When we’ve lost, opposition fans have been in rapture: “That’s the best we’ve played in months”………..etc. We are making average teams look impressive…..that’s the depressing thing for me.

Aye, it’s been some time!

Whoscored have Dougall as MoM, rated at 7.4! Wharton, Diaz and Carter are all rated 7.2! More detail: Sofascore has it Dougall 8.1 v Wharton 7.6. Go figure. Its all about opinions I know but…….Lancs Live have Dougall rated 4 ( caught in possession too often and passive when out of possession - highlighting the need for more quality in midfield!) and Wharton gets a 9! I prefer the “wisdom of crowds” as displayed on our very own BRFCS poll!

In the first 15 minutes, Blackpool had us worked out…….just stick close while Rovers tippy tap it back and forth in our own defensive third…..until the inevitable bad pass or until Kaminski rushes to kick the ball straight into touch. After the goal we got it sorted out and, until the last 10 minute panic, we played the best football I’ve seen this season. Wharton opens up a new range of attacking possibilities ……he’s some prospect!

Errr….no!

Daylight robbery!

Very sad times Tyrone.

Whoever said “lots of huff and puff” second half summed it up but that’s not enough……there’s a glaring lack of quality all over. Adam Wharton was the best player on the pitch second half….showed Buckley how to distribute the ball. Dolan was poor again, Hedges was good. Ayala was my Mom but Dack was anonymous, Diaz was very disappointing . Morton is a good signing. Kaminski made his usual epic saves but he was at fault for the goal. Philips was ok, the rest were poor.

I thought he did well too. He was decent in some of the warm-up games also. He could be useful this season.

Good post I think. Isn’t it amazing that only one team can manage to win 2 games on the trot?

I watched it live but when I saw the highlights it was a shock!

Also, Lenihan was our highest rated player player on whoscored last season. He was 12th highest rated in the Championship overall (BBD was 19th).

Kevin Andrews

From memory, it was Venky’s original intention to create a “project” whereby a sustainable model would be created based on an endless stream of Academy recruits mixed with some experienced (but cheap) old pros. Selling a few of these recruits would fund the wage bill I guess. i don’t think Venkys saw Sam as the man to deliver….. it looks to me as if they’re trying again.

I enjoyed it! But it’s a work in progress. I don’t like the panic inducing, tippy tippy stuff at the back; we were caught out a few times in the warm-up games but just about got away with it. Ayala was important last season, organising the defence and this season he’s even more crucial….a very influential player at this level. Wharton will do well alongside him. The jury’s still out on Hedges and I haven’t given up on Pickering. Brittain looks promising. Great goal by Travis and Buckley showed how important he is to the system. His ability to ping accurate, defence splitting balls is invaluable. He’s got to cut-out his trademark dumbass fouls though. If he can avoid them for the whole second half, when he was walking a tightrope, surely he can bring that discipline to his everyday game. Gallagher struggles with this style of football, he just can’t control or pass the ball accurately. Very frustrating. Diaz drifts in and out of the game but continues to produce moments of magic where no one else can. If JDT can teach him to stay onside, I will be impressed! Dolan was a pest when he came on…..a good substitution. The end-game was interesting too. I didn’t have the knot in my stomach as I usually do when 1-0 up and 10 minutes to go. The opposition didn’t continually run through us - there was a lot more energy on show and throughout QPR were made to look average. I dunno, maybe they are…..but it was an encouraging start in my opinion…..I’m looking forward to the next game.

Full Celtic match now on RoversTV.

Have we had such open access to our new manager going about his business before? Or have I just not bothered looking before? Anyway, I like it. Letting the fans in is a good move; going from the reaction on here. Good luck lad!

Absolutely. I’m feeling optimistic already….but then again…..I always do when a new manager walks through the door. Slow learner!

As a fellow veteran, I think you’ll be secretly optimistic when the whistle blows!

Yes, I’ve been thinking the same. Let’s hope we’re wrong and he can get back to normal before too long.

Final version. Note: 2 early matches are missing because I had no access to the videos. Players had to be on the pitch for 60 minutes to be graded. Players on the pitch between 60 and 90 minutes had their scores scaled up to 90 minutes.

PLAYER WATCH v Birmingham City (A) Each incident in the match was rated on the following scale: +5 GOAL +4 Excellent play +3 Very good play +2 Pleasing/good play +1 Decent play 0 Routine stuff -1 Sloppy play -2 Disappointing/poor play -3 Very poor play -4 Terrible play -5 Own goal The ratings for each player were then combined to produce a measure of the players overall contribution to the match. Ratings Key incidents per player = coloured stars Overall contribution = numbers Kaminski ******* ** 9 Brown *************** *********** 4 Ayala **************** ***** 14 Wharton ******************** ***** 21 Pickering ******************* ****** 15 Travis *************** ************** 3 Buckley ******************* ******* 23 Edun (45) **** ****** -6 Hedges **************** ******** 10 Gallagher (76) *************** ********* 10 Diaz (65) ***** **** 7 Dack (45) * * 0 Markanday (65) *** *** 0 Vale (76) ***** * 5 Highlights and Lowlights (A justification for the main ratings given above) Tony’s farewell? He’s decided not to pick players who have not committed to the club next year. Players “out of contract” or on loan will not feature…….unless we run out of numbers. James Brown makes his debut. Markanday and Vale (fresh from his 4 goals for the U23s) are on the bench. Kaminski Brown Ayala Wharton Pickering Travis Edun Hedges Buckley Gallagher Diaz 01 A first touch for Brown as he competes with the winger for a loose ball but the winger outmuscles him and gets in a cross …… it’s a bit too long. 04 The first of those infuriating offside situations where Pickering fires a nice long ball down the channels but Diaz has misjudged it. 05 Good challenge from Brown as he takes the ball off the attacker. Now he makes a clearance against the City man and it’s out for a goal-kick. 06 Some nice approach play from Rovers and Pickering lobs the ball to Gallagher, on the penalty spot but it’s a little bit behind him and he doesn’t connect perfectly with his attempted left-footed volley……. it goes straight into the keeper’s arms. 09 Travis jockeys James well and directs him to the wing but when James lays it off, Travis doesn’t stay with him and James runs to the byline and puts in a dangerous cross. Fortunately there’s no one there and Hedges nudges it to safety, out for a throw. 12 Brown wins another challenge on the wing and comes away with the ball. From our half Buckley fires a lovely long ball to Hedges on the right wing. He brings it down nicely on his thigh, cuts inside his marker and from 18 yards out crosses to Diaz on the penalty spot but Ben’s glancing header is a poor contact and the chance is gone. He did get into a great position though, moving in front of his marker neatly! 13 I’ve had a bit of a bee in my bonnet through all the recent defensive failures…..bring back Ayala - who was a rock in the first half of the season, helping to organise the defence and, as here, putting in commanding aerial challenges which send the ball half the length of the pitch! 14 the wily Hernandez tries to kick and rush past Brown but The Rovers man is good enough and comes away with the ball. 15 Pickering is challenged to a foot race by Chong but again the Rover wins the ball. 21 A nice crossfield pass from Diaz to Hedges on the right wing. He takes it forward and fires in a powerful shot from 20 yards but the keeper beats it away at the near post. 25 Another good clearing header from a City corner by Ayala. Edun miscontrols a bouncing ball and it ricochets ro a City forward but his shot hits Wharton and goes out of play. 26 A poor pass from Edun kills the momentum as we looked to counter-attack. 27 Ayala brings the ball to halfway but his touch is heavy and he loses it. There’s a big hole and City have a great chance to attack. Wharton comes across the box to clear up and it’s out for a throw. From the long throw Ayala is back to what he does best, heading well clear. 28 A lovely turn away from his man and then a good crossfield ball from Buckley to Diaz. He lays off to Hedges who lays it gently back to Buckley, 30 yards out on the right, and he smashes it first time into the top left corner of the net!!! Sensational goal, …..could be goal of the season! The other players are stunned, Hedges is holding his head in disbelief! 33 Hernandez has a head start on Brown as they chase a ball down the wing but Brown gets back to get a foot in and hold him up and the City momentum is lost. Then there’s a poor pass by Pickering followed by another from Edun. 35 This time it’s Hedges who plays the poor pass. Now it’s Wharton and it’s a City corner. 38 Gallagher is first to a loose ball in the corner of the City box. He flicks the ball beautifully through to Hedges, in the clear 12 yards out, but his shot hits the top of the bar. He should have scored. Hedges holds his head again! I think he panicked! 40 This time Hernandez is far too good for Brown and runs rings around him. He passes to Bacuna but his shot is weak and off-target. 