Blackburn Rovers 2-0 Watford Fc - 13/09/2022

Discussion in 'Match Day' started by Stuey, Sep 12, 2022.

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Prediction

  1. Watford Win

    8 vote(s)
    15.1%
  2. Watford Loss

    23 vote(s)
    43.4%
  3. Entertaining score draw

    11 vote(s)
    20.8%
  4. Bore Draw

    5 vote(s)
    9.4%
  5. Micah Hyde

    6 vote(s)
    11.3%
  1. Stuey

    Stuey Reservist

    When: Tuesday 13th September 2022, 19:45k.o.

    Where: Ewood Park, Blackburn, BB2 4JF

    Blackburn Rovers have been a staple fixture in the Championship since the 2012/13 season and long gone are the glory days of 1995’s Premier League Champions finish when they boasted the likes of Alan Shearer, Graeme Le Saux, Chris Sutton, David Batty et al in their ranks.

    Blackburn seem to be used to the flux of late, with several of their squad leaving (usually on free transfers) and with Ben Brereton Diaz in demand. His contract expires at the end of the 2022/23 season, so there will likely be no short of suitors.

    Of Blackburn’s departures, the most notable are Centre-back Darragh Lenihan who went to Middlesbrough and Joe Rothwell went to learn how to dive at Muff. Full-back Ryan Nyambe went to Lancashire rival Wigan Athletic.

    [​IMG]
    Darragh Lenihan

    They have brought in some new faces with Centre-back Dominic Hyam coming in from Coventry, Sammie Szmodics from Peterborough and Callum Brittain from Barnsley. Three loan signings in the form of Clinton Mola from VfB Stuttgart, George Hirst from Leicester and Tyler Morton from Liverpool. Of the new boys, Szmodics has chipped in with a goal from attacking midfield and seems to be used primarily as an impact sub.

    Furthermore, not only do Blackburn have to cope with a change of playing personnel but also there’s a change in the dugout with Jon Dahl Tomasson, who coincidentally played with Blackburn legend Shearer at Newcastle United. Blackburn started the season extremely well, being the early pace-setters but have now only won once in five games (the other four are losses). The most recent game (at time of writing this) was a 3-2 home defeat against Bristol City.

    Blackburn usually play a 4-2-3-1 formation with Brereton Diaz playing on the left side. Brereton Diaz looking clone Bradley Dack plays through the middle with Ryan Hedges on the right. Sam Gallagher’s recent injury has meant that George Hurst plays as the main striker.

    [​IMG]
    Bearded, separated at birth Dack and Brereton

    One to watch: Whilst the spotlight has been on Brereton Diaz of late, my player to watch is Lewis Travis who plays primarily as a defensive midfielder but can also play at right-back and right wing-back (Giaretta take note!) another with a contract expiring in 2023. Travis is an experienced campaigner (coming up to 150 senior appearances for Blackburn) and has scored two goals this season.

    [​IMG]
    Looking to score against Watford – Lewis Travis.

    Injury news:

    Watford – Imran Louza remains out of contention with a knee injury. Tom Cleverley, Manaj, TDB and Kalu (injured himself trying to put his socks on) remain out.

    Blackburn – Gallagher and Brittain are out with leg injuries. Wharton is out with a calf injury and Szmodics with a head injury.

    Born in Blackburn:

    Look it is Ray from Game of Thrones, actor Ian McShane. (To the older readers, yes, I am that old that I remember Lovejoy).

    [​IMG]
    Shortly before his untimely death as Ray (The Hound is out for revenge!)

    On Watford

    I for one am very surprised we managed to keep hold of both JP and Sarr, which is a positive from the window. Davis and Hause are now starting to make appearances, both will have larger roles to play in our season one suspects. Once we get Louza back into the fold, we should be at full-strength, and hopefully a promotion charge is on the cards.

    We have had an overhaul in the squad with a large number of departures and with key positions coming in: Vakoun Bayo, despite the comparatively large fee (not his fault) is starting to score goals and will hopefully continue to improve.

    The Right Wing-back situation was never resolved in the window which was very disappointing. Whilst Gaspar would probably work better in a back four, he is not really a wing-back. We clearly went for the cheap option here which I understand if finances are tight. RE has been trying to urge Gaspar to venture forward more and he did bag a slightly fortuitous assist against Middlesbrough. It will be interesting to see whether Jeremy Ngakia is given more opportunities here or we will continue to see Hassane Karama wasted on the right.

