[Archived] Rovers V West Ham

[joey_big_nose]

Where is Benni Mac? Could he be on his way out?

Injured. But I think we would consider offers. Big Sam doesn't seem keen. However where would we get the experience to replace him?

[Martin]

Salgado

Emerton

Kalinic

Hoilett

???

Salgado not fit yet.

Emerton same.

Kalinic - hmmmm

Hoilett - good game in midweek. Different level today.

In six months it might be a strong bench. Not today.

[Mr. E]

The midfield is stronger but only striker upfront?! When in the past 3 years has that worked with anyone besides RSC?

[Presty On Tour]

Pedersen and Dunn are going to be right up front with Roberts if we are going to score.

C'mon Rovers!

[patrickvalery]

No great surprise really. Big Sam said in the LT its important not to lose 3 on the trot for confidence reasons. I think he'd be happy with a draw and this side echoes that.

[Presty On Tour]

I wonder if Tugay brought his boots!

[KoNG]

Yep... Lace up toogs.

Decent crowd tonight...? The commentators just mentioned 30k or there abouts.

[BuckyRover]

Cole should have scored.

Thought it was in

[Mr. E]

Carlton Cole beat 3 of our defenders at once.

goal-saving tackle by Chimbonda though.

[RibbleValleyRover]

Think we need to push up a bit, looks like our two holding players are two deep and putting too much pressure on our defence.

Hmm, both Moyes and O'Neill in the stands...

[Tango]

Thoughts so far... West Ham well on top, they've got some great ball players, particularly Jimenez.

Samba can't get to grips with Cole at all and nearly let him in for a goal, which he should have scored.

Chimbonda's been superb.

[KoNG]

roberts seems to think far to much on the ball, nothing seems like instinct. By the time he writes his hypothesis ..... The defender has the ball

[BuckyRover]

Andrews is doing pretty well

[KoNG]

Thoughts so far... West Ham well on top, they've got some great ball players, particularly Jimenez.

Samba can't get to grips with Cole at all and nearly let him in for a goal, which he should have scored.

Chimbonda's been superb.

If Chimbonda can play like this each week, it will be a good decent purchase with a quarter of that Warnock coin.

[BuckyRover]

Fully agree.

I also think N'Zonzi should be set to "Long Shots: Rarely"

[Mr. E]

Good news: Chimbonda has possibly been our best player. Steven who?

Bad news: It was obvious to everyone on the face of the planet but BFS that we would create next to nothing with only Roberts in attack, and that's what happened. Injured or not get a 2nd striker in IMMEDIATELY.

[Amo]

I think Sam wants to tighten up at the back to instil some confidence after last week, and will probably inject some firepower early in the second half. I hope so, anyway.

[des]

todate our new full back as played very well, we could do with two up front, still there is the second half.

[No Nay Never]

Chimbonda - outstanding

Andrews and Jacobsen - also playing well, Rovers just edged that half for me without creating too much.

[joey_big_nose]

Pretty dulll first half. Chimbonda our best player, only one looking to carry the ball forward. The front four are not getting on the ball enough.

Not too much hoofing....

We should bring on Kalinic for Andrews, put Dunn on the right and go 442.

[RibbleValleyRover]

Can't see us scoring to be honest with just 1 up front, especially with Roberts. 4-5-1 relies on having a very decent targeman and we lost that when we sold Roque. Benni can't play up front on his own, Kalinic is a poacher so he needs someone alongside him, Di Santo is injured. Roberts really aint good enough.

I'd switch to the 4-4-2 second half.

[Presty On Tour]

Twice Jacobson has crossed, Pedersen has headed back across goal and there has been no support in the box from the midfield.

If we play one up front, then there has to be support backing up.

I'd like to see Kalinic on sooner rather than later.

[Balwer]

Solid defensively, patches of good possession through the midfield but nothing resembling a build up up front. Roberts can produce nothing on his own and I hope we move towards a 4-4-2 with Kalinic in the second half.

Grella been good, N'Zonzi not had his best game. Dunn ok, Andrews better than usual, Pedersen has linked up well on the left with our best player, Pascal Chimbonda, who has been immense down the left and who has come into the box to stop at least two shots on goal.

My subs: N'Zonzi and Dunn/Andrews off, Hoilett and Kalinic on. Hoilett to the right and Dunn/Andrews to partner Grella in the centre. Kalinic to play with Roberts and give us a decent chance to actually score.

[Tango]

Well, we got a bit better before half-time, but I do not understand Big Sam's tactics. I could understand if one of our defensive midfielders were tracking Jimenez but they're not, I could understand if two of them were busting a lung to get into the box to support Roberts at every opportunity, but they're not, I could understand if they were doubling up to overcome the full-backs, but they're not. It's just a mass of midfielders and West Ham have still passed their way around them pretty much at will, with Jimenez the chief architect and Noble and Parker willing deputies.

On the plus side, Chimbonda and Pedersen have linked up well down the left, and Roberts' physical presence has created a few half-chances.

In my opinion we need to get another forward on, and try a bit more passing and movement and a few less long diagonal balls. We shall see.

[jonv]

Chimbonda has been great. Goal saving tackle, good surging runs forward and looks very comfortable on the ball. It's hard to think that N Zonzi cost so little, he's going to become a decent player in our squad, minus the long range shots. Jacobsen has been solid. Creating nothing but half chances going forward unfortunately. Good game to watch, would be better if Rovers get the first goal