Reading v Rovers: 17th August 2022

[Drog]

We are in a false position imo at the top of the championship but we should be bettter than this. To give them the benefit of the doubt they look like they were totally drained by Sundays duel in the sun. Reading have had another day to recover and it shows.

 

[Barmitzvah Boy]

Come on lads. 4 quick goals please.

 

[Alan]

We have one class player and I still say that Dack should be the first name on the team sheet.

 

[frwjd]

So down to earth with a bump, thoroughly beaten tonight.

With that starting lineup JDT isn't the Messiah he's a very naughty boy!

 

[Barmitzvah Boy]

Path-e-tic

 

[Drog]

FT

 

[Dunnfc]

Home after dropping some of our lot at the station. Il post in the morning because it really was that bad .

 

[Husky]

Well that sure will quieten everyone down.

Paul Ince AGAIN! Embarrassing . . .

Though I must admit, I looked at this and thought. WTF? . . and then we were already 1 down as I went up the plane steps . .

 

[Drog]

I'll have to blame the energy sapping heat of Sunday for this performance. A jaded lethargic Rovers appeared leaden footed and were second to every ball. The heat on the pitch at Ewood on Sunday must have played a part in this and in West Brom's 0-0 v Cardiff at the Hawthorns. I've pondered how the Rovers would have fared if QPR, Swansea and West Brom had scored first in the last three matches, they didn't of course, we did and we bagged 9 points in the process. Last night was different as Reading did score first and then went on to score second and third too with little to no response from our lads. Truth is we were so far off the pace I doubt we'd have scored if we'd played all night. The only perplexing thing that shoots holes in my theory was that the worst culprits were players who hardly figured in Sunday's match, Dolan and Vale in particular both had in football parlance complete 'mares'. So the Rovers are still top of the pile but that simply signifies to me the unpredictability of the Championship. I love it tbh and tonight I see us with just 36 points to go to get to the magical 45 point safety figure. Being a glass half empty chap lets get there first and then see what happens after that.

Kaminsky... 7 Might have done better with Hoillets thunderbolt 2nd but maybe I'm being over picky.

Brittain... 5 Not the commanding performance of the first half on Sunday.

Phillips.. 5 Less than convincing today but in fairness facing a team hurting from a humiliation on Saturday who were 'up for it' tonight and played a pressing 'in your face' football which the Rovers plainly did not like.

Ayala.... 6 Gave as much as he could to the cause but it was never going to be enough against tonights opponents.

Pickering... 6 Cleared one off the line and had a decent game.

Travis.... 6 Played a combative brand of football and was in the midst of the action but ultimately unable to keep repelling the Reading midfield.

Buckley.... 5 Somehow I don't see midfield growler his best position. John is best imo in Szmodics place where his creativity can be better utilised.

BBD.... 5 I doubt anyone watching him will be impressed with his contribution to this match.

Dolan.... 5 A poor first half and taken off at HT.

Vale.... 4 Contributed little to proceedings other than poor ball control.

Szmodics... 5 Another not at the races tonight.

Subs

Gallagher ( Vale 45)...6 Put himself about but his first touch and control let him down too often.

Dack (Szmodics 45)...7 Did try to create and press but the team at large didn't match him.

Hedges (Dolan 45)... 6 An improvement but not by much.

Edun.... (Brereton Diaz 85) A cosmetic substitution. BBD had been poor and Edun didn't bring much improvement.

Manager JDT....4 Welcome to the Championship John. Allow complacency to creep in and a drop in effort and application and you'll get sweet FA in this league.

Referee Keith Stroud 7 We had him on numerous occasions in the past and he can be a bit hit or miss but tonight refereed the match competently enough.

 

[Robin]

Your comments on Buckley are spot on @Drog. I think he would do better in a more offensive role as he doesn’t fit as defensive midfielder. I think we should play someone else there to partner up with Travis.

Regarding Dolan I think he can only be an impact player coming on from the bench. He never really takes his chance when he gets it and makes things way too hard for himself. Yesterday he had a golden opportunity early on to cross the ball in early to BBD but instead he tries to take on the defender and it ends that he miss the ball somehow and the opponent takes the ball easily from him. Frustrating to see he hasn’t developed that much in his time with us.

 

[Dunnfc]

Well Gents, that was one of the poorest displays I’ve seen from Rovers or any team for that matter in a long time. We have to get better and quicker with the ball, to many players taking the next man easy pass, at times we could have switched play allot quicker and stretched Reading. Reading won every tackle, every head and every second ball, it was really unacceptable.

I still can’t comprehend why Hedges and Gallagher got dropped especially for Jack Vale! Surely Dack was the natural replacement for Hedges? I don’t think I want to ever see Jack Vale start for us again. He was atrocious last night, as bad as most others but when you can’t control a ball properly, I begin to worry what he is doing at this level of football.

To many players last night looked static, they lacked any footballing imagination and unfortunately, I didn’t see any leadership on the pitch bar Travis. We caused allot of our own problems dillying and dallying on the ball trying to pass in triangles across our own box. Not one player was prepared to show for the ball last night.

I said to my mate Sam last night, watch McIntryre a good left footed centre back and the moment that corner went into the box I knew it would hit the net, we seem to have this odd mix of man marking and zonal going on. Pick one or the other JDT.

