BFTG - Rotherham

[Zammo]

I'm in Y20 and it definitely looked a penalty, when the referee blew the whistle I was instantly chastising Cooper for a stupid tackle and a stupid penalty to give away when I realised the referee had given it to us, will definitely be watching the extended highlight.

Defo pen.

[Armadillo Roadkill]

A surprisingly negative set up against a dismal Rotherham.

Only John or Robson Kanu seemed to have any real creative spark - Kormorgant was totally isolated trying to control balls pinged at 50 mph for most of the game. Dennis looked brilliant - I love the way he orchestrated the goal. He has all the makings of a really top class player.

It was a penalty for Rotherham - but given the manager was Colin, and the antics of their players throughout the first half, it's hard to feel too much sympathy. Halford is a horrible person, but we could really do with training someone to throw the ball on like he does.

As said above, ugly win, but strangely satisfying.

[Elm Park Kid]

Highlight for me was the ref giving a foul against himself

[George_]

How many times have we seen us play like this recently and come away with a point or even nothing?

Take the 3 points and move on.

[Top Flight]

How many times have we seen us play like this recently and come away with a point or even nothing?

Take the 3 points and move on.

You sound like Brian.

[OLLIE KEARNS]

Positives = Win, clean sheet and some good individual performances of which Hector and HRK stood out.

Negatives = Err, we were too negative ! If we play a holding midfielder then we need to make much better use of the front five going forward. One of the two CM's needs to be prepared to make the box and make runs beyond Kermogant from time to time and the two wide men also need to go more central and support him when the ball is on the other side of the pitch. We were so rigid in our shape that Kermogant was constantly isolated and struggled as a result. It was no surprise that the goal came from him having someone running off him in behind (Rakels) for the first in the entire match.

The system will certainly make us competitive in every game but it is going to be painful to watch unless we can get more cohesion from our attacking players. Let's hope we are a bit more positive against a doomed Charlton on Saturday

[Armadillo Roadkill]

Positives = Win, clean sheet and some good individual performances of which Hector and HRK stood out.

Negatives = Err, we were too negative ! If we play a holding midfielder then we need to make much better use of the front five going forward. One of the two CM's needs to be prepared to make the box and make runs beyond Kermogant from time to time and the two wide men also need to go more central and support him when the ball is on the other side of the pitch. We were so rigid in our shape that Kermogant was constantly isolated and struggled as a result. It was no surprise that the goal came from him having someone running off him in behind (Rakels) for the first in the entire match.

The system will certainly make us competitive in every game but it is going to be painful to watch unless we can get more cohesion from our attacking players. Let's hope we are a bit more positive against a doomed Charlton on Saturday

Nigh on perfect analysis Ollie.
A caller into BBRB made a very similar point last night - about Hector being almost a third centre half rather than a defensive midfielder, meaning Cooper and McShane dropped too far back, this all resulting in leaving too long a gap to Norwood and hence Termagant was isolated with no supply. I thought that was a great call, rather than the usual platitudes about "passion", but Williams seemed almost a bit affronted that a mere fan could have such a good insight.

[Forbury Lion]

The first half was largely forgettable except for Kermo missing yet another chance.

I don't think he fits into the system well enough yet, two of the fans near me were saying McDermot should have started Cox instead and he isn't exactly a prolific goalscorer.

When I saw the bench, I figured McDermott was playing a strategy to wear down Rotherham before bringing on supersubs with speed and agility - Rakels and McLeary, similar to his Le Fondre supersub tactics.

[West Stand Man]

We saw why Ola John hasn't been starting up to now. As an impact sub he has been great. Yesterday he was totally anonymous in a game that cried out for an impact player. Sure it is only one game but on that evidence he will struggle to get a place in the starting XI again.

HRK was clear MOM. A shining light in a very dull game.

John was the only one trying anything in the first half.

I am talking about the actual game at Madejski Stadium not your computer game!

OJ ran around like a headless, impactless chicken and was lucky that Norwood looked even more off form when it came to the first substitution. It was inevitable that he was going off.

[Maguire]

Instantly forgettable match, but the ones you need to win nonetheless.

Not sure what to make of Rakels - needs to get fitter of course but has a nice little touch and a decent burst of pace about him. Went offside about 60 times though so needs a bit of forward coaching.

