Rovers vs Reading at Virtual Ewood

[roversfan99]

29 minutes ago, Crimpshrine said:

We have beaten three very poor teams this season - great to watch but probably giving a slightly false impression. In two of those matches the oponents had 10 men for a fair chunk of the match which helped the goal difference.

We have failed with every other challange we have faced this season.

Home form is bad - even failing to beat Cardiff when they went down to 10 men. We seem to play into the hands of the opposition every time by not breaking down defensive sides and being too open against better sides.

Tony says we are on a journey - yes it's a never ending roundabout. Been here before!

Personally I wouldn't give Mowbray much longer. A change of manager could galvanise this squad into something more productive than it currently is.

Fantastic analogy!

[yankfan]

15 hours ago, Oldgregg86 said:

Yes I agree. Is everyone agreeing it’s Tony’s job to counteract these things when players are injured/missing and use the squad accordingly with all this in mind as well as the opposition where playing to nullify there threat and play to our strengths with the players we have available not starting Evans and playing fecking Gallagher on the wing. Leaving our best RB off the field and everything else everyone has constantly reiterated for the last three feckin years. I feel like I’m banging my head against a wall trying to understand an unreasonable ex wife . Tony is ex wife material. I loved him once but I’m struggling to see why

I said this after the last match.  4-3-3, or 4-2-3-1 it’s all the same really.  It’s just the direction from the gaffer on players selected, player roles and expectations.  Against the top sides we can’t select the same teams with the same directives as the bottom feeders. It’s abundantly clear our back 4 don’t have the quality required to boss the Watfords and Readings of the league. In both matches our center half’s needed cover, both in front of them and out wide. 

[Guest]

Feels in some ways like the start to the league one campaign, where we are blowing hot and cold, looking like were about to catch fire but then taking a step backwards. We found a way to grind out results in that league, playing the football that some claim on here is the type needed to get out of the championship. But in this league teams will punish us for being as sloppy as that last night. But then again, not many teams in England wouldn't have scored at least two against us after that defensive display.

Good possession, pretty passes, but ultimately as soon as Reading nicked the ball we looked like conceding every attack. For what its worth, Reading looked organised and had 3 good players and worringly that's all that was needed against us! Set up well defensively and don't get a man sent off seems to be the tactic...

Next game vs Swansea we could get played off the park and then it's Warnock's Boro at Ewood who will be the same test as Reading/Forest/Cardiff. We have to be looking at 6 points, but ultimately anything less than 4 and the pressure will start to mount (at least from the fans) on Mowbray.

Still stand by my comment that our first 11 is good enough on paper to challenge the top 2. We ultimately won't, Travis was a huge miss last night. They're two nippy midfielders would've been on the end of a snapping challenge or 2 and then we'd have seen if they really fancied it, and we're desperate for Dack back, both walk into any 11 in the league. Ultimately TM just doesn't have it in him to get us there. But top 6 is and must be an absolute minimum with our current squad.

[AllRoverAsia]

1 hour ago, Sparks Rover said:

You havent a clue.  It has everything to do with it.  Unless you are familiar with how youth academy football is, then you wouldnt know how much nepotism and cronyism goes on.  The game is riddled with it...Seen it too many times at the expense of talent who's dad wasnt a professional footballer.

This one is so bloody blatant though.

Doing a favour for an old Boro team mate with others money.

Skin of a fecking Rhino.

[Mercer]

18 minutes ago, AllRoverAsia said:

This one is so bloody blatant though.

Doing a favour for an old Boro team mate with others money.

Skin of a fecking Rhino.

I think It is.

IMO, there can be no justification in giving Pears a four year deal.

He is a 22 year old goalie with just some 20 first team appearances for M'boro.

A sought after talent - no.

IMO, at most, it should have been a 12 month deal with a 12 month option.  If he said no, where was he going as clearly Warnock didn't want nor presumably rate him.

Stergiakis was signed on a three year deal with a one year option - a 21 year old with already 80 first team appearances in Bulgaria's top league and Europa experience.  A deal that makes much more sense.

Why we signed Pears is beyond me.  Waggott and Mowbray, IMO, should be hauled over the coals for what I think is an indefensible contract.

