[Archived] Liverpool Away

[booth]

Excellent team performance and Baptiste was a collossus in defence today. Kilgallon and Baptiste should play every game after that. Rudy led from the front and midfield did a better job than normal. For the first time in a while the team seemed to have a spine.

Bowyer deserves credit for that but must take the level of performance into the Championship. And team selection! Baptiste must play in the centre with Kilgallon, we look far more organised.

[tomphil]

Great day for us. well done GB and all the players.

How much did that team cost?

Eastwood - free

Henley - free

Baptiste - loan - free

Killa - free

Olsson - free

Conway - £250,000

Cairney - £1m

Evans - £300,000

Williamson - free

Marshall - £1m

Gestede - £300,000

Only guessing at some of these fees, but can't imagine I'm too far out.

Not bad for a team costing around £3m?

Amazing when you look at it like that. We were certainly comfortable enough today but the players put in a hell of a shift. Hard work can make up for lack of flair sometimes.

[Gav]

I loved the t-shirts worn by the snack bar staff. "Proud to be a Rover" or similar on the front and "9 Shearer" on the back.

I asked one of the lasses to take hers off for me and she said NO!!

I then asked her for a "delicious muffin" as per the meal deal and she told me to go forth.......wierd!

You're lucky you never got arrested!

How would you have explained that to the wife?

"I was just minding my own business when......"

[Amo]

Baps & Kilgallon partnered each other against Bournemouth, no? Another faultless defensive performance.

I'd like to think this was a watershed moment, but who'd bet against 'Warrior' walking straight back into the side?

[Gav]

Demonstrated an appalling lack of fitness today though, outstanding for 45 mins then after 55 so spent he could hardly move.

Come on Rev the lads ran their socks off, chasing shadows for large parts of the game, you're being a bit harsh.

[chaddyrovers]

From what I understand, surprised Baptiste is starting. Will be even more surprised if he makes it to half time.

Why were you surprise?

Baptiste was outstanding for us

[McClarky]

Expect PL managers to be looking at what Rudi can do and coming in with bids this summer. He's a far better bet than Rhodes cos he has something that most teams don't have, I.e. Power in the air. Great effort from our lads today and superb support.

[Mercer]

Good article in The Sun - we face 5 games in 10 days including 4 April Leeds, 6 April Millwall and 8 April Liverpool.

Unkind to Rovers.

[West Yorks Rover]

Good article in The Sun - we face 5 games in 10 days including 4 April Leeds, 6 April Millwall and 8 April Liverpool.

Unkind to Rovers.

Yes but as the league season is now of little importance, we can change the whole team for Millwall.

[Mercer]

Yes but as the league season is now of little importance, we can change the whole team for Millwall.

A mad 2 weeks in April with Liverpool also thrown in:

4 Leeds A

6 Millwall H

8 Liverpool H

11 Reading A

14 Brum A

18 Forest H or Wembley semi

[West Yorks Rover]

A mad 2 weeks in April with Liverpool also thrown in:

4 Leeds A

6 Millwall H

8 Liverpool H

11 Reading A

14 Brum A

18 Forest H or Wembley semi

Might have to rest them all for the Brum game too, if we beat L'pool.

[bigbrandjohn]

Just read all 14 pages and nice to have unanimity of thinking that this was a special day and a special effort from our team. I will spend most of tomorrow explaining to my American friends that a 0-0 draw is a truly memorable event for someone who has supported Rovers for over 50 years. They don't do draws over here. They certainly don't do lower teams playing higher teams.

[joey_big_nose]

You've got to be joking. I thought the goalkeeper, both centre halves and Rudy were our stand out players.

Agree that Gestede or the centre backs should have got MoM.

That said I don't get why people thought Cairney was poor? For me he did a great job in retaining the ball and defending. Really got his foot in, made a number of excellent tackles, and when on the ball rarely gave it away - spreading the play and finding players in space. Fair enough he wasn't much of an attacking threat, but he did everything else really well I thought.

[arbitro]

Agree that Gestede or the centre backs should have got MoM.

That said I don't get why people thought Cairney was poor? For me he did a great job in retaining the ball and defending. Really got his foot in, made a number of excellent tackles, and when on the ball rarely gave it away - spreading the play and finding players in space. Fair enough he wasn't much of an attacking threat, but he did everything else really well I thought.

I agree about Cairney. At times our ball retention was good and invariably he was at the hub of this. We were talking during the game and he was our best player in the two Man City games last season. But he was in his best position for me yesterday.

[Swanson]

Excellent team performance and Baptiste was a collossus in defence today. Kilgallon and Baptiste should play every game after that. Rudy led from the front and midfield did a better job than normal. For the first time in a while the team seemed to have a spine.

Bowyer deserves credit for that but must take the level of performance into the Championship. And team selection! Baptiste must play in the centre with Kilgallon, we look far more organised.

Yes, Kilgallon and Baptiste from now on please.

Some numbers about Hanley :

Not playing :

9 games, 5 wins, 3 draws, 1 loss and 5 goals conceded. Those 9 games includes Swansea, Stoke, Bournemouth, Liverpool...

Playing :

31 games, 10 wins, 10 draws, 11 lost and 42 goals conceded.

