Rotherham United (A)

[Marc505]

Fuckin scouser.

[Johnnyrotten]

2 hours ago, gonzo said:

I love Dempsey. I'd possibly have him in over EE if I'm being honest.

 

I agree, although they are very different players.  EE is the least attacking midfield player in memory except maybe MJ Williams.  That's not a criticism, he was outstanding v Wycombe and has been in other games, but when he's off his game like today, there's nothing, except free kicks conceded.  Never going to be one of those players who has a bad 40 minutes then produces a shot or assist out of nothing.  He doesn't have a goal in him, which is fine, but he therefore needs to be better than the others at most other things.  

Dempsey can miss clear chances as he did today but he's in there defending, tackling, running, shooting, assisting, heading, making good runs into the box, literally an all rounder.  Doesn't mean he's faultless or doesn't have below par games, but they all do.  

[Johnnyrotten]

37 minutes ago, deeane Koontz said:

Kenny on the other hand is class. And puts the team first. Seems to always have time which is a sign of a good player

I think Kenny has the potential to be another Collins, very similar style in terms of being comfortable running out wide on either wing.  2 footed as shown by his cross today and the shot that the keeper saved, both left footed.  Refreshing to have that skill in any of our players.

Where Kenny is below Collins so far is in goalscoring, just doesn't seem to have that in him, but aside from that he's a close match with his running, skill and pace.

[Stig]

5 hours ago, desperado said:

Good points.

Some I agree with. I don’t think it’s an application/effort issue from the players.

Theres also definitely an issue with certain combinations in certain games.

But working out which ones for which game is near on impossible for anyone. Professional managers included! 

I suggested Dempsey starting today.

But I give SS a bit more slack.

Even though i would have gone with Dempsey, who am I to say he was wrong? It wasn’t a blindingly obvious choice and if one of them early chances goes in we’re probably not even having this discussion.

He could start (as he has done a few times) with the same side that starts, or finishes, well, to find they don’t perform as they did the game before. 

The left side is a real conundrum too. I’m not sure how anyone can categorically say one magic formula works. I’ve seen Conway have great games at FB and WB this season. I think he’s looked really good on lots of occasions. But he’s also very vulnerable. So yes we could say go to 5-3-2 or 3-4-3 but then you negate us in other areas and take away a lot of the plusses that 4-2-3-1 had brought us on this great run.  

The one thing I’m pretty sure on is that Gale, Conway and Johnston together on the left doesn’t to me look very solid at all. 

Dempsey is a must play in away games for me. Stood next to an old guy at the match today who kept saying "finally, someone to give a bit back to them". 

Teams sit off us in home games so he's less useful there, but his general work rate and tenacity freed up Sheehan .

Re: Conway - he's a class above but is slowing it down too much and turning back too much rather than backing himself to drive on and make chance. Not sure where that's come from but he seems to be taking the safe option and it's not ideal as his whole game is to be an attacking fullback, so I'm happy with him not being at the back if he's making chances

Edited March 14 by Stig

[ianofcleveleys]

2 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

I think Kenny has the potential to be another Collins, very similar style in terms of being comfortable running out wide on either wing.  2 footed as shown by his cross today and the shot that the keeper saved, both left footed.  Refreshing to have that skill in any of our players.

Where Kenny is below Collins so far is in goalscoring, just doesn't seem to have that in him, but aside from that he's a close match with his running, skill and pace.

He's taking a bit of working out is Kenny, in terms of what he is and what he's not, but I did like what he did today. He's a tall enough lad but not physically that developed yet, not great at holding people off with his back to goal but busy, quick and, as he showed on the second goal, with a bit of skill.

A more suitable foil for Dalby than Burstow, however much I like Mason. I think a goal or two might come with a few more games in succession.

[Stig]

5 hours ago, Ani said:

Not long back.

Another game where we miss a very good early chance. Look the better team and suddenly are two down. Battle back and could win it at the end. 
 

