[Archived] Why no Watford thread? Watford v Rovers, 25th March, KO: 7.45

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Anybody who went to the game like to comment on the three Watford shots on goal = 3 goals stat. As far as prospective managers go the ex Rover at Rochdale is having a blinder again this season. What he's done there is akin to what Dyche has done at the Dingledome.

[jim mk2]

On the train home. Six goal thriller doesnt really do it justice. Two very average teams.

Our one and only game plan ALL night was to hit It long to Rudy. To be fair to the lad he won 90% of these but it did absolutely bugger all. I cannot believe that Bowyer didn't look to change things up at all. We took until the 90th minute and going 3-2 down to make our first sub. It was beyond ridiculous.

Couple of other observations:

- I had almost as many touches as Rhodes and I was up in row p. When he did get a touch he was absolutely terrible with it. It's not an exaggeration to say we played with 10 men tonight.

- I still have zero faith in Kane. Watford exploited him a lot tonight - just as teams have done to he and Henley all season. A new RB should be top of our priority list along with some pace out wide.

- Conway had another great game. Spurr was decent.

- Kilgallon and Keane barely communicated all night. It was no surprise that we shipped 3.

All in all relieved to get a point. It could have been 3 but a draw was probably a fair result. I come away thinking even more that Bowyer isn't the man if we have aspirations of promotion next season. He persistently gets out thought and tactically just does not cut the mustard.

Not for the first time.

[Neal]

Neal - oh i'm sorry i thought it was ok to just label other peoples opinions as b#ll#cks because i happen to disagree with them

At least I took the time to explain why. Some are just more intelligent than others i suppose.

[G Somerset Rover]

Should be going direct more often Tom. Christ. Did you see the game tonight? 99% of our play was aimed at hitting Rudy's nose at 90mph.

[savage90]

Best helping Shef Wednesday to catch us!

[Tom]

Should be going direct more often Tom. Christ. Did you see the game tonight? 99% of our play was aimed at hitting Rudy's nose at 90mph.

I mean free kicks on the halfway line

It may be ugly but currently we tend to pass it square then pass it backwards then do nothing with it, may as well stick it in the mixer

[Roverthechimp]

At least I took the time to explain why. Some are just more intelligent than others i suppose.

Yes - an evening on this board and that becomes painfully obvious

[Stuart]

P3 W1 D2 L0 F9 A4 Pts 5 (9 games left)

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

On the train home. Six goal thriller doesnt really do it justice. Two very average teams.

Our one and only game plan ALL night was to hit It long to Rudy. To be fair to the lad he won 90% of these but it did absolutely bugger all. I cannot believe that Bowyer didn't look to change things up at all. We took until the 90th minute and going 3-2 down to make our first sub. It was beyond ridiculous.

Couple of other observations:

- I had almost as many touches as Rhodes and I was up in row p. When he did get a touch he was absolutely terrible with it. It's not an exaggeration to say we played with 10 men tonight.

- I still have zero faith in Kane. Watford exploited him a lot tonight - just as teams have done to he and Henley all season. A new RB should be top of our priority list along with some pace out wide.

- Conway had another great game. Spurr was decent.

- Kilgallon and Keane barely communicated all night. It was no surprise that we shipped 3.

All in all relieved to get a point. It could have been 3 but a draw was probably a fair result. I come away thinking even more that Bowyer isn't the man if we have aspirations of promotion next season. He persistently gets out thought and tactically just does not cut the mustard.

Interesting to hear from somebody who went. Simon Garner - who is usually fairly even handed in his summaries on Radio Lancs - thought we should have won - and thought we played well. He did agree on your point about Rhodes.

Your perspective on Bowyer's tactics is surprising - again commentators on Radio Lancs commented on how we stopped Watford playing - and the tactic to go long to Gestede must have been successful if he was winning 90% of his chances and by the sounds of it their keeper likes crosses less than Dracula (thank you very much - I am here all week )

[thenodrog]

An actual manager. We've been over promoting coaches since we canned Allardyce. I'm sure it hasn't escaped your gaze!!

