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NEXT GAME:Leicester City FC
Saturday 4th May 2024
Kick off 12.30 pm
Kingpower Stadium
Championship
Bring on the Baggies
- Thread starter Drog
- Start date
Dunnfc
Senior Member
It was daft too
Dunnfc
Senior Member
steve w
Senior Member
Not often you see a standing ovation for a pass - but wow - that was in the Messi leagueWonderful flowing move leaving Leonard in the clear but he shot wide.
3 mins later and a perfect bell from Wharton left Leonard clear again and he screwed his shot side of the other post. Could have been 4-1
(Shame it went to his head for a while
)
khmerblue
Senior Member
Just seen it on tv, was a fantastic ball. I think our best midfield has to include Adam W and Buckley. It was great to see Leonard and Markandy score, and it looks like we will have to rest Harry for Tuesday as he is our only fit striker. KG on radio 
Lancashire was raving about Leonard's attitude, lets hope he has a run off games and cements his place in the team.
Lancashire was raving about Leonard's attitude, lets hope he has a run off games and cements his place in the team.
Robin
Senior Member
Three good points by Rovers and a nice start of the season!
When I was looking at the starting eleven i didn't know what to expect and while I was watching the teams go out on the field it struck me the WBA players looked like giants compared to our rather short chaps, except the twin towers in our central defense and Pears.
I don't know about you but imo up until our first goal we were pretty bad by playing the classic triangle around the keeper and on the wings with little creativity in the inner midfield. I think WBA was much better there in the beginning as it seemed they always had players to pass to and I was expecting a goal from them rather soon but I was wrong as two very nice goals from Markandy and Leonard changed that. Young Harry should indeed have scored one or two more in the second half but we have to wait for his first hat-trick.
Now overall I think we did an ok/good game. The defense was was our strongest department today and my MOM would have been Pickering but Hyam was good as well.
I could see the the same issues in the inner midfield as from last season until Wharton came on and suddenly we had a guy in the center who actually made himself available for passes so we actually could go through the center of the pitch instead on the wings that we do most of the time. It has to be said Wharton did a few sloppy mistakes yesterday that could have lead to an equalizer for WBA.
Leonard looks like an interesting player and I have to make the comparison to Vale who got his chance last season. However, Vale was played out of position for most of the time I would say as he didn't look like striker to me. He seem to be an attacking midfielder while Leonard is a striker and that's what we need.
When I was looking at the starting eleven i didn't know what to expect and while I was watching the teams go out on the field it struck me the WBA players looked like giants compared to our rather short chaps, except the twin towers in our central defense and Pears.
I don't know about you but imo up until our first goal we were pretty bad by playing the classic triangle around the keeper and on the wings with little creativity in the inner midfield. I think WBA was much better there in the beginning as it seemed they always had players to pass to and I was expecting a goal from them rather soon but I was wrong as two very nice goals from Markandy and Leonard changed that. Young Harry should indeed have scored one or two more in the second half but we have to wait for his first hat-trick.
Now overall I think we did an ok/good game. The defense was was our strongest department today and my MOM would have been Pickering but Hyam was good as well.
I could see the the same issues in the inner midfield as from last season until Wharton came on and suddenly we had a guy in the center who actually made himself available for passes so we actually could go through the center of the pitch instead on the wings that we do most of the time. It has to be said Wharton did a few sloppy mistakes yesterday that could have lead to an equalizer for WBA.
Leonard looks like an interesting player and I have to make the comparison to Vale who got his chance last season. However, Vale was played out of position for most of the time I would say as he didn't look like striker to me. He seem to be an attacking midfielder while Leonard is a striker and that's what we need.
After the trials and tribulations of the last few weeks when we were first made aware of the workings of Modi's Inland Revenue stipulations that was just what the Doctor ordered! Like Robin I was amazed at the sheer size of the baggies team. If I had to guess I'd estimate their average height to be 6ft 2"! Fast and strong they came at the rovers in waves and I was fearing the worst when 20 mins at 0-0 became 2-0 by 22 mins! Sweet irony that the baggies culprit for the second was our old chum Cedric Kipre who Tony Mowbray tried hard to sign from Wigan a couple of years back. Back then we were outgunned for his remuneration by West Broms vast parachute funded wealth. Boing boing baggies seemed favourites to get back to the Prem except football didn't work that way and now the payments have run out and they like most Championship teams are up to their necks in financial troubles.
Even at 2-0 I was uneasy and my fears were realised just after half time as a blunder by Pears (imo) lead to West Brom's goal. Funny nhow when a goal goes in so many GK's immediately attempt to lay blame on someone else. This time Markanday was the target but the initial fault was a poor pass out by Pears to a marked and under pressure Carter. tbh Pear's passing had been a little too risky for all the match. I can understand the need to play out of defence as a simple boot up field was only ever going to be won by West Brom's 'Globetrotter' imitators but sometimes that is infinitely preferable to taking silly risks when 2-0 ahead.
