[Archived] Preview (Not) Asia Trophy

[Ste B]

A good few rovers shirts around, going back a while. Outnumbered by chelsea but not by villa.

A good few rovers shirts around, going back a while. Outnumbered by chelsea but not by villa.

Venkys were present. Got pics of balaji and some lads saw him when he sneaked out for a fag.

[Parsonblue]

Very much like the Villa game in not a lot to be learned from this outing. Clearly, the players are undergoing the normal pre-season training routines but in the humidity of Hong Kong it is leaving them drained.

My main concern continues to be the threadbare nature of the squad and the lack of real quality in certain areas. Those of us who have watched Blackman over the years in the Reseves know that he is not a Premier League player. From what I saw of Anderson during the last pre-season and his appearance at Morecambe I believe he is another player who is not up to the mark. Indeed, the fact that both have a certain Mr. Anderson in their camp is the only reason I can see for them being at Ewood.

Grant Hanley is still learning the game and doesn't have the natural ability of Phil Jones. I'm sure he will come to the fore in time but he still needs to develop certain aspects of his game. The real worry would be if Samba left and Hanley was drafted in on a permanent basis.

I thought Formica was fairly quiet, apart from his involvement in the goal, but he has shown in pre-season a marked improvement on his performances in the Reserves. Hopefully, the lad is finding his feet and will make an impact this season. I think it may be difficult to find room for Rochina, Formica and Hoilett as all three seem to at their best operating in the hole behind the lone striker.

The need for a quality striker or two is there for all to see. We struggled for goals last season and there has been nothing on show so far during the pre-season to suggest we have found a solution. Two quality signings are needed in this area. It's the one area of team in which we have nothing coming through at Academy or Reserve level and thus the only way the problem is going to be solved is by spending some money.

I think we will have a better idea of the type of side Kean is looking to use against Wolves after next week's outing at Kilmarnock. Hopefully, his starting eleven for the opener should get a run out next week and I'm looking forward to seeing how Gary Harkins does against his former club.

[den]

The Asian fans out there were amazing. They cheered when Kitchee got a penalty, they cheered when they missed it. They cheered when rovers scored, they cheered when Kitchee attacked.

They were one happy bunch.

You mingle with 'em SteB?

[Mattyblue]

All those locals with Chelsea shirts on, do you reckon they had The Amiga sponsored shirts with Mark Stein's name on the back in the 90s?

[cn174]

'You're just a small town in China!!'

Better game than other day, formica was a good header. phil dowds a ******. Good run out tho. They love pedersen here, cant think why!

[Andy]

Did Martin Tyler really say in the commentary that Anderson had to prove he is a proper signing??

Anyway comfortable in the end. Leaves big question marks over Grant Hanley and Nick Blackman's abilities to be even squad players and Kean's ability to organise the defence.

Rochina and Formica had nice cameos but will they have the strength for the fray of the PL?

I came on to make a similar comment actually.

I know Hanley is only 19 but today, particularly in the first half, he was woeful and he'd be ripped to shreds in the Premier League playing like that.

I know he has always been thought of as a better prospect than Phil Jones in the Academy but so far Phil's performances have been head and shoulders above Grant's.

Blackman again looked terrible and I really don't see him contributing anything at all to our frontline. He did take a good penalty to be fair, but everything else was just horrible, as it was vs Villa.

That said, MGP worked extremely hard, Salgado, Givet and Olssen all did well.

I thought Dunny started poorly but finished strongly and it was really good to see Grella back playing again.

I am a Grella fan - when he's fit he's our best midfielder by a stretch, problem is just keeping him fit.

Formica was fairly quiet overall but popped up with a well-taken goal.

Emerton impressed again and his cross was great for the first goal.

Not overly impressed with either Bunn (shaky) or Roberts (offered nothing) and once the younger players were on in the second half we looked a completely different side.

If we had a competent front man who could play as a target man with Formica and Rochina either side/just behind him I'd be pretty confident we'd be scoring goals next season.

[John]

Same on Grella, best central midfielder when fit, most of the players think that too. Shame he can never stay fit though!

[Mercer]

Absolute nonsense. Anderson may end up being awful but there wasn't one thing today to go any way to show that.

What a ridiculous statement to make although we do expect it from you.

You only needed to look at his initial touch - IMO, so unnatural and uncomfortable.

Seemingly, Sam & Macca so enough in minutes to form an opinion as presumably did Orient and Aberdeen.

