By Chris Harris
Some pretty good judges have been touting Tottenham for a top-four place this season - Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho among them. But while Spurs and their fellow big spenders hog the headlines, the likes of Blackburn are looking to slip under the radar and up the league table.
Mark Hughes has been less active but arguably more canny in the transfer market than many of his rivals. With a handful of buys in January, followed by the signing of Roque Santa Cruz this summer, Hughes has quietly assembled a squad with the quality and strength in depth to challenge for a Uefa Cup place - and maybe even more.
Rovers got up and running on the opening weekend of the Premier League season with a 2-1 win at Middlesbrough, thanks to a goal apiece from substitutes Santa Cruz and Matt Derbyshire. Ewood Park will be brimming with expectation when Arsenal test Blackburn's credentials on Sunday afternoon.
We spoke to Jason Kayley of the Lancashire Evening Telegraph to get a Blackburn perspective ahead of the game. Read on for his views on Blackburn's new boys, Hughes' burgeoning reputation, the tactical approach he expects from Rovers this weekend and the danger that Arsenal still pose without Thierry Henry.
THE STORY SO FAR
"Mark Hughes doesn't put too much emphasis on pre-season
matches, everyone gets a run-out, so one or two of the results were
up and down. I think they showed signs of ring-rustiness in the
first half against Boro but you saw the impact Roque Santa Cruz and
Derbyshire made when they came on. Blackburn look a lot more solid
with more strength in depth. I don't see them challenging the
top four, not just yet, but I don't think a top-six place is
beyond them with the team and squad they've got. Blackburn have
got a core of 16 to 20 excellent players and I don't think the
Uefa Cup will be a problem. An exceptional season would be to
challenge for the top four but Hughes has got a really solid unit,
everyone knows their job and everybody works for the team. I really
think this is the best squad Mark Hughes has had at his
disposal."
MAN OF THE MOMENT
"Santa Cruz has really fired the imagination of the fans for
the new season. He's made an instant impact. He's good on
the ball for a big chap. He's just what Rovers needed, he's
a target man. He's good in the air, as you saw against
Middlesbrough, but he's incredibly good on the deck too. He
gives another dimension to Blackburn's attacking
play."
NEW FACES
"Hughes did a lot of shopping in January with the likes of
Chris Samba coming in. He was a bit inactive during the summer
break but brought in Santa Cruz. I think the chairman said
they'd made about 10 signings since the start of the year. The
likes of Samba, David Dunn and Stephen Warnock have all had seven
months to build up to the new Premiership season. They've all
hit the ground running, they've all gelled into a unit and
it's only really Santa Cruz who needs to find his feet a little
bit. Hughes is getting a reputation for unearthing diamonds. No one
had heard of Ryan Nelsen but he's been the subject of a lot of
interest. The likes of Samba too, and now Santa Cruz. Three and a
half million for a European Cup winner from not long ago is an
absolutely fantastic deal for Blackburn. If he can pay that back
this season then he will make an awesome partnership with McCarthy
for not much money when you look at the transfer fees which have
been thrown about this year."
CAUSE FOR OPTIMISM
"If you look at the pre-season odds it's always the likes
of Newcastle, Spurs, West Ham, the clubs who have spent big money,
whose odds are shorter. The likes of Everton and Blackburn get
shoved to one side but they've both strengthened well, both
have strong and solid squads and both teams can upset the big boys.
Maybe it's a good thing that Blackburn are out of the limelight
because they can go about their business quietly and maybe keep
bigger teams away from their players."
TALKING TACTICS
"I think Hughes will be more attacking than he was when
Arsenal won 2-0 at Ewood Park in January. It was a big surprise
that Blackburn didn't go for the jugular that day, especially
when Arsenal went down to 10 men so early on. I don't think
he'll make the same mistake twice. Both teams are much changed,
Arsenal are without Henry but they've already shown that they
can't be underestimated. Rovers have got the players,
they've got the flair with the likes of Arsenal old boy David
Bentley, who has really come to the fore. David Dunn too, and Benni
McCarthy should be back in the squad. McCarthy suffered concussion
in the game against Middlesbrough but he's expected to be fit.
Steven Reid is recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury
and it's still too soon for him but otherwise Hughes has a nice
selection headache."
IMPRESSIONS OF ARSENAL
"They always play good football. The sky is the limit for
Fabregas and I hope he stays in English football because he is an
awesome player. I think the jury is out on Eduardo but Sagna looks
a good player. Wenger is no mug, he doesn't spend money on duff
players and Sagna looks like quality. Arsenal are an exciting team,
a young team, and it will be interesting to see how the young boys
fit into the side. Henry is obviously a big loss but it gives the
likes of Eduardo and Adebayor the chance to fill his boots and
become Arsenal legends in their own right. I think the title might
be out of their grasp this season but it will be interesting to see
how the young boys come along in the next few years."
