Clueless

[scawsby steve]

Well that's it this season for me. I renewed my ST last week, and brought 3 people today, who obviously won't be coming again.

The atmosphere was fantastic, and the crowd got behind the players, but this team and manager really are clueless. There's no attacking play, there's no passing movement, there's no urgency.

I hope for better next season, but I can't see any evidence of how that will happen.

[Filo]

Bit of an over reaction in my opinion, I thought we did ok until we lost our way around 60 mins

[Chris Black come back]

Bit of an over reaction in my opinion, I thought we did ok until we lost our way around 60 mins

This is correct. Also thought our support was a bit shit. Not that the Bradford lads were much better until they scored.

[Branton Red]

Absolutely hopeless, clueless, utterly ineffective tactics letting down a decent bunch of players at League 2 level.

One up front totally isolated.

5 at the back. At home.

Only 2 in central midfield so we get overrun match after match allowing the opposition to dominate position.

Our approach to goal kicks is atrocious. Constantly putting ourselves under immediate pressure.

We're not set up to attack. We're not set up to create chances. We're not set up to score goals. Heck we're not even set up to get into the opponents half.

Watching Rovers is just so boring at the moment. I'm questioning why I'm bothering going to be honest.

[Campsall rover]

Have to say I am desperately disappointed with our attacking play today.
We created so little. To be fair it was clueless.

If I was George Miller I would be pulling my hair out. I would be asking  the manager how I am supposed to score any goals when getting absolutely no service in the penalty area.

Has to now change formation and go 4-4-2. There are other teams that play it and because it’s not fashionable it would seem, does not mean we can’t be more successful playing it.  We have the players to play that system so give it a go i say. 
Whether DS will I am not sure as he seems reluctant to change anything.
Is it stubbiness or stupidity or both. 
We are not going to finish top 7 if we don’t create chances and subsequently don’t score goals.

[Lesonthewest]

Well that's it this season for me. I renewed my ST last week, and brought 3 people today, who obviously won't be coming again.

The atmosphere was fantastic, and the crowd got behind the players, but this team and manager really are clueless. There's no attacking play, there's no passing movement, there's no urgency.

I hope for better next season, but I can't see any evidence of how that will happen.

Agreed, we create next to nothing, & when we do manage a cross there's 1 player in the box, it's pathetic. At 1-0 Bradford were still positive committing players forward & getting in crosses. We had absolutely nothing going forward,  nowhere near good enough, would like to know if DS is happy with his process of creating virtually no chances, game in, game out.

[Rovers91]

Have to say I am desperately disappointed with our attacking play today.
We created so little. To be fair it was clueless.

If I was George Miller I would be pulling my hair out. I would be asking  the manager how I am supposed to score any goals when getting absolutely no service in the penalty area.

Has to now change formation and go 4-4-2. There are other teams that play it and because it’s not fashionable it would seem, does not mean we can’t be more successful playing it.  We have the players to play that system so give it a go i say. 
Whether DS will I am not sure as he seems reluctant to change anything.
Is it stubbiness or stupidity or both. 
We are not going to finish top 7 if we don’t create chances and subsequently don’t score goals.

With how Miller has finished any decent chance he has got recently I think it has saved him the embarrassment the lack of chances today.

[Lesonthewest]

Absolutely hopeless, clueless, utterly ineffective tactics letting down a decent bunch of players at League 2 level.

One up front totally isolated.

5 at the back. At home.

Only 2 in central midfield so we get overrun match after match allowing the opposition to dominate position.

Our approach to goal kicks is atrocious. Constantly putting ourselves under immediate pressure.

We're not set up to attack. We're not set up to create chances. We're not set up to score goals. Heck we're not even set up to get into the opponents half.

Watching Rovers is just so boring at the moment. I'm questioning why I'm bothering going to be honest.

Can't argue with any of that, & we are being asked to take someone with us to games? give me a break. For me the manager needs to play more offensive football from now on in, fans aren't stupid, they won't keep watching pretty football that doesn't create chances.

[EasyforDennis]

We are simply not good enough to play the ball out from goal kicks.

[The Beast]

What was up with Maxwell today? Think we missed him, TR looked a bit heavy legged.

[Silkscarf]

Agree about Rowe. There was a ball into the corner, second half. Looked a good enough ball but Tommy didn’t make it.

I’m also now nervous every time we get a goal kick! That can’t be right.

Poor from everybody today.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Absolutely hopeless, clueless, utterly ineffective tactics letting down a decent bunch of players at League 2 level.

One up front totally isolated.

5 at the back. At home.

Only 2 in central midfield so we get overrun match after match allowing the opposition to dominate position.

Our approach to goal kicks is atrocious. Constantly putting ourselves under immediate pressure.

We're not set up to attack. We're not set up to create chances. We're not set up to score goals. Heck we're not even set up to get into the opponents half.

