The Rovers Return

Rovers flew to Sydney on Thursday in preparation for the Sydney Festival of Football.

While in Australia, Rovers will play in a three-match series against Scottish side Glasgow Rangers tomorrow, AEK Athens of Greece on Wednesday and home side Sydney FC on Saturday.

I, personally, don’t see anything wrong with Rovers agreeing to this festival. By the time it finishes they will have two weeks to prepare for the first game, with two friendlies in Scotland to help them in that aim – Hearts on Saturday, August 7, and a newly arranged game with Celtic on the Sunday after the Celts’ game with Inter Milan was cancelled.

There’s obviously some money involved, which it’s no secret, Rovers desperately need at the moment. So what’s the problem?

I read a John Cross column whingeing about foreign trips in the Mirror. Then Simon Garner slammed the Oz trip in yesterday’s Telegraph. They say greed is harming football. They say that by Rovers travelling 23,000-odd miles to play eight games risks the squad burning out.

Seriously, though. If a professional, Premier League-class footballer can’t play a league game two weeks after playing in Australia, he isn’t fit enough to play at the top level? And as for greed, Rovers have every right to try and claw in as much cash as they can when clubs like Manchester City have transfer budgets bigger than Britain’s current deficit!

This tournament is good publicity for Rovers. They are playing on the world stage, and it gives Brett Emerton and Vince Grella (if he’s not injured) a chance to play in front of their home crowd.

Why this festival is viewed so negatively I do not know. I just hope Rovers do us proud.

• In other news, the Mirror has reported Rovers are in for Emile Heskey in a £2million deal. Andy Cryer heard this rumour at the Telegraph yesterday but the paper hasn’t run with it. Make of that what you will, but I read this one with a pinch of salt.  **EDIT: Andy Cryer has confirmed on Twitter that he spoke to the club and they have categorically denied any approach for Heskey**
• Yes, I am aware Rovers played at Huddersfield on Wednseday night, losing 1-0. I don’t think the game justified a blog as it was a bunch of kids playing in a formation we’re not used to beaten by a wonder goal, and I wasn’t there …