[Archived] MATCH PREVIEW: Rovers vs Wolves

[Balwer]

Prepare yourself to be shot down sir. I agree with you though. Now I too will be shot down. See you on the floor.

Salgado had a shocker, it's true. What makes you think Bruno will be an improvement? Just because he's younger doesn't make him any better, there's a reason he was available.

[Billy Castell]

Get rid of that complete tool we have as manager, and bring in someone competent. Obviously I wasn't at the game, and I'll admit this is an instantaneous reaction, but Kean should be sacked, and a real manager brought in. I'd even rate Andy Thorn who is struggling with a dire Coventry squad ahead of Kean.

OK, so our defence was weakened today, but we've had all summer to bring in another decent defender to replace Jones. The time to stop ____ing about and get players in is now. If Barry White wants a big name then he should stop posing and get one. If we have been looking at certain players, stop the waffle and bring them in.

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

People blaming Kean for today need to get a look at the big picture ffs. Today we lost because our 3 first choice CB's were injured. We lost because Venky's have mucked about in the transfer window and not brought in players in time for today. Look at the players Kean had to choose from today.. How else would you set up that team?? Which ever way you want to look at it the team looks weak.

There are far far far wider problems then just Kean being the manager. Look at the squad today, most of them aren't premiership quality. There's you reason for our defeat. Any manager picking from those players today would have struggled.

[brian nelsen]

Salgado had a shocker, it's true. What makes you think Bruno will be an improvement? Just because he's younger doesn't make him any better, there's a reason he was available.

I don't. Never seen him play.

[Rover Down Under]

Injuries at CB cost us today. Salgado drifted in too much to cover N'Zonzi and got caught out. Lots of positives to take from the game, Formica - great finish, Roberts on fire in the first half, Goodwillie very positive (on too late though). Might be dissappointing that we lost at home first game but so did Everton 3 years ago...

[booth]

Sorry guys, but of course a lack of defensive options is an excuse. Having 3 first team defenders missing would cripple most teams.

Agreed. Nice summary.

So how long have we known that Samba and Nelsen are injured. Six weeks since Jones left.

Poor owners, poor manager, poor squad. We are on our arse. Strikers playing in midfield, midfielders in defence. Crowd totally lacking any fight, and some of the players didn't look happy at all - from the start.

Also what's the defence got to do with attack? We were awful going forward. Someone explain that. It's not as if we didn't get forward.

[Balwer]

People blaming Kean for today need to get a look at the big picture ffs. Today we lost because our 3 first choice CB's were injured. We lost because Venky's have mucked about in the transfer window and not brought in players in time for today. Look at the players Kean had to choose from today.. How else would you set up that team?? Which ever way you want to look at it the team looks weak.

There are far far far wider problems then just Kean being the manager. Look at the squad today, most of them aren't premiership quality. There's you reason for our defeat. Any manager picking from those players today would have struggled.

Nobody will argue about the bigger picture but how did you rate Kean's subs today? Did you think Rochina for Emerton was a good sub? I personally think if Emerton was going anywhere it should have been to right back where Salgado was struggling. What about Goodwillie on for Pedersen? All well and good but who's going to get the ball up to our strike force? I would have replaced him for Roberts and in hindsight he should have started. Blackman for Formica? Fair enough Formica may have been tired but Nick Blackman is, at best, a Championship player.

[imy9]

We need at least THREE new players by the end of the window.

Add Givet, Samba and Nelsen to the team today and it changes completely.

Now add in Petrovic and it looks promising, we need a new CB, new CM and a striker MINIMUM, I would then expect two loanees. Our bench was scary today and if we are still paying him why was EHD not on the bench?

I have wanted Kean out since Fulham and nothing has changed my mind, I would however say that the players purchased look good and if we can add bodies then we can have a successful season, over to you Venkys and the cheque book.

[Balwer]

I don't. Never seen him play.

Two pages ago you mentioned bringing him into the team so I'm a bit confused by your logic because it implies that anyone would be an improvement on Salgado. We'll get better with a younger right back? If not Bruno then who?