My biggest worry is how many soft goals we give away and we are even further than ever for knowing our best XI.

Keeper - good safe second half but at fault for second and nowhere for the first

Tutu - Simply not a right back

Firino - Big lump centre half not suited to the passing about at the back

GJ - Committed but lacks quality. Him and Forino tippy tap at the back is pointkess

 Max - Last week full of entry and flying forward , very hesitant today but did not do much wrong 

Sheehan - Tidy but nothing outstanding

EE - Silly early booking , zero attacking intent. No surprise he was subbed.

RR - not involved enough

CBT - looked a threat missed the best chance limped off

Gale - Frustrating as hell , one chance he had a world class touch then back pass to keeper. Not sure he took the right option once

MB - Strange to play him wide , improved when more central but largely ineffective

Sam - works hard deserved his goal

Subs

KD - made a difference when came on

JK - made a difference when came on

CC - Not sure why he is here , not his fault.

Apter - Made little difference when he came on , but a better option than MB imo as a wide right player

Included Gale above as on so long 

 

Once again fails like we have battled well to recover to make a disaster a disappointment 

 

Agree with all those players summaries except Christie - as a right back in a 4 he should be decent. Tutu was dire today and a more solid, experienced right back would have been ideal to keep a clean sheet in the first half, and then potentially use Tutu second half if needed

[Leyther_Matt]

Christie did a tremendous impression of how we’d all play if we got the chance to play. Threw everything in to it from the off, seemed to be everywhere and really lifted it for a few minutes. Then ran out of breath and disappeared. One of our better defenders though which is probably indicative of the problem.

[Johnnyrotten]

10 minutes ago, ianofcleveleys said:

He's taking a bit of working out is Kenny, in terms of what he is and what he's not, but I did like what he did today. He's a tall enough lad but not physically that developed yet, not great at holding people off with his back to goal but busy, quick and, as he showed on the second goal, with a bit of skill.

A more suitable foil for Dalby than Burstow, however much I like Mason. I think a goal or two might come with a few more games in succession.

They all have different contributions, and Burstow's ability to score headers from open play (along with Dalby) is a breath of fresh compared to recent years.  I've never known us score so many headers in one season, aside from set plays.

The Kenny situation could have been solved before it was a problem by not selling Collins.  Him and Dalby would have been potent enough, with Burstow and McAtee standing in as required. 

[Farnywhite]

We sold Collins because the money was to good to Turn down the same as Thomason sane ss Morley 

Edited March 14 by Farnywhite

[Ani]

50 minutes ago, Stig said:

Agree with all those players summaries except Christie - as a right back in a 4 he should be decent. Tutu was dire today and a more solid, experienced right back would have been ideal to keep a clean sheet in the first half, and then potentially use Tutu second half if needed

 

43 minutes ago, Leyther_Matt said:

Christie did a tremendous impression of how we’d all play if we got the chance to play. Threw everything in to it from the off, seemed to be everywhere and really lifted it for a few minutes. Then ran out of breath and disappeared. One of our better defenders though which is probably indicative of the problem.

Do not disagree with much of these. But with JDC leaving we have left ourselves with Tutu and Christie as our options here. Schuey prefers Tutu based on run of selections, he is never a right back good when forward but their first goal still not sure what he was doing. Christie is blowing out of his arse after 10-15 minutes. 
 

 

[Ani]

Watching the highlights had not realised how good a chance Dempseys chance was at the end when thundertwatted it, it basically opened up for him and it just needed to putting to either side of the keeper. 

[Rival Son]

11 hours ago, Whitestar said:

And then there's the elephant in the room,,,,,,,

 

SHEEHAN.

 

Every time we are much shitter team with him in it.

Arrrrrrhhh😡😡😡

Yet again, Erhahon is hooked and Sheehan controls a recovery.

