[Archived] A Journey Into Mordor

[AllRoverAsia]

''Partnerships and understandings do seem to be forming''.......yes they are but don't let us forget the current team selection has been forced on Bowyer by injuries and suspension. This has dampened Bowyer's tinker-man impressions. If Lowe was fit he would be in the side somewhere, of that I have no doubt.

Until then let's enjoy the win and the recent performances.

Edit: Steele was worth no more than a 5 imo

[RoverNev]

In my opinion, the perfect away performance.

Struck early (twice) and worked ever so hard.

Had as many if not more chances to make it 0-3 rather than Leeds making it 1-2

Steele - 6 - Kicking still suspect, also possibly got away with a handball. Not a lot to do other than that.

Marshall - 8 - Is he better suited at right back? So good to have a player who is comfortable to run the ball out of defence and build the play rather than the big hoof.

Duffy - 8 - Everything Duffy loves, balls pumped up and a physical battle with the strikers.

Hanley - 8 - Like Duffy, Leeds style suited him to the ground

Olsson - 6 - Not a bad performance, but not his usual standards when it came to crossing. Steady away

Taylor - 6 - Like Olsson, was steady. Asked to graft and help Marshall on the right side, performed admirably. Great to see him back in the side.

Evans - 7 - Another composed performance from Evans, striking up a nice relationship with Akpan

Akpan 7 - How are some fans not convinced by him? He's everything I thought Etuhu would be. Absolute beast in the middle, becoming a key cog.

Conway - 9 - My man of the match, took his goal well, some excellent driving runs, battler, strong in the challenge, up and down the touchline all night.

Lawrence - 8 - Great response after Saturday, Leeds couldn't handle him, cracking run for the second. Hope we have him til the end of the season at least.

Rhodes - 7 - A classic Rhodes game and goal. What did he do apart from score? Does it matter?

Subs

Kilgallon - Steady away. Not a bad player to have coming off the bench.

Delfouneso - Put in the leg work.

O'Sullivan -Got stuck in nicely.

Can't argue with that, a toss up for me between Lawrence and Conway for the Man of the Match. They could be two huge players for us this season. I love the description for Rhodes, surely you must copy and paste that every week?!!

[had.e.nuff]

Superb 'team' performance. After a cracking start - I can't remember anything like that kick off during the fifty odd years I've watched Rovers - we managed the game extremely well. Duffy and Hanley were excellent, Evans and Akpan completely dominated in midfield and Lawrence caused them huge problems in the first half. Well done to Bowyer and the players on a brilliant night for the fans.

I think most teams do the same kick off as we normaly do long punt for touch , that kick off has to be worth a try more often

[Stuart]

It's the inconsistency that drives you mad.

Looking at the game in isolation, you'd think we've a chance of being up there- dangerous going forward, tenacious in the middle, with quality out wide and solid at the back.

Yet, performances like yesterday and Ipswich are normally aberrations before we go on another winless streak.

We all know Bowyer won't be going, so we can only pray that we can kick on, nothing over the last year says we can, but we've no alternative.

Agree completely.

What drives me mad is the seeming need to change a winning formula or in form, or even goal scoring, player. Then we lose.

We absolutely need consistency.

But let's not kid ourselves. We are literally treading water at the moment. A club in limbo.

A better manager, with the squad we have, would - in my view - get this club into the play-offs or better. But we will not replace him and get the short term, immediate, if temporary fix that promotion would bring. That would be too obvious.

However, by sticking with Bowyer we will never get any better without the embargo being lifted (and even then...). To do that we need to break up this squad. That will mean having to rely on him to rebuild. Of course, in doing so he will need another two years - after the end of the embargo - and assuming Venkys will continue to back the club indefinitely.

It simply makes no sense though to have an FFP-busting wage bill and a promotion-phobic manager. One will have to change before anything else does. Sadly it will be the former and we can look forwards to several more seasons - if we are lucky(!) - of downgrading - hoping beyond hope to avoid being relegated or going bust.

[scotty_beam_me_up]

Credit where it's due. We can't have a go at him when it goes wrong but say it's all accidental when it goes well. Amazing how a win can make you feel better.

I put a fiver on 40/1 by the way for promotion by the way!!

[Hasta]

Credit where it's due. We can't have a go at him when it goes wrong but say it's all accidental when it goes well. Amazing how a win can make you feel better.

I put a fiver on 40/1 by the way for promotion by the way!!

We are 66/1 to finish bottom.

Which technically means we are 66/1 to sell Rhodes and end up in administration with a points deduction.

