On Soccer Saturday yesterday, a few points were made that were actually spot on. But these are mainly my own thoughts:

At the moment Steve Kean is taking the flak because the owners are never here. He’s a farcically incompetent manager but the owners aren’t getting the abuse they deserve because they are always in India, not making an effort to come here.

Steve Kean had an average at best career as a player, and will not get a job like he has now ever again, why would he resign and not get a penny, can he even afford to do so? Empathising with him for a moment and I certainly would want to prove the doubters wrong, and I wouldn’t give up money that easily.

He’s barely got any staff alongside him either. He’s juggling the managers job with tasks a chairman should be doing, the problems run far deeper than Kean. He’s having to do so much media work without a reliable and steady backdrop of a John Williams to pull him to one side and advise him on what to say and what to avoid. I am unfamiliar with Paul Hunt but we shouldn’t have shunted John like we did.

However as an incompetent and completely under qualified manager, he is the only target we really have to try and force some changes, a lot of pent up anger and vitriol is being put his way and it’s completely understandable.

However if we shout “venkys out,” we have 2 problems:
1. They aren’t here to witness our frustration and reason with us
2. There doesn’t seem to be an alternative to them unfortunately, not a viable one.

They are to blame and the lack of communication is strangling and suffocating a great club. I think it was Phil Thompson who described it as a “shambles” and “sad to see” and although I don’t really like him, he is absolutely correct.

However I want to make clear the fact I want Kean out as much as the next person. I don’t like him but that shouldn’t be a factor, and when people start saying things about drink driving, that in my opinion steers away from the main and only reason. He can’t win nearly enough football matches and we are bottom of the league. We can see why this is the case; poor fitness, lack of respect, lack of organization and discipline, poor signings and tactical naivety. 

However the main point here is that whilst we all want Kean out, there seems to be an instant reaction, an instinct to say “Kean out.” However, make no mistake about it, it’s venkys that are ruining and killing our club, Kean is just one of many people that can be associated with our downfall.

So although our instinct’s instantly point the blame in the direction of the bald fool in the dug-out when we slump to more and more defeats and suffer more pain, it’s the chicken overlords across the other side of the world that are really the turkeys as far as Blackburn Rovers are concerned.

In the last few weeks, Blackburn Rovers fans have been going to different lengths in order to convey their disgust that Steve Kean is still the Blackburn Rovers manager. Protest marches, letters, petitions and a sit-in after the 4-0 defeat at home to Manchester City, which saw a last half an hour which was littered with “Kean Out” chants bellowing around a rapidly-emptying stadium.

And let’s be frank; the desperate attempts to get Steve Kean out are understandable, his appointment was confusing and made no sense, and it has proved an incorrect appointment in that his win record is frankly abysmal, and would lead to relegation over the course of a full season. However, whereas supporters may feel they can convince the owners Venky’s to relieve Kean of his duties, it should not be lost that Venky’s deserve to foot the majority of the blame. After all, they appointed him in acrimonious circumstances, and have decided to continue to back him, despite his record proving that he is completely out of his depth as a Premier League manager.

Some outsiders may fail to understand that the flak Kean is currently receiving is perhaps perfectly understandable, and to be frank, perfectly fair. He has at this stage won barely above 20% of his Premier League games, and there is a catalogue of reasons for this. His signings, although at times promising, have failed to plug the gaps in the Rovers squad. The organization and fitness levels of the team seem to be deteriorating by each passing match, and he seems unable to motivate the squad or make game changing substitutions. It is clear that although he was a reputable coach, he lacks the required skills that are needed to be the man in charge.

However, would you really quit if you were him? Thought not. Despite claims that he is morally wrong to not resign as Rovers manager, he is now a Premier League manager on what will undoubtedly be a generous pay package. If he quits, he will miss out on a potential pay out, and due to his results, reputation and inexperience, he will struggle to get a decent managerial challenge in the future. Putting things into perspective, the responsibility is at the feet of Venky’s and Mrs Desai in particular to remove Steve Kean from his position as Rovers boss.

So now we look at Venky’s, and their year in charge which has been riddled with a series of errors. The way they have listened and trusted agents is gullible to the extreme. Their PR attempts have been laughed at, with ridiculous claims of Champions League football, signings such as Ronaldinho, Beckham and Raul, whilst an advert which saw Rovers players tucking into chicken amused people across the globe. Maybe Venky’s are too concerned about advertising their own company, because is there such thing as bad publicity? But their main mistake was surely sacking an established manager half way through a season, before replacing him with his first team coach. Bizarre in the extreme.

However Venky’s seem more than willing to hide behind the excuse that they are new to football. They are still learning. However they have brought on the problems themselves. As soon as they took over, they went about overhauling the club, meaning that trustworthy footballing men such as John Williams and Tom Finn, amongst others, where slowly eased out of the club. Venky’s will argue that they wanted to put their own stamp on proceedings, however replacing them with either family members or at times no-one at all, depending on agents in the mean-time, showed that they lacked a strategy, lacked direction and lacked a plan.

However in any line of business, if you are learning it is simple and obvious that you surround yourself with experts in your line of trade to ensure you minimize mistakes and maximise efficiency and profitability. Venky’s did the opposite. Football is an industry in which the margin of error is often small, and time to learn on the job is rarely afforded at all.

However, the remaining people within the club that understand how football works will have surely alerted the owners to Steve Kean’s woeful record in charge as manager, giving them food for thought. Also Venky’s will surely have gauged the fans’ opinion of Kean following recent results, especially as the protests were discussed and showcased throughout various media streams that will have surely found their way back to India.

So why exactly do they continue to blindly back him, knowing that his record is so poor and that the fans are so determined to drive him out? Is he aware of something that Venky’s have done which could potentially cause a lot of trouble? Are the links between Kean’s agency and the club really THAT strong? Can Venky’s not afford to pay him off? Are they unwilling to admit appointing Kean was a mistake? Who knows, but if they continue to back him they need to realise they will be held responsible if the club continues to falter.

And if Rovers are unable to climb out of the relegation zone, and if Steve Kean continues in the Rovers hot-seat, the fans may well decide to relax their hostility towards Kean and divert their attention towards directing their displeasure at the owners. After all, they would deserve to foot the blame for what is a potentially critical situation.

It is s fair to say that Steve Kean is a large symptom of the sizeable problem at Blackburn Rovers. However, perhaps Venky’s are the problem.

Being a Blackburn Rovers fan makes it extremely easy to develop a negative, pessimistic attitude. It’s hard to empathise with a Rover, but the club has an annoying habit of making life stressful. And ahead of Saturdays match against Arsenal, a small proportion of Rovers fans felt the need to protest against manager Steve Kean in an attempt to show Venky’s how they feel about a manager who undoubtedly has a record in charge that makes grim reading. An example of how things aren’t all hunky dory at Ewood Park. However, after an enthralling 4-3 win against Arsenal at Ewood Park, there is reason to feel slightly more cheerful. Here are 5 things that Rovers fans can take from Saturday’s performance that may make them feel slightly more optimistic:

1) In Paul Robinson, Blackburn Rovers have arguably one of the best and most reliable goalkeepers in the Premiership. The former England stopper made a handful of brilliant reflex saves that got his side out of jail, proving that England may yet regret alienating him from the first team squad.

2) Scott Dann and Chris Samba showed fleeting signs that they will strike up an excellent pairing at the back for Rovers. Both looked comfortable on the ground and dominated in the air, although with poor organisation at times in front of them, the goals that were conceded were mainly unavoidable on their behalf. Scott Dann has come in as a replacement for Phil Jones, who has proved that at a tender age, he is already arguably on the brink of world class and a potential future England captain. However, Dann seems a steal at £6m and will form a partnership with Samba that could be the envy of the majority of teams in the Premier League.

3) Radosav Petrovic came on as an early sub and despite looking nervous and slightly out of place in his previous appearances, the Serb grew into his shielding role in front of the back 4 and made his most convincing appearance to date. Petrovic looked to protect the defence alongside Nzonzi, who offered little help, and he tried to start attacks, playing one or two excellent passes in a performance that will do his confidence no harm at all.

4) Arguably the best player on the pitch, young Jason Lowe was outstanding and was clearly far from overawed by the occasion. Forced into a makeshift right back role early on after an injury to Michel Salgado, Lowe showed tenactity, energy, a good positional sense and bravery as he kept Arshavin quiet before the Russian was hauled off by Arsene Wenger. The young midfielder showed his adaptability and perhaps he will prove to be a versatile and crucial member of the squad, giving hope to the supporters that he is the next big thing from the Blackburn Rovers Academy.

5) One thing that Blackburn Rovers sorely lacked during the last campaign was a goal-scorer, however Yakubu has already proved that he can step up to the mantle with a couple of debut goals and an excellent display. Yakubu’s first goal was a genius, instinctive flick into the far corner and whilst his second could have easily been disallowed for offside, the Nigerian proved that he has retained the instinct of being in the right place in the right time. Aside from his excellent composure in front of goal, the former Everton striker also showed his experience and physicality with some excellent touches and link-up play that allowed the creative talents to really flourish beside him. “Feed the Yak and he will score” could yet be a regular chant at Ewood Park if Saturday is anything to go by.

So whilst everything isn’t perfect at Blackburn Rovers at the moment, a 4-3 win over Arsenal will help to relieve some of the tension that is around at the moment, and provide a timely morale boost, as well as push them out of the relegation zone.  It certainly would be fair to say that Arsenal were the architects of their own downfall at times, but if you was at Ewood Park on Saturday, you could be forgiven for feeling slightly more hopeful ahead of a tough season. One swallow doesn’t make a summer, but there were many encouraging signs at Ewood Park that Rovers perhaps are not destined for the drop as many have predicted.

