[Archived] Rovers v Derby County: 25th January 2014, 3pm KO

[Proudtobeblue&white]

As it's only two days before our next game, thought we should start talking about it.

Another tough game [are there any others?], but again, a must win against a play-off rival.

What GB will turn up following his Continental sojourn to see Madame [or The Owd Hag, as most would prefer], Will he have been told to go for it, or will he be ultra cautious and play six across midfield, with no recognised attacker, so as not to lose by too many?

Big week, 9-points to play for.....I would like to see JR & Rudy up front, and either LW or JL as loan defensive midfielder. Now is the time to push on, surely?

[Rover_Shaun]

Jason Lowe-Bowyer and Williamson in midfield along with a clueless defence full of quitters = 0-2

[FGS5635]

Jason Lowe-Bowyer and Williamson in midfield along with a clueless defence full of quitters = 0-2

Will that defence contain Dann, or will he have signed for palace

[Rover_Shaun]

Quit for the stripey nigels you mean?. Dann guarantees prem relegation.

Dann leaving can only strengthen the defence. 6ft 1 but 4ft 2 when he jumps and all the positional sense of a blind man on a ledge.

[Tom]

2-0 win, Rhodes brace

[sharpysharps]

Derby perhaps not as convincing as they were 3 weeks ago but this will be a real tough game. Can't see anything better than a home draw here.

We should be looking to take 7 points from the next 3 games though. Barnsley and Blackpool should both be wins. Doesn't really matter who is in charge of the latter they have several injuries and are such a soft touch both up front and defensively at the moment that we should be winning it quite comfortably.

[JBiz]

Jason Lowe-Bowyer and Williamson in midfield along with a clueless defence full of quitters = 0-2

Edisford Bridge is short of its main occupant.

[rog of the rovers]

Opening Day lineup

Kean - Kane, Hanley, Dann, Spurr - King (Taylor), Marrow (Cairney), Lowe, Judge - Rochina (Best), Rhodes

Proof, that 5 months is a long time in football! 3 of that lineup are now out on loan!

I'd expect only 5 survivors from that starting lineup

Eastwood - Henley, Hanley, Dann, Spurr - Cairney, Lowe, Williamson, Marshall - Rhodes, Gestede.

[FGS5635]

Right back is a bit of a dilema for us. At this point I'd say kane is better, but it just seems wrong developing chelsea's player at the expense of developing our own

[tomphil]

Rovers 1 Derby 2. They'll probably see it as a winnable game and approach it as such whilst we either from the start or midway through the game will employ the same tactics. Pressure will be invited on and we'll concede a late winner to the Rams.

14,473 (1,300 Derby)

[Bucksrover]

I definitely think Henley for Right back. I hear he wasn't great against Forest but a lot of players had their Man City Hangover for that one. Henley has seemed more solid and athletic than Kane when I have seen him this year, and his development benefits us. Kane is very lightweight - he tries hard but we are lacking pacey athletes at the back so I think Henley fits the bill.

Heading up for this one and I am hoping that the usual (and much discussed) doesn't happen with Lowe and Williamson anchoring us just in front of our penalty area and then parting without a whimper (or going missing) when the opposition attack. It has been Bowyer's only managerial blind-spot from what I have seen - so fingers crossed the penny drops, but I have an awful (almost slightly sick) feeling it won't have done. If we play the 2 of them then we are in for another post-match interview packed with surprise that the opposition really came after us and that we were under a lot of pressure - and yet still I am going - Crazy

[ABBEY]

0-0 and money for me

[windymiller7]

I think we'll win this one,probably only by the odd goal, so I'm going for 2-1 (Gestede, Rhodes).

Does anyone know if Robbo & Evans are available for this one? I know I keep harping on about it, but getting Robbo back (or A N Other in) is key for me at the moment.

[USABlue]

The final nail on our playoff coffin. 3-1 t'Rams

[Waggy76]

I just hope we attack them.......

Nothing to fear in this division !

Fortune favours the brave .

[bazza]

Jason Lowe-Bowyer and Williamson in midfield along with a clueless defence full of quitters = 0-2

AND

Edisford Bridge is short of its main occupant.

I would say there's a village somewhere that's missing its idiot.

Right back is a bit of a dilema for us. At this point I'd say kane is better, but it just seems wrong developing chelsea's player at the expense of developing our own

Yes. Very much. Henley seems short on confidence to attack but is slightly the better defender.

I'd like to see Kane back in for this one.

I wonder what a Kane in front of Henley right wing partnership would be like?

By wondering that, maybe it's me who should return to my village

[Bucksrover]

The final nail on our playoff coffin. 3-1 t'Rams

60 points left to play for. Funeral might be premature

[stpbrown]

It will be interesting to see how we get on against a genuine play-off contender.

As it stands, I think we have only beaten Boro in the current Top 10, although quite a few of those games have been away from home

[Rover_Shaun]

Edisford Bridge is short of its main occupant.

Time for you to go home then Jizzle. Bazza's warming the lube

[roversfan99]

Robinson

Henley Dann Hanley Spurr

Marshall Williamson Cairney Taylor

Gestede Rhodes

[Leonard Venkhater]

Robinson

Henley Dann Hanley Spurr

Marshall Williamson Cairney Taylor

Gestede Rhodes

Henley doesn't look ready to me.

[FGS5635]

Henley doesn't look ready to me.

He certainly doesnt offer as much as kane going forward. Tough call for bowyer really this one

[jim mk2]

I'd be very surprised if we win. It will take some time to shake off the psychological effects of that City match and the 4-1 drubbing last weekend won't have helped. Draw at best, I think it will be 1-1.

[Tom]

With DJ gone and Goodwillie supposedly on his way we may well go Into this without a striker on the bench unless he is using King as backup there.

[Silas]

I'd be very surprised if we win. It will take some time to shake off the psychological effects of that City match and the 4-1 drubbing last weekend won't have helped. Draw at best, I think it will be 1-1.

This phsychologoical stuff is often mentioned, but for me the precedents don't back it up.

City pastings this season

19th Aug - Newcastle beat 4-0 = next match 0-0 West Ham

22nd Sep - Man Utd beat 4-1 = next match beat Liverpool 1-0

2nd Nov - Norwich beat 7-0 = next match beat West Ham 3-1

24th Nov - Spurs beat 6-0 = next match drew Man Utd 2-2

1st Dec - Swansea beat 3-0 = next match beat Newcastle 3-0

14th Dec - Aresenal beat 6-3 = next match drew Chelsea 0-0

21st Dec - Fulham beat 4-2 = next match beat Norwich 2-1

8th Jan - West Ham beat 6-0 = next match beat Cardiff 2-0

So out of all the Prem teams that have took a bit of a shoeing from City not a single one of them has gone on to lose their next match.

Admittedly, the 2 exceptions to this are Championship teams in Wigan and us, who both went on to lose to Watford and Forest respectively, but tbh both were away games, and I think each team would have found it tough regardless.

Just thought it was worth mentioning as I reckon footballers simply write of any game against City, put it behind them and then move onto the next match.

In fact, could it actually be an advantage? With our players having spent 2 matches having to worry about Negredo, Djeko, Navas, Toure etc, with no disrespect to Derby once you are then marking their standard of players, surely the game must feel a little bit easier. Perhaps I am grasping at straws though.