Stoke City v Rovers (a) Sat. 19th Dec. 3pm

[darrenrover]

Next up, The Potters away at The Britannia Stadium. 

Having won our first game in the last four, Stoke City are our next opponents, in what is likely to be another tough fixture in the run up to Christmas. Michael O'Neill's side sit just a couple of points above ourselves after 19 games, following Tuesday night's goal-less draw at Loftus Road. They've had a pretty mixed bag of results so far this season, not too dissimilar to ourselves, having won 2, lost 2 and drawn 1 of their last 5 fixtures.

The Britannia has been a happy hunting ground for The Rovers in recent seasons, winning the last 2. Season before lasts encounter particularly sticks in the memory when, after being 3 up courtesy of goals in the first 46 mins by Dack, Graham and Harrison Reid, Rovers were pegged back, conceding in the 79th and 80th minute to hang on to the 3 points by the skin of their teeth. Even surviving a late penalty which would have brought the scores level.

I've many memories of games against them, particularly away, over many, many years and I thought it important to get the thread up and running, following our absolutely 'exhilarating win' (shit show) at Ewood against The Millers. 

This particular fixture evokes extremely sad memories for myself and my fellow Darreners:  10 years ago, 6th February 2010, an avid Blackburn Rovers supporter left The Craven Heifer in Darwen, on a coach along with 51 other Roverites, to attend our away game at The Britannia Stadium. There were high jinks at half time, as is often the norm at some of our away games, but nothing at all malicious.

Tragically, one of our own, John Taylor, lost his life in the stadium concourse at half time that day. It is an event that those present will never forget. Moreso those that witnessed it and tried to revive John but in vain.

So, for us Darreners (and hopefully all Roverites), please could we remember him, raise a glass and toast John Taylor RIP, he was one of our own.

COYB!!

Edited December 17, 2020 by darrenrover

[philipl]

Raising a glass.

Sooner or later we will beat a club above us.

Prefer it to be sooner at Stoke.

They too have their best player out long term but our's is only a few weeks away from being back. Not seen much of Stoke but Campbell was looking one hell of a player. Otherwise another tough Championship side with no particular traits looking either outstanding or particularly weak.

I hope Mowbray rotates Johnson and Douglas out after last night. Holtby and Rothwell have to start- I like the idea of Rothwell further forward in place of Gallagher.

Fingers crossed Armstrong has a mature performance which includes "assist" in his repertoire.

As in every game we need a front foot start. Only Preston have seen us stay on the front foot for 90 minutes- was that a one off or can we do it again?

 

[JacknOry]

Any chance BB will be back for this one? I dont think it is any coincidence that we have struggled with this formation since he has been out. We have missed his ability to drive forward with the ball. Cannot believe I am even saying this to be honest.

[tomphil]

I know what to expect so i'll take a point now.

You keep thinking sooner or later we'll hit a bit of form and get onto one of the little winning runs that gets everyone dreaming again. Strange season this one though so maybe they are a thing of the past, Armstrong is almost single handedly stopping the death spirals but the flat track bullies have left town as well.

Lets hope it's one of those mad Championship freak covid season results again.

Stoke 1  Rovers  4

[JBiz]

34 minutes ago, JacknOry said:

Any chance BB will be back for this one? I dont think it is any coincidence that we have struggled with this formation since he has been out. We have missed his ability to drive forward with the ball. Cannot believe I am even saying this to be honest.

Yea it’s ridiculous how much Gallagher is a poor man’s Ben Brereton these days.

I hope it doesn’t take him too long to get back up to speed because it’s a tricky role for a big lad, and his feet/footwork/dribbling at times this season created chances and goals.

[JacknOry]

3 minutes ago, JBiz said:

Yea it’s ridiculous how much Gallagher is a poor man’s Ben Brereton these days.

I hope it doesn’t take him too long to get back up to speed because it’s a tricky role for a big lad, and his feet/footwork/dribbling at times this season created chances and goals.

And if he doesn't do that, he wins a lot of fouls. 

Night and day the BB of before and the BB of this season. 

[JBiz]

2 minutes ago, JacknOry said:

And if he doesn't do that, he wins a lot of fouls. 

Night and day the BB of before and the BB of this season. 

The reason for that I think is game time since end of last season, hence why I’m hoping he gets back up to speed quickly.

Stoke have back to back 0-0s so maybe they’ll get a hat trick !

[Wovers]

Be interesting to see how they get on in this game, Stoke struggle against teams like Rovers, as in teams who have a lot of the ball, they aren’t scoring much at the moment, so they’ll probably bag 4 against us!

Be interesting to see how Rothwell plays, as Stoke are interested in signing him in the summer, their manager is a big admirer of him, not that they are any better than us.

[Bigdoggsteel]

These guys are going to be very physical. Just look at their squad. Missing a few,but that gobshite Powell will probably start. 

Lenihan and Ayala are going to have a scrap on their hands with either Vokes or Fletcher. 

They are missing a few at the same time. Should be an interesting game 

[Bigdoggsteel]

Gallagher, Buckley, Johnson and Douglas should be dropped at this point. We have other options. 

[joey_big_nose]

I've gone back through Stokes' Whoscored and it seems they have played 4231 last six games or so, which makes me feel more confident as that suits us. Four at the back suddenly means our front three get loads of room and we generate a lot of chances...

That said they could change up - they played 343 earlier in the season - and I am sure they will be thinking about it when they go through the videos of our games...

I am banging on about it but we need at least the option to change our system when it is as clear as day it's isnt working as it was for the whole of last night's game.

So assuming Stoke go 4231 I would go

                      Kaminski

Nyambe. Lenihan.   Ayala.   Bell. 