Steve Kean has come under intense pressure from both the media and the club’s supporters, with many believing that he should be removed from his role as Blackburn Rovers manager. But why is Steve Kean not up to the job, and why does instant action need to be taken?

1) He will struggle to ever win over the fans – It seems inevitable that Steve Kean will struggle to convince the fans that he is the man for the job. Everyone was taken aback by his appointment, and he has done little during his spell in the hot-seat to prove that he was the correct choice to replace Sam Allardyce. Football is dictated by its audience and if the supporters continue to vent their frustrations regarding Kean, then it seems inevitable that sooner or later the inexperienced manager will be shown the door.

2) He lacks the reputation to attract quality players – Kean baffled many when he was promoted as the Rovers manager, mainly due to his obscure footballing CV, which led to him taking on a coaching role at Ewood Park. With Venky’s determined to attract star quality to Ewood Park, questions need to be raised as to whether Kean has the reputation across the world to convince players that they should come to Rovers.

3) Poor fitness levels within the squad – When managing a small town club within the Premiership’s elite, it is of imperative importance that the manager manages to gain every possible advantage in order to stay competitive and upset club’s that have had more money lavished upon it. However the fitness levels seem inadequate under the current regime, with an unparalleled amount of strains and pulls being perhaps the result of poor preparation, whilst in the vast majority of games under Kean the opposing side has taken authority and a stranglehold of the match during its latter stages, something a more experienced manager would look to rectify.

4) Poor organization – Despite being lauded as an impressive coach, Kean seems unable to organize his line-up, leaving noticeable gaps in between the defence and the midfield. Rovers were known as unforgiving from set-pieces under Sam Allardyce, however that strength has deteriorated under Kean, whilst Kean show the naivety to play a side that often leaves its full backs exposed whilst fails to press the ball adequately.

5) The internal problem of agents – Kean’s appointment was intensely criticised when it emerged he is represented by the same agency as the people who arranged the sale of the club to Venky’s. Since his appointment, a whole host of problems seem to be attributed to the costly use of agents, and sacking Kean may enable the club to remove the internal disease and any 3^rd party infringement issues.

6) The club’s media image – Although many feel that Kean is fine when it comes to press conferences, and he is optimistic albeit slightly unrealistic, Kean has been guilty of making the club a laughing stock in the media. He has also been convicted of drink driving, something he lied about in court, whilst claims of untold transfer kitties have yet to be fulfilled.

7) The numerous unemployed managers with Premier League experience – If Rovers were to part company with Steve Kean, there is a plethora of names that may not all be exciting names, but have crucial Premier League experience and are unemployed. Mark Hughes, Martin O’Neill, Claudio Ranieri, Rafa Benitez and Alan Curbishley would all be significant upgrades on Kean if any would be willing to join and work under the Venky’s umbrella. If not, the owners could plump for a younger face such as Paul Lambert, Simon Grayson or Gus Poyet, or someone with Premier League experience that may seem more realistic such as David Jones, Graeme Souness, Stuart Pearce or Gianfranco Zola.

8) An inability to drop underperforming, senior players – One thing that has frustrated the supporters during Kean’s time in charge is his blind loyalty to senior players that have perhaps not been performing to an acceptable standard. Ryan Nelsen has been strongly affected by injuries yet has been chosen when not 100% fit, whilst the likes of Morten Gamst Pedersen and Jason Roberts have been picked despite adding little to the side’s performance.

9) Poor use of substitutions – One aspect of management that perhaps shows that Kean isn’t suited to making the final decisions is his questionable use of subs. He has often made changes that have made little sense, either costing the team a result they were on course for or alternatively failing to use players in reserve that could make a difference in attack.

10) His abysmal record! – Undoubtedly the most important reason to sack Steve Kean is his win record, which is rather pitiful and stretched over a full season, would undoubtedly confine Rovers to relegation. Kean has won 20% of his 25% league matches, a record that is much less favourable when compared to his predecessor Sam Allardyce, and there has been little to suggest that his record will be changed any time soon. Kean has made a host of excuses but patience is wearing thin, and if Kean isn’t sacked sooner rather than later, the club may be prematurely on track for relegation. His record speaks for itself.

The momentum of the Blackburn Rovers supporters and their efforts to show their discontent over Steve Kean and his position as manager is becoming more and more obvious, with a 1-1 draw at Fulham doing nothing to ease the tension around someone who has always been under scrutiny ever since he replaced Sam Allardyce in the Blackburn Rovers hot-seat.

With an abysmal win record leaving Rovers in the lower reaches of the table, the supporters have decided to take action. Petitions and letters have been signed and sent in approval of Kean being removed from his role, and the frustration has led to a protest ahead of Saturday’s crucial encounter with Arsenal at Ewood Park.

Rovers are currently at the foot of the table, and may be bereft in confidence as they go into the match against Arsene Wenger’s side; however they have also been under the media spotlight for the wrong reasons. The likes of Mikel Arteta, Yossi Benayoun and Per Mertesacker seem to be efficient purchases; however the loss of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri will undoubtedly leave the Arsenal midfield fragile and lacking in star quality. A humiliating 8-2 loss at Old Trafford left pundits doubting Wenger’s future and despite a less than convincing win over Swansea and a draw in Dortmund, Kean will not be the only manager who could be forgiven for feeling slightly apprehensive in the dug-out during Saturday’s match.

So which players could potentially alleviate the pressure on their respective manager on Saturday? The game could hinge upon the battle between Robin Van Persie, who has been a scourge for Rovers during his time in England, against Scott Dann and Chris Samba. The imposing central pair where both linked with the Gunners throughout a summer of frenzied speculation, and they could be forgiven for being keen to show Wenger what he has missed out on by keeping one of the best strikers around quiet.

Rovers will be keen to pressurise a potentially fragile Arsenal defence, and Ruben Rochina proved with his goal last week that he has benefitted from his time within the Barcelona set-up, oozing technique, flair and a potent left foot. Yakubu may be given the task of irritating the centre backs with his power and strength, while Junior Hoilett, Simon Vukcevic and Mauro Formica are all capable of providing the killer piece of magic.

Arsenal meanwhile will undoubtedly look to retain possession and probe in search of an opening, meaning that Mikel Arteta is tailor made as a replacement for Fabregas. Theo Walcott will also look to exploit Rovers in full back positions as it has been proven that pace and movement down the flanks will hurt Rovers.

The home side will hope for a repeat of May 2010’s encounter, which saw Rovers come from behind to snatch a 2-1 win that went down much better with the home fans than Arsene Wenger. The Frenchman claimed that Rovers were showing aggression and fight that took them beyond the rules, however these claims seemed to be unjust with Rovers seeming to do nothing more than stand their ground. The away side got the perfect start; Robin Van Persie nodded home at the far post; however Rovers equalized on the stroke of half time when David Dunn tapped home to take his season tally into double figures. Chris Samba won the game half way through the second half, nodding home after out-jumping Fabianski in goal, something which was not to the amusement of Arsene Wenger and his team.

Looking towards Saturday and Arsenal will head to Lancashire as clear favourites despite their own worries, with the Rovers fans sure to turn on Steve Kean if Rovers go behind. Per Mertesacker will be crucial in preventing Rovers from dominating set pieces, whilst the likes of Van Persie and Walcott will undoubtedly give the Rovers defence a torrid time. Rovers will hope to use the guile of players like Hoilett and Rochina if they are to possibly snatch a first win of the season.

Key Player (Blackburn): Ruben Rochina – After scoring a screamer at Craven Cottage, the Spanish forward will be one of few players in the Rovers camp that is bristling with confidence. With a wand of a left foot and a ferocious shot, Arsenal will need to be on their toes.

Key Player (Arsenal): Per Mertesacker – Crucial for Arsenal in that he will help neutralise the home side’s threat from set pieces. If Arsenal do that, then they have the attacking fire-power to take full advantage.

Prediction: Rovers 1-2 Arsenal – Arsenal may see Saturday’s match as one to build up their confidence against a side that is rock bottom of the league. With a squad containing less quality or depth than their North London opponents, Steve Kean will prove that he lacks the necessary nous or expertise to cause a stir against one of the bigger teams.

The speculation has been slowly accumulating. With Blackburn Rovers still searching for their first point of the season after 3 unsuccessful matches, could Steve Kean, who has been described as “unsackable” by owners Venky’s during his brief tenure as manager, be possibly in danger of losing his job if Rovers slip to a fourth successive defeat at Craven Cottage?

Steve Kean has never been the most popular of figures around Ewood Park, and with threats of protests, a reduced number of season tickets and a constant barrage of articles undermining Kean and the less than convincing job that he is doing as manager, rumours are gathering pace that Venky’s are starting to sit up and take note, with one newspaper even suggesting that a shortlist of potential replacements has been discussed. Kean has attempted to continue with a positive mindset despite the calls for his head, however his record doesn’t lie and if he remains in the hot-seat, Venky’s could very well own a Championship outfit if they are not careful at the end of the season.

Ironically there were rumours that the main sources of authority within Venky’s had met prior to Rovers’ last visit to Fulham, with hints escalating from the media that Steve Kean could very well seal his fate with a loss. Rovers went on to lose 3-2 after a dubious last minute penalty converted by Bobby Zamora, however an apparent change of heart left Kean in a job and Rovers in a final day survival scrap, which they managed to overcome. But would they be so lucky again?

Meanwhile at the Cottage, Martin Jol has taken over from former-Rover Mark Hughes; however they have also failed to convince this season with only 1 point from 3 games. However the Dutchman can point to the fact that Fulham have had a back-log of fixtures due to excursions in the Europa League before the Premier League campaign had began, meaning that their pre-season schedule was compromised, and they have had to play many more competitive matches already this season than any of their rivals. Jol is an experienced and knowledgeable manager with a healthy reputation across Europe, and he encourages entertaining football, as was apparent during his time across the capital at Tottenham Hotspur.

