[Archived] Blackburn v QPR

[mjs]

A special mention must go to Formica for me. It's rumoured he is homesick and wants to leave but nevertheless he is in the team and never fails to run his socks off or battle for every ball. That is the way to conduct yourself. Mr. Samba take note.

Great point. Formica has really impressed me with his effort and attitude all season.

And aint that bad a player either.

[matduggy]

Why henley to replace junior? Does simon actually exist?

Perhaps I'm being cynical, but I would suspect that Simon has an appearance-related bonus tied into his contract, whereas Henley will be on a very low basic.

[donnermeat]

Tactical genius K**n is taking off Formica, sorry if this has already been discussed on my phone and can't be bothered going back through so many pages.

Priceless three points, if we had someone on further up the pitch who could retain possession maybe we wouldn't be in the relegation zone on goal difference though.

The points are what matters though I suppose.

[mjs]

Perhaps I'm being cynical, but I would suspect that Simon has an appearance-related bonus tied into his contract, whereas Henley will be on a very low basic.

Probably nail on head.

[Kendalrover]

Well Kean nearly managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

We won the game by virtue of scoring a lucky third gaol just before half time, which flattered the better of two poor teams. I said to my brother at two nil that the next goal would decide the winner but the final scoreline was closer than I thought it would be.

Once again Kean was out thought by the opposition manager. Kean's errors in my view in the sceond half were: -

1. Putting Henley (who has played left back) on the right wing and pairing Pederson with Olssen of the left. They were probably our worst two players and the consequences were QPR had too much room on their right. Pederson was atrocious don't think he made a tackle all afternoon.

2. Played with the full backs too narrow (this has been a problem all season) which meant there was too much space and time for the QPR players to get crosses in all afternoon.

3. Taking off Formica and replacing him with Modeste. Formica was doing a good job breaking up play in the 'hole' once he went off this ceassed and QPR pressed forward. Luckily they scored their second goal too late to make a difference

4. When he had a chance to redeem himself and close the midfield problem he brought on Goodwillie and played him on the left wing. What was wrong with bringing on Simon or Petrovic. Goodwillie showed against Man City that he can't play in that position.

Of the 40 odd games that Kean has been in charge Rovers have only 'won' around 8 or 9 second halves. This shows Kean has no idea how to manage and how to respond to the opposition manager. He simply has no plan B.

Yes it is a good result and it was important we beat one of our rivals. But once again this match showed we do not have what it takes to avoid relegation.

For those of you who think I am bitching against Kean think about how important those two QPR goals were. They have kept us in the relegation zone and could be important at the end of the season. (If they had only scored one it would have been good enough to get us of the relegation zone on goals scored).

We have the worst defence in the Premier League having conceded 56 goals. However no doubt the manager will be working hard on the training ground next week to ensure we get a clean sheet next game out at Man City.

[adsfortheblues]

Quite simple really without juniour we create naff all. As soon as he went off I said that's it attacking wise for rest of game. Then when he took mauro off, we'll I went home, I wasn't prepared to watch the team crumble again, yes they won but they shouldn't have.

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

Sorry DMTP, this is one of your poorer posts.

First: we won so it was the right decision?? You realise that the move very nearly cost us and, but for some poor finishing from QPR, would have. That's head in the sand stuff (at worst) and, hopefully, surely firmly tongue in cheek (at best).

Second: not loaning a better quality forward? We scored three goals! Our problem is not scoring it the fact that we've gone 10 months without keeping a clean sheet.

I'm actually hoping you are going to cry "gotcha" after me making this post...

It was a little tongue in cheek - with hindsight we possibly should have left Formica - but he had to try something - and at the time I agreed with his decision to bring on another forward (surely some can see the rationale when we weren't holding the ball up front ?)

Defending is a team game - if we had more than one top quality forward we would :-

1. Be able to hold the ball longer in advanced positions.

2. Be able to take greater advantage when we do break

3. Give the opposition something else to think about - other than most of their defenders being able to break at will leaving our defence over exposed.

For a good example - see SAS

[Muddboy]

Well the clown Kean almost contrived to snatch a draw from the jaws of victory with his usual bizarre substitutions.

First half, combination of Rovers playing well, enjoying the run of the ball and an absolute dire QPR. Thought midfield functioned much better with Lowe holding and Nzonzi more advanced.

