[Archived] Blackburn Vs Arsenal

[EWOODACE1]

i forgot about a lot of the chances we created after watching motd. formica's 1 on 1. samba's 2 headers. samba's overhead kick.

fair enough arse had their chances but so did we.

well played to our boys yesterday and hopefully we can take that into our next game

im not a big fan of kean and would like to see him replaced but he deserves credit for his half time talk. first half he left givet way too exposed and needed to give hoillet a kick up the ass because he had no interest in helping out. givet was left with sagna and gervinio all the time and was getting skinned but fans decided to get at givet around me.

forget possession. we won.

[Rover_Shaun]

Rovers lose - managers incompetence

Rovers win - Rovers were lucky

I don't see what luck is involved in someone not being good enough to convert a chance

Is this how it's going to be for the rest of the year? Yawn

[martmitch]

enjoying a very uxexpected result - make sure to wind a few arsenal fans up if you know any, the ones I know are contemplating walking off a cliff right now

[47er]

Rovers lose - managers incompetence

Rovers win - Rovers were lucky

I don't see what luck is involved in someone not being good enough to convert a chance

Ha! So we weren't unlucky against Everton then!

[Rover_Shaun]

Ha! So we weren't unlucky against Everton then!

We were unfortunate to conceed the penalty but there is no luck involved in missing them, just incompetence.

After the Everton match the most rovers fans on here blamed Kean and not lady luck

[47er]

Really exciting game and great atmosphere in DE. If we have been a bit unlucky in some games we got it all at once yesterday but played some good football so lets say we earned our luck. I think we have loads of talent going forward but our midfield offers little or no support to the defence so we are going to concede a lot of goals. Much better with Olsson as back up for Givet as he isn't a natural full back but is a good defender and don't think Rochina and Formica can both play. I would play Hoillet and Olsson wide with Rochina in behind the Yack.

Good post. My thoughts exactly. To play Formica, Hoilett,Rochina,Yak,+a weak central mid-field leaves the defence far too exposed. Too few doing too much.

[deryck guyler's spoon]

Ha! So we weren't unlucky against Everton then!

Yes, of course we were but apparently Kean cant say that. He does though, have to accept that we were lucky against Arsenal.

Some seem to want it both ways.

[47er]

We were unfortunate to conceed the penalty but there is no luck involved in missing them, just incompetence.

After the Everton match the most rovers fans on here blamed Kean and not lady luck

I did------plenty didn't. Did you?

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

I hadn't watched MOTD until last night, for a number of reasons but mostly due to the ######-poor production and Rovers' wobbly start to the season.

Let's begin with Shearer's "Before we get onto Arsenal, let's give Blackburn credit..." Practically admitting that our performance was an afterthought.... and then he went straight on to talk about Arsenal anyway! It all came down to pointing out Arsenal's defensive lapses, which were there for all to see. As always, it's the big club which loses, not the underdog who wins.

I thought the whole point of hiring "expert" pundits is so they can give insight into the game which escapes the common fan? You know, analyzing tactics, formations, substitutions, that sorta thing?

I found myself shaking my head in disbelief throughout most of the show, with such gems as Shearer's "Bad day at the office" summary of Wolves, and Lawro's verdict that WBA will stay up 'cos Hodgson's a "wily old fox". I mean, what on earth are we paying these guys for? That show needs a total overhaul. It's been far too cosy for far too long.

Grow up. Arsenal threw that game away as much as we won it. Im a fan, believe me, Id love to say that we ran Arsenal ragged, but we didnt. Arsenal scored two own goals. I believe we had about 3 shots on target and scored 4 times. To see Arsenal disintegrate like that was the big deal about yesterday from a neutral's point of view.

I know its fun to believe that there is a media conspiracy against Rovers but please, you cannot honestly fail to understand that Arsenal conceding 2 own goals, 4 goals away to the bottom team in the division and twice throwing away a lead, is bigger news then Blackburn winning??? Its not nice, but its not hard to understand.

[RibbleValleyRover]

Grow up. Arsenal threw that game away as much as we won it. Im a fan, believe me, Id love to say that we ran Arsenal ragged, but we didnt. Arsenal scored two own goals. I believe we had about 3 shots on target and scored 4 times. To see Arsenal disintegrate like that was the big deal about yesterday from a neutral's point of view.

