Rowett v Lampard

[ramAnag]

We got what I expected. A hard fought (literally so) game that was tight and that was why I predicted a 1-1 draw. The game

We started well for a change and I thought we might have too much football in us for them but far too many wayward passes caused, mainly, by Stoke not giving players any time on the ball pointed towards us not getting the result we wanted and were earning in that start.

In the end, the difference was one keeper pulling off 3 excellent saves and 3 more very good ones and the other letting 2 in which he would usually have saved.

The stats will show we had 3 times the possession they had, twice as many shots (8-16) and twice as many shots (4-8) on target. Yes, we had as many shots on target as they had shots....... unfortunately, we have yet again succumbed to an overly physical side and only have ourselves to blame.

I will now be critical of Malone, not to put him on the naughty step but to use him as an example of, IMO, a huge recurring problem we have. One I have highlighted before. He made one cross with his right foot the whole game and that was a poor one that sialed harmlessly over the line for a goal kick.. The rest of the game his right foot was merely used to stand on. As with Fozzy, Olsson and, to a lesser extent, Lowe, Malone is easy to negate. Simply get him side on and he can only pass backwards. He is one of half a dozen one legged wonders we have. Not only would the players themselves be much better if they could have the confidence to use the “other” foot, it would greatly improve the team as well and I am surprised the staff aren’t working on it. We hear that Wilson, for instance, practices free kicks every day after training. He, and the other one legged wonders, should also learn to use their “wrong” foot. All too often we end up with a negative pass or a player going 35 yards sideways as there is no pass forwards possible as they are unable to use their good foot due to opposition players being in the way and the way backwards is also blocked so....... running sideways, across the pitch, with the ball is the only option.

As Stockers has already said, we had no stand out player today. Tomori and Huddlestone are probably the best 2 candidates and they only played half the game.

I wasn’t surprised at the team we put out. FL put a bit more “strength” in to counter Stoke’s methodology. So would I have done.

The ref? Made decisions varying from the sublime to the ridiculous.

The sending off? Spot on. I also liked the way he took his time, let the situation cool down and also consulted his assistants before acting.

The aftermath (part 1)? Allen should have walked too. He ran 10 yards and put BJ in a headlock, partly because BJ had just pushed him in the back and partly because he saw BJ “talking” to the ref and wanted to avoid, if at all possible, Etepo getting sent off. He also left a love bite on BJ’s neck. The officials appear not to have seen that and Allen might be looking at an FA charge. I would have sent him off for the attack on BJ rather than giving a yellow. It is what his action merited.

The aftermath (part 2)? BJ should have been sent off too. It is a given that refs punish retaliation more than the original “offence”. I kick you in a tackle, you retaliate will usually see me get a yellow for the tackle and you a red for retaliation. BJ retaliated and should have gone. He may also be looking at an FA charge as, when they were separated, he had a mouthful of Allen’s shirt and that points to him also having done a “Suarez”.

Just before the free kick we scored from, Marriott was 7 yards out, middle of the goal. He wanted to go for the ball but Shawcross (?) put both arms round him and pulled him over. Nailed on penalty? I think so. The ref thought otherwise.

Lawrence’s yellow? Farcical. He was there. Ince pushed the ball left, moved right and jumped at Lawrence. Was Lawro supposed spontaneously dissolve? Ridiculous decision. Unfortunately, apart from 3 well saved shots, Lawro did little else all game.

My biggest worry is for Davies. He signalled “game over” the second he went down. I fear a serious injury and a long, long way back for him. Get well soon Curtis.

Finally, we have yet to find the solution to “physical” teams is my lasting thought from this game.

Carson 5
Bogle 5
Keogh 6
Davies/Tomori 6/7
Bryson/Waghorn 6
BJ/Hudds 6/7
Mount 6
Wilson 6
Marriott 6
Larwence 6

You’re clearly a very kind man, MA. In my opinion there wasn’t a six between Bryson, Waghorn, Wilson, Mount and Lawrence. 4 or 5 at best for any of them. Agree about Tomari and Hudds being our best two players though and about the goalkeepers. Carson really is below par at the moment. Think he’ll recover his form, but just like Bannon on Saturday, Joe Allen also showed us what we’re missing in midfield again last night...out of order against BJ but otherwise played the roll of ‘puppet master’ with brains and ‘bite’.

