Over the next few days, I’ll be posting write ups or podcast episodes of a review of the month I missed. With this new feature, I to invite anyone and everyone to be as involved as possible. If you have a question a comment or anything at all, email it to me and we’ll get it talked about on any future episode. Feeling bold? Even if you just have a simple built in mic or a whole studio, record a comment or question and I’ll throw it in the episode myself.

As always, discussion starts in the comments where I hope to see some of the posters return. Sorry again for the month long hiatus, but we’re back baby.

I’ll be honest here; this is a must win game. After this game we have league games against Everton and Villa, with a league cup game v Notts Forrest thrown in between those games.

Then after Villa and the retrn of big Brad and Stephen Warnock, we have Le Arse, Chelski, The B@stards, and ManUre.

This is a must win game.

Hopefully we will have a lot of players to choose from. Emerton is close to making a comeback, and Dunn, Reidy and Grella all should have used these 7 days extra to get back into shape and fit. Here’s the team I would put out:

——————-Robbo———————
Jacobsen Samba Givet Chimbonda
Dioufy Dunn Nzonzi Pederson
Benni (if fit) Kalinic

Wolves have earned 4 points from their 4 games but should be ours for the taking. If we go out and play solid defensively (like we have been lately) and our strikers can get some shots on target, we should pull out the 3 points.

Any thoughts about the game? Your XI you would field? As always, let me know and UP THE ROVERS!

you’re going to lose.

Emmanuel Adebayor’s goal in the second or third minute was a nice shot but was hard to swallow and it went in off of Robbo, who really did all he could to save the bending laser strike. Ireland’s 90+2 strike was just a result of the Rovers trying to push off and leaving the back weak.

For most of the first half, Rovers were the better side. We dominated the run of play and kept the ball in the Citeh half for most of the opening 45. However coming out of the gates in the second half, Sparky clearly made some changes. Citeh were the dominating side, with Rovers literally just running around trying to catch them.

A more accurate review later on, with some pics and a link to highlights.

Here’s how we’re looking: Robinson, Brown, Jacobsen, Samba, Nelsen, Givet, Khizanishvili, Warnock, Olsson, Diouf, Hoilett, van Heerden, Doran, Nzonzi, Andrews, Pedersen, McCarthy, Roberts, Di Santo.

Look at that list and remember who’s out and doubtful and try and build a solid starting XI. Our midfield can’t even be completed let alone compete. Very worried about what we could see if Nelson and Samba don’t make the cut.

Citeh will be probably fielding a 1-0-9 formation, with a team looking like this according to SkySports:
Given, Richards, Dunne, Toure, Bridge; Wright-Phillips, Barry, Ireland, Bellamy; Robinho, Tevez.

Let me just say, I am looking forward to a win. But if we draw or even lose I can not say I’ll be surprised. I just hope the boys are ready to get the season going the right way.

Now the invitation. I invite all Rovers fan in the NYC area to make the trek into the NYC and come watch the game with me and a bunch of other Rovers fans at Nevada Smiths. We’ll be there a little before kick off and through out the match so please come by if you are able to.

Hopefully the next post will be a victory review. Until then, come on new season AND UP THE ROVERS!

Sam praised the first XI against CD Nacional, but was quick to point out that the lack of goals was due to the lack of another target man and striker.

“I thought the first eleven were very good against Nacional, apart from good crosses going in without ever creating any chances. Hence the reason we are looking for another front man to add more power up there.”

We drew that small match, and that’s alright in a friendly. At least for me and apparently Big Sam. Lose a 45 minute friendly match though, and Sam is no longer a happy camper.

Losing 1-0 to a deflected strike that left Robbo flat footed, Sam was none too happy about the players performance or the result.

“But I thought the second eleven, with the Dioufy´s, Jason Roberts, Morten who has only just come back and Dunny, looked a little jaded to me and we were outplayed by Hajduk Split in midfield.”

Sam not happy at all, and not afraid to ruffle some feathers in the senior squad. I like it. Make sure everyone knows no places are guaranteed. And letting some of the experienced players know they still got some work to do.

We got a friendly against Leeds this Saturday coming up, but for now, here’s the Rovers v Hajduk Split highlights. Until next time, UP THE ROVERS!

Well Rovers took a break for international duty last week and I used that time to catch up on some work and keep my GPA game up. But the lads are back and so am I, but I’m not the one stopping The Spuds’ six-match unbeaten league run.

Rovers started off strong with a chance in the 11th from MGP to El Hadj but he failed to convert. Things started going down hill from there though with our rock solid new man Gael Givet was called for a handball in the box. You can judge that one for yourself, but when the commentator takes Rovers side, you KNOW it’s not a penalty. (Which it wasn’t, the ball hit inside shoulder) Keane converts although the ball wasn’t on the spot. Clearly, you can see it in the highlights. The balls off the spot. I don’t get how that works either, but whatever. Rovers down 1 nil. MGP gets a knock and heads off with Dunny coming on. Jase Robs gets a knock and holds on till halftime, then he comes off. So what does Big Sam do when his hand is forced?

PUTS CHRISTOPHER SAMBA UP FRONT!!!

