[Archived] Rovers Versus Arsenal - The Final Home Match Of 2009/2010

[1864roverite]

The first Bank Holiday of May 2010 sees Rovers take on Arsenal for the early evening kick off, a match that will also be live on ESPN as well as being broadcast worldwide on International TV.

Some 2 yrs ago, Rovers took a bold step and appointed a black manager called Paul Ince as the man to take them forward after the departure of Mark Hughes. He was seen as one of the most brightest young managers in the English game and his appointment made for interesting reading. A man trophy laden with successes at Manure, Inter and Liverpool not to mention heroical with England. A man to lead from the front and a man to follow into battle (apparently). So watching his first ever media conference I cringed when he said that he would be in trouble WHEN he took Rovers into the bottom 3. We all know too well what happened next.

Some 3 months ago, Modes asked for volunteers for match reviews and I volunteered for this game, jokingly suggesting that it may well be Rovers last match at home in the Premiership, due to our then predicament in the league. Well fellow Rovers fans we can all rest assure knowing that the lowest we can finish this season is 13th, we doubled the dingles and have watched gleefully as our enemy have now departed the cash laden Premiership settling for a season in the Championship and then perhaps league 1 to follow.

So then. The final home game has arrived and what a journey it has been. I am not trying to outdo Bob Flemming with an overall view of the season because he can do it far better that I ever could, what I want to do is simply gloss over what for me has been a good but mixed season with the biggest WHAT IF scenarios attached.

My summary is that Rovers lost vital points in the following games when we really should have done better.

Sunderland - a - loss 2-1

wham - h - draw 0-0

fulham - a - loss 3-0

stoke - h - draw 0-0

hull - a - draw 0-0

brum - a - loss 2-1

spuds - h - loss 2-0

wigan - a - draw 1-1

Liverpool - a - loss 2-1

pompy - a - draw 0-0

everton - h - loss 2-3

Wolves - a - draw 1-1

Successes include doubling Burnley and the dingles although our away form has been truly awful

As Rovers embark on a match with probably the best footballing team in England, we find ourselves unable to fall below 13th spot, the starting point for Rovers budgetting. the situation could and should have been so much better but there are many many scenarios that we could paint and have to go with what we have got.

Onto Monday.

Arsenal will arrive knowing 3rd spot is not yet in the bag. They have players with a multitude of talents but seem to be suffering from a case of confidence withdrawal. Maybe its the fact the world cup is almost upon us and they have switched off or maybe its because they really cannot hack travelling to teams who are prepared to fight, just like Wigan showed last week.

Rovers will gross a massive bonus of some £500,000 due to the fact we have become somewhat of a tv darling and we go into the game knowing Liverpool, Chelsea and Manure have ALL failed to win at Ewood this season. I wonder of Rovers can make it a full house ? We can also expect yet another 26000 plus crowd, as it stands Arsenal have sold just over 2900 tickets and thus ensure that our average home gate is in excess of 25000. That just has to be a remarkable success for a club of our size.

It is difficult to predict which Arsenal team will arrive.

In goal Almunia has been injured and woeful.

In defence, they have injuries but it has to be said in Vermaelen they have a quality player. he has been injured so it looks like Sol and 1 other in the middle.

In midfield they have an engine to be envied of. No fabregas but there will be plenty of skill in the likes of Diaby and Song.

Up front they have skill in abundance, van Persie is back whilst Walcott remains the fastest enigma I have ever seen. Quality one minute then utter shyte the next.

We have seen how they can destroy a team with football and this is what concerns me as a Rovers fan. Football wise, they knock spots off Chelsea and the other biug clubs but they do have a frailty that Rovers could exploit.

Wigan have done it so why cant we ?

What will also be interesting is how Arsene Whinging French TW£T will label Rovers in the pre match build up. Will it be THUGS or will it be a different story this time ?

Sam, if your after tips take it from us, the supporters. Under no circumstances should you play Keith Andrews. Send him on gardening leave or give him to Burnley as a leaving present. We need effort and guile to beat this lot as well as a lot of luck.

As we sign off from Ewood for this season we can reflect on all the positives.

A semi final appearance once more and participation in the game of the season.

3 home defeats all season.

Unbeaten against the top 4.

Doubling the dingles.

Dingles relegation.

An average home gate of 25000

and the cheapest season tickets around.

Rovers are simply the best and are in our blood. Sam has turned the club around ande it will be very interesting to see what happens in the summer.

Ladies and gentlemen, enjoy the final home game of what has been a successful season.

Oh yes, the result ? Well I cant predict which teams will show their faces so I will go for a draw, 0-0.

[RIML]

Wolves - a - draw 0-0

Cmon it was only yesterday, how could you have forgotten Ryan Nelsen's wonder goal

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Just give 'em a game Rovers....

2-1

Att: 28,300

[Mr. E]

we may not need to win this...but we need to win this.

At least send off the season on a somewhat positive note.

[Tom]

Yup at least let us have a postive end to our home campaign so the players can have a nice lap of honour without it being a deflated one.

I think we'll hold them to a draw 2-2, but if they play like they can it could be messy

[Sandiway Blue]

5pm kick off on a bank holiday,first home game after the dingles are officially confirmed as relegated.Sounds like a PARTY DAY to me!

Wetherspoons 10 am kick off for me,starting with a farmhouse breakfast accompanied by several cold ones!

