[Archived] MATCH PREVIEW: Rovers vs Wolves

[RoversSG]

What a disappointing start to the season to say the least.

I think our main problem is the size of the squad. Nzonzi did his best but its obvious that he's no defender.

If Gunning was still here instead of the waste of space that is Anderson, I'm sure he would have done a better job at CB.

[Mercer]

Pathetic.

The players showed about as much passion as the majority of Ewood Park did.

Dead atmosphere, terrible football, strange tactics and the feeling of a long, long season.

I can see 19th for us this season based on today.

Couldn't agree more.

How long have we known that we needed strengthening.

Defence a huge concern - IMO, Nelsen sounds weeks away and will probably have lost another yard of pace, Samba clearly wants away and there were various rumours circulating today about the reason behind Givet's absence (officially, he was poorly). Johnson would have been a super signing at £4.25m.

Strange, strange substitutions but then again, a desperate manager.

Formica loooks very promising and hugley impressed with his endeavour and commitment. Rochina needs to learn when to release the ball and might prove to be one of those 'luxury' players. Goodwillie does not look fit and even Dunny looked slim in comparison. Hoilett rusty, Blackman a no hoper. And, if anyone thinks Anderson is a footballer, IMO, he was an embarrassment even in the half time kickabout - seriously, this guy is a joke with a Teflon touch.

Horrible afternoon and unless there are big, big changes, and that includes, IMO, our clueless manager, then we are doomed. Goodness knows what would have happened if we'd been playing a half decent team!

[1864roverite]

Well well well, I wonder what excuses numpty will come out with after that game ?

I moved back to the Blackburn End from the JW Upper today and that turned out to be the worst part of my day. I am now moving back to the upper seats where I dont have to sit and listen to moronic chanting from the biggest plant on this planet. Anyone unfortuante enough to hear the noise and blather coming from the muppet in the adidas jacket in NO1 will know what I am on about. Yes, its the rovers fan that bears the celtic tattoo on his neck.

Onto the game. I have to say that I agree with some fellow members who say that some of the football was much better, it was, some good passing and movement and then it is all undone by the most experienced player on the park in Salgado, the lad had a nightmare game.

I know that you cannot legislate for last minute injuries but Kean has NO excuse for not getting us a defender in to replace Jones, that lad left 5 weeks ago and NEEDS replacing.

You cannot expect a young defensive midfielder to take up the CB slot and although NZonzi didnt excell you cannot attach any blame to him for today. I thouigh Hanley did okay especially as he was the youngest of the two.

The midfield worked okay, very impressed with Dunny's fitness. The only thing missing was a leader in the middle because there was no focus on the central berth.

Up front again impressed with Formica. Roberts did ok but then went awol and got himself booked for mouthing off which he seems to be doing a lot of late. I though MGP was ok and cannot fathom why he had to be replaced.

The result os going to come back and haunt us. Wolves, although compact, were not better than us, they just ran for each other, marked space and won the second ball. That is the difference, the will to win was missing, the lack of focus was missing and as for tactics, I have no idea what the formation was supposed to be in the second half. I am almost certain that Kean didnt have a clue either.

Iam intrigued as to what Kean might offer as an excuse. Rovers need 40 points and today should have brought three of them. A good start was important yet we lose at home agaionst a fellow relegation candidate. That doesnt bode well.

A suggestion for the Scottish maestro, urgently required STRIKER, CENTRAL MIDFIELDER and A CENTRE BACK. We need at least 3 players to supplement this squad. I am glad that he has got rid of deadwood. Where was Grella ? Where was EHD ? Both players if fit should have played no matter what the current thoughts of selling them are.

I am afraid Kean will not see past the middle of September unless he gets it right. I just dont see him succeeding.

[bringdunnback]

So we have lost our first relegation 6 pointer at home to a very limited Wolves who had a couple of key injuries themselves.

Kean tacticaly clueless.

Home portion of the crowd well under 19,000.

Depressing and predictable.

Any Venky's there for you guys to boo at? I doubt that they were interested enough to bother putting in an appearance.

Very sound post TGM.

Why did you say under 19000, did you just make that up to make your argument seem a little bit better?

[Eddie]

If we can put in two actual centrebacks and we play like that for 37 games then we will not go down.

