Why Scott Dann replaced Danny Murphy as Blackburn Rovers captain (From Lancashire Telegraph)

And not before time either. Scott Dann was immense yesterday.
Danny Murphy has been poor and his lack of leadership on the pitch was plain for all to see.
I hope he either knuckles down or clears out, there are other surrender monkeys we could do without like Angry from Accrington who surrendered his season ticket yet comes on here lecturing others about football. Just stick to saturday shopping and tag along with Murphy.
Blinding

Scott Dann is Superman! I thought the centre halves were outstanding yesterday and showed the fight we need to overcome physical teams like Millwall. Apart from that, the Den was one of the worst places I have ever visited and the game was just awful.

This is a good move where last 4 managers cannot do.

All the best for Dann and hope he will stay with Blackburn for another 5 years with good performance and guide his team with good sprit.

Fantastic decision! Been wanting Murphy out of team for some time now and ever since he's been taken out I've been very happy! Also talk of him leaving, good riddance and farewell!

Reported that murphy wants to cancel his contract and go back to Fulham who are offering him a coaching role at the club, murphy has just bought a new home in London, anyone heading that way who could give him a lift before he changes hs mind? Please let this be true!

Making Dann captain is a start in getting shut of the overpaid "I'm on a great 2 yr contract murphy" but there is not much else I can think is positive from Appletons approach.
Yes granted, we have to start from the back with a solid defence and clean sheets but our attacking sense has never ever been so dire.
It does look like players are starting to put a shift in but the quality of our play is embarrassing to watch.
I have come to the conclusion that no matter how many loan players he signs his brand of hoofball and tactics are awful.
Sitting back and hoping for a winner will not win enough football matches based on percentages and luck.
We have to offer more going forward, be it play the youngsters from the club or recalling the injury prone Dunn or playing gomes.
I knew things would get worse before they got better but under appletons leadership I just cannot see it improving.
Only last season we did the double over man utd and now we have no attacking threat or attacking players left at the club.

We all mocked Big SAMs brand of football and I for one was not disappointed when he was finished but disappointed with the succession of inept "managers" since.
Forest have proved what can be done by employing a proper footballing manager of which there are still a lot out there and we have proved what happens when you employ a succession of non footballing managers.

Why did Shaw sign Appleton..... Because he was a success at keeping together a bunch of players when the club fell apart at Pompey??
Pre-planning, I wonder ?

Great Scott indeed....after taking so much stick for a vast part of his time at the Rovers it is good to see Dann playing at the level we knew he was capable of when we first signed him.

When Dann had the bandage on his head at Millwall, he reminded me a little of a game I saw where a battered and bloodied Colin Hendry played outstandingly for us. ant remember who that was against - but then again Hendry was outstanding on so many occasions.

Hope Dann can carry-on and do the same for us now.

trueblue72 wrote:
Making Dann captain is a start in getting shut of the overpaid "I'm on a great 2 yr contract murphy" but there is not much else I can think is positive from Appletons approach.
Yes granted, we have to start from the back with a solid defence and clean sheets but our attacking sense has never ever been so dire.
It does look like players are starting to put a shift in but the quality of our play is embarrassing to watch.
I have come to the conclusion that no matter how many loan players he signs his brand of hoofball and tactics are awful.
Sitting back and hoping for a winner will not win enough football matches based on percentages and luck.
We have to offer more going forward, be it play the youngsters from the club or recalling the injury prone Dunn or playing gomes.
I knew things would get worse before they got better but under appletons leadership I just cannot see it improving.
Only last season we did the double over man utd and now we have no attacking threat or attacking players left at the club.

We all mocked Big SAMs brand of football and I for one was not disappointed when he was finished but disappointed with the succession of inept "managers" since.
Forest have proved what can be done by employing a proper footballing manager of which there are still a lot out there and we have proved what happens when you employ a succession of non footballing managers.

Why did Shaw sign Appleton..... Because he was a success at keeping together a bunch of players when the club fell apart at Pompey??
Pre-planning, I wonder ?

You make some good points about Appleton's style of play as we have been terrible to watch in recent weeks.

Let us hope that after he has rebuilt our midfield engine room this summer, our play improves.

By the way, we didn't do the double over Man Utd last year as we lost the home game 0 - 2 on 2nd April.

Good news as far as it goes but the middle of the park needs a major overhaul if we are to improve significantly. Rhodes/Best will need service if they are to score and long balls continually punted 50 yards up the field is rubbish. That's what Big Sam was vilified for!

Riverside 7 wrote:

trueblue72 wrote:
Making Dann captain is a start in getting shut of the overpaid "I'm on a great 2 yr contract murphy" but there is not much else I can think is positive from Appletons approach.
Yes granted, we have to start from the back with a solid defence and clean sheets but our attacking sense has never ever been so dire.
It does look like players are starting to put a shift in but the quality of our play is embarrassing to watch.
I have come to the conclusion that no matter how many loan players he signs his brand of hoofball and tactics are awful.
Sitting back and hoping for a winner will not win enough football matches based on percentages and luck.
We have to offer more going forward, be it play the youngsters from the club or recalling the injury prone Dunn or playing gomes.
I knew things would get worse before they got better but under appletons leadership I just cannot see it improving.
Only last season we did the double over man utd and now we have no attacking threat or attacking players left at the club.

We all mocked Big SAMs brand of football and I for one was not disappointed when he was finished but disappointed with the succession of inept "managers" since.
Forest have proved what can be done by employing a proper footballing manager of which there are still a lot out there and we have proved what happens when you employ a succession of non footballing managers.

Why did Shaw sign Appleton..... Because he was a success at keeping together a bunch of players when the club fell apart at Pompey??
Pre-planning, I wonder ?

You make some good points about Appleton's style of play as we have been terrible to watch in recent weeks.

