Blackburn Rovers boss has no regrets over departures (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Blackburn Rovers boss has no regrets over departures
11:30am Saturday 2nd February 2013 in Football
By Andy Cryer, Blackburn Rovers reporter
MICHAEL Appleton insists he has no regrets about allowing an Ewood Park transfer deadline day exodus – after insisting he only wants players desperate to be at Blackburn Rovers.
Sections of Rovers supporters have raised their eyebrows at the decision to allow fans’ favourite Ruben Rochina leave for Real Zaragoza on loan – especially after the club failed to secure their own targets – but Appleton insists he would make the same decision again.
Ahead of this afternoon’s Championship visit of Bristol City, Rochina was joined out of the exit door by Simon Vukcevic, Diogo Rosado and Jordan Slew, with no players coming the other way.
The Rovers boss revealed he had already picked his side for this afternoon’s clash before the last few hours of deadline day drama, in which Rochina didn’t feature.
He said: “I would most definitely have still let the others go. We have more than enough players for tomorrow’s game. I always knew the window would reopen next Thursday, you are only talking about one game.
“It was only Ruben who would have featured anyway and I had picked the team and he would have been on the substitutes bench. The players knew that and maybe that played a part of his decision.
“Did I expect to lose Ruben Rochina at the start of yesterday morning? Probably not. But the decision behind that was he didn’t want to be at the football club and wanted to leave. Obviously that is his choice, I am a little bit disappointed but we are not in a position to keep players at the football cub who don’t want to put the Blackburn shirt on.
“It is important we get back to having players who want to be here. This is a great football club with a great tradition. I want players to come to this club who want to be at this club.
“I have made that message very, very clear to the players. They are aware of what has happened to Ruben over night and I have made it very, very clear if there is anyone else who feels the same, they know where my room is.
“I am sure, I would be amazed if there is not every single Blackburn Rovers fan out there thinking exactly the same.”
While Rovers waved goodbye to several of their squad on Thursday, potential departees Paul Robinson and Gael Givet remain at the club.
A move to West Ham for Robinson broke down, while Givet – who has made clear his desire to leave – had a shortage of realistic suitors.
Appleton said: “Me and Paul have obviously had conversations but not at one time has he said he doesn’t want to play for the football club.
“I’m not saying he is not going to leave the club at some point or he is not going to play. It is important we have a dialogue so I know where he is at.
“I don’t know what will happen.
“Until he is fit and training, I can’t give you a clarification.
“With Gael, It is two fold. Whether someone wants to be at the club or not, ultimately if there is an opportunity for a lad to leave the club, he has to actually really want to leave and you need to find a club that wants to take him.
“And if there is not a football club that wants to take him then there is no point chasing the issue or trying to drum up some interest that is not there. Until we hear differently, Gael is a Blackburn player.”
Bradley Orr returns to the Rovers’ squad for this afternoon’s visit of his former club, but Appleton is yet to decide on the future of Chelsea loanee Todd Kane.
“I have not made my mind up on Todd,” he said. “A lot will depend on what happens next Thursday. I have to get the balance right in the squad. I don’t want a stupid number of people in the building, which is what I had last week in terms of too many bodies.
“It becomes a vicious circle if you have too many bodies. Some managers like having bodies around them, some like working with small groups because you have that competitive side to it.
“I just like working with quality players. If I have 21 or 22 quality players fighting like cats and dogs trying to get in the starting 11 then that is when I am most happy.”
Comments are closed on this article.

Comments (52)
11:37am Sat 2 Feb 13
upholland rover says...
11:37am Sat 2 Feb 13
upholland rover says...
11:39am Sat 2 Feb 13
dallydally says...
11:45am Sat 2 Feb 13
crankitup says...
11:57am Sat 2 Feb 13
fishcake 75 says...
11:58am Sat 2 Feb 13
alfa111 says...
12:00pm Sat 2 Feb 13
stephenrover says...
