v Bristol City (h) - 12/12/23

[Upside Down]

9 minutes ago, Sweaty Gussets said:

Most of the goals we score start by 'fucking around at the back'. Risk v reward. 

Hence our inability to control games.

[Sweaty Gussets]

Just now, Upside Down said:

Hence our inability to control games.

Not sure what you mean by 'control games'? 

It's an injury ravaged squad who were out on their feet the last 30 mins last night. BCFC didn't lay a glove on us for the preceding 60 mins. 

[Atko's Engine]

7 hours ago, Ghost7 said:

Sondre Tronstad is some signing. So tidy on the ball and seems to come out on top of most duels. Really enjoying watching him at the minute and is proving to be our most reliable player.

He's what I call a player's player, does the grafting & oft unnoticed stuff that only real fans of the game itself see & appreciate, as opposed to looking for glory & headlines. Keeps the game simple, he's at the heart of our team now, looks like a wonderful signing, esp on a free & coming into his prime.

Ennis showed promise last night. Seemed to have good awareness, found space, linked up, looked to have a positive mindset. No real chances to speak of but certainly looks like he has a lot more to offer if he can get properly up n running.

Sigurdsson was much better last night, but unfortunately Moran had a stinker. Szmodics huffed & puffed but all that came off really (and how) was his round the corner scoop to Sigurdsson, who did really well to adjust his feet to control & set up the shot in 1 movement.

Defensively we did ok until we gave away their goal, again having to reshuffle, we were resolute but Leo really did a job for us last night in the last 20 mins, he kept us ahead as we lost all grip on the game. Didn't put a foot or hand wrong from what I recall, my MoM.

As for their goal, it's a tactic that has brought good success in being the start of flowing moves that lead to chances, but the choice to employ it then, was poor, & it was even more poorly executed. Sadly it gave them real impetus for the rest of the game & we struggled to find outballs, but thankfully were able to hold on.

The ref turned into their 12th man in that 2nd half, not sure why but it was like he suddenly decided he hated blue & white.

All in all a good 3 points to put us in a decent position as we run into Christmas. We need some players back though, the squad as it is is way too stretched to cope with 7 games in the next month.

[Upside Down]

18 minutes ago, Sweaty Gussets said:

Not sure what you mean by 'control games'? 

It's an injury ravaged squad who were out on their feet the last 30 mins last night. BCFC didn't lay a glove on us for the preceding 60 mins. 

And then put us under pressure for the remaining 30 because of our players thinking they are Brasil or something. 

If we'd have booted the ball to the opposition corner flag it would have been a better option than playing the most obvious pass in the world to a man who's got two behind him. 

Why are we taking risks when 2 or 3 nil up and cruising?

[Sweaty Gussets]

2 minutes ago, Upside Down said:

And then put us under pressure for the remaining 30 because of our players thinking they are Brasil or something. 

If we'd have booted the ball to the opposition corner flag it would have been a better option than playing the most obvious pass in the world to a man who's got two behind him. 

Why are we taking risks when 2 or 3 nil up and cruising?

That's how they're told to play. Risk v reward. Considering what he has to work with, injury crisis, lack of spending, and also considering the league position both this season and last, it's working. 

Edited December 13, 2023 by Sweaty Gussets

[Darwen Rover 007]

Playing out from the back, drawing the opposition in, is a key part to how we play.

We have improved massively in our ability of doing so since this manager came in, if we want it to improve further, we are gonna need a higher standard of player which we not able to afford.

This style isn't going anywhere with this manager, occasionally will get caught out and although not good for the ticker, overall I am loving the style of football.. given everything combined.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

1 hour ago, 47er said:

Leading 2-0 and then one of those stupid fannying around efforts close to our own goal gifted them their chance to get back in the game. Then, with our record of conceding late ones, its all nerves and praying for the final whistle.

For God's sake, when in trouble clear your lines and regroup.

We weren’t even in trouble. We had time on the ball and a player wide open in the right wing position. It was the easiest pass in the world to make. Just slide the ball out to him. Look at the highlight reel, especially the view from behind the goal. The lad is stood there, on his own, just waiting for a pass. Why we then decided to pass the ball into heavy traffic and a real danger area is a mystery to me.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Regarding the attendance - not everyone can attend two games in four days at this time of year. Most people with the choice of Leeds Utd or Bristol City would chose the Leeds game.

Edited December 13, 2023 by Tyrone Shoelaces

[chaddyrovers]

Rovers and JDT got the win despite not the best performance..we played better and lost. Midweek championship games are about getting the job done. 

2 good goals and we conceded a poor one.

Tronstad my player of the match. Wahlstedt had a good game. Sigurdsson good also. 

Good to see Ennis played 45 mins 

Let's go and positive result at Southampton 

[booth]

The Wharton family must be proud today. How often does this happen?

[had.e.nuff]

good to win when playing poor some good performances from a few players I thought the keeper had a good game along with Tronsted ,I hope its just a shortage of match practice with Ennis his second touch seemed to be a tackle all the first half.

[Tugayisgod]

2 hours ago, arbitro said:

Rory Finneran is the youngest ever player in a match day squad for Rovers.

Has he got massive feet or is it just the perspective of the picture? 😂😂

Looks a big lad for 15 tbh looking at the pic.and plenty of growth still to come at that age

[rigger]

3 hours ago, Sweaty Gussets said:

Not sure what you mean by 'control games'? 

It's an injury ravaged squad who were out on their feet the last 30 mins last night. BCFC didn't lay a glove on us for the preceding 60 mins. 

That is mainly due to the fact that Bristol were as bad as we were. Both teams ball retention was absolutely awful.

