Old Darwen Blue
Prediction Champion 2021, 2022 & 2023
Never mind Sturridge I want Benzema
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NEXT GAME:Leicester City FC
Saturday 4th May 2024
Kick off 12.30 pm
Kingpower Stadium
Championship
v Millwall Sat 19/2/22 3pm
- Thread starter Drog
- Start date
This season which promised so much at the turn of the year is not going to go too well unless we can find a proper striker. BBD after somehow finding a goalden touch is long term injured, early days I know but Hedges looks nowhere near like a Championship player despite TM extolling his enthusiasm in training, and another Jan signing TM had high hopes for poor Markandy is out for the season after just 15 minutes of action. Now I may be getting paranoid but I don't see this desperate ill luck happening with our rivals. Mitrovic, Sharp, Solanke etc just seem completely indestructible and turn out every game for our rivals. Still no good licking wounds we've just got to get on with it. Lets look at our possible goalscorers...
Gallagher I could never see getting more than 8 or 10 in a season simply because he doesn't have a strikers instinct and hangs back when he should be making the sort of runs necessary to get on the end of things. A striker is born and not made imo.
Dolan, a willing runner and a tricky customer to boot but like Duggy and McKenzie etc he will never be prolific. Maybe 6 a season.
Travis Combative midfield growler but if he scored 2 in a year it'd be his maximum.
Buckley. Super player with a great touch and a golden vision but no decent shot on him. No more than 6 goals per season.
Khadra master of the unexpected because I don't believe he knows what he is going to do next. Perhaps 6 to 8 goals per season.
Rothwell, a creator. Still able to damage the opposition with his surging runs and create openings for others. Our biggest threat to the opposition but needs more end product. Perhaps 6 per season.
Giles, a capable wideman, capable of firing dangerous balls across the box all afternoon. Wasted here because we don't have anyone to get on the end of them. Not a regular scorer imo. Perhaps 4 or 5 over a season.
Johnson Third choice of two in the middle. Probably the best shot of all of them but no more than 1 or 2 pa.
So there it is. Unless either BBD and/or Dack can return all guns blazing I'm at a loss to see where all our intricate and attractive play can take us. Almost always solid at the back with a mean trio in central defence and with a decent keeper and 2 or 3 good half backs it'll be a crying shame if we cannot capitalise on their solidity over the remainder of the season.
Last night we should have steamrolled over a decent and workmanlike Millwall outfit by 2 or 3 goals to nil, last week whilst outclassed imo we could have shared the points with Fulham. QPR didn't look better than us and neither really did Boro. In truth we are a very strong team and I've not seen us really second best since the 0-7 hammering by Fulham the first week of Nov. So wtf has happened? Easypeasy Armstrong is getting splinters in his arse playing second fiddle to Broja on the South coast. Finances and ambition mean that he had to leave but back to the first paragraph, Fulham, Sheff Utd and Bournemouth can afford to hang on to their top players and we can't. This division is all about have's and have nots and until the structure changes it will be forever thus. All credit to Luton for pushing hard to buck the trend.
Kaminsky... 6 Unbeaten again but a hesitency to come and command for high balls seems to be increasing. With no shots and no shots on target to save his main call to action was from Millwalls dead ball kicks to their collection of giants.
Rankin-Costello..7 The hesitant JRC of a fortnight ago after his long lay off hopefully is a thing of the past. Missed a glorious chance to put the Rovers 1-0 up by trying to slam a cross shot inside the far post when put clean through by Buckley when accuracy would have served better. Needs to work on that after training at Brockhall.
Lenihan.. 7 Up against a tough customer in Afobe (How we need someone like him) and battled well. Still can't pass wind and missed a glorious chance with a free header only to do the usual CH trick of heading over the bar! FFS Deryck Williams Mk 2! Who the hell coaches them to head the ball from corners? HEAD THE BALL DOWN ONTO THE LINE / HEAD THE BALL BACK THE WAY IT CAME being just about the only advice needed.