12:06pm Sat 2 Feb 13
RTID says...
12:06pm Sat 2 Feb 13
angryandy says...
The clearout has begun and his squad of people 'who want to be here' is already starting to take shape.
Keep it up Mr Appleton. COYB.
12:11pm Sat 2 Feb 13
Jarrod Schulz Bearded Wonder says...
Four out, none in, wages down, expect another relegation battle.
12:11pm Sat 2 Feb 13
Captain Dreckley says...
12:14pm Sat 2 Feb 13
lusorover says...
Not in my eyes. We don't need the odd bit of brilliance in the middle of the park we need grafters who can lift the team and the crowd by their never-say-die attitude and application.
What I would give to have have Robbie Savage back at his best.
12:14pm Sat 2 Feb 13
angryandy says...
12:21pm Sat 2 Feb 13
PersianRover says...
Lets rely on Lowe and Murphy to supply the strength, creativity and power. The players who were allowed to go compensated their lack of strength with passing and technical ability, they were let down by other players in the team who were stronger but could not keep the ball so it meant everyone constantly had to chase back, and eventually who will concede.
If Barca, has Lowe and Murhpy as their holding players, with players like Orr etc behind them, their 3 attacking mid fielders would not function correctly either .
If you dont player them, of course they will want to go!!!
If you are telling me Barca style of play is not suitable for championship, you are having laugh!!!!
Damage is done now. Samba, Hoilett, Fomica, Rochina... most of the players that were instrumental in us beating Arsenal and Man UTD last seaons are out. I still feel if Kean didnt take off our creative players last season when we were leading where we then ended up losing points because we kept dropping deep because we could pass the ball and keep it, we would have stayed up. Now we have to play these so called stronger players who are unable to retain the ball from the start.
12:29pm Sat 2 Feb 13
flowersorseaman? says...
12:31pm Sat 2 Feb 13
cboyer says...
12:32pm Sat 2 Feb 13
steve18gls says...
12:36pm Sat 2 Feb 13
PersianRover says...
WHY DO PEOPLE SAY HE IS BAD IN FRONT OF GOAL.
12:42pm Sat 2 Feb 13
steve18gls says...
12:46pm Sat 2 Feb 13
madrover says...
12:56pm Sat 2 Feb 13
PersianRover says...
12:58pm Sat 2 Feb 13
1952 rover says...
1:08pm Sat 2 Feb 13
steve18gls says...
1:08pm Sat 2 Feb 13
Is Eckersley playing? says...
1:14pm Sat 2 Feb 13
steve18gls says...
1:17pm Sat 2 Feb 13
fishcake 75 says...
1:26pm Sat 2 Feb 13
owd nick says...
I agree Rochina has potential but for someone to say he is consistent suggests that person hasn't been down to Ewood for a while, or they forgot to put "In" in front of consistent. Truth is Rovers have been playing with 10 men 4 games out of 5 when he has played.
Vucevic never let us down but can anyone remember him ever playing a full game?
Robbo worked his socks off for us last season but has been "missing" all of this, truth is he still thinks he is a PL player, unfortunately his body doesn't agree with him.
OK managers have to kid, cajole, cuddle and encourage players to a certain extent but when a player constantly makes it clear he wants to leave there has to be a limit to what a manager can be expected to do.
We have asked for strong management, we are getting it.
We have asked for clear communication, we are getting it.
Now I don't know about the rest of you but I have watched enough dross over the last couple of years and am fed up to the back teeth with players dictating, demanding, pretending to be injured and refusing to play.
In Appleton's position not only would I be encouraging them to go I would be paying their taxi fares.
That shirt means everything to me as a Rovers fan, I don't want any player wearing it that doesn't want to, whatever the reason.
1:27pm Sat 2 Feb 13
crankitup says...
1:35pm Sat 2 Feb 13
owd nick says...
I will.
If you are there then you have a right, as a paying fan who actually supports the club through thick and thin to have a say.
If not then you simply dont have any right to criticise any longer.
