I have wondered in the past whether I should be as optimistic as possible in previewing games or try to be more realistic of our prospects. Having thought about it, perhaps devoted supporters such as me will always be more favourably disposed anyway.
On this occasion though, we would, even if we were a lower half Championship side, hope at best for a draw at Blackburn with the key word “hope". Having only lost 2-3 there when we were hardly match fit might signify that we have some chance of a result if we are better as a unit. Their home record does reveal vulnerability and not always against the best opposition, so it will be interesting.
With a considerable build-up of fixtures and a good chance of the Play-offs and even automatic promotion, further FA cup commitment would not be helpful. So just “giving it a go" would be the sensible approach. In fact, caring less, might well produce the best performance.
Since Lumley is still wanted by QPR with a new contract in the offing, it is good to see that we have moved swiftly to get another young England international squad member at U21 level to join on loan. The young Portuguese winger from Barnsley looks another shrewd signing and I admire the speed at which Moore moves in the market. It still seems a possibility that Tulloch could rejoin eventually and that will contribute to the necessary requirement for rotation and substitution.
We await the outcome of the Whiteman transfer saga and it would be good if his true worth were measured by the kind of money paid for so many of the foreign players and fringe PL squad players. But I expect we’ll get a good deal less, if he does go. Is it realistic to believe the publicity about Liam Ravenhill? If so we should be hanging on to him as a natural replacement. It would be ironic if, so soon after making the wrong decision over Watters, if we just sold him on untried and untested and effectively undervalued.
We all must be a little bit hungry for some partisan football watching and I am certainly looking forward to Saturday, even if it might be more a matter of judging the quality of the performance, than an expectation of victory.
The situation surrounding Sims is interesting with the complication being his injury. Rovers say they retain their wish to prolong his loan and the question is “Would a club be prepared to sign a player who is suffering an Achilles’ tendon injury, especially if his return to full fitness does not happen before the end of the Transfer Window?" Perhaps if the terms of the transfer were conditional on complete recovery, it could happen, but the transfer fee would not provide immediate value compared with signing a fit player. Optimistically then, Rovers might still secure his services.
So based on the score after any extra time I think I’ll say 2-1 to the other Rovers and suggest Taylor as my first choice scorer and Anderson my second.
And by the way, a Happy New Year too. It comes as challenges abound with the world having to deal with Covid and here we have the unknowns of Brexit on top of that. I also sincerely hope that Micky and his fellow countrymen and women will recover from recent events and get through those which lie immediately ahead and will strive to respect their institutions which are often cited as an example to the rest of us. Popularism, particularly as a much-praised escape route from communism in Eastern Europe, but now exemplified elsewhere, may now be painfully exhibiting its downside. Incidentally, in the minds of some (as they sloganise), has not the last 4 years already made “America Great Again"? I like the USA and its people, but these are testing times.
DPL v Blackburn Rovers
posted on 9/1/21
The prize money will be useful!
posted on 9/1/21
The FA Player said "For UK only" and I had trouble locking my VPN on to a UK site did not see the game. Anyway, later I managed to find a UK site and saw brief highlights of the game on BBC.
Also watched highlights from several games. If Whiteman watches Wycombe vs. PNE, I do not think he will want to go to Preston. They made Wycombe look good!
In our game our passing looked sloppy at times, especially Richards, but then he appears to have played well and scored a good goal. Why was he taken off with only a one goal lead?
It is encouraging, and let's hope we get a more appealing draw in Round 4.
posted on 11/1/21
As Micky says, we did not seem as brisk and decisive in controlling and passing the ball as we have in the past, but perhaps we were too ambitious in trying to closely control the ball in spaces which were too tight. More skilful opponents, as in this case, make this more difficult, but it can be very effective when it works.
The majority of forecasters had admirable faith, and I admit that my late change of mind was rather marginal.
Perhaps Blackburn were a little fortunate to win last time, so this evened it up.
Blackburn R 0 : Rovers 1 (Richards)
>>>>>>> Scorer > Score > Result Bonus > Total > Pts B/F > O/all
Donaldo>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 3 >>>>> 58 >>>>>> 61
PDXMickey> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 49 >>>>>> 49
BVZ>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 3 >>>>> 23 >>>>>> 26
Crazy>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 35 >>>>> 38
Mooligan>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 64 >>>>> 67
Cheltenham 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>>> 0
Nookie>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 56 >>>>>> 56
Selby>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 19 >>>>>> 19
Lanza>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0
>>>>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 12 >>>> 0 >>>> 12 >>>> 304 >>>>> 316
posted on 11/1/21
The last time I watched Rovers v West Ham we were both in The Second division! We lost 2-1.
posted on 11/1/21
The last Rovers player to score against West Ham was the one and only No26! Guess what my prediction is going to be?
posted on 11/1/21
We have just got to beat West Ham. However, as they struggled today against National League opposition, they we not risk a weak team against the mighty Rovers!
posted on 12/1/21
In a sense something of a “derby” for me as I know more West Ham fans and even some former players than Southend ones. I was at that 2-1 game when they had great difficulty containing Diouf and a draw would not have been an unfair result. It was the only time that I have faced enquiries about my fitness when buying my ticket because it was on the top row of one of the stands and I had to literally climb up to the seat.
I have watched them quite a bit, though only once at the London Stadium and they have come on a lot under Moyes who is well liked there. Comparing our very comfortable win at FC United with the Spurs struggle at Stockport, Leeds’ debacle at Crawley and West Ham’s on the awful pitch last night must be misleading though. We obviously only just scraped by at Blackburn yet they as a mid table Championship side would not be expected to beat either of the 2 PL teams even at home.
West Ham are probably as good a PL team that we’ve met in the FA Cup this century and realistically, giving a good account of ourselves there is probably as much as we can hope for. Without the atmosphere of a large crowd an Old Trafford or Anfield experience is not really the same though is it?
I do hope that the Government does not put an end to allowing football to carry on; it certainly provides something to look forward to apart from my imminent (I hope) vaccination and the developing political events 3000 miles away. I don’t think I can be any more shocked, although perhaps many of us here have had our eyes opened on aspects of American “culture” beyond pure politics which I had not really seen before.
The Whiteman situation is providing lots of newspaper copy. I suppose that living on the wrong side of the Pennines makes Preston or Blackburn more attractive than we would be able to imagine, but making the step up with us would seem just as good especially if the price is not right.
posted on 13/1/21
Hi Donaldo, just noticed that you missed my 3 points from the Burton game. Could you please add? Thank you.
posted on 13/1/21
Yes Crazy, I’ve added 3, so that your cumulative total is 41. Sorry.
posted on 14/1/21
No worries Donaldo. Thank you for all the hard work in kicking off the commentary for each game and tracking the points totals. It is much appreciated!