Let us hope that after he has rebuilt our midfield engine room this summer, our play improves.

By the way, we didn't do the double over Man Utd last year as we lost the home game 0 - 2 on 2nd April.

Absolutely. I didn't think football could be any more ugly than under BFS. How wrong I was. Appleton is fundamentally wrong with thinking you need to play that way to get promoted from the Championship. He's doing his best to get us out of the Championship and into League 1.

According to the papers Murphy is looking to cancel his blackburn contract; I hope this is true because his wages are draining us. When/if he goes we can then go out and spend this money this summer on a player who has some legs and pace.

I wonder if by Appleton giving the captaincy badge to Dann and dropping Murphy was his way of telling Murphy your time at Blackburn is up. In the past we have been far to slow at freezing **** players out until they leave, and this has really cost us financially. Money is tight and it is of the utmost urgency that we get the rubbish out, so we can free up the little money we have left.

come on all Rovers sopporters,get down to Ewood against Millwall and lets get to Wembley,WE DESERVE A GOOD DAY OUT!!!! lets try and put all the crap of the last two years to one side and give Millwall a goodhiding and carry it on into the derby on sunday,it could be a very very long time until we have a chance like this again,dont live to regret it!!

trueblue72 wrote:
Making Dann captain is a start in getting shut of the overpaid "I'm on a great 2 yr contract murphy" but there is not much else I can think is positive from Appletons approach. Yes granted, we have to start from the back with a solid defence and clean sheets but our attacking sense has never ever been so dire. It does look like players are starting to put a shift in but the quality of our play is embarrassing to watch. I have come to the conclusion that no matter how many loan players he signs his brand of hoofball and tactics are awful. Sitting back and hoping for a winner will not win enough football matches based on percentages and luck. We have to offer more going forward, be it play the youngsters from the club or recalling the injury prone Dunn or playing gomes. I knew things would get worse before they got better but under appletons leadership I just cannot see it improving. Only last season we did the double over man utd and now we have no attacking threat or attacking players left at the club. We all mocked Big SAMs brand of football and I for one was not disappointed when he was finished but disappointed with the succession of inept "managers" since. Forest have proved what can be done by employing a proper footballing manager of which there are still a lot out there and we have proved what happens when you employ a succession of non footballing managers. Why did Shaw sign Appleton..... Because he was a success at keeping together a bunch of players when the club fell apart at Pompey?? Pre-planning, I wonder ?

Agree with every word trueblue however they have appointed Appleton and we must give him a chance!

The only way we are going to get positive results is with the fans behind the team. Lets support the players and appleton and if he gets it wrong so be it and im sure Venks will give him the sack too.

not sure that scott dan has proven himself as captain material yet dispite his form being good at the moment but that has been way overdue. having said that i cant name a leader in our team worthy of the band at the moment. hope he takes up the role and makes himself heard

Does anyone fear that we will be relegated this season? I am deeply concerned, as we have failed to score now in 5 of the last 6 games. Our style of play is dire and we aren't looking like we are set up to score. No free flowing football at all.

The next four games are crucial, in terms of us needing to get a couple of wins. Sunday goes without saying and I feel we are in danger of losing that one. Following on from that we have Blackpool at home, Cardiff away and Sheff Weds away. We cannot affford to sit back and hope we score, it is not working.

At the start of the season, I predicted that we would be closer to the relegation places, than the play offs, but please, let's start to have a go at teams and win a couple before it's too late.

Imagine the scenario, we qualify for the Europa league and are playing third tier football!!

SCOTT DANN !!!!
SERIOUSLY YOURE JOKING !!!

I want my centre half to :

1.. Pick up from corners
2.. Anticipate danger
3.. Keep a good line for offsides
4.. Commit to my club & not threaten / link himself with moves EVERY Jan / close season
5.. Decent distribution from back
6.. Encourages other not criticises

Scott has NEVER done this in all his time art Ewood .. Grant Hanley has been the immense one and carries DANN in every game since Arsenal ...

GET REAL .. the only reason he is captain is he is the right age and due to a lack of cover he is the only one that starts UNFORTUNATELY .. the alternatives are too young & dont always start !!!!

Watch the Dann lovers crawl out the woodwork to criticise now - funny how you go quiet when he constantly GIVES THE FIRST GOAL AWAY ...

I'll bet you £10 now he concedes the first goal in at least 5 games left out of our last 10 games ..

Any takers ???

adcr wrote:
According to the papers Murphy is looking to cancel his blackburn contract; I hope this is true because his wages are draining us. When/if he goes we can then go out and spend this money this summer on a player who has some legs and pace. I wonder if by Appleton giving the captaincy badge to Dann and dropping Murphy was his way of telling Murphy your time at Blackburn is up. In the past we have been far to slow at freezing **** players out until they leave, and this has really cost us financially. Money is tight and it is of the utmost urgency that we get the rubbish out, so we can free up the little money we have left.

The only problem is that the midfield play against Millwall without Murphy was even worst. Bentley is not upto it and Pederson needs to hang his boots.

