Article by David Walker

Blackburn Rovers

Odds: 350/1

Final 5 Seasons2005/06 – 6 (Premiership), 2004/05 – 15 (Premiership), 2003/04 – 15 (Premiership), 2002/03 – 6 (Premiership), 2001/02 – 10 (Premiership).

2005/06 Cup ProgressFA Cup Fourth Round vs West Ham United (a) – lost 4-two.Carling Cup Semi Finals vs Manchester United – misplaced 3-two on aggregate.

Top Goal Scorer 2005/06: Craig Bellamy (striker) – 17 objectives.

Players InBenni McCarthy (FC Porto – £2,500,000), Jason Roberts (Wigan Athletic – Undisclosed), Zura Khizanishvili (Rangers – Free), Francis Jeffers (Charlton Athletic – No cost), Jason Brown (Gillingham – Free of charge).

Gamers OutCraig Bellamy (Liverpool – £6,000,000), Paul Dickov (Manchester City – No cost), Gary Harkins (Grimsby City – Free of charge), Lorenzo Amoruso (Launched), Vratislav Gresko (Released), Steven Drench (Introduced).

Blackburn Rovers were the Premier League’s shock package deal last time by securing a sixth positioned end following two seasons just previously mentioned the relegation zone. Mark Hughes transformed the underachieving former champions and acquired the very best out of negative boy Craig Bellamy, who finished the time as the club’s leading goal scorer.

Bellamy’s outstanding kind did not go unnoticed and Liverpool snapped him up for a bargain £6 million but Hughes has been fast to sign replacement attacking choices. Porto striker Benni McCarthy arrived for an undisclosed fee thought to be £2.5 million. The South Africa international was art of the Porto side that won the Champions League in 2004 and signed a four year contract at Ewood Park. McCarthy has won 60 caps for South Africa and has scored 26 ambitions. He retired from international football following the Globe Cup in 2002 but reversed his determination two years later on.

Wigan Athletic striker Jason Roberts also signed a 4 yr deal, once again for an undisclosed charge. Roberts was Wigan’s top rated scorer previous time with 14 objectives and Hughes swooped soon after he turned down a new contract to extend his stay with the Latics.

Francis Jeffers finished a hat-trick of new strikers arriving at the club this summer time, with the former Everton and Arsenal forward joining on a no cost transfer from Charlton Athletic. Hughes has also been connected with Nicolas Anelka, who has Premiership experience with Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester Metropolis and Mido, who invested 18 months on loan at Tottenham Hotspur from Serie A side AS Roma.

VerdictBlackburn’s involvement in the UEFA Cup next season will add strain to Mark Hughes’ squad which even now lacks some power in depth. It is unlikely they will be capable to recreate previous season’s sixth placed end and mid table is a lot more probable ought to they progress to the later on stages in Europe.

About the Author

David Walker runs no cost bets and football betting systems internet sites. A totally free email program: “7 Days to Far better Betting” is accessible at the two of these websites.