League Two Rovers v Cobblers

[bigmart]

Micky mentioning the ref saying he was terrible. He should have sent their left back off for a second yellow but I didn’t think he was that bad. The busy schedule mentioned and I guess is it too much for all our veterans to contribute every week? Foley has been great of late but poor today. Mcmanaman again flatters to deceive in my opinion and needs to contribute more in my view.
Nevitt again worked hard but couldn’t get on the end of a few crosses

Thought ref was fairly average but didn't really impact the result as we got what we deserved nothing

 

[drwhoman]

We had scored nine goals in five league games prior to today. That is a perfectly acceptable goal return, particularly if you are as strong defensively as we are.

I always admire your knowledge and positive outlook RLC and we do have the most miserly defence in the division despite having conceded four in the last two games. Still, you have to look down to 19th to find a team that has scored less than us. Either MM has to change his strategy or else we can only hope for a great signing in January. Nevitt tries immensely hard but he is never going to be another Norwood. James could create goals out of nothing. That said, I am not sure that him returning would fix things. Second comings rarely do!

 

[Boz]

This was pretty mediocre fare from Rovers. In the first half we'd managed to contain Northampton, but after the break they ran riot. 2 decent chances before the opening goal and hitting the woodwork and a couple of other chances spurned after the penalty which doubled their lead. Couldn't put my finger on why things went so wrong in the second half. I felt that Micky's substitutions didn't improve things and Maynard and Watson were introduced after the game was effectively gone. Yes we were poor defensively today and the central midfield provided little protection, but when we needed the attack to compensate for those deficiencies they offered nothing.

The referee got one big decision wrong. the non-advantage he played after the foul on Mcmanaman, when he should have blown for the foul and sent the Cobblers left-back off for a second yellow card. It could have made the last twenty minutes more interesting against ten men, but the way we were playing today, doubt it would have affected the result.

For me, the time has come for Micky to ditch playing one up front, at least until January when it may be possible to recruit someone more suited to the lone striker role.

 

[Ian]

It was just an off day. They were pretty poor in the second half and all credit to Northampton who played well and deserved the win. I though the game was fairly even at the break but we just did not turn up in the second half and got punished for it.

For me, the time has come for Micky to ditch playing one up front, at least until January when it may be possible to recruit someone more suited to the lone striker role.

The striker situation is an odd one. I think we just have to accept that with this system we won't score many but we wont concede many either. The only danger being that if we go a goal or two down, we will struggle to recoup the game.

However, I don't think we need to start changing things, as although I'm not particularly a fan of the one man up front system, it has been getting us goals and winning us matches. This was one bad half for many weeks so I don't think we should be too critical. I do think we missed Hawkes as an outlet as Feeney was not good enough just as others were not too. Morris was anonymous, Spearing and Foley did not have control in the middle and even Clarke had a fairly poor game.

Let's see what next week brings after a decent rest.

 

[bigmart]

Looking back I thought we were OK first half without creating much, a couple of half chances that were blocked a Feeney effort over the bar ut the second half is the worst I've seen us in a longtime no creativity totally outplayed and cut open numerous times.

 

[ADD]

Pretty good summations all round. The first half was simply tedious. The second shocking with us cut to shreds on several occasions. First goal MacDonald was upfield in their box when they broke and he started ambling back safe he thought in the knowledge that Hoskins the Number 7 was his man - only too late did he suddenly realise that Etete was through and nobody else was bothering to mark him - you could see his frustration. Second goal Foley and Doohan both culpable - terrible attempt at a cross field ball from Foley and then Doohan going down when he simply didn't need to as the ball was going away from goal. Difficult to see real time but watching it this morning in slow motion Lewis was "tripped" by his sliding thigh as he went to ground. Could he have stayed up of course but he was never going to and despite accusations of a dive a penalty will be given 8 times out of 10.
MM's post match presser said it all we were lifeless with energy levels poor. Nobody had a good game and several had their worst games for some time including Feeney who I just don't think is good enough - also Clarke was nowhere near his best. Missed Hawkes big time.
Much talk previously about you don't change a winning side and I get that but there had been signs against Harrogate that teams were wising up to our style of play and Northampton likewise played much higher up the park and pressing much harder causing issues for our passing across the back whilst not seeming to leave space behind them. MM suggested afterwards we had our style of play and we would stick to it but I am not sure how tenable it is long term asking Nevitt to play up front alone and relying on midfielders to score.
Finally not sure about MM's subs - Duffy for Morris who was doing ok I thought unless he was injured made little sense to me - far better to replace Feeney and wondered if we should have switched to Maynard and Glatzel up front as Nevitt was also looking tired.

