Stoke City Sat Aug 27th

[Old Darwen Blue]

So some marvellous melodramatic posts on this thread regarding the match already, leakover from the dark side perhaps? As JDT says, we have won five out of eight games in all competitions and are in the top half of the league. It’s early days for a new manager with a completely new system and he needs support not slagging off. Folk shouldn’t talk about other fans moaning at games when they then come on here moaning, or should they? Up for debate I suppose. The first half was poor but the second half much better, how many shots on target? Stoke did what they always do and try to bully the opposition and that dick of a referee didn’t help. He was a last minute substitute and was the same guy who reffed us at Sheff Utd. I don’t think Stoke have lost at Ewood in eight visits now so the score wasn’t much of a surprise and for all their ”physicality” though, they were fortunate we didn’t score.

The last time I looked the league comprised 46 games not six so let’s be sensible shall we?

Onwards and upwards

COYB

JDTBWA

 

[Old Darwen Blue]

Oh I nearly forgot, how good is Daniel Ayala? Champions league defender on his day no problem and I can see why the scousers bought him.

 

[Barmitzvah Boy]

Oh I nearly forgot, how good is Daniel Ayala? Champions league defender on his day no problem and I can see why the scousers bought him.

…..and how good is Ash Phillips?

 

[steve w]

Oh I nearly forgot, how good is Daniel Ayala? Champions league defender on his day no problem and I can see why the scousers bought him.

I said last year we need to keep him fit and playing - luckily last year, when he wasnt fit, we had great cover with JPVH (who got on for Brighton as sub yesterday) and a fit again Wharton.
Unless we get some cover in defence we are on super thin ice this season
Travis had to drop in at rright back yesterday and Stoke immediately targeted him - their winger went past him like he was stood still - it was so evident I actually found it funny - JDT must not have been so amused, and brought Carter on

 

[Drog]

So along came a polished and slick Stoke team languishing in the lower reaches of the Championship or at least that's what it seemed like in that awful, abysmal, abject first half (hows that for alliteration?). Or at least they seemed polished and slick in that first half. Second half when a few substitutions by the Rovers had altered the dynamics of the match and the Rovers at last got their bit between their teeth / found their mojo or whatever comparison you wish to make Stoke looked far more like their normal selves which is a bang average Championship side!
The Rovers horror first half can only have been matched yesterday by those of Bournemouth and Manchester City. Yesterday in that opening 45 minutes I was starkly reminded of the bad old days under Messrs Lambert and Coyle. Fair enough Mowbray had his share ... I recall the first 45 v Derby Co last season for one but at least we rescued all 3 points in the second half. In that first half littered by errors when the Rovers appeared determined to give the game away the dunce caps go to Kaminsky for the goal, Rankin Costello for giving the ball away needlessly in the build up and making dreadfully inaccurate passes all that half and the hapless John Buckley (wtf has happened to the silky smooth JB who controlled so many matches last season?). An injury to Szmodic saw Dolan replace him. Suffice to say the boos rained down as the team left the pitch with the only player able to hold his head high being the marvellous Ayala. Is there a better centre half in the Championship?

Second half changes saw Messrs Buckley and Rankin Costello replaced by (Adam) Wharton and Hedges and what a difference those changes made. Dolan is not everyone's cup of tea but my word he doesn't half cover some ground and 'fill in' empty spaces on the pitch which invariably makes room for his teammates. Hedges made Szmodic's efforts look poor whilst Wharton taking on John Buckley's role. Those three ably assisted by Morton and Pickering revitalised Dack and Ben Brereton up top. Stoke were well and truly on the back foot and but for some wayward finishing and some remarkable blocking of goal bound shots we would have shared or even stolen the points. Stoke predictably wasted time and ran the clock down as most teams would but the record unfortunately shows we didn't and that is the only stat that matters. So after 3 wins on the run it's now 3 defeats on the spin. Is JDT the man? Is JDT any improvement on Tony Mowbray? After widespread concourse comments at HT I have to say the jury is well and truly still out?

Kaminsky... 6 Kept goal well but has to be massively disappointed to have let Stoke's goal in.

Rankin-Costello... 4 What has happened to Joe? A great start to his 1st team career even though it was at left back held much promise for the future but since his long term injury is simply not the same player.

Phillips.... 5 An able stand in partner for Ayala but JRC alongside in his present form can't have helped. His performance levels suggest to me that he's been adequately bloodied in the first team but now adrenaline levels are falling he'd be better back in the U21's for a spell to find his feet again.