Second half was shambolic. replacing Hoilett with a full back - can someone explain that - and then pulling off Formica who was having a very good match.

With a half decent manager, I'm sure Rovers have enough to say up but with Kean as manager, might be a bridge too far.

Anyhow, a welcome and much needed three points. Time for a few bevvies in celebration.

Heard two very interesting stories about Samba and Slew but that's for tomorrow or Monday !

My thoughts exactly.

Henley is no winger! What was wrong with Vucevic?

And as for taking off Formica, WTF? The guy was running all over the field putting in tackles and didn't give the QPR boys a moments peace. And replacing him with a striker like Modeste?

Interesting that Pedersen looked like he was having a real go at Kean mid way through the second half. Peds was poor in the second half and has to carry as much blame as anyone else but he was clearly frustrated at the position Kean had put the team in.

[chaddyrovers]

I'm very happy we win, and that is all that matters today really!!!

First Half Performance were excellent!!! Second half not so great!!! Tactics and subs were awful, shocking and took the Wrong Players off!!!

Yakubu, Nzonzi and Hanley were excellent today!!! Nzonzi and Hanley have stood up recently which is pleasing for the young players doing this!

Pedersen was awful!!! should have be sub today. Pedersen fan but not good enough TODAY!

Orr did well on his debut! Impress me alot but at fault for first goal!

Didn't understand when Hoilett came off bringing on Henley, why not Vukcevic??? like for like replacement. winger for winger!

why did Kean take Formica off? was played well, work rate excellent, chasing the ball down and finding space between the QPR defence and midfield.

4-2-3-1 was working today, so why did we go 4-4-2 which allow QPR more space in the middle of midfield. why haven't played 4-4-2 alot all season, so why do it today when 3-0 up!!!

Very Stupid tactics by Kean that nearly cost Rovers 3 points!!! Also why did so go so Bloody defensive too early in games!!! Maybe attack is the best form of defensive for us at the moment!

Anyway 3 points gain and only another 15 points to get now to stay up!!! COYB!!!

[McClarky]

Great first half but almost managed to snatch a draw from the jaws of victory. Midfield really worked in first half and we looked great coming forward. Will we ever keep a clean sheet though? A few minutes longer and we could have easily blown it.

[Majiball]

Very happy with 3 points and drawing level on points with 17th.

Although after today I am beginning to wonder if Vukcevic is real?

[47er]

Great first half, very poor second half in which we were guilty of sitting back far too much, it was Sunderland away all over again.

I'd settle for a 3-0 lead at half time and a lazy second half every day of the week as long as we won frankly.

You didn't boo us off when we won 3-0 v Wolves under Allardyce then?

Sorry--couldn't resist!

[FFP83]

Robbo - class and im chuffed to see him as captain because hes a senior player and you can see he cares about the club.

Orr - did a lot better than I thought he would and its so nice to have an actual right back, I noticed he was quite vocal which for me is encouraging.

Dann - One of the best games ive seen him play.

Hanley - very impressed with how hes coming on.

Olsson - I actually think he played well defensively but didnt attack as much as I was hoping, probaly cos he had Pederson to cover him second half and didnt trust him?

Junior - I didnt actually think he played that well, so reluctant to shoot!!?? Chuffed with the goal though.

Lowe - again so nice to see a player playing in their natural position, I love his energy and work rate.

Nzonzi - rightfully man of the match for me, played like a future captain (if he sticks around). Best passer in our squad.

Pedersen - AWFUL!!! Lost the ball so many times, in the last 20 minutes I was begging for him to be subbed off or even sent off!!

Formica - Brilliant, skillfull and works hard, what more do we want? Dunn cant replace this guy now.

Yakubu - thank god hes back, if we stay up its because of him, took his goal brilliantly and I loved his chipped effort.

I actually see sense in Henley on for Junior. Henley is an attacking full back so hes good going forward but can also defend, so I think Kean thought by bringing him on he would help secure the 3 goal lead but not an ultra defensive decision like say bringing on Petrovic. (it didnt work but I dont think it was Henleys fault)

Modeste was pretty poor in my opinion, again I see Keans point, QPR were all over us so I think he thought the best way to defend was attack, bring a second striker on, Modeste and Yakubu can hold it up. If modeste came on for Pedersen and Formica went left wing great, but when Formica went off we lost his work rate. I dont think Modeste used his physical prescence enough. Hopefully the Yak can teach him?

