Rowlands

[PAZ]

I reckon they do know certain players have a 'reputation' and this is bound to influence their decisions, It's inevitable officials talk and I'm sure the referees grapevine resounds with chat like;

"So who you got this week bob?"

"Down to referee Brentford"

"Yeh did them the other week, team of hot heads. Couple of lads in the middle to watch out for Rowlands & Fullarton, keep an eye on them"

A referee would only have to have a glance at the red cards stats tables to form an 'opinion' about us. It's got to have something to do with the series of poor reffing decisions we have seen this year.

I don't buy that. We shouldn't flatter ourselves that they give a sh!t about a team like ours. Basically, IMO there's no way Rowly was singled out.

My view on Rowly is that this is game over I'm afraid. This temperament problem is not something new, it has been the only thing between him and a big move in the past. It seems fairly common knowledge that WBA originally wanted him ahead of Koumas (admittedly as a cheaper option) but were put off by his indiscipline. IMO Rowly is too old to shake it now. He's not even that young now realistically after all.

He seems to me to be heading down the Tom Youngs road of wasted talent, and it's a real f*cking shame.

I know he cares about this club as much as many of us, but he doesn't care enough about his own career - that's his problem. Heart can't make up for indiscipline and underdeveloped talent. He's still our best player on his day, but has he progressed over the years?

I say it now that Rowly will not play even first division football unless somebody kicks some sense into him. Come on Wally.

 

[Womble]

I think Rowlands got a bit confused about the red card protest (Red card before the game not during) !!!!!!!! but saying that he's still Brentford through and through.He's been stupid so let's hope he's learned his lesson this time around.

 

[shaun]

I agree with the general sentiment about Rowlands ''performance'' on Saturday. The 2 things that amazed me most about what happened why (for his second yellow) he felt it necessary to put in such a heavy tackle near the Crewe penalty box & even more amazingly, why a number of people in the paddock gave him a standing ovation as he walked off the pitch.

The only thing I would add though is that I don't think that even with him on the pitch the result would have been different. Crewe were a different class, they way they knocked the ball around was a pleasure to watch (albeit unfortuntely aginst the Bees). I hopethey go up - it shows that you do not have to be a moneybags club like Wigan or Cardiff to do well.

 

[Paul O'Brien]

Re: Martin R

Martin was a good player - in some ways he reminded me of Andy Sinton - though I never classed him as one of our best. But he only really shone when he ran at the opposition. When he was forced to concentrate on tackling, his timing and aggression often resulted in fouls.
Right now, every Bees player is being asked to play an aggressive game. In the games he's played, I can remember only a handful of times he's had the opportunity to run forward. So, is it him, is it the tactics (ie he's being asked to play a style he's clearly not good at) or is it both?

 

[WarrenBee]

It was 2 bookable offences that he was sent off for.If a Crewe player had made those 2 tackles we would have been screaming for him to be sent off.Let Martin get his suspension out of the way and then welcome him back,because we need all players out there giving 100%,and we need to be giving them 100% support.

 

[JBN]

It was stupid, but then the ref was against us all game. Their no 17, a great winger, outpaced us all afternoon, he went down, thought he'd never walk again, two minutes later he was up and faster than he was before. There was a bit of play acting going on on their side, which didn't help our attacking game.

As for Rowly. We do not want to loose him over this. If we do not reach the play offs you cannot single out this game as the reason we never made it. We have missed chances galore in other games against worse opposition that we should have walked.

Rowley was stupid, he knows that, hopefully he can learn from it (again). We need Rowly at the moment. I rate both Fullerton and Evans, but there is no one in the midfield that can take charge of the game like Rowly.

 

[nocoat]

cost us points

why people were clapping him off is beyond me, i was getting some stares from fellow brentford fans when i "signed" to him how i felt about it all

Our Seasons Over

 

[nick logan]

Re: cost us points

Our Seasons Over

don't think we will,but if we lose our next 2 games then our season will just be beginning

 

[nocoat]

Is this a game where i fill in the gaps? if so i take it you meant i dont think we will.. make the play offs? or did you mean win the championship?

 

[nick logan]

Is this a game where i fill in the gaps? if so i take it you meant i dont think we will.. make the play offs? or did you mean win the championship?

????? i'll try again. don't think we will, BUT IF WE LOSE OUR NEXT TWO GAMES then our season will just be beginning.hope this is clear now.

 

[New Roader]

Rowlands was an absolute idiot and let us all down. I cant understand why people clapped him off, I was one of those who did not. There is a good chance that had we had 11 men on the field then we would have at least got a point.
Downes is doing the right thinng in fining him, although lets hope that it is the maximum amount and may be he could give the money to Bees United (he would certainly gain maximum repsect for this)
IMO he should not be sold and still had a very big part to play at Brentford. I cant see anyone coming in for him at the mo as he has been injured and suspended for the majority of the last two seasons.

 

[Balders Bee]

I don't buy that. We shouldn't flatter ourselves that they give a sh!t about a team like ours. Basically, IMO there's no way Rowly was singled out.