Thats a right cop out if you dont mind me saying so. I asked you for some names.

[Husky]

P3 W1 D2 L0 F9 A4 Pts 5 (9 games left)

Just 9 wins and we're in the play-offs. There's hope yet.

[chaddyrovers]

Many supporters, myself included, believe Gary has done a pretty decent job this season. When it comes to talking "boll*cks" - well you should know. The witchhunt which seems to be talking place on this messageboard becomes increasingly distasteful by the day. It seems some fans are obsessed more with wanting a guy to lose his job than supporting the club.

ParsonBlue, that is great post. probably one of the best all season.

this witch hunt is from certain supporters and I guess they wont let it go till he gone. very sad to see that Supporters are more interested in getting Bowyer sack than the club doing well.

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

P3 W1 D2 L0 F9 A4 Pts 5 (9 games left)

In isolation that was a very good return considering the opposition (especially the last two matches against in form teams)

[Tom]

P3 W1 D2 L0 F9 A4 Pts 5 (9 games left)

76 points over a season that, let's hope its real progress and the learning curve its flattening out now for the manager

Oh and who taught Rudy to backflip, I have my suspicions it was Dunny

[Neal]

Many supporters, myself included, believe Gary has done a pretty decent job this season. When it comes to talking "boll*cks" - well you should know. The witchhunt which seems to be talking place on this messageboard becomes increasingly distasteful by the day. It seems some fans are obsessed more with wanting a guy to lose his job than supporting the club.

Perhaps in the transfer market, I've never argued that. How should i know exactly? I bet you thats the first of my posts you've ever read on here, I've never debated with you before and I don't care to be pointed out as one of those that just wants a manager to lose his job, that's a very poor point to make. The FACTS are, we're 11th, with ONE win in our last SIX which include defeats to Burnley and Bolton. Yet there are those so easily bought by a decent 2nd half performance at home to Leicester (who still could have won) and a point away against a very ordinary Watford side. Someone made the point that they see this seasons progress based on the fact that we got beat 4-0 last season at Watford... Well we beat Leicester at home... Absolute garbage.

I wan't nothing more than to see Rovers do well and as Bowyer is our manager, that also means him doing well. I'd love him to prove me wrong but based on the performances I've seen this season... I just don't see where you're placing your faith.

[roverandout]

john salako, who isn't rovers biased said differently that Watford were the better team, I would much prefer a neutral's view than a rovers legend.

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

Just looking on BBC - 17 shots on target away from home - wow ! Pretty poor conversion ratio though.

[Roverthechimp]

So is it unbeaten in 3 - hurrah!

or

a win rate of 33% - sack the manager!

[G Somerset Rover]

Interesting to hear from somebody who went. Simon Garner - who is usually fairly even handed in his summaries on Radio Lancs - thought we should have won - and thought we played well. He did agree on your point about Rhodes.

Your perspective on Bowyer's tactics is surprising - again commentators on Radio Lancs commented on how we stopped Watford playing - and the tactic to go long to Gestede must have been successful if he was winning 90% of his chances and by the sounds of it their keeper likes crosses less than Dracula (thank you very much - I am here all week )

Watford came out firing for the first 20 minutes but then we were on top until half time. We did nullify them and stop them playing for periods but it was a very poor game in quality other than a moment or two from Dunny. Their small winger had a cracking game too and gave Kane the runaround.

Regarding the tactic of hitting it to Gestede, I like the idea for set pieces and every now and again in open play. But not for the frequency that we were going for. When we did play it out wide - which was very very rarely - we caused them problems.

[thenodrog]

Many supporters, myself included, believe Gary has done a pretty decent job this season. When it comes to talking "boll*cks" - well you should know. The witchhunt which seems to be talking place on this messageboard becomes increasingly distasteful by the day. It seems some fans are obsessed more with wanting a guy to lose his job than supporting the club.

