v Sheffield Wednesday (h) - 06/12/25, 15:00 k/o

[JHRover]

I think to be reasonably confident of survival we need to be looking at being on 30 points or more going into the New Year. With the fixtures between now and then, six games, and 18 points available, we need to be picking up at least 50% of the points on offer.

The fixture list is as kind on paper as anyone could ask for. Twice playing administration stricken Sheffield Wednesday, a gimme for most teams in this league, also Oxford at home and Portsmouth away, two clubs we need to be finishing above. Millwall at home should not be a game to fear either. 

I've seen enough of this club over the years to never be confident of a 'home banker' no matter what state the opposition are in, so sadly I expect a couple of draws from this and Oxford, which will keep us bobbling along and the serious pressure off but not get us the return we need from two such significant home games.

[JCRovers]

A must-win game. Have to kill the game off early by leading two or three goals heading into final 20-30 minutes. Last two matches have been good performances but game management final few minutes leading by a single has to improve vastly.

Don't want to see Gueye on the pitch again; looks so uninterested and uninspired with his lack of running. Ohashi runs his socks off every game but is so wasteful in front of goal. Would rather that he comes in during second half when Gudjohnsen tires instead of playing with a front two.

                       Pears

       Miller  McLoughlin  Pratt

Alebiosu    TGH   Forshaw     Hedges

            Morishita    Baradji

                   Gudjohnsen

Second half subs: Ohashi, Cantwell, Tavares, De Neve

[...]

19 minutes ago, JCRovers said:

A must-win game. Have to kill the game off early by leading two or three goals heading into final 20-30 minutes. Last two matches have been good performances but game management final few minutes leading by a single has to improve vastly.

Don't want to see Gueye on the pitch again; looks so uninterested and uninspired with his lack of running. Ohashi runs his socks off every game but is so wasteful in front of goal. Would rather that he comes in during second half when Gudjohnsen tires instead of playing with a front two.

                       Pears

       Miller  McLoughlin  Pratt

Alebiosu    TGH   Forshaw     Hedges

            Morishita    Baradji

                   Gudjohnsen

Second half subs: Ohashi, Cantwell, Tavares, De Neve

Ribeiro on instead of de neve

[JCRovers]

6 minutes ago, ... said:

Ribeiro on instead of de neve

I would agree in principle due to De Neve's poor game intelligence and positioning. However, I don't think Ismael sees neither Ribeiro nor Pickering as viable options for left wing-back since none of them are athletic enough to play there. Ribeiro also made his fair share of mistakes before getting dropped earlier in the season. We have a weak squad that lacks depth, simple as that.

Our pressing out of possession and overall fitness level/sharpness has improved during the last few games but we need signings in January to avoid lowering the standards whenever injuries, fatigue and suspensions starts kicking in again.

[Old Codger]

The Owls will be playing for fun, as it is pretty certain that the season will end in relegation for their club, and not withstanding the payment (or not) of their wages going forward, they can afford to see themselves as very much either in the shop window or in the swansong of their journeys as professional footballers. Ceteris paribus Rovers should be capable of competing, especially if the energy levels of last night are repeated (over 90 plus minutes), but we haven't demonstrated much in terms of consistency in a positive sense this season, so perhaps it might be too much to expect us to put on a show.

Feck it. Just go for it for the whole game lads. We will never criticise you for doing that...(but we mean THE WHOLE FECKING GAME!)

Predictions? Nope. Speculation? Of course.

Let's make them Owl all the way Ome to 'Illsborough - Rovers 3 Owls 0

Hoots mon and Haggis it's a foul feathered hangover - Rovers 1 Owls 2

That's tawny it, Chansiri's cast-off-cast-aways-cast cretinous chaos on the leafless trees of EWood Rovers 0 Wednesday 6

COYB! 

[bluebruce]

8 hours ago, RoversTilliDie said:

The crowd against Ipswich, was lower than the previous home game against Q. P.R. We were outsung with the Ipswich crowd at times.

Were we? I don't remember hearing them once until they scored, and I remarked on how quiet they were for a reasonable sized following.

[...]

2 hours ago, bluebruce said:

Were we? I don't remember hearing them once until they scored, and I remarked on how quiet they were for a reasonable sized following.

2.5k quietest lot we've had all season by far.

[Old Codger]

38 minutes ago, ... said:

2.5k quietest lot we've had all season by far.

Yes, I agree - they didn't make much noise even when they equalised. I'm not sure they could quite believe the unlikeliness of it, and there was probably more of a sound from the collective Victor Meldrew outburst from the home faithful than there was any shout of joy from the tractor children, particularly as most would have had to accept that Rovers had done enough on the evening to be worthy of the victory.

