Spot on.This is why l feel this whole situation is bigger than Rooney.
In 2019, on 27th July Ryan Lowe said the following….
“Overall, I’m happy – the shape and everything else was fantastic,” said Lowe after his side lost to Sky Bet League One opponents Bristol Rovers by a single goal. “I said to the lads, if you want to play in my team, you’ve got to be brave on the ball and do what I ask you to do – and they’re doing it.
The report on the match in the same article said the following.
"Despite their progress, Argyle were the architects of their own downfall against the Gas, with some defensive dalliance in possession ultimately leading to the only goal of the game. Lowe, though, is not willing to place the blame solely at the feet of Ben Hall, whose untimely slip allowed Kyle Bennett to race away and lay on an unmissable chance for goalscorer Victor Adeboyejo."
Near the end of the Steven Schumacher reign 9th December 2023 before we play Leicester City away
Steven Schumacher reveals what Plymouth Argyle won't do against Leicester City
Schumacher has revealed how his side will approach the game at the King Power Stadium.footballleagueworld.co.uk
“We know we're up against it, but if you're not brave, if you're not positive, if you don't get on the front foot, then we won't get anything from it, so that'll be our best way and hopefully we can implement that."
“But as Schumacher says, that isn't Plymouth's style and they may as well be attacking today to try and get something from the game.”
“Sitting back will give them little chance of winning three points, so they need to be brave and come forward with the ball themselves.”
Argyle went on to lose this game convincingly playing in the manner Schumacher described he was going to attempt to play.
What has this got to do with Rooney? Everything. For five years the message has been to the players, be postive, be brave on the ball.
These players were getting away with defensive mistakes because the message was to take calculated risks. Now imagine after five years hearing that message throughout the club. You eventually find that message defines the way you play, both home & away.
You only have to look at ‘Pleggy’ at Norwich in the first 15 mins doing a ‘Cruyff turn’ in order to run it out from the back. He ended up losing the ball just outside his own penalty box. You watch Randell today, just before Bristol City hit the crossbar and then score. He is trying to run it out of his own box and ends up losing possession about 30 yards out.
Two examples of players who have been here & being instilled to take risks. They are NOT calculated risks though. They are brain numbingly stupid.
This isn't about making excuses for Rooney. He has to share some of the blame. Yet as fans when we were looking at how we overturned our mistakes often in games for wins we basically had the mindset it is OK to play out from defensive this way. It's OK, to dismiss the basics standards of defending because our mindset is that we are being postive with the ball.
Dare l say that we weren't being postive with the ball, we were being naive & rather stupid. Now because we don't have the firepower or ammunition to cover these repetive mistakes against much higher calibre teams we are looking at the coach thinking what the hell is going on.
However, when Cooper was saving our backsides, or Mansfield in league two were missing guilt edge chances by our failings to play out from the back, or Argyle getting thumped against Charlton, Peterborough, Grimsby, Bolton, Barnsley etc.... we never raised an eye brow to the way we played. The way we gave away the ball carelessly. The way we let teams create chances we ease. We just moved on to the next game & said "let's continue to be brave on the ball" without once accepting the consequences of our actions.
Twelve months on, we are wondering what the hell is going on. It's five years of a club philosophy that may of got us to the Championship on some wonderful, attacking football but it's never taken responsibility for the complete shambles we have seen on numerous occasions by playing out from the back & not defending with any common sense.
You honestly think any coach who comes into this football club isn't going to struggle when players aren't taking responsibility for their actions defensively. Where has been the punishment for these players actions?
The message from the start of Lowe era to the end of the Schumacher one was, don't worry, you were at least brave on the ball. No wonder we have been a pathetic, defensive shambles.
Now people want Schumacher back. Don't people see, he is part of the reason we are in this mess as he couldn't sort us out defensively.
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The reasons why Rooney shouldn't go?
- Thread starter MGM
- Start date
Issaka and Roberts aren't coming on though, are they.
Roberts barely gets a minute, and Issaka, sadly, looks completely out of his depth when he plays. It's tough for any kid in a struggling team though, there's every chance that if we do go down Issaka will tear League 1 up. But at the moment, the Championship looks beyond him.
I was looking at our away games in the league last season compared to this season.
To the end of November in 2023/24, we had drawn 3 of them.
To the end of November this season, we have drawn 2 of them.
So only one less point on the road this season so far. You would think that we were all-conquering last season with the way folk are bemoaning our lack of success away from home.
Now granted, it is the manner of losing in a handful of these matches that is disturbing, but we didn't win an away match last season until the 3rd February.
At the end of November last season we were in 20th place on 19 points.
At the end of November this season we are in 21st place on 17 points.
As our aim is to improve on last season, this is not ideal but it is also not disastrous... YET.
To the end of November in 2023/24, we had drawn 3 of them.
To the end of November this season, we have drawn 2 of them.
So only one less point on the road this season so far. You would think that we were all-conquering last season with the way folk are bemoaning our lack of success away from home.