Ayala... 8 A proper centre halves performance yesterday and unafraid to go in where it hurts. I cringed at some of the challenges he made and took but he came through relatively unscathed but my word he'll have some bruises showing today.

Pickering... 7 Strong performance in a difficult opening spell and in the second half supported BBD well with overlapping play.

Travis... 6 Not his normal performance in midfield during that awful first half but then again with so many teammates playing poorly how could he be expected to? Pushed back to right back in the second after JRC was withdrawn at HT and performed ably there although in fairness Stoke's attacking intentions had reduced in priority as they fought to hold their lead. Was embarrassed by the pace of Stoke sub Campbell but he is mighty quick..

Morton... 7 Decent showing from the latest Livvie loanee and showed he can certainly pick a pass.

Szmodic... 5 Not sure why this lad is preferred to Hedges but then I don't know the nature and severity of Hedges injury.

Brereton Diaz... 5 If the Directors lounge was crowded with scouts and Managers they won't have been impressed. A no show first half and although the HT changes favoured him and he saw plenty of action he'd brought his old size 18 clown shoes by mistake. Some good openings in front of him in that second half spoilt by some wayward finishing and comical moments. To any watching yesterday, would you recommend your club fork out 15m-20m on yesterday's evidence'?

Dack... 7 A quiet first half but came to light in the second once he had some better players around him. Another rover to suffer from Stoke's excellent blocking game.

Subs

Hedges... 7 Looking a stronger and more confident player this season. I think he'll prove to be a good buy.

Dolan.... 7 So quick over 5 yards but what a shame he's no top gear when he's on the wing. Always a willing worker full of enthusiasm and graft. After the match lots were commenting that he'll only ever be a lower league player and that he's not progressed but he'd be in my squad and lets not forget he's still only a kid isn't he? I'd say his future is to play 'in the hole' in an old style inside forward.

Wharton (Adam).... 8 I hope this wasn't a flash in the pan but I've not seen such a range of passing for a long time. I know it's too much praise but yesterday his the disguise in and weight of his passing reminded me of 'Sid' Cowans and Tugay!!! He looks skinny and frail but he's sure to fill out as older bro Scott has shown.


JDT... 4 Goodness only knows what his team selection and team talk must have been but the team was awful with a capital A. Credit for almost repairing the damage at HT. I know that his available finances are poor and that his squad short of numbers but I'm thinking that he would find out a lot about his squad yesterday and particularly in relation to character.

Referee Leigh Doughty 4... Last time out v Sheff Utd I awarded a '6'. Not this time though. A below par performance imo. He was never going to give a penalty was he?

 

[Alan]

My first visit to Ewood for three years. I was hoping that OOT would come to my seat to have a word but God knows what has happened to him!
I generally enjoyed my visit, apart from the match, and was glad to see that some of the people in the surrounding seats were still there. It was good to see them again.
The downside was that coming off I had to crawl up the steep steps and had to be helped up by fans and a very pleasant steward. iI'll go again though. I can put up with the embarrassment if it means I can go. Sorry Mr steward but you'll have to help me again.
The thing that struck me was the vast difference between watching on TV and being at the ground. You see what is going on all over the pitch and can see where the passes should go rather than just following the ball. It's far far better!
Next time I'm hoping to see a win.

 

[blueandwhitehalves]

Oh I nearly forgot, how good is Daniel Ayala? Champions league defender on his day no problem and I can see why the scousers bought him.

His first few games at Rovers I thought total liability, but once he shook off the rust I was a big fan and was annoyed that Mowbray dropped him. However you can't argue with the generally outstanding trio of Lenihan, Van Hecke and Wharton last season, so I figured that might be it for Ayala here.

Good to see him back though and think him and Wharton could be a good pairing. Have that good combo of young/technical alongside experienced/rugged. Its just keeping them both fit which is the big challenge.

 

[Dunnfc]

So some marvellous melodramatic posts on this thread regarding the match already, leakover from the dark side perhaps? As JDT says, we have won five out of eight games in all competitions and are in the top half of the league. It’s early days for a new manager with a completely new system and he needs support not slagging off. Folk shouldn’t talk about other fans moaning at games when they then come on here moaning, or should they? Up for debate I suppose. The first half was poor but the second half much better, how many shots on target? Stoke did what they always do and try to bully the opposition and that dick of a referee didn’t help. He was a last minute substitute and was the same guy who reffed us at Sheff Utd. I don’t think Stoke have lost at Ewood in eight visits now so the score wasn’t much of a surprise and for all their ”physicality” though, they were fortunate we didn’t score.

