Blackburn Rovers News 24/7Writer: Sasman! 
Date:Thursday December 10 2009
Time: 7:57AM
UK time is: 23:31:19
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5th and 20th of January-Rovers Future on the Line?
Now before we start here, I'm not a pessimist. Heck, far from it. Im born and bred in Australia, yet dont follow one of the big 4, probably the only Blackburn Rover in Sydney......
After defeating Chelsea, we all know what is up next, a clutch, home and away tie against Aston Villa. We win this tie, we are almost guaranteed a Europa spot. Why do we stress this though...
Unless Roman's rich cousin Vlatislav takes over Blackburn, we will never again push for an English Premier League title. We will battle away, fighting to scrape into the the top 6, a task which is becoming increasingly more difficult as the likes of Manchester City, Tottenham and Aston Villa strengthen their squads by splashing the cash. So it seems, the immediate future for Blackburn, is between 7th and 14th spot. Good enough? Who knows, achievable, definately.
This brings us back to the point of the article, the Carling Cup semi-final. In the past, making the semi-final was an achievement in its own. However, being drawn against Villa (absolutely no disrespect to The Fear and co at Vital Villa), is probably the best opportunity Rovers could have been given to qualify for Europe, and, ensure the club can survive over the next few years.
With the men in charge of the club at the moment treating every pound floating in and around the club to its exact worth, the extra financial incentive of Continental football for a club like ours can perform miracles. With a man like Sam Allardyce at the helm, we will not splash the dollars around, rather use it wisely. The rest, can pay of some debt, which im sure Mr Williams is looking after.
So where to for Rovers from now. Continental qualification through the League is almost unachievable, do we sacrifice league position for the 2 legged tie, or continue to play without fear and hope our squad remains fully fit for the clash with Villa. The likes of Brett Emerton, Vince Grella, David Dunn, Steven Reid are all recovering from serious long term injuries. The busy festive period might just be the time to employ a rotation policy, giving the likes of Junior Hoillet, Elrio Van Heerden and Keith 'God Help Us' Andrews some first team action.
Either way, hopefully come January 20th, European football might just be on the cards for Ewood in 2010/2011
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Your Comments
I really do feel Sam needs to tread carefully with Dunn and Grella coming into this tie.....fingers crossed we have a full strength squad, and a happy Benni McCarthy to choose from
sasman
Some good thoughts there sas. Yeah Big Sam certainly is in a tough spot now isn't he, however, what we also have to take into account is it's not just a case of beating Aston Villa whe then have to beat Manure or Man City in the Final don't we and we have to beat them, we wouldn't be handed a Europa League place just by facing them as the Carling Cup runner-up doesn't get this spot if the Winner makes it into Europe do they. Personally I think that Big Sam needs to keep going about business the same as we have and then cross the two legged Semi-Final bridge when we come to it.
Walker
pretty sure we do boss, dont we?...we discussed it in the forum
sasman
Carling cup finalists dont get a Europa spot, just the winners do. Its a hugely important tie and no doubt the final will be really tough whoever we play should we get through. It would be amazing though to get some silverware in the cabinet again.
Durks
Durks, but assuing City get in the top 6 and United come in the top 4.. becuase they already have a europe spot it goes to the runners up! id sacrafice 1 or 2 league possitions for europe next season.. as long as we stay up!
rover23
The related point is that the Rovers' current squad is well built to handle additional games during the season. I'm convinced talented but thin rosters like Everton and Fulham suffer in domestic play because they have so many mid-week games. Fatigue causes injuries and stacking up 3-games-in-8-days scenarios are that much more likely with the inclusion of a long running cup like UEFA. Rovers, however, are better suited due to our depth and numbers. If Dunn needs a week off, Emo slides to the middle and we play a more traditional 4-4-2. If Givet tweaks a calf, Chimbo switches to the left and Jacobsen goes in at right back. If MGP can't string together 2 passes, Diouf plays on the left for a month. Nzonzi-Grella-Andrews, Benni-Di Santo-Hoillet, Kalinic-Roberts, Emo-Diouf, MGP-Diuof-Hoillet, Dunn-Emo-Hoillet, Chimbo-Jacobsen-Salgado, Samba-Nelson-Givet-Jones....the pieces are almost modular and interchangeable. Combine the squad depth with sound finances and it's high time to celebrate the excellent partnership of Williams and Allardyce
SoCal Rover
Exactly my thoughts, if city mak the top 6 we go by default lol
Sasman
Rover23 it doesn't go to the runner up it goes to the next place in the league. The FA cup is where the runners up get the place should the winners qualify for europe via another avenue.
durks
you 100% durks? aww..guess we just gotta win the thing then lol
sasman
Durks is 100% right, they stopped letting the Carling Cup runner-up take the spot a few years ago. I think when Wigan got beaten by Manure 4-0 was the year this first happened, that's why Wigan didn't get into Europe.
Walker
good points Sas although the Europe qualification is confusing as hell... And just quietly, i almost fell over the other day when i turned around and saw some young lad wearing the blue and white. Blackburn is taking over Aus!
retroflair31
Lets just win the thing then! Villa will be tough but it is the best out of the three possible opponents we could have had - but then Villa will be saying the same too!
Mikey Delap
I think at this stage we've got to put the strongest team we have out and go for it - we may have to wait a very long time for another semi final or even final.
FreidelNo.1
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