[Archived] West Brom v Blackburn Rovers

[joey_big_nose]

Steven N'Zonzi could do that. Is he still injured? The stalling of his development is the biggest on pitch disappointment of the season so far.

He has had serious injury problems this season I think, plus fell out with Sam as well - Kean in charge might give him a boost. However I am not really convinced about him as a DM - he stands off and does not go in for challenges, plus he is slow. Not sure he would have been that effective stemming the WBA counter attacks. It would be much better if Jones was available due to his pace and excellent tackling.

A good DM is a must in the transfer window for me.

[Valois]

I didnt see Junior do anything notable since he came on, but a couple of people were very impressed with him today for some reason.

One thing I can give Kean is his substitutions are always attacking.

PS. This was our first away win (outside the North West) for the whole of last season and this season I think. Could be longer if someone verifies it!

Nah we beat Villa last year away

[frosty]

No Match of the Day tonight?

[philipl]

I didnt see Junior do anything notable since he came on, but a couple of people were very impressed with him today for some reason.

One thing I can give Kean is his substitutions are always attacking.

PS. This was our first away win (outside the North West) for the whole of last season and this season I think. Could be longer if someone verifies it!

Newcastle is not in the NW (thank goodness!)

[chris]

When Diouf got taken down did another else botice Kean run on the pitch in protest, was quite funny.

[yeti-dog]

Finally a return to 4-4-2 (or maybe 4-5-1; I'm never quite sure whether M.B.Diouf is playing as a striker or winger) with a recognisable midfield (2/3 central players and 2 wingers) and we finally get the result we needed. A sensible formation with clearly defined positions which the players understand and the flexibility to switch between 4-4-2 and 4-5-1 as the pace and momentum of the game dictate. I hope Steve Kean has learnt something today!

(I have nothing against Kean but he's yet to show any tactical intelligence and only gets it right when he finally copies Sam - he undoubtedly needs time to get the players pulling in his direction but until then I am glad he has finally shown willingness to use a known system that works, even if it isn't his own)

So a return to Sam's shape and tactics that we've seen consistently through the first half of the season and we get our first win since he got the boot. I hope Venky's have learnt something today!

So the first good result we get since Sam left is when we play the system and players Sam himself would have played. I hope the anti-Sam brigade have learnt something today!

With respect,that's rubbish.I didn't see that as an Allardyce-type performance at all.

[T4E]

Agreed we need a DM. I still like N'Zonzi in the middle though. He wins everything in the air, he's a big target and he's hard to get around. He could improve his tackling, but he didn't win player of the year last season for nothing.

[OscarRaven]

Unexpected but fantastic result!

Takes a lot of pressure off.

By no means out of the woods but things a tad brighter now.

What he said, 4 points from three games is a decent start irrespective of the opposition.

Still a long way to go but hopefully the new "style" will bed in a bit more and the gaps will get plugged.

We are fast running out of players though! Not to worry mind Keef is back in training.

[Majiball]

PS. This was our first away win (outside the North West) for the whole of last season and this season I think. Could be longer if someone verifies it!

When was the last time we won away by 2 goals?

[FourLaneBlue]

An unexpected but excellent away win.

Well done to Steve Kean.

[Exiled_Rover]

I didnt see Junior do anything notable since he came on, but a couple of people were very impressed with him today for some reason.

One thing I can give Kean is his substitutions are always attacking.

PS. This was our first away win (outside the North West) for the whole of last season and this season I think. Could be longer if someone verifies it!

He does several things. He opens up the game with his pace, rarely loses the ball when it gets to his feet AND he takes players on. He's a good player and only going to get better.

[joey_big_nose]

To all those negative Nigel's before the game, were are you now? I said before the game we should go out and play positive attacking football, and we did. Ok the gaps in midfield is a worry, but we have 4 centre mid players injured. Lets hope we can get a couple back soon, as some good additions in January. Really impressed with Kali and Mame today, Bunn was quality in the 2nd half, and they didnt create much when we went down to 10 men, just hit the bar. Dunn is a worry as looks terrible at the moment. He has to be dropped for the Sunderland game surely. No Salgado or Kali now either, bit worrying as the squad is seriously depleated already. Upto 9th in the league, and looked like we want to pass it around and play good football today. Things are looking a lot better. If only we could have won those last 2 home games now we would be 6th in the league.

While I don't want to be a "negative nigel" it is pretty clear today was a very crazy game, which could have easily gone either way. On balance WBA dominated, undone by poor finishing and some outstanding keeping.

Great to get the points, and especially score a few goals, plus there were some good performances. However there is clearly loads to be addressed, so I am not that positive about Sunderland as yet.

Kean has all my support, but I would like him to address our formation issues as an absolute priority.

[Amo]

Agreed we need a DM. I still like N'Zonzi in the middle though. He wins everything in the air, he's a big target and he's hard to get around. He could improve his tackling, but he didn't win player of the year last season for nothing.

