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Post by DrFaustus on Feb 11, 2024 19:41:15 GMT
Tripe or truth?
"We can't hide away from the fact that, every time we come up against this type of challenge, we fall short."
"In a certain type of game, a less 'clean' game you might say, where it's a little bit more 'back-to-front' and a bit of physicality is needed, we're short in that department. We have a chance one end of the pitch, miss the target and the ball goes out of play for a goal kick. More than likely - ten seconds later - we're defending our box. That happens every single time: whether it's a long throw, or another set piece, or whether it's an unchallenged ball in the middle of the pitch. Regardless of who I've changed personnel-wise, the outcome is still the same. I've been jumping to different formations and different solutions, but - I guarantee - it won't change. It won't change because, unfortunately, the nature of the squad, the 'DNA' of the squad, is not to go towards the ball. We're not capable of doing that. So, we're going to have to find a way of protecting them (the team), but I can't protect against a goal kick".
"That's a clear weakness and it seems to have been there for longer than just this season, in relation to everyone saying that 'Bristol Rovers do well against the big teams on a clean pitch in a clean game of football and then get beaten by the bottom-half teams in a certain type of game. That is going to be down to recruitment at the end of the season. This group of players can get better at it. We are working with them every single day to recognise it (the problem)".
"The second goal (today) from a goal kick. Suddenly, the ball's in the back of our net. It drives me absolutely mad."
"People talk a lot about the shirt... but, when the ball's there, you have to challenge"
"I've tried my hardest to be consistent, in terms of giving players a chance. Now, every single game like this (when we get beaten), I have to change it. I have to be seen to change it."
"We're capable of more, but the game is constantly telling us where we're weak"
"We were chasing the game with the same attacking patterns: no ball-speed, no end-moments"
"We're so leaky, it's disgraceful"
"Can we take those moments of an opposition long-ball out of the equation? We can't. We cannot do that. Can we take a second ball out of the middle of the pitch? Can we take a set-piece moment? We can't do that. Those are the bare essentials of lower-league football and it's just not been valued enough in all departments for too long at this football club. It is being valued now".
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yattongas
Proper Gas
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Post by yattongas on Feb 11, 2024 19:48:54 GMT
Standard practice, blame the last guy.
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pirate
Forum Legend
Posts: 18,515
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Post by pirate on Feb 11, 2024 19:56:36 GMT
Maybe monotone Matt should take a look in the mirror.
Under Mangan we managed to grind out a win at home against a physical Northampton side when we were second best for large parts of the game and then ground out a 1-0 away win at Carlisle when down to 10 men for 20+ mins.
What is Taylor's excuse for getting sacked in his last job after breaking their club transfer record twice in one window, and then going from a poor 1.00 PPM last season to an abysmal 0.69 PPM this season, conceding an embarrassing 32 goals in 16 games (with a measly 15 scored!) and couldn't turn a losing away run that lasted more than a YEAR?
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Post by onedaygas83 on Feb 11, 2024 19:59:16 GMT
I think the main issue is that we have had constant injuries throughout the whole of the squad this season. We don't have a settled defence/midfield or attack where players can form partnerships and understandings of each other. The only ever present players I can think of this season is Evans and Thomas (cox) but he's been dropped and rightly so. So the blame for this is mainly down to recruiting ageing and injury prone players and that's Bartons fault not Taylors but I can't defend Taylors tactics as its so drastically different to how we played under Barton. Its boring to watch and it's league 2 level kick and rush and certainly not a team who is trying to bridge the gap and become a top 6 team in this league. Did I expect better under Taylor and improved results well no I didn't because of those issues I previously mentioned but things need to improve quickly this season or we will be in trouble as will Taylor.
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Post by WeAreTheGas on Feb 11, 2024 20:02:26 GMT
I mean, he’s not wrong, is he?
In a footballing game we’re fine & can compete against the top teams in this league. Against the bruisers near the bottom we’re usually bullied, out-muscled & out-fought.
It’s the case this season and it was the case last season.
We remind me a bit of the sh*t versions of Wenger’s Arsenal a few years after the ‘Invincibles’ era. They could still match the other big boys in a pretty passing game of football at times, but they’d regularly get turned over by Allardyce’s Bolton and Pulis’ Stoke.
