garnersfags

I really envy teams that have a system and a ball-playing discipline that means they will, more or less, play the same way every week, and always be so comfortable and slick on the ball. This was Barnsley today. What you can't produce with good tactics and management is a natural goalscorer. Or 3. Barnsley were just as good at Ewood last season, with a different manager, but I think they will be even better this season, especially if they can buy some goals. Today, for some reason, I was relatively comfortable that we would weather the storm, and I knew we only needed a couple of decent attacks to nick a goal against the run of play. I would still prefer Barnsley's slick play with our clinical finishing, but teams with both are promoted with 100 points. It was a really interesting watch, with 2 decent sides battling for the points.

This season we are more clinical, mainly down to AA, and that was the difference today. Baaaaahhhnsley had 43 min of pressure in the 1st 45, we had 2, but Armstrong could have had 2 in a min, with the best 2 chances of the half. More even in the 2nd 45, but again we were more clinical, backed up with this season's Aderabaiyo, the imperious, super-calming Kaminsky. He won't be at Ewood next year, unless we go up. Sigh. So, we are brilliant, and close to achieving consistency, but still to beat a top half side. What a bizarre, exciting season. Now, the hard work begins...really looking forward to the next few games.

If Nyambe goes, I'll be sooo disappointed. I really haven't seen the flaws TM & others have claimed. He will only get better and stronger. An genuinely ambitious club needs Nyambe.

Really good results for us tonight! In terms of Barnsley thoughts, Charlie Chaplin always plays well against us, so someone may have the job of watching him, plus they will sit back more than QPR and expect us to unpick them, something we've found difficult at home, except for Wycombe. Will therefore be a more difficult game, and we may need to be as patient as Tony, who likes us to be cautious in the 1st 45 (60?!) at home. Elliott and Dolan as subs is mouthwatering, tho I do think Dolan is now relatively easy to contain for a decent defender & manager. He's still having an impressive 1st season... 2 or 3 - 1

I agree. I think if he plays the same team on saturday, but replaces Trybull with Johnson, we'll be less effective. I'm pretty sure Johnson will be straight back in but, although earlier in the season I was pushing for him to have a run of games, I think he has had a few (relatively!) ineffective performances. Good to have strength in that position, tho....

So, let's start the debate. I think if he plays the same team on saturday, but replaces Trybull with Johnson, we'll be less effective. I'll continue this in the Baaaaahhhnsley thread....

That made me laugh. A lot.

I think this is the one thing we need to crack to be successful. I think beating the top sides will then follow if we have a settled side, an 11 from 14 that we play for 10 games in a row....

Yep. Tony has shown that he is unsure how to guarantee as many of these types of performances as we need to attain and maintain a top six berth. As Rev says, we have seen this repeatedly over many seasons. My only hope is that the real quality in the squad will force his hand and lead him (and his team) to pick the right 11, despite his natural desperation to, for example, pick 2 sitting midfielders, and other Mowbray quirks. I really pray that Damien Johnston has the maturity and talent to help TM make more of the right decisions... For me, Kaminski is the missing link, his influence on the whole team cannot be underestimated. Still need to beat a top half side before we can think about the top 10, never mind the top six. Roller-coaster to continue... Beautiful, joyous evening though!!!

I really hope TM realises this. Before April...

The answer to that is Holtby, and the surprisingly unpopular Trybull, who I actually think provides the balance and cover that allowed the rest to play with freedom. The main reason we are doing better is the confidence that Kaminski gives our back four. It's a bloody revelation. What a TOTAL performance agsinst our nearest rivals. Peace.

That goal says everything about how we're trying to play. Any one of 3 or 4 players could have played it long from the back to relieve the pressure, but we didn't and (was it?) Arma's perfect, thoughtful, precision ball to release us into the perfect counter attack. So, Armstrong effectively started and finished the move. Absolute perfection, and you can't say that too often. Btw, Trybull is quietly providing the balance for everyone to play around him. We have no other defensive, central midfielder available. Best half of football we've produced all season. Yes, I'm aware if how big a statement that is. I'm happy.

I agree.

This

You've gotta watch every game now!!!!?

Apart from poor Gally, and poss Ayala, it's the line-up TM was looking for when he made those signings. He has decided to try to overpower Preston with a more direct game. I think Elliott is unlucky, but he needs to be creating and scoring more goals in TMs eyes, and has allowed himself to be dragged down to our level a bit, recently. Unless he's poorly or carrying a slight knock, Elliott would have worked really well in this line-up, he plays better when alongside Holtby. We need to find some way of being clinical when Armstrong doesn't score, and I really can't see where that will come from, although our collective strength will occasionally blow away a poor team, as we have seen. We all know that we usually don't win when Gally starts, but here's to a change of luck, it may be his last chance in 2020. COYMB!!!!!

The window or season that we buy two decent defenders will be the season we get in the play-offs. With the exception of the peerless but temporary Aderabaiyo, we haven't strengthened our defence since we were relegated, or even a couple of seasons before that. We bob around mid-table like a plastic bottle in the North Sea, until someone associated with the club suddenly realises. As Tony likes to remind us, you can't rush these things...

Gave us all a laugh last night, cheers!

This is fair comment, and a good end to the 'debate'.

Speeeeeeeeeeeeeeeedaaaaayyyy. Forever an Ewood cult hero....

Here we go... Aguerro and Kane miss as many as Armstrong. He is the best striker outside of the Premier League. There are other targets for nit-picking, before AA.

Agreed. Criticise AA, then defend Gally...

There are very few world events that deserve celebrating on here, but most of us agree, this is absolutely one. Get in, sleepy Joe!!!! Get in, Rovers. Here's to a happy Saturday night, brothers and sisters! Woo...

Johnson has made all the difference, but Armstrong been brilliant. Just waiting to be reminded he is a League One trier....

Wow. He affects everything, whether you realise or not! Cone on you blues (Democrats, that is)!