[Archived] MATCH PREVIEW: Rovers vs Wolves

[John Howarth]

Me. So loud it made me wince. It was like why I take ear plugs to the cinema these days for the adverts and trailers.

It was exactly the same on the Riverside. Before the game I could barely hear what my mate was saying to me in the next seat. Problem also, it is very muffled as well so it is just a loud noise.

[thenodrog]

Gotta love Sunday morning statements from PhllipL.

Get a grip man!! We've played one bloody game. QPR got spanked 4-0 at home yesterday.

I love your 'relegation is as certain as anything in football can be' line. Fair play you come out with some blinders don't you!!

I did a 7 hour round trip to watch that yesterday. It was poor FACT, were we hampered by having 3 CB's out of the team??? Of course we bloody were. Have we been relegated after one game of the season... Of course we bloody haven't!!!

FFS man, you wonder why you get negative comments. You're a grown man behaving like a spoilt brat. You used to be one poster who I really respected, and looked forward to reading posts from. Now you're so blinded that it's impossible for you to have a sensible view of anything!!

Back to the match. We were poor and we weren't helped by injuries. I guess Brett was injured as bringing off the only midfielder we have who can tackle was surely not tactical. Also as we were so threadbear why was Petrovic not sorted in time. Im surprised we couldn't get the paper work sorted in a week.

I felt for N'Zonzi, the lads been asked to play somewhere where he is uncomfortable, but instead of moaning and whinging he's got on with it and given it his best shot. Thought Salgado was poor to be honest, pen was a clear one, can't complain about that.

Best player on the pitch was hoilett. Always looked like he could do something. Looked tired late on and should hve been replaced.

Yes I'm worried, yes i agree that kean has a lot to learn but mostly I'm worried that we need to add quality players quickly. Mistakes have been and are still being made but how anyone can have us as certain for relegation after one game is mystifying! Were you actually there yesterday Phil?

Ricky the fact remains that the relegation form showed under Keans management from the second half of last season is unlikely too improve with a weaker '1st X1' following the loss of two of our strongest players Jones and Jones.

[Mattyblue]

Make that £1000 from Eddie & £1000 from me

Too many people on here want Rovers to fail, just so they can be proven right and say 'I told you so' - its pathetic! Your supposed to support Rovers, not kick off after 1 game.

And another one

I'm going to reply to everyone who posts such nonsense until it stops.

NOBODY wants Rovers to fail, I obviously can't wait to get my kicks by replying to imy et al going 'haha told yer so!'

people are angry and are letting it be known, it's passion and love for the club, it is a no less worthy response than the 'get behind 'em' posters.

[Paul]

Personally I would be very suprised to see Samba here come Sept 1st. Dunno bout you but the more I see of the Venkeys the more I see asset strippers.

You are spot on with the Samba remark. I suggested several weeks back Spurs or Arsenal would wait till the last minute to take him and with our increasingly perilous situation it's clear this will happen.

I'm less sure about the asset stripping bit though I agree the effect is the same. I don't think Venky's are asset strippers but have been proven to have insufficient funds to own a PL club, despite what our more optimistic brethren believe. I feel it is clear they made a series of catastrophic financial decisions in the early weeks and months, all of which were praised by the Venky's supporters as demonstrating commitment to the club, and now discover they need to find circa £50m to keep Rovers on track.

This has all been amply demonstrated time and again but few wanted to believe it. I don't believe there is a deliberate asset stripping policy simply Venky's do not have the money to match the investment and therefore have to sell to survive.

Asset stripping implies they are profiting from these actions which they can't be. We do end up in the same place though - completely stuffed with rubbish owners, a very poor squad, an idiot manager and no one at Ewood capable of leading the club on a day to day basis.

We are dead in the water.

[imy9]

And another one

I'm going to reply to everyone who posts such nonsense until it stops.

NOBODY wants Rovers to fail, I obviously can't wait to get my kicks by replying to imy et al going 'haha told yer so!'

people are angry and are letting it be known, it's passion and love for the club, it is a no less worthy response than the 'get behind 'em' posters.

After ONE game though Matty for "Rovers fans" to say we WILL be relegated... is baffling to me, even defeatist.

[Balwer]

Some next-day questions and statements.

1. SK now has 22 points from 22 games. We have won 1 of our last 8 home games. Over the summer we lost more than we gained from that team. On what basis do some people here then think that with a fully fit squad we would have won? Would Samba and Nelsen/Givet have stopped Salgado's mistakes? Would we have kept a rare clean sheet or were we expecting Roberts to knock a couple in because his first choice centre halves were playing? Would Nelsen have been the one threading Xavi-like passes through to Formica?