Jarrod Schulz Bearded Wonder wrote:
And not before time either. Scott Dann was immense yesterday. Danny Murphy has been poor and his lack of leadership on the pitch was plain for all to see. I hope he either knuckles down or clears out, there are other surrender monkeys we could do without like Angry from Accrington who surrendered his season ticket yet comes on here lecturing others about football. Just stick to saturday shopping and tag along with Murphy. Blinding

Thanks for the mention gayboy. Haven't surrendered my season ticket..........just being selective in when I use it. Don't do shopping but I'm really enjoying my golf. By the way, what's all this "blinding" business? Is this the new word in the playground?
I do agree that Scott Dann is marginally better than Murphy though.

before we get too carried away with thoughts of wembley,,there is a small issue of having to get past millwall first,,and if the Rovers adopt the same approach as the first game at millwall then you can forget any wembley appearence,,we were shambolic and very lucky to still be in the draw,,lets see if appleton can improve on his negative tactics which we have witnessed time after time,,COYB,shaw and batfink out,,gary bowyer in till the end of the season,,at least he knows how to play football the right way and get results at the same time,

first of all - scott dann was a worthy club captain yesterday. if that is that standard he will maintain now that he's been given the armband, then i'm all for it. he's been worrying in the past, but this might be the move he needs. let's face it, who else is going to be a regular on the team sheet? hanley, possibly, but too young. and kean on recent performances, but also too young.... and rhodes... wrong position and too young. dann is the only sensible option.
now onto appleton's tactics. we were definitely poor yesterday,but so were millwall to be fair. it was a horrific match. but, i can't help but feel he's being a little let down by the players. yes, he picks the team, but once out on the pitch, the players have to be better. the difference with the tactics allardyce employs is that the long-balls are premeditated. however, from what i've seen recently, they are due to a lack of control, both individually and as a team. yesterday was littered with rovers players (and millwall's for that matter) miss-controlling, misplacing 5 yard passes, being second to the ball and lacking physicality. the result is a need to hoof the ball because you're out of time or options.
king was not ready yesterday and was awful. bentley is just not on the same wavelength as any other player in blue and white, neither fullback offered any support and we couldn't trap a ball in the middle. this resulted in absolutely no creativity in the final 3rd.
all this changed when dunn came on, as he was able to get into a couple of yards of space and pick a pass to a team-mate. once this happened, the passing range got much shorter and we looked much better.
this suggests to me that
a) the CM is the cause of the problem
b) many of the players either aren't up to it or have lost confidence/fitness
c) it may not be appleton's tactics that are purely to blame. granted he may be a safety-first kind of bloke, but the need for safety-first tends to come about because the players aren't controlling the ball or able to pass it to each other.

ROVERS FACE RELEGATION BATTLE
Back in August whilst Steve Kean was still at Ewood and performing his usual scatter gun player recruitment policy aided and abetted by his disgraced agent Jerome (the man who ruined Blackburn Rovers) Anderson. I forecast another season of battling relegation for the beleaguered Rovers. Much to the annoyance of the majority of fellow fans and venom and abuse from some quarters.
I however stood my ground and appeared to have got it wrong as Rovers, under Kean mad a promising start to the season. But the performances were poor and the results had more than a touch of good fortune about them.
When Kean at last left the club the euphoria was overwhelming. However the 3 wise men (Singh-Shaw-Agnew) lost the opportunity of resurrecting the Rovers. In-fighting and disagreement over a replacement for Kean led to the club being in limbo for a month with unwanted and disruptive speculation abound, before the underwhelming appointment of the inexperienced Henning Berg.
What is it with this Rovers regime that they won’t appoint an experienced and proven manager. Alex Mcleish was interviewed and indeed wanted the job, at that moment in time he would have been perfect and could of done for Rovers what Steve Bruce has done for Hull City.
But no, Shebby Singh wanted and was searching for the “next best thing” “I will find the next Jose Murhino” he boasted. YEAH RIGHT.
Berg was a disaster, and any hopes of promotion disappeared during is his brief 10 game reign that yielded 1 win. Better to stuck with Eric Black ? but although a decent man he was tainted by association with the Steve Kean reign.
So with Shebby Singh reputation well and truly tarnished step forward the second of the 3 wise men, Derek Shaw who took over the ask of appointing Rovers next manager. Again we got another ‘ROOKIE’. Step forward Michael Appleton (pic above). Unwanted by Blackpool Chairman Owen Oyston. Who couldn’t believe his luck at ridding himself of a mistaken appointment, so soon and receiving compensation from the Rovers to boot!
Again, Appleton appears a decent man but his inexperience is there for all to see. To be fair to him he has to clean up Kean’s mess and that will take a long long time. Kean has ruined Blackburn Rovers in 2 short years. Just as I said he would on the day of his appointment. Not only has Kean got rid of 60% of fans the playing staff is at best poor.
Appleton may turn it around and he may not. But one thing is for certain the next three months are nothing more than a battle to stay in the top flight of English football. What is the possibility of the Rovers dropping into English Football’s second tier? The thought is unimaginable but the reality very possible. You only need to have watched Rovers last 6 games to see that. Poor is an understatement. The team is in free fall, don’t anybody kid themselves about that.
F.A Cup success, although welcome, is a mere distraction from what really matters. Maybe the 3 wise men should have stuck with the inspired temporary appointment of reserved team coach’s Gary Bowyer and Terry McPhillips. Before assessing the situation at the end of the season.
The Championship is the easiest league in the world to drop into and the hardest to get out of. Pity the 3 wise men never realised that. The ‘glib’ attitude of promotion at all cost is not that simple. It takes time and hard work and an experienced hand to guide the club. Rovers have neither, not on the pitch or in the board room.
What would we all give for a John Williams and a Tom Finn at boardroom level and dare I say a Sam Allardyce running the team. HAPY DAYS.
As the saying goes in football “be careful what you wish for”.
Reg
Footnote: The one ray of sunshine at Ewood is that Steve Kean is no longer there and the place is much better and more pleasant for it. For that we have to thank Shebby Singh and whatever he does in the future we will be forever in his debt.
As for the missing thousand’s through the turn styles that is down to Mrs Desai ignoring the fans wishes for Kean to have been removed long ago. Ignore the fans wishes at your peril as the Venky’s have now found out much to their cost. Kean or no Kean they are not coming back for a long long time.
www.regoftherovers.c
o.uk

noddy57 says...
2:23pm Mon 11 Mar 13

before we get too carried away with thoughts of wembley,,there is a small issue of having to get past millwall first,,and if the Rovers adopt the same approach as the first game at millwall then you can forget any wembley appearence

Remember Rovers were playing at their place and had the right to nullify the game as best they could, it will be a different kettle of fish on Wednesday night.

