[Archived] Everton Preview

[Hughesy]

Every f*kc*nig Morten long throw (and there were loads) was dealt with comfortably.

We are moving in the right direction. Let's hope that next season Sam addresses the style of football we play. It doesn't have to be all pretty football, more of a mix of passing it and mixing it, because watching this stuff, at times, is like watching paint dry.

IF MGP goes then that style would probably change much quicker as we would no longer have that long throw.

As for dealt with comfortably - there was a couple in the 1st half that they struggled with.

[RIML]

For me apart from the daft tackle Nelsen was at least up to the same standard as Jones.

Givet is class but he has a lot to answer for on the penalty as well, gave Cahill too much time and space.

-As much as Jones looks a good un and he is trying to keep it simple he boots it out too often when under little pressure as seen 3 or 4 times today.

-MGP is taking some stick but his balls into the box where good today and created numerous chances.

-Dunn was way off the pace again as well.

-Nice to see Niko get a chance to play with a partner and showed how effective he could be in a 2 given the chance

Spot on

[booth]

Im no andrews fan but he gives it all, and to be honest its all I want

I used to say that he was a player bereft of talent but gives his all, but now I have to concede that he doesn't. It'd be great if he made up for his lack of talent by covering every blade of grass but most of the time he just ball watches and tells other people what to do. I've got to question, and worry about whether this organizing of other players that he does is of any benefit to the other players given his lack of savvy on the pitch.

Robbie Savage fits into the category of a player who has little talent but gives his all, Keith Andrews unfortunately does not.

On a different note, we missed Samba today, him and Jones were forging a good partnership.

[Tom]

Agree there Hughesy, I didnt think they coped well at all with the long throws we nearly scored twice off them, people are blinkered when it comes to Pedersen and Andrews though.

As crap as Keith was he played a blinding forty yard ball today out to Olsson to which someone behind me said 'what a sh1te ball'

[Guest andrewpickup]

I used to say that he was a player bereft of talent but gives his all, but now I have to concede that he doesn't. It'd be great if he made up for his lack of talent by covering every blade of grass but most of the time he just ball watches and tells other people what to do. I've got to question, and worry about whether this organizing of other players that he does is of any benefit to the other players given his lack of savvy on the pitch.

Robbie Savage fits into the category of a player who has little talent but gives his all, Keith Andrews unfortunately does not.

On a different note, we missed Samba today, him and Jones were forging a good partnership.

ill always say that, fact, andrews is dogs##t and he looks like a caravan smackhead but its in the genetics of our club that the second those halves are on you give it all

his downfall like I say is simply that he is rubbish but whats the alternative? ten minute vince??

[waynerovers]

anyone else see dunny berating andrews in the first half for standing off the everton players

[deryck guyler's spoon]

im feeling a bit passionate perhaps but im sick of negativity , I saw the mighty BRFC in the sunshine today, couple of mega goals had a couple of ciders, reminded myself life is too short............

whats your name all about? i really like it

Fair enough. I've posted some crap after cold drinks as well as when sober. It does seem as though there is a hysterical response from a clique of regulars on here as soon as anybody voices discontent at the manager which is a bit tiresome.

Deryck Guyler was a British character/comic actor from back in the day. Famed for his roles in "Please Sir" and "Sykes" as well as his spoon playing ability which I found amusing. Best I could think of at the time of registering.

[Amo]

For pity's sake, if people were disappointed in today's showing which, two mega goals aside, deserved less than a point they have every right to voice themselves. Instead, there are too many people on this forum who are quick to label fans as either Pro-Sam or Anti-Allardyce. For what it's worth, I support the manager and believe he's done a decent job in achieving mid-table security, but that doesn't mean he or his team are above criticism.

[Exiled_Rover]

IF MGP goes then that style would probably change much quicker as we would no longer have that long throw.

As for dealt with comfortably - there was a couple in the 1st half that they struggled with.

Doubt it. Givet launched one just as far in the second half. Ready made replacement.

[grizfoot]

I came away from the game feeling pleased despite the defeat. The last half an hour of today's game was the most entertainment we've seen at Ewood in the league all season. That being said the first hour followed a similiar pattern of play from previous matches.