Both squads were added to on a frantic transfer day, and both Kean and Jol will have to make do with the squads currently at their disposals after a busy and rewarding summer. Kean has claimed that only now should he be judged following the last day captures of Yakubu, Scott Dann and Jordan Slew. Yakubu joined for a fee of approximately £1.5m from Everton and is the result of a summer long search for a striker, and while it may be far from the most exciting name around, if fit the Nigerian has proven that he can score goals at Premier League level, and he will share the burden with fellow summer signing David Goodwilie. Scott Dann seems to be a rather shrewd piece of business, joining Rovers from Birmingham for around £6m after a summer which saw the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool linked with the highly-rated defender, whilst Jordan Slew was a last moment capture from Sheffield United and is seen as one for the future.

At Fulham Martin Jol managed to secure the much sought after services of Bryan Ruiz from FC Twente for a fee believed to have topped £10million. The Costa Rican attacker joins with a glowing reputation following his goal-scoring exploits in the Eredivisie, however he joins what is undoubtedly a much more challenging league and Ruiz will be hoping to make an impression more a-like to Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Luis Suarez, rather than flops such as Mateja Kezman and Afonso Alves. Fulham also snapped up former Juventus defender Zdenek Grygera and Porto striker Orlando Sa, giving Martin Jol more options which will be welcomed during a busy season with European commitments.

A memorable confrontation between the two sides took place in April 2004, when Rovers managed to sneak a 7 goal thriller at Fulham’s then adopted stadium of Loftus Road. Rovers were amidst a relegation battle and were desperate for the three points, and looked to have put themselves in the perfect position when Andy Cole lashed home the opener. However Fulham managed to overturn Cole’s effort with a brace from Collins John, meaning that Fulham went into the half time interval holding a 2-1 lead. Within 6 minutes of the second half, Rovers had managed to pull the contest back in their favour in what was a dramatic clash between the two teams; a Jonathan Douglas shot and a ferocious Lorenzo Amoruso free-kick meant that Rovers led 3-2. However the lead didn’t last long, something which was typical of the match as a whole as Luis Boa Morte ran through before slotting past Brad Friedel. The winner arrived 15 minutes from full time, Jon Stead hitting an effort under Edwin Van Der Sar and ensuring that Rovers would earn 3 valuable points in what turned out to be a successful battle against relegation.

Looking forward and it is difficult to envisage a thrilling encounter in front of the Sky Cameras, with both sides lacking in confidence following their less than impressive starts to the season. Both sides may well attempt to play a more attractive brand of football, and it may take a piece of magic from someone like Bryan Ruiz or Junior Hoilett to win the game for their respective side. Fulham are usually organized at Craven Cottage, however Rovers can boast defenders such as Chris Samba and Scott Dann, meaning that it could take one piece of inspiration or a goal from a set-piece to win the game and kick start one team’s season.

Key Player (Fulham): Clint Dempsey – Dempsey has often proved to be a pain in the side of Rovers in the past, with the American being known to chip in with a goal against them over the years. A winger who is comfortable on the ball or in the air, Dempsey has proved the scourge of Rovers in the past and it would be no surprise if he ended up on the score-sheet on Sunday.

Key Player (Blackburn): Scott Dann – A player with a growing reputation, Rovers’ new signing will need to strike up an instant understanding with Chris Samba if Rovers are to come away with anything on Sunday. A colossus in both boxes, he should easily fit in at Rovers in what is arguably one of the best central defensive pairings outside of the top 4.

Prediction: Fulham 1-1 Rovers – With both sides low on confidence, a cagey draw is feasible, with neither side having the nous required to snatch all 3 points.

Following the close of the transfer window (a round-up can be found below), an international break has allowed the dust to settle on the transfer business throughout the football world. Fans can now accurately decide on where their side can realistically expect to finish, and this is no exception at Ewood Park, where things have been rather frantic during a busy summer of wheeling and dealing. But where is the squad now strong and where may it be tested, especially as the season moves into the jam-packed winter months?

Goalkeepers: Blackburn Rovers have no problem in goal, with Paul Robinson proving his ability as one of the more dependable stoppers in the league during the last campaign, which saw him deservedly win the club’s player of the year award. He is backed up by Mark Bunn, who has proved himself to be more than a capable deputy during his brief appearances, whilst Jake Kean is the most promising young goalkeeper on the club’s books, showing enough potential to see Rovers finally rubber-stamp a permanent move away for Frank Fielding.

Verdict: Rovers have no worries between the sticks, with both the first and second choice showing ability that wouldn’t be out of place in a top ten side.

Defence: Looking firstly at the left-back position, and Steve Kean has seemingly warmed to the idea of employing Martin Olsson within the defence, despite suggestions that the Swede is wasted in that role, whilst also showing positional frailties that can be overcome by pushing him forward. Meanwhile Gael Givet is a more dependable and defensive left back, who can also fill in it at centre back and is always likely to flourish in either position. At centre back, and Givet aside, Rovers have 4 other centre backs, with the most likely first choice partnership being Chris Samba and Scott Dann, a partnership that Arsenal supporters may rue missing out on in the coming months. Ryan Nelsen is dependable when available but seems to be sadly consigned to an injury-ridden end to his career, whilst Grant Hanley is the main prospect in the heart of defence, although he has looked slightly jittery during his forays into the starting eleven. A slight quirk to the Rovers squad is that although Michel Salgado is regarding by many as probably the most vulnerable member of the strongest starting 11, he also has become arguably the most important because if the experienced Spaniard suffers a serious injury, Steve Kean has very little in the way of quality back-up following the departure of utility man Brett Emerton.

Verdict: The first choice back 4 is amongst the strongest outside of the top 6, with a centre back pairing of Dann and Samba in particular showing dominance, authority and domestic experience. However the lack of back-up may be an issue during the upcoming months.

Midfield: The Rovers squad is now starting to demonstrate the quality in creativity that fans have been crying out for. Within Vukcevic, Formica, Rochina and Dunn all competing for a starting berth, the squad finally contains a variety of players that are capable of using flair and technique to open up the defences of the more stubborn defences, a tool that will be crucial in particular during matches against similar outfits who visit Ewood Park. Martin Olsson can express his attacking ability in a more advanced role, and him and close friend Junior Hoilett also mean that Rovers have pace and movement that even the better teams in the League will fear. Morten Gamst Pedersen however seems to have passed his sell-by-date at the club, whilst Vince Grella infuriates the fans with his injury woes, which means that he cannot prove that he is in fact a rather assured holding midfielder. Meanwhile Steven Nzonzi does a quiet but effective job in front of the back four, and Radosav Petrovic has plenty of promise having shown his vision and dominance in the centre of the park whilst representing Serbia and previous club Partizan Belgrade.

Verdict: Rovers fans have the right to feel optimistic that there is plenty of youthful promise within the midfield options available to the manager, with Nzonzi, Lowe, Petrovic, Formica, Olsson, Rochina and Hoilett all yet to reach their peak. However with Simon Vukcevic also being a newcomer to the Premier League, a lack of experience and guidance could be a potential problem, with David Dunn on his last legs and Morten Pedersen not really up to the standards that are required.

Attack: A last minute move for Yakubu was seemingly a desperate attempt to boost the firepower at the club, following a summer of scouring the globe for an affordable name to fit the bill. Although the Nigerian has struggled for form and fitness since a serious Achilles injury, he did however find his goal scoring form during a loan spell at Leicester last season and if he can keep his fitness intact, he may be capable of hitting double figures if persevered with. David Goodwillie has also come in, and he will need to adapt quickly to add another dimension to the Rovers attack, however Jason Roberts seems unable to have an impact on matches anymore, meaning that Rovers are light on numbers which will be a slight concern.

Verdict: Yakubu and Goodwillie may both chip in with a useful amount of goals, however it seems doubtful that Rovers have the goal scoring capability to usurp previous goal tallies, meaning that goals will need to be contributed from midfield if Rovers are to survive.

Manager: Seemingly despised by his own fans and seen as a laughing stock by the media, there are even suggestions that the owner’s patience is being tested due to Steve Kean’s clear incompetence during his time in charge. Appointed in controversial circumstances, Kean came in with the intention if playing a more expansive style of football; however this was less than successful as he diverted a club comfortably in mid-table to the brink of relegation during a strenuous second half of the season. With a record of less than a point per game, Kean will be aware that he has nowhere to hide, and following a horrific start to the season, an experienced replacement has already been mooted to replace someone who is clearly out of his depth.

Verdict: A new manager is critical to Rovers’ prospects, with Kean lacking both the tactical nous and the ability to organize his side, whilst his bizarre team selections and frustrating use of substitutions costing the side on many occasions.

Although the squad has various strings to its bow in terms of quality and variety, the inexperience of Steve Kean will most likely mean that the squad will struggle to fulfill its potential and yet again see itself overwhelmed by a relegation struggle. However if the owner’s show the bravery to admit their mistake and relieve Kean of his duties, a more experienced manager could then come in and quite conceivably guide the club to a comfortable finish. The importance of a quality manager should not be underestimated.

After a frantic conclusion to the summer transfer window, with various clubs leaving their wheeling and dealing until the last minute, the door has firmly slammed shut on any transfer business until January at the earliest. Only now is it fair to judge the operations at Blackburn Rovers under the ownership of Venky’s, and run the rule over the net expenditure and quality of the players heading into Ewood Park, and conversely those that have headed for the exit door.

