What is the problem?

[drfcsteve]

A serious question. If it were not for Forest Green and Sutton we’d be scrapping to stay out the conference (and we still might be!)

This is after we appoint a proven league 1 manager at the start of the season and let him bring in a load of new players, which he has then bolstered in January.

We have heard we do not have a 5th from bottom budget, far from it in fact with many teams in the division having far less to play with.

People have blamed poor recruitment which is fair but how many players has McCann now brought in himself? How many more will it take to stop the rot?

[normal rules]

13 shots by rovers, 1 on target. Newport 5 shots 1 on target (goal)
Rovers ability to put the ball in the net when it counts is one big issue .

[MachoMadness]

Poor finishing and a severe allergy to clean sheets.

Piss poor recruitment for years, spending money hand over fist on past it journeymen and young kids on the basis that they are triers who know the area.

Absolutely no clue on football strategy whatsoever from the board.

Apathetic dwindling fanbase.

[aidanstu]

I’m not sure we can take much notice from today’s result or performance; four debutants who are going to take time to adjust to the system and tactics. That said it was dull as dishwater.

It was a smash and grab and neither team deserved to win. This team needs loads more time and we need a far smaller squad to help in that process.

[Spilsby Red]

Didn’t go today. Perhaps we need to wait till summer. Think GM will sort it, let’s get this season out the way.
At least we are creating chances. Sterry, Senior and Faal not in the squad. Hopefully GM is just resting them.
It is what it is at the mo, and I am not saying that’s ok. We just need to keep the faith and support them

[drfcsteve]

Seems we still have an inability to defend or put the ball in the net despite McCann bringing in 13(?) new players. Is the answer just more time? Depressing to write off the season in January.

[Spilsby Red]

Just maybe we will start getting positive results soon to push on for next season

[Chris Black come back]

Before Christmas still people talking about a play off push.

[TonySoprano]

Mis management and lies at board level takes years to turn around.

We are only in the process of slowing the decline, it's not stopped yet.

For example, blunt saying we will have the budget to "bounce back decisively"
But recently it comes out as being 14th best in league 2 !

If they lie to the fans, wonder what lies they tell the players ?
No wonder they can't be arsed to play. 

[Spilsby Red]

TS - didn’t take long 

[Bentley Bullet]

13 shots by rovers, 1 on target. Newport 5 shots 1 on target (goal)
Rovers ability to put the ball in the net when it counts is one big issue .

Didn't Rovers have 5 on target?

[TonySoprano]

TS - didn’t take long 

I'm not wrong though am I?!

[scawsby steve]

TS - didn’t take long 

He's not wrong about Blunt though, is he.

Three years of Blunt's austerity is the reason we're now fighting to retain our EFL status.

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

Same as last week, don't take chances and give away soft goals. There were some positives today, Jones and McGrath two of those and Hurst looked sharper when he came on.

[In the box]

A serious question. If it were not for Forest Green and Sutton we’d be scrapping to stay out the conference (and we still might be!)

This is after we appoint a proven league 1 manager at the start of the season and let him bring in a load of new players, which he has then bolstered in January.

We have heard we do not have a 5th from bottom budget, far from it in fact with many teams in the division having far less to play with.

People have blamed poor recruitment which is fair but how many players has McCann now brought in himself? How many more will it take to stop the rot?

It makes wonder what do they do in training every day ? The team has no coherent tactics from front to back it’s just not linking up .McCann has to look to a plan B and more simplified way of playing . It’s about results and his playing from the back is just not competitive and is too slow over all .

[Cramby10]

To me, we are just too one paced. We don’t really have quick players in pace, passing or speed of thought. There’s no spark. We were very predictable today. It was only Ironsides endeavour that created any opportunities on the whole today.
We are still very weak in midfield. Close was ok. The new lad Craig was steady but no better. And Broadbent didn’t offer much. Molyneux on the other hand stunk the place out.

[NickDRFC]

Before Christmas still people talking about a play off push.

The manager was talking about the play offs only this week…

[StocksArmy]

To me, we are just too one paced. We don’t really have quick players in pace, passing or speed of thought. There’s no spark. We were very predictable today. It was only Ironsides endeavour that created any opportunities on the whole today.
We are still very weak in midfield. Close was ok. The new lad Craig was steady but no better. And Broadbent didn’t offer much. Molyneux on the other hand stunk the place out.

Agreed. These signings were made to provide more legs and at no point did we play with any intensity. Craig looked lost and Broadbent I fail to see what we have signed there and Molyneux must have paid McCann to keep him on.

[Copps is Magic]

I thought we had a million pound cash injection? And one of the biggest squads in the league? Yet our manager (the lord, the saviour) is apparently beyond criticism.

The recent meet the owners was interesting. Baldwin said we're in this position because of finances. TB kind of implicitly seems to now accept the same thing and wants a more hands on approach. So, by my reckoning, previous seasons really have been a club issue, but this season we're clearly underperforming on the pitch.

[keith79]

The manager is well overrated.

[In the box]

I’m not sure we can take much notice from today’s result or performance; four debutants who are going to take time to adjust to the system and tactics. That said it was dull as dishwater.

It was a smash and grab and neither team deserved to win. This team needs loads more time and we need a far smaller squad to help in that process.

Four debutants !!!! Why do you think he’s brought them into the club , is it perhaps that McCann’s not getting the results he’s  responsible for ?

[pib]

I thought we had a million pound cash injection? And one of the biggest squads in the league? Yet our manager (the lord, the saviour) is apparently beyond criticism.

The recent meet the owners was interesting. Baldwin said we're in this position because of finances. TB kind of implicitly seems to now accept the same thing and wants a more hands on approach. So, by my reckoning, previous seasons really have been a club issue, but this season we're clearly underperforming on the pitch.

Is he beyond criticism? I feel like he’s had a fair bit of criticism online, and in the ground at various points. Were you at Notts County?

[Cramby10]

I’m not sure we can take much notice from today’s result or performance; four debutants who are going to take time to adjust to the system and tactics. That said it was dull as dishwater.

It was a smash and grab and neither team deserved to win. This team needs loads more time and we need a far smaller squad to help in that process.

Four debutants !!!! Why do you think he’s brought them into the club , is it perhaps that McCann’s not getting the results he’s  responsible for ?

I would suggest that is because the majority of the players that were already here before McCann got here are simply not good enough. Our worst players are easily the ones that have been here for a good while.

[drfcsteve]

Time and new players seems to be most people’s thoughts, so how much more time and how many more players?

[RoversInSpain]

13 shots by rovers, 1 on target. Newport 5 shots 1 on target (goal)
Rovers ability to put the ball in the net when it counts is one big issue .

Hmmmmm
Ironside has 2 shots on target which the keeper knew nowt about and somehow stopped it going in…
Hurst had one too

[drfchound]

13 shots by rovers, 1 on target. Newport 5 shots 1 on target (goal)
Rovers ability to put the ball in the net when it counts is one big issue .

Hmmmmm
Ironside has 2 shots on target which the keeper knew nowt about and somehow stopped it going in…
Hurst had one too

Molyneux had one in the first half too which forced a very good save by the keeper.

[normal rules]

13 shots by rovers, 1 on target. Newport 5 shots 1 on target (goal)
Rovers ability to put the ball in the net when it counts is one big issue .

Hmmmmm
Ironside has 2 shots on target which the keeper knew nowt about and somehow stopped it going in…
Hurst had one too

Molyneux had one in the first half too which forced a very good save by the keeper.

I stand corrected. 13 shots. 5 on tgt. My mistake.

[oggycompton]

Years of lies, getting everyones hopes up when in reality behind the scenes they have little to zero interest at all.

[sedwardsdrfc]

The overall picture has been talked about for years now. Clubs got a bit lost and is now trying to get back to been a serious football club. It’ll take time unfortunately.

If we look at what’s going wrong in the here and now I’d say our midfield is a big part of all our problems. Ok we’ve signed the lad from Spurs who may well come good. But we’re basically the same in there as last season quality wise. No surprise results have worsened since Westbrooke go injured.

If we can make further signings in jan they have to be in midfield and for summer we need to get that right. Playing in a team when your centre midfielders are better than the oppositions lifts everyone’s game so much. Under SOD we were often so dominant in that area the rest of the team were basically L1 players but we could still get results.

[WheatleyRover]

My worry is Grant might decide to walk before the end of the season if this carries on.