v Luton Town (h) - 14/12/2024

[roversfan99]

4 hours ago, philipl said:

Glad to be wrong. Remarkably didn't miss Cantwell (or the other 9 unavailable) and Kamimsky was suspect rather than a wonder show.

Luton are a big side. Gueye didn't look the big man on a field of midgets he sometimes can appear. Gueye had a great game and as Eustace said, give him the benefit of the doubt for the back heel lay off for Beck's goal. Kaminsky bought the feint and that is what matters...

The most impressive aspect of this 5 game run without conceding is I am struggling to think of many instances when I had that sinking feeling the opposition must score. Pears has made a few saves but no MOM performance or top drawer saves have been required from him.

This marvelous organisation was summed up from the 79th minute yesterday when we kept possession for 2 minutes without Luton getting a sniff of the ball and effectively killed the game off 

We are in uncharted territory here. Plenty of excuses for not winning but they are not needed!

Long may it continue....

Was Kaminski suspect? Didnt do anything wrong.

20 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Eustace is very clever and knowledge about how to set up attacking and defensive against different teams. 

Yesterday, we witness that cos when we had the ball we played 3-4-2-1 and without the ball back into 4-2-3-1 formation mid block defensive line. 

Given that Millwall will either be caretaker head coach or a new appointment so it will be interesting how Eustace picks his team and how we set up. We can played different ways and that is something this group of players and Eustace are very good at adapt to the game situation and what is needed. Plus factoring in we have 11 games in the next 46 days so the squad will need using and a couple of good signings in January 

Luton played 3-4-3 formation with those 3 up front which is something I think Edwards needs to change and go to back 4 and play Morris or Adebajo as the 9 with Brown and Chong has their wingers. 

Both Mpanzu and Nakamba were both on the bench yesterday and neither came on. Maybe Edwards is looking to move them on in January and bring in different players. 

Luton fans reading the comments underneath seem to want a change of manager. Maybe things need a fresh face and a different approach with the previous one not proving as effective.

Jacob Brown is a striker rather than a winger. 

[philipl]

4 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

Was Kaminski suspect? Didnt do anything wrong.

 

Happy to answer my biggest fan.

Beaten at his nearer post by a shot from the edge of the area which wasn't the most venomous although his view must have been impeded then after diving for Gueye's non-tap in, he seemed slow to get up for Beck clipping the loose ball straight past him.

[Herbie6590]

12 hours ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

Really good first half performance, not so good second half. We stopped respecting possession and started being too clever on the ball. 
 

Scores -

Peers, 7, he had good game today. For all Luton’s huff and puff he didn’t have a lot to do apart from that double save.

JRC, 7, steady performance. Didn’t do much wrong and he got forward well in the first half.

Hyam, 8, rocky steady and back to the form that got him into the Scotland squad. 

Batth, 8, what a difference he’s made. Stood up to Luton’s big guys all game.

Pickering, 7,  did pretty well after that early booking. Unlucky with the back heel.

ACD, 7, great first half, vanished in the second half.

Travis, 9, played like a real captain today. He’s our talisman. The beating heart of the team.

Tronstad, 8, the blotting paper man, just soaks everything up.

Beck, 7, got forward well for the goal in what is not his best position.

Ohashi, 8,  never stopped running, made the Beck goal and caused the Luton red

Gueye, 7, a really strange player. Missed an absolute sitter of a chance but generally played quite well. He’s alway playing on the edge. Goes offside too easily and gets wound up too easily.

Subs 

Hedges, 6, hardly in the game for the last 15-20 minutes
Buckley 6, ditto.

Leanard,  6, missed a good chance right at the death.

I wasn’t impressed with the ref. There was one bad tackle in the whole game and how many players did he book ?

You voted in the Match Centre yeah? 🤔

https://www.brfcs.com/magazine/football/match/1216083/blackburn-luton?tab=voting

 

[dingles staying down 4ever]

Was it Matt Smith's party sat in Jack's box?

[Forever Blue]

10 minutes ago, dingles staying down 4ever said:

Was it Matt Smith's party sat in Jack's box?

Him and MGP. If you watch the highlights on itvx it shows them. Rovers are first game on.

[chaddyrovers]

17 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

Luton fans reading the comments underneath seem to want a change of manager. Maybe things need a fresh face and a different approach with the previous one not proving as effective.

Jacob Brown is a striker rather than a winger. 

