Very surprised by some of the comments and players marks. I listened on Player and sounded like we're not great first half but probably the better side and second half was just a matter of time before we scored. Like most of you I just hope we can beat a side comfortably and by a few goals soon to install the confidence back to the team but also us fans.
Relax. Another point and we might have even nicked it late on. We have been on our "blip" since the two Sheffield games but have still picked up two wins and two draws and nought losses since then. The loss of Jacko and Solly made us disjointed and I must admit the tendency to pump it up to Kermogant is frustrating, the defence increasingly do this whereas early in the season they were noticeably always giving it short to full backs or midfields feet. I actually thought Stephens was okay tonight (bad tackle in desperation failing cost us the goal though) but we are really lacking a spark in midfield for me. We need some extra invention / ideas. Jacko coming back will sort us out a bit but we could do with something extra out there.
I think Kerm actually played a large proportion of his games on the right wing for Leicester. Just an idea but we could try him out there and bring Hayes back in to partner Wright Phillips. Kerm does seem to chase back quite a lot putting tackles in etc(particularly tonight anyway), and that maybe is part of the reason why he and BWP are often so far apart. Not a traditional winger as such (I can't see him hitting the byline) but if he's played there before it could be an option to mix it up, reunite Hayes and BWP but still retain Kermogant's aerial threat etc. In my opinion he actually has a decent range of passing and a good brain, some of the passes / link-up stuff he tries are quite clever and the sort of creativity that we need rather than the obvious which Wagstaff and to a lesser extent Green provide out there. Maybe we will benefit more from that if he's a bit deeper with Hayes supporting BWP. Not something I'm particularly advocating as Kermogant doesn't strike me as a winger personally but just an idea... worth trying out thought maybe for the last 25 mins or something... he's obviously capable with his right foot as he showed tonight..
Credit to Rochdale tonight they looked half decent and the black centre half they had looked very accomplished.
easy MOTM pickled egg tonight, kermit by a mile!... infact he can help himself to 2 pickled eggs for the passion, skill and will to win. felt gutted it didnt happen for him but im sure the double egg gesture from me will make up a bit for not getting all three points... well played bull frog!
"Sheffield united will smell blood now however." Yeah. The biggest gap between 1st and 2nd in the other leagues is 2 points. We've got a 7 point lead. We haven't lost this year. And our "fans" boo.
The boos lasted 1 second before the claps took over. A bit of perspective is required
Dissapointed with the result obviously. Hope Solly and Jacko are back for Saturday. I have no idea why we signed Clarke, he makes Gary Doherty look like Usain Bolt, doesn't hold the ball up and is the exact striker requiered if you want to lose games. BWP is obviously lacking confidence IMO, yet felt he looked on the ball tonight and was unlucky with a few chances, especially the strike mid way through the first half. Baffled at why we bought Leon Cort on for Evina, who I thought was poor defensively and was at fault for the goal, but surely with 10 minutes to go he is more likely to provide a spark going forward, rather then Cort, Prichard was recieving a lot of stick around where I was seated, didn't personally think he was that bad, technically good, but just sloppy at times and seemed tired by the end. Wagstaff was very dissapointing and bottled out of at least 2 50/50's. Still struggle to see why so many criticise Green, always think he's a threat. Would have preffered Pritchard to come off for Waggy. On a positive not, Yann is the bloody man and was playing out his skin tonight. Won 95% of headers, fantastic touch and brilliantly exectued freekick. Looking forward to Stevenage still, In Powell I trust. COYR!
He took off Evina so Wiggins could attack the left hand side and not have to cut in the whole time and he should have done it at least 20 minutes earlier.
There was a complete lack of balance and a general absence of any zip and impetus in midfield. Stephens looked "leggy" and the only time we generated anything remotely approaching a real tempo was for a very short period after our goal. We had more genuine efforts at goal than The Dale but they passed it better, won the midfield battle and thoroughly deserved their point. If they keep playing like that, they'll beat the drop.
We could easily have lost our unbeaten home record tonight, so at least there's another point on the board.
Solly will hopefully be back on Saturday but Chris is not spoilt for choice at the moment with Jackson out and Haynes struck down with his hamstring injury. He might think about bringing Russell back for Saturday and what is bound to be a tough battle.
