Past vs Present

By: Dan Clough | October 31st, 2007

As the start Rovers have made this season is constantly being compared to that of the Championship winning season of 94/95. Let’s have a look at the teams from both eras and see who would come out on top!

Keeper
Tim Flowers
Absolute legend for Rovers. The World’s most expensive keeper when he first signed on and an integral part of the side that won the Championship. Two games of that season that stick out: Man of the Match against Arsenal when he kept us in the game (that’s before Arsenal were a top side full of foreigners!) and VE Day (Victory at Ewood) when we beat Newcastle 1-0, the game that effectively won us the title. Also famous for the ‘bottle’ speech after that game!

Brad Friedel
Another Rovers legend. Our longest serving player and has started every game for the past three seasons! Often keeps us in games with his amazing athleticism for an ‘ewd fella’! Signed on a free from Liverpool, one of Souey’s ‘better’ signings!

Hard to choose - I’m going to go for Friedel as he has aged better!

Right back
Tony Gale
Solid as a rock at right back. Picked up on a free by Dalglish after being released by West Ham and became an excellent part of Rovers defence!

Brett Emerton
Not the most reliable of players. Signed by Souness when everyone was after him and started as a right winger. His inconsistent form left him as one of the fringe players. Moved to right back after compatriot Lucas ‘I didn’t do it for the money’ Neill went to West Ham and was excellent last season. Has been in and out of form this term.

Tony Gale! Emerton isn’t reliable enough!

Left Back
Graeme Le Saux
Made a career for himself at Rovers after leaving Chelsea, although he eventually buggered off back ‘darn sarf’! He was superb defensively, excellent going forward and had a good finish to boot! The complete footballer. Let’s just forget about Spartak Moscow for now eh?

Stephen Warnock
An absolute revelation. Liverpool made an almighty blunder allowing Warnock to come to Rovers as he is another top quality signing for Sparky. His defensive play is excellent but he needs to work on his ability when going forward, and crosses often let him down.

Le Saux! What a player.

Centre back
Colin Hendry
My all time favourite player. A wonderful character, a Rovers legend and absolutely solid. If you beat Colin Hendry you were a special player! Nuff said!

Ryan Nelsen
Another quality find by Hughes. Given the captaincy not long after joining and has been excellent in defence. Can’t fault the New Zealander, one of the reasons we are enjoying such success at the moment.

Henning Berg
The big Norwegian enjoyed two succesful spells at Ewood. Could also play at right back if required. Another solid defender who’s partnership with Hendry was outstanding. Moved on to United and helped them win the Champions League before coming back to Rovers under Souness and adding some backbone to the defence. How big a player Berg was for Rovers was proved when he moved on to Rangers, he was sorely missed.

Chris Samba
“He’s a bit big isn’t he?” Scored an absolute peach at Spurs on Sunday and has become a massive hit with the fans. Hertha Berlin must be kicking themselves after letting this particular gem go! With Nelsen at the back we look, for want of a different word, ’solid’! Wins everything in the air and is strong in the tackle.

Can I have all four? A very very tough choice - Hendry and Samba

Right wing
Stuart Ripley
When I mention Ripley to my mates as being a legend they tend to laugh. But he was superb. Our first signing after promotion to the newly formed Premier League and it was another display of Uncle Jack’s intentions when he signed another player with a good pedigree. Was a good servant of the club for many years. The Championship season was the first of three and a half years without scoring for Rovers but his crosses were part of the reason the SAS prospered so much!

David Bentley
Has been another good buy from Hughes (noticing a pattern with Sparky’s transfer dealings yet?). Rewarded with a place in the England squad although he can’t quite break into the first team. A bit more consistency and Bentley will be a big star!

Has to be Ripley until Bentley gets the consistency

Left wing
Jason Wilcox
With Rippers on the right, Wilcox provided ammunition from the other side. Forget the byline, cross from the edge of the box, that’s what Rovers did and it worked to great effect! Carried on playing for Rovers for years until the emergence of Damien Duff found him surplus to requirements and he moved to Leeds. Took a legend to replace a legend.

Morten Gamst Pedersen
The Norwegian was signed by Souness under the tag of ‘Norway’s answer to David Beckham’. He spent much of his time under Souey on the bench after failing to make an impression. Hughes somehow got him to recapture the form that made us bring him to England and he has been one of our better players ever since. A lethal finish (particularly those volleys from tight angles) have made him one of the most feared players in the league. Unfortunately, as with Bentley, his consistency lets him down and has recently found himself on the bench.

As with Bentley, until his consistency is sorted it has to be Wilcox!

Centre midfield
Tim Sherwood
Led the team from the middle of the park. Another excellent buy for Rovers. A catalyst who was a consistent performer. When he first signed people thought he was crap because his long balls were always too far ahead of their target, then everybody realised this was because they were, in fact, excellent passes but the Rovers players at the time were too slow to catch them!

Robbie Savage
Terrier-like midfielder, hated by everyone he hasn’t played for, and most of those he has! Whenever he’s out its easy to tell that he is important for the team as he is often missed. He’s out injured at the moment, it remains to be seen how the team will cope.

Mark Atkins
With David Batty out for much of the 94/95 season with injury it was left to Mark Atkins to fill in and he did well. Was an admirable partner for Tim Sherwood in the centre and chipped in with the odd goal. Always a favourite with the fans.

Tugay
Torn between Dunn and Tugay for this but went with Tugay as he’s been with the club longer and, let’s face it, he’s a legend! Although he’s getting older he’s still capable of scoring from nowhere and putting through the perfect pass. Ideal for European games where it is often more open. Has been a fans’ favourite since Souness signed him from Rangers. However, as he gets older he can struggle in some Premiership games.

Sherwood and Savage

Forwards
Alan Shearer
One of England’s best ever players. Enjoyed his best spell with Rovers and became an absolute hero. Left in circumstances that the fans struggles to accept and became a bit of an enemy at Ewood. Redeemed himself by playing in Tony Parkes’ testimonial, seeing Shearer in a Rovers shirt again was fantastic!

Benni McCarthy
Has been an absolute revelation since Hughes bit the bullet and finally gave him his chance to play in England. Hughes faith was well justified as Benni scored 18 goals last season and continues to perform well this year. We did well to keep him over the Summer and hopefully he can help us push for a solid league finish and maybe some silverware!

Chris Sutton
The second half of the SAS partnership that was so feared during the 94/95 campaign. Became a record signing in England when King Kenny splashed out £5 million for him from Norwich and he was instrumental in helping Rovers to win the league.

Roque Santa Cruz
A recent signing who has impressed early on. The Paraguayan was signed from Bayern Munich for just £3.5 million and it was feared that he would not make an impact after being less than prolific in the Bundesliga. All fears have since been allayed as Santa Cruz’s partnership with McCarthy has flourished.

Impossible to choose. Can’t split up the partnerships so I have to go for the SAS!

Manager
Kenny Dalglish
Bankrolled by Walker’s millions he took Rovers from the brink of relegation to the Third Division and assembled a team to win the Premier League.

Mark Hughes
Took Rovers from the brink of relegation to the Championship and has made us a force in Premier League football without spending the millions that others around us have.

Based on the budget given to the two managers, it has to be Mark Hughes!