[Archived] Preview of Wolves vs. Rovers; 22 May 2011.

[tony gale's mic]

I was among a number of fans calling for Kean to be fired after the Fulham game- we were wrong, The Raos clearly made the right choice in hindsight- then.

We stayed up because of Kean as well as the players- the table does not lie. Had this been lat season we would have been what 10 points ahead of the drop zone? Freak season glad its over.

It's not that much of a freak season - usually 40 points is the benchmark for survival and that was the case this season. Last season if anything was a freak season since all three relegated teams were so much worse.

And IMO Kean should still have been fired after the Fulham game. Yes we stayed up but it doesnt mean the decision to keep him up was right - I think a better manager wouldve got more than three points out of the three relegated teams we played in the weeks following that result which wouldnt have had us waiting until the last day to stay up. Also Kean still isnt upto being Rovers manager IMO, and this will be a problem next season.

[USABlue]

The boys in blue 'n' white did their bit and thats all that matters!

Now then,good riddence to this season and.....

LET LESSONS BE LEARNED FROM THIS DODGED BULLET AND RAFAEL BENITEZ...COME ON DOWN!!!

Good god please no.

[TimmyJimmy]

I'm a wreck. Thank G*d for that, its over. I'd like to wax poetically about the performance but I need to go to bed for a lay down, maybe tomorrow. I'm too old for this stuff. What a last few weeks, hated it, but safe at last. COYB.

[True Blue & White]

I'm a wreck. Thank G*d for that, its over. I'd like to wax poetically about the performance but I need to go to bed for a lay down, maybe tomorrow. I'm too old for this stuff. What a last few weeks, hated it, but safe at last. COYB.

Are you a Wolves fan? At no point were we in danger and at no point did we even drop a place let alone into the relegation zone.

[BuckyRover]

It's going to be a long week!

I'm very pessimistic [to say the least] about Steve Kean's managerial capabilities and our away form this season, but Wolves are there for the taking - they're only capable of scoring from set-pieces and defensive blunders, and *touch wood* we have looked fairly solid at the back recently (here's hoping Samba will be fit). I watched Wolves beat West Brom a couple of weeks ago and the 3-1 scoreline was very flattering as defensively they look worse than Blackpool. Doyle can be a handful and Fletcher is on form, but Hoilett and Olsson are capable of tearing their defence apart so I expect a high scoring game with Roberts bundling in a couple off his shin.

I'm going for a sneaky 3-2 away win, Blackpool and Birmingham to lose and Wigan to stay up with a point at the Britannia.

Merit point for that prediction.

[tony gale's mic]

Are you a Wolves fan? At no point were we in danger and at no point did we even drop a place let alone into the relegation zone.

Yeah. Today wasn't remotely nervous. I'm very relieved we got those early goals as it could mean I could watch the relegation battle unfold as an interested observer rather than a nervous wreck.

[LeftWinger]

We had to win at a team that has beaten the top 3 at home this season. We were sensational in the first half. Full of passion, full of quality and determined to win. I've been a big critic of Kean - but he got it spot on in the first half. But for two superb saves from Hennessey, we could have been 5-0 up before they scored. We hung on a bit in the second half, but that was to be expected. Well done boys!

[Rover & Out]

I think Steve Kean is due some credit. Yes he may have got us into this mess in the first place but he's got us out of it too.

He was very erratic with his team selections initially, but since that has settled down, we have looked a solid team.

It would have been easy for him to walk after the Fulham game (or any of the weeks in that period).

The amount of people on here that had written us off weeks ago.

I don't know how anyone can criticise him after today's game, the best 1st half away performance i've seen in a long time.

[brian nelsen]

I think Steve Kean is due some credit. Yes he may have got us into this mess in the first place but he's got us out of it too.

He was very erratic with his team selections initially, but since that has settled down, we have looked a solid team.

It would have been easy for him to walk after the Fulham game (or any of the weeks in that period).

The amount of people on here that had written us off weeks ago.

I don't know how anyone can criticise him after today's game, the best 1st half away performance i've seen in a long time.