 

[Boz]

A perceptive analysis for the goals ADD. For their first, Macdonald made a decent attempt to get back from his attacking foray, but others ought to have made more of an effort to slow down the attack and mark Etete. Agree about the penalty and felt Doohan had other shortcomings yesterday; there were a couple of times were there wasn't much communication with the defence or he should have claimed the ball, while his distribution isn't great.

On the subs, I was surprised Morris was taken off first, by no means the worst player in a white shirt and he'd played a couple of great cross-field passes. I was puzzled about bringing Duffy on too in the context of the game. He did ok but lacks physical strength and tackling ability. My preference would have been to bring Watson on at 0-1, is a stronger player and playing against a former club might have a point to prove. That said, he didn't contribute a great deal when he was introduced much later in the game. Agree about Nevitt and for all our attacking deficits, there were some decent balls put into the box, mainly from the right, which he didn't get anywhere near.

I would hope Micky re-assesses tactics as sticking to the lone striker line-up does not seem the best way forward with our current squad.

 

[Ian]

Agree about Nevitt and for all our attacking deficits, there were some decent balls put into the box, mainly from the right, which he didn't get anywhere near.

Yes, I agree Boz. There were as you say some decent deliveries into the box which were not taken advantage of. I think this is where we are missing an experienced front man who would eat up these opportunities. Nevitt for all his efforts does not have that awareness or ability in my view.

I am still torn between the current setup as it has been getting us success over the last few weeks. The danger as pointed out in an early thread is if teams can find a weakness and can counter our tactics if they are used week in week out.

It also bugs me a little that the only real natural goalscorer we have when we are generally looking for more goals is sitting on the bench.

 

[aldoes mustache]

I love Nevitt his running and harassment, but before long we need goals from the forward and if nev cant provide it we need someone who will, we have not scored 3 goals in a Lg game for AGES and it needs to improve,we have some easier games coming up who knows

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

I always admire your knowledge and positive outlook RLC and we do have the most miserly defence in the division despite having conceded four in the last two games. Still, you have to look down to 19th to find a team that has scored less than us. Either MM has to change his strategy or else we can only hope for a great signing in January. Nevitt tries immensely hard but he is never going to be another Norwood. James could create goals out of nothing. That said, I am not sure that him returning would fix things. Second comings rarely do!

I would prefer to call it rational rather than 'optimistic'. If a system has been working effectively for two months, it does not suddenly become ineffective because of one poor performance. It is no more logical to assume we will now start shipping goals at an alarming rate, than it is to believe we will suddenly become prolific. That said, we have been averaging 1.5 to 2 goals per game for ten matches prior to Saturday which is a perfectly good return.

Northampton did not press us high up the pitch on Saturday. They played with a lone striker and defended deep for long periods, but we did not cope with their counter attacks, particularly their pacey full backs. Harrogate used completely different tactics last Tuesday, playing directly to two strikers and pressing us high. The system was not 'found out' on Saturday, it simply was not implemented properly.

For all those calling for us to switch to two strikers, do you really think we will be more effective dropping Foley or Morris - two of our outstanding players this season - and replacing them with Maynard, who much as I admire his past record has not looked particularly interested when he has featured, other than against a bunch of teenagers. It would be a big gamble to leave ourselves light in midfield by switching to 442, on the assumption that Nevitt and Maynard will be prolific. I would be very surprised if the system is changed at Mansfield on Saturday.

One defeat in nine games. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[Boz]

Up until Saturday, our failings up front had been compensated by a combination of defensive solidity and goals from elsewhere on the park. Against the Cobblers we were hopeless and there was so little to lift the crowd from events on the pitch, that more of the same will drive the casual support away. This entire game and the first half v Hartlepool felt as bad as anything under Jackson or Hill.

