Striker

[StocksArmy]

It’s the fact that he’s not been on the pitch that’s seems a big problem. Just seems McCann already isn’t fully confident in him. It’s my only concern atm. Everything else I feel has stepped up in a big way since last season.

[CheeseToastie]

It's kind of pathetic how people on here are blaming us for not signing rob street and how he would have made such a difference. He was never coming to us in the summer Lincoln have solid plans for him and he'll be in there starting 11 the majority of the season the board knew this grant knew this he was never coming back. But why not get obsessed with loan signings...sure if Ramsey had come to us instead of Newcastle things would be different ay?! Two loan signings that are superb players that were never going to come back to us. Hence the term loan

[DonnyRover]

We can’t be signing someone like Middleton, who can get to the byline and put in excellent crosses and then expect Billy to be a foot taller! Street would be lapping it up in this side.

S’Barra a strange selection tonight, also. We’ve got to have much better for that role (and we have).

The subs were a marked contrast again, as Saturday, theirs make an impact and ours just made the team look weaker. The rhythm went out the side and don’t get me started on Hanlan.

I think probably 90% of the Rovers supporters know what the problem is. Trouble is, we’re not the ones making the decisions and neither do we have the resources.

Agree, so many balls in the box but no one to get on the end of them, we were always hoping for a ball to drop our way in the box tonight, but they rode their luck and especially in the second half they cut out a lot of our crosses with relative ease.

Playing Sbarra we may aswell ask one of the mascots to play, so ineffective, physically he’s not a footballer, you can get smaller players that have an electric turn of pace or are tricky dribblers, sbarra is neither and got caught by their centre halves with at least a 10 yard head start through on goal.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Worth reminding Rob Street started at Bromley last season when we peppered them and lost.

Rob Street or any other striker is not the reason why we didn't win tonight.

We may need to go into the market at some point but the need is not immediate.

[mpc123]

I was really surprised how well we played.

It's not a striker we need really, look where all the chances come from, literally all midfield and forward line. As per last game we need to be more clinical. I think this has happened in the last few seasons with Mccann. He has talked about it, worked on it and we have sorted it. Just wait rather than ditching most of the team. I think we have started brilliantly.

[karlos]

The writing was on the wall pre season with Hanlon when mcann said he doesn't run enough but what I can't understand is why Ironside is not getting in over Hanlon.

[Filo]

We’ve played two good teams in the last two games with very good defences. We’ve not created loads of clear chances that a better striker would have scored. Sbarra should have scored that one today, Middleton’s was a great chance also. Neither misses were to do with the quality of our striker.

Sharp missed two big chances tonight, broadbent’s was a sitter, sbarra was a great chance, Middleton had two great chances
The first 35 mins we were absolutely outstanding

On Sbarra’s chance, the vision and ball from Broadbent was outstanding, anyone with a bit of pace would have got his shot away

[donnygav93]

I think the problem most clubs in this division will have is getting a proven striker at this level will be upwards if not close to a million (only have to look at Alfie may career)

So what choices do we have (premier league loan)

Or take a punt on someone from a lower division

either of which have a risk

I do think billy has been doing a great job at leading the line so far this season especially with the quality of mols Middleton and gibson and I'm hoping halan can become that focal point time will tell

[ncRover]

The writing was on the wall pre season with Hanlon when mcann said he doesn't run enough but what I can't understand is why Ironside is not getting in over Hanlon.

McCann on Ironside

"He will have a role, of course he will.

"At this minute, he knows he's up against some stiff competition.

I hope we can make it click around him if he plays. When he and Adelakun to the left and Biggins making runs beyond him it worked perfectly. Different types of players in those positions now.

He looked decent when he came on v Boro.

[TonySoprano]

Comparing Hanlan to Thomas or Bingham is up there as the daftest post of all time

Nope, all are huge downgrades on what we had before, and massively lower than the standard we need.

You could argue that hanlan is a worse signing because we've gone up a league aswell.

[tommy toes]

Hanlan, so far, reminds me of Theo Robinson.
Runs around a lot very quickly but dunt achieve much.
Hope he improves.

[Filo]

Hanlan, so far, reminds me of Theo Robinson.
Runs around a lot very quickly but dunt achieve much.
Hope he improves.

Not really seen anything from him to show he has genuine pace

[Ian Nimmo]

Hanlon getting some right stick for others missing chances when he wasnt even on the pitch

This is not the case really, the majority of posts on all threads are concerned that Hanlan has not shown much in his game time.
In this particular game we needed players to come on who could change the game. It seems clear that Hanlan was brought in to be considered as first choice central striker. All comments relate to the fact he did nothing when he game on just like his other performances.
Others players are being stated.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

We’ve played two good teams in the last two games with very good defences. We’ve not created loads of clear chances that a better striker would have scored. Sbarra should have scored that one today, Middleton’s was a great chance also. Neither misses were to do with the quality of our striker.

