Pathetic

[Draytonian III]

Walsall played at home today, Walsall are top of the league, their main striker is reportedly going back in the new year, cutting short his loan

[In the box]

Never laid a glove on them. Don't understand our tactics, fair enough 2 up top but too narrow with no width. Broadbents not good enough and I don't really rate Kelly. Grant has to take full responsibility for this , been backed in the transfer market but we look bang average and devoid of ideas.

Pathetic comment! Get a grip lad. Beaten by the league leaders who showed why they are top. Thought we did ok first half. But they stepped up a gear 2nd half and we couldn't cope. They were bigger better stronger faster. We are still in the mix for promotion but we need a couple of additions in Jan.

So… we were pathetic then in the second half and need more players because the once we have are pathetic!!

[roversdude]

We were beaten by a better team in the second half. Don’t know what Broadbent did wrong today. The problem was Fleming who had a mare today after a very good game last time out, personally I’d have had Senior on before half time with BF on a booking and having a torrid time

[Filo]

I agree with Grant, I thought there wasn’t much in it, TSL should have done better with the first goal and the second goal looked well offside to me

[jmt23]

We were ok in the first, in fact the marginally better team, but as I put in the lucky pint we looked like training cones in the second half, we were not even second best to the ball or man.

They attacked with purpose, speed and strength, we just don’t have that purpose at the moment, and haven’t had it since Adelukan left.

Too many woefully underperforming players so far this year. I don’t know what the fix is, I hope Grant does.

No need to panic though, we will be fine.

[StocksArmy]

I think our league position, our form leading into today, the gap in points and performance between the 2 teams leaves a really bad taste and for this I think the manager needs to be up for being replaced. He’s been backed, he’s made the don’t come back speech after Crewe so now… you lay in your bed. We are nowhere near being good enough to come back from this. We can’t just keep hoping January will be a success every year. Manager should go for me. He’s failed.

[roversdude]

So he’s got his team third but failed give your head a shake - it’s not brilliant but we are still up there

[Draytonian III]

I think our league position, our form leading into today, the gap in points and performance between the 2 teams leaves a really bad taste and for this I think the manager needs to be up for being replaced. He’s been backed, he’s made the don’t come back speech after Crewe so now… you lay in your bed. We are nowhere near being good enough to come back from this. We can’t just keep hoping January will be a success every year. Manager should go for me. He’s failed.

The last two sentences are rather strange, I take it you’ve had a Christmas drink or two

[StocksArmy]

The club is failing. It’s a fact. We are nowhere near where we want to be. How can my comments be unreasonable?

[Canadian Rover]

He's a bloody brilliant manager

[dickos1]

I think our league position, our form leading into today, the gap in points and performance between the 2 teams leaves a really bad taste and for this I think the manager needs to be up for being replaced. He’s been backed, he’s made the don’t come back speech after Crewe so now… you lay in your bed. We are nowhere near being good enough to come back from this. We can’t just keep hoping January will be a success every year. Manager should go for me. He’s failed.

Probably the most ridiculous post ever to be written on here

[andyst79]

I think our league position, our form leading into today, the gap in points and performance between the 2 teams leaves a really bad taste and for this I think the manager needs to be up for being replaced. He’s been backed, he’s made the don’t come back speech after Crewe so now… you lay in your bed. We are nowhere near being good enough to come back from this. We can’t just keep hoping January will be a success every year. Manager should go for me. He’s failed.

Nothings won or lost in December and GM has the backing of the fans but I do believe there's questions to be asked, I think his recruitments been very poor and offering certain players new contracts when they've had a history of inept performances or injuries is bizarre. I always like Grants honesty in his interviews but after yesterday's game he appeared visibly shaken/adjitated and seemed to place the blame on the players and our finishing when I thought the bigger issue was our tactics and how he set the team up. A couple of new additions in January and we could look a completely different team , but GM's continually bigged up the squad and the players but we seem to be underperforming.

[drfchound]

I watched on Sky yesterday so didn’t feel the full emotion of being in the crowd.
For me, after a not so good start I thought we were decent enough getting to half time level and was thinking we might squeeze a draw from the game.
After the first goal so soon after the restart obviously some of my optimism waned but there were a few moments when my spirits lifted a bit but it wasn’t to be.
Thinking back, there was never a time during the game when I felt we might actually win.

[Bills view]

I only saw the second half on the box and we were simply second best

Has McCann overrated the players? There's a balance between bigging players up so they are confident going onto the pitch and raising expectations too high and they underperform.

Football is a game of opinions and to me we are not looking like promotional material right now. Of course, things can change quickly like last season.

[Spud]

Agree with the last two posts, first half we were ok, they stepped up & dominated the second half, I can't agree with Grant saying there was nothing in the game.
I can't believe the Ironside miss hasn't been mentioned though, we could have at least had an exciting last ten minutes.

