We can be the Best, declares Blackburn Rovers new boy (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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We can be the Best, declares Blackburn Rovers new boy
10:10am Saturday 7th July 2012 in Sport
By Andy Cryer, Blackburn Rovers reporter
LEON Best believes Blackburn Rovers can follow in Newcastle United’s footsteps as he looks to help his new club earn an instant Premier League return.
Rovers’ new boy helped the Magpies get out of the Championship at the first time of asking back in 2010 and he sees similarities in the challenge facing him at Ewood Park.
Rovers are now closing in on Portuguese midfielder Adrien Silva, having lodged a formal bid with Sporting Lisbon yesterday morning, while they are also targeting another striker with Premier League experience.
Silva is keen on a switch to Ewood Park, despite interest from Porto and Marseille, as Rovers look to seal the deal before tomorrow’s pre-season training trip to Austria.
Best, 25, only played a part in half of Newcastle’s promotion campaign after signing from Coventry City but believes Rovers can take confidence from their resurgence.
The Toon Army’s Premier League relegation brought with it considerable unrest between supporters and the owners, but an instant return and subsequent success has turned fortunes around at St James’ Park.
Best is hopeful similar can happen at Ewood Park this season as owners Venky’s and manager Steve Kean look to win an angry home faithful back around.
Best said: “I am very excited, I see it as the same situation as when I went to Newcastle. A massive club that had been relegated and want to bounce back in the first season.
“I played at Newcastle in the Championship. It was about gaining a momentum and getting us used to winning. I think a season in the Championship built the squad as a whole. It built the morale and team spirit.
“There was unrest there when they went down as well, that changed, and I think it has already changed here by the looks of it.
“It is just down to the players now to get out there and do their bit.”
Best turned down Premier League interest to sign a four-year deal at Rovers and he insists he has no regrets about dropping down a level.
He said: “I can’t wait, I am buzzing. I have worked so hard all my career to get to the Premier League. I saw this as a good opportunity for me. It was very similar to Newcastle.
“I felt coming here and helping the club get back in the Premier League would be a good move for me.
“The enthusiasm Steve showed made me feel like the main man. He gave me confidence and I know he wanted me. It is always a nice thing to know you are wanted. That was a big thing and made the decision easier.
“I am delighted to come here and just want to play football.
“This is a massive club and we should expect pressure. For a team that has just been relegated, we should look to go straight back and the signings show we are definitely going for it.”
Comments(48)
bypass06
says...
10:23am Sat 7 Jul 12
gkiz
The Doughnut speaks.
rovers india
says...
10:38am Sat 7 Jul 12
gleechy
says...
10:46am Sat 7 Jul 12
earwego
says...
10:49am Sat 7 Jul 12
madmurphy
says...
10:58am Sat 7 Jul 12
wrigglers
says...
11:04am Sat 7 Jul 12
GameRoverMan
says...
11:06am Sat 7 Jul 12
Dunn, Formica, Pedersen, Murphy, Petrovic, Nzonzi, Olsson, Vukcevic, Morris and now Silva.
Even if 2 or 3 of those leave (but they won't because our moron manager has said they all want to stay and play for him!) it still seems to me that we are grossly over-staffed.
Compare that with our defenders:
Olsson, Givet, Dann, Orr, Hanley, Ribeiro (ha!), Anderson (ha! ha!) and Henley.
As previous posters have asked, are we trying to do a Spain and play with a 0-10-0 formation?
mortengamst
says...
11:08am Sat 7 Jul 12
rovers india wrote:child
kean out kean out kean out
thresholdweller
says...
11:08am Sat 7 Jul 12
Let's be positive. Target 20 points after 10 games.
egbutnobacon
says...
11:11am Sat 7 Jul 12
3bricks
says...
11:14am Sat 7 Jul 12
Harwoodstblue
says...
11:15am Sat 7 Jul 12
wrigglers wrote:Morning Steve.
I got my st yesterday looking forward to the season ahead, support the team & the club
baldie
says...
11:20am Sat 7 Jul 12
madmurphy wrote:If you're dismissing the Murphy signing so easily,i'm afraid it's Asda for you on a Saturday from now on.
Still to be convinced about season ticket renewal. So far 2 old guys, an average striker, and an unheard of kid who will see as many games as Rochina. Not much to jump up and down about mr shabby. But I will give it the rest of this month without holding my breath
blueblooded
says...
11:21am Sat 7 Jul 12
gleechy wrote:The defence is worrying. Rumours of Antony Gerrard signing seemed positive to start shaping up the defence, but now seems were just rumours.
I think you have to agree with Mr Best kean does talk a good game. Since the close of season Rovers have never payed so well, should be back up in a jiffy. I wonder if he can talk a good defence for next season?
