Rovers vs Hammers 1-4
By: David |
1 Comment
Sorry for the late report but I was looking for something interesting to happen to us on deadline day, and unless Mark Bunn turns out to be the next Petr Cech, well, yeh….
Our defense is a bit of an enigma at the moment. It was shocking on Saturday in a 4-1 defeat to West Ham - lazy and incompetent. However, I wouldn’t say the personnel are inadequate, so Ince needs to get them sorted and in gear for us to get anywhere.
Although the scoreline flattered West Ham, we should not have been 2-0 down after 10 minutes. Robinson was nowhere for a corner and then Samba made himself a fool by directing Mark Noble’s shot in.
Roberts took a great turn to bring it to 2-1 and showed that he can be a great player when he finishes well - which is rarely. This was shown later on when his poor penalty was saved by Rob Green. Roberts has what I call Henry-itis (after the Arsenal legend): always looking to pass the ball past the keeper, and it looks great when you pull it off. Sometimes I just wish Roberts would blast it.
Two late goals finished us off after some horrendous defending, especially by Warnock. Surely players are taught when they are kids that you keep going untill the whistle goes. No matter, I’m sure Ince will have words.
So some thoughts:
-Although Roberts has scored twice in two games I’m not sure if he gives us enough all around. He misses a lot of chances. Tough action may be needed.
-Hence I ask - where is Benni Mac? We are paying this guy far too much to sit on the bench. Ince seemed adament that he couldn’t leave, so lets get him on the field.
-If not, I think Villanueva needs some EPL time in a 4-4-1-1 formation behing Roque. Could be deadly….
Highlights can be found here:
What do you guys think about Roberts, Benni Mac and the defense?
Oh, and the new kits looked great.
Rovers v West Ham Live Blog
By: Jim | 17 Comments
Full time. Rovers fall to pieces though the scoreline doesn’t tell the tale. Not flattering for Rovers, though they missed their fair hare of chances. Final, 4-1, but what else is to be expected at West Ham?
Full live blog after the jump: Read the rest of this entry »
Category: Aaron Mokoena, Andre Ooijer, Bloggers Thoughts, Brett Emerton, Carlos Villanueva, Christopher Samba, Ewood Latest, Jason Brown, Jason Roberts, Keith Andrews, Keith Treacy, League, Match Liveblog, Matt Derbyshire, Morten Gamst Pedersen, Other Teams, Paul Robinson, Ryan Nelsen, Stephen Warnock, Steven Reid, Team News, Vince Grella, West Ham
Tags: Aaron Mokoena, Andre Ooijer, Bloggers Thoughts, Brett Emerton, Carlos Villanueva, Christopher Samba, Ewood Latest, Jason Brown, Jason Roberts, Keith Andrews, Keith Treacy, League, Match Liveblog, Matt Derbyshire, Morten Gamst Pedersen, Other Teams, Paul Robinson, Ryan Nelsen, Stephen Warnock, Steven Reid, Team News, Vince Grella, West HamWant more from your Offside!?
By: Jim | Add Comments
Want to see what other readers are talking about? I know you are a highly educated football fan, after all, you are reading this blog, so go and show off your superior football knowledge.
Now, I know there’s no Blackburn section yet, but we need people to sign up and show interest to get more teams up and running on the full board. It quick and simple, and once you’re in, it’s real simple to use, no joke. So give a look see, and sign up! I’m there; username: Jimmy.
PS: If you didn’t notice, I was able to get the Grimsby highlights. Def take a look in that blog below.
Blackburn 4-1 Grimsby Town Carling cup Now w/ Highlights!
By: Jim | 11 Comments
King Carlos showed up with a bang tonight, scoring a goal and setting up another. Two by Matty Derbs and one from Emerton secured the win for Rovers. A whole match report from the Rovers official site can be read by clicking here.I don’t wanna BS all of you fine readers out there and try to pretend I was able to see/hear/witness the game.
