Abysmal, again.

[CJK]

But what's the plan? What's the strategy to win the game? It's all too too slow, no rhythm, no cohesion. Nobody wants to play an early ball or a killer ball.

I agree, we've  not played badly today but I just don't see what we're trying to achieve with the tactics. Sure, Sharp's shot goes in in the first half and it's a different game.

I'm also concerned by the fact we limit the opposition to few opportunities every game but somehow still manage to conceed at least one goal a game.

Lots of questions for McCann to ponder, and quickly. In a very average L2, we still aren't top 3 material. He's a good managed and he's been backed, it's got to be top 3 at the end of the season.

[PDX_Rover]

OP typical of the poster. Over-reaction. You’ll be dusting down the netto banners next….

[Branton Red]

First half was the best we've played at home in a long time.

Looked much better with Bailey in the deeper midfield position. He was excellent.

It was a travesty of justice for Rovers to be 0-1 down at half time. But if you don't covert your dominance into goals that's what happens.

[Reg of the Rovers]

My thoughts entirely CJK. We weren’t bad today and some individuals - Sterry and Street in particular were good, but it’s all a bit hit and hope. We’ve got to sign a midfield so we can properly control the game. Aside from Bailey we are well below par in midfield and keep chopping and changing there isn’t helping. Id be starting a front three of Sharp, Ironside and Street from here on out.

[redarmi66]

Grants team selection was very questionable today.
He plays Billy up against two giants centre half’s.
He plays 2 wide players who have not performed over a number of games now
He leaves Joe on bench until late, and leaves his signature signing on bench.

Come on Grant, time to ditch the 2 wide players and play with the front 3 down the central area of the pitch.
We are now in real trouble so out time to sort things out is deminishing game by game

Great constructive post up til the last paragraph. Trouble??

[colincramb]

12th in the form table over the past 20 games highlights the concerns some people have had in recent weeks, despite the league position. I feel it’s always flattered to deceive given the games in hand others have.

[rich1471]

If Ironside had tapped the ball in from a yard out nobody would be negative, the subs were baffling but we were not that bad

[In the box]

OP typical of the poster. Over-reaction. You’ll be dusting down the netto banners next….

McCanns tactics are just awful, too slow in the build up , predictable in the execution of the final pass or cross , no attack positioning in readiness in the 18yd box , players stood waiting to see where the ball going to end up , instead of parenting its passage and giving the provider options . In a word Clueless !!

[GazLaz]

Predictability is the issue. Everything is wide and so easy to limit chances.

[dickos1]

OP typical of the poster. Over-reaction. You’ll be dusting down the netto banners next….

McCanns tactics are just awful, too slow in the build up , predictable in the execution of the final pass or cross , no attack positioning in readiness in the 18yd box , players stood waiting to see where the ball going to end up , instead of parenting its passage and giving the provider options . In a word Clueless !!

I think with posts like that you’re identifying yourself as the clueless one

[Draytonian III]

Wow, it just gets worse.
There simply is no cohesion as a team, and it's like they are playing through treacle every match.

Why the hell does mcann think Billy can play as a lone striker ?! When everyone can see that it simply doesn't work.

The subs were baffling, it just made us worse, Fleming for maxwell?!! What's the point ?! Then Fleming gets done within  30 seconds of being on the pitch.


Few people are saying McCann is on thin ice with supporters, and I tend to agree. Won't be long before he's getting pelters from the stands .

I bet you couldn’t wait to get on here and start having a go at the team, the manager etc .
The way you come across is that you have a personal problem against Grant McCann or maybe and this is what I think you are a wind up merchant who enjoys confrontation with other fans because you’re not really a Rovers supporter.
Today we played better than Wednesday, but we got beat, it’s the way of sport, football in particular

[RoversInSpain]

Wow, it just gets worse.
There simply is no cohesion as a team, and it's like they are playing through treacle every match.

