Blackburn Rovers 2-3 Watford Fc - 24/02/2021

Discussion in 'Match Day' started by Smudger, Feb 21, 2021.

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What will the scoreline be ?

Poll closed Feb 24, 2021.
  1. Watford by 3 goals or more

    4 vote(s)
    5.3%
  2. Watford by 2 goals or more

    14 vote(s)
    18.4%
  3. Watford by 1 goal

    31 vote(s)
    40.8%
  4. Score Draw

    17 vote(s)
    22.4%
  5. No Score Draw

    5 vote(s)
    6.6%
  6. Blackburn Rovers by 1 goal

    3 vote(s)
    3.9%
  7. Blackburn Rovers by 2 goals

    1 vote(s)
    1.3%
  8. Blackburn Rovers by 3 goals or more

    1 vote(s)
    1.3%
  1. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

    [​IMG]
    Watford are rising up the form table. Blackburn conversely are on a run of four straight defeats. Any hopes of the playoffs are surely over. For us the playoffs look a certainity but automatic promotion has to be the aim.

    Xisco would be out of his mind to change from the 4-3-3 although it might be well to bring back in Sierralta in defence and if we can secure a healthy lead bring on replacements as soon as possible with a view to the Muff game just two days later.

    The win in October was achieved through movement on and off the ball and involved the usual suspects that have been key to picking up the three wins in a week namely Sarr, Kiko, Pedro and pressing from Cleverley. Ans now we also have Andres Hughes directing operations and looking a class act. We did look a little out of puff at the end against Derby but all the players should be fully recovered for this one.

    The only criticism in the last two games has to be the final ball. A shade over and under hit we did not find the fluency and accuracy that ripped Bristol City apart. Against Derby we were in great positions in the first half only to be undone by that final ball ie Kiko overhitting a simple enough pass for Sarr which would have split Derby open with players waiting for a tap in. Rectify that and we have a great chance.

    Rovers field dangerman Adam Armstrong upfront. Always a menace with his movement and agility and decent close control he could well be on his way to one of the lower level PL sides possibly Southampton over the summer. The rest of the team has changed a fair bit. Mowbray has gone for youth in defence with Harwood-Bellis and Branthwaite both on loan replacing Ayala and Lenihan bringing in some pace and more quality. Harvey Elliot has been much quieter recently but now plays off Armstrong. The rest of the side is much of a muchness which you see in the Chumpionship. Sam Gallagher is definitely out after he suffered a punctured lung in that game. Will they match our 4-3-3 ? Mowbray matched Hughtons 4-5-1 on Saturday with little effect. I expect them to sit deep and counter which they are pretty decent at but once again we need to impose ourselves, press hard and deep and shell shock them.

    Last Novembers win over the Rovers. A bit fortunate at times with Armstrong proving a constant thorn to us in a result that saw us in third behind Reading and Bristol City. Fingers crossed Pedro is on fire again.



    Opposition forum:
    https://roversfans.com/index.php
     
    99mph, HappyHornet24, Sahorn and 13 others like this.
  2. Hogg-DEENEY!!!

    Hogg-DEENEY!!! Squad Player

    Haven't seen much of them this season, but they were a 'nice' side to play against when they visited us earlier in the season, they did trouble our defence like no other team had managed up to that point, but my word were they open, they even made Garner, king of the sideways pass, look creative. I'd imagine they'll have learned from that, but I'm hoping Sarr has similar freedom to run at them on Tuesday!
     
    SkylaRose likes this.
  3. Siohmy

    Siohmy Reservist

    Has to be a concern how much Sema looked like he needed a rest against Derby so I guess that’s the only question. Decent 5 day gap so hopefully he can be good to go at least 60mins as really don’t trust the alternatives at present although need to take the plunge at some point.

    As for the others who may be in danger of fatigue, Gosling could step in for Cleverly if needed. From the interview Sarr sounds fine and is in best form of season so no problems there.

    Do need to get Zinc and, dare i say, Success up to match sharpness quickly as likely to need them at some point. Very difficult to know when to take a chance on this though.

    Would be good to get a couple of Bristol City like games where we could take some key players off after an hour! Doubt this, or any away, will be that game though.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    SkylaRose likes this.
  4. Cassetti's Beard

    Cassetti's Beard First Team

    Blackburn are *****, easy win.

