Rovers v Stoke: 10th February 2024

[goozburger.]

Did anybody else feel as though today was a footballing philosophical weight lifted off everyone's shoulders?

 

[Dunnfc]

Did anybody else feel as though today was a footballing philosophical weight lifted off everyone's shoulders?

It was a poor game. We were fortunate enough that stoke can’t control a ball and over hit many of there passes. If that penalty had gone in I’m sure we would have bottled it. That said we rode it our well in the second half, not sure I’d be keen on us playing like that every week though.
Needs must at the moment I understand but it will be intriguing to see how Eustace sets us up.

 

[Dunnfc]

He has gone thank goodness. Horrid man.

He appeared with water bottles second half. Horrible?

 

[Drog]

Good to see eustace has now gone with a back 5. I can't recall jdt ever doing that.

And it worked a treat! From the minute we went With a back 5 stoke's threat dissipated. It was an obvious move but it was an early indication of the manager's tactical mettle.

 

[Drog]

It was a poor game. We were fortunate enough that stoke can’t control a ball and over hit many of there passes. If that penalty had gone in I’m sure we would have bottled it.

Harsh! I didn't think it was a poor game at all given what we have seen since the clocks went back, and some of the obvious unrest behind the scenes which is coming out now. There were some outstanding performances and our goals were of the highest quality.

 

[Dunnfc]

Harsh! I didn't think it was a poor game at all given what we have seen since the clocks went back, and some of the obvious unrest behind the scenes which is coming out now. There were some outstanding performances and our goals were of the highest quality.

It wasn't a great game of quality though, not very slick, quite a disrupted game without much flow I thought. We had spells but we've played better this season and still lost. Our second goal was quality agreed.

 

[Drog]

That was superb. It felt more like the Rovers I love and know. Grit, determination, and belief. Supporters were involved. Players battled hard. Simple and sensible football that made sense. Everyone, from player to support, can understand it and believe in it.

There are a lot of contenders for MotM, but here's what I thought on an individual level.

Pears
Forget the penalty, he had a really good game. Commanding and vocal from what I saw, and perhaps encouraged by an organised and commanding defence in front of him Back to the penalty, a huge turning point. Yes, it was a shit penalty, but I called it "bottom left!", and the man listened and obliged. Good lad.

Brittain
Brilliant. An assist from a low cross, and an indirect assist from a high cross. My view is that he is much better as a full-back that can get down the wing from time to time than an inverted wing-back. Beautiful crossing and decision-making. Penalty giveaway never looked it to me, and justice was served. Knew he was better than the role he's been asked to played in, which he showed with his very first touch for the club (a cross) which Dack got on the end of. Have to keep him doing this.

Hyam
Very assured. Although he's our captain, McFadzean alongisde must have brought a boost to his game. Just looked a different player today than a man under pressure.

McFadzean
What a good debut. 37? Didn't show in the slightest in terms of being undone. Barked orders to Chrisene. Just the type of player we needed today.

Chrisene
I thought he had a nervous first half, but he really grew into the game. I've absolutely no doubt it was down to having McFadzean alongside him. He became a man as the game went on.

Tronstad
His usual good self. Held the fort. Played smart and simple passes. Feel as though his game will not change between Tomasson and Eustace.

Rankin-Costello
Added grit to the midfield. It really suits him rather than wing-back. Quite an assured showing with tenacity and a bit of quality.

Hedges
Show great experience. What a comeback debut from injury. Couldn't believe he was this close to a comeback, but his experience and quality of play in the forward areas contributed massively to us winning this game.

Dolan
Man of the Match. What a brace. He was clearly given freedom to get into the box. After all, we know from Dolan himself that this is where he likes to play. And he knows where the onion bag is. A few cheap giveaways which can be easily forgiven. Was slightly disappointed to see him substituted as I thought this was his best chance at a hat-trick.

Szmodics
You can tell he loves playing Rovers regardless of the coach. Popped up with a great headed goal, and ran his socks off. A Rovers soldier to the end.

Gallagher
Beautiful flick-on for Dolan's second goal. Textbook simplicity. We weren't afraid to play it directly onto his head, and it worked.

As for the subs...

Moran
Seemed more confident than his usual recent self. Got stuck in and involved going forward.

Garrett
A decent showing. Needs to learn to not get dragged down by opposition players, so hopefully, like with Travis, this can be learned.

Telalovic
Worked hard but seemed a bit lost on when to close down.

Sigurdsson
Think he knows he needs to show some fight, hence his geeing up of the BBE. Good lad on that front.

O'Riordan
A good cameo. Almost scored an own goal but he did well to clear that cross for a corner in hindsight. Think we've got a good 'un on our hands here.

Overall, I'm ecstatic with this win. I haven't felt this for a long time. I didn't expect Eustace to come down to the touchline in the second half, and it was great to see that he felt we needed the help when Stoke were going for their second. Say what you will about touchline animation and orders, but I think it helps, particularly when you're on a downer like us. We couldn't have wished for a better start to Eustace's time here.

