WBA v Rovers: 13th January 2024

[Barmitzvah Boy]

Good article in the LT:
Look at this post on Facebook https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co....Qfa_Kwbv6f5M2TROZZe_MLU4gr9pysr9xw#tz7p5oolzt

 

[Barmitzvah Boy]

Football is a confidence game. Something the moaner brigade amongst the Rovers faithful almost comically don't understand, or willfully choose to ignore.

If you slag off players, they will play worse. Never has there been a more true fact in sport.

So it never surprises me when Rovers players do better elsewhere. Travis is one of numerous defensive midfielders (Elliott Bennett, Jason Lowe, Keith Andrews) that our fans seem to absurdly expect to be spraying it about like Patrick Vieira, and therefore massively under appreciate in terms of their defensive solidity, off-the-ball work, and leadership influence.

I'll also call it now, Sam Gallagher will be excellent where ever he goes to next. Not that he isn't here, the fact that we average 2 points per game with him in the team and 1 point per game without him just seems to be endlessly ignored.

I thought Gally looked excellent when he came on. He won more defensive headers than the rest of the defence combined. He is a 100% confidence player and will score for fun in a decent team.

I do not expect players to spray it around Patrick Vieira style but I do expect them to get the basics right; that 1st goal had 4 defenders and a goalkeeper allowing g the ball to bounce - put your laces through it for goodness sake!!

 

[Drog]

I might be wrong but Sam Gallagher will probably be injured wherever he goes.

In all fairness though some players do come through later in their careers just as some peak early. I found scoring difficult when younger but scoreed em for fun once I got past 26 / 27. Many strikers do the opposite and burn out early. Jeffers, Owen, Fowler belong in that group whereas GK's and CH's usually get better as they age. We've had some great service from older players, Nelsen, Gale, Moran, Friedel spring immediately to mind whilst Tugay matured like good wine.

 

[Drog]

I thought Gally looked excellent when he came on. He won more defensive headers than the rest of the defence combined. He is a 100% confidence player and will score for fun in a decent team.

I do not expect players to spray it around Patrick Vieira style but I do expect them to get the basics right; that 1st goal had 4 defenders and a goalkeeper allowing g the ball to bounce - put your laces through it for goodness sake!!

But let's be honest Gally is no Shearer but he is compared to Leonard, Ennis and Telalovic. No wonder he looked good is it? Problem with Gallagher is that he can't be relied upon to play, he is a sicknote and he's probably costing 30k in wages per match that he plays.

 

[steve w]

But let's be honest Gally is no Shearer but he is compared to Leonard, Ennis and Telalovic. No wonder he looked good is it? Problem with Gallagher is that he can't be relied upon to play, he is a sicknote and he's probably costing 30k in wages per match that he plays.

Come on!
Comparing him to Shearer is crazy talk
Leonard - a kid
Ennis?? jury still out until he gets adecent run of games - but (imo) doesnt look to have that strikers instinct......heopefully that is just awaiting a........ Yet
Telalovic looks lost but so did Tronstad and (I would say)he has been our best player over the last couple of months. I bet that hasnt gone unoticed by the Adam Wharton scouts either

 

[goozburger.]

Wahlstedt
Got the basics wrong yet again. Completely lost on the long throw. Made a decent save leading up to West Brom's fourth, but otherwise seemed neither commanding, vocal, nor confident. Then again, with the shambolic defence led by our so-called leader on the pitch, Dominic Hyam, I think any young 'keeper hasn't got a chance.

Brittain
Poor. Awful touches and looked tired.

Carter
Not bad with the ball at his feet, but not a big presence at the back.

Hyam
Poor. No leadership. No organisational skills. No communication. Something has gone seriously wrong with this player after a good first season.

S Wharton
Somewhat of a non-present, but I can slightly forgive him given that he's just come back from injury.

Tronstad
Solid. Think he had our first shot on target with a good shot in the second-half. Did his job enough.

A Wharton
Poor passing by his standards. Didn't pull the strings.

Garrett
Man of the Match. Played in the Szmodics role, I think, and scored a beautiful goal for us. The effort was visible, which is more than can be said for some of his defensive colleagues.

Moran
Below average, again. A player who has been out of form for the last month and a half. Didn't get into it.

Sigurdsson
One of those regular games where he is a non-entity. I can't remember anything he did, perhaps other than get involved defensively.

Leonard
Should have scored. Did OK, I thought, but not much else came his way.

As for the subs...

Gallagher
Gave us a big presence up front. Seemed to have a bit of frustration about him, which I don't mind.

Rankin-Costello
Clearly wasn't game-ready, even for a small amount of time. Needs more training to get up to speed.

The positives were to see Gallagher and Rankin-Costello back, and Garrett is starting to show his value to the club. I have my grievances with the value for money we get with Gallagher, his wages, and his injury woes, but when he's fit, he has to be playing in my opinion.

I am sick to death of how physically weak we are in defence and the utterly soft goals we give away. To have Carter, Wharton, and Hyam in defence and claim we have no experience doesn't wash with me. Those three should know how to deal with a long throw-in... Unless, of course, Tomasson doesn't bother training for set-pieces.

While I had low moments when Mowbray was in charge, I don't think I ever felt this deflated and disillusioned. We have an identity. Unfortunately, it's shit, and we need a new one. Tomasson will not give us that. The real question is whether the owners will accept that talk of "style of play" is bollocks and we get a manager with steel and know-how in future. I suspect not, but that's what I want.

 

[Drog]

Centre halves should be Carter and Wharton until Hyam can prove himself.
JRC didn't look like he was willing to sprint flat out. I don't blame him cos I've been in a similar situation after serious injuries and it's only time on the pitch that brings confidence back.