Blackburn – Kean on the very edge
By David, BettingExpert.com | Published
It was a close call for Blackburn and their manager last season. They could have gone down were it not for a final day victory at the Molineux Stadium. Manager Kean is still living in the shadow of former boss Allardyce, sacked too hastily by the new owners, and if he does not mature fast enough his first mistakes could get him sacked well before Christmas.
Manager: Kean
Tactics: 4-5-1
Players In: Petrovic, Goodwillie, Myles Anderson, Pavone
Players Out: P. Jones, J. Brown, Mwaruwari, Khizanishvili, Fielding, Kalinic
Current Probable Formation: Robinson, Salgado, Samba, Nelsen, Givet, Emerton, Nzonzi, Gamst Pedersen, David Dunn, Olsson, Hoilett
In order to avoid that Kean should first seek to convince the management not to sell off Samba. He is a quality defender and has been on the short list of a number of English top clubs. However, the numbers are already short at the back with just the first four starters up to standard. When one of them is unavailable a gaping hole materializes at the back giving headaches to an already unsure Robinson in between the posts.
The numbers in attack are not encouraging either but considering that Kean should be playing a tight 4-5-1 there are plenty of players available for rotation. Kalinic has been sold to Dnipro as the club has decided to go all in with last year’s revelation David Hoilett. He scored as many goals as Kalinic and Roberts but his presence was always a boost for the rest of the team and inspired much more than any of the other strikers. Roberts will be a good alternative, just as much as newcomer Goodwillie.
Aside from Hoilett none of the names are big enough to consider last season’s goal drought solved though. Besides, the young striker will need to get good supply. Here, most of the responsibility will fall on Gamst Pedersen’s shoulders. The Norwegian serves as major inspiration from the heart of midfield. Olsson and Emerton are very good wingers who can really spread wide and stretch the team providing the right crosses for the lone man in the box. The main alternative on the flanks is El-Hadji Diouf, still a very inconsistent player. The midfield is completed by Nzonzi and David Dunn. Very valid players but the latter often troubled with injury woes.
Predicted finishing position: 15th
The backline is as solid as ever and with five midfielders in front of that opponents should not be slicing through the Blackburn lines easily. However, numbers are short and any missing element at the back will destabilize the defensive potential of the team. Upfront, Blackburn should be relying too much on talented Hoilett for goals. A service he may not be able to render as effectively as is hoped for.
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