When we signed Nevitt, it was never envisaged that he'd get so much game time. While he has come on considerably, he is nowhere near the finished article and he doesn't seem to have developed a sense of anticipating and attacking balls in the box. There wasn't much from the other attacking players who started; Feeney and Mcmanaman, although thought Calum was one of our better players. Josh Hawkes was a much bigger miss than had been suggested pre-match and given he'll be out for a few more weeks, other options than Feeney need looking at to fill that significant gap.

Our next couple of games are away and to my view there is a stronger argument for staying with the 1 up in away games, though would look at changes in personnel there. For the next home game though there is a case for playing 2 up or 1 and one in the hole.

 

[Ian]

We just have to see how it goes over the next few games. We cannot win them all and there will be times when we are poor. If the pattern continues, then something needs looking at but I very much doubt it. I think it's a bit harsh to say Maynard hasn't looked interested when we've hardly seen him play and it wasn't a great introduction on Saturday when we were down and not playing well at all. I still think he needs more game time but it is difficult to fit him into the current system.

 

[ADD]

Northampton did press us high up the pitch irrespective of formation. Their Manager specifically commented on how that was one of their main tactics in the post match presser also. There were several occasions where Doohan and the CB's were forced into rushed clearances/ lost posession and generally we again had a lot less time to build as we wanted to. That is likely to continue happening now that teams have worked out how we play.
However, that doesn't mean we won't win plenty of games again playing like that as some teams unlike Harrogate and Northamption will either not be fit enough to do that for 90 minutes or simply won't be good enough as a team and will leave holes behind when they push forward.
The issue is simply should we continue playing with Nevitt up front alone. Yes we might well continue to do so for a while but I simply don't think it is a tenable tactic right through to the January window - always assuming of course we have the money to bring someone better in then and we can get someone!

 

[mellow submarine]

We missed Josh Hawkes pace and trickery badly on Saturday. When is he back ?

 

[Ian]

We missed Josh Hawkes pace and trickery badly on Saturday. When is he back ?

Hamstring injury, they think a couple of weeks.

 

[Boz]

Hawkes was meant to be out for weeks rather than longer.

I would actually take Nevitt out of the firing line and start with Dieseruvwe at Mansfield if we’re sticking with the 1 up strategy. Not a big fan of Mani, but there were signs Nevitt was getting frustrated on Saturday and a week out of the front line might do him good.

 

[mellow submarine]

Has Glatzel got any pace ? could he play at 9 ? He probably hasn't got the strength to hold up the ball like Nevitt does so well , but if he has pace ........ maybe worth a cameo until Hawkes is back.

 

[Ian]

Glatzel would get battered in that role and he’s not that quick either.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

Northampton did press us high up the pitch irrespective of formation. Their Manager specifically commented on how that was one of their main tactics in the post match presser also. There were several occasions where Doohan and the CB's were forced into rushed clearances/ lost posession and generally we again had a lot less time to build as we wanted to. That is likely to continue happening now that teams have worked out how we play.
However, that doesn't mean we won't win plenty of games again playing like that as some teams unlike Harrogate and Northamption will either not be fit enough to do that for 90 minutes or simply won't be good enough as a team and will leave holes behind when they push forward.
The issue is simply should we continue playing with Nevitt up front alone. Yes we might well continue to do so for a while but I simply don't think it is a tenable tactic right through to the January window - always assuming of course we have the money to bring someone better in then and we can get someone!

Northampton had less than forty per cent possession and sat behind the ball for long periods, particularly in the first half. Their style was completely different to Harrogate's. Harrogate were far more aggressive out of possession, and more direct in penning us high up the pitch.

Northampton cut through us at will in the second half, but that was as much to do with their increased confidence and our lack of shape and discipline as any tactical plan.

There is no reason why using Nevitt as a lone striker is not tenable, provided we continue to score goals from midfield and through set plays.

 

[Boz]

There is no reason why using Nevitt as a lone striker is not tenable, provided we continue to score goals from midfield and through set plays.

The primary role of forwards is to score goals. Neither Nevitt or the other attacking players have been any where near prolific so far and I don’t accept that we should accept an under-performing attack on the basis someone else will score. That didn’t happen v Northampton.

I would also suggest that it doesn’t appear right that Nevitt is getting a start every game, when not delivering, whereas the likes of Merrie Walker and Watson aren’t getting much or any chance to play.