Whilst the fact we couldn't beat brum is hugely frustrating, I have to agree that given the resources available (or lack there of) to finish 7th is somewhat of an achievement. Especially when you look at the size of the clubs who finished above us. Villa and Everton are big clubs and have had a big following for a long, long time - so they are expected to do well (Villa more recently with the investment). I think we can be proud of finishing 7th. I for one am looking forward to next season already!

Super Stevie Warnock is in the England squad!

Well deserved!

Well done rovers bin a season of ups and downs but at the end of the day 7th in a league wer money is thrown about like it is nothin is a big achievement!

Can't deny that yesterday was very disappointing but the season as a whole is a fantastic success for all concerned. In any other season we would have qualified for Europe.

Onwards and upwards.

Let's hope that Hughesy can work his magic in the transfer market yet again and that the players get a rest which will set us up for next season's Premiership.

Congratulations to everyone at Rovers!

Aaaah! The old financial card is being played again. I'm afraid the fact is we missed out on Europe by sinking to our heaviest defeat of the season against a relegated (poor) side. The disappointments in the FA cup and EUFA (against teams Coventry and Larrisa with much less resources than us-Ooops-shouln't mention that-doesn't fit in with the usual spin). Too many players cannot cut it in matches that matter. With the exception of Emerton and Vogel, all the other players did not play up to form. Goals resulted from wide crosses following feeble fullback play from Warnock and Reid. Samba and Nelson were like the Keystone Cops in the middle-especially after Forsell was replaced with Jerome. Midfield did OK until Hughsie reduced it to snails pace by introducing Dunn and Tugay (we lost control after that but nobody has commnented on that particular tactic!)Up front, Robers once more chose to aim for the goalkeeper when shooting (usually mis-hit) and even Sanat missed a sitter of a header from 6 yards out. Pederson and Bentley did OK without ever being at their best. All inall one to forget-lets have a reet good spend and turn some current first teamersinto squaddies. Good luck in your pursuit of more qulaity in the summer Hughsie.

Great win for the Brum. Happy you lost, of course, but I think you have a good nucleus of a squad. Freidel must be the best signing ever made by a manager for a goalkeeper, free transfer forom Liverpool. Can you keep hold of Santa-Cruz and Bentley over the summer?????? Santa-Cruz has just been as good as Torres at Liverpool in his first season.

UP THE CLARETS!

ClaretWard19 wrote:
Great win for the Brum. Happy you lost, of course, but I think you have a good nucleus of a squad. Freidel must be the best signing ever made by a manager for a goalkeeper, free transfer forom Liverpool. Can you keep hold of Santa-Cruz and Bentley over the summer?????? Santa-Cruz has just been as good as Torres at Liverpool in his first season. UP THE CLARETS!

What a breath of fresh air you are!

Finally a Burnley fan with a good sense of football, all rivalry aside!

Have to agree with you about Friedel and Santa.

I dont often do this, but I have to question Sparky's substitutions. After 60 minutes, I would have subbed Reid for Tugay or Dunn, putting Emerton at right back. I thought vogel was impressive all game and would have left him on, even Gamst was having an unusually active game.

I thought Reid was poor at right back, he didnt get forward enough supporting Bentley and he didnt defend well either. Whenever Emerton is at right back he always gets forward well, the added bonus being that he takes a man off Bentley, who had two men on him all game - Bentley being our major threat, at least creatively. When Vogel and Gamst went off we lost the midfield and lost the intiative.

barnsey, your comments seem quite astute re who played well and didn't, fair enough. Your main point is that we missed out on Europe cos we lost to Birmingham though - surely league positions are based on performance over a season, not just the last game? I for one am delighted that we've finished 7th. 6th would have been much better, but there have definately been worse seasons. You can also look back on this season and assume that we can do some things better next time too, so all looks positive to me, I'm sorry it doesn't to you! As the club gets slightly stronger each season, our squad is gradually getting better mate, it's a shame you hadn't noticed!

HEY, BARNSLEY! theres a hell of a lot of clubs with much bigger resources/fan bases that would do anything to finish 7th in the premier league right now! spurs, city,newcastle, sunderland,leeds sheffield(s) and notts forest spring to mind - we aint doin that bad!!

Agree with Phil ….Hughes made an almighty clanger with his substitutions.
…it was obvious to everyone (except Hughes) that Reid was out of his depth at full back - a slow average winger turned him inside out at will.

