v Sheffield United (a) - 3/5/2025

[TheKitGuy]

It just doesn't make sense to me that the players can't get themselves up for a game like today. Should we of won and managed to go up, their whole lives would've changed 50% increase in wages I imagine etc etc... 

Some teams want it more 

Some owners want it more. 

Will be the same for a long time, a shadow of the club we used to be. 

[K-Hod]

With the results going as they did, it couldn’t really have been much more classic Rovers 🫠.
Venky’s and your cronies out.

[johnradfordsubbuteo2]

4 minutes ago, simongarnerisgod said:

garrett and forshaw in the midfield next season😆

We shouldn't joke.

[M_B]

Just the game for Weimann,for a team that doesn't score many or create many chances, he's a massive miss.

[roverandout]

Just now, chaddyrovers said:

Pathetic @roverandout for downvote my post where I share a Rovers twitter post that Rovers thanking the supporters this season for the support. Childish and bag out of order 

 

Not downvoting the fans chaddy just the club statement 

[Exiled_Rover]

23 minutes ago, RoverCanada said:

Taking a very narrow view, but that was the moment for Dennis to shine. The biggest piece of our 'significant' investment in January, perhaps finally a striker with gamebreaking potential (Ohashi and Gueye have certainly been decent bargain buys, but they're both clearly squad-level, rather than leading, strikers), we need one goal to make the playoffs...

And yet clearly off the pace, rusty with the ball, misses an open header ... everything you'd expect of a striker who has played barely 5 minutes since March (with a red card in there to boot!).

When he's fit, I'm sure there's a hell of a player in there, but he's not even close to that right now. A clear panic buy at the end of the window, probably cheap compared to if we actually signed a decent striker for several million in the summer, yet also probably quite expensive for a return of zero goals and one assist in ~170min of action (and a loan too, at least Kargbo could turn into a decent investment).

Plenty proud of some of the efforts to end the year, but this whole season just leaves a bitter taste.

I was more annoyed with his attempt to pass the ball into the box from Kargbo's cross. Completely unchallenged at the back post and he mishits it. Should have brought it down for himself or shot. 

He's been a disgrace for us. Up there with Murphy et al. 

[johnradfordsubbuteo2]

Just now, TheKitGuy said:

It just doesn't make sense to me that the players can't get themselves up for a game like today. Should we of won and managed to go up, their whole lives would've changed 50% increase in wages I imagine etc etc... 

Some teams want it more 

Some owners want it more. 

Will be the same for a long time, a shadow of the club we used to be. 

I thought they were up for it but let's face it they aren't of the quality required.

[Exiled_Rover]

24 minutes ago, DE. said:

Can't help but think whoever goes up in the playoffs is going to get obliterated in the PL next season. None of them even close to the required standard and would need seriously heavy investment to avoid being totally embarrassed, never mind staying up. 

First time two teams in the Championship have reached 100 points. Grim as far as the gap between the leagues is concerned. 

Leeds, Burnley and Sheffield United are by far the best teams in the division - and two of them got embarrassed in the PL last year. 

[Exiled_Rover]

41 minutes ago, TheFinalCountdown said:

Seven changes. A keeper that hasn't played all season. We created very little.

The reason they've finished so far ahead of the pack if because all of those 7 changes would walk into our first team.

They brought Hamer back, ffs. He's their player of the season. 

[WacoRover]

22 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

 

 

 

Our traveling support is great, love these fans! 

[JCRovers]

Toth 7 - solid display. Can't be blamed for the equaliser. Made some good saves. First choice next season ahead of Pears?

Ribeiro 4 - poor crosses into the box. Never looks a threat going forward. 

Batth 6 - did his job well enough, won his fair share of headers. 

Hyam 3 - poor again; is the main man to blame for the equaliser as Ahmedhodzic was allowed space inside the box for a tap-in at the far post. Won a few headers but the mistakes he has made this season have proved to be costly ones. Hopefully one of the coaches can show him a few clips and explain that you have to concentrate and follow your marker instead of being a ball-watcher all the time. 

Brittain 8 - good performance with his driving runs on the right flank. Looks a constant threat with his crosses and overlaps.

Tronstad 6 - solid together with Travis at the centre of the pitch

Travis 6 - solid just like Tronstad. Won his fair share of tackles.