Murphy has been useless. Far too slow and then frustrated when he cant keep up with play, however, with players dropping like flies there could come a time when he is required? What reception will he get on wednesday if he plays? Hoping not a bad one. Its just like rovers players to give their own players the treatment they usually only get from away fans thereby affecting their play and result. Appleton in my view is a poor mans Allardyce. Same style but not as good at it as Sam

Reg Rover wrote:
ROVERS FACE RELEGATION BATTLE Back in August whilst Steve Kean was still at Ewood and performing his usual scatter gun player recruitment policy aided and abetted by his disgraced agent Jerome (the man who ruined Blackburn Rovers) Anderson. I forecast another season of battling relegation for the beleaguered Rovers. Much to the annoyance of the majority of fellow fans and venom and abuse from some quarters. I however stood my ground and appeared to have got it wrong as Rovers, under Kean mad a promising start to the season. But the performances were poor and the results had more than a touch of good fortune about them. When Kean at last left the club the euphoria was overwhelming. However the 3 wise men (Singh-Shaw-Agnew) lost the opportunity of resurrecting the Rovers. In-fighting and disagreement over a replacement for Kean led to the club being in limbo for a month with unwanted and disruptive speculation abound, before the underwhelming appointment of the inexperienced Henning Berg. What is it with this Rovers regime that they won’t appoint an experienced and proven manager. Alex Mcleish was interviewed and indeed wanted the job, at that moment in time he would have been perfect and could of done for Rovers what Steve Bruce has done for Hull City. But no, Shebby Singh wanted and was searching for the “next best thing” “I will find the next Jose Murhino” he boasted. YEAH RIGHT. Berg was a disaster, and any hopes of promotion disappeared during is his brief 10 game reign that yielded 1 win. Better to stuck with Eric Black ? but although a decent man he was tainted by association with the Steve Kean reign. So with Shebby Singh reputation well and truly tarnished step forward the second of the 3 wise men, Derek Shaw who took over the ask of appointing Rovers next manager. Again we got another ‘ROOKIE’. Step forward Michael Appleton (pic above). Unwanted by Blackpool Chairman Owen Oyston. Who couldn’t believe his luck at ridding himself of a mistaken appointment, so soon and receiving compensation from the Rovers to boot! Again, Appleton appears a decent man but his inexperience is there for all to see. To be fair to him he has to clean up Kean’s mess and that will take a long long time. Kean has ruined Blackburn Rovers in 2 short years. Just as I said he would on the day of his appointment. Not only has Kean got rid of 60% of fans the playing staff is at best poor. Appleton may turn it around and he may not. But one thing is for certain the next three months are nothing more than a battle to stay in the top flight of English football. What is the possibility of the Rovers dropping into English Football’s second tier? The thought is unimaginable but the reality very possible. You only need to have watched Rovers last 6 games to see that. Poor is an understatement. The team is in free fall, don’t anybody kid themselves about that. F.A Cup success, although welcome, is a mere distraction from what really matters. Maybe the 3 wise men should have stuck with the inspired temporary appointment of reserved team coach’s Gary Bowyer and Terry McPhillips. Before assessing the situation at the end of the season. The Championship is the easiest league in the world to drop into and the hardest to get out of. Pity the 3 wise men never realised that. The ‘glib’ attitude of promotion at all cost is not that simple. It takes time and hard work and an experienced hand to guide the club. Rovers have neither, not on the pitch or in the board room. What would we all give for a John Williams and a Tom Finn at boardroom level and dare I say a Sam Allardyce running the team. HAPY DAYS. As the saying goes in football “be careful what you wish for”. Reg Footnote: The one ray of sunshine at Ewood is that Steve Kean is no longer there and the place is much better and more pleasant for it. For that we have to thank Shebby Singh and whatever he does in the future we will be forever in his debt. As for the missing thousand’s through the turn styles that is down to Mrs Desai ignoring the fans wishes for Kean to have been removed long ago. Ignore the fans wishes at your peril as the Venky’s have now found out much to their cost. Kean or no Kean they are not coming back for a long long time. www.regoftherovers.c o.uk

Agree rovers should have left Gary Bowyer and team till end of season. We got to within 4 points of 6th place and now we are sinking fast under Appleton and Shaw. Appleton does'nt seem to be the person to get rovers into premiership. Just hoping we stay in Championship this year.

Get Dunn into central midfield on Wednesday -how long he will last goodness only knows but he still has quality on the ball and I was impressed with his shift at Millwall.

For Wednesday I would alternate Olsen Givet King and Dunn. Bentley in central midfield may be an option but he has to play football with his head and not loose it like at the New Den - we need 11 players on the pitch to win any game

just make sure we win reading the papers Millwall are saying that they only have to turn up and they will beat us easy as they think that they are a better team.
Make them eat their words.

100%ROVERS wrote:
SCOTT DANN !!!!
SERIOUSLY YOURE JOKING !!!

I want my centre half to :

1.. Pick up from corners
2.. Anticipate danger
3.. Keep a good line for offsides
4.. Commit to my club & not threaten / link himself with moves EVERY Jan / close season
5.. Decent distribution from back
6.. Encourages other not criticises

Scott has NEVER done this in all his time art Ewood .. Grant Hanley has been the immense one and carries DANN in every game since Arsenal ...

GET REAL .. the only reason he is captain is he is the right age and due to a lack of cover he is the only one that starts UNFORTUNATELY .. the alternatives are too young & dont always start !!!!