41 A bad foul by Edun near the flag and it’s a yellow card. 44 Pickering picks up a loose ball 30 yards out. You have to see this……he offloads casually to Diaz. He’s level with the left edge of the box 25 yards out with a man in front of him. He unfurls the most outrageous inswinging, dipping shot over the startled keeper and into the top right corner of the net. Absolutely no one was expecting that! Fabulous goal and put that down as another contender for goal of the season! This time both Pickering and Hedges have their hands to their faces in wonder! Beam me up Scotty! 45 Edun off, Dack on. 47 It’s a City corner and Pickering loses Taylor who heads the ball towards the top left corner from about 3 yards but somehow Kaminski gets a hand to it! Great save. 48 Bacuna beats Travis comprehensively on the edge of the box, then Buckley has a go…then Travis again and finally the City man is over-crowded and gives up the goal-kick. 58 Pickering receives the ball 30 yards out and runs forward before back-heeling to Diaz who shoots from 20 yards. It’s all along the floor and the keeper flings himself horizontal to parry away. Gallagher chases the rebound but he was offside. 59 Another of those fancy flicks from Hedges but Gallagher isn’t good enough to return the ball. 60 Henandez is too good for Brown this time but Ayala is there to block him out on the byline. Goal-kick. 61 Some fancy footwork from Hernandez beats Travis but Brown slides in effectively to concede the throw. 64 Gallagher, near the centre-circle, wins a long ball flick-on. There’s some sloppy play from City and Gallagher picks up the loose ball and tries to slip it into the box for Hedges. A defender gets a foot in but it still runs for Hedges and near the right corner of the 6 yard box, he tries to lob the out-rushing keeper but it’s saved. Brown loses out to Hernandez but Buckley puts in one of those deceptively effective challenges to dispossess him. John’s been very quiet this half. 65 Diaz off, Markanday on. 74 A good chase back by Brown as he gets in an important challenge on Hernandez. Oh! I thought that was a good robust challenge by Ayala but it’s ruled a foul….just outside the D! Taylor puts it over the bar. 76 Gallagher off, Vale on. Vale blocks out for a throw-in. 77 Pedersen receives the ball just inside our half, on the City left. Markanday is too lethargic as he strolls by. Travis loses James who receives Pedersen’s short pass; he plays a 1-2 back to Pedersen and Buckley’s challenge is powerpuff. He then pokes the ball beyond Ayala into the box. Wharton looks favourite but the City man is more determined, he gets there first and puts the ball into the far right corner. A quality goal in all honesty. 79 Brown misjudges a ball down the wing, ends up on his backside and Hernandez collects near the flag. To be fair, Brown gets back and blocks the City man’s cross out for a corner. 81 Unusual! We get an indirect free kick just inside their box for the goalie picking up a backpass! Buckley taps to Dack but his shot hits the wall. 84 A nice flick from Dack down the wing and Vale puts his cross square across the 6 yard box but there’s no Rover around. 86 Buckley, near halfway, lobs an inch perfect pass to Markanday on the left of the D. After a bit of fancy footwork he squares 10 yards out but there’s no one there. 87 Vale wins a challenge midway in the City half, Hedges slips a neat ball to Markanday and he’s clear one on one. The goalie rushes out and spreads himself to save Markanday’s shot. He should have done better there! Brown’s attempted forward ball hits a City man and rebounds dangerously. Bellingham takes it forward. Brown rushes back and Bellingham’s quick turn puts Brown on his backside just outside the D. His shot rolls wide of the right post. 91 Brown miscontrols a long hoof downfield and concedes the corner. Kaminski punches clear. 94 The final, final whistle goes. Ultimately it was a disappointing end of season which, at one time, seemed so promising. Nevertheless, we are Rovers fans and we learn to endure it. Players come and players go and today we got a glimpse of a future Rovers side. It wasn’t too bad was it? Anyway what keeps us coming back is always the tantalising dream that next season will be the one…..definitely! O.k. that’s all from me. For the folks that have stuck with me over the season, thanks for reading and thanks for the encouraging comments…… I’ve enjoyed your company. Maybe I’ll see you next time?

I’m often surprised when Lenihan gets serious criticism on the forum. To my mind he’s been very consistent. His low scores generally come when he’s up against a classy centre forward. On Saturday, he struggled at full back as Bournemouth attacked with quality down his wing.

Yes, two things: I have modified (refined heh heh!) how I score each incident. I was maybe a bit more generous marking aerial challenges…which favored the centre backs..just maybe. Secondly, maybe we’ve forgotten how well Ayala marshaled our young defence when he came in. He was impressive back then. Oh! I forgot…..Lenihan was just ahead of him (if I remember correctly) when they were playing together…..Darragh has fallen off over the bad run.

Yes. I’ll update it then post it. Ok, this is how it stands now: