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Blackburn's Friedel: We've only ourselves to blame
BRAD Friedel said he and his team-mates only had themselves to blame for blowing the chance to qualify for Europe.
A crushing 4-1 defeat at the hands of Birmingham City yesterday meant Rovers missed out on sixth position and a place in the Intertoto Cup.
"Other than the Coventry match, it's the most disappointing game of the season, especially because West Ham did us a favour at the end and we could have gone into sixth position," lamented Friedel, who made an uncharacteristic error that led to Birmingham's first goal.
"It wasn't so much losing, it was the manner that we lost.
"In the first half we never played and I think there were four mistakes in the first goal, including one from myself.
"Then we came back and I thought we were bossing the game.
"But we lost a second goal and from that point on, I think in the minds of probably a few of the players it was end-of-season time, which is the wrong approach to take in any game.
"But we have to bounce back from this, and we will."
With Aston Villa only managing a draw at Upton Park, Rovers would have claimed sixth place had they beaten Birmingham at St Andrew's.
However, after recovering from a poor start, which saw Mark Hughes' side fall behind as a result of Friedel's mistake, they then failed to build on Morten Gamst Pedersen's 49th minute equaliser and eventually slumped to one of their heaviest defeats of the season.
Referring to the first goal, Friedel said: "The ball moved but I'm not going to sit here and make excuses.
"These balls do move and they make it extremely difficult for goalkeepers; the movements on them when they occur late on, and the flight of the ball after we've already made up our minds, is what makes us look silly sometimes.
"That's what happened today but we still got ourselves back to 1-1 and had more than enough of the play to get a result out of that.
"The second goal was a really poor goal to concede defensively."
Despite the disappointment of missing out on Europe, Friedel insisted Rovers could still be proud of their achievements over the course of the season.
He added: "Finishing in seventh position, we'd be in Europe in any other season.
"It just so happens that one of the big four that automatically qualifies for the Champions League didn't make it to win the FA Cup final, which hasn't happened for so many years.
"Normally seventh position would have put us in there.
"I know we can kick ourselves. We had a chance to get into sixth today with results, but by the same token finishing seventh is not a bad haul."
9:39am Monday 12th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Soccerover, Bermagui on 10:00am Mon 12 May 08
Well said Brad - I think you have put the position clearly.
We all feel sorry the club did not make 6th but overall the season has been a good one - 7th in the Premiership is NOT small potatoes...
I think Kevin Keegan was pretty sincere in his comments earlier in the week about the big four dominating everything; even the Magpies with all their cash and fan base cannot attract the superstars of soccer.
Perhaps the F.A. need to level the playing field a bit - looking at the points difference between the top four and the rest perhaps at the start of the next season the winner of this year (Man U.) should start at minus 10 and Chelsea minus 8 etc etc
I think it would make for a more interesting comp.
Well said Brad - I think you have put the position clearly.
We all feel sorry the club did not make 6th but overall the season has been a good one - 7th in the Premiership is NOT small potatoes...
I think Kevin Keegan was pretty sincere in his comments earlier in the week about the big four dominating everything; even the Magpies with all their cash and fan base cannot attract the superstars of soccer.
Perhaps the F.A. need to level the playing field a bit - looking at the points difference between the top four and the rest perhaps at the start of the next season the winner of this year (Man U.) should start at minus 10 and Chelsea minus 8 etc etc
I think it would make for a more interesting comp.
Posted by: jimluftas on 10:55am Mon 12 May 08
I think you're dreaming.
To be fair to Brad, thats 1 of only about 5 errors he's made since he's been at the club. Nothing compared all the times he's saved us.
All in all, 7th is pretty good, like he said any other season we'd be in Europe. Lets just hope we keep hold of our best players & add a few more for next season.
I think you're dreaming.
To be fair to Brad, thats 1 of only about 5 errors he's made since he's been at the club. Nothing compared all the times he's saved us.
All in all, 7th is pretty good, like he said any other season we'd be in Europe. Lets just hope we keep hold of our best players & add a few more for next season.
Posted by: Mr. theory, E=mc2 on 11:19am Mon 12 May 08
Lets get a bit theoretical:
Man. City and Everton were neck and neck regarding the fair play spot in the Uefa cup. Only 0,5 points between them.
Man. city got a red card, which might mean that Everton ended at first place.
Everton got the direct route to UEFA cup, so who gets the Fair play spot? The next in the league that isnt already in europe - which is blackburn - or the next team in the fair play competition - which is absolutly not blackburn :-)
Any thoughts?
