Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2017 19:47:55 GMT
The midfield was absent in the second half and Stenny's equaliser went right through the middle of the park, but as soon as we went 1-0 up we should have gone back to a classic 4-2-3-1.
Ferguson, Wallace and Stewart were our best players today but can't be immune to blame either - they should have got a goal among them against a poor Stenhousemuir defence.
|
|
|
Post by d7 on Feb 18, 2017 20:29:59 GMT
I hope Samsung was at the game today as his views will be interesting. We started well enough – we always do. Ferry looked decent early on and played in a great cross which Ryan acrobatically bicycle-kicked over. We had a fair amount of pressure and deserved the goal when it came. A Ryan free kick brought out a good save from the keeper who pushed the ball for a corner. The ball came in and Stenny ‘defended’ it the way we sometimes do, ie not at all well. The in-swinging ball was bundled over the line at the far post by Mick for as scrappy a goal as you’ll see. 1-0 at half time and we were marginally the better of two poor teams.
Into the second half and seriously guys, WTF was that all about? We should have gone 2-0 up early in the half but the Stenny keeper managed to save a lobbed effort. At 2-0 we'd have won comfortably I think. After that, Jesus it was dire. Stenny came into the game and dominated from thereon in. That's the team at the bottom of the league, dominating at our ground. We offered nothing after that at all. In truth we were lucky to escape with 1 point. At home. To the team at the bottom of the league FFS.
And just for good measure, their goal came from a Rovers attack! The move broke down, they swept forward and two passes later their guy was finishing at the back post. They might have won it in the dying minutes when a shot looked to be well saved by Ross, although no corner was awarded. We brought Theo on at the end and he put in a good cross which we couldn't finish and as the move broke down the ref finished the game.
So what's wrong then? Christ, where do I start? In no particular order:
• We defend way too deep. Don't really agree with the comment above about the defence being good-ish. They are bang on average. Slower than a tortoise with a broken leg which means they sit deep at the start of the game and get deeper and deeper the more the match wears on. • Because we sit deep defensively, everyone else gets dragged deep too. Teams have loads of space and eventually pick us off. • We can't clear our lines. We sit so deep there is no one to clear the ball out to. Net result is the ball just keeps coming back at us, again and again. • We play the long ball all day. The Stenny central defenders won't have had an easier shift this season. They won everything all day. And we made it easy for them by hitting the same hopeful long ball; all day. It was embarrassing. • We miss out the midfield – which to be fair at times is no bad thing. But they have a thankless task watching the ball ping forward and backwards over their heads. Plus there is no pace there either. • There isn't one of our midfielders who can consistently, or even now and again, pick a pass to a team mate in yellow. That's a touch harsh but only a touch. It was murder watching it this afternoon. • We lack any sort of bite in defence or midfield when it comes to the tackle; and upfront in terms of taking chances. • We look terrified at the prospect of doing anything other than hanging desperately on to whatever we have at half time. If it's 0-0 we try and see out a draw. It we’re 1-0 up, we just sit deep, very deep. Even if we're 1-0 behind we sit in and try not to lose another goal until 5 minutes to go when we put Mick up top. That's not tactics, it's fear. • We have no shape or pattern to our play. What happened to Darren's 4-2-3-1? You could put your life on that being our formation every game for the last 2 seasons. Now it's a shambles and I don't say that lightly. We kind of have 3 up top most of the time but with none of them really looking at tracking back. That leaves our pedantic midfield over run and brutally exposed. Combine that with their lack of tooth in the tackle and inability to find a man with a pass then you can see where it goes wrong. • We have no confidence whatsoever.
Even now a couple of hours after the game ended I'm still raging as you can possibly tell. Any talk of us still being in the mix for the promotion play off places is delusional. On today's (and a few recent ones as well) performance, we are bang in the mix for the wooden spoon. And again I don't say that lightly. Stenny had fight, desire and were much fitter than us today. They are a poor team but they probably should have won the game on the strength of their second half performance. They absolutely wanted it more than we did. What does that tell you? By contrast we were disappointed at the end but were devoid of anything much more than despair. Others no doubt will come on and give their views but that is my assessment.
