[Archived] Villa Semi Final Match Preview

[Ossydave]

You're saying that you didnt feel this way under Ince?

In all honesty no, not quite as bad.

Gonna be hard work leaving the boozer to go to the Fulham game too, especially if we don't get a win against Villa.

[philipl]

I haven't got the first clue how we conjure up a win against Villa after that pathetic performance tonight.

Much more worrying and far more to the point, Sam Allardyce hasn't got a clue either.

[PAFELL]

I haven't got the first clue how we conjure up a win against Villa after that pathetic performance tonight.

Much more worrying and far more to the point, Sam Allardyce hasn't got a clue either.

Philip, the walker trust has done wonders for Rovers, without a shadow of a doubt. But without their in put, no manager of rovers can change the situation.

It is time to somehow try to encourage the trustees to help the situation. Jack Walker wanted Rovers to be self supporting - but surely he wanted the club to be in the position first of being able to support itself. The trustees have stopped that by the withdrawal of the £3million a year - although Rovers need more, £3million is better than nothing.

Somehow the trustees need the encouragement to back Rovers financially - I cannot help believing it is time for supporters to speak out - how is another matter. But something is better than nothing.

It is very easy to blame the manager - but could any other manager do anything different? Rovers cannor afford to sack, but cannot afford not to back Sam - that is the responcibility of the trust alone - because everybody else is powerless to do anything.

[philipl]

Just look at what Coyle achieved on a Championship budget and the directors taking £12m cash OUT of Burnley.

Yes the Walker Trust should be encouraged to back the club but most of £3m this year has gone in paying for Salgado. When the Walker Trust money is going on feeding other multi-millionaires and not philanthropy, you can hardly blame them for being reticent.

[PAFELL]

Just look at what Coyle achieved on a Championship budget and the directors taking £12m cash OUT of Burnley.

Yes the Walker Trust should be encouraged to back the club but most of £3m this year has gone in paying for Salgado. When the Walker Trust money is going on feeding other multi-millionaires and not philanthropy, you can hardly blame them for being reticent.

Then as business people they should take a more hands on approach imo. But how do we encourage them to do so?

[Tris]

Philip, the walker trust has done wonders for Rovers, without a shadow of a doubt. But without their in put, no manager of rovers can change the situation.

It is time to somehow try to encourage the trustees to help the situation. Jack Walker wanted Rovers to be self supporting - but surely he wanted the club to be in the position first of being able to support itself. The trustees have stopped that by the withdrawal of the £3million a year - although Rovers need more, £3million is better than nothing.

Somehow the trustees need the encouragement to back Rovers financially - I cannot help believing it is time for supporters to speak out - how is another matter. But something is better than nothing.

It is very easy to blame the manager - but could any other manager do anything different? Rovers cannor afford to sack, but cannot afford not to back Sam - that is the responcibility of the trust alone - because everybody else is powerless to do anything.

Garbage. Reactionary posting to an 11th game without a win.

Birmingham City haven't been out and splashed the cash despite the change of owner - but they have a manager who knows what he's doing, picks his best team every week and plays football like we used to.

Fulham haven't splashed the cash, they have a manager who is the best in the PL in my opinion, play great football, beat the best teams, cope with Europe, get results.

Allardyce is stranded in the dark ages.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

''Reactionary posting to an 11th game without a win''

Oh the irony of it Tris!

Any Snow forecast for Wednesday evening....PLEASE!

[broadsword]

Allardyce is stranded in the dark ages.

absolutely spot-on. He's a dinosaur throw-back whose Bolton days are well gone.

and to think he was interviewed for the england manager's job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[Parsonblue]

Fulham haven't splashed the cash, they have a manager who is the best in the PL in my opinion, play great football, beat the best teams, cope with Europe, get results.

Since Roy Hodgson arrived at Craven Cottage they have spent well over £20 million on new players. Andy Johnson cost £10 million when he moved from Everton. No Rovers manager is ever going to get that amount of money to spend. I agree, Hodgson is an excellent manager but if you remember it was Rovers' fans and players who helped to ease him out of Ewood Park.

[G Somerset Rover]

I want to see Olsson, Hoilett, Kalinic and McCarthy in from the off on Thursday.

The former two were the only positives for me from City with Olsson doing more in ten minutes (beating a man) than any of our wingers have done all season. Hoilett also impressed IMO.

Big big game. We need a performance AND a result.

[joey_big_nose]

I want to see Olsson, Hoilett, Kalinic and McCarthy in from the off on Thursday.

The former two were the only positives for me from City with Olsson doing more in ten minutes (beating a man) than any of our wingers have done all season. Hoilett also impressed IMO.

Big big game. We need a performance AND a result.

Totally agree. We need to come out absolutely fighting from the start, no messing around. Show guts, pace and direct passing football, and play like we believe we can win and win well. The work rate needs to be three or four times that against City. Closing down, moving the ball, having width. It is our cup final. Play Dunn deeper, get him on the ball as much as possible.

-------------------Kalinic-------McCarthy

------Olsson-----Emerton-------Dunn-----Hoilett

Chimbonda------Nelsen-------Samba-----Jacobsen

--------------------------Robinson

[Daremz]

How on earth can you not play Givet? Chimbonda is as much as a joke as Roberts and Andrews. No messing around for sure, Hoilett off, MGP in. He was the only one who had a few shots yesterday, although 2/3 didn't make sense, I'd rather have him than Hoilett. Also not sure about Olsson, I prefer N'Zonzi.

Robinson: Task - Stand in the centre of your goal, make use of your body, reaction time + 4000 exp. pts. please.

Jacobsen: Task - just defend, no build up.

Samba: Task - scream and jump when you enter the pitch, make an example, be a beast.