SO Lets just talk about Carlos for a sec. Yes? Yes. Okay it’s Grimsby Town. However, quality is quality and reports from fans at Ewood tonight all agree that he should be and probably will be the creative midfield link we’ve been missing. Some other fans at the game tonight hinted that he’d be better suited in a RM/RW/CAM sort of role since he seems to be lacking in pace. Hmmm, over to you Ince.
Transfers: Keith Andrews MK Dons Capt. should be in tomorrow. Teams fees are agreed, personal terms are finalizing. This kid better be worht whatever money we’re shelling out. On second thought, any money at all is a waste. Poor buy.*
In League news: Right Back Behrami of the ‘ammers went down with a knock tonight. Should be out for our meet up at the weekend. Preview tomorrow, Liveblog Saturday morning and David with the report. Keep it locked here.
*I hold the right to retract this statement at anytime if he turns out to be amazing, and also reserve the right to say “I told you so” when he tanks and fails.
Highlights after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »
Category: Bloggers Thoughts, Cup, Daily Update, Ewood Latest, Highlights, Keith Andrews, League, Match Report, Other Teams, Paul Ince, Team News, Transfers, West HamGrella in, Al-Habsi not, More to come
By: Jim | 2 Comments
This evening BRFC have confirmed the signing of 29 year old midfielder Vince Grella from Torino on a four-year deal. This newest signing is just one in a list of signings Ince has been rimoured to want to pull off before the deadline day. Going to be honest here, don’t know a thing about the guy. Just know he is a CM with holding capabilities. Anythings better than the Axe right? Right.
In other news, Notlob has shut down our pursuit of Ali Al-Habsi. He was supposed to be brought in as a backup to Robbo, one with decent Prem experience. I can’t really disagree either, it would have been a shroud move. Oh well, not too heartbroken about the loss.
Some other rumors still yet to be followed through on: Andrews from MK Dons. I don’t wanna talk about that one, it makes my stomach hurt. Jermaine Pennant from L’Pool I’d like him to add some pace down the wing, somehting different. Not a replacement for Bents but could make it work. Emo can’t keep playing RM though, he’s not good enough there and a much better RB. Also Stephen Ireland from the blue team in Manchester rumored t be a target for Ince. Lots of stuff could still happen, we’ll keep you posted with all the latest.
Category: Bloggers Thoughts, Bolton, Ewood Latest, Liverpool, Manchester City, Other Teams, Paul Ince, Players, Team News, Transfers, Vince GrellaBlackburn 1-1 Hull w/ highlights
By: Jim | 2 Comments
After a nice last minute win at Everton last week, this week was a let down for us fans. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to sell Hull City or their fans short, but opening home weekend against a newly promoted side is a must win in my opinion. Jason Roberts finally found the back of the net, something that I thought might never happen again, and gave us the lead. A lead short lived and taken away by a freak header that wouldn’t go in 999 out of 1000 times, but went in against Robbo, who is catching some rough breaks. Roque, fresh off a new 4 year deal he signed with Rovers Friday, seemed to have a frustrating day by most reports however, do to some freak accident, not one place on TV, satellite or internet was showing the game so I can’t do into much detail. I hope that never happens again because I don’t know which is worse: the Beeb’s teletext or the Rovers’ official site. So, 2 points dropped I feel, but we still got one on a day where a lot of key rivals didn’t. Just hope these 2 points don’t come back to bite us in the arse come seasons end.
Highlights after the jump, hopefully some new signings to report this week, and until next time, Up the Rovers! Read the rest of this entry »
A lucky start, and I’ll take it! (w/ highlights)
By: David | Add Comments
Ok, so the goal was soooo offside you wouldn’t believe!
Steven Warnock’s last minute free-kick was headed onto the post by captain Nelsen who was miles offside (and hence unmarked).
Nicely for us, Andre Ooijer was on hand to tap in and secure a 3-2 victory at Everton. What a great start for the new boss!
David Dunn ran the game - maybe it was his return to the no.8 shirt - and opened the scoring midway through the first half with a screamer of a goal. Rovers continued to dominate the first half and Santa Cruz missed two headers that you would have backed him to score - they were ‘his’ kind of goals.