Lets get a bit theoretical:
Man. City and Everton were neck and neck regarding the fair play spot in the Uefa cup. Only 0,5 points between them.
Man. city got a red card, which might mean that Everton ended at first place.
Everton got the direct route to UEFA cup, so who gets the Fair play spot? The next in the league that isnt already in europe - which is blackburn - or the next team in the fair play competition - which is absolutly not blackburn :-)
Any thoughts?
Posted by: Si Lowe, Manchester on 11:37am Mon 12 May 08
Mr. theory - I did think about this also...
If Citeh are pipped to it by Everton, then that means Citeh are next in line. So, as Everton already qualify via UEFA then surely it still goes to Citeh - for being next after Everton??
Mr. theory - I did think about this also...
If Citeh are pipped to it by Everton, then that means Citeh are next in line. So, as Everton already qualify via UEFA then surely it still goes to Citeh - for being next after Everton??
Posted by: ossy rover, ossy on 11:37am Mon 12 May 08
[quote][bold]Mr. theory[/bold] wrote:
Lets get a bit theoretical: Man. City and Everton were neck and neck regarding the fair play spot in the Uefa cup. Only 0,5 points between them. Man. city got a red card, which might mean that Everton ended at first place. Everton got the direct route to UEFA cup, so who gets the Fair play spot? The next in the league that isnt already in europe - which is blackburn - or the next team in the fair play competition - which is absolutly not blackburn :-) Any thoughts?[/quote] you can bet your last quid that it wont be us.
keep the faith
Mr. theory wrote:
Lets get a bit theoretical: Man. City and Everton were neck and neck regarding the fair play spot in the Uefa cup. Only 0,5 points between them. Man. city got a red card, which might mean that Everton ended at first place. Everton got the direct route to UEFA cup, so who gets the Fair play spot? The next in the league that isnt already in europe - which is blackburn - or the next team in the fair play competition - which is absolutly not blackburn :-) Any thoughts?
you can bet your last quid that it wont be us.
keep the faith
Posted by: Si Lowe, Manchester on 11:45am Mon 12 May 08
Just found out it will be Fulham!!
Did anyone see the Bolton fan throw an apple at Drogba yesterday?? Whilst he was lying injured on the floor - fox sports replayed it 4 times but the commentators said nothing...
Just found out it will be Fulham!!
Did anyone see the Bolton fan throw an apple at Drogba yesterday?? Whilst he was lying injured on the floor - fox sports replayed it 4 times but the commentators said nothing...
Posted by: blue & white pete, BB on 11:56am Mon 12 May 08
The time has come to sort out all the finances for premiership clubs once and for all - All the Premiership clubs should get an equal TV payment and have a maximum wage bill and transfer spending budget that they can use - everyone can attract players without having to promise 120K p.w. - if they do pay that sort of amount they will only have a small number in their team due to financial restrictions. The time to take away the top four financial dominance is here - we are getting just like Scotland with their two club league.
The time has come to sort out all the finances for premiership clubs once and for all - All the Premiership clubs should get an equal TV payment and have a maximum wage bill and transfer spending budget that they can use - everyone can attract players without having to promise 120K p.w. - if they do pay that sort of amount they will only have a small number in their team due to financial restrictions. The time to take away the top four financial dominance is here - we are getting just like Scotland with their two club league.
Posted by: simon, preston on 12:20pm Mon 12 May 08
[quote][bold]Mr. theory[/bold] wrote:
Lets get a bit theoretical: Man. City and Everton were neck and neck regarding the fair play spot in the Uefa cup. Only 0,5 points between them. Man. city got a red card, which might mean that Everton ended at first place. Everton got the direct route to UEFA cup, so who gets the Fair play spot? The next in the league that isnt already in europe - which is blackburn - or the next team in the fair play competition - which is absolutly not blackburn :-) Any thoughts?[/quote] team that comes next in fair play which is fulham according to sky sports news
Mr. theory wrote:
Lets get a bit theoretical: Man. City and Everton were neck and neck regarding the fair play spot in the Uefa cup. Only 0,5 points between them. Man. city got a red card, which might mean that Everton ended at first place. Everton got the direct route to UEFA cup, so who gets the Fair play spot? The next in the league that isnt already in europe - which is blackburn - or the next team in the fair play competition - which is absolutly not blackburn :-) Any thoughts?
team that comes next in fair play which is fulham according to sky sports news
Posted by: Mr. theory, E=mc2 on 2:28pm Mon 12 May 08
Thanks for the replies guys.