Now granted, it is the manner of losing in a handful of these matches that is disturbing, but we didn't win an away match last season until the 3rd February.
At the end of November last season we were in 20th place on 19 points.
At the end of November this season we are in 21st place on 17 points.
As our aim is to improve on last season, this is not ideal but it is also not disastrous... YET.
I think that there are much bigger issues here than wayne rooney
Theres the need for a strategic rethink IMO
The idea that we can play open attacking football on our resources and finish anywhere near mid table is, for me, simply a pipe- dream
Recruitment- please leave purely to the recruitment team to act autonomously, anybody who thinks nathanael ogbeta or victor palson are likely to help, needs to stay out of it altogether
Neil dewsnip ( and the role of director of football) is he helping or hindering our forward progress ??
We can only now hope we strike lucky in the january window .....
Like I've already said, I think Wayne got the shape spot on yesterday (possibly due to fan pressure) but the personnel in certain areas brought about our undoing.
The 2 full backs were woefully out of their depth and we had no outlet up front as Hardie offered nothing. Freddie gave no defensive cover whatsoever and Bali had to keep switching flanks to bail him out which added to his workload and effect on the game.
In all honesty what could Wayne have done differently? Obafemi over Hardie would probably have helped and Wright over Freddie but apart from that I can't think of much else he could have done with the players available.
The 2 full backs were woefully out of their depth and we had no outlet up front as Hardie offered nothing. Freddie gave no defensive cover whatsoever and Bali had to keep switching flanks to bail him out which added to his workload and effect on the game.
In all honesty what could Wayne have done differently? Obafemi over Hardie would probably have helped and Wright over Freddie but apart from that I can't think of much else he could have done with the players available.
Are people starting to get frustrated with Simon Hallett. I personally think he's done a fantastic job but put his trust into others that have failed. I would like more money. But not if it's going to sink the club.
No one can deny what he has done for the club….but i’m not buying that Hallett escapes criticism because he has done so well for us and we must for ever be about spending too much money…. He will make more out of this club than he has ever put in….. He finds money for investing in land and property….. he has to find a better balance or it just looks like he is fattening up the club for when he sells…. which won’t be far off.
Simon Has done a good he has made us profitable and well organised. He is in process of improving the academy aswell.
BUT his plan is absolutely not sustainable in the championship. The fruits of improving the academy will take years. To get us fans onside with that we include home grown players in the team and on the bench. But they are not good enough or ready for it.
Unfortunately League one is the standard we get and are comfortable with using that philosophy. Forget the championship. Unless more money is made available which i cant see.
BUT his plan is absolutely not sustainable in the championship. The fruits of improving the academy will take years. To get us fans onside with that we include home grown players in the team and on the bench. But they are not good enough or ready for it.
Unfortunately League one is the standard we get and are comfortable with using that philosophy. Forget the championship. Unless more money is made available which i cant see.
We played some great and very watchable football earlier in the season and basically lost to some decent teams we should have taken something from. The fans were happy with Rooney. But an absolute disastrous injury list has destroyed any hope of continuing that. I don't see that is entirely Wayne Rooney fault. It was the same with Shuey start of last season, good football but no result. One of the reasons that helped him make his mind up was the board told him his Jan budget was very limited going against what they told him earlier.
No doubt if he had stayed we would still have struggled to stay up. Could he have handled this injury list and different?
What i will say is our recruitment has been dire this season and so has Whittaker whom we relied on to get us goals. But fans are fickle including me.
No doubt if he had stayed we would still have struggled to stay up. Could he have handled this injury list and different?
What i will say is our recruitment has been dire this season and so has Whittaker whom we relied on to get us goals. But fans are fickle including me.
Just who do we think would buy-out Simon. We're a well run club but not that attractive proposition if you take us on in the Championship. In spite of his judgement when it comes to managers, I still think Simon guided by a new DoF is best placed to get us where we want to be.....albeit he is rapidly reaching the point where he has to admit he was wrong with Wayne IF we want to retain our Championship status.
We are so desperate for one of our own to come through that we start to crown the likes of Freddie after 10 minute cameos. Also, struggling managers always like to point out they're developing local talent to buy themselves time. So let's give Freddie a chance to develop at his own pace and then judge his abilities if/when he's ready for our first team. At the moment he's more Div 2 than Div 1 imho but lets give him time......
I think Simon Hallett and Wayne Rooney need more respect on lots of levels, we can’t afford to lose Wayne Rooney and be a sacking club . Contracts etc.
Also all the personal crap re Wayne Rooney is disrespectful and uncalled for.
Last time we were in the champ we almost went out of business.
Gaps about 6 points currently to top middle of the table.
Get a couple of new players in key positions and a defence coach.
Also all the personal crap re Wayne Rooney is disrespectful and uncalled for.
Last time we were in the champ we almost went out of business.
Gaps about 6 points currently to top middle of the table.
Get a couple of new players in key positions and a defence coach.