The Rovers Return

Benni McCarthy looks set for West Ham

EDIT: BENNI MCCARTHY HAS NOW APPARENTLY AGREED PERSONAL TERMS WITH WEST HAM

It’s been an extremely quiet transfer window so far. Not just at Rovers, but across the Premier League as a whole.

But a few snippets of speculation have emerged recently as the window enters its final week.

It was always expected to be pretty movement-free, particularly at Ewood, where no secret’s been made of the fact that funds are tight and Big Sam has to sell before he can even think about buying.

The only deals that have gone through are those of youth players Andy Haworth (Rochdale) and Marcus Marshall and Gavin Gunning (Rotherham) who have all gone out on loan.

Rovers have been linked quite regularly with Eidur Gudjohnsen and  Valdiray Basturk (Daily Mail) throughout the window. But no move is likely unless certain players leave the club.

McCarthy is being linked with a move to West Ham as new owners Gold and Sullivan look to strengthen the Hammers’ squad. Alan Nixon wrote in The Mirror that he may have to go on loan until his contract with Rovers finishes in 18 months as his recent lack of international caps means he would not get a new work permit. Read more »

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I’ve stopped posting stuff from the newspapers really because, let’s face it, you’re more likely to read them than this. So you probably already know.

However, a couple of articles this week have got my juices flowing.

Article one appeared in the Daily Mail, listing the owners of all the Premier League clubs and how much money they have. I’ve stolen their graphic to post below, but technically I’m an employee anyway so I hope they don’t mind…

It shows our gracious benefactors, with Uncle Jack’s money, very high up in football’s rich list, with £590-million to their names. That’s £160-million more than Walkersteel sold for back in 1992.

Now, I know they’re trying to sell up, but until the sale they’re stuck with us. When Jack died he left that money in a trust, with some instructions in place, I’m no financial expert but I believe we get the interest or a percentage thereof, from the money as it sits in the trust. Read more »

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The excitement league that is…

All Rovers fans, I’m sure, will look back at last season as a season to forget. A real season of transition as we got used to life without Hughesy.

It was a struggle. A real battle. Filled with emotion, disappointment, later hope with the arrival of Big Sam, frustration seeing Robinho’s last minute equaliser for City and, ultimately, elation as we eventually avoided the dreaded drop.

A real rollercoaster ride.

Hindsight is a beautiful thing. And, looking back on last season, it has to be said that yes, it was exciting.

Not exciting in a particularly enjoyable way. But with all the thrills and spills of that relegation battle, Rovers fans had to endure the most heart rate-raising and cortisol-inducing season of all fans in the Premier League, according to some ‘boffins’ who apparently measured these in groups of fans across the country.

In some ways it is better to have a relegation battle. Because, at the end of the day, football is an entertainment business. In fact it is probably the most expensive entertainment business in the world, the English Premiership! Read more »

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Christian Vieri

There’s been an awful lot of transfer talk involving Rovers recently. But still no new signings brought in with just a month until the opening fixture.

Big Sam has £18-million to spend, and the press has done its best to link us with anyone who may be available.

Van Nistelrooy, Bent, Vieri, Benjani and Crouch, while Andrews and McCarthy continue to be linked with moves away from the club.

I was initially excited by the prospect of Ruud Van Nistelrooy in a Rovers shirt, but, having continued to read the press reports I am now confident that is a transfer that will not happen. If you are in any doubts, take it from me, he’s not coming.

Allardyce has ruled out a move, saying his wages (£120k a week) are too steep, but that hasn’t stopped bookies making us second favourites for his signature.

Vieri has, I am told, had his trial period extended to give Big Sam a look at him, maybe in the match against Cambridge at The Abbey on Saturday.

I have no preconceptions of Vieri. Obviously a legend of the game, but at 35 it remains to be seen if he’s just going to be another Robbie Fowler. Lets hope not. Read more »

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I couldn’t quite believe my eyes when I looked at some reports in the media today, but Big Sam has confirmed he is interested in signing Ruud Van Nistelrooy from Real Madrid!

Normally I would dismiss these rumours but when ITN, Sky, the BBC, The Sun, The Mirror, The Daily Mail, The Daily Telegraph and the Lancashire Telegraph all carry something on it, it just has to be a possibility doesn’t it? (For some reason this computer won’t let me link to the BBC and Sky reports but I promise you, they exist!

Big Sam has said he is no longer interested in Michael Owen, as he is too injury prone and Kevin Davies has also been ruled out as he is unavailable. But with Spurs and Fulham also being linked with the ex-United striker it could be difficult.

Nistelrooy is also likely to be on a mega-wage at the Bernabeu as well, which could prove a stumbling block.

One thing I will point out, as Big Sam has done also, is:

“Who’d have thought Bolton would get Nicolas Anelka? Nobody did. But I went out and did it.

“It would be nice to do it with a Van Nistelrooy.”

I couldn’t agree more Mr Allardyce!

We’ve also confirmed the permanent signing of Gael Givet, about time too.

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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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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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- 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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Cracking quote in The Sun from Allardyce:

“When we went to Blyth, which is just north of Newcastle, for our FA Cup tie I was told I was going to get it and I’ve never signed so many autographs and posed for so many photos.

“There was the odd one shouting “you fat *******” but I get that wherever I go”

The article itself makes a very good point. Allardyce receives an awful lot of stick from the Geordies from his time up there.

Yes, he spent a lot of money but, as this article points out, he did a better job than the current incumbent and his predecessor.

Given time I reckon Big Sam would have been succesful with Newcastle. But bollocks to them let’s hope he’s succesful with us!

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- Roque tells Paraguayan radio a City bid for him is imminent Setanta Sports News

- But wait, he denies saying this and is happy at Rovers Sky Sports

- Graham Fenton looking forward to Rovers reunion ITV

- Rovers legend Tony Parkes looks set to finally become a real manager! Lancashire Telegraph

- Daft geordie psychic reckons Blyth will beat Rovers Evening Chronicle

- Jack Straw turns down Blyth invitation due to foreign engagement Lancashire Telegraph

- Lucas Neill linked with return, very sceptical about this one… The Sun

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