I agree with you on two points Paz firstly that Ref's certainly don't give a sh*t about teams like ours and secondly no Rowlie wasn't singled out on Saturday he deserved his red card.

Where we diverge is that I cannot believe matchday officials are totally unaware of players and teams 'reputations'. The referees officiate week in and week out on the Nationwide circuit and to think that they are not aware of the hot heads or hardmen in teams is IMHO naive. How much it influences any decisions is a matter of conjecture but you can be sure that opposition players make the most of any percieved weakness's in discipline in our team and unfortunately too many times this season we've played into their hands.

You have only to look at the number of decisions that have gone against us this season to begin to wonder if their is some great conspiracy against us ( a bit X-files I know). They say these decisions balance themselves out over a season and if that's true we can look forward to some strange decisions going our way for the rest of the season.

 

[Jimbee]

My personal opinion is that the 1st foul wasn't a booking. That however, doesn't excuse the second challenge which could have been a straight red anyway - he was a fool and let everybody down at the club on Saturday.

On the subject of referee's, there is no doubt that at their get-together's or whenever they talk amongst wach other, they will discussed games they have officiated in. If there are particular teams/players who have caused them trouble, they will be mentioned. If these teams/players are regular offenders, they will get a reputation.

It takes a certain type of person to become a referee, particularly at this level; they enjoy the control aspect of the game. I don't look out for particular referee's any more because most of them are so bad but if Saturday's didn't know about Rowlands reputation already, then I don't think he'd be a League official because it's having knowledge like that that gets them there in the first place.

With regard to Rowlands having cost us the game, I feel that this lets the referee and his assistant off too easily. At 10 men and 2-1 down we fought back superbly and were denied a penalty because the ref was inept and the linesman didn't have the bottle to over-rule him - which probably goes to prove that this ref was a total control freak. Decisions like that can be far more costly than just the point lost on the day - remember Mr. Biggar?

 

[Bee H]

My personal opinion is that the 1st foul wasn't a booking.

It was right in front of us, Martin went straight through the bloke from behind and was lucky not to get a straight red imho.

The second was just plain stupid, all credit to the Crewe player (their no. 12, a class act btw !) for not reacting, I would have belted Martin !

He needs support from us and hopefully he'll learn from it, I'm sure Wally "shared a few thoughts with him" ! He did cost us the game against a very good Crewe team, we may have scraped a draw if he'd stayed on the pitch

 

[West Ealing Bee]

I can't believe anyone can question the fact it was a red card, nor that people would clap him off.

At that point we were right in the game. Playing a team like Crewe with 10 men is always going to be difficult and it showed.

I'm not sure we'd have won with him, but we had little chance without him.

 

[West Ealing Bee]

I think that alot of 'hype' follows Dario's Crewe side. They weren't that good (I feel we would have beaten them if we had 11 men, ok it would have been a hard fought victory) and were just the same as most Div 2 sides I've seen this season in that they got away with murder!

Debbee, you are talking nonsense.

I have to wonder how much of the game some people watch.

The way Crewe exploited our lack of width in the second half was magnificent. they made us chase the ball and worked an opening to get one-on-one with our full backs and then punished us ruthlessly.

They are far better than most teams in this Division, in fact they are probably the best in this Division.

 

[Balders Bee]

They are far better than most teams in this Division, in fact they are probably the best in this Division.

I agree that they are one of the best footballing sides in the division and can appreciate the quality of some of the football Crewe played.

However it is beyond dispute that we deserved at least a point and were denied one by two of the three blind mice and the handball debacle & two moments of lunacy from Rowlie.

I think you're being a little harsh on Debee, after all being a footie fan is about being biased towards your own side is part and parcel of the game. I sometimes think us Bee's fans are too fair minded and willing to praise the opposition, it's not something I've found reciprocated.

 

[NUMAMOID]

Hes become a ****ing liabilityKick the **** out!

 

[New Roader]

Hes become a ****ing liabilityKick the **** out!

Very sensible, I think not!!
Whilst there is no doubt he was stupid, he still has potential.
By playing him (and yes we certainly need him in the team), then there is a chance we cant either get some money for him or hopefully get our season back on track.

 

[SIMONBEE1]

FROM WHERE I WAS STANDING IN BROOK ROAD THE REF WAS CORRECT TO BOOK ROWLANDS FOR FIRST FOUL BUT COULD HAVE GIVEN HIM A FINAL WARNING FOR 2ND. WHAT ABOUT THE CREWE PLAYERS HAND BALL INSIDE THE BOX REFEREE BOTTLED IT.

ROWLANDS IS A FANTASTIC PLAYER FOR BRENTFORD WHEN FIT AND IS NOT DIRTY. IF HE CAN SCORE A FEW GOALS LET SEE WHAT THE FANS SAY.

 

[Bee49]

He was a silly billy, but I hope he doesn't read this site because if it was me there's no way I'd want to turn out for some of you lot.

Well said Brentford Bob.Rowly has been out for a while and he was getting frustrated at not making things happen.No excuse for what he did but I hope he learns from it and gets a run in the side (after suspensions).
Football supporters are the most fickle bunch of people about and it certainly shows on here.
Rowly ain't finished yet.

