v Swansea City (a) - 20/1/26, k/o 19:45

[roverblue]

These were one of the worst teams to come to Ewood this season yet somehow came away with the 3 points. We concede so many soft goals!

Given the state of the squad and form a point would be amazing.

[alcd]

1 hour ago, Cherry Blue said:

but he hasn't had a full game in 6 weeks.

He completed full 90 minutes in the final group stage match about 3 weeks ago. 

[Tim Southampton Rover]

This would be my team:

GK: Toth
RB: Alebiosu
CB: O'Riordan
CB: Cashin
LB: Pickering
DM: Tronstad
CM: Baradji
CM: Cantwell
RW: Jorgensen
LW: De Neve
AT: Ohashi

I wouldn't be against Atcheson replacing O'Riordan or McLoughlin replacing Cashin. Call me crazy but I also wouldn't be against playing Forshaw ahead of Baradji but that's just because I think Baradji has been poor and Forshaw is more consistent even if his ability is more restricted. The only reason i'd play De Neve is because Pickering is covering so he can just be more attacking and not focus on defending. 
 

[TonyM]

I suppose I will watch this on TV, but with no enthusiasm or excitement. I just hope I end up watching more than the 12 minutes I managed of the Ipswich game.

No chance of a result for us, but hoping for a consolation goal from our new striker.

3-1

Edited 7 hours ago by TonyM

[Mercer]

Difficult to see anything other than a loss.

Think there will be a couple of surprise selections including the absence of Captain Todd.

Saturday continued to show we've brought in some real shite including Baradji.

Think Cashin has to play in order to avoid financial penalties - IMO,  continue with him and he'll take us down

[Jimmy612]

Whilst we've only one 1 of the last 12, we've drawn 7 of them, including away draws at Wrexham, Boro, Sheff Wed (I know) and Hull.  Wouldn't be surprised to see us pick something up, but equally, you couldn't have picked two worse away games to be within 72 hours of each other in terms of travel. 

Swansea had a dreadful November, but recovered well in December to win 5 of their 8 games up to 4th Jan.  

Going to go with..... 1-1, possibly erring on the side of a Rovers win, just because I think we're due one.

[Tim Southampton Rover]

It might be famous last words for me but I personally think Cashin just had a crap game. I like to think we'll see a better version of him soon. He was good at Derby and Brighton aren't mugs for buying poor players. He'll be disappointed, no doubt about it, so I hope that we'll see a good player soon.

 

[RevidgeBlue]

I wouldnt be rushing to put Ohashi in the side, think he's been dreadful recently.

[RTM08]

20 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

I wouldnt be rushing to put Ohashi in the side, think he's been dreadful recently.

He's been run into the ground and from Ismael's comments the new signing isn't ready so it'll be him and Henriksson again I expect.

Surprised he hasn't done his hamstrings yet to be completely honest.

[...]

NOW it's a must win.

There are points to take from coming games but it's a mixed bag. 

Must win tomorrow. 

[Mercer]

6 minutes ago, ... said:

NOW it's a must win.

There are points to take from coming games but it's a mixed bag. 

Must win tomorrow. 

Swansea, Watford and then Hull - can see us losing all three.

If that happens, surely we will see the 'usual' February managerial change!?

[davulsukur]

Alebiosu travelling straight to Swansea to link up with the team, could be involved.

Cantwell a doubt after taking the elbow to the face.

[Miller11]

Pickering is one of a handful of players we have who has proven to be of consistent Championship quality for a few years. Ridiculous he isn’t playing. He’s also probably our best set piece taker.

 

                        Toth

       Atcheson  O’Riordan  Pratt

Alebiosu                               Pickering

        Baradji  Tronstad  Forshaw

                Ohashi     Jorgensen

But seeing as Ismael is under no pressure to get results and nobody at the club apart from the fans gives a shit if we win or lose, I expect we will see Henricksson up front and a load of Gestede’s other failed gambles struggle for 90 minutes.       

[RevidgeBlue]

20 minutes ago, Miller11 said:

Pickering is one of a handful of players we have who has proven to be of consistent Championship quality for a few years. Ridiculous he isn’t playing. He’s also probably our best set piece taker.

