Matt Derbyshire

Just as I was starting to wonder if the transfer window was going to be as boring as the ones we had under Hughesy, it all kicked off!

Disappointingly, Matt Derbyshire’s move to Greece is all but done. I like Matt, and thought the way he performed in Greece may have shown the management he is worthwhile having around.

Unfortunately, despite being a decent player for us, although he only ever seemed to impress from the bench, I thought it was worth another season.

Derbs hasn’t been treated well by Rovers ever since bursting on to the scene. Neither Hughes nor Big Sam have played him on a regular basis, and for a long period Hughesy kept sticking him at right wing, a position from which he rarely excelled!

The turning point for him seemed to be that equaliser for Man City at Ewood early in Big Sam’s reign. It was Derbs’ decision to try and play Emerton in rather than head for the corner flag that gave the ball away and saw City score a late goal to make it 2-2.

His moved to Greece on loan last season has proved to be the making of Matt. He has been treated well, put up in a nice villa in a posh part of the country and playing on a regular basis has seen him chip in with some vital goals for the club, becoming a bit of a hit with the fans already! It’s also a good move for him, moving from a relegation threatened small club in the Premier League, to the biggest club in Greece playing in the Champions League next season. And I wish him well.

Hopefully we’ll cash a few million for him. We were holding out for £5-million, considerably more than the £3-million Olympiakos wanted to pay, so I assume the clubs may have met in the middle. Still, whatever the outcome it’s yet more fantastic business for a player who cost us £35k from Great Harwood Town!

Then came the news that City had finally reached an agreement with us for Roque Santa Cruz. It’s about bluddy time. I can’t wait to see the back of the Paraguayan who has shown absolutely no respect for this football club in his short stay since we rescued his career.

His lack of gratitude is likely to see him reunited with former boss Hughesy, who must be a bit gutted at having to spend £17-million on a player that cost him £3.5-million just a couple of years ago. Then again, Man City seem to spend money for spending money’s sake at the moment.

I do believe we’re doing a fantastic deal. A £13.5-million profit on a player that has spent a long time injured is a great return.Latest I hear is that he’s having a medical at Eastlands, expect an unveiling later today.

Now Big Sam has started the clear-out, we need to see some incoming strikers. The loss of Derbs and Santa, alongside the likely sale of Paul Gallagher, sees us looking desperately short of fire power, with only Benni and Roberts, and possibly Samba/Diouf if they play out of position, left as senior strikers in the squad.

Franco Di Santo is likely to be joining us on loan from Chelsea. From what I’ve seen/hear I don’t think he’s our next 15 goals-a-season man. More of a squad player to replace the likes of Derbyshire. I would sincerely hope the board hand the £17-million recouped from the sale of Roque straight over to Big Sam. After last season’s dangerous brush with relegation they must spend money and gamble to ensure we become a better team for the experience.

Other names being linked with us include Kevin Davies, a player I wouldn’t want back at Ewood no matter how well he does at Bolton. He was fat and shit the last time he played for us and I don’t want to see him back in a Rovers shirt again!

Some less reputable sources have mentioned Eidur Gudjohnsen, while we are being strongly linked with PSG star Jerome Rothen, who has been told to leave the club he loves. Some say we have already tabled a £3-million offer for the striker, but that remains to be seen.

I expect a lot of new faces arriving over the coming weeks.