Ryan Nelsen - Blackburn vs Bolton (1/24/05)

[elconejito]

Our boy Nellie is chosen by most on the Rovers message boards to be in the starting 11. He seems to be first choice at the right fullback position. Its out of position for him, but he seems to have played well there in his first game.

Game is on FSW today at 3pm, and again at 8pm EST

[seahawkdad]

BBC doesn't even have him as dressed:

B Friedel, L Neill, A Todd, A Mokoena, D Matteo, B Emerton, R Savage, D Thompson, M Pedersen, J Bothroyd, P Gallagher
Subs: J Stead, P Enckelman, N Johansson, S Reid, J Johnson

Nor does Blackburn's official game report:

ROVERS: Friedel, Neill, Todd, Mokoena, Matteo, Emerton, Savage, Thompson, M. Pedersen, Bothroyd, Gallagher. Subs: Enckelman, Stead, Johansson, Reid, Johnson.

So what's up with Nellie?

[SABuffalo786]

Bring him back! :)

[mikedett]

I was shocked not to see Ryan in the lineup...hope all is well with our lad...

[smc129]

I know Ryan had a few knocks after the Portsmouth match - most notably a strain to the groin again (though not the area which affected him in 2004). However, he was available to play in the match, and we were disappointed too in NZ to not see him this morning.

[cherno]

I skipped out of work early just to see Nellie play again. I was very upset :mad: .

Cherno

[elconejito]

Nellie did not play, did not dress (DNP, DND). I've been poking around the Rovers boards (http://www.brfcs.co.uk/mb/), and before the game, most (like 9/10) had nellie in the starting lineup at fullback instead of in the center. Apparently, they have a guy named Todd who is a rock, and their other new signing Mokeona is taking the other spot. The guy most want out of the lineup is Matteo who from descriptions, sounds like Zaidie. Mokoena apparently did OK, so nellie's best chance to crack the lineup is for Mokeona or Matteo. Unless of course, they use him in midfield which is apparently another concern for them....

They play Chelsea this week (not sure if its on TV) so we'll see if he plays.

[dsheon]

They seemed shaky on defense without Ryan against a very unimpressive team. In fact, Blackburn reminds me of DC United circa 2002ish. Lots of ball control, not enough skill nor determination.

[tab5g]

In fact, Blackburn reminds me of DC United circa 2002ish. Lots of ball control, not enough skill nor determination.

In other words, not really a fist of a team.

[Sundevil9]

They seemed shaky on defense without Ryan against a very unimpressive team. In fact, Blackburn reminds me of DC United circa 2002ish. Lots of ball control, not enough skill nor determination.

Do they have any 'hairy chested' Bulgarians?

[gocaps]

The guy most want out of the lineup is Matteo who from descriptions, sounds like Zaidie. Mokoena apparently did OK, so nellie's best chance to crack the lineup is for Mokeona or Matteo. Unless of course, they use him in midfield which is apparently another concern for them....
Dominic Matteo is not like Craig Ziadie in any way. Matteo is an international-caliber center back (played for Scotland until he retired from international duty two years ago). Ziadie is a donkey wing "defender" with speed and nothing else.

Matteo has been injured a lot in the last two years and is not the player he was 3-4 years ago, when he partnered with Rio Ferdinand at Leeds in the EPL's stingiest backline (and it wasn't just Rio who did that - Matteo was superb in that period). I know the Blackburn fans have been happy with Mokoena and that normal right back Lucas Neill is considered solid. Either Matteo or Andy Todd would have to sit for Ryan to get on the field.

[Pints]

FSW will be airing the match between Chelsea and Blackburn LIVE at 3pm Wednesday the 2nd of February.
They will re-air this match at 8PM Wednesday night.

Here's to Nelsen getting some minutes.

[elconejito]

Dominic Matteo is not like Craig Ziadie in any way. Matteo is an international-caliber center back (played for Scotland until he retired from international duty two years ago). Ziadie is a donkey wing "defender" with speed and nothing else.

Matteo has been injured a lot in the last two years and is not the player he was 3-4 years ago, when he partnered with Rio Ferdinand at Leeds in the EPL's stingiest backline (and it wasn't just Rio who did that - Matteo was superb in that period). I know the Blackburn fans have been happy with Mokoena and that normal right back Lucas Neill is considered solid. Either Matteo or Andy Todd would have to sit for Ryan to get on the field.
thanks for setting the record straight. I was going by what was on the rover's boards as i havent seen him play. they described him as good going forward, but prone to costly defensive errors.