Unfortunately our new keeper didn’t have the best of days. Mikel Arteta’s freekick to the side of the 18 yard box was brilliantly curled into the net when everyone expected a cross, but in fairness Robbo didn’t even seem to have considered a shot and should have had it covered. He also looked dodgy on a few crosses, and this won’t have done his confidence any good. This is annoying since I’m sure his form will correlate with his confidence.
Into the second half and Yakubu scored for Everton by heading in Arteta’s cross (I would eat celery to have Arteta in our team!). However Santa Cruz capitalised on some awful defending to equalise 2 minutes later by latching onto Warnocks long ball.
Ooijer’s winner was a dramatic end to a good match. We beat a very good (albeit injury ravaged team) away from home and several of our players, especially Dunn and Pedersen, looked good.
Final thoughts:
- Despite being huge and possessing clear brute strength, Chris Samba seems to be a bit timid when tussling with big forwards. He struggled last year against Dean Ashton a lot, and Yakubu seemed to give him more problems than he should have.
- Gamst Pedersen was back with the latter of his surnames on the back. I have a feeling he plays better with it that way. Is on some kind of rotation system though?
- As I’ve said, Dunn was impressive. His grabbing of the no.8 shirt and appointment as vice-admiral suggests he will be first choice in midfield and this performance seems to justify that.
- The Axe can’t pass. The upcoming signing of Vince Grella will demote him to the bench and not a moment too soon. However his tackling could be handy as a sub to defend tight leads.
- Reid was decent on the right and him being there freed up Pedersen (with an ‘e’ Jim! :P). Roberts was decent but I think McCarthy might do better.
Any, a great start! Read the rest of this entry »
Rovers v Everton Live Blog
By: Jim | 4 Comments
Full Time. Paul Ince starts his campaign with a win away at Everton who finished 5th last term with a great home record. Yes, I love it. happy days, drinks on me. UP THE ROVERS!!!
GET INNNNNNNNNNN. OOIJER OOIJER OOIJER. NELSON SETS IT UP, HOWARD SPILLS OOIJER TAPS IN. 3-2 ROVERSSSSSSS Read the rest of this entry »
Category: Aaron Mokoena, Andre Ooijer, Benedict McCarthy, Bloggers Thoughts, Carlos Villanueva, Christopher Samba, Danny Simpson, David Dunn, Everton, Ewood Latest, Jason Roberts, Keith Treacy, League, Match Liveblog, Matt Derbyshire, Morten Gamst Pedersen, Other Teams, Paul Ince, Paul Robinson, Players, Roque Santa Cruz, Ryan Nelsen, Stephen Warnock, Steven Reid, Team News, Tugay Tags: Aaron Mokoena, Andre Ooijer, Benedict McCarthy, Bloggers Thoughts, Carlos Villanueva, Christopher Samba, David Dunn, Everton, Ewood Latest, Jason Roberts, League, Match Liveblog, Matt Derbyshire, Morten Gamst Pedersen, Paul Ince, Paul Robinson, Roque Santa Cruz, Ryan Nelsen, Stephen Warnock, Steven Reid, Team News, TugaySummer sales are done!!! + Everton preview
By: David | 6 Comments
Coach Paul Ince has insisted that no more first team players will be leaving the club this summer.
Ince told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph: “The door is shut now. The players can’t go, full stop. Clubs are trying to unsettle some of my players.
“I don’t like it. It’s my first job in the Premier League and the last thing I want to do is sell my best players.
“There’s always going to be speculation about players, but I can categorically say, 100 per cent, that nobody will be leaving this club.”
This seems to be good news to me, and Ince seems to be very adament. However there are a few rough edges:
1. Getting rid of the Axe wouldn’t be a bad thing, and Roberts is overpaid (though still a decent player), so should we offload him?
2. This sets a gauntlet down for Benni Mac. If he ain’t leaving, he’s got to perform for his large salary. This club simply can’t afford to have it’s best paid striker score less than 12 EPL goals this season! He has encouraged us by saying a few months ago that an uninterupted pre-season would make him perform like he did 2 years ago. He’s had that, so lets see what he can do.
