[Archived] Blackburn Rovers v Stoke City Preview

[Audax]

I think the Rovers will keep up this positive play though teams often do have a let down after a big game, so that is a slight worry.

So no matter what the current results are, really like to see Rovers get 3 points from Stoke, I'm sure the Potters will be no pushover.

[Devon Rover]

I'll say 2-2. But we really can, and should, win this after the last 2 results.

[roversfan99]

To make it 7 points from 9 would really provide a springboard. Would we have taken 7 from the last 5 games?

However it will have taken it out of the players, plus I'd rather Nzonzi and Pedersen didnt play.

Olsson, Givet, Hoilett and Dunn would provide a bit of a conundrum if fit.

[joey_big_nose]

Really interesting questions about team selection. Everyone has looked decent the last couple of games. Henley looks like he must start, Morris was good when he came back, Olsson should be available again? Something like this might work for us

------------------------Bunn

----Lowe----Samba----Hanley---Henley

-----------------------Nzonzi

Vukcevic---Formica---Petrovic---Olsson

---------------------Yakubu

I think we do need to get Olsson into the team to add pace, Hoilett would be great too if he could be arsed... (which he can't at the moment....). Hopefully Vukcevic will give us a bit of guile which we need. Hoilett and Rochina from the bench will give us some options.

[Hasta]

Absolute must win. If we do we are back in with a chance of survival. Fully expecting the customary Crouch goal.

This game has gone from dead rubber to huge in the space of 90 minutes today.

[Stuart]

Big, big game now - after today's result.

That's what worries me.

[broadsword]

positive positivity.

A double positive?

[Audax]

It's a must win but after a draw vs. Liverpool and the big win vs. Man Utd., hate to be conservative here and I could be wrong but I think it'd be important NOT to lose, they were world beaters today, that's right. Rome wasn't built in a day, just need to be steady. That said, if Stoke only drew Wigan at the Britannia, well, I'd hope the Rovers could win at Ewood. What says you?

[frosty]

It's a must win but after a draw vs. Liverpool and the big win vs. Man Utd., hate to be conservative here and I could be wrong but I think it'd be important NOT to lose, they were world beaters today, that's right. Rome wasn't built in a day, just need to be steady. That said, if Stoke only drew Wigan at the Britannia, well, I'd hope the Rovers could win at Ewood. What says you?

Every game like this is a must win now I think, will be the same with Fulham in two weeks regardless of what happens on Monday. 14 points from 19 games is still a pretty desperate situation.

The 4 points from Liverpool and United makes up for the West Brom and Bolton disasters, sort of. Need to build on them, otherwise we're screwed.

[Kamy100]

Rovers MUST build upon yesterday's result, next 2 games (Stoke and Fulham) we have to get 4 points.

Stoke are physicality will cause our younger problems plenty of problems, we are going to have to be organised at the back and cope with the barrage of long balls/throw in's that Stoke will launch at us, big games from Messers Hanley and Samba needed.

The positive is that this year Stoke have conceded quite a number of goals, particularly away from home.

The Liverpool and United result have given us all a little bit of hope, unfortunately I have no faith in Kean's ability to build upon those results but at least the players are showing some fight.

[sharpysharps]

I'd go one step further Kamy and suggest Rovers need top win both games. Perhaps a lot to ask but the WBA and Bolton defeats are still hurting even after a magnificent win yesterday.

Would like to see Vuckevic come in for Pedersen and leave the rest of the side as it is perhaps.

[DE.]

We've never won back to back games under Kean, so not optimistic.

[Amo]

Bread and butter game for Pulis's Stoke.

[Scirocco]

feeling 1-0 or 2-0 to us actually. I reckon the past 2 results have kicked started our season.

[JAL]

Will Olsson and Hoilett be available for this game .

[EWOODACE1]

thing is we have played with 10 behind the ball for liverpool and utd. he wont do that against stoke so we may revert back to his awful 4231 which doesnt work

[JAL]

thing is we have played with 10 behind the ball for liverpool and utd. he wont do that against stoke so we may revert back to his awful 4231 which doesnt work

When you look at yesterday performance Rochina and Formica provided nothing for the team in all reality. Which shouldnt be overlooked . United looked absolutely dire untypical of a Man U side of past except for the one when Johnny Stead scored the winner at Ewood Park .

[Lurid Coat]

Hopefully we'll line up like this:

Bunn

Lowe - Samba - Hanley - Henley/Olsson

N'Zonzi

Vukcevic - Formica - Petrovic - Rochina/Olsson

Yakubu

[Bobby G]

Givet is available again.

[Lurid Coat]

Givet is usually immense, but considering how good the back four looked v Liverpool and Man Utd, I'd almost be tempted to play Hanley again. Not sure if this is just a purple patch for young Grant, though?

[Amo]

Givet is usually immense, but considering how good the back four looked v Liverpool and Man Utd, I'd almost be tempted to play Hanley again. Not sure if this is just a purple patch for young Grant, though?

Better to keep (more or less) the same side. Vital if we're looking for consistency.

Except Pedersen. He needs dropping, stat.

[Rover_Shaun]

Tomorrow the poor swallow will find out that it is winter after all

[Inta Beaver]

Better to keep (more or less) the same side. Vital if we're looking for consistency.

Except Pedersen. He needs dropping, stat.

Kean keeps banging on about getting a settled back 4! Wouldn't it be ironic if he changed it about after 4pts taken from Anfirld and Old Trafford

[ABBEY]

0-2

normal kean service resumed.

[Stuart]

Better to keep (more or less) the same side. Vital if we're looking for consistency.

Except Pedersen. He needs dropping, stat.

Let's not get carried away. We need to play our strongest, fit players - particularly in defence.

If Givet is fit, he should start at CB. Hanley is still young and learning and he will be pumped up after United. Rather than bringing him down to earth with a bump, put him on the bench - he'll be a trusted understudy.

Hanley may well end up a great player (at which point he'll leave - but that's another story) but at the minute he is still behind Samba and Givet for me.