[Archived] Rovers v Everton

[Paul Mellelieu]

Defence

- Salgado's dip in form: last season i thought he was one of our best players, now he looks finished.

- We have no real cover at right back not Emerton has gone (Please explain to me why Emerton is being allowed to leave the club if it's not about reducing the wage bill.)

- Samba must stay and all this talk by Kean of the right price must stop now.

- Givet was my MOM

- Left back is still an issue.

Midfield

- Central midfield is too weak, especially if we get an injury. Petrovic looks slow and ponderous in possession, and can't tackle. let's hope he improves, fast.

- Morten, who I thought played well against Wolves, was very poor, whilst Dunny did well until he went off.

- N-Zonzi is a good player, but needs a Jermaine Jones next to him

- Out wide we look OK

Upfront

- Roberts was poor, but on his own and Everton have first class centre backs. The problem is that Goodwillie is not good enough to be our number one striker. Head down shoot on sight isn't PL standard.

- Formica was very good and should start

- Erm, that's it.

We are heading down with this squad if players and Kean and Venkys are to blame. Will we ever recover from this? I really don't know. Where are the Sheffield clubs right now?

[Paul]

Well I'm still in a state of surprise - I enjoyed parts of the game. Discussing the side on the way to the ground I think we all wondered what on earth Kean is doing. We have all this fuss about new players and needing signings etc. and the starting 11 turns out to be 100% Allardyce. Now while I didn't like Allardyce or his football style there is no denying he was good for the club - what I can say about Kean in the future remains to be seen! Why we started as we did I can't understand, anyway Rovers were bright enough for the first 10 minutes or so and then I felt Everton began to dominate for the next 20.

MGP and Dunn departed and the remainder of the half petered out with neither side doing much, if anyhting I thought Everton continued to edge it, not by much but slightly more in control. Second half was a very different story and I thought we played some genuinely exciting football going forward. OK we missed two penalties which is close to professional incompetence but we did go forward with speed, some vision and excitment - I'm not quite sure when I last used any of those words on here. I felt Goodwillie (there's a great joke there at some point) made an impact - I would start him ahead of Roberts, we have to find out if he can be a 90 minute player.

Then of course we lost, Kean's fault? Can't say I felt it was though we don't appear to have a nominated penalty taker - or at least not one on the park - so he has to take responsibility for that.

Curate's egg of a game and performance yesterday - good in parts.

How will the season go? We need two strikers which will cost £12-15m at least. Venky's don't have that kind of cash so we won't get them. A lack of goals will relegate the team. Our next few games are very tough and to be brutal any more than three points - Fulham, QPR and Norwich - will be a good return.

We are in deep sh!t but I still enjoyed the game in parts yesterday - which I hadn't expected

[Herbie6590]

Just watched Football First - IMO none of the penalties should have been given. Terrible officiating.

Likewise I agree - think Formica will have a rep for diving amongst the referee community now.

[briansol]

Likewise I agree - think Formica will have a rep for diving amongst the referee community now.

Should be in good company with your Gerrard's and Rooney's in the diving club. Especially when you see a replay on tv it's clear how many situations where a player will go down in search for a freekick or penalty. Both Osman and Jagielka were looking for a slight contact in the back in then promptly fell to ground and got a freekick. As Formica showed, we are no better.

[AlanK]

Not bothered if the pens should have been given or not. Thats football.

However,from what I have seen on MOTD and thats is all I`ve seen we seemed to play quite well or at least create chances. Thats a good thing.

But, playing well and not winning, not even drawing is always bad news.

[m1st]

I've just watched the highlights on the repeat of "MotD" - couldn't bring myself to watch it last night - and agree with a lot of the comments that have already been made on here.

So here's my two-pennyworth.

The starting 11: How intelligent is Kean? Does he not realise that comments he makes [wasn't he saying something on Thursday or Friday about the coaching regime @ the club being such that the new arrivals can quickly be integrated into the team?] can be used to provide ammunition for those who aren't convinced about his managerial abilities? I, for one, couldn't believe the starting 11 when I heard it - wtf were these new players [two of whom, let's not forget have been with us since February] doing on the bench?

Hopefully, yesterday's game was the end of an era in a number of ways - not just Emerton [thanks for some loyal service over a long time - hope you enjoy being a Sydneysider again] playing his last match.

As a chap who sits on the row in front of me said at half time, "Dunn's a substitution waiting to happen." I'm sorry; because I know he's a local lad and has been a valuable player for us over the years but he can no longer hack it for 90 minutes at Premier League level.

