Pre-season Chelsea Chat: Blackburn

Carrying on the pre-season interviews, next up is Dale from VitalBlackburn.

TheChelseaBlog: So, a new season awaits – what are you hoping to get from it?

VitalBlackburn: Not Relegated!  To be pessimistic at present is far, far too easy but I will try to plaster on a fake smile and plough though regardless!  If we avoid some serious injuries to key players and get a small slice of luck, 10^th isn’t an unrealistic possibility but more likely in the middle of the relegation scrap for the vast majority of the season.  On a personal note, I hope that we dispense with the nonsense that is our current manager and that the club can set up a structure to move forward positively.

I also hope that some of our touted promising youngsters manage to break through and put their stamp on the squad and even the first team.  That could end up saving us some money in the long run.

TCB: What do you realistically expect?

VB: To be honest, see above LOL.  I do think, as it currently stands today (2^nd August) we will be very fortunate to avoid relegation.  If this happens, I cannot see Rovers recovering quickly and this deeply worries me.

TCB: Do you think the transfer window has been kind to you?

VB: Not in the slightest, no.  We have been linked in the national press with no fewer than 70 players this transfer window.  That doesn’t include others on Twitter, Message boards etc.  We have been close with approximately 6 players to see the deal either stall or fall apart.  Very frustrating, especially when you see a Rovers fan (and future England Captain IMO) in Phil Jones, want to leave to go to Manchester United.  Great deal for Rovers for a lad that has yet to play a full season for Rovers and has one serious knee injury behind him but it was his decision.  I hope his career doesn’t stall due to the presence of Ferdinand, Vidic, Evans and Smalling as one of the reasons that Rovers fans were annoyed with it is that they recognise the potential the lad has.

Venkys have talked us up, promised a decent to large transfer kitty and have failed spectacularly (to date) to back this up.  This is, in my opinion, where the majority of annoyance and derision from the fans has stemmed.  If you raise expectations, don’t be surprised that there is a revolt on your hands when you fail to deliver.

TCB: Is there anyone you’d give your right arm to bring in?

VB: Aside from the fantasy signings, such as Messi, Ronaldo (not the fat one haha) etc, if I was able to give up my LEFT arm (right arm is FAR too important LOL) I would love to see these three realistic signings in Rovers shirts

        Keisuke Honda

        Tomas Necid

        Toni Kroos

TCB: Who are your most important players?

VB: At present, I would say that the Key players for Rovers would be Paul Robinson (Underrated and England’s Loss), Chris Samba, Martin Olsson (Dives at Burnley, dontcha know!) and David “Junior” Hoilett.  There is a groundswell of opinion that Mauro Formica could be a bit of a player and Ruben Rochina’s performances in the reserves last season could lead him to being a good contributor for the first team.  Time will tell on those two I guess

TCB: What about opposition players? Which PL player worries you most?

VB: There are obvious ones, that seem to always do well against Rovers, Van Persie, Drogba and Rooney spring to mind but I firmly believe that a team full of individuals, such as Manchester City can be beaten by a workmanlike team that understand one another’s games.  In saying that, it is embarrassing the selection headache that Mancini has at City.

TCB: How do you think your manager stands up against the rest?

VB: I shouldn’t really comment here as, personally, I have no looks on “Nugget” and wish he was redeployed to one of Venkys Processing plants in Brazil.  He did get us playing some nice football but at the cost of almost our premiership survival and there have been suggestions that the players battled to stay up in spite of him, rather than because of him.  Whilst some will disagree and say give him a chance, why should his chance come at a premiership club in flux?  We had a steady if unspectacular manager in Sam Allardyce and I was no fan of his either but you knew exactly what you were getting from Sam.  The whole situation has been shambolic since his sacking in December and has not improved in the off season.  It, quite probably, has proven to be the downfall in more than one transfer deal.  The sooner we replace him, the better.

If you polled fans of every premiership team, I’m positive Kean would come bottom of everyone’s list

TCB: And your supporters – can they give the opposition a run for their money?

VB: We have some of the best fans in the country in my opinion, especially given the catchment area and the competition for those fans.  It’s widely reported that Rovers pull in, if memory serves correctly, approximately a quarter of its population for matches and are the “best supported” town club in the league.  I stand to be corrected however.  There is a hardcore section that does the club proud home and away, no doubt that we give opposition fans a run for their cash!

Fan apathy however, given the tumultuous summer Rovers are having, may prove an issue come kick off and whilst I can totally understand the reasons behind the people starting FC Blackburn, its far too early to start with those games.  Get behind the club until you cannot, then look for new options!

TCB: Where do you think you’ll finish this season?

VB: As previously said, potentially anywhere between 10^th and 20^th.  At the present time, I would gladly settle for 17^th

TCB: Any predictions for the top four?

VB: Ooh, stick my neck on the line time……never very good at this but better than the rest of the Vber staff LOL

1^st Manchester City

2^nd Manchester United

3^rd Chelsea

4^th Liverpool

TCB: Cheers Dale, not for placing us 3rd obviously!