The first quarter of the game it was all Everton, the likes of Arteta and Pienaar were passing the ball around for fun whilst we kept annoyingly dropping deeper and deeper back allowing the Everton players far too much time on the ball. The logic of getting everyone back behind the ball and only pressing when the opposition reach the area is a tactic we've used thorughout the seaosn, it can work effectively but once you've gone a goal down early on it can be extemely frustrating to watch. But for a reckless tackle from Nelsen that gave away the penalty Everton never really troubled our goal, yes they had a lot of the ball and it might have looked pretty but they weren't really creating anything for all the time they had on the ball. Oh yeah and that slimey, little spaniard Artera should have been sent off for clearly poking Pedersen in the eye, surly a red card offense if you go by the rulebook.

Suprisingly enough our "throw it into the mixer"method seemed to be causing Everton no end of problems with Howard coming out and flapping at everything. We finished the half strong and could have easily had a goal but for important blocks from Everton defenders. Second half started much like the first with Everton passing around the ball and they even managed to create a few chances, I recall Cahill missing a close range header.

It was obviously for all to see that Rovers needed to change to a more attacking line-up as Kalinic had no support whatsoever with Dunny having to drop further and further deeper to try and get hold of the ball. It's frustrating watching us work so hard to get the ball back then only to go and hit long, aimless balls forward and then have to work hard to get it back and repeat the process. Big Sam made the right change by bringing of Pedersen and putting two upfront with the introduction of Roberts. Once we switched to 4-4-2 it was like a whole new team, Kalinic was no longer isolated and had more space to work in since we had two striker occupying the two centrebacks. The space which allowed Nzonzi to score our terrific equalizer was a direct result of having two strikers on, it forced the Everton defenders and the whole team to defend slightly deeper with the added threat of two strikers and Roberts ability to run in and behind the defense. If we'd have still been playing 4-5-1 there's no way there'd have been that much space for Nzonzi to shoot, infact it's debatable whether we'd have retained possession for long enough to see Nzonzi in such an advanced position. We've never really seen Nzonzi's ability to shoot from range often enough to judge him, he has had a few good strikes in previous games that have bene blocked or hit the framework. But today's goal was a peach from the moment he hit you could tell it was never going to be anything but a goal, cracking strike.

Having done the hardwork we conceded again, I have to admit to not really seeing what happened for the goal as it happened so quickly. I noticed Yakubu had just come on and Everton had a throw-in, a few secondslater Robinson was coming out and Yakubu had put the ball in the back of the net. But fair play to us we did bounce back and the 4-4-2 formation made us look a lot more threatening going forward and Roberts finished well to make it 2-2. Then I believe Everton switched to three upfront and we ended up dropping far too deep (similiar situation to Man City game last season) and Yakubu turned Jones I think it was and Cahill had the simple task of tapping it in.

Like I said in my opening sentence a very entertaining last half an hour. It was refreshing for a change to see Rovers really have a go at a team, I'm a firm believer that we look a much better team with the two upfront and if anything it suits our direct style of play. Kalinic looks lost as a lone striker and played much better with the introduction of Roberts. We were unlucky not to get anything out of this game, I personal thought a draw would have been a fair result.

A word on some of the performances, I've stuck up for Andrews in the past but he was beyond embarassing today his performance was summed up by the ironic cheers of "Off!, Off!, Off!" from some Rovers fans after a rare tackle by Andrews. Can't believe he was preferred over Grella, who I can only think wasn't fully fit despite being on the bench. Defensively wise we didn't look as strong as in recent games and I don't think Nelsen had the best game we definitley looked better with a Samba/Jones partnership at the back. Salgado and Givet were both steady again in the fullback positions. Pedersen or "Special teams player" as I call him now was absent for large periods but he can take long-throws and free-kicks like nobody else in our team. Nzonzi was imporved today I thought, goal aside he seemed to get involved in the game a little more and showed he is more than just a holding midfield when we switched to 4-4-2. Olsson and Dunny both did a lot of running but never really had much impact on the game. I've already touched on Kalinic's improved performance with the introduciton of Roberts. Roberts himself proved his worth as a handy impact player once again.

