A Roque career at Blackburn Rovers (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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A Roque career at Blackburn Rovers
8:54am Tuesday 23rd June 2009 in
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- By Andy Cryer » Blackburn Rovers reporter
ROQUE Santa Cruz arrived at Ewood Park in the summer of 2007 as world football’s mystery man after an injury-plagued eight years of unfulfilled potential.
His talent was never in doubt, with a host of European teams constantly tracking the Paraguayan striker, but only Mark Hughes and Blackburn Rovers were prepared to take a gamble on a player whose injury record threatened to destroy his rise to the top.
His goal to game ratio spoke for itself at Bayern Munich but many were uncertain whether he would ever shake off his injury woes to become the player his ability deserved – surely a concern for Manchester City fans?
As the former Ewood Park darling now prepares for his next step to stardom, a £17-£18million move to big spenders Manchester City, Rovers’ money-men will understandably be patting themselves on the back for a ‘good bit of business’ having forked out just £3.5m two years ago.
Especially considering Santa Cruz’s impact in East Lancashire over the past 10 months has been limited to say the least as his injury worries returned – making Hughes’ bold move as big a gamble as bringing him to England two years ago, if not bigger.
Just six goals in 21 starts meant ‘Roque mania’ had all but disappeared by the time Sam Allardyce’s men were sealing Premier League survival in May and his constant pleas to allow him to leave Ewood have done little for his reputation.
His huge price tag is just a drop in the ocean for City but for Rovers it is money that could not be turned down.
If Allardyce is able to spend whatever chunk of it he gets wisely, come September it could be a case of Roque who?
No player is bigger than a football club and, while Santa Cruz will go down as one of the best players to have ever pulled on a Rovers shirt, a club legend he most certainly is not.
Comments(20)
MikeD
says...
9:11am Tue 23 Jun 09
mcphee7
says...
10:25am Tue 23 Jun 09
MikeD wrote: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.
One of the best players to have ever pulled on a Rovers shirt? He wouldn't be in my top 50.
MikeD
says...
10:47am Tue 23 Jun 09
Flylife
says...
11:35am Tue 23 Jun 09
mcphee7 wrote:well said.
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.
SusieF
says...
11:39am Tue 23 Jun 09
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!
oneofthe6000
says...
11:46am Tue 23 Jun 09
MikeD wrote:remove Yorke AND McCarthy add Garner
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
says...
11:55am Tue 23 Jun 09
MikeD wrote: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.
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.
Here's hoping he flops at City!
JPB
says...
12:39pm Tue 23 Jun 09
MikeD wrote: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.
One of the best players to have ever pulled on a Rovers shirt? He wouldn't be in my top 50.
MikeD
says...
1:09pm Tue 23 Jun 09
makaveli96
says...
1:34pm Tue 23 Jun 09
he6rt6gr6m
says...
1:52pm Tue 23 Jun 09
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 ****.
mcphee7
says...
3:04pm Tue 23 Jun 09
MikeD wrote:Did you just say that Benni is a more natural finisher than Roque??
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.
Mike, Mike, Mikey! Deary me!
MikeD
says...
3:12pm Tue 23 Jun 09
Morst the 88th min Heartbreaker of Dingles!
says...
3:27pm Tue 23 Jun 09
oneofthe6000 wrote:Agreed 1-6000 - but add Kevin Gallagher and SPEEDIE!
MikeD wrote:remove Yorke AND McCarthy add Garner
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.
£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....
Turfite
says...
5:14pm Tue 23 Jun 09
I don't think you will miss him
paladin101
says...
6:14pm Tue 23 Jun 09
NICEONESUNSHINE
says...
6:48pm Tue 23 Jun 09
MikeD wrote:Noggin??? Is that as in "Noggin the Nog", oh scandanavian one;-)
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.
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
BigPete
says...
8:51pm Tue 23 Jun 09
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.
rovers-baz
says...
8:58pm Tue 23 Jun 09
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hazy says...
9:06am Tue 23 Jun 09