I was pleased to see that we weren't afraid to bin off the passing out from the back philosophy. And we were naturally comfortbale about it. Pragmatism that undid Stoke quickly.

Very quickly onto the next at Mogga's Birmingham on Tuesday. Eustace has his work cut out, still - let's not forget that. But it was a really gritty and canny performance to overcome Stoke.

On another note, well done to Johnson and Lowe. I don't understand the stick that some quarters send their way. The former is someone who clearly loves Rovers, and the latter is someone well-liked by the players. My parting shot would be, to those critics, get off their backs.

Wot no marks? Sharpen up gooz or I'll have to resume my duties!

Just to add
Eustace .... 8 sent out a team which had me changing my prediction to a loss. It worked though and the players reacted well to the new manager. Best bit was how he changed things round when we were under the cosh early in the second half and immediately halted Stoke's charge.

Referee Gavin Ward 7 my least favourite ref of them all but that was the best game that I have ever seen from him.

 

[Drog]

Just to add....
1. wending my way home I noticed the Coates helicopter parked up on feni rec. if helicopters had wheels it would have been on bricks by then!
2. Anybody spot the parallel with the first match after we replaced the useless Paul Ince with Big Sam? Stoke at Ewood and a 3-0 win with two from benny Mac and one from Roberts. I can still vividly rem the chants of "we've got our Rovers back".

 

[Robin]

Yay! Southampton 5-3 Huddersfield.

Shockingly no goals Rothwell scored 2. Found his level at last?

One of the goals were spectacular.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1756368110741831961

 

[goozburger.]

Anybody spot the parallel with the first match after we replaced the useless Paul Ince with Big Sam?

Very much so. Ince, if I recall, was trying to instill a similar type of "attractive" football style that saw us mullered almost every week. Allardyce brought it back to basics and it had an immediate impact.

 

[Robin]

Did anybody else feel as though today was a footballing philosophical weight lifted off everyone's shoulders?

There was a more direct approach to the game. Brittains crosses and Hedges long runs are things we have missed. What I didn’t miss yesterday was the endless triangle play and the slowness of starting up the game from the keeper. For once we took advantage of Gallaghers height which actually resulted in a nice goal for Dolan.

 

[Alan]

Brilliant we had to grind that out in the end but special mention to McCanavarro. Tremendous

Who?

 

[Alan]

Wharton wanted to go. 19 year old earning a basic wage of £12.5M over 5 years plus bonuses and sponsorship. What would you do?

Who told you that? He's a Blackburn lad who enjoyed playing, with his brother, for his home team.

 

[Barmitzvah Boy]

He appeared with water bottles second half. Horrible?

He puts pineapple on his pizza’s. Horrid.

 

[Alan]

They played well today but that does not excuse the diabolical performance by the backroom staff during the transfer window. Completely inexcusable!

 

[Drog]

Who told you that? He's a Blackburn lad who enjoyed playing, with his brother, for his home team.

£2m in the bank and 40k pw is a powerful persuader. Could we really expect him to turn that down?

 

[Drog]

There was a more direct approach to the game. Brittains crosses and Hedges long runs are things we have missed. What I didn’t miss yesterday was the endless triangle play and the slowness of starting up the game from the keeper. For once we took advantage of Gallaghers height which actually resulted in a nice goal for Dolan.

Pointless triangles leading to no goals but 65% is for fools. I pointed out in previous posts from way back on a number of 10 second goals from our area to the back of the net. Brilliant scintillating and devastating football that defenders hate. Unfortunately we don't have the quality of speedsters Rothwell and Armstrong with Elliot providing the clever link play any more. All pointless triangles do is allow the defence the time to turn upfield, mark their opposing player and organise themselves.

 

[blueandwhitehalves]

Personally I don't care if we pass it or long-ball it, I just care if it works.

I used to hear the Big Sam critics claim they'd rather watch good football even if we don't win as many. Well I think we can safely say by now that that's a load of rubbish, given the criticism of Mowbray and JDT when we tried to play good stuff and it didn't work.

So it must be good passing football AND winning regularly that these fans want. Well I want to marry Jennifer Lawrence but its just not gonna happen. We've bottom half wages and mediocre quality players. If winning ugly is all Eustace can manage then that's absolutely fine by me.

 

[Alan]

£2m in the bank and 40k pw is a powerful persuader. Could we really expect him to turn that down?

No I don't expect him to turn it down but BB said that "Wharton wanted to go" which is a very different thing.

 

[Drog]

Personally I don't care if we pass it or long-ball it, I just care if it works.
I used to hear the Big Sam critics claim they'd rather watch good football even if we don't win as many. Well I think we can safely say by now that that's a load of rubbish, given the criticism of Mowbray and JDT when we tried to play good stuff and it didn't work.

Only two types of passes.... good ones and bad ones.

Obviously discounting any passes made at Jennifer Lawrence!