[Archived] Blackburn Vs Arsenal

[grizfoot]

A very entertaining game but also a very nervy one.

Bar the first twenty minutes when Arsenal where running rings around us I thought we did okay in the match. That being said Arsenal could have easily had seven or eight if it wasn't for the magnificent Robbo in goal. Think we looked a much better team after the substitutions, Lowe looked better at right-back than in central midfield, Olsson was a vast improvement on Rochina when he came on and bringing on Vukcevic meant we got better defensive cover on the flanks. The Yak was pure class as well, he can't really run but he more than makes up for that with his first touch, hold-up play, passing and finishing. Just the sort of striker you need to play the system we play effectively. I still worry about the fullback areas though Givet was left totally exposed in two on one situations on numerous occasions today.

[Paul Mellelieu]

Lucky win, but the players give it all in the second half and for that deserved at least a draw.

Kean is stupid to play so many lightweight players in the team. Sort out the defence and defensive midfield first and foremost.

BTW is the new lad on the right the new Stuart Ripley?

[chris]

BTW is the new lad on the right the new Stuart Ripley?

In our dreams he will be

Yakubu is definitely a little like a young Yakubu.

[Silencio]

I'd have Olssen on the left wing every time, I always think were more likely to score with him playing as he is so powerful and direct. Rochina Olssen and Hoilett behind Yak seems the way to go for me.

I thought Lowe was very good yesterday and looks ready to play a few more games...

[Tom]

In Rochinas defence he does stuff most our players could only dream of, early on in one swift action he brought downa tough ball and turned his man, fair enough he pulled his shot but as we saw last week he is a threat, the only problem is he is a threat to us at times as well which is why I'd rather him play off Yakubu instead of Formica.

Very good on free kicks as well, Samba should have buried one and the first OG came from his delivery, Hoiletts were poor.

[DE.]

Rochina has the potential to become a top, top player. He's selfish with the ball at the moment and his decision making is poor, but with time and maturity that will change. Really looking forward to seeing him progress at the club.

Formica, on the other hand, concerns me a little. He scored at Wolves and could have had one today as well, but he doesn't get involved enough. He's been very, very anonymous in the last couple of games. I'd swap him for Vukcevic or Olsson at this point, right now we can't afford to have a player disappear for such lengthily periods during matches. I think there's potential in Formica, without question, but he doesn't seem to have the same confidence or ability to impose himself as Rochina.

[MarkBRFC]

If today has taught us anything, then its olsson has to play on the left ahead of givet, he looked great there at the end of last season and did today. I'd then play hoilett on the right, with either formica/rochina off yakubu, i dont think they can play in the same team. But anyway, delighted with today!

[roverandout]

great win, slightly fortunate to win but that buys kean a few more games with kean, its ok doing it against the top teams, its the lower teams that will count.

[Seggie]

When there's so much criticism about and I'm one dishing it out it's important when you dish it out you can recognise what's good too. Really enjoyed today's game and when was the last time we countered like that for the fourth.

[salothsar]

One of the biggest differences today, second half anyway, was that they looked like they wanted it badly. After being done in the first half it takes something, given all the ###### flying so far this season to come out and play like that in the second. Whether that's down to Kean's half time talk or the players on their own I don't know but something changed at half time.

[47er]

If today has taught us anything, then its olsson has to play on the left ahead of givet, he looked great there at the end of last season and did today. I'd then play hoilett on the right, with either formica/rochina off yakubu, i dont think they can play in the same team. But anyway, delighted with today!

If today taught us anything its that Ollson is superb on the flank and must not play left-back. Givet much better when Ollson on.

[FourLaneBlue]

Beating Arsenal, even though they are a club in crisis like rarely seen before under Wenger, is always an excellent result.

4 points from 5 games is still poor, however, and we need at the very, very least a point next time out.

[Darwen Rover]

Our strongest side in my view is

Robinson

Lowe samba Dann givet

Nzonzi grella

Hoilett....rochina .... Olson

Yak

[jim mk2]

Welcome and unexpected 3 points but in all the years watching Rovers that must go down as one of the most fortunate and undeserved of our victories I have seen. Defensively we are still all over the place and in all honesty but for poor finishing and the good defending by Dann and Robinson Arsenal could have scored 7 or 8. Morale will be boosted by the win but massive improvement is needed if we are going to survive this season.

[Tom]

Welcome and unexpected 3 points but in all the years watching Rovers that must go down as one of the most fortunate and undeserved of our victories I have seen. Defensively we are still all over the place and in all honesty but for poor finishing and the good defending by Dann and Robinson Arsenal could have scored 7 or 8. Morale will be boosted by the win but massive improvement is needed if we are going to survive this season.

And Everton was one of the most unfortunate undeserved losses I have ever seen.

Funny how a couple of weeks back people were saying you make your own luck but that sentiment seems to have gone now.

I do agree it's a big task to survive this season, QPR look decent but I think Swansea and Norwich will struggle despite good wins today and then time will be up for either us or Wigan

[roverandout]

i fear this win is only papering over the cracks, how will we do when we are playing a swansea, west brom or qpr on a cold saturday afternoon?

[47er]

i fear this win is only papering over the cracks, how will we do when we are playing a swansea, west brom or qpr on a cold saturday afternoon?