So firstly, which players are no longer amongst the Blackburn Rovers squad? During the earlier weeks of the summer, a battle ensued as to who would secure the much sought after services of Phil Jones, with Rovers ideally holding onto a player who is held in high regard by many, including those involved in the England national team hierarchy. After a media tug-of-war between Rovers and a few interested parties, Manchester United managed to win the battle for his signature. This sale however did pump at least £16million into the Ewood Park coffers, with a further £4million earmarked if certain eventualities occur.

Neglected Croatian forward Nikola Kalinic also headed out of Ewood Park, with Dnipro parting with £6million to land the striker, whilst Frank Fielding joined Derby County for approximately half a million pounds, meaning that Rovers managed to turnover over £22million. Other senior figures left the club due to their loan deals or permanent contracts expiring, including Jermaine Jones, Roque Santa Cruz and Benjani, whilst a few players that could easily be described as ‘deadwood’ also have gone on to seek pastures new, including Maceo Rigters, Jason Brown and Zurab Khizanishvili. Meanwhile Brett Emerton has gone home to join Sydney FC after being given special dispensation due to his loyalty and commitment shown during a lengthy spell at the club.

Of course, to compensate for these outgoing players, the club spent the summer frantically looking for the right calibre of players that could hopefully improve the squad. The 8 players that have joined Blackburn Rovers are:

Scott Dann(Birmingham City)  - 10/10

Dann has been linked with many prestigious clubs such as Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea, and Rovers will feel that they have really shown their intentions with the signing of the dominant centre back. The centre back was one of many players that became available following Birmingham’s relegation, and at around £6million, the club will feel they have managed to fill a huge void left by the loss of Phil Jones with an established player with plenty of ability and also room for improvement. Dann is comfortable on the ball and commanding in both penalty areas, and should strike up arguably the best central defensive partnerships outside of the top 6 with Chris Samba.

Bruno Ribeiro(Free Agent)  -  3/10

Following a rather modest career in the murky backdrop of Brazilian football, it came as a bit of a surprise that Rovers decided to sign Bruno Ribeiro on the back of a successful trial. There will be a considerable question mark as to whether Ribeiro can adapt to the English style of play, however despite the deal seeming slightly bizarre, Ribeiro may be needed with first choice right back Michel Salgado seemingly on his last legs and alternative Brett Emerton now plying his trade down under in Sydney. 

Myles Anderson(Free Agent)  -  1/10

The deal that takes Myles Anderson to Ewood Park contains a rather poignant smell of a deal arranged by an agent with the intention of quick financial gain, and Anderson’s father Jerome has far from a virtuous reputation within the footballing community. Anderson has failed trials at Blackburn Rovers and even various SPL teams in the past, making the current arrangement seem all the more bizarre.

Radosav Petrovic(Partizan Belgrade)  -  7/10

Already established as a regular in the Serbian national team despite his relatively tender age, Petrovic made himself a reputation as a tough tackling central midfield player who can pop up with valuable goals, both on the domestic and continental stage during his time in Belgrade. The Serb has been previously been touted with moves to various European giants, and alot of extensive scouting and deliberation seems to have gone into what seems a bargain deal, with the only question mark being his ability to adapt to the English style of play. However it could be a difficult task to emulate the impressive performances of former loan star Jermaine Jones.

Simon Vukcevic(Sporting Lisbon)  -  8/10

Vukcevic is a naturally gifted and talented playmaker that could really flourish and turn into a bargain at £2million, dependant on the midfielder’s work-rate and commitment. The Montenegrin main-stay has bags of ability and creativity that could prove to be a crucial weapon within the Rovers armoury, however he has also fallen out with managers at previous clubs and it may be difficult for Steve Kean to control such a complex character.

Yakubu(Everton)  -  6/10

A deal that really could go either way, Yakubu has proven himself to be a clinical finisher during his lengthy stay in England, however the Nigerian can also be accused of being lazy and enigmatic and it may be that the bulky striker turns into a bargain at approximately £1.5million, or a flop on a high salary that fails to provide the goals. One thing that also should be noted is the fact that Yakubu may well be considered first choice striker, and supporters could be forgiven for being slightly underwhelmed at the result of a summer-long search for a first-choice goal-getter.

David Goodwillie(Dundee United)  -  7/10

Rovers managed to beat off competition from numerous clubs, most notably Rangers to sign the young Scottish forward for a fee believed to be in the region of £2million. Goodwillie will be confident about his chances of success after winning the Scottish Young Player of the Year award, and the busy livewire has already made an impression with the supporters during his brief cameos. However Goodwillie will be eager to ignore off-the-field issues that riddled his time in Scotland, including a court case which may threaten to de-rail his progress.

Jordan Slew(Sheffield United)  -  6/10

Part of a successful youth team at Brammall Lane, Rovers will believe they have picked up an excellent prospect in Slew, who is rumoured to have signed for around £1million. The forward has already made an impact in the Sheffield United first team, whilst his caps for the England under 19’s will only further enhance his reputation.

Overall, the deals for Vukcevic, Petrovic and Dann in particular seem to be signs that Rovers have been shrewd and intelligent in the transfer market this summer, especially on the back of what seemed to be a disheartening blow in the loss of potential future England star Phil Jones. There could be qualms however with the lack of a prolific, first choice goal-scorer following a summer-long search, whilst certain areas such as right back and defensive midfield seem particularly vulnerable in terms of a lack of real depth.

Although the business seems to be intelligent work in the main, it must not be forgotten that the club has actually made a profit of over £7million in terms of transfer fees. This will do little to ease fears of some supporters that Venky’s lack sufficient funding, or even are involved to simply ‘make a quick buck.’

After concluding these summer deals, it could be argued that Blackburn Rovers’ strongest starting line-up would be:

Robinson

Salgado  Dann  Samba  Olsson

Petrovic  Nzonzi

Hoilett  Formica  Vukcevic

Yakubu

There’s an old cliché in football; that it’s a game of 2 halves. This encounter however was more of a game of 3 penalties. And a barrel full of late drama.

Both Blackburn Rovers and Everton went into the game on Saturday low on confidence, with both sides yet to get off the mark in terms of League points. Steve Kean clearly went for a preference towards experience in his team selection, however Morten Gamst Pedersen and Jason Roberts are hardly fans favourites and supporters could have been forgiven for hoping that the likes of Mauro Formica, David Goodwillie, Ruben Rochina and new-boy Simon Vukcevic would be trusted to hopefully get Rovers off the mark. Meanwhile Everton’s line-up had a “same old” feel to it, with David Moyes very limited in the amount of flexibility he has been given in the transfer market, causing him to attempt to make compromises with the playing staff currently at his disposal.

Nerves were apparent within both teams. But in a first half bereft of ideas, the primary chance fell to David Dunn, following some improvised dribbling near the by-line from Junior Hoilett. On receiving the pass, Dunn jinked inside and directed a slightly scuffed shot across goal which collided with the base of the post and span away.

However just before the half time interval, Rovers were forced into a double substitution, with Morten Gamst Pedersen and David Dunn pulling up. The former had been ineffectual, often ducking out of challenges, although to be fair “Dunny” had been dictating the game from deep with a degree of success. However the introduction of Radosav Petrovic and in particular, Argentine playmaker Mauro Formica added a youthful exuberance and energetic outlet that had been sorely lacking, meaning that a double change that was forced onto Kean wasn’t perhaps as harmful as it may have seemed.

Rovers came out of the traps flying in the second half, and almost instantly managed to concoct a crucial opportunity; a penalty. Mauro Formica, who had looked lively since entering the fray, showed expert footwork and with a quick turn of feet in the box, managed to draw his gullible opponent into dangling out a leg, a leg he wasn’t adverse to going down over. Junior Hoilett grabbed the ball, looking confident that he could, in the absence of regular taker David Dunn, give Rovers a lead and something to hold on to. However his run up was laboured and his kick lacked confidence or power, giving Tim Howard an easy save that was nowhere near the corner of the net. The follow up was subsequently cleared from the danger zone, and Rovers fans feared that they had just seen a missed chance that could come back to haunt them.

Everton only really could offer a Leighton Baines drive to trouble Rovers goalkeeper Paul Robinson, whereas the home side really pushed for an opener, and Steve Kean decided to haul off the anonymous Jason Roberts and replace him with Scottish livewire David Goodwillie in an attempt to provide a catalyst. He instantly made an impact and showed superb link-up with Formica, with the two combining to allow Goodwillie to cannon an effort onto the top of the bar. Desperately unlucky. The two combined soon after, with Goodwillie beating his man and showing the awareness to pass to his Argentine accomplice, who could only draw a save from Tim Howard.

As the clock ran down, and with it seeming more and more likely that a stalemate would prevail, Formica again drove into the box and manipulated the defender into committing himself, leading to a second penalty for the home side. The players in blue and white couldn’t believe their eyes. Formica instantly helped himself up and snatched the ball; there was only one player who was taking this. He seemed to have much more confidence than Hoilett. He sent Howard the wrong way. Yet the ball cannoned off the foot of the post, Rovers had missed two penalties and it seemed nothing could possibly make the season worse. Wrong….

A hopeful punt into the Rovers box seemed to be cleared in commanding fashion by Chris Samba, however the referee felt the need to award a third penalty for climbing over Fellaini. Extremely harsh. An atmosphere of bemusement and bewilderment was apparent around the ground as Arteta stepped up to stroke the penalty home, sending the visiting Evertonian’s in to raptures. The players fell to the floor, hands over heads; they couldn’t believe they had allowed the game to slip from their grasp.

Just before the final whistle, the ball trickled into the manager’s dugout, and Kean stepped out and picked up the ball to a chorus of boos. It was the loudest Ewood Park was all afternoon. That tells its own story.

Paul Robinson: 6/10 - Largely untested apart from one Leighton Baines shot which he did well to parry. Can’t be blamed for penalty.

