[Archived] Pre-season

[Iceman]

Leeds 1-1 Rovers

1st half - Evenly matched. Leeds looked very spritely and odds on to win that division on this perfomance. Rovers lacked pace and cutting edge with no guile in midfield.

2nd half - Mostly Rovers and the gulf was evident if not as big as it should be.

Steven N'Zonzi could be a great signing but on this evidence, one for the reserves for the first part of the season. Diouf was rubbish AGAIN. For all his workrate he looked a Leeds player. Lars Jacobsen looked a poor right back and Andrews was a championship player. Elrio van Heerden (of he was No.19) was sharpish and with some adjustment will add the squad.

The 2nd half subs of the two wide men, Elrio van Heerden, David Hoilett, Dunn and Paul Gallagher made a big difference. We had edge and pace. Dunn was two notches above every single player on the pitch. An international amongst also rans. His first pass a raking 50 yard went straight to feet. He then went on to boss the game and run at Leeds players (and past them) with ease pretty much every time in between picking out sharp passes and clever one two's. Hoilet was distinctly average at best and had far less quality than Villeneuva.

Gallagher is £250k striker and a £5m midfielder. His first pass dropping deep was pin point to Jason Roberts I think who was unable to take advantage. When will Sam learn?? We could never afford to a midfielder of Gallagher's class so why are we messing around with such a talent? After that Gallagher felt uncomfortable up front, lacking pace when given a chance.

Givet went off and his replacement(?) did very well.

With Grella to come back, Reid and Emerton plus Judge. the squad is okish. It something strange that we have lived for 5 years with Souness'es midfield (bar Bentley). Emerton, Reid, Dunn, Pederson and Tugay (retired 2009).

Robinson was excellent as was Ollson when he came on

FIRST CHOICE

----------------------Robbo---

Jackobson ---- Nelson ---- Samba ----- Givet

Emerton ------ Dunn ------ Grella --- Warnock

New Striker ---- New Striker

RESERVES

-------------Brown-------------

Emerton ----- New Signing? -------- Givet ------- Ollson

van Heerden ----- Gallagher ------ Reid -------- Pederson

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

2nd RESERVES

---------------Bunn/Frank Fielding---------

YOUTH--------YOUTH-----------YOUTH--------YOUTH

El Hadji Diouf/Alan Judge-----------Keith Andrews/------------N'Zonzi----------David Hoilett/Aaron Doran

-----RITGERS/Andy Haworth---------Marcus Marshall/Julio Santa Cruz

Diouf in 2nd reserves, yet Reid ahead of him. Lol. Diouf like Andrews is fit and ready for the start of the season. Hoilliett is a younster as is Nzonzi, so very much still learning. Those 2 are the future, but will gain much experience playing in the 1st team

[Ewood Spark]

YOUTH--------YOUTH-----------YOUTH--------YOUTH

Blimey, it's like the 1980's all over again!

I wonder what the average age of the 'Blackburn Youth' is now ? .... and if 'Burnley's Suicide Squad' ever carried out their advertised aim?

[Hughesy]

Why did everyone feel Diouf was one of, if not the best performer yesterday except for the guy above??

[BarrowOfCroft]

Diouff Nzonzi Andrews Pedersen.

Indeed it does Rev. God forbid we start with that midfield.

We Dont Need Midfield Now

Percentage Football Needs Tall Men And Long Balls

Dont Worry Its Different But We Should Get The Magic 40 Points

[Roost]

Blimey, it's like the 1980's all over again!

[brfcs5359]

Why did everyone feel Diouf was one of, if not the best performer yesterday except for the guy above??

It's a long way of April Fools Hughesy. Diouf was a pile of the proverbial except he works hard. Dunn was the only player who showed any class on that pitch. Andrews is a better player and that is saying something. I can't wait for Emerton to come back and get shut of Diouf. He's not fit to lace the Aussie's boots.

N'Zonzi could have the makings of a top player. He looks like someone however we have signed from the out of the league 1. That is not his fault and time (and talent) is on his side.

[RevidgeBlue]

Thanks for the comments from everyone who went.

It sounds like the subs put in lively cameo appearances but I really hope we can do some extremely shrewd buiness before August 31st otherwise I feel we are nailed on for the bottom 4/5.

McCarthy/Roberts/Gallagher as an available strikeforce is average at best by Premiership standards.

Pedersen has been poor for 3 seasons now and the less said about central midfield the better. The best you can say is that if Dunn stays fully fit we probably only need one quality central midfielder.

[joey_big_nose]

Thanks for the comments from everyone who went.

