[Archived] Preview: Aston Villa v. Rovers 20th August 2011

[Doogs]

I honestly don't see how we're going to stay up this year. The club has been systematically taken apart since Nov 2010, Venky's ownership and subsequent sacking of Allardyce and hiring of Kean has resulted in a sustained loss of form and ultimately looks like it's going to cost us our premier league place this year.

It's early days yet but unlike almost all previous years, I don't think there are three teams in the league worse than us.

Depressing... I feel like distancing myself from it all, because I see no hope for the team with the present owners/manager in charge. I know I'm not going to be able to though

100 PER CENT AGREE. SO FED UP ABOUT EVERYTHING TO DO WITH ROVERS.

[Veevs]

Listening to Absolute radio chatting about us is REALLY depressing

[Mozzer]

get mark hughes back !!!!!

steve kean might be a good coach and im not doubting that but to manage at the top level its a different ball game

we didnt look interested , and we looked completely all over the place

[Mercer]

IMO, our club is almost rotten to the core - step forward Venky's and Kean.

Forget all the propaganda from Roberts and co, things at Brockhall are, IMO, nowhere near as bright as the picture painted.

Messrs Samba, Givet and Diouf are not perfect but these guys know the score, have been round the block a few times and can't be fooled.

We are now, IMO, a complete and utter shambles and near certainties for the drop.

These are now desperately sad and tragic times for our club.

[RevidgeBlue]

Chris Samba is an absolute disgrace and should be thrown out of our club on his ear. Disgusting the way he's completely abandoned us. Number one priority must be replacing him and getting rid, we cannot go on allowing him to disrupt the club.

I'm not aware of the ins and outs of the situation but IF he is refusing to play I'd take the opposite viewpoint. He needs to be reminded he signed a very generous new contract recently and told he isn't going anywhere until January at the very earliest when he has been replaced.

Long term he can't refuse to play if fit, that would place him in breach of contract.

[Mattyblue]

Last season I was angry after defeats, ranting at the game, then ranting some more on here... now I just feel completely resigned to it all.

Never felt like this in all the time I've seen us in the top flight.

[Dariomarcolin]

I just think its down to a lack of defensive minded players in midfield, the balance needs to be addressed because were not capable of scoring a bundle of goals in matches so I'd rather we played negative football for a time just to get some clean sheets until were full strength at the back

[John]

Last season I was angry after defeats, ranting at the game, then ranting some more on here... now I just feel completely resigned to it all.

Never felt like this in all the time I've seen us in the top flight.

Same, it is a bit like slow torture.

[duffbear]

Disapointed with the result of course but I dont think we played too badly considering it was away from home.

If we had Samba available and can get decent striker we would have taken a point(s) today in my opinon.

We urgently need Hoilett to sign a new deal I honestly belive he will be world class in a couple of years time what does everyone else think?

I thought dunn looked sharp and fit and covered a lot of ground but had average game.

Although Nzonzi had a average game he has imporved and is starting to run with the ball and drive through the centre of the field which he didnt do last season.

Thought Petrovic and Formica looked bright when coming on. My starting 11 for the next game is

Robbo

Emerton(if fit) Nelson Samba(if fit) Olsson

Rochina Nzonzi Petrovic Hoilett

Formica

Goodwillie

[Waggy76]

I said at the time Salgado was given a new contract it was a very bad move yet the prevailing view on here was that he was a great player and that he fully deserved it. When Samba is playing he does a hell of a lot of covering for Salgado coming over when MS gets caught too far up the pitch and without the big man in the side Salgado's frailties are being fully exposed.

The main worry apart from being bottom of the table with no points after 2 games is the continued absence of our 2 best centre halves Samba and Givet. Are they genuinely injured or refusing to play for some reason? Shame on them if they are. We can not afford to lose Samba under any circumstances if we're to have a passable season imo.

Also can't see the point in dropping our best player from last week (Formica) or signing Petrovic and not playing him but I can see the theory behind wanting to put two workhorses on up front in a 4-4-2 and trying to defend from the front. However I'm taking it from comments from those watching the game that the usual suspects (Salgado Dunn and Pedersen) simply aren't up to the task and are letting the Job down.

The person , letting the 'job down'the most is Mr Stephen Kean ...

[G Somerset Rover]

Depressing... I feel like distancing myself from it all, because I see no hope for the team with the present owners/manager in charge. I know I'm not going to be able to though

Exactly how I feel. It is quite apparent that our opinions or anything we do as fans won't be taken on board by Venky's, so I feel like attempting to block out football until order is restored at the club.

Like you, I probably won't be able to do it, but it's all just too frustrating right now.

At least under any other regime we've had, if the sh!t was hitting the fan then 9 times out of 10 you knew it'd probably get sorted.

