[Archived] MATCH PREVIEW: Rovers vs Wolves

[broadsword]

http://themarpleleaf.blogspot.com/2011/08/chaos-behind-scenes-at-blackburn-rovers.html

Was just about to post that link. Doesn't make for good reading, does it?

Worst part was: " The worst thing I heard today is that despite all the departures there is no money. None from Jones, none from Kalinic. It is all hand to mouth."

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

So no Directors or anyone from Pune there today....Jesus christ!

What the hell must visiting club Directors think,and we wonder why our once proud name appears to be shyte at the moment

[brian nelsen]

We were playing one of the relegation contenders

At home.

No game, or team performance is a certainty. Wolves have as much right as any other team to get a result. There is more than enough about Blackburn Rovers to get us up and running. Today showed that we have talented players and a problem in defence. Both of these, I'm sure will be addressed.

[tony gale's mic]

No game, or team performance is a certainty. Wolves have as much right as any other team to get a result. There is more than enough about Blackburn Rovers to get us up and running. Today showed that we have talented players and a problem in defence. Both of these, I'm sure will be addressed.

No game is a certainty. But those of us with a bit of foresight could see this coming. And can see the rest of the season coming too, unfortunately.

And Wolves have as much a right as any other team to get a result? Really? I'd say Man United, Chelsea, City etc have more right to turn up and expect a result.

[Kelbo]

Was just about to post that link. Doesn't make for good reading, does it?

Worst part was: " The worst thing I heard today is that despite all the departures there is no money. None from Jones, none from Kalinic. It is all hand to mouth."

Worse still, our owners are liars, look at their mission statement, look at all their broken promises, the chickens have to take it, we dont, bugger of back to Pune, stay there, do not pass go and dont collect £200.00

[chris]

Spot on.

It saddens me to see how manhy gullible people on here saw the Prince's Trust sponsorship as some sort of grand philanthropic gesture on Venky's part, as opposed to a panic move on the back of sheer incompetence in not finding a sponsor. Which is, of course, what it was.

thats not true, as I said before I work in Marketing like my sister (more experienced) and she was involved in the sponsorship of Wimbledon.

She got Tiny computers on a premiershoip teams shirt for 100k a year 1998 1999.

Venkys could have gone to my sister and she would have offered 500k for Blackburn although looter have reduced her sales by 70% nationally this week.

Thats still a lot of money.

They have basically written off 500k to 1 million in sponsorship and venkys have a heavy Marketing team.

Even if they didn't get 1.5 million they were after, they would have still had offers.

They are either dumb sh1ts or can afford it. No other logic.

Then again what makes sense these days.

[Paul Mellelieu]

Obviously what you know about football can be written on the back of a postage stamp with a paint brush. By that post you must be so happy after what you saw today. Ecstatic even.

First off I went today cos somebody else couldn't make it through work and gave me their ticket. Next time they pull that stunt I'm having none of it! It was bloody awful as a spectacle. Secondly I was sat on the godawful Blackburn End which just reinforced my views that if you want to watch a football match 'proper' you must sit in the middle of the JW or the Riverside. All I can say is that it's no wonder people who sit there come on here and talk shyte about what they have seen is it? What they have seen amounts to about 60% of the match at best.

Moving on... Mr Kean needs to understand that before you can win any game you must endeavour not to lose it. Tough that we have a few injuries but today we had just 3 players who can make a decent tackle namely Hanley, N'Zonzi and Salgado. Hanley is raw, N'Zonzi was out of his position and obviously his comfort zone too and salgado had a shocker. Midfield consisting of Dunne, MGP, Emerton and Hoilett quite simply do not have a tackle between them. Up top Formica despite a few nice touches looks too lightweight for the Premier League (more than a passing resemblence in appearence and ability to Kalinic btw) and then there's JasonBloody Roberts up top! Nuff said really. Everybody and their mother know that someone who scores more with his shins than his feet and head put together is not a Premier league centre forward.

We ended up with a team of 2 centre halves, 7 inside forwards and JasonBloody. A rabble that was beaten by a poor Wolves side who simply had to keep their shape and their discipline to play as a team to triumph over us.

OK so we all know now that the Venkeys are base liars and have lied to the fans on a regular basis since November but the biggest lie of all must be that Kean is a manager. Today everything he did showed him to be totally clueless. Any coaching qualifications he possesses can only be to drive a PSV. imo under any normal ownership he is already dead in the water but under this clueless shower in Pune I simply can't say.

Saddened at what we've allowed to be thrown away and what I fear the future has in store more than disappointed this evening.

If you've thrown in the towel why are you bothered to post?