I was talking to Luton supporter on the way back to the car and he was full of praise for Eustace and our team performance. He also said the fan base is split on Edwards and supposedly would cost millions to sack him. 

I think a change of formation and adapt of style would help them more under Edwards

on Brown, can play a vary of different including on the wing, wing back or up front. I would play him on the Right moving into the box to support the number 9 when Attacking

[Herbie6590]

14 hours ago, RevidgeBlue said:

I was at the game today - Tronstad was completely anonymous first half and had a good second half.

Overall he doesn't get involved enough for me.

Merry Christmas to you too.

Just saying… ⚪️🔵🇳🇴 😉

 

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

43 minutes ago, Herbie6590 said:

You voted in the Match Centre yeah? 🤔

https://www.brfcs.com/magazine/football/match/1216083/blackburn-luton?tab=voting

 

No mate.

[Forever Blue]

22 minutes ago, Herbie6590 said:

Just saying… ⚪️🔵🇳🇴 😉

 

I hope Rev gets that t-shirt for Christmas, hand delivered by the man himself dressed as Santa. 

[Forever Blue]

They must be remaking Taxi Driver, starring Lewis Travis Bickle. 

[Paul Mani]

2 hours ago, chaddyrovers said:

Eustace is very clever and knowledge about how to set up attacking and defensive against different teams. 

Yesterday, we witness that cos when we had the ball we played 3-4-2-1 and without the ball back into 4-2-3-1 formation mid block defensive line. 

Given that Millwall will either be caretaker head coach or a new appointment so it will be interesting how Eustace picks his team and how we set up. We can played different ways and that is something this group of players and Eustace are very good at adapt to the game situation and what is needed. Plus factoring in we have 11 games in the next 46 days so the squad will need using and a couple of good signings in January 

Luton played 3-4-3 formation with those 3 up front which is something I think Edwards needs to change and go to back 4 and play Morris or Adebajo as the 9 with Brown and Chong has their wingers. 

Both Mpanzu and Nakamba were both on the bench yesterday and neither came on. Maybe Edwards is looking to move them on in January and bring in different players. 

Mate, you get a lot of grief on here at times, but genuinely, this is brilliant. Absolutely bang on re the tactical set up of JE and a solution for Luton.

Re our situation, I am beginning to think we need CB and CM cover even more than forwards. (Reaches for tin hat)….hear me out. If you look at our squad, the positions we are most vulnerable in are those at the back and Midfield. If we lost one of Batth, Hyam, Trav or Sonny to anything long term, it would have the potential to derail us. If we could loan, for example James Hill and someone in midfield (think back to Ipswich loaning Trav off us), then I think O’hashi, Gueye, Cantwell, ACD, Dolan, Weimann, Hedges, Leonard, Gilsenan and Baker provide good forward options…

Dont get me wrong, I would love Hill, Trav mk2, a young winger and a PL striker on loan but I’m beginning to think the first two are more important than the latter.

Plus, we’ve won all these games without our two main strikers firing. IF JE can get Gueye and O’hashi firing in the new year, we will be flying! 🤞🏽

 

Edited December 15, 2024 by Paul Mani

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

If we do get significant reinforcements in January they need to be the sort of players that buy into our recently re-discovered work ethic.
Those of us with really long memories will recall Man City running away with the league and buying Rodney Marsh as “ the last piece of the jig saw “. Marsh was top class but by the time they’d assimilated him into their way of playing it was too late and the league title was gone.

[islander200]

11 minutes ago, Paul Mani said:

Mate, you get a lot of grief on here at times, but genuinely, this is brilliant. Absolutely bang on re the tactical set up of JE and a solution for Luton.

Re our situation, I am beginning to think we need CB and CM cover even more than forwards. (Reaches for tin hat)….hear me out. If you look at our squad, the positions we are most vulnerable in are those at the back and Midfield. If we lost one of Batth, Hyam, Trav or Sonny to anything long term, it would have the potential to derail us. If we could loan, for example James Hill and someone in midfield (think back to Ipswich loaning Trav off us), then I think O’hashi, Gueye, Cantwell, ACD, Dolan, Weimann, Hedges, Leonard, Gilsenan and Baker provide good forward options…

Dont get me wrong, I would love Hill, Trav mk2, a young winger and a PL striker on loan but I’m beginning to think the first two are more important than the latter.