[crawshawbooth]

Is all there for us to see week in, week out if you hit the box and another is breaking into it with you square the ball

no premier league club is looking at our players as the next " jewel in the crown"

These lads have to work out they are playing 3rd division football and get the fuck on with it

[Wanderlust]

6 hours ago, Rival Son said:

Yet again, Erhahon is hooked and Sheehan controls a recovery.

He was poor in the first half, as was Erhahon, but Sheehan is a better player when we are attacking, penning the opposition back and has more choice of passes with everything in front of him. That said I think Demps is arguably more effective at “controlling a recovery” playing as an 8 and linking play between the lines as he did v Wycombe when every run and pass he made was excellent and glued our attacks together.

Let’s be honest - we’d been so shit that Schumacher totally gambled again, throwing on Kenny and Demps and going to a back three. He gambled v Wycombe too, sacrificing Forino - all to get more attackers and more movement up front against a tiring defence which suits Sheehan’s game better. And TBF SS had no choice but to gamble yet again.

The reason he had to gamble - and it happens a lot - was because he got the starting selection wrong again. There is no way Sheehan should be starting games. When the opposition is fresh and prepared to have a go at us, he’s a defensive liability. Much better he comes on as part of an attacking switch up.

Schumacher likes to use loads of subs, often all of them, but he seems to have some vague concept that we set up initially to wear teams down and then switch it up with subs to win it towards the end. Fine in theory, but if we aren’t solid at the start we end up chasing the game and having to come back from behind and Sheehan weakens us defensively although he does have the occasional moment - but not enough - especially when the likes of Tutu and Conway are basically selected to get forward and therefore need shielding and cover.

Schumacher’s starting choices increasingly seem strange to me - as if he is trying to hedge his bets and can’t make his mind up. If the plan is to wear teams down from the start, then he should pick his most robust and competitive midfield and defence to ensure we don’t concede with Dalby (who has been great recently) and a runner like Kenny to play off him - then bring on wingers and more attacking midfielders and switch the system later to get the result. If the plan is to start quick and get a healthy lead to protect, do the reverse. But recently his starting selections and systems have been neither one nor the other.

Said it before and I’ll say it again, Sheehan has a role to play in this squad, but the manager has to get it right in deciding when and how to use him - and all the players for that matter.

 

[Eddie]

Most of it has been well covered by now so I won’t repeat those points.

Set up was wrong but I could see what he was trying to do. The no. 10 just does not work, we’ve tried it with plenty of players and RR is the best of them and it still didn’t work. You weaken Dalby’s effectiveness and gain nothing in terms of midfield stability.

Gale gets all sorts of criticism. His decision making was woeful yesterday but anyone questioning his attitude - look at his reaction at the final whistle, we were watching him and he went straight over to the bench and sat in the dugout looking like he was about to cry. He knew he’d had a bad game and had the chances in the last 5 mins to create a winner - I reckon he also can hear the crowd on his back.

I would start Kenny and Dalby up top for every game from now on. It’s a proper partnership and with the pressure off re top 2 or dropping out of the play offs, as much time as possible playing together will give them the best chance to win us the play offs.

Conway isn’t a full back. Someone else has said it but with CBT injured and Apter looking pretty shite, I’d be tempted to go 5 at the back (especially away) and use Conway and Tutu as wingbacks.

This team doesn’t know when it’s beaten. Granted we didn’t get the 3 points but no team will feel comfortable having a lead against us, even at 2-0. Bodes well for the play offs.

[desperado]

18 minutes ago, Wanderlust said:

But recently his starting selections and systems have been neither one nor the other.

Said it before and I’ll say it again, Sheehan has a role to play in this squad, but the manager has to get it right in deciding when and how to use him - and all the players for that matter.

Much easier said than done. And I’d go even further and say it’s near on impossible to get the selection of Sheehan (and all the players for that matter) 100% right, every game. There’s just too many variables with our inconsistent L1 players. 

And let’s not forget we’re on a pretty good consistent run, with inconsistent players, so his selections, subs and changes deserve some credit.

