Over the next few days, I’ll be posting write ups or podcast episodes of a review of the month I missed. With this new feature, I to invite anyone and everyone to be as involved as possible. If you have a question a comment or anything at all, email it to me and we’ll get it talked about on any future episode. Feeling bold? Even if you just have a simple built in mic or a whole studio, record a comment or question and I’ll throw it in the episode myself.

As always, discussion starts in the comments where I hope to see some of the posters return. Sorry again for the month long hiatus, but we’re back baby.

I’ll be honest here; this is a must win game. After this game we have league games against Everton and Villa, with a league cup game v Notts Forrest thrown in between those games.

Then after Villa and the retrn of big Brad and Stephen Warnock, we have Le Arse, Chelski, The B@stards, and ManUre.

This is a must win game.

Hopefully we will have a lot of players to choose from. Emerton is close to making a comeback, and Dunn, Reidy and Grella all should have used these 7 days extra to get back into shape and fit. Here’s the team I would put out:

——————-Robbo———————
Jacobsen Samba Givet Chimbonda
Dioufy Dunn Nzonzi Pederson
Benni (if fit) Kalinic

Wolves have earned 4 points from their 4 games but should be ours for the taking. If we go out and play solid defensively (like we have been lately) and our strikers can get some shots on target, we should pull out the 3 points.

Any thoughts about the game? Your XI you would field? As always, let me know and UP THE ROVERS!

(EDIT:This next paragraph was added after initial posting)However, I am really tired of players thinking that it is so bad here at Rovers. To be fair, in interviews since the move Warnock has not slated the team or club, and has actually been pretty classy. But when the fan’s player of the year jumps ship for “European football” (which villa were eliminated from today) you really have to wonder. It wasn’t too long ago Rovers were in Europe. And we all know what happens when individuals feel too big for the club: See Bellamy, Bentley, Santa Cruz, etc. I like Warnock, the guy always gave his all and usually I like Villa too, only rooting against them when they play us. But the sad truth is Warnock will probably be one of those to see the hard way that the grass isn’t always greener. All the same, I dont wish him bad, but if Villa finish 16th, I won’t be shedding a tear.

What I didn’t expect though, was this move for Chimbonda right away. Now, some people have been concerned that this gives us a million Right backs and no leftbacks up to par and still hasn’t addressed the midfield situation. However, I think Salgado was brought in to play a holding midfield in front of the back four as a transition guy and first line of defense. I see Chimbonda playing the RB off and on with Jacobsen until one of them lock up the spot with Samb and Nelsen at CB and Givet on the left. Not too shabby if you ask me.

Plus, this is pretty shrewd money wise as well. The deal is reportedly in the £1.5m-£2m pound range and the 30 year-old defender has signed for two years while the Warnock sale is speculated at around £7m.

For the sake of sanity, I will keep my blue and white Spectacles on, and not get into the reasoning behind letting a player like Warnock leave.

Also, we beat Gillingham to advance to the Carling Cup third round. Goals from Dunn, Junior Hoilett and MGP secured our passage through. No highlights available for posting, will update when I’ve got my hands on them.

West Ham preview up tomorrow and as always, UP THE ROVERS!

Here’s how we’re looking: Robinson, Brown, Jacobsen, Samba, Nelsen, Givet, Khizanishvili, Warnock, Olsson, Diouf, Hoilett, van Heerden, Doran, Nzonzi, Andrews, Pedersen, McCarthy, Roberts, Di Santo.

Look at that list and remember who’s out and doubtful and try and build a solid starting XI. Our midfield can’t even be completed let alone compete. Very worried about what we could see if Nelson and Samba don’t make the cut.

Citeh will be probably fielding a 1-0-9 formation, with a team looking like this according to SkySports:
Given, Richards, Dunne, Toure, Bridge; Wright-Phillips, Barry, Ireland, Bellamy; Robinho, Tevez.

Let me just say, I am looking forward to a win. But if we draw or even lose I can not say I’ll be surprised. I just hope the boys are ready to get the season going the right way.

Now the invitation. I invite all Rovers fan in the NYC area to make the trek into the NYC and come watch the game with me and a bunch of other Rovers fans at Nevada Smiths. We’ll be there a little before kick off and through out the match so please come by if you are able to.

Hopefully the next post will be a victory review. Until then, come on new season AND UP THE ROVERS!

Sam praised the first XI against CD Nacional, but was quick to point out that the lack of goals was due to the lack of another target man and striker.

“I thought the first eleven were very good against Nacional, apart from good crosses going in without ever creating any chances. Hence the reason we are looking for another front man to add more power up there.”

