Onto more important things. The next bits of news have come straight from sources who directly spoke to players last night at the End of the Year Awards dinner for the club. No BS here; just Facts!

Rovers nab Givet

John Williams has confirmed an agreement of terms between Marseille and Rovers for our new favorite boy Givet. He will be signing a new four year deal soon.

Warnock rubbishes reports of leaving

Sources who spoke to Warnock said he is very happy at Rovers and he isnt going anywhere saying that the rumors are “all paper crap.”

Players say their goodbyes to Tugay, Villanueva and….Santa Cruz?

Does this mean he’s definitely out the door? We shall see.

Tugay retiring

We all knew he was done, so this puts to rest any rumors of him playing back at Gala. He’s staying in the area and will probably work on his badges for a few years before coming back to Rovers.

Wa wa wee wa. Lots of reports.

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!

Some interesting facts/ideas/musings etc… that have spawn from the poll results and comments in the last post:

I myself was never to fond of this year away kit, and I’m not quite sure what to make of that New away kit there, if it does turn out tomorrow to be accurate. I think it’s because I loved the red and black halved kit from 2 season ago.

To see all the fun you’re missing out on, as well as to comment on the new shirt and vote in the poll, click here to see all the fun you’re missing.

UP THE ROVERS! and screw the scum.

EDIT: I was going to link to the scum’s offside page. but only because they never used to have one. now, they have one now. So I’d like to congratulate them on getting their first house with internet access. And Congrats to The Offside, who’s influence is so strong they got the only online member of the scum’s fan base to write for them.

Then someone lit a fire under Pompey’s asses. And Rovers weren’t ready. 2 goals later the game looked hopeless. Had it had been the Rovers of a few years ago or even last year, it probably would have been. Then Matty Derbs came on and lit a fire under Rovers’ asses and it was a game again. That header was perfect and was also his first touch as well as only 20 seconds after coming on. Then lucky for us, Pompey forgot that Tugay is, in fact, my Turkish Delight, and he had a beauty of a goal.

Then it all went to hell. Matty Derbs blown offside and a mystery foul committed against England’s crappiest number 1, and all a sudden a game that should have been 4-2 was still 2-2. The foul wasn’t a foul so I’m going to stop calling it that. But if you remember from this post here from the game against Man U, we too had a goalie get fouled but no one seemed to mind then. Officiating inconsistencies are really messing up the game. Derbs was onside and then this messed up call, really changed the game. Then the Rovers’ defense went to take a nap and watch some football while Pompey fired in the third and final goal.

The Rover’s inability to finish and close out games is just making this season incredibly frustrating. Stuck in 19th we really need to turn around some things; fast. Man U again for Carling Cup round 5 this midweek. Highlights after the jump.

Lineups:
SUNDERLAND: Fulop, Bardsley, Nosworthy, Whitehead (c), Malbranque, Cisse, Richardson, Collins, Jones, Ferdinand, Henderson.

Subs: Colgan (GK), Tainio, Diouf, Murphy, Leadbitter, Reid, Kay.

ROVERS: Robinson, Simpson, Khizanishvili, Samba, Olsson, Haworth, Tugay (c), Mokoena, Treacy, Fowler, Derbyshire.

Subs: Brown (GK), Ooijer, Warnock, Nelsen, Santa Cruz, Villanueva, Judge.

Ince delighted for Jason Brown — TEAMtalk

Tugay showing no signs of stopping — Setanta

Alan Judge working back to 100% — The Blackburn Citizen

Skipper Nelson hails “Team Ince” — The Blackburn Citizen

Ince: “Our fans were absolutely awesome.” — The Blackburn Citizen

Simpson learning for Nigel — FoxSoccer.com

Ince eying Cup Success — SkySports

Ince still looking for more — 4thegame.com

West Ham eying up Zurab? — The Mirror

That should keep you busy as you kill some time this evening before Monday Night Football or Heroes. Up The Rovers!

Alright Folks, until next time, Up The Rovers!

I’m in class and cannot get a feed, though this link here is very active and pretty good. I’ll keep you as best informed as I can from here with help from that link and some friends at Brfcs.com and I’ll get a match write up after.

Key Events:
4 mins were added on and the ref finally blows the full time whistle.

Baxter on for Vaughan.

Roque on for Carlos, Peds on for Treacy. Vaughan and Neville getting carded for Everton. Rovers trailing in shots 3 to 4, but still holding the lead. Reports say that Ooijer and Zurab are great today.

Well class is over, walking back to my place now. I’ll fill everyone in Asap. Cheers.

10 Fouls for Everton and not one card, But Carlos gets one now. Beat.

Just as I type that, Both Carlos and Matty Derbs get off shots. Lets go Lads put another one in!

Slow Start to the half by both teams.

Two corners taken by Carlos for Rovers, both cleared. We need to step up our Corner game.

Second half about to start, Let hop on em early again lads. Cahill and Yakubu in for Castillo and Fellaini. No moves for Rovers.