Fulham in the UEFA Cup! - bet they didn't see that one coming :-)
Thanks for the replies guys.
Fulham in the UEFA Cup! - bet they didn't see that one coming :-)
Posted by: BillyNidNod, m on 2:36pm Mon 12 May 08
who cares if rovers arnt in europe .so what ..its not like they ever do ewt .they always go out first rnd anyway ...
who cares if rovers arnt in europe .so what ..its not like they ever do ewt .they always go out first rnd anyway ...
Posted by: jeppo, yorks on 2:51pm Mon 12 May 08
oh dear...somebody's jealous!
oh dear...somebody's jealous!
Posted by: 4-1 4-1 4-1, st andrews on 5:23pm Mon 12 May 08
NO NO NO NO NO NO INTERTOTO!!!!!!
NO NO NO NO NO NO INTERTOTO!!!!!!
Posted by: Nat, Blackburn on 9:27pm Mon 12 May 08
7th in the Premiership is not bad at all for a club as small as Blackburn Rovers! We have done great to get that and at least now we can concentrate on getting better for next season and then maybe getting a europe sport! And I also agree with "jimluftas". Brad's saved us soooo many times in his time and Blackburn and this season alone and for once he has let more than a goal or two in. Big deal! I think the only other time he has done something like that in the past is 5-3 against wigan last year! Well done Brad, keep up all the great work!
7th in the Premiership is not bad at all for a club as small as Blackburn Rovers! We have done great to get that and at least now we can concentrate on getting better for next season and then maybe getting a europe sport! And I also agree with "jimluftas". Brad's saved us soooo many times in his time and Blackburn and this season alone and for once he has let more than a goal or two in. Big deal! I think the only other time he has done something like that in the past is 5-3 against wigan last year! Well done Brad, keep up all the great work!
Posted by: Clive E, Burnley on 10:57pm Mon 12 May 08
"a club as small as Rovers"?? I remember 13 years ago Rovers won the Premiership and had great players,like Shearer,Sutton, Gallacher,Berg,Flowe
rs,Le Saux,Hendry etc.Rovers should have built on that but instead went backwards soon after.There is no reason they could not be one of the "big four" now.Apart from ,maybe,the relatively small crowds that Ewood Park holds and the less glamorous reputation Rovers have compared to other clubs.
"a club as small as Rovers"?? I remember 13 years ago Rovers won the Premiership and had great players,like Shearer,Sutton, Gallacher,Berg,Flowe
rs,Le Saux,Hendry etc.Rovers should have built on that but instead went backwards soon after.There is no reason they could not be one of the "big four" now.Apart from ,maybe,the relatively small crowds that Ewood Park holds and the less glamorous reputation Rovers have compared to other clubs.
Posted by: Martin, USA on 11:41pm Mon 12 May 08
I agree that it was a bad end to what has, all-in-all, a good season. Friedel has been our saviour on so many occasions, so he above anyone else, can be excused an error.
7th place is something to be very proud of, considering we spent the least of all the Prem clubs, yet our position actually went up from last season.
Yes, the UEFA and FA cup performances were disappointing, especially compared to the previous year, but that's life.
Whilst I agree that the whole 'top-four' thing is getting pretty boring, I don't see it changing any time soon. There has been talk of a salary cap before but it never materialised, proabably mainly due to the fact that the top-four kicked up a stink and threatened to pull out of the Prem League (sonce they are the ones that would lose out most), or that the FA were worried that the top-four would leave.
But back to Rovers, and opefully we can hold onto our best players and add one or two in key positions this summer. Come on Walker Trustees/potential takeover investors - get your hands in your pockets and give Sparky some financial support and maybe next year we can get back into that top-6!
I agree that it was a bad end to what has, all-in-all, a good season. Friedel has been our saviour on so many occasions, so he above anyone else, can be excused an error.
7th place is something to be very proud of, considering we spent the least of all the Prem clubs, yet our position actually went up from last season.
Yes, the UEFA and FA cup performances were disappointing, especially compared to the previous year, but that's life.
Whilst I agree that the whole 'top-four' thing is getting pretty boring, I don't see it changing any time soon. There has been talk of a salary cap before but it never materialised, proabably mainly due to the fact that the top-four kicked up a stink and threatened to pull out of the Prem League (sonce they are the ones that would lose out most), or that the FA were worried that the top-four would leave.
But back to Rovers, and opefully we can hold onto our best players and add one or two in key positions this summer. Come on Walker Trustees/potential takeover investors - get your hands in your pockets and give Sparky some financial support and maybe next year we can get back into that top-6!
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