Premier League Preview: Blackburn Rovers

Defending, WHAT?

Overview

Since the takeover by Venky's, Blackburn have become even more dull. One signing, sale of one of the most promising defenders in English football, not knowing where El Hadji Diouf is (probably spitting on someone), etc. They are far from the side they were when they won the English Premier League in 1994/1995 under Kenny Dalglish and had the likes of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton and are looking more like the side which got relegated in 1999.

Season 2010/2011

Attack: Blackburn had one of the worst attacks in the league. They managed to score only 46 goals and failed to score in 26% of their games. With no great striker since Santa Cruz, this statistic is not likely to change till the Indians spend some rupees.

Defense: Even though they have great defenders like Nelsen, Givet, Salgado and Samba; Blackburn have had the worst defense in away matches in the whole league, conceding 43 goals in 19 games at 2.26 goals per game. They have the 6th best defense in home games which is pretty good and they should've tried to replicate their home form in their away games.

Transfers

In: Miles Anderson (Undisclosed)

Out: Phil Jones (Manchester United, £20m), Frank Fielding (Derby County, £400k), Aaron Doran (Caley Thistle, Undisclosed)

Released: Zurab Khizanishvili, Jason Brown, Maceo Rigters, Benjani

Verdict

With the loan move end of Mame Biram Diouf from Manchester United, the owners would have to dig deep into their pockets and buy a good, if not great, striker and a couple of attacking midfielders or wingers. Maybe getting a more experienced manager will help the team get to the top half of the table, it is manager Steve Kean's second season in-charge as Blackburn manager and he has no experience as head manager of any club before. Personally, I do not think Blackburn are going to improve, not this season atleast. The only great players they really have is their keeper.

2010/2011 Position: 15th

Football Finesse Prediction: 14th, 15th

Players to Watch: Morten Pederson, Steven N'Zonzi, Paul Robinson and El Hadji Diouf (Please call Blackburn Rovers F. C. if you see him spitting at someone, he has not reported for pre-season yet.)