[Archived] Nelsen out for rest of the season

[Blackburn Ravers]

Just been on SSN, Ryan Nelsen is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury

[J*B]

Huge issue, can we afford to not have P. Jones in CM? will Givet play for us? Is Hanley good enough?

[RibbleValleyRover]

So Hanley, Givet or Jones to take his place. If we had a solid midfield Jones would be the best option by far, looked great with Samba last season at the back.

If Givet goes there it means Olsson will be stuck at left back.

Hanley has had some decent performances but some awful ones as well, lot of pressure on the lad as we need to pick up points going into a tough relegation battle.

Tough decision for Kean, let's see what he does...

[Sparky Marky]

What has it come to that we're desperately relying on 2 teenagers...Jesus....we're doomed.

[booth]

We don't lose with Jones at the back, or rarely have we done. For me it was more of a loss losing nzonzi in midfield.

[John]

Big blow - will miss his leadership qualities too.

One of the few players who really cares.

[RibbleValleyRover]

I had completely forgotten about N'zonzi still being out. His non availability will make it even more difficult to decide on what to do at the back.

[Tom]

Big loss but Jones isn't a matchwinner in midfield but great to have in the team.

J Jones and Nzonzi will have to play together but isn't Nzonzi still banned for 2 games?

[duffbear]

For Me P.Jones needs to stay in the midfield for the time being or at least until Nzonzi suspesion is over we will be too weak there otherwise.

While not ideal I bring Givet in at centre back and Leave Olsson at left back. I know he is better at left wing but his defensive game has improved recentley.

Just Hope Hoilett is avaiable he is the key player at the momment

[Muddboy]

We've got to bring Givet back in at centre half in my humble opinion.

If we take P Jones out of midfield, that leaves one hell of a gap until Nzonzi is back.

I'd rather do this than have Brett or Morten joining J Jones in CM and Hanley at centre half.

It's decision like this that Kean simply has to get right if we're going to stay up.

[Jimmy612]

That is awful news for us. Nelsen is a real fighter and he would have been a big presence in a relegation battle.

P.Jones is too useful in midfield to push back to Centre half. We need Givet to play left back so that Olsson can go to left wing.

As i mentioned in the Everton thread, do we think Hanley is good enough at this level yet? and has he played since the Villa thrashing?

Tough one for Kean now

[nellybc]

hanley played at fulham straight after villa defeat

[BangkokRover]

That is awful news for us. Nelsen is a real fighter and he would have been a big presence in a relegation battle.

P.Jones is too useful in midfield to push back to Centre half. We need Givet to play left back so that Olsson can go to left wing.

As i mentioned in the Everton thread, do we think Hanley is good enough at this level yet? and has he played since the Villa thrashing?

Tough one for Kean now

Got to give the kids the games to find out how good they really are. OK he gave away a pen at Fulham but apart from that I think he had a pretty good game.

[G Somerset Rover]

Big big blow-would probably have been in my top 3 players not to lose between now and the season end. As John says he cares and you really would have to worry if we're relying on someone like Hanley to step up in big 6 point games. If givet's head is sorted I'd play him at cb with samba, olsson lb and keep jonesey in centre mid.

[Oklahoma]

Terrible news!!

I would put Hanley in his place for two reasons: we need Phil Jones in the midfield at least until N'Zonzi is available and Givet should be playing as a left back to allow Olsson to play as left midfielder.

Yes, Hanley made some mistakes before but they all do that. If we keep our confidence in him, he might turn in a good player for us.

[Guest linganzi]

this is the big test for kean, this will prove if he knows what he is doing or not. The big issue is that Hanley does not play.

[RibbleValleyRover]

Looks like Phil Jones is going back to his natural position:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/blackburn_rovers/9458198.stm

[booth]

Terrible news!!

I would put Hanley in his place for two reasons: we need Phil Jones in the midfield at least until N'Zonzi is available and Givet should be playing as a left back to allow Olsson to play as left midfielder.

Yes, Hanley made some mistakes before but they all do that. If we keep our confidence in him, he might turn in a good player for us.

I cringe at the thought of no Nelson and no Jones at the back. And Jones is our best defender, and it's his best position. But then I equally cringe at the thought of how our midfield will line up without Jones

It would mean either Dunn, Emerton or Pederson stepping in I would think.

I have a feeling he'll play Jones at the back and Dunn in midfield with J Jones. Two up front. We don't really have the personnel to play five in midfield for this match.

Could be Givet at full back, Olsson on the wing, Pederson and Dunn in midfield with JJ and Jnr. A bit scary but a possibility.

SALGADO P JONES SAMBA GIVET

HOILLET DUNN J JONES PEDERSON OLSSON

SANTA CRUZ

Or 4-4-2.

SALGADO P JONES SAMBA GIVET

HOILLET DUNN J JONES OLSSON

ROCHINA SANTA CRUZ

[roverwhelmed]

Massive blow, and I wish him a speedy recovery.

The bbc article is a lot more positive on Givet, so hopefully he can return to the relegation battle and get stuck in.

[Daremz]

Sorry for Ryan, good for us. Might call me a complete loona, but I really think Ryan isn't our top performer anymore. With Jones there, we have more speed and more quality, plus some extra midfield space for Dunn.

[Stuart]

This season just get's better and better...

[Parsonblue]

This is a real blow as I feel that Nelsen is still our best central defender. He is a natural leader and can organise the defence, something which Samba fails to do. It's now crucial that we get Givet on the pitch at Everton. Hopefully, when he returns next season we will still be a Premier League club.

[RoverMad86]

Givet needs to play this week for sure now. Salgado, Samba, P.Jones, Givet. Solid. Plus it would mean pushing Olsson further on, where he is most dangerous. Gutted for Nelson though. His injuries seem to be getting more and more serious, only a matter of time I think for Nelly.

[jim mk2]

The club needs all its best players available from now to the end of the season so this is another potential nail in the Rovers coffin. Is there life left in the corpse or will Rovers miraculously escape the deathly clutches of relegation ?

[Hughesy]

Looks like Phil Jones is going back to his natural position:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/blackburn_rovers/9458198.stm

FANTASTIC if he slots back into defence. Shame for Nelsen and his professionalism will be missed.

I honestly think this will help us...Phil Jones is a defender, let him play his natural position.

Givet at left back.....allows Olsson to play left wing....and also allows us to keep Dunn in the middle to create some spark, alongside the defensive JJ.