Wilpshire Blue
Senior Member
Bye bye play offs
-
NEXT GAME:no idea
Sometime in August
Kick off unknown pm
No idea where
Definitely the Championship
Rovers v The Nob Ends
- Thread starter steve w
- Start date
Wilpshire Blue
Senior Member
I have to say, I think it might be time to roll the dice
What a bloody sample for the nation! Friday not long ago was 'lads night on the piss', now just as the nightonthepissdeniednation needs a boost Sky choose us for Friday night entertainment. There must be lots of blokes right now right across the nation looking at the fluff in their navel and pondering the meaning of life 
Normally I start these reviews with some thought of the day. Today I'm starting with two.
1. Julie Andrews in the sound of music sang "Lets start at the very beginning, a very good place to start". PNE must have had that blaring out on the coach stereo on the way here! So what's happened to us? No one can choose a time to score but last season we were first on the score sheet so many times it was unbelievable. I recall someone counting up how many points more we would have had if matches were just 80 minutes long. Tonight I saw a stat on the screen showing us as leading scorers in the last 15 minutes in the entire Championship. How weird is that?
2. "It's not the size of the dog in a fight it's the amount of fight in the dog". Make no mistake Preston were up for the game and the fight much better than us. They defended from the front and even in the second half when the Rovers had gone a long way to getting their game together they were first to almost every loose ball. If they weren't first to it they certainly didn't let the Rovers players linger on the ball for very long. The only way the Rovers would have won tonight was if they had placed as much store in the above two mantra's as PNE did.
So fair play to PNE, just as they deserved nowt back at deepdale in November tonight they fully deserved their victory, although it pains me greatly to say it! Mowbray on Sky sports spent half his interview bemoaning the 1st half performance of his team. "Nobody deserves anything after a 1st half performance like that". Well I can tell you Tony you aren't the only one to say that. The difference being that you are paid plenty of money to make sure that doesn't happen!
Kaminsky... 6 Played a good part as the last man but he took far too many risks and was lucky not to get caught out. Could do little about Cunningham's one off wonder strike but should he have got to the corner for PNE's second? A dreadful goal to give away with Lindsay surrounded by Rovers defenders playing 'after you Maude' with each other but the damning issue is that Lyndsay headed home from no more than 5 feet out on the near post with Kaminsky still standing in the centre of his goal. Surely he should have got a whole lot nearer to either cutting out the cross or saving it on the line.
Nyambe... 5 Neil had done his homework and set his team up to stop Nyambe and Douglas from getting forward. Nyambe isn't the best defender in the world and much of his game is in his overlapping and attacking down the wing. Stop him doing that and he displays all his inner demons. Uncertainty and slowness of thought frequently came to the fore tonight. Caught out for the first goal by moving across to mark Barkhuizen who was on his own in the middle with Lenihan and Branthwaite oblivious and seeming content to mark each other.
Lenihan... 6 A solid enough defender and a good servant to the club but is he really Captain material? I've said long enough that I'm not sure he should be Captain but do we have anybody any better to rally the troops and drive them on? Guilty of losing Barkhuizen for the first goal. God only knows which coaching manual would instruct a back four to get into the shape that lot were in for that opening goal.
Branthwaite.... 6 Another one who was uncomfortable with Preston's direct and robust attackers. No doubt this is what Everton sent him here to learn about. Lindsay was his man for the corner kick that PNE scored off but Branthwaite paid more attention to grappling with him than winning the ball. In fact he didn't even jump for the ball.
Douglas.... 6 Plenty of action but another who was given a tough examination by Preston's tactics.
Davenport... 5 Largely anonymous as a defensive midfielder in that torrid first 45. Suffered the ignominy of being subbed at HT but tbh any one of that midfield grouping playing behind Armstrong could have been taken off.
Rothwell.... 4 Dreadful evening. Was completely anonymous. No idea where his form has gone to but it needs to return and pronto. Without his attacking runs he isn't worth his place as a defensive midfielder. Another to take an early bath on 45mins.
Travis.... 6 Just when we needed a colossus in midfield Travis went missing. I hardly saw him in that opening 45 but he did improve somewhat in the second half.
