[Archived] Man City Preview

[JAL]

Watching Warnock for the Ireland goal for me he looks far to casual, i'm sure he would say he could have done more to cover Givet and Robinson after Robbo forced Ireland back again.

All City's good chances seemed to stem from our left back side.

[RovertheHill]

Laughable, absolutely laughable.

Some of those "chances" are Shay Given catching corners! You're absolutely right, why on EARTH wouldn't they show those magic moments on Match of the Day??

Pull your head out of the sand.

There you go again. You keep trying to spin a game you were not even at. Not one of the chances I highlighted was a cross caught by Given. You are simply incapable of seeing anything without your ridiculous anti-Allardyce glasses on. Head in the sand? That's you. You're a charlatan. Nothing more.

[Parsonblue]

There are teams around us who have operated on a similarly limited budget yet still manage to "entertain" more than we do (West Ham, Fulham, Wigan). Under Allardyce we don't even try. It's lowest common denominator football; archaic, out-dated and (for the most part) ineffective.

Pull your head out of the sand.

Fulham spent the best part of £20 million last season. West Ham's outlandish spending has taken them to the brink of ruin. Wigan visited us last season and I seem to recall that Sam's archaic football overcame their entertaining brand of play. The most boring football I've seen at Ewood Park was under Howard Kendall. We won a promotion and missed out on a second on goal difference and, more importantly, the fans loved it because we were successful.

You don't go to matches but you want to tell us what we should or should not be watching. You have made your choice. You were sat typing snide remarks about the team while other supporters were at Ewood backing the club through difficult times. That's your choice to make. And if the rest of us want to go to Ewood and back our manager that's our choice.

My head isn't buried in the sand. I am under no illusions about Sam. He won't change his style. I wouldn't want him to anyway. It was his style of football that the club wanted. A style that may not be pretty but that will keep the club in the Premiership. I've supported the club for the best part of 50 years through thick and thin - mostly thin I might add. But I would never turn my back on the club, particularly when it is going through difficult times. I suppose that's the difference between a supporter and a glory hunter.

On Saturday, I'll be at Sunderland and at Gillingham the Tuesday after. Will you be supporting the club or typing away on your keyboard? I hope your will be out their supporting your club.

[JAL]

At the end of the day after the City game the general feeling or the vibes I was getting from fans in the Aqueduct and Ewood Arms was a one of POSITIVITY.

I think its exremely important now that the club latch onto this positivity and work hard to maintain it. A signing here and some deadwood passed on within the next few weeks wouldnt be a bad idea at all.

[tonyoz]

The board will have been aware from the previous summer that Allardyce was not a widely popular appointment and to be honest, I am sure this is why season tickets have been reduced. Given that as a ST holder we are paying a pittance a game we can hardly complain - though we may not always appreciate what is on offer.

Whether you like it or not we are financially screwed and are punching above our weight. We still have an aging squad with plenty of average and deadwood players. None of which were purchased by Allardyce (perhaps Diouf - but that was needs must). The board have stitched him up with a smaller than expected transfer fund and wage reductions. He has been allowed to replace an £18 million forward with a £6million one and a £4 million defender (who we all thought was being paid for out of the villanueva money). The only other 'money' signing is Nzonzi for peanuts. He is then told there is no more money - How exactly is he supposed to strengthen the middle - with adequate quality?

The midfield has been a weak area for some time - an area that Hughes chose to ignore with his focus on spending our budget on strikers. There has neen no decent investment in the middle since the Souness era. As an aside is this due to Souness appreciating midfielders, Hughes strikers? In which case Allardyce should know a good defender!

As a whole Rovers fans will not accept direct, dull football for long. However in the present financial climate, without a new investor I think most appreciate that needs must and under Allardyce we will stay in the Prem. Hopefully when either wages are capped or an investor is found, we can rebuild and go back to arte et labore rather than the labore at the moment.

Untill then, cut Sam some slack. Get down to Ewood and support the boys through the sh1t times.

I don't agree on the first highlighted point. I prefer to think that the price reduction was done for all the right reasons - to make an Ewood visit affordable and to create an exciting atmosphere where the Rovers are roared on to victory. The end result is an enjoyable experience which encourages the 5500+ new season ticket holders to renew season after season.

