Blackburn Rovers come to Pride Park this weekend. We spoke with Talk of Ewood to find out all about Lancashire side. You can follow Talk of Ewood on Twitter here
Blackburn won 5-0 last weekend. Did Rovers use up all their goals in that game?
It doesn’t feel like it, if anything it feels as if that was Rovers unleashing their frustration for not capitalizing on positive performances away at Bournemouth and Newcastle. We’ve had a really positive start to the season performance wise. There was a strange expectation amongst the fans that we’d ‘smash’ Wycombe pre match, something I’d never really experienced as a Rovers fan. That feeling was the right one, though!
How has Blackburn coped since relegation?
Really, really well. All thanks to Tony Mowbray. Relegation was one of the best things to happen to us in recent times. A real blessing in disguise. It refreshed the club. Brought the winning feeling back amongst the fans (when playing in League One), generating a squad that was hungry to win football matches for the club. Again, a lot of thanks owed to Tony Mowbray.
Are the finances and such in a good place?
Hmmm....I wouldn’t say they were in a *good* place, but wouldn’t say they were in a bad place. We have money to spend – like we’ve shown in recent windows – but it seems like that money is slowly running out. Maybe that’s the owner’s regime that they’ve often followed. They seem to offer more finance as they gain trust in managers. They didn’t trust Paul Lambert, so he left after not being backed. It took some shrewd signings from Mowbray to gain their trust financially, as well as improved action on the pitch. Maybe those lack of funds indicate they were expecting something from Mowbray last season. Could this be his last real shot at promotion? I’m probably overthinking that, though.
After a few tough years Blackburn seem to be starting to turn a corner becoming a real force in the Championship again. What has been behind this transformation?
Again, Tony Mowbray. Don’t get me wrong, the owners have backed TM. However he’s really installed a refreshing, quality squad. It’s all under his planning too. I seem to remember when we were in League One Mowbray gave a little ‘4 year plan’ that he had for Rovers after relegation. 1) Promotion. 2) Mid table / safety. 3) A slight challenge for play offs/top half. 4) Push for Top 6. It seems to have all gone to plan thus far...
Do Venky’s still own Blackburn? Are the fans behind the ownership?
Yes they do, and on the whole I’d say so yes. Over recent years its become very apparent that The Venky’s downfall was in fact who they put their trust in. When they came to the club, they put their trust in the wrong people, who employed their friends opposed to the correct people for the job. Since Mowbray has come in he’s got on their good side and things seem to be on the up. The Venky’s are supposedly really nice people, but like I say they seemed to trust the wrong type of people with the running’s of our football club. A lesson that seems to have been learnt. Without their constant input at the moment, who knows where we’d be.
What are your thoughts on manager Tony Mowbray?
He’s been absolutely brilliant for us. No doubt about that. He’s had his critics, and some questionable spells, but what he’s built/building at this Football club is brilliant.
Bradley Dack is one of the best midfielders in the Championship. How close is he to returning to the side and how big of a miss has he been?
To be honest, I’m not too sure on Dacky’s return. I originally assumed Christmas/January time. But there seems to be some positive signs in his development. Who knows.
Originally, Dacky was a huge, huge miss. But this season TM has addressed that, changed styles, and sometimes it’s easy to forget we’re missing arguably our most important player. Armstrong's goals have helped fill that void. Interestingly, I struggle to see how Dacky fits back into this new system. A very dynamic 4-3-3 formation with pace and power in attack. A False 9 maybe? It’ll be interesting to see. But a nice problem to have.
Bradley Johnson used to be a Derby, what are your thoughts on him?
If you’d have asked this round the back end of last season, I’d have been unimpressed. A player that seemed to have 2/3 big performances in a season, but other than that, didn’t get up to much. However, since this change in style and start of the season, Johnson seems to have taken a more of an anchor role in the interchangeable midfield. A slightly new role for him, and one he seems to have relished. Hopefully he keeps it up.
Adam Armstrong seems to have found a home at Ewood Park. How good is he?
It’s taken him a while, but he looks like the real deal in attack now. His pace was always an asset to Rovers, and Mowbray played him out wide to develop different parts of his game. And boy has that worked. His pace, skill, strength and - most notably this season – his positioning, is superb. He went through a stage of scoring worldies from outside the box, but he’s added these little tap ins, striker finishes, into his game. He’s seen more of the central striker role so far this season, and you’d struggle to take that place away from him at the moment with five goals in three starts.
Who are the danger men for Rovers?
Armstrong, like we’ve mentioned, is definitely Rovers’ goal scorer. The emergence of Tyrhys Dolan, however, may be one for Derby to keep an eye on. A bright, rapid and skillful 18 year old winger; released from Preston for one reason or another, and snapped up by Rovers much to our delight. A first start against Wycombe saw an influential performance from Dolan, winning the penalty for the first goal, scoring the second and being instrumental in the fourth.
Lewis Holtby seems to be relishing the change of style too, pulling the strings for Rovers in the middle, a real touch of class. Joe Rothwell playing a similar role when selected.
Although it may not seem like it with his goals record, Ben Brereton can pose a threat to the opposition. A tall, fast and strong young lad seemingly going through the same process that Armstrong followed, plying his trade predominantly out wide, developing his game. But a lad who likes to drive with the ball, take the odd player on and has started offering a bit of hold up play into his game too.
We don’t need to tell you about the threat Johnson holds, with his ability to shoot from range and also provide a real presence in the air from set pieces.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of this Rovers side?
Strengths so far this season is the fluidity, pace and power in attack. Some brilliant football has been played by Mowbray'ss men thus far, hopefully that continues.
I think every Rovers fan would label the defence as our main weakness, but with new goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski, and the return of a fully fit Derrick Williams, it seems to have solidified – for now. We have also added Daniel Ayala to our ranks, who I expect will be on the bench for Saturday. The search for a left back continues.
Currently, our midfield is injury struck with two key players in Lewis Travis and Corry Evans on the treatment table. However, with a weeks rest this week, hopefully Evans’ injury is healed or at least healing.
What are the league expectations of the Rovers team this season?
Definitely top half. An improvement on last season. A season which, if we’d not been struck by at least five key starters out for the season, could’ve easily been a more sustained play off push.
Cunningham, Dack, Evans, Williams and Holtby were all out for a prolonged period last season, just as we started to gain some momentum too. Even without them, we were a win away from the Top 6, until a Derby side brushed us aside at Pride Park.
So yeah, hopefully a sustained challenge for the Top 6.
How do you view Derby County?
Judging from what I saw when during that 3-0 loss; a very bright, free flowing side with enough quality to challenge any team in this division. Very similar to us. Cocu seems to have made some serious signings. Jóźwiak and Marshall my standout choices for fresh faces, but I am a huge admirer of Matt Clarke.
Any thoughts on the club?
I personally have never really had any issues with Derby, but have got to admit I do favour the Red side of the East Midlands...for family reasons!
I like what you’re doing in the sense that you’re bleeding youth into the side, but sticking the likes of Rooney and Marshall in there to guide them through.
Score prediction?
I’ll go for 2-2. Judging from the fact Rovers have seen goals so far this season in the league. I think it’ll be a very good game.
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