[Archived] Pre-season Friendlies

[Bobby G]

Of course he isnt...And how can Dunn be back to his best for a 45 minute spell? Id say to recover form which has gone missing for 5 years, it will take at least a run of 10 games of top drawer performances...

MGP I am sure CAN return to form because its a matter of confidence and not injuries as well like Dunn...

The jury is out and will remain out until well into the season...

[RibbleValleyRover]

What has actually happened so far?

A 37yr old keeper has been sold for £2.75 million

A 28 yr old England Keeper has been signed for £3.5 million, good bit of business so far.

Age is not a major point in particular in regards to goalkeepers. The issue is who at this current time, a time of managerial change, player uncertainty and increased competition is the better keeper to have. Hands down i would have gone with Brad but the decision has been made and come the end of the season time will tell if it was the right one or not.

What is the problem with Fowler being handed a trial? The guy is the most talented, gifted striker of his generation. Are people on here so arrogant that they think that RSC, McCarthy, Roberts, Derbyshire will learn nothing from Fowler?

I think the issue is the striking department doesn't really need any new additions. Its certainly not an area where we are lacking personnel. You may have a point about Derbyshire being able to learn things from him, can't say the same for RSC, Benni or Roque.

Does he not have the right to discuss Duff as an option in exchange for Warnock? He is the manager- back him, full stop.

Not really. We have Gamst on the left wing who has been looking sharp in pre-season, Treacy and Peter as well could make the step up this season. I fail to see the logic in bringing a well past it Duffer. In regards to Warnock, if he goes who is going to play at left back? Olsson aint ready, we don't have any other left backs in the team. Warnock is one of the best left backs in the league and would cost a fortune to replace him as there aren't many good ones about.

[philipl]

"Tad eccentric"

Philip, were you brave enough to make such a claim about Friedel when he was here and secure. Or do you bleat with the prevailing flock, as I strongly suspect.

I used much stronger language about his performance at St Andrews.

[alexanders]

Dunn also looked sharp and fully fit against Macclesfield where he also scored a great goal.

It warms when I see great performances by David Dunn. His blood is white and blue.

I am hoping for a central midfield containing of Vogel and Dunn - great passers both.

[JAL]

Dunn also looked sharp and fully fit against Macclesfield where he also scored a great goal.

It warms when I see great performances by David Dunn. His blood is white and blue.

I am hoping for a central midfield containing of Vogel and Dunn - great passers both.

Dunny looked good last season in pre season, then for the next six weeks or so and then as everybody else caught up with their fitness they then began to surpass Dunny as Dunny pushed harder to keep up his body packed in until he went from playing every week to once every two weeks to eventually out for longer periods .

Cant see anything different happening this time for Dunny except for the injuries to become longer more sustained periods, as BobbyG points out this is based on the last 5 years not just one season.

[bobsterbrfc]

Everyone should refer to Shillito's post further up this page, very well said. I seem to remember under Hughes we lost to Olympiakos 5-0 one pre-season so everyone, before chastising Ince lets wait until a competitive ball has been strucked past a flailing Tim Howard in the 89th minute, giving Rovers a 1-0 lead and Roque peels away towards the Lower Bullens arms-outstretched...Tickittyboo!

[Iceman]

Im going to say benni wil be back to his best this season.benni however needs to stay up front,he is a goal poacher like ruud v nistlerooy

[Hasta]

MGP I am sure CAN return to form because its a matter of confidence and not injuries as well like Dunn...

Confidence which has been missing for the past 18 months.

MGP needs to get back to doing two things - arriving late to score goals and getting set piece deliveries right. If he's doing that he's worth his place. Otherwise he's not.

His general play apart from those two things has always been very limited. He's no pace, can't beat a man and gives the ball away cheaply at times.

His work right is OK but any player worth his salt in a team should be able to graft.

[Bobby G]

Easier to recover confidence, if no injuries are involved...

This is a make or break season for him though I believe.

[Hasta]

In fact I worded that wrong.

I don't believe it is confidence. I believe he got found out after his first 9 months in the Prem and is now a very average player at this level at best.

I really hope he proves me wrong this year. He didn't really last year though.

