[Archived] Preview (Not) Asia Trophy

[RevidgeBlue]

Get a grip!

If she is taking note, she'll note that we've been set up well, played well but need a couple of signings.

Agreed. Quality strikers first and foremost, otherwise we might be hearing the score "Blackburn Rovers nil" a lot this season.

As for the original post, agreed as well. That's the sort of standard to which this site seems to have slipped. If you're not slagging off something to do with the new regime, no one wants to know.

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

If we'd have won it would have only been a friendly

Good display I'd say, some good approach play as always, no end product.

Formica looked promising, a really good display from him.

A defeat may be the best thing anyway - especially as we played well - but were lacking the cutting edge that a decent striker brings. Imagine if we had won - our owners might have thought they could get away without any further spending !

No matter Steve Kean's fault - I am amazed that BPF is already putting the boot in - especially considering it isn't his fault that we have lost half the team since last season (especially considering Hoilett and Nelsen were only on th ebench)

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

What we lack is obvious - A solid midfielder, an attacking creative spark and a decent striker. You add them plus Hoilett and Rochina and we should be ok.

+

Formica: definitely looks like he'll be a fixture in the side, decent display

Nzonzi: faded a bit but I thought he was good enough.

Emerton: improved during the match

-

Dunn and Gamst: off the pace. Not much of a surprise. These are the two who should be struggling to get into the side

Roberts: invisible in the second half. Hope he's limited to being an impact sub only this season.

Blackman: Possibly the worst 15 mins I've seen from any player in blue/white. Shocking. Presuming Kalinic leaves then if Blackman is the next in line to start up front, we're in serious trouble.

Overall, decent display. Can't take too much from it. We lack quality in key areas at the moment but if they're addressed then I think the season wont go too badly. Performed better than I feared.

[rookie2009]

Was impressed with Formica today,looked the only danger when we were going forward..I hope we get Petrovic in and hes used in an attacking role in centre mid as I lost count of how many times Dunn gave the ball away unless he was passing it sideways or backwards..No matter what striker we get it will be hard for them to score goals if they dont get the supply from midfield..

[philipl]

How on earth is that a dive? Ref has been poor

It was a blatant dive when viewed from the camera behind the goal!

So we already knew we have problems up front but I guess we didn't know the defense is all at sea as well.

Facing Kitchee could be a bit embarassing on Saturday. What this also means is we get two games in the heat of the day which will undoutedly mess with our pre-season fitness prep.

[dubdubdub]

It's hardly the bloody FA Cup is it.

Think about what you're saying man.

Three points dropped there. The end is nigh.

[Wild Irish Rover]

Didn't Keef get on?

[Guest Rovers4Good]

Hmmm very poor to say the least and cannot understand for the life of me why Kean only made a couple of subs and one of them was Grella?

I know the heat plays a massive difference but you have to say that it's the same for both teams. Kean to me sat there like a nodding dog and not sure the guy can really cut it in the big time but only time will tell.

We can only improve and let's hope that's very fast as the season is very nearly here.

Anyone know why we played so deep?

[alexanders]

Blacknan looked lively i Think. A couple of hopeless shots, but he came to the chances unlike Roberts who didnt have a single shot on goal!

How mortenmagic are able to give Emo a + is beyond me. Horrible performance.

[LeftWinger]

Odd.

We are in a tournament that we didn't want to compete in.

Shouldn't have entered then?

Of all the idiotic posts on here - this has to be up there.

[Mattyblue]

Get a grip!

If she is taking note, she'll note that we've been set up well, played well but need a couple of signings.

I'm sure those will be her thoughts.

[Tom]

Didn't Keef get on?

He looked like he wasn't in full kit on the bench.

I imagine the game on Saturday will be used to play a few more players, Andrews, Anderson etc

[Mc Love]

Get a grip!

If she is taking note, she'll note that we've been set up well, played well but need a couple of signings.

Very true, but we won't survive on our current crop

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

Blacknan looked lively i Think. A couple of hopeless shots, but he came to the chances unlike Roberts who didnt have a single shot on goal!

How mortenmagic are able to give Emo a + is beyond me. Horrible performance.

He improved. In the first half he was poor but in the second he made more runs forward and had a decent shot. He offered more than Dunn and Gamst.

The performance was better than many on here probably feared. We weren't embarrassed and it showed exactly what we're lacking - a goal scorer and a creative midfielder. If this narrow defeat can help justify those purchases then its not a bad thing all in all.

[AggyBlue]

And I thought it was all about gaining match fitness

You thought wrong then.

