Inevitably I cannot ignore what we saw at the Bet 365 Stadium in assessing the prospects for the lunchtime encounter tomorrow.
I was disappointed with the extended highlights and those parts of the full broadcast that I have dipped into because, for me, they did not reflect the favourable press etc., comments. Even so it might have been 0-0. An average goalkeeper could have saved both the goals, the first by making firmer, stronger contact with the ball instead of just poking it away. Equally, someone, quicker to his feet, might have stopped the follow-up goal-bound shot. For the second, a sharper reaction would have kept it out, especially if, as Jones was, already on the right side of the goal. My enduring images of him is of a man standing, rather too still, seemingly not poised for any movement, watching anxiously as shots go by him, or when there is action in the area, of hovering indecisively, neither staying on his line or coming out.
As for the outfield players, perhaps it should not surprise me that they did not seem the same class as Stoke’s reserves who just cruised past them at times. A lack of height amongst the attacking players was apparent and coupled with poor passing and failure to find space, there was very little to encourage; Gardner is there, but his constructive contributions are negligible. The passing seemed to get worse as the opposition goal got closer. I feel that I am not looking at the same players as Liam Hoden.
So it could have been 0-0 and penalties, even though it was 6-1 to them in shots on target.
Turning to Saturday lunchtime, at this stage of the season you really have to be proactive in seeking information on the opposition, especially if they have not been in your League the previous year. Once teams have played a dozen or so matches, patterns are established and some understanding of their strength emerges.
Away from home, Rotherham have beaten Morecambe and lost to Wigan, both 1- 0 and the stats supported their superiority against the former, a team that has made a tolerably good start after promotion. At home they beat Plymouth (a team with 2 wins since then) comfortably and then lost to Wednesday with perhaps a wasteful and slightly careless display (based on the stats) against a team which we know has good players who will take their opportunities. They have a very fair-minded, educated and seemingly loyal manager who feels they should have got more out of the two defeats.
I get the impression that they have not lost any key players from their relegation season, although one of their main goal scorers, Michael Smith, attracts Championship interest. All in all, with two wins already against teams that have themselves won, it is difficult to rationalise a Rovers win or even a draw.
In our camp, injuries and uncertainty persist and it seems small consolation that we may hire one of the trialists, considered unsuitable for a full contract for the match on a one-off basis, such is the dearth of selection options. We may hope, but versus a side no worse than mid- table quality, we cannot reasonably expect even a point away from home, especially at only 75%-80% of our maximum potential. So only if we were at full strength and had had a good start l could not truly believe we could get something out of this game, so it has to be another defeat.
3-1 Barlow, Seaman
DPL v Rotherham United
posted on 7/9/21
4-0 after two minutes of the second half. I think Jones has lost any confidence he may have had.
That is enough for me as I do not want to get more depressed.
Looks like it is going to be League 2 here we come.
posted on 7/9/21
Embarrassing.
posted on 7/9/21
A few quotes from the first half commentary seem to reflect a failure within the club to accept the reality that the current Rovers team is probably worse both in talent and perhaps even in endeavour than the teams which were put out in the Butler era.
“Freak five minute spell.”
“Good moments”
“A little bit sloppy for the Rovers.”
And with Rovers fielding an almost full-strength team we got: “More experience on the Rotherham bench.” Of course, because they put out reserves whereas we put out a near full-strength 11.
Wellens, whose loyalty did not withstand the temptation to leave as a player when better terms were offered by Leicester City, is seemingly not held in any way responsible for the seemingly poor quality players he recruited nor for their performances. Fortunately the core of SOD’s squad were more loyal and we thereby sustained our Championship status, but Wellens somehow enjoys a reputation of “One of our own” as the modern phrase has it.
I am pleased that I have other more pleasurable sources of interest in my life, otherwise I would be extremely depressed and unhappy.
As it is, I cannot really think of any reason to be optimistic. Can things only get better? Who can be sure? (Some suggest that Rotherham are a major force in League 1, but they have lost at home to both Accrington and Wednesday, so I cannot swallow that!)
Those who encouraged Jones to make his career as a football goalkeeper have a lot to answer for. I think I feel sorry for him now; he must be feeling awful. But it is no longer just his fault.
I am wondering what I shall be able to say when I put up the Wigan Article.
posted on 8/9/21
Donaldo, I thought the commentators were certainly looking through rose-tinted glasses. At halftime, how could they say we could have been level if we had taken our chances? We missed two really good chances, but Rotherham missed more.
It was frightening how easy Rotherham could cut through our defence. In the first few seconds, Sadlier was able to go through the middle and take a shot that luckily for us was almost straight at Jones.
I must admit I feel a little sorry for Jones as he is out of his depth, and is behind a rarely existing defence.
On the 50 minutes I watched, our mid-field was also almost not present, with Smith and Bostock having poor games.
I like Seaman as an attacking full-back, but his defensive capabilities are not great. I've said before that Williams nearly gives me too many heart attacks.
If we all use ur heads we will say we will lose on Saturday, but by how many?
posted on 8/9/21
Have to agree on all counts. I just don't see any positives for the current set up and squad. We don't have a solid defense, we don't have an effective midfield and we don't have any goal scoring potential even when everybody's fit!
posted on 8/9/21
I have just seen the extended highlights and if I were a Rotherham supporter I think I would feel sorry for Rovers. Hiwula looked as though he had something, but there does not seem to be anyone else who you feel you could put any faith in.
We saw a goal come again from a far too ambitious long pass which was intercepted. Surely you should keep the passes short when you are not moving it about very accurately.
And Jones plays like someone who has never actually put on a green jersey before; he does not know where to position himself for any situation. I think I saw this before the professional coaches did; for a long time he got away without blame because he was never anywhere near shots and crosses which found their way into the net. No one ever seemed to notice that this was because he was totally out of position.
Wellens relative complacency in regarding the score as only “slightly embarrassing” either hides an inability to quantify the extent of the shortfall in performance or is designed to try to convince his audience that things are not as bad as some people might otherwise believe.
posted on 8/9/21
…when I saw Rovers thrash Southend by a similar margin, I think Southend played rather better than the score suggested, but they were still outclassed. Their relegation followed and a team losing by such a margin at home might well find it tough even in the league below. Indeed they did and they are now in the Vanarama League.
posted on 8/9/21
Wellens pig headed stance on Bogle says a lot re his capability as a manager.
posted on 8/9/21
Nookie, there has to be some issue with Bogle that we do not know. However, it does not make Wellens look good. Is Bogle still training fully with us?
I'd like to see its try Dodoo upfront, with Hiwula, Bogle, and Vilca behind him.
Then I'm not sure if we should have 4 and 2 or 3 and 3 behind them, but we need to strengthen our defence, but with Anderson and Cameron out, that is going to be difficult.
Will we have Dahlberg and Galbraith back to play on Saturday, or will they be "rested"?
posted on 8/9/21
Dodoo was looking forward to playing with Bogle apparently! Bogle does have a decent record at this level and to be fair hasn't had great service from the rest of the team in his few appearances. Wellens made it known he wasn't in his plans and Bogle turned down an offer to move in the Window which obviously irked Wellens. Nevertheless it's idiotic to "punish" Bogle for not moving by not allowing him to play in any circumstances. Spite, nose and face spring to mind. I'm sure Dahlberg won't be that keen to play behind the team at the moment. I'd guess the treatment of Bogle hasn't sat too well with the other players either.