v Luton Town (h) - 14/12/2024

[jodrell]

15 hours ago, Forever Blue said:

Forgive him for not knowing there are 2 teams in Dundee. 
 

Thank you for Braveheart. The best £25k we ever spent!

I think they are the 2 nearest grounds in Britton. Both on the same street.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Just now, jodrell said:

I think they are the 2 nearest grounds in Britton. Both on the same street.

Yes that’s true. They are very close. They also have a great statue of “ Desperate Dan”  in the town centre.

[rigger]

I first saw Phil Jones play for the Rovers, at Dundee, my impression was, "that lad likes a tackle".  

[Forever Blue]

The Don managed Dundee prior to joining Rovers…..and also played for Dundee Utd.

[Penwortham Blue]

27 minutes ago, Forever Blue said:

The Don managed Dundee prior to joining Rovers…..and also played for Dundee Utd.

Chris Sulley came to us from Dundee United, a really decent full back and all round nice chap. One time after he played and we won away at Ipswich, he got on the London train with us post match and ended up in the old George IV pub, near the Caledonian Road and the only Thwaites pub in London, for more than a few beers. Good memories of the late 80’s following Rovers.

[chaddyrovers]

3 hours ago, Paul Mani said:

Mate, you get a lot of grief on here at times, but genuinely, this is brilliant. Absolutely bang on re the tactical set up of JE and a solution for Luton.

Thanks Paul. Its clear from that Stanley game how Eustace wanted to play in the main but what I also like is he is adaptable and I feel that Travis/Tronstad partnership in centre midfield is the rock of our team

3 hours ago, Paul Mani said:

Re our situation, I am beginning to think we need CB and CM cover even more than forwards. (Reaches for tin hat)….hear me out. If you look at our squad, the positions we are most vulnerable in are those at the back and Midfield. If we lost one of Batth, Hyam, Trav or Sonny to anything long term, it would have the potential to derail us. If we could loan, for example James Hill and someone in midfield (think back to Ipswich loaning Trav off us), then I think O’hashi, Gueye, Cantwell, ACD, Dolan, Weimann, Hedges, Leonard, Gilsenan and Baker provide good forward options…

Dont get me wrong, I would love Hill, Trav mk2, a young winger and a PL striker on loan but I’m beginning to think the first two are more important than the latter.

Plus, we’ve won all these games without our two main strikers firing. IF JE can get Gueye and O’hashi firing in the new year, we will be flying! 🤞🏽

 

I can understand what you are saying whilst not agreeing as such. I think we need 3 signings in January with centre back on loan, left Winger with pace and striker. 

Our biggest problem will be signing a quality striker on the budget we have

[Paul Mani]

13 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Thanks Paul. Its clear from that Stanley game how Eustace wanted to play in the main but what I also like is he is adaptable and I feel that Travis/Tronstad partnership in centre midfield is the rock of our team

I can understand what you are saying whilst not agreeing as such. I think we need 3 signings in January with centre back on loan, left Winger with pace and striker. 

Our biggest problem will be signing a quality striker on the budget we have

And if Travis or Sonny are out for a month, who out of Baker and Buckley do you see being able to do 50% of what they do?

[chaddyrovers]

2 hours ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

Looking on from the outside it seems that Eustace has been successful in creating a really strong team ethic. A player may not be starting today but they are just as important as the 11 that will be starting and at some point they  will be called upon to play a significant role in the future.  No “ Us and Them “ mentality  that can emerge when players aren’t being kept in the+loop.

You are correct on your points that Eustace and his staff have created a strong team ethic and togetherness between Eustace, players and the fans. Just look at the reception Eustace from the fans post game. Joy to watch

2 hours ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

How far is Wharton off returning ? Anybody know ?

Back end of the season at best

2 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

They have had the ups and downs of promotion and relegation and have come down and arent slightly off it but closer to relegation with 7 away losses on the bounce. Feels like a case where they need fresh ideas.

He wasnt responsible for either goal.

Maybe they just need to be change at Luton. I think they need some signings in wide areas and centre midfield in January. If Edwards was sack, if I was Luton owner I would be looking at Steve Cooper as his replacement 

1 hour ago, roversfan99 said:

When Pickering plays we tend to play that way, its hardly Guardiola level tactical knowledge.

We need some pace and goals far more than a central midfielder. As @islander200 says Baker is probably as good as youll get knowing that youll never start unless Travis or Tronstad are unavailable. Ideally we would get another to replace Buckley who rather than being a £10m man is not up to standard but that is down the priority list.