Crap football, whether we win or not, will destroy these fine ambitions and I'm sure Sam and JW appreciate this. (I agree with the 2nd highlighted point).

I don't think we will get an overdose of "hoofball" for this reason. I know that a few disagree but I thought that yesterday was a decent start - but hey, I was only watching it on the telly!

[Fife Rover]

Spot on there. Some newbies in the JW had the Temerity to shout and support the team. Whatever next.

On Topic.....I thought Rovers played fairly well. We were succerpunched. An early lapse and the late second when we were pushing for the equaliser.

Rovers will play a lot worse this season and win.

I wouldn't go as far as to say I was happy with the defeat. But I am a little more confident regarding the forthcoming season.

The side looks capable. The defence in the main solid, never looking weak as under Ince. The midfield perfomed ok even though we are lacking a number of injured players. The forwards did what we know that they always do.......hard working and frustrating.

A good performance and some points in the NE will see us on track.

How dare you Sir? That was me! And I have paid for it dearly. As soon as I got home late last night my wife remarked "I see you've been shouting again" and all today I have had a sore throat and been hardly able to croak let alone sing. Anyway you had all better get used to it, I dont intend to sit there like a dummy; I never have and never will. COME ON ROVERS!!!

[spencey7]

My head isn't buried in the sand. I am under no illusions about Sam. He won't change his style.

But so many on here are under some kind of illusion. That's what started this whole discussion - the unwillingness of so many supporters to admit that we are becoming Bolton 2.0. There was even talk after the pre-season game against Roma that we were going to be all about pass-and-move football this year. "Wait and see how we set our stall out against Man City." The sooner a problem is identified the sooner it can be fixed. We don't have to play this way.

On Saturday, I'll be at Sunderland and at Gillingham the Tuesday after. Will you be supporting the club or typing away on your keyboard? I hope your will be out their supporting your club.

I live in Scotland for work and can't make it back to Ewood as often as I'd like. I'm hoping to make it to Sunderland but won't know until later in the week. I've supported Rovers my whole life, but regardless of what I say you won't believe me, so why bother?

Who said anything about "turning their back on the club"? It's because I love the club so dearly that I hate the Allardyce approach as much as I do! Football is about entertainment. It's the reason spectator sport exists. To be impressed, surprised and excited by players doing things with a football you wish you were able to do. Sublime moments of skill or vision, something kids can try to emulate in the playground. I can hoof a football into a box. Maybe I could be our creative midfielder?

Again - I AM NOT ASKING FOR ARSENAL. Just a little class, a little imagination, a little justification for being paid tens of thousands of pounds per week.

There you go again. You keep trying to spin a game you were not even at. Not one of the chances I highlighted was a cross caught by Given.

8:48

Corner taken by Morten Gamst Pedersen played to the near post, save by Shay Given.

[TimmyJimmy]

I live in Scotland for work and can't make it back to Ewood as often as I'd like. I'm hoping to make it to Sunderland but won't know until later in the week. I've supported Rovers my whole life, but regardless of what I say you won't believe me, so why bother?

Who said anything about "turning their back on the club"? It's because I love the club so dearly that I hate the Allardyce approach as much as I do! Football is about entertainment. It's the reason spectator sport exists. To be impressed, surprised and excited by players doing things with a football you wish you were able to do. Sublime moments of skill or vision, something kids can try to emulate in the playground. I can hoof a football into a box. Maybe I could be our creative midfielder?

S7 I'll cut you some slack because even though your posts often drive me to distraction I think your heart is in the right place, just get on a different topic dude and preferably one that's exclusively positive.

In my book the only excuse for a 'supporter' not attending a match would be expense. If money is a problem then no amount of preaching makes any sense. If money is not a problem then you should be here, especially if you want to comment on a 'supporters' board. pay your dues mate. I too worked in Scotland and have often driven down watched the match and then driven back the same night. I've even flown in from around the world to do the same, USA, Turkey, wherever, it's a bad circumstance that makes me miss a match.