Why the hell does mcann think Billy can play as a lone striker ?! When everyone can see that it simply doesn't work.

The subs were baffling, it just made us worse, Fleming for maxwell?!! What's the point ?! Then Fleming gets done within  30 seconds of being on the pitch.


Few people are saying McCann is on thin ice with supporters, and I tend to agree. Won't be long before he's getting pelters from the stands .

My god, this bloody forum. Off we go again.
The only thing (apart from the ref) that’s abysmal is your cry baby rant of total crap.
Very glad the team has more fight than you. Go grow a pair and stop wingeing. Jeeeeeesus.

[Daniel_Smith]

The way fans are acting, they'll force McCann to take another job in a higher league when it comes available - and I dare say he'll go on and do a fab job for them.

Facts are we have been unlucky in certain games, had refereeing decisions go against us in others, and also been up against teams who dig their heels in and get results regardless of performances.

I agree we need to be better at converting chances. But on the whole I've watched better, more coherent performances than we've had under the dark days of Schofield and McSheffrey.

[In the box]

The way fans are acting, they'll force McCann to take another job in a higher league when it comes available - and I dare say he'll go on and do a fab job for them.

Facts are we have been unlucky in certain games, had refereeing decisions go against us in others, and also been up against teams who dig their heels in and get results regardless of performances.

I agree we need to be better at converting chances. But on the whole I've watched better, more coherent performances than we've had under the dark days of Schofield and McSheffrey.

McCann has a tactic problem, play out from the back without a central play maker ? 

[Danmckay456]

Too many of our summer signings haven’t made a telling contribution over the season and don’t look like they are good enough

[Padge_DRFC]

Clifton is a passenger in every game I've watched him play

[redarmi66]

The way fans are acting, they'll force McCann to take another job in a higher league when it comes available - and I dare say he'll go on and do a fab job for them.

Facts are we have been unlucky in certain games, had refereeing decisions go against us in others, and also been up against teams who dig their heels in and get results regardless of performances.

I agree we need to be better at converting chances. But on the whole I've watched better, more coherent performances than we've had under the dark days of Schofield and McSheffrey.

TBH i think the majority of fans are right behind Grant and the team. Its just the usual few!! Not sure he would walk into another job higher up at the moment mind. We should be better than the Schofield/McSheffery era as the budget and backing we have now is significantly  better

[mushRTID]

The way fans are acting, they'll force McCann to take another job in a higher league when it comes available - and I dare say he'll go on and do a fab job for them.

Facts are we have been unlucky in certain games, had refereeing decisions go against us in others, and also been up against teams who dig their heels in and get results regardless of performances.

I agree we need to be better at converting chances. But on the whole I've watched better, more coherent performances than we've had under the dark days of Schofield and McSheffrey.

Been very honest, I think it’s only because Grant has followed the dross of Schofield that he is not been questioned more.

The style of play, summer signings and continued changing the team warrants questioning.

I say that as a McCann fan!

[ncRover]

Wow, it just gets worse.
There simply is no cohesion as a team, and it's like they are playing through treacle every match.

Why the hell does mcann think Billy can play as a lone striker ?! When everyone can see that it simply doesn't work.

The subs were baffling, it just made us worse, Fleming for maxwell?!! What's the point ?! Then Fleming gets done within  30 seconds of being on the pitch.


Few people are saying McCann is on thin ice with supporters, and I tend to agree. Won't be long before he's getting pelters from the stands .

Disagree totally.

That is best we have played in a while.

Dominated the game for 60mins. The subs changed the game in a bad way for 10-15mins but then we got back on top.

I've not heard anyone saying GM is on thin ice, if I did then I would let em know how stupid that comment was.

The new signing looked very good when he came on. Couple more like that and we will be fine.

Keeping possession by building out to Sterry who turns and passes backwards and sideways when he’s no options in front of him is not dominating the football game.

No plan for the final third.

[RoversInSpain]

We’ve now got Schofield and McCann in the same sentence…..oh my god! Listen to yourselves.
Pathetic from the ‘supporter’ base
Perhaps we deserve the recent 3 years of absolute dross to return, some I’m sure would love it and would enhance their lives immeasurably.

[Fal]

Clifton is a passenger in every game I've watched him play

Nonsense, first half he was getting stuck in and putting his foot in where it’s needed, was surprised he was taken off and that’s the sort of thing we are missing in midfield.

As for the OP, and a few of the normal negative idiots (on here and X) all I can do is laugh as the nonsense that is posted. The Club, the manager and the players can’t win, as you moan when we don’t play well but win and then moan again when we play well and lose. We aren’t gonna play amazing every game, this league is a tough nut to crack and there’s going to be many twists and turns. Port Vale were shit today and did not deserve to win but alas they took 2 out of the 3 chances they had and ran away (via a lot of time wasting and tactical breaks/injuries) with 3 points.

Not concerned at all

[dickos1]

Wow, it just gets worse.
There simply is no cohesion as a team, and it's like they are playing through treacle every match.

Why the hell does mcann think Billy can play as a lone striker ?! When everyone can see that it simply doesn't work.

The subs were baffling, it just made us worse, Fleming for maxwell?!! What's the point ?! Then Fleming gets done within  30 seconds of being on the pitch.


Few people are saying McCann is on thin ice with supporters, and I tend to agree. Won't be long before he's getting pelters from the stands .

Disagree totally.

That is best we have played in a while.

Dominated the game for 60mins. The subs changed the game in a bad way for 10-15mins but then we got back on top.

I've not heard anyone saying GM is on thin ice, if I did then I would let em know how stupid that comment was.

The new signing looked very good when he came on. Couple more like that and we will be fine.

Keeping possession by building out to Sterry who turns and passes backwards and sideways when he’s no options in front of him is not dominating the football game.

No plan for the final third.

He played a great ball inside the full back for street and smashed one in the top corner from 25 yards plus two other shots on target from the edge of the box.
Street is going to cause havoc for teams with those runs

[ncRover]

Sharp playing as a lone striker hasn’t worked for a long time now. Yet McCann keeps doing it - why?

We can’t play through midfield because Westbrooke or Sbarra aren’t given a chance for some reason.

Then the subs…

Street the centre forward (who looked good) came on on the wing.

Then Hurst the winger came on in central midfield when Gibson needed to come off on the wing.

Fleming who came on and gifted the second goal with being out of position. Him being above our player and consistent performer Jack Senior in the pecking order is an injustice I’m not going to stop going on about.

Then Gibson finally came off for Ironside and Sharp the 38 year old poacher went left wing.

Make sense of that.

[GazLaz]

Sharp playing as a lone striker hasn’t worked for a long time now. Yet McCann keeps doing it - why?

We can’t play through midfield because Westbrooke or Sbarra aren’t given a chance for some reason.

Then the subs…

Street the centre forward (who looked good) came on on the wing.

Then Hurst the winger came on in central midfield when Gibson needed to come off on the wing.

Fleming who came on and gifted the second goal with being out of position. Him being above our player and consistent performer Jack Senior the pecking order is an injustice I’m not going to stop going on about.

Then Gibson finally came off for Ironside and Sharp the 38 year old poacher went left wing.

Make sense of that.

The subs were shocking today. The shambles they created led to the second goal.

[BillyStubbsTears]

It's not converting chances that's the problem. We are simply not creating enough good ones.

Once again, we've run into a brick wall against a low block. Time and again it's happening. We are WAY too ponderous with the ball, and in the first half in particular there was very little movement from the midfield and attack when we had the ball at the back. There was frequently a 30-40 yard hole between their front 2 and midfield crying out for someone to drop in and take the ball on the half turn but we did it no more than a couple of times.

It's still not crisis time, but it's coming very quickly if we don't solve this problem. 14 points from the last 11 games is starting to tell a serious story. In particular the form against promotion rivals - 2 points in the last 5 matches.

If we assume we need 80 points for 3rd place, we now need to pick up 40 from the last 21 matches. P21 W12 D4 L5. We are WAY off looking like being able to do that given performances over the last 10 weeks.

[monkeytennis]

When do we think it’s going to ‘click’?

[Donnywolf]

.... and yet again as I said last game we were not helped by the Ref (non) Homer Simpson

Without a doubt the throwing to the ground of Billy Sharp on the Penalty Spot was a clear clear clear Penalty

Ok we still have to score

Then imo their first goal would never ever ever have happened if the stupid Officials had blown for the foul exactly on half way and when he didn't they broke away and scored

Abysmal certainly he was

[dickos1]

It's not converting chances that's the problem. We are simply not creating enough good ones.

Once again, we've run into a brick wall against a low block. Time and again it's happening. We are WAY too ponderous with the ball, and in the first half in particular there was very little movement from the midfield and attack when we had the ball at the back. There was frequently a 30-40 yard hole between their front 2 and midfield crying out for someone to drop in and take the ball on the half turn but we did it no more than a couple of times.

It's still not crisis time, but it's coming very quickly if we don't solve this problem. 14 points from the last 11 games is starting to tell a serious story. In particular the form against promotion rivals - 2 points in the last 5 matches.

If we assume we need 80 points for 3rd place, we now need to pick up 40 from the last 21 matches. P21 W12 D4 L5. We are WAY off looking like being able to do that given performances over the last 10 weeks.

Don’t start with all that again,
“We look miles away from being able to achieve that” nonsense.
We all know how that went last season

We got in behind today a few times, more than we have in most games for a while, street could make a big difference

[CJK]

Clifton is a passenger in every game I've watched him play

Nonsense, first half he was getting stuck in and putting his foot in where it’s needed, was surprised he was taken off and that’s the sort of thing we are missing in midfield.

As for the OP, and a few of the normal negative idiots (on here and X) all I can do is laugh as the nonsense that is posted. The Club, the manager and the players can’t win, as you moan when we don’t play well but win and then moan again when we play well and lose. We aren’t gonna play amazing every game, this league is a tough nut to crack and there’s going to be many twists and turns. Port Vale were shit today and did not deserve to win but alas they took 2 out of the 3 chances they had and ran away (via a lot of time wasting and tactical breaks/injuries) with 3 points.

Not concerned at all

Fal, genuinely, how did you see the game today? What did you take away from it? Just interested, not looking for arguments, it's all opinions.

I agree with Clifton, he had a knack of getting on second balls in the first half. I think we're missing a Whiteman type midfielder in the middle. Gibson and Moly are just too wasteful at the moment, I've no idea why. I also don't agree with Sharp up top on his own against two massive centre halves. The new lad looked lively, I'm intrigued by him.

McCann is a good manager, hopefully this is a blip. But I'm still concerned about how many we conceded Vs how many shots we give away.

[GazLaz]

It's not converting chances that's the problem. We are simply not creating enough good ones.

Once again, we've run into a brick wall against a low block. Time and again it's happening. We are WAY too ponderous with the ball, and in the first half in particular there was very little movement from the midfield and attack when we had the ball at the back. There was frequently a 30-40 yard hole between their front 2 and midfield crying out for someone to drop in and take the ball on the half turn but we did it no more than a couple of times.

It's still not crisis time, but it's coming very quickly if we don't solve this problem. 14 points from the last 11 games is starting to tell a serious story. In particular the form against promotion rivals - 2 points in the last 5 matches.

If we assume we need 80 points for 3rd place, we now need to pick up 40 from the last 21 matches. P21 W12 D4 L5. We are WAY off looking like being able to do that given performances over the last 10 weeks.

All correct. We need to have 20+ shots per game with the current average quality of chances we create.