Match Thread Home V Crawley(Creepy) Tuesday 13th April@7.00pm

If you play Rowe upfront then it needs to be with a certain type of player. We play best with Callum Cooke at 10 so that rules out playing the likes of 4-4-2. I said a while back they're gonna have a problem with Rowe in how to fit him in. Cook is the better fit as a an out and out striker but I'm not sure he's the right fit with Rowe. And we looked more of a threat with Donaldson at 10 due to his hold up play and workrate. Rowe does have attributes, technically his ball control is the best in the side and his shot accuracy is one of the highest in the division. But that lack of mobility is a killer, unless you play the ball right to his feet and have runners around him it's hard to justify picking him.

 

We were too slow from the start of the game the other night, that's not down to individual's pace but lack of tempo. ROD infuriates me, even before the first goal he nearly cost us a goal by only half coming off his line leaving an open goal. It was only because the Crawley player was off balance when the cross came in

 

If T & S are not going to explain how they want to play to the recruitment director then we will have problems.

Rowe was signed and no doubt discussed in how he would fit in.

AFC Flyde was a different situation mate. We knew what Rowe was all about and should have thought can we build a team around this goalscorer. Bowyer messed up with Doyle and T & S are doing it with Rowe but I suppose we can try to get rid of Rowe in the summer and go with someone else that will fit into what T & S want but communication has to be on point with the recruitment director or we will have many bad signings that on paper should be good.

 

Good post mate just the one thing that I would question is why did T&S bring him to the club knowing the way he played and knowing he would not be filling that position in their sef up ?

 

Spot on.

I think the January recruitment was all about staying up and Turnbull will be asking them these questions with view to the comings and goings this summer. Having said that Fordy I think we both agree that this has been a missed opportunity, I know that I said it isn't over till the spherically challenged lady sings I think she is clearing her throat. There have been no standout teams this season, Bolton are up there because they recruited well in January and are getting the best out of Doyle.

 

Up until the Carlisle game I thought we were very solid as a defensive unit. Unfortunately T & S decided to drop Hornby to bring in a keeper notoriously weak in commanding his 6 yard area. I don’t remember seeing the defence and Hornby having a go at each other, but we’ve seen dissent for the last 2 games between ROD and the defence. Both keepers have faults but for me the defence were more settled with Hornby, though I doubt we’ll see him again unless there’s an injury or nothing left to play for.

For the record I’m not blaming ROD for the goals last night.

 

Agree , he just looked like an average youth player last night

 

Correct on all counts!

However the now notorious “uncertainty in defence” since Hornsby was dropped remains. It’s there for all to see, irrespective of the fact non of their goals were OD’s fault.

 

BOTH Should have started. This “ rotating players” is winding me up. It’s probably winding the players up big style?

 

Rowe is the most gifted player we currently have at the club, the solution is simple, get the ball to him in and around the area, each time he gets the ball we start to look dangerous ... He's not a Doyle, where the one touch tap in is required. Rowe can do the business in and outside the box, play to his strengths or he's wasted.

 

If Canavan is out expect more misunderstandings and confusion with AOC back there. I think both AOC and POC need to be guided by the keeper. From what I can see ROD isn’t the best communicator.

 

To be fair what you just posted was absolute rubbish,

 

What if his strengths are to the detriment of others around him?

 

I thought he was right. ROD has his detractors but he wasn't to blame for either goal last night.

 

But I never said he was to blame for last night, Those words were put in my mouth by Northern Monkey to validate his post, What I did say is that we have let a lot of headers in since he came back and the defense seams weaker with him in goal, And just to add the players were not happy and having a go at him after we conceded,

 

I've been an advocate of keeping AOC on a reduced deal but, the more I see, the more I think we need to get shot of all three of these. I feel at times there's a hangover from the relegation season with them all there, and I certainly don't see POC as the dominant centre back many do.

Bring in another experienced centre back and we'd have him, Canavan, Staunton and Cousin-Dawson as our four options.

 

I was replying to his comments regarding last night. I agree that ROD is one of those keepers that seems rooted to his line, Colin Doyle was exactly the same.But he could do nothing about last nights goals, they were defensive errors that have crept back into our game. IMO Hornby should not have been dropped after one bad game, it was like Trueman was desperate to shoehorn ROD back in.

 

But ROD is the captain.

 

Not so sure about the first goal, if he stays on his line he has a chance. The problem was he came off his line towards the cross without any chance of reaching the cross anyway. I'd have kept Hornby in for the rest of the season. At least when he let a goal in he didn't start blaming everyone except himself. The defenders also seemed to know when he was coming to claim the ball and when he wasnt.

 

I dunno Dave. When asked, shortly after he arrived, I'm sure I remember they said they saw him as a target man. Seems like they were fooled by his height and size into thinking he could be effective playing back to goal..Seems like they were wrong.