Blackburn Rovers away match thread

[Davefevs]

3 hours ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Nice preview of what to expect.

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/bristol-city-blackburn-sam-szmodics-8968629

Should be an open game, first goal key.

Adam Wharton is compared to Scott in this piece, they see high octane attack attack attack as the way to maximise player value, their writer predicts 5th-12th for Blackburn.

Interestingly Wharton did sign a new deal there, to 2027. Just extended now to 2028! Nice and early, he signed it age 18.

Adam Wharton is stylistically the most similar young player to Alex Scott that I saw last season, bar being predominantly left footed instead. But…

2 hours ago, redkev said:

Didn’t scotty run the show if I’m correct

…yes, he did. He sucked Wharton in a few times and rolled away from him.

[CodeRed]

1 hour ago, Davefevs said:

 

He sucked Wharton in a few times and rolled away from him.

[Mr Popodopolous]

1 hour ago, Davefevs said:

Adam Wharton is stylistically the most similar young player to Alex Scott that I saw last season, bar being predominantly left footed instead. But…

…yes, he did. He sucked Wharton in a few times and rolled away from him.

I certainly remember Scott being excellent there, the Conway goal started with Scott deep in his own half.

Wharton is a year younger than Scott though isn't he, different phases of development. Contract to 2028 gives Blackburn a fair bit of room for manoeuvre though, can protect the valuation well at least.

Edited December 11, 2023 by Mr Popodopolous

[sglosbcfc]

12 hours ago, Jerseybean said:

They just missed out on the play offs last season on goal difference, finishing in 7th place with 69 points.

Blackburn Rovers have lost three and won two of their last five games and have two points more than us.

Ground guide: https://footballgroundguide.com/leagues/england/championship/ewood-park-blackburn-rovers.html

We recorded a fine win at their place last season: https://youtu.be/GDmlVl3LHto

They signed Niall Ennis on a free transfer after he rejected a new contract at Plymouth Argyle. The 24-year-old forward agreed a four-year deal at Ewood Park with the option of a further year. Also signed Vitesse Arnhem midfielder Sondre Tronstad on a three-year deal. The 27-year-old Norway international joined Rovers on a free transfer on 1 July.

Also signed Iceland international forward Arnor Sigurdsson on a one-year deal from Russian top flight club CSKA Moscow, https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65982812

Their head coach is Jon Dahl Tomasson. When he played he was a forward and  his most notable run of football came in his first stint at Feyenoord, with whom he won the 2002 UEFA Cup, and Italian club AC Milan, with whom he won the UEFA Champions League in 2003 and reached the final in 2005. He also played top-flight football in England, Germany and Spain. He is the joint all-time top goalscorer for the Denmark national team with 52 goals in 112 games and was also honoured with the Danish Player of the Year award in both 2002 and 2004. He played at the UEFA European Championship in 2000 and 2004 and the FIFA World Cup in 2002 and 2010.

Blackburn banter

• Their distinctive blue and white quartered shirts are not a result of the town’s famous cotton checks but a result of the club was formed by a group of public schoolboys in 1875.
• The Queen Victoria statue on the Boulevard erected in 1905 was originally planned for Corporation Park. James Hargreaves, founder of a prominent Blackburn wholesale tobacconists and confectioners, raised the cash for the statue commemorating Britain’s longest reigning monarch by public subscription after her death in 1901.
• Blackburn became the first town to undertake the mass finger-printing of people following the murder of June Anne Devaney in May 1948. She was a three-year-old patient at Queens Park Hospital when she was abducted from her cot and murdered in its grounds, now part of the Royal Blackburn Hospital site, on 15 May 1948. Fingerprints on a bottle underneath her cot led the police to fingerprint every male over the age of 16 who was present in Blackburn on 14 and 15 May 1948. After taking over 46,500 sets of fingerprints, a match was made with Peter Griffiths, a 22-year-old ex-serviceman. Griffiths admitted his guilt and his trial ascertained if he was sane or not. After deliberating for 23 minutes, the jury found him sane and he was hanged at Liverpool Prison on Friday 19 November 1948. After his conviction, the police destroyed all fingerprints they had taken.