          Holtby.   Trybull    Rothwell 

       Elliott.    Armstrong.   Dolan 

If they change up and go 343 I would change the system to 

                       Kaminski 

           Lenihan.   Ayala .  Williams

Nyambe.   Holtby.  Rothwell.   Downing

         Elliott     Armstrong.   Dolan.

We would only need to bring on Downing and Williams to shift systems.

[chaddyrovers]

                    Kaminski 

Nyambe  Lenihan  Ayala  Bell 

      Holtby Trybull Downing

     Elliott    Armstrong    Dolan 

 

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Not many ball winners in those teams, not much height either.

[Sparks Rover]

I find it amazing that nobody on this board ever picks Bucko to start, but Mowbray does. Clearly out of his depth at championship level. Is he Mowbray's illegitimate son?

[Dreams of 1995]

Kaminski

Nyambe Lenihan Ayala Douglas

Holtby Trybull Rothwell

Elliott Armstrong Dolan

Team picks itself for me personally. I'd bring Downing on for Holtby later on in the game. Gally for Armstrong and not out wide. 

4 minutes ago, Sparks Rover said:

I find it amazing that nobody on this board ever picks Bucko to start, but Mowbray does. Clearly out of his depth at championship level. Is he Mowbray's illegitimate son?

Your irrational dislike of Buckley is now lending itself towards the realms of weird. Barely a thread goes by without you mentioning him. 

Edited December 17, 2020 by Dreams of 1995

[1864roverite]

It was a very sad and awful sight seeing the Rovers fan being worked on at the ground. 
 

Raise a glass and hopefully Rovers can take the points although a point would do at the moment.

 

Tough game 0-0

[Sparks Rover]

17 minutes ago, Dreams of 1995 said:

 

Your irrational dislike of Buckley is now lending itself towards the realms of weird. Barely a thread goes by without you mentioning him. 

How can it be irrational when he plays instead of better players and does bugger all....are we a charity?

[superniko]

15 minutes ago, Dreams of 1995 said:

Kaminski

Nyambe Lenihan Ayala Douglas

Holtby Trybull Rothwell

Elliott Armstrong Dolan

Team picks itself for me personally. 

 

Pretty much agree with this, not seen much of Stoke this year so no idea on how they shape up, I'd imagine Mowbray will go with Gallagher over Dolan for 'physicality' (not that I think SG has much myself). 

Outside of the obvious starters I think Ayala has to keep his place and Trybull should come in for Johnson (passenger for 4 or so games in a row). LB - who knows!

[Dreams of 1995]

1 minute ago, Sparks Rover said:

How can it be irrational when he plays instead of better players and does bugger all....are we a charity?

Well, he has started one game in 12 (probably more if you can be bothered to go back) which leads me to believe you are talking out of an irrational dislike for him.

Coming on as a substitute is a basic requisite for player development. He is the best midfield prospect in the club and is seeing game time as he should. 

[Sparks Rover]

3 minutes ago, Dreams of 1995 said:

He is the best midfield prospect in the club 

We may aswell close the academy then. Non league player. His basic game is lacking in so many areas.

Preston's rejects are better.

Edited December 17, 2020 by Sparks Rover

[DE.]

We look knackered and aren't playing well at all. We can get away with it against teams like Rotherham and Millwall, but O'Neill's Stoke will punish us if we once again turn up looking like we've just staggered out of the nearest pub. 

Heart says we reverse our performance level and mental block versus teams above us and grab a 2-1 win (little chance of a clean sheet) but head says 2-0 loss and an easy afternoon for Stoke. 

[ben_the_beast]

Changes needed. We got away with one against Rotherham

Kaminski

Nyambe - Lenihan - Ayala - Bell

Holtby - Trybull - Downing

Elliott - Arma - Gallagher

Rothwell to absolutely come on at some point. He provides us with a drive nobody else can from midfield. Think he and Johnson need a rest. Firstly they are looking jaded and secondly it's only going to be a matter of time until one of them breaks down and we'll all be criticizing Mowbray for overplaying them. Hope the 3 in the middle work together. They are probably our 3 most comfortable players holding the ball. Think they need to be more compact and work as 3. Hunt in packs, push us up the pitch. In games we've struggled to dominate the distance between our midfield 3 has been ridiculous. It's no wonder we continue to pass it back to our centre backs, there are no other options. 

Keep Gally in for his height when defending corners but definitely don't want to see him given the same amount of minutes as against Rotherham. We are a team of midgets without him.

Douglas for me has lost his place rather than Bell winning it. He needs to sit out for a few weeks and make sure he is ready when the chance comes to win it back. Bell is poor. Douglas has been significantly worse though. Something I did not think I'd be saying.  

[roversfan99]

Kaminski

Nyambe Lenihan Ayala Douglas

Holtby Trybull Downing

Elliott Armstrong Dolan

Left back a major worry, Douglas has been crap, Bell is no better.

They have numerous absentees including their main attacking threat and the likes of Allen and Clucas. Its a game we should be looking to win.

[Mercer]

2 hours ago, Sparks Rover said:

How can it be irrational when he plays instead of better players and does bugger all....are we a charity?

It isn't irrational.

I think Buckley is so woefully out of his depth it's untrue.

You see real maturity, ability and impact with 17 year old Harvey Elliott whilst 21 year old Buckley, IMO, wanders around lost like a 16 year old schoolboy and has virtually zero influence / impact on a game.  The contrast could not be more stark.

Edited December 17, 2020 by Mercer

[Sparks Rover]

He made 2 passes in the first half to Nyambe and both were the wrong option.  He must be a wizz in training thats all I can say. I know of 2 players currently 17 who are much better and they play in the nobbers 18s.