Overall today showed that we are a much better team going forward with two strikers rather than the one. Espeically against lesser sides we should be looking to take the game to them just like we did with Everton in today's game. The final result might not have been what we were after but I was just happy to witness some positive, attacking football from the blue and white halves for a change.

[Guest andrewpickup]

Fair enough. I've posted some crap after cold drinks as well as when sober. It does seem as though there is a hysterical response from a clique of regulars on here as soon as anybody voices discontent at the manager which is a bit tiresome.

Deryck Guyler was a British character/comic actor from back in the day. Famed for his roles in "Please Sir" and "Sykes" as well as his spoon playing ability which I found amusing. Best I could think of at the time of registering.

i cant really understand any critism, id be more critical as an everton fan for example , all those pennies spent and just a few places above lowly blackburn

i like robins nest

For pity's sake, if people were disappointed in today's showing which, two mega goals aside, deserved less than a point they have every right to voice themselves. Instead, there are too many people on this forum who are quick to label fans as either Pro-Sam or Anti-Allardyce. For what it's worth, I support the manager and believe he's done a decent job in achieving mid-table security, but that doesn't mean he or his team are above criticism.

thats fair, but football out to be a bt more all or nothing, irrational, its no place for constructive criticism. we ought to bleed blue and white. for example i prefer nzonzi to inesta

[Dan]

Not a good game of football.

First half terrible. Itty bitty football. On 34 minutes we actually passed it to a blue and white shirt six times. We didn't come close to that figure again. Nowhere near.

Second half better. Two wonder goals but they glossed over a poor performance.

Crying out to go 4-4-2 which, once we did, we looked a bit more dangerous.

Everton are a passing/footballing side but matched us in the physical side of things all day. Every f*kc*nig Morten long throw (and there were loads) was dealt with comfortably.

Everton take only their second long throw of the game and the Yak puts the ball away without fuss. Game over.

Everton wanted it more than us, played the better football, continued to come forward after each equaliser and deserved the win.

We are moving in the right direction. Let's hope that next season Sam addresses the style of football we play. It doesn't have to be all pretty football, more of a mix of passing it and mixing it, because watching this stuff, at times, is like watching paint dry.

Sam won't address it because this is his 'style'. 442 obviously works, it has earlier in the season, but he refuses to start with it. We had many games earlier in the season where we'd start with 451, it wouldn't work, we'd go to 442 and do much better. The next game we'd start with 451, it'd fail and we'd go yo 442 again. Repeat over and over again. Sam woukd for some unknown reason never start with 442, a lot of us were fed up of sounding like broken records because 451 wasn't working. The results got better with 451(though we never looked that convincing with it) and we got fed of moaning about the expert. Sam will never play 442 and if hecwere in charge of a team like Barcelona he'd have them playing for 0-0 and instructing Puyol to hoof it to Eto'o.

[Anti-Dingle-Brigade]

Sam will never play 442 and if hecwere in charge of a team like Barcelona he'd have them playing for 0-0 and instructing Puyol to hoof it to Eto'o.

From Barcelona to Milan?

Must have a longer kick than I though, Charles.

[Dan]

From Barcelona to Milan?

Must have a longer kick than I though, Charles.

Haha, those beers obviously had an effect today! I could definitely be an ITV commentator! I wanted to put ibrahimavic but was unsure on the spelling :-)

[Hughesy]

Sam won't address it because this is his 'style'. 442 obviously works, it has earlier in the season, but he refuses to start with it. We had many games earlier in the season where we'd start with 451, it wouldn't work, we'd go to 442 and do much better. The next game we'd start with 451, it'd fail and we'd go yo 442 again. Repeat over and over again. Sam woukd for some unknown reason never start with 442, a lot of us were fed up of sounding like broken records because 451 wasn't working. The results got better with 451(though we never looked that convincing with it) and we got fed of moaning about the expert. Sam will never play 442 and if hecwere in charge of a team like Barcelona he'd have them playing for 0-0 and instructing Puyol to hoof it to Eto'o.

You really dont like Sam do you dan?

As crap as Keith was he played a blinding forty yard ball today out to Olsson to which someone behind me said 'what a sh1te ball'

He sure did...I couldnt believe it was him. NZonzi also played a fantastic cross-field pass too today, aswell as his sweet strike for the goal.