I really wish that Kean was right in his judgement and the lad was an uncut diamond but unfortunately, IMo, he's a real dud.

[Mercer]

Venky's & Kean out! Fancy bringing 2 incredibly gifted South American footballers to East Lancashire, the likes of which we have rarely seen in the blue'n'white. Bring back Goulon, Van Heereden and Allardyce, and do it now!

Formica and Rochina are technically gifted with excellent ball skills - undeniable.

The challenge is can they be incorporated into an effective PL team, hold their own in their strongest positions, add value to the team without upsetting the team's balance or effectiveness as a unit. If the answer is yes then there will be a lot of delirious supporters.

[cn174]

All those locals with Chelsea shirts on, do you reckon they had The Amiga sponsored shirts with Mark Stein's name on the back in the 90s?

I've seen 1 of the grey and orange monstrosities from 94/95 but mostly newbies.

Chelsea are everywhere here, there's an interchange between hong kong and central station, and there's about a 500m advert showing chelsea. Also at ground theyve been giving out free flags and stuff. Really on the scale we cant compete with.

[bennyboyt11]

Rochina is pure class, so comfortable with the ball you can tell he's been trained by Barca... That run that won the freekick was fantastic, although questionable whether he'd be able to do that at better competition.

[AHoyle90]

Pedersen played the hospital ball that nearly got intercepted by the Kitchee player I'm pretty sure?

Bunn did nothing wrong, bobly pitch gave him some shaky kicks up field but he got rid.

Hanley had a shaky game, he was trying too hard to impress and commited to many unecessary fouls, he has the raw talent to become a very decent player though but he's going to need patience, till then, especially if Samba leaves we need a proven centre back that can slot straight in when needed.

Bretts only good moment was the goal, the rest of the time he played some shocking passes and was skinned too easily, maybe because it was pre season he wasnt tackling as much. Still a decent member of the squad.

Pedersen worked hard, but didn't everybody? his general play was absolutely woeful and I don't know how you can prove otherwise? Casual passes, one paced, and his delivery from open play was shocking.

Formica looked tidy but started to look jaded, Rochina provided a spark but still worried about his lack of physical strength and defensively not as good as Emo. Blackman did well to win the pen and score it but the rest of the time looked poor.

I am part of the seemingly minority who thinks Vince Grella is a very decent player when fit. His pre season hasnt been disrupted, he isnt the quickest, but puts his foot in, has experience, and is composed on the ball, could be an asset if kept fit.

Dunn seemed to grow into the game as he did against Villa, sometimes looks lost in that deeper role but when involved in the final third looks as dangerous as anybody.

[booth]

Be interesting to hear from some of the Rovers fans that are there whether they've seen many locals wearing Rovers shirts.

It's unbelivable seeing how many Chelsea shirts, scarves, flags there are in the crowd.

That could be something to do with Chelsea FC giving them out for free Tim.

[howzat]

played poorly but won and scored 2 very good goals, Gato and Ruben will be big players for us this season. Hanley looked awful in the first half but much better in the second,Blackman looks a very average player, dunn looks as fit as i've seen in a long time so that's another positive. All in all a good exercise to have been involved in and one or two positives.

[cn174]

Be interesting to hear from some of the Rovers fans that are there whether they've seen many locals wearing Rovers shirts.

There's a fair few actually, all different ages of kits too. We met a lad other night who said it was his dream to.watch rovers in hk.

That said, the majority are 'chelsea' fans but theve done a massive marketing campaign, giving out free flags n whatnot.

Be interesting to hear from some of the Rovers fans that are there whether they've seen many locals wearing Rovers shirts.

There's a fair few actually, all different ages of kits too. We met a lad other night who said it was his dream to.watch rovers in hk.

That said, the majority are 'chelsea' fans but theve done a massive marketing campaign, giving out free flags n whatnot.

[RoyRover]

I watched the first 15 minutes of this game and we looked shocking. So many of our players just aren't good enough and this is worrying. We all know that we need a new striker, but it was really highlighted this morning again. Yet again Jason Roberts proved to me that he isn't good enough to be a starting striker. His touch is awful, he tries to do more than he is capable of. He scored some crucial goals for us last season, so I don't want to be too hard on him, but I think that he is best suited to coming off the bench with 20 minutes to go and roughing up the defenders. Pedersen is another one who tries hard, but has been abysmal for a number of years and if it wasn't for our lack of finances, he should have been sold years ago. We need more than a midfielder and a striker going into the new season.

