[Archived] Rovers 1 Everton 1

[joey_big_nose]

With a new season only a few hours old it Rovers have already had a day that many supporters would want to forget. A three goal loss against a Portsmouth side looking to leave their poor form of last year well behind was a disappointing start to a season which had been met, at least by our own dour standards, optimistically. Neill’s sending off for two cautions, his seventh in his career, combined with Andy Todd’s single card dismissal causes vast problems for the management team- injuries are haunting Hughes at the moment. The defensive line-up that appeared at Fratton Park was already depleted but the loss of the Australian and our captain will reduce us to a very makeshift back line. Nelsen is making a quick recovery and may be available (although that seems unlikely), and the acquisition of Ooijer would be very timely if he arrived before Wednesday.

Incidentally Rovers will have already shot to the top of the foul play table, a competion we have championed the last two seasons, so perhaps the possibility of a points deduction should we win it again this season (as Phillipl has mentioned) should be investigated.

Creativity also seems at something of a premium with Tugay still to sit out a further two games after picking up a suspension at the end of the last campaign. Bentley has come in as understudy but still seems a good way off the class of the Turkish maestro. With Rovers at least appearing to eschewing the signing of a central midfielder this transfer window it must be fervently hoped by all Blackburn fans that the under 21 star will fulfil the promise that is at present all too fleeting. An early substitution resulting from an all-round poor performance on the South Coast could mean he loses his place in the side, although armchair pundits are forced to wonder who would come in to fill his berth.

Sanity preserving positivism dictates that all this misery should be put behind us however, and Wednesday sees Rovers have an ideal opportunity to do just that. Blackburn on Everton in their second game of the season at Ewood park which was last season something of a fortress. The lads claimed 13 victories and 3 draws out of 19 matches including two outstanding results against Chelsea and Manchester Utd, so hopes for victory should not be presumed entirely outlandish.

One of the great plus points of the summer break was the double signing of McCarthy and Roberts, two different types of striker who built up a complimentary partnership of power and skill over the pre season. Neither really got into the game on Saturday, but all eyes will be on the new additions to create some gilt edged opportunities.

Everton for their part have sparsely strengthened in the last few months, but those who they have brought in possess quality. The high profile signing of Andy Johnson (someone who will be looking to create a prolific partnership with fellow England international and former rover James Beattie) was followed by Tim Howard and the great defensive prospect Joleon Lescott. The Toffees have yoyoed up and down the table in recent years, finishing an astonishing fourth in 2004 and then dropping to an underwhelming 11th. On the weekend they managed a decent if fortuitous (apparently a penalty that never should have been) 2-1 victory over newly promoted Watford.

Andy Van Der Meyder was left out of the side due to drinking shenanigans and that should carry over to Wednesday.

For my money their biggest threats lie in the two strikers and the guile of Arteta, a player who scored an absolute cracker at Ewood Park last term.

My tip for our line-up, likely to be wildly incorrect:

--------------Roberts McCarthy

Pedersen Savage Reid Gallagher

----Gray Moko Nelsen Ooijer? (please god!)

--------------------Friedel

Subs: Brown, Matteo, Bentley, Kuqi, Emerton

I reckon for the score: 1-1

Questionnaire has been sent out, yet to receive the old reply.

Good luck Rovers! God help us…

Edited August 19, 2006 by joey_big_nose

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Looking for a BIG responce from our players after todays debacle but if Everton play like they did last season then we could be in trouble in the first half hour with our makeshift back four.

Rovers 1 Toffies 1 Roberts.

Att: 20,800

Edited August 19, 2006 by SIMON GARNERS 194

[tchocky]

REALLY hope that Nelsen and Zurab are back for this one. Looks like we need to push Reid in to the middle. I expect Emerton to start on the right, if not at right back. We may even go 4-5-1 with Moko in the middle.

I think we will do better. 1-1

[ihtd]

If we have no Nelsen and no Zurab and have to rely on Jay and Matteo i can see nothing but a 2-0 defeat with Beattie and Arteta scoring. But with Zurab and Nelsen i can see a 1-1 draw with Gamst scoring for us and Johnson for the Toffies.

[stuwilky]

I think Neill will be available, isnt a 2 yellow card dismissal suspension only after 7 days?, ie he'll miss Chelsea.

Did it change this time? Presuming it has?

Edited August 19, 2006 by stuwilky

[Eddie]

Nice preview. The problem I have this season is that in previous years I have always been of the belief that if I predict a victory then we lose, but I wan't to do well in the prediction league!

I'll go for a 2-0 victory like I did for the Pompey game, hopefully the boys will actually turn up this time.

[pick32]

i aint lookin forward to this one i reckon it will be 2-0 everton beatie and johnson.

[Mr. E]

We must get it right here and get our season going.

[cgbdon]

hope mokoena does not play bit vulnerable at the back.

[Mike Graham]

even before yesterday I was worried about this one. Arteta is class and Beattie will be looking forward to his return to Ewood. I can't see us getting a result and the gate, swelled by thieves, will be around 20k to 21k.

[thenodrog]

This is not a grumble but does anybody know why it's a 7.45 KO?

[Jan]

Isn't that the normal midweek kick-off time if it's not on Sky?

[Quack]

Official site says 8pm kick off - our normal time I thought.

BT, Johnson and Arteta will be rubbing their hands with anticipation - 2-1 to Everton, BT x2 and a reply from Benni.

Then Chelsea roll into Ewood - gulp.

Edited August 20, 2006 by Quack

[sambo]

Either Blackburn 1-1 Everton

Roberts Arteta

Or Blackburn 0-3 Everton

Attendance 21 k with 7k of thieving scousers

[Perth_Rover]

Blackburn 1-0 Everton

These games are always 1-0 or 2-1

[Mike Graham]

This is not a grumble but does anybody know why it's a 7.45 KO?

Observer says 7.45pm...Lee what time is the KO please and don't forget to tell Lucas Neill, it would be nice if he turned up for a game

Edited August 20, 2006 by preston blue

[Shevchenko]

We need to see a response from the players but with our defensive problems this could get messy.

Still, I'm going to hope for a 2-1 win.

[RevidgeBlue]

We've put ourselves under hellish pressure thanks to our pathetic display on Saturday, I was hopeful of six or seven points from our first three fixtures, now I can't really see us getting three.

1-1.

[kevinyip]

If neill / nelsen / Khizanishvili cannot play, then we will lose 1-2 as we have no DC. If any of them available, we can draw 1-1.

[bubblerrovers]

We'll lose this 2 nil, under 18k attendence. Watch us also get kicked off the park.

[frosty]

1-0

Pedersen

21,000

[Ozz]

Aye the weather,prices and the performance on Saturday won't exactly have Blackburnians cancelling their usual Wednesday sojourn to the Derby and Joan for Free 'n' Easy night for the visit of the Toffees. The only positive is that Evertons jammy win on Saturday may encourage of few extra Mickies to turn up.

[Presty On Tour]

1-0 rovers

benni

c'mon!!!

[AlanSheppard]

Hmm defensive crisis but I can't see things getting any worse. 2-2 McCarthy and Reid for us, Beattie with two for them.

[American]

1-0 us.

Messageboard is abuzz of a possible Premiership title.