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

For me the issue is that there are people who are moaning about today's defeat, which they have every right to. We lost the game, i personally believe more down to how well Everton played then how poorly we did, but i can see how some people arent happy with the result.

Its when the comments start to mention that Sam has done a bad job and that his tactics have never worked for us that i become annoyed. If you read some of the comments it sounds like our whole season has imploded due to this one game.

The sense of perspective which is lacking from some fans does come out as soon as we lose, and mysteriously dissappears when we draw against Chelsea and beat Burnley.

[RIML]

He sure did...I couldnt believe it was him. NZonzi also played a fantastic cross-field pass too today, aswell as his sweet strike for the goal.

We should sing 'If Andrews plays for Rovers so can I'

[Hughesy]

For me the issue is that there are people who are moaning about today's defeat, which they have every right to. We lost the game, i personally believe more down to how well Everton played then how poorly we did, but i can see how some people arent happy with the result.

Its when the comments start to mention that Sam has done a bad job and that his tactics have never worked for us that i become annoyed. If you read some of the comments it sounds like our whole season has imploded due to this one game.

The sense of perspective which is lacking from some fans does come out as soon as we lose, and mysteriously dissappears when we draw against Chelsea and beat Burnley.

Spot on!!!

[daveoftherovers]

I came away from the game feeling pleased despite the defeat. The last half an hour of today's game was the most entertainment we've seen at Ewood in the league all season. That being said the first hour followed a similiar pattern of play from previous matches.

The first quarter of the game it was all Everton, the likes of Arteta and Pienaar were passing the ball around for fun whilst we kept annoyingly dropping deeper and deeper back allowing the Everton players far too much time on the ball. The logic of getting everyone back behind the ball and only pressing when the opposition reach the area is a tactic we've used thorughout the seaosn, it can work effectively but once you've gone a goal down early on it can be extemely frustrating to watch. But for a reckless tackle from Nelsen that gave away the penalty Everton never really troubled our goal, yes they had a lot of the ball and it might have looked pretty but they weren't really creating anything for all the time they had on the ball. Oh yeah and that slimey, little spaniard Artera should have been sent off for clearly poking Pedersen in the eye, surly a red card offense if you go by the rulebook.

Suprisingly enough our "throw it into the mixer"method seemed to be causing Everton no end of problems with Howard coming out and flapping at everything. We finished the half strong and could have easily had a goal but for important blocks from Everton defenders. Second half started much like the first with Everton passing around the ball and they even managed to create a few chances, I recall Cahill missing a close range header.

It was obviously for all to see that Rovers needed to change to a more attacking line-up as Kalinic had no support whatsoever with Dunny having to drop further and further deeper to try and get hold of the ball. It's frustrating watching us work so hard to get the ball back then only to go and hit long, aimless balls forward and then have to work hard to get it back and repeat the process. Big Sam made the right change by bringing of Pedersen and putting two upfront with the introduction of Roberts. Once we switched to 4-4-2 it was like a whole new team, Kalinic was no longer isolated and had more space to work in since we had two striker occupying the two centrebacks. The space which allowed Nzonzi to score our terrific equalizer was a direct result of having two strikers on, it forced the Everton defenders and the whole team to defend slightly deeper with the added threat of two strikers and Roberts ability to run in and behind the defense. If we'd have still been playing 4-5-1 there's no way there'd have been that much space for Nzonzi to shoot, infact it's debatable whether we'd have retained possession for long enough to see Nzonzi in such an advanced position. We've never really seen Nzonzi's ability to shoot from range often enough to judge him, he has had a few good strikes in previous games that have bene blocked or hit the framework. But today's goal was a peach from the moment he hit you could tell it was never going to be anything but a goal, cracking strike.

Having done the hardwork we conceded again, I have to admit to not really seeing what happened for the goal as it happened so quickly. I noticed Yakubu had just come on and Everton had a throw-in, a few secondslater Robinson was coming out and Yakubu had put the ball in the back of the net. But fair play to us we did bounce back and the 4-4-2 formation made us look a lot more threatening going forward and Roberts finished well to make it 2-2. Then I believe Everton switched to three upfront and we ended up dropping far too deep (similiar situation to Man City game last season) and Yakubu turned Jones I think it was and Cahill had the simple task of tapping it in.

