Where does Wigan’s survival rank in recent times?

By Laurie Fitzgerald

Wigan Athletic sealed their Premier League survival on Monday night when they defeated Blackburn Rovers 1-0 at Ewood Park, condemning their Lancashire rivals to the Championship in the process.

Antolin Alcaraz‘s header three minutes from time means that the Latics are now five points clear of third-from-bottom Bolton Wanderers going into their final clash of the season at home to already-relegated Wolves.

The win also ensured that the club sensibly run by long-standing owner Dave Whelan can now look forward to their eighth successive campaign in the biggest league in the world.

But while there have been many wonderful moments along the way, it’s difficult to think of a season where Wigan have had to defy the odds in the run-in more than this one.

In 2007, they famously went to Sheffield United in a do-or-die clash at Bramall Lane, where David Unsworth‘s penalty was enough to seal a 2-1 win and condemn the Blades to the drop.

2010 saw Wigan seal survival in their penultimate match when they came from 2-0 down with 10 minutes to go to stun Arsenal and secure a dramatic 3-2 victory.

While last year, they travelled to Stoke knowing that only a win would guarantee remaining in the top-flight, and Hugo Rodallega‘s header gave Wigan the three points at the Britannia that sparked scenes of wild celebrations with management, players and the travelling supporters.    

Will tonight see the end of Blackburn’s Premier League status?

By Tony Alvarez
Tonight sees Steve Kean‘s Blackburn Rovers take on Wigan at Ewood park knowing that nothing less than a victory will maintain their Premier League status.
Blackburn are in a position where they most win both of their remaining games and then hope that other results go their way.

Do you agree with Blackburn fans treatment of Steve Kean?

 

By Tony Alvarez
During and following Blackburn‘s “relegation 6 pointer” against Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday night Blackburn manager Steve Kean suffered a barrage of abuse from the home fans who disagree with him being at the helm of the side.

For a long time now their has been protests before games calling for the removal of Kean from his role as manager and these protests have often spilled over into the stands during the games.
There is also frequent booing heard at Ewood Park whenever Rovers concede or are trailing at half time or the final whistle.
I feel for Steve Kean if I’m honest I am aware he is not doing the best of jobs but be honest to yourself, how many of you would leave your grossly overpaid job because there are people out there that can do it slightly better?
He is doing his best with what he has (in my opinion a poor squad) he is not doing too well which is clear but he is not deliberately harming the club,if the chairmen think he is no longer capable then they should remove him from his role, if I were a Rovers fan my protests would be aimed at Venky‘s and not Steve Kean.
On top of the fact that it isn’t likely to make Kean consider his future it must also be a negative on the players on the pitch, it must be difficult trying to play with a chorus of boos ringing out from your own fans.
One thing that can’t be questioned is the level of sound produced from the Blackburn faithful however surely that noise would be better served in creating a 12th man atmosphere and putting pressure on the opponents rather than getting on the back of their own staff.
Rival manager David Moyes, who is also a friend of Kean has admitted he left Ewood back at half time during the fixture due to the torrent of abuse that was aimed at Kean.
Moyes said “I thought it was disgusting I was at the game and I left at half time…I think it cost Blackburn any chance of winning the game”
What are your thoughts? Does he deserve the abuse? Are you one of the fans calling for his head? Is it his fault his side are not achieving? Is the focus on a Kean out campaign detrimental to the side?
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What is your most stupid rule in football?

By Laurie Fitzgerald

There was understandable controversy at the weekend following Blackburn’s dramatic 3-3 draw against Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium.

Rovers’ second goal came about when Yakubu was deemed to have touched the ball from a corner to bring it into play, allowing Morten Gamst Pedersen to run forward and deliver a cross for Junior Hoilett to head Steve Kean‘s men level.

What angered Wigan and their manager Roberto Martinez was that the ball did not leave the ‘D’ from where the ball originates at a corner.

But new rules, gone unnoticed by many in the game, state that the ball does not need to leave the mentioned area to bring the ball into play after touching it.

This means that while sides can use a bit of nous from set-pieces, it also means that players can say they’ve touched the ball casually and brought the ball into play, meaning every side can just run from a corner now.

It creates an interesting topic on some of the more farcical rules within the game that make you scratch your head when referring to the logic, if any, regarding the game’s main rules.

For example, there is the often-debated offside trap, where a player can be ahead of the defence but if he isn’t ‘interfering with play’ then other players can run through against a dumbfounded backline.

