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CALDERON

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Posts posted by CALDERON

    The New Raith Rovers Thread

    in Scottish Championship General Chatter

    Posted

    We are significantly further forward than last season, by quite some distance.  However, when you look at how much points Dundee United have dropped since our win at Tannadice, failing to win this league would be an absolute massive opportunity blown.  Its a different feeling to our last title battle against Dunfermline, where Mcglynn had a team punching well above their weight and ultimately ran out of steam.  The amount of daft points we've thrown away, especially from winning positions, is tough to take.

    That said, some how it's still in our hands - need to keep going.

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    The New Raith Rovers Thread

    in Scottish Championship General Chatter

    Posted

    I've got to be honest, I don't think I'd be looking at the standard of player we've been able to bring in, and say that we should be any lower than 2nd or 3rd.  The run since the win at Tannadice,  considering the amount of points they've dropped themselves,  has certainly been poorer than average.  

    0

    The New Raith Rovers Thread

    in Scottish Championship General Chatter

    Posted

    Don't think that Brown looks any worse or better than Millen, and won't be the deciding factor that makes or breaks the season.  He can do a job I'm sure.

    The biggest factor now is that we have a backline full of players who can do a job but not much more, as opposed to anyone particularly commanding - assuming Watson is out for a couple of games.  You've got an average defence, being helped out by a side that's generally skewed towards attacking players.  It's no real surprise we struggle defensively when our only commanding defenders are out.  That's also where you need a commanding keeper who can deal with cross balls effectively.  It's not all down to one area, but so much lies on having strong centre backs- you can get away with these other areas with that, but take that away and it just signs a massive burning spotlight on every other defensive weakness.

    My issue with Corr not playing is not so much down to thinking he's the answer as such, but more so that taking Brown out of the midfield really harms us in my opinion. 

    Really dissapointing to go from having signed Ashcroft, to this, in about 10 days.  But very,  very Rovers. 

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    The New Raith Rovers Thread

    in Scottish Championship General Chatter

    Posted

    9 minutes ago, CountryBumpkin said:

    We are challenging at the top end of the league and for promotion with Dabrowski though. Let's not forget the number of points he's gained or retained for us all season with some fantastic performances, specifically against Dundee United in the last two games against them.

    Yesterday highlighted some of the worst defending we've had in a while. Every clearance was either lumped back to Arbroath or mistimed and dropped at an Arbroath foot because they were mobile while we stood around and watched. Tired of watching Murray try and make every header he gets be a contender for longest distance covered when there are options around him for a controlled touch instead. Brown was a shocker at the back last night, as was the other one too. Being a midfielder in defence is no excuse for not doing the basics properly, that's not something unique to a "by trade" defender. The absolute lack of composure under pressure was ridiculous, it was a case of "get the ball away from me, someone else can deal with it" which for a team at any professional level is weak. Watson is the voice of reason in there and it's very visible when he's not around. 

    Our defensive unit is a mess, but it's further compounded by a poor midfield unit that is stretched because of our setup. Far too much space in the middle of the park again and Matthews was hindered early on by a soft booking which meant he couldn't put himself about as much as needed.  

    Aye, I'm probably being a bit harsh, and I absolutely agree that the whole defensive set up cost us last night - I just don't feel there's a great deal of confidence between keeper and defence and think that goes both ways.  

     

    1

    The New Raith Rovers Thread

    in Scottish Championship General Chatter

    Posted · Edited by CALDERON

    2 hours ago, Kuma Power said:

    Normally I am firmly at the ‘happy clapper’ end of the spectrum, and like to try to see the good even in a bad performance. So it takes a lot to make me angry, but yesterday’s performance managed that. It’s not a defeat or bad result in isolation that gets me, more that we have seen every single aspect of this before multiple times in the season:

    -throwing away a lead;

    -struggling to deal with crosses;

    -conceding multiple goals in quick succession;

    -and, to add insult to injury, a centre-back going off injured.

     

    We’ve now dropped 17 points from games where we’ve been leading at one stage or another. I’ve said this before, but it’s mindblowing that a team with so many players who have won leagues and cups, and seemingly contains so many ‘big characters’, can be so panicky, fragile and careless. Notably, 10 of those points were dropped to teams at the bottom end of the table, which may or may not tell us something. I’m really hesitant to stick the boot into individual players or the management seeing as they’ve given us so many great performances this season, but it is very frustrating to see that after nearly two whole seasons, we’re seeing the same game management issues coming up time and time again.

    Granted, Watson going off didn’t help, and it’s no coincidence we defend better and are stronger with him on the pitch. But the other players have to use their experience and step up in his absence, and at least see games like this out. My fear is that this is now ‘baked in’, and that every time we get the slightest pushback from the opposition while we're cruising, the deer-in-headlights mode is going to kick in and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. It’s deep-seated for sure, and is something we really need to get to the bottom of in the summer if not sooner.

    Will leave it there and step away from the keyboard before I become even more incoherent with rage…

    Pretty much this.  The game management has been a burning issue this season, but last nights was just beyond awful.  Not feeling particularly confident going into a game against a side who our title rivals have totted up an aggregate score of 13-0 against really does say it all.

    I get that Corr is still inexperienced etc, however he's here on a 1 year deal.  If we aren't going to play young centre backs when we have no other fit centre backs in the squad, there is literally zero point in having them in the squad.

    Team selection was weird, but at the end of the day still good enough in theory to see that out and in fairness had us 2 goals to the good.

    Dabrowski isn't good enough at this stage of his career, if we want to challenge at this end of the league.  Not saying he won't or can't improve, but he's cost us at least 3 goals directly from absolute howlers this season - can't challenge for promotion with that.  Not all on him of course, but really frustrating to see.  I appreciate I'm sounding incredibly harsh, it's absolutely not all on him and this may just be a reaction to an incredibly frustrating evening, however the goalkeeper and the defence combined have not looked comfortable really at any point this season - especially so without Watson.

    If your sitting 2nd in the league, yet have conceded more goals than the sides in 8th and 9th, some tough questions need asked.

    0

    The New Raith Rovers Thread

    in Scottish Championship General Chatter

    Posted

    That was awful.  Big Kev is a very good shot stopper, but at best he's not an upgrade on Mcdonald.  That was up there with an Andy Mcneil bottle job.  Absolutely terrible goalkeeping.

    Not much else to say, one where we have to take the medicine I think.  Plenty banter and criticism will be flying Rovers way tonight, all deserved.

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