Shrewd little piece of business I say. 29 isn’t too old at all and the the guy has 22 caps for Denmark.

Three signings already, and more to come surely with reports about Steven N’Zonz agreeing to a deal and a striker sure to come on. Big Sam is rapidly making this squad his own. Exciting times to be a Rover!

Let the silly season begin. For me, still playing in the top flight after the first half of the year we had is more then okay with me. We’ll strive to improve again next year.

In the comments section below, vote on your player of the year. Maybe I’ll add a poll, but I wouldn’t want to leave any one out. I’ll be around and about with any and all updates coming out of the Rovers camp. As always, UP THE ROVERS!

Happy Trails

Andre Ooijer’s long speculated departure back to PSV Eindhoven has been confirmed by the club as well by the Dutchman on the offish site. I for one will always think fondly of the defense man, and think he was always a very vital part of the back line. 29 start 2 sub appearances 2 goals and No red cards and 2 assists this season. Not too shabby. Extremely happy with Gael Givet though as a replacement, the man has been immense. Rovers need to sign him but that’s another post for another day. Still, best of luck to Andre back home at PSV, thanks for the 3 years of service.

Carlos Villanueva. Ah, we barely knew thee. Reports here(click) and here(different click) have reported that King Carlos, the favorite pineapple head, has signed a deal with Al Shabab. Skill and touch were never a question about the boy, but speed and physicality were always two department that the Rovers management never seem to think he had enough of. Thanks for the effort Mr. Chile.

ROVERS SLASH SEASON TICKET PRICES

Boom. Slashed. The Rovers love their fans, and this ridiculous “Crucial 3″ program the Rovers launched brought in about 4000 extra heads at Ewood. Class. Rovers saw how successful this worked and good on the Trust and the Club (and John Williams) for making great football more accessible to the masses.

WBA Sunday

So the last game of the term. A very, very, long and winding road. Some ups, and a lot of downs. But we’re safe, and we’ve made it. Now, time to earn another 750K and hopefully move up a slot on the league table. WBA has already been relegated so they are ours for the taking. Time to drop some knowledge:
IN: Ooijer and Givet should be back.
Out: The Admiral (torn a calf muscle), Roque(giving an interview in Paraguay) and Roberts (fractured metatarsal).

So, here’s to a good weekend. For the Americans reading, have a safe Memorial Day weekend. Let’s go out on a high this season Rovers!

Well Rovers took a break for international duty last week and I used that time to catch up on some work and keep my GPA game up. But the lads are back and so am I, but I’m not the one stopping The Spuds’ six-match unbeaten league run.

Rovers started off strong with a chance in the 11th from MGP to El Hadj but he failed to convert. Things started going down hill from there though with our rock solid new man Gael Givet was called for a handball in the box. You can judge that one for yourself, but when the commentator takes Rovers side, you KNOW it’s not a penalty. (Which it wasn’t, the ball hit inside shoulder) Keane converts although the ball wasn’t on the spot. Clearly, you can see it in the highlights. The balls off the spot. I don’t get how that works either, but whatever. Rovers down 1 nil. MGP gets a knock and heads off with Dunny coming on. Jase Robs gets a knock and holds on till halftime, then he comes off. So what does Big Sam do when his hand is forced?

PUTS CHRISTOPHER SAMBA UP FRONT!!!

Yes that’s right the big man playing up next to Benni Mac and being an all around nuisance for the Spuds players. Rovers make some chances, Spuds don’t do too much. Then they started doing stuff and the game looked pretty much over. Then, Wilson Palacios winds up being sent off after collecting two yellow cards in the space of two minutes. Fantastic. Finally a little bit of luck heading our way. Then Robbie Keane knocks the ball away in the box with his hand but the ref closes his eyes and skips away pretending all is just and well in the world. No matter though because then Samba showed up, and went hardbody all over Corluka and worked the ball to Benni Mac who fired it home from 10 yards out. Then Rovers took the lead when Gomes misjudged a corner and and ball fell to Ooijer who, from barely a yard out, directed it calmly home. Amazing.

14th on 34pts. Lets ride this momentum to liverpool.

Highlights:

The Hammers are sitting pretty comfortably in the top half, holding onto the 7th place with 40 points and fighting for a place in the UEFA Europa League. Robert Green has recovered from the knock he picked up during the Hammers’ Monday game and fill be starting between the sticks against us. West ham also won 4-1 in the reverse fixture earlier in the campaign.

