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

[47er]

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.

We're a bit like goldfish aren't we? The closer every game gets the more optimistic I feel. Then we lose or draw and it starts all over again!

[joey_big_nose]

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.

I'd say personally add one good striker and everyone fully fit and we are a decent team. The two Jones, Hoilett and Olsson across midfield is not a bad midfield compared to anyone outside the top eight or so.

Issue is we have no one who really hurts teams up front. Add one player who has the scoring knack and worries defences and we would be safely mid table. Kean staked our goalscoring on RSC and it has failed massively - although some blame can be attached to Allardyce on this front as Kalinic was clearly the wrong purchase, and Benjani has offered little.

There was a lot of worry about losing creativity in the team over the last three years, but it is not having quality leading the line and finishing which has burnt us.

[davulsukur]

We're a bit like goldfish aren't we? The closer every game gets the more optimistic I feel. Then we lose or draw and it starts all over again!

That's exactly how I feel! I actually thought we were going to turn Everton over, only to check the full time score

[tony gale's mic]

There was a lot of worry about losing creativity in the team over the last three years, but it is not having quality leading the line and finishing which has burnt us.

Not when we finished 10th last season and were on course for a similar if not better finish this season.

[my_name_is_Earl]

Kalinic has to start for me. Roberts and Benjani have shown plenty of effort and determination in the last few games but they don't have the ability that Kalinic has, especially a Kalinic that is absolutely tearing the door down to get his chance. Kean needs to stick he neck back in and realise that Kalinic offers us our best chance of scoring goals over the next five games. I would also play Mame Diouf because as a United man, he'll be desperate to put in a performance to Ferguson who i'm sure will be watching. Besides which, he hasn't been playing much recently so he should bring fresh ideas in attacking positions.

My team:

Robbo

Salgado Samba Givet Olsson

J.Jones P.Jones Pedersen

Mame Diouf Hoillet

Kalinic

[Mercer]

After Roberts' sucking-up article in today's People, it's obvious who will, unfortunately, be leading the line tomorrow.

IMO, him and Kean are joined at the hip and went to the same bullsh1t school.

[tony gale's mic]

Yep, I can't believe Kalinic still hasn't made an appearance, sub or otherwise, since his run of 4 goals in 6 games.

No one is claiming he's Pele, but at least give the man a chance when all our other strikers are so awful.

[davulsukur]

Santa cruz obviously can't play. Kalanic should be getting the nod. Esp if we play 2 up top. As a line front man, maybe not

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Santa cruz obviously can't play. Kalanic should be getting the nod. Esp if we play 2 up top. As a line front man, maybe not

Can't see us playing two up front with our weak midfield, City would love that.

[Mattyblue]

Roberts to start? The season that keeps on giving...

[tony gale's mic]

I'd rather have Benjani than Roberts starting, definitely. At least Benjani has caused Chelsea problems from the off before, whereas Roberts is only (rarely) any good as a substitute.

[broadsword]

He's a willing work-horse, but he just can't score. It's pretty pointless putting him up front. He couldn't knock a crocquet ball between two ferry doors, he has toblerone boots on.

You've got to have Kalinic plus one other. Even if it is Roberts playing a bit behind him with the instruction to give Kalinic the ball in space whenever possible. Defenders don't like playing against Jason but goalkeepers do.

Any more news on Hoillett?

[Tim Southampton Rover]

I'd like to see Formica on the bench.

Just a shame we spent £3m on someone who isn't ready to play this season at all.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

I'd like to see Formica on the bench.

Just a shame we spent £3m on someone who isn't ready to play this season at all.

Why ? Just so you can see what he looks like .

[Exiled_Rover]

Is Hoilett fit?

If so I'd go with a front four of 'Hoilett, Rochina, Olsson' all playing off 'Kalinic'.

Go for broke.

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

Kalinic has to start for me. Roberts and Benjani have shown plenty of effort and determination in the last few games but they don't have the ability that Kalinic has, especially a Kalinic that is absolutely tearing the door down to get his chance. Kean needs to stick he neck back in and realise that Kalinic offers us our best chance of scoring goals over the next five games. I would also play Mame Diouf because as a United man, he'll be desperate to put in a performance to Ferguson who i'm sure will be watching. Besides which, he hasn't been playing much recently so he should bring fresh ideas in attacking positions.

My team:

Robbo

Salgado Samba Givet Olsson

J.Jones P.Jones Pedersen

Mame Diouf Hoillet

Kalinic

Not sure I would go with that formation (possibly Dunn for Pedersen and Emerton for Diouf - just to give us a more solid midfield) - but it is interesting that everybody is correctly saying that P.Jones needs to be in midfield for this one. Will be interesting to see whether Kean agrees or not.

[joey_big_nose]

Not when we finished 10th last season and were on course for a similar if not better finish this season.

I see where your coming from but we were scoring from set pieces and the strikers were for a large part ineffective. It can;t be painted as a good purchase under Sam or since Kean took over.

As for who should start up front my preference would be with Benjani and looking to bring on Kalinic at some point. Also there is no way that Emerton should get anywhere near the pitch - Hoilett wide left and either Rochina or Mame Diouf wide right.

Those asking to start two up are dreaming! No chance.

Key performances will be in midfield. We need to outwork City, keep very good shape across the park and look to get the ball out to Hoilett whenever possible.

[Plastic Head]

I wish I had the enthusiasm for all this talk of team changes and different formations but I just think it's pointless.

We are just moving around deckchairs on the Titanic.

Only difference is instead of hitting some ice, the White Star Line have had a hole drilled in the hull and appointed Benny Hill as Captain.

[Steve Moss]

If Kean is being rational, he'll know a loss is the likely result tomorrow based on how the squad has played over the last 10 matches. The best results we've had are against a demoralized Liverpool (win) and Arsenal (draw). He'll need more than just a marginal improvement to match ManC who'll be fired up to get into the Champions League.

I really don't think its the tactics that Kean has employed which has let him down. While his substitutions have sometimes been questionable, his formations for the most part seem logical. What is hurting Kean is the performance of senior players, including his 'supporters' Roberts, Dunn, Samba, etc . . .. They are too comfortable and not playing for their professional lives.

Kean needs to inject some passion and energy into the squad. That means youth (P. Jones, Olsen, Hoillett) and players who are lost if we go down (Benjani).

If we play 2 up front, Kalinic has to start with either Benjani or Rochina. If only one up front, then we should start with Benjani due to us being his last refuge, he's looked better than some, and being familiar with the ManC players and formations.

Thinking about it, we need a midfield of 5 against ManC. Which means we should be playing 1 up front. The midfield obviously needs Hoillet and Olsson on the wings, and P. Jones and J. Jones in the center. The question becomes who is the 5th. If N'Zonzi wasn't suspended he'd be the obvious choice but as it stands we don't have his services.

Dunn is slow, has a poor attitude and his defensive tactic seems to foul whomever poses a threat. With the ref calls we've been getting we can't risk him.

MGP is our dead ball 'specialist'. Problem is he seems to float through the matches, 2/3 times. We are in the deep s!@te and don't have time for him to lift his eyes from his navel gazing.

Emerton is more or less in Dunn's category. He's hasn't contributed in the last several matches and there is no reason to think he'll start now.

I worry that Kean will go with Andrews. For many reasons, I think that would be a BIG mistake. Not the least of which is that the supporters are already on edge. Best to avoid a spark.

So I suggest we take a page from Sam's book. Move a defender up to serve as a midfielder. In this case, pair of young legs, Josh Morris. Play him just to the inside of Olsson so he gives Hanley and Givet some additional cover and would allow him to link up with Olsson to wreck havoc on ManC's right.

For defenders, it writes itself. Hanley, our youngest CB (and the left side of the field in general) is protected by a defensive triangle of Givet, Olsson and J. Morris, so we should be very solid there. Plus, on the inside of Olsson means that the midfield shifts just a tad, so Salgado (our most experienced, albeit slow, defender) will have a bit more cover from P. Jones which should leaveus solid on the right.

So in summary:

Salgado-Samba-Hanley-Givet

Hoilett-P.Jones-J.Jones-J.Morris-Olsson

Benjani

The objective with that line up is a draw or a sneaky win. Our offense, such as it is, will be the Dynamic Duo on the wings (tranforming our formation into a 4-3-3 on the occassions we'll be on the attack) and/or J. Jones linking with Benjani (more likely if we wind up playing a counter-attacking game). Not the most attacking, but a goal or 2 is possible. Worse case, we protect the goal difference (I hope).

Anyway, that's my day of arm chair generaling.

[Bobby G]

Junior and Rochina must both start. Id love to see Niko with them but think it will be Roberts.

After Roberts' sucking-up article in today's People, it's obvious who will, unfortunately, be leading the line tomorrow.

IMO, him and Kean are joined at the hip and went to the same bullsh1t school.

Had the same exact feeling.

[Kamy100]

I have little expectations for this game, City have been poor away from home but they have momentum after the semi-final victory over United. To get anything from this game we are going to have to be organised.

I just feel that City will have to much for us and will win this game easily. I desperately hope that I am wrong.

What I do want to see from Rovers tomorrow is Passion, Pride and Commitment.

[m1st]

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.

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.

While you're right, LeChuck, there are some other [okay, maybe I am clutching at straws] considerations which this "glass-half-full" fan takes into account:

No Tevez;

Other Citeh players might be saving themselves for Wembley against Stoke;

City are only 12th in the Form table and they only have 2 points out of the last 6 away League games. [Okay; 4 of those have been against their rivals rather than ours; but they've lost the habit of winning away.]; and

"It's a funny old game!" [okay, even I'm embarrassed by that one!]

[Mercer]

My heart says Rovers 2-1 but my head says City comfortably.

City will look at this match as a chance to make their match against Spuds academic in terms of C.L. qualification. In addition, there is now a real chance that they can nick Arsenal's third place spot and therefore avoid the qualification round.

It could be a tough old night.

[J*B]

I've just put joe hart, mario balotelli and david silva © in my fantasy team. i expect a drubbing.

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

Our season won't be decided if we lose tomorrow. Anything from City would be a bonus, so lets not lose the plot if, as expected, we are defeated. Hoilett back is huge and I'd like to see more from Rochina. Give it a go and you never know. I'd take a point right now.