Entertainment is a harder one to knock. I know what you mean, we all do, but the world's a different place right now, can't you feel it? So many clubs are teetering on the edge of oblivion. Even the biggest boys are IMO just clinging on (financially). If we survive that's good, but also bad if the rest don't as who do we play? The EPL could at a moments notice explode into nothingness, really. Right now the only thing that matters to any club is premier league status and the cashflow it currently provides. Therefore anything goes and in my book I mean anything (on the field).

Bugger entertainment, if it comes along all well and good but right now it's about grabbing as many points as possible, end of.

Sorry to be so pragmatic but let's leave entertainment alone for a couple of months and measure success by the number of points we get. Anything else is a bonus. Allardyce is Allardyce, we knew what we were getting both good and bad. Focus on the good and give us all a break eh.

[Paul]

Click this link you'll be able to see. Maybe if you go to the next match you'll see for yourself too.

If you look at 2:01, 8:30, 8:48, 13:26, 16:29, 18:20, 24:44, 26:41, 27:18, 27:32, 31:52, 36:34, 36:53, 43:19, 43:50 you'll see the chances described

The second half wasn't as good as the first but you can see for yourself

I'm not sure I agree with spencey7's views on the match plus I'm not someone who usually follows the match statistics. To back up your view I feel you need to come up with some better stats than these. I've read the link and the whole of the text commentary it provides:

Given made 7 saves in the match, or direct attempts on goal

Robinson made 4 saves PLUS conceding two goals, which makes 6 direct attempts

We could argue what constitutes a chance but I'd sugest the ones which force the keeper to make a save are the ones which count. Sure the near misses etc are exciting but that's all they are, near misses with no chance of becoming goal.

As Revidge Blue has said our style of play under Sam is not going to carve sides open and create chance after chance. It seems to me spencey does have some reaonable points which are backed up by your chosen stats. Having said that I enjoyed the match far more than spencey seesm to have done and felt we had a decenct chance of winning IF we could have equalised. There is the problem IF, because Roberts and McCarthy will only score once in a blue moon.

[Miker]

If you want an example of "hoofball", watch how Liverpool played against Spurs last night in the first half. What we played against Man City was nowhere near that sort of style of play. Putting crosses into the box doesn't bother me at all. I think it was 2 seasons ago when a commentator pointed out that the team to score the most goals from crosses was Arsenal, who are more renowned for their play along the ground.

During the Man City game I saw no indication that Sam was sticking to a direct style of play, but the team mixed it around quite well instead. The movement in general was very nice, if not the finishing, and it'll be interesting to see how we do in future games.

No one can honestly be complaining about the City game after watching us last season. We were absolutely awful last season and it pained me to watch every game. Against City we gave a much classier and more entertaining performance, although our efforts petered out in the 2nd half. Surely you have to be pleased or feel more positive with an improvement.

[neekoy]

We played hoofball, that was clear and simple. But I for one didn't see anything wrong with it, it was entertaining because it created chances against a pretty reasonable Man City defence.

I think we will struggle playing that style against defences like Chelsea who are good in the air but we will still win more then we lose for sure. At least he played with two *ahem* strikers (?)

Go back and look at the amount of crosses into the box that came from half way from both fullbacks. The certainly outnumbered our wing play.

We lack any kind of midfield at the moment so we need to play to our strengths, what was refreshing is that the game plan they were sent out to do they followed through.

[philipl]

I don't know if there was a statistic for average length of pass on Saturday but it wouldn't surprise me in the least if City's passes were longer than our's.

[mellison24]

I don't know if there was a statistic for average length of pass on Saturday but it wouldn't surprise me in the least if City's passes were longer than our's.

The first post i read this morning. Spat out my drink as I didn't realise u were referring to passes!!! (half-asleep)

[RovertheHill]

As Revidge Blue has said our style of play under Sam is not going to carve sides open and create chance after chance. It seems to me spencey does have some reaonable points which are backed up by your chosen stats. Having said that I enjoyed the match far more than spencey seesm to have done and felt we had a decenct chance of winning IF we could have equalised. There is the problem IF, because Roberts and McCarthy will only score once in a blue moon.

