[Archived] Everton vs Rovers

[Rover Down Under]

Nice preview, brought back some great memories of some great games.

Rather than trying to make a stab at the score I reckon we will have our FIFTH consecutive match with a dodgy decision given against us and my prediction is...P.Jones, red card for making a game-saving, inch perfect tackle in the box and the ref will give Everton a penalty on top of the card, then send off the remaining Rovers team for protesting, then the Rovers fans for complaining.

Failing that, 2-2, if Niko plays...

[Rover & Out]

1-0 Rovers!

Kalinic scores the winner from the bench but still doesn't start the following week.

[roverwhelmed]

Nice preview, brought back some great memories of some great games.

Rather than trying to make a stab at the score I reckon we will have our FIFTH consecutive match with a dodgy decision given against us and my prediction is...P.Jones, red card for making a game-saving, inch perfect tackle in the box and the ref will give Everton a penalty on top of the card, then send off the remaining Rovers team for protesting, then the Rovers fans for complaining.

Failing that, 2-2, if Niko plays...

Oh god

[ben_the_beast]

Not that I'm particularly looking up the league at the moment due to our less than promising form shall we say, but if we were to somehow magically pull a win out the bag against Everton we could potentially go 6 points clear of the drop zone (effectively 7 if you consider our superior goal difference).

That is though working on the premise that west ham and wigan fall to defeats.

This weekend is a big opportunity to relieve some of the pressure from ourselves. One win and I would have confidence of survival. It is pretty hard to see it happening but you never know.

Clearly the reward would be great.

[Ricky]

Last weekend was also the perfect opportunity to relieve some of the pressure on ourselves and we managed to balls that up..... As we did with the Blackpool 'must win' game.

I'm just hoping it's like my last Sunday league game and the opponents only turn up with 9 men... I still wouldnt bet on us winning then though to be fair!!!

[m1st]

Frighteningly good preview for those of us who have to follow; talk about the bar being raised!

I rarely go to what used to be known as the "School of Science" [anybody know if their fans still call it that?]; I've no Evertonian mates [so no opportunity for the "craic" before and after] and it still looks like a completely un-modified [or as we say in plain English, "crap"] ground. So, at present, I'm still not tempted to go; I may check out ticket-availability on Friday.

I was fascinated to see how good our record there in the Premier League is, though. That, and their injury list, are the only two things giving me any grounds for optimism. I agree with those who want to see Rochina figure for at least a bigger part of the game than of the Fulham game; what was the point of buying him if we're not going to play him? I'm not sure that I'd start with him, though.

My heart says we're going to make that away record W8, D2, L7; but my head doesn't know how. Actually, I'm not bothered how; just so long as we do!

There are two [or, given Sunderland's recent form, 3] "6-pointers" this weekend: B'pool vs. Wigan; West Ham vs. Villa and Birmingham vs. Sunderland. And Wolves' game vs. Stoke is postponed because of the Cup Semi-finals.

Get those three points and our position will be looking a lot better, come 5.00 pm on Saturday.

[joey_big_nose]

Looks far too open to me, I don't think we'd see the ball against Everton's midfield. Rochina wouldn't offer much defensively in that position so we'd effectively be 4-4-2. Plus Givet won't play. If we want to try an unknown quantity with Rochina then I'd change it to...

-------------------------Cruz

---Rochina---------------------------Hoilett

-----------Pedersen-------Jones

----------------------Jones

Olsson----Nelsen-----Samba----Salgado

--------------------Robinson

Rochina and Hoilett could be given good license to roam from their positions without having a great deal of defensive responsibility with a solid three behind them.

I would say it the formation I put out is pretty solid. Both Olsson and Hoilett work extremely hard and come back to close down well. I think that lineup would do more without the ball than any team that contained Dunn or Pedersen as those two just can't cover the yards.

From the comments from the club I think there is a chance Givet will play. Also for his own career it would make sense to play - if he refuses in the long term it will damage his long term employment prospects at other clubs as he will be seen as a troublemaker - and while he is okay he is not going to have a queue of clubs after him.

Do like your idea of both Rochina and Hoilett floating though. Really looking forward to seeing the young Spaniard. We've got one saviou in Hoilett, but it looks like we might need two to survive given how rubbish our experienced strikes are. No pressure....!

[Ralfinho]

From reading the reserves report it sounded like Rochina and MB Diouf played well together, why not throw those 2 on from the start on Sat?

