That second half

[Filo]

Another half where we stopped playing!

[monkeytennis]

Completely. Just let them do what they wanted for half an hour is what it looked like to me. Disappointing after the first half efforts.

[mushRTID]

We’ve just won 4-3 and I genuinely didn’t enjoy the game at all.

I’m a bit concerned by that to be honest!

[Retdon1]

Aside from the first 15 mins, we were awful. Just a couple of moments of individual brilliant won that game

[normal rules]

It’s very telling that after a much need home win, there seems to still be an air of apathy.

[Filo]

It’s very telling that after a much need home win, there seems to still be an air of apathy.

Because it wasn’t good, we took a 2-0 lead in 8 minutes then stopped doing the things that got us there in the first place, let Rochdale play and the got back into it, that second half was on a par with the Tranmere game without the chuckle brothers routine

[BillyStubbsTears]

Another half where we stopped playing!

Very, very worrying. We are totally unable to control the game against a side crashing out of the league. I'd guess the second half possession figures were something like 30:70.

[drfchound]

Agreed, we hardly had the ball for the first half hour of the second half.
We are a long way from being a promotion contender.

[sedwardsdrfc]

Worst 4-3 in history.

We just let them play and somehow made their number 7 look like Modric. As if just to prove how bad Dale are every time we actually tried we scored easily, or should have. We just never got close to them at all.

It was crying out for us going 4 at the back playing Moly off miller to get some bodies in midfield. Also too often the wingbacks starting position was way too deep. Maxwell was having to make up 30 yards to get to their man. He wasn’t marking anyone so I don’t understand why he was so deep. Gave them an easy out ball all game.

Not sure if we’re struggling for fitness or something because it can’t be that right. A good L2 team wipes the floor with us today.

 

[goalkick]

We sat back in our half and It was poor. We did not have a shot at goal for a long period. When we did get the ball nobody wanted to run with it. We won though, cracking goals, good goal Tom.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

All very fair points made. Frustrating to watch but, from minute 1 to minute 96, I didn't think about anything else other than the pantomine being played out before me. I cheered, I clapped, I booed, I nearly wet missen, and I nearly wanted to committ an act of violence.  All resolved with a nice cup of tea! And 3 points of course.

[Branton Red]

All very fair points made. Frustrating to watch but, from minute 1 to minute 96, I didn't think about anything else other than the pantomine being played out before me. I cheered, I clapped, I booed, I nearly wet missen, and I nearly wanted to committ an act of violence.  All resolved with a nice cup of tea! And 3 points of course.

This exactly.

We're just a very poor side unfortunately.

Best to accept this and get what enjoyment we can from matches. 7 goals! Rovers scored 4 times! We won!

[Colin C No.3]

It’s very telling that after a much need home win, there seems to still be an air of apathy.

Apathy is the wrong word, by a country mile.

An air of concern. Concern that we were two goals to the good after 8 minutes only to be pegged back to 2-2 after 14 minutes.

Concern that although we managed to ‘nick’ a win in the dying minutes of a home game, it was against the side currently ‘propping up’ the division.

Concern that yet again, despite being two goals up, we could neither manage the game & keep a clean sheet (against a very poor side) or ‘put them to the sword & go on & win by 3 or 4 goals which would have helped our poor GD in this division.

Enjoy the win as will I, but don’t be deluded into thinking this was a much improved performance.

[Canadian Rover]

It's a process you need to understand that we are learning too. So long as we are all good human beings and get better everyday each second half will be more positive than the last. That's the fundamentals we need to be discussing and getting behind the system and process.

[Padge_DRFC]

Seaman is awful. Looks terrified

[colincramb]

We are just woeful, I’m afraid. Without an absolute drastic turn around in playing staff and attitude we won’t get anywhere near the playoffs (I think somebody mentioned that above)

[BigH]

I didn't think about anything else other than the pantomine being played out before me.

What else did you expect with Biggins playing for us?!

[DonnyBazR0ver]

It was there for all to see, as soon as we stood off, we weren't getting anywhere near them so they were getting far too much time to pick a pass.

Boggins goal aside, most of that second half he was a passenger. I thought he must be carrying a knock or something and at one point after about an hour, I thought he signalled to come off.

That effected our ability to close them down effectively with them getting to our back line too easily. Close had to try and cover more ground and struggled to keep up.

As poor as it was, at least they hung in there and just as we thought there was only going to be one winner, it was fitting Anderson turned in and unlikely winner for us.

We need to find someone with that energy and drive to push us 10 yards further up the pitch as a unit and help us close the gaps quicker.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I didn't think about anything else other than the pantomine being played out before me.

What else did you expect with Biggins playing for us?!

Maybe it was Christopher in disguise!

[rossorog]

Oh no it wasn't

[Colin C No.3]

I am fearful of Sunday’s game.

I can’t see anything but a heavy defeat.

We need an experienced keeper, a wide player with real pace & an end product, a defensive midfielder who can tackle, organise & determine the pace of the game i.e. look to press & move forward (yes, I know I’ve just described Ben Whiteman!) & a mobile striker who won’t be bullied & brushed off the ball easily to support Miller.

A cheques in the post!

[donnievic]

Seaman is awful. Looks terrified

not surprised they all
Are incase they do anything wrong and get blasted by the fans

[Alan Southstand]

Absolutely spot on, Colin. Agree with you on all requirements.

Now, the next question is - how many of those do you think we will sign? Answers on a postage stamp.

If I remember rightly, the first 2 players on RW list, as priorities, were a keeper and a defensive midfielder and we couldn’t afford either (that was before he realised we hadn’t got enough fit defenders on the books).

[Chris Black come back]

Wellens didn’t half make some terrible signings.

[scawsby steve]

People prioritising signing a keeper before a CB has got me completely baffled.

As a defensive unit, all of our CBs have been tripe for the last 2 seasons.

[bpoolrover]

Wellens didn’t half make some terrible signings.

while he did I’m not sure he had the funds to sign any better, compared to the players that left after signing a few half decent ones he had to loan out the youth players to be able to sign anyone even on loan

[Chris Black come back]

Pretty much his first signing was Ro-Shaun Williams and he signed Jordy Hiwula a month before the season started. His second loan signing was Tiago Cukur, again a month before the season started.

Rowe was a good signing. Knoyle and Close ok signings. Otherwise lots of poor signings, before you get on to the real last minute desperation signings (Vilca, Gardner, Dodoo, Barlow, etc).

The overall balance sheet is heavily in deficit for Wellens.