Let's talk about the Walsall game

[In the box]

That have been better than us all over the pitch. It’s as simple as that.

We are toothless upfront , our  approach play is good but with little or no effect in the final third with snap shots not in target . This has been obvious all season with no one else to select from McCann has to have seen this coming that players who provided goals early in the season would go through lean fazes and with no alternative but to ride it out and hope they don’t last long .

[graingrover]

GOK what their manager said to them at half time !

[graingrover]

Today the only provider to the two frontmen was Mols ..but no supply was forthcoming except from TSL .Walsall will be worthy champions and we shall be in with a shout hopefully because none of the chasing pack is consistent either .

[drfchound]

Gutted I can’t go to this. Really tough game. They have everything we struggle against. Out and out counter attacking side that want as little of the ball as possible.

If we go there and have 60% possession we will get beat. The games where they hand struggled the most are the ones against teams that also want to sit deep and counter. We should literally let them have the ball pretty much uncontested to ten yards inside our half, sit in and be patient.


I’d also play 3 centre halves and match them up as they have dropped points against teams that play that way.

I’d play direct to Ironside and Moly up top with Moly trying to run in behind.


Really hope we win this one as it’s a massive game. If we fall into their traps and get beaten I’ll be raging!!

57% possession and one shot on target (89th minute).

That is not strictly true though, apart from statistically.
The turn and shot by Sharp was blocked by a defender a couple of feet out from the line.
Yes, I know it was blocked by a defender and not the keeper but it was definitely a shot on target.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Well, that's the benchmark to see the gap between Walsall and ourselves.

We just don't have the collective discipline to play consistent football where the basics are above average for this division.

The last 15 mins of the last game showed we haven't got sufficient intelligence to control a game, even v 10 men.

Yes, we have some exciting players and we can play some good off the cuff stuff but conversely, we are too prone to basic errors, giving away possession or free kicks too easily.

There is no one simple answer. McCann wants to play high risk attacking football but we don't seem to have sufficient desire, belief and energy to constantly go at teams to impose that game throughout the 90 minutes. In addition, our strike rate from the final third isn't good enough to support McCann's strategy.

McCanns got some deep thinking to do to make sure we stay at the top end and hopefully achieve a bit more consistency. Just reducing the unforced errors would be a good start.

[Alan Southstand]

We’re possibly 3 quality players away from being a top 3 side. If we don’t get them, then I fear not even finishing in the play-off’s.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

We’re possibly 3 quality players away from being a top 3 side. If we don’t get them, then I fear not even finishing in the play-off’s.

That maybe so, but McCann still has to recruit smartly and just as importantly, decide how he integrates them and get better from the players we have. Standards have to be better from back to front. We also seem to lack a bit of leadership on the pitch with Bailey not quite setting the same example as he did last season, no matter where he played on the pitch. Unfortunately out captain is just as guilty for giving the ball away and allowing energy levels to drop, as the others. McCann needs to lift him and the others to another level which tips the balance the right way.

[mushRTID]

Let’s praise Walsall, I thought they looked strong, quick, did the basics extremely well and stuck to what they are good at as a TEAM.

We however regularly look like 11 players thrown on the pitch together.

We’ve had plenty of questionable results now and the fact we are still third shows how shite this league is.

We are miles off them, they will surely run away with the league.

[normal rules]

My lad has a mate who is a big Walsall fan. We weren’t st the game today but he said Walsall were poor based on what he has seen lately.
The only diff being they were clinical in front of goal.
3 shots on target scoring two.
To rovers one.

[Danmckay456]

We’re possibly 3 quality players away from being a top 3 side. If we don’t get them, then I fear not even finishing in the play-off’s.

How many players do you want us to have , our biggest squad in years and still not looking like a team

[GazLaz]

My lad has a mate who is a big Walsall fan. We weren’t st the game today but he said Walsall were poor based on what he has seen lately.
The only diff being they were clinical in front of goal.
3 shots on target scoring two.
To rovers one.

They were poor today because they were playing a decent team.

[normal rules]

My lad has a mate who is a big Walsall fan. We weren’t st the game today but he said Walsall were poor based on what he has seen lately.
The only diff being they were clinical in front of goal.
3 shots on target scoring two.
To rovers one.

They were poor today because they were playing a decent team.

Exactly.
Fine margins.
Some people on here need to remember we are a lge 2 side.
And still very much in the mix.

[DRFC_AjA]

Fine margins?!?!?!?

