[Archived] Rovers v Bournemouth

[thenodrog]

Teams in Division Two (I refuse to refer to that League by it's ridiculous new name) -

I still refer to em as teams in Division 3 AESF!

[thenodrog]

The obvious difference on Wed night was that the gulf in class of our 2nd string over the cherries 1st team was miles wide. But the difference in their determination, team work, professionalism (maybe the worst accusation of the lot) and fitness (no sorry.... that is!) was plain for all to see!

Some will suggest that it was understandable for us to underestimate them but not me. These were players supposedly trying to impress a new manager enough to give em a 1st team place! Their application suggested otherwise!

As for the play itself......sure we had the lions share of possession but for that to only materialise in soft lobbed crosses from deep was reprehensible....... a lazy, disinterested way out if ever there was one! We couldn't hurt a Sunday league team with those tactics. Bothroyd looks a talent but that style of attacking play is totally unsuited to his abilities. How many goals would Thierry Henry get if all he was fed were soft lobbed crosses to the edge of the box? How many goals would Shearer have scored if he was expected to sprint past defenders and chase balls down the channels? My first impressions are that Bothroyd needs to be supplied in a totally different way than Stead.

I will eat some of my words by suggesting that Jansen looked our best attacker .......but before anybody gets a false impression, if I'd taken my 20 year old boots that I finished my playing career in I would have been a close second!

Th only consolation is that we dont need to wait until the transfer window for the new management team to make improvements, and I suggest bodyweight, fitness and mental conditioning are priority.

PS imo But for Fat Freddy Shepherd this would have been GS's last game in charge and we would now be facing a big fat redundancy pay out!

Thanks Freddy!

[MCMC1875]

I suggest bodyweight, fitness and mental conditioning are priority.

Mental conditioning? Very apt Theno......Just as well they're training at Brockhall???

[rover6]

Bit by bit, the truth is coming out and it isn't easy reading.

Some fans were dismissing comments made by the likes of Egil Ostenstad, Andresen, Duff, Cole and others about the inadequate training regime as sour grapes.

I was prepared to believe the same, but when I read that Martin Andresen was claiming to be glad to be going back to Staebek because he wasn't improving his match fitness at Rovers, I was convinced that things weren't being done correctly by Souness and his crew.

Add to that the fact that Duff pointed out that training at Chelsea was a lot more intense than at Rovers, and you start to see why Rovers were flagging in the last few seasons.

Hopefully, Hughes will bring a wind of professionalism to sweep away the dross Souness had accepted and installed at Rovers.

[Tony Diamond Inc]

Hopefully, Hughes will bring a wind of professionalism to sweep away the dross Souness had accepted and installed at Rovers.

That WILL happen

Edited September 25, 2004 by Tony Diamond Inc

[thenodrog]

Bit by bit, the truth is coming out and it isn't easy reading.

Some fans were dismissing comments made by the likes of Egil Ostenstad, Andresen, Duff, Cole and others about the inadequate training regime as sour grapes.

I was prepared to believe the same, but when I read that Martin Andresen was claiming to be glad to be going back to Staebek because he wasn't improving his match fitness at Rovers, I was convinced that things weren't being done correctly by Souness and his crew.

Add to that the fact that Duff pointed out that training at Chelsea was a lot more intense than at Rovers, and you start to see why Rovers were flagging in the last few seasons.

Hopefully, Hughes will bring a wind of professionalism to sweep away the dross Souness had accepted and installed at Rovers.

If that is indeed true it's amazing given the strict regime re: attention to bodyweight and fitness that Gs played under at Lpool. Paisleys players first task on a Mon morn was to be weighed and if they were over the weight designated by the club they trained longer and harder until they lost it! Period! No exceptions!

I have said this before that a clause relating to players keeping themselves in peak physical fitness with severe financial penalties for not doing should be inserted into their contracts. We should have learned this after the Kidd reign that left Gs inheriting lardies like Davidson, Blake, Dailly, Grayson etc.

After the escape at the end of last season and after seeing no change at the start of this one I have got to admit that I have been left wondering if GS was actually angling for the sack and having his contract paid up.

[blue phil]

Th only consolation is that we dont need to wait until the transfer window for the new management team to make improvements, and I suggest bodyweight, fitness and mental conditioning are priority.

For the past couple of weeks the Sunday Times have been serialising Sir Clive Woodward's new book . The sheer professionalism and the lengths this bloke went to in achieving his goals were astounding . Every angle that effected any aspect of fitness , mental strength as well as skill improvement had its own specialist involved. Players were sent on courses with the Royal Marines to improve leadership qualities , and even a vision specialist was employed to improve to help the players exploit any movement by fellow players - ( not entirely relevant in the Rovers case , obviously !)

Hughes could do worse than to have a meeting with Sir Clive - or at least read his book .

[Paul]

imo But for Fat Freddy Shepherd this would have been GS's last game in charge and we would now be facing a big fat redundancy pay out!