Sharp missed two big chances tonight, broadbent’s was a sitter, sbarra was a great chance, Middleton had two great chances
The first 35 mins we were absolutely outstanding

On Sbarra’s chance, the vision and ball from Broadbent was outstanding, anyone with a bit of pace would have got his shot away

It was Middleton who played the ball through for Sbarra's great run. The centre half wasn't catching him but Castledine, an attacking midfielder, was like a greyhound after a hare to catch him at the very last moment. There aren't many on our team who could outpace Castledine or could have finished the chance with any certainty after such a long run towards goal.   

I think we're being overly harsh on certain players.

[Filo]

We’ve played two good teams in the last two games with very good defences. We’ve not created loads of clear chances that a better striker would have scored. Sbarra should have scored that one today, Middleton’s was a great chance also. Neither misses were to do with the quality of our striker.

Sharp missed two big chances tonight, broadbent’s was a sitter, sbarra was a great chance, Middleton had two great chances
The first 35 mins we were absolutely outstanding

On Sbarra’s chance, the vision and ball from Broadbent was outstanding, anyone with a bit of pace would have got his shot away

It was Middleton who played the ball through for Sbarra's great run. The centre half wasn't catching him but Castledine, an attacking midfielder, was like a greyhound after a hare to catch him at the very last moment. There aren't many on our team who could outpace Castledine or could have finished the chance with any certainty after such a long run towards goal.   

I think we're being overly harsh on certain players.

If it was Middleton I stand corrected, the highlights fail to show the chance for some strange reason

[In the box]

Worth reminding Rob Street started at Bromley last season when we peppered them and lost.

Rob Street or any other striker is not the reason why we didn't win tonight.

We may need to go into the market at some point but the need is not immediate.

We showed that the team can compete and demonstrated that at Middlesbrough but that win meant that we had tipped Huddersfield off and our team selection also did this imo . It’s a great start to our season and 7 point from 12 means we’re here and getting noticed . McCann has got his plans    We have Ironside Hanlan both need to lift their game now and opportunities will not be for off . Port Vale on Saturday looks  good fixture to get things back on track .

[McCammon egg n chips]

Definitely feels a bit light up front. All comes down to expectations though. Could this team see us finish midtable as it stands? I'd say so from current performances. Add a striker and I feel we'd be fighting to play offs. We may even get there without, but I think it's asking a lot of Sharp at his age and Hanlan with how he's looked so far.

[oggycompton]

I think we all agree we are light up front. I was scratching my head a little at the appearance of Sbarra bearing in mind he hasn't even been on the bench in previous games, especially when Gotts played well the week before in the same role.

Long balls to Sharp and crosses into the box with him there I am afraid is not going to cut it, a decent tall presence up front would have made all the difference last night for sure. Bit of an odd selerction if I am honest.

Ironside is clearly frozen out and with Sharp who scored a goal due to an error and hasn't looked like scoring other than that and Hanlan who has been brought in and was given one real go at the first game of the season, seems odd.

The rest of the team and performance were genuinely superb. If we finish 1 point behind Huddersfield this season, we have a great chance of going up. I just felt that it was almost a game where we could expect to get beat due to the difference in finances etc so there were a couple of people needing games being thrown in.

For me, Gotts has to play the 10 role, stop playing Clifton and Sbbarra as I am afraid to say they offer absolutely nothing in that role, give Hanlan an extended run at number 9 to try and get a bit of confidence

[RugbyRover]

I'm in two minds about Ironside.

He's definitely fallen into the trap of playing the man not the ball. This usually happens when the player knows he's 2nd best and needs some advantage. I'd be telling to clean up his act and not to get involved with all the wrestling moves.

On the other hand I can't stop thinking he's just right for Middleton's crossing to the back post.

On Middleton, his crossing needs to improve and our lads need to know where they are landing. We could do with a highlights package of all the Dundee goals. See what positions Dalby (?) was taking up.

[boro_rover]

We’ve played two good teams in the last two games with very good defences. We’ve not created loads of clear chances that a better striker would have scored. Sbarra should have scored that one today, Middleton’s was a great chance also. Neither misses were to do with the quality of our striker.

Sharp missed two big chances tonight, broadbent’s was a sitter, sbarra was a great chance, Middleton had two great chances
The first 35 mins we were absolutely outstanding

On Sbarra’s chance, the vision and ball from Broadbent was outstanding, anyone with a bit of pace would have got his shot away

It was Middleton who played the ball through for Sbarra's great run. The centre half wasn't catching him but Castledine, an attacking midfielder, was like a greyhound after a hare to catch him at the very last moment. There aren't many on our team who could outpace Castledine or could have finished the chance with any certainty after such a long run towards goal.   

I think we're being overly harsh on certain players.

