Post by stevek192 on Aug 4, 2019 9:09:04 GMT
Another season and a different venue but same old Rovers. Its only the first game but you are always looking for signs of what the season holds for us and whilst I would never write a team off after one game; not even five games; but for me the truth is at present the team will be the collective sum of its parts. The keeper is no Bonham, the defence lacks pace without Lockyer to bail us out with his pace and was torn to threads b y pace and physical power on a couple of occasions, the midfield was one paced apart from Bennett but even he has the tendancy to slow the game down and the attack was too often Adeboyeio on his own and he visibly tired after a positive start but must have become dejected with the lack of any real creativity in the side. I would say that the problems of last season are going to be the same problems this season with no creativity or real pace brought into the side and probably without Clarke -Harris very few goals. In truth you can bring in defenders and defensive midfielders one a penny but power, pace and creativity costs money and there have been clear indications in GC's dealings that money is scarce.
For this to be anything other than a struggle we need three players minimum- an absolute must is a creative central midfielder and a proven striker to take the pressure off the huge weight that is going to be on Clarke-Harris's shoulders. we also need a pacy winger and a centre half with pace would not go amiss.
Anyway the game itself was in no way a one way affair and possession was very much in our favour and we actually had more shots at goal than Blackpool however this modern game is not only about possession but more about what you do with the b all when you have got it and that is born out by Blackpool having six shots ON TARGET to our one and looking generally more creative when they did have the ball with a couple of tall quick players up front.
The result really was brought about by three moments-
1. Ollie Clarke should have put us ahead in the first five minutes when in a one on one with the keeper and hitting the outside of the post.
2. A dubious penalty decision that seemed to rock the boat. Was it a case of strikers head hitting keepers fist in an inevitable collision or keepers fist taking the player out? I really am not sure but many refs would have given the keeper the benefit of doubt as both players were going for the ball.
3.Players going asleep at the start of the second half that gave the opponents a soft goal and really killed the game off.
Jaakkola 4 One poor decision and looked a bit jittery but if you rated Bonham on the away game at Doncaster last year you would have given the same comment and mark. The difference was that Bonham's poor performances were not his first game and he had built his reputation so we must give the keeper time to settle in and it is very important that gasheads get behind the keeper NOW otherwise he will be another Smith . Made one good save but in truth didn't have a great deal to do.
Little 6 Looked good going forward but the problem with the set up is that with no pace at the back the full backs are going to9 get caught up field and out of position. I feel Little will prove a better attacker than defender but again lets give him time and we could have an ace card.
Davies 6 lacks Lockyers pace which showed more because there was no pace alongside him however showed signs of being a consistent no nonsence centre half who is capable of performing well and really didn't do very much wrong.
Craig 5 couple of slack moments which could have presented goals to the opposition but an average overall performance.
Leahy 5 Similar to Little in that he is better going forward than defending which overall might not be a bad thing but we could need to play three centre halves to compensate for this
Upson 5.5 Did his job pretty well to be fair but that is fine if he has players around him in midfield with the ability to take the baton but that is not the case and though he works hard and uses the ball generally well in our midfield it looks ponderous .
O. Clarke 5 I see nothing to change my belief that Ollie is too inconsistent to become a midfielder who will dominate a game and that is what we lack- a leader in midfield who takes the game by the scruff of the neck and drives us forward.
Sercombe 3 If it wasn't for the majority of last season I would still have hope but Sercombe somehow has lost his mojo and is a luxury we just cannot afford. Ev ery week for the last year it has been a case of hoping he can regain his form rather than looking likely.
Rodman 4 Started well but then faded into oblivion.
Adeboyejo 5 Looks like he has something about him but visibly tired as the game wore on but that was not surprising as its a tough ask being upfront on your own in a team lacking creativity big time.
Bennett 6.5 lively performance. Tried to make things happen and always looked dangerous but unfortunately he was the only one.
Subs: Smith 6 Did Ok in the short time he was on the pitch and hit the post with a header at the death. Trouble is that I am not convinced he is the striker we need to partner Clarke-Harris and more likely to be much of a muchness like Reilly, Nicholls and Jacubiak last season. You just feel that this is going to be another case of spending the whole season switching from one to the other without resolving the problem. The more I look at our financial situation the more I feel that the only way we will solve our striker position is to give one final chance to Nile Ranger because we are so desperate to get in a player with his undoubted ability and goalscoring record but can't afford a Ched Evans or a Simon Cox.
Nichols 5 Did more in the short time he was on the pitch but again did not hit the net with two reasonable chances. Personally I would at this stage write off Sercombe and play Nicholls in his position behind a front two with hopefully one of those two being Jon Clarke-Harris.
Crowd 8 A great noisy following but not for the first time let down by the players performance. The team did not deserve the applaud they received at the end.
Ref 3 Never really got to grips with the game and allowed blatant time wasting to go on throughout especially the Blackpool keeper. Questionable penalty and was a bit of the typical homer you get these days.
Blackpool 6 I think we made them look a lot better than they actually were and I see them probably being a mid table team flirting on occasions with the top ten.