2. If SK has as little say in the transfers as some are claiming here then he should change his title back to first team coach and ask for a corresponding drop in pay because in reality his job boils down to which formation we play, which subs we use and what tactics they employ during the 90 minutes. I don't believe this for a second. The Gunning situation that someone highlighted a few pages back is proof of that. Surely that wasn't Venkys doing, I doubt we needed Gunning off the wage bill and replacing him effectively with Anderson is frankly ludicrous. If Anderson is a good enough defender to make the bench then he's surely good enough to start there ahead of a holding midfielder who looked very uncomfortable down back. SK can't have it both ways, he is either the manager and takes responsibility for what happens during the match or he tells Venkys his position is untenable and steps down.

3. I already mentioned Bruno/Salgado yesterday so won't rehash that, but why are people so high on Petrovic being an automatic walk-in to our first eleven? I'm not a follower of Serbian football and admit to having never heard of the guy, so am unsure why a £3m player who's never played in England is going to go straight into a Premiership midfield. I sure hope he does, because we need it, but it's a lot to ask and the odds are stacked against him making a major impact early on, so when people say he was one of the players missing from our starting eleven then I'm curious to know if this is insider information or just positive thinking.

4. Marple Leaf's comments are spot on regarding Venkys and if true about the money then very concerning. I am heartened to see more people on this board skeptical about the Prince's Trust gesture, because when you spend as little as we do on transfers then every little helps. Rovers fans have integrity and they won't be won over by empty gestures and free stuff. The drop in home attendance speeaks volumes in that regard.

5. Diouf - if you're going to sell him then sell him. Offer him on a free if necessary, if he's a locker room cancer, if there's been a falling out, whatever. But in the meantime would it hurt to at least put him on the bench at a time when our squad is so threadbare that Nick Blackman gets a run out on the pitch? Leaving him out of the squad before the deadline date when there's plenty of room to keep him seems like a gamble that has backfired.

6. Just because I'm negative on Kean and Venkys, and have been since day one, doesn't mean I support my team and less than those of you who have more faith in the current administration. The same goes for many of my skeptical brethren here. None of us want Rovers to fail, and I would doubt that anyone would take any joyin saying 'I told you so.'

7. Those people saying we are relegation certainties are overreacting. Yes the signs don't look good but one game is not a big enough sample size to make that kind of assessment. A lot can happen between now and the end of the season, cliche but true. How many of you thought this time last year that the Walker Trust would actually sell the club, or that we'd end up with our first team coach as the manager? Things don't look good at the moment but if we don't have hope then what's the point, and I think deep down anyone still posting on this forum retains at least some small belief that we will turn this around (or else they're very sadistic).

So to summarise, yes there are some serious underlying problems in the ownership, the manager and the playing squad. None of these things are insurmountable however, and we have seen glimpses, albeit briefly, of what this team is capable of (eg. first half away to Wolves last season) when everyone pulls together. There is time to fix things, but the longer we wait the harder it will be and hopefully all involved in the club are aware of that and take the necessary steps to address it.

COYB!

[booth]

There's a few apologists on this thread. Do we not deserve better? Does the club not deserve better? If the answer is no then we may as well kiss the top flight goodbye now.

You can't blame Kean entirely, although the poor defence certainly wasn't the reason for us playing poorly elsewhere on the pitch, but Venky's lost us three points yesterday. At least if they'd have invested in a centre half earlier to replace Jones, another forward and signed/registered Petrovic quicker we'd have had a fighting chance yesterday. It was a shambles at time, schoolyard stuff. Nelsen is getting on and needs replacing too. He's also been out for a while, so we knew he wouldn't be fit in time. Samba has also been out for a few weeks. No excuses.

Wolves weren't exactly great but we allowed them to play.

I was happy to hear Kean in the post-match interviews saying how we must sign players now. Sounded like a bit of frustration creeping in, at least he's admitting it. And so he should, he's discrediting himself by acting like all is well. I'm sure the fans would have more respect for him if he was a bit more honest.

[modes98]

Make that £1000 from Eddie & £1000 from me

Too many people on here want Rovers to fail, just so they can be proven right and say 'I told you so' - its pathetic! Your supposed to support Rovers, not kick off after 1 game. Yesterday we were missing 4 FIRST CHOICE players - Samba, Nelsen, Givet & Petrovic.

