A Roque career at Blackburn Rovers (From Lancashire Telegraph)

now can we move on and buy players who want to play for the club,good luck sam in the transfer market,roll on aug 15th

One of the best players to have ever pulled on a Rovers shirt? He wouldn't be in my top 50.

MikeD wrote:
One of the best players to have ever pulled on a Rovers shirt? He wouldn't be in my top 50.

Have you ever seen him play? Attitude and injury aside when he was on song (first season) he was a top class player. His vision was great, his ball control was great, and he held it up well and brought others into the game. He was someone who wasn't scared of tracking back and working for the team and he had a superior eye for goal than most players in the league at that time. Its a shame that since then many things have let him down. He was raved about week in week out by the pundits because they knew he was top class. So yes, he was one of the best players to pull on a shirt in my opinion.

Sorry, mcphee7, but I've been watching Blackburn for more than a couple of years, and while I agree that he was a decent player, he's not one of the best players ever to pull on a Rovers shirt. We have been blessed with a lot of fantastic goal scorers over the last few years - Shearer, Sutton, Cole, Yorke, McCarthy, Jansen, Bellamy. I wouldn't put Santa Cruz above any of those players (with the exception of Yorke maybe). And that's just the strikers. Like I said, however good a player he is, Santa Cruz would struggle to get into my top 50.

mcphee7 wrote:

MikeD wrote: One of the best players to have ever pulled on a Rovers shirt? He wouldn't be in my top 50.

Have you ever seen him play? Attitude and injury aside when he was on song (first season) he was a top class player. His vision was great, his ball control was great, and he held it up well and brought others into the game. He was someone who wasn't scared of tracking back and working for the team and he had a superior eye for goal than most players in the league at that time. Its a shame that since then many things have let him down. He was raved about week in week out by the pundits because they knew he was top class. So yes, he was one of the best players to pull on a shirt in my opinion.

well said.

Santa had a good first season, but once Hughes left it messed with his head and in turn he got 'injured', he has had no impact on the team this season, which is a shame!
But 17-18m from a 3.8m investment is good business, this means that Blackburn can pay off the debts and in a way give it back to the supporters, which they have done, by doing the 3 games for £20 at the end of last season and bringing down the price of all the season tickets!
I think John Williams should get a big pat on the back!
I just wish him well!

MikeD wrote:
Sorry, mcphee7, but I've been watching Blackburn for more than a couple of years, and while I agree that he was a decent player, he's not one of the best players ever to pull on a Rovers shirt. We have been blessed with a lot of fantastic goal scorers over the last few years - Shearer, Sutton, Cole, Yorke, McCarthy, Jansen, Bellamy. I wouldn't put Santa Cruz above any of those players (with the exception of Yorke maybe). And that's just the strikers. Like I said, however good a player he is, Santa Cruz would struggle to get into my top 50.

remove Yorke AND McCarthy add Garner

MikeD wrote:
Sorry, mcphee7, but I've been watching Blackburn for more than a couple of years, and while I agree that he was a decent player, he's not one of the best players ever to pull on a Rovers shirt. We have been blessed with a lot of fantastic goal scorers over the last few years - Shearer, Sutton, Cole, Yorke, McCarthy, Jansen, Bellamy. I wouldn't put Santa Cruz above any of those players (with the exception of Yorke maybe). And that's just the strikers. Like I said, however good a player he is, Santa Cruz would struggle to get into my top 50.

Well we all have our opinions which what makes this message board tick I guess! For me he was fantastic (in season 1 anyway) I agree with the players you mention, except Yorke and McCarthy. McCarthy was like Santa Cruz when he came, but he is overweight and to slow now. Its going to be difficult for people to seperate how he has gone about his business these past few months with what he did on the pitch when we bought him. I stand by what I say, Cruz was brilliant and If I was picking a fantasy Rovers side I would be forced to put him on the bench as backup for Shearer and Sutton! Jansen?..Awesome division 1 player. He was never the same once he got a bump on the head. Its a difficult topic picking "the best rovers players". There have been so many. For me, a happy, fit Cruz gets the nod.

Here's hoping he flops at City!