Watch the Dann lovers crawl out the woodwork to criticise now - funny how you go quiet when he constantly GIVES THE FIRST GOAL AWAY ...

I'll bet you £10 now he concedes the first goal in at least 5 games left out of our last 10 games ..

Any takers ???

Pratt

stick to football wrote:
Get Dunn into central midfield on Wednesday -how long he will last goodness only knows but he still has quality on the ball and I was impressed with his shift at Millwall.

For Wednesday I would alternate Olsen Givet King and Dunn. Bentley in central midfield may be an option but he has to play football with his head and not loose it like at the New Den - we need 11 players on the pitch to win any game

Agree, but it all depends who is fit, or match fit for that matter, just like Sunday we are going to be playing with 10 or less men at some part of the game, purely because of the fitness situation.

Who would be a football manager/ - now Brian McDermott leaves Reading - Nigel Adkins still out of work after Southampton and of course there is still Steve Kean available.

Players get away with murder while Managers always take the wrap and of course Directors and Management are never to blame are they?

Rovers definitely need a mouth not a mouse on the field - could be a good move for Rovers

Danny Murphy you are an absolute disgrace. Should never have been brought to our club after his outrageous comments about our players deliberately going out to injure. But that was Kean and the SEM/Kentaro bstrds for you, always trying to rub the fans noses in it. Predicted he wouls absolutely sh for us and not the least bit surprised about how things have panned out. Good riddance and take that other Scouse waster Orr with you.

OnePostThenTheOther wrote:
Danny Murphy you are an absolute disgrace. Should never have been brought to our club after his outrageous comments about our players deliberately going out to injure. But that was Kean and the SEM/Kentaro bstrds for you, always trying to rub the fans noses in it. Predicted he wouls absolutely sh for us and not the least bit surprised about how things have panned out. Good riddance and take that other Scouse waster Orr with you.

I sense unrequited love really.

stick to football wrote:
Who would be a football manager/ - now Brian McDermott leaves Reading - Nigel Adkins still out of work after Southampton and of course there is still Steve Kean available.

Players get away with murder while Managers always take the wrap and of course Directors and Management are never to blame are they?

Rovers definitely need a mouth not a mouse on the field - could be a good move for Rovers

True but the same happens with schools. They put a trouble shooting headteacher in, they don't replace all the pupils or teachers. Police chiefs always end up resigning and that bloke in charge of Staffs health care is being held responsible. Anyway, how can you put Steve Kean in the same sentence as Adkins and McDermott?

Could've saved a lot of column space by following the headline with, 'Because Murphy is inept' and leaving it at that.

murphy was the steve kean flagship signing in the summer showing venkys mean business . this was the start of worrying times especially as etuhu joined us as well. murphy at his age would have never have played more than 20 games in this division. especially as he had no younger class players around him any idiot but kean would have realised this.also i have heard that kean promised him a coaching role at rovers but when he was sacked this obviously went out of the window. murphy has mentally realised he has no future at brfc and this has now come to the fore. one decision mr appleton has got right but does not take rocket science.

Reg Rover wrote:
ROVERS FACE RELEGATION BATTLE Back in August whilst Steve Kean was still at Ewood and performing his usual scatter gun player recruitment policy aided and abetted by his disgraced agent Jerome (the man who ruined Blackburn Rovers) Anderson. I forecast another season of battling relegation for the beleaguered Rovers. Much to the annoyance of the majority of fellow fans and venom and abuse from some quarters. I however stood my ground and appeared to have got it wrong as Rovers, under Kean mad a promising start to the season. But the performances were poor and the results had more than a touch of good fortune about them. When Kean at last left the club the euphoria was overwhelming. However the 3 wise men (Singh-Shaw-Agnew) lost the opportunity of resurrecting the Rovers. In-fighting and disagreement over a replacement for Kean led to the club being in limbo for a month with unwanted and disruptive speculation abound, before the underwhelming appointment of the inexperienced Henning Berg. What is it with this Rovers regime that they won’t appoint an experienced and proven manager. Alex Mcleish was interviewed and indeed wanted the job, at that moment in time he would have been perfect and could of done for Rovers what Steve Bruce has done for Hull City. But no, Shebby Singh wanted and was searching for the “next best thing” “I will find the next Jose Murhino” he boasted. YEAH RIGHT. Berg was a disaster, and any hopes of promotion disappeared during is his brief 10 game reign that yielded 1 win. Better to stuck with Eric Black ? but although a decent man he was tainted by association with the Steve Kean reign. So with Shebby Singh reputation well and truly tarnished step forward the second of the 3 wise men, Derek Shaw who took over the ask of appointing Rovers next manager. Again we got another ‘ROOKIE’. Step forward Michael Appleton (pic above). Unwanted by Blackpool Chairman Owen Oyston. Who couldn’t believe his luck at ridding himself of a mistaken appointment, so soon and receiving compensation from the Rovers to boot! Again, Appleton appears a decent man but his inexperience is there for all to see. To be fair to him he has to clean up Kean’s mess and that will take a long long time. Kean has ruined Blackburn Rovers in 2 short years. Just as I said he would on the day of his appointment. Not only has Kean got rid of 60% of fans the playing staff is at best poor. Appleton may turn it around and he may not. But one thing is for certain the next three months are nothing more than a battle to stay in the top flight of English football. What is the possibility of the Rovers dropping into English Football’s second tier? The thought is unimaginable but the reality very possible. You only need to have watched Rovers last 6 games to see that. Poor is an understatement. The team is in free fall, don’t anybody kid themselves about that. F.A Cup success, although welcome, is a mere distraction from what really matters. Maybe the 3 wise men should have stuck with the inspired temporary appointment of reserved team coach’s Gary Bowyer and Terry McPhillips. Before assessing the situation at the end of the season. The Championship is the easiest league in the world to drop into and the hardest to get out of. Pity the 3 wise men never realised that. The ‘glib’ attitude of promotion at all cost is not that simple. It takes time and hard work and an experienced hand to guide the club. Rovers have neither, not on the pitch or in the board room. What would we all give for a John Williams and a Tom Finn at boardroom level and dare I say a Sam Allardyce running the team. HAPY DAYS. As the saying goes in football “be careful what you wish for”. Reg Footnote: The one ray of sunshine at Ewood is that Steve Kean is no longer there and the place is much better and more pleasant for it. For that we have to thank Shebby Singh and whatever he does in the future we will be forever in his debt. As for the missing thousand’s through the turn styles that is down to Mrs Desai ignoring the fans wishes for Kean to have been removed long ago. Ignore the fans wishes at your peril as the Venky’s have now found out much to their cost. Kean or no Kean they are not coming back for a long long time. www.regoftherovers.c o.uk