Reidy won man of the match and I wouldn't argue with that. He started at left back and did drift across the back 4 at times. Where is Kyle? Who knows cos it's radio silence from the club. Again. Reidy never gave up and I'd like to see him a bit more vocal at his team mates. Some of them needed a rocket today. The comment about Fish above is harsh too. He didn't have his best game but he always gives 100% and never hides.
Attendance was 337 I think - couldn't really hear. Again it looked maybe about 100 more than that. I sat with 4 Stenny fans today – all in on freebies from players; lucky them. Referee was okay. He could have let the game flow a bit more than he did but he was okay. Stand side linesman copped some flack for a few offsides but I wasn't in a position to see well enough.
Massive opportunity lost today to put some daylight between us and Stenny at the bottom. A few victories might not turn things around completely but will make some difference. On today's evidence you can't see where these will come from; other than maybe Stenny.
|
|
|
Post by d7 on Feb 18, 2017 20:34:07 GMT
Any team news, injuries etc etc ? Grant, Very difficult to post accurate team news and any related injuries prior to a game. I appreciate it would be great for supporters but it’s challenging for many reasons. I am happy to do a weekly summary if you feel it would add value. Most teams in this league have the same issues with squads, we have quite a large squad and can pull players from the development team as we did last week, the game today will be about fielding our strongest team. Stenny beat us away from home last game, but have had indifferent results recently, our average competition profile is win, draw and lose and although this is an average we are due for a win today. We finished strongly against Peterhead, but as I have said before this league is all about consistency, what we should recognise from today’s fixtures if they are not all draws is an idea of where the struggles will be in terms of any relegation battle, a win for us will be a huge plus. Dave Caldwell DOF And while I'm at it......... Seriously? What kind of answer is that? All we're looking for is a simple: Willis, knee, out; McBride, groin, out and so on. There's nothing difficult about that it just needs some effort.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2017 20:46:19 GMT
Good summary above from D7, can't really add much with regards to the team.
About the attendance, I too thought it looked like more than 337.
With regards to the offside decisions, the first one looked fairly ridiculous to me, Wallace seemed to run round from behind the defender to chase the through ball. I think he got the second one correct
|
|
|
Post by stewmelrover on Feb 18, 2017 21:04:51 GMT
Mind you, we have lost only one match in the last six. Could be worse: more massive matches ahead next week. P.s. don't even THINKabout questioning the crowd figure...
|
|
|
Post by Prof on Feb 18, 2017 21:35:10 GMT
Agree it wasn't our greatest performance today however Stenny weren't much better. Bit of head tennis for our goal. Have to say it was a superb breakaway goal for the equaliser from Stenny - Mark Ferry lost possession just in front of our box and the ball was in the back of our net seconds later!!
Anyway - onwards and upwards!!!!!
|
|
|
Post by d7 on Feb 18, 2017 22:25:28 GMT
Stenny were brutal Prof and still played us off the park for most of the second half. What does that say? As for the Stenny goal - we're on the attack and we start passing backwards, as we do time and time again. We go back cos we've no pace, no ambition, no movement, we can't find a man with a pass unless he's stationery and we're terrified we'll make a mistake!
