How did Blackburn play today?

[Pete1888]

Heard Blackburn werent too great. Yet again you draw a blank though - Has to be concerning surely?    

Celts won 7-0, however im not trying to compare the standard of opposition.  Noticably O'Neill rested/dropped both Lennon and Lambert and gave Big Bad John a start, who in turn notched 4.

Not getting carried away but if O'Neill can see the light and drop Lennon then the 2nd leg could be a whole new ball game.  After all thats 180 mins with no goals for the Rovers and we played utter cr*p yet still scored.

PS.  What did you guys make of Bobo Balde?

[T4E]

Yes us playing a Premier League side about your equals and not scoring 2 days after a European tie is indeed concerning, especially when you compare it to the thrashing that you handed out to whoever you played. No wonder you play on Sundays a lot of the time, standard of opposition and all one might say its quite apt.

Isn't it about time the Celtic antagonaists disappeared back to wherever it was they came from and annoyed someone else?

[Pete1888]

Yes us playing a Premier League side about your equals and not scoring 2 days after a European tie is indeed concerning, especially when you compare it to the thrashing that you handed out to whoever you played. No wonder you play on Sundays a lot of the time, standard of opposition and all one might say its quite apt.

Isn't it about time the Celtic antagonaists disappeared back to wherever it was they came from and annoyed someone else?

Easy tiger!! Was only asking!!

[tim]

well as i said the other day ,blackburn vs celtic ..i hope use liked the celtic score today ,,cause hopefully big john willl do a job in a week,s time ,,

[Paul]

To answer your question Pete, on Thursday you saw Rovers play at the top f their game - every player performed. As many of us expected we had a serious hangover today, 5 or 6 players were well off the mark and we struggled to put our game together. The failure to score is not the serious problem opposition fans would make out - last couple of games we haven't had the bounce when it mattered. At Parkhead we should have been 3 up by HT and yesterday we should have had 2 in each half, we just need that extra bounce. We've all seen it before.

We play Walsall on Wednesday and I expect most of the first choice players to be rested. Jansen will get a run out as he looks for match fitness. My guess is by the Celtic game he will be ready to partner Cole up front and then watch us go.

[Dr Rich]

I really don't think Jansen is near ready yet.

These last two games we have failed to score for the first time since Middlesborough away, which has to be worrying, and is it just me but have Cole and Yorke been up front in every game we failed to score in?

[1864roverite]

who really cares how many celtic scored ?

yes they had an easy run out against what is a very poor aberdeen team, no spirit,no class and totally no interest. the only thing they didnt do was put the ball in their own  net !

Celtic fans you need to get a grip on reality. It was simply a walk over for you as it normally is on a week to week basis, however down here in football reality it is the equivelent on Rovers playing Chorley every week ! Get it.

Roll on Ewood and if you get knocked out then we may get some sense out of you.

[Pete1888]

who really cares how many celtic scored ?

yes they had an easy run out against what is a very poor aberdeen team, no spirit,no class and totally no interest. the only thing they didnt do was put the ball in their own  net !

Celtic fans you need to get a grip on reality. It was simply a walk over for you as it normally is on a week to week basis, however down here in football reality it is the equivelent on Rovers playing Chorley every week ! Get it.

Roll on Ewood and if you get knocked out then we may get some sense out of you.

A few of you seem a bit touchy when we simply ask how you played?  I never for once insinuated that the level of competition was the same, in fact if you read my initial post you'll see I quite cleary state that.

However I think you must realise that what you witnessed on Thursday was an extremely inept performance by Celtic.  You seem to think this one performance now means you will thump us at Ewood.  Last year we played Valencia off the park at Parkhead and went out on pens, now if im not mistaken this is the side that have torn Liverpool (top of the Premiership) apart twice this season.  Celtic arent that far off the pace and im sure we'll show that at your place.  If you beat us by 2 and go through then fair play to you, you'll have deserved it, but be under no illusions that it'll be nearly as easy as the 1st leg.  We couldnt and cant play any worse.