[West Stand Man]

Highlight for me was the ref giving a foul against himself

It has to be almost as bizarre as the retaken corner the other week!

[Ian Royal]

We saw why Ola John hasn't been starting up to now. As an impact sub he has been great. Yesterday he was totally anonymous in a game that cried out for an impact player. Sure it is only one game but on that evidence he will struggle to get a place in the starting XI again.

HRK was clear MOM. A shining light in a very dull game.

I thought that was one of his better starts tbh

[West Stand Man]

Instantly forgettable match, but the ones you need to win nonetheless.

Not sure what to make of Rakels - needs to get fitter of course but has a nice little touch and a decent burst of pace about him. Went offside about 60 times though so needs a bit of forward coaching.

He has the pace not to be drawn offside. However, I thought a couple of the offside shouts were a bit close (that is a euphemism for 'the Lino got it wrong'). I recall Nicky Forster being caught offside rather a lot and was often just too quick for the lino.

[West Stand Man]

We saw why Ola John hasn't been starting up to now. As an impact sub he has been great. Yesterday he was totally anonymous in a game that cried out for an impact player. Sure it is only one game but on that evidence he will struggle to get a place in the starting XI again.

HRK was clear MOM. A shining light in a very dull game.

I thought that was one of his better starts tbh

How many 'other starts' has he had though?

[Ian Royal]

We saw why Ola John hasn't been starting up to now. As an impact sub he has been great. Yesterday he was totally anonymous in a game that cried out for an impact player. Sure it is only one game but on that evidence he will struggle to get a place in the starting XI again.

HRK was clear MOM. A shining light in a very dull game.

I thought that was one of his better starts tbh

How many 'other starts' has he had though?

About three.

[Big Foot]

Agreed with a lot of the comments on here, only thing which hasn't been covered is the disgraceful 2 footed lunge by their LB on Hector in the second half. Red card all day long and I don't think he even got so much as a booking?! McShane rightly furious

[Winston Smith]

noticed McShane repeatedly gesturing to Cooper to keep his head and to calm down after a few tussles with Halford.

Thought Cooper went in with his elbow on Halford at one point.

[Winston Smith]

Things our fans get excited about that baffle me:

1. goalkeeper catches it and rolls it out immediately to a defender. Big roar from the crowd as that defender has no where to go but the masses are pleased none the less

2. attacking, 3 on 3, it goes out for a corner, huge roar from the crowd as the opposition have a chance to get all 11 players back to defend

[If you still hate Futcher]

We saw why Ola John hasn't been starting up to now. As an impact sub he has been great. Yesterday he was totally anonymous in a game that cried out for an impact player. Sure it is only one game but on that evidence he will struggle to get a place in the starting XI again.

HRK was clear MOM. A shining light in a very dull game.

John was the only one trying anything in the first half.

I am talking about the actual game at Madejski Stadium not your computer game!

OJ ran around like a headless, impactless chicken and was lucky that Norwood looked even more off form when it came to the first substitution. It was inevitable that he was going off.

You seem to be in a minority of one on John's (really don't want to call him OJ) effectiveness -he was good going forward and was even getting back and covering Obita just before being hooked.

Ollie was taken off purely because the midfield was comfortable and we needed another forward, nothing to do with his performance, and it worked immediately.

I stand corrected on the penalty, if it was that certain I would've expected them to make more of it - Colin didn't even mention it to the 4th official.

On the ref, I thought he was going to lose it when he started dishing out the cards but he soon got bored with that and then began wanting to get more involved in the game - I've never seen a ref win a header before

[Maneki Neko]

It's a bit weird commenting on a game that I had to get up early to follow using online newsfeeds from 13,000 miles away in NZ, but here goes! Sometimes distance brings clarity re the bigger picture...
Our form in the League has been hugely disappointing and 'turgid' would have to be the best word to describe the tedious flow of information that dribbled onto my screen this morning. The goal was a long time coming and was a huge relief. It seemed to come from nowhere.
However, has anyone noticed that since New Years Day, we've only lost two of 12 games, and we were only then beaten by the odd goal each time? We've scored 19 and only let in 10 goals. I know that most of that is inflated by FA Cup baloney, but nevertheless...we seemed to have stopped the rot that had set in earlier in the season and there's less far less red in the results column. Essentially, those draws now need to become wins...

welcome to the board.

but Pitt island royal wants his farthest flung fan award back