Blackburn Rovers Blog: Rovers’ talent is the envy of rivals

8:22am Thursday 23rd February 2012 in Andy Cryer's Blackburn Rovers blog Photograph of the Author By Andy Cryer, Blackburn Rovers reporter

THE fight for relegation has surely never been tighter with the Premier League’s bottom five clubs separated by just two points and 10 goals.

Every week the picture changes as Blackburn Rovers, Bolton, QPR, Wolves and Wigan continue to give their supporters hope one week and then dash them again the next.

So why should Rovers fans believe their side can get out of the mire?

At first glance you would think they have more reason than most to fear the worst.

They have owners who appear to have disappeared off the face of the earth and who haven’t delivered on what they initially said they would.

Manager Steve Kean’s record since taking charge 14 months ago leaves a lot to be desired and star defender Chris Samba’s future remains highly uncertain.

The club’s supporters are rightly concerned about the direction the club are currently heading in and yet something inside me tells me Rovers will at least still have a Premier League team next season.

I know some will consider me a ‘happy clapper’ for my positivity, while others will question where my confidence comes from.

The answer to that is simple. Look at the starting line-ups in the teams involved in the race to survive and Rovers have got players their rivals can only envy.

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Junior Hoilett, Yakubu, Chris Samba, Paul Robinson and Steven Nzonzi would walk into the sides of the other clubs at the bottom, with the exception of maybe QPR.

Then you look at the likes of Gael Givet, Martin Olsson, David Dunn and Morten Gamst Pedersen, all players who would strengthen their rivals, and you have to start believing Rovers can get out of this. It has to be remembered that most of these players helped Rovers finish 10th in the Premier League less than two full seasons ago.

A lot has changed since then but the talent is still at the club.

With the exception of Yakubu and possibly Scott Dann, Rovers have done little to help themselves in the transfer market, with most of their signings stuck on the substitutes bench at best.

An injury and suspension free run to the end of the season though should mean the club has enough to maintain their top flight status – for another year at least.

It will sound a strange thing to say but, individually, Rovers have got some of the best defenders out of these five clubs even though they are yet to keep a clean sheet.

That has more to do with Rovers’ open style and midfield than the defenders though.

Rovers’ players have also shown they are prepared to fight for the club and I guess that begs the question, how on earth they have got themselves into this mess in the first place?

Unless things change in the summer, you can see a lot of Rovers’ star players quitting Ewood Park this summer. But at least for now, there is still enough to salvage something out of a miserable campaign.

Comments(21)

RoverDownSouth says...
8:45am Thu 23 Feb 12

All valid points Chris and just goes to show how p*ss poor our manager is!!! And what worries me is that all the other teams (with the exception of managerless Wolves) have decent-ish managers.

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Morst The 88th Min Heartbreaker of Dingles! says...
8:50am Thu 23 Feb 12

QPR will get out of it with Sparky.
.
So its 17th or down for the other 4 teams.
.
Either of those should result in the sacking of the useless manager who should already be gone.
.
33rd.......

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calirover says...
9:07am Thu 23 Feb 12

Our survival is based on 6 crucial games.
Wolves and Bolton away
Wigan Villa Sunderland Norwich at home.
Win those and we're up. Simples.

I also think we'll nick points against Liverpool at home and Baggies away.

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Ianwhittam says...
9:22am Thu 23 Feb 12

They may be talented youngsters, so were the east lancs regt in 1916 they still got pasted. The headline used in those days is also appropriate to our lads 'Lions led by donkeys'

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77'sss says...
10:50am Thu 23 Feb 12

Can someone enlighten me here
If the fans raise this 10 million
Whats the point, venks aint going to sell unless, they have pocketed the parachute payment first
Even then 10mill couldnt run a championship team ( not even the dingles )

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bring back the good old days says...
10:56am Thu 23 Feb 12

Ianwhittam wrote:
They may be talented youngsters, so were the east lancs regt in 1916 they still got pasted. The headline used in those days is also appropriate to our lads 'Lions led by donkeys'
A bit melodramatic, but you are right.
You can have all the talent you want in the squad but if your selections, placements, tactics etc. are poor it doesn't count for a great deal. Yes you will win the odd game when Lady Luck favours you, but more often than not you will be 'found out'.
Also I can see no leader/leaders on the field except for maybe Robbo.
This is where a Sherwood, Flitty, Savo would lead the assault. Alas we don't have one.
Had young Jones who fitted the bill, but unfortunately he was 'let go' in order to pay the bill/s!