Like I said in my opening sentence a very entertaining last half an hour. It was refreshing for a change to see Rovers really have a go at a team, I'm a firm believer that we look a much better team with the two upfront and if anything it suits our direct style of play. Kalinic looks lost as a lone striker and played much better with the introduction of Roberts. We were unlucky not to get anything out of this game, I personal thought a draw would have been a fair result.

A word on some of the performances, I've stuck up for Andrews in the past but he was beyond embarassing today his performance was summed up by the ironic cheers of "Off!, Off!, Off!" from some Rovers fans after a rare tackle by Andrews. Can't believe he was preferred over Grella, who I can only think wasn't fully fit despite being on the bench. Defensively wise we didn't look as strong as in recent games and I don't think Nelsen had the best game we definitley looked better with a Samba/Jones partnership at the back. Salgado and Givet were both steady again in the fullback positions. Pedersen or "Special teams player" as I call him now was absent for large periods but he can take long-throws and free-kicks like nobody else in our team. Nzonzi was imporved today I thought, goal aside he seemed to get involved in the game a little more and showed he is more than just a holding midfield when we switched to 4-4-2. Olsson and Dunny both did a lot of running but never really had much impact on the game. I've already touched on Kalinic's improved performance with the introduciton of Roberts. Roberts himself proved his worth as a handy impact player once again.

Overall today showed that we are a much better team going forward with two strikers rather than the one. Espeically against lesser sides we should be looking to take the game to them just like we did with Everton in today's game. The final result might not have been what we were after but I was just happy to witness some positive, attacking football from the blue and white halves for a change.

Has to be one of the more sensible posts I've seen on here matey, agree whole heartedly with your points, esp. after making such a poor start against such a good team.

[broadsword]

For me the issue is that there are people who are moaning about today's defeat, which they have every right to. We lost the game, i personally believe more down to how well Everton played then how poorly we did, but i can see how some people arent happy with the result.

Its when the comments start to mention that Sam has done a bad job and that his tactics have never worked for us that i become annoyed. If you read some of the comments it sounds like our whole season has imploded due to this one game.

The sense of perspective which is lacking from some fans does come out as soon as we lose, and mysteriously dissappears when we draw against Chelsea and beat Burnley.

I don't think anyone's ever said the tactics haven't worked, not in a broad sense anyway. Because they clearly have, we're mid-table.

Allardyce isn't infallible though, not by a long way, and when some of his faults get pointed out, some people go spare.

I'm quite happy to call it as I see it, good and bad. Just like under Hodgson, Kidd, Parkes, Souness, Hughes. The only agenda I have is pro-Blackburn Rovers.

Allardyce has done well to get us where we are given his budget, no-one would deny that. The flip side of the coin is that he has a very cynical approach that doesn't sit well with some fans who are apt to say so when it backfires. He also comes across as an obnoxious git. But you can't win 'em all :-)

[Hughesy]

Todays defeat was down to poor defending, not poor tactics!

[broadsword]

Did I specifically mention today? No, so don't get uppity.

[Hughesy]

Did I specifically mention today? No, so don't get uppity.

I never said you did, it was general comment - sit back down

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

Not a good game of football.

Every f*kc*nig Morten long throw (and there were loads) was dealt with comfortably.

Everton wanted it more than us, played the better football, continued to come forward after each equaliser and deserved the win.

We are moving in the right direction.

Disagree with MGP throw ins - don't like them personally but they caused panic in the Everton box (esp in 1st half).

I think you do the players a dis-service - considering we had nothing to play for I thought they put in a decent shift today. Indeed - the effort has improved drastically since early season.

I agree with you last point - there are definite good omens for next season. If (as you say) Sam can mix his % style with a little more flair, we could do well next season.

For me apart from the daft tackle Nelsen was at least up to the same standard as Jones.

And the second goal ?

[RIML]

And the second goal ?

No, when you watch the highlights, look out for Salgado and Nzonzi.