Thanks Freddy!

Much the same thought crossed my mind as I left. He might not have been sacked but I'm sure "Souness Out" would have echoed around the ground.

[tashor]

If you all remember Woy Odson came in and introduced a new fitness regime and at first we flew up to a lead in the Premiership before injuries ( mainly hamstrings from " over-training " ) took their toll.

Having said that one of the few major errors by Souness has been his belief that " top players " should be left mainly to their own devices when it comes to tactics and training.

Problem is we have very few " top players ". Hopefully his tactics will work at Newcastle

It is plain to see that many of our players are in poor physical condition compared to other Premiership sides. Has the fact that our club doctor Fatty Batty is a bit of a lard got anything to do with this

[krislu]

Stop bbing so pesimisthc people! Just forget the bloody match agianst bournemoith. We will get three pints against Chartlong monday! COME ON ROvERS!

We are aiming to wibn bigger things than that damn mickey mouce cup antyway, so COME ON ROVERS!

I love you all, and hopt to get a share of the action this saeson by coming over abd watch the lads play.

Hve a nice weekend people!

[RoverDrake]

Stop bbing so pesimisthc people! Just forget the bloody match agianst bournemoith. We will get three pints against Chartlong monday! COME ON ROvERS!

We are aiming to wibn bigger things than that damn mickey mouce cup antyway, so COME ON ROVERS!

I love you all, and hopt to get a share of the action this saeson by coming over abd watch the lads play.

Hve a nice weekend people!

Misspelling words is no proof you are drunk..

[92er]

Hughes in the LET seemed to be back-tracking today, by saying that some of the players had appeared to be lacking stamina but they were mainly fringe players who hadn't played much recently and there were good reasons for it.

[philipl]

But he still said it needed sorting out.

You could also read it as a subtext of:

"OK I listened to all your wingeing and gave you a chance. You were fringe players when I arrived and you are still fringe players after what Bournemouth did to us. The only difference is you are going to be mentally and physically fit fringe players now."

Edited September 26, 2004 by philipl

[thenodrog]

Stop bbing so pesimisthc people! Just forget the  bloody match agianst bournemoith. We will get three pints against Chartlong monday! COME ON ROvERS!

We are aiming to wibn bigger things than that damn mickey mouce cup antyway, so COME ON ROVERS!

I love you all, and hopt to get a share of the action this saeson by coming over abd watch the lads play.

Hve a nice weekend people!

Misspelling words is no proof you are drunk..

Maybe a sudden cold snap has prompted our very own Nanook to type in his mittens.

[Flopsy]

more like boxing gloves by the looks of it :-)

[longsiders1882]

Longsider, I presume you go, which if you do could I ask you a question.

I am constantly in contact with a Burnley Home and away fan who must surely be talking absolute tosh.

He swears Richard Chaplow is the best young midfielder in the country and Frank Sinclair is 'absolute quality'.

Your thoughts on the above please before I self-combust when I see him on tuesday..

Chaplow is a very good box to box midfielder. He is still improving but expect him to leave for a good fee in the summer. Best in the country - thats would be one hell of a boast.

He has been a late developer and has really added to his game at one hell of a rate. He is now looking physically bigger. I would say he is probably one of the best under 20 midfielders in the UK.

Sinclair is one that has great games but at times he worries me - very susceptible to the ball over the top between him and the keeper (2 soft goals already plus 3/4 near misses from the same thing). Still at 'championship' level he is a very good defender - 1 goal away from home so far tells its own story. Compare that to last seasons and I guess we will be impressed with Sinclair.

[Flopsy]

to be honest sinclair would probably look good in our defence

[Brownie]

to be honest sinclair would probably look good in our defence

There's going far and there's going too far.

You've gone too far.

[92er]

Nah, Sinclair is like Todd-not a premiership defender.

Good analysis,Longsider.

[Hasta]

Nah, Sinclair is like Todd-not a premiership defender.

If that comment is true the fact that Todd was our player of the season last year sums us up really.

[92er]

I noted that Bournemouth won 5-0 on Saturday so maybe they're on a run.

Although I never expected to lose to them, I admire how,with the help of the Supporters' Association, they have been able to come back from a financial crisis.

[T4E]

It only sums up how stupid the original comment was - Andy Todd, for all his faults, is a very good defender.

[92er]

If you rate Todd, that's fine.

In my opinion he will never be a Premiership defender.The only positive thing I can say about him is that he's a lucky defender-in the way the opposition fails to exploit most of his many mistakes.

And who has rated this excellent defender? No premiership club and only 1 or 2 1st division clubs.

[brfcshabba]

They've released a DVD of the game. Talk about dragging it on. If they can release a DVD of 1 match why can't Rovers release one for the season review

[Tim Southampton Rover]

or at least of our title winning season or our Worthington Cup triumph!