[Archived] Fulham Preview

[A cup of beans]

lucky to get a point - maybe. though on the flipside of that.. i thought we defended very well 2nd half..(but for dann's slip-up).

1st half display showed the game was there for the winning. fulham are a poor side and its a missed opportunity.

goodwillie did his best.. of very little service and he was injured for most of the 2nd half.

cannot believe some slagging petrovic off.. again! ??? he offered far more than nzonzi... and also looks to get the ball down and play.. again unlke nzonzi.

petrovic will become a great player for rovers. no doubt about that.

its obvious to me that the dunn and nzonzi centre mid partnership arent good enough. there's no pressure, aggression or defensive steel.

dunn injured... YET AGAIN. i was amazed he was picked to start.

its time he was used as a squad player or super-sub.. at best.

on kean - anyone who slags kean off for his positive spin.. he's not alone. check jol's interview out! all managers do it.

the injuries were a huge factor and hampered any chance he had of changing the game tactically.

i give him the benefit of the doubt today.. BUT time is nearly up.

[RibbleValleyRover]

"It (the speculation) doesn't affect me, honestly. I have the dressing room and the backing of the owners. If the fans stay with us, we'll see many away performances like that where we win more than one point.

"I'm sure if the fans stay with us we'll finish in the top half."

It's weird, it's almost like Kean has reverted to blaming the fans for the team's poor performance and lack of points. Running out of excuses?

More 'I don't give a ###### what you think fans I am going nowhere' and another example of shifting the blame onto the fans for our ###### poor performances.

He really is an odious individual.

[chris]

Worryingly both Formica and Goodwillie had several chances to pass when the other was in a better position, but chose to shoot. Goodwillie especially appears selfish

Look at Goodwillie durring those oppertunites, he didn't even look up, its almost sunday football.

No awareness.

But we paid 2 million for a 22 year old from Scotland.

He was always going to struggle or it would have been too good to be true.

[Wing Wizard Windy Miller]

Would have taken a point before kick off. The problem remains, we don't have the right striker to play 4-2-3-1. Goodwillie doesn't have the aerial or technical ability but has decent movement. Roberts can stick his arse out but nothing else. Yakubu?

Formica looks like he could be a passenger away from home.

Thought Dunn made us tick first half and Rochina looks decent

Personally would stick Rochina up front with Hoilett, Olsson and Vukcevic.

Very disappointed with Petrovic, still, early days.

The team looks very ponderous, with little confidence.

Kean needs to go.

[sweet]

imagine if we had played united or city today... it would of been a cricket score.

[roverandout]

what i find astonishing is when he took rochina off instead of bringing a striker on to help relieve the pressure he brings on a 20 year old novice midfielder, a blindman and his dog can see that when your under pressure, you bring a target man on to hold the ball up so that he can bring others in to play, we are being outclassed and he goes defensive, utter utter madness.

[Rovermatt]

Aside from a criminally errant pass, Petrovic looked excellent. I can't understand why he didn't start.

Arsenal are struggling at the moment so a nice trip up to Fortress Ewood should right that ship. They've a load of players waiting to open their accounts too. Excellent...

[AllRoverAsia]

We played poorly against a mediocre Fulham. There are teams coming soon who on current form will slaughter us. We looked off the pace if not just unfit, lightweight and with no 'attack' of any consequence.

Robbo, Dann and Givet (2nd half) were good.

Ok we can put together 3 or 4 pretty passes sometimes. Real creativity left with the departure of Dunn who's looking more and more like a chicken drumstick.

I felt almost sorry for Goodwillie - he looked like an unfit and out of form non-league player - no offence meant to the non leagues. I've played with better in Pub teams.

Not going to think about or mention Kean - doctor's orders....................

[neophox]

Have to agree on Petrovic, I thought he was miles better than Nzonzi. Ok, he missed one pass terribly but he was excellent.

Last season we lost 3-2 now we got 1-1. And thats a step ahead. Fulham is a good team at home so to get a point is fine.

I would like to see Rochina and Yakubu upfront against Arsenal.

I thought Scott Dann had a good debut, he will get better for every game!!!

What happened to Samba?

And I am praying everything is well for Hoilett!!! Terrible by Schwarzer, should had been sent off!

[Tony Diamond Inc]

The fitness levels are unacceptably poor, also far too many muscle injuries.

Christ knows what goes on at Brockhall.

Got to agree.

[Speedie Dived]

Look at Goodwillie durring those oppertunites, he didn't even look up, its almost sunday football.

No awareness.

But we paid 2 million for a 22 year old from Scotland.

He was always going to struggle or it would have been too good to be true.

Always going to be difficult for him certainly, but we shouldn't be telling players if your mate is in a better position give it him. Them same could be said for Rochina dribbling in his own half. You learn these things at 10.

On the positive side of things Dann looked very good, mistake aside

[beastlove]

Why was samba not captain?

[daveoftherovers]

Not good enough, simple as. They were there for the taking, poor side.

Most worrying aspect of the manager for me was his tactical ineptitude.

Duff versus Givet? Come on!

Leaving Duff versus Givet for the whole first half

Continues to pick Salgado, to continue getting creamed, you can just see the opposition manager salivating...

Taking Rochina off and putting Lowe on

Starting with Dunn

If Goodwillie had a hamstring injury, why play him that long?

Samba, back injury?

On the positive side:

Good goal by Ruben

Their keeper should have been sent

We didn't see Roberts

Givet looked a class CB

Dann looks good

Other: Give Petrovich time, he is a good player, remember, JJ needed a few weeks.

Kean needs to go.

[AHoyle90]

lucky to get a point - maybe. though on the flipside of that.. i thought we defended very well 2nd half..(but for dann's slip-up).

1st half display showed the game was there for the winning. fulham are a poor side and its a missed opportunity.

goodwillie did his best.. of very little service and he was injured for most of the 2nd half.

cannot believe some slagging petrovic off.. again! ??? he offered far more than nzonzi... and also looks to get the ball down and play.. again unlke nzonzi.

petrovic will become a great player for rovers. no doubt about that.

its obvious to me that the dunn and nzonzi centre mid partnership arent good enough. there's no pressure, aggression or defensive steel.

dunn injured... YET AGAIN. i was amazed he was picked to start.

its time he was used as a squad player or super-sub.. at best.

on kean - anyone who slags kean off for his positive spin.. he's not alone. check jol's interview out! all managers do it.

the injuries were a huge factor and hampered any chance he had of changing the game tactically.

i give him the benefit of the doubt today.. BUT time is nearly up.

Petroivc to become a great players for Rovers? Hmmm, debatable, bit like your avatar.

He was clumsy and no better than N'Zonzi, Salgado struggled in the main, Emerton would be a better bet at right back these days, with his pace and energy. Givet woeful until moved to centre half.

Dann looked the part apart from the poor backpass, Samba was solid as usual, hopefully not too bad an injury. Dunn did well then predictably hauled off with a knock. Goodwillie had some good movement but didn't hold the ball well enough and doesn't possess the pace to be a threat up front on his own.

Rochina's goals was excellent, no bones about it. But the rest of the time, his decision making was amateur, dribbling out of his own half, ill advised passes, has the raw talent but needs to learn a hell of a lot about the Premier League, different kettle of fish to the Second Divison in Spain.

Formica anonymous and when he did get on the ball disappointing. Hoilett as usual was a potent threat, again hope his injury isnt too bad.

Now on to the twonk in the suit on our dugout who calls himself a Football Manager. CLEARLY needed Yakubu or Roberts (prefereably Yak) on to hold the ball which Goodwillie wasn't doing, to take the pressure off our defence. OK STEVE LETS BRING ON A YOUNG CENTRE MIDFIELDER ON RIGHT WING. Shocking management, Lowe did fine, but we needed a different change, more dynamic. Just can't believe his decision making at times.

Fulham were very poor, there for the taking. A draw is a decent enough result at the Cottage, but it papers over the obvious cracks, which will be made evident by the better teams in this division.

CLUELESS KEAN OUT.

[AllRoverAsia]

The Club's official website says that the Rochina substitution was tactical. I'm trying to work that one out.

[neophox]

Miraculous point gained considering our terrible second half performance. The players seem a lot less fit than they did only a year ago.

There is no shape to the team and even I would actually prefer to see Kean go.

Ratings (out of 10, though you're not going to see many of those):

Robinson: 7 - Solid as usual. probably our MOM.

Salgado: 5 - Didn't do as badly as some people think but still needs competition/replacing

Dann: 6 - Good game one blunder apart. Will be an important player for us.

Samba: 5 - Decent half

Givet: 5 - Pulled apart by Duff in the first half, commanding center back performance in the second

Rochina: 5 - Wonder strike but needs to learn to pass. Should have picked out Formica or Goodwillie for an early first goal instead of giving the ball to Schwarcer.