[ptholt]

Just up and awake from the second game, from the team sheets it was obvious that this was viewed more as a fitness training exercise than a competitive game, likewise sporting also only played with 4 or so regular first teamers, obviously keeping there better players for the Sunday night grudge match with neighbours benfica. (who incidentaly having a days break between games will also be fielding a full strength team for the sporting game)

As a result the crowd was a bit more subdued, the main rovers section having had to much sangria or sunshine (or both) and upon hearing the teamsheet decided to amuse themselves with blow up inflatable toys much to the amusement of my two sons hehehe.

The game had very little to talk bout, some of the players looking tired and with tetchy attitudes on the pitch (this was a 9pm kick off and it was about 1am when the coach left the ground after the benfica game) which even if they had a lie in and sat around the pool all day it makes for a long day.

The goal keeper whilst needing a game looked average at best, then again some of the other fringe players did very little to increase there chances imo with gallagher, sergio, fielding et al all looking pretty average, strange considering with a new manager watching carefully you would think they would really go for it.

What was interesting to see was the make up and general "togetherness" of the team, Benni looked decidedly "in Coventry" for the benfica game standing off on his own talking to the people from benfica and having little contact with the first teamers from Blackburn. Once again last night he did seem a bit distant compared to the others and wasn't really joining in there touch line antics etc. Whether this was from his wanting to leave of last season or the fact the portuguese revered him like an idol im not sure, but he was certainly popular with fans of sporting and benfica (seemed odd to me they cheer a play from another team).

Fowler i felt whilst he was trying hard and training hard (compared to some of the others who were just sitting watching in the first game) he looks rather large and as a result slow, i seem to remember reading somewhere hes just had surgery so maybe hes getting so many minutes to try and get his fitness and form back before the season starts and before any contract offer, i hope thats the case anyway and on current viewing i would be shocked if a contract was forth coming on his current form, however he has integrated with the team well and has slotted in quite well in a short space of time, if that means he can coach our younger striker he may be worth some sort of contract.

Where was derbyshire for this little warm up? Didnt see hide nor hair of him...

What was quite nice as its Portugal, more laid back was my sons and i were able to meet the team, get some autographs and have a chat, nearly all of them were very nice, pleasant laid back and happy to chat which made my sons weekends and i appreciate the time they took to say hi. Vogel in particular was a really nice guy and stood and chatted for quite a long time was highly enjoyable.

took a few more grainy pics from last nights game which you can see here - sporting game

So thanks for coming one and all, give us a wave as you fly out from Faro back to sunny (sometimes) Manchester.

[Majiball]

I agree it is bordering on pathetic people on here questioning Ince before a competitive ball has been kicked.

What has actually happened so far?

A 37yr old keeper has been sold for £2.75 million WE HAVE SOLD ONE OF THE TOP 2 KEEPERS IN THE LEAGUE

A 28 yr old England Keeper has been signed for £3.5 million, good bit of business so far. WE HAVE SIGNED A GOALKEEPER WHO IS OUT OF FORM AND MENTALLY DESTROYED ITS A GAMBLE, IT LOOKS FANTASTIC ON PAPER BUT FOOTBALL IS NOT PLAYED ON PAPER!

What is the problem with Fowler being handed a trial? The guy is the most talented, gifted striker of his generation. Are people on here so arrogant that they think that RSC, McCarthy, Roberts, Derbyshire will learn nothing from Fowler? FOWLER HAS NEVER APPLIED HIMSELF AS HE COULD HAVE INCE NEEDS TO CHANGE HIS SPOTS AND LEOPARDS VERY RARELY CHANGE THERE SPOTS

He is not here for money, so ask yourself what is he here for? Answer: To prove he can still score goals at the highest level.

When RSC, Warnock, Bentley, etc go then by all means question the managers decisions but does he not have the right to discuss Duff as an option in exchange for Warnock? He is the manager- back him, full stop. i TAKE IT BY THAT VERY ARGUMENT YOU BACK GORDON BROWN TO THE HILT, HE IS OUR PM BACK HIM! I GUESS YOU SUPPORTED HODGSON AND KIDD TILL THE BITTER END AS WELL!