[Lancaster Rover]

There was a really good example with maybe 10 mins to go of the potential effect of hoofing it in to the corner to compare against playing out. (this example is caveated with our side being knackered and several tactical changes having been made)

 

Wahlstedt sent one over the top of everyone, giving possession right back to them. they then had space to drive at pace into our half unopposed; this drew our players in, creating space for them to play into and ended up drawing a brilliant save from Wahlstedt.

Now I'm not saying that the high risk stuff we play at times is always the best decision however there were a couple of occasions last night (not just this) where playing the ball long for it to come straight back at you has greater risk of creating chances than playing out from the back. More often than not when playing out you're doing so with an overload position, against largely static opposition. Surrendering the ball by playing long often means you're defending against more players, at higher speed and with runners beyond the ball.

[rigger]

6 minutes ago, Lancaster Rover said:

There was a really good example with maybe 10 mins to go of the potential effect of hoofing it in to the corner to compare against playing out. (this example is caveated with our side being knackered and several tactical changes having been made)

 

Wahlstedt sent one over the top of everyone, giving possession right back to them. they then had space to drive at pace into our half unopposed; this drew our players in, creating space for them to play into and ended up drawing a brilliant save from Wahlstedt.

Now I'm not saying that the high risk stuff we play at times is always the best decision however there were a couple of occasions last night (not just this) where playing the ball long for it to come straight back at you has greater risk of creating chances than playing out from the back. More often than not when playing out you're doing so with an overload position, against largely static opposition. Surrendering the ball by playing long often means you're defending against more players, at higher speed and with runners beyond the ball.

And then you look at their goal.

[booth]

10 minutes ago, rigger said:

And then you look at their goal.

That's on Moran though, he was poor last night. I wouldn't be surprised if he's benched on Saturday.

[Hasta]

19 minutes ago, Lancaster Rover said:

There was a really good example with maybe 10 mins to go of the potential effect of hoofing it in to the corner to compare against playing out. (this example is caveated with our side being knackered and several tactical changes having been made)

 

Wahlstedt sent one over the top of everyone, giving possession right back to them. they then had space to drive at pace into our half unopposed; this drew our players in, creating space for them to play into and ended up drawing a brilliant save from Wahlstedt.

Now I'm not saying that the high risk stuff we play at times is always the best decision however there were a couple of occasions last night (not just this) where playing the ball long for it to come straight back at you has greater risk of creating chances than playing out from the back. More often than not when playing out you're doing so with an overload position, against largely static opposition. Surrendering the ball by playing long often means you're defending against more players, at higher speed and with runners beyond the ball.

There's a difference between a keeper who has time and options hoofing it long, and when one of our full backs is being closed down near the corner flag and plays it to a midfielder in our own area who is also got a man right behind him. Sometimes you feel players play a pass when they are in trouble because if they do go long it will be a black mark against them from the coaching staff. If a player is feeling he is in trouble in his own defensive third he should be comfortable just clearing his lines.

As @Tyrone Shoelacessays above, this doesnt really apply to last night because Carter wasn't in trouble. It was just a poor choice of ball in to Moran and a poor layoff off by Moran. 

[Hasta]

On the game, I also thought both full backs did well. Brittain has looked lost on the left side recently but was far more like his normal self back on the right side. And in that last 30 minutes a lot of pressure come down Pickering's side and I thought he coped pretty well. Those two with Tronstadt and Wahlsted were my star performers..

Edited December 13, 2023 by Hasta

[bluebruce]

29 minutes ago, rigger said:

And then you look at their goal.

The only reason one was a goal and the other wasn't, is because Wahlstedt pulled off a good save.

[bluebruce]

18 minutes ago, booth said:

That's on Moran though, he was poor last night. I wouldn't be surprised if he's benched on Saturday.

It's definitely way more on Carter (think that's who it was) for choosing the suicide ball to him instead of the easy ball to the unmarked lad out to the right. I also thought Wahlstedt was slightly culpable, although it should never have come to that anyway.

[Wheelton Blue]

31 minutes ago, rigger said:

And then you look at their goal.

And Tronstad twice gifting them opportunities in the dying minutes.

[Miller11]

For some reason Moran’s normally reliable touch completely deserted him last night. Looked like he couldn’t trap a bag of cement. Real off day but he’ll get over it.

[Exiled in Toronto Mk2]

5 hours ago, arbitro said:

Scott Wharton was struggling with an injury just before he was substituted. His movement was definitely impaired although I noticed him on the pitch at full time. Hopefully precautionary as I thought last night was his best game for some time.

I thought it was the best he’s ever played in a back 4.

[booth]

32 minutes ago, bluebruce said:

It's definitely way more on Carter (think that's who it was) for choosing the suicide ball to him instead of the easy ball to the unmarked lad out to the right. I also thought Wahlstedt was slightly culpable, although it should never have come to that anyway.

I'd say it's more on Moran who had been passing the ball like that all night, but Carter isn't blameless. No need to even pass it to a player in danger, who clearly wasn't having a good game. You wonder if some footballers use their brain at all.

[joey_big_nose]

1 hour ago, bluebruce said:

It's definitely way more on Carter (think that's who it was) for choosing the suicide ball to him instead of the easy ball to the unmarked lad out to the right. I also thought Wahlstedt was slightly culpable, although it should never have come to that anyway.

Well.... I don't think the suicide ball was an unintended mistake. We play that pass into marked midfielders quite frequently. The burden seems to be on the receiver (usually Wharton, Tronstad or Moran) to take the ball, beat the marker and make a pass. Or if they are under too much pressure bounce the ball back to the defender with a controlled touch.

So in the way we play not sure Carter would have been perceived as doing anything wrong.