The problem is that he has, and seemingly will, continue to refuse to acknowledge ANY positives at all as long as Allardyce is in charge. And then accuses everyone else of burying their heads in the sand or wearing blinkers. Most people on here who were at the game were pleasantly surprised how well we played. Yes we lost but there were good moments. The point of posting that link (and I did accidentally include a cross - apologies for that one) was simply to point out that we did create decent chances. Because Spencey uses 2 obvious tactics to get his point across - repeat the same thing over and over and over again until it becomes the de facto truth, and ignore or dismiss any kind of fact that fails to support his view. We will play really badly at some point this season - that's guaranteed. If he's like this when the consensus of those that attended is positive, can you imagine what he'll be like then?

[Hughesy]

I don't know if there was a statistic for average length of pass on Saturday but it wouldn't surprise me in the least if City's passes were longer than our's.

Exactly my thoughts - comments around me in the blackburn end also shared this view. I lost count of the number of long balls city pumped up to Bellamy to run with.

We didnt play hoofball at all - yes we took long throw-ins and yes we had lots of crosses into the box, but that isnt hoofball. Liek another poster said, if we play hoofball - watch the likes of Liverpool yesterday and tell me what that is!

[Parsonblue]

Who said anything about "turning their back on the club"? It's because I love the club so dearly that I hate the Allardyce approach as much as I do! Football is about entertainment. It's the reason spectator sport exists.

But that's the point spencey 7. Saturday's game was entertaining to the majority of Rovers fans who were watching it. Football is played in all sorts of styles and produces different kinds of thrills and spills. You are correct, not everybody plays like Arsenal. We play the way we can afford to play and that is why Sam is the ideal man for the Rovers in the present situation. We need to manage on a shoestring budget. However, at the moment, more important that entertainment is to remain in the Premier League. Relegation could well spell the end of the club. At times you have to be a little more pragmatic in your approach to the game and for Blackburn Rovers this is one of those times. Personally, I believe Sam is the right man for managing the club in these times. It's clear you don't. Obviously we will have to agree to differ.

Past experience has shown that supporters will accept any type of football as long as the team is successful. As I have stated previously, I found the football under Howard Kendall not particularly inspiring. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the success he brought. Likewise, the football under Jim Smith was hugely entertaining but, ultimately, didn't produce promotion nor did the gates suggest that people would flock to watch attacking football.

I suspect the majority of fans are realistic enough to realise that in the present situation simply surviving in this League is success. If we can finish somewhere around 12th we will have done exceptionally well. On the evidence of Saturday's performance, and with several injured players to return - plus our new striker - there is every possiblity that the Rovers will achieve that.

[jim mk2]

Who said anything about "turning their back on the club"? It's because I love the club so dearly that I hate the Allardyce approach as much as I do! Football is about entertainment. .

No sweetie, football is about winning , nothing more.

I don't want to be "entertained", I want to see Rovers win. If the match is "entertaining" at the same time that is bonus as far as I am concerned.

Entertainment for me is walking away from Ewood with 3 points in the bag.

[Paul]

I don't know if there was a statistic for average length of pass on Saturday but it wouldn't surprise me in the least if City's passes were longer than our's.

With Bellamy in the side this shouldn't come as a surprise to any of us. It seemed to me Hughes is using Bellamy in exactly the same manner as he did at Ewood. Just a shame Bellamy is here to be collecting all this hoofball we are supposedly playing.

The problem is that he has, and seemingly will, continue to refuse to acknowledge ANY positives at all as long as Allardyce is in charge. And then accuses everyone else of burying their heads in the sand or wearing blinkers. Most people on here who were at the game were pleasantly surprised how well we played. Yes we lost but there were good moments. The point of posting that link (and I did accidentally include a cross - apologies for that one) was simply to point out that we did create decent chances. Because Spencey uses 2 obvious tactics to get his point across - repeat the same thing over and over and over again until it becomes the de facto truth, and ignore or dismiss any kind of fact that fails to support his view. We will play really badly at some point this season - that's guaranteed. If he's like this when the consensus of those that attended is positive, can you imagine what he'll be like then?

I can certainly see why his views, and the manner in which they are presented, wind people up. I understand where we are, why and what we have to expect. I'm just concerned things may not be quite as rosy as some would hope.

