Rovers v Barnsley

[Wilpshire Blue]

Tomorrow we see Barnsley visit Ewood Park for a match that might look like a nailed-on win on paper.
Looking at the table, however, will show that Barnsley are only 2 points behind us.
After manager Gerhard Struber left the tykes in October to join New York Red Bulls, they had a great start to life under their new manager, Valerien Ismael, winning 4 out of 5 and only narrowly lost out mid-week to Brentford.

Having said that, at Ewood, with the cardboard cut-outs cheering us on, we will aim to build on the momentum of thrashing PNE and notch another 3 points.
Or will Barnsley play the defence-packed game that so often seems to see us run out of ideas on how to break the opposition down?

Surely ToMo will keep the same defence that played at Preston (he might not have much option anyway). Hopefully Harvey Elliott will have overcome his slight injury from Tuesday - he definitely brings something unique to the team with his passing skills.

Another three points is needed from this match to get us right up there with the play-off pack and make it five unbeaten since the away defeat at Swansea.
COYB!

 

[Alan]

3 - 1 to Rovers but I reserve the right to change that when I see the team that our Tony puts out.

 

[Barmitzvah Boy]

I agree that Elliot brings something different. His awareness and passing is sublime; if Armstrong could build those qualities into his game he would be a top Premiership level striker.

As for ’nailed-on’ wins we don’t do those very well

 

[Drog]

I doubt Barnsley will be the push overs that some people predict. I hope the players don't succumb to the 'after the Lord Mayor's show' effect after their humbling of PNE.
Last season our home match v Barnsley was Struber's first game in charge and we were mighty lucky imo to win. Struber played a high pressing game and whilst hampered with not a great squad he did turn Barnsley's fortunes around and enough to see them scrape to Championship safety. Struber wasn't sacked but left for pastures new in the NFL. I've no idea what criteria Barnsley used to select current manager Valerien Ismael but wiki reveals a strange record if it's accurate. I can only assume they have a contact in Germany / Austria who finds up and coming managerial talent who want a crack at the lucrative English game.
At 46 Ismael has managed in Germany, Greece and Austria, and been sacked a number of times. He's had 3 spells at Wolfsburg too. His win %age is a remarkable 54.79%! Put into context and by comparison Alex Ferguson the most successful manager over the past 30 years and with all the resources available at Old Trafford only had a win %age of 58%! More relevant figures give King Kenny with similar financial support a win rate of 54% , Tony Mowbray a very respectable 41.9% and Championship specialist Neil Warnock just 40.23%.
I have to say that Barnsley's record is very much better at Oakwell than on the road, Ismael places great store in the professionalism and organisation as alluded to in this report from the (admittedly partisan) Barnsley web site after their first home defeat of the season on Tuesday night, a 0-1 home defeat by one of the promotion favourites Brentford.

"A set-piece has won the game and we’re obviously disappointed but games come thick and fast – we’ve got another one on Saturday and we need to bounce back. At the end of the day, Brentford are a good side and we respected that. I thought we were really good; we were disciplined and defended well and, like I said, it was fine margins. Perhaps one positive to take from the encounter was how difficult Barnsley were to break down over the course of the 90 minutes. A set-piece ultimately proved to be our undoing as we limited a very strong Brentford team to very few chances. It has been a common theme under Ismaël, and the 21-year-old is pleased with how well the Reds have adjusted to life under their new Head Coach.

Form table
Blackburn Rovers | Form Guide | Last 6 Matches | Football Web Pages

 

[Drog]

I agree that Elliot brings something different. His awareness and passing is sublime; if Armstrong could build those qualities into his game he would be a top Premiership level striker.

As for ’nailed-on’ wins we don’t do those very well

I don't know why you've such a downer on Adam Armstrong BB especially when he's currently leading the Championship scoring table. Personally I'm very glad he isn't playing in the Prem. That was always Alan Shearer's weakness though, he couldn't pass em and knock em in too! I seriously doubt we'd be where we are if he'd suffered a long injury like Trav at the start of the season and we had to rely on BB and SG for goals..... and yes I do have a downer on those two even though there are signs of improvement from them both.

 

[Kate ‘Blue’ Garraway]

3-0 to my lovely boys in blue.

Stick it up the Yorkshire puddings

 

[OnlyOneTugay]

At the moment at least . Armstrong is almost priceless to the Rovers . Attackers with speed are a defenders worst nightmare , even the best ones . Add to that his ability to put the ball in the net and you have a pretty special player . What’s he worth in today’s crazy transfer market ? Difficult to say as he hasn’t been tested in the Premier League ( although speed works there too ) , but I’d be unhappy if the bidding didn’t start at £20 million and go up from there .

 

[steve w]

Bloody Hell! Its so difficult to predict a result in this league!
2-2 for some reason comes to mind

 

[Drog]

Bloody Hell! Its so difficult to predict a result in this league!
2-2 for some reason comes to mind

In a nutshell that is why the Championship is the best Division.

 

[Old Darwen Blue]

3-1 to us.

 

[davebirch]

2- zip to the Rovers

 

[AllRoverAsia]

Rovers 2 - Barnsley 1

 

[Smells Like Kean Spirit]

3-2 to The Rovers after The Tykes no doubt give us the usual scare. Big Ben to make another couple of assists and notch one off his knee to show why, with his work rate and engine, he is one of the first names penned into ToMo's team sheet every week. As for Arma, another penalty and another reminder of Mowbray's foresight, a la Wenger with Henry, in recognising there was a true centre forward in there, when we all thought he was buying a journeyman winger.

 

[rovers95]

2-0 Red Rose County!

 

[Barmitzvah Boy]

4-2 to t’Rovers

Big Bad Ben to score again
Dolan to do them
Gally to dilly dally
and Lenihan to hammer them

 

[Smells Like Kean Spirit]

Oh look! The return of Benjamin Kaynine, aka Chris, Megaman Too , Doris , jim mk2, or John to his mates!
Are you going to join the Predictions League, John, or you just checking where to find the best deal on a bottle of bene?

 

[rovers95]

Probably looking for some balanced non aggressive posts.! Not like his usual haunt.

 

[Drog]

Head above the parapet now that Cummings has departed and McCluskey has bullied Starmer into letting Corbyn back in the Labour party.

 

[Old Darwen Blue]

Starmer has now therefore lost any credibility he had. Oh dear.

 

[OnlyOneTugay]

Oh look! The return of Benjamin Kaynine, aka Chris, Megaman Too , Doris , jim mk2, or John to his mates!
Are you going to join the Predictions League, John, or you just checking where to find the best deal on a bottle of bene?

View attachment 2259

Kaynine drinking Bene ? Not a chance , like all good socialists from the leafy suburbs , he’ll be looking to buy champagne in bulk.