GC- I remain unconvinced by him. Talks a better game than he manages and nothing I saw yesterday convinces me that we will be playing any differently than we played under him last season. How much is down to him and how much down to the lack of funds I am not sure.he will not be able to hide under cover of his record as compared to the League Table this season. The League table does not lie and it is essential that this season we take a more positive approach to games at the Mem and make it a fortress starting next Saturday against everybodys favourites Wycombe-not. Now I wonder how they will approach the game?
For this to be anything other than a struggle we need three players minimum- an absolute must is a creative central midfielder and a proven striker to take the pressure off the huge weight that is going to be on Clarke-Harris's shoulders. we also need a pacy winger and a centre half with pace would not go amiss.
Anyway the game itself was in no way a one way affair and possession was very much in our favour and we actually had more shots at goal than Blackpool however this modern game is not only about possession but more about what you do with the b all when you have got it and that is born out by Blackpool having six shots ON TARGET to our one and looking generally more creative when they did have the ball with a couple of tall quick players up front.
The result really was brought about by three moments-
1. Ollie Clarke should have put us ahead in the first five minutes when in a one on one with the keeper and hitting the outside of the post.
2. A dubious penalty decision that seemed to rock the boat. Was it a case of strikers head hitting keepers fist in an inevitable collision or keepers fist taking the player out? I really am not sure but many refs would have given the keeper the benefit of doubt as both players were going for the ball.
3.Players going asleep at the start of the second half that gave the opponents a soft goal and really killed the game off.
Jaakkola 4 One poor decision and looked a bit jittery but if you rated Bonham on the away game at Doncaster last year you would have given the same comment and mark. The difference was that Bonham's poor performances were not his first game and he had built his reputation so we must give the keeper time to settle in and it is very important that gasheads get behind the keeper NOW otherwise he will be another Smith . Made one good save but in truth didn't have a great deal to do.
Little 6 Looked good going forward but the problem with the set up is that with no pace at the back the full backs are going to9 get caught up field and out of position. I feel Little will prove a better attacker than defender but again lets give him time and we could have an ace card.
Davies 6 lacks Lockyers pace which showed more because there was no pace alongside him however showed signs of being a consistent no nonsence centre half who is capable of performing well and really didn't do very much wrong.
Craig 5 couple of slack moments which could have presented goals to the opposition but an average overall performance.
Leahy 5 Similar to Little in that he is better going forward than defending which overall might not be a bad thing but we could need to play three centre halves to compensate for this
Upson 5.5 Did his job pretty well to be fair but that is fine if he has players around him in midfield with the ability to take the baton but that is not the case and though he works hard and uses the ball generally well in our midfield it looks ponderous .
O. Clarke 5 I see nothing to change my belief that Ollie is too inconsistent to become a midfielder who will dominate a game and that is what we lack- a leader in midfield who takes the game by the scruff of the neck and drives us forward.
Sercombe 3 If it wasn't for the majority of last season I would still have hope but Sercombe somehow has lost his mojo and is a luxury we just cannot afford. Ev ery week for the last year it has been a case of hoping he can regain his form rather than looking likely.
Rodman 4 Started well but then faded into oblivion.
Adeboyejo 5 Looks like he has something about him but visibly tired as the game wore on but that was not surprising as its a tough ask being upfront on your own in a team lacking creativity big time.
Bennett 6.5 lively performance. Tried to make things happen and always looked dangerous but unfortunately he was the only one.
Subs: Smith 6 Did Ok in the short time he was on the pitch and hit the post with a header at the death. Trouble is that I am not convinced he is the striker we need to partner Clarke-Harris and more likely to be much of a muchness like Reilly, Nicholls and Jacubiak last season. You just feel that this is going to be another case of spending the whole season switching from one to the other without resolving the problem. The more I look at our financial situation the more I feel that the only way we will solve our striker position is to give one final chance to Nile Ranger because we are so desperate to get in a player with his undoubted ability and goalscoring record but can't afford a Ched Evans or a Simon Cox.
Nichols 5 Did more in the short time he was on the pitch but again did not hit the net with two reasonable chances. Personally I would at this stage write off Sercombe and play Nicholls in his position behind a front two with hopefully one of those two being Jon Clarke-Harris.
Crowd 8 A great noisy following but not for the first time let down by the players performance. The team did not deserve the applaud they received at the end.
Ref 3 Never really got to grips with the game and allowed blatant time wasting to go on throughout especially the Blackpool keeper. Questionable penalty and was a bit of the typical homer you get these days.
Blackpool 6 I think we made them look a lot better than they actually were and I see them probably being a mid table team flirting on occasions with the top ten.
GC- I remain unconvinced by him. Talks a better game than he manages and nothing I saw yesterday convinces me that we will be playing any differently than we played under him last season. How much is down to him and how much down to the lack of funds I am not sure.he will not be able to hide under cover of his record as compared to the League Table this season. The League table does not lie and it is essential that this season we take a more positive approach to games at the Mem and make it a fortress starting next Saturday against everybodys favourites Wycombe-not. Now I wonder how they will approach the game?