Nelsen: Task - only put the players in the right positions, no build up, no defensive heading, leave that to Big Chris.

Givet: Task - kill & attack

MGP/Emerton (right): Task - short passing & shooting on target. No crosses, please.

N'Zonzi: Task - Make sure DD8 doesn't have to run more than 5 meters without a ball

Dunn: Task - Do the magic, do the passing. Through balls to NK please.

Kalinic: Task - Be that Balkan-killer, wait for DD's through-balls and snipe.

McCarthy: Task - Stop. Benni-time (Remember that game vs. Red Bull Salzburg, UEFA-Cup, few years ago?)

[LeChuck]

Garbage. Reactionary posting to an 11th game without a win.

Birmingham City haven't been out and splashed the cash despite the change of owner - but they have a manager who knows what he's doing, picks his best team every week and plays football like we used to.

Fulham haven't splashed the cash, they have a manager who is the best in the PL in my opinion, play great football, beat the best teams, cope with Europe, get results.

Allardyce is stranded in the dark ages.

They haven't splashed cash, but they don't force their manager to sell players to keep afloat either, so they're still at least +£15 million on us in the summer.

Birmingham are actually well ahead of that figure, having spent a lot of money on the likes of Benitez, Johnson, Ferguson etc.

Fulham didn't spend but at least kept hold of their best players. If Hangeland played for us we would have caved in and flogged him to the sides who were interested, whereas Fulham could afford to say no. That makes a HUGE difference. They still managed to add the likes of Duff, who we couldn't afford.

You can't take £15 million worth of talent out of your squad every summer and expect to keep competing.

[ABBEY]

Not returned ticket.will be singing but envisage 0-2

[Hughesy]

How on earth can you not play Givet? Chimbonda is as much as a joke as Roberts and Andrews. No messing around for sure, Hoilett off, MGP in. He was the only one who had a few shots yesterday, although 2/3 didn't make sense, I'd rather have him than Hoilett. Also not sure about Olsson, I prefer N'Zonzi.

Givet is sh!te against pace & power - as shown again last night & he isnt good enough at full-back.

Id go 4-4-2 - with Chimbonda & Ollson as full backs, as both have pace

Midfield of MGP - Dunn - NZonzi - Emerton (Hoilett coming on as a sub later)

Up top - Di Santo & Kalinic

[Ozz]

The stuffing off City was no surprise, so I move on. I'm actually looking forward to Thursday, 8.00am start for the final test on SKY, watch the first 45 minutes then off to work and Radio 5 extra for the day till end of play in the office.Early finish, home for a bit of tea, quick pint in the local then off for a League Cup semi final. Fingers crossed Fatty puts out a side with the ability to entertain and instructions to win a game, and home for late drink and a satisfactory day all round!

On the other hand....

[Bobby G]

Not returned ticket.will be singing but envisage 0-2

Good to hear that you will be there Abbey!

[Blackpool_Rover]

Only my opinion but i would line up like this....

Brown

Jacobsen Samba Neslen Givet

Emerton Dunn N Zonzi Pedersen

Di Santo McCarthy

Robinson, Zurab, Reid, Kalinic, Ollson, Hoilett, Chimbonda

As i was writing that team i could just see the villa fans celebrating...a few times.

Rovers 1-4 Villa.........because thats what happens when the players dont want to play for you

If we play sam way........Rovers 0-5 Villa

[joey_big_nose]

How on earth can you not play Givet? Chimbonda is as much as a joke as Roberts and Andrews. No messing around for sure, Hoilett off, MGP in. He was the only one who had a few shots yesterday, although 2/3 didn't make sense, I'd rather have him than Hoilett. Also not sure about Olsson, I prefer N'Zonzi.

Givet is poor at full back against pace and Villa have loads of it. Chimbonda played well against Ashley Young in the home game against Villa.

MGP has a claim to the team, much improved recently. However we need to stretch Villa and Pedersen is a guy who plays in fron tof the back four rather than attacking them. Olssons pace will allow him to get up and down the pitch quicker and provide more defensively also.

I like NZonzi but he had a poor game against Man City and looks a bit off the pace. I would give him a rest.

[LeChuck]

Givet is absolutely awful at left back, he's one of our main problems at the moment. He just ends up hoofing it most of the time, he offers nothing going forward and isn't quick enough to deal with wingers.

I can't remember Chimbonda having a poor game at left back, and he likes to bomb forward from there which means our lack of pace at left wing is less of an issue.

Sam needs to start picking two from Samba, Nelsen and Givet and centre back and use proper full backs in those positions.

[MarkBRFC71]

Givet is sh!te against pace & power - as shown again last night & he isnt good enough at full-back.

Id go 4-4-2 - with Chimbonda & Ollson as full backs, as both have pace

Midfield of MGP - Dunn - NZonzi - Emerton (Hoilett coming on as a sub later)

Up top - Di Santo & Kalinic

I would start Hoilett instead of either Emerton or Pedersen, but otherwise I agree.

[JAL]

At the end of the day, Sam Allardyces style of fotball doesnt warrant a place at Wembley in a domestic final.

Football has to be the only winner not head ball.

[LeChuck]

Football has to be the onky winner not head ball.

For goodness sake, keep that sort of stuff in the racism topic.

Edit: Boo, you edited it already.

[McAds]

I saw a Sky report that said you’d picked up five injuries last night, before and during the game and that you currently have no strikers fit. Is that accurate?

[Hughesy]

I saw a Sky report that said you’d picked up five injuries last night, before and during the game and that you currently have no strikers fit. Is that accurate?

No

McCarthy & Roberts went injured before the game....NZonzi & Givet clashed heads in the game and didnt end it (but it did happen in the 92nd minute)