[RevidgeBlue]

So as regards Rochina and Formica looks as though those overlords of all evil Kentaro/SEM/Jerome Anderson and Steve Kean have managed to bring in two excellent players for a combined 3.5m?

Jermaine Jones came good eventually as well so thus far the transfer recruitment has been generally extremely positive.

Didn't see today's game but on his performances to date Grant Hanley has never struck me as being Premiership class. That said, if Samba stays we ought to be able to manage with Samba/Nelsen/Givet and I'd rather we bought in a specialist left back than another centre back.

Wish someone would take Pedersen off our hands/the wage bill.

Definitely two, maybe even three strikers still needed. A glance at our bench today showed how thin the squad is looking.

[Mattyblue]

So as regards Rochina and Formica looks as though those overlords of all evil Kentaro/SEM/Jerome Anderson and Steve Kean have managed to bring in two excellent players for a combined 3.5m?

Hold yer horses Rev, pre season means bugger all in the scheme of things.

They play a one two and smack one in against Wolves and we could have a couple of pearlers.

[Kelbo]

Pedersen played the hospital ball that nearly got intercepted by the Kitchee player I'm pretty sure?

Bunn did nothing wrong, bobly pitch gave him some shaky kicks up field but he got rid.

Hanley had a shaky game, he was trying too hard to impress and commited to many unecessary fouls, he has the raw talent to become a very decent player though but he's going to need patience, till then, especially if Samba leaves we need a proven centre back that can slot straight in when needed.

Bretts only good moment was the goal, the rest of the time he played some shocking passes and was skinned too easily, maybe because it was pre season he wasnt tackling as much. Still a decent member of the squad.

Pedersen worked hard, but didn't everybody? his general play was absolutely woeful and I don't know how you can prove otherwise? Casual passes, one paced, and his delivery from open play was shocking.

Formica looked tidy but started to look jaded, Rochina provided a spark but still worried about his lack of physical strength and defensively not as good as Emo. Blackman did well to win the pen and score it but the rest of the time looked poor.

I am part of the seemingly minority who thinks Vince Grella is a very decent player when fit. His pre season hasnt been disrupted, he isnt the quickest, but puts his foot in, has experience, and is composed on the ball, could be an asset if kept fit.

Dunn seemed to grow into the game as he did against Villa, sometimes looks lost in that deeper role but when involved in the final third looks as dangerous as anybody.

Grella if and when fit is the best midfielder we have, wins the ball, plays a pass and drops into space to be available again, much like Batty did, problem is keeping him fit!!

[John]

So as regards Rochina and Formica looks as though those overlords of all evil Kentaro/SEM/Jerome Anderson and Steve Kean have managed to bring in two excellent players for a combined 3.5m?

Jermaine Jones came good eventually as well so thus far the transfer recruitment has been generally extremely positive.

Calm it, sounds like you are cracking open the champagne over a pre-season performance.....

[Kelbo]

Calm it, sounds like you are cracking open the champagne over a pre-season performance.....

Against a poorish team too!!

[Ste B]

Brilliant . Even tho they had chelsea shirts on they still git excited. We don't realise how good it is for us in the UK sometimes. Plenty from oz as well. Roverdownunder still drinking with us !

[grizfoot]

Positives from the game have got to be Formica's goal and Rochina getting some game time. Thought Dunn had a good game also had looks rather fit having completed two games in a week.

Negatives, Pedersen was awful yet again. I've seen him in three pre-season friendlies and he's been the worse player on the pitch in all three. I actually usually stand up for Pedersen has he's sometimes harshly treated I feel but he seems to be getting worse. Sticking him out on the wing doesn't help either much rather see Olsson in that position come end of the season. The final negative is the lack striking options unfront we all know Roberts limitations, Blackman looks lively at times but he doesn't look the sort of player who could score of regularly basis.

Overall fairly pleased with the tournament, probably more pleased with the Villa game to be honest where I thought we where on top especially in the second half. A few quality signings hopefully and I'll feel a little more optmistic about this coming season.

[blue/white]

Rochina looks like a tanned Van Persie

That sounds promising. I hope you're referring to VP's game-- NOT his penchant to be a prat.

[OhmiBRFC]

Don't know why people were complaining about the players playing crap at first. It was 28 degrees out there. We were sweating in the stands and we were not running around.

Personally I thought it was a good game for a friendly. We had a good laugh too. The conditions weren't conducive for a good game of football.