That’s all well and good, but what is the point of a defence trying to keep a solid line if players can stray offside only to then put their hands up, let the ball go past them and potentially maintain the attack for a team-mate storming forward?

Then there is the rule where a player has to go off the pitch having had medical assistance from a physio, only to be allowed back on the pitch a few seconds later when the referee waves them back on.

Again, the logic is clear in that it ensures players don’t fake injuries to gain a benefit and waste time. But isn’t that what injury time was introduced for?

Besides, the large majority of the time it affects those that have been genuinely hurt from a mistimed tackle, only for their side to be a man down at a crucial set-piece or attack while the opposition that have made the poor tackle have the numerical advantage.

Another rule that can infuriate is where players are booked for taking their shirt off during celebration, clearly on the emphasis that it’s deemed over-excessive, like when a player jumps into a crowd.

Whilst I can understand it to a degree with players jumping in to celebrate with supporters for health and safety reasons, surely a player can’t be punished for being over-zealous by showing off their chest?

The main delight within a goal is expressing the joy that you feel as a player or supporter, to demonstrate a moment of real elation. So how can taking your shirt off be measured on the same level of punishment as a bad tackle?

I’m sure there are many other rules that raise an eyebrow, but as Saturday at the DW showed, there are some decisions that leave us scratching our head when we watch the game we love.

So what do you think? What rule annoys you in football? Leave a comment and let us know your views.

Can Kean get Blackburn’s season going?

By Laurie Fitzgerald

Blackburn Rovers travel to Fulham this afternoon knowing they have to overcome a difficult start to the season.

Steve Kean‘s side have suffered three straight defeats and find themselves rooted within the bottom three, albeit early days.

Home defeats to Wolves and Everton as well as a loss at Aston Villa have only gone to strengthen many people’s predictions of a season of struggle awaiting fans at Ewood Park.

It has led to questions marks being raised about whether or not Kean is up to the task of taking the Lancashire club forward.

The 43 year-old Scot acquired the job following the controversial sacking of Sam Allardyce, and there were links drawn from the fact that Kean had the same management as the club’s new owners Venky’s.

An Indian business that specialise in poultry may lead to humorous digs from outsiders, but the group, spearheaded by Chairwoman Anuradha Desai, have big aims for the club.

They have made it clear they envisage Champions League football being achieved over the next few years, despite a lack of huge investment into the playing staff that is usually required for such a thing.

However, it means that Kean needs to get the team and their season up and running, and before the end of the transfer window he managed to bring in two players that can make a big difference.

With all the furore and chaos that engulfed transfer deadline day, Rovers’ signing of Birmingham City defender Scott Dann seemed to have escaped the attentions of many observers.

But the 24 year-old centre-half is a very good player, and his importance in Birmingham’s side alongside Roger Johnson was underlined when he missed the second half of the season through injury and Alex McLeish‘s team relegated on the final day.

Dann’s arrival strenghtens a centre-back department that already contains the likes of Ryan Nelsen and Christopher Samba, so there shouldn’t be too many problems defensively.

The big issue is goals, which is the reason why they have secured the services of Yakubu on a season-long loan deal from Everton.

The Nigerian forward is the epitome of frustration; on his day he can cause nightmares for defences with his power, deceptive pace and a real eye for goal.

However, he can also go missing in action and criticism of his game has seen fans accuse him of laziness and not being fully committed to the cause.

But if Kean can get the best out of him, then Yakubu has the goals in him to fire Rovers away from a potential relegation battle.

Which is going to be crucial not only to Rovers, but also to the future of Kean himself.

So what do you think? Can Kean overcome a difficult start to the season and get Blackburn’s season going? Or do the club’s owners need to make another change to their managerial staff? Leave a comment and let us know your thoughts.

What are Venky’s real aims with Blackburn?

Will Kean (above) get the chance to point Blackburn in the right direction?

By Laurie Fitzgerald

In Premier League terms, it feels like an eternity since a potential managerial casualty has been discussed. Yet another one was speculated to be round the corner at Blackburn Rovers.

Reports over the weekend suggest that manager Steve Kean is set to face talks with the club’s owners Venky’s Limited following just four wins from 15 games.

Their 3-2 defeat at Fulham on Saturday leaves the Lancashire side just two points from the bottom three, having gone from mid-table security to being dragged into a relegation dogfight.