Yes that’s right the big man playing up next to Benni Mac and being an all around nuisance for the Spuds players. Rovers make some chances, Spuds don’t do too much. Then they started doing stuff and the game looked pretty much over. Then, Wilson Palacios winds up being sent off after collecting two yellow cards in the space of two minutes. Fantastic. Finally a little bit of luck heading our way. Then Robbie Keane knocks the ball away in the box with his hand but the ref closes his eyes and skips away pretending all is just and well in the world. No matter though because then Samba showed up, and went hardbody all over Corluka and worked the ball to Benni Mac who fired it home from 10 yards out. Then Rovers took the lead when Gomes misjudged a corner and and ball fell to Ooijer who, from barely a yard out, directed it calmly home. Amazing.

14th on 34pts. Lets ride this momentum to liverpool.

Highlights:

Both Hull and Rovers saw themselves reduced to 10 men, MGP sent off for a second yellow just after being involved in the altercation that got Marney sent off for the Tigers. The vital three points boosted Rovers up out of the drop zone and on 26 points but in 17th on Goal difference.

Goals from Stephen Warnock (seen here-click) as well as Andrews (viewable here – click) were enough to give Rovers the edge, though in typical Rovers style left it till late to make it a guaranteed win with some shoddy defending. (I’d post the highlights in here but they’re kinda odd looking, so the links will do for this week.)

Paul Robinson was substituted at the half after sustaining a shoulder injury. He’s probably not going to start tomorrow, but that doesn’t worry me too much. Jason Brown made some wonderful saves, especially at the end of the match, when he came on, so I’m confident he’ll do a good enough job. It’s just up to that back four to give him a bit of help.

Dunn appears fit for selection following a hamstring problem but it’s still up in the air as to whether he’ll be rushed back. Pederson, for his red card, wills serve his match ban tomorrow, but aside from him, Big Sam has a full squad to pick from.

Everton will be no small task. In their last 6 matches, they’re in decent form: L W W W D W and that loss came to ManUre. The match is home at Ewood and while Everton has hasn’t had a fully fit squad in forever, they still continue to tear it up in the league. Timmy Howard will prove hard to beat but a win tomorrow would certainly be a boost to everything- survival, morale, confidence. So let’s hope the lads come out strong. UP THE ROVERS!

An abysmal first half of football for both sides, which produced the only highlight of a Keith Andrews clearance off of the line, means I won’t even talk about that half. Rovers came out of the locker room and started right away though in the second half. Subs Grella and Dunn helped solidify a shakey looking Rovers XI and Grealla complemented Andrews well as he was able to go have a run about and fund himself a little.
Side note: I think despite being a bit behind the curve still, Andrews’ fitness and his growth in every match he features in is a great thing for Rovers.

Benni Mac forced a great save from Given on his free kick but drew a controversial penalty call to make good on his hunt for a goal. It looked a penalty in real time, but the replay angles have got me second guessing myself. I’ll go with my gut and say it was warranted. Jason Roberts’ first goal for the Rovers second showed how to utilize Paul Robinson’s long boots forward and his second goal was nothing less then Rovers deserved after that magnificent build up. Dunn (I believe) to Andrews to Pederson(who had a cracker of a game) who crossed it perfectly to Roberts for the tap in. Roberts taught me this today:
Roberts strength and ball control is stills second to none.
and
He’s a great scorer when he is pressured/rushed and has to shoot on his first touch.

All in all, fantastic with Nicky Butt deservedly getting shown the rad for two rought challenges and Joey Barton fighting team mates. Take a deep breath. You smell that? That’s the smell of things looking up for Rovers.

A few new faces perhaps soon, I’ll keep you up to date with the latest. Highlights below:

KILL YOURSELF! The worst miss in the history of misses. Un-effin-believable. 2 points dropped but a point is a point and hopefully this will put us well on our way to getting out of the drop zone. Read some more after the jump.

So other then getting pretty outplayed the firsthalf, the second half was there for the taking with chances from MGP, Keith Andrews and Mr. McMissthenet all failing to put away their chances by some reason or another. The first two forced great saves from whoever Sunderland’s keeper is, and the last, well, I’m sure you get the idea. At least Robbo got another clean sheet!

Below are the highlights. Tomorrow’s game I unfortunately will not be able to watch as I have tickets to go see the NY Jets play in an American Football game. I’ll probably catch the replay and have the write up ASAP, aka when I find highlights. I hope he are the team that get MH fired. Some bad news though, Dunny is out again and Nelson may miss due to that eye injury. Maybe thats not a bad thing, oh well, UP THE ROVERS!

With RSC ruled out, Rovers went with Benni Mac and Jason Roberts at the top together and it payed dividends, with Benni Mac showing class and skill we haven’t seen in quite some time. The pic you see above of the take down of MGP led to Rovers winning the penalty and Benni Mac converting.

It was good to see David Dunn, a decent MGP, a consistent Robbo and a warm welcome for the new gaffer as the game started. Though the second half only had Rovers see some chances go unfinished, it also was a big step for our D to hold on and not collapse and allow in some goals to make it a nervy game. A good strong showing though and though. Highlights below, and bring on Sunderland!
UP THE ROVERS!!

First Half Highlights

Second Half