I think those numbers are correct.

[martonrover]

If fit King is essential for me in games like this, the one man we have that nobody knows what to expect from and nobody can suitably plan for, he may (likely) have a shocker but there's that chance he can win it for us.

Wrap him in cotton wool until the replay.

[Paul]

One of the highlights for me today was the look on Paul's face after the match as he waited with his son, watching all of the Rovers fans leave. It was a look of joy, satisfaction and relief. He and his son clearly really enjoyed the game. That was a good moment today, Paul.

Ha. Ha!

Glad that did turn out to be you. I thought there's Stuart and then you seemed to look over my head at the pitch. Thought for a moment I had been grinning inanely at a random Rover!!

Great afternoon. I love going to Anfield. We always park on Sleepers Hill at the back of the ground and walking up the back streets with the Scousers makes for a great atmosphere on the way in. How it should be.

Hope your lads had fun. First time at Anfield?

[OJRovers]

Brilliant day out yesterday and what a performance from the team.

It was 100% commitment, workrate and concentration from the whole team. Whatever the result, you can't ask for more than that.

Pity it has taken Bowyer until the league is over to work out that:

- You need to play either Rudy OR Rhodes, and play to their strengths.

- Hanley shouldn't be on the pitch.

- Henley can do a decent job at RB, so Baptiste can play CB.

Cairney is a different player when playing against premier league teams, where you get a bit more time on the ball, he was really good yesterday.

No-one has mentioned Ollson, who deserves a lot of credit too, he threw himself in front of numerous shots/crosses, and also got forward too.

[Stuart]

Ha. Ha!

Glad that did turn out to be you. I thought there's Stuart and then you seemed to look over my head at the pitch. Thought for a moment I had been grinning inanely at a random Rover!!

Great afternoon. I love going to Anfield. We always park on Sleepers Hill at the back of the ground and walking up the back streets with the Scousers makes for a great atmosphere on the way in. How it should be.

Hope your lads had fun. First time at Anfield?

Yes, it was their first time. It really makes you get the bug for it. What a shame it won't be a regular occurrence in future. Hopefully it won't be their last.

They had a great time. It's fantastic to have two lads that not only support their home town team, when so many of their mates 'support' PL sides, but also appreciate the significance of a nil-nil game against one.

We also got on TV for a fleeting moment to illustrate the tension towards the end.

By the way, nothing wrong with grinning inanely at a random Rover after a day like that.

[miqaayil]

this is a game , we would have won if king played and we could have lost by 2 goals if hanley played..... my dad a 30year liverpool fan had one line after watching the game "wat u guys doing in championship ?" ....with 60% of the spirit and tactics shown yesterday, we should be gunning for top 2 but we in mid-table madness....makes me think again ...are we only performing for high profile televised games...are we a bragging tool of venkys....

[rog of the rovers]

Looking forward to the replay, although that fixture pile up is ridiculous!

Easter Saturday 4th April - Leeds (a)

Easter Monday 6th April - Millwall (h)

Wednesday 8th April - Liverpool (h)

Saturday 11th April - Reading (a)

4 games in 7 days!

That said, with our position in the league (mid table safety) I'd hope we play the kids/reserves against Millwall.

The replay is our season!

Incidentally Liverpool go to The Emirates on Easter Saturday, but have no game Easter Monday and then play Newcastle the following Monday (13th April)

[gumboots]

No, the players are self motivated for games like this. It's a one off chance for glory. They play for professional pride, to put themselves in the shop window, to match supposedly far more talented players and show that they too have some skill. The result only matters fleetingly - it's not the routine bread and butter fare of every week when you're playing against less able but well drilled teams. And it's an occasion, a stage to play on and they want to play the heroes. It's like doing amateur dramatics. You rehearse and rehearse and the director despairs of ever getting the Performance from his cast that he knows they can produce, then in costume on stage with the lspotlight on you and an audience everyone lifts and you all achieve. Cup football is all about here and now and not about league position or form.

I was just hoping we wouldn't get thumped, then in the last 10 mins dreading the heartbreak of conceding late. It was a great day to be a rover and the only bad moment was when the idiot next to me set off his smoke canister and the bits from if were burning my scalp while the steward stood next to him doing nothing

[Commondore]

I agree about Cairney. At times our ball retention was good and invariably he was at the hub of this. We were talking during the game and he was our best player in the two Man City games last season. But he was in his best position for me yesterday.

Agree with every word. If only Bowyer had realized this at the start of the season and kept one of Judge or Rochina for competition in that spot instead of bringing in Varney...

[chaddyrovers]

I can see the Millwall home game being moved for the replay

Millwall game moved

http://www.rovers.co.uk/news/article/blackburn-rovers-millwall-liverpool-fa-cup-2323438.aspx#KpjQxxjA2u3uZ0jU.99

[AggyBlue]

I can see the Millwall home game being moved for the replay

Millwall game moved

http://www.rovers.co.uk/news/article/blackburn-rovers-millwall-liverpool-fa-cup-2323438.aspx#KpjQxxjA2u3uZ0jU.99

One game over Easter. That's cr@p.

Easter used to be great with games on Friday, Saturday and Monday.