Michel Salgado: 6/10 – Looked much more solid, and his lack of pace was rarely exposed. Has the tactical awareness to succeed.

Chris Samba: 7/10 – An imposing and commanding display which was soured by giving away a penalty. Showed 100% commitment and even the odd marauding run, but was slightly naive regarding the penalty incident.

Gael Givet: 7/10 – Looked solid following a recent illness, and showed his excellent awareness and reading of the game. Good partnership with Samba.

Martin Olsson: 7/10 – Seemed slightly less vulnerable in a defensive role, whilst providing an attacking outlet on the overlap.

Steven Nzonzi: 6/10 – Did what he always does. Breaks things up and allows other players to get on with their things.

David Dunn: 6/10 – Was starting to control the tempo and dictate before succumbing to injury.

Brett Emerton: 6/10 – Solid on his farewell appearance, without really stamping his authority. Will be missed by the club.

Junior Hoilett: 6/10 – Always looks a threat, and is a player that will excite and get fans off their feet. However could be adjudged of being slightly selfish on occasions, and doesn’t seem to be 100% fit.

Morten Gamst Pedersen: 4/10 – Poor performance by a player past his best, before picking up a knock. Disappointing set-pieces and constantly ducked out of challenges.

Jason Roberts: 3/10 – Truly awful. Never jumped for the ball, constantly argued with officials, showed a heavy touch and even blocked a Rovers shot, summing up his performance. Not a Premier League striker.

Subs:

Radosav Petrovic: 5/10 – Mixed bag from the young Serb. At times he seemed positionally suspect, whilst although his confidence to spray long passes is welcome, sometimes he wasted the ball unnecessarily.

Mauro Formica: 8/10 – Showed why he should be a regular with some exquisite touches and flicks, and constantly probed and looked to break through the Everton defence. Won 2 penalties, and although he missed one, his overall vision, flair and skill makes him a player that is vital to Rovers’ relegation hopes. STAR PLAYER.

David Goodwillie: 7/10 – A real bright spark when he entered the fray, Goodwillie looked lively and busy, making intelligent runs and hitting the cross bar during his brief cameo.

Blackburn Rovers and Everton will both head into Saturday’s encounter at Ewood Park relatively low on confidence, with the two sides sharing the unwanted ‘honour’ of being amongst the 4 sides that have yet to get off the mark. (Although it must be noted that Everton and Tottenham have played just a single game.) However both sides will look to take inspiration from their midweek cup triumphs over the Sheffield sides, with Rovers beating Wednesday 3-1 and Everton conquering United by the same score-line. These Carling cup victories, albeit welcome, will not be enough however to satisfy the respective supporters if their club heads into the international break without picking up a single point, meaning that the teams could be forgiven for feeling slightly apprehensive ahead of such an important game so early into the new season.

The Ewood Park faithful will be bidding faithful to one of its most loyal and respected servants on Saturday, following the news that Brett Emerton is to head back home and join Sydney FC after Saturday’s match. Emerton is versatile and has plenty of valuable experience and commitment, meaning that he is sure to receive a vocal and deserved farewell on what will be an emotional day for the midfielder. Meanwhile Rovers fans could also see his potential replacement, with confirmation of the arrival of playmaker Simon Vukcevic from Sporting Lisbon coming in time for the Montenegro international to play a part against the Toffees.

During the last few months at Everton, you would be more likely to be greeted by tumbleweed rather than a potential new addition if you dared to stray into the Everton negotiation room. Business has been eerily quiet, and the impression from Bill Kenwright is that the lack of incoming players is unlikely to change, with the cash-strapped club unable to borrow anymore from the bank, causing some supporters to believe that Kenwright should put his emotional attachment to one side and look to sell to wealthier owners. In the meantime David Moyes will again be expected to work wonders with the resources at his disposal, with a lot of excitement circling around young protégée Ross Barkley, while the Premier League know-how of Fellaini, Cahill, Arteta, Jagielka, Neville and Baines will no doubt ensure that the club finishes comfortably beneath the top 6 yet comfortably away from a relegation battle.

Rovers suffered their second successive League defeat last weekend against their arch-nemesis Aston Villa, with Gabriel Agbonlahor, Emile Heskey and Darren Bent all scoring in a 3-1 win for the hosts at Villa Park in what turned out to be a miss-match in firepower. Meanwhile at Goodison Park Everton where shocked in their first game of the new campaign, with recently-promoted QPR managing to grind out a 1-0 win due to a Tommy Smith goal, only adding fuel to the fire regarding the fans claims that more money needs to be invested into the playing squad.

Looking back to 2008, and the 16^th of August showcased a memorable game between the two sides at Goodison Park, with Rovers snatching a 3-2 win following an injury time winner. Paul Ince was making his managerial debut with Rovers, whilst one striking parallel from Everton’s perspective is again they had failed to add to their squad 3 years ago. David Dunn’s beautifully curled strike was overturned by goals from Mikel Arteta and Yakubu, however Roque Santa Cruz quickly pulled Rovers level in what was a pulsating opener to the new season. The game seemed destined to be a draw until Andre Ooijer reacted quickly during injury time to convert and give Paul Ince a dream debut in what actually turned out to be a nightmare half season in charge of the club.

Looking forward towards Saturday’s game and it seems likely that due to the lack of confidence in both camps, the first goal will be crucial. Neither outfit has a consistent goal-scorer, meaning that the likes of Vukcevic, Hoilett and Formica for Rovers and Arteta, Cahill and Osman for Everton may be crucial in providing the firepower in order to snatch the 3 points. The expected return of Rovers captain Chris Samba could be decisive, and he could help shore up a defence that has looked frail and brittle in recent times.

Key Player (Blackburn Rovers): Chris Samba – It will be a big boost to everyone connected with Rovers to see Chris Samba back in action, with a move to a Champions League club seemingly unlikely to materialize in the near future. The centre back provides a reassuring presence and aura at the back, whilst adding a goal threat to a team that needs all the fire-power it can get.

Key Player (Everton): Ross Barkley – A young, skilful player blessed with flair and natural ability, Barkley has already been sounded out as a potential future England star by Fabio Capello, showing how talented the young star is. Barkley will aim to add a sense of unpredictability to Everton’s play, and although he is raw, he is capable of the unexpected.

Prediction: Rovers 1-0 Everton – In a tight, cagey affair, a Rovers goal will knock the stuffing out of the visitors, who will be unable to piece together an equalizing goal.

So Aston Villa v Blackburn, a match that the respective supporters could be forgiven for failing to be excited, following the number of times the two sides have met in the last few years. Carling Cup matches? You bet. FA Cup? Of course. The clubs were even drawn together in the Hong Kong pre-season tournament!

But anyway, how did Villa and Rovers start their seasons? Villa were involved in a dour and uninspiring goalless draw at Craven Cottage, which undertook a similar pattern to the work of new manager Alex McLeish at his previous club, local rivals Birmingham City. Villa looked organized at the back with James Collins and Richard Dunne looking dominant and flawless in the air, however even with Darren Bent in the side they failed to hit the back of the net, something which McLeish may be concerned about considering that last season’s chief creators Ashley Young and Stewart Downing have departed in the summer.

Meanwhile Rovers faced what seemed to be a relatively straight-forward opener against Wolves at Ewood Park; however the home side slipped to an uninspiring 2-1 defeat, in which Mauro Formica’s debut opener was cancelled out by Steven Fletcher, before Stephen Ward thumped home the winner following a missed Kevin Doyle penalty. Rovers where without Samba, Nelsen, Givet and Petrovic, and the defeat really showed the lack of depth within the squad, evident with the likes of Nick Blackman, Adam Henley, Myles Anderson and Bruno Ribeiro all making up the numbers on the bench, and Steven Nzonzi and Grant Hanley making up a rather unorthodox centre back partnership.

Things have been quiet at Villa Park during the week, with McLeish seemingly happy with the players at his disposal. However things have been slightly more eventful in Lancashire, with reinforcements becoming a glaringly obvious necessity following the result last season. Un-deterred from a rejection from Raul, Rovers have reportedly seen bids accepted; Simon Vuckevic seeming the most imminent and likely addition, whilst Nedum Onouha, George John, VevadIbisevic, Henri Lansbury and Danny Wilson all seemingly under the Ewood Park radar.

Looking back and the most memorable game between the 2 sides in recent years is the 2^nd leg of the Carling Cup in 2010 at Villa Park. The game saw a remarkable 6-4 score line in favour of the home side, and catapulted Villa to Wembley following their 1-0 triumph at Ewood Park. Nikola Kalinic had put Rovers in the driving seat with a couple of quick-fire goals, however this was short-lived as Villa hit 5, whilst Rovers were reduced to 10 men following Chris Samba’s dismissal. Martin Olsson and Brett Emerton pulled back a couple of consolations; however Ashley Young’s cool finish in injury time put the gloss on an amazing triumph for the side in claret and blue.

Aston Villa will be highly reliant on Darren Bent from a goal scoring perspective starting on Saturday, whilst the likes of Charles N’Zogbia, Mark Albrighton, Stephen Ireland and Gabriel Agbonlahor are capable of causing most teams problems, especially Rovers if they are still suffering from injuries within their defence. Shay Given is a slight doubt with a groin injury that he picked up last week, however he should be fit to face one of his old clubs and provides a steady, dependable and commanding presence behind any defence. Richard Dunne and James Collins will ensure that Villa are seldom threatened aerially, whilst Stiliyan Petrov will look to dictate the tempo in the centre of the park. One potential problem could be the supporters however, who have not taken well to the appointment of McLeish from rivals Birmingham City, and they could turn on the team if they go a goal behind early on.

Rovers meanwhile will aim to try and bring in defensive reinforcements before travelling up, as Gael Givet seems extremely unlikely to recover from illness in time to play, whilst Ryan Nelsen and Chris Samba have only just resumed training. Steve Kean will be desperate to avoid the farce against Wolves which saw midfielder Steven Nzonzi and rookie Grant Hanley run ragged by the Wolves attack. Radosav Petrovic has received the documentation need to play however, and he can provide energy, bit and creativity from the centre of the park. Rovers fans will be excited however by the promise shown by Mauro Formica, and the goal scoring burden may be placed on his and Junior Hoilett’s shoulders, as Jason Roberts has proven that he isn’t prolific whilst Kean seems likely to blend David Goodwillie into the side slowly.

Key Player (Aston Villa): Darren Bent – A proven goalscorer at this level, however chances may be at a premium unless N’Zogbia and Albrighton can emulate Ashley Young and Stewart Downing, who provided consistent supply before their summer departures.  Bent has pace and a poachers instinct however, and is difficult to stop.

Key Player (Blackburn Rovers): Mauro Formica – Formica plays in the hole just off a main striker and likes to roam and get involved in the build up play. It may be up to the Argentinean youngster to create or even score a goal if Rovers are to take anything back to Ewood Park.

Prediction: Villa 2-0 Rovers – If Aston Villa can score the first goal to calm their vocal supporters, a home win should ensue with Rovers suffering from defensive absentees.

It’s back! The first set of fixtures of a Premier League season is always eagerly anticipated, with supporters finalising their fantasy football team, purchasing the new shirts and frothing at the mouth over the new additions to their squad.

At Blackburn Rovers the mood of the fan-base has been difficult to gauge, with a handful of optimists trying to drown out the moans and groans of fans who believe that owners Venky’s have failed to put their money where their mouth is during their slightly arduous reign at the helm. The owners have pocketed the significant turnover from the sale of Phil Jones to Manchester United without yet replacing him, whilst David Goodwillie seems unlikely to trouble the League’s top scorers, and Radosav Petrovic seems a talented yet cost-effective way of replacing target and former loanee Jermaine Jones.

Putting the summer ordeals to one side and it is very difficult to dampen the mood of excitement ahead of a new season, with Blackburn preparing to face Wolverhampton Wanderers. It was known beforehand that Petrovic had failed to secure his Visa in time, whilst Ryan Nelsen is currently injured and Chris Samba was also expected to miss out. However eye-brows were raised when Gael Givet was an absentee (illness), leaving a makeshift centre back duo of Grant Hanley and midfielder Steven Nzonzi, whilst Mauro Formica and Jason Roberts got the nod in attack, leaving David Goodwillie on what was a very inexperienced bench. Meanwhile Wolves were able to field Kevin Doyle and Jamie O’Hara after slight niggles, whilst new addition Roger Johnson spear-headed the defence following his move from Birmingham.

The game started at quite a frantic tempo considering it was the season opener, with Junior Hoilett almost opening the scoring when his scrambled effort was clawed away by Wayne Hennessey. However the home side where not to be denied and after 20 minutes Argentine international Mauro Formica capped his overall impressive display with a confidence-boosting goal. The playmaker latched onto a ball following some useful work from Jason Roberts before coolly stroking the ball past Hennessey, despite a touch from the Welsh goalkeeper.

However the lead did not last long, a couple of minutes in fact as the depleted and patched up Rovers rearguard were exposed, as Matt Jarvis sent in an inviting cross that was met by former Burnley striker Steven Fletcher. Afterwards the game fizzled out slightly, and the fans hoped that half-time would be a catalyst to a frantic second half.

And within a minute of the second half, a penalty was awarded. Matt Jarvis’ tricky feet drew a foul from the ageing Michel Salgado, a decision that would have required little deliberation from referee Kevin Friend. Kevin Doyle saw his tame effort saved by Paul Robinson, however Wolves kept the play alive and eventually Stephen Ward lashed the ball into the bottom corner, sending the travelling Wolves fans into delirium.

The game was rather cagey in the second half, with Wolves setting up tactically to destroy rather than create chances at the other hand, and Rovers struggled to break down the organized rearguard. Substitute Ruben Rochina saw a blast from the edge of the box fly just past the post, otherwise there was little to excite the home faithful.

Steve Kean has never really won over the fans support in his time in charge of Rovers, and the side that finished the game perhaps showed his tactical naivety. A midfield of Rochina, David Dunn, Junior Hoilett and Nick Blackman seemed extremely lightweight, and the Rovers engine room were perhaps out-fought by the British tenacity of Stephen Hunt, Jamie O’Hara and Karl Henry. Also with the Rovers squad looking extremely lightweight due to the injuries and player departures, Kean’s handling of El Hadji Diouf seems to have really come back to bite him, as personality issues aside, the Senegalese winger has talent, hard-work and excellent ball retention within his armoury and he would have been an excellent option to at least add to the inexperience on the bench.

Paul Robinson: 7/10 - The consistent goalkeeper didn’t really have an eventful day at the office, apart from a penalty which he did well to keep out, whilst the 2 goals were out of his control, and there was very little he could have done about them.

Michel Salgado: 4/10 – Perhaps age is starting to creep up on the experienced right back, with his lack of pace drawing a foul that cost his side a penalty. Out-jumped for the first goal.

Steven Nzonzi: 4/10 – Not a centre back and it showed. The Frenchman’s positioning was extremely suspect, and he seemed to forget on one or two occasions that he was at the back, casually strolling around with the ball when a simple clearance would have been much more fitting.

Grant Hanley: 5/10 – Looked slightly more at ease than Nzonzi as you would expect, and does have a slightly commanding aspect about him. However he doesn’t instil total confidence and seems rather error prone.

Martin Olsson: 6/10 – As expected the Swede was a threat going forward, and as the pick of the bunch defensively. However his skill and crossing skills make him much more adept as a winger than a full-back.

Junior Hoilett: 5/10 – On the periphery of the game throughout, the Canadian seemed short of fitness as he failed to convey his usually explosive style.

Brett Emerton: 5/10 – Anonomous. Didn’t come out for the second half.

David Dunn: 6/10 – Tried to dictate the tempo of the game with reasonable success.

Morten Gamst Pedersen: 4/10 – Surely the time has come for him to depart? Offered nothing during open play, shirked any challenges and had little success from set-pieces.

Mauro Formica: 8/10 – A glimmer of hope for the home fans. Seemed to know when to pass and when to retain possession, scored a well taken goal and seems to have the attributes to be a success in the Premier League. STAR PLAYER.

Jason Roberts: 5/10 – Did well to assist Formica for the opener, otherwise lacked the ball retention that was needed. Never looked like scoring.

Substitutes:

Ruben Rochina: 5/10 – A mixed bag from the Spaniard during his cameo, as he proved he has technique and flair in abundance, but also showed examples of immaturity in possession by squandering the ball when others were better positioned.

David Goodwillie: 5/10 – Looked quite bright when he came on, and excited the crowd much more than Roberts in a blunt Rovers attack. Came extremely close to a debut goal with a shot on the turn that whistled wide.

Nick Blackman: N/A – A late introduction who never really ad much of an impact out on the left.

After a thrilling season climax, ironically against Wolves, Steve Kean tried to ensure Blackburn Rover’s unconvinced fan-base that the upcoming season was one to eagerly anticipate, after a campaign that was riddled with disruption and nearly saw a side that had previously settled into mid-table safety under Sam Allardyce fall dramatically through the Premier League trapdoor.  Kean claimed regarding his promised transfer kitty for the summer that:

“It’s a very competitive budget. Miles bigger than Rovers have had in the past.”

This outlandish quote was then followed by slightly bizarre claims of Champions League football being an upcoming possibility, and reassurances that the summer would consist of maintaining the services of key players, whilst bringing in new additions that could hopefully catapult the club into Europe.

Needless to say that since this, the summer hasn’t exactly gone as fans may have expected.

Rovers have been linked with a plethora of talent, but putting the associated stellar names of Raul and Jermain Defoe to one side and you can see that the majority of incoming transfers have been plucked from the much ridiculed SPL in David Goodwillie and agent Jerome Anderson’s son Myles, hardly names that the supporters had hoped for at the beginning of the summer. One source of potential optimism is the capture of highly rated Serb Radosav Petrovic from Partizan, and he will have the mammoth task of filling a void left by enforcer Jermaine Jones, who has returned to Schalke 04 following an impressive loan spell. To add an unnecessary blow to this summer’s proceedings, Manchester United have managed to cherry-pick highly rated defender Phil Jones, and with the money yet to be fully re-invested, club owners Venky’s have a lot to do to convince the fan’ that the club is in safe hands.

Meanwhile Wolves have been going about their business in a quiet and organised manner, bringing in goalkeeper Dorus De Vries from recently promoted Swansea City, former loanee Jamie O’Hara from Tottenham Hotspur and their most prominent signing; Roger Johnson from recently relegated Birmingham City. Wolves have also managed to keep the core of their team together, with the likes of Matt Jarvis, Kevin Doyle, Nenad Milijas and Stephen Hunt all capable of defining the success that the club may or may not have this season.

I think it is fair to say that Wolves supporters will have enjoyed their summer much more than those in Lancashire, with additions to the squad and a small re-development of the stadium proving that the club seem to be slowly building strategically in an attempt to avoid any future ‘Survival Sunday’s.’ This has been a polar opposite to Rovers, who have seen a series of PR blunders, many members of staff being allowed to leave, and a transfer window that promised so much yet has thus far only led to disappointment, chaos and a fan-base demanding that Venky’s finally put their money where their mouth is.

