[Archived] Manchester United v BRFC Preview - Sat 31st December

[Blue n White Rover]

I wonder if the Rao family will be inviting a whole host of guests to Old Trafford this year?

Let's hope so, as it led to the dismissal of our last manager.

In my opinion of course...

[imy9]

I keep reading about our attacking flair players, but I don't remember Rochina or Formica creating anything for their team mates all season. Hoilett's gone backwards as well.

Creating for others or being able to create for themselves.

Point being they can't tackle so intention with them starting is to show people we are playing with lots of attackers, I feel this wrong and we need a couple of ball winners in the team to allow Hoilett to roam, the other two are two risky to play atm and should be brought on as subs.

[jim mk2]

I feel this wrong and we need a couple of ball winners in the team

Problem is, your hero Steve Kean hasn't got any having failed to replace P Jones and J Jones in the summer. P Jones remember played in midfield under Sam. The lack of strong, solid midfield players, or water carriers in Cantona parlance, is probably the biggest weakness in Kean's team.

[Derbyshire Blue]

He's been one of the few players lately who can pass to someone on his own team. He had more pace and used to try some outlandish shots when he first joined us but he has a better footballing brain now.

I hope your being ironic, he's been absolute tripe, the decision to play him full back for two games was ludicrous. Bar Cardiff I've seen all Rovers games live since Norwich away. 9 games were the most consistant performance as been Pedersen's who time after time manages to waste possession by giving the ball away so annoyingly cheaply, its got so bad that my girlfriend who's never followed football comments on the poor passing of our Norwegian liability.

[DE.]

I don't think we'll get hammered. We never really do against the big teams under Kean, for whatever reason. Man City aside we always seem to put in respectable performances and limit the damage.

The lack of humiliations in a scoreline sense is part of the reason Kean retains support from the media. They see the results - many of which are fairly close, one or two goals - and hear his press conferences and think we've just been incredibly unlucky.

They don't realise how utterly inept the team is under Kean. Our results don't reflect that, too many narrow losses and teams failing to take the numerous opportunities we give them.

[imy9]

Problem is, your hero Steve Kean hasn't got any having failed to replace P Jones and J Jones in the summer. P Jones remember played in midfield under Sam. The lack of strong, solid midfield players, or water carriers in Cantona parlance, is probably the biggest weakness in Kean's team.

'My hero'? Can you clarify Jim, I think you have me confused with someone else.

I agree that not replacing JJ in particular has hit us hard.

[Plastic Head]

""Kean, whose Blackburn side are five points from safety, revealed he had had a "good chat" with Sir Alex Ferguson.

"What was said I would rather keep private but it was very encouraging," said Kean.

"For him to take the time out to phone me and give me a message of support shows the stature of the man. I was really impressed.""

No nob head...he just doesn't want you to resign before they have tubbed us.

[roverandout]

after united, we will likey be 9 points off safety and after that it wont matter!!!

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

"For him to take the time out to phone me and give me a message of support shows the stature of the man. I was really impressed.""

God bless your ickle Cotton socks Steven,Fergie will no doubt slap you around the head with your nappy come the game.

Rovers 25/1 for the win..13/2 draw!!

[dwayne cage]

25/1 for Rovers win am surprised its not more like 75/1

[JAL]

Sounds like Sir Alex Ferguson is beginning to lose the plot from what Kean has said. At least Phil Jones doesnt agree with his boss Sir Alex, regarding wee Stevie the worst premier league football manager.

[blue_n_white99]

Our deluded leader intends to spoil old red nose's birthday:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2079819/Steve-Kean-support-Sir-Alex-Ferguson.html?

Should he really be let out on his own?

Personally I think we will get tubbed, Manure don't miss chances like the bin dippers they will royally put us to the sword 5 - 0

[Paul Mellelieu]

What Fergie said about us in March “You’ve got that issue at Blackburn of an agent involved and deciding the future of the club, Jerome Anderson, he couldn’t pick his nose. It’s baffling and it’s a serious threat to how clubs get run and how they conduct themselves."

[Colt Seavers]

With the best will in the world- we cannot win this game. A draw would require a super human effort. Although I hesitate to use the word 'forfeit' with its Cardiff connotations, I believe we need to be a bit cute tomorrow and make sure that we don't become involved in an unwinnable war and in doing so, risk further injury.

With only 48 hours until the Stoke game, we need to be ready and firing on all cylinders come Monday.

