4 hours ago, Sweaty Gussets said:

Yeah, good save that and pushed it away from the onrushing forwards.

It's hard to make a full judgement on him but I think he's a better shot-stopper than Pears. Pears has let a few of those type of shots bounce over his wrist and into the net. 

I would maintain that there is a higher ceiling to Wahlsted than Pears. I think he's a better shot stopper and has settled into playing out from the back pretty quickly. 

He's likely got another 5 or 6 games before pears is fully fit. He's got to keep putting in performances like yesterday to ensure he keeps his spot.

Great to win so comfortably. Especially against an inform side like Stoke. 

It's a strange one as we have played much better than this and lost this season. Very sloppy in possesion and no real outlet meant that we ceded a lot of possesion, fortunately stoke weren't particularly good and we defended very well. 

I felt the front 3 of brittain, dolan and moran didn't offer enough going forward (maybe being harsh on moran who got a goal and an assist), but worked hard off the ball. Wasn't a day for the dolan false 9, felt we needed a big man to get us up the pitch.

Hill and Carter were very solid. Wahlsted had one proper save to make and saved it well, doesn't convince on crosses but played well. Szmodics missed a couple of good chances first half but his movement was good and he got his reward late on.

Hopefully the head injury to Wharton isn't too bad. Couple of winnable games coming up now. Onwards and upwards 

I wouldve gone with a striker (leonard) but you can't complain too much.

Interesting to see Duru on the bench ahead of Batty on the bench.

Like others have said it depends how you define a hard man. Someone who is combative, someone who is hard in the challenge when in one and someone who withstand a kicking and be unaffected.

A player who comes to mind for is Garry Flitcroft who could hold his own in the challenge and liked a tackle.

If you look at that team from 04/06 period under Hughes for a modern side there are a lot of players in there who could fall into those categories: Todd, Nelson, Flitcroft, Reid, Dickov, Bellamy, Mokeona, Neill. 

According to the rovers social media pages. He's scored for the under 21s and gone off injured after 38 mins.

               Wahlsted 

Brittain.  Hill. Wharton.  Pickering 

            Tronstad.  Wharton

Dolan.         Szmodics.        Moran

         Ennis or Leonard or Telalovic

Time to give one of the strikers a proper run in the side.

1 minute ago, Exiled_Rover said:

I'm not going to get into a detailed breakdown of the match itself - they took their chances and we didn't, that's football.

I will say though that it was very telling that every single PNE player went over and shook the referee's hand and not a single Rovers player (or indeed the manager) acknowledged him when he was stood there, preening, with the ball at the end of the match in the penalty area near the Blackburn End.

If they actually assess referees then he can never be allowed to referee again - I've never seen a worse performance. Utterly abysmal. 

I need some elaboration here because I don't know what you're referring to.

3 hours ago, Admiral Nelsen said:

 

I know that he's given away loads of chances under JDT by giving the ball away, but I don't agree that he doesn't have ability on the ball. His passing out from the back was a really strong part of his game under Mowbray. Granted they were usually to start a counter attack instead of trying to keep the ball, but I think the ability is there. 

I think you're right about our style of play not suiting him though. Where Mowbray's back three was a centre back's dream (something which arguably made JPvH look slightly better than he was), JDT is the polar opposite in terms of how demanding he makes it for centre halves. I think Wharton's lack of pace is probably exposes him more than his passing does, but either way it's definitely really challenging for defenders.

As much as he deserved to get dropped last year, I think there was an element of that coming when the team was still adjusting to our new way of playing. Lots of examples of forcing passes when nobody was really looking to receive the ball. Hopefully he'll be different when he gets a run this season where everyone has adapted to how we trying to play. 

I agree more with your read on Wharton.

I see it as similar to Harry Maguire. In that they are both good passers when they're coming onto to the ball, facing forwards and fairly static. When Wharton has to take it off the keeper or someone else in a deep position, turn and open his body up that seems to get him into trouble and he isn't as confident doing it. I don't think he's (incoming trendy football phrase) press resistant.