Watching Rovers is just so boring at the moment. I'm questioning why I'm bothering going to be honest.

We had 3 in central midfield.

Close, Biggins and Lakin.

[jmt23]

“The atmosphere was fantastic” ? We’re you in the Bradford end? we were very very quiet in the south stand today. It was totally void of any atmosphere, flat.

The game was relatively even with us edging the first half, they were better in the second, and created some good chances. For all our good first half we created very little, I don’t remember a shot in the first half?
This creating chances is a big issue at the moment- we do look stronger in defence at the moment ( better than we have at least) but we create next to nothing for any forward to thrive on.

[Branton Red]

Absolutely hopeless, clueless, utterly ineffective tactics letting down a decent bunch of players at League 2 level.

One up front totally isolated.

5 at the back. At home.

Only 2 in central midfield so we get overrun match after match allowing the opposition to dominate position.

Our approach to goal kicks is atrocious. Constantly putting ourselves under immediate pressure.

We're not set up to attack. We're not set up to create chances. We're not set up to score goals. Heck we're not even set up to get into the opponents half.

Watching Rovers is just so boring at the moment. I'm questioning why I'm bothering going to be honest.

We had 3 in central midfield.

Close, Biggins and Lakin.

No we didn't Lakin played out wide. On the left.

There was no change to the tactics or formation. There never is.

When Molyneux replaced Biggins, Molyneux went out wide and Lakin went into central midfield.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Absolutely hopeless, clueless, utterly ineffective tactics letting down a decent bunch of players at League 2 level.

One up front totally isolated.

5 at the back. At home.

Only 2 in central midfield so we get overrun match after match allowing the opposition to dominate position.

Our approach to goal kicks is atrocious. Constantly putting ourselves under immediate pressure.

We're not set up to attack. We're not set up to create chances. We're not set up to score goals. Heck we're not even set up to get into the opponents half.

Watching Rovers is just so boring at the moment. I'm questioning why I'm bothering going to be honest.

We had 3 in central midfield.

Close, Biggins and Lakin.

No we didn't Lakin played out wide

I think we were watching different games.

[Red wizard]

DS needs to either 're think the tactics and formation or go. We will not get out this division with him imo while playing that way. I'd wager teams like  to play us atm.

[sedwardsdrfc]

Lakin played in the left side attacking midfielder position from where I was sat in 1st half.

Clueless is a bit harsh imo. We probably edged the 1st hour without creating much. We certainly played more attractive football.

We lost because we play stupid football at the back. Bradford had a couple of good chances and instead of sensing that we need to play safe for 10min Mitchell did a waste of space pass.

They were better in the 18 yard boxes in the end.

[GazLaz]

Absolutely hopeless, clueless, utterly ineffective tactics letting down a decent bunch of players at League 2 level.

One up front totally isolated.

5 at the back. At home.

Only 2 in central midfield so we get overrun match after match allowing the opposition to dominate position.

Our approach to goal kicks is atrocious. Constantly putting ourselves under immediate pressure.

We're not set up to attack. We're not set up to create chances. We're not set up to score goals. Heck we're not even set up to get into the opponents half.

Watching Rovers is just so boring at the moment. I'm questioning why I'm bothering going to be honest.

We had 3 in central midfield.

Close, Biggins and Lakin.

Lakin was on the left. Wideish left/ inside left.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Lakin certainly didn't play as an out and out wide player. I had him as on the forward left of centre midfield. Point being, he was more central than, say Molyneux and Hurst in our usual formation. The way we set up in the first half, we had none of our front 5 as wide as those two normally are.

Playing three in central midfield doesn't mean having all three holding hands in the centre circle.

[dickos1]

Lakin played where molyneux usually plays

Didn’t suit him, he’s been great for us in centre midfield, wasn’t as effective today playing further forward

[Padge_DRFC]

Not sure what the obsession is with Lakin. Weak, can't tackle, bad passer. Can cary the ball okay but that's about it. Biggins and Close are better. Back up option for me.

[sedwardsdrfc]

Shame Maxwell was out as the role Lakin played is ideal for Rowe imo

[dickos1]

Disagree
Think he’s been great in the previous games,
Passes the ball quicker, presses quicker and gets about the pitch better.
But no good sticking him out wide left

[sedwardsdrfc]

Just don’t have him on corner duty

[Lesonthewest]

DS needs to either 're think the tactics and formation or go. We will not get out this division with him imo while playing that way. I'd wager teams like  to play us atm.

Even the Sutton fans last week were singing 'can we play you every week'.

[Branton Red]

DS needs to either 're think the tactics and formation or go. We will not get out this division with him imo while playing that way. I'd wager teams like  to play us atm.

I think there is a fair chance we'll be getting out of this division if we continue to play this way all next season.

