v Sunderland (h) - 26/12/2024

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

...Only if we return to the top flight.

[Scoobydo]

On 24/12/2024 at 11:38, USABlue said:

ACD looks like a poor mans Dolan to me every bit the same headless chicken but with even ooorer touch and close control and he is not as pacey as some were making out.  Not good enough 

That’s an outrageous take. 

[Upside Down]

9 hours ago, Michael123458 said:

We are a huge huge club and before long I think big crowds of 25k plus will be at ewood on a regular basis 😀

That was the case prior to the venkys virus infestation.

[USABlue]

On 24/12/2024 at 05:58, Dreams of 1995 said:

You have brought some festive cheer in those last couple of posts USABlue

Lovely Christmas Eve to you too 👍😂

Am I picking up on a little sarcasm there.  Sorry all these years of Rovers have just sort of programmed me that way.  Hope you had a lovely Xmas and are in store for a better Boxing Day.

[USABlue]

On 24/12/2024 at 06:11, SIMON GARNERS 194 said:

Cheer up USA FFS!!

Sorry I can't help it I really am not a miserable old git, just Rovers does this to me.  I will just stop. 

COYB.  Loved Boxing Day miss it but I am sure it is not the same.  Hell they don't even do derbies anymore.  Should be a crackin atmosphere though, hope we can get at em early and get Ewood rocking.  We gonna miss Trav I think but maybe someone steps up to make it hard for Trav to come back 

Edited December 26, 2024 by USABlue

[USABlue]

4 hours ago, Scoobydo said:

That’s an outrageous take. 

You think so?  Just sayin what I saw and how I felt about his performance overall ignoring the lovely goal he scored.  He needs more time for a reasonable estimation but that is mine right now, and probably unreasonable.  He definately has similar traits to TD.

[Ghost7]

On 24/12/2024 at 15:01, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

That thought went through my mind. He’s too easily out muscled for me, Dolan not so much so, he’s older and  a bit stronger. I’ve never liked wingers playing on their wrong wing.  It really handicaps them in my opinion. The full back already knows what they’re trying to do.

Wingers on the wrong side is one of the most effective moves in football in terms of goalscoring. The reality is the goal is central and if they cut inside they should be facing goal with more space on their stronger foot = more efforts on goal. That's preferred by most good wingers today. Hence the likes of Saka, Cole Palmer, Jared Bowen, Mbeumo, Cristiano Ronaldo in the past, Mahrez was an expert and closer to home Ben Brereton at Rovers or Harvey Elliott. If it handicaps them they aren't good enough. Mohamed Salah is a left footed right winger, so this opinion... that I hear fairly often around me during football I'm sorry to say is wildly wrong. Nearly every good winger you're watching today plays on the "wrong side" and for a good reason. I hope this changes your mind and gives you a new outlook on a winger. If they can't still run to the byline on their weaker foot and cross... they aren't good enough.

[Paul Mani]

                   Pears

Brittain   Hyam. Batth.  Beck

              Baker. Sonny

   ACD.     Cantwell.   Dolan

                  Ohashi

Subs - Toth, JRC, Mcfadz, Buckley, Weimann, Hedges, Leonard, Gueye

I don’t think Baker or Buckley are upto replacing Trav for 6 weeks and I said so in the transfer thread two weeks ago when suggesting that CM and CB were potentially more pressing areas than Forwards. We shall see.

That said, the back seven looks pretty well set. The front four, in truth could be any combination. The only one guaranteed to start is Cantwell, (who I think is due a blinder). The rest is anyone’s guess. I chose to keep ACD and bring in Dolan on the left, who will invert when Beck surges forward.

Rovers 2 - 1 Sunderland 

Ohashi and Cantwell with the goals.

