The Rovers Return

It was just the other day, when looking at Rovers fixtures, that I noticed a certain jinx I may have put on the Rovers team.

The last time we won a league game was the away victory at Newcastle. That match marked the final game we would play before I got my first job in the media. For on the Sunday I moved to my new flat in Scunthorpe and on the Monday I started work.

Since that day, Rovers have been unable to produce a league victory. We beat Sunderland in the cup but I would really have preferred us to trade cup progress for three valuable points now!

Today it’s Portsmouth, a team we are, on paper, well capable of beating.

Pompey have struggled recently. Since losing their magic man of a manager Harry Redknapp to Spurs, Tony Adams hasn’t been able to mirror his predecessor’s success and they find themselves slipping a little bit. Read more »

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Very interesting questions asked by The Mirror’s Oliver Holt on why Paul Ince has been given so little time as Rovers manager:

Why do you think it is that Paul Ince is being written off as a manager only a few games into his first job in the Premier League?

Why do you think nobody’s cutting him the same kind of slack we cut Roy Keane, even though Keane’s spent 10 times as much money?

Why do you think Ince is characterised as a novice when he stands up for his team while other bosses doing the same are praised for their passion?

Why do you think nobody’s mentioning the fact that when he took over at Blackburn, he had to cope with the sale of his best player? Why do you think that, given his budget restrictions, few people are suggesting he’s not made such a bad start?

Why do you think when Tony Adams failed in his first chance in management, his second came in the Premier League?

Why do you think that when John Barnes failed in his first chance in management, his second came with Jamaica?

Why do you think it took 120 years for a top-flight club here to appoint a British black manager?

Why do you think people are calling for Ince’s head when he’s barely been in charge for 120 days?

Although, on reading the headline you start to wonder where the article could be going, the questions do raise a very good point!

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A clip from Soccer AM. Unfortunately unembeddable.

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- Skipper slams mistakes, maybe he should stop whinging and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! Sky Sports

- Ooijer keen on Dutch switch, disappointing! Lancashire Telegraph

- Wales and Australia both want Griffiths, on loan at Accrington Lancashire Telegraph

- Olsson trashed away dressing room after sending off at Spurs Guardian

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A report in the Telegraph states how highly Norwegian scout Oyvind Christoffer Johansen, the man who brought us Morten Gamst Pedersen, rates current trialist, defender Tore Reginiussen.

The centre back started a five-day trial yesterday (Monday) and Johansen believes he has what it takes to be a big hit in the Premiership, especially with Rovers who have a strong history of having good quality Scandinavians. Two in particular spring to mind: Henning Berg and Lars Bohinen.

In a scouting report, he told Rovers:

“He has the ability to handle several positions such as central midfielder, right back and of course his natural and preferred position as a central defender.

“This is a player that will give 110 per cent, and nothing less, in every match – in every challenge. Sometimes he might benefit by standing up and occupying the striker rather than sliding in, but in all fairness, Tore doesn’t get booked very often or gets a lot of free kicks against him. Read more »

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- Rovers played reasonably well until Spurs’ one man advantage saw them completely overrun us in the second half.

- Martin Olsson couldn’t cope with Aaron Lennon’s pace and his lack of intelligence was clearly shown when he chopped him down from behind while on a yellow card! Muppet!

- Get Aaron Mokoena OUT of my club. He is absolutely awful!

- Spurs looked full of confidence and this was always going to be a struggle against a team who are very much in form.

- David Bentley put some really good balls in, including one that saw a header come back off the post. We miss this. Although he seemed to be trying too hard and didn’t play very well other than that, he was eventually taken off in the second half.

- We cannot afford to play Roque Santa Cruz as a lone striker. He needs somebody to play off. Having Benni in an attacking midfield role just doesn’t work. Although I felt Benni looked quite good, showing real flashes of what he’s capable of.

- Ince needs to have a word with certain players about their discipline. Keith Andrews won a foul and then almost got himself sent off by retaliating, you just can’t get away with that! Read more »

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I would like to bring your attention to the latest addition to my links section, Lancashire Ref.

I’ll admit, the author of this brand new blog is a mate of mine, but still, he is one of those very strange and difficult to fathom members of the sporting community… A football referee.

I think what he has done is a great idea. Granted, he is hardly working at the highest level, but with another 18 years before the FA would force him to retire from professional refereeing (I think, correct me if I’m wrong), the sky is the limit. Read more »

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I mentioned the other day about the Facebook group entitled ’sack paul ince’, so I thought I’d have a quick glance to see what other groups relate to Paul Ince’s association with the Rovers.

A quick search for ‘Paul Ince’ in the group search function brings up several pages. Here’s a selection:

Paul Ince’s Blue & White Army – Mainly filled with people now bemoaning the manager

Paul Ince out and take Robbie Fowler with you – Can’t argue with Read more »

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My attention has been brought to this little YouTube clip of a song entitled ‘Ich Roque’.

There are two big problems with it:

A) I cannot embed it so you will actually have to click on the link!

B) It’s in german…

I’m going to assume that the chaps in the band are singing nice things about our Santa, especially as he appears in the video himself, sporting a rather unsavoury long hairdo…

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- Newcastle director of football Dennis Wise wants Warnock Daily Mail

- Mokoena could be on his way out, oh well Setanta

- Rovers close in on Norwegian Mirror

- Ladies’ keeper Krystal Parker called up to the England squad. That’s three England keepers now with Robbo and Frank Fielding, on loan at Northampton, who is in the under 21s Lancashire Telegraph

- Former Rover Mark Atkins joins Matlock Town as manager Derby Evening Telegraph

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