[Archived] Preston

[ABBEY]

glad you enjoyed the game....

I've actually been laid up for the last couple of days after slipping a disk, nice to know you're concerned though xx

I'm glad we've remembered how to win ugly and create our own luck, long may it continue.

I Hope Souness pulls through fine.

and yet more confirmation today of what a cretin Leon Best is(got sent off in his debut game for Rotherham for blatantly elbowing a player in the face bracking his nose)

Souness pulls through ?

[T J Hooker]

Hope the back is ok TJ. Spent the day in hospital with my brother who has broken his back. He had a fall off scaffolding 2 weeks ago but they missed the break on the initial x Ray

poor bugger, hope he recovers well, he must be pretty tough to go two weeks with an undiagnosed broken back, my back prob is pretty minor compared to that(I did it turning over in bed to switch the alarm clock off ) im sure ill be back to norm soon enough thanks.

Souness pulls through ?

its being reported that he was rushed into hospital earlier today, its not been said why but he has had major heart problems in the past, but i hope its nothing to serious this time,

[Ricky]

I think obscene amounts of Tramadol has probably helped TJ. I think it's fair to say that there has been a massive cock up somewhere along the line.

I picked up the score on the phone. It sounds like it may have been a fortunate win but we'll take the 3 points. 8 off the play offs now

[T J Hooker]

the leagues still so tight outside the top 6-8 though, we really need a few of the other teams form to decline rapidly

[Speedie Dived]

I get the feeling that some people were expecting a better all-round performance, as if we were going to start pinging the ball around like Barcelona. It was a scrappy local derby against a dogged Preston side and the manager's only been in charge less than a week. It's going to take at least until the summer before Lambert can fully stamp his authority on this group of players and get them playing how he wants them to play. From the sounds of it, the intensity levels were there and we've managed to win ugly, a trait that eluded us under the last manager.

You and several others were a banger of the drum saying that there is enough quality in this team to go up.

There isn't.

We need and I think Lambert will address it, more quality in the team, embargo obviously being lifted aside.

[K-Hod]

Said this so many times i've lost count... Adam Henley is a boy in a mans league. All Preston did was hammer it into that corner and bully him out of it again and again, they weren't even particularly picking out a pass, just hitting that area knowing full well he couldn't hack it... It seemed Grayson had done his homework and picked him out as a week link. I've also said before that he's been spoon-fed a professional first team contract without actually going out on loan to prove his worth. I'd like to see him have a good tough old season at a promotion challenging league 1 side to see if he sinks or swims in the hope it will toughen him up. To be fair to him, he did do a little better in the second half and it seemed Lambert had a word and told him to give himself some room, keep the their winger in front of him... Once he did that he did make some good interceptions and turned defence into attack. He's got a lot to learn but unfortunately we can't afford him to learn in our first 11 in my opinion.

I accept I'm massively in the minority here, but I think his main problem is confidence, if he bulks up I think he could be a better player for us than he's currently showing tbh.

[AllRoverAsia]

For those having a pop at Henley, well we need a fall guy during Lowe's long absence, here's what our Manager says post match:

“I just told the defence in there – defending is your job,” said Lambert “And along with young Adam Henley and Markus Olsson, I thought the back four were colossal for us, along with Jason Steele, the goalkeeper.'' “They were proper, proper men; proper defenders.”

[K-Hod]

You and several others were a banger of the drum saying that there is enough quality in this team to go up.

There isn't.

We need and I think Lambert will address it, more quality in the team, embargo obviously being lifted aside.

Perhaps not immediately, but he'll get more out of the side than Bowyer will in my view.

[Speedie Dived]

For those having a pop at Henley, well we need a fall guy during Lowe's long absence, here's what our Manager says post match:

“I just told the defence in there – defending is your job,” said Lambert “And along with young Adam Henley and Markus Olsson, I thought the back four were colossal for us, along with Jason Steele, the goalkeeper.'' “They were proper, proper men; proper defenders.”

He didn't defend too badly, young left winger gave him a bit of a going over in first half. His problem is on the ball.

He needs to play with a mitre delta size 4.

[AllRoverAsia]

''He needs to play with a mitre delta size 4'' - got to say that made me laugh

One thing that I am sure of is that we will finish in a higher league position that if the previous 'coach' had remained. If we do not make the play-offs then it will not be Lambert's fault. I am definitely going blue-tinted specs for the rest of this season.

There is plenty of room for improvement in the squad and I'm looking forward to seeing Lambert in action in the Loan & Transfer markets - this one does have real contacts. FFP will be gone soon.........I hope..............

[philipl]

This thread is currently on page 57.

Brentford at home made ir to 22 pages and the previous away game- Birmingham- to all of 14 pages.

