v Sunderland (h) - 26/12/2024

[Wing Wizard Windy Miller]

4 minutes ago, M_B said:

He belonged on that one today, thought the game changed when he came on.

Agree with that.  We didn't get in their half once they equalised.  Gueye came on put himself about, won some headers and helped us get up the pitch.   Thought we were far too narrow today.  There was no outlet out wide. 

Baath, Brittain and I have to say Pears were very good. Don't rate Hyam. 

Hedges and Cantwell were innefective today.  Where was Hedges for their 2 goals?  Poor game from Tronstadt too.  Dolan decent first half, garbage the second. 

Great to see Leonard scoring.  Should do his confidence a world of good. 

Real shame that Beck's dribble into the box in the last couple of mins didn't result in more. 

Would have taken a point before hand so can't be too negative about it..but we were so comfortable first half. 

 

The big test for this Rovers team is taking the 3 against Hull. Win that and Leeds/Burnley are a free hit. 

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

4 minutes ago, Ghost7 said:

That's not the argument, the argument is fans saying playing wide players on the wrong side "handicaps" them, when nearly all professional coaches play their wingers on their "wrong" side today.

I struggle to get on board with fan views that are based football decades ago... or their own Sunday league experience.....

and decide based on this that professional managers are wrong and handicaping their player by playing them on the opposite side... they simply aren't. I listed a bunch but could almost name nearly all effective wingers today... Anthony Gordon, Jared Bowen, Cole Palmer, Saka, Savio, Luiz Diaz, Madueke, Grealish, Harvey Barnes, Mbuemo. They all play on the reverse side...... it's genuinely wild to still hear this in 2024.

Football isn't a game of run to the byline on poor pitches, whip it in and score any longer... hence why nearly all top wide players play on the reverse side.

It’s just a shame their guy didn’t cut inside for their second goal.

[aletheia]

15 minutes ago, arbitro said:

Roberts who tore Beck apart in this period although Beck looked like he was struggling with an injury.

Yep, arguably responsible for both goals (but I still like him a lot and would have him in the team all day long, particularly ahead of a left back) -seem off the pace -Injury/illness?

[Rogerb]

6 minutes ago, Ghost7 said:

 

Football isn't a game of run to the byline on poor pitches, whip it in and score any longer... hence why nearly all top wide players play on the reverse side.

Sunderland's no10 did exactly that this afternoon.!

[Neal]

I know it's a message board to discuss and debate Rovers but it's mad how some fans  always seem to be looking for a scapegoat and just can't be fair in their assessments. 

 

I know we all see different positives and negatives but there always seems a keenness to write players off. I did it with Szmodics and have sworn not to do it again. 

 

Was another gritty performance from us today that I'm really proud of. Great first half but predictably didn't manage the game with them kicking towards their own end. 

 

I thought Beck didn't get anywhere near tight enough for their 2 goals but was absolutely brilliant going forwards in the last 10 minutes. Under previous managers we would have folded but again we come away with a point, this man has us fighting. I thought the midfield and full backs let the centre halves down in the 2nd half, despite conceding 2 goals, I thought they were really good again. 

 

I thought Cantwell was anonymous in the 2nd half and needed subbing earlier. I also think Gueye is a bit harshly treated, he mixes it up and creates problems and in wins his fair share of headers with not much support around him. We threw him on but then didn't have anyone trying to get 2nd balls off him. Once we banged a ball up to him, he won it and Cantwell was almost at centre half! We need to play to his strengths if you want him to be his most effective. 

 

Really chuffed that all of our forwards are starting to get goals in recent weeks because it will create a belief that whoever is up there is now capable of getting something for us.  

 

Everyone needs to start putting some credit on Ainsley Pears name, he's been brilliant this season and he was again today, claimed crosses and punched corners but a great bit of goal keeping at the end to get us a point. Give criticism when it's due but please also give credit when it's due. 

 

Just to add... My niece was a mascot today, the players, manager and the club where brilliant. Todd Cantwell was an hour late though! 

 

Tough game but a great point. Focus on the positives. 

 

Love big John Eustace!

 

 

Edited December 26, 2024 by Neal

[arbitro]

1 minute ago, aletheia said:

Yep, arguably responsible for both goals (but I still like him a lot and would have him in the team all day long, particularly ahead of a left back) -seem off the pace -Injury/illness?

Yes he is absolutely our best left back and arguably our best left side midfielder. After their first goal he was definitely limping and spoke to Eustace. I honestly thought he was going off and we were actually debating who would play left back. And Roberts is a player I have always rated (and the little shit seems to save his best performances for when he plays against us 😄)

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Couldn’t make the game today but from watching the highlights where was whoever was playing left wing ( Hedges ? ) Beck was left completely isolated for both goals.

[Mattyblue]

Pears is playing well so is getting praise, when he was playing poorly he was slagged off, was ever thus.

[chaddyrovers]

Good overall team performance and we got the point we deserved. It was 2 good championship teams going against each other

Delighted for Ohashi scoring and he was in the right spot at the right time. We control the first half and deserved to be leading. Dolan and Hedges had chances. Sunderland didn't do much. 

Second half, Sunderland boss clearly change things and Roberts was playing wider and higher, which caught us out twice disappointed. 

We stayed in the game and Eustace made a number of positive changes and we got the deserved equaliser from Leonard after Batth knock it down. 