[RevidgeBlue]

Personally Simon I don't believe for one minute that the players were playing for Kean in those Apr/May matches. Be honest why would they?

Why bother trying at all then? Because there's no doubting they did. In spades.

And I'm not buying the "They were only concerned about their Premiership status" line either. The better ones could get a move away if they wanted and even a Premiership footballer surely isn't thick enough to think they can get away with not trying for a proportion of this season then do just enough to keep us up once again in the latter stages of the season.

[grizfoot]

They only positives I can take from today's game is that we performed much better at Villa Park this season than we did last under Kean, and secondly I thought we where the better team in the second half (albeit with Villa dropping deeper).

[Waggy76]

It appears a bit that way but the self same players displayed fight in abundance during the last five games of last season and it appeared they were playing for Kean irrespective of any shortcomings he might have.

What could have changed since then?

P Jones , J Jones , Samba

[rovers1993]

Venky's need to take this opportunity to sack Kean. They can put the blame on his drink-driving charge and say it brings a bad image to the club. Everyone will know the true reason they sacked him but at least this will be their saving grace....

If, and that's a BIG BIG IF they sack him, who can replace him? who would want to a club in utter ###### like us? Hughes would never come. O'neill also.

I fear for BRFC.

[John]

P Jones , J Jones , Samba

Givet.

[booth]

i dont need to watch the game again. i dont think goodwillie offered much. dunn ran his balls off hence his rating which still wasnt high. and yes hoillets score was based on the 2nd half.

they are my thoughts on my ratings i gave as people will have their own. no need to tell me to watch the game again.

There was every need because you clearly did some long blinks during that first half, and if we're judging players by only one half then Hoilett wasn't in the game in the first, but it's pointless arguing as the real villain of the game was the manager. You could see how sloppily organized we were within the first couple of minutes and then to allow that to happen for the whole of the first half is indefensible.

Personally I find it difficult to judge any of our players at the moment because I think every single one of them would be a different player with a proper manager at the helm. Players such as Hoilett and Olsson aren't being used to their full potential. From early on we can see bad management of Goodwillie, playing him out of position.

What an awful manager we have, and awful owners to match

[EWOODACE1]

Last season I was angry after defeats, ranting at the game, then ranting some more on here... now I just feel completely resigned to it all.

Never felt like this in all the time I've seen us in the top flight.

im sort of the same. everything that is happening now is expected.

i come out of ewood last week and wasnt upset as we deserved nothing. watched today and it put me in a mood ( my wife got the brunt of it ) but im not upset.

i think its because there is nothing to like about our club at the minute. we love brfc but we dont love anything involved in it at the mo.

we dont like :-

manager

owners

no player is a hero

hoillet wont sign his contract

samba wants out

the list could go on but we have nothing at the club to boost moral

we have the odd person on here who is in the know saying we are signing this person and that person but it never happens. too much false hope and that doesnt help.

villa are a very average team and battered us. wolves are a below avaerage team and totally outplayed us.

relegation seems a cert but its how we react to that which will be the focal point. if this happens i'd presume venkys would lose even more interest ( if thats possible ) and the future of our club is then at serious risk.

[rovers1993]

Actually, Moyes? could be a decent shout... Might come seeing as Venky's do provide cash.

[Helmshore blue]

I hope the game on Wednesday is used to try some of the younger players, and drop some of the "more experienced". Every time I watch Pedersen and Dunn, I cant help but feel that we have better options on the bench. I know it is risky throwing the young lads straight into the league, but on wed I would play...

Bunn

Bruno Hanley Samba(if fit) Olsson

Zonzi Petrovic

Hoilett Formica Rochina

Goodwille

[Fife Rover]

Chris Samba is an absolute disgrace and should be thrown out of our club on his ear. Disgusting the way he's completely abandoned us. Number one priority must be replacing him and getting rid, we cannot go on allowing him to disrupt the club.

That's how I feel as well. Considering that Rovers gave him his big chance when no other club would touch him he is repaying us in a very shabby way that shows his character up good and proper. I just hope that the " big clubs" he is hankering after are taking notice and decide he is not the kind of player they are looking for.

[beerwins]

What was wrong with Givet or Samba? I did'nt hear the reasons they were'nt in the squad.

[Bluefudge]

Actually, Moyes? could be a decent shout... Might come seeing as Venky's do provide cash.

I'm sure his best mate, a one mr big sam would put him straight on venky's !!!

[Neal]

Mark Hughes. We wouldn't need to sign anyone else.

[Veevs]

Disapointed with the result of course but I dont think we played too badly considering it was away from home.

What.. that was an awful match for us.. communication was so bad we literally had players running into each other, tactics poor throughout ffs punting the ball up to Jnr when up against two tall central defenders.. it was a shambles.