“When it clicks”

[GazLaz]

In my opinion our crossing and set piece delivery is disgustingly poor of late.
Think about our goal last week. A simple ball, a simple goal. We don’t do it anywhere near enough.
 How many balls did Joe, one of the best headers of a ball in the division, get to attack in the opposition box yesterday. I would say none!
This leads me to a bee in my bonnet about players playing on the wrong side of the pitch. When it works it’s great. Moly has proved that in spells.
Moly and Gibson were bang average yesterday. They looked like they had no clue what to do with the ball and their weaker feet are really quite poor. Hence their crossing was dreadful on the outside.
So when it’s not working, why not mix it up and switch flanks and just go simple for a period of time with the instructions of ‘get to the byline and cross the ball in the box’ on their stronger foot? We have two of the best finishers in the div. They aren’t players that are going to run in behind very often.
Hopefully the return of Maxwell will help this situation. He overlaps so much better. He’s arguably our best player and we miss him so much.
We’re not at crisis point yet but its just frustration as we can see we’re so much better than what we’re showing against some very average teams. This league is poor and we could win it at a canter.

Agreed, been saying this for a while, we don't get anywhere near enough crosses into the box for Sharp/Ironside, & when we do, they are, in the main, very very poor.  We are doing well in the league, but there's still loads to work on, & I'm sure Grant will sort it.

We’ve put more crosses onto the box than any other team this season.

In my opinion our crossing and set piece delivery is disgustingly poor of late.
Think about our goal last week. A simple ball, a simple goal. We don’t do it anywhere near enough.
 How many balls did Joe, one of the best headers of a ball in the division, get to attack in the opposition box yesterday. I would say none!
This leads me to a bee in my bonnet about players playing on the wrong side of the pitch. When it works it’s great. Moly has proved that in spells.
Moly and Gibson were bang average yesterday. They looked like they had no clue what to do with the ball and their weaker feet are really quite poor. Hence their crossing was dreadful on the outside.
So when it’s not working, why not mix it up and switch flanks and just go simple for a period of time with the instructions of ‘get to the byline and cross the ball in the box’ on their stronger foot? We have two of the best finishers in the div. They aren’t players that are going to run in behind very often.
Hopefully the return of Maxwell will help this situation. He overlaps so much better. He’s arguably our best player and we miss him so much.
We’re not at crisis point yet but its just frustration as we can see we’re so much better than what we’re showing against some very average teams. This league is poor and we could win it at a canter.

Agreed, been saying this for a while, we don't get anywhere near enough crosses into the box for Sharp/Ironside, & when we do, they are, in the main, very very poor.  We are doing well in the league, but there's still loads to work on, & I'm sure Grant will sort it.

We’ve put more crosses onto the box than any other team this season.

I stand corrected, then the crosses are even worse than I thought. We overplay at times on the flanks, & the crosses don't come in until the opponents are set, couple that with the poor quality, Sterry aside, & it's no wonder the strikers are fed on scraps.

Your points still very valid, *more good crosses.

[Plumbster]

I get that it’s tighter at home but I don’t buy that a top 3 team would struggle so much. Whatever the underlying reason let’s hope that Grant will sort.

[Avsuptem]

Intelligent though most of the responses to this thread are I think all of them have missed the real reason. Putting it simply Lady Luck.is to blame. It will change. Molly's corner on another day would have been awarded. His shot would have gone in. Gibson hitting the post would have been a goal. This has been a pattern so far this season whereby we deserved to win games but did not. Had luck been on our side we would not even be discussing the matter.

[scawsby steve]

Intelligent though most of the responses to this thread are I think all of them have missed the real reason. Putting it simply Lady Luck.is to blame. It will change. Molly's corner on another day would have been awarded. His shot would have gone in. Gibson hitting the post would have been a goal. This has been a pattern so far this season whereby we deserved to win games but did not. Had luck been on our side we would not even be discussing the matter.

There's no doubt that luck plays a huge part in any sport, but to put poor home form purely down to luck is evading the issues. Gibson hit the post because his shot was off target. Yes, on another day he might have scored, but that's down to accuracy rather than luck.

I once remember a famous golfer saying that the more he practiced, the luckier he seemed to get.

I think you'll find that GM will be trying to solve some of these problems in the January window.

[monkeytennis]

You make your own luck.

[IDM]

But you can’t do owt about bad ref decisions or the oppo defence playing above their usual performance level..

