aletheia

The pdf link in the first post doesn't work for me.

I’m interested in this “how far is Mowbray responsible” e.g. if we win or if we lose. I think I would argue that Mowbray is not responsible for much really. Bringing in players? I guess –scouts or him? That could be audited I suppose. Shape on the pitch –almost certainly. And on that, I think he hasn’t much of a clue and has been lucky. Ethos and belief? Well. And all the nitty gritty on the pitch and training? Very hands off, just go out and play I would think. And thus I am certainly in the glass half empty with regard Mogga. …..we have got the amount of points we have as a direct result of his management….. …..tactics used were critical to our good run, the false 9, the back 3, wing backs, wide forwards etc.…… Well, how responsible is Mowbray? Did he not stumble on this as necessity? That shape at the back certainly shored things up and was a main factor. But the main reason we went so high is BB and his astonishing run of goals and I suspect Mogga couldn’t believe his luck. Yes Mogga is responsible for bringing him in (or at least scouts) but he did nothing for 2 seasons. Imo Mogga does very little to coach on any level. You only have to watch a game to see that there are so many details not attended to. There were so many games early on in the season where this much lauded shape (Buckley false 9 etc.) resulted in the most dire 1st half performances without us remotely looking like scoring. Only for BB to pop up and score a goal out of nothing and save our bacon. And BB has improved imo from the self-belief gained from Chile. “Saying it was a brilliant second 45 are wide of the mark” = agreed. It seemed obvious (to me anyway-not hindsight honestly) after watching the appalling 1st half that we could improve 100% if we just did a few basic, even primitive things. For instance, clearly they are a tiny side so I began to think that our only chance of scoring would be from a header –say a good cross, good corner. And so 3 headers, 3 goals. It was clear also from the 1st half that we would never outplay them by passing –they gave us a lesson in that. In fact, I was impressed with how Rooney had coached that side. Just also clear that they lacked quality in front of goal (thank goodness, as Exiled says-could easily have been 2-0 down) and as I say tiny at the back. The other basics are energy, effort and pressing –all increased in second half. It was clear that pressing them might yield results because obviously it looked like Derby were under orders on pain of death to play from the back. Soon as Gally/Dolan pressed the atmosphere changed. We simply began to bully them a little. So my overall point is that the way we set up was pathetic and clearly the players’ hearts weren’t in it because it was stupid. All we did second half was some sensible basic things that any reasonable coach could set up and hey presto things improved. However, we were still pretty poor in open play. One thing that I was pleased with and that was our set up for our attacking corners. I liked the two groupings –one at the near and one at the far. Corners are one thing where we could offer a threat. It’s an easy thing to do. You could be playing shite but a good set piece and you could be back in the game. Have you believed for the past 3 years or so that we are a threat from corners? Great to see Wharton’s goal. I wonder if that is down to the players or coaching? Hmmm. So:- Mowbray is a weak, stubborn, Neanderthal manager. Mowbray has no ability as a coach to bring on/improve players. Mowbray has no ability to ensure his players do basics (corners/set pieces/penalties/) Mowbray has no tactical nous Mowbray has no ability with subs Mowbray has no ability at ordering game management to players Mowbray’s man-management is poor Mowbray by his own admission is not interested in some of the above basics in training Our attainment of 2nd was down to: a) BB’s phenomenal goal run and that had nothing to do with Mowbray b) a solid defence –stumbled upon by necessity c) high energy levels and pressing from the front –just basic stuff really d) a) papering over weaknesses Of course we are overachieving given finances but I have always believed that with a more inspired manager who can also pay attention to basics, we could be doing better.

Not Sam’s biggest fan in terms of talent. But no doubt about effort. Pressed well with K. and D. Watch again the build up to Johnson’s easy chance. Sam pressed well and then nicked the ball off the defender and squared it nicely for Johnson (to erm, tamely side foot to the keeper. ) On a lighter note, was amused to see Trav’s little strop. When he was on the floor injured (and it did look like he was really hurting ) JVH wanted to get on with it and take the free kick. He offered a hand up to Trav, who promptly slapped his hand away.

Just knew we would win today –it’s so Rovers because all the logical signs were that we would never score a goal. And seeing the line up before kick-off seemed to cement that idea –keep it tight and hope we nick something up top. But then, a nice surprise first half as it was all us though obviously no surprise we passed up several good chances. And I thought if this remains goalless or a single goal away win, then this message board would be white hot by tea-time. And then, deep in the first half, it seemed that we would do our usual of dominating but conceding a soft goal when up they popped with a nice through ball for a one on one only for Kaminski to save well. That was huge. And I could be my usual glass half empty man. I could point out that there are still lots of frailties (set pieces, crossing, scoring etc) that we all know about. I could point out that despite creating chances we couldn’t finish and that the goal we scored was really a mistake from their keeper who flapped. But no, now’s not the time and that would be far too churlish. We played really well and looked at it from the off. Dolan was the catalyst for most things good and the front three’s pressing first half was great. By and large we nullified them well –van H brings a calmness and makes the others play better. Thanks lads for an exciting game with full commitment.

