I am, but I reckon we'll have to be on top of our game to
do so.
They've won five on the spin now, and we aren't exactly
pulling any trees up.
I think we've got the better quality players and we might even have a couple of the casualties back by then.
Then it's a matter of using them right.

Thoughts on the game?

Our home form may be poor but we are at the top of the form guide for away games.

As long as we don’t lose that will do for me.

beddie wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 12, 2024 11:30 am

As long as we don’t lose that will do for me.

Yep, I think we can manage that.

No, for the first time in a long time I don't think we will beat them.

I don't fancy us to score against anyone at the minute. The manager would rather control the midfield than score.

We ain't gonna lose many games this season because we don't take risks.

All we have to do is win a lot of away games (and we'll have soon played all the top teams away bar Watford), and not lose to those top teams at home. If so we'll be in the top 3,and hopefully 2 come May.

A draw at Ewood is fine.

I would take (begrudgingly) a defeat at Ewood if you could guarantee me wins in the other nine of the next ten games. Yes, I’ll get pelters but it’s just my view. I detest Rovers; I want promotion and a successful club more!

jdrobbo wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 12, 2024 11:46 am

I would take (begrudgingly) a defeat at Ewood if you could guarantee me wins in the other nine of the next ten games. Yes, I’ll get pelters but it’s just my view. I detest Rovers; I want promotion and a successful club more!

If we could be guaranteed 9 out of 10 wins in the next 10 ... I am with you John ... Rovers could have a win ...

But on current form cannot see it so I hope we stuff-em .

Gonna Get Haaland on Loan on Transfer Opening Day to help City's Money woes

A favour for signing Muric , Trafford and Egan Riley

We will be fine

Confident of getting at least a draw against any side in this division. Which could be classed as a 'Result'

The Shire Claret wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 12, 2024 11:50 am

Gonna Get Haaland on Loan on Transfer Opening Day to help City's Money woes

A favour for signing Muric , Trafford and Egan Riley

We will be fine

he'd be the best BEST defensive centre midfield player we've had for a long time

Would snap your hand off for the most boring 0-0 the world has ever seen.

Pickles wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 12, 2024 11:58 am

Would snap your hand off for the most boring 0-0 the world has ever seen.

4-4 draw incoming...!

Rick_Muller wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 12, 2024 11:55 am

he'd be the best BEST defensive centre midfield player we've had for a long time

I think if we go behind, we’ll be done for.

We've been loads better away from home for a while now, so I'm certainly feeling we won't lose.

They are very Dyche like, a very solid defence to build on which we have struggled to break down so far.

Normally glass half full type of lad, and I’ve been really encouraged by the performances recently. Certainly the Boro game was really good in very trying conditions.

But…

That on Tuesday was an utter abomination - a real backwards step. Every other side in the top half of the table would’ve walloped that Derby side at home. Really concerned at our inability to break a really poor side down.

I don’t think we’ve got enough to go up automatically. I realise things can change in Jan, and I hope they do, but it’s not just additions we need, it’s a rethink of what’s happening in the final third. Robert Lewandowski would’ve struggled to have an impact against Derby.

We are resilient and compact at the back, but without making the most of the 20 mins at the start when we seem to have the momentum, we struggle thereafter.

I’d snap your hand off to come away from deadwood having not lost… but I’m seriously concerned that the obvious gap between us has narrowed to almost nothing.

Draw written all over it.

I think as long as they don't get an early goal and shut up shop, I think we will beat them.

No. Be a draw. We will play into Blackburn’s hands by passing the ball around the back and slowing the game down. Just like they did at the turf to us. We are easy To play against when teams wants a draw.

Nope. If we play like we did against Derby and lose, Parker will be in for a fair bit of grief.

Murger wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 12, 2024 12:58 pm

Nope. If we play like we did against Derby and lose, Parker will be in for a fair bit of grief.

Agree 100%.

Big game for the management.

Let's hope it's not another Derby County display, but a derby display.

blatherwickstattoos wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 12, 2024 12:52 pm

No. Be a draw. We will play into Blackburn’s hands by passing the ball around the back and slowing the game down. Just like they did at the turf to us. We are easy To play against when teams wants a draw.

Agreed, just hope the anxious atmosphere doesn't get to the players

It's gone full circle, it'll mean more to them on the day, some of our lads will bottle it.

Rick_Muller wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 12, 2024 12:03 pm

4-4 draw incoming...!

Id take that as long as our equaliser comes in the 96th minute and is offside similar to the Dunn one years ago

clarets1978 wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 12, 2024 2:09 pm

Id take that as long as our equaliser comes in the 96th minute and is offside similar to the Dunn one years ago

being 4-1 down at 90 minutes and scoring an undeserved (non) penalty; an own goal by them; and THEN a 96th minute equaliser from an offside position...

If Carlsberg did score draws...