Not much else to be said about the supporters welcome for PL (Premier League/Paul Lambert/me...)

[Speedie Dived]

One noticeable difference yesterday was the full backs not getting as forward that often, if at all. Don't think they overlapped once.

[chaddyrovers]

For those having a pop at Henley, well we need a fall guy during Lowe's long absence, here's what our Manager says post match:

I just told the defence in there defending is your job, said Lambert And along with young Adam Henley and Markus Olsson, I thought the back four were colossal for us, along with Jason Steele, the goalkeeper.'' They were proper, proper men; proper defenders.

Henley got better as the game went on.

For me, in the first 30 mins he was nervous and lacking confidence but improve alot after that time. Made a couple of good forwards runs and made one excellent tackle.

I hope Lambert/Irvine work with him to improve his confidence and self belief

[arbitro]

Perhaps not immediately, but he'll get more out of the side than Bowyer will in my view.

And I believe that is what a significant number of posters were saying. Undoubtedly the squad were underperforming under Bowyers regime and there are probably several underlying reasons for this. Personally I think we can improve by another 20% simply by doing pretty basic stuff which seemed to pass Bowyer and his staff by.

[Pedro]

What some people easy forget - when we bang on about how great Samba, Nelson, Neill, Warnock, Emerson, Short and Berg etc. were, that during most games, on a fair few occasions we in fact left Friedel exposed. I lost count of the amount of one on ones he'd win and colossal saves he made- that he had no right to get to. He easily kept the goals against down by 15-20 goals a season. We have never and in my view, can never replace that. Those saves enhanced the reputations of his managers and those who played in front of him.

In terms of performance yesterday - what we're some people expecting? The manager has been in place for 5 days. Henley can't become Cafu in less than a week 😉

Great result, one that had we lost we'd have been right in the brown stuff. We saw the game out, we were resolute, we won! There is a core of players here that are certainly good enough - I have absolutely no doubt in my mind about that. Three additions would make a hell of a lot of difference. For two long, we have been cagey. Conditioned to sit back, past sideways, not gamble...not look to win. Fitness, application and belief takes time to improve - but it's coming.

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

One noticeable difference yesterday was the full backs not getting as forward that often, if at all. Don't think they overlapped once.

We were pinned back for long periods of the match - so not much opportunity to overlap then - but prior to that I thought they both looked to get forward.

[Speedie Dived]

We were pinned back for long periods of the match - so not much opportunity to overlap then - but prior to that I thought they both looked to get forward.

Trying to think if they did in first half and I didn't have a drink yesterday? Don't recall them getting a cross in.

Not saying it's a bad thing by the way.

[the original david brent]

For those having a pop at Henley, well we need a fall guy during Lowe's long absence, here's what our Manager says post match:

I just told the defence in there defending is your job, said Lambert And along with young Adam Henley and Markus Olsson, I thought the back four were colossal for us, along with Jason Steele, the goalkeeper.'' They were proper, proper men; proper defenders.

I will accept that I have been a critic of his. I've said before I really want him to do well.

Yesterday it was quite obvious the Preston team were given orders to target Henley. They were hitting long balls over his head and for the first 20 minutes he struggled. On one occasion the ball went over his head, he got beat by their left winger and we were lucky not to concede. That could have been 3 points out of the question if they had scored first.

He also got in a dangerous attacking position early on and he just wasted it. Instead of just running at his man or running down the line he hesitated and came inside. He does this too often. Running at defenders in dangerous positions can win games as Chris Taylor showed.

However after the initial 20 mins he generally defended well, won his headers, won his tackles and showed some really good composure on a couple of occasions.

Perhaps I am being over analytical and critical but I thought he was a little hesitant for their goal. I appreciate it was a difficult high and spinning ball to deal with but he just a seems to react a split second too late. He also reacted a split second too late at MK Dons! Fine margins in football.

For the record when I am in the ground I don't lambast Henley for any wrong doings and I applaud all the good things he does. I don't want to give the impression of one of these morons who abuses our own players. However I wonder if he is good enough to be our right back to get us out of this league. I hope he can become that player but at this stage I fear he isn't. Perhaps the new coaching staff can work on him.

[Wing Wizard Windy Miller]

You would think. Given PLs comments and German connections that he will implement a similar stye to Klopp at Liverpool. Obviously their players are better quality but the pressing (especially the front 3 was outstanding against City yesterday).

It has taken klopp a couple of months to get them conditioned to that level.

You would hope that come the end of January we should see a big difference.

CAN'T WAIT!

Till then, a few more ground out results like yesterday will be more than welcome!

