[Archived] Nickos Thread

[ABBEY]

awful?

frustrating, missed chances, too many players off-form/not gelling, one real stinker (Coventry), one or two selection/tactical mistakes... but awful???

Awful is hardly an apt way to describe a situation in which 12 Premiership clubs would be delighted/ecstatically happy to swap their results and performances since 11 November with the Rovers. Every club beneath us has not done as well and we have gained relative to Man City.

home performences whch is how the bills get paid has been awful p,it might not look it from your tv but i assure you its been poor.

thank god for away points.....6 wins out of 15 isnt good,theres only 4 teams who scored less at home than us too.I know were your coming from about the other 12 teams looking up to us at the moment but they did the same to bolton last season.

[nicko]

I would have agreed pre Fulham game. We are just not taking advantage when others slip up and that is criminal.

I don't think we have enough to make it count and having heard Everton's fixtures it's so frustrating we didn't just invest a little more cash in and allow Hughes to get in a midfielder he wanted.

There's no doubt that a couple of signings would have helped...and you need four or five probably to take on the challenge next season.

But - right now - there is still a top-six chance. If the attitude everywhere is to write it off then it won't be a possibility. The league table could look a lot better by Sunday night.

[nicko]

Portsmouth have the FA Cup to distract them and they are not exactly prolific even with Defoe.

Villa are in a dip and nobody has spotted it.

Man City still do not convince anyone that they can last.

If Rovers fail it will be because of a lack of bodies more than anything else.

Of that group of four you have the best chance of three points on Saturday.

[Flopsy]

and thats why we'll lose nicko

[modes98]

Portsmouth have the FA Cup to distract them and they are not exactly prolific even with Defoe.

Villa are in a dip and nobody has spotted it.

Man City still do not convince anyone that they can last.

If Rovers fail it will be because of a lack of bodies more than anything else.

Of that group of four you have the best chance of three points on Saturday.

Portsmouth are away at a very dodgy spurs.

Villa are at home to Sunderland who aren't exactly world beaters.

We have Wigan

Man City are away at faltering Notlob.

Apart from maybe Pompey I'd say it should be full points all round.

[Ronin]

Looking at our fixtures, we need to get as much as we can from our upcoming games as the games in April against Spuds, Liverpool, Man U and Portsmouth could be toughies!!! I'm hoping we raise our game a lot more, even moreso in the last few games.

[nicko]

Portsmouth are away at a very dodgy spurs.

Villa are at home to Sunderland who aren't exactly world beaters.

We have Wigan

Man City are away at faltering Notlob.

Apart from maybe Pompey I'd say it should be full points all round.

Portsmouth will have the FA Cup on their minds from now on in...no danger.

Villa are stalling and Sunderland must pick up points.

Wigan may just be in a comfort zone after the weekend and, frankly, are not THAT good.

Bolton MUST beat Man City or basically they are gone...

So, I repeat, you have a great chance of making ground on those around you.

[nicko]

I've just had a look at ALL the games remaining in the Premier and it's interesting reading:

1 - There's no reason why Rovers can't reach 62 points [my estimated total needed for sixth] although it could even come down to goal difference.

2 - Pompey will fade, Man City have a nightmare run of away games at teams who badly need points.

Mind you, by my reckoning Chelsea will sneak the title and Newcastle [on the final day] and Birmingham will go down - with Bolton and Fulham escaping and a safety total of 36 points.

Wonder if I can get a bet on that treble? Chelsea champs, Newcastle and Birmingham relegated...

[Flopsy]

So, I repeat, you have a great chance of making ground on those around you.

and I'll repeat, that exactly why we wont

[modes98]

I've just had a look at ALL the games remaining in the Premier and it's interesting reading:

1 - There's no reason why Rovers can't reach 62 points [my estimated total needed for sixth] although it could even come down to goal difference.

2 - Pompey will fade, Man City have a nightmare run of away games at teams who badly need points.

Mind you, by my reckoning Chelsea will sneak the title and Newcastle [on the final day] and Birmingham will go down - with Bolton and Fulham escaping and a safety total of 36 points.

Wonder if I can get a bet on that treble? Chelsea champs, Newcastle and Birmingham relegated...

I hope your right about Newcastle! I just tried to create a multiplier with those 3 but it keeps saying i can't combine them.

I think Man Utd will get the title though.

Rovers need to win 6 of the 8 games imo. Either that or win 5 and draw 3.

City have been awful but i think the win at the weekend, which they didn't deserve will pick them up. Villa have very much hit the wall but we aren't taking advantage. Pompey couldn't score but now seem unable to stop themselves.

[herbergeehh]

What we NEED to do is start finishing games off. We have lost against Fulham (I hear Woy has taken all three points, since our goal was dubious- they might be in for trouble, you can see him do the maths can't you?) and now West Ham because of this - we should've had five more points now.

