[Archived] Hoofball is back

[Uddersfelt Blue]

Great to see we reverted to hoofball towards the end of Saturday's game. Not that I'm a big fan but it's definitely effective and to be honest is our only real hope of salvaging our season. We just don't have the players available to play any other way at the moment.

If Kean and whoever is calling the shots at Blackburn Rovers want to save this Club from relegation then they will see that this is our best chance of survival.

[AggyBlue]

Great to see we reverted to hoofball towards the end of Saturday's game. Not that I'm a big fan but it's definitely effective and to be honest is our only real hope of salvaging our season. We just don't have the players available to play any other way at the moment.

If Kean and whoever is calling the shots at Blackburn Rovers want to save this Club from relegation then they will see that this is our best chance of survival.

One thing is for sure, Arsenal can't cope with it.

A win at the Emirates anyone

[Mercer]

It's a simple philosophy in any business - how do you optimise your available resources.

Only issue is that it's far better to have the original rather than a poorer imitation!

[rebelmswar]

Long balls, goalie assists, and long throws, oh my.

The irony. The irony...

[Beta Ray Bill]

Long balls, goalie assists, and long throws, oh my.

The irony. The irony...

And playing the ball in the deck to Junior and letting him run with it.

Difference on Saturday... we did both styles.

[Mattyblue]

We did both under Allardyce!

[blue_and_white]

One look at our midfield over the last 3 years is the only argument necessary for why longball has worked and passing hasn't under Ince/Allardyce/Kean. The last time Rovers were able to play through teams was when we had a midfield of Bentley, Tugay, Savage and Pedersen (the good version). That is the quality you need to make a success out of passing football in the premiership and its baffled me how many fans have demanded we try it anyway with the likes of Emerton, Andrews, N'Zonzi and Pedersen (the poor version) pulling the strings. By all means Kean hoof it to Santa Cruz, who despite being lazy/unfit will win everything in the air.

[philipl]

It doesn't matter- only getting points matter and I don't care if we score with a rolling maul at this point.

[roversmum]

Two things. As long as someone is there to pick up the second ball and the team continue with the effort they put in second half on Saturday. Job done.

[rebelmswar]

And playing the ball in the deck to Junior and letting him run with it.

Difference on Saturday... we did both styles.

I watched a snail crawl along the edge of a straight razor...

That's my dream. That's my nightmare. Crawling, slithering, along the edge of a straight razor, and surviving.

[modes98]

We did both under Allardyce!

Don't let the truth get in the way of a good arguement

[Jimmy612]

Gav, Topman, EiT..... anyone else we can think of?

This is their worst nightmare! After SA got sacked they were so sure it was going to be like watching Brazil! Now we have actually gone back to tried and tested methods they will be devastated!

Unless they have seen the error of their ways of course

[LeChuck]

It wasn't just back against Blackpool, our two goals against Fulham were equally as @#/?.

We are more of a physical threat in the penalty area than most teams. We are more poor at playing a passing game than most teams. It's pretty obvious what style of football we should be playing.

[thenodrog]

It wasn't just back against Blackpool, our two goals against Fulham were equally as @#/?.

We are more of a physical threat in the penalty area than most teams. We are more pore at playing a passing game than most teams. It's pretty obvious what style of football we should be playing.

To anyone whose been involved in football for a bit it's never been anything other than completely obvious since the exodus of our best players soon after Hughes departed.

[Amo]

Gav, Topman, EiT..... anyone else we can think of?

This is their worst nightmare! After SA got sacked they were so sure it was going to be like watching Brazil! Now we have actually gone back to tried and tested methods they will be devastated!

Unless they have seen the error of their ways of course

Actually, I've always said there's got to be a medium between the two.

With Sam, there was little compromise. He was more inclined to have Diouf by the corner-flag trying to win a set-piece or a long-throw instead of getting players like Olsson & Hoilett down the flanks.

But whatever. This debate is as tired and banal as it gets, "Jimmy".

[daveoftherovers]

It doesn't matter- only getting points matter and I don't care if we score with a rolling maul at this point.

LOL, quality, if only we could Samba to stick it up his shirt, we'd be fine.

[herbergeehh]

Hoofball is not a problem, as long as we only do it on set pieces from midfield. It IS effective, and I don't care what Holloway thinks about it. Better to burn out than to fade away, eh?

[John]

The problem with this passing style which we have been trying to adopt, firstly IMO, we dont have the players to do it successfully/consistently also, importantly, when we try to pass it around, we give it away in very dangerous areas leaving our defence more exposed - then surprise surprise what happens………we concede more goals. Therefore this will make us not pick up enough points/wins particularly at home.

Looking back at the WBA home match we were far too open and could have easily not won that match.

[onlyonejackwalker]

Actually, I've always said there's got to be a medium between the two.

With Sam, there was little compromise. He was more inclined to have Diouf by the corner-flag trying to win a set-piece or a long-throw instead of getting players like Olsson & Hoilett down the flanks.

But whatever. This debate is as tired and banal as it gets, "Jimmy".

Under Allardyce we did not pass the ball on the floor at anytime. Not even once. Every time we kicked the ball it went up 50 yards in the air.

Or so the blinkered expect you to believe.

[Kjell Sindre]

Hoofball is not a problem, as long as we only do it on set pieces from midfield. It IS effective, and I don't care what Holloway thinks about it. Better to burn out than to fade away, eh?

What about 'hoofing' it in from out wide, I seem to recall that Santa Cruz is a decent header of the ball?

I'll also have to add that my fave 'hoof' is the one done from goal kick (not from midfield) - see for instance our second goal versus NUFC (I'm talking of course about the away game) - pretty much sums up my take on the 'attractive football' debate. I wish Holloway a pleasant journey both to Spain and back to the Chumpionship.

[BangkokRover]

It doesn't matter- only getting points matter and I don't care if we score with a rolling maul at this point.

It was 2 points dropped on Saturday, I don't care about Hoofball or playing like Barcelona I want POINTS.

[Iceman]

Still waiting for the Sam haters, to explain the current situation with the pretty football we playing at the moment.

[BangkokRover]

Still waiting for the Sam haters, to explain the current situation with the pretty football we playing at the moment.

I hope you are not holding your breath.

[Amo]

Still waiting for the Sam haters, to explain the current situation with the pretty football we playing at the moment.

Say 'Sam bashers', it's far more cliquey!

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

Interesting that Holloway is calling Rovers a long ball team. Interesting that Blackpool's favourite outlet is a long diagonal ball out of defence. We played as much football on the floor as they did - otherwise how the **** did Hoilett skin their full back time and time again - sure it wasn't with his heading ability. Yes the last ten minutes became increasingly long ball - but if you are going to stick a 6ft+ centre half up front why not play to your strengths ?

For all the talk of Blackpool's wonderful football - a lot of their goals come from set plays - something Rovers have been accused of.