Really good post. Unfortunately, it will soon be shot down in a hail of negativity. Good on you tho mate.

[roverwhelmed]

I think Steve Kean is due some credit. Yes he may have got us into this mess in the first place but he's got us out of it too.

He was very erratic with his team selections initially, but since that has settled down, we have looked a solid team.

It would have been easy for him to walk after the Fulham game (or any of the weeks in that period).

The amount of people on here that had written us off weeks ago.

I don't know how anyone can criticise him after today's game, the best 1st half away performance i've seen in a long time.

The residents of my house are giving him some credit (hard won), and the players too.

SO happy

[philipl]

It feels like the most enormous weight has been lifted- sweet sweet relief that we survived.

Rovers were comfortably the classier and better side and were well worth the 3-0 half time lead.

Brilliant performance at the back by Samba and Phil Jones in the second half with a couple of superb stops by Robbo as well.

The lads stood up when it was needed and did us proud.

[Waggy76]

My god , what is the world coming too..I agree with you !!!

[Neal]

I watched the boys today, sweating in my 1989 Ellgren Rovers shirt today and i'm absolutely buzzing. Really chuffed for Steve Kean. Came in difficult circumstances, at a difficult part of the season... Job done. I think his personality suits the younger players we have here and his style of football goes hand in hand with that. If someone was to come in who's has proven success, then so be it. BUT i would not be dissapointed if Steve is here next season getting the best out of Ollson, Hoillett, Formica and Rochina. To add to that, recent performances, attitudes and results have been positive and the players seem to want to play for Kean.

I'm also glad to shut up the critics such as Lawrenson, Merson and Thompson as they've been dismissive of the quality we truely have in this team and hopefully next season that quality can help us achieve something special next season. Finally i'm delighted that Birmingham have gone down, they came to Ewood throwing bottles, glass and coins which hit family's. They chanted about us going down and being s**t, they got we they deserved... scumbags and so-called "bigger club". Terrible team and no-where near the quality we have so justice is done.

Well done boys, VERY VERY PROUD ROVERS FAN.

[McClarky]

Can't believe how stress free that was. Really exciting watching the other games but from all accounts we blew Wolves away and then even when they started coming back we were never in any danger of going down. Can't wait to watch MotD for about the 1st time this season.

Hope the mangement at the club gets sorted quickly so they can start thinking about what to do for next year.

[Waggy76]

Don't know you Neal , but spot on !!!

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

Steve Kean got us into the mess in the first place. I'm glad we have had decent results in the last few weeks and today but we should have never have been in the mix today when he took over.

It takes more from a manager to take a team out of a relegation scrap then it is to put a team into one.

He may not be the right manager, he might not have enough experience but for the past month and a half he's got it right. Tactically, he's got it right. People said that this would be the true test, well by anyone's standard, today, he did well.

Great credit to the team today, didn't see it happening beforehand.

8 points from 4 games. When it mattered. Not easy.

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

It's not that much of a freak season - usually 40 points is the benchmark for survival and that was the case this season. Last season if anything was a freak season since all three relegated teams were so much worse.

And IMO Kean should still have been fired after the Fulham game. Yes we stayed up but it doesnt mean the decision to keep him up was right - I think a better manager wouldve got more than three points out of the three relegated teams we played in the weeks following that result which wouldnt have had us waiting until the last day to stay up. Also Kean still isnt upto being Rovers manager IMO, and this will be a problem next season.

I think they took a huge gamble with Kean - watching him serve the first part of his apprenticeship - while he put our Premier League survival at risk. Should he continue - not sure - I still think he has a lot to learn and a new more experienced manager would (on paper) do better. The unknown is how genuine the apparent togetherness of the players and management actually is. If it is genuine - he may be worth a gamble for another half a season - what will show this is how many players push to leave in the close season now that our position is assured for another season. First good sign would be Hoilett - he made some bold claims that he didn't want him distracted - but it would be sorted in the close season - now is the time for him to come good on this. Also convince Samba and Jones to stay (we have a real chance next season if we can keep them together and fit) - and maybe we have to give him a little longer.