We’re winning possession, 56 – 44. Worryingly though, Everton has 6 shots to our 3, each side with only one on goal.

Half time. Just near the end of the 44th min, Carlos just missed wide left with a good shot at goal.

Captain Warnock(dead serious) playing center mid(also, seriously) gets booked for unsporting behavior.

Matty Derbs has been flagged for offside twice in the last 10 min. Hopefully one of these runs will pay off cause we all kow how well he finishes.

Reports have it as a good flowing game. Fowler had a shot that missed wide, both teams moving up and down the feild. Reports say Ooijer and Zurab holding solid while Carlos is getting into a nice groove.

Everton looking much more involved. Saha and Jagielka just missing chances.

Robbo has been replaced by Jason Brown. Reports say he had a calf strain before the game and tried to play with no avail. Watch this space.

Fowler and Olsson link up for a pretty 1-2 that results in a left foot shot from about 18 from Olsson for a goal.

GET INNNNNNNNNNN. OOIJER OOIJER OOIJER. NELSON SETS IT UP, HOWARD SPILLS OOIJER TAPS IN. 3-2 ROVERSSSSSSS
90+3- Reid taken down pretty hard about 30 yards out. Last roll of the dice for rovers. Need a good ball in. yakubu Yellow card.
3 Min Added Time
90th- Corner for Rovers. Sub- Dunn off Tugay on
89th- Jagyelka crosses into the box good. Robbo comes out, mistimes the ball, and Baxter luckily puts it over the net.
87th- Rovers offer a good corner ball, somehow cleared, and moko whips it in to Howard.
86th- reacy does great to block off a defender. warnock earns a corner.
83rd- J Roberts off and Benni mac On
81st- About 10 min left; lets hope we can see one more Rovers goal.
78th- tension starting to mount as you cans ee and feel both teams just waiting to open up. Everton sub- Nuno Valente off, Jose Baxter, the 16 year old, on
76th- MGP makes way for Treacy.
75th- Yobo booked.
73rd-74th- Rovers just puring it on now. We have to be able to put one back into the net soon. LETS GO LADS!
72nd- FK from rovers in the middle of the park. About 35 yards out.
70th- Poor cross from warnock who had loads of space. Still 20 min to make this one a winner.
69th- Well Goodison park has died down by 100%. Rovers stalking almost, waiting for another opportune time to strike. It appears as if the wind has been taken from the Everton sails.
66th- SANTA CRUZZZZZZZZZ. Equalizes right away. Just what we needed. 2-2!!
65th- well you could feel this coming. Everton take the lead off of a run and cross that seemed right from the training ground. weak from rovers. 2-1 Everton.
62nd- Corner for Everton headed up and over by Jagyelka or whatever his name is.
60th- Samba does well to block a shot that would have been a big threat as Everton applies some pressure but the play seems to be settling now.
58th- Peds corner is a rocket, howard throws it up and aside.
58th- Corner for Rovers. Lets see if we can get something going.
56th- After a few mins of scares to open the half, rovers settling in. Roberts works all the way to the 6 and, In typical Roberts style, shoots it right into the keeper.
51- Peds with a cross to Reid, who knocks with Baines, heads it over, and goes down hard.
50th- great low ccross by warnock to roberts but his first tuch is poor and he looses it.
48th- Neville with a foul on dun in the rovers’ half.
47th- Dangerous cross, luckily goes untouched for Rovers.
46th- Here we go. Lets see what the lads can do.

The first half showed amazing dominance from a team we are used to seeing show up in the second half. arteta was extremely lucky to equalize and if Rovers come out in the second half with just as much conviction and dont get down on themselves, we should be able to wrap this up.

Half time. Way to ruin my good mood everton.
45+2- Against the run of play, Arteta puts the ball right in. 1-1
45+1- Dunn sacrificing his face to block a rocket of a shot. Great effort. corner folowing is cleared by Samba. Cross in, deflected witht he arm by Reid. FK for everton from a rough angle for rovers.
2 min added time
45h- Anndddd now warnock gets booked. way to go me jinxing him.
44th- Warnock doing good work in the LB role
anyone notice that ooijer looses the ball on his 4th touch all the time?
41st- Arteta whips it wide of the nearside left post.
40th – samba with a foul on Yakubu(sp?) FK now from the edge of the Rovers’ area.
39th- Nelson takes care of the first pseudo threat I’ve seen in a while.
34th- play starting to slow but that just means we’re pushing up in more passes. everton still on the backfoot and Rovers dominating possession.
30th – Neville blocks the FK, Rovers still playing attacking ball, even when defending. great stuff
29th- Free kick for rivers after reid taken down.
26th- Reid down for a lil after taking a knee on a 50 50 ball.
25th- Corner rovers as we just keep pushing and pushing.