Plus, we’ve won all these games without our two main strikers firing. IF JE can get Gueye and O’hashi firing in the new year, we will be flying! 🤞🏽

 

Baker is a central midfielder and did fine when played there instead of Travis v Hull.

Very hard to find another midfielder (better than Baker) who will be happy to come here and sit on the bench ,hoping for one of trav or tronstad to get injured or suspended. 

Its the same with centre back, I can't see Eustace breaking up the pairing of Batth and Hyam, and Carter will be back in January.Unless you over pay on wages hard to see a centre back willing to come in who will potentially be 4th choice.Id like a cb but just don't see it happening 

Any money we have should go on a striker followed by a winger

[4,000 Holes]

New article about long winning sequences in Rovers history.... could Eustace match Howard Kendall?

https://www.brfcs.com/magazine/articles/kendallian-times/627

[Paul Mani]

34 minutes ago, islander200 said:

Baker is a central midfielder and did fine when played there instead of Travis v Hull.

Very hard to find another midfielder (better than Baker) who will be happy to come here and sit on the bench ,hoping for one of trav or tronstad to get injured or suspended. 

Its the same with centre back, I can't see Eustace breaking up the pairing of Batth and Hyam, and Carter will be back in January.Unless you over pay on wages hard to see a centre back willing to come in who will potentially be 4th choice.Id like a cb but just don't see it happening 

Any money we have should go on a striker followed by a winger

Yeah…maybe I didn’t articulate my point well enough.

I understand and agree with the current narrative that forward reinforcements ‘could’ fire us to promotion. I hope we sign forwards too. My point is that the team is built on being resolute and together, with the sum of the parts being greater than the individuals. The greatest threat to THAT, is injuries to Hyam, Batth, Trav and Sonny for any prolonged length of time. The players who would replace them, Baker, Buckley, Litherland and Mcfadz imo would weaken that part of the team (our foundation) considerably. Oppositely, we seem to be able to rotate and cope with injuries and suspensions across those forward positions and at fullback.

 

Edited December 15, 2024 by Paul Mani

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Looking on from the outside it seems that Eustace has been successful in creating a really strong team ethic. A player may not be starting today but they are just as important as the 11 that will be starting and at some point they  will be called upon to play a significant role in the future.  No “ Us and Them “ mentality  that can emerge when players aren’t being kept in the+loop.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

40 minutes ago, islander200 said:

Baker is a central midfielder and did fine when played there instead of Travis v Hull.

Very hard to find another midfielder (better than Baker) who will be happy to come here and sit on the bench ,hoping for one of trav or tronstad to get injured or suspended. 

Its the same with centre back, I can't see Eustace breaking up the pairing of Batth and Hyam, and Carter will be back in January.Unless you over pay on wages hard to see a centre back willing to come in who will potentially be 4th choice.Id like a cb but just don't see it happening 

Any money we have should go on a striker followed by a winger

How far is Wharton off returning ? Anybody know ?

[Forever Blue]

7 minutes ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

How far is Wharton off returning ? Anybody know ?

Pretty much out for the season iirc. Easter at the earliest. 

[Atko's Engine]

Great result yesterday. First half we were the better side, though I felt 2-0 perhaps flattered us a tad. But JE's tactical masterclass meant we used that cushion v well 2nd half by sitting tight, being organised, not pressing hard & letting them have the ball in areas that couldn't hurt us. It was very efficient, even with some players out, & just what we needed before the Christmas glut of games.

Shoutouts to all the back 5 who were immense, to ACD for his industriousness & abundance of talent, to Ohashi for his selflessness & to Gueye for his sheer presence, enthusiasm (and assists!).

As for Matt Smith, I've finally made my 14yr old daughter jealous of me being at Ewood! She loves him, even has a lifesize cardboard model of him in her bedroom; I "Doctored" it last night... 

[roversfan99]

2 hours ago, chaddyrovers said:

I was talking to Luton supporter on the way back to the car and he was full of praise for Eustace and our team performance. He also said the fan base is split on Edwards and supposedly would cost millions to sack him. 

I think a change of formation and adapt of style would help them more under Edwards

on Brown, can play a vary of different including on the wing, wing back or up front. I would play him on the Right moving into the box to support the number 9 when Attacking

They have had the ups and downs of promotion and relegation and have come down and arent slightly off it but closer to relegation with 7 away losses on the bounce. Feels like a case where they need fresh ideas.

3 hours ago, philipl said:

Happy to answer my biggest fan.