We need a striker who is capable of scoring a reasonable amount of goals. Gueye might be able to hold the ball up but in front of goal he is as bad a finisher as I can remember us having. Ohashi seems better suited as an option just off him and he hasnt scored since early September.

And we badly need more pace. ACD showed great promise yesterday as opposed to having the likes of Hedges trudging up and down but we dont know how sustainable he will be at senior level and we need another pacy option to either play on the opposite side or even so one starts and the other comes on.

Our solid base is key to our chances, we could do with cover at centre back to add to Carter. But if we had an actual goal threat up front and more pace to counter teams then that would potentially push us on a level.

We played that way when Eustace thinks it will bring us 3 points like Yesterday but other wins we played differently like sit back and hit teams on the counter. Eustace has shown he is far more adaptable to tactics and playing the game 

I can understand Paul's points and his point of view. 

I think finding a quality striker to sign will be battle cos most of this league is looking in the same pond including teams like Burnley

[chaddyrovers]

4 minutes ago, Paul Mani said:

And if Travis or Sonny are out for a month, who out of Baker and Buckley do you see being able to do 50% of what they do?

Baker can for me but I can see your point. Eustace and the players would have to sort of adapt different. 

I can see your point here Paul. 

[booth]

What a transformation Lewis Travis has had, he's twice the player he was before he went on loan. Eustace is getting the best out of him. He seems to be getting better every game and after some uncertaintly, is the stand out player to captain the team.

[Torgeir]

11 minutes ago, booth said:

What a transformation Lewis Travis has had, he's twice the player he was before he went on loan. Eustace is getting the best out of him. He seems to be getting better every game and after some uncertaintly, is the stand out player to captain the team.

Him and Sonny are the heartbeat of this team and it's only fair that they're captain and vice captain now. Travis keeps his shithousery just where it needs to be, whereas sometimes prior it was his main focus it seemed.

[Exiled_Rover]

1 hour ago, Paul Mani said:

And if Travis or Sonny are out for a month, who out of Baker and Buckley do you see being able to do 50% of what they do?

Baker.

[had.e.nuff]

4 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

When Pickering plays we tend to play that way, its hardly Guardiola level tactical knowledge.

We need some pace and goals far more than a central midfielder. As @islander200 says Baker is probably as good as youll get knowing that youll never start unless Travis or Tronstad are unavailable. Ideally we would get another to replace Buckley who rather than being a £10m man is not up to standard but that is down the priority list.

We need a striker who is capable of scoring a reasonable amount of goals. Gueye might be able to hold the ball up but in front of goal he is as bad a finisher as I can remember us having. Ohashi seems better suited as an option just off him and he hasnt scored since early September.

And we badly need more pace. ACD showed great promise yesterday as opposed to having the likes of Hedges trudging up and down but we dont know how sustainable he will be at senior level and we need another pacy option to either play on the opposite side or even so one starts and the other comes on.

Our solid base is key to our chances, we could do with cover at centre back to add to Carter. But if we had an actual goal threat up front and more pace to counter teams then that would potentially push us on a level.

Not sure but i think Chris Brown trumps Gueye on the finishing front

[simongarnerisgod]

5 minutes ago, had.e.nuff said:

Not sure but i think Chris Brown trumps Gueye on the finishing front

ashley ward trumps them both😀

[tomphil]

21 hours ago, Cherry Blue said:

6reat performance from everyone including the Ewood faithfull.

If you're not gong to these games you're missing a treat. This team deserves better gates 13,857.

Traditionally the lowest crowd Saturday of the year in these parts and less than 1k at Sheffield a few days after 1.600 ish at Hull shows money is tight now.

Wouldn't it have been the perfect opportunity to do a cheap ticket deal and get a few more in, especially with half seasontickets begging to be plonked in Christmas stockings ?

The fans/town deserve better than the pillocks running the club who draw more more than half a million a year in wages between them.

[tomphil]

2 hours ago, Penwortham Blue said:

Chris Sulley came to us from Dundee United, a really decent full back and all round nice chap. One time after he played and we won away at Ipswich, he got on the London train with us post match and ended up in the old George IV pub, near the Caledonian Road and the only Thwaites pub in London, for more than a few beers. Good memories of the late 80’s following Rovers.

Used to turn up in the Lion in Wheelton occasionally a few years back having a pint with Reidy, both top blokes who loved their time at Rovers.

[Groundhog]

At the final whistle it was great to see Batth, Pickering, Hyam etc all celebrating as a unit like they had won the league - they're a team within a team and it's a joy to watch.