Although tbf I’m convinced that with our ‘dogs’ in the middle fit (Finley & Ward) and Taylor at the back we’d be fairing better in these matches.
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Post by RD on Feb 11, 2024 20:04:08 GMT
How on earth can anyone disagree with this?
Total and complete sense. Absolute nail on head.
Horrendous - in fact negligent - recruitment from his predecessor got us here, then pathetic backing from the owners ensured we stayed there.
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Post by Topper Gas on Feb 11, 2024 20:08:07 GMT
I think the main issue is that we have had constant injuries throughout the whole of the squad this season. We don't have a settled defence/midfield or attack where players can form partnerships and understandings of each other. The only ever present players I can think of this season is Evans and Thomas (cox) but he's been dropped and rightly so. So the blame for this is mainly down to recruiting ageing and injury prone players and that's Bartons fault not Taylors but I can't defend Taylors tactics as its so drastically different to how we played under Barton. Its boring to watch and it's league 2 level kick and rush and certainly not a team who is trying to bridge the gap and become a top 6 team in this league. Did I expect better under Taylor and improved results well no I didn't because of those issues I previously mentioned but things need to improve quickly this season or we will be in trouble as will Taylor. Wilson's played the last two games and we've still been no better defensively, not sure you can blame JB for Taylor, Finley, McCormick and Ward all being out injured of call any of them ageing, Friend does seem a bit of a sicknote but we're hardly losing games just because he's been out injured. |
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Post by RD on Feb 11, 2024 20:11:01 GMT
I think the main issue is that we have had constant injuries throughout the whole of the squad this season. We don't have a settled defence/midfield or attack where players can form partnerships and understandings of each other. The only ever present players I can think of this season is Evans and Thomas (cox) but he's been dropped and rightly so. So the blame for this is mainly down to recruiting ageing and injury prone players and that's Bartons fault not Taylors but I can't defend Taylors tactics as its so drastically different to how we played under Barton. Its boring to watch and it's league 2 level kick and rush and certainly not a team who is trying to bridge the gap and become a top 6 team in this league. Did I expect better under Taylor and improved results well no I didn't because of those issues I previously mentioned but things need to improve quickly this season or we will be in trouble as will Taylor. Wilson's played the last two games and we've still been no better defensively, not sure you can blame JB for Taylor, Finley, McCormick and Ward all being out injured of call any of them ageing, Friend does seem a bit of a sicknote but we're hardly losing games just because he's been out injured. But you're meant to build a SQUAD. Especially if you're intent on signing aging sicknotes. Negligent. |
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Post by Topper Gas on Feb 11, 2024 20:11:22 GMT
How on earth can anyone disagree with this? Total and complete sense. Absolute nail on head. Horrendous - in fact negligent -recruitment from his predecessor got us here, then pathetic backing from the owners ensur there stayed there. We only lost one home game under JB? If recruitment was obviously so bad why didn't MT try and rectify it last month rather than bring in more lightweight youngsters? |
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Post by Slide away on Feb 11, 2024 20:11:46 GMT
And despite this (which has been pretty obvious all season!), he seems totally inept at getting anywhere near the same levels as the previous 2 managers did from this squad.
Curious...where does his points per game rank compared to Barton and Mangan?
This has been the worst football out of the 3 with the most excuses given
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Post by RD on Feb 11, 2024 20:12:30 GMT
How on earth can anyone disagree with this? Total and complete sense. Absolute nail on head. Horrendous - in fact negligent -recruitment from his predecessor got us here, then pathetic backing from the owners ensur there stayed there. We only lost one home game under JB? If recruitment was obviously so bad why didn't MT try and rectify it last month rather than bring in more lightweight youngsters? How do you know he didn't? He had our most creative player sold and offered the opportunity to replace him with some kids on loan on deadline day. Sold up the river. |
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Post by gashead79 on Feb 11, 2024 20:13:27 GMT
He's right but he's partially to blame.
Hope he starts showing signs of his man management capabilities sooner rather than later.
He needs the summer and a preseason then it's on him completely.
