Blackburn Rovers blog: Parallels with 1999 are so worrying

4:00pm Wednesday 20th April 2011 in Chris Flanagan Photograph of the Author By Chris Flanagan, Sports reporter

Blackburn Rovers blog: Parallels with 1999 are so worrying Blackburn Rovers blog: Parallels with 1999 are so worrying

FIRST Blackburn Rovers called for Steve Kean, and there must now be serious fears that soon they may need Steve McQueen.

I don’t think I was alone in believing for quite some time that, regardless of everything that has gone on, Rovers simply had too much quality in their squad to be in serious danger of relegation in the final weeks of the season. Yet here we are.

The parallels with 1999 are worrying and ominous.

A young manager with plenty still to prove trying to arrest an alarming slide down the table, players going into games hampered by injuries – most notably Roque Santa Cruz and Ryan Nelsen in recent weeks – and the penultimate match of the season at home to a Manchester United side on their way to the Premier League title.

It was United who sent Rovers down with a 0-0 draw at Ewood 12 years ago.

United went on to win the Champions League in Barcelona 14 days later. Intriguingly, they may be heading to the same showpiece final 14 days after this year’s visit to Ewood.

Rovers have been fighting against the odds for years, competing with clubs with far greater budgets, but the frustrating thing this time is that this situation was all so avoidable.

They can still stay up, but their chances may be little more than 50/50 now. They have not won in nine league games and have one of the toughest run-ins of the five clubs who realistically look to be in trouble.

Rovers may not yet require The Great Escape, but miss the warning signs now and most around the country know what awaits them.

Comments (5)

4:17pm Wed 20 Apr 11

smellthecoffee says...

The owners have missed the warning signs for some time and continue to miss them. Kean owes it to himself and his professional integrity to hold his hands up and concede that he is not up to the job. Anything other than that and he is just holding out his cap for a pay-off out of Rovers' coffers. I'm sure there are thousands of Rovers supporters out there who agree with me when I say the club management is diabolical!!
The owners have missed the warning signs for some time and continue to miss them. Kean owes it to himself and his professional integrity to hold his hands up and concede that he is not up to the job. Anything other than that and he is just holding out his cap for a pay-off out of Rovers' coffers. I'm sure there are thousands of Rovers supporters out there who agree with me when I say the club management is diabolical!! smellthecoffee

4:20pm Wed 20 Apr 11

smellthecoffee says...

In fact...can Kean not be arrested in his technical area on Monday for "failing to impersonate a Premier League football manager"??
In fact...can Kean not be arrested in his technical area on Monday for "failing to impersonate a Premier League football manager"?? smellthecoffee

4:33pm Wed 20 Apr 11

topheechrisp says...

While I agree that the situation is dire. I want Kean to go as much as the next man and I want to see drastic changes come summer - this article, in my opinion goes a little far in how its downbeat. I would rate our chances of survival as much better than 50/50. Granted it is difficult to see where the points are coming from but there are some very poor teams below us. Blackpool are on a worse run than us and will surely go down. We should stay up due to the inability of the sides below us. Then wipe the slate clean come summer. This article seems to suggest that we will be relegated on the back of 3 or 4 coincidences with 1999.
While I agree that the situation is dire. I want Kean to go as much as the next man and I want to see drastic changes come summer - this article, in my opinion goes a little far in how its downbeat. I would rate our chances of survival as much better than 50/50. Granted it is difficult to see where the points are coming from but there are some very poor teams below us. Blackpool are on a worse run than us and will surely go down. We should stay up due to the inability of the sides below us. Then wipe the slate clean come summer. This article seems to suggest that we will be relegated on the back of 3 or 4 coincidences with 1999. topheechrisp

8:40am Thu 21 Apr 11

Roverthere says...

the decisions of Venky's and 'advisors' my go down in football history as one of the the biggest football management boo boo's of all time! Talk about incompetence!

Next two games critical, forget the fancy stuff we are not good enough, Rovers need to get back to what Sam developed at the previous fortress Ewood.
the decisions of Venky's and 'advisors' my go down in football history as one of the the biggest football management boo boo's of all time! Talk about incompetence! Next two games critical, forget the fancy stuff we are not good enough, Rovers need to get back to what Sam developed at the previous fortress Ewood. Roverthere

9:53am Thu 21 Apr 11

Marcus28 says...

If we an get 4 points from next two games City and Bolton that will go long way to keeping us up just. But need to get the points on able with these two up coming games or will be tough against mainly two other teams fighting relegation in west ham and wolves away. Secruity word huge-they which is what the next two games are for Rovers they are massive.
If we an get 4 points from next two games City and Bolton that will go long way to keeping us up just. But need to get the points on able with these two up coming games or will be tough against mainly two other teams fighting relegation in west ham and wolves away. Secruity word huge-they which is what the next two games are for Rovers they are massive. Marcus28

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