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Ex-Rover McKinlay’s warning to Blackburn

10:21am Friday 19th September 2008

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FORMER favourite Billy McKinlay has warned Blackburn fans Roy Hodgson is ready to turn on the style at Ewood Park tomorrow as Fulham gun for their fourth straight win.

McKinlay played under Hodgson at Ewood a decade ago and, despite his reign ending in the sack, the midfielder believes the ex-Switzerland boss is now back to his best.

After succeeding caretaker boss Tony Parkes in 1997, Hodgson guided Rovers into the UEFA Cup at the end of his first season, with McKinlay insisting the football on display provided some exciting times.

Now reunited with Hodgson, Fulham’s reserve team boss McKinlay believes a similar style has been brought to London and warns home fans they may not enjoy it so much at Ewood tomorrow.

He said: “I am sure I am not alone in thinking that first six months under Roy Hodgson at Blackburn, we played some very good attacking football.

“It was a really good time for the club because some of the stuff played was terrific and I am sure it was as good as has been seen for a long time at Rovers.

“Fulham try to play some football as well. Roy Hodgson still likes to play the game the right way, he wants to get the ball down and likes to pass it. He also makes sure his sides are organised.

“I think the Blackburn fans will see some good football played on Saturday, but they might not enjoy it as much as they did back then.”

Hodgson was sacked in December 1998 with Rovers languishing near the bottom of the Premier League but, despite their ultimate relegation, McKinlay has urged fans to remember the good times.

“Even in that season we still played some decent football,” he said. “A game against Chelsea really springs to mind.

“A few signings were made though and perhaps they took time to gel, that happens in football though.

“It was a disappointing time for everyone, especially on the back of the previous season but that is football.”

McKinlay won’t be making the trip north tomorrow, where he enjoyed five years in Lancashire between 1995-200, due to reserve team responsibilities but does expect Fulham’s start to the season to be severely tested tomorrow.

He said: “It is a really, really tough game for us tomorrow.

"I had a really good time at Blackburn and they are what I would call a proper football club.

“The whole club, the fans and the staff were brilliant to me and I still think very fondly of my time back there.

“It is a really difficult game for us and we know we have to be at our best to keep our recent run.”

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Your Say YourBlackburn Citizen

hazy, bury says...
10:37am Fri 19 Sep 08

Thanks for your advice billy,but this kind of talk dont frighten us,ince will have his troops fired up and i can only see one winner,hope you dont turn your radio off billy when your 3 down

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Jim Wilkinson, Penwortham says...
10:40am Fri 19 Sep 08

November 21st Hodgson was sacked immediately after Southampton won 2-0 at Ewood

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Rover the Hill, Driffield says...
11:12am Fri 19 Sep 08

Billy McKinlay was one of the reasons we went down. He was an average, and that is being generous, midfield clogger. Could possibly appear in Rovers worst ever 11.

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ripleywonder, Chester says...
11:14am Fri 19 Sep 08

I have always liked WOY HODGSON as a person, but he strikes me as someone who doesnt handle pressure/expectation that well. At Rovers, a few horror signings compounded by a few bad results and he was all over the shop. Last season his houdini efforts with Fulham, he nearly cried on MOTD after one of their defeats. He did well as everyone expected Fulham to go down. Billy Mckinaly must have been one of the most limited footballers I have ever seen in my time at ewood. If there ever was a yard dog or someone who had literally no technical ability it was that little squirt. He should pipe down and get a note off his mother to play out this weekend.

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Jarred, Bristol says...
11:50am Fri 19 Sep 08

I wish we had a young Billy McKinlay in holding midfield. What a player! Like Savage, but without the girly hair.

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marghen, taunton says...
12:16pm Fri 19 Sep 08

Didn’t do to bad job keeping Fulham up last season when the odds were against them- reckon he handled the pressure fine -Woy is a very good manager who didn’t get a fair crack of the whip at Rovers with all the so called stars (Sherwood) making is position impossible. Fulham are the most improved team in the Prem & I for one don’t hold much hope for our chances tomorrow -defeatist talk? No, realism with that clown between the posts!

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Rover the Hill, Driffield says...
1:38pm Fri 19 Sep 08

Jarred wrote:
I wish we had a young Billy McKinlay in holding midfield. What a player! Like Savage, but without the girly hair.
Amazing game football. McKinlay was a talentless donkey, yet you say what a player. I suppose it takes all sorts.

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Johnny Chorley, Wheelton says...
2:24pm Fri 19 Sep 08

I remember Mckinlay playing at rovers and although he wasn't the most naturally talented player he did a fantasitc job as a holding midfielder and was as tough as any in the premier league at that time... i remember the chants from the blackburn end of 'billy's gonna get ya....'
i loved watching him play !! seem to thik Ince may have a few scars from encounters with wee billy !!!!

