v Middlesbrough (a) - 27/11/2024

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

A great 3 points that I wasn’t expecting. That’s a red card all day long if it’s an away player committing the foul. Home town plus early in the game decision. I was always taught - “ Get the quietner in as early as you can “.

The Dolan header WTF ? My 10 year old granddaughter would have done better.  That and the delayed pass that cost us a goal. Why does he always need to take that extra touch ? He should have passed that a stride earlier, then Cantwell is onside. What their keeper was doing for the shot is a mystery though.

Nice move for the Hyam goal but at no point was he onside. He was stood in an off side position waiting for the pass which was slightly forward. The linesman’s eyes were obviously painted on. 

Having said all that we look like a team that’s hard to beat again. The defence looked miles better positionally. We were filling all the spaces. However it’s a different story when we’re at home against teams who park the bus. I’d play exactly the same way on Saturday. They’ll come at us and we need to catch them on the break like we did ‘Boro. Somebody else said bring in Beck for Hedges, I’d do that.

Edited November 28 by Tyrone Shoelaces

[sharpysharps86]

Really good solid away win from Rovers. 2 away wins on the spin...more of that please!

The goal may have been offside, but Cantwell's disallowed goal looked very tight. Maybe we got a slice of luck but ultimately we'll get our fair share of bad luck too. Dolan's clearly onside yet disallowed goal against Burnley springs to mind.

We do seem to have quite the tough run up into January so as many of these types of wins and points will do nicely.

[arbitro]

Good performance, great win from a game where pretty much every Rovers fan would have been delighted with a draw. It was evident to me early on that Eustace had a game plan of slowing the game down whenever possible and countering when we could but primarily the clean sheet was the target. And Middlesbrough tell into his trap by allowing us to pass along the back line and into midfield with hardly any press. From that perspective it was, for me the perfect away performance. The last two games have proved we can be effective as a footballing side too with four team goals of the highest quality. The Tronstad and Travis axis is proving to be fundamental to the way we play with Travis in particular playing arguably his best football since breaking through several years ago. Him being on four bookings for so long seems to have been a blessing as it appears he has stopped being a Savage wannabe and playing a disciplined, captains role. But last night for me was the archetypal team performance with every player contributing to a hugely enjoyable night down by the Riverside and a pleasurable drive home.

[Brfcw]

The thing about Dolan is he has the potential to be great, but his overall game is either very good or very bad. When you watch him, his overall positioning and workrate allow him into viable positions - he won the ball back near the last man for Cantwells goal, BUT he then takes what was great play and cocks it up by taking too long to pass. His driving run against Coventry would have been brilliant if he had actually been running in the right direction. He strikes me as a player who was fantastic at school running round everyone, and plateaud, so in a professional game where theres a lot more zonality rather than man marking he doesnt know what to do.

 

if somebody could grab him by the scruff, and improve his decision making I think he could be a really good player, which is probably why all our managers keep him in the first team - although I think he is more effective on a wing than in the centre.

[Forever Blue]

10 hours ago, windymiller7 said:

Aaaanywaay. I'm pissed in Pimlico! (Gotta be a song there somewhere) 

The prequel to Ice Cold in Alex

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

14 minutes ago, arbitro said:

Good performance, great win from a game where pretty much every Rovers fan would have been delighted with a draw. It was evident to me early on that Eustace had a game plan of slowing the game down whenever possible and countering when we could but primarily the clean sheet was the target. And Middlesbrough tell into his trap by allowing us to pass along the back line and into midfield with hardly any press. From that perspective it was, for me the perfect away performance. The last two games have proved we can be effective as a footballing side too with four team goals of the highest quality. The Tronstad and Travis axis is proving to be fundamental to the way we play with Travis in particular playing arguably his best football since breaking through several years ago. Him being on four bookings for so long seems to have been a blessing as it appears he has stopped being a Savage wannabe and playing a disciplined, captains role. But last night for me was the archetypal team performance with every player contributing to a hugely enjoyable night down by the Riverside and a pleasurable drive home.

For me Travis is the player of the season so far.