KAMINSKI LENIHAN VAN HECKE WHARTON NYAMBE GILES BUCKLEY(Rothwell) TRAVIS KHADRA Dolan Hedges

Weathered an initial storm and in the past would almost certainly be 1 or 2 down. Came back into it and the kind of game where we could score on the turn over. Sadly, not sure the quality is there up front to do that. We'll see.

The level of discussion has been quite high over the last few weeks or so. Seems to have deteriorated again .

Other local games on. It’s funny how refs decide to pick on poor old Rovers.

Saw the pictures of snow covered pitch at midday. Thought no chance. Few minutes, later read on here that the game was on after a pitch inspection. Very surprised. Parked up car at around 2.15 to hear BBC radio 5 say game off. On drive home, wondered how long it would be and what line would be taken by club apologists, apparatchiks and spin doctors. Deflection to ref was my thinking-easy scapegoat. Waggot wasted no time. At 12, if a pitch is covered in snow, how do you make a decision to go ahead? It must be with assurances from groundstaff/Rovers officials that the ground could be made safe and playable. It couldn’t and wasn’t.

Posted this elsewhere - better here. Formations? With ball/attacking/goal behind Kaminski Lenihan Van Hecke Wharton Travis Nyambe Buckley Rothwell Pickering Dolan Brereton Without ball/defensive/goal up Kaminski Nyambe Lenihan Van Hecke Wharton Pickering Buckley Travis Rothwell Brereton Dolan Gallagher to replace Brereton as needed Khadra to replace Dolan as needed Giles to replace several as needed

Formations? With ball/attacking/goal behind Kaminski Lenihan Van Hecke Wharton Travis Nyambe Buckley Rothwell Pickering Dolan Brereton Without ball/defensive/goal up Kaminski Nyambe Lenihan Van Hecke Wharton Pickering Buckley Travis Rothwell Brereton Dolan Gallagher to replace Brereton as needed Khadra to replace Dolan as needed Giles to replace several as needed

So is this the team? Kaminski Nyambe Wharton Van H. JRC Travis Rothwell Giles Diaz buckley Gallagher edited

Remember after an utter dire first half at home in the early part of the season with Buckely in same position and thinking how on earth could we score or win. That game it was 0-0 t half time. Second half, up pops BB with a goal out of nowhere and the goal totally changes. Hmm. Buckley should be off for being a prima donna as someone mentioned (or 2 yellows.)

Glen and JHrover –thanks again for useful posts. Sorry, this is a bit late and I realise the discussion has moved on but I’ve only just managed to get to this thread now. Thank you one and all for some fascinating psychology and entertainment on the Rothwell thread and this one. As Bankend rover said…. haha maddness...It seems like the only fools here are us posters. Indeed. As I said, a lot of hot air. 😃 So have the fleckle-spitted, vein-popping, 70s pub player neandertals taken their blood pressure tabs –all that wasted anger. I wonder if they will boo Joe if he appears. (Oh no, just abuse his partner on social media.) Presumably, all will be sweetness and light with some Mogga spin and the Rothwell effigies cast aside. Do they still want our Trav to lay one on Joe or break his leg? Or perhaps just leave him to get on with helping us get promotion? Incidentally, the idea of Trav as hard man is laughable. Really? Just a thick gob wind up merchant. Most amusing watching him strut around the pitch on match day offering his ‘wisdom’ to fellow players. (And for the record, bear in mind that I think Travis is at times the kind of essential water carrier that all teams and us need.) On another tack, I’ve thought for a while that Ben’s goal spree won’t continue. Angered my wife by suggesting he won’t get more than 8 league goals next half. Seriously hope I’m wrong. Rothwell has been improved by Mowbray. Really? Yes he was plucked from the bench from Oxford (well done) but do you really think Mogga can improve the skills of a player? Any player? Teach him all he knows about being an old time defender? We have overachieved thus far. I have no confidence that Mogga has planned this. Stumbled upon it maybe. Still, gotta enjoy it while it lasts. Go on, I’ll do a Jim –not a relegation thread but midtable mediocrity again. Tony to be thanked and potted. Prove me wrong lads. 😃

