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Tam · Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2024 10:53 pm Post subject:

A dreadful Rovers performance.
The usual "nae tactics".

I think "keep the ball on the deck and pass" really translates to Rovers players to"lump it up the park"

A keeper who can make saves but hasn't a skoobie on distribution.

From the second we kicked off and ball goes straight out for a shy to Morton the Thugs, it wasnt going to be our night?????

Castle · Joined: 24 Jul 2010 Posts: 4933

A turgid game of football and dire display from Rovers. We played out best football when we kept the ball on the deck and passed quickly from wing to wing. Alas those spells were few and far between and all to often we resorted to hoofing the ball up the park somewhat aimlessly.
I do find it quite incredible that we are now joint top of the league because we've seldom, if at all, put in a dominant performance. To be top and never won a game by more than one goal is quite a stat and not a very flattering one at that. All that said though we can go clear by beating Arbroath on Friday and if that happens it'll be interesting to see how both ourselves and Utd cope with that sort of pressure. Neither of us managed it well last time we went top.
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Northern_Rover · Joined: 15 Jul 2008 Posts: 2725 Location: Granite City

The collective gains from last night far outweigh the negatives of a truly awful football match. Points gained on DU culminating in a four point swing back to us, a point gained over Thistle and nothing lost to Morton. A chance to head the table on Friday and pile the pressure onto Utd. I'll take that.

Massive call from Murray to drop all three players that between them won us the game against Ayr. Throw in that one is top scorer and another has scored two in two with two assists to boot and you really wonder what tactic suggested that starting Connely and Smith was going to benefit us against Morton over the Ayr game.

Vinnie · Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2024 9:49 am Post subject:

Strathallan Rover · Joined: 29 Nov 2014 Posts: 652

Heilan Rover · Joined: 24 Dec 2018 Posts: 600 Location: Lorient

A dreadful game as far as an entertaining spectacle, but I will take the one point as a big positive.

Morton's Thugs and ruffians came to bully, harass, provoke, badger agitate and intimidate us, and boy did that pay off for them. Look no farther to discover why we looked so poor last night. The answer lies squarely with Dougie Imrie's tactics. They pushed us around without too much effort and stopped us playing our game. This indeed may also be the answer as to why they are on an undefeated run.

Now I understand it is up to us not to allow ourselves to be pushed around. However that task is made so much more difficult when you make a height and bulk comparison between the two teams. Morton forcibly shoved the likes of Connolly, Vaughan and to an extent Easton off the ball with ease last night and there was pretty much very little these smaller guys could do about it. Couple this with absolutely no protection from the ref and they became completely nullified and ineffective.

Are we starting to see the end for the "skilful wee player" in Scottish football? I certainly hope not. it has been their brilliant skills that have entertained the fans for many years. However, more teams seem to be full of bigger guys these days and when a player type becomes ineffective he has to be replaced with someone who can be effective! It will be a very sad day for football if it ever comes, but it seems to be all about winning at ANY cost these days and if performances like Morton's last night go without challenge from officials, I'm afraid that day seems ever closer.

wellyboot · Joined: 14 Jul 2008 Posts: 2567 Location: Aberdeenshire

I don’t think Morton were any more “thuggish” than we were. Connolly could, and probably should, have seen a red for a blatant block/elbow. The standing on Vaughan right in front of the ref was poor and somehow missed or ignored. Callum Smith’s studs up challenge was naughty and also might have been a red. Morton had their tactics spot on and we couldn’t counter them. They were sharp to the ball and didn’t give our playmakers a chance to create or get past their man. Imrie deserves some credit.
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TxRover · Joined: 02 Jun 2018 Posts: 3511 Location: North Texas, USA

embow · Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2024 1:31 pm Post subject:

Wee lads being bullied?
I well remember the days when someone like Jimmy "Jinky" Johnstone would be hacked down, kicked up in the air, clattered into etc. and get back up only to take the proverbial out of the defenders second time around and sometimes a third time. Totally deflating for the opposition defence. Very little protection from officialdom back then.
A totally different game these days. Lots of changes but still one constant... refereeing still not at a consistent decent standard overall in the modern game. Some excellent referees but some needing a good bit more to their skills.
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Franco · Joined: 10 Oct 2019 Posts: 1196 Location: kirkcaldy

We already knew what Morton are about. They played the game that we expected but we didn't produce anything at all to counter that. Our long balls to Hamilton got their two CBs booked but nothing else. If Rudden had played alongside Hamilton ,perhaps we could have made more of that.
Our midfield was largely bypassed,but to little effect. Given Morton's "strengths" why didn't we play Matthews together with Scott Brown and Stanton? When he eventually came on ,he looked up for the required battle.
We should be happy with the point ,which edged us close to United.
One thing I'm not going to do: watch the " highlights". I pity the Raith TV personnel who had the job of finding any and praise them for sticking with that thankless task.

Heilan Rover · Joined: 24 Dec 2018 Posts: 600 Location: Lorient

StarksBarmy · Joined: 03 Apr 2010 Posts: 4025

I was impressed with Morton regards their physicality. 1st half hour especially it was controlled aggression and a high intensity. This is something I often speak of on here that we lack at times and certainly need more of.

While impressed with Morton, I was equally impressed how we stood up to it, tried to match it and actually took control for the closing 15mins of half.

Say what you want about the overall performance but from a defensive point of view… it was one of the best this season, keeping concentration and holding firm against many free kicks, throw ins and corners launched in to our box. Basically what Ashcroft was brought in for but we done it without him which bodes well for the coming weeks/months.

I really didn’t think Smith brought much to the table last night, Easton got in some decent positions but more often than not, slowed the move down then lost possession.

wellyboot · Joined: 14 Jul 2008 Posts: 2567 Location: Aberdeenshire

Couple of comments about Smith so far but for me he isn’t a striker. We get the best out of him when he plays wide but with Connolly, Easton and Mullen there is a competition for those roles.
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TxRover · Joined: 02 Jun 2018 Posts: 3511 Location: North Texas, USA

wellyboot · Joined: 14 Jul 2008 Posts: 2567 Location: Aberdeenshire

The board needs a bit of credit for last night. The £10 entry fee meant a large crowd for a Tuesday. Kudos to them!
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