Venky’s chairperson Anuradha Desai came out yesterday and vehemently denied the claims, stating, “He will continue in his present position. There is no question of the manager being changed.”

While questions about Kean being the right man for the job are understandable, what can be queried is why the owners decided that Kean was the right man in the first place.

Many people were bemused when just over three weeks after completing their £43 million takeover, Venky’s sacked Sam Allardyce when Rovers were 13^th in the table but not within any severe relegation trouble.

This was despite the fact that a day after their takeover, Desai had said of the former Bolton manager,

“We want results and Sam has taken up the challenge. He deserves a chance.” That chance consisted of 25 days.

The reason given for removing Allardyce was so that the new owners could realise their “wider plans and ambitions for the club.”

Part of these wider plans was supposedly to increase the profile of the club in Asia and find a profitable market there – so surely big-name signings and a big-name appointment were in store?

This turned out not to be the case, with 43 year-old Kean given the job on a temporary basis, then given the role permanently when he signed a two and a half-year deal in January.

As for signings, despite a well-publicised attempt to sign Ronaldinho that failed to come off, the owners had already indicated during Allardyce’s reign that big funds weren’t available.

“We won’t need to buy expensive players, we can always lease them.” Desai said. But how would getting good players in on loan work in the long-term for the club?

Despite an encouraging start, results under Kean have gradually got worse. However, the owners were so confident in their original decision that when he was given this long-term deal, Desai claimed he was unsackable.

She said, “Steve Kean will be safe in his job for the duration of that contract, whatever happens.”

Well what has happened since that very secure appointment is four defeats from their last six league games. Suddenly, the unsackable Kean has seen his job come under scrutiny.

Desai and her board have given the former first team coach the backing he needs in the short-term, bearing in mind that uncertainty will only benefit Rovers’ relegation rivals.

But it would be nice for the Blackburn supporters if those that have pledged to take the club forward go on to back their claims with their actions in the long-term; making Blackburn a better football club for the supporters, or using the club as a cheap option to make a considerable profit from?

So what do you think? Blackburn fans, are you concerned with what the new owners are doing? Does Kean deserve to have his job at Ewood Park questioned? Let us know your thoughts

Will El-Hadji Diouf ever learn?

By Tony Alvarez

Following many sections of the media reporting that the FA are going to look into the allegations made by QPR about comments made by Diouf to Jamie Mackie whilst he lay on the floor with a broken leg. We look into Diouf’s behaviour and ask the question, how much longer will people put up with him?

Diouf reportedly told Mackie he was “a disgrace” and added “f**k you f**k your broken leg”. If this is true it fits in with the behaviour we expect from Diouf whilst he has had his fair share of disciplinary trouble he has never been known for his bravery.

Diouf previous antics include spitting at Celtic fans whilst at Liverpool, he was then investigated by police for spitting at a Middlesbrough fan whilst on loan at Bolton and just a few weeks later given a three match ban for spitting at Portsmouth player Arjan De Zeeuw.

He was again investigated by the police for allegedly making a racial slur to a ball boy during a match against Everton; however no charges were ever brought against him.

His latest incident which led QPR manager Neil Warnock to say “”I think for many years I think he’s been the ‘gutter’ type of boy. I was going to call him a sewer rat, but that might insult the sewer rats. I think he’s the lowest of the low”

Warnock added “”I think he’ll be the first to go. Good riddance. I hope he goes abroad. I won’t miss watching him. Sign him? I wouldn’t want to talk to him.”

The problem is that many managers and fans are starting to share Warnock’s views, there is no doubting Diouf’s ability whilst he is not a World class Footballer he certainly is a good Premier League player.

But his behaviour makes him a hard man to sign for any manager and even harder for any fan to like, as an Arsenal fan even if he had the ability to play for Arsenal I would not want to see him in an Arsenal shirt.

Assuming Warnock knows how Steve Kean is thinking and he does get rid of Diouf down to his actions I would be very shocked if any team in England showed interest in him.

For me he has had enough chances already and blown every one of them, I would advise no manager to go anywhere near him and hope that if Blackburn do release him he finds a new club hard to come by. He is a talent but on a human level he does not deserve the privileges he has in life.

What do you think? Have I been too harsh on Diouf? Rovers fans do you want Steve Kean to keep him on your books? Fans of other clubs would you welcome him into your squad?

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