5 Things We Learned from Oxford defeat

[RoversAlias]

Hi folks,

My latest match analysis is now up on the site, covering last night's loss to Oxford and the draw with Northampton at the weekend. It is probably the least positive article I've written all season to be honest, but I've tried to look into the reasons why things are not going so well for Rovers at the moment. From injuries to inexperience, costly errors and more, you can check it all out at the link below:

https://www.intotheemptynet.com/post/5-things-we-learned-doncaster-rovers-crumble-oxford-loss

Thanks for reading as ever, please let me know your thoughts on the issues discussed within - do you think it's a quick fix for Andy Butler to get us back on track? Or are we doomed to slump out of the Play-Offs in the wake of Darren Moore's departure?

 

[scawsby steve]

Good article, Alias. One thing the game showed me was that Brandon Horton has the potential to be our second choice left back.

[the vicar]

  :party:Stay at home for 1
Although we were absolutely rubbish, I’m hoping we will be better Saturday with our players back in but we still need Bostock back as our break up midfielder and to spread the ball about as we know he can

[RoversAlias]

Steve - I was impressed by Horton and actually would start him on Saturday, with James in midfield if he's going to be fit and Bostock still out.

Vicar - I do agree that Bostock is a big miss at the moment, we have to try and work around not having that playmaker and if that means changing the shape or formation I'd be all for it, but I'm not sure Buts has had enough time to feel confident in a different shape with the squad so used to 4-2-3-1.

[Bailey Vickerage]

Steve - I was impressed by Horton and actually would start him on Saturday, with James in midfield if he's going to be fit and Bostock still out.

Vicar - I do agree that Bostock is a big miss at the moment, we have to try and work around not having that playmaker and if that means changing the shape or formation I'd be all for it, but I'm not sure Buts has had enough time to feel confident in a different shape with the squad so used to 4-2-3-1.

also got to think what formation does he change to. We only got 2 strikers and one of them only just come back from injury. And if he tried a new formation and we lost that would be the first thing fans would moan about (why we not play 4231 when we’ve played it all season).

[RoversAlias]

Steve - I was impressed by Horton and actually would start him on Saturday, with James in midfield if he's going to be fit and Bostock still out.

Vicar - I do agree that Bostock is a big miss at the moment, we have to try and work around not having that playmaker and if that means changing the shape or formation I'd be all for it, but I'm not sure Buts has had enough time to feel confident in a different shape with the squad so used to 4-2-3-1.

also got to think what formation does he change to. We only got 2 strikers and one of them only just come back from injury. And if he tried a new formation and we lost that would be the first thing fans would moan about (why we not play 4231 when we’ve played it all season).

Very true Bailey, with some fans the team can never do right for doing wrong to be fair but yeah. I wasn't necessarily thinking two strikers anyway, as I fancy Okenabirhie to do well off the left flank when Bogle is fit, but if we are shorn of a proper playmaker I think a flatter 4-3-3 or even a 4-4-1-1 might suit better, with Copps as the "1" behind the striker. Of only it were as easy as me saying that mind!

[Bailey Vickerage]

Steve - I was impressed by Horton and actually would start him on Saturday, with James in midfield if he's going to be fit and Bostock still out.

Vicar - I do agree that Bostock is a big miss at the moment, we have to try and work around not having that playmaker and if that means changing the shape or formation I'd be all for it, but I'm not sure Buts has had enough time to feel confident in a different shape with the squad so used to 4-2-3-1.

also got to think what formation does he change to. We only got 2 strikers and one of them only just come back from injury. And if he tried a new formation and we lost that would be the first thing fans would moan about (why we not play 4231 when we’ve played it all season).

Very true Bailey, with some fans the team can never do right for doing wrong to be fair but yeah. I wasn't necessarily thinking two strikers anyway, as I fancy Okenabirhie to do well off the left flank when Bogle is fit, but if we are shorn of a proper playmaker I think a flatter 4-3-3 or even a 4-4-1-1 might suit better, with Copps as the "1" behind the striker. Of only it were as easy as me saying that mind!

We have played a 433 in a few games with 1 sitting then 2 just in front (think West Ham was the most recent game we did it) so could go with that depending on availability.

[drfchound]

We didn’t start too well with that system at West Ham though.
Come to think of it, we didn’t continue too well with it either.

[RoversAlias]

A 4-1-4-1 puts too much emphasis on the sitting one in the middle though, which without a dedicated playmaker wouldn't do us much good I don't think.

Thankfully we've got a good number of players back fit today so hopefully we'll have more about us on the ball.