December:
So, December. A month of two halves. It started off well but the last 2 games sort of ruined the month, especially the Sunderland one
We still cannot finish chances as we lost many points because of easy chances missed and a lack of teamwork - players choosing to shoot when it would be a better choice to pass to a team-mate. Finally most of my injured players are back but yet again, David Dunn had gotten injured on his return from injury. I've almost given up hope on him. In the FA Cup 3rd Round, we drew Huddersfield and we drew QPR for the League Cup semis.
Blackburn vs Norwich (3/12/2011): [Premier League]
Team:
Robinson; Gunter, Hanley, Dann, Orr; Martin Olsson, N'Zonzi,
Grella (sub Lowe 60), Pedersen;
Formica; Rochina (sub Yakubu 68)
Score:
3-0
Goals:
Marin Olsson - 65 mins (1-0)
Yakubu - 69 mins (2-0)
Martin Olsson - (3-0)
My biggest win yet! Martin Olsson was absolutely brilliant here. He scored 2 and assisted 1! I'll take some credit for the win after the hairdryer treatment I gave them at half-time. Yakubu also has finally scored his first goal for us.
Blackburn vs Fulham (7/12/2011): [League Cup Quarter Final]
Team:
Robinson; Gunter, Givet, Dann, Simpson (sub Salgado 67); Marcus Olsson, N'Zonzi, Spearing, Pedersen; Formica (sub Vukcevis 67); Yakubu (sub Modeste 90)
Score:
1-0 (after extra-time)
Goals:
Vukcevic - 92 mins (1-0)
We only started playing properly when the game went into extra time - when the game became end-to-end football. We should have won the game earlier though as Formica rounds the keeper but shoots and hits the side-netting.
West Brom vs Blackburn (10/12/2011): [Premier League]
Team:
Robinson; Simpson (sub Orr 75), Givet,
Hanley,
Salgado; Martin Olsson,
Allen (sent off 51), Grella, Hammill; Formica (sub Lowe 65); Rochina
Score:
3-1
Goals:
Rochina - 54 mins (0-1)
Long - 60 mins (1-1)
Mulumbu - 83 mins (2-1)
Odemwingie - 89 mins (3-1)
Joe Allen got sent off for an elbow on someone's face but from the rubbish camera angles I didn't see anything wrong. Still got warned by the FA though. Back to the game, Rochina scored a Messi-like dribble and smashed it in for his goal. Thought I was gonna win it but West Brom were just too strong and quick for my defence to handle.
Man City vs Blackburn (17/12/2011): [Premier League]
Team:
Robinson; Martin Olsson, Givet, Dann, Simpson; Pedersen (sub Formica 69),
N'Zonzi, Petrovic, Hammill; Rochina; Yakubu (sub Modeste 69)
Score:
1-1
Goals:
Yakubu - 25 mins (0-1)
Milner - 27 mins (1-1)
Great result! Yes we were completely outplayed but let's focus on the positives. I went for my trusty defensive tacitc for this match and it paid off. Paul Robinson was outstanding as he pulled out save after save. Yakubu scored a brilliant chip, from about 25 yards out, into the top corner.
Blackburn vs Everton (21/12/2011): [Premier League]
Team:
Robinson; Gunter, Hanley, Dann, Simpson; Martin Olsson (sub Yakubu 65), Spearing, Grella (sub N'Zonzi 23), Pedersen; Formica; Rochina
Score:
1-0
Goals:
Formica - 9 mins (1-0)
We dominated them but we need to practice out shhoting. Too many chances were off target (only 1/4 were on target). Formica also missed an easy 1-on-1 with the keeper. Grella got injured for a few days.
Blackburn vs Sunderland (26/12/2011): [Premier League]
Team:
Robinson;
Simpson, Givet, Hanley, Orr; Martin Olsson,
N'Zonzi, Spearing, Hammill; Formica; Yakubu (sub Goodwillie 70)
Score:
0-3
Goals:
Bendtner - 18 mins (0-1)
Wickham - 26 mins (0-2)
Kyrgiakos - 77 mins (0-3)
I decided to rest a few first team players for this match as Sunderland were last and I have Arsenal next and rather harshly, 2 days after that, I play Bolton. I feel like saying we were robbed because we had more shots etc. but that actually suggests we played good. To show how **** we played, Bendtner scored. Bendtner! And they were last. And Bendtner scored!
Arsenal vs Blackburn (31/12/2011): [Premier League]
Team:
Robinson; Simpson, Givet, Hanley, Orr; Martin Olsson, N'Zonzi, Spearing, Hammill; Dunn (sub Formica 45+6), Rochina
Score:
2-1
Goals:
Van Persie - 19 mins (1-0)
Van Persie pen - 55 mins (2-0)
Givet - 77 mins (2-1)
Went back to the defensive tactic and almost worked. As always with this tactic, the opposition dominated us but we did have a decent spell of pressure towards the end of the game. Not too bothered about the loss as they're in the top 4 but my team is really starting to annoy me. They play resiliently against the big teams but play like kids against the weaker teams. Pedersen got injured for a couple of days.
No one won any awards this time around but there is other news. My reserve goalie, Mark Bunn, wants to leave for more first team football, Louis Van Gaal is the new AC Milan manager after Allegri got sacked, and Zvonimir Soldo replaces Martin O'Neill at Sunderland (probably this guy's fault I lost
).