Head-to-head record

Won: 22

Lost: 16

Drawn: 14

Huge shout-out to those making the 300+ mile round trip from Bristol.

Officials

Referee: James Linington

Assistants: Andrew Fox and High Gilroy

Fourth official: Andrew Kitchen

Keith Fear, Jon Stead, Derrick Williams [now playing for DC  United], Andy Cole, Chris Crowe, Bradley Orr, Frank Fielding, Peter Cambers,  Sam Szmodics, John Bailey and Jason Roberts (now a director of CONCAFAF https://www.concacaf.com/inside-concacaf/about-concacaf/) all played for both teams.

Well known fans include…..

Matt Smith 

Best known for his portrayals of Dr Who and Prince Charles in The Crown, Matt Smith is a Blackburn fan. He actually featured for Northampton Town, Nottingham Forest, and Leicester City youth teams before his playing career was ended due to injury.

Stephen Hendry

Snooker legend Stephen Hendry may hail from north of the border but he's known to be a Rovers fan. He won seven world titles in the 1990s and also has six Masters triumphs to his name.

Lee Mack

A familiar face on British TV, comedian and actor Lee Mack was born and raised in Southport. A boyhood Blackburn supporter, Mack is occasionally spotted at Ewood Park.

Carl Fogarty

Motorsport star Carl Fogarty is one of Blackburn's most famous sons and a big Rovers fan.

Jack Straw

Former Labour politician Jack Straw is a famed supporter of the Championship club. Straw was a long-serving MP for Blackburn and was home secretary under Tony Blair between 1997 and 2001.

Tim Farron

The former leader of the Liberal Democrats. Farron was born in Preston but is a huge Blackburn fan and even won an episode of Celebrity Mastermind with the club as his specialist subject.

Pubs

The Golden Cup, 610 Blackburn Road, Darwen, BB3 0AJ, http://goldencupdarwen.co.uk/

The Postal Order, 15-19 Darwen Street, Blackburn, BB2 2BY (Spoons) https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/all-pubs/england/lancashire/the-postal-order-blackburn

Navigation Inn, Canal Street, Blackburn, BB2 4DL, https://navigationblackburn.co.uk

Oyster and Otter, Livesey Branch Road, Blackburn, BB2 5DQ, https://oysterandotter.co.uk/ Distinctive clapboard and stone building in modern New England style; open-plan interior with cushioned dining booths by big windows on one side, other cosy seating areas divided by shoulder-high walls and large central hearth, end part with comfy sofas, good food including signature fish/seafood from open kitchen, Marstons Wainwright, a guest ale and over 30 wines by the glass; background music; children welcome, seats on decking above road, open (and food) all day.

The Fernhurst, 466 Bolton Road, Blackburn, BB2 4JP, https://www.hungryhorse.co.uk/pubs/lancashire/fernhurst?utm_source=g_places&utm_medium=locations&utm_campaign=HH_pubpage

COYR!

I thought Stephen Hendry was a big Hearts fan? Must have an English team as well.

[Never to the dark side]

weather conditions in Blackburn expected to be dry from 4pm onwards for the rest of the night

A lot better than Huddersfield on Saturday afternoon

[BigTone]

20 hours ago, Jerseybean said:

They just missed out on the play offs last season on goal difference, finishing in 7th place with 69 points.

Blackburn Rovers have lost three and won two of their last five games and have two points more than us.

Ground guide: https://footballgroundguide.com/leagues/england/championship/ewood-park-blackburn-rovers.html

We recorded a fine win at their place last season: https://youtu.be/GDmlVl3LHto

They signed Niall Ennis on a free transfer after he rejected a new contract at Plymouth Argyle. The 24-year-old forward agreed a four-year deal at Ewood Park with the option of a further year. Also signed Vitesse Arnhem midfielder Sondre Tronstad on a three-year deal. The 27-year-old Norway international joined Rovers on a free transfer on 1 July.

