January shopping

[champs95]

Hang on! Only just seen this thread. I'd rename it "Babies and bathwater"!
I think we are in danger of overreacting.
Players do go in and out of form. It isn't so long since there were lots of calls for GRAHAM to be shipped out.
I really don't think all our defenders have suddenly become bad players.
People are blaming Nyambe for the second goal, but if WE had scored it, we wouldn't be talking about a full-back error; we'd be commenting on the slick move and pinpoint passing!
Lenihan had a bit of a shocker, I agree, but I thought he might just be trying too hard after being dropped.
No-one was saying a month ago that Downing (solid as he is) was a better first-choice.
As for the left-back position, it seems quite simple to me: Bell offers more going forward, but Williams is a more reliable defender. Even so, I think Bell has a future.
As for Smallwood, I actually thought he played quite well. We know he's limited, but he breaks up a lot of attacks.
Someone like Rothwell has far more skill on the ball, but was that what Saturday's conditions were calling for?
In reality, if Raya hadn't completely mistimed that charge, we'd probably have been looking at a two-nil victory.
I've been looking up some statistics, and if a game is divided up into blocks, most goals are scored from the 70th minute onwards. It isn't just us!
A final point: I really don't see how the manager gets blamed - as some posters are doing elsewhere - for a completely out-of-the-blue goalkeeping error. I still think our greatest priorities for January are for a winger and a target-man. Having said that, Saxo is right that Nuttall has to be pushing for a place. He is no longer a "kid", and as far as Rovers are concerned, it must be getting close to "now or never" in his case.

Always good to read a balanced post Auks. Some very good points.

I question our defensive stability. I do not believe that Raya is as confident as he was before the WBA game. That injury was a bad one, and his decision making since has caused problems.
I've seen Nyambe give 4 goals away this season, all very similar, all preventable. He is good going forward, but simply a liability defending. Is he improving? As in, we are now a Champ side, is he actually good enough to be in our side and command a place? Its mistake after mistake, so I am wary of this lad. He is costing us points.
Downing came in and barley put a foot wrong, then was taken out of the side unfairly.
What had he done wrong? We have onlty won once recently, and he played a big part in that. I'm unsure he deserved to lose his place? Smallwood and Evans retain their places no matter how they perform? I don't mind it, as he is sticking by people. So why take Downing out of the side? That made no sense.
Sat was a bit of a freak. We strolled through the game at ease as they didn't fancy it. They where very poor.
Like you say Auks, you cant blame the manager for what Raya did, which invited them into the game. But I must say, it was poor defending that lead to the equaliser.

I'm afraid Nuttall will not make it at this level. He's nowhere near good enough. He not even close to breaking in. I'd forget him now, as he wont have any kind of an impact at this level. And wont suddenly become a great footballer overnight at 23. This is as good as he will get. Not to say he cant go and forge a good career lower down. But that's it.

All this said, pre-season I'd have taken where we are right now. I am more than happy with our points total. We are in a very good position. TM is doing well overall. His signings apart from Reed haven't worked though. Palmer needs to go back. Rothwell just is too slight for central midfield so can only be considered out wide. Davenport is a crock/ Vince Grella/ Gladwin type who will just be injured non stop. So we wont ever get to see what he can do.

It was always a poisoned chalice getting high up in the league early on. As fans start to actually expect us to be in and around the play-offs. Which we simply aren't good enough for, at this point. And that's fine, but we don't want the season to drift away into nothing.

The next few tough matches will be a good sign as to what we will do second half. Will we get something positive vrs Norwich and Leeds (I think we will) or will we start to drift away quite badly.

Overall, I am extremely happy with the way we are progressing. On our day, we can give anyone a really good game. And can stand toe to toe with the big sides. We have proved we have nothing to fear. If we aren't quite on it sometimes, which is to be expected after returning from Div1, we will drop points.

The average Rovers fan who posts on social media, doesn't seem to be able to accept that. Which is crazy.