Could we see out the match at 2-1? Oddly enough the goal didn't appear to fire them up and their fate was sealed as Wharton and Hedges replaced Tronstad and Markanday. Tronstad obviously needs time to become accustomed to the physical demands of Championship football whilst Markanday faded badly after a decent first half and a well taken opening goal. Hedges introduction of the right wing at least added some height to our forward line whilst the class and the silky smooth skills of Adam Wharton were immediately apparent. He sprayed passes around the pitch finding his teammates in space almost at will. This lad doesn't receive the ball and then look up to see who to pass to, he's already looked before he gets the ball. First of all his part was in a flowing attack which set Leonard up for a shot from right of goal which sadly slid past the far post. I'd like at this point to propose Adam for a 'Pass of the season' award after he set Harry Leonard free again with a 35 yard ball, hit with the outside of his boot which swerved right into his path leaving him a clear run on goal. This time Leonard's shot slid disappointingly past the other post. Just a shame his aim was off or he could easily have claimed a hat trick on his debut match! How would that have looked on his cv? In fairness though at least Harry was trying to shoot for my favourite spot of 'inside far post'. Sam Gallagher has been here 5 years and still hasn't learned that particular skill! Rovers were by now re-juvinated and were taking the match to WBA.
So 90 mins came up and then somehow Referee Whitestone added another 9 minutes of overtime! A shocking application of the new rules imo. The rovers certainly hadn't wasted any time, the match had been stopped 5 times for substitutions (3 times by WBA) and the trainer hadn't been on in the second half apart from perhaps a very brief time for JRC when play had been stopped whilst he red carded Corberon.
Pears.... 6 Goaled well enough but took too many risks by passing to colleagues who were frequently marked. The GK coach needs to work on that with him.
JRC... 7 Decent match but wasn't able to venture upfield very much due to West Brom's 1st half pressing game.
Carter... 7 Strong, physical and capable alongside Hyam.
Hyam... 8 A rock in defence. Won virtually every header that he needed to. Peter Jackson's MoM and mine too.
Pickering.. 7 Struggled against the dangerous Thomas Asante at times but was rarely overwhelmed.
Travis.... 8 Strong and combative performance from Travis who must have covered every inch of the pitch. Collected his customary caution in the first half and had to tread warily after that but it didn't appear to affect his game.
Tronstad... 5 Did a few good things but also interspersed with some poor play.
Dolan.... 6 Customary effort and energy but too often he made the wrong decision when on the ball. Brought a fine save out of Palmer with a blistering shot which on another day would have gone in.
Markanday... 6 Should have been a 5 but for the goal which he took so well. Again the 'inside far post' lesson appears to be sinking in down at Brockhall.
Szmodics... 7 Energy and a never-give-in attitude personified.
Leonard.... 8 Looked a little nervous and hesitant at the start but his goal settled his nerves and the improved second half supply from his teammates brought the confidence out of him. One swallow doth not a summer make so I don't want to big him up too much but he really should and could have had a hat trick and IF he continues like this it might not be too long before he does. Suffice to say that if Gallagher's rather mysterious 'injury' clears up by the Rotherham match I expect to see him on the bench at best.
I wonder if we might soon be rueing Leonard not being born a year or two sooner?
Subs
Hedges.. 7 (Markanday 59) Helped add physicality to the attack.
WhartonA.. 7 (Tronstad 59) Turned the balance of play right round in a 10-15 minute spell after he came on. Unfortunately appeared to become a little overconfident (or more likely WBA's substitutions were made to counter his influence) and a number of mistakes came into his game.
Brittain.... 7 (JRC 77) Enthusiastic cameo. Looked like he was ready and raring to go when he came on.
Manager JDT.... 7 Hampered by pre season injuries and fitness levels not to mention the suddenly closed cheque book, but sent out a squad to do a job against difficult opposition and came up trumps. Will he get the go ahead to make another signing? I'd imagine much will depend on if he can offload Gallagher in the next week or two as all we've needed for 2/3 seasons now is a decent centre forward.
As it was much of the negativity felt before the match was replaced by positivity despite the trudge up away from Ewood in the driving rain and November temperatures.
Referee Dean Whitestone... 4 An off day imo. In the past I've awarded him 4x7's, 2x6's and a 3. Yesterday he was nearer to a '3' and his decisions leaned way too far West Broms way for my liking. The game although fast and competitive was never deserving of 7 yellow cards plus a red for the manager. Neither was there a need for a total of 16 minutes of time added on. Sometimes new rules are introduced with the orders to make them bite and then relax them a little afterwards. Let's hope this will be the case.
Even at 2-0 I was uneasy and my fears were realised just after half time as a blunder by Pears (imo) lead to West Brom's goal. Funny nhow when a goal goes in so many GK's immediately attempt to lay blame on someone else. This time Markanday was the target but the initial fault was a poor pass out by Pears to a marked and under pressure Carter. tbh Pear's passing had been a little too risky for all the match. I can understand the need to play out of defence as a simple boot up field was only ever going to be won by West Brom's 'Globetrotter' imitators but sometimes that is infinitely preferable to taking silly risks when 2-0 ahead.