[Paul Mani]

11 minutes ago, Brfcw said:

The thing about Dolan is he has the potential to be great, but his overall game is either very good or very bad. When you watch him, his overall positioning and workrate allow him into viable positions - he won the ball back near the last man for Cantwells goal, BUT he then takes what was great play and cocks it up by taking too long to pass. His driving run against Coventry would have been brilliant if he had actually been running in the right direction. He strikes me as a player who was fantastic at school running round everyone, and plateaud, so in a professional game where theres a lot more zonality rather than man marking he doesnt know what to do.

 

if somebody could grab him by the scruff, and improve his decision making I think he could be a really good player, which is probably why all our managers keep him in the first team - although I think he is more effective on a wing than in the centre.

He’s shite. I’ve been really patient because he works SOOOO hard, but he’s just not good enough. His end product is poor 9/10 times and the worst part is that because he believes in himself, he always takes a touch or three too many, so when he’s not ballsing the final pass up, he’s slowing down / stopping counter attacks. The other thing to note is that he’s the slowest “fast looking” player ever. Meaning he looks, to all intents and purposes to be nippy, but he literally NEVER wins a foot race. At this stage, I really hope he doesn’t sign a new contract.

Give ACD, Beck and Gilsenan a chance in those two ide forward positions. Give Hedges and Dolan the month off. Then see how the land lies for a couple of loans come January. 

[joey_big_nose]

42 minutes ago, arbitro said:

Good performance, great win from a game where pretty much every Rovers fan would have been delighted with a draw. It was evident to me early on that Eustace had a game plan of slowing the game down whenever possible and countering when we could but primarily the clean sheet was the target. And Middlesbrough tell into his trap by allowing us to pass along the back line and into midfield with hardly any press. From that perspective it was, for me the perfect away performance. The last two games have proved we can be effective as a footballing side too with four team goals of the highest quality. The Tronstad and Travis axis is proving to be fundamental to the way we play with Travis in particular playing arguably his best football since breaking through several years ago. Him being on four bookings for so long seems to have been a blessing as it appears he has stopped being a Savage wannabe and playing a disciplined, captains role. But last night for me was the archetypal team performance with every player contributing to a hugely enjoyable night down by the Riverside and a pleasurable drive home.

Id say the centre mid three of Cantwell, Tronstad and Travis is probably the best we've had since we dropped to the Championship. Its really nicely balanced, very competitive with quality on the ball (obviously Cantwell, but Travis creative side is totally transformed too). I reckon its probably the best centre midfield unit outside the parachute teams, and if you can control the middle of the park you always have a chance.

Defence and keeper look so much more comfortable under Eustace too. Everyone knows their role and no one is left exposed as was routinely the case under JDT.

Just need more quality out wide and up front and Id fancy us to do really well.

[roverblue]

Just watched the highlights and it looked a deserved win.

Dolan should have buried that header and we had another close call with the disallowed goal from Cantwell.

Didn't look like Pears had anything to do all game really.

Fantastic victory and feels like the bad spell is behind us, still worried where our goals are going to come from longer term.

[Beanie01289]

16 minutes ago, joey_big_nose said:

Id say the centre mid three of Cantwell, Tronstad and Travis is probably the best we've had since we dropped to the Championship. Its really nicely balanced, very competitive with quality on the ball (obviously Cantwell, but Travis creative side is totally transformed too). I reckon its probably the best centre midfield unit outside the parachute teams, and if you can control the middle of the park you always have a chance.

Defence and keeper look so much more comfortable under Eustace too. Everyone knows their role and no one is left exposed as was routinely the case under JDT.

Just need more quality out wide and up front and Id fancy us to do really well.

possibly sunderlands cm is also quite good rigg neil and bellingham.

[KentExile]

22 minutes ago, joey_big_nose said:

Id say the centre mid three of Cantwell, Tronstad and Travis is probably the best we've had since we dropped to the Championship. Its really nicely balanced, very competitive with quality on the ball (obviously Cantwell, but Travis creative side is totally transformed too). I reckon its probably the best centre midfield unit outside the parachute teams, and if you can control the middle of the park you always have a chance.

Defence and keeper look so much more comfortable under Eustace too. Everyone knows their role and no one is left exposed as was routinely the case under JDT.

Just need more quality out wide and up front and Id fancy us to do really well.

 

5 minutes ago, Beanie01289 said:

possibly sunderlands cm is also quite good rigg neil and bellingham.