Looking into the archives, and the last time the two sides met on the opening day of the season was in 2003, again at Ewood Park, and a match that will be one that Wolves will be happy to forget. Rovers handed out a 5-1 thrashing, with goals from Lorenzo Amoruso, David Thompson, Brett Emerton and a brace from Andy Cole sandwiching a sole Steffen Iversen consolation, in what was a painful day in the Ewood sunshine for the recently-promoted visitors.

Since Steve Kean took over the Rovers hot-seat in rather acrimonious circumstances from Sam Allardyce, he has attempted to completely revolutionise the way that Rovers play, steering away from the effective but at times less than aesthetically pleasing approach of Big Sam, and instead prioritising football which is easier on the eye, something which in retrospect has been slightly naive and risky.

The more optimistic supporters may believe that the likes of Junior Hoilett, Martin Olsson, Ruben Rochina and Mauro Formica are capable of playing stylish, attractive football and performing intricate passing moves, getting the fans off the edge of the seats in the process. This will be welcomed, however Rovers lack a natural goal scorer and it is of paramount importance that one of sufficient quality is brought in to add to David Goodwillie and Jason Roberts, especially when you consider that Nikola Kalinics’ departure seems inevitable.

Kean’s tenure will be judged based on the results he achieves however, which is why the sacking of Sam Allardyce seemed such a bizarre choice by the owners. Since Big Sam’s departure, the defensive organization that Rovers had been applauded for seemed to disappear almost instantly, with experienced and proven Premier League players such as Chris Samba and Ryan Nelsen making elementary errors that they had not done under the previous regime, something which almost proved to be an Achilles heel as Rovers slipped helplessly down the table.

Wolves meanwhile managed to upset a lot of the more dominant teams with their style of football at Molineux last season, and Mick McCarthy will be hopeful that they can manage to replicate them performances against the lesser teams if they are to be successful.

McCarthy makes sure he gets the maximum from his players, and although his squad isn’t the best technically, they attempt to make up for that with their work rate, team work and commitment. Individuals have also started to receive some deserved attention, with Matt Jarvis managing to cap off an excellent season with an England cap, whilst Arsene Wenger has commented on his admiration for hard-working striker Kevin Doyle.

So how will the match pan out? Hardly a game to excite the neutrals, but it will be seen as a fixture in which both sides will believe they are capable of picking up their first points of the campaign at the first time of asking. Fitness will no doubt play a part on the introduction to a new Premier League season, and Mick McCarthy will surely set up his hard-working outfit to stifle the home side.

Rovers will most likely line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation on Saturday, with Mauro Formica and Junior Hoilett amongst the options that Kean has in order to provide the flair and attacking threat, and Jason Roberts will most likely lead the line if a new striker isn’t obtained beforehand, and the experienced forward may cause problems due to his strength, although his technical ability and finishing often leave a lot to be desired.

Also Chris Samba’s fitness is in doubt ahead of the season opener, and his absence would really cause a headache for Kean, especially when you consider the injury problems of Ryan Nelsen and of course the departure of Phil Jones. Gael Givet is a replacement who has experience and anticipation in abundance; however his likely partner Grant Hanley is inexperienced may be someone that Wolves feel they can exploit.

Wolves are expected to continue with their 4-5-1 formation, and a central midfield of Jamie O’Hara, Nenad Milijas and Karl Henry combines craft with hard work, meaning that opposing midfields find it difficult to dominate against Mick McCarthy’s side.

Wolves are a threat from set-pieces and from opening play where Kevin Doyle is willing to run the channels and hold the ball up in order to allow the likes of Matt Jarvis and Stephen Hunt to use their flair to link up and provide a headache for defences.

Key Player (Blackburn Rovers): Junior Hoilett - The Canadian star proved to be a catalyst to Rovers surviving during the second half of a turbulent season last year, and he will be looking to further impress after being given a new lease of life within the current tactics. His pace, trickery and ability to turn defenders inside out will surely prevail throughout the season, and if he can prove he can deliver on a regular basis, the big clubs will surely start to circle and monitor, especially with his current contract negotiations yet to reach a successful conclusion.

Key Player (Wolverhampton Wanderers): Roger Johnson – Wolves showed a signal of intent when they managed to lure the recently relegated centre back from Birmingham, despite speculation that a host of clubs were interested in his signature. The centre back is a leader, and Mick McCarthy will hope that he can organise the defence with his brave, commanding and consistent performances.

Prediction: Rovers 2-1 Wolves – In a tight contest, the game might well be won in the midfield, however the flair of Hoilett and Formica should be enough to grind out a narrow victory for the hosts.

This weekend plays host to the perfect appetiser ahead of what promises to be another enthralling and dramatic campaign in the Premier League: the Manchester Derby at Wembley to contest the customary curtain raiser, the Community Shield.

But with teams starting to take place, supporters have been either wetting their lips in anticipation or dreading a campaign without their key players of seasons gone-by. So what teams will be challenging for honours, who will sit contentedly in mid-table and who will suffer a dreaded relegation battle? And which players will steal the limelight as the stars that their respective teams depend upon?

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1^st Manchester City – CHAMPIONS

As last season went on, the core of Roberto Mancini’s expensively-assembled side seemed to go from strength to strength, and any doubts over the Italian’s managerial qualities seemed to evaporate as they stormed to a 3^rd place finish as well as an overdue FA Cup victory. Sergio Aguero seems a more than adequate replacement for the seemingly outgoing Carlos Tevez, whilst in David Silva they have arguably the most gifted player in the division. Silva is someone is of the highest echelon of Spanish talent, with his technical ability, flair and eye for the pass making him the hub and focal point of City’s attacking moves. They have the star quality, the strength in depth and the manager to make them a very serious contender for a first Premier League title in their history.

Star Player: David Silva

2^nd Manchester United

Alex Ferguson seems to have managed to conclude his significant summer business as early as feasibly possible, with Ashley Young, David De Gea and Phil Jones all incoming in an attempt to add a sprinkling of enthusiasm to an already powerful squad. However the Red Devils will miss the now retired duo of Edwin Van Der Sar and Paul Scholes, with the latter leaving a gaping hole in the centre of midfield, and a lack of a deep-lying playmaker who can dictate the tempo of a match, something which Ferguson may be anxious to do something about. However Rooney and Hernandez will expect to follow the benchmark they set last season, whilst like all of Ferguson’s sides, the team are built on very firm foundations.

Star Player: Javier Hernandez  

3^rd Chelsea

New manager Andre Villas Boas will have a difficult task of spear-heading an ageing squad bereft of natural width, whilst also attempting to live up to comparison so of Jose Mourinho, a man who achieved instant success during his time at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea can boast an impressive defensive record; however the pressure will be on Fernando Torres to score the goals, whilst the injury-stricken Michael Essiens’ energy-filled displays will be sorely missed. Villas Boas could do with recruiting a playmaker and a couple of wide men in an attempt to bring a bit more variety to the Blues’ offensive armoury.

Star Player: Fernando Torres

4^th Liverpool

Questions may have been raised regarding the value for money that Kenny Dalglish has got on the deals he has concluded thus far, however one thing that cannot be doubted is the camaraderie and togetherness that the Liverpool legend has instilled during his short reign in charge. His strategy of cutting high-earning foreign players whilst bringing in promising British talent, who at times may have been purchased at more than the expected market rate, seems to have allowed smoother integration and a team that knows its strengths. Meanwhile Suarez and Carroll have the strengths to form a prolific partnership; however Dalglish will surely be on the lookout for an enhancement to the side’s defensive department.

Star Player: Luis Suarez

5^th Arsenal

The signing of exciting Ivorian Gervinho has done little to dispel doubts that Arsenal are incapable of ending their trophy draught any time soon. With Fabregas and Nasri’s future seemingly unclear, Wenger will surely need to shift from his strict stance of mainly purchasing young players or risk losing their grip on the Top 4. Also the Frenchman will need to closely analyse a current Achilles heel; the leaking of goals that could easily be stopped, and this may mean purchasing a dominant leader such as Chris Samba or Phil Jagielka who could prove to be the missing piece to knit the defence together.

Star Player: Robin Van Persie

6^th Tottenham Hotspur

After a failure to qualify for the Champions League for a second season running, the inevitable vultures have started to circle around the likes of Gareth Bale and Luka Modric, and Harry Redknapp will be anxious to prove that the North London outfit are no longer a selling club. With one of the better midfields around, Tottenham are on the lookout for a striker that can guarantee to be a reliable goal scorer, and a regular defensive partner for the commanding Michael Dawson.

Star Player: Luka Modric

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7^th Aston Villa

Will be organized under McLeish, and the pressure will be on N’Zogbia, Ireland and Albrighton to provide the ammunition for Bent.

Star Player: Darren Bent

8^th Sunderland

Steve Bruce has managed to make some shrewd signings immersed in Premiership experience, but will need to allow his recent purchases time to merge into a strong unit.

Star Player: Asamoah Gyan

9^th Everton

David Moyes will again have to cope with scarce resources at Goodison Park, preventing him from purchasing a prolific striker that would see his side compete for a European Places. However a settled squad with a handful of talented youngsters should see another comfortable campaign.

Star Player: Marouane Fellaini

10^th Stoke City

Tony Pulis’ side has many critics regarding their direct style of play, however it has proved effective and Stoke are likely to purchase players of a higher calibre to aid their upcoming European adventure. This may prove a slight (and welcomed) distraction, but the vocal Britannia crowd should ensure yet another mid-table finish.

Star Player: Ryan Shawcross

11^th Fulham

Mark Hughes’ departure caused a stir, but Fulham seem to have found a suitable replacement in Martin Jol. The squad is hard-working with snippets of genuine talent; however the extremely early introduction to the season due to the Europa League may cause problems as the season progresses.