That first half felt very different - to actually have the confidence and squad depth to try a new line up and take the game to Luton, with options on the bench to revert to in case it didn't work, is a "normal" football thing to do. I really enjoy the fact that Eustace has the ingenuity and confidence in himself to have a go like that. The fact we can play in different ways is a credit to JE and the group. 

ACD was getting so much joy on that right hand side, I'm surprised it took Edwards a whole half to shut him down (he did tire) - previous Rovers teams wouldn't have picked him out so readily, but we were finally seeing first time diagonal passes from Travis, JRC, Sonny using him as an immediate out ball, It didn't always come off, but Rovers fans are a sympathetic bunch if we can see the team is trying to force the issue and being positive.

We're just doing sensible football things that once us as fans took for granted, playing the game in front of us for once, rather that on the tactics board or in the manager's head (sorry JDT). It feels good to be a part of.

[Herbie6590]

The BRFCS POTM for yesterday’s game against Luton Town is….

[Herbie6590]

8 hours ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

No mate.

☹️

[onlyonejackwalker]

I wish fans would stop flapping about the January window.

We've not needed a star striker to win six on the bounce. Everyone panicked when Travis was suspended. Fans were worried last week when Cantwell was out. JRC was apparently a major worry with Brittain missing. Pickering coming in was supposedly disastrous. We will never get in the play-offs with Hedges and Dolan. As to butterfingers in goal, has anyone noticed he's hasn't conceded for seven and a half hours?

I'd take Sammie on loan or similar. Or another Beck on loan. Failing that if it aint broke don't fix it.

Im not saying we cant improve. But January is a notorously difficult window to recruit well. I'd rather struggle a tad than upset harmony and team spirit which is priceless when compared to an average back up center half. 

Edited December 15 by onlyonejackwalker
Sp

[had.e.nuff]

2 hours ago, simongarnerisgod said:

ashley ward trumps them both😀

I think you will find ashley was a 1 in 4 goal scorer chris brown 0 in 37 i state my case

[simongarnerisgod]

10 minutes ago, had.e.nuff said:

I think you will find ashley was a 1 in 4 goal scorer chris brown 0 in 37 i state my case

ward was in a half decent side that should`nt have been in relegation trouble,and would`nt have been if it had`nt been for the  questionable appointment of brian kidd,he was a miserable excuse of a centre forward who kept missing chances that were easier to score,iv`e no interest in his stats from other clubs

i know browny was shite,but at least he did try,i think i was the only one who felt a bit sorry for him when the boos began🙂

[roversfan99]

3 hours ago, had.e.nuff said:

Not sure but i think Chris Brown trumps Gueye on the finishing front

Brown's knees were shot so he rarely if ever got into shooting positions.

Overall he may have been worse sure, but as a finisher, never seen one as bad.

1 hour ago, onlyonejackwalker said:

I wish fans would stop flapping about the January window.

We've not needed a star striker to win six on the bounce. Everyone panicked when Travis was suspended. Fans were worried last week when Cantwell was out. JRC was apparently a major worry with Brittain missing. Pickering coming in was supposedly disastrous. We will never get in the play-offs with Hedges and Dolan. As to butterfingers in goal, has anyone noticed he's hasn't conceded for seven and a half hours?

I'd take Sammie on loan or similar. Or another Beck on loan. Failing that if it aint broke don't fix it.

Im not saying we cant improve. But January is a notorously difficult window to recruit well. I'd rather struggle a tad than upset harmony and team spirit which is priceless when compared to an average back up center half. 

Its one thing being up there before Christmas but as we have seen another one sustaining it until the end of the season.

January can allow to sign players with 6 months left on their deal or bring in loans as 2 potential options. But we need more. We need more of a goal threat to push us further, we wont win every game to nil. We need some more pace which could again push us on. And we are an injury at centre back away from a really big problem.

[chaddyrovers]

1 hour ago, roversfan99 said:

Its one thing being up there before Christmas but as we have seen another one sustaining it until the end of the season.

January can allow to sign players with 6 months left on their deal or bring in loans as 2 potential options. But we need more. We need more of a goal threat to push us further, we wont win every game to nil. We need some more pace which could again push us on. And we are an injury at centre back away from a really big problem.

Yes true, but given that if we can sign the striker winger with pace and centre back then we can achieve top 6 by end of the season. 

Do you agree it going to be hard to find a quality striker signing that will improve us taking into account our likely budget aswell as number of other Championship teams will be looking for one? Maybe we should take a gamble on a striker from Europe or striker in form in League 1 or take a risk on young Striker from PL team? 

[Paul Mani]

5 hours ago, Exiled_Rover said:

Baker.

Really? You think Baker can do what Trav and Sonny do?