Pedersen's been peripheral for about 3 or 4 seasons now; and don't get me started on Roberts! I thought he was very lucky not to be red-carded in the game against Wolves because he kept mouthing off at the Ref in that game, even after he'd been yellow-carded for that very offence and I feared he was going to distract himself yet again when he began to berate Olsson in the first half yesterday. Hopefully, yesterday's was the last game in which he features in our starting 11.

I also agree with some of the comments about Salgado; I think he's suffered a decline since last season.

I thought we were much better after Kean's hand had been forced by the double substitution, although I was a bit disappointed in Petrovic's contribution.

The penalties: Oh dear! Some of my non-Rovers supporting mates were texting me before 5.00 last night with jibes about our penalties. They do practise taking them at Brockhall, don't they? Is [was?] Hoilett our nominated penalty taker? Why do none of the senior players show a bit of leadership? Not wishing to go on about Roberts too much and it may be a bit naïve of me but, if I were a Premier League striker [who's got only 5 goals in each of the last two seasons], I'd have leapt at the chance to get off the mark from 12 yards with only the keeper to beat.

An old schoolmate of mine of the Evertonian persuasion who was at yesterday's game sent me the following e-mail last night:

Rovers v Everton truely the oddest soccer game I have ever seen

Rovers were easily the better side yet lost - Everton were poor.

I think he's saying we were unlucky to lose. And we were. I don't think it's a case of "we'll play worse and win"; more "keep playing like that, starting games with a team similar to the one which ended yesterday and we'll be all right".

Between now and Wednesday evening, we need to see about getting a right back [i don't know how good, or otherwise, Ribeiro is] who's got the pace for the Premier League and a centre forward [excuse the old-fashioned term!] for the like of Formica, Goodwillie and Rochina to play off. And, above all, to resist any moves by any other club for Chris Samba.

For sure there are some ominous games coming up at Ewood, although there could hardly be a better time to welcome Arsenal to Ewood, but I believe that each of the next 4 away League games is winnable.

[roverandout]

was at the game, roberts is an absolutely awful player and rightly go booed when he was substituted, this defeat is partly kean's fault as had he brought in a proper striker or 2 in the summer then we probably would have put our chances away. Samba was immense at the back and made a huge difference. i thought it was an even game and either side could have won it but predictably, as i said in the everton v rovers preview, everton sneaked a 1-0 win.

[darwenblueswearehere]

Don't want to go over any of the ground that other posters have raised, so here's a new point.

Penalties.

During the pre season friendly at Kilmarnock, Dunny scored a penalty, then we got another one. Roberts grabbed the ball and, to be fair, scored the penalty (though it was a fairly weak effort). Hoilett and Formica were both on the pitch at the time, so how come they stepped up before Roberts yesterday in a 'proper' match?

I suspect we all know the answer......

[des]

I though the first one was a pen, thre second one was a soft one, and the one that everton got was never one.

play well, but in sport results mean everthing and playing well and losing at home is not good. He needs to play the team that started the second half

[Poita]

I'm sorry in advance if someone has already mentioned this in a previous post, just don't have time to read all posts.

Is it possible that Dunn, roberts and MGP got picked first by the owners due to marketing that ###### commercial???

They are the face of rover's/venky's on that chicken commercial within india.

Any thoughts??

I also overheard someone say via Twitter yesterday one of our youth team guys said the owners had a influence on selection.

[briansol]

Don't want to go over any of the ground that other posters have raised, so here's a new point.

Penalties.

During the pre season friendly at Kilmarnock, Dunny scored a penalty, then we got another one. Roberts grabbed the ball and, to be fair, scored the penalty (though it was a fairly weak effort). Hoilett and Formica were both on the pitch at the time, so how come they stepped up before Roberts yesterday in a 'proper' match?

I suspect we all know the answer......

Seriously, do you really want Roberts to take penalties?

Hindsight is such a nice thing. Penalties should be taken by players based on confidence and not experience. With England's record on penalty shootouts must prove that. Also Dunn has probably 1 in 2 goal ratio on his penalties during his career, and I remember Owen had something similar for Liverpool.

[darwenblueswearehere]

Seriously, do you really want Roberts to take penalties?

Hindsight is such a nice thing. Penalties should be taken by players based on confidence and not experience. With England's record on penalty shootouts must prove that. Also Dunn has probably 1 in 2 goal ratio on his penalties during his career, and I remember Owen had something similar for Liverpool.