Goodwillie did nothing but had no time to, to be fair.

Im chuffed to bits with the result as anything but a win would have pretty much secured our fate in the Championship, Wigan winning at Bolton was a huge bonus too! Come on WBA!!!

[47er]

To me this is a very basic element of football and if a significant proportion of our support can't grasp it and want to complain their heads off anyway then more fool them. Mark Hughes is a brilliant manager, we know from his time at Rovers that his teams can transform at half-time, in his honeymoon period he will win more games than he loses.

The 2nd half was always gonna be backs to the wall so stop moaning about it! It got closer than it probably should have but we won, thats the only thing that matters when you're trying to survive. The first half we were phenomenal and I'm glad N'Zonzi shut a few knockers up, he was excellent for most of the match.

Yes BUT------we have the worst record in the League for throwing leads away! Remember the Norwich game----3-1 up with 6 mins to go?

How different even this season would have been if we had an experienced manager able to close out a game?

Picking subs at random, taking players off who are doing well, changing the formation, sitting too far back-------these are all traits of Kean's managership which make him a disaster and will probably see us relegated.

[Waggy76]

So what about the great Mark Hughes? Kean put a team out that beat Sparky's. Ok, they scored two in the second half, but we scored three in the first!

Kean picked a team that destroyed Hughes' in the first half; Hoilett got injured, Orr made a terrible blunder, the players were unbelievably nervous and Kean coached them through it. I watched him do it!

We won the bloody game! What does that say about Kean? What does it say about Hughes?

We won and I am very pleased ,but to compare Steve kean to Mark Hughes as a manager is very disrespectful to Hughes ..Who would you prefer as

manager for the reminder of the season ?

I am not a betting man but , I suspect we will go down and QPR stay up , I hope i am wrong ..

[Tom]

One important thing that may get overlooked today

FEED THE YAK!

So good to have him back, that's the real difference between today and Newcastle, we actually took chances.

[Waggy76]

One important thing that may get overlooked today

FEED THE YAK!

So good to have him back, that's the real difference between today and Newcastle, we actually took chances.

That is very true ,and the confidence that it gives other players helps as well.

[FFP83]

If anyone on here thinks Kean is better than Hughes because we won today, does that mean Kean is better than Sir Alex Ferguson?

If Kean managed QPR this season they would be relegated. If Hughes managed us this season we would be top 10.

[Emge]

Wow, almost a bit emotional to see a Mark Hughes interview at Ewood Park with the Rovers badge in the background. Without sound it looked like he was our manager again.

But no....we are lucky enough to have Steve Kean!

[adsfortheblues]

BBC showing how inept they are saying yak was bought for free NO HE WASN'T

[Andy]

If we're comparing the managers, Kean might have scraped the win today (only just, mind) but in the 2nd half Hughes wiped the floor with him.

As you'd expect from an experienced and competent manager vs a first team coach pretending to be a manager.

[Rovermatt]

Just saw the highlights. Our first two goals were class. What a pity we'll lose Hoilett for nothing in the summer.

On the other hand, if we can hang on to Yakubu we may well stand a chance of avoiding relegation in next season's Championship. That said, we'd be favourites to go down if Kean sticks around.

[Kremmin]

Many posters have already said it but what the hell was Kean thinking bringing on Modeste for Formica?

You have to start to wonder whether he is obliged to give certain blokes minutes under contractual terms organized by the rogue agent or something.

Nearly cost us the game. He is a muppet.

Delighted with the win and the stay of execution.

Still gonna need a truck load of luck from here.

Samba - suck it up and get back out there before no-one wants you.

[DaveyB]

If we're comparing the managers, Kean might have scraped the win today (only just, mind) but in the 2nd half Hughes wiped the floor with him.

As you'd expect from an experienced and competent manager vs a first team coach pretending to be a manager.

In that case, you'd also have to say that in the 1st half Kean wiped the floor with Hughes.

Not a Kean fan btw, but credit where it's due and all that

[jones_rover]

Am I right in thinking that Lowe now serves a two game ban for picking up ten yellows?

Shame if he does because we looked more balanced with a specialist RB and Lowe playing his natural position too.

Thought N'Zonzi, Hanley, Formica, Yak and Orr (apart from his mistake which led to a goal) were all fantastic today but was puzzled as to why Vukcevic can no longer get a game.

Does anyone else think he looks like he may actually be a good player?