[Exiled in Toronto]

What a game - gets into my top 10 ever. Very reminiscent of Boxing Day '76 at the Turd. Good win on any day given what Wolves are capable of at home but with the pressure and intensity of the event I thought we were brilliant in the 1st half. 2nd half we were never going to close down, Wolves were in the bottom 3 ffs, and we got undone not by being over-run but by 2 set plays, which can happen.

There's no doubt that the latter part of the season has been very different from the Dec-March period. Key events for me were firstly J Jones finding his feet in this league and enabling us to play 4 across midfield, something the sages on here said was both impossible and a century out of date anyway. With a strong 4, Hoilett could have more of a floating role and his goals have been huge for us. The return of Jones Jnr into the back 4 also made us better. Lastly a word for the old warhorses, Bert and Jase. 4 goals between them in the last 3 games plus another 3 or 4 assists.

And we finished a massive 4 points behind last years 10th place in a much more competitive league this year when we signed only dross in the close season. History will hardly show this season as some kind of cataclysmic collapse, not matter how it felt at times.

[Tim Southampton Rover]

I expect someone has already posted this but Wolves v Blackburn is the main match on Football First at 8.25pm. So you can re-watch it all again without any nerves!

[brian nelsen]

What a game - gets into my top 10 ever. Very reminiscent of Boxing Day '76 at the Turd. Good win on any day given what Wolves are capable of at home but with the pressure and intensity of the event I thought we were brilliant in the 1st half. 2nd haf we were never going to close down, Wolves were in the bottom 3 ffs, and we got undone not by being over-run but by 2 set plays, which can happen.

There's no doubt that the latter part of the season has been very different from the Dec-Marrh period. Key events for me were firstly J Jones finding his feet in this league and enabling us to play 4 across midfield, something the sages on here said was both impossible and a century out of date anyway. With a strong 4, Hoilett could have more of a floating role and his goals have been huge for us. The return of Jones Jnr into the back 4 also made us better. Lastly a word for the old warhorses, Bert and Jase. 4 goals between them in the last 3 games plus another 3 or 4 assists.

And we finished a massive 4 points behind last years 10th place in a much more competitive league this year when we signed only dross in the close season. History will hardly show this season as some kind of cataclysmic collapse, not matter how it felt at times.

Brilliant. I want to be your friend.

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

Brilliant result. We almost p!ssed it away in customary fashion but well done to the team in grabbing a rather improbable three points early on and giving themselves a relatively stress free afternoon.

Though we did nearly give it away - but for better finishing we would have been totally out of sight (especially Roberts chance to make it 4-0). Also credit to Wolves - both goals were class - though it was never a free kick on Hunt.

Also thought the ref extremely generous - at least two of their players could easily have been sent off - indeed Henry should have been for raising his arms to Jones - definite 2nd yellow IMO

[grizfoot]

We survive after scoring three goals away from home, two of which where top quality I might add and people still find the time to complain, this place baffles me sometimes.

Absolutley overjoyed with the performance and result today we didn't need it in the end but it made the afternoon more comfortable with us racing into a three goal lead. Well done the players and well doen Kean. Persisting with Roberts proved a masterstroke today, he brilliant converted the first after Salgado's pass and his nice little touch set-up Holiett for the second. Holiett was another top performer, looks to have taken the the role playing off the striker very well and was a constant threat for us. Really do hope we manage to keep hold of Junior he's got all the skill and potential to be world-class player in my opinion.

[LeftWinger]

From the BBC:

Blackburn's first-half performance, in the circumstances, was quite remarkable. They played with an attacking fluency missing from large swathes of their season, with strikers Roberts and Hoilett proving unplayable for the Wolves defence.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Finally i'm delighted that Birmingham have gone down, they came to Ewood throwing bottles, glass and coins which hit family's. They chanted about us going down and being s**t, they got we they deserved... scumbags and so-called "bigger club". Terrible team and no-where near the quality we have so justice is done.

Well done boys, VERY VERY PROUD ROVERS FAN.

Forgot about that...justice done indeed!

[imy9]

Could you put that quote in bold letters please Jim- he seems to think we were playing Sam hoofball football.