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French Rover says...
11:07am Thu 23 Feb 12

Morst The 88th Min Heartbreaker of Dingles! wrote:
QPR will get out of it with Sparky.
.
So its 17th or down for the other 4 teams.
.
Either of those should result in the sacking of the useless manager who should already be gone.
.
33rd.......
Yeah Hughes got a great result at Ewood didn't he Morst...oh no I forgot, QPR got beat - poor old Sparky!

QPR are in the mix every bit as much as we are...

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carlmc says...
1:30pm Thu 23 Feb 12

77'sss wrote:
Can someone enlighten me here If the fans raise this 10 million Whats the point, venks aint going to sell unless, they have pocketed the parachute payment first Even then 10mill couldnt run a championship team ( not even the dingles )
The £10 million is to buy the club, not to run it.

The income in to the club from Sky, Gate Receipts, advertising, prize money, sponsorship and player sales, pays to run the club. The trick is to ensure more comes in than goes out, you then have a viable business. The current owners have been wasting money on silly things, like ridiculously high agents fees and wages for players who will never make the first team. Cut out this waste and you will have a viable business. They also may be taking money from the clubs for themselves, ie paying themselves an attractive wage, for doing very little.

The biggest problem is persuading the current owners to sell at a realistic price.

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hasslem hasslem says...
2:56pm Thu 23 Feb 12

player talent - yes
manager talent - no
.
afraid to say, i would rather ave wolves' current manager than ours.

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makaveli96 says...
3:46pm Thu 23 Feb 12

Why is knowone bothered about our rights anymore? Isnt this OUR town.

Are the BANNERS still banned by the Venky Regime?

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gudari says...
4:05pm Thu 23 Feb 12

LET having another giraffe??

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reiko082 says...
8:23pm Thu 23 Feb 12

Best article I've seen written by Andy. It reflects our situation very accurately, in my opinion.

The quality of our core set of players is in our favour, however everything else isn't.

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Reg Rover says...
8:50pm Thu 23 Feb 12

ARE BURNLEY NOW A BETTER CLUB THAN BLACKBURN ROVERS?
The question that all Rovers fans feared would happen, “are Burnley now a better club than Blackburn”?
Probably, they are certainly better run with Chairman Barry Kilby at the helm, they have a better manager in the up and coming Eddie Howe, their finances are stable and well managed.
Their team is probably better than Rovers and they could be heading back to the premiership via the play-offs and replacing Rovers. That would just about cap a nightmare season for all Rovers supporters, certainly the worst season I have experienced both on and off the field since first watching Rovers in 1957.
The news that the excellent Barry Kilby is battling cancer and will be standing down as Burnley chairman is very sad and we all wish him well.
Kilby, in a BBC1 TV interview last week, stated his love for the club and the people of Burnley, going on to say that the traditions of Burnley FC will be maintained and under no circumstances would ever pass into the hands of foreign ownership.
Watching the interview, Kilby reminded me very much of the late Jack Walker with his views and sentiments.
Pity the Walker Trust were not of the same mind when selling Rovers to the Venky’s.

Reg
www.regoftherovers.c
o.uk

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Reg Rover says...
8:56pm Thu 23 Feb 12

