Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Millers Banter: Unofficial Rotherham United Fans Forum / Message Board → Football / Sport / RUFC Related → WBA thoughts
 

Topic: WBA thoughts

1 2  >  Last»  | Page of 2  sorted by
ian
Club Legend
Status: Offline
Posts: 6218
Date:

WBA thoughts

Permalink  
 

Sadly, I can't see us taking a point in this one. They are in decent form and do pretty well away. Impressive goals for, although they concede. 

One chunk of light is that a few poor teams have upset them.

Same dilemma; do we open up a little? Given their leaky defence  but potent strike force it might be a good one to go for ( but if my knees are knocking then Warne will have fainted at the thought)  



-- Edited by ian on Wednesday 19th of December 2018 06:42:18 PM

__________________
gwru
Testimonial
Status: Offline
Posts: 3056
Date:
Permalink  
 
Learn from last Saturday. Got to play 4-5-1. Problem is we look a player short in midfield. Vaulks & Towell then who? Ajayi if Raggett is fit. Manning if not. Robertson for Wood. Williams & Newell wide players. Will WBA be up for it at a smaller ground? 11 players against 11. I've not written us off in this game.

__________________
GlennMiller
Vice-Captain
Status: Offline
Posts: 1715
Date:
Permalink  
 
Bolton, Hull and Wigan have all beaten WBA this season at home so we're definitely in with a chance this Saturday. I really hope Raggett is fit to allow Ajayi to add some physicality to midfield. I think we will play better against this type of opposition than we did against Reading. If we can keep it tight until the last twenty, I fancy we could do a job on them with a strong finish. However, as usual, I'll be really happy if we put in another positive performance and leave WBA thinking that they've been in a real tough game.

__________________
smiler
Testimonial
Status: Offline
Posts: 4501
Date:
Permalink  
 

I'd play virtually the same XI that started against Sheff Utd. That was our best performance of the season. Ajayi and Robertson at the back. Manning next to Vaulks with Towell getting forward. I would have Williams right and Newell left. Smith up front. To me that looks our best balanced eleven with all our best players on the pitch playing in their natural positions. Its great to be playing WBA. A proper grown up football club. We can get something out of it given the usual hard graft and a following wind. 



-- Edited by smiler on Thursday 20th of December 2018 06:36:15 AM

__________________
gwru
Testimonial
Status: Offline
Posts: 3056
Date:
Permalink  
 

Sounds like Raggett won't be considered. Side as I've already said same as smiler's. Reading tizer Warney he's saying he's got an amazing group here, they're like my kids. Players do commendable work can't argue. Thing is it's what happens on the pitch that fans pay their money for. Warney he's got to distance himself & go on ability. We aren't far off having a side that can climb the table. A few tweaks in January, in's & out's we'll get there.

Just had Richie Barker's team news on the OS says Raggett is over his illness so if he's fit enough Rodak; Vyner Raggett Robertson Mattock; Williams Vaulks Ajayi Towell Newell; Smudger

 

Better smiler!



-- Edited by gwru on Friday 21st of December 2018 12:34:30 PM



-- Edited by gwru on Friday 21st of December 2018 06:44:16 PM

__________________
GlennMiller
Vice-Captain
Status: Offline
Posts: 1715
Date:
Permalink  
 
Agree that team but I think we'd stand a better chance with eleven so I'd stick Vyner in at RB. Newell's going to have to work his socks off to support both Smith and Mattock.

__________________
whiston01
First Team
Status: Offline
Posts: 967
Date:
Permalink  
 
I would go with Smilers team and leave Ajayi in the back four. West Brom are strong down the left with Barnes and Gayle attacking on that side. I think we will need Ajayi's pace to cover for Vyner. Not a game i would re-introduce Raggett. There midfield have Livermore and Barry in it. Not blessed with pace but find space and pass the ball very well.
I would like to see Williams out wide on the right and Towell playing the more forward of the central three in midfield. As Smiler said our best performance this season was possibly against Sheff Utd. Taylor played wide left and as Warney likes to play him i feel he could go with Taylor wide on the left. I do know one of the main reasons Newell hasn't had too much time on the pitch (hardly started a game) is he is still struggling with an injury. If fully fit its probably time to start him today wide on the left. The other option is to play Newell in the hole in a 4.4.1.1 and play Manning on the left of the four in midfield. As i said earlier i would go with Smilers team but feel it will be Taylor on the left and Newell on the bench. Its then whether he plays Towell or Williams in the hole. If he plays Williams it will be Forde on the right. Tough decisions for Paul Warne.

