The CIS One

Boom Boom Benni!

2006-08-13T14:16:00.000-07:00

Rovers destroyed the New Zealand national side at Ewood Park this weekend - handing out a 5-0 hiding to the Kiwis. New boys Benni McCarthy and Jason Roberts both bagged a brace and Steven Reid cracked in another netbuster.

If this is a marker for things to come, theciseone might have to copper up for a season ticket - and a divorce (Her indoors is already moaning about the speed with which the new season arrives and the number of weekends 'ruined').

In the interests of stimulating a little debate, thecisone is going to try his hand at management. Sparky makes this lark look easy enough, so why can't a middle aged man in Salford with no playing or coaching experience do the same? Here's my team selection for the opener against Portsmouth.

GK Freidel - he's big and scary and good at catching. 'Nuff said.
LB McEveley - some of us still remember the night he humiliated Beckham at Old Trafford.
FB Khizanishvili - having taken the time to learn how to type his name, he plays.
FB Nelson - first name on the team sheet if he is fit. Captain.
RB Neill - if he hasn't been lured away to the bright lights of Monaco or Tottenham.
LWing Pederson - ... or Gamst or MGP or whatever he is calling himself. The Man Who Cannot Score Boring Goals.
M Savage - adds a bit of industry and niggle
M Bentley - provides the attacking instincts from midfield
RWing Reid - will end up doing time for GBH if ever one of his tackles is mis-timed or a shot veers off trajectory into a group of kids in the Darwen end who have spent the whole match running up and down because seombody's mum doled out a little too much ki-ora.
CF McCarthy - watch this goal and tell me he is not the most exciting prospect we have signed in a long time http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvTSbUWLXNc
CF Roberts - already seems to have a good understanding with Benni. The new Mr Bully Boy?

Subs - Todd (on his day exceptional, but up against stiff competition), Gray (good player but a younger man needs bringing on in his position), Tugay (older than my nan, but still reads the game beautifully and provides great distribution), Douglas (will get his chance when the cards mount up for Savage), Peter (will throw on if MGP scores a tap in), Gallagher (remeber: he and Stead saved us from relegation and he is now older and wiser - play on the right wing or as a sub for Benni or Jay) and Brown (he's not Peter Enckelman).

If you don't like the squad - and this includes you Mark Hughes - let's have your aleternatives. Other than that: game on!

Craig who?

2006-08-06T10:21:00.000-07:00

Well, Benni's here and he's in the goals. And as far as Mark Hughes is concerned, he's every bit as important a signing as Craig Bellamy was last year. Scoring one and setting up another for fellow new boy Jason Roberts, McCarthy helped Rovers to a 3-2 victory over newly promoted Bundesliga side Alemannia Aachen. Reports from Germany also describe a fizzing shot cleared off the line.

Things are starting to shape up nicely for the start of the new season (thecisone will not be mentioning the 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Olympiakos)...

With just over three weeks to go before the transfer window slams shut, Rovers are still jockeying for the signatures of a handful of exciting players, including a couple already on the books. Ryan Nelsen has been the subject of an improved £4.7million bid from Rouble-rich Portsmouth, who have also promised to double the Kiwi's wages. No official response as yet, but it would tell us a lot about the ambition at Ewood Park to hear the words "Piss off, Harry" being uttered in dulcet Welsh tones. Lucas Neill, according to cmoments ascribed to his agent, won't be signing a new deal. He may prefer to try his luck elsewhere, but Hughes isn't prepared to sell him so expect this one to be resolved in a Bosman next summer or a quick sale in January, possibly to Tottenham. And Middlesborough can't make up their mind how much they want Brett Emerton. Loyalty prevails from Sparky who is going to try to convince Emerton to stay and fight for his place on the last leg of pre-season preparations in Europe.

There is a bit of cash in the kitty for new signings, reprtedly. Robert Huth, whose £5 move to Middlesborough collapsed after a medical revealed damage to a bone in the big German's foot, is one supposed target. And there is no decision yet about the Chilean midfielder Jorge Acuna, who is still training with the side pre-season.

Somebody who won't be in the blue and white halves next year is Didier Agathe. His demands for an early decision on whether to offer him a contract prompted a polite refusal from John Williams and the Ewood Park board.

theciseone would be interested to hear from readers a prediction of where Rovers will finish next season. I will publish these on this site so we can see how good your punditry skills are. Florida Rover and Cameron - this means you!