31 Blackburn - Wigan 3

32 Reading - Blackburn 3

33 Blackburn - Tottenham 3

34 Liverpool - Blackburn ?

35 Blackburn - Man. United 0

36 Portsmouth - Blackburn ?

37 Blackburn - Derby 3

38 Birmingham - Blackburn 3

These are not easy games, but we need three points from them. I think we will get one point against Liverpool to be honest, and even though Man Utd will overcome us (will the CL schedule affect this game?) we can certainly beat Pompey if we perform well.

Given it's Blackburn Rovers, we will draw at least one of the "winnable" games here, so at least two points away at Liverpool and Portsmouth might be necessary..

[LDRover]

awful?

frustrating, missed chances, too many players off-form/not gelling, one real stinker (Coventry), one or two selection/tactical mistakes... but awful???

Awful is hardly an apt way to describe a situation in which 12 Premiership clubs would be delighted/ecstatically happy to swap their results and performances since 11 November with the Rovers. Every club beneath us has not done as well and we have gained relative to Man City.

With respect Philip, if you'd spent your hard earned on the crap we've had to put up with on the whole this season 'awful' would hardly scratch the surface.

I see how it must look from afar and that we're in the top half, 'punching above our weight' blah blah bloody blah but if we're in the entertainment industry here, I as a punter can call it like I see it, and believe me it's been @#/?.

BTW - Abbey's comparison with Bolton is spot on IMO.

[herbergeehh]

Looking at Pompey's program, I think we need more than 62 points to earn 6th place. They overcame Villa this weekend, and even though Fulham and Wigan will be fighting to stay alive in the Premiership the last two games, Pompey will have more quality.

[1864roverite]

lets not worry about Pompy's league position because they are going to win the FA Cup, thats where their interest lies this season.

[nicko]

I hope your right about Newcastle! I just tried to create a multiplier with those 3 but it keeps saying i can't combine them. SO DID I, BUT THEY WON'T LET ME AT STAN JAMES...SOMETHING ABOUT 'RELATED MARKETS.' MY A****.

I think Man Utd will get the title though. SO DID I UNTIL I CHECKED THE GAMES, CHELSEA HAVE A DREAM RUN - AND AN EASIER EUROPEAN ROUTE TOO.

Rovers need to win 6 of the 8 games imo. Either that or win 5 and draw 3. I MADE IT FIVE WINS AND ONE DRAW. I THINK YOU WILL LOSE AT READING AND LIVERPOOL, BUT DRAW AT HOME TO MAN U. THE REST ARE WINNABLE.

City have been awful but i think the win at the weekend, which they didn't deserve will pick them up. Villa have very much hit the wall but we aren't taking advantage. Pompey couldn't score but now seem unable to stop themselves. MAN CITY ARE WEAK AWAY AND THEY HAVE SOME HARD TRIPS. VILLA HAVE A GOOD RUN BUT ARE SHORT OF PLAYERS AND I REALLY THINK POMPEY WILL STRUGGLE WITH THE FA CUP - YOUR VISIT THERE IS OBVIOUSLY VITAL.

[philipl]

Let's ignore the Rovers as time will tell if you are right nicko, but back at Christmas I ran that BBC predictor game without looking at the tables and was astonished to see Chelsea win it. I still think Chelsea are extremely well-placed and with the focus on the Arsenal v Man U scrap, I suspect that mentally they are better set up than the others to win it, especially if Drogba gets backk to his usual devastating form.

At the bottom, I have to say I am glad we are not in Bolton's situation. Losing at Wigan could prove to be a massively bad result for them. Given is out for the next six weeks so KK's job at Newcastle has just become a magnitude more difficult.

[modes98]

SO DID I, BUT THEY WON'T LET ME AT STAN JAMES...SOMETHING ABOUT 'RELATED MARKETS.' MY A****.

SO DID I UNTIL I CHECKED THE GAMES, CHELSEA HAVE A DREAM RUN - AND AN EASIER EUROPEAN ROUTE TOO.

I MADE IT FIVE WINS AND ONE DRAW. I THINK YOU WILL LOSE AT READING AND LIVERPOOL, BUT DRAW AT HOME TO MAN U. THE REST ARE WINNABLE.

If Newcastle need 2 or 3 points going into the final 2 or 3 games i don't think they stand a chance. Keegan needs to win at Fulham or it's game over.

It isn't a bad run in but if your going to win the title you have to win the big games anyway.

We should beat Reading after the thrashing we dished out at Ewood and their inability to score. I had Liverpool down as a point until their recent form, now i fear the girlfriend will have 1 up on me all over the summer. Man Utd at home is normally good for us, i can see us letting one in late to draw.