[Sysagent]

Att: 21,996

Last years attendence:-

Att: 22314‎

Bear in mind this was in Winter Early December and not a nice sunny August day, So that say's to me that they are quite a bit down on last year's fixture...

Is this a sign of people voting with their feet or just a case of the economic climate biting further still?

[G Somerset Rover]

If we can put in two actual centrebacks and we play like that for 37 games then we will not go down.

Whose going to put the ball in the back of the net? Big Jas?

[Mattyblue]

Why did you say under 19000, did you just make that up to make your argument seem a little bit better?

There were 18500 home fans on, so he was stating a fact.

[jim mk2]

Rovers beat Wolves 3-0 in this fixture last season - but I've forgotten who the manager was at the time. Can anyone remind me ?

[bringdunnback]

If we can put in two actual centrebacks and we play like that for 37 games then we will not go down.

My thoughts exactly. Especially with the addition of another striker and I am extremely confident of avoiding any sort of relegation fight and maybe pushing top 12/13

[Tom]

Att: 21,996

Last years attendence:-

Att: 22314‎

Bear in mind this was in Winter Early December and not a nice sunny August day, So that say's to me that they are quite a bit down on last year's fixture...

Is this a sign of people voting with their feet or just a case of the economic climate biting further still?

But was Wolves not a cheap game last season?

[RovertheHill]

Well I hope this is not the start of a depressing 9 months.

Possibly the worst attack in the league scored two and had us all over the place is all that really needs saying about our defence. Hanley was terrible I'm afraid. Despite his size he was out-bullied and out-fought by agricultural forwards and his positional sense is very, very poor. Comparatively N'Zonzi was better but he was still poor too, letting balls bounce and creating problems for himself. And when they did win the first ball our midfield was always second to the second ball proving that we need to spend whatever it takes to get JJ back, or someone equivalent, as well as an experienced centre-half. For Salgado I fear this may be one season too far already. He will constantly get targeted for pace and high balls meaning that whoever we play on the right is in part going to be nullified as an attacking force as they will spend much of the time hanging back so as not to expose the old fella (so to speak!)

On the positive front Formica looks like he may well reach the grade in this league - his finish was first class and he played pretty intelligently. Goodwillie, despite looking quite erm, wide, was very lively and made things happen with good runs and good ideas. His shot towards the end was unlucky to go inches wide. Roberts played well and did what he does best - roughed up defenders to create space for others.

What is blatantly obvious to everyone though is that the squad is paper-thin, and we will get injuries during the season. There's two weeks to put this right but it will take pretty much ALL of the Phil Jones and Kalinic money.

[tony gale's mic]

If we can put in two actual centrebacks and we play like that for 37 games then we will not go down.

Problem being that there'll only be another four games or so that easy on paper this season.

Most of our other fixtures will be a lot more challenging.

[modes98]

Why did you say under 19000, did you just make that up to make your argument seem a little bit better?

Maybe if you actually read what he wrote rather than jumping on his back straight away then you would get the point of the post.

We have lost a significant amount of supporters over the summer.

[mjwood00]

First time for a good decade I can say we are all skill and no steel. Plenty of exciting attacking talent but they need structure and organisation behind them.

[Andy]

Why did you say under 19000, did you just make that up to make your argument seem a little bit better?

He said the home section of the crowd, which was accurate - Wolves brought c3k fans.

I've heard that Venky's are keen to do what the fans want a few times recently.

Well how about sacking the clueless Kean and appointing a football manager instead?

The more I think about how we were set up, the more I think we would have been better off with Nzonzi in his natural position and 3 defenders behind him.

We had absolutely jot in defensive midfield and this was a big part of why we lost today.

[jim mk2]

Rovers beat Wolves 3-0 in this fixture last season - but I've forgotten who the manager was at the time. Cany anyone remind me ?

[Andy]

Rovers beat Wolves 3-0 in this fixture last season - but I've forgotten who the manager was at the time. Cany anyone remind me ?

Ah, but trying to play pretty one-twos is now preferable to actually winning football matches.

[bringdunnback]

Maybe if you actually read what he wrote rather than jumping on his back straight away then you would get the point of the post.

We have lost a significant amount of supporters over the summer.