Will be interesting to see how this friendly goes..
guiderover
says...
11:56am Sat 7 Jul 12
gleechy
says...
12:12pm Sat 7 Jul 12
So the answer to that is to replace the spine of the team and as soon as someone at the club says everything is looking good some fans celebrate and wait anxiously for the start of a rip roaring season. BAAAAAAAA
formerover
says...
12:22pm Sat 7 Jul 12
Harwoodstblue wrote:He's up early today, must have been all that tactical planning going through his mind....not.
wrigglers wrote:Morning Steve.
I got my st yesterday looking forward to the season ahead, support the team & the club
roverstillidye
says...
12:29pm Sat 7 Jul 12
Dukes
says...
12:33pm Sat 7 Jul 12
roverstillidye wrote:well said cant fault you there.
kean out till he goes the club will not be the same again
edmy
says...
12:40pm Sat 7 Jul 12
I would also like to add to many of the previous comments, what are they doing about the worst defence in the premiership because at times scoring goals wasn't a problem but keeping them out at the other end was.
Kean will never make a decent manager while i have a hole in my a**e
RUinsane
says...
12:44pm Sat 7 Jul 12
lowelife
says...
12:51pm Sat 7 Jul 12
madmurphy wrote:Please do not weaken and renew your ST whilst Kean is still at the club. The ONLY way to recover our flagging fortunes is via his dismisal.
Still to be convinced about season ticket renewal. So far 2 old guys, an average striker, and an unheard of kid who will see as many games as Rochina. Not much to jump up and down about mr shabby. But I will give it the rest of this month without holding my breath
lowelife
says...
12:52pm Sat 7 Jul 12
wrigglers wrote:Oh dear, another post from Mr Agnew.
I got my st yesterday looking forward to the season ahead, support the team & the club
Iiii1111
says...
1:00pm Sat 7 Jul 12
GameRoverMan wrote:spot the odd one out....
So in midfield we will have the following players in the squad:
Dunn, Formica, Pedersen, Murphy, Petrovic, Nzonzi, Olsson, Vukcevic, Morris and now Silva.
Even if 2 or 3 of those leave (but they won't because our moron manager has said they all want to stay and play for him!) it still seems to me that we are grossly over-staffed.
Compare that with our defenders:
Olsson, Givet, Dann, Orr, Hanley, Ribeiro (ha!), Anderson (ha! ha!) and Henley.
As previous posters have asked, are we trying to do a Spain and play with a 0-10-0 formation?
..Dunn, Pedersen, Old Mother Shipton and Murphey
RoversOnline.com
says...
1:01pm Sat 7 Jul 12
Fredelse
says...
1:16pm Sat 7 Jul 12
Rishtonian
says...
1:27pm Sat 7 Jul 12
I could not upport rovers till he has gone as it makes physically sick to look at him and hear he sh*t that comes out of his mouth.
I do not think that most of the fans will ever take to him so I think that he should show some honesty for once and jus FECK off
KEAN OUT so that I can continue my 60 years of support for ROVERS
bluerob
says...
1:28pm Sat 7 Jul 12
The bottom line is this club regardless of results will not be the same until Kean is gone, after 47yrs Im out until we see the back of him.
Rishtonian
says...
1:31pm Sat 7 Jul 12
No season ticket for me till Kean has gone
I could not upport rovers till he has gone as it makes physically sick to look at him and hear the sh*t that comes out of his mouth.
I do not think that most of the fans will ever take to him so I think that he should show some honesty for once and just FECK off
KEAN OUT so that I can continue my 60 years of support for ROVERS”
blueblooded
says...
1:51pm Sat 7 Jul 12
Harwoodstblue wrote:grow up.
wrigglers wrote: I got my st yesterday looking forward to the season ahead, support the team & the clubMorning Steve.
Vikings Rover
says...
1:55pm Sat 7 Jul 12
Rishtonian wrote:Good on ya Rishtonian!! Keep the faith. The fight will end soon by a KO . . . the sooner the better!
27pm Sat 7 Jul 12
No season ticket for me till Kean has gone
I could not upport rovers till he has gone as it makes physically sick to look at him and hear the sh*t that comes out of his mouth.
I do not think that most of the fans will ever take to him so I think that he should show some honesty for once and just FECK off
KEAN OUT so that I can continue my 60 years of support for ROVERS”
KO Kean Out!
KO Kean Out!
KO Kean Out!
blueblooded
says...
2:13pm Sat 7 Jul 12
It seems that the herd mentality appears to have kicked in and frankly its disgusting - especially taking into account some of the senior ages of those that claim to have been fans for xx years and the ages of those they are abusing!
bburnrover
says...