WILL EWOOD BECOME THE NEXT ST JAMES’S PARK
The removal of 11 letters and one apostrophe.
That is all it took to sum up the supreme arrogance of football’s owners and administrators.
Their utter contempt for hard pressed supporters who scrape together scant disposal income each month and invest so much time and emotion for a life time simply for the great escape of following their beloved football team.
When Newcastle’s owner Mike Ashley’s henchman took their crow bars to the words ‘St James Park’ last week, Ashley did much more than vandalise the cathedral which dominates Newcastle’s skyline and the club which represents a proud and passionate region.
His actions symbolise a sneering sense of untouchability which stretches throughout football particularly those under dubious ownership including not only Newcastle but Rangers, Portsmouth and Blackburn Rovers.
It is well known and on public record that Mrs Anuradha Desai first mentioned the renaming of Ewood Park to Venky’s stadium during the first month of their disastrous ownership. There is no doubt that Mrs Desai is the ‘BOSS’ when it comes to the Rao family, any pretence otherwise from brothers Ventkatesh and Balaji is pure fantasy.
The word coming out of the Venky’s HQ in Pune is that Anuradha Desai will seek her revenge on Blackburn Rovers supporters for the treatment handed out to her ‘favourite son’ Steve Kean, by irate and unhappy fans, also for the belittling criticism Venky’s have received from all and sundry, including not only supporters but MP Jack Straw Blackburn Borough Council, Blackburn Chamber of trade and the useless Lancashire Telegraph.
Mrs Desai revenge will be swift and decisive, guaranteed to cause anguish and pain to all.
Ewood Park will become Venky’s Stadium this summer and 'holy hell' will break loose. Venky’s new fast food outlets in the UK could become targets for the ‘graffiti gangs’ as has happened at St James’s Park were the defiant Newcastle fans are not taking the renaming of the ground to ‘SPORTS DIRECT ARENA’ lightly. Newcastle owner can however point to the fact that he has invested a personal fortune reputed to be in excess of 300 million pounds. Unlike the Venky’s who bought Blackburn Rovers on the cheap, and we still have not had an explanation from the Walker Trust as to why.
All my previous warnings from the Venky’s takeover onwards, as posted on this website were ignored and condemned by all and sundry.
DO NOT IGNORE THIS WARNING, ACT NOW AND PRESERVE OUR HERITAGE AND BIRTHRIGHT, EWOOD PARK MUST REMAIN EWOOD PARK.
AND THE SOONER VENKY’S GO, THE BETTER.
Reg
www.regoftherovers.c
o.uk

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Reg Rover says...
9:05pm Thu 23 Feb 12

BETTER FOR EXPERIENCE.
Steve Kean said recently no matter what happens at Blackburn he will be better for the experience. So that’s ok then, nice to know that you will benefit from the experience Steve, but what about us.
You will have a club in total disarray not to mention relegated from the Premiership.
Let’s face it Steve, the job is beyond you and are now realising it with your statement that ‘Relegation’ is a possibility and games are running out.
The first bit of realism you have spoken in the last 12 months, but a nice change from your usual spin and hype.
Do the honourable thing and resign and preserve some of your dignity- GO NOW.
While we are at it, what is the truth behind Ryan Nelsen’s departure? On Saturday he played 90 minutes for Spurs in a tough cup tie at Stevenage against dogged opponents on a poor pitch and he was outstanding. According to you Steve he was not fit to play for the Rovers. How we could have done with Nelsen in defence as we face a difficult last 13 games with relegation looming.
Not long ago Ryan Nelsen pledged his future to the Rovers saying “he would finish his career at Ewood, it is the right and proper thing to do” these quotes are on public record. So what went wrong Steve? Another of your lies? Or are you once again having to take the flak for another Venky’s decision?
And why is there this week a news blackout from Ewood and Brockhall, fearful of a few embarrassing questions Steve?

Reg

www.regoftherovers.c
o.uk

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petestan says...
9:16pm Thu 23 Feb 12