 

                        Toth

       Atcheson  O’Riordan  Pratt

Alebiosu                               Pickering

        Baradji  Tronstad  Forshaw

                Ohashi     Jorgensen

But seeing as Ismael is under no pressure to get results and nobody at the club apart from the fans gives a shit if we win or lose, I expect we will see Henricksson up front and a load of Gestede’s other failed gambles struggle for 90 minutes.       

Guess it will be an early test of whether Cashin is undroppable.

Whatever you think of Pickering you'd have thought that as he's completely out of favour they'd have had him out of the door by now.

Seems a complete waste of time to have him on the books and ignore him. Use him or get rid.

[harryhealless1928]

If we HAVE to play Cashin(to avoid a financial penalty)why not play him in "defensive midfield" in front of a back 3? Sort of a 3-1-4-2 formation. With nine,yes nine central defenders we have serious defensive overload(Litherland,Carter & Wharton all injured plus the 6 of Atcheson, Miller, McLoughlin, O`Riordan, Pratt & Cashin) so can`t use half the squad otherwise!

Perhaps we asked/begged Brighton for a loan player dirt cheap, but forgot to mention it should be a striker/winger and asked for a defender instead? 

[BankEnd Rover]

Cantwell being out might be a blessing in disguise. Baradji looks a lot better driving forward so him at a number 10 with others working defensively, then it may work. 

[roversfan99]

Playing Cashin in a position he has never played in should not be an option.

He either plays in his actual position which after seeing him at the weekend is a big if, or not at all.

[harryhealless1928]

I just mentioned this, because Cashin`s main attribute appeared to be his distribution not his defending. McFadz had decent distribution when here for example.

[cesus]

32 minutes ago, BankEnd Rover said:

Cantwell being out might be a blessing in disguise. Baradji looks a lot better driving forward so him at a number 10 with others working defensively, then it may work. 

I might be mis-remembering facts here, but didn't we gain most of our wins during the time Cantwell was out with his mystery knee injury?

[...]

2 minutes ago, cesus said:

I might be mis-remembering facts here, but didn't we gain most of our wins during the time Cantwell was out with his mystery knee injury?

Played some good football 

[Staffordshire Rover]

If Cantwell misses this through that elbow against Ipswich then why did the medical team let him carry on playing for the rest of the game. If there is an actual issue why not put a mask on and fight for his team…he’s supposed to be the captain

[Mercer]

13 minutes ago, Staffordshire Rover said:

If Cantwell misses this through that elbow against Ipswich then why did the medical team let him carry on playing for the rest of the game. If there is an actual issue why not put a mask on and fight for his team…he’s supposed to be the captain

You nailed it.

Doesn’t add-up.

[Rover down South]

Seen enough of Henriksson for now. Very ineffective in that forward role.

If Ohashi is knackered and Jorgensson not fully fit, I'd like to see what Tyjon has to offer in the next two games. The other youngsters have been great when called upon. Nothing to lose if his only other option is to persist with Henriksson.

Odd to me that Arsenal can see something in Tyjon, but VI can't, or is he following instructions from Gestede to not pick him?

[Torgeir]

1 hour ago, harryhealless1928 said:

If we HAVE to play Cashin(to avoid a financial penalty)why not play him in "defensive midfield" in front of a back 3? Sort of a 3-1-4-2 formation. With nine,yes nine central defenders we have serious defensive overload(Litherland,Carter & Wharton all injured plus the 6 of Atcheson, Miller, McLoughlin, O`Riordan, Pratt & Cashin) so can`t use half the squad otherwise!

Perhaps we asked/begged Brighton for a loan player dirt cheap, but forgot to mention it should be a striker/winger and asked for a defender instead? 

Cashin looked completely immobile and incapable of playing in that role imo. Shocked that we’ve signed another slow defender. 

[Kjell]

So here we are - facing Swansea and having to start Alebiosu (with a high risk of him getting injured) because our options on both RWB and LWB are so poor that without Alebiosu, we will probably lose.

We can't afford to lose this one. With Norwich regaining form under Clement, it will probably be a fight between us, Oxford and Portsmouth on who gets to follow Sheff Wed down. It looks like Oxford have recruited fairly well and could get a new manager bounce, whilst Mousinho is expecting quite a few through the door at Portsmouth as well. I had us in 23rd in my table prediction, and I sincerely hope I was wrong.