Crossroads for Benni deal

2006-07-27T12:08:00.000-07:00

thecisone wonders whether any readers are old enough to get the pun in the headline. Not that it's very funny, but still...

After more than a year of chasing it seems that Rovers have finally stitched together a deal for Porto striker Benni McCarthy. The champions league winner is reported to have shaken hands on a deal to bring him to Ewood Park after Rovers agreed a £2.5million fee with Porto. There's a few issues unresolved as yet - including a work permit, which isn't likely to be a problem given his track record as an international professional - but word is that the move will be registered with the FA and Premier League on Friday.

While this is undoubtedly good news, thecisone cannot help but still feel that despite the quality of the replacements there is still a small, Welsh, Bellamy-sized hole in the forward line. Let's hope the new boys prove otherwise. Maybe now we can stop collecting strikers - six seems like enough of anything and we shouldn't forget the homegrown talents of the excellent Paul Gallagher and promising Matt Derbyshire.

What else do we need before we start the European campaign? Replacements for the departing Neill and Emerton. Sparky will sit both players down next week to see whether they want to sign new lucrative deals or ply their trade elsewhere. Neill would be a particular loss but given his performance at the World Cup you hope he would command a handsome transfer fee. combined with cash for Emerton there could be enough in the kitty to finance a move for a young creative midfielder and another right back.

Would Didier Agathe be a useful addition? His performance at Stanley seemed creditable and a right-back with attacking instincts is exactly what Rovers would be losing in Neill. His failure to shine at Celtic shouldn't be overplayed. Sparky's duraglit has polished up more than one career in the last 18 months.

And, of course, we need to decide how to replace Mr Tugay Kerimoglu, who has no doubt spent the summer taking advtantage of his OAP's railcard in the Lake District. He can't go on being brilliant forever.

Memo to Mark Hughes: Even Turkish Delight will not last indefinitely. The terraces would ideally like the same player, but 10 years younger. We do concede this may be difficult unless the backroom staff have finally got to grips with cloning at Brockhall. So, please can you see what's available in the Summer sales. Best, as ever, thecisone

Who next, Ian Brady or Hitler?

2006-07-19T13:18:00.000-07:00

Flurry of new rumours today.

Most startling is the Man City outkast Nic Anelka's claim that Sparky has been trying to lure him away from Fenerbache. He also reckons Bolton and Portsmouth are in with a shout, but with the player's own valuation at more than £8m you have got to wonder if the combustible Frenchman hasn't banged his head in training. Harry might have the cash, but I'm certain Big Sam won't be in a hurry for a turkish takeaway and why would we want to waste the whjole transfer kitty on such an unproven talent?

Imagine what Anelka would do for our reputation as bastions of fair play and clean, wholesome tackling... you might as well see if Ian Brady wants a game or Hitler.

Another bolt from the blue has been the re-emergence of the rumour that Rovers are in for Benni McCarthy from Porto with a far more sensible asking price of £3m. This story is two years old now (amazingly it's the one story not to have originated in the Old testament that has been floating around longer than the Mido 'signing'). Although, since the transfer fee is half what it was 12 months ago it which does give this rumour a bit more credibility.

thecisone has also learned that Jorge Acuna, the 27-year-old Chilean international midfielder and former Feyenoord player, is telling anyone who will listen that he is on his way to Ewood Park for a medical and expects to be in the blue and white halves within the week. Grateful for some feedback from any readers who know his background and potential.

Silly Season Hokey Cokey

2006-07-18T14:37:00.000-07:00

The media love to refer to the summer months as the silly season - trusted sources of news bugger off on holiday and it becomes difficult to fill the pages and the airwaves. Into the gap looms a lot of news that, many would agree, isn't fit to print.

And that sums up where the Rovers rumour mill is at. Lucas Neill, Brett Emerton and Mido are engaged in a bizarre three-handed hokey-cokey where it is no longer possible to tell who is in, out, in, out or shaking it all about. At least, that's the case if you read the reports circulating on t'internet. Mido was at long last a done deal and would sign today - not happened. Neill and Emerton had both said G'bye nice contracts and... nothing official.

Even the usually informative Lancashire Evening Telegraph can't do any better than reheating a piece of gossip about Emerton pledging the next 12 months to Rovers at some meet the fans session.

Who knows what is happening?

theciseone gives up. It's too bloody hot. Roll on September and away games in the North East.

Do they not have a dictionary at the Daily Mail?

2006-07-13T07:07:00.000-07:00

Ah, the middle classes and football.