Also signed Iceland international forward Arnor Sigurdsson on a one-year deal from Russian top flight club CSKA Moscow, https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65982812

Their head coach is Jon Dahl Tomasson. When he played he was a forward and  his most notable run of football came in his first stint at Feyenoord, with whom he won the 2002 UEFA Cup, and Italian club AC Milan, with whom he won the UEFA Champions League in 2003 and reached the final in 2005. He also played top-flight football in England, Germany and Spain. He is the joint all-time top goalscorer for the Denmark national team with 52 goals in 112 games and was also honoured with the Danish Player of the Year award in both 2002 and 2004. He played at the UEFA European Championship in 2000 and 2004 and the FIFA World Cup in 2002 and 2010.

Blackburn banter

• Their distinctive blue and white quartered shirts are not a result of the town’s famous cotton checks but a result of the club was formed by a group of public schoolboys in 1875.
• The Queen Victoria statue on the Boulevard erected in 1905 was originally planned for Corporation Park. James Hargreaves, founder of a prominent Blackburn wholesale tobacconists and confectioners, raised the cash for the statue commemorating Britain’s longest reigning monarch by public subscription after her death in 1901.
• Blackburn became the first town to undertake the mass finger-printing of people following the murder of June Anne Devaney in May 1948. She was a three-year-old patient at Queens Park Hospital when she was abducted from her cot and murdered in its grounds, now part of the Royal Blackburn Hospital site, on 15 May 1948. Fingerprints on a bottle underneath her cot led the police to fingerprint every male over the age of 16 who was present in Blackburn on 14 and 15 May 1948. After taking over 46,500 sets of fingerprints, a match was made with Peter Griffiths, a 22-year-old ex-serviceman. Griffiths admitted his guilt and his trial ascertained if he was sane or not. After deliberating for 23 minutes, the jury found him sane and he was hanged at Liverpool Prison on Friday 19 November 1948. After his conviction, the police destroyed all fingerprints they had taken.

Head-to-head record

Won: 22

Lost: 16

Drawn: 14

Huge shout-out to those making the 300+ mile round trip from Bristol.

Officials

Referee: James Linington

Assistants: Andrew Fox and High Gilroy

Fourth official: Andrew Kitchen

Keith Fear, Jon Stead, Derrick Williams [now playing for DC  United], Andy Cole, Chris Crowe, Bradley Orr, Frank Fielding, Peter Cambers,  Sam Szmodics, John Bailey and Jason Roberts (now a director of CONCAFAF https://www.concacaf.com/inside-concacaf/about-concacaf/) all played for both teams.

Well known fans include…..

Matt Smith 

Best known for his portrayals of Dr Who and Prince Charles in The Crown, Matt Smith is a Blackburn fan. He actually featured for Northampton Town, Nottingham Forest, and Leicester City youth teams before his playing career was ended due to injury.

Stephen Hendry

Snooker legend Stephen Hendry may hail from north of the border but he's known to be a Rovers fan. He won seven world titles in the 1990s and also has six Masters triumphs to his name.

Lee Mack

A familiar face on British TV, comedian and actor Lee Mack was born and raised in Southport. A boyhood Blackburn supporter, Mack is occasionally spotted at Ewood Park.

Carl Fogarty

Motorsport star Carl Fogarty is one of Blackburn's most famous sons and a big Rovers fan.

Jack Straw

Former Labour politician Jack Straw is a famed supporter of the Championship club. Straw was a long-serving MP for Blackburn and was home secretary under Tony Blair between 1997 and 2001.

Tim Farron

The former leader of the Liberal Democrats. Farron was born in Preston but is a huge Blackburn fan and even won an episode of Celebrity Mastermind with the club as his specialist subject.

Pubs

The Golden Cup, 610 Blackburn Road, Darwen, BB3 0AJ, http://goldencupdarwen.co.uk/

The Postal Order, 15-19 Darwen Street, Blackburn, BB2 2BY (Spoons) https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/all-pubs/england/lancashire/the-postal-order-blackburn

Navigation Inn, Canal Street, Blackburn, BB2 4DL, https://navigationblackburn.co.uk

Oyster and Otter, Livesey Branch Road, Blackburn, BB2 5DQ, https://oysterandotter.co.uk/ Distinctive clapboard and stone building in modern New England style; open-plan interior with cushioned dining booths by big windows on one side, other cosy seating areas divided by shoulder-high walls and large central hearth, end part with comfy sofas, good food including signature fish/seafood from open kitchen, Marstons Wainwright, a guest ale and over 30 wines by the glass; background music; children welcome, seats on decking above road, open (and food) all day.

