We've got some ruins too, a strikeforce

So Mido has apparently turned down the chance to come to Blackburn, despite the fact that Roma have made it quite clear that he isn't part of their plans.

I just can't get my head around it. Especially given that the Blackburn museum and art gallery were prepared to go out of their way for Mido, who if he was so attatched to the place could have remembered it fondly with their current exhibition showcasing 'a particularly fine series of Early Imperial Roman coins'.

The Colloseum? If Mido wanted to see a ruin of a stadium a quick trip down the M65 would bring him to Turf Moor, suitably dilapidated.

And the Trevi fountain? Is it really a match for this wonderful bit of architecture (pictured above), Blackburn town centre's Church Street fountain centrepiece?

Mido looks like a lad who enjoys a night out, I'm sure he'd have a belter down 'the cav' before the obligatory supper from the kebab mile and a jostle for his taxi.

Nope I really can't fathom it.

(Oh by the way, just stupidly deleted all the links from the right hand side and all my edits to this page if you are wondering where they've gone. Thought I'd give the old place a tidying up and look what happens!)

Incomings, shortcomings and the least flattering picture ever...

...and seemingly the longest post title ever.

So how do you replace Craig Bellamy? Ah yes, that's it, acquire the services of 'the fox in the box' Franny Jeffers on a free transfer. I'm assuming that nobody else would touch him with a barge pole, I'm also judging him before he's pulled on the blue and white halves, and I'm also forgetting Mark Hughes nouse when it comes to signing players with baggage, and getting the best out of them.

But seriously, with the greatest will in the world 'Foxy' isn't the top notch replacement we're all looking for. Is Jason Roberts? It'd be laughable to claim he's in the same league as our departed Welsh wee one, but he's got similar pace, strength and scored plenty of goals last season in an over-acheiving Wigan side. In fact, if it wern't for his goals, it's very improbable to think they'd have finished anywhere near as high as they did.

He's certainly another one for the rogues gallery, giving his shall we say 'liberal' use of swinging elbows. Nice to see we have found a genuine replacement for Bellamy in terms of unpopularity, if not talent.

Anyway in other news, and another perfect distraction for you Roverites looking for your blue and white blog action now my malaise has kicked in, it would appear Blackburn blogs are springing up everywhere now. Singing the blues... and whites is promising a 'wry look at the Ewood Park football machine'. I'm guessing a sense of humour could be imperative next season.

Bellamy signs for Liverpool

The inevitable has happened. After activating the release clause in his contract earlier this week Craig Bellamy has signed a four year contract with Liverpool in a deal worth a little over £6m.

I'm devestated, but it isn't exactly a shock. It would have been naieve to assume that Bellamy was using us as anything other than a stepping stone, and foolhardy not to realise that his performances last season would attract attention.

It still doesn't make it any less difficult though. For my money Bellamy is the best striker we've had at this club since a certain Alan Shearer. Things were already beginning to crumble when Shearer left, but with Bellamy spark and Hughes ambition I genuinely felt we were building our way back up. That task has been made eminantly harder now.

Especially when on the BBC Sport's website, one of the related stories on the 'Bellamy signs for Liverpool' page was from just a month ago, with quotes from Mark Hughes saying: "I'm more than confident that Craig will be here next season." This loss is going to hit Hughesey hard. Here was the man he was building his dream around, the one player who transformed our average side into one with a threat.

We were already in the market for a forward, now we need two. With all the will in the world, and the best efforts of our manager in the transfer market, I don't think we'll come close to getting one as good as Bellars, never mind two.

In the meantime next season's fixtures have been published and we kick off with an away trip to Portsmouth followed by our first home game of the season the following Wednesday to Everton. We won't have to wait long to welcome the champions, with their new acquisitions Michael Ballack and Andrei Shevchenko in tow, as they are our third game of the season. And I'm at the Leeds festival. What a shit day this is proving to be.

New kid in town

There's a new swinger in town, and while in this day and age that phrase can take on a totally new connotation, I'm merely trying to welcome 'The CIS One' to the Rovers blog stage.

I've moaned in the past that there's not enough Roverites blogging on the internet. To my probably misguided knowledge I was the only one until recently, but now I've got some company.

'The CIS One' does sound like some elite insurance package mind, but then, A Town Called Malice sounds just like a jam song. In the title relevance stakes then, the former wins by being named after a stand at Ewood whilst mine is just erm, a jam song.

So if I keep up my current standards of being here one minute, and then gone for the next few months, at least you'll have a new Roverite keeping you entertained.

Two Roverites blogging? It'll be world domination next.

What the hell happened here then?

So I'm happily trundling along in my summer of ignorant bliss, topping up the old farmers tan, quaint like a pig in muck after renewing my season ticket for the next campaign and looking forward to Rovers building on their success. Then... Bang. Wake up time.