We drew that small match, and that’s alright in a friendly. At least for me and apparently Big Sam. Lose a 45 minute friendly match though, and Sam is no longer a happy camper.

Losing 1-0 to a deflected strike that left Robbo flat footed, Sam was none too happy about the players performance or the result.

“But I thought the second eleven, with the Dioufy´s, Jason Roberts, Morten who has only just come back and Dunny, looked a little jaded to me and we were outplayed by Hajduk Split in midfield.”

Sam not happy at all, and not afraid to ruffle some feathers in the senior squad. I like it. Make sure everyone knows no places are guaranteed. And letting some of the experienced players know they still got some work to do.

We got a friendly against Leeds this Saturday coming up, but for now, here’s the Rovers v Hajduk Split highlights. Until next time, UP THE ROVERS!

Big Sam has come out and said he would like to sign Ruud van Nistelrooy from Real Madrid. Seriously? Maybe. A declaration of our intent this season and transfer market? Definitely. Maybe seriously for him though.

“The sort of salary he would be on at Real Madrid may be beyond us. But maybe he wants to come and play in England again and take less of a salary – then we’d be interested.”

Yeah, I’d be interested to, so interested I’d get him name right on my shirt. A name like Ruud’s would fill seats, sell jerseys, and be like a Becks for the Galaxy, only hopefully not a tool.

His injuries would be an issue though. We just got rid of RSC with a “bum knee.” We wouldn’t even talk to Owen (unlike ManUre) because Sam said:

“I need a striker that’s going to be available for 30 games next season. That’s not happened for Michael over the last four years.”

So would Ruud be able to meet that demand? The jury is still out.

What this does do though, is let all of Europe know we’re in it. We have some cash, but we’re not gonna over pay, not even for Ruud van Nistelrooy. So we’ve brought in some people, we have some people coming back, which are kind of like new signings too. I still stand by the fact that we need a big na,e goal scorer, but hopefully we’ll still have some cash to get a decent name midfielder.

The 4-4-2 is the way to be, and Doiuf could play right with MGP on the left. So a winger isn’t top priority in my book, especially with Elrio around for depth.

Sure we just signed N’zonzi but he’s unproven at this level, and everyone knows we have super injury problems with our CM so if we could have a decent level starter walk into our CM and start for us, that’d be huge.

We saw the results of our last poll, and it sounds like most people agree with me, so for the poll this time, we’ll simply just go with a Ruud question. Yay? Nay? Let me know, and as always; UP THE ROVERS!

Would you like to see Ruud here?(poll)

“Just watch us go next season.” Bold. Confident. I like it. He goes onto say later that the injuries really played a huge part in the down to the wire struggle we all had to endure this term. We all knew that, there’s nothing that could be done about it. MGP knew that too.

“What can you do? You have to work hard with the players you have got and hopefully we can get everyone fit for next season.” Yeah Gamst, you tell em. “There will be more competition, players will be sharper, so it is almost like new signings without spending the money on them. I am looking forward to some more good times next time around.”

Here’s the most promising part though. ” “We were in the same situation when Sparky came in as manager. We were down at the bottom, he got us out of relegation and then we kicked on. I have got the same feeling now. We are going to have a pre-season together and get some ideas and get some players fit. I am looking forward to next season.”

Yeahhhh. Love it. Rovers comin’ out strong in the 09-10 season. Bring on the competition. And The Dingles.

With no actual strikers in the starting XI (does anyone know why Benni mac wasn’t? Does Big Sam really not like him that much or is he hurt and I missed it?) Rovers were forced to play with Samba and Villanueva up front. They took their chances where they could with MGP and Nelson all having attempts that failed to really materialize into much.

The stand out performance of the game I think was Robbo. Without him between the sticks the scoreline would have been a much different and higher digit. Highlights after the jump, I hate reporting losses, it makes me feel like a journalist and not a fan. So here’s looking towards West Brom, let’s go out on a high. UP THE ROVERS!
Chelsea v Blackburn Rovers

This past weekend though, Rovers were not to be denied. Having the lion’s share of chances and controlling most of the game, the lads went on to beat Portsmouth decisively 2-nil. The win also left Big Sam heaping praise all over the squad.

Samba played up front again and cause all sorts of problems for the back row for Pompey. A goal from MGP calmly cleaning up the spill David James left and a Benni Mac spot kick were all the lads needed. Pompey even had a chance with a PK themselves courtesy of league 3 superstar Keith Andrews but failed to hit the target to sum up their afternoon.

From here we have Chelsea next, and I don’t relaly expect anything form the game, but I don’t mind. Right now I’m happy we’ve hit 40 and I’m gonna enjoy it.

UP THE 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: