Blackburn 1 - 3 Sheffield Wednesday. FT

[Cobi Budge]

Röhl won one of first seven games.

From mid Jan to mid Feb lost five, drew two, won one.

Before today’s result, lost three, drew three won one.

Yet Wednesday got their appointment bang on while Argyle got it very wrong.

He has connected with fans but they’ve not been as brilliant as you make out to have a snipe at the Foster appointment.

Rohl inherited an unhappy squad who were rock bottom of the league, a squad devoid of confidence and a squad who looked certain to go down - they were below Rotherham for crying out loud.

Foster inherited a happy squad, a squad playing with confidence and a squad who looked pretty likely to stay up.

Rohl has done a very good job for Wednesday. Foster did a disastrous job for us.

 

[MGM]

The one point Blackburn have could save them at our expense.I will not remember this season with affection. Too much pressure.

We do not deserve to stay up. Yesterday proved it.

Whoever stays up, deserves it.

Should Wednesday beat WBA & Birmingham beat Huddersfield it is possible that a draw still gets us out of this mess.

My issue isn’t getting relegated. My issue is ‘identity’. Lumping the ball to Hardie isn’t good football. Passing it sideways isn’t good football. Having wing backs that don’t give you creative width isn’t good football. Having a midfield that can’t make basic passes & can’t protect its defence isn’t good football.

Personally, l think the difference between Schumacher & Lowe is that Schumacher is much more tactically astute. So for example, his willingness to be flexible regarding his formations. Lowe is still playing a 3ATB with Preston. Schumacher substitutions. He knew how change a game. To get people on the pitch who could impact it. When did Lowe ever do this.

Yet, l question how these players are coached as a team unit. For years under both of them l watched a team that doesn’t lack effort & commitment. Yet l find myself wondering why the same defensive flaws keep showing up. Why do we keep losing the ball in the same stupid areas. Why are we so poor at set pieces? A few years ago l was hoping for some individual magic from Danny Mayor to open up a side. Sometimes he produced. Majority of the game he disappear. Now l looking at Whittaker to do the same. The problem is our best player just goes missing for large chunks of a game. Yet when l watch teams, especially at this level, their best players are demanding the ball.

The problem is our wing backs are so deep on most occasions there is no outlet ball for the team. So you got to punt it down to Hardie to chase. Yet when we played the 4-3-3 Hardie was told by Schumacher to stay in within the width of the penalty box. This is because we had wingers so Hardie didn't need to chase long, channel balls.

If we push our wing backs up high, there is space in behind to exploit because we have a midfield who can't cover their vacated space.

I am now at the point where lm asking what team are we suppose to be. If we were scoring goals but losing 3-2, 4-2 etc.., but really involved in the game then ld understand our 'idenity'. Now we become that league one Lowe side once again hoping to score first & hang on.

 

[Welwyn Pilgrim]

"On the beach" does not exist at this level for sure, but equally true is that at this level fine margins can make all the difference. A team that knows the outcome is vital will inevitably play with an extra intensity, focus & desire that they wouldn't do if the result made little difference. Players are humans not robots.

The closest to "on the beach" maybe for Norwich in their final game against Brum. It's likely they will have a play-off spot in the bag by then so why risk injury or expend excessive energy for them in that game with crucial career defining matches pending?? I fully expect them to field a team of kids, squad players and their genuine first teamers playing on auto-pilot. They might still be decent .... but I bloody wish we'd be playing them.

Disagree to some extent. I’d imagine Norwich will be looking at who they will be playing in the semi final of the playoffs. One of Leicester Leeds or Ipswich will miss out so Norwich finish 6th they play one of the above, finish 5th ahead of WBA then chances are it’s Southampton. They’re fighting WBA for that 5th spot. Depends who they prefer to play before he rests his team.

 

[oldage]

Keep the faith. We look bang in trouble when Foster left and dug out 2 wins and a draw.
I belive in this group, they will get us over the line 💚

I wish I shared your optimism . After the Leicester game I was delighted and thought we might do it but after yesterday I have big doubts. We are absolutely toothless, our defensive frailties are back and the least said about our midfield the better. We look like relegation candidates.

 

[Sailor Green]

Told you.

 

[MGM]

Keep the faith. We look bang in trouble when Foster left and dug out 2 wins and a draw.
I belive in this group, they will get us over the line 💚

I think so too. I don't know how, but l think like l said on the "who goes down thread" l think we will just by the skin of our teeth. However, l have this feeling Wednesday will survive so Argyle need a point to put Blackburn back in play.

 

[mutley marvel]

Yesterday was a chastening experience
Stoke had to much for us & we just could not handle it
We are all fully aware of our squad's frailties but we have played 44 games & gained 48 pts
Nobody in this league is going to gift you 3pts
Our players are fully aware of what is required in the next 2 games
Reality of life in the Championship has smacked us full on in the face
87 day tenure , player recruitment will have to wait until the end of season post mortem
180 plus minutes to wade through to determine which league we will be in next season

 

[Mark Pedlar]

It's all about momentum for those at the bottom AND at the top. Teams going into play-offs won't rest too many players. It's the mid table teams who are likely to play their youth and ressies.

 

[Jon with no H]

I wish I shared your optimism . After the Leicester game I was delighted and thought we might do it but after yesterday I have big doubts. We are absolutely toothless, our defensive frailties are back and the least said about our midfield the better. We look like relegation candidates.

Only one of the five teams still realistically in the mire managed a win this weekend, it's such a week to week league that no one result really sums up what a team is. Everyone apart from Wednesday have lost 3 of the last 6, there is still all to play for.

 

[MGM]

Only one of the five teams still realistically in the mire managed a win this weekend, it's such a week to week league that no one result really sums up what a team is. Everyone apart from Wednesday have lost 3 of the last 6, there is still all to play for.

But we need to find a way of creating chances. That's my worry. We always look like conceding so we need to find a way to create more than we currently are because at the moment we asking players to literally score from one, maybe two, opportunities in 90 mins.

 

[Jon with no H]

But we need to find a way of creating chances. That's my worry. We always look like conceding so we need to find a way to create more than we currently are because at the moment we asking players to literally score from one, maybe two, opportunities in 90 mins.

Indeed, but all of the teams down there do. This isn't a problem unique to Argyle.

Blackburn have the top scorer in the division, but they also have a sieve in goal.

At least one of Birmingham and Huddersfield is certain not to get maximum points. Nobody is without issues winning games at this point, hence being in the mix to go down.

 

[phil thefluter24]

That last minute Coventry equaliser still haunts me

 

[phil thefluter24]

So what makes you think that we won’t play with the desire needed? Schumacher knows our squad inside out, don’t you think that could have influenced the game yesterday?

Most definitely

 

[oldage]

Indeed, but all of the teams down there do. This isn't a problem unique to Argyle.

Blackburn have the top scorer in the division, but they also have a sieve in goal.

At least one of Birmingham and Huddersfield is certain not to get maximum points. Nobody is without issues winning games at this point, hence being in the mix to go down.

A sieve in goal maybe but still beat Leeds. Blackburn are similar to us ,inconsistent and over reliant on certain players to score

 

[mightygreens]

People are acting like Blackburn are gone because of their remaining fixtures but they only beat Leeds a week ago. No reason they can’t turn it on to do the same against Coventry and/or Leicester.

I think it’ll be between us and Birmingham. Huddersfield will go. Wednesday will stay up.

Wouldn't be so sure about Wednesday considering their next game is West Brom... they lose that and they will be very nervous travelling to Sunderland on final day.