It seems to me that some supporters are emulating our owners mistakes! We once had a very solid manager keeping us mid table in the Prem but thats wasn't good enough for the owners was it?

'Monkey see.... Monkey do' as they say.

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

Perhaps in the transfer market, I've never argued that. How should i know exactly? I bet you thats the first of my posts you've ever read on here, I've never debated with you before and I don't care to be pointed out as one of those that just wants a manager to lose his job, that's a very poor point to make. The FACTS are, we're 11th, with ONE win in our last SIX which include defeats to Burnley and Bolton. Yet there are those so easily bought by a decent 2nd half performance at home to Leicester (who still could have won) and a point away against a very ordinary Watford side. Someone made the point that they see this seasons progress based on the fact that we got beat 4-0 last season at Watford... Well we beat Leicester at home... Absolute garbage.

I wan't nothing more than to see Rovers do well and as Bowyer is our manager, that also means him doing well. I'd love him to prove me wrong but based on the performances I've seen this season... I just don't see where you're placing your faith.

Ok facts - you are right about Leicester match - it could have gone either way - but so could the Burnley match (all but for the thickness of a post). Very ordinary Watford side - is this the same side who in their last 5 home matches hadn't conceded a goal and won all 5 ?

BTW - I will agree that one match isnt a good sample size - but it is usually the number of matches we need to lose before people call for Bowyers head - so thought if it is good enough for them !

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Football in general and this site in particular is about opinions. My opinion is Bowyer is not the man to turn the club around on the field of play. It's not a witch hunt, it's my considered opinion. Next season will be exactly the same as this season. We'll bump around the middle for the third season in a row.

Will we have change of manager ? Of course not, our owners wouldn't know where to start.

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

john salako, who isn't rovers biased said differently that Watford were the better team, I would much prefer a neutral's view than a rovers legend.

Is that John Salako who lives in the London area ? Wouldn't be like a southern based ex-footballer to favour a southern team would it ?

[JBiz]

I can't see how there are no positives in scoring three away at Watford in this league. I see most of you have spotted the negative of conceding three, and that to me says it all about the inconsistency this season.

As suspected - Kane not up to it defensively. Had a poor season in that aspect and Henley's poor performances have made that area problematic and it looks like they did us that way tonight. We need a settled back four next season or (under any manager) we will concede needlessly often.

Looking objectively though, another Rudy Goal. Looks a good prospect and time and games will give him some experience. He was a super sub for Cardiff in their push but I think he could be a battering ram for us from the start.

Conway is a cracking signing and if we had kept Cairney fit, I think the last few results may have been a bit better. We lack a left footer to cut in on the right for what I perceive as GBs preferred style of play. Conway is adept on the left cutting inside. As for Cairney; A lot of you don't think he suits wide right but his ratings, performances, assists and all round statistics have proven him to be one of (if not) our best performers.

Another night of nearly but at least more points against teams I would have expected to be beating us pre-season. Shame the results against team we could/should have beat have worked against us.

Your all tired of hearing it but consistency is what we need and playing time for a gelling squad is paramount to success. We can't plug a hole with cash either.

Still a firm believer that a more crafty veteranesq manager would be picking more points up- but it remains a fact that the shysters will never employ the sort.

All in all. Happy with a point at Watford. We need to string some good performances together and we at least have a manager who has made SOME excellent decisions and COULD develop over a decent amount of time. It could be, and has recently been a lot worse.

[Neal]

ParsonBlue, that is great post. probably one of the best all season.

this witch hunt is from certain supporters and I guess they wont let it go till he gone. very sad to see that Supporters are more interested in getting Bowyer sack than the club doing well.

That sums you up Chaddy. Where is the witch hunt you all speak of? Protests? Chants? Taking that into account, how can Parsons be "the post of the season"?

Some fans who aren't content to be bang average at best, watching a team with no style and identity every week, have had to endure defeats from Bolton and Burnley and you expect them to be OK with it because you happen to have faith in the fella.

Deary me.