__________________
gwru
Testimonial
Status: Offline
Posts: 3056
Date:
Permalink  
 
Only way I want to see Taylor on the left is left on the bench. I'll be hugely dissapointed if Taylor or Forde start. If Ajayi is in defence Manning in midfield.

__________________
TH MILLER
Captain
Status: Offline
Posts: 2002
Date:
Permalink  
 
Cancel Christmas tree is coming down tinsel being shredded no xmas pud and you can stuff the turkey thank you Mr Warne for spoiling the big day for me. What a clueless performance I couldn't pick any player good enough for this league. I bet WBA thought it was Christmas day Boxing day and there birthdays all rolled into one kame kazi defending looks like no left back for the Bolton match great planning again fear the worst for the rest of the season that Vaulks if anybody gives us any money for we should all have a whip round for a taxi fare not a happy puppy.

__________________
BradtheMiller
Captain
Status: Offline
Posts: 2270
Date:
Permalink  
 
OK we were mullered & if we compare ourselves to the frightening array of talent at Albion disposal we aren't good enough but we put a shift in, created chances & were beaten by a far superior team. Today will not define our season but boxing day might. UTM

__________________

 
NewYorkshire
First Team
Status: Offline
Posts: 996
Date:
Permalink  
 
We hit the bar, missed a penalty and they cleared off the line - could have been a different story tbh. However they have an array of talent and shows the difference in premier league and our L1/Championship side. Forget that and concentrate on Bolton for me.

__________________
smiler
Testimonial
Status: Offline
Posts: 4501
Date:
Permalink  
 
I agree with that Brad. The players kept going and we played well in patches. On another day we score two or three goals. WBA were excellent. They had four players in their starting eleven who have played for England in the recent past and various other internationals and it showed. They deserved to beat us but not by that scoreline. If it could go wrong for us today it did. Put that one down to experience and on to the next game which is a big one. The reaction from our crowd was a bit embarrassing with people heading for the exits on the hour mark and a few rants aimed at players who give their all every week. Including the clown who actually shouted 'put a b****y shift in' to Smith, which surely has to be the laugh of the season.

__________________
gwru
Testimonial
Status: Offline
Posts: 3056
Date:
Permalink  
 
I'm not worried by that at all. WBA are the have's, we are the have not's in comparison. Get the mistakes, penalty miss out of the way in a game we going to get nothing out of. Robertson Manning Newell were an improvement on last Saturday. Would say it's the best side we can start with apart from Williams for Forde. Forde didn't do much wrong, just he's limited going forward. Next 3 games what matters then get to the transfer window. See then if we can up the quality of the side in 2 or 3 positions up a notch.

__________________
splinter
Reserve Team
Status: Offline
Posts: 404
Date:
Permalink  
 
Agree Brad that today's game wont define our season but it was still worrying that we have so little real quality. Mistakes aside i think the game was lost in central midfield where all three were awful. Towell and Manning can both go go back in January in the hope that Warne has lined up better replacements and i don't see anybody paying big money for Vaulks. If the Chairman hasn't realised that he needs to loosen the purse strings in the transfer window then we will sink into the bottom three and stay there. So disappointing really because given the tools i think Warne could probably keep us up.

__________________
smiler
Testimonial
Status: Offline
Posts: 4501
Date:
Permalink  
 
I think that is your best ever post gwru if I may say so.

__________________
gwru
Testimonial
Status: Offline
Posts: 3056
Date:
Permalink  
 
Thanks smiler. I don't get many people agreeing with my posts. I agree with splinter Towell not done a deal since he came back this season. Manning didn't get everything right today but got more right than wrong today. Vyner apart from getting nut megged in the build up for WBA 2nd goal didn't do much wrong

__________________
GlennMiller
Vice-Captain
Status: Offline
Posts: 1715
Date:
Permalink  
 
My frustration today was the manner in which we gifted them their goals. The first was the result of an unnecessary foul on the edge of our area when the danger had gone. Semi's loose passes lead to their 2nd and 3rd and obviously Marek had a mare with the fourth. I wasn't that disappointed with our performance against a real quality side and, with a bit more luck, we could have been right in the game had Manning's shot gone in instead of hitting the post.

The real standout to me was Robertson. He is going to be a real asset to us if we manage to stay in this league. Today was a predictable loss and we have much more important, and winnable matches coming up. Keep the faith!

Onwards and upwards.