Dack.... 6 Another whose first half performance wouldn't have merited more than a 4 but another who came too a little in the second half. Guilty of going for goal with a header when heading it across goal would have been the better option.
Gallagher... 4 Sorry ODB I can't give him any more. The amount of space Cunningham had when he scored the goal was shameful and tracking the full back is primarily the wingers job. Gally wasn't within 20 yards of him when he shot yet he MUST have seen the danger. Worse still Curtis Davies (I think) on Sky Sports placed most of the blame on him for PNE's second goal too. Apparently showed displeasure to be subbed. Well tough shitski Sam. Look at your contribution tonight and just ask yourself 'What have I EVER done to make me worth 5m and justify my 15k pw'?
Armstrong... 6 Wasted a good chance in the first half and as has happened on a number of occasions these past few weeks has been desperately unlucky to see yet another Goalkeeper make their own personal save of the season against him. Preston's Iverson making a truly brilliant reaction save to deny him. Cool head with a well taken penalty but somehow against a three man defence pushing up to the half way line which he is perfectly equipped to exploit he was left very short of service by that misfiring midfield.
Subs
Dolan (Davenport 45) 6 Came on and showed his pace and ability down the left and for a time looked the man most likely to produce an opening for the Rovers. Appeared to succumb to PNE's intimidation and went 'quiet' after Ledson went right through him with a tackle (plus what appeared to be a choice comment or two). Sky lot thought that tackle could have been a straight red.
Downing (Rothwell 45) 6. A steadying hand on the tiller probably did as much to get the Rovers back into the game as anyone.
Elliot (Nyambe 63) 7 Came on to operate down the right. Showed more class and quality in the final 30 minutes than he has in his last two full matches. That creative spark was back with a bang, I've been suggesting he needs taking out of the firing line and it appears to have done him good.
Harwood-Bellis (Gallagher 75) 5 Didn't really stand out or if he did I didn't notice.
Brereton (Travis 87) Not on long enough to mark
Tony Mowbray... 4 Bemoaned his sides display for the first 45 mins BUT getting the mental attitude of a team right is part and parcel of a manger's skills. The Rovers simply were not at the races tonight in that horrific 1st half in direct contrast to a PNE team who were well up for the challenge. Will have to have a word tomorrow with quite a few players from tonight's starting X1. I shouldn't be surprised to see and number from Evans, Davenport, Brereton, Buckley, Elliot and Harwood-Bellis all start the next match although much of that will depend on training attitudes this next week. A bad day at the office for all.
Referee David Webb... 7 Decent match. We've had this chap 3 times this season with just one point to show for it. That's not his fault of course. Made one serious error tonight by not showing a red to Ledson whose match instructions from Alex Neil appeared to be to nobble Dolan and Dack. Hacking Dack down from the back with no intention of winning the ball whilst already on a yellow should have been a red all day long. It might have made a difference but tbh if we need to play 10 men to have a chance of winning it's a poor do.
Normally I start these reviews with some thought of the day. Today I'm starting with two.
1. Julie Andrews in the sound of music sang "Lets start at the very beginning, a very good place to start". PNE must have had that blaring out on the coach stereo on the way here! So what's happened to us? No one can choose a time to score but last season we were first on the score sheet so many times it was unbelievable. I recall someone counting up how many points more we would have had if matches were just 80 minutes long. Tonight I saw a stat on the screen showing us as leading scorers in the last 15 minutes in the entire Championship. How weird is that?
2. "It's not the size of the dog in a fight it's the amount of fight in the dog". Make no mistake Preston were up for the game and the fight much better than us. They defended from the front and even in the second half when the Rovers had gone a long way to getting their game together they were first to almost every loose ball. If they weren't first to it they certainly didn't let the Rovers players linger on the ball for very long. The only way the Rovers would have won tonight was if they had placed as much store in the above two mantra's as PNE did.
So fair play to PNE, just as they deserved nowt back at deepdale in November tonight they fully deserved their victory, although it pains me greatly to say it! Mowbray on Sky sports spent half his interview bemoaning the 1st half performance of his team. "Nobody deserves anything after a 1st half performance like that". Well I can tell you Tony you aren't the only one to say that. The difference being that you are paid plenty of money to make sure that doesn't happen!