The last time I looked the league comprised 46 games not six so let’s be sensible shall we?

Onwards and upwards

COYB

JDTBWA

Theres allot of people who mistakenly think the garden is rosy. It's not, we look awful, we are bottom of the chance creation league and expected goals league. It's a recipe built for disaster. Appreciate it's a new system but how many times have we seen the new Poundland Pep in this league come to a club and impose a continental style which doesn't work? Plenty. We need to get back to basics and stop pissing about with the ball in our own box etc. The quality of football on show has gotten worse with each league game. We had two shots on target all game yesterday which is an improvement from previous zero shots on target in the games before. Throughout this season in the five games we've averaged 12 shots on target only at goal!

 

[blueandwhitehalves]

Its probably still a bit too early to get on the manager's case, but even an optimist has to admit 7-0 over the last 3 games doesn't look good. So far this has all the hallmarks of a honeymoon period wearing off. And perhaps the most ominous of signs, JDT's superfan has disappeared

 

[Dunnfc]

Its probably still a bit too early to get on the manager's case, but even an optimist has to admit 7-0 over the last 3 games doesn't look good. So far this has all the hallmarks of a honeymoon period wearing off. And perhaps the most ominous of signs, JDT's superfan has disappeared

It’s the ridiculous tactics! It’s the second EFL game we’ve had to make a double sub at half time because he’s set us up wrong. Rovers is not a place for a rookie manager.

 

[Andreas Dei.]

Danish Owen Coyle

That's a bit harsh, @Dunnfc . Funny, mind; but a bit harsh!

and the shambolic summer recruitment and it’s lateness which I’m mentioned before appointment is so reminiscent

This, for me, is crucial. "Strengthening" the squad has, under the present ownership, been diabolical. We were sold the concept of "billionaires" who promised - without looking up in the history books, I can't call the precise phrase to mind at the moment - that they would protect their purchase of This Great Club Of Ours.

Fingers crossed, in transfer windows to come, "Gregg" will bring some co-ordination to the process; and the Academy will continue to contribute potential stars of the future, but yesterday made it feel there's a long way between then and the here and now.

There's no point in rehashing what others have said about the way we played yesterday, but surely I can't be the only one to have thought that, in the words of the good old chant, "Again; we're playing twelve again!" The Ref was, imo, awful.

I always have nerves about our next game; and that's because I'm sandgrown. I was the only one in what they call Year 3 nowadays at my Primary school to KNOW that Rovers, then in the middle of Division Two, were better (my Dad had told me so, and he wouldn't lie about something so important!) than Matthews, Mortensen, etc. who were preparing to beat Bolton in the 1953 Cup Final.

When Brett Emerton won us a Premier League point in the last few minutes at Bloomfield Road a dozen or do seasons ago, I was sitting next to one of my best friends from grammar schooldays - his daughter, whose seat it was, couldn't go to the game because she was attending a friend's wedding. We've been to a number of games between the two clubs over the last 60 years and, while each of us supports his own team (obvs.), we know how to behave. If you looked at us sitting side by side during games at Bloomfield Road, you'd never know that we supported opposing sides.

Age and increasing infirmity mean I'm not going over to Wednesday's game. Before yesterday's game, I was quite optimistic about its outcome; now I'm less so. But I'll save my score prediction until I post on the match thread, probably on Wednesday teatime.

 

[Dunnfc]

That's a bit harsh, @Dunnfc . Funny, mind; but a bit harsh!


This, for me, is crucial. "Strengthening" the squad has, under the present ownership, been diabolical. We were sold the concept of "billionaires" who promised - without looking up in the history books, I can't call the precise phrase to mind at the moment - that they would protect their purchase of This Great Club Of Ours.

Fingers crossed, in transfer windows to come, "Gregg" will bring some co-ordination to the process; and the Academy will continue to contribute potential stars of the future, but yesterday made it feel there's a long way between then and the here and now.

There's no point in rehashing what others have said about the way we played yesterday, but surely I can't be the only one to have thought that, in the words of the good old chant, "Again; we're playing twelve again!" The Ref was, imo, awful.

I always have nerves about our next game; and that's because I'm sandgrown. I was the only one in what they call Year 3 nowadays at my Primary school to KNOW that Rovers, then in the middle of Division Two, were better (my Dad had told me so, and he wouldn't lie about something so important!) than Matthews, Mortensen, etc. who were preparing to beat Bolton in the 1953 Cup Final.

