Getting to Know....Spinaker!!!!!

It was cold, it was rainy, and the Irish pub was packed. In the corner of his eye, Sas spotted the jersey, the blue and white halves, sitting in the corner, with 6 lassies on his lap in typical Rovers style. Sas found Spinaker, told the ladies to come back in ten, and below is the result......


1)The season is finished, who was your shining light for Rovers this year and what effect did they have to us maintaining our premiership status?

Honestly I think everyone from front to back has had a poor season andwe've been very fortunate to avoid relegation. I suppose if anyone'sbeen Rovers shining light this season its been Big Sam. Looking back..the most impressive thing about his appointment was how quickly he wasable to steady the ship on the back of such a shocking run ofperformances and results. Confidence within the squad was at rockbottom when he took over and it was vital that he made an immediateimpact on the players.. which to his credit he did.. and thingsstarted to improve on the pitch. The football was anything but pretty,but it never bothered me as long as we kept picking up the points.

2) Of our transfer signings last year, who made the most significant impact on the Rovers first team?

I have'nt been impressed by any of Ince's signings. I had high hopesfor Villanueva but unfortunately it did'nt work out. Grella has beendisappointing, I expected more! Injuries did'nt help of course sohopefully he'll start to repay that £4million price tag next season.Robinson only started to look good towards the end of the season.Kieth Andrews can do a job at right back when we're stuck but he is aweak link in midfield, I fail to see exactly what he brings to thetable in that position.. maybe someone can enlighten me!! Gael Givet has been our signing of the season. He has made the leftback position his own and we look stronger defensively with him in theback four. I'm delighted that we're signing him on a permanent deal.

3)Newcastle, Boro and West Brom were relegated, if you could have 2 players from each club, who would they be??

Duff & Guthrie from Newcastle,.. Scott Carson & Jonathan Greening fromWest Brom,.. Downing & Huth from Boro

4)Of the promoted teams, who has the best chance of staying up?

I think all three have a good chance of staying up. I'd never havesaid that about 3 promoted teams before but on the evidence of lastseason the gap between the championship and the premiership is'nt aswide as I thought it was. West Brom never really got going but weregood to watch and it has to be said they were unlucky to lose as manyas they did.. Hull & Stoke had relatively good season's as well andwere a match for most sides outside the Big 4.It could be argued that last season was just a 'freak season' whereeverybody was beating everybody but I expect something similar againnext season and come the end I don't think there will be much betweenthe sides that make up the bottom half of the table. If I had to pickone that i think will definitely stay up I'll go with Birmingham..they're the biggest of the 3 coming up and I can see them outspendingWolves & Burnley significantly in the transfer market.

5) What are your preditcions for next season, who will win it, where will we finish, and who is going down?

Predictions??? I'd love to say Liverpool but I think it will beUnited's. They were right to cash in on Ronaldo in my opinion but theyshould'nt have f****d (pardon the french) Tevez around and he will be a big loss. Still though they have a lot of money to spend now and if they make the right signings there's no reason why they wont lift the title again next season. As for us... well it's difficult to say is'nt it.. There was a goodarticle by Roversman on whether we are a club in transition or indecline.. and you could argue either way. My own opinion on it is thatnothing really has changed. Until we get some investment we will always be a club that flirts between relegation and a top half finish.Sam needs to stabilize things now and make the team his own, hopefullywe'll sign a couple of good players and get off to a better start thanwe did last season. I'll still be demanding a top half finish becauseI think we have players capable of achieving that... and that shouldalways be the aim anyway. I'm gona say 10th.Who's going down?? I'm gonna say Hull, Wolves and Wigan.

THe interview ended there, Spinaker then proceeded to introduce his lady friends to the Sas, the rest as they say, was history.....

Big Cheers to Spinaker!!

Sas

Is Coming

To a Neighbourhood

Near you (except you mikey, wouldnt come near you with a 10ft pole....)