[philipl]

Van Persie will start and score at least once.

This is a must win now for Sam's transfer budget. Teamtalk- "play your hearts out lads so I can replace you".

[Guest Kamy100]

I really hope that we can give the game, however I am fearful because we have a tendancy to consistently give away possession which is something that you don't want to do against Arsenal.

If we can put them under pressure then they are suspect at the back, particularly from set plays.

We are safe, that was the objective of the season, however this is a HUGE game for the club in terms of the financial rewards on offer, the results yesterday mean that we can still claim 10th, which would give Sam over £2 million more to spend in the transfer market.

[martmitch]

as the table stands a result in this game could be the difference between mathematically possible 9th or 14th so theres some big money to be playing for,

agree with phil if van persie plays he will score like he always does against us,

would love to see us do one on the gunners as a few members of my family are fans plus after watching their last few games they are really having problems getting it in the back of the net, all passy passy no end product

[Pedderz0912]

I think this is bad timing for us to play La'Arse, They will be out to prove a point and will have Van Persie back. Arshavin back and Theo - That 3 can trouble us - Especially if Samba still out

As stated RVP always scores against us im going for a 1-3 loss for the rovers - Sorry folks, The forst goal will also be crucial here if it is RVP then they will roll on if its us who gets it from a set play (Which their defense and gk do look dodgy at) then I can see a really good game developing.

Lets enjoy the last game of the season and I cant wait for the world cup and then Next Season will come fast

[Amo]

We're gonna get raped.

[Pedderz0912]

We're gonna get raped.

They are due to spank sum1 and if they go 1-0 up that cud be us lets just hope they save it for the week after when they play Fulham at home in the last game of the season

Come on Rovers

[Hughesy]

as the table stands a result in this game could be the difference between mathematically possible 9th or 14th so theres some big money to be playing for

Worst possible is 13th (the budget target)

Realistically its 10th - 13th we are fighting fot - 1 win should hopefully get us 11th at worst.

Id be delighted if we could beat Arsenal - I hate thier 'im the victim' attitude - get stuck in rovers & dont let them settle - then batter them on set-pieces as they are usually very weak at them!!

2-1 Rovers - Dunn & Basturk screamer!

[andyroversmad]

0 - 4 arsenal

[dazmaz]

3-2 for me.

arse to go 2 up in first half. Roberts 56 mins, Dunn 71 mins and Kalinic (straight swap for Roberts) 89 mins.

[imperial rover]

Funny feeling we might just nick this - I fancy them to score but if Niko can adjust his radar slightly I fancy us for 2-1...

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

If Samba plays - I have a funny feeling we might win. Given their record - I think they would struggle with our set plays.

Without doubt they will probably play us off the park - but with a bit of luck we could hit them with some sucker punches.

Our football isn't as bad as some make out - though the truth is we will be hoping for a bit more luck with some of the near miss mellees that have ensued from corners long throws etc hopfully they fall to one of our players.

Either way - last game of the season - be wonderful if fortune smiled on us and we sign off with another home win.

[Hughesy]

Samba plays - Andrews doesnt - We Win

Samba plays - Andrews starts - Draw at best

Samba plays - Andrews comes on - Draw

Samba doesnt play - Lose

[Guest roverspogges]

0-3

[Pedderz0912]

Really looking forward to this game - Does any1 know the likely teams or aquads for this game? e.g:

Rovers - Samba, Diouf & Emerton - Any of those back in training

Arsenal - Will any of Arshavin/Fabregas/Song/Vermalean/Gallas/Almunia be fit for the game?

Just hope Phil Jones can do a job on Van Persie If we get the 1st goal we can take this injury hit squad - However not the best time to play them and I think 1-3 defeat with Van persie netting twice and Bendtner with Niko with a consolation goal

Id be happy to give them a game like we did v Liverpool, Chelsea, Villa, and Man UTD.

[Blue n White Rover]

Really looking forward to this game - Does any1 know the likely teams or aquads for this game? e.g:

Rovers - Samba, Diouf & Emerton - Any of those back in training

Arsenal - Will any of Arshavin/Fabregas/Song/Vermalean/Gallas/Almunia be fit for the game?

Just hope Phil Jones can do a job on Van Persie If we get the 1st goal we can take this injury hit squad - However not the best time to play them and I think 1-3 defeat with Van persie netting twice and Bendtner with Niko with a consolation goal

Id be happy to give them a game like we did v Liverpool, Chelsea, Villa, and Man UTD.

He looked happy enough kicking off in Bolton Town Centre on Saturday night

[Pedderz0912]

He looked happy enough kicking off in Bolton Town Centre on Saturday night

I can imagine ;-) What is he like eh... Take it he will be fit then come Monday...

[Hughesy]

Better than kicking off with your own fans though eh

[Ozz]

Car trouble means I am in need of a lift to Rovers on Monday from Chorley-Anybody able to help? There's a pint/glass of pop in it for anyone able to help...

[Montfort]

If we give Arsenal the same amount of possession that we gave Everton, which I think we will, we will loose. However, I do hope we ruffle their feathers a bit. And we all know what Wenger will say, "they tried to kick us out of the game, they tried to maim my players, the referee should give Arsenal more protection, Blackburn should not be allowed to tackle or go near my players, etc, etc,