Olowu and Anderson "injuries"

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Close needed another good technical player alongside him, and at last we got one in Westbrooke. They both compliment each other very well and started to show a real good understanding.

Both are poorer without the other. Teams need combinations and understanding all over the pitch, built over a number of games.

It's a shame we  don't always appreciate the ability of players, particularly when every player tends to suffer when confidence is on the wane, or we expect them to become something they're not.

No player is perfect by any means but it's sad when we wish away one of the better players we have.

That all said, in the Janunary priorities thread, I said it could be the optimum time for Moly to want away, while his stock is still good. Close could fall into this category too. There's every chance other clubs will value their services, even if they're not everyone's cup of tea.

Technical/creative players like Close and Westbrooke aren't easy to find, particularly in January. We haven't got any other players like them in reserve.

Olowu might be another. For all his potential, he still has weaknesses particularly when retreating back to his own area where he seems to lose his spacial awareness however, with a couple of troubled seasons behind him, he may want a fresh start to get away from us.

[Jonathan]

Close needs both a physical player and a technical player alongside him. The harsh truth is that he’s not good enough at either aspect of the game. But in the absence of Westbrooke he’s the best we have, and that’s precisely why we’re struggling.

[Butchers Red]

I think whoever you put in defence will struggle until we get a proper mester or two in that midfield. Anderson looks shot and Joe’s confidence has gone, Wood looked all over the place when he played earlier in the season and for me there’s no evidence to suggest that Faulkner is the answer, at least at the moment.

Richard Wood has never, ever looked "all over the place" in a 20 year career. End of.

[The Beast]

I think whoever you put in defence will struggle until we get a proper mester or two in that midfield. Anderson looks shot and Joe’s confidence has gone, Wood looked all over the place when he played earlier in the season and for me there’s no evidence to suggest that Faulkner is the answer, at least at the moment.

Richard Wood has never, ever looked "all over the place" in a 20 year career. End of.

At one point against Notts County at home I thought he was breakdancing, trying to kick McGoldrick’s shadow.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Close needs both a physical player and a technical player alongside him. The harsh truth is that he’s not good enough at either aspect of the game. But in the absence of Westbrooke he’s the best we have, and that’s precisely why we’re struggling.

Definitely agree we need another in there that compliments them both. The anchor man who does the simple things extremely well. Reads the game well, anticipates, intercepts, blocks and can make that first critical pass without hesitation 95% of the time.

[drfchound]

Close needs both a physical player and a technical player alongside him. The harsh truth is that he’s not good enough at either aspect of the game. But in the absence of Westbrooke he’s the best we have, and that’s precisely why we’re struggling.

Definitely agree we need another in there that compliments them both. The anchor man who does the simple things extremely well. Reads the game well, anticipates, intercepts, blocks and can make that first critical pass without hesitation 95% of the time.

John Bostock then.

[ncRover]

Close needs both a physical player and a technical player alongside him. The harsh truth is that he’s not good enough at either aspect of the game. But in the absence of Westbrooke he’s the best we have, and that’s precisely why we’re struggling.

Definitely agree we need another in there that compliments them both. The anchor man who does the simple things extremely well. Reads the game well, anticipates, intercepts, blocks and can make that first critical pass without hesitation 95% of the time.

John Bostock then.

Both Close and Bostock are luxury midfielders.

But one plays in a team where he can get away with it. And that’s a rarity in this division.

[ravenrover]

Our lot who boo the players and sing “not fit to wear the shirt” probably aren’t bright enough to understand that it might piss off the better players.

Sadly Hound there were a lot of older more seasoned supporters around me shouting but not singing, it.

[Jonathan]

Close needs both a physical player and a technical player alongside him. The harsh truth is that he’s not good enough at either aspect of the game. But in the absence of Westbrooke he’s the best we have, and that’s precisely why we’re struggling.

Definitely agree we need another in there that compliments them both. The anchor man who does the simple things extremely well. Reads the game well, anticipates, intercepts, blocks and can make that first critical pass without hesitation 95% of the time.

John Bostock then.

Both Close and Bostock are luxury midfielders.

But one plays in a team where he can get away with it. And that’s a rarity in this division.

Close is absolutely nowhere near the quality of Bostock in any aspect of his game.

[roversdude]

I think whoever you put in defence will struggle until we get a proper mester or two in that midfield. Anderson looks shot and Joe’s confidence has gone, Wood looked all over the place when he played earlier in the season and for me there’s no evidence to suggest that Faulkner is the answer, at least at the moment.

Richard Wood has never, ever looked "all over the place" in a 20 year career. End of.

At one point against Notts County at home I thought he was breakdancing, trying to kick McGoldrick’s shadow.