In many of the "hopeful" pre-game lineups they had Johanson starting on the left, and nelsen on the right. neil wasn't even in the subs bench, so i wonder if maybe he was injured?

Everybody over there it seems loves Todd, so Nellie isn't likely to take his place. As you said, they seem to be happy with Mokoena, so i dont kno if thats going to be an option for him. No one complained when Neil was announced as the starter, so I assume he is good as well, so that spot is likely closed as well. Most of the posters however didnt want Matteo in the lineup (for whatever reason), so i just assume that will be the spot likely to open. I have no idea who johanson is

[Liverpool_SC]

Everybody over there it seems loves Todd, so Nellie isn't likely to take his place. As you said, they seem to be happy with Mokoena, so i dont kno if thats going to be an option for him. No one complained when Neil was announced as the starter, so I assume he is good as well, so that spot is likely closed as well. Most of the posters however didnt want Matteo in the lineup (for whatever reason), so i just assume that will be the spot likely to open. I have no idea who johanson is

Andy Todd has a terrible reputation for getting along with people. Even though he is a good player, he usually wears out his welcome after a little while by getting into fights with teammates and the like. He is also generally a leftback, but he has been doing the job in the center recently, I suppose. He also draws a few cards, so he will have the odd number of suspended games.

Matteo is very prone to injury. He has spent long stretches of the last several seasons laid up with knee problems. He is frequently used (in a pinch) in central midfield too, although that was typically under Graeme Souness.

Lucas Neill is very athletic and this helps him cover up for some of his positioning deficiencies. He can also come up lucky on the odd free kick. On the other hand, he draws cards (even red ones) with rather shocking tackles on a more frequent than usual basis. Last year, for instance, he broke a Liverpool player's leg with a vicious tackle. I believe that was the Jamie Carragher incident (Milan Baros had his leg broken by another Blackburn player, Markus Babbel who was playing for the Rovers while on loan from Liverpool - but it was not even an illegal challenge and no one blamed the German for the injury).

I don't doubt that Ryan will get many opportunities to prove his mettle in the starting lineup, as the Rover backline has never been stable. Moekena does seem to have made quite an impression on Mark Hughes and he has a fairly decent pedigree.

The forgotten man in all of this is Lorenzo Amoruso (sp), the former Rangers centerback who has found himself pretty much out of the first team due to injury and lack of form since Hughes took over the club.

I don't think that Rovers are going to be hurting in central midfield anymore, now that they have Robbie Savage, Barry Ferguson (unless Rangers come up with £6m - which is twice what they were willing to offer before) or David Thompson. All are at least decent or above average players at the Premiership level. Tugay is not that bad either.

[gocaps]

I don't think that Rovers are going to be hurting in central midfield anymore, now that they have Robbie Savage, Barry Ferguson (unless Rangers come up with £6m - which is twice what they were willing to offer before) or David Thompson. All are at least decent or above average players at the Premiership level. Tugay is not that bad either.
Very good point. Ferguson may not be long for Rovers, having handed in a transfer request, and Thompson is a classic little dervish of an attacking midfielder. But the acquisition of Savage, whose temperament and skillset (he is very much the EPL's Dema Kovalenko - a very good player loved by his team and hated by all others) makes him perfect for a central defensive midfield role, means that Ryan won't be playing there anytime soon.

And I forgot about Tugay, who can certainly play that role as well...

If Ryan gets on the field, it will be at right back or in the center.

[nancyb]

I must say watching that game definitely makes one consider the "quality" gap between MLS and the EPL. That was one painful game to watch.

[elconejito]

i had originally planned on watching the game at the 8pm replay, but after reading about how horrible it was and that Nellie didn't play, i decided against it. I think it was wise...

[Pints]

Indeed. I hate matches where the most exciting bit is whether or not a fight is going to break out due to some pricks shameful dive.

I feel bad for thsoe who took off of work early to catch the live airing.

[Pints]

http://msn.foxsports.com/id/3353814_7_1.jpg

[seahawkdad]

i had originally planned on watching the game at the 8pm replay, but after reading about how horrible it was and that Nellie didn't play, i decided against it. I think it was wise...I've been out of town, so I recorded it. I'll watch it, but rather than watching as a soccer match, I'll look upon it as a diving contest :(

Speaking of which, there is an on-line petition (http://www.petitiononline.com/fa250105/petition.html) going to the FA to do something about diving. Help yourselves...just list your supported FA team...not DC United, of course :rolleyes: