Birmingham Game

[AucklandRover]

Now now Howie that's negative talk !!!
However;
Sigh ...
Yes Howie this is GB telling us what we (mostly) have known and concerned over.
Our reward has been labelled as 'negativistic' instead as in truth seeing it for what it is.
I think that when we look back in retrospect some 12 to 18 months from now it may well be seen for what it is; a opportunity lost.

Make no mistake though as like yourself I applaud GB 's magnificent effort of steadying the ship, but just maybe that could be the peak of his powers.
I am still even now hoping he rubs my nose in it, if he is retained for 2015/16,
But time will tell

Streuth, Despair - I don't think you can get away with picturing yourself and Howie as an oppressed minority! If anything, it's myself and Champs who fall into that category because of our attempts to find SOME positives!

[champs95]

Now now Howie that's negative talk !!!
However;
Sigh ...
Yes Howie this is GB telling us what we (mostly) have known and concerned over.
Our reward has been labelled as 'negativistic' instead as in truth seeing it for what it is.
I think that when we look back in retrospect some 12 to 18 months from now it may well be seen for what it is; a opportunity lost.

Make no mistake though as like yourself I applaud GB 's magnificent effort of steadying the ship, but just maybe that could be the peak of his powers.
I am still even now hoping he rubs my nose in it, if he is retained for 2015/16,
But time will tell

Streuth, Despair - I don't think you can get away with picturing yourself and Howie as an oppressed minority! If anything, it's myself and Champs who fall into that category because of our attempts to find SOME positives! [/quote]


*******ed each and every step of the way. ;

[Howie5o]

..Injuries have hampered us ?..are we sure ??

Without injuries im damn sure GB would still have been perservering with Hanley and Duffy at CB and Marshall?? / Baptiste at RB.

Luckily injuries intervened,Killa/Baptiste are thrown together and young Henley (an actual RB ) is thrown into the team and we suddenly look a little(lets not go overboard here)more stable at the back.So yes finally the defence is being addressed although through a little luck more than judgement.

And as for GK..have we finally decided who is the first choice yet ?

Olsson as you say has been the shining light for me too.But is it his best position? Personally id like to see him out wide up the pitch because if Rhodes is going to be our main man(i agree he should be and i think Gestede will be on his way)he will benefit from service from either wing rather than trying to play through the middle which doesnt suit his game one bit.Give Rhodes the service and he will score ..we all know that ..but does GB?

A

[Howie5o]

And just to add regarding GBs "limitations" in the transfer market.Possibly Boro and Norwich are the only teams above us to actually spend any substantial amount of money in the transfer market ,the rest all on a budget.We all know you dont have to chuck money at a team to gain promotion...

GB has been allowed to "strengthen" his squad since last season (although debatable additions )and more importantly keep together a squad that finished 2-3 points? off a play off place last season.This embargo has only now just kicked in..

Has GB assembled a poor squad in his tenure or has GB failed to get the best out his squad ?

[champs95]

[quote="Howie5o" in the transfer market.Possibly Boro and Norwich are the only teams above us to actually spend any substantial amount of money in the transfer market ,the rest all on a budget.We all know you dont have to chuck money at a team to gain promotion...

GB has been allowed to "strengthen" his squad since last season (although debatable additions )and more importantly keep together a squad that finished 2-3 points? off a play off place last season.This embargo has only now just kicked in..

Has GB assembled a poor squad in his tenure or has GB failed to get the best out his squad ?[/quote]

I get the feeling your suggesting he has not only assembled a poor squad, and has failed to get the best out of them? I maybe wrong.

Marshall, Conway, Gestede, Baptiste have been excellent signings, all panned before anyone had even kicked a ball. Marshall was moaned about due to the maount we paid, and folks kicked

[Howie5o]

"Has GB assembled a poor squad in his tenure or has GB failed to get the best out his squad ?"


Sorry Champs that was a question i was just putting out there ..its either one of the other but my opinion is and always has been he hasnt really got the best out of them on a consistant basis.

As you say Marshall, Conway, Gestede, Baptiste all excellent signings but have we seen the best of them? is it possible to see the best of them when being played in positions that dont favour them? In and out of the side week in week out ? Add Rhodes Olsson Killgallon and Cairney and thats EIGHT excellent players Champs.

Now ..thats not bad for a nucleus of a team that should be pushing for a top six spot. Im not saying we should be world beaters but after last season with the same players available i dont think any fan was wrong to maybe have aspirations that that team could have pushed on and made a real go of breaking that top six.

You admitted yourself after the Leeds game how disappointing

[champs95]

Sorry Champs that was a question i was just putting out there ..its either one of the other but my opinion is and always has been he hasnt really got the best out of them on a consistant basis.


- and this isn't aimed at you Howie, but along the way I've heard the signings are rubbish, tactics are rubbish, can't the best out of the players, and at times Auks and myself have just tried to add some balance to all that. It's a negative stance to look only at the things that are not going well. There is a bigger picture, and it isn't all bad. His signings have been, largely successful. I do agree he has certain limitations, and they haven't (the new signings) played well enough on a consistent basis for me. So, in part, the manager holds some (not all) responsibility in motivation. That's been lacking on a consistent basis. That improves, we improve. In his 2nd full season as a manger of a football club, I'm hoping GB improves. While all the managers sat below us, most on bigger budgets,

[AucklandRover]

Champs/Howie - I'm going to be boring again here, and repeat that what annoys me most is how criticism of the manager takes all the pressure off the players.
During the Birmingham game, I was following progress on the BRFC site. When we scored, the Tweeters cheered the player responsible. When Birmingham scored, yet again it was "*!!#ing Bowyer".
This is a repeated pattern, and it has even been the underlying suggestion in many of the comments on the Roversmad site.
Howie - you mention GB not getting the best out of his players, but sometimes he has. When that has been the case, the players have received most of the praise. When we have done badly, it has all been Bowyer's fault. I just don't get this.
My long post earlier set out what I see as the positives and negatives of GB's regime, but - like Champs - I think there is a lot to be said for retaining him. People - even managers! - do learn and improve, and it is actually quite refreshing that the owners have not gone for the usual

[Despair]

Ok you've got me there Champs , My change is a little overdue now, but I av just not got around to it.
The goes back to the desperate straits we were in, which is a fair way from where we are now.
I must repeat; my singular 'concern' is the financial one and with it just how long Venkys are going to plug the gap? We need some declaration them.

Yours 'ex Despair'

[robinrover]

To be brutally honest we have under achieved and really should look to this season with great disappointment
2 points from the play offs with a team that was in its bedding in season
Now we could be 15 points or more away from the play offs at the end of the season we are tumbling backwards instead of being where we should of been in the play offs with the exact same team and manager all with 1 season's experience.
Who is to blame?both players and manager they have failed to meet expectations
This was our last chance saloon I sense a clear out at ewood park next season if that's the case maybe just maybe Gary is the right man for the job.