Van Hecke... 7 Strong match and venturing forward more and more. I'm not sure I'm comfortable with that all the time because he does take risks but he is in front of Lenihan in a creative respect.
Wharton.. 6 A few mistakes going fwd as his left foot rather uncharacteristically let him down a little but as usual solid at the back.
Pickering... 7 Tireless in his application.
Travis.... 7 Singled out by Millwall for some rough treatment but never shirked the physical stuff. Looked dead on his feet in the last 10 ins and as a result some alarming gaps opened up in the centre of the field for Millwall to exploit. Thankfully they didn't.
Rothwell.. 7 Carried the ball forward in his usual fashion time and again but with no end product. Should have had a penalty when he was tripped in the box but Mr Whitestone disagreed.
Buckley... 7 Again a classy performance from JB. Frequently displayed a wonderful first touch and close control and looked the man most likely to create for others. Set up JRC for the chance of the match with a lovely ball which was spurned.
Giles.... 6 Not sure yet about this lad. Did some good things playing on his wrong side but somehow doesn't appear prepared to do the hard yards tracking back.
Gallagher... 6 Plenty of effort and spirit but Big Sam will never be a top target man which is something we knew when we paid 5m for him. He really hasn't developed in the last 3/4 seasons but somehow we've rewarded his failings with a shiny new contract.
Subs
Hedges (Buckley 77) 5 Didn't add to the proceedings and didn't even look like he could do, apart from a shot he blazed way over.
Dolan (Giles 77) 6 Active and energetic but was unable to dent the 5 man Millwall back line.
Vale ( Gallagher 84) 5 Not enough time for him to have much effect on proceedings.
Tony Mowbray... 7 Sent out a team determined to win three points. I couldn't fault the players desire and application but the key moments to score came and went 3 or 4 times and were spurned. Gary Rowett will be a damned sight happier and more relieved after that result than TM.
Referee Dean Whitestone 7 Got most decisions right and was prepared to keep the play moving rather than treat us to the sound of his his whistle every couple of minutes.
Gallagher I could never see getting more than 8 or 10 in a season simply because he doesn't have a strikers instinct and hangs back when he should be making the sort of runs necessary to get on the end of things. A striker is born and not made imo.
Dolan, a willing runner and a tricky customer to boot but like Duggy and McKenzie etc he will never be prolific. Maybe 6 a season.
Travis Combative midfield growler but if he scored 2 in a year it'd be his maximum.
Buckley. Super player with a great touch and a golden vision but no decent shot on him. No more than 6 goals per season.
Khadra master of the unexpected because I don't believe he knows what he is going to do next. Perhaps 6 to 8 goals per season.
Rothwell, a creator. Still able to damage the opposition with his surging runs and create openings for others. Our biggest threat to the opposition but needs more end product. Perhaps 6 per season.
Giles, a capable wideman, capable of firing dangerous balls across the box all afternoon. Wasted here because we don't have anyone to get on the end of them. Not a regular scorer imo. Perhaps 4 or 5 over a season.
Johnson Third choice of two in the middle. Probably the best shot of all of them but no more than 1 or 2 pa.
So there it is. Unless either BBD and/or Dack can return all guns blazing I'm at a loss to see where all our intricate and attractive play can take us. Almost always solid at the back with a mean trio in central defence and with a decent keeper and 2 or 3 good half backs it'll be a crying shame if we cannot capitalise on their solidity over the remainder of the season.
Last night we should have steamrolled over a decent and workmanlike Millwall outfit by 2 or 3 goals to nil, last week whilst outclassed imo we could have shared the points with Fulham. QPR didn't look better than us and neither really did Boro. In truth we are a very strong team and I've not seen us really second best since the 0-7 hammering by Fulham the first week of Nov. So wtf has happened? Easypeasy Armstrong is getting splinters in his arse playing second fiddle to Broja on the South coast. Finances and ambition mean that he had to leave but back to the first paragraph, Fulham, Sheff Utd and Bournemouth can afford to hang on to their top players and we can't. This division is all about have's and have nots and until the structure changes it will be forever thus. All credit to Luton for pushing hard to buck the trend.
