Premiership preview, table prediction: 13. Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn Rovers Barclays Premier League position preview 2011/12

Manager: Steve Kean

Ground: Ewood Park

Nickname: Rovers

Capacity: 31154

Squad:

·         Goalkeepers 1 Paul Robinson 13 Mark Bunn ·         Defenders 2 Michel Salgado 3 Martin Olsson 4 Christopher Samba 5 Gael Givet 6 Ryan Nelsen 22 Gavin Gunning 31 Grant Hanley 33 Josh Morris 38 Myles Anderson 39 Adam Henley

·         Midfielders 7 Brett Emerton 8 David Dunn 10 Mauro Formica 10 Mauro Formica 11 Vince Grella 12 Morten Gamst Pedersen 14 Amine Linganzi 15 Steven N'Zonzi 17 Keith Andrews 26 Herold Goulon 35 Jason Lowe Radosav Petrovic Robbie Cotton

·         Forwards 9 Nikola Kalinic 20 Ruben Rochina 23 David Hoilett 30 Jason Roberts 37 Zac Aley 41 Nick Blackman David Goodwillie El-Hadji Diouf

Blackburn ended in 15^th place last season and this might be the pick I’m most unsure about. For me Steve Kean is a poor manager that hasn’t showed anything yet, and I think alongside Alan Pardew he could be the first manager to be axed this season.  Blackburn is looking strong enough in defence and with Paul Robinson at the back they should be able to keep it tight in the back this season. At least if they can hold on to heavily linked Christopher Samba. In the midfield and attack it’s looking thin and if Blackburn doesn’t sign any players soon to strengthen those parts then they might be relegated this season.



Pre-Season Fixtures/Results
July 16 vs Accrington Stanley 2-1 – Andrews, Kalinic
July 16 vs Morecambe 2-1 – Formica
July 27 vs Aston Villa 0-1
July 31 vs Kitchee 3-0 Formica, Dunn, Blackman
August 6 vs Kilmarnock 4-1 Roberts (2, 1 pen), Dunn (pen), Goodwillie



Players in
07/11 Radosav Petrović MF Partizan
07/11 Gavin Gunning DF Motherwell FC
07/11 Zurab Khizanishvili DF Reading FC
07/11 Amine Koumba MF Preston North End
07/11 Jason Lowe MF Oldham Athletic
07/11 Maceo Rigters FW Willem II Tilburg



Players out
06/11 Mame Diouf FW Manchester United
06/11 Jermaine Jones MF FC Schalke 04
06/11 Phil Jones DF Manchester United



Losing both Mame Diouf and Phil Jones to Manchester United from last season will be big holes to fill for Blackburn. And I can’t say its much exciting signatures they done so far this summer. Radosav Petrovic could be a good signing but I’m not sure he will make an impact in the premiership straight away.



Most likely starting lineup for Blackburn next weekend:

                                              Paul Robinson

Michel Salgado         Gael Givet       Grant Hanley   Martin Olsson

Brett Emerton         Steven N'Zonzi        David Dunn        Morten Gamst Pedersen

Jason Roberts   David Hoilett    

This is a prediction I’m very unsure about because it’s a lot of things that are not looking to be in place at Blackburn at the moment. They have a poor and unproven manager, owners don’t look like they want to invest much in the team, and they lack quality in midfield and attack. But they do have a lot of players with premiership experience, like Gamst Pedersen, Dunn, Roberts, Samba, Nelsen and Robinson. And that’s why I believe they are going to stay clear of relegation. I also predict Steve Kean getting sacked early into the season.