v Middlesbrough (a) - 26/12/25

[simongarnerisgod]

Just now, bluebruce said:

Structurally, we are playing two strikers. And yes, one is already not really a striker. To have decent youth strikers and not put any of them on the bench, when our formation uses two strikers, is fucking stupid.

i don`t understand vals sudden clamour for academy players but then he ignores the centre forward ones,it`s all left field from val to me

[RevidgeBlue]

4 minutes ago, simongarnerisgod said:

i don`t understand vals sudden clamour for academy players but then he ignores the centre forward ones,it`s all left field from val to me

Makes it up as he goes along to suit the agenda at any given point.

Completely winging it.

Edited 2 hours ago by RevidgeBlue

[bluebruce]

8 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Makes it up as he goes along to suit the agenda at any given point.

Completely winging it.

Given that the bench includes Dlamini (Left Winger), Doherty (Left Winger), Di Neve (Left Winger/Left Wing Back), Ribeiro (Left Wing Back/Left Back) and Pickering (Left Wing Back/Left Back), I think completely (left) winging it is an apt turn of phrase.

There are less left wingers at a Green Party Conference. Absolutely bizarre to name so many left-sided players on the bench for just two potential positions, whilst completely ignoring the striker positions.

(Apologies if those aren't Dlamini and Doherty's favoured sides, that's where my Googling said they play).

[joey_big_nose]

Intrigued by how Henricksson does. Works really hard, very physical, just seems slightly behind the play hence all the fouls. But he could suit a front two, who knows, didn't really have enough time to form an opinion last week.

Gudjonsen is so invisible off the ball that I expect us to actually improve in terms of pressing and competing with Henricksson. But Gudjonsen can finish and when he does (rarely) win the ball in the air he is generally pretty good at finding a rovers shirt. Will be interesting how Henricksson links up.

[joey_big_nose]

25 minutes ago, simongarnerisgod said:

i don`t understand vals sudden clamour for academy players but then he ignores the centre forward ones,it`s all left field from val to me

Vals pretty old school - likes Litherland and Pratt as they are physically robust, but I imagine Tyjon he thinks is way too lightweight and will get bullied.

I imagine he likes Diamini because he is more physical.

[duckson]

Take a point now......

[simongarnerisgod]

11 minutes ago, joey_big_nose said:

Vals pretty old school - likes Litherland and Pratt as they are physically robust, but I imagine Tyjon he thinks is way too lightweight and will get bullied.

I imagine he likes Diamini because he is more physical.

i put val in the tony mowbray school of baffling decisions,i know he`s working with cretins behind the scenes but he`s certainly not old school when it comes to making team selections!"!!

[Roverthechimp]

Starting 11 i can understand - Hedges has been decent, Litherland did well and Henriksson looked ok further forward. The bench on the other hand is baffling...

[Tom]

Opened up too easily a couple times already 

[OsloRover]

I don’t say this often in this league but we’re playing superior opposition today

[RTM08]

Clear chasm in quality (unsurprisingly) so far. Should be 1-0.

[bigbrandjohn]

7 minutes ago, simongarnerisgod said:

i put val in the tony mowbray school of baffling decisions,i know he`s working with cretins behind the scenes but he`s certainly not old school when it comes to making team selections!"!!

Hey Chat GPT

make a photo of the Blackburn manager with strings attached, operated by a puppet master looking at a chart showing the cost of appearances, and who can be potted in the January sales. 

[davulsukur]

We'll be very lucky if we get anything out of this. 

We've barely been in the game at all.

[Tom]

They look a really good passing team, their full backs going forward will leave gaps though shame we are short on pace to counter it 

[RevidgeBlue]

It's thanks to Pears it's 0-0.

Good save again.

Some of our players look like they're running in slow motion next to the Boro lads.

[Tugay Et Labore]

As good as Alebiosu has been, this is a reminder that Brittain is a cut above.

[RevidgeBlue]

4 minutes ago, bigbrandjohn said:

Hey Chat GPT

make a photo of the Blackburn manager with strings attached, operated by a puppet master looking at a chart showing the cost of appearances, and who can be potted in the January sales. 

Wearing a sign saying 

"Im fully aligned. Give me my 600k".

[Exiled_Rover]

6 minutes ago, RTM08 said:

Clear chasm in quality (unsurprisingly) so far. Should be 1-0.

Have they had a shot yet?

Whittaker was a clear yard offside for the only shot I can think of.

[davulsukur]

2 minutes ago, Tugay Et Labore said:

As good as Alebiosu has been, this is a reminder that Brittain is a cut above.

Correct

[RevidgeBlue]

Ohashi was poor there. 

What a ball from Litherland.

[Tom]

4 minutes ago, Tugay Et Labore said:

As good as Alebiosu has been, this is a reminder that Brittain is a cut above.

Not convinced, he played one nice pass earlier but then in a position where Alebiosu has been creating chances gave it away with a back heel and he’s done nothing of note defensively 

[RTM08]

4 minutes ago, Exiled_Rover said:

Have they had a shot yet?

Whittaker was a clear yard offside for the only shot I can think of.

3 or 4 that I've seen, we've been lucky that throwing a body at it has been enough. We're defensively all over the place.

[Exiled_Rover]

1 hour ago, simongarnerisgod said:

i don`t understand vals sudden clamour for academy players but then he ignores the centre forward ones,it`s all left field from val to me

Which CF in the Academy are anywhere near ready for first team football?

[Tom]

Good save Pears; well offside though it still seems too easy to pass through us 

[KentExile]

2 minutes ago, Exiled_Rover said:

Which CF in the Academy are anywhere near ready for first team football?

Joseph is the obvious one

Tyjon would make more sense than having 2 wingers on the bench when we play without them

Edited 1 hour ago by KentExile