What in hell's name will the team be from now on?

[winchester_royal]

Burton are an average League 2 side.

And yes, he was that bad against Barnsley.

Makes no odds what division Burton are in, Mooney played well.

Not sure why you persist in writing him off on the basis of your perception of one game. Based on that game you wouldn;t really rate any of the starting line up.

How about writing him off based on the fact that under neither Coppell or Rodgers he has found himself anywhere near the first team, and that everytime I see him play I am very much underwhelmed by his lack of pace, strength and movement. Yes he can finish but that's not enough, especially in the lone striker role.

[Tilehurst End]

Burton are an average League 2 side.

And yes, he was that bad against Barnsley.

Makes no odds what division Burton are in, Mooney played well.

Not sure why you persist in writing him off on the basis of your perception of one game. Based on that game you wouldn;t really rate any of the starting line up.

How about writing him off based on the fact that under neither Coppell or Rodgers he has found himself anywhere near the first team, and that everytime I see him play I am very much underwhelmed by his lack of pace, strength and movement. Yes he can finish but that's not enough, especially in the lone striker role.

Unfotunately because of his origins he'll always be looked on as the new kevin Doyle and that he ain't.

[papereyes]

... but he wasn't as highly rated as Doyle ...

... but the division Burton are in does matter in terms of the quality of the players ...


If he makes it here. Great. I just don't think he will.

[Sun Tzu]

How about writing him off based on the fact that under neither Coppell or Rodgers he has found himself anywhere near the first team, and that everytime I see him play I am very much underwhelmed by his lack of pace, strength and movement. Yes he can finish but that's not enough, especially in the lone striker role.

His movement against Burton was excellent.

Having seen him a few times for the reserves I'd say his movement is generally good. He's not massively pacy but so what, he's not advertised as a pseed merchant and it's perfectly possible to be a very good player without doing sub 10 secs for the 100m.

Likewise not being a 'loan striker' type doesn't make him a bad player. It may not make him ideal for one particular formation.

And the ability to finish is probably THE attribute required. If you've got that you are an asset. Without it you aren't.

I'm not sure he'll make the grade, but as I've said to right him off because you didn;t think he played well in one game is daft.

[Sun Tzu]

... but the division Burton are in does matter in terms of the quality of the players ...

To some degree.

But at the same time there are things about players that will come through almost irrespective of the standard of the opposition. Mooney didn;t look world class, but he took his first goal very well, he moved intelligently, he did a lot of the stuff you want a forward to do and did it pretty well.

[winchester_royal]

How about writing him off based on the fact that under neither Coppell or Rodgers he has found himself anywhere near the first team, and that everytime I see him play I am very much underwhelmed by his lack of pace, strength and movement. Yes he can finish but that's not enough, especially in the lone striker role.

His movement against Burton was excellent.

Having seen him a few times for the reserves I'd say his movement is generally good. He's not massively pacy but so what, he's not advertised as a pseed merchant and it's perfectly possible to be a very good player without doing sub 10 secs for the 100m.

Likewise not being a 'loan striker' type doesn't make him a bad player. It may not make him ideal for one particular formation.

And the ability to finish is probably THE attribute required. If you've got that you are an asset. Without it you aren't.

I'm not sure he'll make the grade, but as I've said to right him off because you didn;t think he played well in one game is daft.

To repeat my previous post......I'M NOT WRITING HIM OFF ON THE BACK OF ONE GAME.

There's a reason he's nowhere near the first team ATM, and there's a reason why he was out on loan towards the end of last year even though we were struggling for goals.

The fact of the matter is he really isn't that good. Coppell admitted when they signed him they weren't sure if he would make the grade, and that it was a big gamble, but one that was probably worth taking because of the low price.

Would be delighted if he proved me wrong and scored a hatful, but I just don't think he will.

[Sun Tzu]

[quote="winchester_royal"][To repeat my previous post......I'M NOT WRITING HIM OFF ON THE BACK OF ONE GAME.

quote]

It's ok. I'd noticed the changing of the goal posts !!

[winchester_royal]

[To repeat my previous post......I'M NOT WRITING HIM OFF ON THE BACK OF ONE GAME.

It's ok. I'd noticed the changing of the goal posts !!

Nope, I just said he was gash against Barnsley, and that because of that it is hardly suprising no-one is considering him when it comes to choosing the first team.

[Sun Tzu]

Nope, I just said he was gash against Barnsley, and that because of that it is hardly suprising no-one is considering him when it comes to choosing the first team.

Apart from his two appearances this season of course....