    Prediction: Blackburn 1-1 Watford

    Blackburn score within first 5 minutes after a Watford defensive calamity, we hit back, Davis the scorer.
     
  2. Cassetti's Beard

    Cassetti's Beard First Team

    Really need a result here, a loss and we could be down to 10th or 11th if other results go against us, albeit still early days. Regardless as to what Dux and co said the beginning of the season, the pressure will start to mount on Edwards.

    Blackburn United 0-4 Watford

    Sarr x 2
    Pedro x 2

    Tough evening for the bedwetters etc.
     
  3. Lloyd

    Lloyd Squad Player

    Can't believe this is going ahead. Surely the players will still be too upset?
     
  4. SkylaRose

    SkylaRose Administrator Staff Member

    I've only been to Ewood Park once, which was the 4-3 win in 2000. Great game where a certain Mr. Hyde was immense, going 2-0 down early on it was a great comeback but we did hold on a bit at the end. Now we travel back to a ground where King Ken seems to enjoy playing. We won this fixture 3-2 two seasons ago where he bagged a goal and ran the midfield. This is never an easy fixture. Blackburn are a well supported club who play a nice brand of football, but have never really threatened to return to the PL. This season they have started well (they generally do then fall away), and will hope they continue their good start.

    We still do not have our full squad to choose from with a roster of injuries, but like Stuey said, we do have Davis and Hause in the squad and Bayo is beginning to look like a striker now. It does look like this game is going ahead but Sunderland is up in the air - another one to add to the "stick it in midweek" bin. I would take a point here, but we really do need to start winning away games and putting a run together.

    Blackburn 2 Watford 2
     
    reg_varney likes this.
  5. Where's Wally

    Where's Wally Academy Graduate

    We lost this 0-10 in my dream last night.
     
  6. SkylaRose

    SkylaRose Administrator Staff Member

    Did we even turn up?
     
  7. Where's Wally

    Where's Wally Academy Graduate

    In body yes.
     
  8. wfcmoog

    wfcmoog Tinpot

    I will not be acknowledging this game or result.

    Should show sum respect.
     
    Filbert likes this.
  9. UEA_Hornet

    UEA_Hornet First Team Captain

    I think it’s high time they put the Rotherham game behind them.
     
  10. lowerrous

    lowerrous First Team

    Travis signed a new long-term deal in March which takes him to 2026:

    https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2022/march/11/trav-signs-new-long-term-deal-/
     
  11. wfcwarehouse

    wfcwarehouse First Team Captain

    Its wot she wudv wonted
     
  12. lowerrous

    lowerrous First Team

    Looking at the club's team news it sounds like Kamara is injured anyway, while Ngakia is fit again.

    So I expect it will be another back 3 with Sema LWB and Ngakia RWB. If that's the case at least one of Kabs or Cathcart need to be dropped though.

    I'm a bit shocked that we find ourselves in a situation whereby I'm hoping Ngakia's return to the side will actually improve the team, but here we are.
     
  13. SkylaRose

    SkylaRose Administrator Staff Member

    That's not right. As a Watford fan you should be "expected" to accept these things are almost law now in the eyes of our overlords Pozzbury.

    #lessonslearnt #businessdoneproperley
     
  14. Hogg-DEENEY!!!

    Hogg-DEENEY!!! Squad Player

    It is only 'hoped' that Sema will play against Blackburn, who's in line to replace him if neither he nor Kamara can play? Hungbo surely? Now that our 'first choice' RWB is a doubt, surely Ngakia plays on the other side, say what you like about him, but he's got more energy and he's more accustomed to English football than Gaspar
     
  15. lowerrous

    lowerrous First Team

    Or we move to 4 at the back with Hause or Cathcart at LB.
     
  16. Hogg-DEENEY!!!

    Hogg-DEENEY!!! Squad Player

    I think considering the midfield is very thin at the moment, it's somewhat of a blessing that Reading didn't go ahead as planned, Choudhury and Kayembe have played almost every minute they've been available for, perhaps Clev, by virtue of having two arms and two legs more than anything, is a miss after all (though in fairness to him, he had a disrupted pre-season, perhaps when he is match fit he could prove decent squad depth). Louza I have to say I assumed was closer to returning than he is, but by the sounds of it he will be returning to full fitness after the international break? If the weekend's game is also postponed, he might only be absent for 1 more game!
     
  17. Hogg-DEENEY!!!

    Hogg-DEENEY!!! Squad Player

    Highly doubt Edwards goes that route, and nor would I want him to as I wouldn't want our best CB (or even our arguable second best CB!) playing at LB. Think Ngakia is better as a traditional full-back, but I don't think he'd be so bad as a wing-back that he'd make Edwards think about playing 2 relatively clogger CBs at full-back
     
  18. FromDiv4

    FromDiv4 Reservist

    What has happened to James Morris?
     
  19. Chumlax

    Chumlax Squad Player

    Transcendence.
     
  20. TomWatfordFC

    TomWatfordFC Reservist

    Ngakia will probably be at LWB. Oh boy this season is just great.
     
  21. Stuey

    Stuey Reservist

  22. cyaninternetdog

    cyaninternetdog Forum Hippie

    We need to keep Shearer and Sutton quiet and somehow find a way past Hendrie if we are to upset Dalglish's boys. 2-2
     
    Hogg-DEENEY!!! likes this.
  23. Steve Leo Beleck

    Steve Leo Beleck Squad Player

    Back four if Sema and Kamara are both out, surely?

    Cathcart at right back with Ngakia or Gaspar covering on the left.
     
  24. Steve Leo Beleck

    Steve Leo Beleck Squad Player

    Nothing. He's still floating about as u23 cover and nowhere near good enough to be playing Championship football, I'd imagine.
     
    lowerrous likes this.
  25. FromDiv4

    FromDiv4 Reservist

    Disappointing.
     
  26. Slimy Gizzardface

    Slimy Gizzardface Academy Graduate

    .... are you not forgetting about the erstwhile Horn Tim Sherwood? ..... we'd better have Super Dan Gosling on the case otherwise Sherwood will boss that midfield battle ....
     
  27. BigRossLittleRoss

    BigRossLittleRoss First Team

    He’s gone to the rapture .
     
  28. Hogg-DEENEY!!!

    Hogg-DEENEY!!! Squad Player

    The SAS might be busy preparing for Lizzie's funeral, might nick something
     
  29. Hogg-DEENEY!!!

    Hogg-DEENEY!!! Squad Player

    I get the idea of not picking a back 3 seeing as neither Hungbo nor Ngakia are really natural at LWB and RWB respectively, but honestly, I think that's a better solution than Cathcart at RB and Ngakia at LB, especially as I assume Rob would want some degree of positivity from the full-backs if we do play a back 4. Might all be moot, and we might see Sema anyway!
     
  30. BusheyOrn

    BusheyOrn Reservist

    If Ngakia is in the squad, as it's his first game I don't expect him to start or if he does he will need to be subbed. I suspect we will go 4 at the back with Gaspar & Ngakia sharing the RB position. Sema sounds unfit although he has played injured twice already, if he plays again we are risking him being out for a month. I don't have an answer for the left hand side if Kamara is out.
     
    Jumbolina likes this.
  31. Manatleisure

    Manatleisure Squad Player

    Kabs please.
     
    wfc4ever and Steve Leo Beleck like this.
  32. IRB

    IRB THe artist formally know as ImRonBurgundy?

    I sense a loss here, would probably take a draw
     
  33. Steve Leo Beleck

    Steve Leo Beleck Squad Player

    Cathcart is all right as a right back I think. He's not going to be tricking his way to the bye line or overlapping but he's done a decent enough job a few times there, including in the Premier League. And I thought Ngakia had a couple of ok games at left back last Championship season but might be imagining that!

    Let's be honest though, if neither Sema nor Kamara can start it'll just a different set of square pegs in round holes.
     
  34. luke_golden

    luke_golden Space Cadet

    Drove past the team coach, which was heading in a northerly direction, on my way down from Manchester airport yesterday morning. Followed not long after by several unmarked police cars with lights flashing. Probably unrelated to the Edwards article suggesting Kamara at RB was all part of his master plan, but you have to admit it’s suspicious timing.

    Make of that what you will.
     
    reg_varney, Chumlax and UEA_Hornet like this.
  35. Jumbolina

    Jumbolina First Team

    Interesting game. Blackburn have been poor since their 9 point start. We’ve been inconsistent and have injury problems at full back. Draw would be decent if we can follow up with a win at home to Sunderland.
     

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