Lucash Neill, ex Rover extraordinaire will be captaining the West Ham side like usual, but it always does the heart good when we beat him.

Points are points and boy do we need three. We could also use some luck in the resukts of the teams aorund us but if all goes according to plan, while we won’t jump too much higher in the league ladder, we will put some space between us and the bottom three. So lets shake off the Le Arse crushing and come out string. Some solid, physical work to take out their jets and confidence, a goal or two early and we’ll be on our way. UP THE ROVERS!

Aside from Ryan Nelson doing all that he could to slow down and help the ball along for Shrek, Rovers did a lot right. The 4-1-4-1 Big Sam threw out had a shaky start, but by the equalizer were playing up to the level of ManUre. After that first goal, Ooijer made a fantastic individual effort. Stealing the ball, he took a touch or two and threaded in it nicely for RSC who dribbled around TK and shot it in from a hard angle to equalize.

Late on, Nelson was denied by the post and just the slimest of margins, and Diouf’s rebound shot was goal bound when TK flew in out of no where to smother and stop the shot.

What really gets me, is the luck of the call Rovers never seem to get, and No one seems to get at OT. Howard Webb was in the perfect spot to see C.Cheat7 kick out violently (in the highlights) but didn’t show him the yellow or even the red. He did almost make amends for it by catching the Diver red handed, but the yellow card should have been his second, and he should have been off. But no, just the one yellow and nothing more. Then he gives the Scum the lead later. Pederson gets absolutely thrown by Rafael in the Man U box and nothing is called as he flies down (also in the highlights). Either it’s a penalty, or its a card for diving, and at those speeds, a torque that violent will bring a man down.

The One or Three points that were robbed from us leaves us two points out of safety going into the game against Hull. UP THE ROVERS always. Survival is key.

Man utd v Blackburn

The legendary Brad Friedel returns to Ewood Park tomorrow as Aston Villa visit for a Premier League clash. It’s no secret as to the quality of the Villa side this year as they’re riding high in 4th and have been unbeaten in their last 6 with 4 wins. I’m not sure what MON is up to over there, but it is clearly working. The best owner is one we don’t hear about and Randy Learner is only ever being talked about for all the right reasons. That being said, this isn’t the Villa blog so down to the business end of things. (I just like Villa as they can hopefully break the “Big 4’s” hold on the Prem and Champs League)
Ince’s side were beaten 3-2 earlier in the league this year and having been unbeaten under SA, Rovers look to avenge that loss. With (shudder) Diouf (ugh I hate it) RSC, Benni Mac and Jase Robs all available, the upfront is looking formidable. The midfield starting 4 is anyone’s guess because I can’t be too sure anyone knows who will be in the starting XI, not even SA. And according to this report click, SA is loving the selection dilemma. From the official site here:

“Boss Sam Allardyce will be missing only long-term absentees Steven Reid and Brett Emerton for the visit of Martin O’Neill’s side tomorrow afternoon.”

The back four looks alright with everyone available, although maybe Ooijer could do some good not in the starting XI as Villa’s pace on the break would maybe suit Zurab better.

All being told, I’d be more than happy with a point from this match, however, I think it could go 2-1 either way. Here’s hoping it’s the Rovers way. UP THE ROVERS!!

Side note: As you saw we draw Sunderland this weekend, so that means we get to play them AGAINNNN. FUNNN. not. Tedious and annoying. Yes.

Match tomorrow. Bolton sit only two points above us and a full three points tomorrow would 100% percent turn the season around. Grella, Dunn, Derbs, Roberts, and Ooijer are all likely to be fit as well, which is a huge boost to the squad which was looking borderline depleted. BFS playing his old club will be a good tie for him to stamp his name on his Rovers career start and could continue the climb back up the ladder. Hopefully will get to see the match, if I do, will be live blogging. If not, highlights as soon as I can get em. This one is huge. UP THE ROVERS!

A Big Sam soundbite and some interesting facts here. IE: Blyth Spartans are 118 places below Blackburn in football’s pyramid system.

A preview from The Guardian with some cheek quotes in it.

Big Sam- “Nothing to gain and everything to lose.”

Also, the winner of this Match will face…Sunderland! Again! Really……again. I’m starting to dislike them simply due to playing them so much, but not a terrible draw and we didn’t draw the links of Man U, Villa or Chelsea.

Maybe a live blog later on today, but for now UP THE ROVERS!….(who should win 7-0)