Beaten at his nearer post by a shot from the edge of the area which wasn't the most venomous although his view must have been impeded then after diving for Gueye's non-tap in, he seemed slow to get up for Beck clipping the loose ball straight past him.

He wasnt responsible for either goal.

[roversfan99]

1 hour ago, Paul Mani said:

Mate, you get a lot of grief on here at times, but genuinely, this is brilliant. Absolutely bang on re the tactical set up of JE and a solution for Luton.

Re our situation, I am beginning to think we need CB and CM cover even more than forwards. (Reaches for tin hat)….hear me out. If you look at our squad, the positions we are most vulnerable in are those at the back and Midfield. If we lost one of Batth, Hyam, Trav or Sonny to anything long term, it would have the potential to derail us. If we could loan, for example James Hill and someone in midfield (think back to Ipswich loaning Trav off us), then I think O’hashi, Gueye, Cantwell, ACD, Dolan, Weimann, Hedges, Leonard, Gilsenan and Baker provide good forward options…

Dont get me wrong, I would love Hill, Trav mk2, a young winger and a PL striker on loan but I’m beginning to think the first two are more important than the latter.

Plus, we’ve won all these games without our two main strikers firing. IF JE can get Gueye and O’hashi firing in the new year, we will be flying! 🤞🏽

 

When Pickering plays we tend to play that way, its hardly Guardiola level tactical knowledge.

We need some pace and goals far more than a central midfielder. As @islander200 says Baker is probably as good as youll get knowing that youll never start unless Travis or Tronstad are unavailable. Ideally we would get another to replace Buckley who rather than being a £10m man is not up to standard but that is down the priority list.

We need a striker who is capable of scoring a reasonable amount of goals. Gueye might be able to hold the ball up but in front of goal he is as bad a finisher as I can remember us having. Ohashi seems better suited as an option just off him and he hasnt scored since early September.

And we badly need more pace. ACD showed great promise yesterday as opposed to having the likes of Hedges trudging up and down but we dont know how sustainable he will be at senior level and we need another pacy option to either play on the opposite side or even so one starts and the other comes on.

Our solid base is key to our chances, we could do with cover at centre back to add to Carter. But if we had an actual goal threat up front and more pace to counter teams then that would potentially push us on a level.

[Mattyblue]

Come on he did say ‘mid block defensive line’ 🤌 

[rigger]

16 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

When Pickering plays we tend to play that way, its hardly Guardiola level tactical knowledge.

We need some pace and goals far more than a central midfielder. As @islander200 says Baker is probably as good as youll get knowing that youll never start unless Travis or Tronstad are unavailable. Ideally we would get another to replace Buckley who rather than being a £10m man is not up to standard but that is down the priority list.

We need a striker who is capable of scoring a reasonable amount of goals. Gueye might be able to hold the ball up but in front of goal he is as bad a finisher as I can remember us having. Ohashi seems better suited as an option just off him and he hasnt scored since early September.

And we badly need more pace. ACD showed great promise yesterday as opposed to having the likes of Hedges trudging up and down but we dont know how sustainable he will be at senior level and we need another pacy option to either play on the opposite side or even so one starts and the other comes on.

Our solid base is key to our chances, we could do with cover at centre back to add to Carter. But if we had an actual goal threat up front and more pace to counter teams then that would potentially push us on a level.

I don't think ACD is very fast, to me he is similar, but slightly better than Dolan. Twice yesterday he had the chance to show his speed, but didn't. This could have been down to having been told to play a certain way, or more likely he doesn't have the pace necessary to do it. I think Beck will be played further forward to give us some pace. Our club motto should be "Piss with the willie you have got".

[Mike E]

28 minutes ago, rigger said:

Our club motto should be "Piss with the willie you have got".

Mingere cum coles habemus!

[DuffsLeftPeg]

Great win for the boys in blue yesterday.

In the last 2 home games we’ve made 2 good sides (at least on paper) look very average. There is a real energy and togetherness in the squad with some good options off the bench. Superb to see!

Travis in particular for me this season is an absolute revelation, a proper captains performance and some real quality alongside Tronstad who is also brilliant. 
 

The way Trav got Chong back for a bad challenge & then again Jordan Clark later was immense. He really fights for the badge. Suspect the lad who got sent off’s card is also marked for when we play them at their tin shed in April.

COYB! Let’s keep the run going over Christmas and then the play off push is on 🌹