|
Post by taff937 on Aug 26, 2019 12:57:27 GMT
watching from the East Stand against Oxford what was most obvious was the space between Rovers front two and the midfield every time Rovers lost possession it was easy for Oxford to pick up the ball and move forward our midfield is to defensive as we are at home! n
|
|
|
Post by spiess1 on Aug 26, 2019 16:14:35 GMT
Could you see from your lofty perch that we won 3-1?
|
|
|
Post by gashead99 on Aug 26, 2019 16:50:43 GMT
We won, yes, and a good victory it was. But I agree with the OP. We surrendered central midfield too easily. With a 1 goal lead giving away that much possession is a dangerous game. I couldn't have been the only person to think that at 2-1 the equaliser was more likely than our third. Even with wing backs pushing forward, if the middle 3 don't start defending until 10 yds inside our own half we are asking for trouble. Despite that, a good win and great to see Nicholls score - 15 for the season anyone?
|
|
|
Post by South Stand Ultra on Aug 26, 2019 16:52:24 GMT
We won and his first post is moan......... hhmmmmm
|
|
|
Post by South Stand Ultra on Aug 26, 2019 16:54:16 GMT
We won, yes, and a good victory it was. But I agree with the OP. We surrendered central midfield too easily. With a 1 goal lead giving away that much possession is a dangerous game. I couldn't have been the only person to think that at 2-1 the equaliser was more likely than our third. Even with wing backs pushing forward, if the middle 3 don't start defending until 10 yds inside our own half we are asking for trouble. Despite that, a good win and great to see Nicholls score - 15 for the season anyone?
No doubt if we had over run them in midfield and lost, you would be moaning about that!
|
|
|
Post by Topper Gas on Aug 26, 2019 17:04:54 GMT
Problem is we don't have a natural attacking CM in the squad, and unless we sign one this week then that will remain the case until at least January.
|
|
|
Midfield
Aug 26, 2019 17:06:41 GMT
via mobile
Post by Gas Go Marching In on Aug 26, 2019 17:06:41 GMT
Problem is we don't have a natural attacking CM in the squad, and unless we sign one this week then that will remain the case until at least January. Obvious Owen.
|
|
|
Post by curlywurly on Aug 26, 2019 17:09:33 GMT
watching from the East Stand against Oxford what was most obvious was the space between Rovers front two and the midfield every time Rovers lost possession it was easy for Oxford to pick up the ball and move forward our midfield is to defensive as we are at home! n I don’t disagree, but the set up and tactic of allowing Oxford space in midfield is deliberate - to a point. It allows us to remain compact at the back. Possession is only any good if it can hurt you. The lack of clear cut chances that Oxford had, despite 60% possession, suggests that it worked well. The change to 3-5-2, especially with Hare and Leahy providing quality crosses andSmith making a nuisance of himself makes us a better counter attacking team. You’ll also note that as we learned how weak the Oxford central defenders were on the ball, we also started to press higher up the files in the second half and make them panic a lot more. Despite the popular opinion, I think we have a very strong midfield and we’ve found a pattern that suits the strengths of the players we have on board.
|
|
|
Post by gashead99 on Aug 26, 2019 17:21:12 GMT
2 off the line suggests we were a little lucky.
|
|
|
Midfield
Aug 26, 2019 18:00:44 GMT
via mobile
Post by curlywurly on Aug 26, 2019 18:00:44 GMT
2 off the line suggests we were a little lucky. So then we’re Blackpool and Coventry. The game’s like that.
|
|
|
Post by gashead99 on Aug 26, 2019 18:10:03 GMT
I'm not knocking the result. More often than not, the team with the greater possession takes something out of the game - if you've got the ball, the other team can't score. I like the wing back formation, though I think the squad we have dictates that is the way we have to play. Are we a dangerous counter attacking side? Not yet, but if we persevere we might become one. To answer a previous post, if we had dominated possession and lost, would I moan? No, I'd be disappointed naturally but for the last season and a half all of us have wanted dominant home performances so moaning would be churlish.
|
|
|
Post by Antonio Fargas on Aug 26, 2019 18:16:04 GMT
I'm not knocking the result. More often than not, the team with the greater possession takes something out of the game - if you've got the ball, the other team can't score. I like the wing back formation, though I think the squad we have dictates that is the way we have to play. Are we a dangerous counter attacking side? Not yet, but if we persevere we might become one. To answer a previous post, if we had dominated possession and lost, would I moan? No, I'd be disappointed naturally but for the last season and a half all of us have wanted dominant home performances so moaning would be churlish. DCs last half season with us at home was all about keeping possession and doing nothing with it. It was awful to watch, and didn't get results. Eg this time last year. Lost at home to godawful Southend 53% possession. Lost at home to Portsmouth, 52%. Lost at home to Accrington, 57%.