[drfchound]

Agree with the last two posts, first half we were ok, they stepped up & dominated the second half, I can't agree with Grant saying there was nothing in the game.
I can't believe the Ironside miss hasn't been mentioned though, we could have at least had an exciting last ten minutes.

I’ve only seen that Ironside shot once. As I recall it was from a near post cross but he had two defenders quite close to him and one of them was directly in line with the goal.
He had to take the shot first time and if it had been on target I seem to think that it would have hit the defender.
I will have another look later on the highlights, if it is shown of course.

[Usher wide.]

They also hit the woodwork with a cracking strike with TSL an onlooker.

We’re not a million miles away however. Grant just needs another striker & commanding midfielder in the transfer window.

[Spud]

Agree with the last two posts, first half we were ok, they stepped up & dominated the second half, I can't agree with Grant saying there was nothing in the game.
I can't believe the Ironside miss hasn't been mentioned though, we could have at least had an exciting last ten minutes.

I’ve only seen that Ironside shot once. As I recall it was from a near post cross but he had two defenders quite close to him and one of them was directly in line with the goal.
He had to take the shot first time and if it had been on target I seem to think that it would have hit the defender.
I will have another look later on the highlights, if it is shown of course.

I've not seen it back either but I'm sure it should have been on target & asking the question, cut back was from Gibson I think.

[i_ateallthepies]

It's clear to me that there's a problem of confidence in both team and individuals.  There is nobody in the team willing in our half of the pitch to take the ball down in a head-tennis bout and start a move, NOBODY.  They all keep heading or leathering it upfield until the opposition take control - that is lack of confidence or worse, just not good enough.
We have a few good players and some good enough if those around them are very good.  And then those like Hurst and Kelly who have the skills but lack the physicality.  With the size of this squad I don't see how Grant will have the room to do much quality business in January.

[StocksArmy]

As I said last night, it’s not been good enough and it has to land at his door. His squad, his tactics, his problem. Of course we are still in the mix but in his own words the aim is to win the league and again like last season we are relying on a good window in January and whether he gets it right or not there is no hiding from the fact that the recruitment in the summer was crap. We are a considerably lot worse team now than we were when we finished last season. I know we will have tried to bring back TLT, Craig and Adelakun but, the players who came in to replace them are nowhere near their standard.

[selby]

  We are playing a side in Colchester just as good as Walsall on current form and better defensively than them on current form.
  Everyone is on about our attack while we can't keep a clean sheet and are having to score a minimum of two goals to have a chance of winning a game.
 We need an out and out good defender who can mix it physically and has pace ( Faulkner), and another unit in the midfield area that has the same attributes and some experience, if not available in the window ( Flint) who is young but very good, at the moment  we are a soft touch. Faulkner with his pace gives the option of three at the back and Flint is a better footballer than some we play in midfield, is big and mobile with a tactical brain, and one of his strengths is keeping the ball and a wide range of passing ability.
   Both will get better with experience and both would add to our set piece attack being good in the air, but will not improve sitting on a bench.
  Then you might see us shipping less goals and scoring a few. and both available early January if not loaned out where both have a number of options.
  Another thing to consider Anderson has not played the last few games and was far from being our worst defender when he did play, his odd mistake being highlighted much more than others on this forum.
   

[Filo]

  We are playing a side in Colchester just as good as Walsall on current form and better defensively than them on current form.
  Everyone is on about our attack while we can't keep a clean sheet and are having to score a minimum of two goals to have a chance of winning a game.
 We need an out and out good defender who can mix it physically and has pace ( Faulkner), and another unit in the midfield area that has the same attributes and some experience, if not available in the window ( Flint) who is young but very good, at the moment  we are a soft touch. Faulkner with his pace gives the option of three at the back and Flint is a better footballer than some we play in midfield, is big and mobile with a tactical brain, and one of his strengths is keeping the ball and a wide range of passing ability.
   Both will get better with experience and both would add to our set piece attack being good in the air, but will not improve sitting on a bench.
  Then you might see us shipping less goals and scoring a few. and both available early January if not loaned out where both have a number of options.
  Another thing to consider Anderson has not played the last few games and was far from being our worst defender when he did play, his odd mistake being highlighted much more than others on this forum.
   

Faulkner is not available until January, but I agree, he’s worth a try in a 3 with Mcgrath and Olowu

[Bessie Red]

Agree with the last two posts, first half we were ok, they stepped up & dominated the second half, I can't agree with Grant saying there was nothing in the game.
I can't believe the Ironside miss hasn't been mentioned though, we could have at least had an exciting last ten minutes.

I’ve only seen that Ironside shot once. As I recall it was from a near post cross but he had two defenders quite close to him and one of them was directly in line with the goal.
He had to take the shot first time and if it had been on target I seem to think that it would have hit the defender.
I will have another look later on the highlights, if it is shown of course.

He would have been better leaving the cross as I think it was Hurst would  have had an open goal to fire at, but as a striker you can't blame him for hitting it.

[Petche]

We were beaten by a better team in the second half. Don’t know what Broadbent did wrong today. The problem was Fleming who had a mare today after a very good game last time out, personally I’d have had Senior on before half time with BF on a booking and having a torrid time

I thought Fleming was awful in the Tranmere game tbh!

[mushRTID]

I think our league position, our form leading into today, the gap in points and performance between the 2 teams leaves a really bad taste and for this I think the manager needs to be up for being replaced. He’s been backed, he’s made the don’t come back speech after Crewe so now… you lay in your bed. We are nowhere near being good enough to come back from this. We can’t just keep hoping January will be a success every year. Manager should go for me. He’s failed.

Nothings won or lost in December and GM has the backing of the fans but I do believe there's questions to be asked, I think his recruitments been very poor and offering certain players new contracts when they've had a history of inept performances or injuries is bizarre. I always like Grants honesty in his interviews but after yesterday's game he appeared visibly shaken/adjitated and seemed to place the blame on the players and our finishing when I thought the bigger issue was our tactics and how he set the team up. A couple of new additions in January and we could look a completely different team , but GM's continually bigged up the squad and the players but we seem to be underperforming.

I agree about Grants interview yesterday. He looked knackered and very concerned.

It feels as though he is realising his signings aren’t delivering and we are way short of the standard we set last season.

[jmt23]

We can’t play three centre backs, it doesn’t work they all look like fish out of water. ( whoever plays) The current two in Joe and Jay are both fast and powerful, and more than good enough at this level - they do need some help though, and that is where the problem lays. I see 2 major flaws in the team:

1. A weak and dysfunctional midfield, allowing sides to run past and through them almost unchallenged at times.

2. Movement, we don’t create space or show for the ball, allowing space for others- we are constantly static, with the only movement coming from corners.

If we look at the list of midfielders we have - who would you keep with the showing so far in the team?
Close - ok if you want possession, but he needs that missing movement. Not a get a foot in guy though.
Westbrooke ? Similar to Close
Kelly - a young loanee who is very hit and miss, but will have a good career. He is the type we need, but a maturer version.
Bailey - ?
Broadbent?
Clifton - I actually think he’s the best of our current lot!
Sbarra - too early to have a full understanding, but Grant isn’t convinced by the look of it.

[redarmi66]

The club is failing. It’s a fact. We are nowhere near where we want to be. How can my comments be unreasonable?

Because:
The club is not failing. No facts there!
We are third!! In a promotion spot just where we need to be.

We are not in great form.Everything else you are saying is knee jerk, reactive, panic ridden garbage.

[tyke1962]

I'm only led by the results Rovers have put together this season and the comments following games I read on here which can be a pretty mixed bag at the best of times but that's most fans forums if the truth be told .

What I do know is that there are characteristics a squad of players must have if they are to achieve automatic promotion and that's from every level of football , the play offs are a different kettle of fish altogether .

The ability to gain automatic promotion isn't so much as how well you perform but more how good the results are when you aren't at your best .

I'm sure as I do you remember the two games we played against Rovers in our league one promotion season under Daniel Stendel , Rovers were the better team on the day in both games and probably should have won both .

We managed to get a point out of both games despite the fact we were way below our best , it was repeated several times over that season , we were totally outplayed at Walsall during the run in and scored late on to claim 3 priceless points .

Generally speaking there isn't too much between your competitors for automatic promotion and yourself , a couple of per cent may be at best .

It's the team who have that 2% more resolve , belief and the ability to stick in when it's tough who prevail in my opinion .

That's often a state of mind with a group of players who give that extra 2% .

Find that in the second half of the season and you should get the job done .

[drfchound]

Agree with the last two posts, first half we were ok, they stepped up & dominated the second half, I can't agree with Grant saying there was nothing in the game.
I can't believe the Ironside miss hasn't been mentioned though, we could have at least had an exciting last ten minutes.

I’ve only seen that Ironside shot once. As I recall it was from a near post cross but he had two defenders quite close to him and one of them was directly in line with the goal.
He had to take the shot first time and if it had been on target I seem to think that it would have hit the defender.
I will have another look later on the highlights, if it is shown of course.

Just seen the highlights from the Rovers website and the Ironside incident isn’t part of it.
However I thought at the time that Walsalls second goal should have been ruled out for offside and having seen it again, and replayed it several times, I am even more convinced that it shouldn’t have counted.

[Thorney]

Absolutly crazy to be calling for the manager to be replaced.

If we did that would make us the laughing stock of the division.

We are 3rd and in the mix for christ sake.

Yes performances havnt been great of late but that is also said for 90% of the division right now.