Kaminsky... 6 Played a good part as the last man but he took far too many risks and was lucky not to get caught out. Could do little about Cunningham's one off wonder strike but should he have got to the corner for PNE's second? A dreadful goal to give away with Lindsay surrounded by Rovers defenders playing 'after you Maude' with each other but the damning issue is that Lyndsay headed home from no more than 5 feet out on the near post with Kaminsky still standing in the centre of his goal. Surely he should have got a whole lot nearer to either cutting out the cross or saving it on the line.
Nyambe... 5 Neil had done his homework and set his team up to stop Nyambe and Douglas from getting forward. Nyambe isn't the best defender in the world and much of his game is in his overlapping and attacking down the wing. Stop him doing that and he displays all his inner demons. Uncertainty and slowness of thought frequently came to the fore tonight. Caught out for the first goal by moving across to mark Barkhuizen who was on his own in the middle with Lenihan and Branthwaite oblivious and seeming content to mark each other.
Lenihan... 6 A solid enough defender and a good servant to the club but is he really Captain material? I've said long enough that I'm not sure he should be Captain but do we have anybody any better to rally the troops and drive them on? Guilty of losing Barkhuizen for the first goal. God only knows which coaching manual would instruct a back four to get into the shape that lot were in for that opening goal.
Branthwaite.... 6 Another one who was uncomfortable with Preston's direct and robust attackers. No doubt this is what Everton sent him here to learn about. Lindsay was his man for the corner kick that PNE scored off but Branthwaite paid more attention to grappling with him than winning the ball. In fact he didn't even jump for the ball.
Douglas.... 6 Plenty of action but another who was given a tough examination by Preston's tactics.
Davenport... 5 Largely anonymous as a defensive midfielder in that torrid first 45. Suffered the ignominy of being subbed at HT but tbh any one of that midfield grouping playing behind Armstrong could have been taken off.
Rothwell.... 4 Dreadful evening. Was completely anonymous. No idea where his form has gone to but it needs to return and pronto. Without his attacking runs he isn't worth his place as a defensive midfielder. Another to take an early bath on 45mins.
Travis.... 6 Just when we needed a colossus in midfield Travis went missing. I hardly saw him in that opening 45 but he did improve somewhat in the second half.
Dack.... 6 Another whose first half performance wouldn't have merited more than a 4 but another who came too a little in the second half. Guilty of going for goal with a header when heading it across goal would have been the better option.
Gallagher... 4 Sorry ODB I can't give him any more. The amount of space Cunningham had when he scored the goal was shameful and tracking the full back is primarily the wingers job. Gally wasn't within 20 yards of him when he shot yet he MUST have seen the danger. Worse still Curtis Davies (I think) on Sky Sports placed most of the blame on him for PNE's second goal too. Apparently showed displeasure to be subbed. Well tough shitski Sam. Look at your contribution tonight and just ask yourself 'What have I EVER done to make me worth 5m and justify my 15k pw'?
Armstrong... 6 Wasted a good chance in the first half and as has happened on a number of occasions these past few weeks has been desperately unlucky to see yet another Goalkeeper make their own personal save of the season against him. Preston's Iverson making a truly brilliant reaction save to deny him. Cool head with a well taken penalty but somehow against a three man defence pushing up to the half way line which he is perfectly equipped to exploit he was left very short of service by that misfiring midfield.
Subs
Dolan (Davenport 45) 6 Came on and showed his pace and ability down the left and for a time looked the man most likely to produce an opening for the Rovers. Appeared to succumb to PNE's intimidation and went 'quiet' after Ledson went right through him with a tackle (plus what appeared to be a choice comment or two). Sky lot thought that tackle could have been a straight red.
Downing (Rothwell 45) 6. A steadying hand on the tiller probably did as much to get the Rovers back into the game as anyone.
Elliot (Nyambe 63) 7 Came on to operate down the right. Showed more class and quality in the final 30 minutes than he has in his last two full matches. That creative spark was back with a bang, I've been suggesting he needs taking out of the firing line and it appears to have done him good.
Harwood-Bellis (Gallagher 75) 5 Didn't really stand out or if he did I didn't notice.