Doesn't really explain why Kean was unwilling to play Linganzi for that role, especially with Emerton, Peds & Dunn playing who could lose the most possession.

[Exiled_Rover]

Agreed we need a DM. I still like N'Zonzi in the middle though. He wins everything in the air, he's a big target and he's hard to get around. He could improve his tackling, but he didn't win player of the year last season for nothing.

Replace Dunn with a DM and we're in business. Kalinic is a different player when he gets support. Two quality, quality finishes today.

[Bobby G]

Newcastle is not in the NW (thank goodness!)

Oh yes. Forgot about Villa and Newcastle. Got a bit carried away!

[Blackburn Ravers]

No Match of the Day tonight?

Tomorrow night mate,

C`Mon Rovers, Fantastic win today, Blue Army

[joey_big_nose]

He does several things. He opens up the game with his pace, rarely loses the ball when it gets to his feet AND he takes players on. He's a good player and only going to get better.

I am really excited about him now. So so so much stronger than he was this time last year, plus he seems to have been taking lessons from EHD on how to hold up the ball. Has a massive weakness in his game in regards to his final ball and shooting, but if he can address that I think Hoilett is going to be a major major player for us.

We do have an impressive set of youth players at the moment it has to be said - just need some central midfielders to come through....

[yankrover]

While I don't want to be a "negative nigel" it is pretty clear today was a very crazy game, which could have easily gone either way. On balance WBA dominated, undone by poor finishing and some outstanding keeping.

Great to get the points, and especially score a few goals, plus there were some good performances. However there is clearly loads to be addressed, so I am not that positive about Sunderland as yet.

Kean has all my support, but I would like him to address our formation issues as an absolute priority.

WBA slightly outplayed us in the first half, but until Kalinic got sent off for that stupid challenge we were dominating them in the second.

[T4E]

Doesn't really explain why Kean was unwilling to play Linganzi for that role, especially with Emerton, Peds & Dunn playing who could lose the most possession.

No, agreed. I think Kean is trying to show himself to be as positive as possible in all of his decisions. In his tactics and subs so far it's hard to see a defensive/negative decision. In time he'll have to balance that out, but for the time being it's a welcome change.

[Exiled_Rover]

Thoroughly deserved win for Kean and the lads when we needed it most. I can safely say, until Kalinic got sent-off, that's the most entertained I've been watching Rovers for sometime. The last half-hour was back to the walls stuff, but the players proved there's no shortage of spirit in the camp with the way they dug in and fought for the three points.

Hero of the match - Kalinic

Great opening finish from our £6m man and a glancing header for his second. Let's hope the change of management can give him a new lease of life at Rovers and prove the doubters wrong.

- And special mention to Mark Bunn, who was more than up to the task when called upon.

Villain of the match - Kalinic

It probably deserved a yellow, but it was still a clumsy and needless tackle which put us on the backfoot for the rest of the match.

However, this win was not without its point of order:

Kean's respect for old pros Pedersen, Dunn & Emerton must have blinded him to the gaping big hole in our midfield throughout the game. I'm never going to be comfortable until we give someone like Linganzi the nod.

Disagree with that, Kean gives the kids every chance (Olsson, Hanley and Hoilett have featured much more than they did under Sam). Perhaps Linganzi simply isn't good enough. I'd be shocked if we don't improve the midfield in January.

[Valois]

I dont think this was that much of a shock result. West Brom are a yo yo club, ok they have a had a good start to the season, but they looked clueless when we went down to 10. I think we need to stop showing these sort of teams respect when we are playing them, and go out and attack. Next up Sunderland, we have several players out, but same again please attack them, show no respect, get Dunn on the bench, I think he is thesort of player to bring on to try and change a game, rather than a player we should start with from now on. His fitness, or lack of it is a unaceptable for a PL player. Far to much Turkey and mince pies.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Massive lift for ALL our fans today,well done lads...Rovers 9th!

[chaddyrovers]

Great win for rovers. Played well. Passing was good, the team was trying to pass the ball more. 2 good goals for Kalinic. Great for us confidence, shame about the red card but he will be back after 3 games in a week. He will miss the sunderland, Liverpool and QPR.

Hanley played excellent. We still lacking a DM to break up play and win the ball back.

Well done Rovers!

Well done Steve Kean!

[Amo]

Disagree with that, Kean gives the kids every chance (Olsson, Hanley and Hoilett have featured much more than they did under Sam).

Okay... What does that have to do with my post?

Perhaps Linganzi simply isn't good enough. I'd be shocked if we don't improve the midfield in January.

He's a tall, strong, box-to-box player. He deserves a chance with the state of our midfield.

[daveoftherovers]

Well done Steve Kean and well done to the boys, I bet our usually short changed away following enjoyed themselves today

Excellent win.