[Archived] Rovers V Chelsea Match Preview

[G Somerset Rover]

but look at the table. its too tight and early to be talking about a perilous position. you win two games and you are somewhere around 8th - 10th.

And you can honestly see us winning two games in quick succession right now? After Sunderland (winnable but who are just as desperate us as for the points) we have an extremely tough looking set of fixtures. Where are the goals going to come from? How can we suddenly stop our sloppiness at the back?

There's no doubt that was a better performance than against United and Arsenal, but the facts speaks for themselves. 3 goals at home. Worst defensive record in the leage.

IMO, we're in for one hell of a scrap especially if we can't get our best players back on the field.

[Mc Love]

Robinson was by far the most impressive player for us and has been for a couple of games. So we cant rely on defence unless warnock goes back. We cant really rely on midfield and the strikeforce??!

I am disgusted by the way the team is playing, if i was at the match i would have booed players and management off. They didnt show any heart, they have no drive or determination, its almost like they dont give a ######, and have the attitude "sure we will show up and try not to lose and look we will get paid anyway"

Unless things start changing, i wont be seen at Ewood again this if the tripe they keep serving up is on offer.

[tony gale's mic]

We do have a bad goal difference, but that came from the mad defeats against West Ham and Arsenal, we are conceding less at present and positive signs are there. With a couple of quality additions in January everything will be rosy.

I disagree. Sure those were the games we conceded most in, but every side below the top 4 or 5 has days where they concede lots, but even over the rest of the season bar those games we've still been conceding too many. 8 in the last 4 games, if anything the positive signs were there in the first four or five games of the season, but these are starting to evapourate. We don't have Hughes' midas touch in the transfer market anymore, we can't just rely on a couple of quality additions.

[stuwilky]

I am disgusted by the way the team is playing, if i was at the match i would have booed players and management off. They didnt show any heart, they have no drive or determination, its almost like they dont give a ######, and have the attitude "sure we will show up and try not to lose and look we will get paid anyway"

Im sure that would work wonders.

[Majiball]

Well what can you say?

No surprises really they are different gravey. Everyone called for an improvement against a top 4 team and that was what we got. We showed more fight and desire and we looked alright in the second half especially. Robbo was immense and barring a wicked "handball" he did well, very well. That performance for me has laid Brads ghost to bed, Robbo is more than up to the job and getting back to his best. Great to see the monk getting a run out he did OK along with Moko, we looked much stronger once he came on. I really don't want to see Villa out wide, when he was moved into the middle he looked much better as did we.

All in all far from a disaster, after poor showings against Arsenal and Man Utd we displayed more metal today. Now we just need to take it into the next game.

[LeChuck]

Robbo was immense and barring a wicked "handball" he did well

That would be the "kneeball", yes?

[BuckyRover]

That would be the "kneeball", yes?

Very quick to criticise.

Robbo was immense.

[RibbleValleyRover]

How Pedersen got the sponsors MOTM is beyond me...

The guy is finished as a Rovers player.

[speeeeeeedie]

I thought MGP did OK. No-one played badly. We got beat off a far better team.

[BuckyRover]

I thought Pedersen was good also. I was not surprised he got the MOTM. He did everything that was asked of him.

[LeChuck]

Very quick to criticise.

Robbo was immense.

Criticise who? I haven't really made any comments about today's game as I never saw it (although I have seen a few replays of Anelka's goal before anyone points that out ) On the face of it, 2-0 doesn't seem that bad against Chelsea.

I noticed you conveniently passed over the post where I answered your 'we're conceding less at present' post.

[American]

Did no one else notice Andrews ducking out of the way of the first goal? Had he stayed upright, it would have hit off his head and straight back towards the Chelsea defence.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

As expected against a far superior Chelsea side,Robbo was outstanding and kept the score respectable.

I hate to say this but our squad is looking very average indeed without the likes of Roque etc,we have very little quality and it hurts to say.

We desperately need to start winning games now....PLEASE!

[Majiball]

That would be the "kneeball", yes?

Irony, hence the quote marks.

[LeChuck]

Irony, hence the quote marks.

Ah, sorry.

[Presty On Tour]

Although Robinson was superb in the nets today, Cech once again was faultless.

Our 2 real chances were both dealt with in excellent fashion and if they had gone in we could have maybe had something from the game today. Unfortunately against the top teams if you get a chance, you need to take it and without Santa Cruz, Jase's school of finishing just isn't premiership quality.

Thought we battled hard in the first half, although it was all hands to the pump we dug in and were unlucky to concede the freak goal.

2nd half we done ok although we never looked like scoring.

I thought Pedersen was our best player today and worked his socks off. Setup our 2 best chances, got stuck in, was great in the air and was up and down that left flank all game giving everything. Those who are critical of him where obviously watching a different game!

[imy9]

Disappointed but we played quite well for some periods of the game. There was definate fight and spirit being shown but regardless a loss is a loss.

Robbo was immense and I think Zurab needs to be given a chance alongside The Big Kiwi.

My over riding feeling is one of worry, our injury crisis is getting ridiculous:

Ooijer, Emerton, Reid, Dunn, Grella, RSC, Benni (not injured but was missing), we are also going to be missing Warnock in the next game, at this time we need to pull together, grind out some results and get some quality players in January. (IMO MGP looked decent today)

[Amo]

Did no one else notice Andrews ducking out of the way of the first goal? Had he stayed upright, it would have hit off his head and straight back towards the Chelsea defence.

And a naive back-pass which Anelka would have scored had he stayed on his feet.

I have to say, I'm drawing parallels with the relegation season. Lacklustre defence, rumours of unrest, too many strikers who are either injured or not scoring, as well as injuries to other key personnel.

Bring on Sunderland.

[Tom]

Some people on here are clueless beyond words, how can anyone say Pedersen was useless today? He was easily one of our best outfield players.

Not too disheartened at the result we played well in patches and got beat by the team top of the league and only beaten in the champions leaguie final on pens last year.

A few notes:

Mokoena was solid when he came on

Derbyshire isbn't and never will be a right winger (i'm starting to think he sin't good enough in any role to be honest)

Zurab was solid

Ince made the right choice today re: formation

Sadly Roberts just isn't up to the job (i wonder what people would have to say about him if he was an Ince signing)

The ref was useless

Edit: Also Lampard is a tool

[Amo]

Sadly Roberts just isn't up to the job (i wonder what people would have to say about him if he was an Ince signing)

Good Championship player, at best. He doesn't score enough goals and doesn't even work in a Heskey-type role.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

I have to say, I'm drawing parallels with the relegation season. Lacklustre defence, rumours of unrest, too many strikers who are either injured or not scoring, as well as injuries to other key personnel.

I share your concern Elijah,its almost as if matter's are conspiring against the club.

We are simply desperate for a win,the longer this winless form continues you can guarantee our sides confidence will ebb away.

Money MUST be made available to Ince in January to strengthen this side.

[Tom]

How big team biased are the pundits on sky by the way?

Just watching now, they admit robbo never touched Anelka yet say it was a penalty? how does that work again?

Also I think it did strike Le Sulks hand but no mention of it.

[Presty On Tour]

Some people on here are clueless beyond words, how can anyone say Pedersen was useless today? He was easily one of our best outfield players.

Edit: Also Lampard is a tool

Couldn't agree more on both statements.

[stuwilky]

Ince Out.

Just to get it in before notable others and their predictable tripe surface.

[jim mk2]

Anyone willing to start a relegation thread ?

I tried 4 weeks ago when I saw the warning signs but it was deleted. After Rovers' continuing slide down the table it's even more relevant now.