blues.

Leutwiler

Rankin Costello, Lenihan, Wharton, Willams.

Johnson, Travis.

Buckley, Dack, Downing.

Gallager

Versus

Reds

Walton

Bennett, Nyambe, Tosin, Bell.

Smallwood, Evans.

Holtby, Davenport, Rothwell

Graham.

Which team is better ? As I see it you can mix and match all that lot and still not have a great team. I couldn't find a place for -

Chapman, Butterworth, Brereton, Hart, Mulgrew.

That I suggest is a ridiculous amount of players for us to have and still be mediocre.

Butterworth should be playing ahead of Davenport. Not sure what people have against the lad.

I agree with your overall point though. We don’t have real depth in our first team. Both defences are poor.

However, the best XI out of that lot, with proper organisation, game plan and motivation would be worth watching.

You've also dropped Cunningham (presumably because he is a loan and injured) but kept Lenihan. He would feature in our best side.

(Reds would win in my view).

[roversfan99]

Just now, JoeH said:

It's easy to look at Preston's side and ask, which of their players are Top 4 quality? Pearson and Browne maybe? It's not about just individuals. I firmly believe that this team shouldn't be two places lower than the team Gary Bowyer left behind. We've finished in more positive positions with Danny Guthrie, Hope Akpan and Jason Lowe making up our midfield, and we now have Lewis Travis, Lewis Holtby, Stuart Downing, Bradley Dack and more... we shouldn't be where we are - and a decent manager would have us in promotion play off contention (in my opinion).

Preston have Daniel Johnson, the 2 centre backs too, Davies and Bauer. I dont doubt that Neil is perhaps overachieving, but theyve got a better and more balanced squad. 

Part of the problem is the lack of balance in our squad. Goalkeeper, we havent good any good ones. Centre back, question marks over all 3 of them. Right back, Nyambe is our best bet, still very raw. Left back, very unfortunate with Cunninghams injury, Bell and Williams both repeatedly prove their incompetence. Central midfield, Travis is our best one, top 6 quality? Not for me, certainly not yet, quite a bit off Pearson and Gallagher for example. Johnson seems past it. Wide, weve got Downing who is usually fairly ineffective, Armstrong is rubbish, Rothwell probably our best bet there but has never himself proven himself to be capable of regularly scoring/assisting, plus possibly more natural in a central role, contrast them with Barkhuizen, much more natural there, always puts in a shift, always chipping in with goals. Number 10, Dack yes I will give you, Holtby has the CV to suggest he is up to it, been mixed so far (excellent v Huddersfield, OK v Sheff Weds, awful yesterday) but to get him in the team in his natural position youd have to drop our best player. Up top, only one competent striker and hes 34 and out of favour, seemingly written off.

I agree that we could be a bit higher up the table but we are nowhere near good enough to be in that top 6. 

[Guest]

7 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

Preston have Daniel Johnson, the 2 centre backs too, Davies and Bauer. I dont doubt that Neil is perhaps overachieving, but theyve got a better and more balanced squad. 

Part of the problem is the lack of balance in our squad. Goalkeeper, we havent good any good ones. Centre back, question marks over all 3 of them. Right back, Nyambe is our best bet, still very raw. Left back, very unfortunate with Cunninghams injury, Bell and Williams both repeatedly prove their incompetence. Central midfield, Travis is our best one, top 6 quality? Not for me, certainly not yet, quite a bit off Pearson and Gallagher for example. Johnson seems past it. Wide, weve got Downing who is usually fairly ineffective, Armstrong is rubbish, Rothwell probably our best bet there but has never himself proven himself to be capable of regularly scoring/assisting, plus possibly more natural in a central role, contrast them with Barkhuizen, much more natural there, always puts in a shift, always chipping in with goals. Number 10, Dack yes I will give you, Holtby has the CV to suggest he is up to it, been mixed so far (excellent v Huddersfield, OK v Sheff Weds, awful yesterday) but to get him in the team in his natural position youd have to drop our best player. Up top, only one competent striker and hes 34 and out of favour, seemingly written off.

I agree that we could be a bit higher up the table but we are nowhere near good enough to be in that top 6. 

Preston’s defence on paper isn’t Top 4. It’s not all about your players, it’s about your playing style, ethos, tactical decisions too - but we don’t have any kind of adeptness in those areas.