Never really sit well together, do they? Too much analysis and not enough singing of songs about the local rivals being inbred.
Not that we see much of the chattering classes at Ewood Park - not since Graeme Le Saux left anyway.

thecisone was prompted into this reflection on class war in football by a headline in today's Daily Mail: Pardew targets Blackburn bruiser. Reidy defecting? Todd upping sticks? Kuqi moving on? No, it seems West Ham might be interested in Brett Emerton. Those nice middle class boys on the Daily Mail really want to invest in a dictionary and look up the definition of "bruiser". In no way could it be stretched to describe Emerton, who also attracts the description of "powerhouse". Silly right-wing rag. 'Foppish flair player of flickering genius' is more like it - and they generally aren't the sort of players that go down well with the Hammers fans, are they?

Fulham and Middlesborough are also reported to be monitoring developments on the contract offered to Emerton by Rovers.

We're a wee bit short of incoming rumours. The Mido deal is not dead, according to Hughes. It's certainly dragging on, though...

On other fronts: Jeffers believes his move to Rovers could lead to an England call up. And the new away kit is out soon - check out www.rovers.co.uk for a shot of Robbie Savage parading the new uniform with a less than thrilled looking Jason Roberts.

Robbie Savage, a man of integrity

2006-07-06T01:02:00.000-07:00

A second bid to lure Robbie Savage away from Ewood Park appears to have failed. Wigan Athletic tested the player's commitment and Rovers' ambitions by tabling a second bid for the controversial Welshman with improved personal terms. But Sav says he is staying put. In his own words (via Sky Sports): "I am more than happy at Blackburn. I knew when I left Birmingham that this was the right club for me and nothing has changed. It was very flattering for me that they showed an interest but there's a Uefa Cup season ahead and I'm very much looking forward to it."

Forget what thecisone was saying yesterday about professional sportsmen and filthy lucre and raise your glass to Robbie Savage, a man of integrity.

More grist for the rumour mill

2006-07-05T12:07:00.000-07:00

You turn your back for a few days and all hell breaks loose.

For those not paying attention, thecisone has previously reported that Chelsea's Carlton Cole was a transfer target for Mark Hughes along with Mido, the stroppy Eyptian striker who shone for Spurs last season.

Both, thecisone felt, would have been positive signings for Rovers following the departure of Craig Bellamy to Liverpool.

All was still on track up to Sunday evening. And now, less than 72 hours later, everything has turned around. Carlton Cole succumbs to interest from West Ham; Mido, some sources claim, decides the money isn't sufficient to leave current club Roma despite the Italian board agreeing a fee of £3.5m with John Williams; Francis Jeffers gets the sort of pay as you play deal that thecisone was advocating at the weekend, and Jason Roberts clinches a 'dream move' to Ewood Park from Wigan Athletic.

We'll reserve judgement on Jeffers. He's lost his way but maybe Sparky can rehabilitate him. Roberts is a good player who will be right at home at Rovers with his robust style of play. And Mido and Cole... well signing for West Ham shows a lack of ambition on Cole's part and if Mido has snubbed a move to East Lancashire, it just betrays his lack of imagination. What these rejections do mean is that Rovers still need to tie up a top-flight striker, pacy and skilful rather than muscular. thecisone has faith in Hughes - he's not let us down before. But it is getting difficult to see where the quality we need to shine in Europe is going to come from on the budget we have at our disposal.

Perhaps the coffers will be boosted by Sparky's summer clear out...

A devastating loss would be Lucas Neill, who has admitted that he is keeping his options open amid interest from Newcastle, Spurs, Barcelona and Monaco. His World Cup performances were no fluke and losing him would create problems at right back. If he goes, lets hope the sale reflects his value. Arsenal's Pascal Cygan is a name that Rovers are reorted to be tracking - as a replacement maybe?

Fellow Aussie Brett Emerton has long been rumoured to be a target for Everton. He's a decent squad player who many feel has never fulfilled his promise - so is it time to cash in his contract? Everton are rumoured to be ready to part with £1.5m, and the player wants to leave so he can get more games.

And recent reports suggest that Wigan haven't given up all hope of tempting Robbie Savage to switch clubs. Some reports suggest Robbie is keen to talk to Paul Jewell and Dave Whelan, despite the original 'no chance' from Hughes and Williams. While not as big a loss as Neill you have got to ask the question of whether Rovers could replace him with someone of similar quality for the £3m that is being offered. thecisone finds it difficult to believe that he would want to leave having been part of Rovers marvellous achievements last season.