[richtherover]

You make your own luck

Then surely it isn't luck?

[Avsuptem]

You make your own luck

Then surely it isn't luck?

Well it is.

Its about belief. In your ability. So much is psychological and arguably the hardest job for a Manager is to develop the self belief in his players that makes all the difference.
Definitely you make your own luck, if you do not think.you will win you probably won't.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Intelligent though most of the responses to this thread are I think all of them have missed the real reason. Putting it simply Lady Luck.is to blame. It will change. Molly's corner on another day would have been awarded. His shot would have gone in. Gibson hitting the post would have been a goal. This has been a pattern so far this season whereby we deserved to win games but did not. Had luck been on our side we would not even be discussing the matter.

There's no doubt that luck plays a huge part in any sport, but to put poor home form purely down to luck is evading the issues. Gibson hit the post because his shot was off target. Yes, on another day he might have scored, but that's down to accuracy rather than luck.

I once remember a famous golfer saying that the more he practiced, the luckier he seemed to get.

I think you'll find that GM will be trying to solve some of these problems in the January window.

Tend to agree about making luck. It looks like we tend to play 'off the cuff' football with GM saying he gives the players freedom to express themselves. That can be a good thing especially when confidence is high. On the other hand it can make things too unpredictable to the point teammates find it harder to anticipate things.

When referencing crosses, we tend to see 'percentage' crosses rather than picking someone out with players head down concentrating on the ball rather than head up. There has been some noticeable exceptions though but, we need to increase our accuracy and quality, as even the stats suggest our conversion rate is poor.

It doesn't take that much, as others have suggested, to tip the balance the right way.

I tend to be more accurate off the tee with a specific target, rather than anywhere on the fairway will do.

Take an extra second to look up lads and our accuracy will improve. I think this is what McCann means when he said we rush things and we should sometimes take an extra touch. My first instinct was taking more time and an extra touch leads to more blocked shots and crosses but it's more about reading each situation better. Less haste more speed of thought.

[richtherover]

Sorry but disagree entirely. Surely luck, by definition, is something that happens by chance and there's really nothing we can do mentally or physically to sway it either way. People buy lottery tickets every week hoping the numbers fall their way. All the preparation in the world won't affect the outcome. I do agree that things even themselves out. A complete fluke of a goal against one week and a very dodgy penalty given in your favour the next. There are some things you just can't legislate for. That's just pure bad/good luck. I'd be happy for all 50/50 refereeing decisions to go Rovers' way. Now that would be lucky! RTID.

[i_ateallthepies]

I think your point about luck is correct in the literal meaning of the word, Rich, but the point about 'the more I practice the luckier I get' is just a play on words to say the only thing a player can really affect is his own performance so he must do everything he can to improve it.

[Mike_F]

I think the big difference this season won't be driven so much by our players "clicking" as by our strength in depth as injuries and suspensions start to eat into opposing squads as the season wears on.

A few people have mentioned Maxwell's return being a boost to our attacking potency but for me he can be a bit one dimensional. He either chooses or is pressed into turning inside onto his left foot then having to play the ball backwards.

[ForsolongaRover]

I think your point about luck is correct in the literal meaning of the word, Rich, but the point about 'the more I practice the luckier I get' is just a play on words to say the only thing a player can really affect is his own performance so he must do everything he can to improve it.

I think it was Gary Player! Some situations like the Lottery are governed by luck; others, as in sport, have an element of luck - a deflection, a bounce, a human error, a miskick, a refereeing decision amongst them. Some work your way which are not always acknowledged but you notice those which don’t. (A bit like refs.) You cannot eliminate bad bounces, bad deflections and lucky interventions, but even if you practice a lot and have great determination you will still be affected by luck, but these qualities will see you succeed more than others - witness Haaland.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

If lady luck had have been a little kinder, in the last two home games, we could easily be 4 points better off. I think we'd still be talking about our shortfalls and how we could ge better. That doesn't necessarily mean we're going to smash the opposition but do more to control games so luck doesn't bite us in the bum.

We still have some relatively young players on the pitch who are still learning to deal with the expectations on their shoulders. 

[pib]

I know our recent home form doesn't look great, and I acknowledge that we need to improve in terms of both creating, and taking chances.