[speeeeeeedie]

Mowbray's constants since promotion from L1 have been his inability to set up a defence, form averaging out to be 1W 1D 1L, with wild swings within that; 6 match win streaks followed by 6 losses, or a blinding performance followed by an absolute dud.

I think that he is a decent manager, he's not Prem class, nor is he a specialist like Warnock, but he has slowly improved Rovers. Will he get the club up? Who knows, but with the attacking talent he has this season he needs to make an effort.

 

Edited October 28, 2020 by speeeeeeedie

[JHRover]

1 minute ago, unsall said:

Think he’s trying to make the team attractive to watch, and hopefully to win matches as well, Nyambe needs to come back in at R/b and much as I like JRC he’s not good enough at full back, right midfielder come winger is his position.
Douglas seemed a decent loan but needs to be better defensively,

It’s certainly exciting to watch and hopefully he can tighten up at the back, and still think we could have a good season.

You seem to be quick off the mark to criticise when we get beat but nothing when we give someone a hammering.

Hopefully he knows now his best players playing in the right positions, still think we can be in the top six come May, and yes tighten up but keep playing exciting stuff.

I want him to make us promotion material. I couldn't care less if we are attractive to watch or as dull as dishwater. This is the Championship and we are of limited resources in it. We aren't in a position to be worried about style or entertaining people. Results are the priority.

I fully agree Nyambe should be full back. Unfortunately it seems there are issues there with Mowbray and I fully expect him to be off for nothing at the end of the season to a club where he will thrive.

I disagree that it is exciting to watch. I enjoyed the victories over Derby and Coventry as much as anyone but I get absolutely no pleasure from seeing us hammer a team one week and then follow that up with a hammering ourselves, especially when we are opened up with such ease. I would much prefer consistency in positive results and crap performances than decent performances lurching from one extreme to the other.

All successful sides are built from the back. We aren't.

The manager has already set the bar at mid table for the season with his public comments of 'challenging' for the top 6 e.g. being mid-table and in with a shout, which 6-7 other clubs will do. We 'can' be in the top six as I believe our squad is good enough to get there. I just don't think we've got the right manager, coaching or mentality to do it. You need to absolutely hate losing and develop an approach of giving nothing away. Looking at the manager and players I just don't think we have the nasty, ruthless, consistent streak to get there.

 

[Sparks Rover]

1 hour ago, Crimpshrine said:

We have beaten three very poor teams this season - great to watch but probably giving a slightly false impression. In two of those matches the oponents had 10 men for a fair chunk of the match which helped the goal difference.

We have failed with every other challange we have faced this season.

Home form is bad - even failing to beat Cardiff when they went down to 10 men. We seem to play into the hands of the opposition every time by not breaking down defensive sides and being too open against better sides.

Tony says we are on a journey - yes it's a never ending roundabout. Been here before!

Personally I wouldn't give Mowbray much longer. A change of manager could galvanise this squad into something more productive than it currently is.

Tony should get on to Norris Mcwhirter...he's besten this one by 4 years 

https://recordsetter.com/world-record/driving-roundabout/44485

 

[BlackburnEnd75]

My take on last night (theres a lot to unpack)

Firstly mowbray picking JRC over Nyambe was a really bad call. JRC is a decent footballer but he cant defend as a right back, against a decent team he can't start especially considering the way we play exposes the fullbacks and especially as Nyambe is more than good enough and is much more sold defensively.

Secondly Lenihan had a horror show, positionally dreadful, kept getting caught out when high up the pitch and over committing himself. Fortunately we have the option of dropping him for Ayala come Saturday. Mowbray has bottled these kinds of decisions before but has made some bigger calls in the last 12 months or so.

Evans gave a really spineless performance last night. He doesnt suit the way we are trying to play. Doesnt press with much intensity, his passing is way too safe he chooses short passes and then underhits them so it doesnt give it away but it just slows the attack down, basically hiding how average he is technically get some balls man. 

Worried about Douglas on last night's viewing, he does the things bell doesnt in particular his passing and crossing butbl looked a little weak 1v1 and made the mistake for the 1st goal.

Armstrong had a good game, elliot with a good assist, I like trybull looks a well balanced cdm, brereton was anonymous.