The Fernhurst, 466 Bolton Road, Blackburn, BB2 4JP, https://www.hungryhorse.co.uk/pubs/lancashire/fernhurst?utm_source=g_places&utm_medium=locations&utm_campaign=HH_pubpage

COYR!

Condensed Version

Blackburn:

The Queen Victoria statue on the Boulevard erected in 1905 was originally planned for Corporation Park.

1 all

COYR

[Full nelson]

Football is a funny old game but can't see anything other than a big defeat tonight. Rovers have impressed with their attacking flair when I've caught them on the TV a few times this season. 

[Super]

36 minutes ago, Full nelson said:

Football is a funny old game but can't see anything other than a big defeat tonight. Rovers have impressed with their attacking flair when I've caught them on the TV a few times this season. 

They only have 2 more points than us?

[Cole Not Gas]

Does anyone know of a good pub in the town centre? I used to go to the one just passed the ground going out of town but it was rammed on recent visits. Cant imagine there will be many there tonight from Bristol

[Wanderingred]

A cold, dark December Tuesday night up in Lancashire… Fair play to anyone making a journey like that. I’d imagine Blackburn will be slight favourites here an I’d expect a narrow defeat.

[bcfc01]

2 hours ago, Full nelson said:

Football is a funny old game but can't see anything other than a big defeat tonight. Rovers have impressed with their attacking flair when I've caught them on the TV a few times this season. 

They also have the worst defence (equal with Plymouth) in the division.

Scored 13 and conceded 18 at home.

Won 4 and lost 6 at home.

18th in the home table.

Cue a 0-6 defeat 

[Wokingham Red]

https://footballgroundguide.com/leagues/england/championship/ewood-park-blackburn-rovers.html

Always a good website for these kind fo questions.

The spoons near the station is decent. The Fernhurst is closer to the ground which is a great pub

[phantom]

1 hour ago, Cole Not Gas said:

Does anyone know of a good pub in the town centre? I used to go to the one just passed the ground going out of town but it was rammed on recent visits. Cant imagine there will be many there tonight from Bristol

FAO @Cole Not Gas

15 hours ago, phantom said:

 

 

 

[bcfc01]

Dickie is up for it ;

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/rob-dickie-bristol-city-rewarded-8968673

[Homer Simpson]

4 minutes ago, bcfc01 said:

Dickie is up for it ;

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/rob-dickie-bristol-city-rewarded-8968673

[1960maaan]

I'm guessing;

 

[ExiledAjax]

50 minutes ago, bcfc01 said:

They also have the worst defence (equal with Plymouth) in the division.

Scored 13 and conceded 18 at home.

Won 4 and lost 6 at home.

18th in the home table.

Cue a 0-6 defeat 

They are definitely a glass cannon team.

Attacking stats that are the best of the rest behind Leicester, Ipswich and Leeds. But defensively they're a bottom 6 team.

We on the other hand have a tight defence (yes I terms of restricting the opposition it is still tight under Manning - we've been undone by our own errors) coupled with a mid-table attack.

My gut is we might be able to pull off a counter-attack based win. Absorb the Blackburn attack with our solid defence, and then look to hit a fragile defence on the break. I expect a similar formation to the one we saw against Huddersfield.

May not shake out like that but I think that's what we might see attempted.

[GrahamC]

1 hour ago, 1960maaan said:

I'm guessing;

 

Williams did well on Saturday so unless it was pre planned squad rotation I expect him to start.

Pring back is a no brainer but I’m not sure he’s 100%, definitely looked like he had a niggle after he came on.

After Saturday when I expected us to be unchanged & we made two, who knows?

[Mr Popodopolous]

I'd have thought Williams more suitable tonight and TGH v Huddersfield if you're thinking on those terms tweaking the same shape for opposition a bit but who knows.

Hopefully Pring back, still not mad keen on the wing back idea at this time but I suppose we'll have to get used to it for now.