    Blackburn 0-4 Watford
     
  5. Chumlax

    Chumlax Squad Player

    My biggest prediction would be seeing Chalobah replaced in the starting lineup by Gosling, as the club seems obsessed with managing the timing of his exposure to picking up that 10th yellow card and earning his two game ban. If he doesn't get it in this one, he'll be free to face Muff and I imagine that's what the thinking behind the mildly kamikaze subbing of him on Friday night was motivated by/the match they're aiming for him to be available for.

    After that we play Wycombe and Forest before then facing Cardiff, so if you were feeling conspiracy-minded I might suggest lumping on a Chalobah yellow against the Cherries...
     
    Klein Lust, Doc0075 and SkylaRose like this.
  6. Otter

    Otter Gambling industry insider

    How about Chalobah keeps his nose clean in the next 6 matches? On Friday he hardly put a foot wrong and he didn't put in any strong challenges like Cleverley did to get his booking.
     
    Chiswell likes this.
  7. WillisWasTheWorst

    WillisWasTheWorst Its making less grammar mistake's thats important

    The Bournemouth game is not on the Friday night, so it’s not two days later.
     
  8. Less than 3.
     
    Chumlax likes this.
  9. a19tgg

    a19tgg First Team

    Wrong thread, but with Cardiff coming up I can’t help but think of that game against Mick Macarthys Ipswich, when we chucked the kitchen sink at them to get a win at the end, but they broke away and won it themselves.

    Obviously it didn’t matter in the end (in terms of promotion) but hopefully history doesn’t repeat itself!
     
  10. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    On and on it goes,like a nun's knickers!
     
  11. Chumlax

    Chumlax Squad Player

    Probably a bit much to ask your sole dedicated defensive midfielder to 'keep his nose clean' to the tune of not getting a single yellow card in the next 540 minutes of football.

    If he's on the pitch, we'd want him to have the option to do so as much as anything else - focusing strongly on not doing it would be detrimental to his play, and look at his booking on Friday to see why relying on him being literally perfect in a disciplinary sense is not a reliable tactic.
     
    SkylaRose likes this.
  12. SkylaRose

    SkylaRose Administrator Staff Member

    I remember the old SAS when BR won the Premiership in 1995. How the mighty have fallen, but not a club to be taken lightly. We know how generous Watford have been in recent times to giving a poor form side a lift, and in this respect it makes this game very dangerous.

    Armstrong was a menace at the Vic. Thankfully Foster made some great saves including a penalty. If we stick with the same side and philosophy we should have enough. I remember going to the epic 4-3 win in 2000, Mycha Hyde masterclass.

    3-1
     
    Smudger likes this.
  13. RookeryLad

    RookeryLad Reservist

    SWEET CAROLINE

    LA LA LA

    GOOD TIMES NEVER FELT SO GOOD

    SO GOOD

    SO GOOD!!

    Up the Watty.
     
    Smudger likes this.
  14. Leetanner

    Leetanner Academy Graduate

    Imo i reckon chalobah should get a booking in the Bournemouth game then will miss the next two ,wycombe and forest slate then clean till end of season
     
  15. Siohmy

    Siohmy Reservist

    One slightly mistimed tackle, one theatrical opposition player (ie. all of them) and one over zealous ref.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  16. Chumlax

    Chumlax Squad Player

    Ahem :rolleyes:

     
  17. zztop

    zztop Eurovision Winner 2015

    I'm really disappointed we didn't keep Garner. He had a fifth really good game in a row for Forest yesterday, this time against Blackburn. It is clear he has real talent but was never really given a proper chance in a system that suited him here. We could do with him in and around the first team now, in our new positive team ethic.

    Somehow, as a club, we just cannot seem to bring the best out of our young players unless they stand out a mile. He has been knocking on the door for Man Utd, but is deemed not good enough for little old Watford and our fans.
     
  18. Carpster

    Carpster Squad Player

    I agree I thought Ken looked very leggy against Derby. Maybe Zinckernagel will get a chance to start one. I just have a horrible feeling that a certain Gray will start and this will be our downfall.
     
  19. I can't see past a Watford win... providing Xisco doesn't do anything silly like go back to 442, randomly rotate, or something
     
  20. lutonh8a

    lutonh8a Squad Player

    I watched the highlights of the first game against them during half time of the City and Arsenal game, Tommy Mooney talks some **** sometimes doesn't he? When Pedro missed a chance he stated:

    "If that had been an out and out goal scorer like Gray or Deeney they would have been bursting to get on the end of that and score" . :eek::eek:
     
  21. Davy Crockett

    Davy Crockett Reservist

    Perhaps the pundits have been primed to talk AG up in order to get him out the door
    There must be some mug of a team who wants him but if they read this forum or listen to pundits
    coating him off then that will never happen !!
     
  22. lutonh8a

    lutonh8a Squad Player

    I doubt clubs pay too much attention to pundits and fans forums when they are scouting a player. I doubt there is a club stupid enough to look at how Gray performs statistically and then think to themselves what a great option to have as a centre forward he could do a job for us, and then offer him anywhere near the ridiculous wage he gets from us to actually tempt him a way.
     
    Last edited: Feb 21, 2021
    Chumlax likes this.
  23. a19tgg

    a19tgg First Team

    Ironically Gray is the sort of player we’d take on a free and hope he’d come good again.
     
  24. Davy Crockett

    Davy Crockett Reservist

    Well I would .
    I would look at every teams forums
    Which young player is doing well
    Who is shyte
    Who has a bad attitude etc etc
    I wouldn't make a decision on a forums view of a player but it
    would help you to build a case as to whether a player is worth buying or not
    Take this forum for example: Sarr, JP and Hughes are big plusses whilst Trondre is car crash
    Are we wrong?
    Are we collectively wrong about Success abusing his talent ?
     
  25. lutonh8a

    lutonh8a Squad Player

    I mean gather some information ask around trusted people in the game but to look at a fans forum would be a ridiculous way to scout a player. Maybe you are right though and we should all pretend that Gray is playing like Ronaldiniho in his prime incase a scout sees it and we can fool them into making a ridiculous offer.
     
  26. Davy Crockett

    Davy Crockett Reservist

    Lol !!

    However you seem to have the inside track on this
    Maybe you can let us know the ins and outs of scouting ?

    Nice edit BTW !!
     
  27. a19tgg

    a19tgg First Team

    Watching Gray play no more than a couple of times would tell any scout as much they could possibly need to know.
     
    Ybotcoombes, Chumlax and lutonh8a like this.
  28. lutonh8a

    lutonh8a Squad Player

    Ask around people that may know the player personally if you want to understand their attitude, not looking on a fans forum. When I was scouted when I was a bit younger the scout rang my school for background information and spoke to a current coach.

    Then watch the player and score their attributes to see if that is what you need. To be fair if a scout had seen Gray play it would more than likely be enough for them to realise that he is ****.
     
  29. Davy Crockett

    Davy Crockett Reservist

    If you read my post again you will see that I said that taking fans views into consideration helps to build a case as to whether a player is worth buying or not. I never said to sign a player on "oxford78tilidie" say so. But as a collective fans opinions should not be discarded or deemed irrelevant
     
  30. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    Must win game.
    BR 3 (Bobby Svarc 3) WFC 0 (Deeney missed pen).
     
  31. lutonh8a

    lutonh8a Squad Player

    You might be right I am sure all scouts have different ways of doing things. But I imagine as we are talking about Gray his statistics and ability would put anyone off. Anyway back to the original post because we are going off topic from the match day thread, Tommy Mooney was not trying to advertise Andre in his commentary he was just chatting ****.
     
    Davy Crockett likes this.
  32. Davy Crockett

    Davy Crockett Reservist

    Have they sorted his knee out ?
     
  33. Davy Crockett

    Davy Crockett Reservist

    You say this but **** Town bought him Brentford bought him and Burnley too whilst we paid
    top dollar. It would be interesting what fans of these clubs say .
    **** Town for example called him Agent Andre when we signed him. They were not wrong.
    Fans 1 Scouts 0
     
  34. a19tgg

    a19tgg First Team

    He was at least scoring goals for all those teams, now he isn’t.
     
  35. Davy Crockett

    Davy Crockett Reservist

    Correct.
    However Luton were champs whilst Brentford finished 5th and Burnley either champs or 2cnd .
    After that AG has struggled with goals in teams who are mediocre Burnley and ourselves in the Prem.
     

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