[Archived] Rovers versus Manchester City, 25th April 8pm

[roverwhelmed]

Well the one bit of hope I am holding onto is there seems to have been a bit of a change in attitude at Ewood this week. It seems Kean and possibly the players now realize the battle we are in.

When Warnock layed into Diouf, when we were done by the dodgy penalty decision and Givet sending off at Fulham, the Howard Webb performance against Blackpool, the woeful performances by much of our team. During none of these and many other situations has Kean ever been bullish or ###### off. Simply choosing the logical approach without fight. Men are not inspired by logic!!!

We need that ###### off backs to the wall fighting spirt. I'm hoping this "underserved criticism" is finally getting under Kean's skin and provoking a bit of raw emotion. I want to see MGP coming off the bench scared to go back into the dressing room after the match if he doesn't sweat blood and tears for the cause.

A response is needed. Some fight. The one element we have been lacking. Unity under the pressure.

Well that is my one slim hope. But i hold out so little hope for Monday it's untrue.

I really hope you are right. Kean does seem pretty agitated and as if he is fighting back, whereas before, the endless positivity in what is a precarious and scary situation was so at odds with the supporters' feelings. It is great that the players are determined to prove the press wrong, I hope they all do it. It is in their hands and I hope they show their spirit, belief and pull together.

I was absolutely terrified before the Arsenal match, and I was really rather proud of those same players so I have a degree of hope.

[Tom]

Who and when was the last time one of our strikers scored? wasn't it Kalinic against Villa (as a sub) and what a goal that was

To be fair it was a speculative strike that went in because of a huge deflection.

Still the point stands that he is our last striker to score and whilst he isn't as good as people want him to be he is worth a shot at least from the bench. Personally I'd rather see Benjani and Diouf or Rochina up top.

[mturk]

Making my first trip to ewood for this game hopefully we can pull something outa the bag and show that we have a chance of staying up. we will get plenty of chances against city but can we turn those into goals? hopefully but unfortunatly we seem to be lacking a goalscorer who will get those important goals.

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

Personally Im not sure Kalinic is the answer. It seems that his reputation has grown and grown each week without him playing according to some. He still his very lightweight and will struggle against a very solid Man City defence, however given Roque's absence there really is no other choice.

[tony gale's mic]

Personally Im not sure Kalinic is the answer. It seems that his reputation has grown and grown each week without him playing according to some. He still his very lightweight and will struggle against a very solid Man City defence, however given Roque's absence there really is no other choice.

I think it's something to do with the fact no striker has scored for us since he bagged 4 goals in 6 games before being dropped.

[den]

If Niko plays, we'll have to hope that the keeper drops the ball at his feet leaving him with an open goal to roll the ball in, or that someone deflects one of his efforts.

Seriously, I've seen no evidence whatsoever, in two years, that he can shoot. [as in - hit a ball with power and direction, on a regular basis].

[PAFELL]

i take it people want to ignore my question?

is this game live on sky or espn?

SKY

[roversmum]

i take it people want to ignore my question?

is this game live on sky or espn?

Not ignoring it, Wilky. Just thought you might be capable of looking for the answer yourself

[Baz]

I think we need to set out solid against City - they have a very big team, therefore I think we need to get the Jones brothers in central midfield against them. I also think this time in the season we should get as much experience in the team as we can, hence Dunn & MGP. Dunny can only really be effective for an hour now, so we can replace him at that point with Rochina, swapping MGP inside and putting Rochina on the left hand side (further infield than MGP though).

I dont think we can afford to start with 4 in midfield against the 5 from city, as such I'd play Benjani as he's probably the best at holding the ball up and bringing other players into the game.

I also think we need to go and have a real go at city, get stuck in and try to unsettle them, like we did against Chelsea at the beginning of the season, chase everything and not give them easy posession. I think as well, if we go behind we need to switch to 4-4-2.

My line-up would be:

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

----------------------------

Salgado--Samba-Givet--Olsson

-----------P Jones----------

-------J.Jones--Dunn--------

Hoilett------------------MGP

----------Benjani-----------

[FourLaneBlue]

If Niko plays, we'll have to hope that the keeper drops the ball at his feet leaving him with an open goal to roll the ball in, or that someone deflects one of his efforts.

Seriously, I've seen no evidence whatsoever, in two years, that he can shoot. [as in - hit a ball with power and direction, on a regular basis].

Don't knock it den. That might be our best chance of getting something out of the game.

[tony gale's mic]

If Niko plays, we'll have to hope that the keeper drops the ball at his feet leaving him with an open goal to roll the ball in, or that someone deflects one of his efforts.

Seriously, I've seen no evidence whatsoever, in two years, that he can shoot. [as in - hit a ball with power and direction, on a regular basis].

He hasn't really been given a chance since January.

[RibbleValleyRover]

If Niko plays, we'll have to hope that the keeper drops the ball at his feet leaving him with an open goal to roll the ball in, or that someone deflects one of his efforts.

If it gets us points I would take that Den.

[den]

Don't knock it den. That might be our best chance of getting something out of the game.

You're right FLB, it just might be. Our strikers don't really fit the description though, do they.

[Tom]

If results don't get better today we could be going into this really needing a result.

Getting scary now. A goal for Blackpool and Wigan and it'll be even worse!

[dring1]

If results don't get better today we could be going into this really needing a result.

Getting scary now. A goal for Blackpool and Wigan and it'll be even worse!

maybe thats whats needed and wake the players and manager up. everyone except the supporters including the owners is talking like we are not going to get relegated so as daft as it sounds going into the bottom 3 might not be the worse thing

[den]

If results don't get better today we could be going into this really needing a result.

Getting scary now. A goal for Blackpool and Wigan and it'll be even worse!

Wigan scored

[Tom]

If results don't get better today we could be going into this really needing a result.

Getting scary now. A goal for Blackpool and Wigan and it'll be even worse!

Sorry to quote myself but it's gone from being awful after an hour or so to really good for us at full time.

Now there's the incentive to push on for a win.

[chris]

I have a bad feeling, I'm going for 4-1 to Man City

[Steve Moss]

I've had a bad feeling since Kean's appointment became permenant. On the other hand, the closer game day becomes, the more optimistic I began to feel. For example, here's the status of my current internal arguments in favor of Rovers beating ManC Monday:

1. We're home.

2. The supporters WILL back the squad if they play well and blast them if they do not.

3. We've some experienced, proud players who may be able to battle our way to a good result.

4. Kean is finally acknowledging that we're in a jam, demonstrating some attachment to reality.

5. RSC can't play.

6. Hoilett can play.

7. Even bad teams get lucky sometimes, and we aren't a bad team.

[tony gale's mic]

If we manage to scrape a ridiculously lucky win from somewhere, if Robbo is on top form and Hoilett produces a moment of magic and Robbo stays in top form...then we're 90% likely to stay up after todays' results.

[Majiball]

I think WBA drawing against the spuds could work to our advantage and now city won't arrive having to win to claim back fourth.

2-2 with rovers equalising in the last minute due to Kean having a moment of brilliance and blinding Hart in the dying seconds with reflected sun light from his bald dome.

[LeChuck]

For example, here's the status of my current internal arguments in favor of Rovers beating ManC Monday:

1. We're home.

2. The supporters WILL back the squad if they play well and blast them if they do not.

3. We've some experienced, proud players who may be able to battle our way to a good result.

4. Kean is finally acknowledging that we're in a jam, demonstrating some attachment to reality.

5. RSC can't play.

6. Hoilett can play.

7. Even bad teams get lucky sometimes, and we aren't a bad team.

The huge problem with that is that it doesn't consider our opponents. Man City are a far superior team to us. Even if all that happens, if Man City are on form then we will lose.

We need them to have an off day to stand a chance, and even then we need most (if not all) of your points to work in our favour. To be fair it's the same any time we play the top four, which is why victories are so rare.

[Hasta]

7. Even bad teams get lucky sometimes, and we aren't a bad team.

Seriously?

Our strikers can't score and out midfield is either poor or past it with the exception of Hoillet. We ARE a bad team by Premier League standards.

If we stopped up and got a new manager we would need a decent rebuild. A new player here or there won't suffice.

[Maverick]

Quality set pieces will be our best chance against city. Therefore I hope mgp can delivere for ones. Ages since last time. Also going to be many long balls from Robinson into the box.

[Guest linganzi]

I think we have our best chance of points. The mercenaries have a cup final to distract them.

City are a funny club , the fans are lottery lout winners , proper neavau riche or however its spelt, , really crass. Funny how they used to tell us how they were the peoples club and so on , ill bet that the gallaghers would be utd fans if they were the underdogs