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Post by Topper Gas on Feb 11, 2024 20:16:57 GMT
Wilson's played the last two games and we've still been no better defensively, not sure you can blame JB for Taylor, Finley, McCormick and Ward all being out injured of call any of them ageing, Friend does seem a bit of a sicknote but we're hardly losing games just because he's been out injured. But you're meant to build a SQUAD. Especially if you're intent on signing aging sicknotes. Negligent. The squad had only lost one home game and was holding it's own in mid table, apart from Friend which ageing sicknote is now missing? MT's killed moral and it seems like we've seen regularly at Rovers the players have now downed tools. |
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Post by gashead79 on Feb 11, 2024 20:27:02 GMT
But you're meant to build a SQUAD. Especially if you're intent on signing aging sicknotes. Negligent. The squad had only lost one home game and was holding it's own in mid table, apart from Friend which ageing sicknote is now missing? MT's killed moral and it seems like we've seen regularly at Rovers the players have now downed tools. Downed tools? What, like refusing to perform? Refusing to play? Nah🤣 |
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Post by Somersetgas on Feb 11, 2024 20:27:29 GMT
How on earth can anyone disagree with this? Total and complete sense. Absolute nail on head. Horrendous - in fact negligent -recruitment from his predecessor got us here, then pathetic backing from the owners ensur there stayed there. I’m anything but a JB fanboy as you know, never wanted him, think he should have gone when he took us down, but why the hell did MT sign three youngsters on Transfer window day. Also why drop Crama when the guy has come into some sort of form? Why substitute Wilson with five minutes to go? Odd? I would say fair play to whatever he’d done to get Jevani Brown playing, looked a totally different player Saturday. |
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Post by Slide away on Feb 11, 2024 20:28:53 GMT
Let's not forget that it was only a few months ago that Taylor told us all along with the players that he "couldn't turn down the opportunity to work with this squad", "people within football acknowledged how good a squad it was" blah blah..
Suddenly he's blaming the past for what he's walked in to.
Tisdale mk.2?
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Post by gasbaggio on Feb 11, 2024 20:29:47 GMT
We only lost one home game under JB? If recruitment was obviously so bad why didn't MT try and rectify it last month rather than bring in more lightweight youngsters? How do you know he didn't? He had our most creative player sold and offered the opportunity to replace him with some kids on loan on deadline day. Sold up the river. If he was ‘sold down the river’ he obviously didn’t nail down a January transfer budget and retention list when he was appointed. |
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Post by Topper Gas on Feb 11, 2024 20:30:05 GMT
And despite this (which has been pretty obvious all season!), he seems totally inept at getting anywhere near the same levels as the previous 2 managers did from this squad. Curious...where does his points per game rank compared to Barton and Mangan? This has been the worst football out of the 3 with the most excuses given This season alone according to Wiki the win ratios are: AM 57% JB 38.5% MT 35% AM's figure, assuming it's correct, seriously brings into question that this squad can't cope with the physical side of L1, is MT just trying to fool us? |
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Post by oldie on Feb 11, 2024 20:30:11 GMT
How on earth can anyone disagree with this? Total and complete sense. Absolute nail on head. Horrendous - in fact negligent -recruitment from his predecessor got us here, then pathetic backing from the owners ensur there stayed there. Have to say I agree with you RD. |
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Post by Gassy on Feb 11, 2024 20:31:12 GMT
Maybe monotone Matt should take a look in the mirror. Under Mangan we managed to grind out a win at home against a physical Northampton side when we were second best for large parts of the game and then ground out a 1-0 away win at Carlisle when down to 10 men for 20+ mins. Lose lose situation though really isn't it? We ground out a win away to an in form Exeter team and people complain that we played poorly. Mangan was in the manager bounce against some poor sides. Taylor also had a little bounce too, or did people forget that because we just lost 2 games? I have absolutely no doubts that we'd be in a far worse position now under Mangan, especially as it would have been clear the owners would have given him even less than Taylor in Jan. Northampton also weren't that physical that game, they were playing high press, passing football. I remember being surprised as I was expecting the physical Northampton of L2 to turn up, I was surprised how good they were tbh, completely played us off the pitch. |
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