Did you watch the match?

[BPF]

Of all the idiotic posts on here - this has to be up there.

Haha.

My point is simply this:

It was a competitive game and the players played it as though that was the case.

[AggyBlue]

Haha.

My point is simply this:

It was a competitive game and the players played it as though that was the case.

Correct. You could see that meant much more than just getting fit.

[booth]

I know it was only a glorified friendly but blimey that was underwhelming.

Villa were awful, and it really showed up our lack of firepower up front that we didn't press them more.

Anyone saying this were just about fitness obviously didn't watch the players getting a bit wound up at the end.

[den]

Anyone saying this were just about fitness obviously didn't watch the players getting a bit wound up at the end.

A bit of needle but nothing more.

It was just about fitness in all honesty. The game was pretty pedestrian, just as every pre-season game is.

[Roversi]

Robinson: 6 - Very little to do throughout the game, good save at the end against Albrighton

Salgado: 6 - struggled against the pace of agbonlahor but remained solid when tested

Olsson: 6 - would liked to have seen him attack more but understandble due to fitness and heat, got sucked in sometimes, but decent display in the position i think Kean will play him this season.

Samba: 7 - anticpated the runs of bent well, great run in the 2nd half to start an attack. soild as ever.

Givet: 7 - did his job well

N'Zonzi: 7 - did well to break up the play and got around the pitch well. gong to be a big player this season.

Pedersen: 5 - did very little other than supply set pieces.

Dunn: 5 - poor performance in my view, cant play the centre mid role these days, i think he is beginning to decline at this level.

Emerton: 5 - like Pedersen, never got into the game, and offered nothing going foward, other than his shot which was well saved he did nothing of note.

Formica: 8 - did well, thrived when the tempo of the game quickend and was by far our best outlet going foward.

Roberts: 7 - held up the ball well and worked hard but needed more support. good and a typical roberts performance.

subs:

Blackman: 6 - got ability, quick, tall and has a few skills in his locker. i think the right or left wing will be his position this season

Grella: 6 - nice work out for him, if he can stay clear of injurys than he will be a good squad player.

[neophox]

I have to say that Olsson, Nzonzi and Formica was the best rovers players.

Roberts tried hard and Dunn looked in better shape.

Have to say Grella looked awful when appearing, nothing right, get rid!

[heysham rover]

I read as far as Givet did his job well, are you being serious. He was one of the main culprits for their goal getting himself caught between Bent and the man at the backpost.

[OJRovers]

JasonRoberts30

"First 90 mins under the belt..disappointing result but good fitness work, great to see CG back! Young Nick looked lively and Gato did well"

[Mc Love]

Robinson: 6 - Very little to do throughout the game, good save at the end against Albrighton

Salgado: 6 - struggled against the pace of agbonlahor but remained solid when tested

Olsson: 6 - would liked to have seen him attack more but understandble due to fitness and heat, got sucked in sometimes, but decent display in the position i think Kean will play him this season.

Samba: 7 - anticpated the runs of bent well, great run in the 2nd half to start an attack. soild as ever.

Givet: 7 - did his job well

N'Zonzi: 7 - did well to break up the play and got around the pitch well. gong to be a big player this season.

Pedersen: 5 - did very little other than supply set pieces.

Dunn: 5 - poor performance in my view, cant play the centre mid role these days, i think he is beginning to decline at this level.

Emerton: 5 - like Pedersen, never got into the game, and offered nothing going foward, other than his shot which was well saved he did nothing of note.

Formica: 8 - did well, thrived when the tempo of the game quickend and was by far our best outlet going foward.

Roberts: 7 - held up the ball well and worked hard but needed more support. good and a typical roberts performance.

subs:

Blackman: 6 - got ability, quick, tall and has a few skills in his locker. i think the right or left wing will be his position this season

Grella: 6 - nice work out for him, if he can stay clear of injurys than he will be a good squad player.

Jesus H Christ, how can you give roberts a 7??

[Neal]

Givet: 7 - did his job well

Roberts: 7 - held up the ball well and worked hard but needed more support. good and a typical roberts performance.

Givet was at fault for the Bent goal so he's not deserving of a 7. I'd say 6.

Roberts was frustrating worked hard but created nothing much. I'd say 6 also.

We need some forwards desperately. I thought Dunn looked like one of the more dangerous players on the pitch in the first half. Pedersen... Nah. Emerton in midfield... Nah... But at right back he's much better.

With right additions we'll do alright next season.