POST-MATCH THREAD: Bristol Rovers v Charlton Athletic: Tuesday 1st October 2024 KO 19:45

Bailey said:

This started with the unnecessary changes against Blackpool, we went into that game, third in the league, on the back of an away win at Shrewsbury. The changes Jones made that day was to drop Mitchell for REG and Berry for Campbell, neither player has made the pitch since. The captain, Docherty has not started since Blackpool, the wing/full backs have been different in each game and the forwards have not been the same two or three, with the experiment of Campbell as a front player reappearing in desperation. The only players who have been constant is the goal keeper, Lloyd Jones and Coventry, everything else is decided on which side of the bed Nathan Jones gets out of in the morning. We all know that up to the Blackpool game it wasn't pretty but we were bloody hard to beat, every side that Jones has put out since Shrewsbury has been different in formation and personal, which now leaves Jones in the position of not knowing his best side and the players in the position of not knowing who their teammates are in front or behind, from one game to the next, no wonder we are shit. 

Couldn't agree more. The toothless issue was evident before Blackpool but messing with the defence was criminal.

Not sure why Aneke is getting bashed in the ratings. Got a good assist and was a handful for them as soon as he came on. 

Talal said:

daveroan said:

Taylor and zach should st least be on the bench Saturday. Can’t be worse than tonight. Coventry doesn’t pass forward because he can see no-one is available but he is our best midfielder. 

Is Zach still injured? If not I'd just start him. 

Definitely something to consider as part of trying to play more football. Maybe not for the Birmingham game though.

Dazzler21 said:

Not sure why Aneke is getting bashed in the ratings. Got a good assist and was a handful for them as soon as he came on. 

Any rating done within an hour of the final whistle of a game like that is going to be, shall we say, a tad merciless

Need to play a defensive set up on Staurday. Small and Ramsey should come in for their physicality. Play Leaburn up front with Godden.

Bailey said:

This started with the unnecessary changes against Blackpool, we went into that game, third in the league, on the back of an away win at Shrewsbury. The changes Jones made that day was to drop Mitchell for REG and Berry for Campbell, neither player has made the pitch since. The captain, Docherty has not started since Blackpool, the wing/full backs have been different in each game and the forwards have not been the same two or three, with the experiment of Campbell as a front player reappearing in desperation. The only players who have been constant is the goal keeper, Lloyd Jones and Coventry, everything else is decided on which side of the bed Nathan Jones gets out of in the morning. We all know that up to the Blackpool game it wasn't pretty but we were bloody hard to beat, every side that Jones has put out since Shrewsbury has been different in formation and personal, which now leaves Jones in the position of not knowing his best side and the players in the position of not knowing who their teammates are in front or behind, from one game to the next, no wonder we are shit. 

This 

Awful, disgraceful even, that's the worst performance we've put in for some time, certainly under Jones.

Well, another game another round of player rotation, the strike force that started the season so well returned with Campbell the winger chasing long balls over the top and no strength Ahadme being asked to hold it up, harsh criticism of the two possibly, both are being forced to move away from their natural game so what do you expect I guess?

Another changed midfield but with a positive in Luke Berry our only creative(?) outlet starting, the one or two times we found him in the first half he tried to make something happen up the pitch. Anderson continues to rush about achieving very little, Coventry still can't take a decent set piece although his overall game was fine.

But for all the changes in attack and Berry in midfield we abandon the 20 minute attacking game we tried against Blackpool and Stevenage and instead reverted to peak Jones ball (yes I'm doing it) of smash it up to the ineffective front two.
Poor defending sees us go 3 down. We were completely out the game by the time we got two back. The worst thing, this was supposed to be a "back to basics" game and we couldn't even get that right.

Special mention to Godden - simply, has to start.

Need to find the right balance in midfield or rather, play through them at least. Anderson, Docherty and A Campbell 3 similar players currently offering nothing more than chasing the ball about.



Some serious question marks over Jones right now, its all gone to pot since the Reading loss but even before that there were doubts. Said this after Saturday's game and it still stands, doesn't know who to play or how to play them, we have 2/3 players all trying to learn a new way of playing with Docherty the ball winning battling midfielder trying to become Charltons no 10.  he's the third with TC the winger turn striker and Gas being asked to become Danny Hylton the younger. Completely wasted preseason and it shows, glaringly right now.

Don't see how he turns any of this around tbh.

Atrocious.

Time to go hate watching this team

He is a good coach not a good manger 

Whats concerning from that Bolton game, is our entire press as a team has just disappeared

Our goals that day, didnt just come from the fact that we defended well as a team, but because we constantly forced Bolton into mistakes

Same thing against Birmingham in the Cup, we lost because of a worldie, but for large periods they couldn't handle it when we pressed as a team.

Where has that gone?

You had faith based on the early results that we could win games because we'd be fitter than the opposition. But the players out there need to give a shit before that happens, given how we've played of late - Maybe they've got beef with Jones for whatever reasons, but for god sake they're still professionals and the moment they step out on to the pitch... they're not acting it.

Whats just as bad, is they're hiding behind the Manager with the: "Well its his decision... He picks the team etc.", rather than taking responsibility - As I've said and believed for a long time... Yes the Manager picks the team, sets out the tactics... But the moment the game starts, there is only so much input the Manager can have, and at the moment those stepping on to the pitch need to show they can bloody well think for themselves.

Give Zach Mitchell a go when fit. 

Coming over performatively tapping his chest saying "my fault my fault". Yes we fucking know it's your fault you little div. Can tell half the players want fuck all to do with him the way they waited til he'd gone til they came over. Main character syndrome personified.

Found it disrespectful the way he spoke about the Cardiff job and now it just looks plain insulting.

Two late goals don't cover up the fact that we were 3'0 down at the most out-of gormbteamnin league 1.  Not by luvk or poor refereeing but Rovers were much better. 
God awful squad of journeymen and ex Luton mates. Absolute shambles of a summer rebuild. 

I’m not in favour of sacking Jones, but I recall that when Bowyer was offered a five-contract by Southall he wasn’t interested and the reason was that managers don’t usually get their full contract paid up when they are sacked. So I think the length of Jones’s is probably a red herring and in any event we don’t know what if any break clauses it contains.

Southendaddick said:

Time to go hate watching this team

He is a good coach not a good manger 

I don’t want to be hurty but I’m not seeing any evidence of being a good coach 

Anderson drop for Taylor can’t be any worse