[BlackburnEnd75]

Blue team:

                     Walton

JRC.    Lenihan.    Tosin.      Bell

Chapman  Travis.  Davenport  Downing

                        Dack       
 
                      Gallagher

White team:

                     Leutwiler 

Bennett  Nyambe  Williams  Cunningham 

                  Evans    Johnson

Armstrong.        Holtby        Rothwell

                       Graham 

subs: Hart, Butterworth, Buckley, Brereton, Smallwood, Samuel.

Other than the keeper you could pick either side and not really get much difference. Right back is an issue for both sides. 

[Blue blood]

1 hour ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

Just to carry on my point earlier, How would this game pan out ?

Blues.

Leutwiler

Rankin Costello, Lenihan, Wharton, Willams.

Johnson, Travis.

Buckley, Dack, Downing.

Gallager

Versus

Reds

Walton

Bennett, Nyambe, Tosin, Bell.

Smallwood, Evans.

Holtby, Davenport, Rothwell

Graham.

Which team is better ? As I see it you can mix and match all that lot and still not have a great team. I couldn't find a place for -

Chapman, Butterworth, Brereton, Hart, Mulgrew.

That I suggest is a ridiculous amount of players for us to have and still be mediocre.

Thing is a good manager would turn that medicore into good, something better than the sum of its parts. 

I dunno maybe Mulgrew and Travis as the 2 defensive miss in a 4-2-3-1 to protect Mulgrew from his lack of pace and still give us his set piece benefits. Perhaps a trio of Rothwell, Dack and Holtby means we can have a non scoring lump up front to play off as the 3 behind rack up a set of goals. Perhaps a good manager brings in a canny centre half and all our young defenders fulfil their potential. Maybe he gets a wing back system making Bell and Bennett look halfway decent. 

Tbh I'm not sure what it looks like but a competent manager would find a way of getting the team better than the sum of its parts. 

[DeeCee]

Reckon Lenihan and Baeur could have made a decent CD partnership, pity TM didn't.

[roversfan99]

1 hour ago, JoeH said:

Preston’s defence on paper isn’t Top 4. It’s not all about your players, it’s about your playing style, ethos, tactical decisions too - but we don’t have any kind of adeptness in those areas.

Of course, we are in agreement that obviously a manager makes a huge difference and we need a new one but you can only do so much and our squad is lacking in so many areas. Never mind a defence not being top 4, ours isnt top half, its one of the worst in the league!

[AllRoverAsia]

I did not see the game live but have watched the iFollow extended highlights a few times.

I can see why the penalty was given, a clumsy half-hearted effort by Tosin.

The 2nd Leeds goal - Leeds keeper passes out to Phillips with hardly a Rovers player in sight who is allowed to proceed downfield under no challenge at all, Rovers players are 20/30 yards away, Phillips working out his options with all the time in the world. He then plays a long high pass to Bamford, instant control, pass to Harrison and game over.

The lack of application and effort by Rovers during that play was a disgrace but the lack of any press must be due to coaching and manager's instructions.

[JHRover]

 

[Wegerleswiggle]

Just now, JHRover said:

 

Simply embarrassing!!

[DE.]

Bloody ref intercepting all of our passes. 

[booth]

15 hours ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

You're right, I'm obviously blanking out a lot of bad memories !

It does all kind of blur into one horrible nightmare.

We've gone from one of the best owners in football to a group of the worst.

I saw Preston fans saying they couldn't understand us moaning because Venky's gave us 12m to spend on strikers. Mike Ashley has spent a lot more than £12m but I'm sure none of them would be happy to see him take over at nob end.

Even when Rovers had no money it felt like a proper football club ran by people with enthusiasm and do the best for the club. Now it seems success is measured by whether the manager is able to buy mediocre young players and sell them on at a profit if they turn out to be any good. Winning football matches or promotion is secondary.

The ghost of Kean/Anderson still hangs over the club like a pair of scooby doo villiain rejects.

[G Somerset Rover]

11 hours ago, JHRover said:

 

Enough. TM’s teams play beautiful football - the media keep telling me.

[USABlue]

On 09/11/2019 at 12:56, Pedro said:

Like all of the others, I thought it was a stupid error and a definite penalty.

Disagree, whoelheartedly.  Soft, a gimme.