Rovers @ Liverpool, 10/14 [R]

[blkbrnrvr]

It's always a tough trip to Anfield, and on top of that we've had some bad luck against Liverpool of late.

Lineups. Bellamy starts for Liverpool. (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/match?id=199157&cc=5739)

[blkbrnrvr]

McCarthy with a cool side-footed finish 17 minutes in. Rovers 1-0. :)

Emerton played it down the line to Bentley who crossed it in. Nonda couldn't get on the end of it, but McCarthy could.

[blkbrnrvr]

of course Bellamy scores against Rovers. 1-1. ********.

He was somehow totally unmarked on the corner, and managed to head it in.

[blkbrnrvr]

So it ends in a draw. Considering the luck we've had against Liverpool, I'll take a point. I just wish Bellamy of all people hadn't scored.

[HypoLuxa]

A 1-1 result is fine, but I'm disappointed we didin't get all 3. A few years ago a tie at Anfield would be HUGE, but these days it's a little disappointing. Bentley really sounds like he's coming into his own, but I won't say he's the real deal until a few more good performances...

We did traverse that tricky little trip to Anfield and now we have a Thursday game against our first UEFA Group Stage opponent, Wisla Krakow.

Bellamy scored against us, but at least it wasn't a game winner...THAT would have killed me....

Roll on Rovers!!!

[Revelian]

A 1-1 result is fine, but I'm disappointed we didin't get all 3. A few years ago a tie at Anfield would be HUGE, but these days it's a little disappointing. Bentley really sounds like he's coming into his own, but I won't say he's the real deal until a few more good performances...

We did traverse that tricky little trip to Anfield and now we have a Thursday game against our first UEFA Group Stage opponent, Wisla Krakow.

Bellamy scored against us, but at least it wasn't a game winner...THAT would have killed me....

Roll on Rovers!!!

C'mon Rovers. Sod Bellers - he was bad for team spirit anyway. A draw at Anfield is a decent result by anyone's money. I guess the disappointment comes from the fact that we all know we could have won this game.

Bring on Wisla Krakow, an' all that!

Revelian

[blkbrnrvr]

C'mon Rovers. Sod Bellers - he was bad for team spirit anyway. A draw at Anfield is a decent result by anyone's money. I guess the disappointment comes from the fact that we all know we could have won this game.

Bring on Wisla Krakow, an' all that!

Revelian
Exactly. Look at what we're getting out of Benni right now anyway. The sale of Bellamy is proving to be solid business.

[HypoLuxa]

I never got that Bellamy was bad for the team spirit. if anything I think everyone was expecting a contentious outsider and instead got a very respectable team-mate. I hated him while he was at Newcastle, and while I didn't wholeheartedly embrace him as a Rover, I accepted him as a player who's done well for us. But he's gone and now he plays for my most hated English club so I can go back to hating him again. :D

One of the good things I took from the match is how good Zurab and Ooijer played together. Against top-notch opponents, they did well. Some have even said that Ooijer deserved Man of the Match! I know that will please our friend from SMU!

Nonda's only scored for us once so far this year, but from all accounts he's been a hard worker who's been drawing a lot of the attention away from Benni, which can only mean good things. Maybe his less than gaudy numbers will lead to a cheap permanent transfer?

It was an anxious 2 weeks of no English football, and now we have just three more days until Wisla Krakow...I'm not sure which one I'm more anxious about!

[blkbrnrvr]

I never got that Bellamy was bad for the team spirit. if anything I think everyone was expecting a contentious outsider and instead got a very respectable team-mate. I hated him while he was at Newcastle, and while I didn't wholeheartedly embrace him as a Rover, I accepted him as a player who's done well for us. But he's gone and now he plays for my most hated English club so I can go back to hating him again. :D

One of the good things I took from the match is how good Zurab and Ooijer played together. Against top-notch opponents, they did well. Some have even said that Ooijer deserved Man of the Match! I know that will please our friend from SMU!

Nonda's only scored for us once so far this year, but from all accounts he's been a hard worker who's been drawing a lot of the attention away from Benni, which can only mean good things. Maybe his less than gaudy numbers will lead to a cheap permanent transfer?

It was an anxious 2 weeks of no English football, and now we have just three more days until Wisla Krakow...I'm not sure which one I'm more anxious about!
Nonda's goals are just around the corner. He's played well enough to this point.

Bellamy was nicely quiet last year, but who knows if he could have stayed that way. Hell, he may not have been able to replicate that form again this season. I've said it before, and I'll say it again; with a nice bit of business, our striking options overall are much better this season.

