v West Bromwich Albion (a) - 13/1/24

[Sparks Rover]

18 minutes ago, JHRover said:

 

It was an utterly outrageous move clearly not motivated by footballing considerations but these sort of suspicious and strange stunts have been all too common under the scum.

So, you think if LT was playing well week in week out and not being kept out of the team, JDT would have got rid?  LT hasn't been  up to CM in this division for a while.  

Knickers in a twist on this point.  I'd like to see the 2 replacements before we start hankering after someone who's done fuck all for at least 2 seasons.

 

I do still think it's a shit show but LT now being the best player ever by not being here is plain stupid.

Edited January 13 by Sparks Rover

[corb691]

Read all the comments and had time absorb the shambolic performance I witnessed today. Here is my piece..

• I didn't think Wahlstedt could be any worse but failing to command the six yard box from a long throw and the disallowed Kipre goal is just completely unacceptable. He has to be the worse signing I've seen in a long time, it's hard to think of a game where he didn't cost us a goal. Pears has to be restored next week.
• Hyam has got some stick rightly so, but he is a decent centre-back, he's been rushed back and to be honest, how could he and other defenders feel confident with Wahlstedt behind them. The tactics don't help, they're so exposed.
• As much as I love Trav and the service he's given over the years, he's always been an 'average' player. Just because he's got abit about him doesn't mean he was ever going to solve this mess on his own. Tronstrad is better (only just by virtue of reading the game better) but he still can't pass for toffee.
• Gallagher to Ipswich? Is it the worst thing in the world? He is one of our highest paid players but he's so injury prone and his return isn't good enough so I wouldn't say it would 'weaken' us ability wise, just reducing the experience in our already young squad.
• The style of football is just bonkers, we don't have the players to carry it out. It's like Luton going all out attack week in, week out in the prem, there's only one outcome. A good manager would recognise this and adapt, but he isn't which is a major concern. He can point to lack of resources and rightly so, but we wont be the only ones in this situation yet not many other teams are using this 'gung ho' approach. 
• We won't go down, players coming back and that will be enough to get us over the line - however, it merely papers over the cracks. 
• The DoF/Head Coach isn't working and JDT isn't the right manager to deal with a club in such a predicament but the worst thing is that I don't who would be the right 'fit' and willing to work under these conditions.
• I was however, massively encouraged by Jake Garrett's performance - he's massively improved and he has that steel about him at such an early age, he needs to be playing more. I'd have him over Wharton, he's too easy to bypass. 

[Oldgregg86]

2 hours ago, RoversTilliDie said:

JDTs biggest mistake of the Season, Whaldsted in goal. Watching him it's like a schoolboy between the sticks the size of him. If we don't get a result against Huddersfield next Saturday, it could be his downfall when the boos ring out and the chant turns to jdt out !!.

Pears is injured . Who is he supposed to pick. He tried Hilton in the cup and he was as shit as the other two 

[Giant]

On another note from today’s game, the stewarding from the senior members of security in the away stand was completely over the top, confrontational and classic jobsworths’ mentality. I saw one of them escorting a kid of about 14 down some stairs kneeing him in the back. They do not have the right to assault people. I’m firmly of the opinion that all stewards should have a name tag on their uniform so that incidents like this can be reported. I know every team has some pillocks, but some of the stewarding  I saw today was cringeworthy, and it seemed like some wanted trouble so that they could play the tough guy role.

[JHRover]

1 hour ago, Sparks Rover said:

So, you think if LT was playing well week in week out and not being kept out of the team, JDT would have got rid?  LT hasn't been  up to CM in this division for a while.  

Knickers in a twist on this point.  I'd like to see the 2 replacements before we start hankering after someone who's done fuck all for at least 2 seasons.

 

I do still think it's a shit show but LT now being the best player ever by not being here is plain stupid.

I think it is perfectly reasonable to have my knickers in a twist that our captain is playing for a side 2nd in the division and going to get at least a play-off position (more than we've had in over a decade), whilst we could be getting relegated with a team of kids, yes.

I'm not saying he's the 'best player ever' but he's clearly very useful especially for a young/inexperienced side leaking goals all over the place and there's clearly a lot more to this than meets the eye.

At best it sums up just what a complete shambles and mess this club is.

Edited January 14 by JHRover

[Waggy76]

3 minutes ago, Giant said:

On another note from today’s game, the stewarding from the senior members of security in the away stand was completely over the top, confrontational and classic jobsworths’ mentality. I saw one of them escorting a kid of about 14 down some stairs kneeing him in the back. They do not have the right to assault people. I’m firmly of the opinion that all stewards should have a name tag on their uniform so that incidents like this can be reported. I know every team has some pillocks, but some of the stewarding  I saw today was cringeworthy, and it seemed like some wanted trouble so that they could play the tough guy role.

Always been the same in the West Midlands , especially their constabulary !

[Inferi]

As a Rovers fan it was highly satisfying to see Garrett's value increase today. Let's keep Wahlstedt in goal until his value increases. 

[Waggy76]

27 minutes ago, Sparks Rover said:

So, you think if LT was playing well week in week out and not being kept out of the team, JDT would have got rid?  LT hasn't been  up to CM in this division for a while.  

Knickers in a twist on this point.  I'd like to see the 2 replacements before we start hankering after someone who's done fuck all for at least 2 seasons.

 

I do still think it's a shit show but LT now being the best player ever by not being here is plain stupid.

You have a point but the club captain, should not have been sent out on loan in the circumstances we find ourselves.

Why weren't the new players playing today ?? Brittain at left back was worse than dire , again ! 

He couldnt tackle a fish supper !

 

[G Somerset Rover]

56 minutes ago, Rover8T4 said:

Just looking at Lewis Travis Instagram and the support from our players is unreal. Well liked player and respected captain, and some still argue there's no unrest in the team 

Liking plenty of posts about how he should still be at Rovers etc. too. Clearly a fall out with JDT and/or the clubs vision (who hasn’t fallen out with the latter tbf).

[Parsonblue]

Shocking performance today from both players and coach - there can be no excuses for professionals turning in such a woefully inept performance.  JDT seems unable to set up a team that can defend and today too many players seemed to have thrown in the towel.

Leo had another nightmare and needs pulling out of the firing line.  At the moment he is not a Championship goalkeeper and it remains to be seen if he ever will be good enough.

The back four - made up of some of our more experienced players - was a complete and utter shambles.  Brittain again showed that defensively he leaves a lot to be desired.  For me, he is a downgrade on Nyambe in terms of being a sound defender.  Hyam doesn't look fit and this is impacting on his game.  He certainly isn't a leader as a captain and looked totally lost at times today as Thomas-Asante had him chasing shadows for most of the afternoon.  Carter drifted out of position too much in the first-half when playing as a right-back whilst Scott Wharton was not at his best and, again, one wonders if he is fully fit.

Tronstad, although not at his best tried to keep things together whilst Garrett was our best performer on the day and surely deserves a run in the team.  I thought Gallagher put a shift in when he came on and put defenders under pressure in a way that Leonard hadn't been able to do.  On the evidence of his second-half display he still looks far better than another other striker we have.

As for JDT he looked completely broken on the bench and never moved during the second-half.  For me there seems to be a serious disconnect between Broughton and JDT.  The coach continues to plead for experienced players whilst Broughton continues to bring in youngsters who JDT refuses to pick.  Ennis not involved, Telalovic on the bench together with the latest two young arrivals.

JDT continues to stick to a 4-2-3-1 system that is not working with the players he has fit and available for selection.  He needs to change and find a way of making us more solid.  For the first time today I heard a number of fans wanting him gone - which is not a good sign amongst those who travel away regularly.

 

[tomphil]

1 hour ago, joey_big_nose said:

Brittain, Hyam, Carter, Pickering are all decent players. Think if we imported Lenihan, Bell, Nyambe anyone into this system when confidence is low and with a terrible keeper theyd get hammered.

The issue is we are trying to play champagne 424 football when we are conceding 4 goals every week. Its absolute lunacy.

Yes non of them bar the out of his depth keeper are bad players but they cannot get to grips with this system. It needs tightening up they need protection across the middle and stop committing so many fwd to leave so much space.

It's pretty basic stuff but going to places like West Brom or at Soton or playing at home to Leics and Leeds we are trying to take them on toe to toe. It's suicide and literally just throwing games away even Kean tried different tactics and he was far less qualified and honest than JDT.

[M_B]

2 minutes ago, Parsonblue said:

Shocking performance today from both players and coach - there can be no excuses for professionals turning in such a woefully inept performance.  JDT seems unable to set up a team that can defend and today too many players seemed to have thrown in the towel.

Leo had another nightmare and needs pulling out of the firing line.  At the moment he is not a Championship goalkeeper and it remains to be seen if he ever will be good enough.