[Steve Kean's Hypnotoad]

No game, or team performance is a certainty. Wolves have as much right as any other team to get a result. There is more than enough about Blackburn Rovers to get us up and running. Today showed that we have talented players and a problem in defence. Both of these, I'm sure will be addressed.

I admire your optimisim but don't you think its about time everyone connected to Rovers got real? Wolves are rubbish. They were rubbish last season, they were rubbish the season before and they will be rubbish this season. If they don't get relegated then they'll come close.

Rather than blinding themselves with their own bogus positivity, Kean and Venkys need to wake up and realise what it takes to compete at this level. It takes a big squad, not selling/loaning about 8 players and buying 3. It takes real quality proven at high levels, so either bargain signings, genius signings or expensive signings. Kean has shown neither the wit nor the pull to bring in any of the first 2 categories, so he quite obviously needs to be given a lot of money to spend. Not £2-3m here and there, £5-10m here and there.

Hate to say it but things are looking disastrous at the moment. That style of football was worse than anything I've seen under Allardyce, basically a parody of our most industrial performances under Sam but done very badly. And under 22,000 for the opening game of the season at 3pm on a saturday non-televised? Jesus, its as if we've gone back in time 7 years and everything Hughes, Williams and Allardyce built has vanished.

[brian nelsen]

No game is a certainty. But those of us with a bit of foresight could see this coming. And can see the rest of the season coming too, unfortunately.

And Wolves have as much a right as any other team to get a result? Really? I'd say Man United, Chelsea, City etc have more right to turn up and expect a result.

All teams want to improve. Wolves took advantage of the situation today and good on them. Just as we did against Liverpool last year. No game is a given. People will shut up if we win in style next game. It's just an ongoing battle as to who can winge the loudest on this message board. Part of me wishes I never found it. The optimists versus the pessimists.

[Paul Mellelieu]

http://themarpleleaf.blogspot.com/2011/08/chaos-behind-scenes-at-blackburn-rovers.html

Taylor is right to nail the Trust for selling the club to Venkys.

[tony gale's mic]

All teams want to improve. Wolves took advantage of the situation today and good on them. Just as we did against Liverpool last year. No game is a given. People will shut up if we win in style next game. It's just an ongoing battle as to who can winge the loudest on this message board. Part of me wishes I never found it. The optimists versus the pessimists.

Yeah. Liverpool was a one off result.

Look at the bigger picture. 22 points from 22 games under Kean. Look at the team he put out today. Look at the fact we've had £22 million of outgoings and only £5 million incoming.

The "optimists" seem to have wafer thin logic and point to one off games and flimsy points.

If you don't like reading the truth, that's your problem. But talking about what is actually going on at our club isn't "whinging".

Taylor is right to nail the Trust for selling the club to Venkys.

I'm not the biggest fan of the Trust (though they were at least sensible if far too frugal at times), but how much can we really pin down on them?

None of us really knows what happened during negotiations, but if they were painted a picture by Venky's and if promises were made, how much are they to blame for Venky's not following up on those?

Had they sold to Ali Syed, someone who it was obvious was a total fraud, that would've been one thing. But whilst I always had a dodgy feeling about this whole deal along with a lot of us, I doubt there was anything specific which you could say should have prevented the sale.

[Eddie]

First off I went today cos somebody else couldn't make it through work and gave me their ticket. Next time they pull that stunt I'm having none of it!

Then bugger off to another messageboard. Support another team, follow another sport, find another hobby. Just do something else with your time. Why come on here and be a doom and gloom merchant when you can't even be properly committed to the cause?

[Mercer]

But, we are light at Centre Back and sell Gunning who has played over 20 first team games in the Scottish prem and we sign Myles bloody Anderson with 5 minutes in the Scottish prem and nothing else, thats down to Kean, a defender is a defender and until we replace we dont sell, if he hasnt the bottle to tell the owners that, its proof of the pudding he is not up to the job and a yes man to boot!

Absolutely spot on.

It's incompetence of the highest order and also an insult to all promising young defenders that may be coming through the ranks.

IMO, Venky's could sack Kean on this misdemeanor alone - a total irrational decision.

[Eddie]

If it ends up costing us one game it isn't the end of the world. Things like this happen sometimes. Missing three first team centrebacks is unusual and unexpected.

[rebelmswar]

If it ends up costing us one game it isn't the end of the world. Things like this happen sometimes. Missing three first team centrebacks is unusual and unexpected.

Only having four is a disgrace. Only having two that are decent is a catastrophe.

[Eddie]

Samba, Nelsen and Givet are all premier league quality central defenders. On top of that we have Hanley he is a perfectly decent prospect. Can someone explain to me how many more we've had in previous seasons? Zurab? Mokoena? Before Jones came 18 months ago we had no more options. We would always send Zurab out on loan. Mokoena was no good.

