v Plymouth Argyle (h) - 15/2/2025

[philipl]

This one frightens me and I don't care they are in a relegation scrap. A classic Rovers let down after a superb win is on the cards unless we are on top of our game.

They will be coming to Ewood absolutely certain they can win and who would blame them on their recent results. Nobody plays Liverpool first team reserves the way they did without being very useful and they gave Millwall a thrashing. OK Millwall self-destructed but Plymouth are clearly playing with a belief and confidence that everything they try can lead to a goal.

I wouldn't fiddle much with last night's line up and it would seem we won't have much choice as Batth and Beck don't appear to be injuries that will be safe to risk the day after tomorrow. I'd like to see Kargbo in place of Hedges but I don't think that will happen.

We are going to have to be every bit as disciplined and playing a pressure game as we did at West Brom to frustrate and deny a Plymouth side who will be more direct and carry more threat than the Baggies. At the same time, they are unlikely to go 90 minutes without offering us a gift or two in front of goal- can Geye turn poacher?

Gut says we will be feeling Lowe after this one, head says if we keep our heads we should be ok but not without some hairy moments. 

Could be high scoring for a change- Rovers to win 3-2? 

 

 

[roversfan99]

Crucial game and imperative we dont waste the platform of last night by dropping points. Yes Plymouth have picked up lately but a home game v a bottom 3 side has to be bread and butter if you have serious top 6 aspirations.

If we can win, 2 or 3 other games see teams with top 6 hopes playing against each other. Because of our dreadful form it opened up to be a 9 or 10 horse race for 2 spots. A couple could start to be cut away if we can get a win.

Be a big risk to stick Carter straight back in. We also could do with more in attack.

Pears

Brittain Sanderson Hyam Ribeiro

Travis Buckley

Dolan Dennis Kargbo

Gueye

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

They’re not a bottom 3 side on current form and it’s current form that matters. It’s going to be as tough as any game this season and we’ve got to approach it in that fashion.

I can’t see Baath being fit and I expect it to be a game too soon for both Carter and Beck although they may be on the bench. We have decent replacements in Ribeiro and Sanderson. I like Sanderson he’s get a bit of pace about him.

I suppose the rest of the team picks itself after last night although I would like to start Kargbo on the left and give Hedges a place on the bench. Ditto with Weimann and Dennis.

[DeeCee]

I'm coming up tomorrow for the weekend, got my ticket and seen two 1-0 wins on my last 2 visits 🤞

[joey_big_nose]

Number 10 is our major question at the moment... Wieman lacks pace and presence to impact the defenders on the break but he is very good at making the right decisions off and on the ball which he showed again with his lay off to Gueye.

Id be inclined to see what Dennis can do in that role. But we will need him to drop into midfield if we are struggling to compete there. Not sure if that's in his game.

[Admiral Nelsen]

Third game in six days for both teams. That'll definitely come into it, and I'm pleased we're at home.

 

Difficult team to pick, this one. You'd ideally like to go with as close to the same 11 as yesterday, but some fresh legs will be needed. I'd be looking at Sanderson in for Batth and this is probably a good game to be bringing Kargbo in. 

 

[...]

Time to send a message both on the pitch and in the stands. If anytime we need to be behind those lads is now. Plymouth will come here on a high and we've have to quieten theor momentum early on. Kargbo to start

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

26 minutes ago, joey_big_nose said:

Number 10 is our major question at the moment... Wieman lacks pace and presence to impact the defenders on the break but he is very good at making the right decisions off and on the ball which he showed again with his lay off to Gueye.

Id be inclined to see what Dennis can do in that role. But we will need him to drop into midfield if we are struggling to compete there. Not sure if that's in his game.

I agree with that in the main but - the Weimann “ lay off “ ? If that’s right I Iaid off a few like that in my career. Especially when the sun was in my eyes.

We need Tronstad back asap, then we can give Buckley a go in that No 10 position. That’s where he’s best for me.

Edited February 13 by Tyrone Shoelaces

[BankEnd Rover]

1 hour ago, philipl said:

This one frightens me and I don't care they are in a relegation scrap. A classic Rovers let down after a superb win is on the cards unless we are on top of our game.

They will be coming to Ewood absolutely certain they can win and who would blame them on their recent results. Nobody plays Liverpool first team reserves the way they did without being very useful and they gave Millwall a thrashing. OK Millwall self-destructed but Plymouth are clearly playing with a belief and confidence that everything they try can lead to a goal.

I wouldn't fiddle much with last night's line up and it would seem we won't have much choice as Batth and Beck don't appear to be injuries that will be safe to risk the day after tomorrow. I'd like to see Kargbo in place of Hedges but I don't think that will happen.

We are going to have to be every bit as disciplined and playing a pressure game as we did at West Brom to frustrate and deny a Plymouth side who will be more direct and carry more threat than the Baggies. At the same time, they are unlikely to go 90 minutes without offering us a gift or two in front of goal- can Geye turn poacher?

Gut says we will be feeling Lowe after this one, head says if we keep our heads we should be ok but not without some hairy moments. 

Could be high scoring for a change- Rovers to win 3-2? 

 

 

I predicted we'd win last night and we'll loose this -  I still stand by that sadly.

Will be a tough game, with a decent Plymouth following.

[BankEnd Rover]

I understand why Hedges started last night, for defensive duties, but we need to attack this game.

Front 4 for me has to be the below 

Dolan Dennis, Kargbo

           Gueye

Cantwell to come on.

[BankEnd Rover]

36 minutes ago, Admiral Nelsen said:

Third game in six days for both teams. That'll definitely come into it, and I'm pleased we're at home.