The whoosh of the hapless Christian Walton's limbs through the air as he flailed back towards the Blackburn End in high excitement was more noticeable than the huzzah from the (prior to that) humbled travelling tractor faithful. For all his faults, HairPears was noticeably less prone to putting his defence under unnecessary direct pressure than the Ipswich stopper, who didn't fill me with great confidence, despite appearing to have grown a foot or so since his stint in the Rovers' ranks.

History now. Time to move on and learn. Dopey twats! 

[RoversTilliDie]

13 hours ago, Tomphil2 said:

A good crowd helps and is a better experience for everyone including the players but don't expect more than 10k bums on home seats for this plus whatever they bring.

Makes not a lot of difference to what happens on the pitch with our players and gaffer though. Except providing them with another weak excuse and deflection tactic in interviews.

Sheff Weds get about 20k ish home fans who tend to be more vocal than an Ewood crowd these days but they are still shite because their team isn't strong enough.

Ditto here.

There will probably be more of them than, than the home supporters, and will be up for it, with Rovers home form, and Ismaels shite tactics, if we're winning change half the team.

[RoversTilliDie]

10 hours ago, ... said:

Ribeiro on instead of de neve

Baradji in the starting 11.

[CrouchingNunhiddenCucumber]

20 hours ago, Wheelton Blue said:

My neighbour is a Wednesday ST holder.

Reckons that their first 11 will give most sides a game and that they should have beaten PNE at the weekend.

They have no strength in depth though, and suffer with inferior subs.

Sounds familiar.

No strength in depth = wretched owners 

At least they've seen the back of theirs 

[RTM08]

Absolute must win, and I think it will be very tight.

I think we'll do it, but wouldn't be surprised if we didn't.

Rovers 1-0 Wednesday

[joey_big_nose]

11 hours ago, JCRovers said:

A must-win game. Have to kill the game off early by leading two or three goals heading into final 20-30 minutes. Last two matches have been good performances but game management final few minutes leading by a single has to improve vastly.

Don't want to see Gueye on the pitch again; looks so uninterested and uninspired with his lack of running. Ohashi runs his socks off every game but is so wasteful in front of goal. Would rather that he comes in during second half when Gudjohnsen tires instead of playing with a front two.

                       Pears

       Miller  McLoughlin  Pratt

Alebiosu    TGH   Forshaw     Hedges

            Morishita    Baradji

                   Gudjohnsen

Second half subs: Ohashi, Cantwell, Tavares, De Neve

Hmmm for me without Ohashis running and pressing we will really struggle. Baradji will do well to cover two thirds of the ground he does.

I cant see the ball sticking at all with that lineup personally. Our system works because, imo, the way the front two (but really mostly Ohashi) press forcing us up the pitch.

The setup you have there that Luton for example did so well with when they got promoted worked because the number 9 was a big physical unit (Carlton Morris) who could make the ball stick on his own. I cant see Gudjonsen doing that.

[joey_big_nose]

11 hours ago, JCRovers said:

I would agree in principle due to De Neve's poor game intelligence and positioning. However, I don't think Ismael sees neither Ribeiro nor Pickering as viable options for left wing-back since none of them are athletic enough to play there. Ribeiro also made his fair share of mistakes before getting dropped earlier in the season. We have a weak squad that lacks depth, simple as that.

Our pressing out of possession and overall fitness level/sharpness has improved during the last few games but we need signings in January to avoid lowering the standards whenever injuries, fatigue and suspensions starts kicking in again.

We need to have a really well thought out subs plan to keep the shape and pressing game all 90 mins. We need to spread out our resources to do that. My approach would be to start

                                  Pears

             Miller.     McCloughlin.   Pratt

Alebiosu.     Mori.    Tronstad.   Cantwell.     Hedges

                 Gudjohnson.    Ohashi

At 60 mins bring on Forshaw and TGH to top up energy in midfield. But how to keep the pressing up top and out wide I am pretty stumped on. 

At LWB maybe we could have a look at Jake Batty? Or accept we are going to play deeper and bring on Pickering/Riberio?

Up front if we dont use Gueye the only other thing I can think of is putting Axel on and get him to batter people? Hes a big unit and very aggressive so maybe would work shoring up the press? Though must be evens to get himself sent off.

We've got this 352 system that works well, but very light on players to sustain it, even when everyone is fit again.

[KentExile]

2 minutes ago, joey_big_nose said:

At LWB maybe we could have a look at Jake Batty? Or accept we are going to play deeper and bring on Pickering/Riberio?

Powell is a better option than Batty at left wing back these days.