 

[Boston Bee]

All this "I hope he learns from it" stuff is probably unrealistic. He's just not able to control it - if you were there, you know he should have gone at Cheltenham also. Didin't learn from that.

[Deep sigh]...we so desperately need those things he does well with the ball. But when he's tackling and the red mist comes down, he's a liability.

 

[keefor]

All this "I hope he learns from it" stuff is probably unrealistic. He's just not able to control it - if you were there, you know he should have gone at Cheltenham also. Didin't learn from that.

[Deep sigh]...we so desperately need those things he does well with the ball. But when he's tackling and the red mist comes down, he's a liability.

Totally agree with Boston Bee.

The only way I can see him staying after this season is if other clubs seriously look at his injury/discipline record.

IMO he has had the potential to be a great player but sh*te luck with injuries and his ability to pick up more missed games through bans means (unfortunately) I think he is going to be another one of footballs underachievers.

Lastly, applauding any player who has been sent off for potentially taking away another players livlihood and career is bang out of order.

 

[BeesottedInLincoln]

Does Rowly have a bit of a discipline problem or something? I know that we've become the 'red card army' this season, but I get the feeling that Rowly might be suffering some crisis of confidence or something like that. Maybe if could be due to the fact that he's had problems with injury this season...maybe he's lashed out cos of not being totally fit or something??? :brow:

 

[Edmundo]

This idea that he could have received a final warning for the second offence is absurd. He should probably have received a straight red for the second offence, so in fact the ref was being lenient by only issuing a second yellow.

 

[Top Cat]

Remember Beckham getting sent off against Argentina? In one moment he was transformed into 'Public Enemy No 1' for being a tw@t.

Let's hope that in time Rowlands can learn from Saturday's events and develop his undisputed talent to the longer term benefit of the club.

Look at Beckham now.....perhaps Rowlands has something in common? (apart from the dodgy barnet, that is!!......lol )

 

[Ninna]

Whilst I cannot condone the actions of certain players, I feel that some of the blame may lie in the touchline behaviour of cerain people which at best can be called aggressive, Fist waving, Finger pointing and all this at a time when we were winning! the team lost focus on the game and seemed intimidated by the touchline antics and you have to wonder if this behaviour has anything to do with our not too good discipline record
8 Red Cards and numerous bookings
Maybe our touchline representative should have taken a lesson from the opposing Manager who remained calm and collect and was not asked by the 4th official to move back and all this whilst his team was losing ! he obviously had more faith in his players ability.

 

[Boston Bee]

So that I understand: Maybe Rowlands dives into peoples ankles because the manager and his staff are emotional? Ok.

Whilst I cannot condone the actions of certain players, I feel that some of the blame may lie in the touchline behaviour of cerain people which at best can be called aggressive, Fist waving, Finger pointing and all this at a time when we were winning! the team lost focus on the game and seemed intimidated by the touchline antics and you have to wonder if this behaviour has anything to do with our not too good discipline record
8 Red Cards and numerous bookings
Maybe our touchline representative should have taken a lesson from the opposing Manager who remained calm and collect and was not asked by the 4th official to move back and all this whilst his team was losing ! he obviously had more faith in his players ability.

 

[West Ealing Bee]

Ninna, would you prefer our management to sit there and say nothing as Crewe outplayed us.

Gradi remained calm because despite the scoreline his team were playing well and always looked likely to score. We were on the back foot for large periods and the management were obviously anxious about it.

As far suggesting that may be the reasons for the sendings off

 

[Ninna]

I thought we were playing well 1-0 was the score when the touchline antics started.
but make a scapegoat out of Rowlands if it makes you feel better I will agree he was silly he should have known better, but he is not responsible for the other 7 red cards is he?

 

[West Ealing Bee]

I thought we were playing well 1-0 was the score when the touchline antics started.
but make a scapegoat out of Rowlands if it makes you feel better I will agree he was silly he should have known better, but he is not responsible for the other 7 red cards is he?

I didn't say we weren't playing well but if I was Gradi I would have seen that my team were also playing well and looked likely to score at some point.

Who is making Rowlands a scapegoat? I have said above that we may not have won with him anyway. I was just pointing out that blaming the manager for being agressive was a bit stupid.

Most of our red cards this year have been for silly, mistimed challenges, which is precisely what Rowlands' was. But he should know better, he has been around for a while now.

If you look back you will see Fullarton got just as much stick after the Swindon game, where his tackle was much worse and he should be setting an example as the senior man in our midfield.

 

[The H]

anyone notice another Fullarton special in the 2nd half. Lucky he won the ball

 

[Bee49]

What you lot of whingers going to post on here if he gets a couple of goals tonight against Bristol City.
The trouble is we are free falling into the bottom half of the league and people are looking for scapegoats.What Rowly did was inexcusable.Forget it,move on as the team needs positives from us as they embark on a two games per week over the next few weeks.
So I think the Rowly issue has been done to death,anyway Wally will sort him out.

 

[Brickie Chap]

So I think the Rowly issue has been done to death,anyway Wally will sort him out.

Spot on