JHRover, glenM and Rev –thanks for the sane posts today. I see the battle for the control of the narrative is well underway. Effigies being rolled up, scapegoats manufactured, excuses made. 😀

Hmmm I don't see anyone suggesting he would cause us to lose out on promotion, Best chance of going up in a decade and he purposely unsettles the team. Got to go down as one of Rovers biggest ball bag ex-players. he's got mere months to wait and he's just potentially ruined our first opportunity of getting promoted If we slip up he's going to take so much shit for this. Also where has anyone said he's not good enough? Get rid immediately, get someone in better. He's an inconsistent tw*t anyway. Or he could be a bad egg that we need rid of. Fuck him, he's not irreplaceable Callumrovers Good post. Rochdale_rover Is that you Waggott?

Oh dear, apologies if it was somewhat unclear. Perhaps I should spell it out. I suggested that it wouldn't take long before fans were out suggesting that Rothwell was going to cause us to lose out on promotion. so the third paragraph of my post was a quote proving just that. My 6th and 7th para prove the ridiculous contradictory nonsense statements on here. My final para was meant to suggest the amusing irony of fans in one breath moaning about Rothwell leaving and in the next saying he wasn't any good in the first place so good riddance. Ie as revidge pointed out fickle and nonsensical. I do hope that is clear enough for you.

islander No.

Glen9. Cheers –several good posts. Some tosh on here- Rothwell didn’t refuse to play. Whichever way I look at it, it’s shithousery on Rothwell behalf, letting everyone including his teammates and himself down when the club is in second place in the league and promotion a real prospect. There you go –Rothwell (who according to many is average at best) is now the reason why we will not get promotion. Plus a load of Neanderthal macho crap on here. Leave one on him. Jeeze. If darragh downed tools I'd bea amazed . . Rothwell is a shithouse . Darragh in the past hasn't always been the best but a shithouse he is anything but…. ……Darragh down-tooled when we got relegated and Sheff United wanted him….. And now loads coming out and saying he wasn’t good enough anyway, let’s get rid. LOL.

Good post glen9 Shock horror. Club comes in for player with big money. Player wants to go. The worst thing for me about this is that it will give 'uncle tony' (and fans) excuse for losing out on promotion.

Lots of hot air here. Players don’t play for a shirt, they play for money and their families. Players like to be respected –Mowbray has never shown complete faith in Rothwell, particularly in previous seasons. Players respect coaches/management teams who can improve them. Rovers will take £6 million all day long. The rest is propaganda.

This site has around 30 people posting regularly Waco, it represents less than 0.1% of the Rovers fan base. I can assure you that the vast majority of Rovers fans are enjoying the win tonight, against an opposition that have spent way beyond our means, its a very good win, an impressive win. Onwards and upwards. Tosh. Utterly outplayed 1st half. They looked sharp, fit, nice passers. We looked lethargic and like a team trying not to lose. At home. Body language was poor. Buckley getting the hump because he didn’t get a couple of fouls in the tackle. (Travis too.) Pathetic. Even worse when he had to go to rightback. But but…for all their play, Reading had no shots on target (think that was the same at the end of the game?) And I thought that at the end of the first half we could go on to win this tragic game if we had any ambition. Sure enough, we come out second half, clearly with more energy and press high (instead of acting like an away side in the first half by sitting in our own half and trying to hit on the break by some pathetic long ball stuff). Rothwell does his thing, gets a little lucky by falling over and scrambling the ball against the post only for Gallagher to score a goal when he couldn’t miss from 1 yard. Dolan, lively all game (who on earth here is talking of his poor play) then scores a lovely curler. Cue us retreating again (fair enough) to sit on 2-0. Van Heck was excellent (do people watch the game game as me?)/ Defending strongly. On lovely strong piece of defending at the back, nice pass forward to Dolan for a break who crosses left foot to far post for Brereton? who nods down for, guess who, van Heck who has sprinted forward and almost scored. Those who are chiding him for missing are missing the point – he created it and wasn’t content to just sit at the back but galloped forward to try and get the goal. Class. So. The Mogga failed by any measure last season and remained in post. Let’s see. Will we finish above last season? Travis man of the match? He is a thick player who is slow of thought and looking for a scrap. Good at playing it sideways and back though. Next, it'll be that the ref cost us and was utterly biased.

And there you have it ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, the demonstration of why we will be a mid-table mediocrity (at best)under this regime.

Jack Straw, Henry Winter.

Based on this, football will become like the C of E - a habit for a dwindling number of people who can’t quite remember why they engage or why it matters.