Season 5
Chapter 4 - Responsibility
We open with a match versus Liverpool’s feeder team, then city rival before meeting Liverpool themselves. We make things truly unnecessary hard versus Southampton with both Håland and Pinamonti missing out on good chances as we start out the season with a 1-0 loss. Things doesn’t improve much versus Everton, but at least Pinamonti grabs our first goal in a stunning fashion with a well placed top corner finish outside the box. Having taken two losses in a row to start the season a 0-0 bore draw versus Liverpool at Anfield feels like a gift. We finally take home our first win with a 3-1 win versus Swansea followed with Chelsea blitzing us we start out with a 1-1-3 record. Luckily our fortune changed from here as we started to pick up consecutive wins 4 in fact. Now these wins while great to finally get our point tally going weren’t really good wins. The good news is we had a impressive scoring record in these 4 wins with 14 goals but we also conceded 7. To round out our 10 first matches of the season we draw versus Arsenal.
From here our defense start working out its flaws. Phil Jones had a hard time picking up performances, and Kongolo was very inconsistent. But one thing that was consistent was Pinamonti and Håland grabbing goals. Man I love this duo so much! Håland the giant always ready to strike at goal inside the box, and Pinamonti always ready to either spearhead an attack or supply a link up further back. We pick up needed wins and even take a impressive 3-0 win at home versus a stacked Manchester City side. Now last season one of my favorite moments was when we took back to back win versus the two Manchester sides. It didn’t happen this time around but still a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford I will happily take. It seems like a common thing for us to hit good form during December. We did however suffer a 2-3 loss at home versus high flying Bournemouth. We also lost out on Hålands scoring ability as he suffered injury. But luckily youth prospect Andrew Marsh who is also a natural Target-man stepped up. While not the same prolific goalscorer as Håland he still scored some, and showed great prowess for the link up phase.
Happy with catching up quite nicely on the table. Manchester United look ready to make another bid for a title. Since I have started my save no side have defend a title. With Arsenal taking the first then Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United last year. Early signs suggest the title battle will be between the two Manchester sides. While high flying Bournemouth looks to claim stake for European football. Now let’s talk about the Champions League. We were handed a awfully tough group of Bayern Munchen, Beskitas and Real Madrid. I had no faith in us qualifying, and even wondered if we could take 3rd place over Besiktas to get Europa League knockout stages. With a very inexperienced team we aimed to do our best taking it match by match. We managed to beat Besiktas both at home and away securing the 3rd place. We even took a lucky 3-3 draw away versus Real Madrid thanks to a late goal from Ricardo Campos. Then in our second meeting with German giants Bayern it happened. We somehow won 2-1 at Ewood Park. Vegar Eggen Hedenstad just can’t stop making me like him. He not only scored a the winner but pushed Blackburn Rovers through to the knockout phase! However I expect the adventure to be short as we were handed Barcelona. While we stood our ground at Ewood Park taking a 3-3 draw after Pinamonti scored all three. We was eliminated from the Champions League after losing 2-1 at Camp Nou. I can’t complain as just getting out of the group was overachieving already.
Back to domestic talk the new year started with a tasteless 0-0 draw at home versus relegation battler Reading. We then faced Manchester United in the FA cup 3rnd and Carabao semi final losing both matches. Not that I mind to much as my seasonal focus is securing European football again. In the league however we started to gain phenomenal form winning 4 in a row without even conceding. And that while facing both Liverpool and Chelsea. We then crushed Leicester and Stoke scoring 5 in both matches. With Erling Håland taking back to back hat tricks! We have put ourselves in a great position to enter the Champions League trough the league yet again. I love my striker duo so much! Pinamonti just keeps doing high quality performances, and the giant Håland is just a pleasure to watch in 3d.
In the start to secure a top 4 placement we meet both Manchester teams. First we get destroyed by title race leader Manchester City 5-0 with Dybala scoring a hattrick versus us. We then receive their city rival United at Ewood Park losing 1-2 with United scoring all goals. However from there on out the opposition becomes easier and we start winning matches again to finish our season strong. We take 5 wins in a row scoring 18 goals and only conceding 3 in the process. Again its much due to Pinamonti and Håland delivering the goods! Marchetti and Pasalic deserves a shout too. Marchetti was excellent pulling the strings while Pasalic contributed in a bit of everything. He even found a spectacular long range goal versus Newcastle. We end the season facing Reading who have just done enough to survive the drop. It’s a goal fest for all supporters too enjoy finishing 3-3 with the Leagues biggest performer Pinamonti delivering a hat-trick.
Looking back at the season overall I am very happy. We dealt with the extra match load very well, and while Phil Jones didn’t workout as well I had hoped we still had as solid defense conceding 45 goals making us the 5th best defensive record. This is much thanks too excellent work from new man Davinson Sanchez and consistent performing from Kongolo and Ndombele. The wing-backs were on point too with Borja San Emeterio having a spectacular debut season. Chilwell fixed his discipline issue quite well, but also dipped a bit in performances. He has become a starter for the England side, and I think he has a bright future. Hedenstad and Mattiello were excellent squad players! The last man to talk about in the defense is our goalie Posavec. Who found himself receiving his first Croatia cap. While having 15 clean sheets in the league he still didn’t have a particular good season. He was also was a tad under average in Europe. Perhaps I should look for a higher quality goalkeeper during summer? But the real reason we did well this season is our attack. Infact despite Manchester City had a striker partnership of Griezmann and Dybala it was us who scored most goals during the Premier League. Andrea Pinamonti was a absolute beast this season, and deservedly so took the accolades: Footballer of the year, Top Goalscorer, Players’ Young player and a spot in the team of the year! Also he broke the records for player of the match, assist and goals for Blackburn. He also broke Andrew Cole Premier League goal record. While not given the same accolades Erling Håland was also impressive for us despite missing out on quite a few matches due to injury. Youth Academy prodigy Andrew Marsh did excellent filling in. My midfield had some issues ironing out this years performers with the advanced playmaker slot being tested on several players. But Marchetti took the starter spot in the end, and was statistically our best central midfielder. Young phenom Alfonso Martinez had a great season too, and I can only expect better things too come from the Mexican. Mario Pasalic had another great year for us keeping John McGinn out of the starter spot. Joe Ranking-Costello had a disappointing season, and Jose Mauri is looking to leave the club. But a new man who did quite well was another Youth Academy prospect Kieran France. He shows great promise as a future ball spreader.
During the season I was offered the Liverpool job I also was offered some international management including England. I have no interest in leaving Blackburn Rovers, and for now I will stay away from International management. I am however happy that I was able too use it too improve the clubs facilities. I have before floated my thoughts about asking for a new stadium. As I figured the board would be very reluctant to do it. I figured trying to warm them up, and also partly too feel their stance I asked. Too my surprise they accepted. 41.942 stadium capacity is quite good, but more than anything I am looking forward too a modern stadium. I love the fact Ewood Park sold for only £13.75 million, and that the new Jack Walker Stadium cost £110M in comparison. It does however seem that we are building this stadium out of pocket which is interesting to say the least. Surprised the Venky board decided to name the stadium after a former club owner instead of basking their name on it.