[nicko]

Newcastle v Fulham is vital. If the Toon don't win that then their Geordie bottoms will be twitching.

By the way, just did a bit of self-indulgence and checked on the season predictions [August 9 2007] to confirm I tipped East Fife for Scottish Division 3...so that's one from one so far. Ross County coming right too, so just need St.Johnstone to come good for a treble - or spend the 'winnings' on Hamilton. Makes a change to be in a position of betting strength.

[Bazzanotsogreat]

With respect Philip, if you'd spent your hard earned on the crap we've had to put up with on the whole this season 'awful' would hardly scratch the surface.

I see how it must look from afar and that we're in the top half, 'punching above our weight' blah blah bloody blah but if we're in the entertainment industry here, I as a punter can call it like I see it, and believe me it's been @#/?.

BTW - Abbey's comparison with Bolton is spot on IMO.

Im afraid I have to agree with the sentiment of that post. If you’re basing your analysis of Rovers season through the eyes of tables and statistics then were doing okay? In reality some of the home performances that I have witnessed this season have been god-dam awful. Away from Ewood the games seem to be better, as we don’t have to try and force the pace as much

Admittedly, I haven’t been to as many games as I have in previous seasons n(I have missed half of rovers home games) but the games I witnessed I have been generally abject of quality , possession and overall entertainment. Its much easier on the eye when checking the statistics on the BBC or sky websites as I am sometimes relegated to doing.

[JAL]

Im afraid I have to agree with the sentiment of that post. If you’re basing your analysis of Rovers season through the eyes of tables and statistics then were doing okay? In reality some of the home performances that I have witnessed this season have been god-dam awful. Away from Ewood the games seem to be better, as we don’t have to try and force the pace as much

Admittedly, I haven’t been to as many games as I have in previous seasons n(I have missed half of rovers home games) but the games I witnessed I have been generally abject of quality , possession and overall entertainment. Its much easier on the eye when checking the statistics on the BBC or sky websites as I am sometimes relegated to doing.

Totally agree, i back up yours and LD Rovers comments up we've been extremely lucky this season despite playing some pretty average predicatable football. Maybe Hughes should get a knighthood for the results but are they really sustainable in the future.

[herbergeehh]

No Vogel in the Reserves tonight then, Nicko? Nelly and Treacy back, also Olsson on the bench. They would announce it if he was playing?

[nicko]

No Vogel in the Reserves tonight then, Nicko? Nelly and Treacy back, also Olsson on the bench. They would announce it if he was playing?

I'd like to have seen Vogel play, but if he is not fit enough for the ressies it suggests he is not fit enough for the first team. So he must be pretty unfit.

Good to see Nellie get a game although I note it was two months and not two weeks that he needed off. He needs to have some action to find out if the hamstring/backside problem is sorted. If not, you would have to fear that he needs an op to get to the bottom of it. No pun intended.

[Exiled in Toronto]

With respect Philip, if you'd spent your hard earned on the crap we've had to put up with on the whole this season 'awful' would hardly scratch the surface.

I see how it must look from afar and that we're in the top half, 'punching above our weight' blah blah bloody blah but if we're in the entertainment industry here, I as a punter can call it like I see it, and believe me it's been @#/?.

BTW - Abbey's comparison with Bolton is spot on IMO.

IT's not a function of distance or watching on TV, but one of Phillip's permanent happy clappy perspective.

This season's home form has looked completely dire on my overseas TV. I can only think of 3 genuinly exciting games (Arsenal twice and Newcastle) How often have we said, 'but for their keeper, we'd have had x goals'? Not once.

I for one do not buy that being in the Premier League is infinitely better than our less illustrious past. One of the great things about football is that exciting games can happen at any level, regardless of individual skill; we're not watching ice dancing or synchronised swimming after all. And this season has been the worst for exciting Rovers games that I can remember, apart from the three relegation seasons I witnessed.

Adding to that no new talent emerging from the ranks and two cup embarrassments makes the season a bust for me, regardless of whether we finish 6th, 9th or 17th.

[thenodrog]

home performences whch is how the bills get paid has been awful p,it might not look it from your tv but i assure you its been poor.

thank god for away points.....6 wins out of 15 isnt good,theres only 4 teams who scored less at home than us too.I know were your coming from about the other 12 teams looking up to us at the moment but they did the same to bolton last season.

Until this weekend a very similar home record to Shillitoes favourite team..... Pompey.

[S15]

Pompey aren't my favourite team, I just find it hard to escape the following bites of reality...

They have more points.

They are odds on to win the biggest domestic cup.

They have a just as good if not better keeper.

A better defence.

A better midfield.

A better set of strikers.

More strength in depth.

Play more entertaining football. (Certainly IMO)

So; just what was your point again?