[Billy Castell]

Sounded quite positive to me. Citeh had spent a fortune since January and we had dominated the 1st half, and gave it a good go in the second. Not bad with all the injuries in midfield and such a tight budget.

I am basing this on football Saturday though........

[Wing Wizard Windy Miller]

I prefer to think that the price reduction was done for all the right reasons - to make an Ewood visit affordable and to create an exciting atmosphere where the Rovers are roared on to victory. The end result is an enjoyable experience which encourages the 5500+ new season ticket holders to renew season after season.

I am sure that creating an atmosphere was partly the reason. Lets face it though the football on offer at Ewood for the last 2 seasons (I include Hughes last season as we only got up the league based on decent away results). Many of my mates were very disilusioned at the end of last season and tbh most only renewed due to the price drop. There is no way Rovers would have sold even 13000 season tickets without drastic action.

As a result the general atmosphere at Ewood seemed more relaxed - in a 'ah f*** it, we've only paid a tenner so can't grumble' kind of way. Had Season tickets gone up or more people were paying £35 for the City game I'm sure there would be far more dissent on this board.

It's a bit like having bought a tin of spam at Marks & Spencer only to find it's minging. You nip down to Lidl and buy another tin of spam, it's still awful but you've saved a quid and the bitter taste left in your mouth goes quicker!

[roversmum]

No sweetie, football is about winning , nothing more.

I don't want to be "entertained", I want to see Rovers win. If the match is "entertaining" at the same time that is bonus as far as I am concerned.

Entertainment for me is walking away from Ewood with 3 points in the bag.

Absolutely. Bolton 2.0? Didn't Bolton 1.0 get into Europe and a CC final? Bring it on.

[Al]

Am I being cynical if I believe that the reduction in prices was calculated to get the maximum revenue from the supporters? If the prices had been increased after last season thousands of supporters would have been lost. Now the ground has been filled. Sounds to me like sound business tactics from the club but maybe I am so used to money being systematically stripped from the club that I can't see a positive gesture when I see it.

[philipl]

Am I being cynical if I believe that the reduction in prices was calculated to get the maximum revenue from the supporters? If the prices had been increased after last season thousands of supporters would have been lost. Now the ground has been filled. Sounds to me like sound business tactics from the club but maybe I am so used to money being systematically stripped from the club that I can't see a positive gesture when I see it.

I don't think any money "has been stripped from the club" in your lifetime Al.

[Mattyblue]

But that's the point spencey 7. Saturday's game was entertaining to the majority of Rovers fans who were watching it. Football is played in all sorts of styles and produces different kinds of thrills and spills. You are correct, not everybody plays like Arsenal. We play the way we can afford to play and that is why Sam is the ideal man for the Rovers in the present situation. We need to manage on a shoestring budget. However, at the moment, more important that entertainment is to remain in the Premier League. Relegation could well spell the end of the club. At times you have to be a little more pragmatic in your approach to the game and for Blackburn Rovers this is one of those times. Personally, I believe Sam is the right man for managing the club in these times. It's clear you don't. Obviously we will have to agree to differ.

Past experience has shown that supporters will accept any type of football as long as the team is successful. As I have stated previously, I found the football under Howard Kendall not particularly inspiring. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the success he brought. Likewise, the football under Jim Smith was hugely entertaining but, ultimately, didn't produce promotion nor did the gates suggest that people would flock to watch attacking football.

I suspect the majority of fans are realistic enough to realise that in the present situation simply surviving in this League is success. If we can finish somewhere around 12th we will have done exceptionally well. On the evidence of Saturday's performance, and with several injured players to return - plus our new striker - there is every possiblity that the Rovers will achieve that.

Absolutely bang on. Now the Howard Kendall era was before my time, but my dad and his pals still look back to that era with fondness today.

Football is all about the victory. Your club achieving against all the odds. If Sam by some miracle gets our grand old club to Wembley or to the top 6, it won't be by playing 'Arsenal' or even 'West Brom' football let me tell you. I love to see flowing footy in general and I certainly appreciate a quality football team/player, but when it comes to the Rovers its all about the win and the win only.

[Al]

I don't think any money "has been stripped from the club" in your lifetime Al.

Happens every time we sell a player. The trustees reduce their investment and the day to day operation funds are reduced.