Blackburn Rovers v Leeds Utd Match Thread

[malcolmw]

It just seems to be, if we do Plan A, it will work most of the time. It was obvious that the system that worked so well against Swansea and Luton wasn't working against Blackburn. We needed a different set up against Blackburn. A Plan B? I think Farke is working on the basis that Plan A will work more often than it doesn't and will average out at 2 ppg.

Wrongly or rightly? I don't know. It didn't work last season. Although it should have gotten us promoted last season. He's made some adjustments this season. He's added players where we need them and he's been more willing to rest and rotate. Maybe it will work better this season. Our current ppg will get us to 89 points, 1 less than last season, and presumably enough to go up.

I just think it was a bad day at the office. 3rd game in 6 days, tired legs and heads.

Also, the players aren't just robots executing the manager's instructions. They are mostly experienced players and should be able to adapt more than they do when plan A isn't working.

We lost on a penalty and poor finishing (again).
We don't poach enough goals - by that I mean make a few 50/50 opportunities count.

[GreennWhite]

Exactly Malcolm, there is no law that says we must win every game. All teams have bad days at the office, we just have accpet that this was one of those days. With all the best will in the world there are just sometimes when as a player it doesnt work out well during a game, no matter how hard you try. To start slating players or manager is just wrong. The most important thing now is bounce back with a win in the next game. The Blackburn game is now history, move on and win the next game.

[Tom the Cat]

Bamford's on ,brilliant!

Are you a Blackburn fan !!

[Tom the Cat]

I agree. His penalty percentage save is not good. Also, stats showed last season that his overall shots saved percentage wasn't good either.

I find it hard to criticize him as a whole. I do think he's a good keeper. But I do find it hard to defend his numbers.

His shot stopping is OK but he scares me stiff when he has the ball at his feet - he is asking to be dispossessed.

[Tom the Cat]

I have to say, I'm reluctantly coming round to this way of thinking. He seems to prefer ineffective control to potentially successful chaos.

Take no risks, retain possession at all costs and in all situations.

In the Luton match we had a free kick in the Luton part of the centre circle. We passed the ball 12 (TWELVE) times with the 12th pass being back to the 'keeper. Other sides thump a high ball into our box and wait for the chaos to ensue.

[Cjay]

The issue he has is not realizing all other teams are scared of us and not pushing that advantage. The comparisons with the much slated Southgate are spot on imo. Safety first football with the handbrake on

Farke worries way to much, gives other teams way too much respect, with the most talented, most expensive, highest paid roster in the league and by a distance that's not good

imo.

Personally I'd like to see just occasionally the slightest hint that he has done his homework on an opponent and adapted accordingly.

Judging by the training videos he isn't involved in the coaching much (his staff do it), he doesn't do much on matchday bar sit and send on his pre determined subs.

So what does he do?

Does he watch our opponents before we play them? Go to games?

I doubt it because the game before us Blackburn played Boro who basically tried the same tippy tappy tactics we did, got soaked up and beat.

Burnley played Millwall the game before we did, same thing, tippy tappy tactics, got beat.

I thought he'd shown improvement on adapting but not sure he has now and the amount of coaches that get the better of him more than once can't be a coincidence.

Corberan, Eustace, Robins, Martin, Dodds,

Honestly would like to know if he watches our opponents before we play them, I don't think he does and if he does he must ignore it.

[mentalcase]

The issue he has is not realizing all other teams are scared of us and not pushing that advantage. The comparisons with the much slated Southgate are spot on imo. Safety first football with the handbrake on

Farke worries way to much, gives other teams way too much respect, with the most talented, most expensive, highest paid roster in the league and by a distance that's not good

imo.

Thats it in a nutshell , the bigger worry is, promotion, even struggling sides like everton etc will trounce us.

[1964white]

Thats it in a nutshell , the bigger worry is, promotion, even struggling sides like everton etc will trounce us.

We all want promotion, but the reality is we'll get torn to shreds by the lower PL clubs.

[mentalcase]

We all want promotion, but the reality is we'll get torn to shreds by the lower PL clubs.

Exactly pal, this is my main gripe, not only with Farje and his lack of tactical nous, but also the board, we will definitely try to wing it again on a shoestring budget, I know we can't go all ridsdale, butsurely there has to be some common sense midlle ground for us, we are supposed to have rich owners, rich investors who will want to see a healthy return, not some washed up team getting walloped every other week because we failed to invest, failed to address the situation, failed to take into account the realism of the PL.
We also "apparently " have owners that are brilliant at building stadiums, yet we still have empty promises and a delapidated old deathtrap to entertain guests , am I expecting too much !!!

[Tyzy]

Are you a Blackburn fan !!

Sarcasm !

[1964white]

Exactly pal, this is my main gripe, not only with Farje and his lack of tactical nous, but also the board, we will definitely try to wing it again on a shoestring budget, I know we can't go all ridsdale, butsurely there has to be some common sense midlle ground for us, we are supposed to have rich owners, rich investors who will want to see a healthy return, not some washed up team getting walloped every other week because we failed to invest, failed to address the situation, failed to take into account the realism of the PL.
We also "apparently " have owners that are brilliant at building stadiums, yet we still have empty promises and a delapidated old deathtrap to entertain guests , am I expecting too much !!!