[Hughesy]

From reading the reserves report it sounded like Rochina and MB Diouf played well together, why not throw those 2 on from the start on Sat?

It would take a brave man....but why not eh!

Cant do any worse than RSC or Roberts have done lately

[Ralfinho]

It would take a brave man....but why not eh!

Cant do any worse than RSC or Roberts have done lately

Also, how much confidence will it give them both if the manager keeps faith with what he saw in the reserve match and does start with them? They will want to be making a massive impression that they can handle the pressure of a relegation scrap and perform well

[Hughesy]

How about a fresh approach to our attack at Everton away?

------------Robbo-------------

Salgado--Samba--Jones---Givet

-----------J Jones -----------

Emerton---------------Olsson

-----------Hoilett------------

-----M Diouf------Rochina-----

Only picked Emerton for the effort he puts in....Kalinic, RSC, MGP, Benjani, Dunn all on the bench

[Jimmy612]

Looks far too open to me, I don't think we'd see the ball against Everton's midfield. Rochina wouldn't offer much defensively in that position so we'd effectively be 4-4-2. Plus Givet won't play. If we want to try an unknown quantity with Rochina then I'd change it to...

-------------------------Cruz

---Rochina---------------------------Hoilett

-----------Pedersen-------Jones

----------------------Jones

Olsson----Nelsen-----Samba----Salgado

--------------------Robinson

Rochina and Hoilett could be given good license to roam from their positions without having a great deal of defensive responsibility with a solid three behind them.

Thats nearly it I think, Unfortunately Nelsen looks doubtful. Pushing PJ back seriously weakens our midfield. If Givet is fit he should go to LB and Olsson pushed onto the left hand side. Just trying to think who could fill the hole left by PJ in the midfield. Probably be dunny I expect.

I'm going to the game and unfortunately the way the two teams are playing (Everton well, us crap) I can't see us winning.. However that won't stop me getting right behind the lads. Come on Rovers

[John]

Particularly for an away game, I would try and maybe freshen things up slightly (obviously with keeping the defence solid) - we need to ensure we have players who can put a hard shift in and cover yards.

Pace can be helpful in away matches to assist counter attacks so would possibly put Diouf in from the start.

Question marks have to go over Dunn as to whether he can make enough of an impact - he obviously cares but his general state of fitness preludes him from being as effective as he could be. I get the impression that Kean likes to start Dunn when he is not injured regardless of his fitness condition (i.e. just back from injury).

Pedersen - we are playing him in the hope that in his 100th attempt he will do something of genius, either that being a free kick or a decent delivery. He is not physical enough and adds little else at the moment, again, not sure whether I would start him for this one.

Problem is that we don't have many alternative options in midfield also Nelsen I think is doubtful (which will probably mean Phil Jones starting at centre back therefore limiting his central midfield options further).

[Jimmy612]

Particularly for an away game, I would try and maybe freshen things up slightly (obviously with keeping the defence solid) - we need to ensure we have players who can put a hard shift in and cover yards.

Pace can be helpful in away matches to assist counter attacks so would possibly put Diouf in from the start.

Question marks have to go over Dunn as to whether he can make enough of an impact - he obviously cares but his general state of fitness preludes him from being as effective as he could be. I get the impression that Kean likes to start Dunn when he is fit and available.

Pedersen - we are playing him in the hope that in his 100th attempt he will do something of genius, either that being a free kick or a decent delivery. He is not physical enough and adds little else, again, not sure whether I would start him for this one.

Problem is that we don't have many alternative options in midfield also Nelsen I think is doubtful (which will probably mean Phil Jones starting at centre back).

I don't mind Pedersen in the central role, as long as he has two players next to him, ideally that would be both Jones's but thats not looking likely if Nels is injured. With that in mind would we have enough steel in the midfield with Ped, Dunny and JJ?

Dunny can last probably an hour before he fades out of games, at which point depending on the scoreline, you would either put on a striker and go 4-4-2, or bring on a different midfielder, which one I have no idea

[MarkBRFC]

How about a fresh approach to our attack at Everton away?

------------Robbo-------------

Salgado--Samba--Jones---Givet

-----------J Jones -----------

Emerton---------------Olsson

-----------Hoilett------------

-----M Diouf------Rochina-----

Only picked Emerton for the effort he puts in....Kalinic, RSC, MGP, Benjani, Dunn all on the bench

The dreaded diamond formation!

Ive seen enough of this already to know this doesnt work.

[Jimmy612]

How about a fresh approach to our attack at Everton away?

