The Grass Wasn’t Greener

Blackburn Rovers have seen a number of players move on to “further their careers” over the years, however, how often have they actually managed this??

For Rovers this is something that was always likely (and probably will continue) to happen but of those that have done this in recent times three are being heavily linked with returns to Ewood Park with it understood that Damien Duff, Roque Santa Cruz and David Bentley (even Stephen Warnock has been mentioned) are wanted back at Ewood by caretaker Steve Kean (or is it Venkey’s that want this and he’s agreeing??)

Duff is probably the main one in the last ten-years or so that has moved on (to a degree) to better himself that actually has done this. He might have been in and out of the Chelsea side, however, he did win trophies. Injuries can never really be helped and these didn’t help him during his time at Stamford Bridge or Newcastle United but his time with Fulham hasn’t exactly set the world alight, he did pick up a Europa League runners-up medal last season though.

Bentley and Santa Cruz have seen their careers nosedive and can’t point to anything positive during their time with Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City respectively. Tottenham made the Champions League this season, however, Bents hardly played a role in getting them there nor has he when they have been rubbing shoulders with Europe’s elite. All that Santa can point to as a positive would be a cash windfall from Eastlands.

Personally I’d have a slight concern about Duffer and Santa returning because of their injury records and Bentley left with a sour taste left in my mouth. We’ve also got to think about the way the squad would react to them returning, how would they fit in and who would miss out for them to return? There is also the thought that how long would it be before Bentley (for example) decided, if he did come back, that he wanted to move to a bigger club again when he found his feet once more?? However, can many honestly say they wouldn’t want some (maybe all) of these to make Rovers Returns if possible? I think that they have learned the hard way that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side (one of my favourite saying when these people move on to “better” themselves) and it wasn’t greener on the other side for them was it!!