The Rovers Return

What a fantastic performance!

To a man, everybody at Ewood Park can take some credit for today’s vital win over Wigan.

In defence, Paul Robinson was unbeatable. An absolute wall in the Rovers goal. I saw some stupid article, probably written by some twat from America who’s never actually witnessed a real football match, which ranked Robbo as the third worst signing this season, he has surely answered any critics today, and with the England goalkeeping situation as it is he’s surely worth a chance, isn’t he? Very unlucky not to get Sky Sports’ man of the match in my opinion, although McCarthy did play well!

The rest of the defence was very solid. Givet and Nelsen never lost anything, Ooijer and Warnock at full back as reliable as ever. Special mention must go to Nelsen for scoring the best goal I have ever seen… What a time to score your first goal for the club! Read more »

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Tomorrow’s game against Wigan is massive.

Results today have gone our way and the onus is now on ourselves to go out and win tomorrow, a result which I reckon would all but guarantee our safety.

West Brom’s 3-0 win over Sunderland gives them a glimmer of hope, but I can’t see them making up the remaining six points between us, what that win does do is drag Sunderland right back into the mire.

Hull were beaten 3-1 at home by Liverpool meaning we move above them on goal difference without even playing.

There’s still a three point gap between us and Middlesbrough (in 18th) which I don’t foresee being reduced with Gareth Southgate’s side taking on Arsenal tomorrow.

If that does happen, a win over the Latics would move us six points clear of relegation with only four games left to play!

Newcastle take on Portsmouth on Monday and that game is a crucial one, a Newcastle defeat would be a massive blow to their survival hopes, Portsmouth, I feel, are just about out of it. Read more »

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Surprised to hear there have been two firm bids for on loan Chilean attacking midfielder Carlos Villanueva.

The lad’s been a huge disappointment since joining from Audax Italiano. Especially after we all, including a certain Mr Ince, saw the YouTube videos of him playing in the fast paced and highly competitive Chilean league.

I’ll be honest, I’d have liked to have seen him given a few more starts. As a player coming in to a whole new culture and someone who doesn’t speak a word of the Queen’s, he must have found it difficult to settle and with only playing the odd cup game and getting the odd 20 minutes as a substitute he was never going to bed into the side and find the rhythm he may be capable of.

I am a little dubious as to the validity of the ‘offers’ made by two ‘unnamed clubs’. If I was in Audax’s position and hoping Rovers were about to throw £3-million our way I think I would make a rumour that someone else was about to jump in and sign them so as to make them act fast.

Unfortunately I don’t think Big Sam rates him at all and don’t expect to see him with us next season, whether we stay in the Premiership or not!

Here’s one of those videos, it has to be said he does look fucking amazing!

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In case you didn’t see this, although it was last week. United boss Alex Ferguson sees Rafa Benitez’s blatant undermining of Big Sam as the perfect opportunity to have another pop at the Liverpool gaffer.

Only just spotted this video:

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Now I’ve calmed down after reading the news about Roque’s intended departure and reacting in not altogether the most professional manner, thought I’d say something a bit more productive.

What is he thinking? As I said yesterday, he obviously has no regard for the supporters, the club or the dressing room harmony of a club in trouble. Had he waited until the end of the season I could have respected his wishes a bit more, but to come out five games from the end with us hovering three points above 18th place is very unprofessional!

I say this knowing he may well not play for the club again, and he may think the season is over as his injury has likely ruled him out. But he really should still have kept his gob shut! Read more »

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Cheers Roque. Just when you need your team to pull together for the remaining fights of the season, this happens.

Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz claims he has told the club he is leaving at the end of the season for “a bigger, more ambitious team”.

The 27-year-old, currently recuperating after undergoing a surgical procedure on his troublesome right knee last week, told Paraguayan radio he has informed Rovers he wants to move on in the summer.”I have already told them (Blackburn) and they know that before the transfer window closes I would like to continue my career at a bigger, more ambitious team,” he told Radio Nanduti.

“Even though I haven’t heard anything, I haven’t changed my mind.

“I think it will be very difficult for me to play again this season because of the recovery. Our last league match is on May 24 and I also need a couple of days for my knee to physically recover.” Read more »

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After the weekend’s action it’s very much a case of ‘as you were’ at the bottom of the league.

Although we have dropped to fourth bottom, the gap between us and the relegation zone is only one point different after Middlesbrough picked up a point.

Our defeat, although disappointing, is not the end of the road, with Newcastle losing at Spurs today and Hull losing to Sunderland, although that result saw the Mackems leapfrog above us in the table.

As I have previously stated, it’s our home games that matter. Our away form has been shite all season. So if we take at least six points from the three remaining home games (Wigan/Portsmouth/WBA) we should be fine.

Newcastle, having just watched their game on Sky, are rubbish. They came to life a little in the closing stages, but they fully deserved to lose and should have been defeated by a lot more had Spurs’ final ball been better! Read more »

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Tomorrow’s game at Stoke, on paper, would appear to be crucial, and yes, a result would be appreciated!

However, this isn’t the game that’s going to save our season. We still have four points between ourselves and the bottom three, and our three home games are the important ones.

Newcastle travel to Spurs, so hoping for a favour from the Cockneys. Boro host Fulham so former boss Roy Hodgson could do us a real favour by turning them over.

Having said that, we are still well able of relying on our own results to ensure our safety, and that’s what Sam has to concentrate on doing tomorrow. Read more »

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A nice message to Stephen Warnock and the Rovers for our tribute to the 96 who lost their lives at Hillsborough 20 years ago:

“Stephen Warnock yesterday made a gesture that will live long in my memory, and I’m sure I speak for countless Liverpool fans who feel very much the same.

“As he walked across the Anfield turf, carrying a floral tribute from his club Blackburn Rovers to our ninety-six victims, he was walking through an atmosphere heavy with the kind of emotions that really should never have been present inside any kind of sporting venue. Read more »

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Yes, Liverpool were awesome yesterday, but there wasn’t enough fight in our boys to satisfy me.

As I said in my previous post, I wasn’t expecting anything in terms of a result, but when we just turn up and allow ourselves to get pasted like that it really annoys me.

Samba up front was the best player for us, although as he was on his own it was impossible for him to do anything. I have no idea what Benni McCarthy has done but Sam seems to have fallen out with him.

If it was up to me yesterday, the South African would have been introduced at half time to replace a midfielder (preferably Treacy with Dunn pushing out to the left hand side) to give us a chance of scoring, which would have put some pressure on the home side.

Outside of Rovers I got the impression yesterday we were never supposed to surprise our hosts and take anything. Indeed, if we had, we’d have spoiled their Hillsborough memorial.

This may sound harsh but the Scousers do like to revel in everybody’s sympathy when it comes to this time of year, and if we came in and nicked a result it would have been what nobody wanted on the 20th anniversary of the disaster. Read more »

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