[Archived] Rovers vs Bolton - Possibly our most important game in years

[yoda]

I actually believe Rovers may get a draw v man u. Those players must hurt after what happened at Old Trafford. That result probable put paid to Sam's job. Which left us with the current situation. I am hoping the players are hurting so much that they play the best they ever have done and maybe dent Man U title hopes. Rovers did it last season. It is also the last home game of the season - which could also make a difference.

I think SAF would love to sink us as the Venky's sacked his mate,

There will be no holding back from Manu

[heysham rover]

Well if my earlier post stating just that mr mays tight perm expect to be met with sn almighty barrage of derision.

[John]

Despite what some informed people on the web site think - I wouldn't be surprised if a positive end to the season will see Venky's persisting with Kean into next season.

That is the concern - apart from the crude conflict of interest which saw him land the job it is the huge risk factor involved (that he turns out to be a success).

Apart from Jerome Anderson no one know really knows Steve Kean so what are they basing their judgement on? Fair enough Venky's like Kean and he is overly positive but that is not the basis for being manager of a football club.

Who knows he may, in time, turn out to be a good manager. However why we should we as a club take the brunt of his mistakes?

Currently he is not good enough to be a PL manager - understandably over the last few weeks I have noticed him looking very edgy on the touchline and also he has looked a bit rattled by recent results (as you would probably expect).

[Darwen Rover]

Aside from getting relegated the worst possible situation is that Kean stays... We need an experienced but hungry mgr.. Jol / Bilic / oneill

[47er]

i think we need to either have santa cruz or kalinic up top with roberts against west ham

i know roberts aint a goal scorer but i think he offers more then benjani -

another top performance from jermaine jones - if we stay up imo this guy should bought first

olsson much better at left wing - attacks with pace and his crossing is really improving ..olsson one wing , hoilett the other - its quite exciting

on to west ham which will be a hugeee game

I'd go 4-5-1 at West Ham with Santa Cruz up top if he's not carrying an injury. He's the only one who can play there. Id have N'Zonzi, J Jones and Pedersen in the middle. Thought we looked more balanced when Pedersen came on.I'm assuming Dunn won't be ready.

I can't see what you can see in Roberts personally.

Aside from getting relegated the worst possible situation is that Kean stays... We need an experienced but hungry mgr.. Jol / Bilic / oneill

I can imagine Kean flying to Pune and saying "See I told you there was no need to worry."

[thenodrog]

Today wasn't about Kean or Venky's, it was about three vital points to keep us above water.

We got 'em and the rest is history.

Hey good point.... And exactly what I said after the Wolves match when we beat em comfortably 3-0 but nobody heard cos I was drowned out by the booing !!

Can you remember the mass stupidity on display that day Topman?

[thenodrog]

I'm by no means a Steve Kean fan but I think we have to give the guy sone credit here. It can't be all his fault when we lose yet all the players doing when we win. It's a two way street.

The team seemed a motivated, 'together' unit today which I feel the management team deserve some credit for.

I think that the dressing room takeover at HT v Blackpool could have been the seminal moment of 2011 heysham rover? Don't you agree?

[Stuart]

Hey good point.... And exactly what I said after the Wolves match when we beat em comfortably 3-0 but nobody heard cos I was drowned out by the booing !!

Can you remember the mass stupidity on display that day Topman?

Happy Groundhog Day, Theno.

[thenodrog]

Good post. I think we won because we had Ollson and they didn't! As for strikers, we don't have one of Premier League standard, that's why we can occasionally play well but still lose eg Spurs and City.

Lack of creativity and no strikers--um------how much money have the Rao's got again?

Exactly and the nail on the head that so many of the 4-4-2 brigade cannot grasp! Given the choice of a full and fit squad and two massively important away games coming up, plus a home match against the leaders and accepting as we must that we have 4 main strikers none of whom are any good. So if we can get Hoillet and Dunn fit then we must go 4-5-1. It's a no brainer to play 2 crap strikers and keep those two on the bench is just daft.