[Neil Weaver]

Pete, I think Paul's view is pretty near the mark.  Not going to claim I reflect the views of the majority on here : I've always thought the tie'll be close and away goals may well decide it.  We'll see.

And not scoring for two games - not too concerned, we've only conceded one in two games.

[SMc_Celtic]

I have to back Pete up here.......

He only asked you guys a question but many of you seem to have a real bitterness towards us because you played well and lost. Only Paul answered the question properly and took it in the manner it was meant.

On this 'attitude'.....I'm just trying to understand something......

Arsenal tear Rovers apart, dominate the game, miss loads of chances and Rovers sneak a win.......so Blackburn are a top Priemership side.

Rovers outplay Celtic, fail to turn possession into goals but Celtic sneak a win. So, according to most of you, that means we are equivalent of '2nd division' , 'conference level'. 'It was men against boys' blah blah 'players huffed and puffed but could only boot the ball up the park etc etc.

Slight hint of hypocrisy there.

Can't believe how many English fans, players and  press are judging Celtic on one 90 minute performance.

On Saturday, the players looked angry after the criticism coming from England. They were relentless against Aberdeen in the 7-0 hammering...which could have easily been double figures. I just hope they keep that attitude for the 2nd leg.

Also, on Pete's comments....Valencia was a great example. We beat them 1-0, and fully deserved it (unlike Thursday). Liverpool couldn't beat them home or away and they top the English league.

[Dr Rich]

Liverpool couldn't beat us either.

[Flopsy]

neither could Arsenal, Man City, West Brom, Birmingham, Sunderland, Newcastle or Leeds - not to bad going me thinks

[broadsword]

If Celtic come down to Ewood and play us off the park then I will happily hold my hand up and say: "Well done, you deserve to go through".

However, if we do beat you, then I'm not having any of this "poor form" dribble.

And all of this "we beat team X 2-0, they beat team Y 4-0, who drew 2-2 with you, therefore we will beat you 6-2" is highly dubious also.

The best comparison between Celtic and Rovers is the game played last Thursday. You were dire, but scraped a 1-0 win. Despite all your protestations about poor form, this is a much more reliable indicator of how the two teams match up than you trashing Aberdeen 7-0 or how you will beat us 13-6, a result derived from the composite of 17 different matches played over the last 7 seasons.

Given that, I think the 2nd leg is too close to call. So why don't we all just wait until the result comes in (fat chance)?

[philipl]

All this Celtic working out of C beat V who beat L who beat R nonsense reminds me of how Burnley supporters used to justify how they were a bigger club than the Rovers.

Thankfully 1 April 2001 put an end to all that and hopefully 14 November 2002 will silence the Celtic wannabes as well.

Incidentally, Pete1888, ever noticed how teams which score seven hit a barren run afterwards? Its happened to the Rovers every time after we tonked an English Premier League side for seven. (There you are, given you an excuse already-I am very kind)

[Pete1888]

All this Celtic working out of C beat V who beat L who beat R nonsense reminds me of how Burnley supporters used to justify how they were a bigger club than the Rovers.

Thankfully 1 April 2001 put an end to all that and hopefully 14 November 2002 will silence the Celtic wannabes as well.

Incidentally, Pete1888, ever noticed how teams which score seven hit a barren run afterwards? Its happened to the Rovers every time after we tonked an English Premier League side for seven. (There you are, given you an excuse already-I am very kind)

Hey, hey, hey!!!!

Only reason I mentioned Valencia game was to point out that we too can play well against top quality opposition, and werent nearly as bad as you lot are making out.  We were dire on Thursday I make no bones about that, but you certainly wont be so dominant in the 2nd leg.  I HOPE!!!!!

PS.  Premiership is not best league in the world, La Liga takes that title closely followed by Seria A, you come a close third however!!  Only people who say the Premiership is the best are English im afriad.  So insular its unreal!!!  

