[Archived] Stoke Preview

[Rovermatt]

Typical rubbish from Rovers. Yet again, an opposition's player opens up his account against us and we've also granted Stoke their first clean sheet of the season. We never really had a chance in this since our ugly, agricultural football was unlikely to pose Stoke any problems. Utter sh*te.

[tonyoz]

ok, my mistake, bring Olsson back off. What is he doing.

Well! it made me laugh!

[joey_big_nose]

Big questions for Sam now. We have been beaten at our own style and had no real plan B. Again Pedersen had a poor game, and we completely failed to tick in the middle of the park. Dunn is still not available and we are in the ludicrous position of having no one who can play a decent forward pass on the field.

Stoke are a good team, and the match was away from home, so it is not a terrible result. However it is the lack of ideas which have characterised the last three games which is worrying. It seems opposition teams are getting wise to our strengths and weaknesses and sheparding us pretty well.

We have a very good defence, a fantastic midfield grafter in Jones, a keeper in excellent from, EH Diouf seems to have refound his best form. However we have a real problem progressing the ball through the midfield and retaining possession. NZonzi was awful today, Jones is a brillinat destryoyer but not a passer, and Pedersen, as said, was mostly anonymous. Sam has to look at the squad and ask how he can break down teams that stand up to our set pieces and direct tactics. Even with Dunn back we are going to lack a range of passing and movement in our midfield play unless one of the young guys develops dramatically.

[MarkBRFC71]

A draw would be a great result.

My prediction: 0-0 or 1-0 to Stoke. The least football ever seen in 90 Premier League minutes, and the shortest amount of time ever devoted to a game on MoTD.

I don't like quoting my own post, but today's game, like Rovers under Sam, was wholly predictable.

[AHoyle90]

All we rely on is pure luck, second half we just punted everything into the area. Long throws from 25 yards down the touchline eventually. Embarrassing way of playing Football.

[Miker]

I liked how towards the end Sam sent Samba up front because no one else was winning anything in the air. Sam's thinking must have been "how do we start winning the aerial challenges in their box?" rather than "what can we do to win?"

[bubblerrovers]

What is everyone upset about, We where always guna lost to Stoke. We play the worst football in the league and only stand a chance against teams we cab bully. We haven't spent a penny on anyone so everyone should just thankful we're not bottom.

[chocky]

Sounded like a poor match..

[RibbleValleyRover]

Anyone else think Niko is finished at the club? You are chasing for an equaliser and who do you turn to? Benjani who hasn't scored a league goal for what feels like an eternity. I think the young lad will do well at another club, probably abroad that plays to his strengths. He just doesn't fit here.

We would have been better using that £6 millon for Janko or another 6 foot 5 wall of a player if Sam won't adapt.

[AndyNeil]

We couldn't score in a brothel as the old saying goes.

Eithernwe get better at hoofball or try to play it around a bit.

At present no team is worse.

Given the way the team is set-up to play, we couldn't score in a brothel with a credit note.

[BRFC1995]

Sounded like a poor match..

it was dross at best

[Rovermatt]

We can expect nothing else from the team since the powers that be continue to shirk their responsibilities to invest. If we go down this season, it'll be no more than our shocking play deserves.

[Doaksie]

Two words for that performance: Insipid and predictable

A silver lining: Our rubbish style will be more suited to playing the superior sides. No, wait, I can't even have that. I await more aimless punts into the opposition box at home in the Sundarland game. Will we fluke a lucky goal, or will they pass the ball around us and beat us at FOOTball. My God, performances like that are tough to watch, they really are. That garbage ruins your weekend.

I'm off to watch the golf, in the mood for watching balls get hit into the air time after time!

[Miker]

NZonzi was awful today, Jones is a brillinat destryoyer but not a passer, and Pedersen, as said, was mostly anonymous.

I agree N'zonzi was poor. I thought he should've been subbed earlier for a striker to go 4-4-2 to try something new and push on for a goal.

I disagree about Pedersen though, at least in the first half. He was involved in the few good things we did in that first half, but he was definitely pretty useless in the second.

[Dan]

I don't like quoting my own post, but today's game, like Rovers under Sam, was wholly predictable.

It's getting very boring. Everyone knows what is going to happen. Sam wont change, he only knows one way. How anyone can say he is a good manager I'll never know. We got very lucky last season and 10th covered up how bad we actually were. I'm thinking this season is going to a disaster.

[AndyNeil]

What is everyone upset about,

If you really need to ask that question then somebody needs to show you the door ... when will the FS lovers realise its the lack of football that p!sses people off.

[Miker]

Anyone else think Niko is finished at the club? You are chasing for an equaliser and who do you turn to? Benjani who hasn't scored a league goal for what feels like an eternity. I think the young lad will do well at another club, probably abroad that plays to his strengths. He just doesn't fit here.

We would have been better using that £6 millon for Janko or another 6 foot 5 wall of a player if Sam won't adapt.

He was dropped for one game...

[bluefred]

I liked how towards the end Sam sent Samba up front because no one else was winning anything in the air. Sam's thinking must have been "how do we start winning the aerial challenges in their box?" rather than "what can we do to win?"

total @#/? lard-ass is clueless,roll on the take over.

[Clitherover]

Benjani will never score a goal for Rovers, Fact.

[Mattyblue]

It's getting very boring. Everyone knows what is going to happen. Sam wont change, he only knows one way. How anyone can say he is a good manager I'll never know. We got very lucky last season and 10th covered up how bad we actually were. I'm thinking this season is going to a disaster.

How can a crap side luckily finish 10th?! 17th maybe!

It was poor today, their defence had no issue with the punts, throws, corners, free kicks into the box.

However, Stoke were packed full of players bought on good money. We bring on a crocked free transfer to partner a loanee.

THAT is your reality

[BRFC1995]

It's getting very boring. Everyone knows what is going to happen. Sam wont change, he only knows one way. How anyone can say he is a good manager I'll never know. We got very lucky last season and 10th covered up how bad we actually were. I'm thinking this season is going to a disaster.

paul robinson on his own and some complete once in a lifetime goalkeeping howlers have given us 8 pts this season............sams tactics have done nothing at all this season we may as well change tactics we can't get worse

[beerwins]

If poor is how you describe that match how would you describe Pedersons performance?

How someone can play in the centre of the park and be that bad is beyond me, Im also so sick of these tactics too, we play the most unatractive football in the prem and when it doesnt work its unbearable, when it does work its acceptable but its still horrible to watch.

If we get took over we cannot continue with this football or we will have to give season tickets away next year, Stoke are critisised for the way they play by the pundits but at least they do it well.

[sambo]

If it hadn't been for horrific defensive errors, where would we be this year?

[Rover Down Under]

Benjani will never score a goal for Rovers, Fact.

And I bet Benji Mwuarawuaruwiwuriauwiwuaiuwuriurwuiau, or whatever his name is, will score in his next full game

[Iceman]

sam out! one style of football, no change in game plan and we are fooked. Martin O Neil might not use the best tactics at times, but he knew how to mix it up by changing the system.