As soon as the teams came out you could see it was disjointed, Wiggy right back, Green on the left, Pritchard on the right. Powell got it wrong tonight, everyone could see all the Rochdale threat was coming from their no 11 Adams I thought we should swapped Evina and Wiggy early on but we didn't, which is a shame as I don't think they had an attack on their left hand side the whole game. Both Green and Waggy disappointed me tonight, offered nothing. Evina nearly cost us with a first half mistake and ended up costing us for the goal (missed his tackle on the far side)
My biggest worry is we have had no plan B in recent weeks, it's all onto Kerms head, which he does very well but it isn't leading too much, we haven't been creating clear cut chances and have been relying on set pieces to get the points which can't last forever. Too much long ball for me, we play much better and create more playing quick passing football and at home we should be playing higher up the field than we have been doing
Also in the scramble at the end did Clarke miss the ball when all he had to do was hit it towards goal and it would've been in??? From the East it looked like a tap in. Hayes must be doing something wrong in training not to get a look in
Powell got it soooooo wrong tonight. We had no balance and no width at all. After 10mins you could see it wasn't working. If an early change wasn't on the cards then it had to be changed at half-time.
Absolute madness playing Wiggins at right back. You loose so much from the left hand side. If you are looking for a player to sit and have a steady game at full back then surely Hughes needs to come in. I'd have played Morrison there before what we saw tonight. When you add the fact that Evina had an absolute shocker into the equation it doesn't help matters.
The subs were all wrong as well. How long did Green get on the right? He actually did ok on the left and was looking lively on teh right. Pritchard was the obvious switch - Wagstaff was utterly hopeless. It took him exactly 3 minutes to start moaning and another 5 to start diving. He offered nothing.
The substitution of Wright-Phillips was unbelievable. He looked sharp all night. Most of those there tonight witnessed the Clarke and Yann experiment against Bury and unanimously agreed that it was a disaster. Clarke is not mobile and struggles to hold the ball up. Really can't see what he brings to the table at all.
Rochdale looked dangerous on the break allnight. Their goal was a farce with Evina and Stephens being equally culpable.
Have to say that I'm not sure about the Stephens and Hollands partnership either. Hollands looks 10 times the player alongside Hughes and for me, Dale goes missing for too long in these sorts of games.
Only real positive for me - Yann. Absolutely immense.
Hopefully we put this one to bed and come up with a big performance on Saturday.
Thank you Clem, saved me writing a big paragraph, 100% agree with the lot!
Wiggins should have never been at right back. Why not start Cort there? Evina was nothing special it's not like we needed him on the field over Cort. My point was, why make the change with ten minutes to go when Evina could at least act as some sort of attacking threat.
Midfield with Hollands, Stephens and Green starting hasn't really convinced all season. Is that a coincidence or do they not compliment each other?
We missed Wiggins attacking play down the left tonight, wasn't much space out there tonight but he usually finds some.
Earlier on in the season it did help that we often went 1-0 up fairly early on, different game if that happens. We nearly did tonight with BWP's effort.
Wanted to see Wagstaff involved in the 16 again but he's never the player to break down teams with men behind the ball. Why do people still moan that he doesn't take on players or swing in crosses when he's never been about that? Green's had more than the odd poor game this season yet there seems to be a lot more patience with him.
Thought Green might just have created something once he was on the right, don't think he should have been taken off. Never seems to use his left foot and with his crossing not sure why he is used on the left ahead of others.
Too early to be writing off Evina, has generally done well enough in the cup games he's played. Not saying I rate him highly but remember how different Wiggins looked after his first few games.
Hope Solly and Jackson are back soon, not sure what Powell should do with the midfield. Think if we create chances the strikers will score, and obviously the back 5 if all fit isn't the problem.
Posting without reading the other replies properly...
Frustrating - Yes Unexpected - No
The Stevenage away and this game showed we have no DECENT cover for right back.
Evina - thought he did OK. Hardly played a game all year and showed some nice touches albeit with some mistakes. Tough to come in to a fantastic defence.
Wiggy - Obviously played out of position and a huge loss for us as an attacking force down the left.
Pritchard - Like him a lot. But he is a central midfielder only at this level. Out of position and ineffective.
Green / Waggy - Green didn't produce but Waggy when he came on offered even less. Both are frustrating.
Hollands / Stephens - Not clicking at the moment. Would like to see Hughes back with either one so they can be a more attacking force.
Kermorgant / BWP - Thought BWP played well and surprised he was subbed. A goal will come on Saturday. Kermmy - Wins the headers and a great free kick but not enough for me. Like to see Hayes given a run.
Clarke - Why did we sign him ?
Overall, frustrating. In the pub with 2 Rochdale fans (One lives by the O2 and the other in Wimbledon) before and after the game. They thought we were unlucky not to get a winner near the end but it was a fair result.
