Two Blackburn fans give us the reasons for Rovers’ poor start to the season ahead of Wednesday night’s trip to Loftus Road. Thanks to James Hands and Oliver Clark.
Assess Blackburn’s start to the season for us?
JH: Disappointing is the most commonly used word with Rovers fans at the moment. Our expectations were not high but with the players in our squad our points return so far is not good enough. That said the performances have not been too bad.
OC: We have deserved more points than we have got so far and should have had at least. one or two wins by now. Jordan Rhodes has been out injured for a few weeks and he’s the only player with a proven goal scoring record so that has cost us.
There seems to have been a real talent drain at Blackburn in recent times, with Tom Cairney and Rudy Gestede leaving this summer. Is this part of the FFP debacle? What’s the club’s current status there?
JH: There is still an enormous amount of talent in the team/squad despite Rudy and Cairney leaving. However, FFP has meant we have unable to bring the same quality to replace them which has led us to acquire 'average' free signings. We have been informed that we are one 'major' sale away from having FFP lifted which likely means that Grant Hanley, Rhodes or Ben Marshall will need to be sold. In an ideal world we need the embargo lifted before we can realistically plan for the future.
OC: With FFP we are led to believe we need to raise around £4-5 million to come out of it. Having said that I think Gary Bowyer has done well with no money to spend and only able to pay up to £10,000 a week in wages.
Why has nobody bought Jordan Rhodes?
JH: Rhodes has a phenomenal scoring record and rightly commands the huge valuation. That valuation that is putting off Premier League teams from buying him. He wouldn't be good enough for the top ten teams in the league and the bottom half teams cannot afford a huge gamble in buying him especially when his all-round attributes don't lend themselves to the top league. The Venky’s will not sell him to another team in our division as they see Jordan as their jewel in the crown.
OC: We turned down a bid of £12m from Middlesbrough as we do not wish to sell to another championship club.
Who have you brought in this summer, what are the early impressions?
JH: As mentioned we have picked up a number of free transfers such as Danny Guthrie, Nathan Delfounso, Fode Kiota, Sachi Petschi and Hope Akpan. We have also brought in Tom Lawrence from Leicester. It's very early days for the foreign lads as they need to acclimatise to the league but the others have shown glimpses of performance without setting the world alight. I have high hopes for Tom Lawrence who has an eye for goal.
OC: Like the looks of Fode Koite who has come in from Caen - he looks strong on the ball and pretty good in the air and I think will score a few goals. Danny Guthrie, who we’ve signed from Reading, also looks good
A false story about Gary Bowyer getting the sack went around a week or so back, which would have seemed harsh given the talent he’s lost from his squad. What’s the general consensus about the job he’s doing? Any danger of the sack?
JH: Bowyer has steadied the ship and all in all has done a pretty decent job. There is an argument that he has taken the club as far as he can but the club needs a safe pair of hands and Bowyer is just that. That said, football is a results business and if our league position doesn't improve soon then the club may have no choice but to relieve him of his duties.
OC: I think there is a real danger of him getting the sack. Whilst he does have a good track record of buying cheap and selling them on for a big profit a few years later, fans are frustrated with his negative tactics and playing with two defensive midfielders even at home.
What’s the club’s ownership situation? The Venky’s seem to have taken a back seat, has that all calmed down? Who’s running the joint and how are they doing?
JH: The club is still hugely disorganised but has improved since Bowyer took charge. The owners still do not communicate with the fans which frustrates everybody massively and we still yearn for more transparency from them. However, their determination to keep Rhodes is admirable and they are still investing a lot of money despite suffering huge losses. Basically, we need them more than they need us.
OC: The fans are a lot happier that the Venky’s have become quiet but no one is happy with them still being here as they have caused the club to go backwards. Their biggest mistake was getting rid of Sam Allardyce. We would still be in the Premier League if he was still at the club.
Best players and weak links in this current Blackburn side?
OC:Ben Marshall and Jordan Rhodes - Marshall is a real threat down either wing and has goals in him while we all know the danger Jordan can pose. Weakest links are Jason Lowe and Corey Evans - all their passes are sideways or backwards.
Short, medium and long term aims for the club?
JH: Short Term: improve results. Medium term; get out of embargo. Long term: back to Premier League.
OC: Short term - pick up our first win. Medium term - to climb the table hopefully mid table by Christmas. Long term - secure safety in the Championship and nearly all Rovers fans would settle for mid table this season. Also to come out of Financial Fair Play restrictions by January so we can buy players again.
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