__________________
Exetermiller
Moderator
Status: Offline
Posts: 2408
Date:
Permalink  
 
Are we now suffering fatigue? The lads put it in week after week. All I saw from our midfield was half hearted pressing and absolutely no shape behind the ball whatsoever, the transition was slow in both areas. Having said that 4-0 flattered them despite their class, millions et al. I will say this, we don't start scoring when we should we're gonna be the architects of our own own downfall. At 1-0 we should have equalised missed and then went 2-0 down. Goals change game paths. Sort it please.

__________________

FA Licensed Coach & Referee

 
smiler
Testimonial
Status: Offline
Posts: 4501
Date:
Permalink  
 
I didn't fancy Proctors body language today. His warm up was half hearted, he cut a frustrated figure while he was on and he trudged straight down the tunnel at the end without a word to anyone. Perhaps he is frustrated at a lack of minutes which would be understandable. Perhaps I read it wrong. I just hope they weren't the first signs of disharmony on a frustrating day when things didn't go our way.

__________________
ian
Club Legend
Status: Offline
Posts: 6218
Date:
Permalink  
 

The result was well deserved I thought. They took the foot off after they went in front, and for me its a little wayward to suggest its just a one-off against a superior team. That's hindsight after the fact isnt it? As good as we have been in spells, we have been awful in others. Only last week Vs Reading- and our inability to win a game over 15 or so games is the account of our season thus far.

so, most pundits who relied on facts will have had the current standard as unexceptional and felt humdrum about the league position. However, its been time to reassess since our form has dipped and the passage of time has shown slightly worsening performance and results.

I have to admit a disappointment today given those much-lauded merits of our game. We were particularly bad everywhere. Given that none of their goals was particularly unusual to concede against a better team, then I can adjust, and need not to be too critical and downhearted. However, I think they could have scored again and again if they needed too. I can only recall good goalscoring opportunities from set-pieces, bar the long-range shot that hit the post. I could not see a goal from open play coming today. Would anyone have really gambled a chunk of their Christmas wage on us scoring after the first 16 minutes? 

The defence was suspect and individual errors contributed to at least 2 goals. Otherwise, our movement (even from defensive set pieces) was half a second slower.

Midfield was totally trounced. I was pleased we still managed to get the ball in the area, but all too often the central midfield was missing or it was Smith producing a hopeful ball.

Attack? None to speak of really. One can write a fair sized book full of ideas and feelings and actual extracts from that game, but the chapter about our Attack would be a work of fiction-it would look like one of those awful, boring and uncreative films where the chase goes on forever and can only satisfy the most languid and thoughtless disposition we humans are capable of getting in. Brave and dogged, hopeful, but, alas, outclassed and outfought with only the history writers to spin a tale long after the result.

I agree that if we could spend then the chances of staying up would be significantly increased. However, we know TS is not a betting man-not a man to take risks or be flirtatious with money. And, I have to agree with him. Its very difficult to calculate what one needs to spend. And its unrealistic for us also.

I was speaking to the opposition supporters today and they suggested that being in the premiership for them was like us being in the championship. They went further, adding; being in the premiership did little for their pride or enjoyment and amounted to an anxious waiting season on season for the odd win to inch them to safety. I didn't wholly agree, but I could not disagree either.

This league is traditionally the tightest and so it is again this season. I have no insight into why. However, the same law seems eventually to take effect even if the fractions are smaller. Its a little like the awfully true and indigestible fact about death and taxes. To that I might add that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. A poor man with a windfall is no better off as he has no idea how he came by it...I digress.

My mate was annoyed and disagreeable when I suggested several players we needed to improve on. He felt that safety was the way forward and cautious should be our approach to changing anything. As we all continue to debate this remains the central proposition: Change things and risk money, or keep it as is and hope the so-called quantum fractions slowly mount up on our side of the cosmic seesaw.

Manning is one in a long line of "not quite good enoughs" that seem to just catch the eye enough to keep hoping. The absence of Wood is a sign of Warnes lack of foresight. Its a terrible excuse to make someone your captain and then decide he is not good enough so early on in a season. Its worse to tell us that he can still be an effective captain.

To win one needs to score.

To draw one need only be average most of the time and play the percentage when under pressure.

The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.







-- Edited by ian on Saturday 22nd of December 2018 10:50:37 PM



-- Edited by ian on Saturday 22nd of December 2018 10:54:16 PM

__________________
1 2  >  Last»  | Page of 2  sorted by
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
 
Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us