Not at all mate.

We all know our board didn't enough on the summer window, even though they made some very good signings. Farke commented only last week that he's not expecting much activity in January, so yes, winging it is on the cards once again.

[DDB220]

His shot stopping is OK but he scares me stiff when he has the ball at his feet - he is asking to be dispossessed.

When can you point to a situation when he has been dispossessed. He is as good as any keeper with the ball at his feet, his first touch is pretty impressive for a keeper. He isn’t perfect by any means but a long way away from making me concerned.

[DDB220]

Not at all mate.

We all know our board didn't enough on the summer window, even though they made some very good signings. Farke commented only last week that he's not expecting much activity in January, so yes, winging it is on the cards once again.

To be fair and I am not suggesting that we will have a spending spree. It is probably not a good strategy to say the club intend to invest in the next window as it could be counter productive in achieving the best price if we do try and recruit a player or two. Getting a 10 in during the window may be easier, as the targets that may have been unavailable in the summer might be more receptive if they are not getting the game time they had hoped. Perhaps Buendia or Caravalho may consider a loan move given their circumstances. Buendia haas only played in 10 matches across all competitions for Villa this season. Carvalho is not happy at Brentford according to some recent reports.

[DDB220]

Exactly pal, this is my main gripe, not only with Farje and his lack of tactical nous, but also the board, we will definitely try to wing it again on a shoestring budget, I know we can't go all ridsdale, butsurely there has to be some common sense midlle ground for us, we are supposed to have rich owners, rich investors who will want to see a healthy return, not some washed up team getting walloped every other week because we failed to invest, failed to address the situation, failed to take into account the realism of the PL.
We also "apparently " have owners that are brilliant at building stadiums, yet we still have empty promises and a delapidated old deathtrap to entertain guests , am I expecting too much !!!

No just impatient. They have only been the owners for 18 months. The stadium refurb has always been on the proviso of promotion.

[1964white]

To be fair and I am not suggesting that we will have a spending spree. It is probably not a good strategy to say the club intend to invest in the next window as it could be counter productive in achieving the best price if we do try and recruits a player or two. Getting a 10 in during the window may be easier, as the targets that may have been unavailable in the summer might be more receptive if they are not getting the game time they had hoped. Perhaps Buendia or Caravalho may consider a loan move given their circumstances. Buendia haas only played in 10 matches across all competitions for Villa this season. Carvalho is not happy at Brentford according to some recent reports.

Maybe!

We'll have to wait & see what occurs. I don't want to hear the same excuses for non-signings yet again.

[malcolmw]

Personally I'd like to see just occasionally the slightest hint that he has done his homework on an opponent and adapted accordingly.

Judging by the training videos he isn't involved in the coaching much (his staff do it), he doesn't do much on matchday bar sit and send on his pre determined subs.

So what does he do?

Does he watch our opponents before we play them? Go to games?

I doubt it because the game before us Blackburn played Boro who basically tried the same tippy tappy tactics we did, got soaked up and beat.

Burnley played Millwall the game before we did, same thing, tippy tappy tactics, got beat.

I thought he'd shown improvement on adapting but not sure he has now and the amount of coaches that get the better of him more than once can't be a coincidence.

Corberan, Eustace, Robins, Martin, Dodds,

Honestly would like to know if he watches our opponents before we play them, I don't think he does and if he does he must ignore it.

I think you're wrong here. I think he does a lot of homework on our opponents. Many of his press conferences indicate that.
And of course the 3 minute training videos only show fitness and basic training workout. They're not going to publish tactical sessions.

You're showing your biases again.

[Cjay]

I think you're wrong here. I think he does a lot of homework on our opponents. Many of his press conferences indicate that.
And of course the 3 minute training videos only show fitness and basic training workout. They're not going to publish tactical sessions.

You're showing your biases again.

Then why do we see the same result so often?

Why was Martin able to beat us exactly the same way 3 times?

Why did we approach the game the same way vs Blackburn and Millwall the exact same way as the 2 teams who lost to them the game before?

Fans called those examples before the games, it shouldn't be that predictable should it?

Doing homework and altering nothing to counter it is no better than doing none.

Sheffield United absolutely battered Blackburn at Ewood Park, didn't give them a sniff, just sat back and countered.

[andrewjohnsmith]

When can you point to a situation when he has been dispossessed. He is as good as any keeper with the ball at his feet, his first touch is pretty impressive for a keeper. He isn’t perfect by any means but a long way away from making me concerned.

I agree, Maybe being nervous is justified as he does play out a lot with his feet. But he's also very good with his feet, indicating that we really don't need to be nervous. We see plenty of glaring errors across the leagues of goalies messing up or miskicking the ball. But I can't really think of such an issue with Meslier.

[The Subhuman]

Mes has played well since the error .... His handling is definitely improving, and none of the goals conceded recently are on him.

[andrewjohnsmith]

Mes has played well since the error .... His handling is definitely improving, and none of the goals conceded recently are on him.

He's conceded a couple of soft goals. But his kicking and foot work have never been an issue.