The Rovers Return

The Paul Ince era is now well and truly into full swing and it’s been a mixed start to the new season.

The opening day win at Everton echoed the Guvnor’s statements that team spirit is high and that there is no uprising within the Rovers ranks. Andre Ooijer’s last minute smash in from three yards confirmed maximum points at Goodison and things were looking up, especially with a visit from soon to be whipping boys Hull City in the following game.

Not the case Hull ground out a 1-1 draw in, what has to be said, was not the prettiest game of football the Premier League will see this season. A midweek hammering of Grimsby in the Carling Cup saw a debut goal from Carlos Villanueva. He has all the hallmarks of a future class player! It’s Everton again in the next round of the cup, drawn on Saturday, but this time at Ewood.

The trip to West Ham looks worse on paper than it really was. A crushing 4-1 defeat after we had a goal disallowed and a missed penalty. Derbyshire was NOT offside, whichever way ou look at it, and Rovers were caught on the break late in injury time as they tried to rescue a point. Unfortunately for us it was that bluddy Welshman Craig Bellamy who got West Ham’s third!

So after three games what can we say? Well I’m still not sure about Robinson… He was poor against Everton and doesn’t look 100% confident. We need that confidence back if he is ever going to look like the player he potentially could have been.

Villanueva needs more games. He ran the game against Grimsby, yes they are League Two, but he should still get a good chance after a performance like that!

Defence definitely looks as though it needs shoring up. We’ve shipped eight goals in three games. Not a good sign. Nigel Winterburn has been brought in as a specialist defensive coach, I think he should put some overtime in!

Arsenal next is going to be a difficult game. I don’t know how much Ince will resort to tactics like we are accustomed to, but the only way I can see us getting anything from it is stick one up front and overcrowd the midfield. Whinger will love that won’t he?