------------Robbo-------------

Salgado--Samba--Jones---Givet

-----------J Jones -----------

Emerton---------------Olsson

-----------Hoilett------------

-----M Diouf------Rochina-----

Only picked Emerton for the effort he puts in....Kalinic, RSC, MGP, Benjani, Dunn all on the bench

Midfield would get completely overrun

[Ralfinho]

there is no point in bringing Rochina on if we are getting beat, we must start him for us to try to gain any goal lead over everton on sat. I can see it now we are getting beat 2 or 3 nil on Sat kean brings him on for 20 mins or so, he scores and we are playing miles better and he is creating chances for our team and all the fans will be thinking "why the F did he not start him?"

So on that note he is a must to start on sat in my eyes, if he is out of his depth he can then take him off

[joey_big_nose]

I didn't realise that Nelsen was a doubt.

If he is out I would play Hanley or Givet at CB and keep P Jones in midfield. If we take him out of midfield we lose so much quality and power in there.

[RibbleValleyRover]

IMO until we get another midfielder in P.Jones has to stay in midfield unless there is a major injury crisis at the back.

[rubecula]

Greetings and salutations folks in a friendly scouse accent. I am an Everton supporter with a soft spot for Rovers. I followed cn174's link to here and decided to join to chat and see how the other half live.

Have to admit I like the site and I hope I can become a regular. However I suppose I will be the enemy come the big day, but apart from that I will be cheering you guys on.

Good luck to all of you for the rest of the season. (And beyond)

[Clitherover]

Greetings and salutations folks in a friendly scouse accent. I am an Everton supporter with a soft spot for Rovers. I followed cn174's link to here and decided to join to chat and see how the other half live.

Have to admit I like the site and I hope I can become a regular. However I suppose I will be the enemy come the big day, but apart from that I will be cheering you guys on.

Good luck to all of you for the rest of the season. (And beyond)

Welcome mate, never had anything against Everton, certainly the least offensive of the two Liverpudlian clubs and good to see you doing well this season, as you say though you will be the enemy on Saturday but good luck otherwise.

[rubecula]

Welcome mate, never had anything against Everton, certainly the least offensive of the two Liverpudlian clubs and good to see you doing well this season, as you say though you will be the enemy on Saturday but good luck otherwise.

Thank you for your warm welcome, I do understand about us being 'less offensive' than the other lot. I have had to live and work with a good few of them and they are very 'up themselves' at the best of times. Odd that many are from same families as us. (Only me and my dad are Evertonians in our family) I have supported Everton since I first knew about football, despite pressure from my peers to be a red. My very first game was in the early 1960's and I still have the remains of my 1966 season ticket. That was way back when Goodison was one of the top grounds in the country.

I don't know a great deal about Blackburn Rovers, so hopefully you guys will educate me as time goes by. I do know they are an old and proud team and Jack Walker was someone I had the utmost admiration for bless him. (Oh and I cheered like mad when you won the Prem)

Still none of us can live in the past eh?

Only advice I can give you about visiting our humble little slum is.....DON'T EAT THE PASTIES

Hope you all enjoy the trip. (But not too much, I wan't us to overtake Liverpool this season)

Here's wishing for a great game, see you there.

[Presty On Tour]

A scouser at work told me that there's a shopping complex in Merseyside called Liverpool one.

There is an official shop in there called Everton two.

So when they get post it reads,

Everton Two

Liverpool One

Merseyside.

Anyway, they can have two as long as we get 3 or more on Saturday.

Big game but every one is a big game for us till the end.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

I do understand about us being 'less offensive' than the other lot. I have had to live and work with a good few of them and they are very 'up themselves' at the best of times.

From experience,I really wouldn't say they are any different from your lot!.

Everton 1 Rovers 1

[rubecula]

A scouser at work told me that there's a shopping complex in Merseyside called Liverpool one.

There is an official shop in there called Everton two.

So when they get post it reads,

Everton Two

Liverpool One

Merseyside.

Yes this is true. Sort of clever in a way I suppose, rubbing their noses in it without any way they can come back.

Anyway, they can have two as long as we get 3 or more on Saturday.

I wish you a lot of good luck with that, although I will of course hope for the opposite. I want Rovers up in the Prem where they belong.

Big game but every one is a big game for us till the end.

And for that I really do sympathise. We had a season or two like that a few times since we were winning things. I know how it feels believe me. I am sure Rovers will finish well out of the relegation zone. But if I keep saying things like that it sounds insincere.