I am looking forward to seeing a full game live again, especially as I saw our opponents in action in their TV game in the FA Cup which they lost away to National League Stockport County.
They were lucky with their goals, so they are obviously rather weak in attack and apparently weakened by injuries. Looking in more detail at recent matches they have been against teams of varying ability and the results have been disappointing for them.
Rovers have not been on the receiving end of punishing experiences for some time, thanks entirely to the fixture list rather than some great improvement in performances. Taking an entirely neutral stance which is not easy, a close game might be thought likely, provided that we can maintain the better form shown recently.
Given our position, this game is a real opportunity for 3 points and a loss would worsen our long-term chances of staying up.
Injuries, possibly of our two more of our best players, is again a factor, but if we are to escape our present predicament we will have to win matches like this. But to do so, will require better application than we have so far seen, so it will be a turning point if we can succeed.
I do not have a great deal of expectation that the team will succeed and I need hardly list the reasons, the principle of which is the ability of the manager to get the best out of his very moderate squad.
I think I’ll forecast 1-1 and that Barlow will score.
DPL v Bolton Wanderers
posted on 23/11/21
Whilst giving Jones another game might be seen as fair to him, his “man of the match” performance on Saturday was not based on a series of great saves. There was only one shot on target and unusually he was in the “default” position in the centre of his goal and threw himself to his left to stop it going in. I think we might risk him in future cup games and that would be adequate reward for an adequate performance when very little was required of him.
His positioning looked better and the clearances I saw him make were confidently done.
However, putting him in when we have a better goalkeeper fit and available is an unreasonable risk. It may be a deserved personal reward, but the club’s future and results must take priority.
posted on 23/11/21
Not hopeful at all 😐
Bolton 2-0 Rovers.
Happy to be wrong ⚽
posted on 23/11/21
It is amazing that the "old man" on the bench is Dahlberg at the ripe old age of 22!
Last Saturday was the best I have seen of Barlow, and I would have taken off Bostock and Vilca at halftime even without Bostock's injury. Hence maybe we can do no worse than on Saturday. So I'll go with a 1-1 draw with Taylor scoring.
Hopefully most will go 90 minutes as there is not much firepower on the bench.
posted on 23/11/21
Apart from Taylor’s unforgivable miss I thought they did as well as they could tonight. They pressed hard until the Bolton goal and they were unfortunate to see Olowu sent off. Barlow is a real dynamo and often was the difference between moves being completed or broken down.
So many of them do not have the talent to compete at the level required in this league, but they tried hard. Since RW did not recruit any players of passable League 1 standard what can we expect? So many just aren’t skilful enough for this league and whatever effort effort they put into it, they will be substandard.
Jones looked more confident, not as athletic as some, but at one point one of the Bolton forwards acknowledged his save and I will not criticise him.
Wellens got himself booked. How can anyone who cannot control his emotions manage effectively? Needless to say he brought on Cukur.
QED.
posted on 23/11/21
So it continues, just waiting for the next excuse. When the real villains are Baldwin and Blunt, just sitting back letting Richie take all the flack.
It's not the case of going down, it's the fear of falling straight into the conference.
posted on 24/11/21
Until Taylor's miss, I thought we were playing some good football, except putting into the net. I'm sure last season Taylor would have scored from such a chance.
For Bolton's first goal, I thought it may have been offside, but from iFollow's view and no VAR, who really knows.
Then that was no red card, certainly a yellow. The ref was obviously influenced by their guy rolling over and over (obviously following Neymar's performance in the 2018 World Cup), and their players reaction. Why were none of those given at least a yellow?
By then, the game was not good for my blood pressure issues, so I did not watch the second half.
posted on 24/11/21
I really don't think we'll ever survive in this League if the board allows Wellens to stay and use funds in the January window. Even though the players (Rowe) might believe in what he's trying to achieve he still fails to achieve anything. Interesting seeing the philosophy of Conte and Guardiola. They don't have any out and out strikers. Instead they use their midfielders and wing backs to provide the goals they need. Maybe we should ditch the Dodo and Cuckoo. Barlow and Galbraith along with Taylor and Rowe should be utilised together more as attackers
posted on 24/11/21
I meant Tuchel
posted on 24/11/21
Interesting observation, Nookie, but one also needs also to look at defences: in 12 games Chelsea have let in only 4 goals and Man City 6. The high scoring team, Liverpool, gets most of their goals from the front there. although the full backs and some midfielders do get some.
It is only recently that Chelsea have begun to score multiple goals. it was the defence that won their earlier games.
However, playing a "false #9" could not hurt as we do not have a good #9!
posted on 25/11/21
Yes , Tuchel has built his success by concentrating on establishing a water tight defence first. Two good centre backs , two good wing backs and three basically defensive midfielders who can adapt quickly. When you get this right first you can then develop your attacking options. In our case I'd ditch our strickers and put in very mobile players who can defend but also attack. Hence Id have Barlow, Galbraith and Taylor as the front three. Might swap Galbraith for Rowe. Wellens needs to concentrate on tightening the defence not strengthening the attack.