I used much stronger language about his performance at St Andrews. I REMEMBER A ###### POOR PERFORMANCE BY EVERYONE HUGHES INCLUDED NOT JUST BRAD!

Ince is here he is our boss he has 10 games no more no less, before I put on my Ince out hat. But by the complete fact that we the fans seem to have been completely split down the middle, with half calling for his head and questioning his every move and the other saying he's our boy support him, that perhaps he should not have been given the job. But Fact his he has, He must be aware of the split and that people within and outside where surprised by his appointment. There is no doubting he did well at his previous two clubs, but name me one player at that level he would not have looked up to him.

Rovers is different we have players who are at the level Ince was, They as well as us will compare him to there previous experiences, and Judge. First impressions set the tone for a lot of people in this world and TBH Ince has not made the best first impression his silly relegation quip was quickly batted down by JW, who looked far from impressed. His appointment is a gamble it could work out great, it could not.

We always seem to take a chance with our managerial appointments, this is no different. Ince needs to step up tell certain players your not going this year, publicly! and to them firstly in private. Brads departure has us all believing no-one is safe, that they all have a price.

Villa could be a good move he looks exciting but he will take time to settle in, he will need time to step up to the level of playing in the prem. We must also remember that not one of the management team stayed, it does not matter who came in finding new players becomes very awkward as at this time of year no-ones playing, you can't really scout players.

Ince is facing the hardest task of his career to date, as a player he always overcame, lets see who comes and goes, voice opinions by all means, but take some pressure off him and judge 10 games or so in - nothing is won in pre-season!

[imy9]

Age is not a major point in particular in regards to goalkeepers. The issue is who at this current time, a time of managerial change, player uncertainty and increased competition is the better keeper to have. Hands down i would have gone with Brad but the decision has been made and come the end of the season time will tell if it was the right one or not.

Age is a MAJOR point, there is no way Brad will be as good as previous seasons this season and the one after. This decision had to be made, luckily for all involved we seem to have come out well.

I think the issue is the striking department doesn't really need any new additions. Its certainly not an area where we are lacking personnel. You may have a point about Derbyshire being able to learn things from him, can't say the same for RSC, Benni or Roque.

That is in your opinion, how many goals has RSC scored in his entire career? The players can learn a lot from him. He will be on a pay as you play deal, no losers.

Not really. We have Gamst on the left wing who has been looking sharp in pre-season, Treacy and Peter as well could make the step up this season. I fail to see the logic in bringing a well past it Duffer. In regards to Warnock, if he goes who is going to play at left back? Olsson aint ready, we don't have any other left backs in the team. Warnock is one of the best left backs in the league and would cost a fortune to replace him as there aren't many good ones about.

Gamst has ONE good game, how many poor games did he have last year? Duffer needs to be fit, only then can he be judged. Treacy and Peter have looked out of their depth and will not make the grade at Rovers. I do agree about Warnock, but lets wait and see shall we...

[Lathund]

WHY IS HE EVEN ON TRIAL IN THE FIRST PLACE ?

Wasting everyones time losing vital time and focus for the enormous challenges that lie ahead !

(As our team grows weaker the challenges become ever greater)

How the hell does having him on trial mean we lose "vital time and focus for the enormous challenges that lie ahead"??!?

Starting to think that some posters on here aren't actual people at all, but rather random number generators triggering random responses based on what number pops up, as there can't be any logical thought behind many of the posts I read on here.

I don't think Fowler will turn out to be more than, at best, our 5th choice striker, but put it into perspective will you? It's a trial to see if he's good enough. If he isn't, then we've lost nothing. If he would turn out good, however unlikely that might be, we'd have paid no transfer fee and a pay as you play type of deal.

[Majiball]

I don't think Fowler will turn out to be more than, at best, our 5th choice striker, but put it into perspective will you? It's a trial to see if he's good enough. If he isn't, then we've lost nothing. If he would turn out good, however unlikely that might be, we'd have paid no transfer fee and a pay as you play type of deal.