|
|
|
Midfield
Aug 26, 2019 18:25:13 GMT
via mobile
Post by gashead99 on Aug 26, 2019 18:25:13 GMT
I'm not knocking the result. More often than not, the team with the greater possession takes something out of the game - if you've got the ball, the other team can't score. I like the wing back formation, though I think the squad we have dictates that is the way we have to play. Are we a dangerous counter attacking side? Not yet, but if we persevere we might become one. To answer a previous post, if we had dominated possession and lost, would I moan? No, I'd be disappointed naturally but for the last season and a half all of us have wanted dominant home performances so moaning would be churlish. DCs last half season with us at home was all about keeping possession and doing nothing with it. It was awful to watch, and didn't get results. Eg this time last year. Lost at home to godawful Southend 53% possession. Lost at home to Portsmouth, 52%. Lost at home to Accrington, 57%.
|
|
|
Post by downendgas123 on Aug 26, 2019 18:26:43 GMT
I'm not knocking the result. More often than not, the team with the greater possession takes something out of the game - if you've got the ball, the other team can't score. I like the wing back formation, though I think the squad we have dictates that is the way we have to play. Are we a dangerous counter attacking side? Not yet, but if we persevere we might become one. To answer a previous post, if we had dominated possession and lost, would I moan? No, I'd be disappointed naturally but for the last season and a half all of us have wanted dominant home performances so moaning would be churlish. DCs last half season with us at home was all about keeping possession and doing nothing with it. It was awful to watch, and didn't get results. Eg this time last year. Lost at home to godawful Southend 53% possession. Lost at home to Portsmouth, 52%. Lost at home to Accrington, 57%. The first 6 or so home games of last season bar the freak result against Coventry was some of the worst football we had played in a good few years.
|
|
|
Post by markczgas on Aug 26, 2019 18:29:12 GMT
We won, yes, and a good victory it was. But I agree with the OP. We surrendered central midfield too easily. With a 1 goal lead giving away that much possession is a dangerous game. I couldn't have been the only person to think that at 2-1 the equaliser was more likely than our third. Even with wing backs pushing forward, if the middle 3 don't start defending until 10 yds inside our own half we are asking for trouble. Despite that, a good win and great to see Nicholls score - 15 for the season anyone? sorry. I thought we were more likely to score at 2-1 . Of course, Oxford were well in the game and had a strong first 5 mins of the second half but after that it was even. I think our front 2, plus the wing backs were more of a threat than what Oxford were - and Mackie is easy to handle these days. With the wing backs and JCH up top we look a dangerous side. More quality footie from us - keeping possession and movement would make us a better side. UTG !
|
|
|
Post by Hudson1883 on Aug 26, 2019 18:40:34 GMT
We had one chalked off & Smith missed from almost under the crossbar. We could have put this game to bed well before Nichols came on. I wouldn’t say at any point we were under the cosh or they were all over us. As mentioned, for all their possession they did very little with it.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2019 23:08:08 GMT
For me it was similar to how we played under dc in the good times but without as much flair. We defended with intent once oxford got into our half but actually had some width when in possession as well as counterattacking well. We did defend too deep at times in the 2nd half but its difficult not to when your beating a team who pass the ball well.
|
|
|
Post by philbemmygas on Aug 27, 2019 7:08:17 GMT
We won, yes, and a good victory it was. But I agree with the OP. We surrendered central midfield too easily. With a 1 goal lead giving away that much possession is a dangerous game. I couldn't have been the only person to think that at 2-1 the equaliser was more likely than our third. Even with wing backs pushing forward, if the middle 3 don't start defending until 10 yds inside our own half we are asking for trouble. Despite that, a good win and great to see Nicholls score - 15 for the season anyone? sorry. I thought we were more likely to score at 2-1 . Of course, Oxford were well in the game and had a strong first 5 mins of the second half but after that it was even. I think our front 2, plus the wing backs were more of a threat than what Oxford were - and Mackie is easy to handle these days. With the wing backs and JCH up top we look a dangerous side. More quality footie from us - keeping possession and movement would make us a better side. UTG ! When we went 2-1 up; you could see how the Oxford defence went into panic mode every time we attacked.
On the balance of play (disregarding the amount of possession they had in there own half) we were worthy winners, stats as we know can be quoted and misquoted often to the detriment of this club.
Rejoice we won our second game on the bounce - UTG
|
|
|
Post by station on Aug 27, 2019 7:17:19 GMT
I would agree with the original post, we are lacking in midfield - yes we won - but with a creative midfield player, we could be so much better.
But a good win and we are doing well with what we have available.
|
|
|
Post by outsidehitter30 on Aug 27, 2019 11:38:18 GMT
I would agree with the original post, we are lacking in midfield - yes we won - but with a creative midfield player, we could be so much better. But a good win and we are doing well with what we have available. We need Vitālijs Astafjevs! Sadly long since retired!
I see that Joe Ledley is available and lives within an hour of Bristol. In my view a poor man's Astafjevs but with player salary's as they are now way out of any League 1 clubs budget (especially ours). Pity really as I would see him as a great fit into our problematic midfield & a real solution to what we are missing.
|
|