Staying up and saying goodbye, FanZoner Benedict Pirraglia ponders life without Tugay at Blackburn.
Safety acheived and changes afoot at Ewood Park
Staying up and saying goodbye, FanZoner Benedict Pirraglia ponders life without Tugay at Blackburn.
'The Blues are staying up and now you're gonna believe us!' sang the Rovers crowd last weekend.
The victory over Pompey has virtually guaranteed our Premiership status. A summer of high transfer activity is anticipated at Ewood Park in preparation for a top half season next year.
The exits expected are: Tugay (retirement), Andre Ooijer (PSV free), Aaron Mokena (released), Roque Santa Cruz (good riddance), Matt Derbyshire (Olympiakos), Paul Gallagher and Carlos Villanueva (returning to parent club).
The only player I am sad to see leaving is Tugay. The Turkish delight has been a great player and his creative footballing genius will be missed, his tricks, flicks and screamers are something a footballer can not be taught and is a natural ability, Tugay had that in abundance.
A legend for Blackburn Rovers and he goes down in history as a Blackburn all time great.
Ill timed
The rest of the players are all decent but nothing amazing. Roque Santa Cruz will be remembered as going from hero to zero. His first season of goals compared to a second season of being a big mouth and a crock!
A few weeks ago, when our predicament was sticky, Roque decided to tell the press yet again that he wanted to leave by stating 'I want to move to a bigger, more ambitious club'.
He may as well have said I want to leave Blackburn because they are going nowhere and are small. Sorry Roque, how many Premier League titles have Manchester City and Spurs won? He could have had at least had the decency to say his rubbish when we had our status secured.
Targets
Enough ranting! Transfer activity will be high and interesting over the summer for Blackburn. Excitement is brewing around Ewood. Big Sam has put a loan enquiry in for Barcelona's wonder kid Bojan.
The 18 year old would be a class acquisition to attain, even if it is just for one season. Gael Givet is expected to make his loan move from Marseille permanent and I have to say his performances have been exceptional. I do feel that a midfielder is needed too.
Reports suggest that Joey Barton is on Big Sam's wish list. A risky piece of business if this comes to fruition. Not only is he injury prone but his attitude, volatility and temperament suggest he can upset footballing camps as he did at Manchester City and Newcastle.
On to the Chelsea game. The fact they have a team almost triple the value of ours suggests that it's going to be a David vs. Goliath test. Rovers have not beaten any team in the top five this season...YET. I think we may able to sneak a marginal victory if not a draw.
It will be a tough game but I have belief we can overturn Chelsea and go on to a strong finish.
'Tugay, you are my Turkish delight... TUGAY!'