Of course I don't want Roberts to take penalties, but that isn't the point I was making. The first point is about Roberts' bottle (which we already know about), but the second is about the lack of a plan B if Dunny wasn't on the pitch to take the penalty. Penalties should be practised and taken by the best penalty takers!

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

If we hadn't lost our previous two games then yesterday would have been put down as a freak result. You cannot legislate for missing two penalties. You miss those kind of chances then there isn't anyone else to blame.

[Taggart]

If we hadn't lost our previous two games then yesterday would have been put down as a freak result. You cannot legislate for missing two penalties. You miss those kind of chances then there isn't anyone else to blame.

and the crossbar, and the post and the keeper pulled off a great save - no doubt about it, we were unlucky to a certain extend - but there are no excuses for not coming away with three points and a better startign eleven than was put out.

[patrickvalery]

I know Kean has made plenty of mistakes. But it seems a shame that everyone has been whipped up into this sacking frenzy after a performance like yesterday. If we played like that for the rest of the season we'd safely finish mid table. His starting line up yesterday was wrong, but the fact is, we played well and if we'd played that same match ten times we'd have won it more often than not. You can't legislate for two of our best players missing from the spot. I felt more disheartened after the Villa match to be honest.

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

I know Kean has made plenty of mistakes. But it seems a shame that everyone has been whipped up into this sacking frenzy after a performance like yesterday. If we played like that for the rest of the season we'd safely finish mid table. His starting line up yesterday was wrong, but the fact is, we played well and if we'd played that same match ten times we'd have won it more often than not. You can't legislate for two of our best players missing from the spot. I felt more disheartened after the Villa match to be honest.

That is exactly how I feel. When the game had finished I was genuinely shocked to see so many people bashing Kean yet again for the defeat when in reality he had very little to do with us losing yesterday's game at all. He's made loads of mistakes but yesterday wasn't his fault.

[T4E]

Yesterday was devastating. However, I saw enough to be confident of staying up.

Now, f**k all this Premier League experience crap, all our experienced players ever do is let us down. Get the young lads in and let them enjoy themselves. They'll pull us out of this if they're given a chance.

[patrickvalery]

Eh!!! My eyes must be deceiving me. Thats 3 fairly positive posts in a row. Brace yourself lads, i think we're in for dogs abuse!

[braddock]

was at the game, roberts is an absolutely awful player and rightly go booed when he was substituted, this defeat is partly kean's fault as had he brought in a proper striker or 2 in the summer then we probably would have put our chances away. Samba was immense at the back and made a huge difference. i thought it was an even game and either side could have won it but predictably, as i said in the everton v rovers preview, everton sneaked a 1-0 win.

You are an idiot if you think booing Roberts was the right thing to do. Incidentally I didn't hear it from the top tier of the Blackburn End so it must have been a minority. I presume those who were booing need another hate figure now Andrews has left. Morons.

OK, so I'll give my opinion, which will no doubt be shot down.

Team selection was understandable. Roberts to start against their bruising centre halfs. Wasn't a game for Goodwillie to start just yet. Pedersen and Dunn also included for their experience, Pedersen specifically for his defensive duties. No massive debate to be had. It's understandable why they played. It's fair to say some of you would have done it differently but it's hardly awful managing.

As for the game, aside from a few shaky moments near the start we more than deserved to win. Aside from Pedersen not putting his foot in we were more than comfortable dealing with their attacks and were set up well to deal with them. The transition after the double substitution passed smoothly and it was great to see us not only avoid conceding straight after the break but use this time to completed batter them. Most of the second half we were camped in and around their box. There is nothing more the manager could have done. It was down to the players to convert the chances. He set up a system that had its rewards in an attacking sense and we could easily have been 3 up or more.

I think the level of intelligence of a section of the fans is highly questionable. After about 40 minutes of control, Everton went on a rare venture up the field and straight away 'Kean-o, sort it out!' was ringing out from some sections of the crowd. Ridiculous. I know it's a frustrating time but people really need to put things in to context and learn how to deal with these frustrations in some form of logical way, rather than reverting to the old favourite 'hmmm, we aren't winning yet - why it must be Kean's fault!', as though he was the one missing the target time and time again.

It also wasn't his fault that a ridiculous penalty decision was given against us. The referee had a mare, all game, giving incorrect decisions for both sides. If this had been a high profile game then he'd have been having a meeting early next week.