Hedges 4 - worked hard defensively but never provides a threat going forward. Seems like the injury he picked up will keep him sidelined for at least a couple of weeks.

Dolan 4 - same as Hedges, works hard but his decision-making in final third is horrendous. Final game in Rovers shirt?

Cantwell 6 - worked surprisingly hard in winning the ball back on a few occasions. Front trio of Dolan, Hedges and Ohashi aren't good enough to make threatening runs that suits Cantwell's playmaking abilities, however. 

Ohashi 6 - worked hard, got a bit lucky with the goal as it took a deflection off the defender. Doesn't really suit him playing alone in a number 9 role as he's neither quick and/or strong enough to be a genuine threat. 

Subs:

Kargbo 3 (Hedges) - way off it. Constantly making wrong decisions in final third. A disappointing performance. 

Gueye 5 (Cantwell) - did OK. Didn't have much to work on with the limited time he got on the pitch.

Dennis 2 (Dolan) - horrible. Decision making was horrendous from his part. Doesn't even look fit? Instead of utilizing his pace, he opted for a pass on many occasions.

Woodrow (Travis) N/A

Forshaw (Tronstad) N/A

Overall team performance: 4 - not good enough; very passive in the first half with the team happily sitting in a mid- to low block trying to stay in the game for as long as possible instead of being proactive. Pressing up the field was not synced with the team being played through far too easily. Rode their luck with Hamer missing a good chance at the back post. Second half provided a good start with goal from Ohashi but the team never looked like they were in control. Equaliser came after a bit of a scramble inside the box with Hyam failing to pick up Ahmedhodzic at the far post. Very disappointing final 30 minutes as the team never really built up any momentum to get a decisive winning goal.

Valerien Ismael: 4 - poor choices/setup from a tactical perspective. Defensive approach in the first half followed by some strange subs (Forshaw/Woodrow for Travis/Tronstad) going into added time meaning that the team basically played with no midfield for the final ten minutes. Should've brought in Gueye way sooner to add a focal point inside the box for crosses. Failure to capitalise on the fact that Sheffield Utd. went down to ten men going into added time has to partially be blamed on the head coach as Rovers looked very disorganised and with no real plan.

 

Edited May 3 by JCRovers

[DE.]

10 minutes ago, Exiled_Rover said:

Leeds, Burnley and Sheffield United are by far the best teams in the division - and two of them got embarrassed in the PL last year. 

Yeah but I'm talking Derby 2008 levels of embarrassment. It'd be the same if we went up, for the record. Sheff Utd/Sunderland may make it above 11 points as I imagine they'd spend big. Coventry or Bristol City though? Could be a proper bloodbath. 

[superniko]

46 minutes ago, M_B said:

It was all said last year, we were meant to be going down this season apparently.

No last year we had Sheffield United with a deduction, Luton who aren’t notorious spenders and Burnley who had manager transition and which could have gone wrong all coming down.
The other way it was Oxford, Pompey and a skint Derby coming up as well as Plymouth still plodding along

It was as shit a league as it’s been for a long time, next year it will be tougher

Edited May 3 by superniko

[WacoRover]

10 minutes ago, TheKitGuy said:

It just doesn't make sense to me that the players can't get themselves up for a game like today. Should we of won and managed to go up, their whole lives would've changed 50% increase in wages I imagine etc etc... 

Some teams want it more 

Some owners want it more. 

Will be the same for a long time, a shadow of the club we used to be. 

Sorry, I must respectfully disagree. I don’t think we could’ve asked more from the players. We didn’t give nearly this performance vs ShefU at Ewood back in November (we were on a poor run then). 
If we see today’s fight every time (in particular, I’m thinking of vs Stoke, Cardiff, & Pompey) the point tally wouldve put us in playoffs. 

[USABlue]

Just now, WacoRover said:

Sorry, I must respectfully disagree. I don’t think we could’ve asked more from the players. We didn’t give nearly this performance vs ShefU at Ewood back in November (we were on a poor run then). 
If we see today’s fight every time (in particular, I’m thinking of vs Stoke, Cardiff, & Pompey) the point tally wouldve put us in playoffs. 

I agree can't fault effort except for like Dennis who clearly wanted to just stay on the bench and should have.