[MarkBRFC71]

Just got back - I'll keep my summary short and simple. We weren't helped by having N'Zonzi (totally out of his depth) and Hanley (not good enough) at centre half, however any side that contains Roberts and Pedersen as starters is relegation fodder. Formica, Rochina, Dunn and Goodwillie did well though. It's been said many times but we desperately need a centre half, a midfielder and a striker or we are going to struggle IMO.

[American Rover12]

Thoughts on the game:

Attacking we looked strong, Roberts won and created some great balls, including the goal. Formica looked sharp and should be able to hang at this level. Rochina and Crackingshaft looked sharp too, though didn't get much time or service to impact. Thought Dunn had some good set pieces and corners, but other then that made some bad shot choices and passes. Peds too didn't seem to make too much of an impact. Blackman coming on shows our lack of any sort of quality depth.

Out defense, well, non existent. Poor Hanley was out in the deep end with out swimmies and N'Zonzi's confidence seems to get worse and worse as the game progressed. Salgados attacking style left the back exposed and he should have kept himself contained a little more I thought, though he did play some nice balls in. His challenge for the penalty though was a horrendous choice and left the referee no option. Bad defending.

Emerton taken off too early. Martin with a good game I thought. Dunn getting 90. Attack looking like it should have legs this season. Unlucky to have no defense to speak of on our opening day but We can't be losing at home to the likes of Wolves.

Rovers looked streaky all game; sometimes we'd be hot and dominate with chances and other times we barely looked on the park. Which brings me to my main criticism: TACTICS!

What were they? Did anyone have a clue? Was it long ball? Was it overlapping wing play? Was it one-two lay offs? All of the above? Any at all? We had talent out there, and even among the streaky swings of the game, I for one felt sure that our attacking already looked better with the Fomica/Roberts/Rochina/Goodwillie 4 than last season. But when you can see all that potential and nothing coming of it, it comes down to two things. 1 time. Its early in the season and yes things needs to come together but 2. COACHING! it is their job to GET IT TOGETHER! Kean will not have a very long season if he can't find away to make this talent gel. I'm willing to give a pass for this unforeseen defense situation and I want to see Rovers succeed, so for his sake I hope he figures something out.

At the end of the day yes, it is disappointing to not beat a poor wolves side at home. Bullet to the head though? Not yet. See some promise but it can't be left stagnant, hope Kean works some good.

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

Nobody will argue about the bigger picture but how did you rate Kean's subs today? Did you think Rochina for Emerton was a good sub? I personally think if Emerton was going anywhere it should have been to right back where Salgado was struggling. What about Goodwillie on for Pedersen? All well and good but who's going to get the ball up to our strike force? I would have replaced him for Roberts and in hindsight he should have started. Blackman for Formica? Fair enough Formica may have been tired but Nick Blackman is, at best, a Championship player.

Who else would you have brought on?? Blackman is a very poor player but we had no one else. Goodwillie for Pedersen? Well Roberts did well in the first half, we desperately needed a goal and taking off a striker for a striker would hardly have helped that.

Im not saying Kean did well, far from it, but the problems we face today, as a club, stem from more than just Kean being the manager. He's such an easy target for some people but in reality there are many many more reasons for why we lost today's game, ranging from Venky's to Michel Salgado.

[BuckyRover]

Emerton had an injury according to my commentary.

A bad result, but having to play a midfielder in defence was not a good start. I would be horrified if we sold Samba now (unless two defenders were bought first)

[Pugg]

Well I am very disappointed, however even without replacing Phil jones, losing three centre halves is a nightmare. Nzonzi is not a centre half no matter how much abuse people shout at him. Salgado was poor. Formica impressed me with his work ethic and so did goodwillie.

Ideally, with the players we have I'd like us to play something like:

Robinson

Emerton, samba, Ryan, Martin o

Nzonzi, petrovic

Hoilett, Formica, rochina,

Goodwillie

Rochina does need to learn a few things though. I

Do wish people wouldn't yell at a player that they are crap after thirty seconds in a rovers shirt!

