‘I continue to enjoy going more than I’d enjoy not going’
more money to spend holds true.
The signings themselves have been encouraging on two fronts.
One, Mowbray has clearly identified that the midfield he inherited was dysfunctional and laboured, neither destructive in stopping the opposition having largely their own way for long periods nor creative enough to supply quality strikers like Graham and the departed Sam Gallagher with sufficient chances to win enough games.
I’m not a big stats fan but Peter Whittingham’s show that the fella actually PLAYS GAMES, as in lots of them. Never less than 32 a season in the last ten years. Compare that with the like of Guthrie and Corry Evans. He also contributes a fair portion of goals, almost a lost Ewood art, as does Dack who had a splendid campaign for Gillingham in 2015-16, rather less so last season which was hopefully down to that undefinable yearning to be elsewhere players are sometimes consumed by.
Smallwood, Gladwin, Samuel, Nuttall, Caddis.. possibly not names to get the pulses racing and as I seldom bother with friendlies I can’t proffer an opinion. But neither possibly were Hawkins, Beamish, Hickman, Oates, Burgin, Hoy and Mullen on the occasion of our first promotion from this level, nor Crawford, Arnold and Branagan second time.
And there’s a great lesson of patience to be learned from those promotions of yesteryear. I’ve heard more than once “a good start is essential.”
Gordon Lee’s team had just that, hit the top two in October and were never subsequently out of it.
Howard Kendall’s baptism in management saw just two wins, none of them at home, in the first 12 games. It is unthinkable that he’d survive under today’s prevailing entitled, social-media-fury conditions. In midJanuary 1980 Rovers, even after the first win of a run which transformed the season, lay 14th.
So whether we are 3-0 up at Roots Hall after an hour on Saturday or 3-0 down it won’t necessarily augur with certainty the pattern of the season. We all watched a side last season go four up in 20 minutes and acclaimed them title certainties.
Even if you didn’t know there were able managers at this level such as like Darren Ferguson, Lee Clark, Uwe Rosler, John Sheridan, Kenny Jackett, Keith Hill and Phil Brown operating, even if you don’t know who’s signed Michael Kightly, David Ball, Brett Pitman, Steven Taylor, Chris Maguire, James Henry or Chris Long (don’t panic they’ve all gone to different clubs) expecting a procession seems fanciful. I hope all Rovers fans, whether incurably romantic or angrily cynical, find much to enjoy between now and May.
SOUTHPORT................... 0 STANLEY......................... 5
ACCRINGTON Stanley ended their pre-season campaign in style after a dominant win over non-league Southport.
Billy Kee inspired the Reds to victory as he netted a first-half hat-trick, while Seamus Conneely and an own goal from Adam Dugdale completed the scoring.
It was an impressive performance from Accrington, with all five of their goals coming during the first half of the match, much to the delight of manager John Coleman.
“We had a great intensity to score more goals on Saturday which was pleasing to see,” he told the cub’s official website.
“It was a great time for Billy Kee to grab a hat-trick and we all know at this club what Billy is about and when he gets it right he’s as good as anyone.”
Stanley were quick out of the blocks and they got the opening goal after 12 minutes.
Kee combined with Kayden Jackson, with the former receiving the ball on the edge of the area before firing an effort past Iain Turner in the Southport net.
That goal appeared to open the floodgates for the away side, and just moments later they had managed to double their lead, with Kee the man to get the goal once again.
It got even better for Accrington when captain Conneely got