But then again, these are professional sportsmen we're talking about. Us honest working folk, can't be expected to understand how these fellas think. That much money does something to traditional senses of loyalty, honour and team spirit. Or is thecisone being cynical?

Sav staying put

2006-07-01T01:02:00.000-07:00

The most hated man in English football is staying with the Premiership's most consistently belittled team. That's right - Robbie Savage is staying put, after it was revealed that John Williams actually had received a bid from near neighbours and Premiership rivals Wigan Athletic for the influential Welshman. Apparently Rovers were offered a cool £1million plus wantaway striker Jason Roberts for Sav and found it very easy to tell Paul Jewell to bugger off. It's the right decision even though at times in his brief spell with Rovers, Robbie has failed to live up to his billing. After the car crash that was his transfer from Birmingham, the man who once described himself as "the Welsh David Beckham" is finally finding his feet. Let's hope he keeps improving and we aren't left to rue the departure of the wrong Welshman this summer.

With the out door bolted, who is knocking at the in door?

The latest rumour is that Franny Jeffers is being lined up to be one of our Bellamy replacements. Cue hoots of derision from football fans everywhere that this former England international and once £8m rated striker is being given another crack at the Premiership after being dumped by Charlton and having failed so conspicuously at Arsenal. You will have to forgive thecisone from reserving judgement. Hughes rehabilitated Bellamy, Reid, Todd and Bentley to lesser or greater degrees and while the same can't be said of Jansen or Emerton we need to see what magic Sparky can perform with young Francis. An important caveat worth adding is that nobody would want to see Jeffers at Ewood on a big money deal. If he comes, he has to earn the shirt and the pay packet - one year contract with performance clauses - or he is free to continue being courted by Coventry.

There's no more news on the big name transfer targets being linked with Rovers. Carlton Cole was widely expected to sign for West Ham on Friday from Chelsea, but nothing happened. And a deal with Roma for Mido - perhaps the one player who would give Hughes a genuine replacement for Bellamy - does not appear to have progressed any. Let's hope we have something to celebrate this summer other than England lifting the World Cup.

Whelan and dealing

2006-06-29T14:38:00.000-07:00

Today's rumour is brought to you by the makers of ... bullshit.

Some sources have it that Dave Whelan and Paul Jewell are truying to poach Robbie Savage as a replacement for the excellent Jimmy bullard at Wigan Athletic. Robbie was reported to be unhappy by Rovers lack of ambition following the sale of fellow taff, Craig Bellamy, and would be open to offers. No truth in it. No suprise either to find balls coming out of Wigan, except these aren't minty and from Uncle Joe.

Sparky seems to spurting chaff out all over the show to divert the media from Rovers true striker targets.

Rumours about a move for free scoring Canary Robert Earnshaw have been played down by Norwich boss Nigel Worthington. Eight goals in 13 starts for Earnie makes him a marvel of the lower leagues. But Premiership material? He's like Kuqi - no doubt a tryer with an eye for goal, but questions remain over his top flight credentials.

Another boss in dismissive mood has been the new man at Boro, Gareth Southgate. He sent a clear hands off signal over Mark Viduka, who was reportedly being lined up for a move to Ewood Park to join fellow Aussies Lucas Neill and Brett Emerton.

And there have even been reports of a move for David Nugent of Preston North End.

thecisone believes each of these names to be part of a smokescreen operation designed to keep clubs with deeper pockets away from our real transfer targets, Mido and Carlton Cole. Whether the bright lights of the Barbara Castle Way are quite bright enough remains to be seen. When we know, you will.

Australian Exits

2006-06-27T13:08:00.000-07:00

So Australia are out of the World Cup.

I guess most English football fans will have been pleasantly surprised by the Socceroos. They seem to have gelled together in a way they don't individually in the Premiership and a way that England have so far failed to do in Germany. You could even start to feel sorry for the Aussies, particularly given the manner of the exit against Italy.

But what has the World Cup done for the only Rovers representatives, Lucas Neill and Brett Emerton?

Emerton underlined the fact that he is just so much unfulfilled potential, and has given vent to his frustrations about not being able to nail down a first team place at Rovers. Reports have been made of a desire to move to Everton. If he wants a regular start at Goodison he'll have to address the problems that have seen him slip down the pecking order at Ewood Park - a tendency to duck tackles, aimless dribbling and a reluctance to shoot. Is it any wonder that the big clubs are not waving their chequebooks in his direction?

