[Archived] Hull City V Blackburn Rovers

[47er]

I think you must have a pretty high opinion of your own football knowledge when you consider that your understanding of the quality of the player is better than Trapatoni, Paul Ince and Allardyce! Especailly considering the last one of those is a guy who is an established Premiership manager and sees Keith and his competitors for a berth every day in training.

Den, no one is arguing with you in terms of the fact we need better. I am sure Sam would have loved to pick up some quality in the window in that position (hence the interest in Bullard). But currently we do not have better. Keith Andrews is the best we have, and he is trying his hardest. Why not get behind him until the summer, give him your support, and keep an open mind? And then we can try and get someone else in. Those who boo him are achieving nothing except damaging the brittle confidence of a player who knows that he is out of his depth. How is that useful? How is that even sane considering where we are in the table?

Its an absolute disgrace that any so-called Rovers fan would boo Andrews during a game. In reality they are purging their frutsrations at Ince who isn't here anymore(thank God). He does his best, not his fault he isn't very good.

[bazza]

No true Rovers supporter should boo ANY Rovers player or manager. Those who do are hereby banished to Turf Moor.

KA reminds me of David Nugent who was a world beater in the Championship but seems not to quite hack it in the Prem.

But, because KA gives his all for the cause, he should be cheered and encouraged.

[dingles staying down 4ever]

I take all that on board. I also recognise that his goal yesterday was a result of his attitude, enthusiasm and willingness to graft. He is trying to make the best of his opportunity at BRFC this season and all credit to him for that. Nearest I can link him to is Super Atko who was of very limited ability but did the water carrying job very well. (He'd not be playing in todays Prem btw).

But with KA it is still all lipstick on a pig. He should not really be a Premiership regular as I'm sure that you would see if we put him on the transfer market.

How do you arrive at the point that Atko would not be playing in the premiership today. There are plenty of midfielders like him playing in the Premiership today. Steve Sidwell moved for £5 million during the summer and he is a prime example.

Quoting transfer fees is fine but you've seen Rovers' finances and this means shopping in bargain basements. We probably would get more for him now than we paid for him.

[JAL]

I really can't get my head round this kind of comment. The only thing I can put it down to is the halo effect:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halo_effect

Let's look at the evidence:

1) Big Sam keeps picking Keith Andrews for his starting line up in crucial games, so presumably he rates him.

2) Giovanni Trappatoni now picks Keith Andrews for his starting line up in crucial games, again presumably he must rate him.

3) Keith gets consistency decent scores amongst journalists in match reports - here's today's mail for instance (the Sun & Star have similar); second highest score, same as Santa Cruz amongst others - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...or-Rovers.html)

4) He scores absolutely crucial goals for our survival (we'd have been bottom of the table for long periods without his equaliser against West Brom - a huge psychological blow).

5) He's scored the most league goals of any midfielder this season so far - more than Tugay, Emerton, Dunn, Reid, Pedersen or Grella (not to mention Moekena). Warnock has admittedly scored more, but he didn't play in midfield for all those games.

6) He only cost us £800k - a pittance in Premier League terms - a quarter than Robinson, a fifth of Grella.

So why do own fans dislike him so much - his own fans for christ's sake? Grella has played far worse than Andrews has in my opinion but doesn't get any stick at all.

I honestly think that the negativity of our own fans is what will cost us this season. We need Keith Andrews playing well, and it's our remaining home games which are crucial in that. Keith gets greeted with groans at best, boos at worst by his home support. That can't do his confidence any good at all, which is absolutely the last thing we want in a relegation battle.

Jonnolad, ATTRACTIVENESS you hit the nail on the head.

There are many more in the Rovers squad i've been slating we arent in the bottom four for nothing.

Fully agree come wednesday night Keith and the rest of the team will have my FULL support.

[thenodrog]

How do you arrive at the point that Atko would not be playing in the premiership today.

Pure logic. C'mon Atkins was one of the most limited midfielders around who simply was a big hearted water carrier. Through media money the Prem has now moved on so far since we won the Prem that we are attracting the worlds best players. Half the players in the championship today that you and I likely have never heard of would have been stars in the top Div 25 years ago.

The rest of europe apart from the really mega clubs has been playing second fiddle in attracting talent. This may alter with the currency but if you need proof then I saw two soccer giants playing CL this week.... Olaf Mellberg with Inter and Rochemback with S Lisbon. You hardly need me to tell you that neither would get anywhere near MU, Arse or Chelsea's squad.