Fine margins is Notts Co at home when either team could have won and 9/10 we're getting that last minute penalty.

Fine margins is not when you're second best for 90 minutes in all departments

[Lesonthewest]

We’re possibly 3 quality players away from being a top 3 side. If we don’t get them, then I fear not even finishing in the play-off’s.

This!

[Goole Rover]

We’re possibly 3 quality players away from being a top 3 side. If we don’t get them, then I fear not even finishing in the play-off’s.

How many players do you want us to have , our biggest squad in years and still not looking like a team

The problem is Dan I agree our biggest squad but the majority are mediocre.

[Lesonthewest]

We’re possibly 3 quality players away from being a top 3 side. If we don’t get them, then I fear not even finishing in the play-off’s.

How many players do you want us to have , our biggest squad in years and still not looking like a team

Three more because we have no pace up front, no guile or physicality in midfield, & a very hit & miss wide players that have nowhere near the consistency we need to achieve a promotion place. Three more that are better than what we currently have, whatever the size of the squad.

[Danmckay456]

If you’re in and out of the team and playing with different partners in positions, how on earth are you meant to build up partnerships and understandings between players around you ??

[Lesonthewest]

If you’re in and out of the team and playing with different partners in positions, how on earth are you meant to build up partnerships and understandings between players around you ??

I'm beginning to think this is not a good idea for us with league 2 players, & players not prepared to put in the hard yards.

[moses]

We are missing Richard Wood at the back. Gave us a sold base and we would not be conceding the second goal if he was playing.

[Pintolager]

Also think we are missing Wood for his leadership

[ncRover]

We aren’t struggling because of a lack of leadership.

We’re struggling because the only combination who compliment each other are McGrath and Olowu.

We need to address the mistakes from the summer window in not signing a striker / winger to compliment Ironside and go from there.

[steve@dcfd]

Again nothing to do with the defence it’s the midfield and attacking forwards.
Grant made a mistake in the summer Kelly Clifton Close and Westbrooke are there in numbers but quality is poor.
 Gibson and Yeboah have not improved the front line in fact made it worst.
So finishing in the top three will not happen with any of those players in the side

[GazLaz]

Broardbent is a huge issue. He’s not good enough.

[ForsolongaRover]

Maybe I’m oversimplifying things, but I wonder whether there could be greater mutual understanding within the team, possibly not helped by frequent changes. Sterry seems to play well with Molyneux and Gibson and Fleming work well together too. Neither partnership started today. So often players have no easy pass with no one on hand to lay it off to, and of course so often no one ever seems to want the ball from a throw in. When our players are in tight spots as they were frequently today, frequently no help was at hand.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

We aren’t struggling because of a lack of leadership.

We’re struggling because the only combination who compliment each other are McGrath and Olowu.

We need to address the mistakes from the summer window in not signing a striker / winger to compliment Ironside and go from there.

Leadership can come in different guises and I think there is an element of missing someone who maintains higher standards game in, game out. Bailey was more of a leader on the pitch last season being very consistent wherever he played and he's not reached those same levels this year. Wood brought his experience and guile I'm the latter part of the season which also helped.  Ironside was a warrior too and he's another that hasn't found those high standards either.

We need these players to demand and inspire others to follow but McCann has to find a way of getting it out of them.

[steve@dcfd]

Broardbent
is a huge issue. He’s not good enough.

Gaz problem is there’s no body in our squad that’s better that’s down to the summer bringing in players big mistake

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Our problems don't stem from one specific player. We can debate the merit of Broadbent all we like but even if you replace him, we're still left with a team of players who have let their standards drop.

[selby]

  Defensively,  McGrath has been poor lately, and Olowu has been very good, easy on the eye when we were doing well and had time, not so great when rushed and the team as a whole  on the back foot, and teams taking us on our left flank with our lack of pace there.
  I would not be surprised if Olowu is not with us next season the way he is playing if he is out of contract at the end of the season,  if he keeps his form up and we fail to get up.

[dickos1]

Broardbent
is a huge issue. He’s not good enough.

Gaz problem is there’s no body in our squad that’s better that’s down to the summer bringing in players big mistake

Westbrooke and close are both comfortably better than Broadbent

[steve@dcfd]

Broardbent
is a huge issue. He’s not good enough.

Gaz problem is there’s no body in our squad that’s better that’s down to the summer bringing in players big mistake

Westbrooke and close are both comfortably better than Broadbent

Your opinion but both will not improve our midfield and should never have been signed.