Which says alot about the supporters, wouldn't get that at other clubs. The negativity on this forum is just too funny and if other clubs fans would see this we would be a laughing stock. If I remember rightly, at one point about 90% of people on here were certain Blackburn would go down. Seems were at that stage again, one game in. Thank god none of you are involved in football.

[mjwood00]

First time for a good decade I can say we are all skill and no steel. Plenty of exciting attacking talent but they need structure and organisation behind them.

[jny]

Got back from the game about 40 minutes ago, on reflection it was an absolutely pathetic display, Robinson seems to be the only one with any tenacity in the team, the only one who has any urgency over a whole game.

Anyway, I like many others, will be completely wrought with fury if Venkys don't get their wallets out and fund transfers for a proven striker and a decent full-back; Salgado today looking every minute of the 35 years he is. What I still don't understand is why the debt restructuring can't be gradually implemented rather than all at once, I get that interest rates mean it's better to do it all at once, but really they can't be that high and also where is all the TV money going? Surely not completely on player's wages?

A lot of posters on here are clamouring for a centre-back and a midfielder but what we have to remember is that we have three, on their day, top quality centre-backs in Samba, Nelsen and Givet. And with N'zonzi and Petrovic as defensive midfielders we should be fine in that area also; I never ever ever ever want to see N'zonzi in centre-back position again, he might be quick to clear the ball, but the severe lack of headers that he won today and his flimsiness every time a high ball came his way was just infuriating and made the game that more turbulent. Hanley may also have been pretty suspect today in terms of winning headers, but he's showing glimpses of becoming the quality centre-back we hope that he will be eventually. However, throwing him in at the deep end today and expecting him to command the whole defence was somewhat ridiculous - although I sympathise with the lack of options Kean had.

Hoilett, despite his running his socks off today, was subdued so many times by Wolves' defending which was disappointing, and Dunny/Emerton were completely anonymous, the latter maybe more so, but I can't believe the former got MOTM, when it clearly should have been Formica, Roberts (yes Roberts) or Robinson.

There were very few, but a small number of positives were apparent in today's game: Formica looks good on the ball and proved himself as enthusiastic even when we were hard up against it, not on the same scale as Robinson though who I applaud for saving the penalty and trying his best to pull us threw the sh1te, Pedersen's crossing seems to have improved even if the amount of headers he seems to win hasn't and I hope this continues. Furthermore Rochina looks to have good technique and looks comfortable on the ball, I just wish he'd get stuck in more rather than trying to play the pretty Barcelona-esque football I'm sure we'd love to be able to play, Roberts still looks very fit and we'll need him this season to stay that way and Goodwillie looks very strong and a good finisher from tight angles.

Although I'm sure everyone was really disappointed today (including me) I remain optimistic for the season if we can get a couple of quality players in, there's an excellent skeleton for a team here if we can get organized, gel and stop playing daft aerial balls with such a small-in-height midfield. Very angry about the result in the end because this was a real six pointer but I'm hopeful for the coming season.

COYB!!!

[tony gale's mic]

Which says alot about the supporters, wouldn't get that at other clubs. The negativity on this forum is just too funny and if other clubs fans would see this we would be a laughing stock. If I remember rightly, at one point about 90% of people on here were certain Blackburn would go down. Seems were at that stage again, one game in. Thank god none of you are involved in football.

The vast majority of neutral predictions I've seen have us getting relegated.

Get a clue.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Too many players out injured and of playing out of position etc.Very poor second half but one game does not make a season...

We look very lightweight as a side and if we are relying in the goal scoring enigma that is Jason Roberts then God help us.We have NOT strengthened this side enough pre-season,this should have been dealt with.

On we Plough.

P.S.

I thought there was closer to 4,000 Wolves fans there today which makes the home crowd even worse.

[Bluefudge]

Which says alot about the supporters, wouldn't get that at other clubs. The negativity on this forum is just too funny and if other clubs fans would see this we would be a laughing stock. If I remember rightly, at one point about 90% of people on here were certain Blackburn would go down. Seems were at that stage again, one game in. Thank god none of you are involved in football.

Shame we have a manager who isnt...

[m0r94n]

Blackburn fan being hounded on 606 right now, making extremely valid points and yet he's being attacked to the point he's being cut off.