And then there is Lucas Neill. While Ryan Nelson has quickly established himself as the fans' defensive favourite for the steel he has added to the backline, it is Rovers right-back who is now being linked with a big money move. The grounds for this rumour originiate in the Socceroos' coaching staff. Assistant coach Johan Neeskens is headed to Barcelona after the tournament and would like Neill to follow him. West Ham, Tottenham and Newcastle have reportedly also registered interest. Rovers answer seems to lie in an upgraded contract, but whether this will be enough to keep hold of a talented player who clearly appreciates his own worth remains anyone's guess. One thing is certain - losing Neill would be as bad as losing Reid for Rovers' European ambitions.

Big new signing... from Gillingham

2006-06-23T15:41:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's post predicted some big name signings. And what do we have today - a keeper from the First Division.

Although Sparky hasn't touched the war chest for transfers, he's signed up Gillingham's out-of-contract keeper Jason Brown. Yes, that Jason Brown. He's another taff, one cap and 24 years old, which is probably half Friedel's age. We aparently beat off Swansea for his signature. They issued a statement on Brown's decision: "After sleeping on the two deals, Brown decided it was in his best interests to join the Premiership side." I bet he effing slept on it - Europe or Carlisle United away. That's a tough call.

I mate of mine is a football scout, who has seen this fella play twice. First time out he reckons he could have been a reject from David James' finishing school for goalminders - not even able to catch clap in a Dutch knocking shop. Second time round he's was actually pretty good. I guess time will tell whether he's any good. I wish him well - he's finished if he effs it up in the Premiership.

Wonder what this means for benchwarmer of the year Peter Enkelman and that other hotly tipped prospect, Richard Lee?

Black armbands for the departing forward line.

2006-06-22T15:29:00.000-07:00

Well it wasn't exactly a bolt from the blue. But Craig Bellamy's decision to quit Rovers for Anfield still leaves a few bruises. In many ways he was the perfect Rovers striker - fast, deadly and a marvellous wind up merchant. But it's clear that he was only really entertaining us while a better offer came along. Sure there will be a lot written about his dream move to the club he supported as a kid and the fact that he has taken a £1million pay cut to go to Anfield, but let's leave that to the tabloids.

What every good Rovers fan will be asking now is - who's the replacement?

My sources tell me that Hughes now has a kitty of around £10million for transfers. And it might have been more if we had got market value for Bellamy, because let's face it £6m would be cheap at twice the price.

Word is that Hughes has been sniffing around the pricier London suburbs for new boys. Champions Chelsea are thought to be ready to part with Carlton Cole for around £2m and who knows whether Sparky sounded out the Special One about Carlton on the blues last visit to Ewood. And there is a persistent rumour that Rovers are well down the path of offering Mido, the Roma striker who shone for Spurs last season, a deal. No figures mentioned so far, but as another bad boy looking to rebuild his reputation he could be right at home with Reid and Todd and Savage.

Would that leave enough for a move for a midfielder? Tugay won't last forever. His replacement could be another foriegn star to come through the SPL. Petrov at Celtic has attracted £4m bids, which the Glasgow side have found easy to turn down. Would Rovers have enough in the bank and the reputation to attract him?

Let's hope so - today was a terrible day for our prospects in 2006/07.

Reid - Deal or No Deal?

2006-06-19T14:38:00.000-07:00

The CIS One

It was something of a relief to see the first reports start circluating this morning that Rovers midfield hardman Steven Reid had told Tottenham to stuff their poxy £2m bid and commit his future to Ewood Park.

But amid the bluster it becomes clear that there's no ink on the contract yet, only a handshake between Reid's agent - Kevin Moran - and Rover's boardroom warhorse, John Williams.

Reidy - according to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph - is currently on holiday.

Holiday!? Get yer arse back to work man, and get that contract signed. If there's no concrete commitment you will forgive the fans a few jitters - especially with rumours rife about half a dozen wantaways, including Bellamy, Neill and Emerton.

The fans want your name on the contract and the back of a blue and white halves shirt ASAP. Oh, and another season of kicking, shoving jostling and 35 yard screamers. Lend you a pen?

The CIS One

2006-06-19T14:12:00.000-07:00

The CIS One

Right. A statement of intent. I won't claim that this is going to be the funniest, most insightful or even the most up to date of Rovers blogs. What I will say is that I'll try and keep across the big rumours and whispers I can find on the internet. All contributions gratefully recevied.