I thought that Petrovic looked physically more solid against Liverpool; he powered forward at one point, easily brushing Gerrard off in the process and shot on goal- one of our few attempts in the second half. You Tube shows him scoring a number of long range spectacular efforts for his previous club, and although they were undoubtedly against inferior opposition, a 35 yard screamer is a 35 yard screamer. He is a young lad settling into a new life and needs time; I predict really good things from him and would start him tomorrow playing in a withdrawn holding role behind Nzonzi and Dunn or Pederson.

I have just paid nine quid to upgrade to ESPN for the game and the lad on the other end of the phone could hardly supress his gleeful contempt for all things Venky's!

Truly we have become a laughing stock!

[EwoodDawn]

I'd like to ask a favour of those fans going to Old Trafford. When you walk past a TV crew around the ground, please could you try to resist the natural reaction to get away from them as soon as poss. (I don't think many people from these parts like to make a show of themselves and it's a bit nerve wracking speaking to the press, I know) and just calmly and reasonably re-iterate the stats to them? Kean and the Venkys PR machine have over-played the sentimentality card this week - poor Kean, subjected to those big bullies. I think we need to just sensibly remind the viewers of the cold, hard indisputable facts - facts that immediately undermine the 'how dare the fans pick on poor Steve?' argument and highlight the obvious failings of Venkys as EPL football club owners.

I'm sticking my head above the parapet posting this, I know, because you'll want to know why I'm not going to Old Trafford. Well both myself and my family have had very unpleasant experiences there in the past, so I refuse to give them my cash.

[roversmum]

Can someone remind me of the stats, please? Will print them out (want to make sure I have them correct) and pass them on to any tv bods I spot lurking around.

[DE.]

It seems strange that, with all the battles we've had at Old Trafford - some particularly memorable ones in the 90's and one particular match in the 00's - this will be the last time we visit there excluding an FA cup/League Cup tie for some time.

just hope our final appearance at OT as a Premier League team doesn't end in total humiliation.

[EwoodDawn]

I'm sure there are people with better memories than me but I think it's 7 wins in 38 with 19 defeats - did someone work that out as 18% success rate? Or one win in 13, 4 in 32. Pls can someone confirm?

[mayo]

Can someone remind me of the stats, please? Will print them out (want to make sure I have them correct) and pass them on to any tv bods I spot lurking around.

Hi roversmum, please see my thread here whereby I will update his stats on a game by game basis until he's no longer here. My original table only went up to the Bolton game when I started this a while ago as could not see him staying any longer but it appears I am as deluded as him!!

Or simply put:-

• Played 39

• Won 7

• Drawn 12

• Lost 20

• Goals Scored 49

• Goals Conceded 71

• Win Percentage 17.95%

• Points per Game 0.85

[John Howarth]

A quick way to win £10,000. Rovers get a corner in the 5th minute. Samba meets a Pederson corner and scores. Then things turn round a bit. United score 4 in the first half followed by 5 in the second half. Final score 9-1. Odds 10,000 to 1. Worth a pound ?

[John]

Odds on 5 or more goals for Man Utd on Betfair is 6.0

Man Utd to win both halves is 2.0.

Both tempting bets....

[BigAlan]

I think Utd will go 3-0 up then close out the game. Leading Kean to tell everyone we did twice as good as last seasons trip to Old Trafford.

[Audax]

Stoke City at home Monday has to be seen as a must-win, will they care too much about this one? I mean under the best of circumstances it's a hard game to get a result from.

[bob fleming]

Or simply put:-

• Played 39

• Won 7

• Drawn 12

• Lost 20

• Goals Scored 49

• Goals Conceded 71

• Win Percentage 17.95%

• Points per Game 0.85

Or even simpler...

We've won once in 13 league games

Twice in half a season

or

Four times in 32 league games

Shearer is right, Kean hasn't become a bad manager overnight - he's been at it for 12 months and the results are getting worse.

[sw0808]

What do they say! Revenge is a dish best served cold!

Fergie is a good pal of Sam's

It crossed my mind that Sir Alex's words of comfort are just part of the plan!

The longer Kean stays the more screwed we are!

The simpletons in India think we are getting support from the biggest name in the game!

Kean gets longer!

Sam and Alex get a good laugh - and we have to sit and watch it all happen!!

Life for a Rovers fan is cruel!