[Archived] Blackburn Rovers v Birmingham City 9th April 2011

[Amo]

We also expected 3 pts from Blackpool but only salvaged one so that makes us three points worse off and in a season as close as this that could be the difference between survival and relegation. I know Mrs. Desai said that winning wasn't everything but I think she and her favourite son in the managers' chair are taking it to extremes now. Next game will be mid April and the last win was January. I think someone needs to explain to her that three teams actually go down and the golden goose stops laying all those golden eggs that is the Sky TV deal. Perhaps then she might set more store in winning and might appreciate that manager's do make a difference in this League. I wonder if the West Brom revival would have been as successful with Kean at the helm instead of Hodgson? Silly question really.

To be fair, we looked decent against Blackpool until a referee horror show sucker-punched us. It would've been easy to lose that match but we came out fighting in the second half and grabbed a point.

[Tom]

Was Dunn injured at the end or was he taking the mick out of brum players constantly going down and wasting time.

[Parsonblue]

To be fair, we looked decent against Blackpool until a referee horror show sucker-punched us. It would've been easy to lose that match but we came out fighting in the second half and grabbed a point.

It was still two points dropped on what was expected. Performances count for nothing it's about points and the last three games have produced three points when most fans believed that six points was the mimimum required. We have taken four out of the last 24 points played for. If we are to survive we need to take at least 6, and possibly 7 points, out the final 18 points that we have to play for. On paper the previous eight games provided more opportunities for points than the next six. With all due respect, looking decent is not important at this stage. I'd much rather play badly and fluke a win. Today we not only didn't play well but dropped two more points against relegation rivals.

[Andy]

Just seen their goal again on MOTD - absolutely no chance or question of it being offside.

The ball is played sideways and therefore it's impossible for the goal to be offside.

It was a clear foul in the build-up, mind.

[den]

Just seen their goal again on MOTD - absolutely no chance or question of it being offside.

The ball is played sideways and therefore it's impossible for the goal to be offside.

It was a clear foul in the build-up, mind.

The offside rule has nothing to do with whether the ball is played sideways, forwards or backwards. It's all about whether the player was in front of the ball.

I haven't seen it since, but Radio rovers, Kean and Baz [who saw the replay at half time] say it was offside.

[Exiled_Rover]

Just seen their goal again on MOTD - absolutely no chance or question of it being offside.

The ball is played sideways and therefore it's impossible for the goal to be offside.

It was a clear foul in the build-up, mind.

Gardner barged someone off the ball from behind in midfield didn't he?

[Herbie6590]

Don't think their goal was offside having watched MOTD - cross seemed to travel sideways

[DE.]

Loved Junior's goal, great to have a player with genuine pace in the team. Unfortunately he can't keep us up on his own, some of our more senior players need to step up and give a little more. It was angering to see Roberts on the pitch laughing and joking at full time, as if we're safe in mid-table.

[den]

Don't think their goal was offside having watched MOTD - cross seemed to travel sideways

As I've just posted, it doen't matter which direction the pass went in. If the forward is stood in front of the ball, he's offside.

[Andy]

The offside rule has nothing to do with whether the ball is played sideways, forwards or backwards. It's all about whether the player was in front of the ball.

I haven't seen it since, but Radio rovers, Kean and Baz [who saw the replay at half time] say it was offside.

That's not true - the ball must be played forward for an offside decision to be made.

If the ball travels sideways or backwards, you cannot be offside.

[Tom]

Don't think their goal was offside having watched MOTD - cross seemed to travel sideways

Shouldn't have mattered seeing as it was a clear foul 5 seconds before.

Hoilett is almost Duffesque at the minute, shame we can't really enjoy him properly.

[den]

If the ball travels sideways or backwards, you cannot be offside.

You're not allowed to come back from an offside position, whichever way the balls played. The rule is - if you're behind the ball when it's played, you can't be offside.

[Herbie6590]

The offside rule has nothing to do with whether the ball is played sideways, forwards or backwards. It's all about whether the player was in front of the ball.

Check here

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/rules_and_equipment/4993924.stm

You can't be offside if:

You receive the ball directly from a goal kick, a throw-in or a corner

You are in your own half of the pitch

You are level with the second last or last two opponents

You are level with or behind the ball

You are not actively involved in play, as explained above

For any offside offence, the referee awards an indirect free-kick to the opposing team, to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred.

[AggyBlue]

You're not allowed to come back from an offside position, whichever way the balls played. The rule is - if you're behind the ball when it's played, you can't be offside.

He wasn't offside Den

[Andy]

Bowyer was completely level with the ball when it was played - the ball was played straight across goal, so he can literally not be offside.

If the ball was played forwards, Bowyer would have been offside, but he and the ball were level with each other so it's just not possible that he could have been offside and it was a perfectly legitimate goal.

[Anti-Dingle-Brigade]

I never knew you couldn't be offside from a goal kick?!

We should chuck Samba up there every goal kick, Robbo has the foot on him to put it in the 6 yard box, he'd probably score a few.

[Exiled_Rover]

Was Dunn injured at the end or was he taking the mick out of brum players constantly going down and wasting time.

I thought he was taking the ######. They were at it all game. Johnson, Parnaby, Ferguson. Completely ruined the flow of the game, but the ref let them get away with it.