21 minutes ago, rigger said:

We usually fuck it up when we play two in midfield

We always play 2 midfield ?

1 hour ago, Gavlar Somerset Rover! said:

Surely we'd be better off moving Brittain to LB and bringing in Trav to RB (where he came through as a youngster)? From what I've seen of Batty, he is not ready at all. At least that's then four senior(ish) pros at the back.

It all comes down to whether batty if they think Batty is ready or not for some involvement. 

If they do then he has to play as that's the model we are going for (think Phillips last season). And also because it keeps more players in their more comfortable positions.

My guess is he isn't ready (or Atcheson is either) and they'll use Travis at right back.

I'd also assume that Whartons red won't get overturned. I also don't really think he can argue if he has another long spell without a start.

Its a big headache for JDT, I'd take a draw now if pressed on it. As a poster above said we are really going to have to double down on the passing/attacking side of out game.

2 hours ago, rovers11 said:

Tronstad was excellent again today. He's made a massive difference since coming into the side. He doesn't do anything outstanding but he smells danger well and always seem to be in the right place to pick up the loose balls. He's also very neat and tidy on the ball and rarely loses it. Really good signing. 

I don't think it's a coincidence that since he has come into the 11 we have won 4 from 5. 

Like you say he smells danger really well and keeps the ball ticking over nicely, short and simple. One thing I absolutely love about him is the intensity he closes people down on the edge of the box. It's something that posters on here have bemoaned for years about other players but he really throws himself at the ball, and I love it.

I thought tonight was a good representation of what we are and how our season has been:

Some nice football in places

A bit too open at some times (I feel Pickering could've done with a bit more help)

A lack of physicality

Missed chances

A lack of cutting edge when we got into good areas.

A bit of bad luck with decisions

A goalkeeping error 

Ultimately we didn't embarress ourselves so that's something. Chelsea have some real quality in James, Enzo, Palmer and sterling and it showed.

It was interesting to see who coped and who didn't. Pickering got murdered, one big error from the keeper and a poor choice for the second, Travis and garrett a lot of effort but little quality. Ennis doesn't move much.

But the 3 cbs did well especially Hill, Adam Wharton fits in technically amongst the higher calibre of player. Thought brittian did well 1st half but let himself down for the 2nd goal. I like Leonard, he's clever, works hard, has a decent touch and links play well. I think he's getting better but he just needs to learn to take a breath and compose himself when he gets these chances. He's not the proven goalscorer we need now but he's got a future here.

8 hours ago, Shirley Crabtree Wrestler said:

Anyone else notice Sammy kept feeling his groin yesterday, and was grimacing a lot after making runs? I know he always seems to have his hands down his kecks, but it seemed to me he was particularly uncomfortable for much of the game yesterday. He is not one to give up and seek the comfort of the bench unnecessarily, but is it wise to push him to the edge if he is carrying a deep seated problem? We need a fully fit, committed Sammy Szmodics to maintain our overall confidence and balance, so I'm somewhat concerned he appears to be struggling at the moment.

Hernia I'm calling it now. 4 weeks out unless they try to get him to play through it for a bit.

18 minutes ago, booth said:

And this is why we needed a decent striker. On days like this they can nick a point.

As poor as we were, we created enough chances today to score at least 1 goal. 

I like Leonard, he looked sharp when he came on and his movement is very good. Should've buried one of them but he's worth sticking with imo. 

Thought Szmodics should've come off in this off for ennis. He looks to be carrying an injury to ne that's possibly a hernia.

                Walhsted

Hill.  Carter. Hyam/Wharton. Pickering

          JRC.        Tronstad

Brittain.     Szmodics.    Dolan

                Ennis

Only 1 change giving us a more fixed presence up top. Dolan moves out to the left, thought he worked exceptionally hard last night and is starting to show signs of improvement. 