A pretty longwinded apology

Angry From Accrington wrote:

Reg Rover wrote: ROVERS FACE RELEGATION BATTLE Back in August whilst Steve Kean was still at Ewood and performing his usual scatter gun player recruitment policy aided and abetted by his disgraced agent Jerome (the man who ruined Blackburn Rovers) Anderson. I forecast another season of battling relegation for the beleaguered Rovers. Much to the annoyance of the majority of fellow fans and venom and abuse from some quarters. I however stood my ground and appeared to have got it wrong as Rovers, under Kean mad a promising start to the season. But the performances were poor and the results had more than a touch of good fortune about them. When Kean at last left the club the euphoria was overwhelming. However the 3 wise men (Singh-Shaw-Agnew) lost the opportunity of resurrecting the Rovers. In-fighting and disagreement over a replacement for Kean led to the club being in limbo for a month with unwanted and disruptive speculation abound, before the underwhelming appointment of the inexperienced Henning Berg. What is it with this Rovers regime that they won’t appoint an experienced and proven manager. Alex Mcleish was interviewed and indeed wanted the job, at that moment in time he would have been perfect and could of done for Rovers what Steve Bruce has done for Hull City. But no, Shebby Singh wanted and was searching for the “next best thing” “I will find the next Jose Murhino” he boasted. YEAH RIGHT. Berg was a disaster, and any hopes of promotion disappeared during is his brief 10 game reign that yielded 1 win. Better to stuck with Eric Black ? but although a decent man he was tainted by association with the Steve Kean reign. So with Shebby Singh reputation well and truly tarnished step forward the second of the 3 wise men, Derek Shaw who took over the ask of appointing Rovers next manager. Again we got another ‘ROOKIE’. Step forward Michael Appleton (pic above). Unwanted by Blackpool Chairman Owen Oyston. Who couldn’t believe his luck at ridding himself of a mistaken appointment, so soon and receiving compensation from the Rovers to boot! Again, Appleton appears a decent man but his inexperience is there for all to see. To be fair to him he has to clean up Kean’s mess and that will take a long long time. Kean has ruined Blackburn Rovers in 2 short years. Just as I said he would on the day of his appointment. Not only has Kean got rid of 60% of fans the playing staff is at best poor. Appleton may turn it around and he may not. But one thing is for certain the next three months are nothing more than a battle to stay in the top flight of English football. What is the possibility of the Rovers dropping into English Football’s second tier? The thought is unimaginable but the reality very possible. You only need to have watched Rovers last 6 games to see that. Poor is an understatement. The team is in free fall, don’t anybody kid themselves about that. F.A Cup success, although welcome, is a mere distraction from what really matters. Maybe the 3 wise men should have stuck with the inspired temporary appointment of reserved team coach’s Gary Bowyer and Terry McPhillips. Before assessing the situation at the end of the season. The Championship is the easiest league in the world to drop into and the hardest to get out of. Pity the 3 wise men never realised that. The ‘glib’ attitude of promotion at all cost is not that simple. It takes time and hard work and an experienced hand to guide the club. Rovers have neither, not on the pitch or in the board room. What would we all give for a John Williams and a Tom Finn at boardroom level and dare I say a Sam Allardyce running the team. HAPY DAYS. As the saying goes in football “be careful what you wish for”. Reg Footnote: The one ray of sunshine at Ewood is that Steve Kean is no longer there and the place is much better and more pleasant for it. For that we have to thank Shebby Singh and whatever he does in the future we will be forever in his debt. As for the missing thousand’s through the turn styles that is down to Mrs Desai ignoring the fans wishes for Kean to have been removed long ago. Ignore the fans wishes at your peril as the Venky’s have now found out much to their cost. Kean or no Kean they are not coming back for a long long time. www.regoftherovers.c o.uk

A pretty longwinded apology

well mate i agree - i still think that we will be relegated this season - maybe in the last game of the season - no club run like this can survive - if it was not for gary bowyers effort rovers would be in the bottom three now.

Fantastic Scott Dann as club captain like i always posted my comments for many weeks.Get rid of Murphy a useless player and captain.
Play Dann Henley Hanley Olsson Dunn King Lowe Bentley Best Rhodes
agaist Millwall at Ewood Park on Wednesday.
Sack Shebby and Hendry too both useles and surplas to requirement at BRFC
The player i like Kazim Richards pacy strong eye for goals and always gives 110% in every games.
Anyway good luck Scott you are the fans choice and was my choice for many months and i wish Murphy hang his boots up so too is Pederson.

ok
lets talk about the football
especially BRFC...thanks

Yes Murphy out...big tick ...!
but lets get all the over 30s out also.
too old, too slow..
simply not good enough...!!

the reason in my opinion why we are so 's.....' in the championship is we don't have the midfield to cope with championship pressures.

Championship football is a different ball game and actually in my opinion prem. players don't necessarily make good championship players.

