v West Bromwich Albion (H) - 05/08/2023

[Armchair supporter supremo]

Sounds like it was a good team performance and deserved win👌

How did Tronstad fair? I imagine he's still getting used to the pace of the English game

[yankfan]

10 minutes ago, Mars Rover said:

I thought Travis started last season well and seemed to be running on fumes for the last couple of months. With better rotation (see: strength in depth), I reckon he can keep playing to a higher standard throughout the season.

Was definitely weary the second half. Buckley can provide cover and hopefully keep him fresh. 

[NeilInBristol]

1 minute ago, Armchair supporter supremo said:

Sounds like it was a good team performance and deserved win👌

How did Tronstad fair? I imagine he's still getting used to the pace of the English game

he tried. not the best conditions. not the best game from him but its early doors. preferred Adam

[yankfan]

7 minutes ago, philipl said:

What a cracking good game.

Love the way Rovers can move it around crisply and all players comfortable on the ball.

Some immense performances out there especially Hyam, Carter and Pickering plus Brittain when he came on against a real handful in that West Brom attack.

Travis superb, Szmodics got better and better as the game went on. Tronstad - a really tough welcome to Championship football and will get to the pace.

Absolutely delighted for Markanday and Leonard.

This side will also get much better and we showed we can certainly create goal scoring chances. Leonard knows where to get into the right places. 

 

Had Leonard put away the first miss it could have been goal of the season in match day 1

[Bethnal]

First impressions from Ewood (5 pints and ??? Baby Guinness’ deep):

They looked a team full of athletes at kick off and I was nervous.

Some solid play to break the WBA press. We will get beaten by others’ press, but today and against many teams in this league, we will play through it effectively. That’s a real skill and the result of a lot of hard work. Some of the play was excellent.

Give Szmodics the armband.

Harry Leonard is a Championship striker. He leaves today with a hat trick if he was on a run of five games (working through the nerves) and I can see him scoring a lot of goals this season if he’s given a regular starting berth. Naturally gifted.

Markanday will be an asset this season. Got muscled around a lot but his press and positioning was very solid today.

We are very disorganised when broken against. Defense loses shape when the opposition breaks against us and that’s how we conceded. We could’ve conceded at least two more because of this.

On balance, we were much better than WBA today, which means we’ve done good work over pre season.

Tronstad is a very tidy player.

Adam was a bit too careless at times today.

Trav worked hard but I don’t think he’s suited to this style of play. Lovely assist to Markanday, even still.

Ewood had a great atmosphere. If you can, get on Ewood as much as you can allow.

Edited August 5, 2023 by Bethnal

[Armchair supporter supremo]

16 minutes ago, OsloRover said:

If there's one thing we learned today it's that we must not consider selling Travis.

I agree we need him in the squad, but can't forget healso started last season very well by scoring a few. 

We just need more consistency from him

Edited August 5, 2023 by Armchair supporter supremo

[AllRoverAsia]

Travis was receiving, turning and passing on very well today and much quicker than previously.

[sverrehh]

I'm very content with our midfield options. Travis, Wharton, Sammie, Buckley, Trondstad (who I'm sure will grow into the pace) and Garret means strength in depth!

I thought JDT's substitutions were perfect today. I am also happy that we kept pushing till the very end (9 additional minutes, mind!).

Speaking of which, the added-added time means more total minutes on the squad throughout the season. It is evident that having the right numbers of players available is important!

[yankfan]

9 minutes ago, Bethnal said:

First impressions from Ewood (5 pints and ??? Baby Guinness’ deep):

They looked a team full of athletes at kick off and I was nervous.

Some solid play to break the WBA press. We will get beaten by others’ press, but today and against many teams in this league, we will play through it effectively. That’s a real skill and the result of a lot of hard work. Some of the play was excellent.

Give Szmodics the armband.

Harry Leonard is a Championship striker. He leaves today with a hat trick if he was on a run of five games (working through the nerves) and I can see him scoring a lot of goals this season if he’s given a regular starting berth. Naturally gifted.

Markanday will be an asset this season. Got muscled around a lot but his press and positioning was very solid today.

We are very disorganised when broken against. Defense loses shape when the opposition breaks against us and that’s how we conceded. We could’ve conceded at least two more because of this.

On balance, we were much better than WBA today, which means we’ve done good work over pre season.

Tronstad is a very tidy player.

Adam was a bit too careless at times today.

Trav worked hard but I don’t think he’s suited to this style of play. Lovely assist to Markanday, even still.

Ewood had a great atmosphere. If you can, get on Ewood as much as you can allow.

Fair assessment m.  Thought most of the disorganization on defense was due to poorly timed turn overs in the middle of the park. Markanday, Dolan, Trondtad, and surprisingly Wharton all guilt many occasions. 

[WacoRover]

The lads seem to get energy from jdt, as opposed to Tony, whose stoic displays on the sideline sucked all the energy out of them. 

High marks all around. Of our 11, Dolan tries so hard, but his energy is undermined by tendency to turnovers. he’s our weakest, imo. 

[goozburger]

Brilliant determination and stamina from the lads to see that win through. I would have been happy with a draw. Three points on the opening day of the season to forget about the transfer window for the evening is most welcome.

On paper, West Brom have a better squad, and aside from some desperate moments after they clawed one back, I felt as though they gave up after Corberan was sent off. I assume they'll be without him on the touchline for the next game. That doesn't bode well for them if their performance and lack of workate thereafter was anything to go by.

As for the players...

Pears
Solid, but in reality, I don't think he had much to do. I think he's a bit vacant and lost, aerially, but he's good at helping the team play out from the back. Like it or not, it's a key part of how we play.

Rankin-Costello
Is it now OK to say he was his usual good self? He's certainly confident. I think it was right to substitute him because he looked knackered at that point. Perhaps an argument for handball for his goal-saving block, but if you don't put your body on the line, then you'll concede.

Carter
Solid. Excellent.

Hyam
A shaky moment in the first half against Asante, but otherwise solid.

Pickering
Like Pears, I think he is a bit vacant and lost, aerially, and as we've seen during preseason, he's very prone when up against pace. I don't think he was really tested on that, however. West Brom never seemed to go and skin him, which is their loss. I think this position is our most concerning.

Travis
His usual feisty self. I feel as though he's just entered the best years of his career because he's far more savvy than he was. At this stage, I think we need to put his part in the transfer window behind us and keep him.

Tronstad
Defensively good. I'm not sure he has much about him beyond that, however. He's a workhorse, but we are devoid of creativity with both him and Travis on the pitch.

Szmodics
Man of the Match for me. Having previously touted Hyam as our next captain, Szmodics is the one. He has both quality and work-rate. Was organising the players on the pitch throughout.

Dolan
He slowed played down too may times today, and made a few poor decisions on the ball when we were in an attacking move. He needs to "go for it" a bit more. He works hard, but he looks to be lacking a bit in confidence.

Markanday
An absolute nuisance to them with has pace and trickery. Delighted for him to get a goal. Hopefully it will boost his confidence and he can put last season behind him. Unfortunately, his mistake led to West Brom's consolation goal as he tried to dribble his way out in a dangerous position when he should have passed it. I expect he'll learn from this.

Leonard
One or two joked that he'll get a hat-trick today, and he could well have scored from two great opportunities in the second-half to do just that. What a player we might have on our hands here. Scored what turned out to be the winner, and got into some great positions which I'm sure he'll do better from in good time.

As for the substitutes...

A Wharton
Absolutely class on the ball. I don't think there is another player at the club that has the passing vision that he does. I say this with reluctance; he makes one or two mistakes on the ball that lead to dangerous counter-attacks. I noticed this last season, too. He's not the perfect player just yet, but he'll learn to cut these things out.

Hedges
I don't recall much one way or the other. He seemed decent without being outstanding.

Brittain
I think he had a good showing. He attacked well when needed, and did his job defensively.

I'm not going to look, but was that it for the substitutes?

So, Szmodics is my Man of the Match, and shout-outs to Markanday and, in particular, Leonard. The future could be very bright with those two around.

Overall, I'm buzzing with a really determined performance, the three points, and a good start to the season. Let's get that 'keeper signed, let's get a striker in to take the pressure off Leonard, and hopefully we can get some more season ticket sales done. That performance will have done no harm on that front, should any match-day ticket buyers be thinking about it.

Come on you blues!

[Sweaty Gussets]

3 hours ago, BigBar said:

Pickering won't ever be good enough imo. Far too slow, can go through phases of being ok but overall he's not good enough. 

He was excellent today.

[Sweaty Gussets]

2 hours ago, J*B said:

We all know this but I’m repeating to anyway. Between Dolan, Markanday and Leonard there isn’t any physical threat. No trouble for a defence the size of this WBA one. 

Leonard held the ball up well and surprised me just how strong he was. 

[SuperBrfc]

Great start. When our passing game fully clicks, we're going to be a real handful. I can seen us dominating a few teams at Ewood this season.

There were some excellent passages of play today, passing with purpose, forward and quick. JDT's work with the squad on that front, evident. We haven't played this kind of football for a long time. It isn't fully there yet, but I like what I have seen of it today.

We just need that cutting edge in the final third. We played neat and tidy up until it got to the wings where it often broke down, or we failed to get shots away.

Travis was superb and was involved in everything. He looks much improved.

Tronstad made a few wayward passes, but improved as the game went on. My initial thought is that he is a better version of Corry Evans.

Impressive display from Leonard, unlucky not to come away with a hat-trick. The promise is there, not everybody has the instinct to get into those positions. There's more to come from him.

Composed performances from Carter and Hyam at the back too.

Finally, that fist pump from JDT at the end. Yes, Jon! it's you, the players and us fans who are in this together.

Edited August 5, 2023 by SuperBrfc

[Beanie01289]

1 minute ago, Sweaty Gussets said:

Leonard held the ball up well and surprised me just how strong he was. 

yeah for such a young player I thought his hold up play and his pressing were outstanding might have a real striker on our hands here.

[islander200]

Thought Travis was very good if truth of a fall out with JDT then that's the way to respond.

Great movement by Leonard shame he couldn't stick away  at least one of those chances away second half 

[Mars Rover]

Leonard certainly has the skills necessary to hit double digits in a full season. It might not be wise to put that sort of pressure on him but I liked how serious he looked throughout the game - he might just have a winner's mentality.

[Cherry Blue]

Fully agree with goosburger re A Wharton. That through ball to Szmodic (I think) was world class. His quick passes are outstanding and at times in a direction no one expects. Just the odd loss of ball in cramped areas. 

[Beanie01289]

oh and I echo what people are saying about smozdics a real leader on the pitch and his willingness to run and press helped us get further up the pitch after they pushed us back at the start of the half

[1864roverite]

What negatives can we as fans take from todays game? Absolutely none! It was absolutely solid across the pitch even though wba had speed and big lads Rovers stood their ground worked hard and played to a system which worked well. Big shout on Leonard and Markanday who were both superb and deserved their goals. Travis led by example and was supported well through the middle.

Happy with the points we move on to Rotherham 

[Beanie01289]

1 minute ago, Cherry Blue said:

Fully agree with goosburger re A Wharton. That through ball to Szmodic (I think) was world class. His quick passes are outstanding and at times in a direction no one expects. Just the odd loss of ball in cramped areas. 

yeah he's young and perhaps his patchy pre season has not helped so hopefully can iron out a few of the more sloppy moments 

[Tugayisgod]

Delighted with the result today.

Travis mom for me with Hyam, Carter and Pickering not far behind

Leonard worked his socks off and with a bit more composure would have had a hat trick, but that experience will do him the world of good.

Walsall in mid week, an opportunity for the like of the Wharton brothers and Ennis some game time. Wharton is class, we all know that and one through ball for Leonard was brilliant, but he did look a little rusty.

Another week to bring in a signing (or two) hopefully.

Also great to see big Brad make an appearance today 👍👍

[Emerald Isle Rover]

17 minutes ago, roverandout said:

Not doom and gloom. We need reinforcements.  That costs money.  We can't put all the pressure on an untried 19 year old no matter how good he can be

Totally missing the point Iv said we need signings it’s clear we do but the way some fans have got on it’s as if the current crop are league 1 standard - today proved that wrong

[Gav]

Mate of mine called me earlier to tell me he’d been given some complementary tickets, he sent me pick:

Slap bang in the middle of the WestBrom fans 😂

[tomphil]

23 minutes ago, AllRoverAsia said:

Travis was receiving, turning and passing on very well today and much quicker than previously.

Trav starts every season well when he's is fresh problems usually start once he starts feeling the toll.