Star Player: Brede Hangeland

12^th Wolverhampton Wanderers

Wolves will be desperate to avoid another ‘survival Sunday,’ and they have shown their intentions with the captures of Roger Johnson and Jamie O’Hara. There is talent and experience in the shape of Doyle, Jarvis and Hunt, meaning that Mick McCarthy can expect a more prosperous season ahead.

Star Player: Roger Johnson

13^th West Bromwich Albion

Roy Hodgson managed to quickly shrug off his Liverpool nightmare last season, steering West Brom to comfortable safety, and has plenty of attacking talent which he will hope to compliment with a sturdier back-line, starting with new arrival Ben Foster.

Star Player: Peter Odemwingie

14^th Bolton Wanderers

Owen Coyle may be lucky to avoid relegation battle this year, with a lack of strikers and the broken leg’s suffered by Chung Yong Lee and Tyrone Mears both threatening to curtail any ambitions they might have. They must ensure Gary Cahill stays and hope that an engine room of Nigel Reo-Coker and the soon-to-return Staurt Holden will provide the spark and energy for a comfortable season.

Star Player: Gary Cahill

15^th Newcastle United

With promises of untold riches following the sale of Andy Carroll, and the excellent early captures of Demba Ba, Sylvain Marveaux and Yohann Cabaye, the Geordie faithful would have been forgiven for being optimistic. However the promised money has failed to materialise, and key players such as Joey Barton and Jose Enrique are threatening to follow Kevin Nolan through the exit door. One word fittingly describes Newcastle United at the moment: chaotic.

Star Player: Hatem Ben Arfa

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16^th Queens Park Rangers

Egomaniac Neil Warnock has managed to win over the supporters at Loftus Road, and will need to call upon all of his experience if he is to maintain QPR’S Premier League experience. Continuing to build from the back will be essential, whilst new signings Jay Bothroyd and DJ Campbell could potentially provide the firepower at the other end. A lot will depend on the eccentric genius that is Adel Taarabt, who will remain at the club for the time being.

Star Player: Adel Taarabt

17^th Blackburn Rovers

The pressure will be on rookie Steve Kean to both dispel supporter’s fears ahead of the upcoming season, whilst trying to ignore the distractions that seem to becoming more and more frequent from the new owners. Kean failed to convince during the last campaign, and with key players such as Phil and Jermaine Jones no longer at the club, the likes of Junior Hoilett, Martin Olsson and Mauro Formica will need to provide the flair, whilst Chris Samba,(if he stays) Michel Salgado and Paul Robinson will need to organize things at the back. The owners will also need to put their money where their mouth is and purchase a striker that and lead the line. Nerve-wrecking times to be a Rovers supporter, with the owners yet to act upon their promises.

Star Player: Paul Robinson

18^th Swansea City

The Welsh outfit impressed with their attractive brand of football as they achieved promotion success via the play-offs, with their 4-3-3 formation and short, intricate passing being likened to Arsenal and even Barcelona. However they will need to add stability, hard-work, grit and determination if they are to survive and compliment their qualities in possession.

Star Player: Scott Sinclair

19^th Wigan Athletic

With an abundance of goals being conceded by the Latics during the last season, Wigan were lucky to scrape survival, largely due to their attacking talent, with Charles N’zogbia playing a pivotal role. However with the French winger seeking a change of scenery, the likes of Hugo Rodallega, Victor Moses and James McCarthy may struggle to outweigh the barrage of goals they are likely to concede in order to maintain their record as the only top flight side never to have been relegated.

Star Player: Ali Al-Habsi

20^th Norwich City

Paul Lambert will have his work cut out if he is to achieve yet another season of success following two successive promotions. A hard-working yet un-inspirational squad will undoubtedly show commitment and hard-work aplenty under the stewardship of their respected manager, Norwich may fail to find the flair and goals that are required to stay in the Premiership, whilst their defence could struggle against the likes of Rooney, Suarez, Aguero and Torres.

Star Player: Grant Holt

The 2011/2012 Championship season will no doubt yet again be an entertaining, competitive and enthralling campaign, with a host of teams adding more players to their current armouries in an attempt to achieve promotion to the Premier League.

But which teams are destined for success, and which ones will disappoint and fall by the wayside?

1.  West Ham United

 Love him or hate him, Sam Allardyce is a manager who guarantees results, and at times his drive for success leads to football that is far from aesthetically pleasing, but extremely efficient and successful. Allardyce seems to be more than willing to allow his big earning Premier League flop’s to move on to pastures new at Upton Park, whilst building his side around a contingent of youthful players: Mark Noble, Jack Collison, James Tomkins, Jordan Spence, Fred Sears and Junior Stanislas. He has added to this core by bringing in 3 established players of top tier quality that using the links he has worked up throughout his managerial career, Matt Taylor, Abdoulaye Faye and arguably one of the biggest coup’s of recent years, Kevin Nolan, who surprisingly was willing to move down to the Championship on the back of yet another goal-filled season at Newcastle United. With the likes of Scott Parker, Carlton Cole, Gary O’Neil and Robert Green all still at the club, the existence of a quality manager and a squad packed full of Premier League talent, this combination should see the Hammers return to the top flight at the first attempt.

Verdict: Potential Champions.

2.  Leicester City

Sven-Goran Eriksson has quietly made some shrewd moves this summer in an attempt to add to his squad, with a slight shift in style as the Swede looks to bring in more domestic experience to his squad. The former England manager also seems to understand the requirement of a solid defence, with the likes of Matt Mills, Paul Konchesky, Michael Ball, John Paintsil, Sean St Ledger and goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel all being acquired, and added to existing defenders such as man-mountain Sol Bamba, Leicester should have a solid and sturdy base to build upon as they attempt to finally get back into the top flight. Eriksson, backed by a willing owner, will surely add further to his squad and help new signing David Nugent fire in the goals at the other end.

Verdict: Promotion.

The remaining relegated sides…. will both need to work stringently this summer in order to make sure they have a squad that is equipped to realistically return to the Premier League at the first time of asking. Birmingham’s squad has already been raided by top flight vultures, with Roger Johnson, Sebastian Larsson and Craig Gardner already fleeing, whilst their loan players have returned to their parent clubs. Ben Foster’s departure seems inevitable, whilst Scott Dann, Cameron Jerome and Liam Ridgewell all have a long line of suitors, but new manager Chris Hughton will hope to persuade these to stay and accompany the likes of winger Chris Burke and controversial striker Marlon King, recent signings who are both proven at Championship Level.

Meanwhile Blackpool relied heavily on their spirit as they were desperately unlucky to fall from the Premier League trapdoor, and Ian Holloway is a manager that the squad will enjoy working with as they attempt to prove promotion was no fluke. However their star duo in midfield, Charlie Adam and David Vaughan, have both left the club and Holloway will struggle to find replacements that can have a similar impact; however Barry Ferguson may feel he has the quality to soften the blow. If Dj Campbell stays however, Blackpool will feel that him, Kevin Phillips and Gary Taylor-Fletcher can fire in the goals that are required to push for promotion.

Verdict: Both clubs may have a chance of at least reaching the play-offs, depending on transfer activity.

The promoted sides…… look surprisingly strong and well equipped to comfortably survive and possibly push towards the top half of the table. Southampton can boast the likes of Adam Lallana, Jose Fonte, Morgan Schneiderlin, Jack Cork and Rickie Lambert, whilst new signing Steve De Ridder could prove integral to the club’s plans if Alex Oxlaide-Chamberlain leaves as is expected.

Gus Poyet has done a sterling job at Brighton, who are seemingly equipped for the Championship in their new home; The Falmer Stadium. Poyet has also had financial backing, with Will Buckley, Kazenga LuaLua and most notably Craig Mackail-Smith from fellow promoted side Peterborough joining the Seagulls, showing their intent at really establishing themselves at a higher level.

The loss of Mackail-Smith will really be felt by Peterborough however, with their promotion to the Championship heavily reliant on his regular source of goals. However Darren Ferguson will hope he can avoid relegation in order to banish his demons from an unsuccessful time at Preston North End.

Verdict: Southampton and Brighton to survive comfortably, Peterborough to struggle.

The top goal scorer… could be one of many, and highly dependent on whether the relegated clubs can hold onto their main strikers. Dj Campbell, Cameron Jerome and Carlton Cole should all be able to take the Championship by storm if they are retained by their clubs, whilst Kevin Phillips, Frederic Piquionne and Marlon King will all feel confident of stepping up to the mark. The onus will be on Craig Mackail-Smith and Rickie Lambert to provide the firepower for their promoted clubs, whilst David Nugent may prove to be one of the signings of the season for Leicester, and Kevin Nolan may even manage to fire his way into contention from midfield. Elsewhere and the likes of Shane Long, Nicky Maynard, Robert Earnshaw, Kenny Miller(if he finally signs for Cardiff) Michael Chopra, Jay Rodriguez and Luciano Becchio should all be regular goal scorers for their respective clubs, in what is certainly an extremely competitive division.

Verdict: Shane Long – as long as Reading can keep hold of his sought after services.

The player of the season…. will again be a hardly fought after award as the players fight to follow in the footsteps of Adel Taarabt, who won the award last season. Alex Oxlaide-Chamberlain could have a realistic chance if he stays with the Saints, with his pace and flair sure to only enhance his reputation. Scott Dann will also be crucial to Birmingham if he stays with the Blues, and the same can be said of Scott Parker at West Ham, but with a host of potential Premier League suitors for the pair, this seems unlikely. The top goalscorer will always be in with a realistic chance, whilst the likes of Matt Mills and Sol Bamba could be integral to any Leiester success, putting them forward for the award. The West Ham midfield looks impressive as well, even if Scott Parker departs, with Jack Collison, Mark Noble, Gary O’Neil and Matty Taylor all proven at a higher level.

Verdict: Kevin Nolan – Too good for the Championship, and it will show.