We need a complete midfield.
x 3 /4 players
The only way we can stand up and be counted in the championship is if we have the right physically strong players.
strong, physical, box to box ..etc..
but also we need hard as nails humans,
we need fighting dogs of war,
we need lion heart warriors,
we need the Battys,
we need snarling Sounesses
we need bad boys who will rip chunks out of opposition and shred them to bits.

we need the championship to be scared of BRFC because at the moment everyone knows how soft BRFC are especially in the midfield areas.

Very...very pooor

which impacts greatly on the poor defense giving them extra pressure making them look even worse
and the strikers who get few if any chances because of no link up play from midfield.

modan wrote:
Fantastic Scott Dann as club captain like i always posted my comments for many weeks.Get rid of Murphy a useless player and captain.
Play Dann Henley Hanley Olsson Dunn King Lowe Bentley Best Rhodes
agaist Millwall at Ewood Park on Wednesday.
Sack Shebby and Hendry too both useles and surplas to requirement at BRFC
The player i like Kazim Richards pacy strong eye for goals and always gives 110% in every games.
Anyway good luck Scott you are the fans choice and was my choice for many months and i wish Murphy hang his boots up so too is Pederson.

You clearly didn't watch the mill wall match. King was a waste of time. My team, assuming Henleys fit is
Kean
Henley
Hanley
Dann
Givet
Bentley
Lowe
Dunn
Olsson
Best
Rhodes

Get down to Ewood. I'm coming up from London on Wednesday and taking 3 days off work to stay up till Sunday. Two of the biggest matches of the last 2 years. Let's get behind the lads. COYB

Well there are managers who can get you up like Bruce and there are managers who can keep you up like Allardyce I am still wondering what Appleton is.
The fact is our current match play is awful maybe Zola or someone of that ilk would be playing fast attractive football by now ? who knows but as a fan I have decided to just go to the odd match even though I bought two season tickets I just cannot stand the negative football and the way players like Lowe turn towards there own goal as soon as they receive the ball and Appleton seems blissfully aware of this problem and carries on selecting him. maybe the lad needs more time in the reserves or better coaching but he should not be a first team regular.
seems blissfully unaware

How many managers have been sacked since Steve Kean left the Rovers? Not one of the clubs have even interviewed Kean as a replacement. Never has he been quoted as a favourite for any of the vacancies, even at lower league clubs. Where are all the managers/Kean supporters who castigated the Rovers fans for their harassing of him? E.g. Ferguson, Moyes etc. looks like the fans have finally been vindicated in their hatred of Kean. It looks like He will never work as a manager again, thank goodness for that!

How is Kazim doing..............?
?? He is the best player in Blackburn. bring it on !

Rochina is stilldoing the same at Zargosa............p
oor finish and off the target

Appleton must have been to spec savers eventually seeıng through the ıdıot Murphy but unfortunately thıs ıs only a blıp ın terms of movıng forward we are nothıng more than a thırd rate Champıonshıp Team under thıs regıme.
OUT WITH SHAW AGNEW SINGH HENDRY VENKYS COAR APPLETON

The appointment of Scott Dann was the only logical choice. Neither Dunn or Pedersen are able to play the full 90 minutes each game and the only other guaranteed starters - Rhodes, Hanley, Kean and Martin Olsson - are either too inexperienced or not vocal enough. I do feel slightly sorry for Murphy as I don't think he lacked effort, I just think this season was one season too much for him, especially in a more physical league such as the Championship. I also feel he wasn't given a fair chance by certain fans from the outset, purely because of his comments in the past and the fact that he cited Steve Kean as being the main reason he joined Rovers. It seems that some supporters are only happy when they're venting their spleen. It's the same people who scream abuse at Orr, solely because of what he said after the Wigan game, and the same people blaming Jerome Anderson for everything bad that's happened at the club since Venky's took over, despite the fact that he's had no input into the club since the close of the January transfer window in 2011. These people seem to want to blame everybody else but won't accept that screaming abuse at players from the stands is just as detrimental to individual, and team, performance.

As for the Millwall game, there is no arguing that recent performances have been far from good enough and Sunday's showing at The Den was as painful to watch as anything I've ever witnessed. That said, Millwall were no better despite playing at home with a near full-strength side so surely we've got to be happy that we've got a second chance to get to Wembley. Injuries and cup-tied players meant we had no option but to field the team we did. Tactics wise I think it's impossible to tell if Appleton got it right or wrong as Millwall's game plan of closing down our players quickly meant that there was little option but to clear the ball constantly. Millwall did the same when we pressed them. Hopefully, Dunn will be fit enough to start on Wednesday as I feel we've spent the majority of the season playing in a Polo mint formation, absolutely nothing in the middle. I doubt Henley and Orr will be risked for the replay so Lowe will have to drop back into defence leaving us even lighter in midfield. Based on players likely to be available, my team would be Kean, Lowe, Dann, Hanley, Rekik, Bentley, Dunn, Ms Olsson, Gomes, Rhodes.