That's alright though. Blame the three injuries on Kean. Blame the three injuries on the Rao's. Clearly all of these injuries were predictable. John Williams would have seen it coming. Sam Allardyce would have seen it coming. Never played badly under them. Never lost a game when they were around. We always win our first game of the season. We've never lost to teams that might be in a relegation battle. Never given up a lead. Never had a bad second half.

We're worse than every team in the league. Worse than QPR. Worse than Bolton who were outplayed by QPR in the first half. Worse than Norwich. Worse than Wigan.

THIS IS SO MUCH WORSE THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN BEFORE!!!!!!

[Mercer]

Then bugger off to another messageboard. Support another team, follow another sport, find another hobby. Just do something else with your time. Why come on here and be a doom and gloom merchant when you can't even be properly committed to the cause?

Oh great then we'll have no supporters!!!

Over the years it has been a huge, huge challenge to maintain and increase our gate. Some innovative deals and pricing has helped.

In a short space of time, all the goodwill has virtually vanished and even with virtually the cheapest prices in the whole of the football league, never mind the PL, we are struggling.

Why the hell should small businesses and companies pay substantial monies for corporate facilities when the owners and mysterious directors can't be arsed to even attend home matches.

Tonight, I'm absolutely boiling with anger and embarrassment. We are an absolute feckin joke, IMO, and vast swathes of supporters, sponsors etc are totally p1ssed-off.

Whether Venky's remain as owners is anyones guess but simply, IMO, this clown Kean has to go in order to give us any chance.

[imy9]

If you were Kean what would you have done differently?

I am struggling to think of what I would have done with the back 4. Start with Emo at RB and Salgado at CB, but Salgado is too small and aerially not the best. Start with three at the back and two wing backs? It was a tough one.

Next match we should have Givet and Samba back with Petrovic too, so defence would look:

Salgado Samba Givet Olsson

Petrovic Nzonzi

Formica Dunn Hoilett

Roberts

Already looks a decent side to me with pace, skill and some steal at the back. Talking of relegation after ONE game is madness IMO.

[Eddie]

Sorry, the owners don't have to attend games. It would be great if they flew over for every match, but realistically they live miles away, have their main business to run and other things to do. Even if you are critical for them for not spending ENOUGH, they are losing money with this venture and there is no reason for them to turn up every Saturday. I would like to know that at least one of them watches every match, that they care what happens to the club, but they don't have to turn up to prove that.

As for the argument about 'needing every supporter'. Well I have taken criticism from others on here before, including thenodrog, for not knowing what it is truly like, for not being a true fan because I live in another country and because I don't attend every match. Well it costs more for me to attend the one or two Rovers games that I make it to every year than it does to buy two season tickets, so when the 'real' fans come on here and say that they aren't buying season tickets, aren't attending matches and wouldn't even attend the games when the tickets are free...well then bugger off.

If you want the nice ride support United. Support Barcelona. If you want to support YOUR club...well then do it. Do it regardless of who owns it (unless it is some war criminal, murderer or total crook). Do it regardless of how good or bad the players are. Do it regardless of the manager. Do it regardless of the league standing. If any of those figure into your decision making for whether or not you attend a match on a Saturday then you are, quite frankly, not a real supporter.

[rebelmswar]

It may not be Keans fault that Jones has not been replaced but its someones. With 16 million fir him and 6 for Kalinic then there should be plenty of cash kicking about for some defensive cover that us fans, never mind a highly respected and talented manager, have seen as needed for months.

But never mind, plenty of games left and all that.

[Mercer]

Sorry, the owners don't have to attend games. It would be great if they flew over for every match, but realistically they live miles away, have their main business to run and other things to do. Even if you are critical for them for not spending ENOUGH, they are losing money with this venture and there is no reason for them to turn up every Saturday. I would like to know that at least one of them watches every match, that they care what happens to the club, but they don't have to turn up to prove that.

As for the argument about 'needing every supporter'. Well I have taken criticism from others on here before, including thenodrog, for not knowing what it is truly like, for not being a true fan because I live in another country and because I don't attend every match. Well it costs more for me to attend the one or two Rovers games that I make it to every year than it does to buy two season tickets, so when the 'real' fans come on here and say that they aren't buying season tickets, aren't attending matches and wouldn't even attend the games when the tickets are free...well then bugger off.

If you want the nice ride support United. Support Barcelona. If you want to support YOUR club...well then do it. Do it regardless of who owns it (unless it is some war criminal, murderer or total crook). Do it regardless of how good or bad the players are. Do it regardless of the manager. Do it regardless of the league standing. If any of those figure into your decision making for whether or not you attend a match on a Saturday then you are, quite frankly, not a real supporter.

Please don't lecture those who have followed Rovers through thick and thin including the old Third Division.