It started off with the news that Steven Reid, with his contract running down, was being courted by a number of potential suitors, with Tottenham supposedly lodging a firm offer. Reid's effervescent performances last season clearly caught the eye of Martin Jol and it would have been a huge blow if we'd have lost him. Thankfully, despite all the suggestion that Reidy wanted a return to the bright lights of London, to move back close to his family and friends, and quite frankly 'a nightlife', he's looks set to sign on the dotted line for another four years at Ewood. Well, that's if you believe some press sources who'd prematurely announced that a new contract had been signed whilst the local press is convinced he's still on holiday. Still, it looks like we might have survived that scare, just.

But now it's Liverpool who look almost certain to ruin my summer by stealing our star of last season Craig Bellamy, after activating the £6m release clause in his contract. Gutted. That's all I can say. While nothing has been signed yet, Bellamy is according to some press sources today rushing back to Blighty from his honeymoon (no loyalty you say?) to have talks with Rafa Benitez. Bellamy does deserve the big stage, and his performances last season were bound to attract attention, but I'd managed to delude myself that he'd stay, at least for another season. Looks like I was wrong. I'd been warned mind, by a Celtic supporting friend and Kev from Lord Of The Wing. It's a while since we've had a striker as gifted as Bellars at the club, and unless Sparky pulls off some transfer market magic, it could be a while before we see one of his calibre again.

I'm sorry I've not been around for all this drama. I was just enjoying my summer without the troubles and strifes of Rovers to concern me, and then look what happens. Our stars look set to leave and 40mph winds whip showers into town, in frigging June. It never rains in Blackburn, it just fucking pours.

Wheeling

As expected Paul Dickov today completed a move to Manchester City.

Whilst Dickov said that Rovers had made a "great offer" to keep him, he also told of how the oppertunity to return to Man City, were he was once a fans favourite was "too good to turn down".

Meanwhile Michael Gray has signed a two year extension to his current Rovers contract. Gray had certainly enjoyed something of a renaissance last season after coming close to leaving the club in the summer previous. Micky has done a solid job at left back this season, and whilst he'll never be the best defender in the world, as a full back he's generally solid and a threat going forward.

Warstarter on tap

Rovers yesterday signed a new ale deal with local brewer Thwaites becoming the club's official beer supplier.

Warsteiner on tap would certainly be a bit interesting, and surely give a boost (of some description) to Ewood's often morose atmosphere.

Speaking of wars, I'm watching with interest as to whether Greame Souness is going to get back into management with Crystal Palace. In the last few years Souness has had a catalogue of bust-ups with players, staff and probably mirrors and surely working under brat of a chairman Simon Jordan has car crash written all over it.

Not that I want to get bogged down in chatting about another team (although purely in the interests of a quality pun I could rename the site 'A Town Called Palace' - some Londoner is gutted he didn't think of that now) but what about Andy Johnson supposedly commanding an £8.5m price tag? I've never really rated him, and that price is surely hideously overblown. My concern over him would be that, if he's going for that much it would suggest he has a bit about him, but if he's that good, why's he going to Wigan?

Back on the Rovers front, but staying with strikers, last night's Lancashire Evening Telegraph said that we've all but counted ourselves out of the running for Chelsea's Eidur Gudjohnsen. Hardly a shock that one is it? Gudjohnsen is a quality player, arguably an under-strength Chelsea's best when they arrived at Ewood as champions a few week's ago, and it's no wonder big clubs are sniffing around him. They don't come much bigger than European champions Barcelona either, apparently Gudjohnsen's likely suitors.

What's worrying is that speculation linking us to Emile Heskey just won't go away. For me Heskey was the forerunner of players like Andy Johnson and Peter Crouch, average English forwards commanding huge price tags. Benni McCarthy, a long-time target is still a name in the frame according to the LET but that deal has been on/off more times than my light switch.

Dickov Released

After turning down the offer of a new contract, Paul Dickov has been released by Rovers.

According to Chairman John Williams the diminutive Scot rejected the deal due to "football reasons". One can only assume Dickov didn't fancy another season of yanking splinters out of his arse.

Roverites took to Dickov quite well thanks in no small part to his all action style of play. He was likened to David Speedie, another short arse, another wind up merchant, another effective striker from our promotion days. You can see the likeness, both uber determined, but both with an encyclopaedic knowledge of how to rattle opponents.

When media commentators and opposition fans discuss Rovers supposed nasty streak, Dickov's name and approach is often one of the most maligned. Personally I find that an unfair reflection on his game. Dickov isn't the most gifted of footballers but makes up for it with the kind of endeavour and willing that some players with far more skill, and far bigger pay packets should be shamed for not showing.

Cheers for a job well done Dicky. £150,000 proved a steal and now another team will be getting themselves a bargain seens as they don't have to spend a penny.

That's one of our 'bully boys' gone, though I'm sure that won't get in the way of our detractors opinions.