Goodwillie had an interesting performance. Some really good runs which caused problems for the Everton defence, but a little naive at times. Totally understandable. Formica looks very promising and has great awareness and a wonderful touch. Unfortunately I don't think he's going to get another penalty all season now. Pertrovic wasn't ready (as Kean said in the post match interview, hence Dunn starting) but did an adequate job. N'Zonzi did quite well but what a stupid yellow card to give away. I blame Kean for that, naturally. Was good to have Samba back. A mountain, though was lucky to get away with an obvious push as last man. Feared for him when he went down injured too. And Givet for that matter too.

Overall a very good performance, the result wasn't deserved, the manager couldn't have done much more, and those who left early cursing the manager should be disgusted with themselves, if only because they missed Emerton's farewell.

[Silencio]

Overall a very good performance, the result wasn't deserved, the manager couldn't have done much more, and those who left early cursing the manager should be disgusted with themselves, if only because they missed Emerton's farewell.

I think the fact it was Emerton's farewell yesterday highlights what a muppet the guy you keep making excuses for is. Good to decision to let him go and buy Ribeiro, Braddock?

[braddock]

I think the fact it was Emerton's farewell yesterday highlights what a muppet the guy you keep making excuses for is. Good to decision to let him go and buy Ribeiro, Braddock?

You mean Emerton who is going home with family issues and has been a great servant to the club and so deserves to get his wish?

Yes, a good decision I'd say.

[yoda]

You are an idiot if you think booing Roberts was the right thing to do. Incidentally I didn't hear it from the top tier of the Blackburn End so it must have been a minority. I presume those who were booing need another hate figure now Andrews has left. Morons.

OK, so I'll give my opinion, which will no doubt be shot down.

Team selection was understandable. Roberts to start against their bruising centre halfs. Wasn't a game for Goodwillie to start just yet. Pedersen and Dunn also included for their experience, Pedersen specifically for his defensive duties. No massive debate to be had. It's understandable why they played. It's fair to say some of you would have done it differently but it's hardly awful managing.

As for the game, aside from a few shaky moments near the start we more than deserved to win. Aside from Pedersen not putting his foot in we were more than comfortable dealing with their attacks and were set up well to deal with them. The transition after the double substitution passed smoothly and it was great to see us not only avoid conceding straight after the break but use this time to completed batter them. Most of the second half we were camped in and around their box. There is nothing more the manager could have done. It was down to the players to convert the chances. He set up a system that had its rewards in an attacking sense and we could easily have been 3 up or more.

I think the level of intelligence of a section of the fans is highly questionable. After about 40 minutes of control, Everton went on a rare venture up the field and straight away 'Kean-o, sort it out!' was ringing out from some sections of the crowd. Ridiculous. I know it's a frustrating time but people really need to put things in to context and learn how to deal with these frustrations in some form of logical way, rather than reverting to the old favourite 'hmmm, we aren't winning yet - why it must be Kean's fault!', as though he was the one missing the target time and time again.

It also wasn't his fault that a ridiculous penalty decision was given against us. The referee had a mare, all game, giving incorrect decisions for both sides. If this had been a high profile game then he'd have been having a meeting early next week.

Goodwillie had an interesting performance. Some really good runs which caused problems for the Everton defence, but a little naive at times. Totally understandable. Formica looks very promising and has great awareness and a wonderful touch. Unfortunately I don't think he's going to get another penalty all season now. Pertrovic wasn't ready (as Kean said in the post match interview, hence Dunn starting) but did an adequate job. N'Zonzi did quite well but what a stupid yellow card to give away. I blame Kean for that, naturally. Was good to have Samba back. A mountain, though was lucky to get away with an obvious push as last man. Feared for him when he went down injured too. And Givet for that matter too.

Overall a very good performance, the result wasn't deserved, the manager couldn't have done much more, and those who left early cursing the manager should be disgusted with themselves, if only because they missed Emerton's farewell.

Played 3 lost 3, bottom of the league null points, and I don't care if you think I am stealing your oxygen, god knows you need enough of it,

The plain fact is we are stuffed with Kean (ie Kentaro) and the Rao's in charge

[Commondore]

It's almost as though Venkys have told Kean that the players in their ads have to be in the first team...

I also heard they drink the blood of newborn infants on all their staff meetings.

[roversinmyblood]

We should have the strikers in we desperately need weeks ago!!!!!!

[Mattyblue]

It seems that anyone who doesn't agree with you Braddock is a 'moron' and you 'question their intelligence'.

If you are after stupidity you may want to look closer to home as you continue to back a manager who has won a handful of games in 9 months.