A change in mentality the last two matches?

[superdave]

During the ManU-Rovers match, the announcers were mentioning, and I'm sure we all were noticing, that Rovers did NOT go into Old Trafford like a weak team, praying for a draw. They played proper football, and it was an entertaining match.

And the match yesterday was the same thing, but further down the chart. Rovers went in to the Cottage like a Big Dog, and Fulham were basically playing for the counter most of the game, whether by choice, or because they couldn't possess the ball, I dunno.

Anyway, I think the last two matches have seen a clear ratcheting up of confidence and expectations for Blackburn. What do you guys think?

And if you agree, is it a good idea? I mean, it's nice in a way, but Rovers only got 1 point from the two matches. I think that was a bit of bad luck, as Rovers deserved 3 points at Fulham. But still, they didn't get them.

I think in the long run this change of mentality is a must if Rovers intend to become any kind of threat for the top 4 with this group of players, this year or next. You've got to get 3 points on the road against the Fulhams of the world, and to do that, you've got to WANT the three points. But in the short run, maybe not.

[SMUPlayer]

This is what I have been talking about. I don't want our wonderful club going into every match as the underdog, and then playing like the underdog. I want them to go in as the favorite, have some pride, kick someone around the pitch for 90+ min., take the 2-0/3-0 win, and move on with the points. I think this team has that in them.

[Revelian]

To my mind, you need five things to be a successful team:

Confidence
Fitness
Tactics
Luck
Heart

Luck goes up and down for the most of us, and can include the referee, and what he does or does not see, or even what he deems worthy of a red card or a penny.

Fitness is something that can fall under the luck category too, when one thinks about injuries, but fitness also applies to match fitness and sharpness, as well as preparation for fixtures.

Tactics are paramount and under Mark Hughes, we've not been found wanting in that department.

Heart is something England needed against Croatia, and something we, as fans, demand of our players. We tend to cosy up more to a skill-less player who tries his best, rather than a fully capable one who couldn't seem to care less.

Confidence is incredibly important, because confidence breeds ambition. A team that goes to Old Trafford with nothing to fear, is a team that fully expects to be able to take them on, and give them a game. Likewise, if Rovers went to Craven Cottage looking to, "escape," with a point, that would tell you the kind of ambition the manager and the players have deep down inside.

On the whole, I'd rather be confident than scared.

Revelian

[SMUPlayer]

Confidence
Fitness
Tactics
Luck
Heart

Confidence - Never thought this was a big deal until I started watching this great game. It is unbelievable how a team can be great, but lack in confidence and COMPLETELY suck. I think that we are starting to get this, and I think that's what we have seen the last couple of weeks.

Fitness - Well, our depth has been better this year, so that might also have a boost in our confidence. We have lacked this in the past.

Tactics - Sparky is awesome. Friedel is awesome. One helps the other each game.

Luck - I can't beleive how much we suck at this. I have always said that you make your own luck, and I think that we will never have too much of this. It has something to do with not being a consistent top 6 club or a big club name. I think that it has something to do with depth as well.

Heart - Can't find another team in the Prem that has more heart than we do.

Revelian, I think that you left something else out. I think you need to add a quality keeper. We obviously have a top 6 keeper in Friedel, so I think that we are high on this as well.

[Revelian]

I agree. I mean it goes without saying that Friedel is our saviour, and has gained Rovers so many undeserved points during his Ewood tenure. But saying that a successful team needs a great goalie seems an understatement.

But yeah, for the record, Brad is the Dad.

Revelian

[Parrothead FC]

I'm sorry guys, but I am NOT happy with the dropped points in these two games. major disappointment. we should have won both of them. I almost fear for our European place if our luck doesn't turn around. and it does seem almost like a problem of pure luck...

[Revelian]

The fact that you write that you, "almost fear," for our European chances means that you have more faith than I do at the moment. We were a shambles against Villa, earlier today. Based on the last couple of results, we don't deserve a European berth.

Revelian

[Parrothead FC]

there are so many other teams that are appallingly bad (Newcastle comes to mind) that I'm still comfortable believing we'll squeak into it. but based on early form we should have absolutely stormed it. that draw against Liverpool that would have been a win had Samba's shot been an inch to the left basically ruined our morale and defined what our luck would be, just as I feared...

[Revelian]

...and if Samba's shot had gone wide in the last minute against Spurs, we'd have dropped two points, and if my aunt had bollocks she'd be my uncle.

Luck of the draw at the end of the day. We shouldn't have been embarassed to such an extent as we were against Villa, at home.

The question now is one being posed of the character of the squad. Do we continue playing sh!te and finish the season in fifteenth place, or do we get back up, keep believing in one another, and keep fighting? This is what Hughes gets paid for.

Revelian

[dring1]

...and if Samba's shot had gone wide in the last minute against Spurs, we'd have dropped two points, and if my aunt had bollocks she'd be my uncle.

Luck of the draw at the end of the day. We shouldn't have been embarassed to such an extent as we were against Villa, at home.

The question now is one being posed of the character of the squad. Do we continue playing sh!te and finish the season in fifteenth place, or do we get back up, keep believing in one another, and keep fighting? This is what Hughes gets paid for.

Revelian

football is all about ifs and buts everton was 2 droped points as we battered them and porstmouth is a team we should beat at home so thats 5 points and we would be in the top 3 but thats why i go to football i will still be there if rovers were at the bottom like i was in hughes first season going to places like norwich at 5 in the morning and palace away and supporting us when we got relegated.

[Revelian]

A real low point for me was when I went, with my Dad, to the County Ground to see Swindon vs Rovers in an evening match (I think it was a Tuesday) when we got relegated. We lost the match 2-1 and the drive home was a reet bugger.

Revelian