Sbarra was desperate to get the ball on his left foot. He should have had the awareness to realise he had to take it on his right to give himself time to get a shot off.

[steve@dcfd]

Sbarra should not be in starting line up apart from running about and closing down he does nothing shocked he was in the stay line up.
But the position he plays is becoming more important and goals from that position whoever plays are scarce. It’s generally Gotts or Clifton do we need to try some one else.
Overall last night we created chances but did not take them it goes back to last season before January. One of Ironside or Hanlan to start on Saturday we can’t keep starting Billy. But if either of the two start we need Middleton on the left.

[oggycompton]

Try Ajayi. Pointless bringing him in as one of our loan players and have him play 20 minutes every week. Give him a go in the 10.

[Filo]

Try Ajayi. Pointless bringing him in as one of our loan players and have him play 20 minutes every week. Give him a go in the 10.

I said that at half time, Ajayi for Sbarra in the 10, but instead he comes on and plays wide taking our two most dangerous players off

[oggycompton]

Back to back games where the substitutions have made us worse, can't say the same about Huddersfield

[Copps is Magic]

For me we've got a great midfield, and we were giving Huddersfield the run around at times last night. I don't know why anyone would want to change anything at this point. The defense also looks fairly solid.

The problem is slapping us right there in the face. Sharp, for all he offers to the team (and he does), will struggle to break 10 league goals this season. Ironside will also struggle to get to 10, and Hanlan won't. So our striker force will  have a titantic battle to contributw 30+ goals this season, which is simply not enough.

[jamesrover17]

We’ve played two good teams in the last two games with very good defences. We’ve not created loads of clear chances that a better striker would have scored. Sbarra should have scored that one today, Middleton’s was a great chance also. Neither misses were to do with the quality of our striker.

Sharp missed two big chances tonight, broadbent’s was a sitter, sbarra was a great chance, Middleton had two great chances
The first 35 mins we were absolutely outstanding

On Sbarra’s chance, the vision and ball from Broadbent was outstanding, anyone with a bit of pace would have got his shot away

It was Middleton who played the ball through for Sbarra's great run. The centre half wasn't catching him but Castledine, an attacking midfielder, was like a greyhound after a hare to catch him at the very last moment. There aren't many on our team who could outpace Castledine or could have finished the chance with any certainty after such a long run towards goal.   

I think we're being overly harsh on certain players.

Too slow and lightweight on that specific break, I got excited when I saw that ball through as I assumed it was Sharp before I saw the number 10... Billy would have finished that IMO, wouldn't have needed to shift it onto his left and would have probably had a bit more 'nous'

[ForsolongaRover]

Back to back games where the substitutions have made us worse, can't say the same about Huddersfield

Is it possible that GM’s team (and subs) selection is based on giving starts as rewards to those who played against Boro? It might explain Sbarra and he may give Close etc a start v Port Vale.

In general, he must be pretty pleased with all his squad except the two - Hanlan and Ironside -j
vying to be the main striker. And instead of Ajayi replacing Sharp he could reverse it because Ajayi seems far more of a goal threat than Hanlan.

The obvious quality of the build-up play and chances created could be an incentive to attract a PL club to loan us a real quality striker which would be cheaper than buying one.

[mushRTID]

Try Ajayi. Pointless bringing him in as one of our loan players and have him play 20 minutes every week. Give him a go in the 10.

I said that at half time, Ajayi for Sbarra in the 10, but instead he comes on and plays wide taking our two most dangerous players off

Said to my mate that it was a risk taking off both wingers at the same time. Both were playing well.

Ajayi came on and did very little.

Gibson came on and did absolutely nothing.

I think those subs hurt us.

[GazLaz]

Try Ajayi. Pointless bringing him in as one of our loan players and have him play 20 minutes every week. Give him a go in the 10.

I said that at half time, Ajayi for Sbarra in the 10, but instead he comes on and plays wide taking our two most dangerous players off

Said to my mate that it was a risk taking off both wingers at the same time. Both were playing well.

Ajayi came on and did very little.

Gibson came on and did absolutely nothing.

I think those subs hurt us.

Not making subs doesn’t seem to be an option which is a bit odd. Changing 5 players can be pretty disruptive to a team battling in a close game. Players can play 90 minutes. It’s not just us, most teams feel like they have to make all their allotted subs these days. It’s a bit premeditated. Moly had his best game of the season last night, he was great, yet he was subbed early (before the last minute), which is rare.

[Alan Southstand]

Middleton was the star of that front 3 last night. Most of the threat came from him. Their full back was subbed off second half and I’m not sure he’ll recover from that pummelling for a week or two.

Did Mols get any shots off last night? I don’t recall him getting anything. He was worrying his full back, but not getting into dangerous areas.

Talking of subs, it would have been nice if GM had subbed S’Barra’s before the game started (joking).