Clock is ticking to show you're good enough, warns Bristol Rovers boss
BRISTOL Rovers manager Mark McGhee has warned some of his players that they are running out of time to prove that they are good enough to be part of his longer-term plans.
McGhee was left 'frustrated' after his side suffered their second defeat on the bounce after going down 1-0 at Accrington Stanley and offered his troops some home truths in a 25-minute post-match changing room inquest at the Crown Ground on Saturday.
-
Rovers' disconsolate players trudge off the pitch after suffering a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Accrington Stanley
When the manager finally emerged to conduct his post-match press briefing, he revealed that 'three or four' of his players had been told in no uncertain terms that their performances had not been good enough and warned that 'change' was on the horizon unless there was significant improvement in the coming weeks.
He said: "I felt we were well-beaten and I have absolutely no complaints about the result whatsoever because we simply failed to get in to the game in any way at all.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013
"I felt the result was coming and if it hadn't been for our goalkeeper it could have been three, four or five. There were three or four players in particular who were very below par and you have to realise that you can't come anywhere in this league and get a result without eleven players who are all flat out.
"I'm frustrated because I know that we are better than we have showed in the last couple of games. My frustration will manifest itself in change. When I have the opportunity to put other players in those people who are not performing will be out of the side and they'll have to live with that.
"I can't do anything about that until I have the bodies available, but it keeps me determined to change the squad around in order to cope when we have a few injuries in the longer-term. Change is inevitable means that some players will not have a future at the club, so that is not a dramatic statement, it's a fact of life. There is always a cull as time goes on with players running out of contract and that type of thing.
"There will be change and the ones that are going to be vulnerable are those who can't perform in situations like this."
McGhee at least welcomed Scotland international striker Derek Riordan back after three-game absence and will also have defender Tom Parkes available again when Sheffield United visit the Memorial Stadium in the FA Cup on Saturday.
"We are a depleted squad so it was good to have Riordan back and I think he will have an effect on the team," said McGhee. "We'll still need players playing well around him and there are some who continue to disappoint and need to do more. There are certainly three or four who didn't do enough on Saturday and they know who they are."
A total of 288 Rovers supporters made the 400-mile round trip and McGhee said: "I don't care if only one fan makes the trip, we still have a responsibility to play a lot better than we did.
"Fans will accept losing games at times, but when you lose without showing the required effort and work-rate it is a different story. I don't think enough of our players gave that effort which you need to win a football match out there and the fans should be rightly incensed by it.
He added: "It is my responsibility as the manager to bring that effort out of them, so clearly I have failed in my job today. The fans have every right to be angry, so what I have to do now is to go and put that right and get the players working as hard as I can, as well as, when the time is right, make the changes we need to make us better."
Comments
by dickpuller
Monday, October 29 2012, 8:22PM
“Yes Mcghee timeis running out for you.All you do is talk the talk promise strikers and midfield players and then say they won,t come ! I can identify players that have gone to lesser clubs but you can,t .Why are the players so lethargic on match days ? fitness and injuries go hand in hand are they doing too much bring in fully qualified fitness coach after all its not your domain is it.”
by BoveyRover
Monday, October 29 2012, 8:18PM
“We have to stick with McGhee. We haven't had much luck this year with year with injuries or the Wycombe debacle but i also appreciate we have under performed in a lot of matches. He is a good manager for the level we are at and sacking him would cost us a fortune. He has made errors but i believe he will achieve promotion with our club even if we have to wait until next season.”
by Fullofgas
Monday, October 29 2012, 8:00PM
“2 things:-
1 If McGhee hadnt come in when he did we would probably already be in Division 5.
2 Of the 8 players you list Frank, they are probably the best ones we currently have”
by Oldfrank
Monday, October 29 2012, 7:01PM
“I can't see how anyone could fail to like the way Mark McGhee talks but it's easy to get carried away with the style and forget about the substance. He is contradicting himself quite regularly now and if results continue as they did last week and if the crowd at the Mem turn on him as they have done at his other clubs then it's going to be another sorry state of affairs just like we had last Christmas.
Our goal scoring and goal saving has been dominated by Eaves and Etheridge who are players we are unlikely to see at the Mem permanently. The two Brown's, Richards, Smith and Parkes seem to be going backwards almost as fast as Anyinsah and Virgo and the shine has gone off Norburn as well recently. Woodards was good last year but will he be the same after his injury ? Hunter has never started for the first team, Broghammer is finding it tough and Bolger was a liability at times when he was with us before. We have our wayward "Scottish international" contingent but I honestly can't see a team being built around them because of fitness and character concerns.
If you take a step back and forget about Mark McGhee's engaging personality and skill with the media what has he built for Rovers in his ten months here ?”
by JoeFrankie
Monday, October 29 2012, 4:16PM
“Point taken Frank. However, I do still think that we should give Mark McGhee time to build his side. Of the eight you list, at least 3 are on loan - can't remeber if Norburn is ours or borrowed. I think he's a good manager. My big fear is that because he has been at some proper football clubs in the past - Celtic, Hamburg, Newcastle, Wolves to name a few - and knows how a football club should be run, he will get fed up with the clowns who 'run' our club and take any better offer which comes along.”
by Oldfrank
Monday, October 29 2012, 2:44PM
“I can understand your confusion JoeFrankie because the culture of always blaming someone else at Rovers can have that effect on people.
But 8 of the 11 starters on Saturday were signed by Mark McGhee. Etheridge, Lund, Kenneth, Paterson, Norburn, Clarkson, Broghammer and Eaves. I'm not saying sacking the manager is the answer but it's no good blaming the players, the injuries, the fans, Buckle, Stuart Campbell, Kevin Spencer, the recession or anyone else. Mr Higgs and Mr McGhee have to take ultimate responsibility and Mr McGhee says he will but Mr Higgs has lost his voice.”
by JoeFrankie
Monday, October 29 2012, 1:09PM
“Totally agree with Metal_Arms. We can't go on just sacking managers and wondering why we still c**p. McGhee has a proven track record, and although he's signed a few playeers the majority here are still Buckle's players. I'm confident we won't go down this year. What we need is some stability and to judge McGhee when he's signed all the whole squad he has to pick from. Judge us next season.”
by TonyIreland
Monday, October 29 2012, 11:51AM
“A wonderful Freudian slip by TangledBlue ! We are indeed 'patients' mate - waiting for treatment by Rovers. But we need lots of patience don't we ?!!!
Ancient Pirate : having a chuckle - there's not much else to laugh about these days as far as Rovers are concerned is there ?!”
by SimpleStan
Monday, October 29 2012, 11:45AM
“I am one of the patients and it's the doctors and nurses who worry me at Rovers.”
by TangledBlue
Monday, October 29 2012, 11:00AM
“Very disappointed with almost everything this season but I feel we have to stick with the manager.
How can you not WANT this man to succeed? It was different with Buckle - who was very difficult to listen to and believe. With MM, at least he talks on the fans level.
With an injury list like this, it doesn't matter how good of a manager you are - it's very tough.
Patients Gasheads, patients.”