[Exiled_Rover]

17 minutes ago, TheKitGuy said:

It just doesn't make sense to me that the players can't get themselves up for a game like today. Should we of won and managed to go up, their whole lives would've changed 50% increase in wages I imagine etc etc... 

Some teams want it more 

Some owners want it more. 

Will be the same for a long time, a shadow of the club we used to be. 

Who wasn't up for it?

You have to understand from 1-11 (and 12-17), Sheffield United had better players across the park.

You can't go gung-ho because they'll tear you apart with the pace and ability they have.

We gave a very good account of ourselves - a draw at Bramall Lane is a good result, it's losing to the likes of Plymouth, Cardiff, Derby et al that have shafted us (on the pitch at least).

[Andy]

Obviously gutted to have missed out on the final day, but (like most of us) I'd written off the play offs a few weeks ago.
So the disappointment isn't what it might have been.

13/15 points in the final 5 games is a good effort, just a shame about the several games preceding these.

At least we've seen the last of Calamity now, no way he gets the spot back from Toth - who looks a proper GK at this level.
Some of those saves today, Pears gets nowhere near.

Otherwise, it's going to be an interesting summer...

[superniko]

44 minutes ago, bluebruce said:

This sort of thing gets said every single summer.

There are always 3 relegated teams expected to be strong in this league. Frequently at least one of them is shit. Looking at the Prem table, they've all struggled more than is usually the case. We're ignoring that 2 or 3 strong teams will be going up, too.

I'm amazed we have had a sniff of the top 6 in so many of the recent seasons with the owners and board we've had. I do tend to think it can't last forever without proper investment though.

I think it’s fair to say Birmingham (record points) and Wrexham who are both going to outspend the majority of the league will be better than Derby and Pompey who came up last year.

Point taken on the 3 relegated sides but this year SU had points deducted, Burnley changed manager and Luton hadn’t been a yo-yo club at that stage.

If we don’t spend, which we clearly won’t, we won’t be able to compete with the majority of the league next season 

[WacoRover]

1 minute ago, USABlue said:

I agree can't fault effort except for like Dennis who clearly wanted to just stay on the bench and should have.

I will say, we all expected much more from Dennis. 

I wish we had had a healthy Weimann all season…

[superniko]

38 minutes ago, DE. said:

I wonder what the record is for cumulative seasons in the Championship without getting into the top six for the past 20 years or so? We're on, what, 12 seasons or something now? 

We had a drop to L1 as much as we all like to forget 😄 Ipswich went on a long run in the league and Bristol City prior to this year

[johnradfordsubbuteo2]

One thing in the manager's defence. He sensibly did away with short hoal kicks today at least.

[roversfan99]

Not having any feelings of pride in just missing out. 

It keeps happening and you are deluding yourself if you think next year is the year.

In such a good position in a poor league and January was so bad it accelerated the departure of a very good manager to be replaced by a very questionable one. The state of those subs we brought on using our "significant investment" which led to us never looking like scoring. Dennis? Embarassing. Kargbo? Was dismal. Woodrow? Less said about him the better. Forshaw? Really?

[superniko]

26 minutes ago, roverandout said:

Not downvoting the fans chaddy just the club statement 

Amen - Thank you for your support all season - here is a ST price increase and zero investment into the squad which saw the manager leave and season collapse

[superniko]

22 minutes ago, Exiled_Rover said:

The reason they've finished so far ahead of the pack if because all of those 7 changes would walk into our first team.

They brought Hamer back, ffs. He's their player of the season. 

Yes - comms kept saying 7 changes but it was last week that they rested lots of players. Hamer and Anel were two of the changes coming back in - not like it was 7 reserve players 

[norwichblue]

Eurgh. That familiar feeling of soul crushing disappointment once again. When will we have our time in the sun once more? 

Can’t fault the lads, or Big Val even. Credit to them for turning things around and giving it a good go. I’m taking solace in the fact that I think Sheff Utd comfortably have us beaten in a semi final anyway.

What I/we can fault though, is our ownership and leadership. Once again the January window (or lack of) has cost our club success.

Venky’s have to leave before we come anywhere near success again.

We go again next season. Who knows what’s going to happen this time. One thing I know for certain though, is that through the good times and the bad, I’ll forever be blue and white 🔵⚪️.

Onwards we go.