When Brett Emerton won us a Premier League point in the last few minutes at Bloomfield Road a dozen or do seasons ago, I was sitting next to one of my best friends from grammar schooldays - his daughter, whose seat it was, couldn't go to the game because she was attending a friend's wedding. We've been to a number of games between the two clubs over the last 60 years and, while each of us supports his own team (obvs.), we know how to behave. If you looked at us sitting side by side during games at Bloomfield Road, you'd never know that we supported opposing sides.

Age and increasing infirmity mean I'm not going over to Wednesday's game. Before yesterday's game, I was quite optimistic about its outcome; now I'm less so. But I'll save my score prediction until I post on the match thread, probably on Wednesday teatime.

Great post.

 

[Old Darwen Blue]

Theres allot of people who mistakenly think the garden is rosy. It's not, we look awful, we are bottom of the chance creation league and expected goals league. It's a recipe built for disaster. Appreciate it's a new system but how many times have we seen the new Poundland Pep in this league come to a club and impose a continental style which doesn't work? Plenty. We need to get back to basics and stop pissing about with the ball in our own box etc. The quality of football on show has gotten worse with each league game. We had two shots on target all game yesterday which is an improvement from previous zero shots on target in the games before. Throughout this season in the five games we've averaged 12 shots on target only at goal!

Aye ok. You are as entitled to your negative view on here as I am with my optimistic one.

As the header above states, everyone’s opinion matters.

 

[blueandwhitehalves]

That's a bit harsh, @Dunnfc . Funny, mind; but a bit harsh!


This, for me, is crucial. "Strengthening" the squad has, under the present ownership, been diabolical. We were sold the concept of "billionaires" who promised - without looking up in the history books, I can't call the precise phrase to mind at the moment - that they would protect their purchase of This Great Club Of Ours.

Fingers crossed, in transfer windows to come, "Gregg" will bring some co-ordination to the process; and the Academy will continue to contribute potential stars of the future, but yesterday made it feel there's a long way between then and the here and now.

There's no point in rehashing what others have said about the way we played yesterday, but surely I can't be the only one to have thought that, in the words of the good old chant, "Again; we're playing twelve again!" The Ref was, imo, awful.

I always have nerves about our next game; and that's because I'm sandgrown. I was the only one in what they call Year 3 nowadays at my Primary school to KNOW that Rovers, then in the middle of Division Two, were better (my Dad had told me so, and he wouldn't lie about something so important!) than Matthews, Mortensen, etc. who were preparing to beat Bolton in the 1953 Cup Final.

When Brett Emerton won us a Premier League point in the last few minutes at Bloomfield Road a dozen or do seasons ago, I was sitting next to one of my best friends from grammar schooldays - his daughter, whose seat it was, couldn't go to the game because she was attending a friend's wedding. We've been to a number of games between the two clubs over the last 60 years and, while each of us supports his own team (obvs.), we know how to behave. If you looked at us sitting side by side during games at Bloomfield Road, you'd never know that we supported opposing sides.

Age and increasing infirmity mean I'm not going over to Wednesday's game. Before yesterday's game, I was quite optimistic about its outcome; now I'm less so. But I'll save my score prediction until I post on the match thread, probably on Wednesday teatime.

Didn't Emerton score the winner that game? I was in the away end of what felt like a temporary stand the Rovers fans were rocking it that much. A classic great victory of the Big Sam days, back when the "hoofball" brigade didn't know how good we had it.

I agree with you on the transfer record under Venkys. They've spent the most money in the worst situations. When they took over our revenue was 4-5 times what it is now, with the promise of it doubling with the next TV deal. Then was the time to give Big Sam tens of millions and he'd have had us back to the Hughes era of top 7. Instead they gave Jerome Andersen carte blanche to sign useless players for £3-4m with half that being agents fees.

Then when we got relegated, they spent big but again when we had a succession of amatuerish managers worst placed to capitalise. Then their next season of investment was the first back in the Championship, but £10-15m for Mowbray isn't enough to turn a League 1 team into a PL one, when you've got Championship teams now collecting parachute payments in excess of £80m.

And now they've given up in my opinion. Their statement after JDT was appointed of "funds available but recruit from within" was viewed with optimism by some on here. My translation of it was "academy and loan players". I don't begrudge Venkys that given where we now are, but its madness to let go a manager who excelled at both those recruitment avenues.

