Ryan the Rover starting vs. Portsmouth

[rugman]

Just pulled up the starting 11 and Nellie is in with Mokoena. Damn, in the time I am typing this he just got his first yellow card. 13 minutes in. Welcome to the EPL. Looking for live audio or PBP.

[Nogra Rover]

Just pulled up the starting 11 and Nellie is in with Mokoena. Damn, in the time I am typing this he just got his first yellow card. 13 minutes in. Welcome to the EPL. Looking for live audio or PBP.


Yellow for unsporting behavior on a foul. SOunds like he's in the mix.

You can go to the Gamecast from soccernet:

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/match?id=154000&cc=5901

[rugman]

getting some PBP here

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3946920&posted=1#post3946920

[seahawkdad]

From Rover's matchtracker:

35 MINS: Ryan Nelsen goes down the right his centre is on a plate for Thompson but he strikes it first time over the bar.

29 MINS: Nelsen upfield to Dickov, he lays it to his right to Gallagher who strikes it first time, but his effort is wide.

25 MINS: Nelsen feeds Thompson, he cuts in from the right and shoots, but it takes a deflection and is easy for Hislop.

Go Nellie!!!

[seahawkdad]

44:46
Attacking throw-in by Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn).

45:00 (0:11)
Cross by Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn), clearance by Gary O'Neil (Portsmouth).

[bigredfutbol]

From the PBP, sounds like Nellie did himself proud.

Bravo, Nellie!

[gocaps]

A full 90, a booking, a victory. Alright!

[seahawkdad]

Here are the combined BBC and Blackburn tracker notes...

4:53 Attacking throw-in by Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn).
13:06 Booking Foul by Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn) on Aiyegbeni Yakubu (Portsmouth). Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn) booked for unsporting behaviour.
25 MINS: Nelsen feeds Thompson, he cuts in from the right and shoots, but it takes a deflection and is easy for Hislop.
29 MINS: Nelsen upfield to Dickov, he lays it to his right to Gallagher who strikes it first time, but his effort is wide.
35:22 Attacking throw-in by Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn).
35 MINS: Ryan Nelsen goes down the right his centre is on a plate for Thompson but he strikes it first time over the bar.
36:04 Cross by Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn), resulting in open play.
40:36 Cross by Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn), shot by Paul Dickov (Blackburn) right-footed from right side of penalty area (18 yards), missed right. Goal kick taken long by Shaka Hislop (Portsmouth).
45:00 (0:11) Cross by Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn), clearance by Gary O'Neil (Portsmouth).

The BBC tracker gave out after the first half, and no mention of Nellie on Blackburn's in the second, but since these trackers tend to focus on the attack, could have been that Ryan didn't go forward as much once Rovers had the lead.

Or it could be that, not having played in a match since November, he's not as fit as he will be and just couldn't go forward as much ;)

[DutchFootballRulez]

I take it Nelsen was Right-back?

[sch2383]

I take it Nelsen was Right-back?
That's what I read on a Rovers board. I'm a little surprised by that as I thought Nellie was left footed.

[seahawkdad]

Here's a clue about how Nellie did in the second half...from a post on Blackburn Rovers Football Club Supporters (http://www.brfcs.co.uk/), "I listened to the game but it's difficult to get a feel as to how well the players did. With reference to the lads making their first statrs it sounded like Nelsen was strong in the tackle and very solid...There was a spell in the second half where the commentator must have said 'Nelsen wins the ball', or 'great challenge from Nelsen' or 'they couldn't get passed Nelsen' about five times in a minute..or so it seemed."
Yellow for unsporting behavior on a foul. SOunds like he's in the mix.And it sounds like he's also learning that MLS refs take a whole lot more dissent than Premier League refs do :D

[Knave]

Now that Nelsen's moved on to a new club his day to day play isn't on topic here any longer. As always there'll be a short topical grace period, but let's transition these discussions to the Blackburn Rovers board over the next couple weeks.

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=201

[seahawkdad]

Just one last wrap-up comment from the Rovers' boards from someone who was at the game: "Nelsen looks fearsomely strong more like All Black than a typical footballer."

But of course. 'Bye, Nellie.

[McOwen]

Now that Nelsen's moved on to a new club his day to day play isn't on topic here any longer. As always there'll be a short topical grace period, but let's transition these discussions to the Blackburn Rovers board over the next couple weeks.

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=201


Or feel free to stop by the Barra Brava/supporters boards.

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=161328

There are a lot of us over there and in the supporters club thread that LOVE to continue to talk about our favorite former players.

[Hedbal]

Just one last wrap-up comment from the Rovers' boards from someone who was at the game: "Nelsen looks fearsomely strong more like All Black than a typical footballer."

But of course. 'Bye, Nellie.
But if you look at Blackburn's website, they've shrunk our Nellie! What we thought was a 6'1" 196 pound bruiser is listed as 5'11" 170 pounds! Is it the food?

[tmas]

But if you look at Blackburn's website, they've shrunk our Nellie! What we thought was a 6'1" 196 pound bruiser is listed as 5'11" 170 pounds! Is it the food?

British tea sandwiches!

[Sanguine]

But if you look at Blackburn's website, they've shrunk our Nellie! What we thought was a 6'1" 196 pound bruiser is listed as 5'11" 170 pounds! Is it the food?

quite to the contrary. He's actually become a giant. That's 5.11 meters, and 170 stone. According to interviews, he has no plans of buying a house in England, as he claims he has a castle atop a beanstalk in the country.

[Winoman]

quite to the contrary. He's actually become a giant. That's 5.11 meters, and 170 stone. According to interviews, he has no plans of buying a house in England, as he claims he has a castle atop a beanstalk in the country.

LOL :D

[gocaps]

Now that Nelsen's moved on to a new club his day to day play isn't on topic here any longer. As always there'll be a short topical grace period, but let's transition these discussions to the Blackburn Rovers board over the next couple weeks.
Knave, I'm not normally one to criticize the mods - your job is hard enough as it is - but with this being the offseason and all, shouldn't there be a little more leeway on this one? Ryan was not only DCU's best player, but he is also the first DCU player to transition to a top-flight European league. To me, the quality of his performances (not to mention the frequency with which he plays) is a pretty good indicator of the level that both DCU and MLS are at right now.

During the season, I'm with you that this is off-topic. But in the offseason?

[Mason16]

Ryan Nelsen in the BBC team of the week his first start in the EPL. Well done!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/3569808.stm


I agree w/Gocaps FWIW.

:D