I don’t particularly like Pedersen but he does track back & is adecent tackler. Vogel had is best game so far & held what midfield we had, together. To take both of these off at just the moment the game was beginning to turn in our flavour was a disastrous decision. Tugay’s been a good player for us but he’s past it, big time & so is Dunn, they’re both pedestrian like. Midfield is the area most in need of new blood in the close season along with the priority of a full back.

whatever way we look at this, it was surely the worst end of season game performed, aside from Man City that is...the players knew we had something far more important than 'already' relegated Birmingham had to go for yet certain players lack lusture efforts costs us...put up a great fight against Man Utd, then this display....however finishing 7th is still a fantastic acheivement and of course Rovers remain a real pain in the arse for the so called bigger clubs in and outside the top 4 - one thing for sure, those players who thought to give up at 2 - 1 down, will stick in MH mind and could end up costing them there 'starting' place next season!

i loved it thuough!!!nice1 rovers legends

Entry to Europe, via the Intertoto Cup, was NOT squandered on Sunday against Birmingham.
It was squandered against the likes of Fulham, Spurs, West Ham and Middlesbro - at home - earlier in the season!
When they play well, Rovers are magnificent BUT they get too careless far too often and turn off their concentration far too often.
The successful teams bear down all the time and concentrate 100% of the full 90 minutes!
Well done lads, for the 7th place in the table! However, it COULD, so easily, have been 5th place!

DAVID DUNN???WHATS HE ABOUT!!NO WAY PREM CLASS!!!

totally agree Steve, was a bit surpriseds myself to see Vogel come off so early!

and yes he is a legend but sentiments aside, i just hope tugay stops playin soon, otherwise sparky's just gonna put him on at silly times well into next season and maybe cause some mistakes, i dont think he'll be able to cut it as well as he can even now you still see a few stray passes from the guy, quite clearly we need stregthening in that area for next term.

I think we should all be thanking our lucky stars. I know very few will agree with me but we aint ever gonna be the team we were when Jack was alive. We aint ever gonna be anything other than nearly rans. But least that's within the context of the premier league which is fantastic for a team of our size.

Mark Hughes' few years with the club has probably established Rovers' long term future ie that of a premiership side for many years to come. We should all be celebrating this fact alone.

And another positive about finishing out of europe means that MH's CV looks that bit less attractive to the Utd board.

Well done Rovers!

warnock in England squad!!!no wonder we never qualified!!lack of English talent!

Ully wrote:
whatever way we look at this, it was surely the worst end of season game performed, aside from Man City that is...the players knew we had something far more important than 'already' relegated Birmingham had to go for yet certain players lack lusture efforts costs us...put up a great fight against Man Utd, then this display....however finishing 7th is still a fantastic acheivement and of course Rovers remain a real pain in the arse for the so called bigger clubs in and outside the top 4 - one thing for sure, those players who thought to give up at 2 - 1 down, will stick in MH mind and could end up costing them there 'starting' place next season!

Hey Ully. Was a drastic state of affairs yesterday. Absolute numbness walking out of that place. I had de-ja-vu at that fiasco - Selhurst Park in the play-offs!! Total collapse.

But overall 7th is a fantastic achievement all things considered. People have made some really good comments over yesterday & mainly positive which is another great achievement.

MH will put it right 08/09.

I wear pink knickers round the house when its hot,and nothing else,bit peeved the seasons finished but looking forward to the Euros,all those hunks swapping shirts mmmmmmmmmmm

I really do think that the past season justifies why Mark Hughes needs a decent sum of money to take us to that next level!!! at least 10million should be given to hughesy... we have only finished 7th this season because the tiredness of the players caught up.. blackburn fielded less players all season than any other side in the premiership... if hughes is given a transfer war chest this close season then why is not realistic with the ethos and mentality already in place at rovers is it not reasonable to suggest we should be a top 5 side???

Im a massive Rovers fan but i can't adide the following players they are awful-Dunn, Mokoena, Reid, Pedersen and Zurab. Also, get shut of Brown, Henchoz and Gallagher!

I would like to see us sign Victor Moses, Tom Soares, Teemu Tainio and i think James Beattie can do a job when he's back home!

I think these are realistic signings-what do you lot think?

Tommo wrote:
Im a massive Rovers fan but i can't adide the following players they are awful-Dunn, Mokoena, Reid, Pedersen and Zurab. Also, get shut of Brown, Henchoz and Gallagher! I would like to see us sign Victor Moses, Tom Soares, Teemu Tainio and i think James Beattie can do a job when he's back home! I think these are realistic signings-what do you lot think?

