Pre-Season Matches

[Dan]

As we're a month away from kicking off the pre-season, and a big home friendly has been announced, thought it was time we had a pre-season thread.

Hibernian vs. Rovers
Sunday July 8th, Easter Road, Kick-off 3pm

Port Vale vs. Rovers
Saturday July 14th, Vale Park, Kick-off 3pm

Rovers vs. Liverpool
Thursday July 19th, Ewood Park, Kick-off 7.45pm

Lincoln City vs. Rovers
Sunday July 22nd, Sincil Bank Stadium, Kick-off 3pm

Rovers vs. Everton
Thursday July 26th, Ewood Park, Kick-off 7.45pm

Accrington Stanley vs. Rovers
Saturday July 28th, Wham Stadium, Kick-off 3pm

“I think we’ve got a balanced pre-season this year,” said Mowbray.
“We’ve got some fixtures that we haven’t announced yet, that are going to really test the team. We’re going to be out of possession and we’re going to have to work hard on our defensive shape.
“And then there’s some games where hopefully we’ve got some of the ball and we’re going to work at trying to break the teams down.
“I felt last year we had too much of the ball in just about every game and we felt as if we were going to dominate every match and then the league started and we hadn’t played a League One side and we hadn’t played a Championship side – we’d played League Two and non-league teams – and so this year the balance is going to be better.
“The team will be more ready for the start of the season because there will be some games where we won’t have any of the ball – we’ll be defending and trying to make life difficult for the opposition.
“But there will be other games where I hope we’ll try and score some goals and be creative and play in their half, so it’s just about getting the right balance in pre-season and I’m looking forward to it already.”

[WacoRover]

Playing Champions League finalists ought to give us a good idea of where we need to make improvements. They won't have everybody, but the players they have will be choice. Good challenge.

[Dan]

Hope they bring their first choice goalkeeper

[mcteeth]

Playing Champions League finalists ought to give us a good idea of where we need to make improvements. They won't have everybody, but the players they have will be choice. Good challenge.

Not that I'm complaining but this feels more revenue focused than the competitive challenge. But it's really good for the club to have Liverpool coming to Ewood.

They'll be minus some of their top players due to the World Cup but will represent a good challenge and a great day out for fans.

[stillgrowling]

Good info ty

[Thorisgodpoo]

Everton has been added to the set of pre-season fixtures. It will be at Ewood park. Another solid fixture to add to the list and help Rovers get ready for the season in the Championship. Will be a good level to see who is prepared to make the step up and what is still needed from the transfer market.

[Franco_ice]

the fixtures this time around are nice.

[Dan]

First pre-season match today up in Edinburgh

[Gibbon]

Winning 2-nil at the moment. Goals from Conway and Tomlinson.

[WacoRover]

Good start. Defence apparently stout, #2 & #3 gk’s seemed to do well. Conway obviously still has something left in the tank!

[Gibbon]

Conway.

Also, bonus points to that seagull for the assist.

[theadore]

who holds a phone at that angle?

[Gibbon]

John Holt?

[stillgrowling]

Never been to Vale Park. Now that Rovers are kicking off at 12.30 Sat I might just take myself there

[Dan]

Could have still gone at 3pm. Watching a Rovers friendly would be better than watching an England friendly.