I know its fun to believe that there is a media conspiracy against Rovers but please, you cannot honestly fail to understand that Arsenal conceding 2 own goals, 4 goals away to the bottom team in the division and twice throwing away a lead, is bigger news then Blackburn winning??? Its not nice, but its not hard to understand.

Spot on.

Great result that gives us three points towards our survival battle, but Rovers will have to play a lot better than that to get points in their next few games. It so could have easily been a defeat we saw yesterday.

[imy9]

The 4th goal was one of the best examples of counter attacking play that I have seen this season in the PL, the commentators on SKY did say at the time that it was Arsenalesque.

A thoroughly enjoyable game and if Kean and co were lucky.. well I dont give a s*** as against Everton we hit the bar twice, missed two pens and had a pen awarded against us that was never a pen.

[Mattyblue]

I'm sure we've had this discussion before morten, there is a bias against ALL clubs that aren't 'big'.

However, MOTD is an absolute shower of a program, bias or not.

[Stuart]

Yes, of course we were but apparently Kean cant say that. He does though, have to accept that we were lucky against Arsenal.

Some seem to want it both ways.

Missing two penalties has nothing to do with luck and everything to do with preparation and confidence.

A manager is responsible for both. He as much as admitted we didn't have organised penalty takers and left it up to the players to sort out between themselves who was taking them.

That said, he got the rub yesterday. Can't say whether we've turned a corner or not though.

I started to get suckered into a 'new dawn' idea after the Liverpool game last year, look where that got us...

[Rovermatt]

I thought Rochina was really quite poor yesterday considering the amount of possession he had. He is undoubtedly a talented player but his penchant for surrendering the ball so easily is unforgivable at this level. There was one instance in particular in the second half where he was played through on the left hand side of Arsenal's box. On his stronger foot and with a favourable angle he should have pulled the trigger in the absence of other options. He chose instead to pull the ball back behind him, losing it in the process. Infuriating stuff.

[Amo]

Grow up. Arsenal threw that game away as much as we won it.

So let's focus entirely on how Arsenal went wrong instead of giving Rovers their due?

Im a fan, believe me, Id love to say that we ran Arsenal ragged, but we didnt.

Who said we did? Strawman if ever there was one.

Arsenal scored two own goals. I believe we had about 3 shots on target and scored 4 times. To see Arsenal disintegrate like that was the big deal about yesterday from a neutral's point of view.

We took our chances and had more than enough to put Arsenal out of sight.

Again, I'm not saying it should have been all about Rovers, stop trying to misrepresent my post. I'm saying that Rovers deserve just as much recognition for winning as Arsenal for losing, if not more so.

I know its fun to believe that there is a media conspiracy against Rovers but please, you cannot honestly fail to understand that Arsenal conceding 2 own goals, 4 goals away to the bottom team in the division and twice throwing away a lead, is bigger news then Blackburn winning??? Its not nice, but its not hard to understand.

I don't believe there's a media conspiracy against Rovers, as such. There's an undeniable bias against the big clubs so that when they fail, they simply highlight how they let the little club do them over instead of giving credit where it's due.

And that doesn't even address the rest of their patronizing coverage.

[thenodrog]

Can somebody please explain to me why people are saying arsenal should've had a penalty at the end?

From what i saw it was Walcott 1-1 with Robbo, Walcott made an attempt on goal by lifting it over Robbo, Robbo then went into Walcott and his attempt was cleared by Dann.

I dont get how it's a penalty.

You have a point but compared to the Everton's penalty it was nailed on. refs are just like that. Fairly amazing that arsenals players didn't really bother to claim dont you think... also they didn't claim for offside either? Most unlike the Arsenal of a few years back who would have been right in the refs face.

[Rover_Shaun]

I did------plenty didn't. Did you?

I blamed the players

[bennyboyt11]

enjoying a very uxexpected result - make sure to wind a few arsenal fans up if you know any, the ones I know are contemplating walking off a cliff right now

The gooner at work and I always have a pint riding on the game, he was being cocky on the Friday asking if I fancied buying his in advance.

Oh how I laughed yesterday.

[dingles staying down 4ever]

You have a point but compared to the Everton's penalty it was nailed on. refs are just like that. Fairly amazing that arsenals players didn't really bother to claim dont you think... also they didn't claim for offside either? Most unlike the Arsenal of a few years back who would have been right in the refs face.