Back four as normal now that Nelsen is out with Hoillet N'Zonzi, Dunny/MGP, JonesJ, Olsson in midfield and the best back to goal CF leading the line. Currently mine would be a 1.RSC and 2. Benjani. The training ground work that Kean deems to be so important** (despite sitting on his arse in a plane for so much of the week) should revolve around getting those 5 to accept their defensive duties but to make sure that RSC is not left isolated.

**btw re:Kean's oh so important 'facetofacers' with the owners does anybody know how many times Fergy is expected to fly over to the States each season? How about KMD? Does he jet over to see Henry every 5 mins?

Just read your post 47er. What is it they say about great minds eh?

[thenodrog]

EXCELLENT Davies?? He won nothing, the bolton fans I know where raging about how poor he was.

2nd half he pulled away from Samba and dropped a little right and deeper and won absolutely everything in the air. (Exactly how they got the winner at the Reebok.) N'Zonzi and Phil Jones are two strong lads but they were just bouncing off him. He's not an out and out striker but as a back to goal target man he is still the best in the Prem.

If I were KMD I'd sit Carroll down to study vids of Davies's position and movement for half an hour before every training session with instructions to go out and copy it.

[imy9]

Theno- this apparent dressing room takeover at half time you talk of from a group of senior players who were there when Ince was here did not see too much fight on the pitch for him, why do you think they are prepared to fight so much now but not then? The answer (if you choose to see it) is that Kean has not lost the dressing room and the players as a whole are on his side. Performances against Arsenal, City, Blackpool and Bolton recently are proof of that.

Do I still want an experienced manager, yes course i do, but fair play to Kean. Also thought it was nice to see Knight approach Kean at the end hug and kiss him on the forehead- obviously liked by ex players it seems.

[47er]

Thought I'd throw this little reminder of the not-too-distant past here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/nov/25/blackburn-premierleague?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487

[joey_big_nose]

I'm not a huge Kean fan but the reality is Rovers totally dominated that match. He deserves credit for the tactics which pinned back Bolton. We kept a very high line which Sam never did, got the ball out to Olsson and played it into Benjani and Roberts who did a good job terrorizing the centrebacks.

We should have won by more. It could have been 3 or 4 at the end.

Also to be fair to Kean since the terrible run of Wigan, Newcastle, Villa games where we were exceptionally poor Rovers have performed well - Everton aside which was an insipid performance. We lost or drew against Birmingham, Man City, Arsenal and Fulham but those games were all decent efforts where the team was well orgainsed and we created chances. So things have been improving.

Still obviously want him replaced, but I am curious to see what happens at West Ham and Wolves now he has got a win and the shape of the side seems more balanced.

[Gav]

I know I will get derided for this - but I can't help feel sorry for Kean when we actually win a match and people say it is inspite of him, because the opposition were tired etc. etc. I also think some of the monkey jibes are a little over the top.

It would be a nice change if people looked at Kean's tenure with a little more balance - some supporters just have a totally black view of Kean and probably wouldn't see any positives even if we won the Premiership under him (p.s. before anyone says anything - I can understand this to an extent as he has taken us from relative safety to the brink of relegation - though hopefully only the brink)

should he go - probably

should he have been appointed - no (or at least not without an experienced no 2 - and probably not even then)

have the players shown commitment under him - for most of the time. The annoying positive slant he puts on everything must be having a positive impact on the younger players like Hoilett and Olsson who still play with a certain amount of confidence despite our position.

tactics are improving - from an initial gung-ho mess to the more structured set up we have seen in the latter stages of the season. From his first matches in charge I think we have improved under him. And importantly he seems to learn from his mistakes - though he had plenty to learn from !

Despite what some informed people on the web site think - I wouldn't be surprised if a positive end to the season will see Venky's persisting with Kean into next season.

Lets just enjoy the win - in its self it may be enough - but any form of positive result at West Ham will possibly make us safe.

Not everyone is so blinkered DMTP, some have been around long enough to realise that player power alone isn’t the reason we’re looking like getting out of this, but the manager takes some of the accolades also.

You need look no further than bpool second half, Arsenal away, City at home and yesterday to see the players would run through brick walls for Kean and that’s obvious to anyone who cares to open his/her eyes.

He needs to go, but deserves some respect for what’s he’s managed to do achieve with this bunch of players in recent weeks.