2:28pm Sat 7 Jul 12
The fractious season we have just had was predicted by 99% of our fans as fans know when a manager is capable, owners have no idea that is why so many managers are dismissed after short periods in charge it reminds me of the insurance business do not get your targets and your out.The problem we have is that we have Alien owners from the sub continent who do not have a clue about the game and probably call it soccer they place honour high on their lists and may feel that it would be dihonorable to dismiss Kean when he had nothing to spend in the last window..
bypass06
says...
2:41pm Sat 7 Jul 12
http://brfcactiongro
up.co.uk/rovers-stoo
p-to-new-low-as-supp
orter-safety-put-at-
risk/
French Rover
says...
3:44pm Sat 7 Jul 12
I want to hear and see this kind of confidence from all the team if we are to have any chance of getting back in the prem. Its not about kean (hes going) its about the team.
A Darener
says...
3:57pm Sat 7 Jul 12
French Rover wrote:The trouble is our new players have to say positive things, they would not have come if they thought otherwise. Let's see if they are still saying the same after a few games.
well said Besty......if our players (especially our newest signings) can't be optimistic about the coming season then I would be very worried.
I want to hear and see this kind of confidence from all the team if we are to have any chance of getting back in the prem. Its not about kean (hes going) its about the team.
lowelife
says...
4:15pm Sat 7 Jul 12
blueblooded wrote:Go away, Agnew,
Why are supporters who say they are renewing their season tickets getting abuse? It seems that the herd mentality appears to have kicked in and frankly its disgusting - especially taking into account some of the senior ages of those that claim to have been fans for xx years and the ages of those they are abusing!
blueblooded
says...
5:29pm Sat 7 Jul 12
lowelife wrote:Ok, then shut up dingle, since only a dingle would abuse a rover.
blueblooded wrote: Why are supporters who say they are renewing their season tickets getting abuse? It seems that the herd mentality appears to have kicked in and frankly its disgusting - especially taking into account some of the senior ages of those that claim to have been fans for xx years and the ages of those they are abusing!Go away, Agnew,
clever isnt it?
blueblooded
says...
5:31pm Sat 7 Jul 12
bburnrover wrote:great post, to the point and as close to to the truth as we're likely to get I would say.
Noone is required to support Kean we just need people to support the team again. The fractious season we have just had was predicted by 99% of our fans as fans know when a manager is capable, owners have no idea that is why so many managers are dismissed after short periods in charge it reminds me of the insurance business do not get your targets and your out.The problem we have is that we have Alien owners from the sub continent who do not have a clue about the game and probably call it soccer they place honour high on their lists and may feel that it would be dihonorable to dismiss Kean when he had nothing to spend in the last window..
Wild Rover
says...
5:37pm Sat 7 Jul 12
lowelife wrote:It seems Blueblooded that posters like Pondlife have a hidden agenda, they want Rovers to fail..
blueblooded wrote:Go away, Agnew,
Why are supporters who say they are renewing their season tickets getting abuse? It seems that the herd mentality appears to have kicked in and frankly its disgusting - especially taking into account some of the senior ages of those that claim to have been fans for xx years and the ages of those they are abusing!
Always leads me to think Dingle, Troll or even both
Real supporters will not boycott in significant numbers, I know because I am one and I got my ST in April
I really hope the Lowlife and his other bogus friends form a picket before Home games, now that would be funny.
gleechy
says...
8:55pm Sat 7 Jul 12
bburnrover wrote:but honourable to sack BFS?
Noone is required to support Kean we just need people to support the team again.
The fractious season we have just had was predicted by 99% of our fans as fans know when a manager is capable, owners have no idea that is why so many managers are dismissed after short periods in charge it reminds me of the insurance business do not get your targets and your out.The problem we have is that we have Alien owners from the sub continent who do not have a clue about the game and probably call it soccer they place honour high on their lists and may feel that it would be dihonorable to dismiss Kean when he had nothing to spend in the last window..
cactus rover
says...
11:35pm Sat 7 Jul 12
parrotcity
says...
2:07am Sun 8 Jul 12
Roverthere
says...
6:07am Sun 8 Jul 12
Morst The 88th Min Heartbreaker of Dingles!
says...
7:36am Sun 8 Jul 12
.
Thousands of other blues have chosen The Alamo response.
.
History will repeat itself!. I just hope when Kean finally is sacked we have not lost too many fans for years. Lets be honest Shaw and Agnew must be praying for a bad start to the season so they can sack Kean and solve all their problems with fans in one go!
.
34th...
Nurseman
says...
9:16am Mon 9 Jul 12
Why is he still here anyway?
AndyW
says...
4:49pm Mon 9 Jul 12
The 'unrest' won't change until Kean is removed as managed.
You'll see.
Gaz M says...
10:20am Sat 7 Jul 12