Dickie being happy is good, players being happy is good- some will like the new style more than others- that's football.

Edited December 12, 2023 by Mr Popodopolous

[bcfc01]

Article by Piercy ;

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/bristol-city-blackburn-sam-szmodics-8968629

 

 

[1960maaan]

28 minutes ago, GrahamC said:

Williams did well on Saturday so unless it was pre planned squad rotation I expect him to start.

Pring back is a no brainer but I’m not sure he’s 100%, definitely looked like he had a niggle after he came on.

After Saturday when I expected us to be unchanged & we made two, who knows?

 

22 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

I'd have thought Williams more suitable tonight

I think it's a coin toss for Williams or TGH , get the reasoning and would be happy to start Williams. 
I do think the Manning is still finding out about the squad. Plus MF is about the only area we can rotate .

We looked unbalanced Vs Huddersfield IMO, plus it's an easy switch to a back 4 if needed if Pring is fit. 
I expect a change or two and options are limited , so the only other question is Weiman , Bell or what I'd like to see, Mehmeti in that 'other' No 10 role.

[Mr Popodopolous]

           O'Leary

Tanner Vyner Dickie Pring

           TGH James

  Sykes    Knight     Bell

              Conway

I'd go back to basics a little and that can easily morph into a 4-3-3, 4-5-1 in game.

Main question mark is, the form of Bell and we can't really drop Weimann after an assist can we. Then again neither Sykes nor Weimann are left footed..

Obviously when McCrorie, Atkinson, Naismith are baxk by all means you have a wider range to look at a back 3 and wingbacks.

Edited December 12, 2023 by Mr Popodopolous

[bcfc01]

Stream for tonight;

https://sports-10.com/

 

[Davefevs]

2 hours ago, ExiledAjax said:

They are definitely a glass cannon team.

Attacking stats that are the best of the rest behind Leicester, Ipswich and Leeds. But defensively they're a bottom 6 team.

We on the other hand have a tight defence (yes I terms of restricting the opposition it is still tight under Manning - we've been undone by our own errors) coupled with a mid-table attack.

My gut is we might be able to pull off a counter-attack based win. Absorb the Blackburn attack with our solid defence, and then look to hit a fragile defence on the break. I expect a similar formation to the one we saw against Huddersfield.

May not shake out like that but I think that's what we might see attempted.

Would be very interesting to see it play out like that. And I know it’s not black and white, nor that you’re suggesting that either, but I’ll be disappointed if we can’t impose our patient approach. Surely we can do that against another mid-table side, regardless of their own style?

That is what I’ll be looking for tonight, once I get beyond the actual result. 

[Mr Popodopolous]

Blackburn are more of a possession albeit open and attacking side than us or have been doing it for longer anyway, tbh albeit under new management ie us that may change.

A number of their games have also had red cards too for and against so it can make it a bit tricky to judge.

Red card for them v Hull, and v Norwich, Red Card for their opponent v Rotherham.

https://fbref.com/en/squads/e090f40b/Blackburn-Rovers-Stats

Edited December 12, 2023 by Mr Popodopolous

[Slack Bladder]

I've got this one down as both teams to score on my mid week accumulator 

Expect a boring 0-0 then

[redkev]

16 hours ago, Davefevs said:

Adam Wharton is stylistically the most similar young player to Alex Scott that I saw last season, bar being predominantly left footed instead. But…

…yes, he did. He sucked Wharton in a few times and rolled away from him.

I can remember a few Blackburn fans saying after that Scott was by far the better player on the day , like you say Dave I think they look at him as there version of Scott but we’re very honest with there assessment after that Scott was a fair bit ahead of Wharton

[Mr Popodopolous]

6 minutes ago, redkev said:

I can remember a few Blackburn fans saying after that Scott was by far the better player on the day , like you say Dave I think they look at him as there version of Scott but we’re very honest with there assessment after that Scott was a fair bit ahead of Wharton

Scott is a year older though, which is a factor albeit I think he is superior to Wharton.

[Roadrunner]

While we all know Sammy will score. Will it be the winner. I am going for 1-1.

[Ska Junkie]

I'll take a point tbh.