I couldn't believe our defeat. The whole game was very nerve racking. After knowing villa and west ham had drew I was very disappointed. I really don't know what happened to the players but I'm sure they're gutted and they know they've missed an opportinity to play in Europe. We all know that the manager, players, fans and every one who has got something to do with Rovers wanted a win, but sometimes things happen for a reason and this time it just didnt go our way.
All the players that you've mentioned are brill. Some are better than others and here I say Gamst, Reidy and Brown are quite good, even though we havn't seen much of Brown playing for the first team and Dunny at times isn't too bad either. James Beatie wouldn't be bad for a signing but I dont think Hughes would buy him.

How is Mokoena brill?

I don't really know actually coz I've rarely seen him play this season. But i'm sure he's not that bad, every one has their up's and downs. When he plays he does make an effort.

Hi Rovers Girl

I admire your optimism. We should try and keep all our players. They have all contributed this season, obviously some more than others, but it's a very difficult league to play in. Just look at all the world class players in this league. I don't need to list them, we all know who they are. We have competed against all of them. The champions couldn't win at Ewood could they?
What I am trying to say is that we should be proud of our achievements. We are the highest placed club of our like in the entire 4 divisions. Be proud!

Rovers girl wrote:

Tommo wrote: Im a massive Rovers fan but i can't adide the following players they are awful-Dunn, Mokoena, Reid, Pedersen and Zurab. Also, get shut of Brown, Henchoz and Gallagher! I would like to see us sign Victor Moses, Tom Soares, Teemu Tainio and i think James Beattie can do a job when he's back home! I think these are realistic signings-what do you lot think?

I couldn't believe our defeat. The whole game was very nerve racking. After knowing villa and west ham had drew I was very disappointed. I really don't know what happened to the players but I'm sure they're gutted and they know they've missed an opportinity to play in Europe. We all know that the manager, players, fans and every one who has got something to do with Rovers wanted a win, but sometimes things happen for a reason and this time it just didnt go our way. All the players that you've mentioned are brill. Some are better than others and here I say Gamst, Reidy and Brown are quite good, even though we havn't seen much of Brown playing for the first team and Dunny at times isn't too bad either. James Beatie wouldn't be bad for a signing but I dont think Hughes would buy him.

THE RACE FOR EUROPE IS STILL ON
COME ON ROVERS!!

....alright woody, i was only a wee kid when I went to that play off 2nd leg final game at selhurst park, and recall pretty much every minute of it...so can't say I felt like that on Sunday but I was disgraced at the way half the team started thinking about where to go for the summer holidays..or even worse what team will I be playing for next season!!!

Tommo, u got a point there, wholesale changes on the fringe players may well be the answer as oppose to spending big on a couple of chancers...can't recall the players u mentioned really benefiting Rovers this season, and the legand that is Tugay should also now have had his last game...it's not about sentiment, it's about winning football games!

Shaun, nobody is looking for a premeirship winning team and JW will always have a place in my heart for allowing me the pleasure of watching this small town club win probably the worlds best known football title - as for nearly rans and thank our lucky stars, that's like always drinking from an half empty mug all ur life...come on, I expected Rovers under the management of MH on Sunday to have knocked Birmingham for 6 so we could give ourselves a fighting chance to quality for Europe, (which we could have done) afterall thats what nearly every player was saying week in week out that it's a must - expectation is not a bad thing, being grateful is a cop out!!!

Tommo wrote:
Im a massive Rovers fan but i can't adide the following players they are awful-Dunn, Mokoena, Reid, Pedersen and Zurab. Also, get shut of Brown, Henchoz and Gallagher! I would like to see us sign Victor Moses, Tom Soares, Teemu Tainio and i think James Beattie can do a job when he's back home! I think these are realistic signings-what do you lot think?

Tommo - you fool! Mokoena maybe but the others are all good solid squad players... Tom Soares and his mate Ben Watson at Palace would enhance the squad but they are both untested at prem level. Beattie? are you mad? he would not get in front of Benni, Roque, Roberts or Matty! - as for Dunny... he is a local hero you should be tarred and feathered outside the Blackburn End!