That is a very good point. The challenge for Kean is to get this level of intensity and commitment out of the players in the bread and butter games you've referred to.

[chris]

i fear this win is only papering over the cracks, how will we do when we are playing a swansea, west brom or qpr on a cold saturday afternoon?

the difference between this year and last is the table will not lie, Kean had Sam's points, ok he will calim he had Sam's team.

But this is all on Kean's shoulders so no where to hide, being that this win has bought him at least 3 or 4 games to continue the push up the league.

Venkys love him and he is obviously going to be given time, at the same time, time will be his judge

[roverandout]

time waits for no man.

[beerwins]

Our strongest side in my view is

.......Robinson

Lowe samba Dann givet

Nzonzi grella

Hoilett....rochina .... Olson

Yak

I would change it slightly.

Robinson

Lowe.....Samba.....Dann....Givet

..............Nzonzi

Hoilett.....Formica......Olsson

.............Rochina

...................Yak

I will give a few reasons for this, the back five is pretty easy atm considering Salgado's form, Nzonzi is protecting the back four, if we had JJ he would have been ther hands down, So in our attacking lineup we have pace on the flanks and they MUST be instucted to get back and help out and I feel Formica must be in this position as it his his best position, he has been critisised recently for being an bit anonymous but I dont feel the wing is his best position he lacks pace but in the centre he is very good a picking the killer pass in which we have lacked for ages.

Rochina would be a cracking player to have the free role position as he is very unpredictable and can produce that bit of magic if needed, the Yak can finish and would get into good positions for Rochina or Formica's through balls.

I would also instruct Olsson and Hoilett to help out defensively and switch flanks now and again to vary whether they are going to cross the ball or cut inside for a shot or take on the defender.

It is a very attacking lineup but could also be used as a counter attacking lineup because of the pace on the flanks, I also agree with Kean on the fact that Olsson deserved dropping, his work ethic had turned from stand and complain when he lost the ball to the guy you saw sprint the whole length of the pitch today to create the winning goal.

[daverich]

i fear this win is only papering over the cracks, how will we do when we are playing a swansea, west brom or qpr on a cold saturday afternoon?

You make your own luck in this game, and olsonns run for the 4th defo confirmed that, agreed that the sort of games mentioned will make or break our season, if we can take the momentum into the Newcastle game and take at least a point then maybe we can go on a little bit of a run.

Lowe did well today filling in at fullback and olsonn has got to start, his pace on one flank and hoiletts on the other is a real threat, plus their pace is a good cover for when the fullbacks are struggling and out of position, givet in particular.

Cracking result, albeit against a poor arse side, the last 4 or 5 mins were horrible , just glad that we held on, COYB!

[roverandout]

i must add that this is the worst arsenal side i have seen for years, wenger really has taken them down a level or two. poor defence, mediocre midfield and toothless in attack, i reckon arsenal will finish outside the top 6 this season.

[Torgeir]

Two teams that were defensively all over the place. But also two players in Gervinho and Hoilett able to excite fans by taking on their man time after time and succeeding. A rollercoaster of a match, I really enjoyed watching it and it's why I watch football. Okay we had a poor first half and Arsenal could have killed the game, but we came out guns blazing in the second half and really wanted something from the game. After 90 mins it's a fortunate win but we deserved that after getting nothing from the Everton game. I thought Rochina should have come off earlier but once he started to show glimpses of what he can do is when he got subbed - at that point I would have kept him on for a little longer. Frustrating player though.

Good to see the Rao brothers enjoy the show too.

Lot of work to be done defensively. Full backs being left on their own a lot and terrible tracking from midfield, I think even Kean saw that today.

[Neal]

Great win today, fair play to Kean BUT it's worrying that our club has to be at breaking point for him to respond!... Not only on the pitch but with the questions from Kammy that should've been answered months ago. Kean has no right to be asking for time and certainly has no right to expect it... Given he has no previous sentimental links with the club. It's time for him to produce consistency, NOTHING LESS.

I said on here Yakubu would do the business and over the course of the season i think he'll be very shrewd. FEED THE YAK!

[dubdubdub]

Yes it was, but his insinuation was that only 1% of the fanbase were against his reign, which is obviously rollocks.

If people don't hate him enough to turn up then why can't they be classed as indifferent?

i fear this win is only papering over the cracks, how will we do when we are playing a swansea, west brom or qpr on a cold saturday afternoon?

Erm...probably better than today because we just beat ###### Arsenal and the teams you've listed are ###### ######.

i must add that this is the worst arsenal side i have seen for years, wenger really has taken them down a level or two. poor defence, mediocre midfield and toothless in attack, i reckon arsenal will finish outside the top 6 this season.

Mediocre midfield. Song, Arteta, Ramsey, Wilshire (granted he was out today), Walcott, Arshavin.

Toothless in attack. They scored three and Van Persie is still 2011's top scorer.

If it looks like i'm targeting you on here then stop talking balls and I won't have to do.

Great win today, fair play to Kean BUT it's worrying that our club has to be at breaking point for him to respond!... Not only on the pitch but with the questions from Kammy that should've been answered months ago. Kean has no right to be asking for time and certainly has no right to expect it... Given he has no previous sentimental links with the club. It's time for him to produce consistency, NOTHING LESS.

Now he has HIS side...we have four points from two tough games. I personally think he does deserve more time.