We won't win every game. We are VERY hard to beat.
We know we are missing a spark. We are in Division 3 and the level we play at nights like this happen. Miles better than the previous 2 years (or more) so it's not all bad.
The decent win will come Saturday and we are 7 points clear tonight.
Would like to see one of the midfield gamble on getting on the end of Kerms flick ons, he always wins them but only BWP is there to knock it onto and as he wins 80/90% of them it is worth a gamble
Another point on the board, but as proved, unless we score the first goal tonight, then it was going to be a battle with the balance of the side that Powell picked this evening.
Solly is unwell, so unless Hughes and Cousins are not available, then putting the only left sided player in the eleven at Right Back, in my mind meant we were as in balanced than a Cruise liner being captained by an Italian.
The Rochdale goal came down to errors by Evina and Stephens (Let the back take the throws in's) and we were caught 3 against 2 in our own half, which led to the goal.
Good job that Yann scored three minutes later, or i fear that the three points would have been headed back to Spotland.
A lesson learned for Mr Powell, but hopefully no harm done, and here's to 3 points on Saturday.
Young Wagstaff tonight was acting like a poor man's Johnny Robinson. Less moaning, more playing.
Thought Green might just have created something once he was on the right, don't think he should have been taken off. Never seems to use his left foot and with his crossing not sure why he is used on the left ahead of others.
Totally agree. He might as well not have a left foot for all the use he puts it to, so putting him on the left was madness. Are we seriously supposed to believe that Pritchard playing on the left would have been worse than that? SCP should have switched them after about 10 minutes as it plainly was not working. I don't think Green managed to play the ball forward for about 40 minutes. I thought I was watching Semedo! Was far better when switched to the right but was then subbed for Waggy, who I've been a strong supporter of this season but who can now piss right off. Being dropped when playing well at the start of the season seems to have caused him to grow a massive chip on his shoulder and until he sorts out his attitude he can do one.
Balance was all wrong, performances all around were poor (except the might Yann) and we will need to play 20 times better than that on Saturday to get anything out of Stevenage.
Thought Green might just have created something once he was on the right, don't think he should have been taken off. Never seems to use his left foot and with his crossing not sure why he is used on the left ahead of others.
Totally agree. He might as well not have a left foot for all the use he puts it to, so putting him on the left was madness. Are we seriously supposed to believe that Pritchard playing on the left would have been worse than that? SCP should have switched them after about 10 minutes as it plainly was not working. I don't think Green managed to play the ball forward for about 40 minutes. I thought I was watching Semedo! Was far better when switched to the right but was then subbed for Waggy, who I've been a strong supporter of this season but who can now piss right off. Being dropped when playing well at the start of the season seems to have caused him to grow a massive chip on his shoulder and until he sorts out his attitude he can do one.
Balance was all wrong, performances all around were poor (except the might Yann) and we will need to play 20 times better than that on Saturday to get anything out of Stevenage.
Evina and Pritchard both lack experience which is probably why he didn't play them on the same side from the start.
Have no doubt Jackson will be back on Saturday. If Solly has the s**ts he'll be back as well. Those two back in and Hughes for Stephens and we get the 5-1 I have been predicting.
Heard it was a late onset, pretty awful migraine, Clem. If you've ever suffered from one of those, you'll know how it feels...and will surely mean he'll be back on Saturday, thank goodness.
Have to agree that tonight's performance was disappointing for a team that played the first half of the season with so much style, energy & confidence. Two enforced postponements in a row, coupled with the injury to JJ and compounded by a second MOTM award for SCP have effectively derailed our momentum .....for the time being. We HAVE to believe that this is our "blip" and as such , is temporary. Saturday's visit by the in form Stevenage will be telling as to whether we can turn things around & return to winning ways against one of the top six clubs( which we have done so far this season) This will surely be a springboard to the Chesterfield match and so on etc etc. And with players returning to their rightful positions in the team, confidence will return - both on & off the pitch.
Just to add to what others have stated, I too felt maybe Yann was ready for a rest, but tonight he was back to his awesome best. What a player he is !
The formation was clearly not working, so it was disappointing that it took so long to do something about it. If there is a weakness in our management team, it's that they sometimes too slow to change the formation when we're struggling. If we go up, then this will be an issue next season.
Will read the previous posts tomorrow, but apart from the obvious disappointment of not beating Rochdale (who did their club proud) can I just say that playing Wiggins at right-back is nonsense. We have some key players out, but if we are to compound the problem by playing some of our best players out of position, then we are asking for trouble. Draw a fair result. Yann clearly MOM.