[HypoLuxa]

Exactly. Look at what we're getting out of Benni right now anyway. The sale of Bellamy is proving to be solid business.

Could you imagine if Porto wouldn't have been such bastards and wanted so much for Benni last year? We could've had Benni AND Bellamy up front!!! Top 6 my arse, we could've been Top 3!!!

[blkbrnrvr]

Could you imagine if Porto wouldn't have been such bastards and wanted so much for Benni last year? We could've had Benni AND Bellamy up front!!! Top 6 my arse, we could've been Top 3!!!
True enough, especially if Benni would be playing like this and if they formed some chemistry. As it is, we've got Benni, a guy like Nonda who has scored alot of goals and has a ton of experience in Europe, and Roberts, who has scored some goals at this level. We're in good shape.

[Revelian]

True enough, especially if Benni would be playing like this and if they formed some chemistry. As it is, we've got Benni, a guy like Nonda who has scored alot of goals and has a ton of experience in Europe, and Roberts, who has scored some goals at this level. We're in good shape.

I agree, but wait until one of them gets injured - sorry, I'm not trying to spoil the party, but looking at now, it looks positive. Wait until an injury occurs, then we'll see our options minimised.

By the way - Nonda looks sharp and I agree, his experience is important, but where are all the youngsters?

McCarthy is a poacher and has proven this so far.

Roberts looks very average at the moment, but if we give him time, he'll improve - I'm sure of this.

Revelian

[SMUPlayer]

Finally, I feel comfortable enough to come off the ledge. Ooijer is not a complete waste of space, although he is far form where he needs to be.

1-1 v. Liverpool. I'll take it. Roll on!

[blkbrnrvr]

I agree, but wait until one of them gets injured - sorry, I'm not trying to spoil the party, but looking at now, it looks positive. Wait until an injury occurs, then we'll see our options minimised.

By the way - Nonda looks sharp and I agree, his experience is important, but where are all the youngsters?

McCarthy is a poacher and has proven this so far.

Roberts looks very average at the moment, but if we give him time, he'll improve - I'm sure of this.

Revelian
keep in mind that Bellamy missed his share of games last season too. Of course, last season we had the likes of Kuqi and Dickov stepping in. Even if a long term injury comes up, we'll still be fine.

[SoCalian]

isn't galagher supposed to be coming into his own this season?

[blkbrnrvr]

isn't galagher supposed to be coming into his own this season?
Yeah, but he's been playing wide a bit more, given the depth up front.

[Revelian]

Yeah, but he's been playing wide a bit more, given the depth up front.

...and I suppose Bentley can always deputise up front in case of any injuries, but now that Steven Reid is out for four months, our midfield could be relying on him more and more as the season progresses.

Revelian

[HypoLuxa]

It's been awhile since I've not had serious worries for the striker situation or the back-line (although Zurab and Ooijer are not quite the finished product yet), but now that Reid's out, the mid-field has me a bit worried. Tugay has shown that he cannot be a full 90 player nor can he play in consecutive games unless there is 5 or more days of rest between games. Savage is solid, but what if he gets hurt or needs a rest? Thankfully Mokoena is doing better this year, but can we count on him as a starter? It's looking a bit dire for our mid-field with our condensed run upon us(6 games in 18 days!), Hughesy will have to do some serious juggling to get that mid-field settled....It'ls going to be dicey...Maybe this could be the chance to go get Mastroeni! :D

[Revelian]

It's been awhile since I've not had serious worries for the striker situation or the back-line (although Zurab and Ooijer are not quite the finished product yet), but now that Reid's out, the mid-field has me a bit worried. Tugay has shown that he cannot be a full 90 player nor can he play in consecutive games unless there is 5 or more days of rest between games. Savage is solid, but what if he gets hurt or needs a rest? Thankfully Mokoena is doing better this year, but can we count on him as a starter? It's looking a bit dire for our mid-field with our condensed run upon us(6 games in 18 days!), Hughesy will have to do some serious juggling to get that mid-field settled....It'ls going to be dicey...Maybe this could be the chance to go get Mastroeni! :D

You're right. Our midfield lacks strength in depth and is ageing like a mobile library's customer base (can't think of anything funny - sorry).

Revelian

[dring1]

well i went to the game and i could have put money on bellamy scoring because i was saying that all morning at work before i set off but i was a little dissapointed that he managed to score the way he did because it was a lapse in concentration in our defending and liverpool were getting chances but not really testing us but i would have settled for a 1-1 before the game.i must say well done to our supporters at the game as we out sung the kop the only time they started singing was when they scored.