Brereton (Travis 87) Not on long enough to mark
Tony Mowbray... 4 Bemoaned his sides display for the first 45 mins BUT getting the mental attitude of a team right is part and parcel of a manger's skills. The Rovers simply were not at the races tonight in that horrific 1st half in direct contrast to a PNE team who were well up for the challenge. Will have to have a word tomorrow with quite a few players from tonight's starting X1. I shouldn't be surprised to see and number from Evans, Davenport, Brereton, Buckley, Elliot and Harwood-Bellis all start the next match although much of that will depend on training attitudes this next week. A bad day at the office for all.
Referee David Webb... 7 Decent match. We've had this chap 3 times this season with just one point to show for it. That's not his fault of course. Made one serious error tonight by not showing a red to Ledson whose match instructions from Alex Neil appeared to be to nobble Dolan and Dack. Hacking Dack down from the back with no intention of winning the ball whilst already on a yellow should have been a red all day long. It might have made a difference but tbh if we need to play 10 men to have a chance of winning it's a poor do.
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OnlyOneTugay
Prediction Champion 2019 & 2020
Thanks Drog , read that at lunch ( Indian lunch time ) . As always excellent analysis.
Very disappointing display . I thought Preston’s manager won the tactical battle with his 3 at the back . Nullified Gallagher’s height on the right . Their full backs / wing backs stopped our full backs from overlapping.
A bit better in the second half but with this Rovers team I always feel we have plenty of talented individuals ( Dolan , Rothwell , Dack , Elliot ) but on a lot of occasions we don’t perform as a team unit , don’t seem to have a a pattern of play
It’s a pity we’re now missing a ‘ really decent’ old fashioned centre forward to stick up front on these occasions ( Danny Graham ? ) when tactics need to change .
Up the Rovers
Very disappointing display . I thought Preston’s manager won the tactical battle with his 3 at the back . Nullified Gallagher’s height on the right . Their full backs / wing backs stopped our full backs from overlapping.
A bit better in the second half but with this Rovers team I always feel we have plenty of talented individuals ( Dolan , Rothwell , Dack , Elliot ) but on a lot of occasions we don’t perform as a team unit , don’t seem to have a a pattern of play
It’s a pity we’re now missing a ‘ really decent’ old fashioned centre forward to stick up front on these occasions ( Danny Graham ? ) when tactics need to change .
Up the Rovers
Indeed so oot. We've seen both Man City and Liverpool struggle once their preferred tactics have been sussed, countered and some of their players lose form through it. They've lost to teams with half their collective talent.
City have obviously come through it with what I see as a better defensive partnership and a rise in playing tempo and fewer touches on the ball. Liverpool are wallowing in their wake because the front men have all lost their mojo and their wing backs have been countered, all of a sudden they look almost ordinary.
Our tactics have to be more adaptable for one but the glaring problem as you suggest and which I have referred to previously this season is that we only have one prolific goal scorer. Stop Armstrong and you stop the rovers because We all know that there are only odd goals peppered around the rest of the squad and unless that is addressed we will always struggle for consistency. Heaven forbid if Armstrong picked up a significant injury.
City have obviously come through it with what I see as a better defensive partnership and a rise in playing tempo and fewer touches on the ball. Liverpool are wallowing in their wake because the front men have all lost their mojo and their wing backs have been countered, all of a sudden they look almost ordinary.
Our tactics have to be more adaptable for one but the glaring problem as you suggest and which I have referred to previously this season is that we only have one prolific goal scorer. Stop Armstrong and you stop the rovers because We all know that there are only odd goals peppered around the rest of the squad and unless that is addressed we will always struggle for consistency. Heaven forbid if Armstrong picked up a significant injury.
Barmitzvah Boy
Global winner of the 2021 Christmas Quiz 👊🤩🤩
I have now had the time to mull over last nights performance, and indeed those of recent weeks.
Rather than be angry and shoot from the hip with expletives all I wish to say is:
”That was f...ing sh!te. Get real Rovers. Dump Mowbray and get a proper f...ing manager in you load of dolts.”
There you go, a reasoned response to last night
Rather than be angry and shoot from the hip with expletives all I wish to say is:
”That was f...ing sh!te. Get real Rovers. Dump Mowbray and get a proper f...ing manager in you load of dolts.”
There you go, a reasoned response to last night
Wilpshire Blue
Senior Member
If Bournemouth win today we will be nine points behind 6th place (admittedly with a game in hand against Swansea).
If there is to be a change of manager (and I think I'm now in that camp), this is as good a time as ever.
Plenty of games to have a look at the players before the season ends.
If there is to be a change of manager (and I think I'm now in that camp), this is as good a time as ever.
Plenty of games to have a look at the players before the season ends.
A case for the defence perhaps?
One thing none of us has mentioned in fairness to the manager and players is the Ewood pitch. For possession based tactics with our passing game it has become a massively negative force. I've banged on in the past that for our passing game to be most effective we need to up the tempo and play one or two touch football and not a two or three touch version. Ewood last night was as bobbly as hell and when it's like that the first touch is wasted in just controlling the ball.
I'd suggest also that the pitch has played a part in our horrific catalogue of injuries too. Taking a touch to just control the ball frequently results in the players taking an unnecessary'hit'.
One thing none of us has mentioned in fairness to the manager and players is the Ewood pitch. For possession based tactics with our passing game it has become a massively negative force. I've banged on in the past that for our passing game to be most effective we need to up the tempo and play one or two touch football and not a two or three touch version. Ewood last night was as bobbly as hell and when it's like that the first touch is wasted in just controlling the ball.
I'd suggest also that the pitch has played a part in our horrific catalogue of injuries too. Taking a touch to just control the ball frequently results in the players taking an unnecessary'hit'.
OnlyOneTugay
Prediction Champion 2019 & 2020
Rovers lost a top class centre forward once DG’s career was winding down . I’m not sure who is in charge of recruitment, but it was obvious we needed a like for like replacement. With 12 million in the kitty we should have got one
The signings of Brerton and Gallagher have been financial and footballing disasters . The pair give 100% and try their best , for that they can’t be criticised , but they just aren’t good enough . Nowhere near good enough for a 2nd Division top six team . I watch Brerton and sometimes think he wouldn’t have looked out of place in the First Division of the Accy Combination ( when I played ) and I’m afraid Gallagher , although a better player then Brerton isn’t the answer either.......... but I guess I’m stating the bleeding obvious.
The signings of Brerton and Gallagher have been financial and footballing disasters . The pair give 100% and try their best , for that they can’t be criticised , but they just aren’t good enough . Nowhere near good enough for a 2nd Division top six team . I watch Brerton and sometimes think he wouldn’t have looked out of place in the First Division of the Accy Combination ( when I played ) and I’m afraid Gallagher , although a better player then Brerton isn’t the answer either.......... but I guess I’m stating the bleeding obvious.
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AllRoverAsia
Senior Member
Gallagher and Brereton playing one or two touch football ..........
Anyone who thinks that is even a remote possibility needs serious help.
And thats just picking out 2 of the useless fuckers.
No one in a Rovers shirt deserves more than a 4 and Mowbray, well lets just say that even this liberal MB may not put up with my opinion of that specimen.
Blame the pitch? its a fucking shit workman who blames the tools! never-mind its the same for all.
We are crap managed by an even crappier dinosaur of a manager who admitted pre-match he's not into tactics or formations ....so why has he spent years telling us that he is an expert in such.
He and his henchmen are con artists, stealing a living.
I am sick and tired of the bag of shit we have become.
FUCK OFF MOWBRAY
Anyone who thinks that is even a remote possibility needs serious help.
And thats just picking out 2 of the useless fuckers.
No one in a Rovers shirt deserves more than a 4 and Mowbray, well lets just say that even this liberal MB may not put up with my opinion of that specimen.
Blame the pitch? its a fucking shit workman who blames the tools! never-mind its the same for all.
We are crap managed by an even crappier dinosaur of a manager who admitted pre-match he's not into tactics or formations ....so why has he spent years telling us that he is an expert in such.
He and his henchmen are con artists, stealing a living.
I am sick and tired of the bag of shit we have become.