All of this, while experimenting to see how and where the January signings fit in too. 

5 minutes ago, Eddie said:

Conway isn’t a full back. Someone else has said it but with CBT injured and Apter looking pretty shite, I’d be tempted to go 5 at the back (especially away) and use Conway and Tutu as wingbacks.

I’m not against this formation (to start or change to as SS has done this year) and subsequently the discussion around it.

But I think it needs a bit of balance offset about how this good run has essentially come about starting games with a 4-2-3-1. 

We lose most of our potent, attacking threat without wingers. 

5 at the back served a purpose when we needed to address our awful Christmas form. But let’s not forget it was turgid and unconvincing. I’m pretty sure we’d have got found out had we continued with that.

It’s also had a purpose in chasing games late on, throwing on WBs and forwards for defenders. 

Another misnomer, IMO, that seems to be popular on here, is that Conway isn’t a FB. He’s had some great games there (and at WB) this year. I think because he’s still learning that role and gets caught out with poor protection out there, he gets dismissed too easily as having real potential to become an excellent left back. 

[Mounts Kipper]

8 hours ago, crawshawbooth said:

Is all there for us to see week in, week out if you hit the box and another is breaking into it with you square the ball

no premier league club is looking at our players as the next " jewel in the crown"

These lads have to work out they are playing 3rd division football and get the fuck on with it

Watched Wrexham Friday no messing about 9 out of 10 passes were forward and when there’s an opportunity to chuck the ball in the box it’s fired. Great to watch and lower league defences hate dealing with it. 

[Zico]

18 hours ago, desperado said:

Once top two is not achievable (and some may argue that’s now) I wouldn’t be surprised to see Harrington given a chance. 

wouldn't risk it myself

could back fire at a time when we need to keep our momentum going into the play offs

the last thing we need to be doing now is trying different things

[masi 51]

Repeat on to the next one

[tomski]

Oh well. Wembley glory it is. 

[Zico]

1 hour ago, tomski said:

Oh well. Wembley glory it is. 

after this next week our run in sees us play pretty much play teams we'd highly be likley to meet in the play offs

Stevenage
Plymouth
Stockport
Cardiff
Huddersfield
Bradford
Luton

after twatting Oxford 5-0 around this time of the season then losing badly in the final

is why I'm not for starting to try new players in new positions

strongest bestest team and stay focused here on in

[bwfc2003]

22 hours ago, Wanderlust said:

I see they are heavily watering one end of the pitch…..

2 game week - there is only one saturday in a week - not two

[Arrested development]

15 hours ago, Traf said:

I wouldn't/couldn't care if I never see Thierry Gale in a Bolton shirt again.

Lazy, disinterested, terrible attitude and worse decision making.

I feel like this is unfair. Hes laid back but he's from Barbados. That's just his personality. Not sure what you saw yesterday that denotes a terrible attitude. There was no tantrum. His decision making in the final third is questionable and he is greedy. But I can say that that for fucking 90 percent of wingers in this league and most of the attacking players at our club. Numerous times yesterday in the final third, we made the wrong decision. Not just him. 

The positives for me outweigh the negatives. Just having that amount of pace opens things up. His technical ability can't be questioned. He caused problems all day, that full back couldn't cope with him. He just made bad decisions. But that's why he's in league 1. 

When he gets it right he's unplayable. Wigan at home, Exeter away, leyton orient at home. Hes scored 5 goals. 

Your just blatantly ignoring his positive impacts and focusing on his negatives. 

[worthy10]

Watching a bit of Lincoln, they are bristling with confidence, but lump it forward to 2 or 3 up front and excel at winning the 1st or 2nd ball. They are average at the back. It's as basic as that but they are good at it and we somehow seem to really complicate getting the ball forward effectively and are poor at the back. 3rd tier football, not a great skill standard. Not confident in the play offs.

[gonzo]

Just doesn't work hard enough for me and is ridiculously selfish.