 

[joey_big_nose]

Or I suppose we could try and change the whole system at 60 mins when we need to bring one of the strikers and Hedges off.

                                   Pears

Miller.       McCloughlin.    Pratt.   Riberio

                    Tronstad.       TGH 

        Alebiouso.        Axel.         De Neve 

                             Ohashi

Dont hate it as I think wed be able to keep the press on. But changing the system a big call, especially if we are on top as typically we have been recently.

Ludicrous to have to change everything because we only have two serviceable strikers....

That said if any one of Alebiouso, Hedges, Gudjonsen or Ohashi get injured we are going to need to use 4231 so we need to prepare for it.

[joey_big_nose]

7 minutes ago, KentExile said:

Powell is a better option than Batty at left wing back these days.

 

Any right wing backs or strikers who look any good?

[KentExile]

1 hour ago, joey_big_nose said:

Any right wing backs or strikers who look any good?

Discounting Duru (away on loan and San Diego have an option to buy), Lucas Houghton is the best right back currently in the U21s.  Wouldn't say he is particularly close, but sometimes, needs must.  I think in the absence of Alebiosu they are more likely to either play TGH there, or move Miller to wing back and bring in Litherland/Atcheson at centre back. 

Going forwards, Theo Pitt can play at either right or left back, and has looked a standout at U18 level (as well as featuring for our U21s & Wales U17s) this season despite being an U16, and should hopefully sign scholarship terms next summer. Arbitro is a particular fan I believe

Discounting Tyjon who is more a 10 anyway., and may well not be here come summer, Higgins is probably the current big hope at striker, think he turns 17 either this month or next, so will be able to sign a pro deal then, but has struggled with injury/fitness this season.  Joseph is a possible shout and he does have a massive physical presence.  Boggan always looks good for the U21s, but has struggled for game time during two separate spells in the 7th tier now

Mbonzale also looks good as striker, has featured for our U18s a few times this year, but is still at school, so that is not happening in the immediate future, and that's assuming he isn't poached before he is eligible to sign scholarship terms (not sure if that is either this upcoming summer or next, he was playing U12s football 3 or 4 years ago)

Edited 45 minutes ago by KentExile

[benhben]

This is the sort of game we struggle, when we have most of the ball and the other side sit in. Were more set up to play an Ipswich at home where were more like the away side. 

A must win if we have any desire to stay up, but banana skin written all over it. 

 

[davulsukur]

14 hours ago, JCRovers said:

A must-win game. Have to kill the game off early by leading two or three goals heading into final 20-30 minutes. Last two matches have been good performances but game management final few minutes leading by a single has to improve vastly.

Don't want to see Gueye on the pitch again; looks so uninterested and uninspired with his lack of running. Ohashi runs his socks off every game but is so wasteful in front of goal. Would rather that he comes in during second half when Gudjohnsen tires instead of playing with a front two.

                       Pears

       Miller  McLoughlin  Pratt

Alebiosu    TGH   Forshaw     Hedges

            Morishita    Baradji

                   Gudjohnsen

Second half subs: Ohashi, Cantwell, Tavares, De Neve

Gudjohnsen won't be nearly half as productive in his goals return without Yuki doing all the running he does.

[Tugayisgod]

2 hours ago, KentExile said:

Powell is a better option than Batty at left wing back these days.

 

Is he ready to push Hedges and De Neve do you think

Been pleasantly surprised with how Pratt has stepped up. Doesn't do anything he can't do, keeps it simple.

[KentExile]

8 minutes ago, Tugayisgod said:

Is he ready to push Hedges and De Neve do you think

Been pleasantly surprised with how Pratt has stepped up. Doesn't do anything he can't do, keeps it simple.

Id fancy him over De Neve, & he would be a better fit at wing back (pace, energy, intensity & attack minded) than Ribeiro or Pickering

Would be another feather in the cap of the Chorley loan pipeline too, he spent some time there last season

Edited 33 minutes ago by KentExile

[Elrovers]

2 hours ago, joey_big_nose said:

Or I suppose we could try and change the whole system at 60 mins when we need to bring one of the strikers and Hedges off.

                                   Pears

Miller.       McCloughlin.    Pratt.   Riberio

                    Tronstad.       TGH 

        Alebiouso.        Axel.         De Neve 

                             Ohashi

Dont hate it as I think wed be able to keep the press on. But changing the system a big call, especially if we are on top as typically we have been recently.

Ludicrous to have to change everything because we only have two serviceable strikers....

That said if any one of Alebiouso, Hedges, Gudjonsen or Ohashi get injured we are going to need to use 4231 so we need to prepare for it.

Doubt tronstad will even be in the squad. I think he’ll be available next week.