However, look at the last 6 at home:

Chesterfield 0-3 L
Barrow 1-0 W
Crewe 1-1 D
Bromley 0-1 L
Notts Co 1-1 D
Salford 1-1 D

Chesterfield is a hard one to judge - we were poor first half but changed shape at HT and started the 2nd half with good intent, only for that to be derailed within the first 5-10 mins by Molyneux getting sent off. I still feel we might have found a way back in the game if it had stayed 11v11.

Looking at the other five - Barrow was a narrow win in a tight game, then Crewe and Notts County weren't bad results at all. They are both teams that are proving difficult to beat and are right up there with us at the top end of the table. With a bit more luck and clinical edge we could've won both of them at the end. Taking a point from promotion rivals isn't disastrous at all though.

It's the Salford's and Bromley's where the improvement needs to come. The Bromley game we probably win 8/10 times if it was replayed. Salford wasn't great but again, fine margins away from winning.

I don't think we're a million miles off. I think we're getting into good areas and positions, but the final ball is hindering chance creation and conversion. I think Grant is right that we've been wasteful, but it's generally the bit just before the chance rather than the chance itself IMO. Ticking along in 3rd/4th suits me just fine at this stage anyway, still a long way to go.

[ForsolongaRover]

If lady luck had have been a little kinder, in the last two home games, we could easily be 4 points better off. I think we'd still be talking about our shortfalls and how we could ge better. That doesn't necessarily mean we're going to smash the opposition but do more to control games so luck doesn't bite us in the bum.

We still have some relatively young players on the pitch who are still learning to deal with the expectations on their shoulders.

Can anyone honestly say that the opposing teams have not had a share of bad luck because I doubt whether in watching games we focus on their bad fortunes? I make the point because in any analysis it is so easy to blame bad luck and I fear that this is what is happening here, rather than concentrating on objective facts.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

If lady luck had have been a little kinder, in the last two home games, we could easily be 4 points better off. I think we'd still be talking about our shortfalls and how we could ge better. That doesn't necessarily mean we're going to smash the opposition but do more to control games so luck doesn't bite us in the bum.

We still have some relatively young players on the pitch who are still learning to deal with the expectations on their shoulders.

Can anyone honestly say that the opposing teams have not had a share of bad luck because I doubt whether in watching games we focus on their bad fortunes? I make the point because in any analysis it is so easy to blame bad luck and I fear that this is what is happening here, rather than concentrating on objective facts.

Well that's the point I and others are making, we haven't been unlucky. The performances haven't really merited more than what we've got. We need to improve and more importantly GM knows that. I hope he can find the right ways to unlock the door and get the players to realise our potential.

[Red wizard]

Lads we are joint 2nd coming up to Christmas. 1 or 2 will leave and one would like to think 1 or 2 will come in and I see no reason we won't compete for the title.

[Nudga]

Still not clicking. Sounds terrible on the radio.

[GazLaz]

Still not clicking. Sounds terrible on the radio.

Not terrible but we’ve certainly played better.

[andyst79]

I think we all know we're not quite there at the moment, however we're up there and competing at the top end of the table. Grant will improve us in January in the midfield and forward areas and I expect us to kick on from there. Be interesting to see if we could manage to get Matty Craig back in Jan , doesn't seem to be going right for him at Barnsley as it stands.

[Reg of the Rovers]

That was turgid crap. Seems a long time since we went all those games on the bounce looking confident and positive. Lucky to get the point today. We look frightened to shoot, slow in the build up, just clueless. Not a fun watch that.

[Padge_DRFC]

Absolute school kids in front of goal

[ForsolongaRover]

That was turgid crap. Seems a long time since we went all those games on the bounce looking confident and positive. Lucky to get the point today. We look frightened to shoot, slow in the build up, just clueless. Not a fun watch that.

Not just the finishing then?

[Prez]

Our decision making in the box is horrendous. Also this team really lacks pace.

Not good enough as they were awful.

[Jersey Rover]

Still think we miss Westbrook in the middle

[Pancho Regan]

On a positive note, it's a point away from home and we've only lost one game in the last eleven.

[Alan Southstand]

We need a midfield. End of!

[Prez]

We need a midfield. End of!

Kelly was good today, but Bailey and Hurst were poor.

[Pliskin]

According to the BBC, we had 50 touches in the opponent's penalty area today. Across all 4 divisions today only Coventry managed more, and they had a man advantage for the majority of their game.

We are staggeringly poor at converting possession in dangerous areas into chances and goals. I've never seen a team as wasteful in the final 3rd as this one.