 

[Drog]

Didn't Emerton score the winner that game? I was in the away end of what felt like a temporary stand the Rovers fans were rocking it that much. A classic great victory of the Big Sam days, back when the "hoofball" brigade didn't know how good we had it.

I agree with you on the transfer record under Venkys. They've spent the most money in the worst situations. When they took over our revenue was 4-5 times what it is now, with the promise of it doubling with the next TV deal. Then was the time to give Big Sam tens of millions and he'd have had us back to the Hughes era of top 7. Instead they gave Jerome Andersen carte blanche to sign useless players for £3-4m with half that being agents fees.

Then when we got relegated, they spent big but again when we had a succession of amatuerish managers worst placed to capitalise. Then their next season of investment was the first back in the Championship, but £10-15m for Mowbray isn't enough to turn a League 1 team into a PL one, when you've got Championship teams now collecting parachute payments in excess of £80m.

And now they've given up in my opinion. Their statement after JDT was appointed of "funds available but recruit from within" was viewed with optimism by some on here. My translation of it was "acamedy and loan players". I don't begrudge Venkys that given where we now are, but its madness to let go a manager who excelled at both those recruitment avenues.

Bang on the money b&wh. I'm dead against clubs constantly being funded by wealthy owners. It's skewing English football. Chelsea were a bang average club in the top two divisions before Spurs rejected Abromovic and he bought the blues instead. City too were alternating endlessly between Div's 1 & 2. Meanwhile many Clubs have been seriously damaged by such, never mind our case instead consider the plight of Portsmouth, Coventry, Sheff Wed, Derby etc etc. Now it appears to be NUFC's turn to sell their soul. My mate is a NUFC supporter and he's currently very busy defending Saudia's appalling human rights record. I did stop him in his tracks though by asking whether he'd be so enthusiastic in defending the Saudia's if they had bought Sunderland instead. Everyone will know that I wanted JW to buy Burnley, BWFC, PNE etc when they were languishing in the 4th Div and forming Lancs County FC, my motivation was that such a team would have a big enough support base to compete equally in the top Division. Instead 30 years on Lancastrians residing in one of he country's real 'hot beds of football are without one single team in the Premier League.




I've added a bit though "Instead they gave Jerome Andersen carte blanche to sign useless players for £3-4m with half that being agents fees." and half the agents fees being paid into overseas funny money bank accounts for sharing out between Dastardly and Muttley. My best guess being in Brunei.

 

[blueandwhitehalves]

Bang on the money b&wh. I'm dead against clubs constantly being funded by wealthy owners. It's skewing English football. Chelsea were a bang average club in the top two divisions before Spurs rejected Abromovic and he bought the blues instead. City too were alternating endlessly between Div's 1 & 2. Meanwhile many Clubs have been seriously damaged by such, never mind our case instead consider the plight of Portsmouth, Coventry, Sheff Wed, Derby etc etc. Now it appears to be NUFC's turn to sell their soul. My mate is a NUFC supporter and he's currently very busy defending Saudia's appalling human rights record. I did stop him in his tracks though by asking whether he'd be so enthusiastic in defending the Saudia's if they had bought Sunderland instead. Everyone will know that I wanted JW to buy Burnley, BWFC, PNE etc when they were languishing in the 4th Div and forming Lancs County FC, my motivation was that such a team would have a big enough support base to compete equally in the top Division. Instead 30 years on Lancastrians residing in one of he country's real 'hot beds of football are without one single team in the Premier League.

I've added a bit though "Instead they gave Jerome Andersen carte blanche to sign useless players for £3-4m with half that being agents fees." and half the agents fees being paid into overseas funny money bank accounts for sharing out between Dastardly and Muttley. My best guess being in Brunei.

I don't personally mind the rich owners purely as a necessary evil to combat the gloryhunting effect. In an ideal world everyone would support their nearest professional club, and therefore the resource gap would never be totally impossible to overcome and most clubs would have a shot at glory if that lucky combination of talent came along.

But in the gloryhunter age, we're not talking Man U's fanbase of say 400,000 against Rovers 50,000. We're talking their 400 million nationwide and worldwide glory hunters against our 50,000. So without rich owners this becomes impossible to overcome and all trophies would be spread out about 60% Man U, 20% Liverpool, 20% Arsenal.

Regarding your Lancs County FC idea, I guess its a case of what do people enjoy more. Thats going down the frachise route of American Football or cricket's "The Hundred". A more even and therefore theoretically exciting game, but losing nearly 150 years of tradition that has built club loyalty and therefore enhanced the passion.

 

[Old Darwen Blue]

Im not biting.