Kaminski 5 – Kicking has gone very much backwards since he joined, he’s become a bit flappy too. I don’t think he could have done much with the 2nd goal, it was a cracking finish.

Brittain 6 – Not one of his best but didn’t stop trying until the 2nd goal went in, lively and tried.

Ayala 7 – Only player worth watching last night, lost the ball a few times with tame passing but he had no options.

Phillips 4 – Shaky, nervous, just not very good. Again I don’t think he is particularly very good with the ball at his feet.

Pickering 5 – This lad is getting targeted by teams, they doubled up on him last night knowing BBD would drift central and leave him exposed. He got done a few times, some tidy tackles but he’s got to learn quickly to stop the crosses coming into the box. I’d put Edun in on Saturday against Khadra.

Travis 6 – Full of graft but was to much in his own half for much of the game, Buckley went missing and effectively he got outnumbered many times.

Buckley 4 – Not one of his better performances with his dad in the crowd, Dreadful even. I can’t think of one thing he got right bar a ball in the first half.

Dolan 4 – Tricks in the wrong areas, unwilling to run into space, not there in the right wing position for Britain to hit to get us up the pitch quickly. Really poor game from him. I think he’s better suited coming of the bench for the last 20 to press tired teams.

Schmodics 5 – Full of running but to exactly nowhere, had a decent spell when he fizzed one in from wide but no runners in the box.

BBD 5 – Poor, like WBA he seems to me to be playing trying to avoid any tackle in case of an injury, his shooting was wayward and left HP more exposed than a burton shop window.

Vale 3 – Truly shocking and was rightly hooked. No control, No movement, I said the same after QPR but I don’t think he’s near the quality we think he is. Needs a loan to L1.

SUBS:

Dack 6 – Tried to change things, only one to press which got on my nerves everyone else not doing, some daft flicks though which on two occasions just gave the ball to Reading.

Hedges 5 – Tried but he can’t pass forwards if there is no one running in. Lost the ball a couple of times which was a common theme in the whole side.

Gallagher 6 – Looked lively and why did the man who score last week get dropped? Please start against Sheff.

Must also add the players didn’t look right, really sheepish when they got of the bus, 1200 Rovers fans last night (Great effort) and I must say half of them should have stayed at the Ewood library, people being told to shhh etc.

 

[Drog]

Every other team will have noted that we don't like being pressed and shut down quickly.

 

[Dunnfc]

Every other team will have noted that we don't like being pressed and shut down quickly.

Agreed and they’ll force us into mistakes pissing around near our own box trying to pass in triangles.

 

[Robin]

I don’t think I want to ever see Jack Vale start for us again. He was atrocious last night, as bad as most others but when you can’t control a ball properly, I begin to worry what he is doing at this level of football.

So after two starts he should be sold or what? A bit unfair I think especially as he was hardly alone to be poor in yesterday’s game. This is his first season in the first team and I don’t think he will come into the team like a 28 year old Ronaldo outplaying his opponents. It will take time to develop skills and confidence at this level but he should be on the bench the next game, no question about it.
I’m more worried about Dolan who is standing still in his development and seem to be one trick pony.

 

[Dunnfc]

So after two starts he should be sold or what? A bit unfair I think especially as he was hardly alone to be poor in yesterday’s game. This is his first season in the first team and I don’t think he will come into the team like a 28 year old Ronaldo outplaying his opponents. It will take time to develop skills and confidence at this level but he should be on the bench the next game, no question about it.
I’m more worried about Dolan who is standing still in his development and seem to be one trick pony.

Loaned out personally till he can show something consistent. His last loan at Halifax was hardly a roaring success.

I share the same concerns with Dolan.

 

[Old Darwen Blue]

Quite clear to me that we were still knackered from Sunday. 11 minutes added on indeed, what an idiot. Can’t win them all and we’re still top!

COYB

 

[Chaddyrovers]

not the best performance but given how hot it was on Sunday maybe it was expect.

JDT would have learnt more from last night game about his squad and the mentality of some. He has always said this is project and they will be poor results on the way.

I don't believe this nonsense we are in false position cos its BS. We played 4 and won 3 so we are in position we deserved to be in.

 

[Barmitzvah Boy]

Loaned out personally till he can show something consistent. His last loan at Halifax was hardly a roaring success.

I share the same concerns with Dolan.

I would not want to play Dolan for a full 90 minutes. He is a great impact player off the bench.

Off the pitch he is a charming lad, a pleasure to talk to. On the pitch he needs to cut out the showboating and look for the pass and the easier option than trying to run through a group of players (Rothwell was similar); however this is a part of his his game that can relatively easily be rectified - as long as he listens.

 

[Drog]

.....I don't believe this nonsense we are in false position cos its BS. We played 4 and won 3 so we are in position we deserved to be in.

We will be in the position we deserve to be in in May 2023 chaddy.

 

[Robin]

I would not want to play Dolan for a full 90 minutes. He is a great impact player off the bench.

Off the pitch he is a charming lad, a pleasure to talk to. On the pitch he needs to cut out the showboating and look for the pass and the easier option than trying to run through a group of players (Rothwell was similar); however this is a part of his his game that can relatively easily be rectified - as long as he listens.

The thing with Rothwell was that he could be a class player on his day but we all know about him and his awol during games. However, you have very good points BB. If he would just start with easy things and build up his confidence