The Rovers Return

It’s finally here. The 2010/2011 Premier League season. But what does it hold for Rovers?

Season previews in the national newspapers all differ, depending on whether the pundits involved know what they are talking about.

One in the Daily Mail said we had made ‘some good signings’ and had an ‘ageing squad’. Well we’ve made one loan signing and have a squad that includes Phil Jones, Grant Hanley, Steven N’Zonzi, Amine Linganzi, Junior Hoillett, Martin Olsson … So I suppose we need to be making plans for their retirements.

Then again, does anyone actually like the Daily Mail anymore?

It is difficult, as a fan, to know what to expect from any team, but particularly Rovers.

We’ve all grumbled at a lack of incoming transfer activity and a seemingly empty transfer kitty.

But look at the squad. It’s the same squad, pretty much, that held its own against the big boys last season and capped a solid season by beating Arsenal and Villa to finish in 10th place in the world’s best division.

Granted, we’ve no Di Santo, but what did he actually do? And Benni? Forget that fat waste of space. That’s £3million West Ham are regretting frittering away on an overrated tubster who appears to have no more desire to score goals or run. Read more »

Ooooh ‘eck. It’s been a while. Need to get my act sorted out here!

Although I haven’t reflected on the last few weeks on here, I have still been watching the Rovers, I haven’t thrown the towel in!

Things, although precarious, aren’t as bad as they seem. With a long way still to go we are in a favourable position and are not yet reliant on other results going our way.

Big Sam has firmly established himself at Ewood and the team do look like they have fight in them, although at times it would seem there’s more fight in a wet kipper. It’s this inconsistency that provides us with our only minor worry. Read more »

I hate Saturday’s like this. A usual routine for a Saturday is to get up and potter until it’s time to go to the game.

If Rovers are playing in some far flung corner of the country then often I settle for Jeff Stelling’s expert guidance on Sky Sports, but I’ll always be having a Rovers fix of some sort.

Today is different. I’ve got Jeff on, but it’s not the same.

The good thing though is the fact us not playing today means pur game will be televised. The trip to Blyth Spartans is live on Setanta from 7:30 on Monday night, which is just as well as getting to the north east without using up valuable holiday time from work would be impossible.

With any luck Rovers will brush the Blue Square North division side aside with relative ease. To be honest, they are doing shite in the league, but that is never an indication for a game such as this as it is the biggest game in their club’s history and will probably see them playing way above their normal level.

That said, a professional Premier League side like us should not be troubled by this. We need to stay focused early on as that is when they are likely to try and come at us, when the crowd will be ‘loud’ (just how loud can 4,500 capacity be?), adrenaline and excitement is high and they are trying to make their mark. Read more »

As Rovers go from bad to worse in the league, tonight’s Carling Cup encounter with the Black Cats provides a real opportunity to get a win under our belts to provide a much needed confidence boost.

Often in situations like this a good cup run can turn things around, just look at 2002 when we were in dire straits, then won the cup and eventually finished tenth, a respectable position considering we’d only just been promoted back to the top flight.

Sunderland aren’t in the best of situations themselves, having slipped into the relegation zone at the weekend and are missing a few players, including £9 million keeper Craig Gordon. Read more »

Things could look a bit dicey this weekend, especially with an extremely difficult game against Chelsea which, if you’re 100% honest, it’s hard to see us coming away with anything.

We are now 8/1 for relegation, the same odds as Spurs who currently prop the table up despite their recent resurgence under the amazing Harry Redknapp. That said… Let’s see how this weekends games could see us end up. Worst case scenario of course:

Arsenal v Man Utd… Makes no difference.

Hull v Bolton – Bolton win takes them above us today.

Liverpool v West Brom – West Brom win takes them above us today. Read more »

Sorry about the lack of updates… Had a weekend away and have since been feeling a bit miserable about the predicament we find ourselves in, five without a win and Chelsea on Sunday… Anyway!

The Villa game produced a disappointing result. A game we could, and should, have won. If only Santa was available. That’s the problem. Without Roque in the side it’s difficult to see where the goals are going to come from. Fair enough, Benni’s hit two in three, but one was from the penalty spot. I do believe that, if partnered with Santa, the two could work wonders together if both have confidence and are fully fit. Fingers crossed for Sunday. Read more »

I’ll admit to writing this preview after the game has kicked off. Bad practice I know but I completely forgot to write it!

Don’t worry it’s still 0-0 so anything can happen.

Some very ominous sounding news, included in the starting eleven but not actually emerging was Santa. He made way for Benni McCarthy who, it would seem plays as a lone striker. Rovers going with five across the middle, MGP back in the side for the match.

The last few meetings with Villa haven’t been too fruitful for us recently.

I’m predicting 2-1 to Rovers.

Sorry for the short build-up piece, it just seems a little pointless as we have already kicked off!

COME ON YOU BLUES!

A special club. That’s what Newcastle United is. There’s something in the water up there, it makes football in the north east just that bit better than everywhere else.

I jest, of course. I love seeing Newcastle having problems, mainly because of how they have an inflated sense of their own right to be successful. A big city like Newcastle should surely be challenging for world domination..?

As Martin Samuels said in January, Newcastle, you are not special!

Now then, onto today’s game. Newcastle have just appointed a new manager. A manager without any credentials whatsoever. A manager who has been out of the game since December 2004, when he left Nottingham Forest. A manager who, I believe, has a good chance of taking the Magpies down…

Rovers will not be playing against Kinnear, it will be Chris Hughton’s last game as caretaker with Kinnear sitting in the stands. However, I remain confident of victory in the north east.

Anyone who saw the cup match on Wednesday night will agree, Newcastle look rundown. Their dejected fan-base are not happy, the team looks poor and I can’t see any road back for them.

I’m going to stick my neck out and say we’re going to see the first flash of brilliance from a Rovers side under Ince. We were promised a new brand of flowing, attractive football when the Guvnor took charge. Today we will get that and it will see us through to a 3-0 victory!

Rovers take on the Toffees tonight in a repeat of the opening Premier League fixture, this time in the League Cup.

Set up after a 4-1 thumping of League Two Grimsby, Rovers will know this is a game we should win. The Carling Cup is a competition that clubs like us look to as a possible route into Europe, a competition we indeed won only a few short years ago.

Everton are looking a bit troubled this season, having spent the last few years enjoying success under the excellent stewardship of David Moyes, they have started slowly and were on the end of that opening day shock at the hands of the Rovers!

Hopefully the game will see Carlos Villanueva given some more action, as well as maybe a few of the other fringe players like Simpson and of course Saturday’s goal hero Matt Derbyshire who surely deserves a start. Read more »