[winchester_royal]

Nope, I just said he was gash against Barnsley, and that because of that it is hardly suprising no-one is considering him when it comes to choosing the first team.

Apart from his two appearances this season of course....

In the carling cup where we play our second string............

[gazzer, loyal royal]

Federici

Cummins
Bertrand
Mills
O'Dea

Karacan
Tabb
Gylfi

McAnuff
Kebe
Hunt

[Snowball]

Has Rodgers ever played 5-3-2?

We suddenly have 3 VG CBs and two very attacking, fast, fit, young FBs.

Which CB don't you rate ? 5-3-2 seems like an awful waste of midfielders.....

I suspect all four of our CBs are VG, the only doubt is how Ingi
will be after his op and time out, whether he comes back top-form

Presuming Mills is worth his price-tag, he should be a top-top CB at this level
O'Dea should be, top club, Champions League experience etc
Pearce (vice-captain) already a good CB even if some mistakes and will improve quickly
Then Ingi...

None of these look like they should be warming the bench. That, coupled with two fast young fit fullbacks just made me wonder...

[Scarface]

A lot will depend on which formation Buck now employs, also will he change a winning team ?

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

I think we all agree we need to be a bit more flexible with formations than we have been.

Rasiak, with Hunt or Long seems a pretty balanced forward line if we did go 442.

With 451 though

Fed

Cummins
Berty (tryin to start something here)
O'Dea
Mills (Ivar if fit and as good as pre injury)

Tabb
Gylfi

Howard

McAnuff
Kebe

Hunt

Hunt just edges Rasiak becuase of mobility.

Still lacking a bit of quality/experience in the middle, so have picked Tabb. What we really need is a time machine to take Boris back 4 years!

Bit short out wide, which leaves you with Kebe starting. Could be interesting to see Long or Hunt wide though.

[Old Biscuitman]

There are so many possible combinations that I would just be guessing.

One thing for sure, the team choice for Saturday will be the most eagerly awaited for years. Most interesting for me will be the message it gives about Rodger's thinking and how it may have changed since the start of the season. Given his buying spree he must have decided that his faith in the youngsters was taken too far. None of the new signings seem to me to have been bought as back-ups, so how and what does he communicate to the the players who appeared against Forest only 4 weeks ago, when he was lauding them as the new dawn for the club? Keeping them motivated will be a big challenge for him, as will making the right decision about which of them to send out on loan. Church, Henry and Robson-Kanu would be my choice for starters.

[Archies Volley II]

A lot will depend on which formation Buck now employs, also will he change a winning team ?

I doubt Rosenior will be right back for Reading on Saturday

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

The interesting situation for me is the Pearce one.

Rodgers obviously spent the whole summer building him up, making him vice captain. Now when Ivar returns he's going to find himself 4th choice most likely.

I hope Rodgers learns the lesson about putting to much faith and therefore too much pressure on such young shoulders...

[Sun Tzu]

How do you conclude Pearce will 'most likely' be 4th choice ?

We seem to have 4 options, and absolutely no way of judging which ones Rodgers will go with.

As I've said elsewhere it's not a straight any 2 from 4 becasue he will be looking for a combination that works. I don;t think Mills and Pearce has been perfect so do expect a change but no idea what that will be. Too early for Ivar I would expect though.

The vice captain thing seems a non issue. There is no 'pressure' in being vice captain. Pearce may have found being thrust into being captain on the pitch a challenge but so would anyone. There were not really any more exerienced candidates.

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

Well we've spent £2m on Mills, O'Dea hasn't come here to sit on the bench and if Ivar is still as good as he was pre injury he will walk into the team.

So that doesn't leave Pearce as 1st choice does it?

Of course you can't tell what is in someones head, but you know Rodger's would have been building Pearce up all summer, not just from his comments from the press, but because it's obvious what sort of manager Rodger's is.

This is a challenge for Pearce, but it's a kick in the bollox whatever way you look at it. Players have gone into their shells over much else. I actually think Pearce has more too him than that, but like I said, it will be interesting...

[Old Biscuitman]

The interesting situation for me is the Pearce one.

Rodgers obviously spent the whole summer building him up, making him vice captain. Now when Ivar returns he's going to find himself 4th choice most likely.

I hope Rodgers learns the lesson about putting to much faith and therefore too much pressure on such young shoulders...

Agreed. Rodgers' decisions here demonstrate his inexperience of management. Pearce is a fine prospect, but not ready yet IMO. Too many unforced errors. At times dithers between watching the ball and his opponent. Making him captain has increased the problem by giving him another responsibility to think about.