Was immense at Accrington though

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Close needs both a physical player and a technical player alongside him. The harsh truth is that he’s not good enough at either aspect of the game. But in the absence of Westbrooke he’s the best we have, and that’s precisely why we’re struggling.

Definitely agree we need another in there that compliments them both. The anchor man who does the simple things extremely well. Reads the game well, anticipates, intercepts, blocks and can make that first critical pass without hesitation 95% of the time.

John Bostock then.

Both Close and Bostock are luxury midfielders.

But one plays in a team where he can get away with it. And that’s a rarity in this division.

Close is absolutely nowhere near the quality of Bostock in any aspect of his game.

Different types of midfield players. As Bostock's been mentioned, do you think he would be good in support of Close and Westbrooke from example?

Clayton was another who ticked alot of boxes however, it seemed when he was on the ball everything slowed down. Now was that down to him or not having players in front of him making runs  finding space?

As said, it's about the combinations of different facets. It only takes one of a midfield three to 'off it' for it all to break down.

Biggins is one who hasn't got enough speed of thought, movement or technical ability to knit things together.

[selby]

   Wood has been a success for years kicking the ball, heading the ball on the edge of his own penalty area, blocking shots, and kicking lumps out of strikers, at higher levels than we are currently struggling in.
   Then at thirty eight we start dropping the ball at his feet in the six yard box from goal kicks, wanting him to pass through the lines to a mid field that in most cases don't find space or close players down in front of him, and we some think he is not that good.
  He is excellent at what he does well, all the first things I pointed out, but not farting about twenty/thirty yards away from goal. with the ball which is what we asked him to do.

[Barmby Rover]

Anderson and Wood are living out a nice retirement before packing up, probably before the end of the season, Olowu is a lost sheep, Faulkner another one of our "promising but injured" with any other options being players out of their normal positions. We don't need two central defenders, we need at least three. any of the centre halves that we saw play at Belle Vue in our return to the EFL would walk into this side and improve it (in their prime of course) it cannot be all that difficult for us to find another Sarge, Foster or even Dangerous Dave surely?

[scawsby steve]

Anderson and Wood are living out a nice retirement before packing up, probably before the end of the season, Olowu is a lost sheep, Faulkner another one of our "promising but injured" with any other options being players out of their normal positions. We don't need two central defenders, we need at least three. any of the centre halves that we saw play at Belle Vue in our return to the EFL would walk into this side and improve it (in their prime of course) it cannot be all that difficult for us to find another Sarge, Foster or even Dangerous Dave surely?

I can't see why Anderson would retire from the game at just 30 years old.

He'll definitely get another club after Rovers, even if it's a National League side.

[glosterred]

Olowu starts tonight


COYR

[Sammy Chung was King]

We need to start in January, by building a new team piece by piece.
We need a solid, reliable core to the side. Experienced players that you know what you will get from. Add some young players from higher up and hopefully move on those who don’t have a future, if they are wanted.

 There has to be some as well as short term thinking.
Build a side that can last at least a couple of seasons.

[RoversInSpain]

Olowu starts tonight

Unbelievable
COYR

[i_ateallthepies]

Olowu starts tonight

Unbelievable
COYR

Have you looked at the bench?  He has no option.

[Filo]

Had an excellent game tonight

[RoversInSpain]

Had an excellent game tonight

Yes he did, can he keep it going? Though I thought for pretty much the entire first half and parts of the second we were on the front foot and didn’t have to defend as much as usual.
That’s Wood I’ve seen on his own, Anderson on his own and Olowu on his own who have done a lot better than when they play together…
Thoughts?……

[Chris the Rover]

Thought big Joe was outstanding tonight. Probably not having to keep an eye on Tom Anderson helps!

[Filo]

Had an excellent game tonight

Yes he did, can he keep it going? Though I thought for pretty much the entire first half and parts of the second we were on the front foot and didn’t have to defend as much as usual.
That’s Wood I’ve seen on his own, Anderson on his own and Olowu on his own who have done a lot better than when they play together…
Thoughts?……

My thoughts, and have been for a while is Olowu is baby sitting Anderson and not concentrating on his own game, tonight he had a competent player alongside him

[roversontheup]

I thought he had a really good game tonight. Helps when he plays right CH.

[Canadian Rover]

Played well... More of the same each week please.

[RoversInSpain]

It would be good to avoid a double pairing between Anderson, Olowu and Wood.
Olowu has earned it tonight so go with him and covering players next game and see where that takes us.
We have to find a solution to these crosses coming in. It’s a defenders responsibility in the main not a midfielders.
Example, midfielder gets stuck in concedes a corner, no midfielder can stop the crosses,  the issue is in defence.You can put a ball in the box anywhere on the pitch We need a defensive unit all knowing what each other is doing + some bravery.