Kaminsky... 6 Unbeaten again but a hesitency to come and command for high balls seems to be increasing. With no shots and no shots on target to save his main call to action was from Millwalls dead ball kicks to their collection of giants.
Rankin-Costello..7 The hesitant JRC of a fortnight ago after his long lay off hopefully is a thing of the past. Missed a glorious chance to put the Rovers 1-0 up by trying to slam a cross shot inside the far post when put clean through by Buckley when accuracy would have served better. Needs to work on that after training at Brockhall.
Lenihan.. 7 Up against a tough customer in Afobe (How we need someone like him) and battled well. Still can't pass wind and missed a glorious chance with a free header only to do the usual CH trick of heading over the bar! FFS Deryck Williams Mk 2! Who the hell coaches them to head the ball from corners? HEAD THE BALL DOWN ONTO THE LINE / HEAD THE BALL BACK THE WAY IT CAME being just about the only advice needed.
Van Hecke... 7 Strong match and venturing forward more and more. I'm not sure I'm comfortable with that all the time because he does take risks but he is in front of Lenihan in a creative respect.
Wharton.. 6 A few mistakes going fwd as his left foot rather uncharacteristically let him down a little but as usual solid at the back.
Pickering... 7 Tireless in his application.
Travis.... 7 Singled out by Millwall for some rough treatment but never shirked the physical stuff. Looked dead on his feet in the last 10 ins and as a result some alarming gaps opened up in the centre of the field for Millwall to exploit. Thankfully they didn't.
Rothwell.. 7 Carried the ball forward in his usual fashion time and again but with no end product. Should have had a penalty when he was tripped in the box but Mr Whitestone disagreed.
Buckley... 7 Again a classy performance from JB. Frequently displayed a wonderful first touch and close control and looked the man most likely to create for others. Set up JRC for the chance of the match with a lovely ball which was spurned.
Giles.... 6 Not sure yet about this lad. Did some good things playing on his wrong side but somehow doesn't appear prepared to do the hard yards tracking back.
Gallagher... 6 Plenty of effort and spirit but Big Sam will never be a top target man which is something we knew when we paid 5m for him. He really hasn't developed in the last 3/4 seasons but somehow we've rewarded his failings with a shiny new contract.
Subs
Hedges (Buckley 77) 5 Didn't add to the proceedings and didn't even look like he could do, apart from a shot he blazed way over.
Dolan (Giles 77) 6 Active and energetic but was unable to dent the 5 man Millwall back line.
Vale ( Gallagher 84) 5 Not enough time for him to have much effect on proceedings.
Tony Mowbray... 7 Sent out a team determined to win three points. I couldn't fault the players desire and application but the key moments to score came and went 3 or 4 times and were spurned. Gary Rowett will be a damned sight happier and more relieved after that result than TM.
Referee Dean Whitestone 7 Got most decisions right and was prepared to keep the play moving rather than treat us to the sound of his his whistle every couple of minutes.
steve w
Senior Member
Spot on review - thanks
In slight defence of Gally last night - he did set off on some telling runs - obviously expecting the ball to be played early -only to look back in despair that his run hadn't been spotted. He also grafted hard.
On the other hand his first touch at holding the ball up was atrocious
Lets just hope you have got the Dack double serious injury prognosis wrong - if he is the player of old - he will score goals for sure in this team. Both Gallys and JRC chance would have settled in the net
In slight defence of Gally last night - he did set off on some telling runs - obviously expecting the ball to be played early -only to look back in despair that his run hadn't been spotted. He also grafted hard.
On the other hand his first touch at holding the ball up was atrocious
Lets just hope you have got the Dack double serious injury prognosis wrong - if he is the player of old - he will score goals for sure in this team. Both Gallys and JRC chance would have settled in the net
OnlyOneTugay
Prediction Champion 2019 & 2020
I get the formation with the false number 9 and it has produced some good outcomes , but I think its continuous use is a needs must rather than the go to preferred option . The problem is we haven’t got any other alternative. My biggest criticism of TM was his failure to eradicate soft goals and to defend as a unit . He’s now completely solved that problem , incredible how good we are now .