 

[Upside Down]

5 hours ago, Ghost7 said:

Wingers on the wrong side is one of the most effective moves in football in terms of goalscoring. The reality is the goal is central and if they cut inside they should be facing goal with more space on their stronger foot = more efforts on goal. That's preferred by most good wingers today. Hence the likes of Saka, Cole Palmer, Jared Bowen, Mbeumo, Cristiano Ronaldo in the past, Mahrez was an expert and closer to home Ben Brereton at Rovers or Harvey Elliott. If it handicaps them they aren't good enough. Mohamed Salah is a left footed right winger, so this opinion... that I hear fairly often around me during football I'm sorry to say is wildly wrong. Nearly every good winger you're watching today plays on the "wrong side" and for a good reason. I hope this changes your mind and gives you a new outlook on a winger. If they can't still run to the byline on their weaker foot and cross... they aren't good enough.

It leads to more opportunities for them to score themselves, not necessarily more opportunities for the team.

A ball whipped across the face of goal but not connected with is a more dangerous bit of play than a winger cutting inside and having a weak shot easily blocked from outside the 18 yard box. Both incidents are recorded differently however, this leads to a skewed view of the game from people who don't know what they're looking at. Not that I'm saying that about you BTW.

Lies, damned lies and statistics.

Edited December 26, 2024 by Upside Down

[joey_big_nose]

Think this might be one of the best attended games ive gone to in years... Does anyone have any parking tips? My current way of doing it is a bit of a gamble, wondering if anyone knows a way to guarantee somewhere decent to park? Dont mind paying a little and walking up to around 20 mins to the ground.

[Herbie6590]

Blackburn Rovers v Sunderland - Football League Division Two

BLACKBURN, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 27: Tony Parkes of Blackburn Rovers (on the floor, left) scores past Sunderland goalkeeper Barry Siddall during a Football League Division One match at Ewood Park on December 27, 1977 in Blackburn, England. (Photo by W & H Talbot Archive/Popperfoto via Getty Images)

[Herbie6590]

Sunderland v Blackburn Rovers - Premier League

SUNDERLAND, UNITED KINGDOM - DECEMBER 26: Chris Samba of Blackburn Rovers is tackled by Kieran Richardson of Sunderland during the Barclays Premier League match between Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers at The Stadium of Light on December 26, 2008 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

7 hours ago, Ghost7 said:

Wingers on the wrong side is one of the most effective moves in football in terms of goalscoring. The reality is the goal is central and if they cut inside they should be facing goal with more space on their stronger foot = more efforts on goal. That's preferred by most good wingers today. Hence the likes of Saka, Cole Palmer, Jared Bowen, Mbeumo, Cristiano Ronaldo in the past, Mahrez was an expert and closer to home Ben Brereton at Rovers or Harvey Elliott. If it handicaps them they aren't good enough. Mohamed Salah is a left footed right winger, so this opinion... that I hear fairly often around me during football I'm sorry to say is wildly wrong. Nearly every good winger you're watching today plays on the "wrong side" and for a good reason. I hope this changes your mind and gives you a new outlook on a winger. If they can't still run to the byline on their weaker foot and cross... they aren't good enough.

I look forward to the day when Rovers have the likes of Saka or Salah playing the wing for us. I take your point but like lots of modern tactics it only works when you have top class players executing the plan..

Edited December 26, 2024 by Tyrone Shoelaces

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

3 hours ago, Upside Down said:

It leads to more opportunities for them to score themselves, not necessarily more opportunities for the team.

A ball whipped across the face of goal but not connected with is a more dangerous bit of play than a winger cutting inside and having a weak shot easily blocked from outside the 18 yard box. Both incidents are recorded differently however, this leads to a skewed view of the game from people who don't know what they're looking at. Not that I'm saying that about you BTW.

Lies, damned lies and statistics.

I played full back in my playing career and if I could get the winger I was playing against cutting inside it was job done. On no account would you allow the winger to get past you on the outside.

If that happened your defence would be turned and would be running back towards their own goal. In that case watching both the player in possession of the ball and the player you’re supposed to be marking becomes really difficult.