Look Fowler and Ince are great mates, no-one on here can argue that Fowler is a one off from his generation he is a natural goal scorer its pure instinct with him. Fowlers whole career has been blighted by his own mentality "My Talent is enough". Now ince his is Mate, he must surely believe he can use his personal bond with Robbie to change his mentality and inject into to him what no other manager has added before Professionalism, Work ethic, Fitness, Desire.

The trouble is Rafa, Houllier etc have all failed to do so, Ince will be no different. Inces relationship with him has already seen Derbs pushed out wide, he's getting special treatment. i want to see Derbs up front especially in pre-season so he has the opputunity to bang a few in and be on a high for the start of the season, Fowlers playing is pushing a good youngster further down the pecking order and hindering his chances again. Fowler was meant to prove himself but he's straight in ahead of Derbs, he's not even a Rover but putting a trialist ahead of a player with a contract who will definitly be hear next season is not on!! Fowler should have to force his way in, instead he's already been given one.

[philipl]

Ince comments reported on Sky

[Iceman]

Dont want to see Derbs, on the wings.he is a striker and not a midfielder. Often, when you try to change players from their prefered position it back fires.

[Anti Euro Smiths Fan]

"Tad eccentric."

Philip, were you brave enough to make such a claim about Friedel when he was here and secure. Or do you bleat with the prevailing flock, as I strongly suspect.

Well, this is what PhilipL said just over a fortnight ago about the prospect of Friedel being sold....

If we sell Friedel and sign Fowler, we have got an absolute dud of a new manager.

But in true PhilipL style, he has now returned to his role as our cosmopolitan spin doctor from the shores of Malta - putting a wonderful spin on what's been an anxious summer for Rovers fans...

Philip now says that selling Brad was "amazingly good business" - that Brad is a "a tad eccentric" and that having a 37-year-old in goal would be running a risk for Rovers.

We seem to be replacing Brad with the guy who until recently was automatic choice as England keeper for a net cost of £1m and a bit- I think this is amazingly good business even if there is a big risk. But having a 37 year old between the sticks would be running a risk anyway.

Robbie Fowler is now described by Philip as somebody who was "a goal machine in his prime"

- we have a 33 year old who was a goal machine in his prime on trial.

- we have accepted an amazing £2.75m offer for our 37 year old wonder keeper (who was a tad eccentric at the end of last season and had a nightmare in his last game for us sadly)

Seriously guys, we are having a great transfer window so far and we should chill out.

As well as Philip's u-turn over the sale of Friedel, it seems as if he's performed quite a u-turn on Paul Ince....

Before Ince took over as Rovers manager, PhilipL was against him....

I massively prefer Laudrup over Ince.

Who is this Dick Lewis? The fact he is mates with Ince is making me very anti-Ince. I just want JW to tell him we are no longer interested.

On June 16th - before Ince took charge at Ewood - in Philip's post that you can view here, he suggested that Ince was "a non-starter" as Rovers manager and would have "0% credibility as manager" and "0% chance of persuading players to stay at Ewood."

What Ince said was completely vicious and OTT about the Rovers. Suppose the day after he is appointed, that clip of his remarks hits Youtube.

Ince will have 0% credibility as Rovers' manager and 0% chance of persuading players to stay at Ewood or come to Ewood.

For me Ince is a non-starter for that reason alone.

But as I suspected when Ince was appointed, Philip has now very quickly resumed his old role of putting a positive spin on events - Mr Ince is now the man who is doing "amazing business" for Rovers. "We are having a great transfer window," says Philip and in any case, it would have been a risk for Rovers to have played a 37-year-old keeper who was "a tad eccentric".

Philip, I don't know how you do it, but I love the way you spin things positively in Rovers' favour. If you ever get bored with sitting in the sun, sipping wine on the sandy Maltese beaches, then I'm sure that 10 Downing Street would love to have you as a spin doctor - you could certainly give Alastair Campbell a run for his money in the spin stakes.

After previously suggesting that Ince would be "a complete dud to sell Friedel", the man has now become "a tad eccentric keeper who would have been a risk for Rovers next season".