If we can aim for a team when available of:

                      Kaminski

Nyambe    Ayala    Williams    Douglas

      Holtby        Trybull       Rothwell

Elliott              Armstrong        Brereton

I'd be happier

[Hoochie Bloochie Mama]

2 minutes ago, BlackburnEnd75 said:

Secondly Lenihan had a horror show, positionally dreadful, kept getting caught out when high up the pitch and over committing himself.

Unless that's how he's being told to play, which I very much think it is. 

[BlackburnEnd75]

10 minutes ago, Hoochie Bloochie Mama said:

Unless that's how he's being told to play, which I very much think it is. 

Problem is if you come so far out of position (he was on the left hand side of the pitch over the half way line) and dont win the ball you've got to get back in position quicker and doesnt

[tomphil]

31 minutes ago, JHRover said:

I want him to make us promotion material. I couldn't care less if we are attractive to watch or as dull as dishwater. This is the Championship and we are of limited resources in it. We aren't in a position to be worried about style or entertaining people. Results are the priority.

I fully agree Nyambe should be full back. Unfortunately it seems there are issues there with Mowbray and I fully expect him to be off for nothing at the end of the season to a club where he will thrive.

I disagree that it is exciting to watch. I enjoyed the victories over Derby and Coventry as much as anyone but I get absolutely no pleasure from seeing us hammer a team one week and then follow that up with a hammering ourselves, especially when we are opened up with such ease. I would much prefer consistency in positive results and crap performances than decent performances lurching from one extreme to the other.

All successful sides are built from the back. We aren't.

The manager has already set the bar at mid table for the season with his public comments of 'challenging' for the top 6 e.g. being mid-table and in with a shout, which 6-7 other clubs will do. We 'can' be in the top six as I believe our squad is good enough to get there. I just don't think we've got the right manager, coaching or mentality to do it. You need to absolutely hate losing and develop an approach of giving nothing away. Looking at the manager and players I just don't think we have the nasty, ruthless, consistent streak to get there.

 

That's how the narrative from him follows as well and that's another predictable path.

Top 6 don't want to be sitting in midtable blah blah

Building a team slowly in with a shout of top 6

Not quite there yet but i know what we need

We've finished 10th it's marginal gains we can't compete with top 6 yet, hopefully backing in the window to bring in ready made players to improve the first 11

Iv'e been looking all along to bring in good back up to push what we already have to make us better, don't want to be midtable top 6 is the aim.

Blah blah

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

42 minutes ago, tomphil said:

That's how the narrative from him follows as well and that's another predictable path.

Top 6 don't want to be sitting in midtable blah blah

Building a team slowly in with a shout of top 6

Not quite there yet but i know what we need

We've finished 10th it's marginal gains we can't compete with top 6 yet, hopefully backing in the window to bring in ready made players to improve the first 11

Iv'e been looking all along to bring in good back up to push what we already have to make us better, don't want to be midtable top 6 is the aim.

Blah blah

What he usually says is "let's bring in some players to help the guys we've already got ". He never says " I'm signing " X " to replace " Y ".

[Steptoe87]

3 hours ago, Sparks Rover said:

You havent a clue.  It has everything to do with it.  Unless you are familiar with how youth academy football is, then you wouldnt know how much nepotism and cronyism goes on.  The game is riddled with it...Seen it too many times at the expense of talent who's dad wasnt a professional footballer.

I haven’t a clue you don’t even know me you idiot fully experienced in all levels of football and I will be the first to say it’s a poison game. You can’t judge him on last nights game but if you are wanting too we wouldn’t have a team at all coz they were all poor. So you can stop your google searches and relax abit 

[MarkBRFC]

2 hours ago, Mercer said:

I think It is.

IMO, there can be no justification in giving Pears a four year deal.

He is a 22 year old goalie with just some 20 first team appearances for M'boro.

A sought after talent - no.

IMO, at most, it should have been a 12 month deal with a 12 month option.  If he said no, where was he going as clearly Warnock didn't want nor presumably rate him.

Stergiakis was signed on a three year deal with a one year option - a 21 year old with already 80 first team appearances in Bulgaria's top league and Europa experience.  A deal that makes much more sense.

Why we signed Pears is beyond me.  Waggott and Mowbray, IMO, should be hauled over the coals for what I think is an indefensible contract.