It sounds like the subs put in lively cameo appearances but I really hope we can do some extremely shrewd buiness before August 31st otherwise I feel we are nailed on for the bottom 4/5.

McCarthy/Roberts/Gallagher as an available strikeforce is average at best by Premiership standards.

Pedersen has been poor for 3 seasons now and the less said about central midfield the better. The best you can say is that if Dunn stays fully fit we probably only need one quality central midfielder.

Well Rev, as we need 2 strikers and only have a limited budget the only way we are going to get a quality central player is if:

i) Sam finds a gem for virtually no money (he has already had one shot at that with N'zonzi - maybe it will work..... Samba and Bentley both looked promising but off the pace and reading of the game when they arrived. Both became brilliant players.)

ii) We find two good strikers for a combined value of around 6 six million or less so can spend the rest on a midfielder

iii) Some rich dude buys the club

To be honest we have already done i) and I can't see ii) or iii) happening as Sam has already looked good and hard and we have been on sale for three years with no takers.

So out of Dunn, Reid, Grella, Emerton, Warnock, N'zonzi and Andrews at least two are going to need to step up and make the position their own. I personally don't consider that so unlikely with a full preseason behind them and Sam's tactical guidance, but most people disagree obviously.

[John]

Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce has promised to field some first team players for Rovers Reserves trip to Leigh Genesis tomorrow

[grizfoot]

How did Fabian Delph play anyone?

Always been touted as a future star and linked with a host of Prmeierhsip clubs. By the sounds of it the Leeds midfield dominated ours in the first half which I'm guessing was somewhat down to the influence of Delph?

[philipl]

Delph is certainly a much better player than Keith Andrews. Beyond that it is difficult to say much based on Saturday's game.

[Hughesy]

Id agree - he did ok, but nothing special - but again its only a friendly so its hard to say....

[champions1995]

The highlights of the game are now available on Rovers World to any of you who have subscribed to the service.

Leeds 1-1 Rovers Highlights

[A cup of beans]

Delph is certainly a much better player than Keith Andrews. Beyond that it is difficult to say much based on Saturday's game.

true... but on saturday's evidence... beckford outshone roberts. i'd swap them.

[waggy]

talking off beckford how did he play,is he worth a punt

[Hughesy]

Id say he was probably their best player by some way - a real pain for our defence and he has abit of pace to him too. Not quite sure if he could the business week in, week out against top opposition.

[Majiball]

Several first teamers confirmed for tonights game

should be good to see them in action.

[champions1995]

I do rate Beckford highly and I mentioned about possibly signing him on one of the Transfer Threads. Beckford was a constant threat on Saturday with his pace and strength and gave Nelsen a really hard time. However, he did miss quite a number of good chances (ie: when the ball fell to him five yards out after Givet had hit his own bar, and also when he had worked an opening for himself but fired his shot too close to Robinson) so it is difficult to say if he would be suitable to play in the Premier League week in week out against quality players.

[Brainfreeze]

Just a quick one to see what you guys think about this - I'm off to Hillsborough with my mate on Saturday for the game, but sitting with the Wednesday fans (my mate is an Owl - not the kind that hoots and has a big weird head that turns round amost 360 degrees mind you).

Is this wise?

[CrazyIvan]

Just a quick one to see what you guys think about this - I'm off to Hillsborough with my mate on Saturday for the game, but sitting with the Wednesday fans (my mate is an Owl - not the kind that hoots and has a big weird head that turns round amost 360 degrees mind you).

Is this wise?

Wise to be an Owl? That'd be a hoot...

[Brainfreeze]

Wise to be an Owl? That'd be a hoot...

D'ya know what...I didn't see that one coming. Not one bit.

Any sensible replies welcome.

[CrazyIvan]

D'ya know what...I didn't see that one coming. Not one bit.

Any sensible replies welcome.

Seriously? I don't think it'd be a problem. You might want to sit on your hands if we score but I've been on Notlobs home end before without a problem Be sensible and you'll alright.

[roversmum]

It could be wise. Went to the ticket office today to get our tickets and they haven't received them from Sheffield Wednesday yet! One way of reducing the number of opposition fans I suppose...

[cn174]

Just a quick one to see what you guys think about this - I'm off to Hillsborough with my mate on Saturday for the game, but sitting with the Wednesday fans (my mate is an Owl - not the kind that hoots and has a big weird head that turns round amost 360 degrees mind you).

Is this wise?

I doubt it would be a problem. I went to Hillsborough last season watching the derby game, and it was probably obvious I wasn't a Wednesday fan but noone seemed to bother.

[Brainfreeze]

Fears. Allayed.

Thanks crew!