Pears made a excellent save and stop Sunderland from winning in the last minute

Britain was my man of the match 

The fans were amazing today and great to see so many walk ons and fans coming to the game. 

Now time to win against Hull and get those 3 points. 

Eustace's Blue and White Army 🔵⚪

Edited December 26, 2024 by chaddyrovers

[chaddyrovers]

5 minutes ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

Couldn’t make the game today but from watching the highlights where was whoever was playing left wing ( Hedges ? ) Beck was left completely isolated for both goals.

Sunderland played Roberts much wider and higher causing Beck the problem whether to go closer to him causing a big gap between Batth and Beck or leave Roberts with more space. 

I wouldn't say Hedges was at fault at all. Plus lets credit Sunderland boss was making that tactical change

[M_B]

23 minutes ago, lraC said:

Funny how we see things differently. I thought he was abysmal and the two attacks that broke down, due to him being way offside, made me wonder if he even knows the offside rule. 

I'm not saying he's Drogba, but we didn't get in their half until he came on, Sunderland were definitely wary, and he set Leonard up. He's now affecting games.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

6 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Sunderland played Roberts much wider and higher causing Beck the problem whether to go closer to him causing a big gap between Batth and Beck or leave Roberts with more space. 

I wouldn't say Hedges was at fault at all. Plus lets credit Sunderland boss was making that tactical change

Somebody should have been helping Beck out when we were out of possession. In my book that somebody should have been whoever was playing on the left wing at the time.

[M_B]

12 minutes ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

Couldn’t make the game today but from watching the highlights where was whoever was playing left wing ( Hedges ? ) Beck was left completely isolated for both goals.

Pickering had Doak in his pocket at Boro, said earlier we'll miss him, the option of Beck In front of Pickering against the likes of Roberts was always the number one choice.

[OsloRover]

1 hour ago, Exiled in Toronto Mk2 said:

I thought it was Bucko’s forward passing that changed the dynamic late on.

Buckley did very well when he came on, which was good to see

[lraC]

7 minutes ago, M_B said:

I'm not saying he's Drogba, but we didn't get in their half until he came on, Sunderland were definitely wary, and he set Leonard up. He's now affecting games.

Fair enough 

[DeeCee]

Watched it in the pub - phew! Good overall performance. Easy win against HkR 😁 then annailate Dingles. 🏆

Did I say I'd been in the pub? 😁

[Forever Blue]

12 minutes ago, M_B said:

Pickering had Doak in his pocket at Boro, said earlier we'll miss him, the option of Beck In front of Pickering against the likes of Roberts was always the number one choice.

 Pickering is very underrated as a defender.

[Rogerb]

Makhtar creates chaos whether that chaos is beneficial to us is unproven to me at present.

[chaddyrovers]

5 hours ago, Wheelton Blue said:

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/24817128.blackburn-predicted-team-five-changes-sunderland/

I read the Article this morning and posted what Elliott's predicted team was

[joey_big_nose]

29 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Sunderland played Roberts much wider and higher causing Beck the problem whether to go closer to him causing a big gap between Batth and Beck or leave Roberts with more space. 

I wouldn't say Hedges was at fault at all. Plus lets credit Sunderland boss was making that tactical change

Cant see how you would come to that conclusion. We were 1-0 up and well in control - for the wide players the priority for them would have been to continue the excellent cover they gave their full backs in the first half into the second 45.

For Hedges to isolate Beck once is maybe a bit unfortunate/ loss of concentration. But twice in 15 mins totally  unacceptable.

Im sure Eustace will give him both barrels.

[simongarnerisgod]

6 minutes ago, Forever Blue said:

 Pickering is very underrated as a defender.

his lack of pace holds him back unfortunately,though defensively not many wide players get much out of him

[chaddyrovers]

5 hours ago, Forever Blue said:

Bingo! And neither are the vast majority of wingers in the Championship. The rare ones that are get picked up quickly by Prem teams (Bowen and Scott for example)

Scott? 

On Hedges and Dolan, they aren't those type of players. 

Wingers to me are players like when we had Ripley and Wilcox putting crosses into Shearer. ACD is the only natural winger we got, Dolan, Weimann and Hedges play from the wide area of the pitch but also drift inside pitch at times, 

4 hours ago, Forever Blue said:

 Be interesting to see where Dolan and Hedges play @chaddyrovers

exactly where I thought they would

[chaddyrovers]

28 minutes ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

Somebody should have been helping Beck out when we were out of possession. In my book that somebody should have been whoever was playing on the left wing at the time.

Sunderland got the ball out there quickly to him. 

No blame on Hedges for me

[B16Rover]

Some uncoordinated thoughts after the game. 

 

Amazed how many people think it's OK to vape sat in their seat at the stand 

For 25k or so it wasn't rocking as much as it maybe would be expected to 

Pears is twice the keeper he was last year 

My eyesight is poor so struggled to see but looked like Beck struggled/was let down by Hedges on at least the first 

Dolan will be a menace for Rovers if they ever start Masters league again, he plays 5 a side football at men's professional 11 a side standard.  With that comes some moments of magic like today. 

Gueye is an absolute chaos factor.  Still don't think I've seen him strike a ball cleanly but without a doubt can hold the ball up. 

Cantwell doesn't have gas in the tank for a full 90

Baker stepped up into the Travis whole well

Not sure Carter walks straight back into Batth's place 

[chaddyrovers]