Rovers 2013-14 Season Preview

 

The weekend just gone signalled the start of a brand new Football League Championship season, and Rovers got their season underway with a good point – and performance – against Nigel Clough’s Derby County.

Wholesale changes have been made during the summer, as out have gone Danny Murphy, Nuno Gomes and Martin Olsson, freeing up some of the wage bill for younger players on more modest wages. The vast majority of fans won’t be sad to see the back of Murphy whose contribution to the team was practically zero. Nuno Gomes on the other hand, started brightly early on striking up a good partnership with Jordan Rhodes, netting in four consecutive games against Leicester, Leeds, Bristol City and Barnsley, but was later inexplicably dropped. He would play eighteen league games, starting just eight times. Martin Olsson was always going to move on and has joined Norwich. Part of the reason for some of the higher-earners being shipped out (besides the squad needing a refresh) is to comply with the new '”Financial Fair Play” rules coming into effect.

Gary Bowyer has gone for a much more youthful look to his side, with the only real new senior addition that of Matt Killgallon, as Gael Givet is still likely to depart, although the Frenchman was on the bench for the opening game. Chris Taylor joined the club from Millwall, providing the cross for Leon Best to score his first goal for Rovers. Making an impressive debut in defence was long-throw full-back Tommy Spurr. Also re-joining the club are Alex Marrow (Crystal Palace) and Alan Judge (Notts Co) who were both in the youth team under Bowyer. Goalkeeper Simon Eastwood, Corry Evans and Yann Songo’o complete the permanent dealings, while Devarn Green links up with the youth team. DJ Campbell as was planned last season also signed with Rovers. Todd Kane is back again on a season-long loan from Chelsea joined by Tom Cairney from Hull until January.

So just what is a realistic target this season? It’s difficult to predict, but I see all three clubs who came down from the Premier League all being very strong, and I expect QPR to dominate. Watford came so close last season and have made many of their controversial loans permanent deals. Local rivals Bolton will be strong as well. My initial impressions were that we would probably end up between 10th and 12th. Seeing the opening game however is making me re-think that opinion, after seeing the team do something we haven’t seen for a good three seasons – actually play as a team – for each other and the manager.

Perhaps, if by the January window, if Rovers are close to the playoffs they can add some extra quality and really make a go of it. Gone is the doom and gloom of the past few seasons, and it really does appear to be a new dawn at the club. One of the most pleasing things has to be apparent disappearance of motormouth Shebby Singh. It finally appears that the owners will let the manager get on with the job without interference. This hopefully spells the end of the Ewood power struggle. 

Let’s just hope that we can actually start enjoying the football again. In GB we trust!