I don't believe they even thought about the offside. I think if they claimed they'd got it.

The penalty incident was similar to the Man Utd one last season. Some are given. It was odd there was no real claim for it.

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

I thought I would wait until today to post my own thoughts - post match I would have made Kean manager for life (only joking).

Lets firstly put to bed this "weak" Arsenal rubbish - some of their subs would walk into our first team let alone the team they actually put out. In terms of confidence - surely they would have been more confident given their record at Ewood ?

First half - not sure how we were only one goal down - the defence itself looked fairly good (which is part the reason it was only one goal down)- but midfield was woeful at tracking back.

Second half we seemed to change tactics slightly and had a fair higher line up the pitch - compressing the game far more. And it worked a treat. I think if you take away the last ten minutes - we cut them to ribbons at times - and at 4-2 we looked most likely to score next.

You can see what Kean is trying to do - and I admired the team spirit shown by all the players - but unless he sorts out defensive midfield we will always struggle. The flair we currently have at our disposal is probably as good as at any time in the 30+ years I have been going to Ewood - sort out the defensive midfield and we could be in for a good season.

Robinson - my MOM

Salgado - not on long enough to make a real comment on

Givet - absolutely awful in the first half - but little support from midfield

Dann/Samba - one reason to be hopeful for the season

Nzonzi - not sure what position he is playing. His positional awareness for a defensive midfield player is awful - seemed to be in the attacking third far too much for our current formation. Better in second half when game more compressed.

Lowe - at times game pass him by in midfield (I partly blame Nzonzi for that). At RB - thought he was ok for several good blocks - but allowed too many crosses in latter half of match (tiredness maybe). Good one for the future - already good squad player - with potential for the future.

Hoilett - still our best attacking threat - too slow to support Givet though

Rochina - the guy is class, just need to learn to release the ball a little sooner.

Formica - too slow at times - game passed him by

Yak - lets hope he can continue this - class finishing

Olsson - add much needed energy

Simon - showed some good touches worked hard - didn't look particularly quick.

Petrovic - looks a little slow - though grew into game.

At the moment I think it is the two defensive midfield players that are letting the team down. I think they are the ones that should be providing the shield for the whole defence (including full backs). This worked well with J Jones - but at the moment just ain't working. With three attacking midfield players on the pitch - there is no real reason for Nzonzi to be pushing too far forward - and IMO this is what Kean needs to sort.

One thing to majorly improve is ball retention - but as showed in the Arsenal match - with attackers like Olsson and Hoilett - it is about what you do with the ball when you have at.

[deryck guyler's spoon]

Missing two penalties has nothing to do with luck and everything to do with preparation and confidence.

A manager is responsible for both. He as much as admitted we didn't have organised penalty takers and left it up to the players to sort out between themselves who was taking them.

That said, he got the rub yesterday. Can't say whether we've turned a corner or not though.

I started to get suckered into a 'new dawn' idea after the Liverpool game last year, look where that got us...

So you are glossing over striking the woodwork twice, totally dominating the game and being cheated in the last minute by utter incompetence?

Nobody should be daft enough to believe that our troubles are over by any means after yesterday but honestly, there are people on here who are gutted that we won. Mr E even admitted as much.

Dreadful.

[HemelRover]

The quote 'you only see what you want to see' rings true in your case then.

So, you actually think we played well in any of the games this season?

[Blackburn_Ian]

Cant help but think we would have got beat 3-2 without those OG's yesterday

[Amo]

Cant help but think we would have got beat 3-2 without those OG's yesterday

[USABlue]

Never a penalty, though for a horrible moment I thought for sure it was going to be given. After watching them being given acorner for a ball that was two feet from crossing the line. Offside, possibly but from the linesmans angle no. I don't see how Arse claiming for it would have changed the decision. The angles I saw Yak was partly in line when the ball was struck. What ever happened to having to be in front of the defender and attackers being given benefit of the doubt. We.ve had em given against us for worse so I'll just take it. I just don't get the mindset on here. We won but some want to support their hatred of Kean so badly they refuse to give their team any credit. Bewildering to say the least and probably rather troublesome.

Cant help but think we would have got beat 3-2 without those OG's yesterday

Genius kiddo pure genius, did it take you the rest of the day yesterday to come up with that