Add to that we had Hoilett at about 70% fitness and a midfielder in central defence - it was ALWAYS going to be difficult with that set-up. Yes some of that is Keans fault, yes some of it is the owners fault for not making more signings BUT who could seriously have seen we would be missing 3 1st choice central defenders for the 1st game?

Get a grip, get behind your team and start to support them. Give Venkys till Sept 1st in the transfer market to judge them, and give Kean at least 6-8 games before you start pathetic threads asking for his head.

If you've got a £1000 to throw away then fair play to you. Get on Betfair and lay us and you'll get more back.

You've lost it on that point though. Nobody wants Rovers to fail but there is a point that blind optimism hits the wall and reality kicks in. There were massive problems in the clubs structure last season, these were not addressed over the summer. They have put faith in a manager with no experience on the say so of an agent who they have since sacked.

Missing players is an excuse for the defence failing to perform but we still failed to sign a replacement for Phil Jones, a player who left in MAY, 2 months later we haven't got a replacement and it haunts us. As others have said there were players available on a free transfer that could have done the job if need be.

You can't say Hoilett was 70% fit as you have no idea how fit he was and he played the full 90mins. Kean also chose the tactics and the set-up so no excuses. We could have gone 3 at the back and tried to outscore them if he had thought it was such a problem, mind you he probably hadn't thought about that as he is no a manager!!!

Venky's have had long enough to know exactly what we are getting from them. Inept management, broken promises, false dawns and a lack of points.

I hope to god that we can get in a couple of good experienced players, preferably a proven goalscorer being one, but it's more likely we'll end up with a team that is quite thin and will struggle to reach the European target set by both our owners and manager, oh and will be in the bottom 5/6 teams in the division (injuries, etc will dictate how low down we finish).

Kean has had 24 games in charge. 6 wins, 7 draws and 11 loses.

[thenodrog]

It mattered to you when Ince was in charge

Glad you brought that pillock up bucky. I was horrified and opposed to his appointment not after Wigan or Lpool or whoever but as soon as we were linked with him. I wanted Allardyce and I was right when Allardyce proved to be the man to save us. Kind of adds weight to my opinion this time.

btw Just to prove I am fallible I have been wrong about the appointment of two managers Kidd and Hughes. I thought Kidd had more influence in MU's success and more between his ears. Turned out he had neither. As for MH I'm aways very wary of players stepping up to manage their team mates. Credit to Hughes for distancing himself from the players from the off.

[Majiball]

And another one

I'm going to reply to everyone who posts such nonsense until it stops.

NOBODY wants Rovers to fail, I obviously can't wait to get my kicks by replying to imy et al going 'haha told yer so!'

people are angry and are letting it be known, it's passion and love for the club, it is a no less worthy response than the 'get behind 'em' posters.

+100

I would have +'d it myself but I've run out of them today.

[Doogs]

this team is weaker than the one that finished last season. Forget the injuries that is just hidding behind the facts.

We should not be suprised. Many people I spoke to thought we would lose yesterday.

The maner of the defeat, the lack of cohesion, and input from the manager, just proves we are not good enough. That is from the owners through the coaching staff and players.

This squad would be lucky to pick 10 points up all season. To many has beens who have all but been discarded by previous managers are now automatic first choice.

THIS CLUB OF OURS IS DOOMED. RELEGATION CERTS.

WHY OH WHY DID I BOTHER TO RENEW MY SEASON TICKET.

[thenodrog]

theno's post was deleted for some reason

Becoming an increasingly popular pastime amongst the mods recently. Kick one and they all limp I suppose.

[Tom]

Becoming an increasingly popular pastime amongst the mods recently. Kick one and they all limp I suppose.

It looks like you deleted it yourself from here?

[Tom]

This is going to sound extremely harsh but after Robbo's great penalty save does anyone think he got a bit over excited? Not sure he had to come for the cross as he didn't really deal with it then was out of position.

You can't blame a keeper who just saved a penalty though, even if it was a Jason Wilcox.

[thenodrog]

After ONE game though Matty for "Rovers fans" to say we WILL be relegated... is baffling to me, even defeatist.

The only baffling thing is the length of your memory. You've put behind you all the dreadful run of form from last january onward until the end of the season and seem to be ignoring the fact that we are without two of the four 'big' players behind our last gasp survival.

[broadsword]

Asset stripping implies they are profiting from these actions which they can't be. We do end up in the same place though - completely stuffed with rubbish owners, a very poor squad, an idiot manager and no one at Ewood capable of leading the club on a day to day basis.

We are dead in the water.

100% agree.

Somewhere along the line, due diligence has gone very badly wrong.

The Trust didn't ask the right questions or took the answers on faith, and the Venky family must've been playing football in the corridor when the club's books were opened.

They're woefully under-resourced to be able to run this club, and as a result I believe we're slowly going glug-glug-glug.

[thenodrog]

It looks like you deleted it yourself from here?

Correct apparently .... it went as part of one of those linked up ones I think. Apologies for dissing the mods. I love em all really.

[imy9]

The only baffling thing is the length of your memory. You've put behind you all the dreadful run of form from last january onward until the end of the season and seem to be ignoring the fact that we are without two of the four 'big' players behind our last gasp survival.

We did survive last season didnt we? Under Kean we had a dreadful run but ultimately HIS point tally over the course of a season would have meant survival FACT.

I am not ignoring the fact that we have lost two key players. I have mentioned a number of times that we need at least THREE players, I hope FIVE to have a good season, however to say we WILL be relegated after ONE game... well whats the point of fans, players, management turning up for games if thats going to be the mentality. QPR, Norwich and Swansea have shown little to suggest they will survive, those are my three to go down.

[thenodrog]

Your supposed to support Rovers, not kick off after 1 game. Yesterday we were missing 4 FIRST CHOICE players - Samba, Nelsen, Givet & Petrovic.

Spot on! I say lets sack batty and the medical team..... Oh Wait!

Surely the new lad could have been registered in time though.

Spot on! I say lets sack Williams, Finn and Goodman..... Oh Wait...

Now...

Who should we sack for the clubs no show at Stanley House when Goodwillie first turned up and there was no one to meet him?

Who should we sack for no one to meet and greet Wolves Directors yeterday?

Is there anyone left to sack down there?

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Its high time Burnley Bob was sent packing too Theno,how dare he still be here!

[thenodrog]

We did survive last season didnt we? Under Kean we had a dreadful run but ultimately HIS point tally over the course of a season would have meant survival FACT.

I am not ignoring the fact that we have lost two key players. I have mentioned a number of times that we need at least THREE players, I hope FIVE to have a good season, however to say we WILL be relegated after ONE game.... QPR, Norwich and Swansea have shown little to suggest they will survive, those are my three to go down.

" well whats the point of fans, players, management turning up for games if thats going to be the mentality"

err 'whats the point'? Imy You never ever have turned up, and now I've joined the massed ranks of stayaways too for this season.

Means I can be on here more I suppose.

btw Imy wouldn't our survival have been on goal difference only? Losing the best young player in the country and the excellent Jermaine Jones and replacing them with lesser players would surely see your prediction off.

[jim mk2]

I am not ignoring the fact that we have lost two key players. I have mentioned a number of times that we need at least THREE players, I hope FIVE to have a good season, however to say we WILL be relegated after ONE game... well whats the point of fans, players, management turning up for games if thats going to be the mentality. QPR, Norwich and Swansea have shown little to suggest they will survive, those are my three to go down.

QPR had a bad day yesterday but Norwich played well at Wigan and Swansea haven't played match yet so how can they have shown "little to suggest they will survive"??

Predicting the 3 promoted teams to go down is lazy and not certain to happen by any means. The previous season Blackpool, West Brom and Newcastle came up and the latter two did very well while Blackpool only went down on the final day.

[thenodrog]

Its high time Burnley Bob was sent packing too Theno,how dare he still be here!

SSSHHHH...... I don't think the Venkeys know that he is still here .

Don't forget though Rob C does have strong influence at FA HQ so he will be seen as a key player by the Venkeys. Unfortunately for them I don't think they understand the concept of a double agent.

[McClarky]

I thought we were OK in the 1st half and it was a decent game overall. Despite this we were well beaten. The most worrying thing was the lack of any options on the bench. last season we would have had Kalinic, Diouf, Santa and Benjani in reserve but yesterday we had no-one who had started more than 1 game for us in the past. We gave away 2 poor goals defensively, which you can understand with the make shift defence, but how do we get into a situation where we have to play people out of position because we have a couple of injuries? It looks as if we only have about 6 out and out defenders in our squad which is a joke. Just shows what a weak squad we have.

I found Kean's comments on MotD very annoying. We have been telling him all summer that we have too small a squad with no experience and he has been tripping out the party line about how we are moving forward but it seems that he has had a stunning revelation after 1 game that he was wrong and he don't have enough players.

Unless we sign 4 or 5 new players of 1st team standard with experience it is cetain relegation for us I'm afraid.

[92er]

Anyone else think the PA was far too loud in the Blackburn End today?

And in the Jack Walker Upper.