Pears dad is an old team mate of Mowbray's, that's why we have signed him.

[Sparks Rover]

1 hour ago, Steptoe87 said:

I haven’t a clue you don’t even know me you idiot fully experienced in all levels of football and I will be the first to say it’s a poison game. You can’t judge him on last nights game but if you are wanting too we wouldn’t have a team at all coz they were all poor. So you can stop your google searches and relax abit 

No searching my friend, everyone knows Mowbray loves the old pals act. I can judge him on last nights game. Where the feck was he going for the first goal.  He should have told Douglas to head the  ball away...No communication, positioning very iffy and this was the first minute where he should have been sharp as a tack.  Bloody rubbish

And if you insist cronyism and nepotism isnt rife in the game then you are a fraud

Edited October 28, 2020 by Sparks Rover

[unleaded]

Regarding Pears Mowbray says he was fast tracked for this game because he’s not up to speed on how we like to play ... Why Drop the Greek lad then who was here before Pears ... has triple more game time experience.... 

Mowbray will be long gone and we will be stuck with this lemon ... 

[darrenrover]

4 hours ago, Mellor Rover said:

Feels in some ways like the start to the league one campaign, where we are blowing hot and cold, looking like were about to catch fire but then taking a step backwards. We found a way to grind out results in that league, playing the football that some claim on here is the type needed to get out of the championship. But in this league teams will punish us for being as sloppy as that last night. But then again, not many teams in England wouldn't have scored at least two against us after that defensive display.

Good possession, pretty passes, but ultimately as soon as Reading nicked the ball we looked like conceding every attack. For what its worth, Reading looked organised and had 3 good players and worringly that's all that was needed against us! Set up well defensively and don't get a man sent off seems to be the tactic...

Next game vs Swansea we could get played off the park and then it's Warnock's Boro at Ewood who will be the same test as Reading/Forest/Cardiff. We have to be looking at 6 points, but ultimately anything less than 4 and the pressure will start to mount (at least from the fans) on Mowbray.

Still stand by my comment that our first 11 is good enough on paper to challenge the top 2. We ultimately won't, Travis was a huge miss last night. They're two nippy midfielders would've been on the end of a snapping challenge or 2 and then we'd have seen if they really fancied it, and we're desperate for Dack back, both walk into any 11 in the league. Ultimately TM just doesn't have it in him to get us there. But top 6 is and must be an absolute minimum with our current squad.

Spot on Mellor

[roversfan99]

Is the goal conceded yesterday the earliest in our history? Also has to be difficult to beat in terms of a goalkeeper debuting and letting in his first goal.

[darrenrover]

It's blatantly obvious Pears was signed as a last gasp favour to a pal. Last season we'd Leutweiller on the books and one donkey on loan. This season, we need 3 on the books? Either the Greek or Pears was an after thought and Pears was last through the door but signed up for 4 years, go figure. He couldn't directly be blamed for any of last nights goals but looked like 'little lad lost'.

[Inglorious basturk]

Yes I concur . We had kaminski sorted and then the Greek lad as back up with maybe Hilton or fisher as a third then boom here is pears . 
then he plays and as darren the rovers fan above points out .... completely lost 

[oldjamfan1]

20 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

Is the goal conceded yesterday the earliest in our history? Also has to be difficult to beat in terms of a goalkeeper debuting and letting in his first goal.

I suppose in terms of a full debut absolutely but I dare say some have come on for their debut as a sub to face a penalty as their first action after the 1st choice keeper has been red carded?

Edited October 28, 2020 by oldjamfan1

[Mattyblue]

Last gasp with a 4 year deal to boot...

[WacoRover]

I’m like everybody else, in one respect- not happy about yesterday’s result, but not ready to panic, and start sacking, either. 

As I stated when Douglas, Trybull & Pears were brought in, we need to expect some good results by Boxing Day- and I don’t mean a win, a loss, a tie, repeat, etc. We need to see 4 pts out of 6, 7 pts out of 9, etc. Right now, we’re not even close to 4 pts out of 9. 

[bazza]

The 4 year deal what hurts. Who gave him that? How come it was Mowbray's choice for 4 years? Surely the owners or their representative gives out the contracts and not the mere manager.