What you have today is players coming inside, running into traffic, being shepherded along the 18 yard line, and bunching the play. The play is always in front of the defenders and therefore being able to watch the player in possession and the player you’re supposed to be marking is much easier.

If you want a classic example watch the Tugay-Pedersen-McCarthy goal against Liverpool back in the day. 

Edited December 26, 2024 by Tyrone Shoelaces

[Atko's Engine]

Travis will clearly be a big loss today, Pickering on a smaller scale in terms of what we lose on the wing with Beck dropping back.

I foresee Baker in for Travis as that's most like for like, and Hedges for Pickering. Could be Weimann but I'd prefer Hedges' athleticism over Weimann's.

I'd go with ACD again, Gueye up top, Cantwell in behind to pull strings. Good to have some options for bringing on busyness fromthe likes of Ohashi and Dolan to trouble them when tiring.

Sunderland are no great shakes I don't think, especially away from home, & we shouldn't be too downbeat about the Millwall defeat given the circumstances.

I'm going for a 2-0 home win. It will be interesting to see what the reception will be like from the away fans re Danny Baath. I expect it will be a good one and hopefully he can repay it with a solid performance against them.

[Blackpool_Rover]

1 hour ago, joey_big_nose said:

Think this might be one of the best attended games ive gone to in years... Does anyone have any parking tips? My current way of doing it is a bit of a gamble, wondering if anyone knows a way to guarantee somewhere decent to park? Dont mind paying a little and walking up to around 20 mins to the ground.

I can’t be bothered with the hassle so I’ve just booked the premier inn car park on your parking space.com, the one in town, with an uber to the ground.

 

 

[jim mk2]

9 hours ago, Ghost7 said:

Wingers on the wrong side is one of the most effective moves in football in terms of goalscoring. The reality is the goal is central and if they cut inside they should be facing goal with more space on their stronger foot = more efforts on goal. That's preferred by most good wingers today. Hence the likes of Saka, Cole Palmer, Jared Bowen, Mbeumo, Cristiano Ronaldo in the past, Mahrez was an expert and closer to home Ben Brereton at Rovers or Harvey Elliott. If it handicaps them they aren't good enough. Mohamed Salah is a left footed right winger, so this opinion... that I hear fairly often around me during football I'm sorry to say is wildly wrong. Nearly every good winger you're watching today plays on the "wrong side" and for a good reason. I hope this changes your mind and gives you a new outlook on a winger. If they can't still run to the byline on their weaker foot and cross... they aren't good enough.

They’re not true wingers in that case

A proper winger beats his man on the outside and bangs a good cross in for a big centre forward - classic English football attacking play.
 

For Rovers Ripley and Wilcox were classic examples and going back further Wagstaff and Harrison were others. In the 1960s just about every team had players like these.

The modern examples you quote aren’t true wingers to my mind - they’re wide attacking forwards. 

[chaddyrovers]

Elliott Jackson has predicted 5 changes with Britain, Dolan, Beck, Hedges and Baker coming in for JRC, Pickering, Travis, ACD and Gueye. 

I wouldn't be surprised to see Eustace take ACD out of the team. I would do it for the Hull game personally, we have to managed his game time and lets just remember this is first taste of senior football but also he has just had an injury. 

I'm going for 1 nil win with Ohashi scoring the goal. Looks like a big crowd today so lets we perform on the pitch

COYB!!!🔵⚪

[Hasta]

                      Pears

Brittain.     Batth.    Hyam.    Beck

Dolan     Tron       Baker       Hedges

                       Cantwell

                           Yuki

Although I have a feeling he might put JRC in front of a Brittain today to keep a tighter look in Travis’s absence.

