Rovers 1-0 Fulham w/ Highlights
By: David | September 22nd, 2008On the face of it, nothing special really. A scrappy, late victory against a plucky, mediocre team at home. However, I think A LOT of positives can be taken:
- A clean sheet!!! This was most important, and I think I may have even been happy with a 0-0 as long as the defence had held up. Fulham’s forwards looked very dangerous last week and they have a good midfield, so for the defence to hold up shows that they are competent. Robbo’s confidence will have been boosted and Ince was quick to praise him after some fantastic saves: “The most important thing is that our back five today was outstanding. Paul Robinson made two world-class saves. He made one in the first minute and if that goes in, heads can go down and it could be a completely different story. He made another one 15 minutes from time from Johnson, world-class, and if that goes in it could be a different story.”
- Tactical variation. Peds was on the right and did a decent job. Emerton did fantastically in central midfield. I’ve thought before that he could be used here, with his Aussie cockiness, strength, stamina and tackling ability. Ince should consider doing this again.
- New faces. Andrews could well be up to this Premier League malarky after all. Ince has faith in him and with Dunn out, he will be useful. A great game for academy lad Keith Treacy too - another Damian Duff would be fine thanks.
- The subs. More of Villanueva please! The only problem we may have is if he can be competent enough defensively to play in a midfield two, or should he be a supporting forward? Comment please… If he can play in a two (or a diamond), then we need him and Matt Derbyshire in the team too. The goal could be a snapshot of Rovers attacking play to come: Carlos to Santa to Derbs.
The only downer was Roberts. I think he could work well but he marginalizes Roque and is not as good a target man (Roque got more involved when Roberts went off).
Still, Ince clearly has a wealth of options, which is no bad thing.
Highlights!
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Category: Bloggers Thoughts, Brett Emerton, Carlos Villanueva, Ewood Latest, Former Staff, Fulham, Highlights, Keith Andrews, Keith Treacy, League, Match Report, Matt Derbyshire, Morten Gamst Pedersen, Paul Ince, Paul Robinson, Roque Santa Cruz
Tags: Bloggers Thoughts, Brett Emerton, Carlos Villanueva, Ewood Latest, Former Staff, Fulham, Highlights, Keith Andrews, Keith Treacy, League, Match Report, Matt Derbyshire, Morten Gamst Pedersen, Paul Ince, Paul Robinson, Roque Santa CruzSubscribe
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Comments | Add your comment
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hello david, i am a rookie premier league fan and would like to follow blackburn as a supporter. I live in the states but was unable to see this past saturday’s game. my wife is from paraguay, thus the interest in roque and blackburn. would love information about the team. thanks for the blog.
Posted from
United States
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Hey Matt - good choice of team. Jim will prob give you good tips on how to follow Rovers from the States. However, Rovers are one of the most historic and proud clubs in England, and under Paul Ince look set to be one of the most entertaining.
You’ve inspired me to maybe add to this blog with a few posts about the more fundamental stuff to do with Rovers, and also more tactical stuff. I’m starting uni in the next few weeks so my input may temporarily reduce, but I hope to increase to no of posts after that - I’ll have a lot of free time available.
Posted from
United Kingdom -
Ah Uni, the free time it giveth and rapidly taketh away. Matt, the cable channel Fox Soccer Channel (267 on comcast) and the Satellite TV channel Setanta (Channel 619) randomly have coverage of Rovers games. Other than that, its lowly sopcast or justin.tv for all us overseas fans.
Posted from
United States -
thanks fellas for the info. i found a free site for fsc online as the wife won’t spring for more coverage. i also am familiar with justintv. good luck in uni and look forward to reading more.
Posted from
United States -
rtegarding the team, i think villaneuva wouldnt be able to play as a second in the central midfield. ld have to be used behid santa cruz or even on the left/right hand side similiar to what where seeing from robinho and wright phillips under hughes.
Roberts is doing ok the problem lies in his finishign more than anything and the fact he doesnt lifet his head up quick enough. He will never be clinical enough to become a starting striker in my opinion but can be used in physical games and games we need pace injected up top.
Any thoughts?
Posted from
United States -
You’re right on both accounts in my opinion. Roberts can’t finish at all. And King Carlos still needs time to slip into this game and get over his illness, I don’t think we should be rushing to start him right away and when we do, it deffo shouldn’t be at CM. Its should be more a CF or CAM.
Posted from
United States -
Maybe we could keep Gamst on the right, stick Carlo on the left and the two could play as fairly narrowish wingers:
Robbo
Ooijer, Nelsen, Samba, Warnock
Gamst, Emo, Grella, Carlo
Santa, Benni/Derbs
Posted from
United Kingdom -
No way, Peds is doing bad enough on the left as is, on the right he’s just a ghost.
Posted from
United States -
I think he’s been a bit better this season tbh. We’ll see how he gets on after a few more games.
Posted from
United Kingdom
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