As far as Davies is concerned, it’s sad and a blow for both the player and the team. When he came on at half time at Hillsborough the displays of respect from teammates was noticeable. I think we’ll cope thanks to the signing of Tomori but if that tackle on Keogh had been season/career ending, as it might have been, then we’d have a full on crisis.

[ManxRam]

Well Frank’s Derby may have more finesse but Rowett’s Stoke seemed fitter and ultimately out fought and out thought us.
Too many Derby ‘no shows’. Mount, Bryson and Lawrence may as well not have turned up. Despite Wilson’s great free kick he otherwise just constantly gave the ball away, Waghorn added absolutely nothing, even Marriott looked a little out of sorts and Carson needs a wake up call.
Disappointing and a little worrying...still rather watch us than them...but we need more bite...just not the BJ sort...allegedly!

Agree with your comments particularly about Wilson and Waghorn.

Wilson has a decent shot on him but his distribution and tackling are woeful.

Not convinced about Waghorn at all, first touch puts him and his team mates in instant trouble.

Would swap Lawrence for Ince in a heartbeat. Lawrence tried to make himself look like an aggressive team player when in truth he's a habitual yellow card offender who gives too many needless free kicks away.

Stoke did a job on us last night. Had Marriott scored when he hit the post it might have been different.

Oh and why did Bryson stop running for that ball in the first half when he was actually favourite to get to the ball and was one against one?

[AdiSalisbury]

Below par all round. To pick a handful:

Wilson really frustrates me, he's making things count with his shooting boot, but little else. If he wasn't scoring, he wouldn't even be in my matchday squad.

Carson has been off form all season, a complete contrast to last. He's just had his car and wallet stolen, so understandably not 100% last night, but that doesn't account for previous.

Bryson can be the engine of the side, or completely useless. Last night the latter. He's losing pace and needs to be a bit more intelligent with his runs so he's not so knackered when it counts.

Centre-backs - is it me or are they incapable of bullying other centre-backs when we have corners / free kicks? I'd expect them to chip in with the odd goal, but I can't remember the last one?

[mistaram]

Adi your right about corners waste of time us getting them

[ramAnag]

Adi your right about corners waste of time us getting them

Adi’s right about many things, mista...(to do with football) and everything in the post above...imo.

Think FL needs to have a word about discipline too. Jack Marriott is a worry...played superbly on Saturday, not so good last night, but that’s three bookings in successive games. Don’t know if it’s frustration but the one on Saturday - reaching up with both hands to stop an over hit cross from Wilson(?) going out - was the height of stupidity. They all add up and we can ill afford to lose him.

[mistaram]

RA Marriott never had a chance last night Shawcross and Williams never came out of the 18 us box only to go up for corners Rowett for his tactics right to nullify him Yes his discipline needs looking at Still think we would get a lot more out him in a two up front But Frank wants him in own afraid more teams will defend deep to try and negate his speed But he is a very good player he will get goals Don't think though last night was made to have a big strong striker in the bench to give us something to unsettle deep lying defenders we have nothing different on the bench to alter anything

[ramAnag]

RA Marriott never had a chance last night Shawcross and Williams never came out of the 18 us box only to go up for corners Rowett for his tactics right to nullify him Yes his discipline needs looking at Still think we would get a lot more out him in a two up front But Frank wants him in own afraid more teams will defend deep to try and negate his speed But he is a very good player he will get goals Don't think though last night was made to have a big strong striker in the bench to give us something to unsettle deep lying defenders we have nothing different on the bench to alter anything

No way I’m knocking him mista, love his attitude and he did come about as close as it’s possible to come without actually scoring last night. Unnecessary bookings are a pet hate of mine though. I’d actually fine players who get booked for taking their shirt off and his booking on Saturday was just about as daft. We can’t afford to lose him.