[Waller is my hero]

Sorry James, but the ‘DNA’ that we are supposed to adhere to…flowing attacks, flying wing backs, playing through the lines, playing from the back a constant supply line to the most potent strikers in the lower leagues….was non-existent today….plan C was painful to watch

Today we sunk to a level of humping it forward, no use of technical midfielders & our attacking threat

Very frustrating & 2 points lost…..but maybe it’s me being over critical

Only positive is that we didn’t lose, got a clean sheet & went top of the league

[jack bauer]

i think you're spot on with that, didn't like rowe's touchline body language today, he looked far too edgy, jumping up and down everytime we made a poor cross, kicking the advertising boards, even early in the first half he slammed a ball into the ground when handing a throw in back to jeff king.
just glad we didn't get beaten.

[Fit as a Nelson]

Trying not to over react but that was dreadful. I sort of understand why we’ve gone long ball today. With Oyeleke and Kellerman missing as well as the pitch in the worst state I’ve ever seen it perhaps his hand was forced a bit. What I don’t understand is why he played Asante in central midfield along with Khan, neither had a clue what they was supposed to be doing although Khan did improve as the second half went on. I also don’t understand why we are now instructing Weston to almost play in the back line. We played with no midfield whatsoever today. Rowe has said Miller is playing with a knock but that doesn’t explain why he’s forgotten how to go past a man as he still clearly has no problem when he’s sprinting back, his performances are nowhere near the level they was at the start of the season. It’s not looking good for Grimes either with Rowe talking about training Croll to play in that central defensive ‘sweeper’ role. Let’s pray that we manage to sign a couple of technicians as Rowe calls them and we start playing football again because today we played like a team fighting a relegation battle, there was some seriously embarrassing moments today. Perhaps if our manager put as much energy into getting his team playing football as he does swearing at the referee, trying to get the crowd to turn on the officials early and picking fights with people in the opposition dugout we might get back to being half decent. Hopefully today was just a blip because I’m worried he be loosing the plot, the way he berates our players on the touch line is a bit embarrassing too. On a positive note Mandeville played well after coming on today as he often does as a sub.

[Radders]

Waller is my hero, on 22 January 2022 - 05:33 PM, said:

Sorry James, but the ‘DNA’ that we are supposed to adhere to…flowing attacks, flying wing backs, playing through the lines, playing from the back a constant supply line to the most potent strikers in the lower leagues….was non-existent today….plan C was painful to watch

Today we sunk to a level of humping it forward, no use of technical midfielders & our attacking threat

Very frustrating & 2 points lost…..but maybe it’s me being over critical

Only positive is that we didn’t lose, got a clean sheet & went top of the league

Bang on with that summary. It was as if Rowe had stuck a team out there to make a point that he could win with anything. And as for bringing Denton on - don't get me started. Awful game. We needed some bight in midfield - McCourt maybe? - but had nothing.

[tomjoad]

Radders, on 22 January 2022 - 06:28 PM, said:

Bang on with that summary. It was as if Rowe had stuck a team out there to make a point that he could win with anything. And as for bringing Denton on - don't get me started. Awful game. We needed some bight in midfield - McCourt maybe? - but had nothing.

Mc Court has gone on loan to York I believe?

[Nitrous Oxide]

I don't like Weston playing so deep, he's not the sort to put his foot in, the opposition just go passed him like he's stood still and his distribution today was sloppy.

[jack bauer]

that team selection was a real head scratcher as it was so out of character in being so unbalanced and i think what makes it such a headscratcher again is that i consider james rowe to be an astute and thoughtful manager plus his asst. webb is a guy who has taken a team up from this league, now at some point they'd have held a meeting between them and come up with this today, i can't get my head around neither of them saying "hang on a minute, think about it, is this really the best team we can put out with what we have?" and they went with it. was it a selection fueled by emotion that carried over from tuesday night? it seems that way as that did not seem to be a thought out plan today.

[Maddog Tannen]

jack bauer, on 22 January 2022 - 09:54 PM, said:

that team selection was a real head scratcher as it was so out of character in being so unbalanced and i think what makes it such a headscratcher again is that i consider james rowe to be an astute and thoughtful manager plus his asst. webb is a guy who has taken a team up from this league, now at some point they'd have held a meeting between them and come up with this today, i can't get my head around neither of them saying "hang on a minute, think about it, is this really the best team we can put out with what we have?" and they went with it. was it a selection fueled by emotion that carried over from tuesday night? it seems that way as that did not seem to be a thought out plan today.

Don't think his changes were fueled by emotion or panic more like an experiment due to the state of the pitch

[azul]

Nitrous Oxide, on 22 January 2022 - 09:39 PM, said:

I don't like Weston playing so deep, he's not the sort to put his foot in, the opposition just go passed him like he's stood still and his distribution today was sloppy.

Don’t understand this sloppy distribution accusation on this occasion; he wasn’t in the position to be tested as he often was the last man. Your criticisms of his abilities is actually more relevant when he is operating as holding midfielder in from of the CBs.

As has been said before, he has been dropping back when the wingbacks go forward and yesterday they were forward most of the time.

[azul]

Stokespireite, on 23 January 2022 - 11:33 AM, said:

Don't think his changes were fueled by emotion or panic more like an experiment due to the state of the pitch

The pitch looks awful but is it really that bad? Didn’t notice the pitch misbehaving that much unless that was the reason why all the shots went high and wide.