FUCK OFF MOWBRAY
Old Darwen Blue
Prediction Champion 2021, 2022 & 2023
At least Gally was trying which was more than can be said for other players. Let’s not forget who won us our penalty? In some folks eyes he will always be criticised as will Brereton, it’s always been the same at Rovers, they are just the latest recipients of that.
At least you only gave Rothwell who was absolute tripe four points, just the same as Gally. It would have only served to exemplify the bias if Rothwell had got more points than Gally in your review.
Anyway, good review otherwise theno as always, thank you.
At least you only gave Rothwell who was absolute tripe four points, just the same as Gally. It would have only served to exemplify the bias if Rothwell had got more points than Gally in your review.
Anyway, good review otherwise theno as always, thank you.
After that match I'm totally pissed off and in danger, for the first time in my life, of losing interest in Rovers. There are so many faults in that team that a new manager wouldn't know where to start, although a proper centre forward/target man would be a start. Brereton and Gallagher are a joke and Armstrong just isn't big enough to lead the line. Midfield hardly exists and the defence is like a leaky sieve.
Where do you start?
Where do you start?
Robin
Senior Member
We are having way too many players that we own who does not contribute to anything productive at the moment:
Defenders
Williams - I have never been a fan of his and i do not not think he is Championship standard. Very poor touch on the ball.
Bell - Does not understand football and should be sold already tomorrow if possible.
Midfielders
Rothwell - I do like Joe but he is not performing well enough I'm afraid. Can he improve if he is being coached better?
Johnson - He is done as a player.
Evans - Not good enough anymore.
Elliot Bennet - Not good enough for Championship.
Attackers
Gallagher - For 6 million pound I'm expecting a lot more and its not enough that he "runs his socks off".
Brereton - Also 6 million pound down the drain as he does not have the skills and to be honest i cant see him turn into a super player in one or two years.
What we need is a captain and especially a strong striker who would complement Armstrong which also gives a healthy competition between the front line because now there is none. As Gordon says, if Armstrong gets injured who will score goals?
Defenders
Williams - I have never been a fan of his and i do not not think he is Championship standard. Very poor touch on the ball.
Bell - Does not understand football and should be sold already tomorrow if possible.
Midfielders
Rothwell - I do like Joe but he is not performing well enough I'm afraid. Can he improve if he is being coached better?
Johnson - He is done as a player.
Evans - Not good enough anymore.
Elliot Bennet - Not good enough for Championship.
Attackers
Gallagher - For 6 million pound I'm expecting a lot more and its not enough that he "runs his socks off".
Brereton - Also 6 million pound down the drain as he does not have the skills and to be honest i cant see him turn into a super player in one or two years.
What we need is a captain and especially a strong striker who would complement Armstrong which also gives a healthy competition between the front line because now there is none. As Gordon says, if Armstrong gets injured who will score goals?
steve w
Senior Member
Wow!!
Talk about lost perspective!!
We are just like 15 or so of the clubs in the championship - struggling to string results together and reliant on loanees who parent clubs insist we give game time too - whether good enough or not.
The problem (IMO) is that TM continues to try to keep everyone happy - he calls it rotation but in truth its people pleasing.
Dack and Armstrong don't belong in the same team - plain and simple (they never have)
Armstrong had a good flash (Think Josh Morris at Scunthorpe)
We need a Downing type in the team all the time, somebody who can run the team and keep a cool head.
He added Dack (rightly) because he will add goals and he was shadowed and roughed up all game last night - Preston respected his threat and dealt with it by being on him all the time, sometimes fairly but most of the time with rough house tactics.
We have the talent - TM just needs to get tough and pick a consistent team that can get used to each other and just fuck the moaners off.
Talk about lost perspective!!
We are just like 15 or so of the clubs in the championship - struggling to string results together and reliant on loanees who parent clubs insist we give game time too - whether good enough or not.
The problem (IMO) is that TM continues to try to keep everyone happy - he calls it rotation but in truth its people pleasing.
Dack and Armstrong don't belong in the same team - plain and simple (they never have)
Armstrong had a good flash (Think Josh Morris at Scunthorpe)
We need a Downing type in the team all the time, somebody who can run the team and keep a cool head.
He added Dack (rightly) because he will add goals and he was shadowed and roughed up all game last night - Preston respected his threat and dealt with it by being on him all the time, sometimes fairly but most of the time with rough house tactics.