[chris]

which sentance sums up Rochina's Rovers career?

A) Excellent skill from Rochina, he beat one man, he beats two, and now plays an excellent ball on the left wing to put Holliet in for a cross into the box"

Excellent skill from Rochina, he beat one man, he beats two, and decides not to make a pass out wide, tries a another trick and loses the ball, Wolves counter"

[AllRoverAsia]

Blame the penny pinching Wankys. Their lies and lack of investment in obvious player shortages will cause the inevitable sh1t to happen. They have a manager (got to call the Karl Pilkington look a like something) who now says he has no idea what his transfer budget is. Unbelievable.

Back to the game today - we lost end off.

[Balwer]

Who else would you have brought on?? Blackman is a very poor player but we had no one else. Goodwillie for Pedersen? Well Roberts did well in the first half, we desperately needed a goal and taking off a striker for a striker would hardly have helped that.

Im not saying Kean did well, far from it, but the problems we face today, as a club, stem from more than just Kean being the manager. He's such an easy target for some people but in reality there are many many more reasons for why we lost today's game, ranging from Venky's to Michel Salgado.

Who else would I have brought on? I mentioned what I would have done instead of each of those subs (even a tired Formica is better than a fit Blackman). If Salgado is so bad it's Kean's job to do something about it, and as I said I would have put Emerton back there and subbed Rochina for Salgado. That's just the subs, American Rover sums up the tactics nicely.

[bringdunnback]

What makes you think Bruno will be an improvement? Just because he's younger doesn't make him any better, there's a reason he was available.

Honestly I really can't see how this makes sense, you're not the only to have said this so I'm not picking up on just your comment. BUT the fact that people are writing off Bruno Ribeiro when he hasnt even played a game is beyond bizarre. Had you heard of Samba, Nelsen, Formica (there are more, not just including Rovers) before Blackburn? Had they had lots of clubs chasing them before Blackburn? Have you ever seen him play a competitive game? Can we please not turn him into another Andrews, and back him since he does wear blue and white.

[Tom]

Nobody will argue about the bigger picture but how did you rate Kean's subs today? Did you think Rochina for Emerton was a good sub? I personally think if Emerton was going anywhere it should have been to right back where Salgado was struggling. What about Goodwillie on for Pedersen? All well and good but who's going to get the ball up to our strike force? I would have replaced him for Roberts and in hindsight he should have started. Blackman for Formica? Fair enough Formica may have been tired but Nick Blackman is, at best, a Championship player.

Emerton was injured, Rochina came on for him and was one of our better players.

In a way I feel sorry for Kean today but in a way it's his own doing, it was in no way good enough but we were hit hard by injuries. Funnily enough a lot of our better players last season disappointed, Salgado was shocking and Olsson and Hoilett looked like they couldn't beat a man, whereas on the flip side Roberts played well until he lost his head.

-Formica and Rochina were the bright points today, both looked good enough for the league, Rochina rarely gave the ball away and was unlucky not to score a beauty. How Dunny got man of the match I'll never know, was it for the assist leading up to their penalty?

-As for Goodwillie, he certainly looks talented and showed real passion to win a corner from nothing and went close but when Dunny put in an awful corner he looked like he was sulking and then slowly walked back and got caught offside.

-Blackman isn't good enough but we know that.

- I felt bad for Nzonzi, never a CB in his life and a huge responsability for him, shame he and Hanley were let down by a Champions League winner.

-There aren't many teams around worse than Wolves so unless something happens we will struggle

I hate football!

[brian nelsen]

Two pages ago you mentioned bringing him into the team so I'm a bit confused by your logic because it implies that anyone would be an improvement on Salgado. We'll get better with a younger right back? If not Bruno then who?

Take what you will from what people write. I'm having a nice pint of cider. Hopefully, we will have a bigger squad for the next game.

[Tom]

which sentance sums up Rochina's Rovers career?

A) Excellent skill from Rochina, he beat one man, he beats two, and now plays an excellent ball on the left wing to put Holliet in for a cross into the box"

Excellent skill from Rochina, he beat one man, he beats two, and decides not to make a pass out wide, tries a another trick and loses the ball, Wolves counter"

A bit of both. He did the latter once today but made the right choice pretty much every other time. Looks a class act.