[sedwardsdrfc]

There are signs that it’s coming together but we consistently make it hard for ourselves. I get DS wants to play a certain way but he needs to wake up to the fact he has, and will continue to have L2 players.   

Until we stop letting the opposition have a free hit by over playing we won’t be getting close to promotion.

Don’t want him to go or anything he just needs to tighten up and maybe have a think about insisting with 3 centre half’s which is clearly limiting our ability to get bodies into scoring areas.

If he can do this short term maybe eventually we’ll have the players to do it exactly the way he wants

[drfchound]

“The atmosphere was fantastic” ? We’re you in the Bradford end? we were very very quiet in the south stand today. It was totally void of any atmosphere, flat.

The game was relatively even with us edging the first half, they were better in the second, and created some good chances. For all our good first half we created very little, I don’t remember a shot in the first half?
This creating chances is a big issue at the moment- we do look stronger in defence at the moment ( better than we have at least) but we create next to nothing for any forward to thrive on.

We did have a shot in the first half.
Brown cut inside and hit a left footer which the keeper got down to on his left and pushed the ball out for a corner.
As I recall his only other save in the match was after one of their defenders got his head to a free kick in the first half, the ball looked to be going into the top corner but the keeper tipped it over the bar.

[albie]

Rovers are the easiest team to prepare to play, because of the obsession with a lone striker.

Basically we are playing in 2/3 of the pitch, leaving the attacking third unpopulated.
Opponents are on easy street in terms of defending, so they can afford to contest in numbers higher up.

In addition, putting pressure on ourselves by tippy tappy at the back draws the game towards our goal without any impetus to the counter.

DS has still not understood that the biggest problem we have is that his game plan does not suit the players we have.
It is inexplicable that he continues to make the same mistake, over and over again.

Now starting to think that he is an idiot.....I hope he proves me wrong, but I don't see it as things stand.

[danumdon]

I don't know what it is with DS but he seems to be a manager who gets all the big calls wrong.

Today we played a team with two very experienced midfielders in the middle, when we should of been pressing them and keeping the tempo high what did we do, we played snail slow from the back, straight into their hands, it allowed them to push up in midfield, close us down at the back and prevented us from gaining any forward momentum. Worse still we needed pace and guile on the flanks, who do we have who can give a decent impression of that skill, yes that's it Moly, where was he, sat in the stand with us, instead we play a player who should of been in the middle and harrying their holding midfielders.

We could all see where the game was going from around the hour mark, but DS was very slow in implementing  a change, allowing them to gain the ascendency that led to their scrappy goal.

In the meantime we still persist with the slow and painful for us playing out from the back, now im no football coach or tactician but even i know that playing this way is supposed to draw the opposition onto you to then allow a quick counter strike forward and getting your attacking players up the field and attacking them when they are stretched and lacking in numbers, did it happen, even once today, did it buggery we insisted on playing a flat back 5 which in effect caused us to have even less going forward when we had a break.

These tactics area all well and good for PL players who have skill, speed, guile and strength, we have very little of that in our side and it looks a piss poor imitation, there's a reason these players are plying their trade at the lowest level of pro football, to me the managers not as bright as he thinks if he keeps on insisting we play a system that will just not work for us, our players and more importantly us mugs who pay for it all.

To me the seasons gone, again, the experiment with our management team sounded good but we don't have the finances to bring in the right type of players to function in it and to push us into a play off position, we are just too brittle, our supposedly better ball players cannot function in the white hot heat of a fourth tier game!

What i'd like to see is some honest truths banded around in the dressing room, when we look at our playing resources and who we want to keep next season and offer contracts too it looks bleak, i'd let most go, start again and i'd also relieve the head coach if he cannot get a tune out of players who should be capable at this level but are playing a system that they are just not good enough for.

Thinking back to the days of Dave Penny and his attacking 442 with honest lower league players who knew what was required and did what it said on the tin, if we can't afford the right type of player then i want to see us play a simple 442 with big strong athletic players, they may be lacking in finesse and skill, but the honest endeavour and graft will give us something to watch that does not bore the pants of everyone in the ground.

Im really struggling to remember a game that i really enjoyed watching, win, lose or draw, the product now is just an awful regurgitation of what gets played in the upper leagues, it just does not transplant well to this bottom tier, i don't care what anyone says, i'd rather watch a Steve Evans type team than this gunge.

Utterly pissed off with it all, sick of going home thinking I've wasted another couple of hours of my life at this soulless and penny pinching club. The product since McCann pissed off has been truly, truly dire and getting worse, if such a thing exists.

We truly are in the brown stuff with no easy way out. more than anything the club needs a full reset, owners, players, manger the works. Roll on another wasted season, with this mentality we will struggle to maintain this position next season, you don't need to be mystic meg to see, it truly stinks.

And like a real sucker for punishment we've already paid for another season of thrills!!