The Rovers Return

Rostyn Griffiths

Just a couple of minor stories involving Rovers coming out of the press over the last couple of days.

Former youth striker Rostyn Griffiths has joined former Rovers teammate Robbie Fowler at Australia’s North Queensland Fury.

The 21-year-old English born but Australia youth team capped player’s contract ran out at the end of the season and he hadn’t done enough to make it at Rovers.

All the best from The Rovers Return Rostyn.

Rovers have ended a long association with Morecambe by moving reserve games from Christie Park to the 10,000-seater Leigh Sports Village.

The state-of-the-art complex, home to Leigh Genesis Football Club, managed by Gary Flitcroft and current employers of Rovers legend Matt Jansen, will host reserve matches for the coming season. Read more »

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Matt Derbyshire

Just as I was starting to wonder if the transfer window was going to be as boring as the ones we had under Hughesy, it all kicked off!

Disappointingly, Matt Derbyshire’s move to Greece is all but done. I like Matt, and thought the way he performed in Greece may have shown the management he is worthwhile having around.

Unfortunately, despite being a decent player for us, although he only ever seemed to impress from the bench, I thought it was worth another season.

Derbs hasn’t been treated well by Rovers ever since bursting on to the scene. Neither Hughes nor Big Sam have played him on a regular basis, and for a long period Hughesy kept sticking him at right wing, a position from which he rarely excelled!

The turning point for him seemed to be that equaliser for Man City at Ewood early in Big Sam’s reign. It was Derbs’ decision to try and play Emerton in rather than head for the corner flag that gave the ball away and saw City score a late goal to make it 2-2.

His moved to Greece on loan last season has proved to be the making of Matt. He has been treated well, put up in a nice villa in a posh part of the country and playing on a regular basis has seen him chip in with some vital goals for the club, becoming a bit of a hit with the fans already! It’s also a good move for him, moving from a relegation threatened small club in the Premier League, to the biggest club in Greece playing in the Champions League next season. And I wish him well. Read more »

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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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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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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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- Hughes lining up one last Santa bid Telegraph

- But will he pay £40-million? Lancashire Telegraph

- Ince to take over at Norwich? Sky Sports

- Zoro decision soon Daily Mirror

- Huddersfield bid for Gallagher? Terrior Bites

- Legend Jansen in Carlisle bid to save his career Sky Sports

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Big Sam has now signed three players this window. All for bugger all.

His ‘£10-million’ budget is still intact and now he can move on to strengthening the right hand side.

Givet is a French international who hasn’t been playing for Marseille, this isn’t because he’s shit. It’s because he and his manager Erik Gerets currently hate each other.

Geret can play at both left and centre back, meaning he will provide good competition for both positions.

Let’s face it, Stephen Warnock’s had the position to himself, the only competition being Martin Olsson, who I am confident will not succeed at this level.

In the centre he’ll give Chris Samba something to think about.

His signing can only be good for the team, we have first option on him as well, so if he is good we can sign him permanently. If he’s not we can forget all about him.

Nice one Sam.

Moving on. Roque Santa Cruz. I have officially fallen out with the Paraguayan.

For a player who has done nothing all season he really is getting a bit above himself. Read more »

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The new era under Big Sam is definitely starting to take shape and will most likely continue to do so over the rest of the January transfer window.

Today, Sergio Peter, who emerged as a player who, despite early promise, was never going to make it has moved to Sparta Prague while youngster Eddie Nolan has made his loan move to the Nob Enders permanent.

Both transfers are unlikely to bring in much in the way of a fee, but they both free up space on the wage bill. I believe Nolan’s transfer fee is based on appearances, with no up front payment. I assume Peter’s will be similar.

Villanueva’s loan is looking likely to be cut short as well. The Chilean has obviously failed to impress Sam which is disappointing as he looked reasonably good earlier in the season.

Although Big Sam has announced his intention to keep hold of Roque, I feel the Paraguayan will leave soon. Especially with Sparky seemingly ready to unleash an £18-million offer the board cannot afford to let money like that be turned down. Read more »

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Manchester City and Manchester United have been forced to splash a combined £62.5 million on their second choice signings.

Having been rejected in their efforts to sign Roque from the Rovers, City have signed Robinho for £32.5 million while United have plumbed for Spurs’ Berbatov for £30 million.

These whopping sums of money may have been saved had Roque have taken the decision to become yet another wantaway star sucked in by the lure of the big money clubs, but instead he chose to pen a four year deal at Ewood.

Both City and United had expressed a huge desire to sign the Paraguayan who has been a massive success for Rovers.

All this talk of money begs the question… How much is Roque Santa Cruz worth? Read more »

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