Dunn: 5 - Quite good half from the capt'n. One of our best passers and I can see why Kean wants him in a sort of anchor playmaker role.

Nzonzi: 5 - It's not a great sign that this kid seems to be our best midfielder. Tidy, but no passion and he seems to always slow things down.

Hoilett: 6 - Easily our most dangerous player, but we rely too much on him which makes him less effective. Hope he's all right.

Formica: 4 - Good technique but never threatened the goal.

Goodwillie: 4 - Didn't see much of the ball but just didn't look dangerous at all.

Lacked a physical presence up top against a poor home defense.

Subs

Olsson: 4 - Solidified the defense, offered little else.

Petrovic: 2 - Looks nowhere near the required level, I'd rather have Keith back. Only avoids a 1 due to not making any horrendous mistakes.

Lowe : 4 - Looked ok when he came on, not involved in much.

A 2 on Petrovic, did we watched the same game? He was better than Nzonzi who just loses the ball all the time and look likes a headless chicken.

[Dunnfc]

Bloody fought for the shirt today and im proud 4 games in or something and we looked tired and unfit but everyone of those yellow shirts today worked 100%.

Robbo : 7 was needed at times as much as he was a passenger.

Salgado 7 fought for every ball, tired but has more stamina than Goodwillie.

Dann 7 1 bad pass back but was a collosal in defence... Looks a bargain.

Samba 6 clumsy and gave it away but did well when called on shame he went off as he was getting better, lacks fitness i think.

Givet 6.5 other than the goal a few timely interceptions was brilliant in the 2nd half. shocker in the first 25 or so.

Rochina 8 MOTM for me took his goal well and looked like he wanted the ball everytime calm and cool head on young shoulders... other than a bad calf he'd have played the 90.

Dunn 5.5 Good solid first 30 but went off after half time.

Formica 5 Tried but was outmuscled and out paced allot of the time... Showed signs of his great technical ability though just not the game for him.

Hoilett 7 Ran and ran but sometimes he lacks making the correct pass or cross at the right time. Great work ethic and a willing runner.

Goodwillie 3 God awful... Unfit and wa out muscled and out paced to every ball a good lay off for Formica in the first 15 but that was his only notable thing.

Nzonzi 6.5 Broke up play but only plays the simle pass, he's one of those who dosen't play bad but never plays exceptional.

Olsson: 6 Good positional play at LB and got tight to Duff as Givet never did in the 1st half...

Petrovic 6 Couple of sloppy passes but a great clearing header and offered that extra tackle and body in midfield we so badly needed at the end.

Lowe 5 A couple of blocks but looks abit lost, don't think hes PL maybe championship is his level.

Kean: 6 Bed decision Bringing Lowe on when Yak or JR could have come on but positive formation... and rovers didn't look like giving up.

[neophox]

Why didn't Vukcevic came on for Rochina?

[Stuart]

For those who think today was a point gained, I say this.

Everything is about context. We should already have points on the board - possibly 6 - but have squandered our chances. Our next few games coming up particularly home games are going to be very difficult.

By the time we get around to matches we should be winning, morale could be so low, and the habit of losing could be so entrenched that it is too late to reverse it.

I fear for every day Kean remains as manager.

[Mercer]

Ironically I think Gary Neville talks a lot of sense and I've enjoyed listening to him.

I agree - hated him as a footballer but comes across really well.

[K-Hod]

We settled for a point against Fulham.... No urgency in attack, Kean's substitutions were baffling. Rochina played very well, Dann made a good debut bar that suicide pass to Zamora.

The game was crying out for Yakubu coming on, why Lowe was brought on I'll never know.

He needs to go ASAP.

Webb bottled the sending off of Schwarzer, roles reversed you've got to wonder if that would have been the case. I'm not going down the road of blaming the referee for everything, I'm just concerned by the standard of refereeing in the Premiership, over the weekend there have been some terrible decisions made.

[A cup of beans]

Dann made a good debut bar that suicide pass to Zamora.

and murphy getting round him. i'm sure he'll be a class act.. with more games and fitness, not played for about 8 mnths!

forgot to mention the challenge on junior.

mark schwarzer.. simply clattered and took him out. scandalous!

[Tony Diamond Inc]

Unfit chaos, without any fitness!

Oh and we are not fit enough!

[Dan]

Any news on Junior?

[den]

Any news on Junior?

Stitches in the side of his head and probable concussion - which would mean him missing the Arsenal game.