2004–05 Blackburn Rovers F.C. season

Blackburn Rovers
2004–05 season
Manager Graeme Souness (until 6 September)
Mark Hughes (from 16 September)[1]
Premier League 15th
FA Cup Semi-finals
League Cup Second round
Top goalscorer League:
Paul Dickov (9)

All:
Paul Dickov (10)[2]
Highest home attendance 29,271 (vs. Newcastle United, 26 December)
Lowest home attendance 18,006 (vs. Crystal Palace, 20 April)
Average home league attendance 22,315[3]

During the 2004–05 English football season, Blackburn Rovers competed in the FA Premier League.

Season summary

The authoritative methods of manager Graeme Souness had caused Blackburn to struggle the previous season and alienated several key players, including the strike partnership of Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke, who left Blackburn during the summer for Fulham and Birmingham City respectively. Eventually Souness departed Blackburn to become manager at Newcastle United, with Blackburn struggling in the relegation zone. Wales manager and former Rovers player Mark Hughes came in as his replacement; Hughes' lack of experience in club management showed and the club were bottom of the Premiership after 14 games played,[4] but he soon rallied the team to finish comfortably clear of relegation in 15th - as close to a relegation spot as they were to a UEFA Cup place, in terms of points. The club also enjoyed a good run in the FA Cup, reaching the semi-finals before losing to eventual cup winners Arsenal.

During the close season, Hughes signed striker Craig Bellamy, who had played for Hughes with Wales, from Newcastle, in the hope that the Tyneside club's out-of-favour striker could fire Rovers to a higher place next season.

First-team squad

Squad at end of season[5]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 United States GK Brad Friedel
2 Australia DF Lucas Neill
4 Italy DF Lorenzo Amoruso
5 England MF Garry Flitcroft
6 England DF Craig Short
7 Australia MF Brett Emerton
8 Turkey MF Tugay Kerimoğlu
9 England FW Jon Stead
10 Scotland FW Paul Dickov
12 Norway MF Morten Gamst Pedersen
13 Finland GK Peter Enckelman
14 Sweden DF Nils-Eric Johansson
15 South Africa MF Aaron Mokoena
17 England FW Matt Jansen
No. Position Player
18 Republic of Ireland MF Steven Reid[6]
19 Scotland FW Paul Gallagher
20 England MF David Thompson
21 Republic of Ireland MF Jonathan Douglas
22 Scotland DF Dominic Matteo
23 Slovakia DF Vratislav Greško
24 England DF Andy Todd
25 England DF Jay McEveley[7]
27 England FW Jay Bothroyd (on loan from Perugia)
28 United States FW Jemal Johnson
29 New Zealand DF Ryan Nelsen
30 England FW Matt Derbyshire
31 Wales MF Robbie Savage
33 England DF Michael Gray

Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
11 Spain MF Javier de Pedro (to Perugia)
15 Trinidad and Tobago FW Dwight Yorke (to Birmingham City)
15 France FW Youri Djorkaeff (to NY/NJ Metrostars)
16 Scotland MF Barry Ferguson (to Rangers)
No. Position Player
England MF Neil Danns (to Colchester United)
England DF Alex Bruce (to Birmingham City[8])
England MF Ciaran Donnelly (to Blackpool)

Reserve squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
26 Germany GK David Yelldell[9]
No. Position Player
32 England DF Andy Taylor

Statistics

Starting 11

Considering starts in all competitions[10]
Considering a 4-4-2 formation

Top scorers

Premier League

Results

Premier League

League Cup

FA Cup

References

  1. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/blackburn_rovers/3655384.stm
  2. http://origin-www.rovers.co.uk/page/Goalscorers/0,,10303~200410303,00.html
  3. http://origin-www.rovers.co.uk/page/Attendance/0,,10303~200410303,00.html
  4. http://www.statto.com/football/teams/blackburn-rovers/2004-2005
  5. http://www.footballsquads.co.uk/eng/2004-2005/faprem/blackbrn.htm
  6. Reid was born in Kingston upon Thames, England, but also qualifies to represent the Republic of Ireland internationally through his father, and made his international debut for the Republic of Ireland in 2001.
  7. McEveley was born in Liverpool, England, but also qualifies to represent Scotland internationally and would make his international debut for Scotland in 2007.
  8. Bruce was born in Norwich, England, but also qualifies to represent both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland internationally through his grandmother and would make his international debut for the Republic of Ireland in May 2007, although he later changed his nationality to Northern Ireland in July 2011.
  9. Yelldell was born in Stuttgart, West Germany (now part of Germany), but also qualifies to represent the United States internationally through his father and would make his international debut for the United States in March 2011.
  10. http://origin-www.rovers.co.uk/page/Appearances/0,,10303~200410303,00.html
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