1:38pm Sat 2 Feb 13
French Rover says...
1:39pm Sat 2 Feb 13
tiojo says...
1:59pm Sat 2 Feb 13
M4CCY says...
2:07pm Sat 2 Feb 13
owd nick says...
Just how much have we spent on strikers this season?
And we haven't seen the best one yet.
How many other Championship clubs have spent as much as we have?
And please don't give me that "We have had to sell before we can buy drivel", the vast majority of clubs, even in the PL have to work that way.
YCMIU. lol. lol.
2:08pm Sat 2 Feb 13
owd nick says...
2:28pm Sat 2 Feb 13
kenbro says...
That day, in the old Div 2 in front of 24,760 fans we walloped them 8 - 3.
Tommy Briggs scored a record 7 goals that day and we went mad. It seemed that every time Tommy touched the ball it went in the net.
Late in the match, we got a penalty. Bobby Langton had been our ace penalty taker - what a left foot he had - but they gave the ball to Briggs and he didn't miss.
I think it will be a long time before we see goal scoring events like those days. Very happy memories.
Incidentally, two young lads made their debut in a Rovers first team shirt that season. Derek Leaver who later opened Leavers Pie Shop, and a small skinny lad named Bryan Douglas.
2:41pm Sat 2 Feb 13
Is Eckersley playing? says...
2:58pm Sat 2 Feb 13
kenbro says...
We scored 114 goals that season, far more than any other team. Briggs had 33 and Eddie Quigley 28. Derek Leaver only played 2 games but scored once.
Highest attendance v Doncaster on Dec 27th - 36,273. Most of them, like me, standing up, and cold.
3:52pm Sat 2 Feb 13
Is Eckersley playing? says...
5:27pm Sat 2 Feb 13
richieBCN says...
Anyhow, living over in Barcelona and just looked at Rochina's interview with Zaragoza from yesterday. Pretty sure he said, ''It was a strange thing. I got the message from them and everything happened really quickly.''
Would lead me to believe he wasn't looking to initially leave so maybe he was offloaded with a view to easing the wage bill for when the new arrivals were supposed to sign on deadline day.
6:10pm Sat 2 Feb 13
dangerous dave says...
OUT WITH SHAW AGNEW SINGH HENDRY COAR VENKYS
6:28pm Sat 2 Feb 13
Roverthere says...
6:39pm Sat 2 Feb 13
greenscreener says...
8:04pm Sat 2 Feb 13
moh says...
8:43pm Sat 2 Feb 13
blueblooded says...
Givet wants to go but no-one wants him.
8:50pm Sat 2 Feb 13
blueblooded says...
They didn't want to be here and MA is dead right. We need committed players who want to play for Rovers and compete for first team places, not over-paid, under-achieving divas who think they're too good to be here.
Speaking of Hoillett and Samba... sorry.. cant help enjoying watching these divas go from Rovers heroes to Premiership zeroes.. now wouldn't it be devilishly delightful if QPR went down as we went up lol.
9:19pm Sat 2 Feb 13
kazluvsrovers says...
If they dont want to give 100% let them go.....
11:14am Sun 3 Feb 13
noddymcleod says...
When you're in bad shape you simply have to get some points on the board and I give credit to Apple for doing that. At best we'll stabilise but I still hold the view that Apple is in on and part of Venkys' exit strategy. Once we fail to go up - and if we went up with this squad and Venkys are not going to spend any more, we'd do a Burnley or Derby - Venkys will sell our only bankable assets (primarily Rhodes) and close up.
12:02pm Sun 3 Feb 13
Angry From Accrington says...
12:14pm Sun 3 Feb 13
MatthewCA says...
12:14pm Sun 3 Feb 13
MatthewCA says...
12:14pm Sun 3 Feb 13
Harwoodstblue says...
I still don't believe Venkys are honorable or are here for the right reasons.
12:18pm Sun 3 Feb 13
Roverthere says...