Blackburn’s transfer activity has done nothing to turn heads in the Championship.
What a poor summer it has been for Blackburn Rovers.
Simply put, it has been a disastrous summer transfer window and start to the season for Owen Coyle’s side.
Problems started when the club sold captain Grant Hanley to divisional rivals Newcastle for around £5 million. Those problems got even worse when his former partner Shane Duffy headed south to Brighton. Duffy had endured a tough and controversial start to the season, highlighted by his double-own-goal-and-red-card display against Cardiff, but there was no doubt that he was still a player that Blackburn needed to retain.
Alas, Blackburn have lost their two best central defenders, and have not seen the money brought in reinvested into the first team. Rovers also sold Jordan Rhodes last January for a huge fee, and that money was never seen again either.
Instead, Coyle has only been able to recruit free agents and loanees, further angering the fans, who are at the end of their tether with the club’s owners, the Venkys.
The appointment of former Burnley and Bolton boss Owen Coyle was hardly met with cheers by the Ewood Park faithful, and matters were made even worse when key players were sold and money was not put back into the club.
The Lancashire club have brought in forwards Anthony Stokes and Danny Graham in on frees from Celtic and Sunderland respectively, with defender Charlie Mulgrew also joining the club on a free from Glasgow giants Celtic. Gordon Greer has returned to the club, the 35-year-old signing a deal with Blackburn after leaving Brighton.
On the loan front, Rovers have brought in some highly-rated youngsters, such as Jack Byrne from Manchester City, Sam Gallagher from Southampton, and Martin Samuelsen from West Ham, but these are not the kind of signings Blackburn need if they are going to make any impression on the Championship this season.
On deadline day, Rovers were able to add Marvin Emnes to their list of players on loan at the club, with first-team opportunities limited at Swansea.
The lack of investment has already taken its toll on the club, who sit bottom of the Championship after five games, having only picked up one point from a possible 15.
It has been a sobering summer if you are a Blackburn Rovers fan, and the signs are that things are only going to get worse before they get better.
Grade: E
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