A lot of football to be played between now and then so things could change significantly (form, player availability).

Hopefully the bastards, at home and spurred on by a bunch of baying simpletons will have a go at us. I feel much more confident about us scoring when the game is more open and back our defence to keep them out.

Rovers will never have a better chance to beat us. I have watched a number of their games recently and Eustace has them well organized and playing as a team. They will also possibly have the added incentive of going above us with a win I hope Parker and Pace are ready for what’s coming

We were lucky to avoid defeat in the home game. We were bobbins after the first 20 minutes.

At the time I put that down to a chaotic transfer window and a team thrown together at the last minute, convinced that we'd be much more coherent and fluid by the time the return fixture came around.

I can't say I'm feeling much more confident over 3 months on, to be honest.

Currently we are 8 games undefeated. 5 wins 3 draws.
Blackburn just won 5 in a row 4 of which were 1-0’s.

Glad to see it is likely to be a contest instead of the easy game it has become. We’ll still beat them though.

Don't think it will be one for the purist/neutrals. Got 0-0 or 1-0 written all over it.

JohnMcGreal wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 12, 2024 4:05 pm

We were lucky to avoid defeat in the home game. We were bobbins after the first 20 minutes.

At the time I put that down to a chaotic transfer window and a team thrown together at the last minute, convinced that we'd be much more coherent and fluid by the time the return fixture came around.

I can't say I'm feeling much more confident over 3 months on, to be honest.

Rubbish

One positive is that in recent away games we've been excellent. Hopefully that continues against Norwich where the home team has to open up far more.

Another away win UTC warm us up nicely for FAcup win at Reading

Just game number 26 in the league season and no more or less important than any other game.

Not worried at all. Still a while away and they don't create many chances against decent sides.

I will be nervous come game time, but I was nervous even for the games where we were clearly going to batter them.

Maybe we should be more concerned with getting results v Watford / Sheff U/Stoke first !!!!

My mantra for about 2 months, score first and we win. Conceded first and I don’t see is scoring 2 in reply.

Not especially.

Row x wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 12, 2024 4:29 pm

Rubbish

Why is it rubbish ? True facts in the cold light of day, apart from the fact no one yet knows the outcome of the game at deadwood. But in the context that we are not free scoring at the moment, and tbf are completely the opposite, it wouldn't be beyond the realms of possibility that we lose our proud record and bragging rights, obviously hope not, but wouldn't be a big surprise, and I'm also not confident at this moment in time, so to get back to my point, why is it rubbish ?

Almost certainly a draw.

Quickenthetempo wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 12, 2024 11:41 am

No, for the first time in a long time I don't think we will beat them.

I don't fancy us to score against anyone at the minute. The manager would rather control the midfield than score.

We got two last away game, didn't we? We'll beat them.

Quicknick wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 13, 2024 2:47 am

We got two last away game, didn't we? We'll beat them.

I really hope you're right.

But we are the lowest scorers in the league over the last 15 games.

We are on course to break the record for most nil nils in a season. That stands with Sunderland at 9.
We are on 5 and it's not even halfway in the season.

Quickenthetempo wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 13, 2024 6:46 am

I really hope you're right.

But we are the lowest scorers in the league over the last 15 games.

We are on course to break the record for most nil nils in a season. That stands with Sunderland at 9.
We are on 5 and it's not even halfway in the season.

Over the last 15 games we've got 30 points which nearly always gets you automatic promotion.

Also Oxford and Millwall have scored less than us in that time and West Brom are ahead of us on the number of 0-0s.

alwaysaclaret wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 12, 2024 11:28 pm

Why is it rubbish ? True facts in the cold light of day, apart from the fact no one yet knows the outcome of the game at deadwood. But in the context that we are not free scoring at the moment, and tbf are completely the opposite, it wouldn't be beyond the realms of possibility that we lose our proud record and bragging rights, obviously hope not, but wouldn't be a big surprise, and I'm also not confident at this moment in time, so to get back to my point, why is it rubbish ?

It's rubbish because we were not bobbins in the game at turf moor, yes we struggled to score a second, and they scored a worldly, but we were the better team

Jesus lets no get carried away and think they are anything but a mid-table side.

Could they win or draw the game of course they can any 1 side can win a single game on the day especially in the championship, fact still remains if we play well we win.

Are they any good - no, they don't have 1 player you would want in our side. It will be a big day for them (hopefully they are ignoring their boycott for this game and they at least make an effort) granted they will have blown there Christmas sports direct vouchers on the latest knocked down Slazenger gear and will sing about liking bread. That about sums up what they bring to this game.

We have 5 games before having to go there and will probably lose 3 or 4 of them and head back to their rightful position the league

Got 0-0 written all over it.
I'd take that.

Not for the first time in a few years now, sadly.

I'm more confident for this than I was for the home game.
I thought it was just too soon in the season and we were in turmoil to some extent, with the turnover of players.