ARTE ET LABORE ET HUGHES: Bye Bye Bellamy
July 11th, 2006 by Chris LockwoodChris Lockwood is State of the Game’s new Blackburn Rovers guest columnist
For a long time now I?ve been trying to convince myself that we are not a selling club, but the departure of Craig Bellamy to Liverpool has put the final nail in that particular coffin. Off the top of my head I see Shearer, Duff, and now Bellamy as prime examples of those who set The Premiership alight at Rovers then move on when ?big? clubs come sniffing! At least we know that Robbie Savage is staying put.
So out go Bellamy and Dickov (to Man City) and in come Jason Roberts from Wigan, for an undisclosed fee, Franny Jeffers on a free after being released by Charlton Athletic and young goalkeeper Jason Brown from Swansea. I am excited about the prospect of Jason Roberts, he is a strong player, sharp with a good finish and finished as last years surprise package Wigan?s top scorer.
When it comes to Franny Jeffers, however, I don?t have quite the same enthusiasm. Granted he looked promising in his younger days and he has been blighted by injury, but at his last two clubs (Charlton Atheltic and Rangers (on loan)) he hasn?t exactly enhanced the reputation he once had. I sincerely hope, however, that my initial reservations are proved wrong and he gains the form that other players have under Hughes! To date the only signing that Hughes has made that hasn?t been a good signing, in my opinion, is that short period of time when Youri Djorkaeff wore the famous blue and white halves.
With a few more incoming players expected to bolster this season?s UEFA cup squad, here?s hoping that Hughes can again show his shrewd approach to transfers and bag a few more bargains to add to the Ryan Nelsens and Robbie Savages already on display in our hardworking first team. And that he can hold on to players like Lucas Neill and Morten Gamst Pedersen, who are likely to attract the interest of these ?big clubs?.
As a closing note I would like to take the opportunity to pay tribute to, and thank former Rovers captain Garry Flitcroft, who I?ve heard today has had to retire due to injury. He represented Rovers for almost ten years after signing from Man City for 3.5 million in 1996. He was a great servant to us over those years and its sad to see any player, let alone a long serving Rovers player, have to retire at the young age of 33. I wish him the best of luck in the future, and hope to see him back at Ewood again in whatever role he pursues, unless he becomes manager of Burnley!!
Explore posts in the same categories: Blackburn Rovers
July 11th, 2006 at 3:45 pm
Hughes doesn’t sign djorkaeff you fool
July 11th, 2006 at 3:53 pm
I think you owe our boy an apology eusebio:
http://www.givemefootball.com/interviews.html?interviewID=832&method=full
July 12th, 2006 at 7:41 am
I think you’re slightly naive to think that a club the size of ours can never be anything other than a selling club once Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal or Manure enquire don’t they? The problem is our gates. They aren’t big enough to A. Generate the money to pay big wages to attract top players and B. to create the atmosphere to convince players to stay with us. If I was Bellamy and Liverpool enquired why would I choose to play in front of 18,000?
Also, Jason Brown was signed frim Gillingham and Jason Roberts cost ?2.25m. Only slight inaccuracies but it would add weight to your article if your facts were correct.
July 12th, 2006 at 8:05 am
My mistake Yinky, i said swansea as that was who he was about to sign for when we snapped him up.
And i havent seen the figure of 2.25 million for Roberts anywhere, where is that taken from? Both BBC and UEFA websites report the transfer as being for an undisclosed fee, and who am i to apply a figure when even the beeb or UEFA dont have the right to publish the exact figure!
July 12th, 2006 at 10:06 am
Djorkaeff was not a bad signing considering he helped us to win at least one game at a time when the transfer window was firmly shut and non on e else was available and we were crap. also, i wouldn’t say savage has been a good signing. hasn’t scored once cant pass or head and is too slow to actually catch anyone when he goes on his little valiant jogs after them. we’re much better with the mighty tugay and reid in there with bentley on the right.
July 12th, 2006 at 11:14 am
Savage has scored for us. Got his first goal for us against birmingham in a 2-1 defeat at St. Andrews late in the season if i remember correctly.
What Savage lacks in pure talent, he makes up for in workrate, and passion. Can you remember any game where he hasn’t worked his socks off for the whole time he remained on the pitch? He’s the kind of player we need rather than the usual lethargic dross we became used to at ewood under Souness.
August 17th, 2006 at 12:15 pm
Add Benni Mcarthy ?
Jeffers = Free, what have we got to lose? Why the hell not?!
Everyone is a selling club in the Chelski world, we are a town club, what do you expect? A tadge naive to suggest otherwise.
All these others that are going to so called “Big clubs” (Yawn!)
According to you lot:
Reidy was going (Err No! Signs another 4 years)
Nelson (Err No! Signs another 4 years)
Pederson went last year didn’t he (Errr…)
Savage was even going at one point!
Law of averages is that you’d get one right !!
At least our club doesn’t do all it’s dealings in the press like some others! Spuds & Pompski look stupid!
August 17th, 2006 at 3:12 pm
Come on Rovers,
As you can see the article was written on 11/07/06, that would be a few weeks before we signed Benni.
Who exactly is “you lot” when you mention your list of players linked away from the club?
And if you are going to be sarcastic at least spell players names right, re. Nelsen and Pedersen
August 18th, 2006 at 9:38 am
Good point Lockers, the article was written on 11/07/2006, any word of a follow up? (hint, hint
)
August 18th, 2006 at 10:24 am
Monday lunch time Alan i’ll have one for you
August 18th, 2006 at 10:46 am
Good lad. Hope you’re still glowing from Wednesday night’s performance, after your lot sold Bellamy surely Mark Hughes should have replaced him with Sir David. Wasted in the Championship with Leeds.
August 18th, 2006 at 11:53 am
Still flying from Wednesday night! Great result and glad to finally have an away win after 2 years without!!
I think Healy would do very well in the prem would love to see a Premiership club snap him up, as like you say, he is wasted at Elland Road! I reckon Hughes still holds a grudge against Sir David after that night in Cardiff