[Archived] Nottingham Forest vs. Rovers - Saturday 18th January 2014

[Jimmy612]

It's still a stupid selection. If he must pick Williamson and Lowe, and we want to win the midfield battle. How about:

Lowe Williamson

King Cairney Marshall

That way we have a threat on the counter in King, and Cairney able to dictate in a free role.

Yep, no complaints there. I would perhaps start with Taylor instead of King, but I appreciate the counter-attack idea. What I would say is that when Cairney played that role earlier in the season he wasn't as effective. Not sure why because he certainly has the talent to play the No.10 role.

[Neal]

He'll play Lowe and Willo today I expect. Forest have a decent midfield with Reid, Moussi and Lansbury. If you give Reid space in this league he will murder you, very talented player. The battle will be in the middle I expect so perhaps might see 4-5-1

Thing is Cairney keeps hold of the ball better than any of those 2 so if we want to win the midfield battle then we need to keep hold of the ball. Needs to play in the midfield.

[Jimmy612]

Thing is Cairney keeps hold of the ball better than any of those 2 so if we want to win the midfield battle then we need to keep hold of the ball. Needs to play in the midfield.

Really interesting debate this one and I appreciate both sides of the argument. Last week I was asking for Cairney to play in the middle because we'd lost our hold on the game. Having said that, in the last few games i've seen us e.g. Birmingham and Doncaster - in the first half we have murdered teams with Willo and Lowe in the middle. Birmingham was ridiculous because we were all over them and 3 down, and against Doncaster, we pretty much controlled the game in the first half.

[roversfan99]

Yep, no complaints there. I would perhaps start with Taylor instead of King, but I appreciate the counter-attack idea. What I would say is that when Cairney played that role earlier in the season he wasn't as effective. Not sure why because he certainly has the talent to play the No.10 role.

Cairney was much more effective there than on the wing.

How about:

----------Williamson

------Taylor Cairney

King --------------Marshall

I would probably play:

Williamson Cairney

King Dunn Marshall

personally as I think Dunn could grab the midfield battle by the scruff of the neck, and that team would give Forest something to worry about.

[FGS5635]

The fact that rudy was left out midweek suggests he is deffo starting. So if rhodes if fully fit its 442.

[AdamRochina]

i think lowe has to start so i dont know why you guys are dropping him, he has been brilliant recently

[adsfortheblues]

The fact that rudy was left out midweek suggests he is deffo starting. So if rhodes if fully fit its 442.

Gestede was carrying a knock.

[bazza]

Williamson always seems to play well first half and get injured or fall away second half.

Also I'd keep King on the bench up to 60 minutes. His speed can destroy a tired defence.

[rovers11]

No idea if true but there is a whisper that Rhodes will be on the bench today with Gestede being the lone man up front. Similar to what we did against Man City at Ewood. Let's see if true when the team news is released.

[Oklahoma]

Going to watch it online.

I would put a 4-5-1 formation, with Gestede up front and a midfield with King, Cairney, Williamson, Taylor and Marshall.

[moerpho]

It seems this game will be streamed by Bet365 and Bwin for those situated outside of the UK. Don't know what countries, but it is available for streaming from Bet365 here in Norway at least.

[chaddyrovers]

this is off a person who has gone to the game today

Rhodes, Dann, etc all on coach. And Goodwillie. Not seen DJ, Robbo or Ruben, as far as I could see. Kean & Eastwood here

[Gav]

In canal side pub drinking harvest pale ale, very nice indeed.

[chaddyrovers]

ROVERS: Eastwood, Henley, Dann, Hanley, Spurr, Williamson, Lowe, Cairney, Taylor, Marshall, Gestede.

Subs: Kean, Kilgallon, King, Dunn, Rhodes, Morris, Goodwillie.

Jordan Rhodes is only on the bench having not trained this week

Robinson is expected to be out for a week with a hamstring strain.

[Oklahoma]

ROVERS: Eastwood, Henley, Dann, Hanley, Spurr, Williamson, Lowe, Cairney, Taylor, Marshall, Gestede.

With the exception of Lowe, it is what I would choose.

[Tom]

DJ may be off to Millwall then

I wonder if Rhodes not playing is actually tactical but we didn't want a backlash after all is he's for enough for the bench you'd think he would be fit to start

Let's just hope they don't have many shots on target

[Husky]

Well, it's a good start to the day. First result has gone for us Leeds 0-1 Leicester. Let it continue......................

[rovers11]

Rhodes is indeed on the bench. I'd say that is tactical as well as the fact he hasn't trained much. We need to win the midfield battle so playing 5 in midfield and 1 up front makes sense. Gestede is a better lone front man than Rhodes. Cairney will start on the right but him and Taylor will rotate.

Other things we can learn from the team sheet: DJ is on his way as is Rochina. Goodwillie back in the squad but don't expect him to be here come the end of Jan.

Apparently two clubs are now after Best. If we can shift Best, Goodwillie and DJ in this window then that's a very successful window. We'll also probably see a new striker come in if, indeed, those players do leave.

[Husky]

ROVERS: Eastwood, Henley, Dann, Hanley, Spurr, Williamson, Lowe, Cairney, Taylor, Marshall, Gestede.

Subs: Kean, Kilgallon, King, Dunn, Rhodes, Morris, Goodwillie.

Jordan Rhodes is only on the bench having not trained this week

Robinson is expected to be out for a week with a hamstring strain.

No bench warming for Rochina? Is he on the way to the Spanish 2nd division?

Notsogoodwillie, nooooooooooooooo!.

I'm not so confident, but I hope we can get away with a score draw here........so I'm gonna go for 2-2.

[adsfortheblues]

Biggest game of the season for us this, IF we win, we go 1 point behind forest who are 5th.

[rovers11]

I'm not convinced about this Rhodes `injury`. I think it's purely tactical but can you imagine the backlash if GB came out and said he dropped Rhodes for tactical reasons?! It's much easier to just say he's got a slight knock.

Don't think his `injury` has anything to do with him potentially leaving the club either.

[Tom]

Id have done the same today tell Rudy to batter them for an hour and make it hard for them then bring on the goal machine to terrorise them with half an hour left

[jim mk2]

Eastwood in goal - we've no chance. 3-0 defeat at best.

[adsfortheblues]

Goodwillie on bench? Hope we don't have to watch that headless chicken.

[Bundesburn]

This is also on beIN sport 6 in the Middle East/Qatar, so make of that information what you will.