It was definitely an experiment

[dim view]

azul, on 23 January 2022 - 11:43 AM, said:

Don’t understand this sloppy distribution accusation on this occasion; he wasn’t in the position to be tested as he often was the last man. Your criticisms of his abilities is actually more relevant when he is operating as holding midfielder in from of the CBs.

As has been said before, he has been dropping back when the wingbacks go forward and yesterday they were forward most of the time.

I think this tactic is to be applauded, an innovation by management. It gives us width and bolsters midfield with technically gifted wingbacks high up the park.
Didn't work very well yesterday 'cos they forgot they are technically gifted, although King had a few sortees.

Watching Miller yesterday reminded me of what Paul Cook said in his podcast, I think in reference to Tendayi.......... (paraphrased) 'if a player can't put a good cross in I blame the coaches, not the player'.

[clarevoyant.]

azul, on 23 January 2022 - 11:52 AM, said:

The pitch looks awful but is it really that bad? Didn’t notice the pitch misbehaving that much unless that was the reason why all the shots went high and wide.

It was definitely an experiment

Totally agree. I think JR was trying to give future opposition conundrums on the various ways we can set up and play and also thought trying Assante in the 'technician's' role might save a few bod on another incoming.

Unfortunately he misread the dogedness of the opposition.

[Wooden Spoon]

Seems very similar to what Paul Cook did when he didn’t get Johndon.


Was this a message to the board? A demand for funds so he can sign a replacement for Clark until the end of the season?

[Tha Knows...]

clarevoyant., on 23 January 2022 - 12:06 PM, said:

Totally agree. I think JR was trying to give future opposition conundrums on the various ways we can set up and play and also thought trying Assante in the 'technician's' role might save a few bod on another incoming.

Unfortunately he misread the dogedness of the opposition.

The effort put in by the visitors bordered on ridiculous, like it was the biggest game of their lives. It's to be applauded of course.

[rodney]

azul, on 23 January 2022 - 11:43 AM, said:

Don’t understand this sloppy distribution accusation on this occasion; he wasn’t in the position to be tested as he often was the last man. Your criticisms of his abilities is actually more relevant when he is operating as holding midfielder in from of the CBs.

As has been said before, he has been dropping back when the wingbacks go forward and yesterday they were forward most of the time.

We are not at their level but…. Chelsea play 3 at the back with wing backs. Jorginho, Kante or Kovacic never play behind the 3 and are there in midfield to play through and support the attackers. So, either Rowe has no confidence in the back 3 or he is now going to resort to the big boot up front. It will be interesting to see if that works. Fingers crossed we say top.

[clarevoyant.]

Tiptoe thru the Cross St, on 23 January 2022 - 12:42 PM, said:

The effort put in by the visitors bordered on ridiculous, like it was the biggest game of their lives. It's to be applauded of course.

Correct.
We do seem to play in a lot of cup finals!!!!

[spireitetoo]

Stokespireite, on 23 January 2022 - 11:33 AM, said:

Don't think his changes were fueled by emotion or panic more like an experiment due to the state of the pitch

They played decent passing football on it, when they were in possession, so why couldn't we?

[clarevoyant.]

Fit as a Nelson, on 22 January 2022 - 06:24 PM, said:

Trying not to over react but that was dreadful. I sort of understand why we’ve gone long ball today. With Oyeleke and Kellerman missing as well as the pitch in the worst state I’ve ever seen it perhaps his hand was forced a bit. What I don’t understand is why he played Asante in central midfield along with Khan, neither had a clue what they was supposed to be doing although Khan did improve as the second half went on. I also don’t understand why we are now instructing Weston to almost play in the back line. We played with no midfield whatsoever today. Rowe has said Miller is playing with a knock but that doesn’t explain why he’s forgotten how to go past a man as he still clearly has no problem when he’s sprinting back, his performances are nowhere near the level they was at the start of the season. It’s not looking good for Grimes either with Rowe talking about training Croll to play in that central defensive ‘sweeper’ role. Let’s pray that we manage to sign a couple of technicians as Rowe calls them and we start playing football again because today we played like a team fighting a relegation battle, there was some seriously embarrassing moments today. Perhaps if our manager put as much energy into getting his team playing football as he does swearing at the referee, trying to get the crowd to turn on the officials early and picking fights with people in the opposition dugout we might get back to being half decent. Hopefully today was just a blip because I’m worried he be loosing the plot, the way he berates our players on the touch line is a bit embarrassing too. On a positive note Mandeville played well after coming on today as he often does as a sub.

I feel you are doing JR a disservice. There's nowt wrong with a manager showing passion. His berating of the ref was with how things work in this league what all managers do and probably a lot less than others alot of it is all about getting the the refs head. Oh and yesterday he was totally justified. The game management was unacceptable.

Picking fights with opposition dugouts didn't happen. But such a claim may add a little colour.

[Fit as a Nelson]

clarevoyant., on 23 January 2022 - 01:09 PM, said:

I feel you are doing JR a disservice. There's nowt wrong with a manager showing passion. His berating of the ref was with how things work in this league what all managers do and probably a lot less than others alot of it is all about getting the the refs head. Oh and yesterday he was totally justified. The game management was unacceptable.

Picking fights with opposition dugouts didn't happen. But such a claim may add a little colour.

He tried is best, bloke sat on their bench in the hat. It’s almost every game, just concentrate on us.

[Fit as a Nelson]

Fit as a Nelson, on 23 January 2022 - 02:15 PM, said:

He tried his best, bloke sat on their bench in the hat. It’s almost every game, just concentrate on us.