Its going to be a hard game, they will be up for it, will we?
If the players cant get up for this game then theres something wrong, its a must win game just for the sake of morale if nothing else. The wrong sort of performance from the millers could see the Boo Birds out in force at NYS
Come on Boys, lets get behind the Team from the off and be that 12th Man!
Side based on if we don't sign anyone from now till the game.
Collin Richardson Morgan Arnason Skarz Ledesma Smallwood Green Pringle Bowery JCH
Same defence and midfield apart for Smallwood for Frecks as Frecks is the only midfielder we have who can get in the box and score. Up top I'd go with Revs and Derbyshire. derbyshire is the most technically gifted striker we have and we need to give him a few games along side of Revs. Last chance saloon so to speak.
At the moment we aren't getting close enough to revs for the knock down etc which is making us look like a very poor side.
-- Edited by Kevthemaltbymiller on Monday 24th of November 2014 07:02:51 PM
Kev think you are right about us not being close enough to the knock downs, also think that the balls into our strikers have to be much better they all seem very hit and hope at the minute with no purpose to them.
Really do hope we get at blackpool from the off. I think the main thing we have been guilty of this season is showing sides who are no better than us far too much respect.
Side based on if we don't sign anyone from now till the game.
Collin Richardson Morgan Arnason Skarz Ledesma Smallwood Green Pringle Bowery JCH
This^^^^^^
Cant really argue with that Team, id like to see Frecks in our team and Revs is a Hero but at the moment we need a good performance and above all a good result. This team could just be the answer, play football, not hoof ball, and let these two Forwards do their thing and cause problems for the opposing Team.
Having witnessed what ex-pat in SoCal, CTMiller, called an "inept" performance against Birmingham City, and I would call "dire", then I'm hoping for an improvement against a Blackpool team that are seeming to get together after such a troubled start.
I'm hoping that Mr Evans will have to manage with his current resources rather than his "I need three extra players" line.
It's about time Steve Evans, whose record with the Millers, though a trifle fortunate in some ways (that's another disco), is outstanding showed us he is capable of managing a club through problems without resorting to his wasteful solution of signing yet more players, whether on loan or permanently.
I believe our current squad is varied and good enough to remain at this level, needing some consistency in selection, and perhaps some chances given to those - e.g. the ex-Newcastle midfielder, whom I really rated when seeing him play twice against the Mighty Maryhill Magyars (Partick Thistle) last season in the Scottish Premier League - who haven't really featured so far.
I believe we have a better chance - whatever system we deploy - by giving players a run together in the team and a chance to gell rather than chopping and changing.
Perhaps Steve Evans could show us how much he's learned doing his UEFA coaching badges by displaying an ability to change tactics during a game rather than simply resorting to a Plan B consisting of hoofing the ball up to Revell and hoping something will happen?
Now, I may be being unfair to him having seen relatively few home games this season and only one away performance, but he showed no evidence on Saturday of an ability to switch tactics to counter Birmingham's set up after they'd given us a pasting in the first half & we were hanging on for 0-0 and the half-time whistle.
Instead of some hoped for tactical changes, and more positive attitudes from the players, I couldn't discern any major switch in emphasis.
Maybe I don't know as much about football as I think, (pause for distant cries of "That's for sure, Sugar"), having played at only a very low level (RGS First XI & University First team + Sunday League) & simply having watched the Millers regularly since 1957, but in blaming some poor player performances on Saturday - certainly the case - perhaps Steve Evans failed to own up to his own tactical short-comings on the day?
I believe our current squad is varied and good enough to remain at this level, needing some consistency in selection, and perhaps some chances given to those - e.g. the ex-Newcastle midfielder, whom I really rated when seeing him play twice against the Mighty Maryhill Magyars (Partick Thistle) last season in the Scottish Premier League - who haven't really featured so far.
We may just have to admit that being Ex-anything when arriving at RUFC is not a good equation.
ST: I believe we have a better chance - whatever system we deploy - by giving players a run together in the team and a chance to gell rather than chopping and changing.
I think this is a key point, and SE will have to overcome his sense of democracy and fairness based on training sessions perhaps!
Re tactics: I dont think SE is naive, but I do think that combined with the above issue he could perhaps be more flexible in his team selection and therefore tactics. It cant be easy to change tactics, especially being under pressure to get results. I guess, if SE needs approval for a change then most of the fans want him to look at the long ball to Revel and give something else a decent run.
On tactics, I was not talking about starting tactics for a game but the ability to switch tactics and patterns of play in response to events during the game, including how the opposition are negating any system you are trying to impose on the game.
Birmingham had obviously sussed our diamond formation, and its weak points, in the first ten minutes & made adjustments which saw them bossing the rest of the first half.
I looked for a response from Evans at half-time but didn't spot one. Maybe it was too subtle for me. I did spot an increasing tendency to lob long balls in the direction of our main striker as our only option as the game progressed. Its success can be guaged by the scoreline.
Whatever the line-up and formation, at least I expect the team, and crowd - rather mute at times on Saturday compared to the Blues' fans - to be 'up-for-it' against Blackpool. It's very early in the season but we do need to start beating teams we hope will finish below us.
Have to agree , the response seemed wanting in the second half and nothing discernible happened. Ledesma - 45' came on and for a moment it looked like this might give us more shape and presence in and around this box and might flatten the diamond a little, but it didnt apart from for a short time. However, he was very quickly isolated like JCH had been and to some extent Revell in the first half.
Grenn coming on about 70mins gave us yet more penetration, but it was perhaps too late (and I guess SE cant be had for that as Green was ill), and Bowery came on a few minutes later (why not both together?) and perhaps got closer to goal than either of the other 2 forwards in the previous 70 minutes.
To my eye, JCH and Revell were too far apart and Frecks was pushed back too far. Pringle was largely ineffective and spent more time chasing back than going forward. Poor support play all round, especially from skarz at times. Only bright note was Arnie at times but ultimately we paid the price at the back when chasing the game and the midfield being exposed again.
Our problem is not in any particular position, but in (as you have pointed out) the lack of pace in the middle and width, which exposes the centre of the park but also the flanks. We were done time and time again out wide with overlaps and simply being outnumbered , which made some of their ordinary type players assume a pivotal role throughout the entire game.
This game for me is a must win game. I know there's along way to go in the season but I don't think we will get a better chance to get that winning feeling back and get some much needed confidence in the camp. Also to win a game we have to score, again something that we have struggled to do of late. It will be nice if we can win it comfortably with the goals shared about between the strikers and the midfield and if not being to greedy and to put some icing on cake one scored by a defender from a set piece.
Despite their position, I'm sure they will be no mugs. Any preferred team selections and formations?
Er, recent revalations, Pod? No revising my opinion of Evans' methods - he's done this from almost Day 1, certainly over the last 3 seasons.
It's brought him success but is extremely wasteful and is no way to build a sustainable football club. When Bury go pop, as they surely will - borrowing money using their ground as security - do we have to accommodate all the loan signings we've let them have? (And we are still paying their wages in part, allegedly.)
Despite their position, I'm sure they will be no mugs. Any preferred team selections and formations?
Er, recent revalations, Pod? No revising my opinion of Evans' methods - he's done this from almost Day 1, certainly over the last 3 seasons.
Agreed, but I fear you misunderstand my post. Which new signings will be used tomorrow and do they mean a change of formation? However, I concur, the chopping, changing and general wastefulness at the club is not particularly sustainable.