Finally, Burnley. Whilst I agree that derby games are important for fans I can't agree that they should define a team's season. This is probably because I've never used Burnley's league position or results as a benchmark for where Blackburn Rovers should be. When I read some of the comments that the Dingles post on here I feel sorry for them because they obviously feel the opposite of what I do. However, when I read some of the gloating replies from my fellow Rovers fans I can't help but feel a little embarrassed. To moan about the poor performance of the team in one sentence, to confidently predict a victory of the Clarets in the next is confusing to say the least. Our undefeated run will come to an end sooner or later and there's a very good chance that it could happen on Sunday. Losing the bragging rights is never nice but the whole concept originated as a form of good banter between two rival clubs. Some people seem to think it defines them as a person. Maybe reign in the c*cksure attitude, if we lose you'll look even more stupid than you do already.

srvp28 wrote:
The appointment of Scott Dann was the only logical choice. Neither Dunn or Pedersen are able to play the full 90 minutes each game and the only other guaranteed starters - Rhodes, Hanley, Kean and Martin Olsson - are either too inexperienced or not vocal enough. I do feel slightly sorry for Murphy as I don't think he lacked effort, I just think this season was one season too much for him, especially in a more physical league such as the Championship. I also feel he wasn't given a fair chance by certain fans from the outset, purely because of his comments in the past and the fact that he cited Steve Kean as being the main reason he joined Rovers. It seems that some supporters are only happy when they're venting their spleen. It's the same people who scream abuse at Orr, solely because of what he said after the Wigan game, and the same people blaming Jerome Anderson for everything bad that's happened at the club since Venky's took over, despite the fact that he's had no input into the club since the close of the January transfer window in 2011. These people seem to want to blame everybody else but won't accept that screaming abuse at players from the stands is just as detrimental to individual, and team, performance.

As for the Millwall game, there is no arguing that recent performances have been far from good enough and Sunday's showing at The Den was as painful to watch as anything I've ever witnessed. That said, Millwall were no better despite playing at home with a near full-strength side so surely we've got to be happy that we've got a second chance to get to Wembley. Injuries and cup-tied players meant we had no option but to field the team we did. Tactics wise I think it's impossible to tell if Appleton got it right or wrong as Millwall's game plan of closing down our players quickly meant that there was little option but to clear the ball constantly. Millwall did the same when we pressed them. Hopefully, Dunn will be fit enough to start on Wednesday as I feel we've spent the majority of the season playing in a Polo mint formation, absolutely nothing in the middle. I doubt Henley and Orr will be risked for the replay so Lowe will have to drop back into defence leaving us even lighter in midfield. Based on players likely to be available, my team would be Kean, Lowe, Dann, Hanley, Rekik, Bentley, Dunn, Ms Olsson, Gomes, Rhodes.

Finally, Burnley. Whilst I agree that derby games are important for fans I can't agree that they should define a team's season. This is probably because I've never used Burnley's league position or results as a benchmark for where Blackburn Rovers should be. When I read some of the comments that the Dingles post on here I feel sorry for them because they obviously feel the opposite of what I do. However, when I read some of the gloating replies from my fellow Rovers fans I can't help but feel a little embarrassed. To moan about the poor performance of the team in one sentence, to confidently predict a victory of the Clarets in the next is confusing to say the least. Our undefeated run will come to an end sooner or later and there's a very good chance that it could happen on Sunday. Losing the bragging rights is never nice but the whole concept originated as a form of good banter between two rival clubs. Some people seem to think it defines them as a person. Maybe reign in the c*cksure attitude, if we lose you'll look even more stupid than you do already.

Forgot to put Pedersen next to Dunn, doh!

garyintandem wrote:

modan wrote:
Fantastic Scott Dann as club captain like i always posted my comments for many weeks.Get rid of Murphy a useless player and captain.
Play Dann Henley Hanley Olsson Dunn King Lowe Bentley Best Rhodes
agaist Millwall at Ewood Park on Wednesday.
Sack Shebby and Hendry too both useles and surplas to requirement at BRFC
The player i like Kazim Richards pacy strong eye for goals and always gives 110% in every games.
Anyway good luck Scott you are the fans choice and was my choice for many months and i wish Murphy hang his boots up so too is Pederson.

You clearly didn't watch the mill wall match. King was a waste of time. My team, assuming Henleys fit is
Kean
Henley
Hanley
Dann
Givet
Bentley
Lowe
Dunn
Olsson
Best
Rhodes

Get down to Ewood. I'm coming up from London on Wednesday and taking 3 days off work to stay up till Sunday. Two of the biggest matches of the last 2 years. Let's get behind the lads. COYB

Now That is what I call a supporter

garyintandem wrote:

modan wrote:
Fantastic Scott Dann as club captain like i always posted my comments for many weeks.Get rid of Murphy a useless player and captain.
Play Dann Henley Hanley Olsson Dunn King Lowe Bentley Best Rhodes
agaist Millwall at Ewood Park on Wednesday.
Sack Shebby and Hendry too both useles and surplas to requirement at BRFC
The player i like Kazim Richards pacy strong eye for goals and always gives 110% in every games.
Anyway good luck Scott you are the fans choice and was my choice for many months and i wish Murphy hang his boots up so too is Pederson.

You clearly didn't watch the mill wall match. King was a waste of time. My team, assuming Henleys fit is
Kean
Henley
Hanley
Dann
Givet
Bentley
Lowe
Dunn
Olsson
Best
Rhodes

Get down to Ewood. I'm coming up from London on Wednesday and taking 3 days off work to stay up till Sunday. Two of the biggest matches of the last 2 years. Let's get behind the lads. COYB

Good on you mate, hope you have a great time.

I saw some of the six fingered ones who shall not be named game last night and they were shockingly ordinary.

Looking at their stats it could be they are set up to take points away from home, so I am expecting a dull dire (or is that Dyer) game on Sunday, but you never know.

The difference just might be Jones biting a few ankles in the middle of the park.

Hopefully not the Ref's.

Off to Ewood shortly to get our tickets for tomorrow, my heart wants a good win but my main concern is that if we do it might deflect the team away from the bread and butter of survival.

Like your team for tomorrow though, only thing is nearly half of them are not match fit.

Close the door on your way out Murphy!

Re the comments about Appletons managerial style, or lack of it. Before us he managed two teams. Portsmouth, although they had a multitude of problems, were relegated. His short time at Blackpool produced a losing record. He has never shown the ability to create a winning team or obtain promotion.
Why do we think that he can do this at Ewood, especially given the disfunctional ownership and low quality squad ?