A corner turned and personal shift in a new found confidence.

[...]

So I was one of those that didn't think this mish mash of signings would work, mixed with some of our experienced lads.

We've seen times of utter dog shit leaving us all scratching our heads at the combinations and the names from far out places that have ended up at Ewood for let's be honest, the price of milk.

With that price tag comes instant opinions this lad'll be shit, this is gonna be appalling.  

They aren't without their flaws. Even the best of the best have off days (Mr Messi.... Mr Ronaldo...)

Looking back mentally across the last 5 games something has happened. 

Derby game we weren't up for the challenge. Was it the poor home support? Were they tired? Mentally unprepared? Who knows.

But prior to that something had clicked. And post international break.... boy did it click hard!

There's something that's developing amongst this team for me personally that is changing my opinion on the team as a whole. Looked how we've been playing. It works. We've finally found an identity. 

PNE Fans said they were shitting it for atleast 70 minutes of lastnights game because we looked dangerous every time we moved forward. Music to the ears..

Coventry fans, table toppers saying we were the best team that gave em a game at the CBS.

Our battles against Bristol, Leicester all come with high compliments. 

Something is working and I personally am a bit excited about this team for the first time, properly.

Not getting carried away by lastnights results but somethings coming together and it brilliant to see.

Let's hope we can get loud on Wednesday and push home for another win. 

Interested to see if anyone else has had a change of heart

COYB

[roversfan99]

Yesterday was a really good win and the recent run of form has been impressive and much needed. The current team looks much more well balanced and some of the players we already had (Hedges, Ohashi) have stepped up following the change in system.

I have also seen some merit in some of the signings. Alebiosu has always looked very good, but Morishita (who I always felt contrary to a number of the others looked like he had some ability and something about him) has also started to contribute. Gardner Hickman has been ok, Miller and McLoughlin are serviceable and useful Championship players, and Gudjohnsen still is often underwhelming in general play but has a knack of scoring poachers goals which is the most important thing in a striker. De Neve, Henriksson and Tavares still look nowhere near it and Baradji is obviously a bit of an enigma/parody.

But I am wary of getting carried away. I still have big fears about how the squad is going to cope in particular over this next month. The subs bench looks so weak. Defensively, we are in a position where it is critical that Miller and McLoughlin play every minute, and its going to be an enormous ask to expect Pratt to maintain a good standard twice a week for a prolonged period of time. Alebiosu is also going to have to play every minute.

Up front, again Gudjohnsen and Ohashi are pretty much going to have to play every minute. If we need a goal and need to change something, we dont have any serious options to change it up.

[J*B]

Just a reminder for anyone else that’s opened this thread and wondered if they’re in the twilight zone:

Yes, we’re still 19th in the league.

Yes, we’re coming into the most strenuous part of the season for a squad. 

Yes, we still only have one fit centre back with experience at this level. 

Yes, despite that, we’re playing 3 centre backs.

Yes, our net spend is still hugely in the red.

Yes, the club is still controlled by Suhail Pasha and Rudy Gestede. 

Yes, we are still owned by Venky’s. 

[...]

11 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

Yesterday was a really good win and the recent run of form has been impressive and much needed. The current team looks much more well balanced and some of the players we already had (Hedges, Ohashi) have stepped up following the change in system.

I have also seen some merit in some of the signings. Alebiosu has always looked very good, but Morishita (who I always felt contrary to a number of the others looked like he had some ability and something about him) has also started to contribute. Gardner Hickman has been ok, Miller and McLoughlin are serviceable and useful Championship players, and Gudjohnsen still is often underwhelming in general play but has a knack of scoring poachers goals which is the most important thing in a striker. De Neve, Henriksson and Tavares still look nowhere near it and Baradji is obviously a bit of an enigma/parody.

But I am wary of getting carried away. I still have big fears about how the squad is going to cope in particular over this next month. The subs bench looks so weak. Defensively, we are in a position where it is critical that Miller and McLoughlin play every minute, and its going to be an enormous ask to expect Pratt to maintain a good standard twice a week for a prolonged period of time. Alebiosu is also going to have to play every minute.

Up front, again Gudjohnsen and Ohashi are pretty much going to have to play every minute. If we need a goal and need to change something, we dont have any serious options to change it up.

Are you in a better place in your head from say 1-2 months ago?

Last night has helped formed my opinion, and it feels nice to actually be optimistic again. Depth is an issue of course but if we can get through this next batch of fixtures and see what January spits out. We can only bolster what we have going forward now so look to be in a more positive position. 

[...]

2 minutes ago, J*B said:

Just a reminder for anyone else that’s opened this thread and wondered if they’re in the twilight zone:

Yes, we’re still 19th in the league.

Yes, we’re coming into the most strenuous part of the season for a squad. 

Yes, we still only have one fit centre back with experience at this level. 

Yes, despite that, we’re playing 3 centre backs.

Yes, our net spend is still hugely in the red.

Yes, the club is still controlled by Suhail Pasha and Rudy Gestede. 