We have the talent - TM just needs to get tough and pick a consistent team that can get used to each other and just fuck the moaners off.
Look it's hardly all that bad. We are still 8th in a League where the bottom 6 can beat the top 6 if the top teams aren't properly on their game.
Mowbray has elected for a passing game as part of our transition from League 1. Whilst the Wimbledon of old or John Becks Cambridge would have profited from a shit pitch the teams with a game based on passing football would not. Obviously we aren't of the same quality but I doubt the Arsenal Invincibles, Man City, Barca etc would be quite so good if Ewood was their home ground.
Makes me laff that many who hated Big Sam for long ball stuff will now be criticising Mowbray for favouring the shorter passing possession based game. I guess that's just the foibles of Rovers fans.
Given the aid of a Tardis I'd much rather that we'd spent a couple of million that we spewed on BB and SG on re-laying the pitch and bringing in someone with 10 or a dozen goals in them to complement Adam Armstrong.
This is black and white evidence and these stats should make our two headline signings hang their bloody heads in shame! Blackburn Rovers Top Scorers - BBC Sport
Mowbray has elected for a passing game as part of our transition from League 1. Whilst the Wimbledon of old or John Becks Cambridge would have profited from a shit pitch the teams with a game based on passing football would not. Obviously we aren't of the same quality but I doubt the Arsenal Invincibles, Man City, Barca etc would be quite so good if Ewood was their home ground.
Makes me laff that many who hated Big Sam for long ball stuff will now be criticising Mowbray for favouring the shorter passing possession based game. I guess that's just the foibles of Rovers fans.
Given the aid of a Tardis I'd much rather that we'd spent a couple of million that we spewed on BB and SG on re-laying the pitch and bringing in someone with 10 or a dozen goals in them to complement Adam Armstrong.
This is black and white evidence and these stats should make our two headline signings hang their bloody heads in shame! Blackburn Rovers Top Scorers - BBC Sport
Wilpshire Blue
Senior Member
Can't argue too much with Rich Sharpe's article
www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk
Progress, stagnation & an all too familiar outlook for Rovers
You’ve seen how series one and two have gone, and while you hold out for hope that the trilogy will offer something different, get drawn in by…
From Lancashire Live..............
"Meanwhile, Mowbray refused to accept his side's performance in the first-half and his frustration was clear.
“We played the wrong game," he said. "We played to our forward targets second half, got more deliverers of the ball onto the pitch, pinned them back and deserved to probably get an equaliser from the pressure late on. “But it wasn’t to be. It was more like us the second half and more like a team that I recognised."
What he means is that Neill won the battle of the Managers and the tactics. PNE pushed onto our defenders and pressurised our midfielders to stop us building from the back, we were then forced to play long balls to a short centre forward. Simples.... and hardly rocket science. Question the Rovers coaches need to figure out is how to change our tactics in order to counteract those tactics and compete. Barnsley started it and lots of teams will have taken note of our struggles to cope with such and will copy it. Maybe Gallagher up at No9 (cos we all know that BB can't / won't / doesn't compete in the air with centre halves) and Armstrong in the hole? I dunno but anyone with any other thoughts might like to post em to TM c/o BRFC.
"Meanwhile, Mowbray refused to accept his side's performance in the first-half and his frustration was clear.
“We played the wrong game," he said. "We played to our forward targets second half, got more deliverers of the ball onto the pitch, pinned them back and deserved to probably get an equaliser from the pressure late on. “But it wasn’t to be. It was more like us the second half and more like a team that I recognised."
What he means is that Neill won the battle of the Managers and the tactics. PNE pushed onto our defenders and pressurised our midfielders to stop us building from the back, we were then forced to play long balls to a short centre forward. Simples.... and hardly rocket science. Question the Rovers coaches need to figure out is how to change our tactics in order to counteract those tactics and compete. Barnsley started it and lots of teams will have taken note of our struggles to cope with such and will copy it. Maybe Gallagher up at No9 (cos we all know that BB can't / won't / doesn't compete in the air with centre halves) and Armstrong in the hole? I dunno but anyone with any other thoughts might like to post em to TM c/o BRFC.