If I had to criticise him now it’d be for failing to replace Danny Graham . It means Rovers can’t switch from plan A ( false number 9 ) to plan B ( proper number 9 ) Granted he’s been unlucky with injuries Brereton , Dack , Markaday , Khadra , Dolan but none are proper centre forwards , neither is Gallagher.
Last night Rovers played lots of good stuff , as they did at Sheffield, Fulham ( 2nd Half ) and at home v QPR , but they aren’t getting the rewards their approach play deserves . We have a young , decent side and that’s why failure to capitalise is so frustrating. This team , with a Mitrovic or a Toney would be strong favourites to go up automatically , that makes it doubly frustrating.
If I had to criticise him now it’d be for failing to replace Danny Graham . It means Rovers can’t switch from plan A ( false number 9 ) to plan B ( proper number 9 ) Granted he’s been unlucky with injuries Brereton , Dack , Markaday , Khadra , Dolan but none are proper centre forwards , neither is Gallagher.
Last night Rovers played lots of good stuff , as they did at Sheffield, Fulham ( 2nd Half ) and at home v QPR , but they aren’t getting the rewards their approach play deserves . We have a young , decent side and that’s why failure to capitalise is so frustrating. This team , with a Mitrovic or a Toney would be strong favourites to go up automatically , that makes it doubly frustrating.
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Robin
Senior Member
You also have to remember that he was also missing in the box at some chances. There was a really good chance that Buckley set up with Travis who passed the ball into the box and there was no one inside of it. There is a thin line between being a hero or not. If Gallagher would have scored yesterday when he was one on one with the keeper we wouldn’t having this conversation. But he didn’t and he hasn’t scored a goal since Middlesbrough which is like nine matches ago. However I won’t blame him for this result because there were other who missed very good opportunities as well and as Drog points out. It’s all so frustrating because we have had so many matches , after Diaz went injured, that we could have won, IF we would have someone who could score goals.
Barmitzvah Boy
Global winner of the 2021 Christmas Quiz 👊🤩🤩
Good review Drog but the Rothwell ‘penalty’ was a dive. I would have booked him.
Wilpshire Blue
Senior Member
We have scored 3 goals in the last 12 league matches, which is a thoroughly dismal statistic.
Yet the manager continues to play varying combinations of Khadra, Buckley, Gallagher and Dolan as our goal threats.
Giving Vale six minutes on Tuesday was ridiculous.
I know we have injuries but, come on, repeating the same mis-firing line up isn't going to change anything.
Try something different for once Tony!!!
Yet the manager continues to play varying combinations of Khadra, Buckley, Gallagher and Dolan as our goal threats.
Giving Vale six minutes on Tuesday was ridiculous.
I know we have injuries but, come on, repeating the same mis-firing line up isn't going to change anything.
Try something different for once Tony!!!
I have to disagree with that.
Ridiculous comment BB. Buckley is turning into one hell of aplayer / schemer. He had a snap shot brilliantly saved on the line, he hit a post and he laid on the games best two chances. The one which JRC unfortunately screwed wide of the far post and the disgraceful miss by Gallagher who should either have hit it across the keeper and inside far post or brought it down and rounded the keeper. What he did was pathetic, trying to beat a keeper on the near post with a weak shot and missing the goal altogether from 6 yards just sums his striking abilities up completely. As I've said many times he's a decent lower league centre half wasted
Me too. Thanks for the compliment BB but the incident is not on the video link on here but it was shown plenty of times by SKY which I watched in the pub afterwards. I'm pretty sure that Rothwell got a clip on his ankle.
Old Darwen Blue
Prediction Champion 2021, 2022 & 2023
Really? I saw the highlights last night and I’m convinced it was a penalty?