Rovers Vs Man Utd. 1st Leg

[frosty]

Good game. I think the first half was even, Savage should of scored after 30 seconds. The second half was a nightmare for us in terms of possession, we couldn't put a few passes together. Kuqi should of scored, as well.

[Rovers_4_life]

It was a great game to watch ad a good atmosphere, alwyas feels much beter when the stadium is nearly full even if alot of em are mancs. I think Utd were the better team but our back 4 were sensational and we have still very much got a chance of winning the tie.

[Paul Mellelieu]

United are a team of great individuals not a great team on this showing.

We looked tired and nervy second half, with Tugay and Savage unable to compete with a younger, stronger midfield pairing. I think Reid on earlier could changed things. And Dickov on could have closed down United more effectively at the back.

A 25% chance of success in my book.

[joey_big_nose]

Saw the highlights only, I must say how I wish we had a top class striker to partner Bellers.  Not taking anything away from Kuqi but the chance that Bellamy created for him had goal written all over it.

373832[/snapback]

I've actually got a feeling that there will be another striker at Ewood by the time the second leg comes up. With Jansen gone we are only left with three proper strikers, Hughes can't possibly be hinking of finishing the season on those. One injury and we are in real trouble.

Whether it will be a class player or someone to make up the numbers I can't really say though.

[ABBEY]

scum reds at work reckon smith did no wrong and sav should of gone grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr i ranted ....noone talked to me for an hour til id calmed down

[Dufflite]

One thing that really struck me last night was what a waste of space Ronaldo is - he just runs fast, jiggles his legs a bit with his little red bootees on ( ) and falls over every bloody time anyone goes near him...talent wasted on showboating and trying to get others booked. I work in Manchester with loads of pub reds who also reckon he's a waste of space.

...and as for Smith being the new Keane...FFS

Edited January 12, 2006 by Dufflite

[andyrovers]

Ronaldo's a bit light on his feet......

[grizfoot]

Ronaldo's a bit light on his feet......

374011[/snapback]

He's never on his feet though

[andyrovers]

G.A.Y........

[blue/white]

Wait a minute:

what's he got to be happy about?

[andyrovers]

Communial Baths

[Dufflite]

...he seems marginally better with a tan and his little gold bootees on bless him. Anyone else notice he always falls on his front with his arse in the air?

[Alex Rover]

Ronaldo's a bit light on his feet......

374011[/snapback]

Come on, say what you really mean

[andyrovers]

Come on, say what you really mean 

374018[/snapback]

Ok, I think that he's a chocolate speedway rider

[Dufflite]

...admiral of the windward passage who likes to drop anchor in poo bay

[Paul]

Last word, Smith went for Sav and should have gone, also I am pretty sure Rooney punched Sav in the face.  Had it been the opposite way around I would bet everything in my wallet Sav, or any other Rovers player, would have walked.  Let's put em out at their place. Sweet.

373832[/snapback]

No doubt in my mind Rooney punched Savage. I didn't see the tackle and haven't see the highlights, what got me out of my seat was the sight of Rooner clearly run in and punch Savage. I've heard very little of it on here or in the press except one brief report on Five Live suggested is was a fore-arm smash tothe chest. I'm not sure if Savage and Smith should have walked but without doubt Rooney should have done.

Kugi had a poor game but everyone seems to have forgotten how much his performnaces have improved in recent weeks.

[USABlue]

No doubt in my mind Rooney punched Savage. I didn't see the tackle and haven't see the highlights, what got me out of my seat was the sight of Rooner clearly run in and punch Savage. I've heard very little of it on here or in the press except one brief report on Five Live suggested is was a fore-arm smash tothe chest. I'm not sure if Savage and Smith should have walked but without doubt Rooney should have done.

Kugi had a poor game but everyone seems to have forgotten how much his performnaces have improved in recent weeks.

374046[/snapback]

Paul, you've heard little cos people do not believe it happened. Glad someone else saw it.

Had a read at the clarrots board from whoseits link. Bloody hell them clarrots are daft.

Punch to the face, left hand. No question in my mind. The best view of it actually comes from a camera angle directly behind the ref, to be fair to him if it's hard to see in the replays what real chance did he have of picking out that incident in the midst of the melee.

Edited January 13, 2006 by USABlue

[tcj_jones]

United were absolutely dicking us down the wings last night. Ronaldo is world class.

Smith however...

[LeChuck]

Ronaldo is world class.

374088[/snapback]

Are you having a laugh? He has some fancy step-overs and can beat a man...but when does he ever put in a good cross or chip in with a goal? Never.

His effectiveness is almost zero, and some of the Man Utd players know it. There's bags of potential there, don't get me wrong, but right at this moment in time Pedersen is streets ahead of Ronaldo in terms of producing things that matter.

[philipl]

The Manc supporters we all know and (don't) love, You couldn't make it up.

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

The Manc supporters we all know and (don't) love, You couldn't make it up.

374107[/snapback]

That report is the funniest thing I have read all year

You can always rely on the Mancs with their supreme football knowledge to come up with insightful comments

[Rover4ever]

Are you having a laugh?  He has some fancy step-overs and can beat a man...but when does he ever put in a good cross or chip in with a goal?  Never.

374102[/snapback]

For some reason he has never really performed against us, all the more surprising given that we never played with pacy left backs against him (either Matteo or Gray)

Edited January 13, 2006 by Rover4ever

[AggyBlue]

Ronaldo caused the defence to panic whenever he got the ball, frequently three Rovers players tried to stop him, leaving too much space elsewhere.

Fergie's half time change of pushing up his fullbacks stifled our width and we were unable to play through the middle. This did however leave them with two at the back for most of the second half but because of Kuqi's ineptitude, we were unable to capitalise on this, the few occasions that Bellamy was played into the wide open spaces down the channels.

If they try this again at OT I'd like to see Emerton brought on to play up front with Bellers

[thenodrog]

United are a team of great individuals not a great team on this showing.

We looked tired and nervy second half, with Tugay and Savage unable to compete with a younger, stronger midfield pairing.  I think Reid on earlier could changed things.  And Dickov on could have closed down United more effectively at the back. 

373998[/snapback]

Agree with the Reid statement but the pressing of our midfield was mainly because Rooney kept dropping deep creating a 5 man midfield for them and denying Tugay any time and space. I told my mate after the first 10 mins that Wed would not be a 'Tugay' game.

[yawnsie]

I think one of the reasons why we dropped deep might have been to deal with Saha. In the first half he looked their most lively player, hanging on the shoulder of the last man. He did nothing in the second half, but the danger of playing that deep is that when you clear the ball it normally just ends up coming straight back at you, especially when you've got Kuqi upfront and his first touch makes the ball go further than Rooney can volley it. Definitley agree that Bert, Dickov and Reid should start the second leg.