3. Skysports have said that Steven Warnock wants to move to Newcastle. Ince’s language suggests that players are being unsettled from the outside rather than asking for transfers (which is obviously preferable). If he is right then I’m sure noone else will leave.
4. Rumours also suggest Andre Ooijer may be off back to the Netherlands.
So, who’s being lined up to come in?
For a while we have been linked with Ghanaian midfielder Anthony Annan - people are saying he’s quite something. Reports are suggesting several things: either he really wants to join us, or he wants to join Arsenal, or Racing Santander. Reports are also suggesting that his club, IK Start (of Norway I think), want £2million, but Rovers want to pay a little less. One thing is for certain: the newspapers know nothing….
There’s an off chance we might sign Valencia flop (an ironic term given his height) Nicola Zigic. Apparently he’s being offered out on the cheap, and if we could pick him up I think it would be great. However, if Benni Mac is not leaving then we don’t really need him.
Theres also talk of Ince bringing in MK Dons player Keith Andrews. I don’t follow lower league football a lot to be honest, but it seems a bit of a step up for the guy, even if Ince does get on really well with him.
But anyway, the season begins on Saturday so finally the football can begin. First up for us is a trip to Goodison.
When this fixture was drawn I was a bit worried since Everton were very strong last season and seem to be going places. However they don’t seem to have strengthened at all this summer and certainly won’t have anyone to bolster them in time for Saturday. If anything their squad looks a little thinner and weaker. Hence I believe we could come away with a good win, though a draw would be fine.
I think it’s very important to start without loosing though (duh….). We’ll just have to see what kind of a manager Ince turns out to be, and if he really can deal with the EPL (though I’m sure he can).
Team news wise, well errrrrrrrr, I can’t find any details on that at the moment. Hopefully I’ll find some tomorrow and edit. I’m really well cut out for this whole blogging thing!
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PS: I’d like to use my little corner of the Internet to say that Michael Phelps is super-human.
PPS: I’d also like to use it to pray, pray and pray some more because it’s exam results time tomorrow….. Regarding religion, Rovers have installed a multi-faith prayer room at Ewood Park. What a fantastic gesture and this is surely to be commended as a pure exercise in philanthropy, rather than the cost cutting and lust for profit shown by most football clubs. Kudos, especially since the town has large devout Muslim and Christian communities.
Benni Mac, Loans Out, and Site Update
By: Jim | 3 Comments
Benni McCarthy has grabbed the eyes of Prem rivals Sunderland as well as Turk giants Galatasaray. The price is set said to be between £7m-£10m, but the latest reports quote Ince as wanting to hold on to the striker. However Rovers are said to be lining up an unnamed replacement, should Sunderland go for the bid. We’ll watch this space and keep you informed as it is released.
Maceo Rigters and Gunnar Nielsen have been snapped up by teams for loans this coming season. Rigters heads to Barnsley and Nielsen to Motherwell. Hopefully these two young upandcommers will et the experience they need to grow into future starting XI players. Best of luck to em.
Last but def not least, I’ve done some revamping of the site cause I had some (well, a lot) of time today. The “Tag” feature on this site isn’t as useful specifically as the “Categories” section is when it is pertaining to Rovers and information on this site. So now I have made categories for all 1st team players, all 19 premier league sides, and most of the coaching/backroom/and executive staff. That means now if you want to find all posts that have Rigters in it, you can click his category link at the bottom of a post he’s in (like this one) or click his name from the players section on the right hand side of the page. This should make it exponentially easier to find what your looking for and help you get what you need without wading though hours of old posts. I’ll be updating the older posts more and more as I get more time, so this should be a good thing for the club. For any suggestions or question about anything at all, shoot us an email or leave a comment.
Until next time, UP the Rovers!!
Category: Bloggers Thoughts, Daily Update, Ewood Latest, Gunnar Nielsen, Maceo Rigters, Misc, Team News, Transfers
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