And on the seventh day, God gave us our ball back...

Turn off the cricket, check your coupon, linger over the £0.5m overspend on your fantasy football team, give your Adidas a wipe, cancel your weekend plans for the next ten months and crack open a can of the good stuff. Football, the true sport of Kings, is only bloody back.

Ah, the beautiful game. The beauty and the beast; an operatic tragedy of delirium and despair. There’ll be tears before bedtime, soapbox ranting galore and dancing in the sleet. For when Rhodes slots home in the dying embers and you hold yourself in that fleeting moment, it all seems worthwhile – and boy have we missed it.

Deservedly handed the reins on a permanent basis, Gary Bowyer has packed his caretaker’s jacket firmly in the closet, and the majority of the Ewood faithful appear contented, if not delighted, with his appointment.

Whether the same sentiment can be sensed around his transfer dealings is another matter, polarising opinion and sparking debate throughout the summer. But then again, what else have we had to talk about? Tennis and royal babies? Bollocks to that.

We all got a little giddy over the high-profile capture of Danny Murphy last summer – and look how that worked out? For all of Bowyer’s signings, we can at least be thankful for round pegs finally slotting into round holes, and when all else fails – we’ve at least got the Irish Messi.

By far the best piece of business this summer has been hanging onto to our only hero, the most coveted Championship striker in the land and last season’s saviour: Jordan Rhodes.

The Newcastle number nine is world-renowned, and while we’ve had our fair share of striking legends over the years: Garner, Speedie, Newell, Shearer, Gallacher, Sutton, Jansen, Hughes, Bent, Cole, Dickov (yes, Dickov), Bellamy, McCarthy, Santa Cruz and (breathe) the Yak to name but a few; three now stand out in the forefront of our minds: Shearer 9, Garner 10 and Rhodes 11. Shirts to call their own. Legends to call ‘our’ own.

The number on Rhodes’ shirt is probably the figure that would push our beloved Indian owners into a sale, and with the much-publicised FFP hanging over us – that temptation may prove too much should the right offer materialise. In the meantime, kneel by your beds, clasp your hands together and pray to Jack. The messiah must stay.

Captain Scott Dann may yet prove to be the marketable fall-guy, which would be a huge loss – especially considering his colossal displays in both derbies and in the giant-killing of Arsenal at the Emirates.. Finally injury-free, Dann played in all 46 games last season, weighing in with four league goals and eventually forming a formidable partnership with last season’s most-improved-player: Grant Hanley.

A beast of a man, Hanley, previously haphazard and tactically naïve, has matured very quickly (in truth, he had to) and credit must go to Darren Moore’s influence from Appleton’s ill-fated reign for making that possible. It would be a shame to break that flourishing partnership up, but if it means keeping Rhodes – then so be it.

Could this be the year for the boy from Barcelona, Ruben Rochina, to light up on a consistent basis? Bowyer was previously a big fan, but with the Spaniard’s own future still clouded with top-flight ambitions and playing time, we may not get the opportunity to find out. Personally, I’m a huge admirer of Ruben and with a run in the team, I can see him having a similar impact to Adel Taarabt for QPR in 10-11.



Loved by some, frustrating for others - with a more youthful and mobile midfield behind him, making use of the space that he draws and creates, it's up to the team to get the best out of an undeniably individual talent. He's certainly got flair, a creative spark and an eye for goal. If Ruben does stay, then this season will be a case of now-or-never.

Prediction-wise, it would be wise to err on the side of caution. The important thing for supporters this season, is to simply start enjoying it again. Play some good football, win some matches, score some goals and we’ll be happy. The Championship will be wide-open once more and there are numerous challengers, side-by-side in talent and ambition. Guessing the fate of any of them is a minefield.




Will QPR, with all their high-profile individuals (for now) adapt, be up for a scrap and gel as a team? Can Reading pick themselves up off the floor again, knowing that they just weren’t good enough as top-flight pretenders? Can Coyle rediscover his magic at Wigan? He’s certainly got the tools at his disposal. Watford, Bolton, Forest, Leicester, Brighton, Leeds, the list could go on…

A cheeky flirt with the play-off positions isn’t beyond us and as we know from last year, you can stutter your way through to Christmas and still be in the mix, with sixth-spot in your sights.

Either way, come 4pm on Sunday we’ll be glued to the action starry-eyed, whether live at Pride Park, or gathered round television sets at home or in the boozer. Let’s start things off with a glass half-full. It’s back, embrace it and look to the future. We are the Rovers.