The back four - made up of some of our more experienced players - was a complete and utter shambles.  Brittain again showed that defensively he leaves a lot to be desired.  For me, he is a downgrade on Nyambe in terms of being a sound defender.  Hyam doesn't look fit and this is impacting on his game.  He certainly isn't a leader as a captain and looked totally lost at times today as Thomas-Asante had him chasing shadows for most of the afternoon.  Carter drifted out of position too much in the first-half when playing as a right-back whilst Scott Wharton was not at his best and, again, one wonders if he is fully fit.

Tronstad, although not at his best tried to keep things together whilst Garrett was our best performer on the day and surely deserves a run in the team.  I thought Gallagher put a shift in when he came on and put defenders under pressure in a way that Leonard hadn't been able to do.  On the evidence of his second-half display he still looks far better than another other striker we have.

As for JDT he looked completely broken on the bench and never moved during the second-half.  For me there seems to be a serious disconnect between Broughton and JDT.  The coach continues to plead for experienced players whilst Broughton continues to bring in youngsters who JDT refuses to pick.  Ennis not involved, Telalovic on the bench together with the latest two young arrivals.

JDT continues to stick to a 4-2-3-1 system that is not working with the players he has fit and available for selection.  He needs to change and find a way of making us more solid.  For the first time today I heard a number of fans wanting him gone - which is not a good sign amongst those who travel away regularly.

 

Nail on the head regarding Gally, he is by far our best forward, yet some can't wait to get rid of him, it's quite the dilemma. 

Obviously, it's the old injury situation which is the problem, but just how do you replace Gallagher with £1.5 million? The answer is, you don't. 

I'd be more inclined to give him a contract extension, than let him go for next to nothing which Tomasson probably wouldn't see anyway. 

[Mattyblue]

Of course JDT will now start to get it in the neck, managers always do (well apart from Teflon Tony) on the back of horror runs.

But how much grief did these get owners today? And will get if results continue like this? Zero, I would wager - this fanbase has an almighty blind spot when it comes to diagnosing the root cause of this disastrous decade. 

Edited January 13 by Mattyblue

[Upside Down]

14 minutes ago, Mattyblue said:

Of course JDT will now start to get it in the neck, managers always do (well apart from Teflon Tony) on the back of horror runs.

But how much grief did these get owners today? And will get if results continue like this? Zero, I would wager - this fanbase has an almighty blind spot when it comes to diagnosing the root cause of this disastrous decade. 

Absolutely pathetic and totally fucking embarrassing.

[JHRover]

36 minutes ago, Mattyblue said:

Of course JDT will now start to get it in the neck, managers always do (well apart from Teflon Tony) on the back of horror runs.

But how much grief did these get owners today? And will get if results continue like this? Zero, I would wager - this fanbase has an almighty blind spot when it comes to diagnosing the root cause of this disastrous decade. 

The highlight of my day was leaving the ground as the added time board went up and there were 3-4 lads in the concourse shouting 'we want Venkys out'. It wasn't much but in the depths of despair it was a welcome relief that at least a small number of the people who go 'get it'.

[DE.]

45 minutes ago, M_B said:

Nail on the head regarding Gally, he is by far our best forward, yet some can't wait to get rid of him, it's quite the dilemma. 

Obviously, it's the old injury situation which is the problem, but just how do you replace Gallagher with £1.5 million? The answer is, you don't. 

Not sure I agree that you can't replace Gallagher for that kind of money, when you look at some of the top scorers in the league. Morgan Whittaker was around £1m. Jack Clarke reported to be £750k. Crysencio Summerville reported to be around £1.25m. Conor Chaplin around £750k. Our own Sammy Szmodics was £1.8m according to the Peterborough chairman.

Good deals can be done if recruitment is up to scratch. Our current recruitment team's record on strikers is pretty appalling thus far though, so would I trust them to find a decent striker with £1.5m? Probably not. Besides of which, we'd probably see none or barely any of the money anyway, making selling Gallagher a pointless exercise.

[jim mk2]

1 hour ago, M_B said:

Nail on the head regarding Gally, he is by far our best forward, yet some can't wait to get rid of him, it's quite the dilemma. 

Obviously, it's the old injury situation which is the problem, but just how do you replace Gallagher with £1.5 million? The answer is, you don't. 

I'd be more inclined to give him a contract extension, than let him go for next to nothing which Tomasson probably wouldn't see anyway. 