24th min- my pancakes are ready, and theyre delicious.
22nd- GETTTTT INNNNNNNNN. DUNN AMAZING AMAZING FINISH with BEND or CURVE or WHATEVER. Balls layed off to dunny by peds, patient and great. One touch and a great left foot finish bending like crazy.
1-0 Rovers

19th- Robbo comes up big wiht a great save from a tricky ball. Following corner cleared away and ball in shot very wide by Everton.
15th min- Rovers moving quick with sharp passes and Everton starting to look shakey. A miscue forces a quick clear for Everton at the back and Dunn has a go from about 50 out. Caught comfortably.
13th min- Great ball in near the corner flag from Reid, Santa with the header, almost no pressure yet heads it over. I’ll chalk this one up to first day cobwebs. He’ll need to score from there.
11th min- Samba with a great slot pass to Roberts who sets up a decent give and go, with a touch following just a bit too heavy. Cleared by the keeper for a throw. good buildup though from Rovers.
10th min- Good back and flow play now as both teams settle in.
6th- THrow in forward for Rovers. Away by Yobo, Samba keeps in, PLayed by Reid to Pederson who plays it across. Roberts gets and keep the ball, passed to Reid, who WHips it in to RSC, header JUST WIDEEE.
6th min- Foul by Dunn in midfield.
5th min- First corner cleared but right back to the flag, Peds crosses in again, cleared.
4th min- Pederson with a rip. He’s wearing pederson not gamst. COrner Rovers
4th min- Robbo looking immense in that orange strip. And as I type that, a shot comes in, tricky ooking from about 20 yards, saved and held by Robbo.
2nd min- Good to see Ooijer in there. Rovers pressing up now.
1st min- rovers going left to right. Great looking crowd at Goodison.

0 min- The Rovers come out in their Red and Black Third kits, looking great with the new crown logo. The blue one is kind of pointless when we play the likes of Everton and ManCity.

I am so excited today, I’ll be updating best I can during the whole game: whilst chatting about he game and eating breakfast so bear with me.

Hello Hello Hello:

Team today from Blackburn official text

Robinson
Ooijer
Samba
Nelsen
Warnock
Reid
Dunn
Mokoena
Pedersen
Roberts
Santa Cruz

Brown
Tugay
McCarthy
Derbyshire
Villanueva
Simpson
Treacy

I would think it fair to assume that the sales are over. We all knew that Bentley was off (though I was always too optimistic about keeping him)dwee, and although Brad’s departure was a bit of a shock I think we’ve got a good replacement. The only worry is that a big club will come calling for Santa, but he doesn’t want to leave so I’m sure it will take a lot of money for him to go.

So I thought I’d take a deeper look at the squad:

Keepers: It’s all good here with Robbo in, and I’m sure that he’ll do a good job. When his mind is in check he’s a very good keeper. We have a few choices at backup with Jason Brown, Frank Fielding and Gunnar Nielsen all capable but unlikely to be needed.

Defence: Again, I think we’re quite strong here. My first choice back line would be Ooijer, Nelsen, Samba and Warnock, with Emerton cover at right back, Zurab at centre and Martin Olsen at left back. Ooijer impressed at Euro 2008 and I think he could be key to our defensive stability – take him and Nelsen out and I think we lack direction, so with Nelsen in and out of the team a lot we need him. Emerton is defensively suspect at back-up, and Samba’s an enigma sometimes too. I wouldn’t complain if we got in a defensively sound right back.

Midfield: The only shoe-in is Gamst. We need a right winger, a holding midfielder and an experienced midfielder too, since Tugay will play a bit-part role.. Dunn, Reid and Mokoena are all capable but inconsistent and one of them may go (probably the Axe). We need MGP to perform and it will be interesting to see how new boy Villanueva does (he needs a nickname – any ideas?). Still, work needs to be done – more on that later.

Forwards: I’m happy here. Santa and Benni are first choice and I think that Derbs and Roberts should be drafted in as soon as one of them drops his head to keep everyone going. Roberts is a handful and Derbyshire needs time on the pitch to develop further. Don’t forget that we have Rigters too, though I don’t know what role he will play, if any.

So, who might we sign?

A very real possibility seems to be Jermaine Pennant of Liverpool taking the right winger position. I must admit that I’m not a huge fan of his, but I do think he is a very good footballer. Despite being out of his depth at Liverpool I think he’s done OK and experience of playing in the Champs League must have done him good. Rumours say that Ince has bid £6million

Two other links suggest a pseudo Italian-Antipodean invasion: Mark Bresciano of Palermo and Vincenzo Grella of Torino. Both are Australian nationals with Italian heritage who play in Serie A. Bresciano is a very capable and experienced midfielder who can play left, right and centre. He was linked with Man City last year for about £8million but apparently is now availiable for £5million. We may face competition for him. Grella is a holding player and quite aggressive, but I don’t know that much about his situation.

I think all three of these players would give us a very capable, balanced and good sized side. I also think that, despite being rumours in the tabloids, they could be on their way here. Rovers related rumours are few and far between, so when they do come about they have some substance.

Do you agree with me though?