Rowe

[Filo]

Wigans goal last night demonstrates why when we have a fit LB Rowe should not be playing there, went on a sponsored walk for their goal, left the crosser of the ball with a third of the pitch to himself, he had time to put the kettle on and have a cup of tea before he put the cross in

[drfchound]

There was an almost identical situation in the second half as well but thankfully Wigan couldn’t take advantage of it.

[POD]

Wigans goal last night demonstrates why when we have a fit LB Rowe should not be playing there, went on a sponsored walk for their goal, left the crosser of the ball with a third of the pitch to himself, he had time to put the kettle on and have a cup of tea before he put the cross in

I wasn’t at the match but have just seen the highlights which for me gives a different view of the build up to the goal and who was at fault.

At the start of the highlights we see McGrath running back and out of position as Wigan attacked through the centre.   Rowe covers for McGrath in the centre and McGrath moves to the left back position to challenge the Wigan player out wide who has now received the ball.   Two other Rovers players (Hurst and one other) then help defend out wide and the ball goes infield.  Hurst challenges the infield player and the ball is played back out wide to the Wigan player who is by now completely on his own.   The reason is that Hurst has gone infield to challenge and McGrath and the other Rovers player have both gone back into the centre of defence with no communication either to each other or to Rowe as to who was covering the Wigan player out wide.

Rowe then makes a vain attempt to challenge the cross coming in, which is right on Wyke’s head and in the back of the net, with Owulu a yard behind him instead of next to him.

In terms of fault for the goal you can pick any one from four but overall it is a complete lack of communication between all these players to leave the Wigan player out wide on his own.

It would not be fair to blame Rowe just because his starting position was left back, as he had temporarily changed positions with McGrath.

[selby]

  I thought Rowe stepping up more into midfield when we were chasing the game second half and  was instrumental in us getting on top, and he raised the tempo and led the way with some good challengers and tackles.
   In fact my MOM.  The goal resulted from poor marking and no challenge between the sticks six to eight yards out again.
  Wyke bossed Olowu while he was on the pitch, the best tactical switch of the evening for us was Wigan subbing him as far as we were concerned.

[Bailey Vickerage]

Like others have said Rowe was covering at CB for McGrath as when they hit us on the break McGrath was closest to the winger because Rowe was in the midfield at that point. Hindsight they will both know it wasn’t the right time to switch back.

Rowe actually had another very good game in the inverted role and has done a good job covering at LB for the injured Senior, Maxwell and Sterry.

[graingrover]

Rowe was selected at left back and the Wigan goal came from him vacating the role and leaving half of Doncaster for the cross to be executed .GM is boss but senior players should be reading the game live and taking command of the essentials which include not leaving a player with acres of space in such an area.

[Thorney]

  I thought Rowe stepping up more into midfield when we were chasing the game second half and  was instrumental in us getting on top, and he raised the tempo and led the way with some good challengers and tackles.
   In fact my MOM.  The goal resulted from poor marking and no challenge between the sticks six to eight yards out again.
  Wyke bossed Olowu while he was on the pitch, the best tactical switch of the evening for us was Wigan subbing him as far as we were concerned.

Wyke bossed olowu?
Bit unfair on olowu there selby.  I thought apart from the goal our defence coped well with him and shut them out comfortably.

[Barmby Rover]

Wyke "bossing" Olowu would surely have resulted in many more goals for Wigan. This didn't happen, so Olowu made an error, or McGrath did, or Tommy Rowe did. It is more of a collective fault and not an individual one, a coaching point to be made and a syustem worked out I would imagine.

[Bailey Vickerage]

Rowe was selected at left back and the Wigan goal came from him vacating the role and leaving half of Doncaster for the cross to be executed .GM is boss but senior players should be reading the game live and taking command of the essentials which include not leaving a player with acres of space in such an area.

He was covering McGrath at CB because when they countered us Rowe was in the midfield (like he did all game) so McGrath was closer to the winger so he went wide and Rowe covered.

Wasn’t the right time to switch back.

[sf9944]

Im not the greatest fan of Olowu but thought he played quite well last night and his partnership with McGrath has some promise.

Also thought the partnership of Bailey and Close in centre mid looked promising.

[pigeonhole]

Rowe was selected at left back and the Wigan goal came from him vacating the role and leaving half of Doncaster for the cross to be executed .GM is boss but senior players should be reading the game live and taking command of the essentials which include not leaving a player with acres of space in such an area.

It's been pointed out already that Rowe was covering for McGrath who'd been dragged out to deal with the winger in the first attack.  McGrath dealt with him brilliantly, not allowing him to get a cross in - something we've not managed to do for years.  That was really encouraging to see.

The danger wasn't over so they shouldn't have switched back, Rowe probably knew it wasn't the right time to switch so stayed in the middle, McGrath jogs across to mark the nearest man which left the left back slot open, confusion in the middle and no one actually marking Wyke.  Olowu reacted but I don't think Wyke was his man.  Lack of communication?  Lack of time playing together? It certainly isn't as simple as pointing the finger at one player.

[Filo]

Rowe was selected at left back and the Wigan goal came from him vacating the role and leaving half of Doncaster for the cross to be executed .GM is boss but senior players should be reading the game live and taking command of the essentials which include not leaving a player with acres of space in such an area.

It's been pointed out already that Rowe was covering for McGrath who'd been dragged out to deal with the winger in the first attack.  McGrath dealt with him brilliantly, not allowing him to get a cross in - something we've not managed to do for years.  That was really encouraging to see.

The danger wasn't over so they shouldn't have switched back, Rowe probably knew it wasn't the right time to switch so stayed in the middle, McGrath jogs across to mark the nearest man which left the left back slot open, confusion in the middle and no one actually marking Wyke.  Olowu reacted but I don't think Wyke was his man.  Lack of communication?  Lack of time playing together? It certainly isn't as simple as pointing the finger at one player.

I accept that explanation, what I would say is that basic defending is not switching back until the ball is cleared up field, not during the second phase of the attack

[In the box]

Wigans goal last night demonstrates why when we have a fit LB Rowe should not be playing there, went on a sponsored walk for their goal, left the crosser of the ball with a third of the pitch to himself, he had time to put the kettle on and have a cup of tea before he put the cross in

Roweeee has never been a LB even when Bristol City played him there . He is the most experienced player at the club and should I hope he stays on at the  club when he hangs up his boots in some capacity as we seem to throw our old boy out in the cold .