 

Our best forward isn't saying much. Gallagher still has the same old Ribblesdale cement in his boots - there was one period where the ball bounced 2 yards from his feet 3 times in less than minute. His ball control is very poor. I'd pick him over Leonard though who like Moran continues to look like a schoolboy footballer playing in the men's game

[jim mk2]

2 hours ago, corb691 said:

• I was however, massively encouraged by Jake Garrett's performance - he's massively improved and he has that steel about him at such an early age, he needs to be playing more. I'd have him over Wharton, he's too easy to bypass. 

Garrett had a good game I thought and looked like he actually cared. Wharton spent most his match waving his arms at his team-mates. 

All our defensive problems stem from the goalkeeper. Wahlstedt is probably the worst I've seen in a Rovers shirt - and we've had some bad ones in recent years. 

[AllRoverAsia]

The multi angle views on the goals is something to behold. The first one truly unbelievably inept be the whole defence.

Try Leo as a striker, he is not and never will be a keeper.

 

[Upside Down]

1 hour ago, JHRover said:

The highlight of my day was leaving the ground as the added time board went up and there were 3-4 lads in the concourse shouting 'we want Venkys out'. It wasn't much but in the depths of despair it was a welcome relief that at least a small number of the people who go 'get it'.

A small ray of sunshine on an otherwise miserable day.

Those chants will only get louder.

JDT having a poor spell at the moment but anyone who isn't as thick as fuck can see that any and all resources he needs to do his job have been taken away. 

This bullshit about government restrictions will start to wear thin with people and ultimately it isn't our fucking problem. You can't fund the club? Fine, sell it then you fucking scum.

[roversfan99]

5 hours ago, Miller11 said:

Nyambe  Lenihan  Ayala  Bell 

Cost 300k (left for nothing)

Carter  Hyam  Wharton Brittain

Cost 3-4 million

I know which defence I’d rather have.

I take your criticism of the current defence, but I wouldnt get too doughy eyed over previous defenders that also werent capable of pushing us on. Those full backs in particular, Nyambe I know you clearly have a soft spot for, but he was not a man to be in the trenches with and was so limited. And Bell was a bomb scare, technically crap and a free pass to a winger getting crosses in. We miss Lenihan though.

This set of defenders are limited, but they arent the worst set in the division or close to. The current manager deserves to be shielded by the fact that our budget has been pathetically slashed by our inept and disinterested owners. But the tactics need a change because defenders who with protection can be effective at this level are all over the shop.

By the way, people on here talk about (made up) big money rumours for Carter. He is a bit of a lump.

[jim mk2]

Rovers away fans sang for most of the 90 minutes as they always do but not like today. I've never heard them turn on Rovers before, even sarcastically cheering our rare shots on goal and Wahlstedt when he actually managed to catch a ball. I have to say I didn't hear any anti-Tomasson or Venky's stuff but I overheard more than a few people saying this team is going to get relegated. 

By contrast, West Brom fans were pretty subdued but then Albion didn't so much win the game than have it handed to them on a plate. It must have felt like a hollow victory for them because the opposition was so poor. Good club WBA: if I had the misfortune to live in the West Midlands they'd be my team.

[AllRoverAsia]

2 minutes ago, jim mk2 said:

Rovers away fans sang for most of the 90 minutes as they always do but not like today. I've never heard them turn on Rovers before, even sarcastically cheering our rare shots on goal and Wahlstedt when he actually managed to catch a ball. I have to say I didn't hear any anti-Tomasson or Venky's stuff but I overheard more than a few people saying this team is going to get relegated. 

By contrast, West Brom fans were pretty subdued but then Albion didn't so much win the game than have it handed to them on a plate. It must have felt like a hollow victory for them because the opposition was so poor. Good club WBA: if I had the misfortune to live in the West Midlands they'd be my team.

It started so well with the "Yellows, Yellows" chant loud and clear in the early minutes.

That early first howler by Leo plus others killed any hopes.

[NeilInBristol]

42 minutes ago, AllRoverAsia said:

The multi angle views on the goals is something to behold. The first one truly unbelievably inept be the whole defence.

Try Leo as a striker, he is not and never will be a keeper.

 

Thanks for this.

All of their goals were gifted to them..we are too generous 

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

The powers that be stated that the lofty target of survival was the aim of this season...well folks are we good enough?

What a sorry fookin mess this Club is in from top to bottom,Venkys 'Operation Relegation' is in full swing.

Edited January 14 by SIMON GARNERS 194