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jinkyjase, Preston says...
2:58pm Fri 19 Sep 08

Rover the Hill wrote:
Jarred wrote:
I wish we had a young Billy McKinlay in holding midfield. What a player! Like Savage, but without the girly hair.Amazing game football. McKinlay was a talentless donkey, yet you say what a player. I suppose it takes all sorts.
Football is about opinions but for me McKinley is probably the best holding midfielder we've ever had. He'd walk into this team. His only down side was his lack of goals.

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marghen, taunton says...
3:38pm Fri 19 Sep 08

Batty was the best holding midfielders we’ve had -he holds one hell of a punch, just ask pretty boy Le-sulk!

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ash1995, Blackburn says...
3:46pm Fri 19 Sep 08

Didn't Mckinlay get done for drink driving on the M65 - or did I just dream it. P.S. Does Anyone know of a good streaming website (that actually works) to watch the fulham game live tomorrow. Having to go away for the weekend but still want to see the game.

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Rover the Hill, Driffield says...
4:58pm Fri 19 Sep 08

ash1995 wrote:
Didn't Mckinlay get done for drink driving on the M65 - or did I just dream it. P.S. Does Anyone know of a good streaming website (that actually works) to watch the fulham game live tomorrow. Having to go away for the weekend but still want to see the game.
google sopcast. That should give you an option of a channel called asiaplate. You may have to download a couple of programmes. I watched some of Liverpool-Man U and it was quality through ESPN

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Rover the Hill, Driffield says...
5:02pm Fri 19 Sep 08

jinkyjase wrote:
Rover the Hill wrote:Jarred wrote:I wish we had a young Billy McKinlay in holding midfield. What a player! Like Savage, but without the girly hair.Amazing game football. McKinlay was a talentless donkey, yet you say what a player. I suppose it takes all sorts.Football is about opinions but for me McKinley is probably the best holding midfielder we've ever had. He'd walk into this team. His only down side was his lack of goals.
Football is surely about opinions. If you go to the game with five mates, you can almost guarantee you will come up with three different man of the match candidates. As for McKinlay, sorry, that type of player is not what we need right now. Is that not why we signed Grella. Anyway, the guy was bad.
PS. Just who was the worst ever Rover? Matt Dickens or Neil Oliver? Per Pederson or Ashley Ward

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mshaw28, says...
5:10pm Fri 19 Sep 08

watch tomorrows game a www.Justin.tv go into sports section. should be on there chaps

not that i watch the games on there or anything

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mshaw28, says...
5:11pm Fri 19 Sep 08

oh, and u dont need to download anythin

enjoy

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calzo783, Rishton says...
6:03pm Fri 19 Sep 08

I think withthe way we have shipped goals we need to play a different system. ooijer if fit has to play, and Nelsen or samba could make way, both have been useless this season. Id go with a similiar system that England used with villaneuva pushing on and I guess emerton (he did ok last game). play 3 central midfielders and roque up top.

Robinson

Simpson Ooijer Samba Warnock
Reid Voegel/andrews Tugay

Emerton Villaneuva

Roque


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bed and breakfast man !, dewsbury says...
6:38pm Fri 19 Sep 08

dont you all go talking billy up to much,if mr ince sees this ,he will think he,s a fans fav,and try bring him back as a player to go with robbie (the fat)fowler..........

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rovers tel, blackburn says...
8:25pm Fri 19 Sep 08

i tell you what i will love it love it if we beat them

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rovers tel, blackburn says...
8:29pm Fri 19 Sep 08

calzo783 wrote:
I think withthe way we have shipped goals we need to play a different system. ooijer if fit has to play, and Nelsen or samba could make way, both have been useless this season. Id go with a similiar system that England used with villaneuva pushing on and I guess emerton (he did ok last game). play 3 central midfielders and roque up top.RobinsonSimpson Ooijer Samba WarnockReid Voegel/andrews TugayEmerton VillaneuvaRoque
wont happen he will not drop nelson and will not play tugay

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onlyonesimongarner, ewood says...
9:17am Sat 20 Sep 08

Rover the Hill wrote:
Billy McKinlay was one of the reasons we went down. He was an average, and that is being generous, midfield clogger. Could possibly appear in Rovers worst ever 11.
Billy Mckinlay AKA Keith Andrews?

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rovers tel, blackburn says...
12:59pm Sat 20 Sep 08

marghen wrote:
Batty was the best holding midfielders we’ve had -he holds one hell of a punch, just ask pretty boy Le-sulk!
agree batty was the best ive seen at ewood

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BLAST FROM THE PAST: Ex-Rover Billy McKinlay is now at Fulham BLAST FROM THE PAST: Ex-Rover Billy McKinlay is now at Fulham

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