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

Samba, Nelsen and Givet are all premier league quality central defenders. On top of that we have Hanley he is a perfectly decent prospect. Can someone explain to me how many more we've had in previous seasons? Zurab? Mokoena? Before Jones came 18 months ago we had no more options. We would always send Zurab out on loan. Mokoena was no good.

That's alright though. Blame the three injuries on Kean. Blame the three injuries on the Rao's. Clearly all of these injuries were predictable. John Williams would have seen it coming. Sam Allardyce would have seen it coming. Never played badly under them. Never lost a game when they were around. We always win our first game of the season. We've never lost to teams that might be in a relegation battle. Never given up a lead. Never had a bad second half.

We're worse than every team in the league. Worse than QPR. Worse than Bolton who were outplayed by QPR in the first half. Worse than Norwich. Worse than Wigan.

THIS IS SO MUCH WORSE THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN BEFORE!!!!!!

This game in isolation is not the concern. Us losing the game isn't the problem and Kean being the manager is not the problem.

The concern is that we've bought two first team players all summer for the loss of 11 squad players including several first teamers. Venky's aren't doing enough.

The only unforeseen issue today was Givet being injured. Everyone knew that Nelsen was out and Samba was touch and go a week ago. We needed a centre half to replace Jones at the beginning of July. Thats 6 weeks ago. We've needed a decent striker since last May. 3 months ago. Why on earth havent these positions been filled in that time???

We've been given approx £26m in sales and have spent around £6m of that. The deadline is Sept 1st but in reality the deadline was today. We've dropped 3 points because of that.

No point blaming Kean for this. He didn't get Venky's involved, he didn't hire himself and he's not the reason for why there has been virtually no transfer activity all summer. We desperately need investment in the playing squad now.

If Venky's have any ambition of running a successful football club then this is it. Act now or we stand to lose our premiership status next May.

[imy9]

Please don't lecture those who have followed Rovers through thick and thin including the old Third Division.

Did you actually read what he said?

Have you bought a season ticket? Have you chosen not to buy one even though you can? Have you said you would not bother turning up even if it was for free?

He is not talking about you is he?

[Eddie]

Touch and go a week ago doesn't really help with signing a player. We should hardly rush signing a central back for one match. I amey n sure that they would have liked to have signed a central defender by now, but they haven't. It isn't the end of the world. They need to and if they don't by September 1st then that is the time to turn round and be critical of them. They need to think long-term, that it is what will lead to success.

We haven't really received £25m. The Jones money will not have been paid upfront. It is unlikely that the Kalinic money was either. Petrovic is probably a similar case, but it would appear that we stumped up £2m this summer for Goodwillie. Realistically that means that our net summer spending at the moment is probably more around +8-12m rather than the +20m that people like to throw out there.

In reality the deadline wasn't today. Ideally everything would have done by today, but it is ONE match. One match that we could have one. Three points that we could have gained. I have no doubt that come the end of the season the 3 extra points could make the difference between a place or two, but there will always be moments in a season where a side carelessly drops points, or has too many injuries or suspensions. It's unfortunate to have it happen in the first game of the season because, at this moment in time, it is the only thing for us to go on, but this could have just as easily have happened in December or April.

This board has reached a stage where every defeat results in suicide watch. It's getting a bit ridiculous.

[tony gale's mic]

Touch and go a week ago doesn't really help with signing a player. We should hardly rush signing a central back for one match. I amey n sure that they would have liked to have signed a central defender by now, but they haven't. It isn't the end of the world. They need to and if they don't by September 1st then that is the time to turn round and be critical of them. They need to think long-term, that it is what will lead to success.

We haven't really received £25m. The Jones money will not have been paid upfront. It is unlikely that the Kalinic money was either. Petrovic is probably a similar case, but it would appear that we stumped up £2m this summer for Goodwillie. Realistically that means that our net summer spending at the moment is probably more around +8-12m rather than the +20m that people like to throw out there.

In reality the deadline wasn't today. Ideally everything would have done by today, but it is ONE match. One match that we could have one. Three points that we could have gained. I have no doubt that come the end of the season the 3 extra points could make the difference between a place or two, but there will always be moments in a season where a side carelessly drops points, or has too many injuries or suspensions. It's unfortunate to have it happen in the first game of the season because, at this moment in time, it is the only thing for us to go on, but this could have just as easily have happened in December or April.

This board has reached a stage where every defeat results in suicide watch. It's getting a bit ridiculous.

The installments this is utterly irrelevant. Most transfer fees are paid in installments, if we get in installments we can buy in installments. Installments should never stop a club from buying a player.

The window has been open for six weeks. We have two left. If anything the transfer talk has died down.

Wake up.