 My worry is with a heavy fixture list and last night being very draining physically that we need to freshen things up a bit more. I'd start with the one change but look to the bench early to freshen things up, Adam Wharton being the main one and possibly Leonard for Ennis. 

I think this will be another tight one, I predict 2-1 rovers.

1 minute ago, Displaced Rover said:

Not a patch on this

Yes it was equally as bad.

Just now, Displaced Rover said:

He never made anywhere near this sort of error. Two times the ball ballooned up in the air and any competent keeper comes to get it. Then compounds it by letting it roll right through him. Genuinely the worst goalkeeping I’ve ever seen for Rovers.

Do you recall Wigan away?

We've played much better this season and lost.

We weren't at our most fluid today, a lot of that was down to how cardiff set up which was very much to frustrate having been mauled by us in the cup game. But also felt we added this to by being sloppy in possession, it led to a scrappy game without a lot of clear cut chances. We had 3 chances all for JRC which shows something.

Positives are that we are looking more secure. Having a keeper that doesn't chuck one in every game helps, Hill makes a big difference at right back giving the side more physicality and tronstad is a proper dm who does a lot of grunt work very efficiently which Wharton hasn't mastered yet. Get a proper championship striker into this side and we should be okay, let's hope that's ennis.

2 more winnable games on the way... onwards and upwards

1 hour ago, Rogerb said:

The latest set of accounts as at march 2023 section 26 suggest venkys had not actually completed on the training ground deal as at that date. They also had not paid their sponsorship money. The accounts suggest they had paid interest on the outstanding purchase monies to the club and the club had paid rent. Section 26 states The valuation of 17.3 million was based on planning permission being obtained which at the date of the accounts had not been achieved. Maybe this was a factor in the delay. The accounts indicate a payment of over 6 million was due by the end of June 2023. The change in the project could suggest this did not arrive. The accounts for march 2024 will ultimately clarify this.

So far the assets seized amount to £9 million or so which whilst an inconvenience one would not of thought to be terminal. The problem moving forward is how the Indian government view further infusions of funds.

 

 

Training ground is being valued this week I believe. I've no idea the actual purpose of this.

1 hour ago, islander200 said:

Not sure if already mentioned but the game is available on Rovers Tv tonight. £1.50

Don't it's not working. They'll happily take your money though.

As they have now done to me for the 3rd time this season.

I'd go

        Walhsted 

Hill.   Carter.   Hyam.  Brittain

          Tronstad.  JRC

Dolan.     Szmodics.    Siggy 

                Ennis 

Wharton on after an hour

Leonard for ennis at the same time.

Just now, Danishfan said:

Wondering about Ainsworth too

Had the look of a man who knew his time was up. He looked on the verge of crying at the end of the game.

Think brittain on the right wing has been a good change, has helped keep chair quiet second half and is giving us some good energy.

33 minutes ago, rovers11 said:

Coventry were dreadful and still won. You don't have to do much to score against us...but great passing football so all good. If you can't do the basics right then you're never gonna get results. JDT has got it hopelessly wrong this season with the way he's approached it. Trying to play like Barcelona on our budget is a very smart move.

5th from bottom and the worst defensive record. I'd get rid ASAP and get an organiser through the door.  

I disagree with the get him out and get an 'organiser in' for the following reasons:

1) He showed last season he can organise a team defensively. I didn't think we were organised defensively tonight.

2) the money used to sack in would go further being spent on a player in January.

3) what's a warnock type going to do with this side, it's the antithesis of his teams. 

2 minutes ago, bluebruce said:

Only thing that concerns me is JRC in midfield seemingly, with Wharton, whilst Brittain plays at RB again. We've struggled defensively since JRC stopped playing there. Plus Brittain is injury prone and it was probably a good time to rest him for a match.

We also have Garrett and Tronstad more directly suited to replacing Travis.

Brittains been our best player this season. Has to start at either left or right back. 

It looks as if JDT has gone slightly more cautious although I wasn't expecting that lineup. Is it Hill in cm or JRC?