I lay the blame for our defeat at St Andrews cleanly at the feet of Roberts... Hughesy took a risk putting on 3 strikers... and hindsight is a wonderful thing! Benni should have started the game... Otherwise... a good solid season - normally it would have been good enough to get us a UEFA place but the top four didn;t do so well in the domestic cups... Rock On Rovers...

got to agree with you Ully , three major dissapointments with sundays result, 1. we got beat 2. we got hammered 3. villa only managed a draw at west ham so we threw the european chance away.
why is it whenever the players start saying what a good team we are and 'bigging' up our possibilities we fall flat on our faces.
early in the season we were a top 4 side, going all the way in the Eufa etc etc etc.
the only good thing to come from sunday was city and portsmouth getting beat which allowed us to stay 7th and keep the prize money on offer.
in the main its been a good season, and i still think in the main we have a decent squad, but unlike other weeks were you play again and few days later and the spirits are lifted with a performance or a win, we have to wait till next season and in the meantime stew on the thought of what might have been.

keep the faith

I must admit the negativity on these pages after our capitulation to Birmingham isn't a surprise at all because most of the people doing the moaning are more than likely to be the same kinda people who were also moaning when we shelved out £3.8 million on an injury prone striker who didnt have a goal scoring pedigree lol - I for one was over the moon when we signed Roque and what a sensational signing he has been...not just his goal scoring which I know what most people on here would have judged him on but the way he holds up the ball, smart runs, flick on and set up play (great awareness to set up Morten btw) - so credit to Mark Hughes for having the faith and foresight to sign yet another cheap as chips signing and he deserves a well earnt break this summer. I was as heartbroken as the rest you not just in the defeat but the manner of it..Reid looked all out at sea and Roberts seemed distinctly disinterested and Bentley was a spectator at times..there was alack of pace or cutting edge about our play and in the final game of the season with so much to play for that was shocking from a team which we all come to expect more from but my main point is that we didnt play just any team on sunday - we played a team fighting for their premiership lives - whether they played Man U or Chelski I rekon they would have played their hearts out even though they didnt have much quality. I think Friedel's poor judgment coupled with some poor substitions cost us but I think Hughes and Friedel are even allowed to make mistakes - their performances and team talks have saved us many a point - instead of dwelling on what could have lets all get behind the team and support whateva signings MH decides to bring in and lets hope the board supports him in this - we defo need a right back - sumone like Chimbonda, a goalscoring/creative playmaker like Shawn Maloney of Villa or Micheal Bradley and a pacey striker to compliment Roque like Nelson Cuevas or Djibril Cisse -- unfortunately we aint as glamorous as the London clubs or have the financial backing of the Man U's or Newcastle's but what we do have a very loyal fan base in what is essentially a small town - the likes of which cannot be seen in any other league in any other country - we are unique and lets be proud of our team and their achievements this season - my thanks to the team for all their effort and all of you that have passionately followed them this season - heres to 2008/9

simmie wrote:
I lay the blame for our defeat at St Andrews cleanly at the feet of Roberts... Hughesy took a risk putting on 3 strikers... and hindsight is a wonderful thing! Benni should have started the game... Otherwise... a good solid season - normally it would have been good enough to get us a UEFA place but the top four didn;t do so well in the domestic cups... Rock On Rovers...

Youre a f*u*c*k*i*n*g MORON.

the reason for the defeat was bringing off vogel pedersen and warnock - our central midfield disappeared and our left flank was replaced by right footers. ALL 3 subs hadnt played a full game in ages AND we were looking like putting 2/3 past brum before hughes tore the team apart at the seams.

roberts was not solely to blame you inbred six fingered blackburn born muppet, in fact he helped assist our only goal. F*UCKWIT.

not really sure what your goin on about 'Raf of the Rovers man' - in an attempt not to insult you, nobody on ere is questioning the signing of Rocky Santa Cruz...are they? Brad made a mistake, not his first or his last, but we cancelled that out when we levelled up..so no issue there - MH done a great job on the whole, no question there - the moaning as u call it is down to the final game of the season where Rovers could/should have clinced 6th place to enter Europe...now I quite like the idea of Rovers in Europe and one day acheiving what Rangers will have done tomorrow night, so back off buddy and let those that are bothered be bothered! missing out on Europe could well sway Bently to move on, and could well put potential players off moving in - as for Birmingham playing for their lifes, I don't agree with that at all, they did what we should have done, put up a fight on the off chance a good result would win it for them...in their case..NO in our case it would have been YES!!!!

Simmie your an idiot

For me Rovers lost this game like they lost the Liverpool game because there was a total lack of dsesire from the midfield/strikers to chase after the ball and try to regain it once the opposition had the ball.

Tugay,Dunn,Macarthy lazy lazy players they were only interested when they had the ball in their possesion but not when they didnt have it - all three need replacing.

Hughes should take note the lack of effort these players put in when they came onto the field of play instead of changing the result in Rovers favour they contributed in our downfall big time.

I wont forget hope Hughe sdoesnt either.

Arte et labore - by hard work and skill something some of these lads sadly lacked.