Blackburn Rovers blog: It’s going to be a huge month for us (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Blackburn Rovers blog: It’s going to be a huge month for us
2:20pm Tuesday 4th January 2011 in John Myles
By John Myles, Blackburn Rovers fan columnist
Blackburn Rovers blog: It’s going to be a huge month for us
The New Year came in with a whimper rather than a bang for Rovers fans.
Those of us nursing hangovers from the traditional revelries and hoping for a tonic from the Sunderland game were sadly disappointed.
So much of the optimism gained from the West Brom win was dissipated by a rather meek surrender to a team that we used to regularly beat in their own backyard. They have since spent big in recent seasons to add that little bit of class, particularly up front, where Rovers are lacking.
There were mitigating circumstances, with injuries and suspensions forcing Steve Kean to field a side that would certainly not have been his ideal first 11.
If we want to take a positive from an overall unimpressive festive programme, it is that one win is as good as three draws.
It’s also true that there appears little consistency for most teams, with many examples over the last few games of teams following an impressive result with a poor reverse. Hence, you have Wolves winning at Liverpool but then going down to West Ham.
Unfortunately, just prior to playing us tomorrow at Ewood, the Scousers were much more impressive against Bolton with Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres seemingly returning to form just in time to meet the Rovers.
Should we win that game, Roy Hodgson could find history repeating itself and being sacked after a poor showing at Ewood.
We now wait with anticipation to see what January will bring transfer wise. The smart money is on a couple of mid-price recruits but don’t be surprised if there are one or two departures too.
There’s some talk of a swap deal possibly involving Chris Samba going to Tottenham with David Bentley returning to Ewood.
If we had to lose our erstwhile skipper the pain would certainly be eased if it brought in a quality forward – and we have definitely missed someone like Bentley.
As we have learned in recent weeks it’s hard to predict anything under the present owners and it would be no great surprise if we failed to see the promised £5 million plus.
Without some wise investment, however, the bookies, who now have us at only 4-1 to be relegated (we were not in the betting before the takeover) may prove to have called it right – and Venky’s may be presiding over a Championship side next season.
I’m not tempted by those odds and whatever happens this month I believe we are good enough to secure the five wins or so that will keep us up.
Tomorrow night would be a good time to start knocking them off.
Comments are closed on this article.
Comments (2)
10:36am Thu 6 Jan 11
ivegillian says...
There was a tangible mood change last evening after one of best games I have seen in the past few years.
For an hour we were superb to watch. It was a big call for the new manager to protect that 3-0 lead in the last half hour and we were buckling without a doubt with our midfield looking very tired.
The pleasing thing though was that we had a real go, we were assertive and used the talent in the players we had available.
With new signings and players returning from internationals, injuries and suspensions I think we will finish in mid table if not higher.
Although I do not believe it is intentional our new owners naive, clumsy and ill informed perspectives on the Premiership may be challenging some of the myths in football and football management and some of what they may do may make us a stronger and more positive operation and 'brand'.
For years we have underplayed our heritage and achievements. Sam was particularly proficient at positioning us as destitute and (due to his personal intervention) extremely fortunate to be playing in the premiership.
If we take the inherent qualities of our club and build on them we could prosper. We would not have done if we had continued in the way we were and especially if we had been unable to sell the club.
I am not naive enough though to believe that we are at real risk of becoming a toy for our new owners who will lodge their debts against our assets - but we live in hope.
Walking away from the ground last night we overheard people saying how much they had enjoyed the game and that winning in that manner was far more pleasurable than what we saw under Sam.
I have to agree. The quality of what has been served up these past seasons has been dire at times and even in winning there was often disappointment.
Ordinary people living ordinary lives need to have dreams. Football has always been as escape from stressful lives and a good game lifts spirits and puts smiles on peoples faces.
Thinking of Benjani turning their centre back so easily and lashing that ball into the net certainly puts a big smile on my face.
Lets keep our fingers crossed that our dreams do not turn into nightmares.
Happy New Year.
7:05pm Fri 7 Jan 11
parkinsonc says...