If we lose badly against Everton at Goodison Park on the opening day of the season, I look forward to PhilipL saying something like: "It was always going to take time for our fantastic new manager to settle on his best formation. It's better that we get this defeat out of the way quickly, so we can now improve for the rest of the season with our brilliant new line-up. Things would have got worse under Hughes. We've now got an exciting new era."

Philip, I take my hat off to you. Keep the spin coming - it's worth reading for an alternative perspective.

[philipl]

Well done AESF.

Now do you really want me to go through your past posts????

[Majiball]

Confidence which has been missing for the past 18 months.

MGP needs to get back to doing two things - arriving late to score goals and getting set piece deliveries right. If he's doing that he's worth his place. Otherwise he's not.

His general play apart from those two things has always been very limited. He's no pace, can't beat a man and gives the ball away cheaply at times.

His work right is OK but any player worth his salt in a team should be able to graft.

I reckon MGP is one of those players who needs to have a point to prove he did well when he first came, he started to excel when hughes first took over, and then entered a confort zone. he has no threat to his place no point to prove any more. Dunn is no left winger, i can see why Ince would be after Duff he would put pressure on MGP to maintain his form something he has never had at the club, it just can't be at the expense of Warnock. I was not shocked to see MGP's performance againast benfica, a new boss means he has to prove himself all over again. It would do him the world of good to have true competition to his place Treacey and Peter are not up to it we should move them on, or loan them out.

[American]

Utterly brilliant, Smithy.

[blue phil]

Well done AESF.

Well done indeed , AESF .

A quite masterly job done - I salute you

[Darth Paul]

Well I am glad someone IS putting a positive spin on things, if only to balance out what is becoming an increasingly panicky, negative and unrealistic message board.

We have got Robbie Fowler on TRIAL, the sky is falling, the sky is falling...

Time to get a grip guys, Ince is in charge, like it or lump it, now get behind him, and forget the doom and gloom, it really isn't doing the club any good.

In my time watching Rovers I have noticed that our fans are terrible for feeding off each others negativity. A bad defeat away at Goodison will see the Ewood crowd crapping itself if we aren't beating Hull by half time.

To me it is times like that where our support beomes important...enjoy your summer, being miserable won't influence which players we have come September, being supportive will help influence how the players we do have left perform.

[LeChuck]

I suppose it is a bit like giving a trial to a gangly, unheard of, average German sides reserve defender from a low FIFA ranked African country...

Hmm...no it's not. Nobody knew anything about Samba, which is why a trial was needed.

Everyone knows Fowler has been crap for the best part of a decade.

[philipl]

Hmm...no it's not. Nobody knew anything about Samba, which is why a trial was needed.

Everyone knows Fowler has been crap for the best part of a decade.

Fowler's career:

Club Performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total

Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals

England League FA Cup Football League Cup Europe Total

1993-94 Liverpool Premier League 28 12 1 0 5 6 0 0 34 18

1994-95 42 25 7 2 8 4 0 0 57 31

1995-96 38 28 7 6 4 2 4 0 53 36

1996-97 32 18 1 1 4 5 7 7 44 31

1997-98 20 9 1 0 4 3 3 1 28 13

1998-99 25 14 2 1 2 1 6 2 35 18

1999-00 14 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 3

2000-01 27 8 5 2 5 6 11 1 48 17

2001-02 10 3 0 0 0 0 7 1 17 4

2001-02 Leeds United Premier League 22 12 1 0 0 0 0 0 23 12

2002-03 8 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 10 2

2002-03 Manchester City Premier League 13 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 2

2003-04 31 7 4 1 2 1 4 1 41 10

2004-05 32 10 0 0 1 1 0 0 33 11

2005-06 4 1 1 3 0 0 0 0 5 4

2005-06 Liverpool Premier League 13 5 0 0 0 0 2 0 15 5

2006-07 16 3 0 0 3 2 2 2 20 7

2007-08 Cardiff City Championship 13 4 0 0 3 2 0 0 16 6

Total England 387 165 31 16 41 33 47 15 504 230

Career Total 387 165 31 16 41 33 47 15 504 230

230 goals in 504 matches.

Not bad and 95 of those goals have come in the last decade. I'd rather have Fowler in any goal scoring position than Jason Roberts 100% of the time even now.