[Andy]

Im not saying Kean did well, far from it, but the problems we face today, as a club, stem from more than just Kean being the manager. He's such an easy target for some people but in reality there are many many more reasons for why we lost today's game, ranging from Venky's to Michel Salgado.

I do agree that there were a number of factors against us today (lack of purchases, injuries, Salgado for the first and woeful general defending for the second).

However the Kean apologists constantly come out with 'judge him on results'.

Ok we will - he's just lost 1-2 at home to a relegation rival.

[Kamy100]

Just got back.

Poor result, especially considering the games we have coming up.

Obviously not having three of your first choice centre backs is going to effect any team. But the decision to play N'Zonzi at the back was poor, I can see the reasons why Kean did it but he has is not a defender.

I thought that Wolves were poor and quite suspect at the back. Rovers for some reason after we went 1-0, went totally hyper for a couple of minutes and got caught out and Wolves equalised. Second half the worst possible start, but then we were doing ok, but Kean real got his substitutions wrong, tacking Morten of and bringing on Rochina meant that we lost control of the midfield, so we had all of these attack minded players on but couldn't get the ball due to not having control of the midfield.

The positive was Formica, in many ways he reminds me of Matt Jansen, works hard, has very good technique and keeps things simple. He could turn out to be a gem of a player for us. Rochina on the other hand also has bags of ability and is very comfortable on the ball but at the moment he is a bit of a "flash Harry".

Owners and Kean really need to sort things out this week, we have plenty of up and coming young players but to be able to compete in the Premier League you need EXPERIENCE, they need to go out and sign some players with Premier League experience, there needs to be a proper blend, otherwise we are in deep trouble.

[Balwer]

Honestly I really can't see how this makes sense, you're not the only to have said this so I'm not picking up on just your comment. BUT the fact that people are writing off Bruno Ribeiro when he hasnt even played a game is beyond bizarre. Had you heard of Samba, Nelsen, Formica (there are more, not just including Rovers) before Blackburn? Had they had lots of clubs chasing them before Blackburn? Have you ever seen him play a competitive game? Can we please not turn him into another Andrews, and back him since he does wear blue and white.

You're misinterpreting my comments. I am not saying Bruno is no good. I am responding to a comment that said we would get better with a younger right back. If the guy who says that hasn't seen him play then how does he know that? I hope Bruno is good, but it's a big assumption to make that he will improve the side when none of us have seen him play. Also the players you mentioned all had a club at the time we got them, which implies at least one team wanted their service and we had to pay them for the privilege of getting them.

[malk]

Of course this is a terribly disappointing result but I'm adding myself to the chorus of voices (pool of typists?) mentioning the simple fact that we had our three first choice centre backs out injured.

I cannot understand why people say we should just go out and sign another in this situation. Making such a decision on the basis of a last minute injury (I'm presuming to Givet unless I missed something) would be folly. We do need an extra defender for cover but there's a good chance that whoever that ends up being won't be as good as Samba, Nelsen or Givet. Couple that with being new to the club and the chances they would have had a large impact on the game today is minimal.

Back to the actual performance. I thought that Formica and Rochina looked very promising, Hoilett was again good and Goodwillie had, in limited time, a nice shot that wasn't far off and showed some hustle and heart in the tussle down the right wing. Dunn still has a touch of class and could be (at least) a great sub option for us when the team settles. Hanley had a baptism of fire and acquitted himself decently.

Salgado had a shocker today. He'll have better games this year but I sometimes with Emmerton played there more.

We really lacked a defensive centre midfield option but I'm expecting Petrovic and N'Zonzi to play there together soon which should make a massive difference.

To everyone saying we need to sign x players, yes a couple/few more would add depth to the squad but if we play a 4-2-3-1 formation we really aren't far off. We weren't that far off today despite a ridiculously makeshift defence which cannibalised our midfield.

Positives can be drawn from this game.