[RoverNev]

Credit where it's due. We can't have a go at him when it goes wrong but say it's all accidental when it goes well. Amazing how a win can make you feel better.

I put a fiver on 40/1 by the way for promotion by the way!!

Completely agree. It's so easy to jump on the managers back when things aren't going well (often justified I may add), but we have to give the manager credit for last night, he got them going in a game that had the potential to go a whole lot different to how it went.

Nothing about last night's performance was accidental, we went there and played them off the park for 90 minutes and, in my opinion, were unlucky with just two nil. Last night's 3 points were least we deserved, not only in the Leeds game, but also with the two before that. I'm feeling alot more positive about our ability today than I was this time last month

[Blandy]

The big take away from last night is how abysmal Leeds were.

Thankfully, this time we converted laying against dross into three points and we can extrapolate our current won 3 drawn 6 lost 5 to an end of season points total which would just about keep us in the division at season end.

Beyond that, many indications that our fundamental problems - a disorganised defence and a clueless manager - remain.

I think calling him clueless is a bit harsh, someone who is clueless at management would have had us tumbling down the leagues - that's not happened!

Forget the MK Dons defeat; against Ipswich, Derby, Burnley and Leeds there have been some encouraging signs we've actually looked quite solid and hard to beat something that we've been crying out for over

the last couple of seasons under Bowyer. The Burnley defeat hurt but we didn't deserved that and had 18 goal attempts against a side that went 2nd, a bit more composure in front of goal was needed and GB can't be blamed for that,

I'm no Bowyer lover and have been desperate for a change of manager, but now under the impression that unless we get stuck in the bottom 3 that's not going to happen. Best thing to do is just get behind the manager/team and try

to enjoy watching Rovers again.

[LDRover]

Just spoke to a 'Rovers Fan' on twitter who said "Akpan is the worst centre midfielder he's seen in a Rovers shirt" AND THEN SAID...

"I hope JASON LOWE isn't too far away"

Some people were just born moronic.

That's no Rovers fan Neal.

[Amo]

Something has finally clicked in the last few weeks. We have a solid back five that very rarely concedes. This has been years in the making and it gives us a massive opportunity to win games.

The removal of Rudy is allowing Rhodes to flourish. I never felt he enjoyed playing with Rudy. Like many strikers, he thrives off the love of fans and teammates who regard him as top of the heap.

We have a combative, ball winning midfield for the first time in years and we are fitter too. I am genuinely excited by our team and hopeful for the rest of the season.

I can't see us losing too many.

[windymiller7]

Fair enough, I thought he does play off Rhodes well. Not sure what the sparkly piece of glass was he was carrying off after the game?

All centre forwards get isolated when other teams attack, it's the nature of the game. We don't choose to play like that.

He won the Sky MoM award, so the sparkly thing would be the trophy.

[Tom]

Last night proves how daft the rugby style punt from kick off is, most teams do it but it rarely results in any pressure.

Last night we did what Brentford did to us last season they flooded forward from the kick off.

Much more positive and good to see, has something clicked?

Let's hope it's not another false dawn and this is the take off the manager talked about.

[mhead]

As Mrs T. would say "Just rejoice!"

14th place looks a lot healthier and makes us half way to the escape from Relegation.

This Season is a 'transition' Season and one less for our Owners.

Looking at Leeds United last night,no-one has a god given right to success least of all the "Damned United"

Evans as Manager and I would be ashamed of being a Rovers Supporter. He has 9 weeks left!

[LDRover]

Did anyone see Rhodes give Steele the nod to knock a free kick wide to the left flank to win a throw in in their last third and clap wildly when it came off? What an odd rugby style tactic.

[oldjamfan1]

Three welcome points after an electric start. A lot of the half time chat was around how important the next goal would have been. I would have liked to have gone for this but don't get me wrong I am delighted with the win. I was frustrated at the length of time it took to make the change when Hanley was injured. I just couldn't understand why a decision wasn't made quicker as we risked conceding with Akpan at centre half. It just seemed unprofessional.

Apparently they were stitching him up to come back on but then he felt unwell. To be fair it showed Bowyer on Sky during this incident and it was the most animated/angry I've ever seen him, so he shared your frustration Tony.

[RoverNev]

Just spoke to a 'Rovers Fan' on twitter who said "Akpan is the worst centre midfielder he's seen in a Rovers shirt" AND THEN SAID...

"I hope JASON LOWE isn't too far away"

Some people were just born moronic.

