Match Thread Rotherham

[Abseits]

The first was a push on Dickie - not sure why it wasnt a foul but he never appealed to the ref??

Couldnt really see what happened for the pen

Third was two players throwing themselves at the ball to protect the goal, but rebounds nicely for their strike. Unlucky after puting the bodies on the line, or why have we got two players so close to each other defending the same ball that leaves a player unmarked? Probably the latter.

https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/12825688/rotherham-united-3-1-queens-park-rangers-championship-highlights

a) If you get ball into final third and swiftly on into the box the sort of stuff you describe happens
b) If you have an alert and predatory striker who can shoot straight it's possible to capitalise on situations that arise from (a) above.

Unfortunately, we are effing hopeless at (a) and (b)!

I guess that about 90% of the goals we concede look preventable, if not comical, taken in the context of a short clip.... there's always a glaring error or piece of slackness on our part. But, I think that's in keeping with the general level of quality in terms of most teams' defending in this division. What really gets my goat is we simply don't exploit this in games - we simply don't exert enough thrust and pressure on the opposition defence in order to force them into errors.

[SheepRanger]

The first was a push on Dickie - not sure why it wasnt a foul but he never appealed to the ref??

Couldnt really see what happened for the pen

Third was two players throwing themselves at the ball to protect the goal, but rebounds nicely for their strike. Unlucky after puting the bodies on the line, or why have we got two players so close to each other defending the same ball that leaves a player unmarked? Probably the latter.

https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/12825688/rotherham-united-3-1-queens-park-rangers-championship-highlights

[MINCER]

It looks like the international break coming in around 23rd of this month will play a big part.

Roberts will undoubtedly be fit for Wales Euro qualifying campain.

Not saying Chair is just looking after number 1 but Morocco have a glamour friendly against Brazil.

[Mem]

Does anyone have any idea when the injured players are supposed to be back? Would be a huge boost if we could get a couple of them for the end of the season

Good question. We are definitely being hood winked by the club/players.

Roberts - the bloke is a disgrace, was ‘on the grass’ 3 weeks ago, he should be insisting he plays given Chairs and Willocks injuries.

Laird - was nearly in the team v Boro (2 weeks ago). Again, no sign of him. Awful

Clarke-Salter - the guy is made of glass. 10k p/w for what!!

Balogan - another disgrace, sulking cos Beale has gone. He was supposed to be in contention v Burnley in MID DECEMBER! Awful ‘professional’

Willock - another one who is brittle, no idea what’s going on with him

I’ll excuse Chair and Dykes from any criticism, in my view these will be the 2 who will give us any hope of survival

In terms of those who are playing, my view is that the following are at least trying;

Dunne
Kakay
Field

I can’t put Paal, Tim, Lowe or Stef in that category as they are either inconsistent or too laid back.

Dieng winds me up with his attitude and body language

Dickie is so low of confidence and needs to be dropped but we don’t have any options

Thoughts

[Isleworth116]

Talking of loan players, why did Richards only come on late in the game again?...and after GA bigged him up before the match.

Conditions of purchase option is my guess.

https://www.football365.com/news/griezmann-30-minute-cameos-atletico-madrid-barcelona-reach-transfer-agreement

We don't want to be forced to purchase him.

[Sleeping Giants]

Good post is it not strange almost all of our loan players are missing. Balogun, Roberts and Laird could just #### off they dont seem to care. It was very obvious when Beale left. Tim is up and down brilliant sometimes, does not seem to care always. Send him back at the end of the season nothing to build on.

It will be interesting to see if Balogun is miraculously fit to play for Nigeria later this month.

[Sleeping Giants]

Good post is it not strange almost all of our loan players are missing. Balogun, Roberts and Laird could just #### off they dont seem to care. It was very obvious when Beale left. Tim is up and down brilliant sometimes, does not seem to care always. Send him back at the end of the season nothing to build on.

Talking of loan players, why did Richards only come on late in the game again?...and after GA bigged him up before the match.

[Sleeping Giants]

We needed a CF and Hugill was available and we couldnt afford him......but Rotherham could! Says it all about how much money has been wasted.

Nakhi Wells was available too, Hugill and Wells did so well for us but neither was affordable, sad.

[222lepo]

Plan without them I'd say. The only one who we know is desperate to play is chair. Willock isnt interested..id personally tell Roberts to just f off back to Leeds. The guy has a waste of space since he turned up. Laird has gone the same. Giving it tye big one against Cardiff a few months ago. Now he's bottling 50 50s.

balogun doesn't want to be here. Paal is starting to get found out a bit..asking him to do 90 mins every week was asking for trouble. Tim is a kid. He's no use to us in a relegation battle. Why would he break his neck for a team he knows he won't be playing for next season anyway. Expecting dykes to hit the ground running is unrealistic..

Good post is it not strange almost all of our loan players are missing. Balogun, Roberts and Laird could just #### off they dont seem to care. It was very obvious when Beale left. Tim is up and down brilliant sometimes, does not seem to care always. Send him back at the end of the season nothing to build on.

[KLOS]

Who is going to provide the service for dykes exactly? Grandad adomah? We don't have any wingers. Personally I'd play lowe wide right..go with Armstrong on the left. Dykes and Martin up front.

Presumably the same people who are purportedly supplying Martin or any other no 9- otherwise why play a no. 9

[Dono77]

Plan without them I'd say. The only one who we know is desperate to play is chair. Willock isnt interested..id personally tell Roberts to just f off back to Leeds. The guy has a waste of space since he turned up. Laird has gone the same. Giving it tye big one against Cardiff a few months ago. Now he's bottling 50 50s.

balogun doesn't want to be here. Paal is starting to get found out a bit..asking him to do 90 mins every week was asking for trouble. Tim is a kid. He's no use to us in a relegation battle. Why would he break his neck for a team he knows he won't be playing for next season anyway. Expecting dykes to hit the ground running is unrealistic..

[Superranger]

Does anyone have any idea when the injured players are supposed to be back? Would be a huge boost if we could get a couple of them for the end of the season

[Dono77]

Who is going to provide the service for dykes exactly? Grandad adomah? We don't have any wingers. Personally I'd play lowe wide right..go with Armstrong on the left. Dykes and Martin up front.

[KLOS]

Call me deluded but I think we shall just scrape 4th bottom by dint of some poor teams around us. The narrative will then be that the local hero ( no disrespect to GA) returned to save the day and big push for promotion next season!! We shall never know but I think the result would probably have been the same with NC. Anyway the garbage narrative is one for which you should not fall. Again call me eluded but LD might return and a strange transmogrification ensues- but don't hold you breath

[3London]

So so many injuries

this squad is now at bare bones

laird
paal
Clarke Salter
balogan

arguably our first choice back 4

willock
chair
roberts
amos

arguably our most attacking creative players

dykes
our only centre forward

I know all teams have injuries but surely not 9 of an entire starting 11