[Sysagent]

Christ we were poor on the back third constantly yesterday, imagine how good we would actually be with one or two strikers that can score, if money is to be spent in the Summer it has to be on a solid, proven striker...

I think the difference we are seeing with these past few games is the return of Givet to left back allowing Martin O to get up there and attack as we know he is so good at, sad to see Salgado stretchered off but I am sure the Duracell Bunny will be back at weekend against West Ham.

Talking of spending in Summer we need to sign Jermaine Jones permanently, he is bloody brilliant and the midfielder we have been requiring for years (something Mr Kean et al have got right getting him on loan), thought Emerton was quite good yesterday when shifted back into defense.

Infact all the team put in a decent shift but we do need to score goals (obvious I know) it's the one thing that we aren't good at but if we get that area right and we stay up next season than I can see us possibly progressing nicely under a proven Premier League manager.

I am going back to nursing my hangover now...

;-(

[Mattyblue]

A win is a win and from the manager to the players, fair play.

However, he should not have been allowed anywhere near the job and to cause the havoc, him and his SEM overlords have is unforgivable.

A crack at a PL job is far more than he deserves, he should be greatful to BRFC and not the other way round.

[Stuart]

2nd half he pulled away from Samba and dropped a little right and deeper and won absolutely everything in the air. (Exactly how they got the winner at the Reebok.) N'Zonzi and Phil Jones are two strong lads but they were just bouncing off him. He's not an out and out striker but as a back to goal target man he is still the best in the Prem.

If I were KMD I'd sit Carroll down to study vids of Davies's position and movement for half an hour before every training session with instructions to go out and copy it.

So you advocate turning this generation's best chance to follow Shearer into a second rate target/flick-on man and one of the dirtiest forwards in the division? You should stick to berating people for not having your powers of fore-sight (or is that hind-sight?).

If I was KMD I'd be calling on my experience working with Big Al into turning him into a goal machine.

[47er]

Just read your post 47er. What is it they say about great minds eh?

We are indeed blessed Theno!

[Plastic Head]

Still think Rovers have failed to win too many important home games to keep themselves in the premier, even two more weeks of the old manager would have got us 3 or more points to keep us in the league, but unfortunately the indians were in too much of a hurry to commit suicide.

The fact is that we would be better playing Chelsea and Arsenal than WHU and Wolves, because not only will we not get any points but will give 3 to the opposition.

We need 2 points to stay up.

Cant see us getting them.

Act in haste and you can repent at your leisure Venkys.

[Toodling]

Still think Rovers have failed to win too many important home games to keep themselves in the premier, even two more weeks of the old manager would have got us 3 or more points to keep us in the league, but unfortunately the indians were in too much of a hurry to commit suicide.

The fact is that we would be better playing Chelsea and Arsenal than WHU and Wolves, because not only will we not get any points but will give 3 to the opposition.

We need 2 points to stay up.

Cant see us getting them.

Act in haste and you can repent at your leisure Venkys.

Good job we dont really care what you tthink then innit? Sick of doom and gloom posters on here all the time.

[Amo]

We are indeed blessed Theno!

I wouldn't take that as a compliment.

[jim mk2]

Not everyone is so blinkered DMTP, some have been around long enough to realise that player power alone is n't the only reason we're looking like getting out of this, but and the manager takes some none of the accolades.

You need look no further than bpool second half, Arsenal away, City at home and yesterday to see the players would run through brick walls for Kean to save the club and that's obvious to anyone who cares to open his/her eyes.

He needs to go, but deserves some no respect for what's he's managed to do achieve with this bunch of players in recent weeks.

Amended it for you. Jolly good post now.

[gumboots]

Amended it for you. Jolly good post now.

Not true though. The players are still behind the manager. Have it from a senior player. They know he's not allardyce, who they thought was great, but they are still playing for him because they like him and think he's good. This was not said for public consumption, as in the united front clubs try to get players to put up to newspapers, but in a private conversation where other things were said that were less than complimentary about other people, situations etc. therefore I assume that what I was told was true.

[Amo]

Amended it for you. Jolly good post now.

Funny how player-power wasn't an option for Ince then, eh?

Stop being a tart.

[Gav]

Amended it for you. Jolly good post now.