It should be like rugby - if you're injured they simply leave you in back play and carry on. No stopping the game, summoning the physio, having the physio treat the player ON THE PITCH and then the player running straight back on once the ball has been restarted.

If it's not a head injury, drag the cheating scrote off the pitch. Shame them with the stretcher.

[47er]

It was still two points dropped on what was expected. Performances count for nothing it's about points and the last three games have produced three points when most fans believed that six points was the mimimum required. We have taken four out of the last 24 points played for. If we are to survive we need to take at least 6, and possibly 7 points, out the final 18 points that we have to play for. On paper the previous eight games provided more opportunities for points than the next six. With all due respect, looking decent is not important at this stage. I'd much rather play badly and fluke a win. Today we not only didn't play well but dropped two more points against relegation rivals.

You said exactly what I wanted to say! Moreover, today's performance was committed but totally ineffective. I can't remember a single save Foster had to make. We created 2 chances only in the whole game, both headers for Roque.

If ever we played "hoofball" for an entire game, this was it (Hoilett excepted).

Can't help contrasting our fortunes with those of West Brom who had the sense to do what we wouldn't.

I haven't looked at recent posts yet but no doubt we'll be reminded to keep the faith, we're playing better football under Kean, we haven't lost in 3 games etc etc.

All I know is that the easy "games" come and go and the points disappear with them.

[BangkokRover]

I never knew you couldn't be offside from a goal kick?!

We should chuck Samba up there every goal kick, Robbo has the foot on him to put it in the 6 yard box, he'd probably score a few.

Hi BFS,

Have Venkeys finally paid out the money they owed you? How was Dubai? How are you enjoying working for ESPN?

Cheers

BKR

[den]

He wasn't offside Den

I didn't say he was Aggy. I'm just trying to explain that the direction the ball was played has nothing to do with it.

I haven't seen a replay, but if the Brum player had a foot in front of the ball when it was played, he was offside. If he didn't, he wasn't offside. Andy said the ball was played square, so he couldn't be offside - not true.

[BangkokRover]

You said exactly what I wanted to say! Moreover, today's performance was committed but totally ineffective. I can't remember a single save Foster had to make. We created 2 chances only in the whole game, both headers for Roque.

If ever we played "hoofball" for an entire game, this was it (Hoilett excepted).

Can't help contrasting our fortunes with those of West Brom who had the sense to do what we wouldn't.

I haven't looked at recent posts yet but no doubt we'll be reminded to keep the faith, we're playing better football under Kean, we haven't lost in 3 games etc etc.

All I know is that the easy "games" come and go and the points disappear with them.

Wonder if WBA regret changing from a manager who could not win to an experencied manager?

Cheers

BKR

[47er]

Bowyer was completely level with the ball when it was played - the ball was played straight across goal, so he can literally not be offside.

If the ball was played forwards, Bowyer would have been offside, but he and the ball were level with each other so it's just not possible that he could have been offside and it was a perfectly legitimate goal.

It wasn't off-side but there was a foul in the build-up and the defence did seem to stop. But he wasn't giving those sort of fouls all day.

[BangkokRover]

I didn't say he was Aggy. I'm just trying to explain that the direction the ball was played has nothing to do with it.

I haven't seen a replay, but if the Brum player had a foot in front of the ball when it was played, he was offside.

Whether he was offside or not the goal was given. End of story.

[Andy]

There was a blatent foul in the build-up and if anyone wants to make excuses for the result, then that's what they want to look at.

In terms of offside Den - the ball must be played forward for offside to be technically possible.

If you play a sideways pass to somebody in an offside position, they are not offside.

They can happily run back to retrieve the ball and there is no offence.

You are only offside if the ball is played forward.

[47er]

I'm sorry I've seen some stupid comments on this messageboard but that's got to be right up there I'm afraid. All but two teams have outplayed us this season at Ewood, you serious? yet we still have a home record which reads W6, D6, L4. We must have been extremeley lucky to have got six wins having been outplayed in 14 out of the 16 home games. Granted I think some of the home performances have been below par this season but I find it hard to think of a game where we've been outplayed at all this season, we've always been in the game going into the last ten minutes or so. The home performances against the "big boys" have been good, thought we where very unlucky not to get anything from the Chelsea & Arsenal games and like you alluded to we beat Liverpool regardless of who was in charge. You refer to that game and the West Ham has being the only two teams who didn't outplay us this season, I'm shocked by that.

Today's game was fairly even contest if anything we just edged it in my opinion. Against Blackpool I thought we where the better team only a poor referee decision swayed the game. Newcastle at home again another fairly equal game with not much happening. Tottenham at home, thought this was a good performance by us actually and I thought we where the better team. West Brom, fully deserved win in my opinion capitialised on poor defending. Stoke at home, this would probably rank up as one of our worst performances and even then we weren't totally out of the game till injury time. Wolves at home, we won 3-0 and offered a good threat going forward deserved win despite not being a great performance. I could go on but my point remains I don't know what games you've been watching but they seem to be totally different to the ones I've been watching. We've had a lot of rather close games this season and I fail to recall seeing a team at Ewood and thinking woah we are getting totally outplayed here. Some teams had neat possession of the ball at times, I remember the Everton, Newcastle & Wigan games where a bit like this but none of these teams hurt us with their attacks. Sorry for the rant I just needed to try and add some balance to this overly negative atmosphere on here at present.

3 points out of the last 24 makes it impossible to be overly negative.