Comments on: Premiership Preview–11. Blackburn Rovers

By: Reo

Reo — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 09:08:54 +0000

Villanueva will be switching sides because taking shots from the right with a left foot is easier to make due to curl. He’s not a pacey midfielder either. He’s average at best in speed. He’s consider prem quality due to his technique

By: ng0956

ng0956 — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 17:07:27 +0000

Villanueva, a left footer with superb touch and pace, is a quality center midfielder who creates great opportunities and often takes them. He is NOT a right midfielder. Ince will soon realize that if he doesn’t already.

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 01:20:25 +0000

James, I think you’ll see Villanueva start on the right but then interchange with Pedersen as the game goes on. A player of Villanueva’s quality has to start for Blackburn, in my opinion, so I think Ince will find a way to get him in there.

You may be right about Reid; I personally think Emerton should start there, but the fact that Ince is using Reid there so much in preseason makes me think he may start because Ince wants to give him a chance to get used to the position in a low-pressure preseason environment. Now that Simpson is on board though, I feel like he’ll get a chance to make an impression because as I said, he’s the only pure right back on the team.

If Ince is that desperate to bring in a holding midfielder, his solution could be within in Mokoena, but it seems like he’s been using him at more at center back if I read the preseason reports right.

By: James

James — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 00:50:05 +0000

I’d bet you a fiver that that projected line-up doesn’t appear in a single game this season. Villanueva is a left footed attacking midfielder – he plays in the centre, occasionally on the left, but never on the right to my knowledge. Certainly can’t see Reid getting ahead of Simpson and Emerton at right back. Admittedly, he’s played there in a lot of preseason, but looked very shaky.

Vogel’s pretty much the opposite. Hasn’t played very much at all in preseason and with Ince seemingly desperate to bring in a holding midfielder – see links to Annan, Sable and Grella in recent days – his position in the starting 11 has got to be in doubt.

Fingers crossed that Robinson can prove you wrong. I still think the press were wrong to crucify him over that back pass – ball hit a freaking bobble – no way was it his fault! :p

By: Weston

Weston — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 00:27:00 +0000

Friedel was solid, but a change of scenery (and management!) can work wonders for Robbo. They might slip a few spots, but they have a winning culture there and should still be a tough opponent (assuming Ince doesnt try to fix what aint broke) – Id guess they’ll finish around 7th-8th again this year.