This is the funniest thing I've seen all day

[joey_big_nose]

''Partnerships and understandings do seem to be forming''.......yes they are but don't let us forget the current team selection has been forced on Bowyer by injuries and suspension. This has dampened Bowyer's tinker-man impressions. If Lowe was fit he would be in the side somewhere, of that I have no doubt.

Until then let's enjoy the win and the recent performances.

Edit: Steele was worth no more than a 5 imo

I don't think that's fair. Bowyer has brought in 3 midfielders this summer with the clear view, in my opinion, of replacing Lowe and Williamson in the middle. He wouldn't have signed that number if he wasn't planning on doing it.

Also Spurr had a bad run at left back, got injured and has been rooted to the bench since he returned. Again can't argue with that in my view.

From a recruitment and selection perspective the two issues that can be levelled at him are 1) not signing another goalscorer up front or goalscorers in midfield and 2) not settling the team earlier than Fulham away. Both combined enough, in light of his mediocre performance in his three years here, to get him sacked if the owners and board did their job properly.

However in every other respect I'd say we are looking pretty good and are finally coming together. Too little, too late, but I wouldn't say he was forced into it.

[RoverNev]

Did anyone see Rhodes give Steele the nod to knock a free kick wide to the left flank to win a throw in in their last third and clap wildly when it came off? What an odd rugby style tactic.

Whatever Jordan says goes. End of story.

I'm slightly disappointed Hanley didn't come back on after the stitches. I had a vision of him screaming 'I AM SPARTA' in the dressing room while the stitches were being put in place. Having said that, surely only John Merrick could've claimed to be dizzier after taking a whack to the head

[davulsukur]

Leeds fans not too happy in the office today.

[AggyBlue]

Just found out my missus started recording the game at one minute to eight thinking the game kicked off at eight.

Not happy.

[rigger]

Did anyone see Rhodes give Steele the nod to knock a free kick wide to the left flank to win a throw in in their last third and clap wildly when it came off? What an odd rugby style tactic.

A time wasting tactic that worked perfectly, we even won the throw-in.

[Blueboy Downunder]

last saturday, almost every disgruntled fan was blaming gary bowyer for that defeat, coming up with 1 perplexing reason after another. so bearing that in mind, lets go back to last night at the final whistle at elland road and all i got to say is "bloody hell bowyer, what the friggin hell where you thinking...setting your team up to win a game of football" last nights win is your fault gary, all your fault. you should be ashamed. the naysayers will not be happy with a 2-0 (away) win.

[Damien]

The first challenge was worse for me, leading with an arm/elbow. Second time in a few minutes as Taylor had been knocked down in the same way. Ref gave neither as a foul

Looking for a retrospective disciplinary if I was GB!

[Stuart]

last saturday, almost every disgruntled fan was blaming gary bowyer for that defeat, coming up with 1 perplexing reason after another. so bearing that in mind, lets go back to last night at the final whistle at elland road and all i got to say is "bloody hell bowyer, what the friggin hell where you thinking...setting your team up to win a game of football" last nights win is your fault gary, all your fault. you should be ashamed. the naysayers will not be happy with a 2-0 (away) win.

Let me share something with you, whilst you are crowing (at those fans who want better for Rovers and Blackburn than you):

LLDDLD - LDWD - WLDLW

That's no wins in August (six games!), one in September and two in October (when we also lost AGAIN to Bumley).

What great times to be a Rovers fan, eh? With a bit of spin, you could say that it even shows that Bowyer is improving. It must be great to be able to switch off ones computer and forget the bad stuff, and not bump into other local fans who gloat. Or equally to drop by on a messageboard and crow like this every once in a while.

Burnley fans are delighted with Venkys AND Bowyer. As several of them remind me every day.

Now then, back to news from your armchair...

[Damien]

Still not enamored with Marshall at right back, he played well there tonight but when in top shape he offers the team more from the wing. Taylor played OK in that position, but didn't pull up any trees and will hardly produce many match winning performances throughout a season. If Marshall stays on at right back, which seems likely, it would be interesting to see O'Sullivan or even Mahoney be given a chance to play in front of him.

Very impressed with Akpan (although he really should see as little of the ball at his feet as possible) and Lawrence. The former adds steel and that crucial shield in front of our defense that has been missing since Savage, while the latter is the closest thing we have to a pacy attacking player who also makes deadly forward runs with the ball.

Steele had a shaky game, and might very well have been made to pay for it against more on-point opposition.

Hanley looks stupid in that beard.

Givet had a beard and was class... Hanley is growing a beard and is getting better... Could be a connection!

The power of the beard is strong in this one.