v Stoke City (a) - 25/11/2023

[RoversTilliDie]

Tough one, we usually come unstuck in the potteries. A point might be decent given the size of our injury list at the moment. What we need to do when we're back to full strength, is to turn it into fortress Ewood and make it very difficult for teams to get points here.

[tomphil]

Didn't realise we've had 3 straight losses to these lot so it's about time we got something.

[only2garners]

We have a bad record against them at Ewood - haven’t won since 2015. But our record there is not bad - three wins out of the last five.

[WacoRover]

We need a footy fix; this is a welcome weekend!

I enjoyed the past weekend of American tackleball- as, my Dallas Cowboys win, as well as the University of Texas Longhorns, who go 10-1. 

But, I have truly missed my Rovers. 

1-2. 

[G Somerset Rover]

It’s not just our record against them, it’s even worse against Alex Neill. Surely time to get one over on him?!

[joey_big_nose]

Defence looks a lot more solid with Pickering and Carter back. Hill looks as good as Hyam and more mobile so feel pretty confident.

Similarly our midfield also looks very good. Really like Tronstad, Wharton, Moran. After a great start where he looked like Diaz, Sigurdsson has then started playing like Brereton so a bit confused by him. Szmodics and Dolan both playing well.

Think the team picks itself, probably only spot up for debate is right wing. Either 1) play Sigurdsson, 2) play Brittain and put Travis at right back, 3) play Dolan and start Leonard through the middle. 

Id probably go for option 3.

                      Leo  

Brittain.  Hill.   Carter.   Pickering

         Tronstad.  Wharton

   Dolan.      Szmodics   Moran

                     Leonard

Edited November 21, 2023 by joey_big_nose

[Cuppliance]

23 hours ago, roverblue said:

I still feeling deflated from the north end defeat, so think we will lose 1-0.

Stoke went crazy with signings over the summer and it doesn't seem to have gelled yet which is one positive going into it.

Rovers are normally the team that it does gel together to.

[benhben]

Think its time we started playing with a striker again. Ennis must be ready for a game, if fit I'd have him over Leonard at the moment (admittedly based on only a couple of cup games). We could do with some physicality in the side. I'm also not convinced by Wharton at the moment, from what I've seen. 

                  Leo

Brittain Carter Hill Pickering

         Tronstadt Travis

Dolan    Szmodic   Moran

               Ennis

Edited November 21, 2023 by benhben

[joey_big_nose]

24 minutes ago, benhben said:

Think its time we started playing with a striker again. Ennis must be ready for a game, if fit had have him over Leonard at the moment (admittedly based on only a couple of cup games). We could some with some physicality in the side. I'm also not convinced by Wharton at the moment, from what I've seen. 

                  Leo

Brittain Carter Hill Pickering

         Tronstadt Travis

Dolan    Szmodic   Moran

               Ennis

I tend to agree but if Ennis didnt get on in the last 30 mins against PNE he isnt going to start against Stoke.

[Crozzy]

18 hours ago, tomphil said:

Didn't realise we've had 3 straight losses to these lot so it's about time we got something.

My father in law is a stokie and constantly reminds me of it 😳 time to beat them

[tomphil]

29 minutes ago, joey_big_nose said:

I tend to agree but if Ennis didnt get on in the last 30 mins against PNE he isnt going to start against Stoke.

Played scored then taken off today for U21s so probably injured again anyway.

[Andy]

Hoping for a backlash from the Preston game.

We generally do well at their place and owe them one after last season.

Stoke 1 - 3 Rovers.

[Mercer]

15 hours ago, tomphil said:

Played scored then taken off today for U21s so probably injured again anyway.

Feeling his groin!

Think that's at least another 2 weeks out.

You'd struggle to make it up with Ennis!

[joey_big_nose]

1 hour ago, Mercer said:

Feeling his groin!

Think that's at least another 2 weeks out.

You'd struggle to make it up with Ennis!

Someone posted on the Ennis thread how few full 90 mins Ennis has completed in the last five seasons...  Thats a really damning stat. That sort of long term lack of fitness and vulnerability to injury is very hard to turn around. 

After seeing that I would say should view him in the same sort of bracket as Dack or Dunn post injury. Not really a reliable squad member, and shouldn't be counted in the core 22 of the team. If hes available and effective its a bonus. Same with Telelovic but with him its more that he just hasnt got any sort of pedigree rather than injuries. With no further outgoings we need arguably two more strikers. Or at least one who is fit and has a good scoring record (1 in 4 at an absolute minimum) at League One or above.

[tomphil]

1 hour ago, Mercer said:

Feeling his groin!

Think that's at least another 2 weeks out.

You'd struggle to make it up with Ennis!

4 year contract for a guy with an appearance and injury record which suggests what we've seen - or not seen - since he arrived should be of no surprise.

[Gamst21]

Never been to Stoke, my first time there this weekend. Hopefully we get a good reaction after the Preston game. 

 

Stoke 0 - 2 Rovers 

[dallydally]

11 hours ago, Mercer said:

Feeling his groin!

Think that's at least another 2 weeks out.

You'd struggle to make it up with Ennis!

Trained in the Vince Grella School of Fitness!!

[RoversTilliDie]

Both Telovic and Ennis on the scoresheet in Rovers 7-1 win against Preston for the under 21s, yet both absent in the 1-2 defeat against Preston at Ewood. Doesn't make sense to me.

[rigger]

10 hours ago, Gamst21 said:

Never been to Stoke, my first time there this weekend. Hopefully we get a good reaction after the Preston game. 

 

Stoke 0 - 2 Rovers 

The locals can be a bit feisty so be careful.

[Polky]

1-0 win for Rovers, Brittain with the goal 😅

[Southside Rover]

Given the lack of options and Leonard scoring a hatrick midweek, I'd let him start whilst his confidence is high. Sigurdsson to drop to the bench with the challenge of working his way back in 

[USABlue]

Seems like forever since we played and it is only Thursday yet.

[LeftWinger]

15 hours ago, RoversTilliDie said:

Both Telovic and Ennis on the scoresheet in Rovers 7-1 win against Preston for the under 21s, yet both absent in the 1-2 defeat against Preston at Ewood. Doesn't make sense to me.

Presumably because there is a difference between playing against 16 and 17 year old scholars and grown men. PNE only had one professional playing. 

[simongarnerisgod]

On 22/11/2023 at 10:58, Gamst21 said:

Never been to Stoke, my first time there this weekend. Hopefully we get a good reaction after the Preston game. 

 

Stoke 0 - 2 Rovers 

wrap up,it`s a cold place with an icy wind

[oldjamfan1]

2 hours ago, simongarnerisgod said:

wrap up,it`s a cold place with an icy wind

For me it ranks alongside Burnley, Millwall and Middlesbrough as the most miserable, backward places to have football grounds.