[Archived] Rovers v West Ham

[pksrover]

MoTD is gonna be class tonight!!!

Fair chance of Rovers getting more than the standard 30 seconds at the end

[Tom]

I have a feeling this could be a huge anticlimax, same team as last week and a 0-0 as bad as the one in this game last season

[Mercer]

Sorry to be a prophet of doom, however, you can see it happening. Big exposure on MOTD and we get hammered by our bogey team - oh dear me. I'm off to see it happen now.

[slough_rover]

Our record is absolutely shocking against the hammers so not going to get my hopes too high.

[CrazyIvan]

Well roads are fine. Worse in Preston. Brown Cow car park is fun to get into. They stop traffic so you can get a run up at it...

[Bobby G]

PLTV keep on saying the ref Mike Dean is happy for the game to go ahead for "now". It looked like there was a bit of snow still coming down but West Ham players had arrived at Ewood Park.

[Exiled_Rover]

PLTV keep on saying the ref Mike Dean is happy for the game to go ahead for "now". It looked like there was a bit of snow still coming down but West Ham players had arrived at Ewood Park.

No turning back now. People have made the trip.

[m1st]

Sorry to hear about your grandad Hughesy. Was he the one who got Salgado's picture at Northcote?

This and Paul's plan to walk in from Withnell Fold reminds me of my grandad. He's long gone but used to tell me that in the 30s he usually only had enough money either for the bus fare from Bamber Bridge or the ticket for the game, so he used to walk it to Ewood, some 8 miles each way.

Same with my Dad; he told me of times when he [and many others] would walk to Deepdale for our away games there in the 1920s & early 30s. Can you imagine that on any large scale these days? [Writes one who no longer drives; could afford to get there by public transport but is too concerned about the conditions!]

Btw; I've now voted twice in the Poll. Having said "Yes" earlier in the week, I'm now "No; because of the conditions".

[Stuart]

Sorry to hear about your news Hughsey but you're Grandad is spot on. What a guy!

After everything that has happened this week, I'm genuinely excited about today's game. I'm just not sure what to expect! Now that the sticking plaster that was Allardyce has been ripped off we have the possibility of watching our team enjoy itself - or at least see a more open game.

Sam's home record was incredible but if we've unearthed our very own Owen Coyle then we might be able to enjoy the matches and not just the results.

The Blues Bar seems quite energised today. Or perhaps I'm still a bit west after our works Christmas do last night!

COYB!!

[Daremz]

No turning back now. People have made the trip.

No I didn't. My flight was cancelled yesterday-eve. So make sure you support like a Dutch Rover would do!

[Exiled_Rover]

No I didn't. My flight was cancelled yesterday-eve. So make sure you support like a Dutch Rover would do!

I'm not making the trip either - but many will have. You can't cancel a game this late in the day.

[pksrover]

ROVERS: Robinson, Givet, Nelsen, Samba ©, Salgado, Dunn, Pedersen, Emerton, EH Diouf, MB Diouf, Roberts.

Subs: Bunn (GK), Olsson, Kalinic, Benjani, Hoilett, Jones, Hanley.

From the official site. Looks like and end to Jones in midfield!

[Tom]

Urgh why the hell are Dunn and Diouf starting?

Fingers crossed but not over confident

[Bobby G]

Jones dropped?

A bit weird.

Looks like no holding midfielder. Cant make out the formation. Could be an advanced 4-3-3 or a possible 4-4-2.

[philipl]

Is that 4-4-2?

[DannyKeg]

So, 4 - 4 - 2

MB Diouf up front with Roberts instead of Jones protecting the back four.

[RibbleValleyRover]

ROVERS: Robinson, Givet, Nelsen, Samba ©, Salgado, Dunn, Pedersen, Emerton, EH Diouf, MB Diouf, Roberts.

Subs: Bunn (GK), Olsson, Kalinic, Benjani, Hoilett, Jones, Hanley.

From the official site. Looks like and end to Jones in midfield!

That midfield looks very frail on paper, Is Parker playing? If so he could control that midfield. Jones doesn't really deserve the drop.

Not the team I would have selected, but if it works who cares right?

[cn174]

No turning back now. People have made the trip.

Fulham did!!!

Anyway got here quite easily from chorley. Got a good parkin space n everything.

Come on you blues!!!

[Bobby G]

I am not sure if its 4-4-2. If it is then the central midfield is Pedersen and Dunn, which would be worrying. Unless he has moved Pedersen to the left and has Emo and Dunn in the middle, which is also worrying considering Pedersen has proven to be much better in the middle.

[Tim Southampton Rover]

It'll be interesting to see what formation we play.

It looks either 4-3-3 or 4-4-2

If it is a 4-4-2 then it'll be interesting to see who the 2 central midfielders are.

Dunn and Emerton/Pedersen?

Personally I'd prefer Emerton due to his great work rate.

The more I look at it, the more I think it'll be 4-3-3

[Bobby G]

Maybe David Dunn in a deep playmaker role a la Tugay?

[DannyKeg]

Unless Emerton is RB and Salgado is in midfield, but unlikely.

[AspRover]

What the hell, not what I'd have done but fair play to the guy, very attacking line up to take on the bottom team in the league - can't really argue with that.

[greggyk]

Glad Jones has been dropped, let's face it, he's been awful in midfield, too slow and adds nothing

[G Somerset Rover]

Maybe David Dunn in a deep playmaker role a la Tugay?

He'd be terrible in that role, Dunny's not a great passer of the ball.

Cant work out why Jones has been dropped, seems a little harsh to me.