Could we see out the match at 2-1? Oddly enough the goal didn't appear to fire them up and their fate was sealed as Wharton and Hedges replaced Tronstad and Markanday. Tronstad obviously needs time to become accustomed to the physical demands of Championship football whilst Markanday faded badly after a decent first half and a well taken opening goal. Hedges introduction of the right wing at least added some height to our forward line whilst the class and the silky smooth skills of Adam Wharton were immediately apparent. He sprayed passes around the pitch finding his teammates in space almost at will. This lad doesn't receive the ball and then look up to see who to pass to, he's already looked before he gets the ball. First of all his part was in a flowing attack which set Leonard up for a shot from right of goal which sadly slid past the far post. I'd like at this point to propose Adam for a 'Pass of the season' award after he set Harry Leonard free again with a 35 yard ball, hit with the outside of his boot which swerved right into his path leaving him a clear run on goal. This time Leonard's shot slid disappointingly past the other post. Just a shame his aim was off or he could easily have claimed a hat trick on his debut match! How would that have looked on his cv? In fairness though at least Harry was trying to shoot for my favourite spot of 'inside far post'. Sam Gallagher has been here 5 years and still hasn't learned that particular skill! Rovers were by now re-juvinated and were taking the match to WBA.
So 90 mins came up and then somehow Referee Whitestone added another 9 minutes of overtime! A shocking application of the new rules imo. The rovers certainly hadn't wasted any time, the match had been stopped 5 times for substitutions (3 times by WBA) and the trainer hadn't been on in the second half apart from perhaps a very brief time for JRC when play had been stopped whilst he red carded Corberon.
Pears.... 6 Goaled well enough but took too many risks by passing to colleagues who were frequently marked. The GK coach needs to work on that with him.
JRC... 7 Decent match but wasn't able to venture upfield very much due to West Brom's 1st half pressing game.
Carter... 7 Strong, physical and capable alongside Hyam.
Hyam... 8 A rock in defence. Won virtually every header that he needed to. Peter Jackson's MoM and mine too.
Pickering.. 7 Struggled against the dangerous Thomas Asante at times but was rarely overwhelmed.
Travis.... 8 Strong and combative performance from Travis who must have covered every inch of the pitch. Collected his customary caution in the first half and had to tread warily after that but it didn't appear to affect his game.
Tronstad... 5 Did a few good things but also interspersed with some poor play.
Dolan.... 6 Customary effort and energy but too often he made the wrong decision when on the ball. Brought a fine save out of Palmer with a blistering shot which on another day would have gone in.
Markanday... 6 Should have been a 5 but for the goal which he took so well. Again the 'inside far post' lesson appears to be sinking in down at Brockhall.
Szmodics... 7 Energy and a never-give-in attitude personified.
Leonard.... 8 Looked a little nervous and hesitant at the start but his goal settled his nerves and the improved second half supply from his teammates brought the confidence out of him. One swallow doth not a summer make so I don't want to big him up too much but he really should and could have had a hat trick and IF he continues like this it might not be too long before he does. Suffice to say that if Gallagher's rather mysterious 'injury' clears up by the Rotherham match I expect to see him on the bench at best.
I wonder if we might soon be rueing Leonard not being born a year or two sooner?
Subs
Hedges.. 7 (Markanday 59) Helped add physicality to the attack.
WhartonA.. 7 (Tronstad 59) Turned the balance of play right round in a 10-15 minute spell after he came on. Unfortunately appeared to become a little overconfident (or more likely WBA's substitutions were made to counter his influence) and a number of mistakes came into his game.
Brittain.... 7 (JRC 77) Enthusiastic cameo. Looked like he was ready and raring to go when he came on.
Manager JDT.... 7 Hampered by pre season injuries and fitness levels not to mention the suddenly closed cheque book, but sent out a squad to do a job against difficult opposition and came up trumps. Will he get the go ahead to make another signing? I'd imagine much will depend on if he can offload Gallagher in the next week or two as all we've needed for 2/3 seasons now is a decent centre forward.
As it was much of the negativity felt before the match was replaced by positivity despite the trudge up away from Ewood in the driving rain and November temperatures.
Referee Dean Whitestone... 4 An off day imo. In the past I've awarded him 4x7's, 2x6's and a 3. Yesterday he was nearer to a '3' and his decisions leaned way too far West Broms way for my liking. The game although fast and competitive was never deserving of 7 yellow cards plus a red for the manager. Neither was there a need for a total of 16 minutes of time added on. Sometimes new rules are introduced with the orders to make them bite and then relax them a little afterwards. Let's hope this will be the case.
Last edited:
Robin
Senior Member
Barmitzvah Boy
Global winner of the 2021 Christmas Quiz 👊🤩🤩
I thought the Rovers fans really got behind the players. Quiet for the first 20 minutes and when WBA scored they really tried to lift our boys.