Boro's first choice midfield (Hackney, Morris, Azaz - all missing last night) also pretty decent

 

Edited November 28 by KentExile

[rovers11]

There's no doubting that we are a well organised, hard working team. We lack a lot of quality in forward areas but as a fan all you can really ask for is that you're well coached and work hard. We have that. Just a shame the owners have constantly left us short on quality.

I would probably look to shift out Gueye in January. He will be 4th choice soon. I think we'll look to bring in another striker in Jan, and once Leonard is fit he will be behind him and Ohashi too. He's never gonna score goals in this league and his all round game is not up to championship standard.

Ohashi is doing well. He's definitely got the nuisance factor even though he's low on quality. Definitely a good player to have in the squad.

[Forever Blue]

As good as Trav was last night, and he was really good,  I thought Tronstad was even better. He’s such an intelligent player, he sees danger before it happens and rarely gives the ball away. 

As the commentator said last night, the only thing that lets the team down is our attacking options. 

 

Edited November 28 by Forever Blue

[ruggles1995]

Cracking win. 

[BlackburnEnd75]

1 hour ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

For me Travis is the player of the season so far.

Hard to disagree with this but for me our first name on the team sheet is Tronstad.

[Groundhog]

6 minutes ago, Forever Blue said:

As good as Trav was last night, and he was really good,  I thought Tronstad was even better. He’s such an intelligent player, he sees danger before it happens and rarely gives the ball away. 

As the commentator said last night, the only thing that lets the team down is our attacking options. 

 

Sonny is one of the best signings we've made in recent years. He seems to love it too, the way he celebrates after goals or at the final whistle, proper player. 

[Groundhog]

"bUt yOuR GoAL WAs OFfsIDe"

 

[rovers11]

6 minutes ago, BlackburnEnd75 said:

Hard to disagree with this but for me our first name on the team sheet is Tronstad.

Travis is in the form of his life. He's been excellent this season. Having Trondstad sitting in behind has really helped as it's enabled him to make those attacking runs knowing that Tronstad will mop up anything behind him. Both are top players.

[arbitro]

7 minutes ago, rovers11 said:

Travis is in the form of his life. He's been excellent this season. Having Trondstad sitting in behind has really helped as it's enabled him to make those attacking runs knowing that Tronstad will mop up anything behind him. Both are top players.

Tronstad has many qualities for sure but I genuinely think his real asset is uncoachable. He always seems to be in the right position to nick the ball away from an opponent of make an interception which is almost a sixth sense. With 18 months on his contract surely there should be some awareness down there and preliminary discussions should be starting about an extension.

[doctorryan]

12 hours ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Behave, Scott Wharton's a great player.

He's a true Rover, but save the "great" for his little brother s'il vous plaît.

[ABRAM ROVER]

Aynsley Pears doing everything right, solid defence and organised. It was a great win. I'd have took a point before hand all day so to get 3 was brilliant. Area for improvement for me is some pace in the team. I wouldn't be against Beck starting left midfield with Pickering behind him. Same on the other side with Duberry although I haven't seen much of him to be honest. Got to be signing a pacey speed machine striker in January, either that or I'd be bringing in a sprinting coach or something to get Leonard and Tyjon flying. 

Same again Saturday. COYB. 

[lraC]

1 hour ago, Forever Blue said:

As good as Trav was last night, and he was really good,  I thought Tronstad was even better. He’s such an intelligent player, he sees danger before it happens and rarely gives the ball away. 

As the commentator said last night, the only thing that lets the team down is our attacking options. 

 

I really love Tronstad and the position he plays.

[CrouchingNunhiddenCucumber]

12 hours ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Enjoyed watching Gueye doing the cheerleading at the end.

Elliott Bennett carved out an entire career on the back of that...........

The main difference being that Bennett was a significantly better footballer

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

11 hours ago, yankfan said:

Another angle. Clearly off, but it’s only off side if it gets called. 

The thing I like about that is we still have 7 players in or around the penalty area.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Just watching the highlights back - that was a fantastic ball from Ohashi to Dolan early on to put Dolan  away. He receives a diagonal ball from Hedges and instantly slid it into space out wide for Dolan to run on to.