Reg Rover wrote:
WILL EWOOD BECOME THE NEXT ST JAMES’S PARK
The removal of 11 letters and one apostrophe.
That is all it took to sum up the supreme arrogance of football’s owners and administrators.
Their utter contempt for hard pressed supporters who scrape together scant disposal income each month and invest so much time and emotion for a life time simply for the great escape of following their beloved football team.
When Newcastle’s owner Mike Ashley’s henchman took their crow bars to the words ‘St James Park’ last week, Ashley did much more than vandalise the cathedral which dominates Newcastle’s skyline and the club which represents a proud and passionate region.
His actions symbolise a sneering sense of untouchability which stretches throughout football particularly those under dubious ownership including not only Newcastle but Rangers, Portsmouth and Blackburn Rovers.
It is well known and on public record that Mrs Anuradha Desai first mentioned the renaming of Ewood Park to Venky’s stadium during the first month of their disastrous ownership. There is no doubt that Mrs Desai is the ‘BOSS’ when it comes to the Rao family, any pretence otherwise from brothers Ventkatesh and Balaji is pure fantasy.
The word coming out of the Venky’s HQ in Pune is that Anuradha Desai will seek her revenge on Blackburn Rovers supporters for the treatment handed out to her ‘favourite son’ Steve Kean, by irate and unhappy fans, also for the belittling criticism Venky’s have received from all and sundry, including not only supporters but MP Jack Straw Blackburn Borough Council, Blackburn Chamber of trade and the useless Lancashire Telegraph.
Mrs Desai revenge will be swift and decisive, guaranteed to cause anguish and pain to all.
Ewood Park will become Venky’s Stadium this summer and 'holy hell' will break loose. Venky’s new fast food outlets in the UK could become targets for the ‘graffiti gangs’ as has happened at St James’s Park were the defiant Newcastle fans are not taking the renaming of the ground to ‘SPORTS DIRECT ARENA’ lightly. Newcastle owner can however point to the fact that he has invested a personal fortune reputed to be in excess of 300 million pounds. Unlike the Venky’s who bought Blackburn Rovers on the cheap, and we still have not had an explanation from the Walker Trust as to why.
All my previous warnings from the Venky’s takeover onwards, as posted on this website were ignored and condemned by all and sundry.
DO NOT IGNORE THIS WARNING, ACT NOW AND PRESERVE OUR HERITAGE AND BIRTHRIGHT, EWOOD PARK MUST REMAIN EWOOD PARK.
AND THE SOONER VENKY’S GO, THE BETTER.
Reg
www.regoftherovers.c

o.uk
Reg as long as some company is PAYING cash / money for the privilege of renaming Ewood then I have no problem with it. We need as much income as possible and if that is the only way the income can be found then it's a necessary evil.

To me and the vast vast majority of the fans it will still be and always will be Ewood Park no matter who is silly enough to pay to have their name.
What we don't want is to be in the situation, like Newcastle are, whereby we simply rename it Venkys Stadium because they own the club but the club receives no additional cash for it.

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ray_pearson says...
9:07am Fri 24 Feb 12

I wonder if Mr Cryer plans to report that he was not allowed to attend a press conference after the loss at Arsenal at the request of Rovers. One of his former colleagues thinks that's a real hoot and surely it's a great story if true.

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Tuo Neak says...
10:23am Fri 24 Feb 12

ray_pearson wrote:
I wonder if Mr Cryer plans to report that he was not allowed to attend a press conference after the loss at Arsenal at the request of Rovers. One of his former colleagues thinks that's a real hoot and surely it's a great story if true.
That would be most interesting but I doubt they will be printing it. I'd love the LT to ask more and more questions that they don't like, even print that they have asked the questions and haven't been given a proper answer. I hate picking up my paper every evening and reading pre-scripted Kean excuses from some PR expert. Quickly to be contradicted by actual facts elsewhere.

This blog is spot on as usual, the problems are still the same as Christmas no communication with the owners and atrocious. manager. The plus points are the team is actually better than the other relegation candidates and teams like Wolves have self imploded.

So what does any normal team do to make staying up a certainty...

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saint.george says...
8:51am Mon 27 Feb 12

Is that why you are putting them all up for sale ? P*ss off, Kean, you lying b*stard, and take those f*cking chicken sh*gging w*gs the Wankys with you back to W*gland.

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stefjam says...
8:54am Mon 27 Feb 12

its nearly 9 hours since it was weekend & we are still not allowed to comment on the weekend !!!

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bburnrover says...
9:37am Wed 29 Feb 12

The weekend game was awful even after going one down he just stood there looking as stupid as ever with his hands in his pockets.
What is the point in playing a game were we do not cross the half way line and have not got the premiership players to retain the ball? We might as well have 2 up front and hoof it
a la BFS into the oppositions penalty box then we may get something from the game.Kean
should watch a few videos of past games when Sam and Hughes were in charge he will see a better organised team that dont let huge amounts of goals in and if he had a brain cell would reorganise this team in that fashion.

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