MikeD wrote:
One of the best players to have ever pulled on a Rovers shirt? He wouldn't be in my top 50.

i disagree. he was was in the top 4 of strikers that`s played for the club in my time as a fan along with shearer, sutton and bellamy. a roque/shearer partnership would have been a dream combination.

Can't believe you'd put him above McCarthy. McCarthy had a fantastic first season, and then for some reason found himself relegated to the bench. Goal vs Arsenal in the FA cup was worth his fee alone. Even last season he was our top goal scorer - 10 goals from 18 appearances. Also a much more natural finisher than Santa Cruz. I'll grant you he's looked a bit lazy and overweight the last couple of seasons, but no doubting his quality as a player.

At least his brothers disowned him!

Second Season Syndrome. Benni had, it, but something tells me Roque wont recapture the form he had in his first season at Ewood.

Complacency is a horrible thing, and he knew he wasnt going to get dropped, because the other strikers werent performing well.

Good riddance to an unloyal, ungrateful ****.

MikeD wrote:
Can't believe you'd put him above McCarthy. McCarthy had a fantastic first season, and then for some reason found himself relegated to the bench. Goal vs Arsenal in the FA cup was worth his fee alone. Even last season he was our top goal scorer - 10 goals from 18 appearances. Also a much more natural finisher than Santa Cruz. I'll grant you he's looked a bit lazy and overweight the last couple of seasons, but no doubting his quality as a player.

Did you just say that Benni is a more natural finisher than Roque??

Mike, Mike, Mikey! Deary me!

Santa Cruz scored a lot of goals that first season because he had Bentley plonking the ball down on his noggin. One on one versus the keeper, I'd take McCarthy any day of the week.

oneofthe6000 wrote:

MikeD wrote:
Sorry, mcphee7, but I've been watching Blackburn for more than a couple of years, and while I agree that he was a decent player, he's not one of the best players ever to pull on a Rovers shirt. We have been blessed with a lot of fantastic goal scorers over the last few years - Shearer, Sutton, Cole, Yorke, McCarthy, Jansen, Bellamy. I wouldn't put Santa Cruz above any of those players (with the exception of Yorke maybe). And that's just the strikers. Like I said, however good a player he is, Santa Cruz would struggle to get into my top 50.

remove Yorke AND McCarthy add Garner

Agreed 1-6000 - but add Kevin Gallagher and SPEEDIE!

£18m is a steal and in one simple mugging of Citeh we have cleared any losses and still £13m to spend and lots of free wages given RSC must have been on a packet with the new contract and 9 others have moved on so we are looking lean and efficient for the future!

Lets be positive with full houses coming next season a two Dingle stuffings as a bonus!

31st....

I'm a claret in peace

I don't think you will miss him

Maybe he has been lost in translation again, maybe he has actually signed an extension to his contract......

MikeD wrote:
Santa Cruz scored a lot of goals that first season because he had Bentley plonking the ball down on his noggin. One on one versus the keeper, I'd take McCarthy any day of the week.

Noggin??? Is that as in "Noggin the Nog", oh scandanavian one;-)

I don't agree with you around rsc. He was a class act for us and easily a better player than Benni. When the raspberry played he was an handful for any defence. He never gave in
(unlike mcarthy) and rarely gave the ball away(unlike mcarthy. As for being in a top 50. You're spot on, nowhere near it.Thats because he's a south American mercenary with little regard for the Rovers. The only good thing about him going is 17 million quid.

Thankyou Mr Hughes and adios Mr Quisling

I think Roque will come into the category of players who 'made' their name at Ewood, believed they were exceptional talent, then went on to achieve very little after leaving us.
No doubting it, he was very good first season, but his attitude in his second year was simply appalling. His was a very poor example of today's professional footballer.
Personally I think he's a bit of a prat, the way he was injured last season reminded me very much of Mark Viduka... great talent but never really plays much football. RSC could of that ilk.
For me, it's good luck to Sam in his quest for hungry players who want to make a name for themselves, and inventually, a lot of money.
Nice memories Roque but you . Yoy won't be misswere a long time ago in footballing terms and actually contributed nothing to Rovers staying up. You won't be missed.

RSC=Roque Screws Clubs