[47er]

How do you arrive at the point that Atko would not be playing in the premiership today. There are plenty of midfielders like him playing in the Premiership today. Steve Sidwell moved for £5 million during the summer and he is a prime example.

Quoting transfer fees is fine but you've seen Rovers' finances and this means shopping in bargain basements. We probably would get more for him now than we paid for him.

Super Atko was vastly under-rated and our performances dived in 1995 when he was dropped for Batty.

[MCMC1875]

WHERE'S WAGGY!!!!!!!!!

[DanLad]

Super Atko was vastly under-rated and our performances dived in 1995 when he was dropped for Batty.

+1

[OscarRaven]

Andrews is not under rated, he is over criticised. Very average player amongst average players, crocks & the aged.

He disapears in games, he gives away the ball too often, has a poor first touch, he is clumsy in the challange and can't pass (with the exception of the through ball) but is no worse than anybody else in midfiled at Rovers at the moment.

He is better than Moko, Carlos & Tugay (not sure but probably Reid too) and Sam agrees.

Only trouble is I think Keith is playing at the top of his game, with the exception of Moko, I think all our other midfielders can play another level up (when the pressure is off).

Keith will have to do, he is the best we have for now, match winner at Hull even with an awful performance (him and everyone else).

If we stay up he deserves some credit. If we go down.... we will need him big time.

[riverside returns]

What Andrews is giving us at the moment is some forward thrust, he makes intelligent runs and draws defenders away creating space. Sunday was not the first time this season that he has made those runs into the box, it was the first time that an excellent final ball has come his way though and he finished with aplomb.

Andrews would not get into most teams but we need that forward thrust or we are just passing the ball across and back.

[ABBEY]

QUOTE (BuckyRover @ Mar 2 2009, 12:54 )

I really enjoyed the performance yesterday. Until I came on here and read the post match comments. If we get relegated it will be down to our so called "fans". Embarrassing

if we get relegated its because of the fans....go on do tell how the hell you work this one out??

still working this one out bucky

[thenodrog]

WHERE'S WAGGY!!!!!!!!!

Waiting for the floor paint to dry!

[DE.]

QUOTE (BuckyRover @ Mar 2 2009, 12:54 )

I really enjoyed the performance yesterday. Until I came on here and read the post match comments. If we get relegated it will be down to our so called "fans". Embarrassing

still working this one out bucky

I'd imagine part of what he's saying refers to the booing and general underappreciation of players such as Andrews who, whilst not the most gifted of players, give 110% to the cause. If we boo and demoralise these players, who's going to be left to pick up the slack? Time for the supporters to get behind EVERY member of the team until we're clear of this mess. (Not saying you're one of them, ABBEY, just explaining what Bucky may have meant )

[simcla]

I remember super atko was a fairly rare chant for him at the time..... rose coloured specs anyone?

[dingles staying down 4ever]

I remember super atko was a fairly rare chant for him at the time..... rose coloured specs anyone?

It was rare - how many other Atkins' do you recall?

Super Atko was vastly under-rated and our performances dived in 1995 when he was dropped for Batty.

Spot on. Dropping him for Batty nearly cost us the Premiership.

[dingles staying down 4ever]

Pure logic. C'mon Atkins was one of the most limited midfielders around who simply was a big hearted water carrier. Through media money the Prem has now moved on so far since we won the Prem that we are attracting the worlds best players. Half the players in the championship today that you and I likely have never heard of would have been stars in the top Div 25 years ago.

The rest of europe apart from the really mega clubs has been playing second fiddle in attracting talent. This may alter with the currency but if you need proof then I saw two soccer giants playing CL this week.... Olaf Mellberg with Inter and Rochemback with S Lisbon. You hardly need me to tell you that neither would get anywhere near MU, Arse or Chelsea's squad.

All the best teams need water carriers in the team. Teams packed withe superstars never prosper too well. Man Utd have the likes of fletcher, Liverpool have that Lucas fellow etc. A prime example is the Galatico's who won sod all with superstars but won all before them with a couple of players which were slated when they were there, mainly by their own fans.

The reason that both Atkins and Andrews play/played is both are Athletes in the sense they can last 90 minutes. How many Rovers players can you say that about. he is just the type of player Sam likes.

People complain about how Andrews gives the ball away but has one of the highest pass completion rates of any Rovers player. They are simple passes but some would argue a player who knows his limitations is better than one who tries the outrageous and keeps giving the ball away. Remind you of any talented Clileans we know.