Rotherham (H) Match thread - sponsored by Colin

[Pepe the Horseman]

Super save from El Habso in the first half. Would like to see their penalty appeal again.

[Steve_Upper_West]

Whilst Mathematically not, realistically, any interest in this season beyond the cup is now fully over.

Whilst I am not disagreeing you say that as if we lost tonight....... "is now fully over"

[Royal Ginger]

Whilst Mathematically not, realistically, any interest in this season beyond the cup is now fully over.

Whilst I am not disagreeing you say that as if we lost tonight....... "is now fully over"

As in the competition involved in a relegation battle is now ALSO over.

[Ian Royal]

Make no mistake, that was not us turning a corner, we were poor Rovrum were awful.

We looked much better when Rakels came on for Norwood who was a bystander tonight. If he could stay on side it might have been more comfortable.

Still very little goal threat. We're a tight unit at the back but just isolated individual s going forward.

But a win is a win and in November we'd have lost.

Al-Habsi 8 top draw save first half
Gunter 6 very negative in possession
Obita 6 as above
McShane 7 solid
Cooper 7 solid
Hector 7 solid
Quinn 7 tireless workrate
Norwood 6 off the pace and not helped by the shape
HRK 8 MotM continues to threaten
John 7 threatened but isolated
Kermie 6 isolated and never looked like scoring

Rakels 7 quick, committed, needs to watch the line.
McCleary 6 not suited to the left, didn't do a lot on the right.

[Ian Royal]

50 points is generally the safe mark in the Chump, 55 to be certain. 40 is PL.

[John Madejski's Wallet]

Much as Hector was pretty awesome, I agree with the caller in to BBCBerks..... Brian playing a negative 451 with hector in middle is pulling the defence too deep and really isolating the attackers

[genome]

Hector was better than "solid" Ian. But I was confused how negative the formation was, Kermogant was very isolated. And John/HRK had three players on them when it went out wide.

We would have never conceded. Rotherham were dire. No surprise that when Rakels came on we had a decent sight at goal and scored with a very good finish.

[Ian Royal]

Much as Hector was pretty awesome, I agree with the caller in to BBCBerks..... Brian playing a negative 451 with hector in middle is pulling the defence too deep and really isolating the attackers

Acceptable while Williams is out as Piazon's too lightweight for midfield. Evans and Fernandez not really a solution either.

When Williams is back, Norwood can play deeper and Danny can link with attack.

I don't think Kermie is helping either, he's too static, not super speedy and encourages longer balls. Vydra's pace and movement may help.

[Royal Ginger]

Evans and Fernandez not really a solution either.

Why not Evans? We've seen him in one game after next to no time with the squad. I don't feel we have sufficient information to make that judgement.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Was super Matej Vydra injured again?

[leon]

Much as Hector was pretty awesome, I agree with the caller in to BBCBerks..... Brian playing a negative 451 with hector in middle is pulling the defence too deep and really isolating the attackers

Acceptable while Williams is out as Piazon's too lightweight for midfield. Evans and Fernandez not really a solution either.

When Williams is back, Norwood can play deeper and Danny can link with attack.

I don't think Kermie is helping either, he's too static, not super speedy and encourages longer balls. Vydra's pace and movement may help.

The bloke completely missed the point that with hector covering the defence Norwood didn't push up enough and link midfield with attack. He seemed lost.

There were a number of times in possession where he should have taken the ball forward, stretched Rotherham and played the ball. Or when he didn't have it, get into positions between their defence and midfield to receive it and then play it.
Very poor.

[Vision]

Hector was better than "solid" Ian. But I was confused how negative the formation was, Kermogant was very isolated. And John/HRK had three players on them when it went out wide.

We would have never conceded. Rotherham were dire. No surprise that when Rakels came on we had a decent sight at goal and scored with a very good finish.

I think a definite factor in selecting Hector was that we were conceding so many goals from set plays that were costing us points. That certainly appears to have been addressed by having that extra "centre half" in those situations

Of course there's an argument that says at home it may be overkill and we may need to be braver in the future but against teams managed by Pulis and Warnock you can see why he wouldn't change it.

EDIT. As leon says above, it's really the deployment and role of Norwood that is the issue. Whether it's instructions from McD who doesn't fully trust Hector to be on the ball as much as Norwood usually is, or if it's Norwood reverting to his "QB" comfort Zone I don't know but he really needs to be pushing forward in games like this. He's had a good season but he's become too predictable recently and it's made him and us much easier to deal with. He's capable of a lot more.

[Ian Royal]

Evans and Fernandez not really a solution either.

Why not Evans? We've seen him in one game after next to no time with the squad. I don't feel we have sufficient information to make that judgement.

He's supposedly more deep and defensive and didn't get forward much when we did see him

[Esteban]

Much as Hector was pretty awesome, I agree with the caller in to BBCBerks..... Brian playing a negative 451 with hector in middle is pulling the defence too deep and really isolating the attackers

It definitely wasn't a flat 451. I think it was supposed to be 4231, with Quinn in the number 10 role. However, Quinn kept dropping deep and so Kermorgant ended up isolated. Quinn was busy, but struggled to get into the game otherwise.

I thought Cox did a better job up front against better defenders than Kermorgant did last night. I reckon we'd have been more threatening if Cox had started instead of Quinn, but equally, we'd have had less strength in midfield.

Given Rotherham's spoiling tactics, our current injuries and winless run, I'll take the win. I think everyone knew what they were going to get from last night, which was reflected in the attendance figures. I enjoyed my half price pint, HRK's goal and the ref seemingly awarding us a free kick after he had run into Hector. Everything else I'm happy to forget.

[Maneki Neko]

433

[Longhorn1970]

Right before the goal Rakels came on for Norwood and got the assist...

I thought it was Kermitthefrog?

Another dud, no composure when presented with a great chance from 12 yds

[Longhorn1970]

Much as Hector was pretty awesome, I agree with the caller in to BBCBerks..... Brian playing a negative 451 with hector in middle is pulling the defence too deep and really isolating the attackers

Perhaps the penny has finally dropped after McShane comments, and BM is trying to plug gaps, master tactician he is ..

[Maneki Neko]

[leon]

Much as Hector was pretty awesome, I agree with the caller in to BBCBerks..... Brian playing a negative 451 with hector in middle is pulling the defence too deep and really isolating the attackers

Perhaps the penny has finally dropped after McShane comments, and BM is trying to plug gaps, master tactician he is ..

When Brian took us up to the Premier League you would have been in Reception or Year 1?