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Todd’s Rovers Days Coming to an End?

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Vital Blackburn Rovers member, and fan Paul Engelberg recently e-mailed with some thoughts on Andy Todd, following the sites posting of the “Is Andy Todd A 1st Team Player In Light Of Early Season Performances?” poll.

Paul’s e-mail would say the following:

Rovers fan been away for a little while,

Very surprised to see Andy Todd poll on the website. Has he really fallen from grace that far? And do you think his days are numbered?

I would be interested in your view.”

Paul would of course be e-mailed back with a response, and after James (James Watson Site Journalist, also known as roversman) and I had put our heads together we seemed to share the same opinion, these would be our thoughts…

The first game of the season would see Todd somewhat unfortunately dismissed for what the referee deemed a professional foul, which would later rightly be rescinded. Brad Friedel saved the penalty but Rovers were already three down to Portsmouth at Fratton Park at the time, with Todd and company having already had a hard time of things (the polite way of putting that afternoons events in this article!)

The second fixture would see Andy Johnson run rings around Todd in Rovers’ one all draw with Everton at Ewood Park, with him lucky not to have conceded his second penalty in as many games as the England man beat him with ease. He would also contemplate putting a forearm to Johnson’s head in the passage of play that should have seen the penalty given.

Having come into the side as a result of injuries to others Todd would fail to make the most of his chance, his distinct lack of pace (as is more to apparent with the current central defensive options in the main) would be evident, even Kanu, who is by no means the speediest of players would be made to look like a greyhound as he escaped Todd before his brilliant recovery, which resulted in the penalty award that shouldn’t have been and his sending off (which as mentioned would be overturned.)

His early performances would see him banished to the bench, and as a result of this he would demand a transfer following his benching against Chelsea. The captain or at least former captain as he is now has since to feature in a first team game, although he has been named on the substitute’s bench in most, if not all subsequent games.

If we are all honest the writing has been on the wall since the tail end of last season. Having missed games through injury he would find it hard to force his way back into Mark Hughes’ side, since which time he has been unable to be assured of first team football.

With Ryan Nelsen the main man in defence now (despite his continued absence through injury) and with the likes of the younger 24-year-old Zurab Khizanishvili, the new, and vastly experienced £2.1million man Andre Ooijer, the experienced and returning Stephane Henchoz and the favoured Aaron Mokoena, not to mention the up and coming talent all vying for that spot alongside Nelsen it would appear that chances for the 32-year-old are limited. But for Nelsen’s current injury Todd would have more than likely started the season on the bench anyway with The Admiral also taking over as captain.

In light of the recent findings from Panorama’s programme, aired on Tuesday night, it would appear he has gone sulking to his agent about “going stale.” This revelation will no doubt have hurt Hughes who made this player, with such a chequered past the club captain. I seriously doubt, unless circumstances have changed (despite Hughes’ recent claims) that Hughes will accept such behaviour from one of his senior players.

Despite James’ report earlier in the week claiming that Todd may well be happy and that no-one is currently looking to force him out of the club, we both feel a January move will materialise for him. In which case we would all obviously wish he well, he’s been a great servant for the club when it would have initially appeared his Ewood Park career would have been very short lived…

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Formerly Hughes Da Man (HDM)

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