Yes, we are still owned by Venky’s. 

I'm still completely behind Venkys out don't worry about that I'm purely behind these lads on the pitch. They're being asked to do alot and, well they're working hard and it's showing. In terms of the team and the play we've been watching it's positive and feel like we are in a bit of a twilight zone yea lol 

We've had that many downers with this squad that it's nice to be feeling some kind of...well normality again albeit rather thin

[wilsdenrover]

5 games ago we were in the bottom three and 2 points from safety.

We’re now 9 points clear of the drop zone.

I’d say we’ve moved from negative both on and off the pitch to negative off and positive on.

How long that will continue? I guess we’ll find out.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

I think our season changed for the better when Ismael “ discovered “ that a 3-5-2 system fitted our players skill set.

[Exiled in Toronto Mk2]

I for one am enjoying watching the current iteration of Valerian’s team more than any other since the League 1 promotion team. I love the effort and watching players find their feet and emerge. It’s the first time I’ve thought 3-5-2 has got legs: we have two great wingbacks who actually play as wingbacks, and two up front who combine Herculean effort with great poaching. Toth and Cantwell will improve us further. Onwards!

[John]

On the football side, I’m certainly not getting carried away - but the most pleasing aspect for me (aside from winning, obviously) is the huge work rate from the players. In recent games they’ve been running non-stop with no shortage of effort.

On top of that, a few of the players are hitting some form and the team overall is looking much better.

I’m definitely feeling a lot more confident about avoiding relegation now, which was a real worry a couple of months ago. The league is quite tight overall, so who knows.

[47er]

47 minutes ago, wilsdenrover said:

5 games ago we were in the bottom three and 2 points from safety.

We’re now 9 points clear of the drop zone.

I’d say we’ve moved from negative both on and off the pitch to negative off and positive on.

How long that will continue? I guess we’ll find out.

If we could be confident of building something so that the group could stay together I'd be happy too.

But I'm sure we'll lose Cantwell and Pickering in January and Trondstadt in the summer---at least.

If a big offer comes in for Toth will we turn it down? If Pratt continues that first game form, will we keep him?

Its soul-destroying to always be seeing what could be, then watching it disappear.

[roversfan99]

1 hour ago, ... said:

Are you in a better place in your head from say 1-2 months ago?

Last night has helped formed my opinion, and it feels nice to actually be optimistic again. Depth is an issue of course but if we can get through this next batch of fixtures and see what January spits out. We can only bolster what we have going forward now so look to be in a more positive position. 

The change in formation has undoubtedly had a positive effect on performances and results. The last 5/6 games in isolation certainly make things seem more optimistic.

But due to the make up of the squad and also a few injuries, the squad looks even thinner so looking forward ita a massive worry. Miller, McLoughlin, Alebiosu, Ohashi and Gudjohnsen will pretty much have to play every minute in each 2 game week due to a lack of credible alternatives, thats half a team. Add to that, is a defence of Miller, McLaughlin and Pratt protecting Pears strong enough even without injuries?

We know what January will spit out. Excuses, disappointment and negligence.

[DE.]

Can't fault the team for the effort they're putting in most weeks, they look like they're getting comfortable with each other and the recent system that's been adopted. Staying up or even finishing mid-table won't be an achievement based on where we have been in the recent past, but considering the amount of Championship experience that's been let go and replaced with cheap alternatives it would be an achievement for the manager and players. 

The league is wide open this season, I think more than it has been in a really long time, so it's a shame we chose now to cut everything back - even more so than previously. We definitely could have been up there with a genuine shot of a playoff position if we had owners with even the slightest inclination towards being ambitious. 

[M_B]

1 hour ago, John said:

On the football side, I’m certainly not getting carried away - but the most pleasing aspect for me (aside from winning, obviously) is the huge work rate from the players. In recent games they’ve been running non-stop with no shortage of effort.

On top of that, a few of the players are hitting some form and the team overall is looking much better.

I’m definitely feeling a lot more confident about avoiding relegation now, which was a real worry a couple of months ago. The league is quite tight overall, so who knows.

You've hit the nail on the head there, God loves a trier and fans will forget a lot of failings if the team is giving it everything.

Last night they just wanted it more,and Miller epitomised it perfectly. Not the most gifted, can give the ball away, but leaves absolutely nothing out there. The way he put their player over the line early on set the scene. 

[...]

19 minutes ago, M_B said:

You've hit the nail on the head there, God loves a trier and fans will forget a lot of failings if the team is giving it everything.

Last night they just wanted it more,and Miller epitomised it perfectly. Not the most gifted, can give the ball away, but leaves absolutely nothing out there. The way he put their player over the line early on set the scene. 

This is it, alot will forget the behind the scenes stuff after the emphatic win. Just feel like this corner turn is for the fans to give our brains a break from the circus behind closed doors and we can enjoy our football again to a certain degree. 

[J*B]

It will end like it does every year when the games come thick and fast and our squad size means we can’t put out a competitive 11.