Im embarrassed to post it, but I will. Was told today that Jiminez has a £30m windfall coming from a golf complex in the south of France and the club have been in talks with Di Canio promising him a war chest. Sounds like crap to me, and it's a ridiculous notion. The source is pretty reliable. My view is that if this happened they wouldn't get any more money from me. I have posted this because I heard it, NOT MY RUMOUR.....
yes ive heard this rumour too from a strong source hope its not true.
Im embarrassed to post it, but I will. Was told today that Jiminez has a £30m windfall coming from a golf complex in the south of France and the club have been in talks with Di Canio promising him a war chest. Sounds like crap to me, and it's a ridiculous notion. The source is pretty reliable. My view is that if this happened they wouldn't get any more money from me. I have posted this because I heard it, NOT MY RUMOUR.....
yes ive heard this rumour too from a strong source hope its not true.
So frustrating. If you weren't there don't listen to people saying it was an 'awful performance'. It wasn't. But still there was a lot wrong with it. If BWP had scored the one that went wide and the Lino had not flagged him offside when in his OWN HALF then it probably would have been a different story. Clarke is dire and should be last in the pecking order. Evinia looked decent but better going forward. I love Wiggins to death but he cannot play LB. No goals from open play (not counting Greenie Exeter) since Jan 2nd now.
The team didn't start playing until we were a goal down. We've got to start taking the initiative in these games. Our slow start cost us badly, because we ran out of time to get a winner.
Comments
I think Kerm actually played a large proportion of his games on the right wing for Leicester. Just an idea but we could try him out there and bring Hayes back in to partner Wright Phillips. Kerm does seem to chase back quite a lot putting tackles in etc(particularly tonight anyway), and that maybe is part of the reason why he and BWP are often so far apart. Not a traditional winger as such (I can't see him hitting the byline) but if he's played there before it could be an option to mix it up, reunite Hayes and BWP but still retain Kermogant's aerial threat etc. In my opinion he actually has a decent range of passing and a good brain, some of the passes / link-up stuff he tries are quite clever and the sort of creativity that we need rather than the obvious which Wagstaff and to a lesser extent Green provide out there. Maybe we will benefit more from that if he's a bit deeper with Hayes supporting BWP. Not something I'm particularly advocating as Kermogant doesn't strike me as a winger personally but just an idea... worth trying out thought maybe for the last 25 mins or something... he's obviously capable with his right foot as he showed tonight..
Credit to Rochdale tonight they looked half decent and the black centre half they had looked very accomplished.
Hope Solly and Jacko are back for Saturday.
I have no idea why we signed Clarke, he makes Gary Doherty look like Usain Bolt, doesn't hold the ball up and is the exact striker requiered if you want to lose games.
BWP is obviously lacking confidence IMO, yet felt he looked on the ball tonight and was unlucky with a few chances, especially the strike mid way through the first half.
Baffled at why we bought Leon Cort on for Evina, who I thought was poor defensively and was at fault for the goal, but surely with 10 minutes to go he is more likely to provide a spark going forward, rather then Cort,
Prichard was recieving a lot of stick around where I was seated, didn't personally think he was that bad, technically good, but just sloppy at times and seemed tired by the end.
Wagstaff was very dissapointing and bottled out of at least 2 50/50's.
Still struggle to see why so many criticise Green, always think he's a threat. Would have preffered Pritchard to come off for Waggy.
On a positive not, Yann is the bloody man and was playing out his skin tonight. Won 95% of headers, fantastic touch and brilliantly exectued freekick.
Looking forward to Stevenage still, In Powell I trust.
COYR!
We could easily have lost our unbeaten home record tonight, so at least there's another point on the board.
Solly will hopefully be back on Saturday but Chris is not spoilt for choice at the moment with Jackson out and Haynes struck down with his hamstring injury. He might think about bringing Russell back for Saturday and what is bound to be a tough battle.
As soon as the teams came out you could see it was disjointed, Wiggy right back, Green on the left, Pritchard on the right. Powell got it wrong tonight, everyone could see all the Rochdale threat was coming from their no 11 Adams I thought we should swapped Evina and Wiggy early on but we didn't, which is a shame as I don't think they had an attack on their left hand side the whole game. Both Green and Waggy disappointed me tonight, offered nothing. Evina nearly cost us with a first half mistake and ended up costing us for the goal (missed his tackle on the far side)
My biggest worry is we have had no plan B in recent weeks, it's all onto Kerms head, which he does very well but it isn't leading too much, we haven't been creating clear cut chances and have been relying on set pieces to get the points which can't last forever. Too much long ball for me, we play much better and create more playing quick passing football and at home we should be playing higher up the field than we have been doing
Also in the scramble at the end did Clarke miss the ball when all he had to do was hit it towards goal and it would've been in??? From the East it looked like a tap in. Hayes must be doing something wrong in training not to get a look in
Thank you Clem, saved me writing a big paragraph, 100% agree with the lot!
We missed Wiggins attacking play down the left tonight, wasn't much space out there tonight but he usually finds some.
Earlier on in the season it did help that we often went 1-0 up fairly early on, different game if that happens. We nearly did tonight with BWP's effort.
Wanted to see Wagstaff involved in the 16 again but he's never the player to break down teams with men behind the ball. Why do people still moan that he doesn't take on players or swing in crosses when he's never been about that? Green's had more than the odd poor game this season yet there seems to be a lot more patience with him.
Thought Green might just have created something once he was on the right, don't think he should have been taken off. Never seems to use his left foot and with his crossing not sure why he is used on the left ahead of others.
Too early to be writing off Evina, has generally done well enough in the cup games he's played. Not saying I rate him highly but remember how different Wiggins looked after his first few games.
Hope Solly and Jackson are back soon, not sure what Powell should do with the midfield. Think if we create chances the strikers will score, and obviously the back 5 if all fit isn't the problem.
Posting without reading the other replies properly...
Frustrating - Yes
Unexpected - No
The Stevenage away and this game showed we have no DECENT cover for right back.
Evina - thought he did OK. Hardly played a game all year and showed some nice touches albeit with some mistakes. Tough to come in to a fantastic defence.
Wiggy - Obviously played out of position and a huge loss for us as an attacking force down the left.
Pritchard - Like him a lot. But he is a central midfielder only at this level. Out of position and ineffective.
Green / Waggy - Green didn't produce but Waggy when he came on offered even less. Both are frustrating.
Hollands / Stephens - Not clicking at the moment. Would like to see Hughes back with either one so they can be a more attacking force.
Kermorgant / BWP - Thought BWP played well and surprised he was subbed. A goal will come on Saturday. Kermmy - Wins the headers and a great free kick but not enough for me. Like to see Hayes given a run.
Clarke - Why did we sign him ?
Overall, frustrating. In the pub with 2 Rochdale fans (One lives by the O2 and the other in Wimbledon) before and after the game. They thought we were unlucky not to get a winner near the end but it was a fair result.
We won't win every game. We are VERY hard to beat.
We know we are missing a spark. We are in Division 3 and the level we play at nights like this happen. Miles better than the previous 2 years (or more) so it's not all bad.
The decent win will come Saturday and we are 7 points clear tonight.
Happy Days :-)
Solly is unwell, so unless Hughes and Cousins are not available, then putting the only left sided player in the eleven at Right Back, in my mind meant we were as in balanced than a Cruise liner being captained by an Italian.
The Rochdale goal came down to errors by Evina and Stephens (Let the back take the throws in's) and we were caught 3 against 2 in our own half, which led to the goal.
Good job that Yann scored three minutes later, or i fear that the three points would have been headed back to Spotland.
A lesson learned for Mr Powell, but hopefully no harm done, and here's to 3 points on Saturday.
Young Wagstaff tonight was acting like a poor man's Johnny Robinson. Less moaning, more playing.
Onwards and Upwards!
Balance was all wrong, performances all around were poor (except the might Yann) and we will need to play 20 times better than that on Saturday to get anything out of Stevenage.
Only Morrison and Kerm look like they had the personalities to show any leadership tonight.
Have to agree that tonight's performance was disappointing for a team that played the first half of the season with so much style, energy & confidence. Two enforced postponements in a row, coupled with the injury to JJ and compounded by a second MOTM award for SCP have effectively derailed our momentum .....for the time being. We HAVE to believe that this is our "blip" and as such , is temporary. Saturday's visit by the in form Stevenage will be telling as to whether we can turn things around & return to winning ways against one of the top six clubs( which we have done so far this season) This will surely be a springboard to the Chesterfield match and so on etc etc. And with players returning to their rightful positions in the team, confidence will return - both on & off the pitch.
Just to add to what others have stated, I too felt maybe Yann was ready for a rest, but tonight he was back to his awesome best. What a player he is !
Believe .
Yann clearly MOM.
But just 1 goal scored indicates food for thought.