 

Difficult team to pick, this one. You'd ideally like to go with as close to the same 11 as yesterday, but some fresh legs will be needed. I'd be looking at Sanderson in for Batth and this is probably a good game to be bringing Kargbo in. 

 

It's a different game, we cannot be starting hedges and Weimann...They do their job but offensively offer next to nothing. We need to be in their faces from the start.

[Plastics]

As with all Championship games it's so difficult to call. A team in good form travel a long distance against a team in turmoil who can seemingly pull out a victory anywhere (though certainly not always). Plymouth are rock bottom of the away form over the season and their recent run of great (but short) form has been at their own ground. 

 

If I was still a betting man I'd plump for 2-1 Rovers

[joey_big_nose]

13 minutes ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

I agree with that in the main but - the Weimann “ lay off “ ? If that’s right I Iaid off a few like that in my career. Especially when the sun was in my eyes.

We need Tronstad back asap, then we can give Buckley a go in that No 10 position. That’s where he’s best for me.

Buckley isnt going to get beyond Gueye though... In 4231 we need someone to run in behind Gueyes flick ons and hold up.

Id be quite interested in changing to a 433, playing all of Tronstad, Buckley and Travis in the middle, and ask the wide players to play higher and closer to Gueye. But thats a big change which I don't think we will do as the 4231 is working well.

[Herbie6590]

I want another 5-2…

[London blue]

Tronstad isn't back yet is he?

Same again for me, but Kargbo in for Hedges. Agreed that we need to take this one to them and get some dynamism around Guaye. 

[roversinmyblood]

3 minutes ago, Herbie6590 said:

I want another 5-2…

15/02/75?

But without the drama of the 1st half as my nerves won’t stand it!!

Edited February 13 by roversinmyblood

[Herbie6590]

3 minutes ago, roversinmyblood said:

15/02/75?

But without the drama of the 1st half as my nerves won’t stand it!!

I’d take the 12/10/91 iteration…

[Eddie]

I called this one must-win earlier in the season and I was laughed at. 

It's must-win now.

Plymouth have definitely improved post-Rooney, but they're still a poor side and we have no excuses when it comes to this one. Win and the playoffs remain firmly within our sights and control. Anything other than a win and things start to look very slippery.

There will probably be a temptation to keep the same side that we saw against WBA, but it would be nice to start integrating some of the new signings. 

Kargbo's pace looks a real threat - although I was slightly concerned by his lack of interest in tracking back in the final stages at the Hawthornes. 

[Leonard Venkhater]

9 minutes ago, Herbie6590 said:

I want another 5-2…

I think it would be the third one?( The day of Dalglish introduction to crowd?)

Two of the best Rovers days...

[sharpysharps86]

This in some ways will be much tougher than the West Brom game. Plymouth have massively turned a corner under their new manager, who seems very impressive having seen a couple of videos of his team talks. The kind of manager / head coach that you can imagine players will run through brick walls for.

Depending on Batth's injury, we may be forced to bring Sanderson in from the start, in which case I'd be looking to go with something like this team:

                           Pears

Brittain    Sanderson    Hyam    Ribeiro

                  Travis      Buckley

      Dolan          Dennis        Kargbo

                          Gueye

I think we will really need some pace against Plymouth, so I think Kargbo and Dennis should come in for Hedges and Weimann. I don't think this will happen though, and the more likely change is Cantwell for Weimann, whilst Hedges keeps his place. I found it really odd that Kargbo was impressive against Wolves but only got a few minutes last night, whilst Dennis didn't get any minutes at all...but I can't argue with the result so there you go!

My gut says this will be a tough score draw 1-1...Gueye to score again for Rovers, Hardie for Plymouth.

[Plastics]

10 minutes ago, Eddie said:

I called this one must-win earlier in the season and I was laughed at. 

It's must-win now.

Plymouth have definitely improved post-Rooney, but they're still a poor side and we have no excuses when it comes to this one. Win and the playoffs remain firmly within our sights and control. Anything other than a win and things start to look very slippery.

There will probably be a temptation to keep the same side that we saw against WBA, but it would be nice to start integrating some of the new signings. 

Kargbo's pace looks a real threat - although I was slightly concerned by his lack of interest in tracking back in the final stages at the Hawthornes. 

Why is it a must win?

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

27 minutes ago, joey_big_nose said:

Buckley isnt going to get beyond Gueye though... In 4231 we need someone to run in behind Gueyes flick ons and hold up.

Id be quite interested in changing to a 433, playing all of Tronstad, Buckley and Travis in the middle, and ask the wide players to play higher and closer to Gueye. But thats a big change which I don't think we will do as the 4231 is working well.

None of our midfield players are likely to get beyond Gueye. That’s one of the reasons we aren’t prolific scorers normally. Weimann hasn’t got the legs anymore. As you say now isn’t a time for changing pattern of play, but maybe if we go behind ?

Edited February 13 by Tyrone Shoelaces

[ABRAM ROVER]

In typical fashion Plymouth now look like Real Madrid the week we play them. 

[rog of the rovers]

6/7 games at Home Park since middle of January.

Only away win all season for them came in the FA Cup 3rd Round away at Brentford. They did get a 90th minute equaliser away at the Stadium of Light last time on the road in the Championship.

First goal crucial as it is in most Championship fixtures.

[roversfan99]

Lets hope the pitch doesnt play a negative part either. In light of Venkys cutbacks and refusing to do the full relay as promised the other year, its again looking a mess.

The game isnt as hard as any this season, clearly. But of course we should approach it that way.