Not that it matters as the Premiership is still excellent regardless.

[BlueMonday]

Celts won 7-0, however im not trying to compare the standard of opposition.  Noticably O'Neill rested/dropped both Lennon and Lambert and gave Big Bad John a start, who in turn notched 4.

Its good your getting a few warm up friendlies in before the big game !

:'>

[MarkBRFC]

Incidentally, Pete1888, ever noticed how teams which score seven hit a barren run afterwards? Its happened to the Rovers every time after we tonked an English Premier League side for seven.

I remember beating Sheff Wed 7-2 in 97 was it?  We then scored 2 at palace the week after and 3 at home against leeds the week after that..

Then last season we followed up beating west ham 7-1 with 3 goals at highbury, so the fact that teams hit barren runs after scoring 7 is not really true.

Lets not be too over confident and wait for next Thursday to come and we'll see whos the better team

[BlueMonday]

 Only people who say the Premiership is the best are English im afriad.  So insular its unreal!!!  

Then why are celtic and rangers so desparate to join the

" 3rd raters"

Surely you would be better joining the big boys in La liga ?

[Ste B]

Incidentally, Pete1888, ever noticed how teams which score seven hit a barren run afterwards? Its happened to the Rovers every time after we tonked an English Premier League side for seven.

I remember beating Sheff Wed 7-2 in 97 was it?  We then scored 2 at palace the week after and 3 at home against leeds the week after that..

Then last season we followed up beating west ham 7-1 with 3 goals at highbury, so the fact that teams hit barren runs after scoring 7 is not really true.

Lets not be too over confident and wait for next Thursday to come and we'll see whos the better team

And followed those 2 games, with a 0-0 against Leicester where we were lucky to get 0

[MarkBRFC]

So that was our barren run?  one 0-0 draw against leicester?

[Pete1888]

Then why are celtic and rangers so desparate to join the

" 3rd raters"

Surely you would be better joining the big boys in La liga ?

Nah, dont speak spanish too well!!!!!

[Ste B]

Mark - No, but we only won 2 out of the next 18 league games after that.

[BlueMonday]

Then why are celtic and rangers so desparate to join the

" 3rd raters"

Surely you would be better joining the big boys in La liga ?

Nah, dont speak spanish too well!!!!!

You should be an MP giving evasive answers like that.

Answer the question !

[MarkBRFC]

3 actually  

[broadsword]

Hey, hey, hey!!!!

Only reason I mentioned Valencia game was to point out that we too can play well against top quality opposition, and werent nearly as bad as you lot are making out.  We were dire on Thursday I make no bones about that, but you certainly wont be so dominant in the 2nd leg.  I HOPE!!!!!

PS.  Premiership is not best league in the world, La Liga takes that title closely followed by Seria A, you come a close third however!!  Only people who say the Premiership is the best are English im afriad.  So insular its unreal!!!  

Not that it matters as the Premiership is still excellent regardless.

One game doesn't really prove anything though, does it? Let's not forget that you're only playing us because you're not good enough for the Champion's League.

Man Utd have proved they can play against top-class opposition by winning the European Cup and generally doing quite well in it every season. No other team, apart from perhaps Leeds a couple of seasons ago have come close.

There's no one set of results that you can take and extrapolate so that you can prove Celtic will do well in the second leg - your domestic league is dire and you've hardly set Europe alight. The fact that you did well against Valencia will, I can assure you, have absolutely no bearing on our match at Ewood.

The game is delicately poised and could go either way. Neither set of fans can really claim their team has the upper hand, so all we're managing to achieve is to go in ever-decreasing circles. Talking the other side into submission apart, the best thing to do is to wait until the second leg is done with.

One thing I will guarantee though is that you will know you've been in a game alright. Hats off to you if you win, let's hope for the same in return if we triumph.

PS: Agree with you about the state of the Premiership, but to be honest, don't really care that we're third.