Everyone's entitled to a bad day at the office but sooner or later there have to be consequences.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2017 22:57:44 GMT
Think we are just going round in circles saying the same things over and over again, we sit way too deep after we score , we don't convert our chances against inferior opposition when we are completely dominating so what is the answer ? If the manager can't see what the fans see then we really have series problems, we do not seem to have a plan b at all and I am getting very concerned as the weeks pass by , as I feel the team is badly underperforming hopefully things pick up quickly because if they don't the team is going to end up in the playoffs at the wrong end of the table.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2017 23:49:07 GMT
We are going backwards in terms of progression - best team we have have had (on paper), and yet we are always under performing.Egos need to be set aside, sleeves rolled up; and fingers out if we are to survive - yes I used that word - no false promises now.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2017 0:17:56 GMT
Good heart felt report from d7, unlike most weeks, where his match analysis is written with 'tongue on cheek' humor.... this week tinged with annoyance. I agree with most of the above. To be honest no-one could fault the team for dogged determination and pure effort. Defending deep and attacking on the break has been the hallmark of the team and has paid dividends. However, defending deep simply means teams will push on, through the middle of the park and up both flanks, our midfielders have to drop in and support back 4. Its been well documented that we are well organised defensively, but at some point (unless lady luck is smiling) we always run the risk of losing a goal. Bottom line...our midfielders are running their socks off and can't maintain box to box for 90 mins. Yes, Keeping the ball has been a problem, agree... we sometimes can't string a few passes together and agree, maybe play the long ball too often. While I'm at it, we also miss chances to put a game to bed. On a positive note, I think we have some really good players that are easily capable of finishing in the top half of the league, especially as its so tight at the bottom. Let hope we can go on a wee run of wins. Some strange team selections at times but I'm optimistic (I think...hopefully) we can finish at least mid table.
|
|
|
Post by harriskid44 on Feb 19, 2017 4:06:35 GMT
Rovers should of won today with the chances they had.
|
|
|
Post by d7 on Feb 19, 2017 7:37:06 GMT
Ah, you're so right dodgy. I'm blaming too much Pimms and soda last night when I got back to Chateau d7. I've considered signing the pledge but for now I'm reverting back to the Campari with immediate effect.
To be honest I was struggling to find a really poor performer yesterday. I know that sounds more than a touch bizarre given the ramblings above but there were some hard-working (as opposed to decent) shifts put in all over the park. We just weren't good enough and we look devoid of ideas and energy. I don't mind the long ball but it was obvious yesterday it just wasn't working. On the odd occasion when we do string some passes together (in every game, not just yesterday) they are virtually always backwards - all the way back to keeper Ross and then he punts it long........rinse and repeat.
At least we picked up a point and a couple of victories would restore a bit of confidence - in fans and players alike.
|
|
|
Post by bucky on Feb 19, 2017 8:05:18 GMT
Pish. Just as well we have a good defence. Midfield 'in absentia', including Fisher, who had a shocker but seems immune from criticism. A point was a miracle, but much more fight needed. Stenhousemuir walked all over us in the second half. Oh well! Yes Fisher wasn't great yesterday as were the rest of our traffic cone midfield but o would also add our extremely well paid manager to the list of people who are immune from criticism. Terrible tactics in the second half together with poor possession , aimless punts up the park and protecting a one goal lead. There parts of that second half when we looked relegation material. Wouldn't blame the defence as being under constant pressure was always going to give Stenny a clear cut chance thanks to Ferry's wayward pass which started off the attack. Only positive is the Stranraer- Peterhead result went out way- that's when you know you've had a bad day when you're looking at other results.
|
|
|
Post by shakey on Feb 19, 2017 16:16:02 GMT
Looked to me as if the Stenny players had had a rocket at half-time from their manager - different team in the second half and we just didn't react. As d7 say's above - difficult to say anyone played badly - we were just not hungry enough to go looking for the killer goal. Good to see Wallace back though - thought he played well and could have perhaps played the full 90.
|
|
|
Post by bucky on Feb 19, 2017 16:47:34 GMT
Looked to me as if the Stenny players had had a rocket at half-time from their manager - different team in the second half and we just didn't react. As d7 say's above - difficult to say anyone played badly - we were just not hungry enough to go looking for the killer goal. Good to see Wallace back though - thought he played well and could have perhaps played the full 90. Yes Wallace did well yesterday looked to me he was being taken off to protect him from a second yellow. A major weakness in his game is picking up silly bookings- atrocious tackle on Stenny no5 yesterday resulted in a deserved booking
|
|