 

[Devon Rover]

2 hours ago, joey_big_nose said:

Think this might be one of the best attended games ive gone to in years... Does anyone have any parking tips? My current way of doing it is a bit of a gamble, wondering if anyone knows a way to guarantee somewhere decent to park? Dont mind paying a little and walking up to around 20 mins to the ground.

'Your parking space' website is useful. I've parked at Asda and walked from there, before. Worked well but not available on the site today. The Premier Inn suggestion made by Blackpool Rover is available on the site now and looks a good shout. Enjoy! Wish I could be there today. (Ewood, not the Premier Inn!)

[chaddyrovers]

9 hours ago, Ghost7 said:

Wingers on the wrong side is one of the most effective moves in football in terms of goalscoring. The reality is the goal is central and if they cut inside they should be facing goal with more space on their stronger foot = more efforts on goal. That's preferred by most good wingers today. Hence the likes of Saka, Cole Palmer, Jared Bowen, Mbeumo, Cristiano Ronaldo in the past, Mahrez was an expert and closer to home Ben Brereton at Rovers or Harvey Elliott. If it handicaps them they aren't good enough. Mohamed Salah is a left footed right winger, so this opinion... that I hear fairly often around me during football I'm sorry to say is wildly wrong. Nearly every good winger you're watching today plays on the "wrong side" and for a good reason. I hope this changes your mind and gives you a new outlook on a winger. If they can't still run to the byline on their weaker foot and cross... they aren't good enough.

Very valid and great points made by yourself here. 

 

1 hour ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

I look forward to the day when Rovers have the likes of Saka or Salah playing the wing for us. I take your point but like lots of modern tactics it only works when you have top class players executing the plan..

Even at Championship level there are many good wingers who like to cut inside but can go the other way for example Liam Millar, Mikey Johnston and Wilfried Gnonto. Football has more on from having 2 proper wingers put ball into the ball and having a target man type of striker but I do feel that Football you need some variety and have plan B. 

[Hasta]

I wish those Millwall player last Saturday had ‘moved on’ and cut inside instead of crossing into the box in the last minute.

[Forever Blue]

22 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Very valid and great points made by yourself here. 

 

Even at Championship level there are many good wingers who like to cut inside but can go the other way for example Liam Millar, Mikey Johnston and Wilfried Gnonto. Football has more on from having 2 proper wingers put ball into the ball and having a target man type of striker but I do feel that Football you need some variety and have plan B. 

Mikey Johnston doesn’t make the team half the time. Liam Millar plays like an old fashioned winger in that he likes to beat people on the outside (at least he did when playing for PNE).

As for Rovers, Hedges looks more comfortable on the left and Dolan on the right. Eustace seems to be a bit more old school in that regard. He likes players on their natural side, probably because he realises that Hedges and Dolan aren’t Salah or Saka and aren’t going to dance inside past 4 men and stick it in the top corner. 
 

 

[Forever Blue]

I think Eustace got it wrong at Millwall with his team selection and will go back to basics today. 
 

Jackson’s predicted changes make sense. 

Baker in for Trav. Cantwell back at AMC, Dolan RW and Hedges LW would be my choice. Ohashi up front. 
 

 

 

[chaddyrovers]

53 minutes ago, Forever Blue said:

Mikey Johnston doesn’t make the team half the time. Liam Millar plays like an old fashioned winger in that he likes to beat people on the outside (at least he did when playing for PNE).

As for Rovers, Hedges looks more comfortable on the left and Dolan on the right. Eustace seems to be a bit more old school in that regard. He likes players on their natural side, probably because he realises that Hedges and Dolan aren’t Salah or Saka and aren’t going to dance inside past 4 men and stick it in the top corner. 

Mikey Johnston is a quality player and someone if I had him in my squad would be starting every game. 

Eustace has changed our play in possession and out of it, With the ball(when Pickering plays left back) we moved in 3-4-2-1 formation has I spotted in the first pre season and without the ball, we play 4-2-3-1. 

Will be interesting how we play today and what team he picks