[Steve Kean's Hypnotoad]

I get the feeling that some people were expecting a better all-round performance, as if we were going to start pinging the ball around like Barcelona. It was a scrappy local derby against a dogged Preston side and the manager's only been in charge less than a week. It's going to take at least until the summer before Lambert can fully stamp his authority on this group of players and get them playing how he wants them to play. From the sounds of it, the intensity levels were there and we've managed to win ugly, a trait that eluded us under the last manager.

I couldn't quite believe some of the criticism around me in the crowd (mostly dished out whilst we were actually winning). Was utterly pathetic. Seems to me far too many people think being a supporter means standing/sitting there and giving a running managerial commentary on what players should be doing throughout the match. "Win that!" "No!! He s*** out of that tackle!" "Get it down!" "Keep the ball!" "That's ****!" (for a pass that actually finds its intended player)

And this continuous set of moronic instructions is punctuated by the occasional joining in with a song, then its back to it. Honestly I wish these people would just shut the hell up. They aren't a manager, they generally know naff all about football and literally nobody cares what they think we should do (least of all the players). We've just hired a manager with a million times the knowledge and experience of any of our fans, so why not let the players get on with it and just support the team.

Every time something went wrong against Preston it was back to the stock reaction of angry groans and shouting expletives. And I see Akpan is the new scapegoat (figures, it almost always tends to be our defensive midfielder). I'm becoming more and more convinced that some people go to Rovers literally to just have a good moan. They're a nightmare to sit around.

[Speedie Dived]

You would think. Given PLs comments and German connections that he will implement a similar stye to Klopp at Liverpool. Obviously their players are better quality but the pressing (especially the front 3 was outstanding against City yesterday).

It has taken klopp a couple of months to get them conditioned to that level.

You would hope that come the end of January we should see a big difference.

CAN'T WAIT!

Till then, a few more ground out results like yesterday will be more than welcome!

This is my hope too. If Lambert decides to go down the 'gegenpressing' route then you can implement that relatively quickly, as long as you have the legs.

It would massively help with the attacking play to as you win the ball back higher up the park more often.

[Gav]

Yesterday was all about getting a win, cheering in the new era under Lambert and the fans didn't disappoint, neither did the players.

Yes we make football look hard work at times, yes we lack quality and yes we rode our luck, but we got the win and that's what yesterday was all about for me.

I want to single out Duffy and Hanley, absolutely colossal in the centre of defence, hardly put a foot wrong all afternoon, I just wish one of them had stuck one on that little **** Garner. Good to see the two of them in a big 'man hug' at the final whistle also.

Chris Taylor, absolute gem that lad, 110% every time I se him play, brave, runs at that opposition and a credit to the shirt. I hope he gets more game time under Lambert.

Great day out.

[McClarky]

Great day out yesterday, superb atmosphere before, during and after the game. Hope there wasn't any bother.

[K-Hod]

Great day out yesterday, superb atmosphere before, during and after the game. Hope there wasn't any bother.

Saw a lot of riot vans flying around, but nothing in thw immediate vicinity of the ground I could see.

[Speedie Dived]

I couldn't quite believe some of the criticism around me in the crowd (mostly dished out whilst we were actually winning). Was utterly pathetic. Seems to me far too many people think being a supporter means standing/sitting there and giving a running managerial commentary on what players should be doing throughout the match. "Win that!" "No!! He s*** out of that tackle!" "Get it down!" "Keep the ball!" "That's ****!" (for a pass that actually finds its intended player)

And this continuous set of moronic instructions is punctuated by the occasional joining in with a song, then its back to it. Honestly I wish these people would just shut the hell up. They aren't a manager, they generally know naff all about football and literally nobody cares what they think we should do (least of all the players). We've just hired a manager with a million times the knowledge and experience of any of our fans, so why not let the players get on with it and just support the team.

Every time something went wrong against Preston it was back to the stock reaction of angry groans and shouting expletives. And I see Akpan is the new scapegoat (figures, it almost always tends to be our defensive midfielder). I'm becoming more and more convinced that some people go to Rovers literally to just have a good moan. They're a nightmare to sit around.

Disagree with people commenting on the game just as long as it's both positive and negative. People care and it's a release for the tension. Commenting on the game is all part of being a football fan.

Akpan did three ridiculously bad things yesterday, the first two were not commented on around me, the third he got some grief.

The 'instructions' you listed above will happen at every ground in the country and at every level. It's part of being a fan to me.

Chris Taylor, absolute gem that lad, 110% every time I se him play, brave, runs at that opposition and a credit to the shirt. I hope he gets more game time under Lambert.

Great day out.

Taylor is a funny one, I think he always seem to play well when he comes off the bench. He is not a right winger but can find space if playing behind the front man. Has a knack for being involved in the hole and then disappearing off the face of the planet on the right.

I think some players are good watchers and can read a game, so when they come on they are effective. Think he is one.