Big Sam arrives at Ewood and suddenly Rovers players are blinking on the fantasy radar once again, with a certain centre-forward shining brighter than most…
There’s no doubt that the quick appointment of Allardyce is designed to maximize a period of fixtures that will surely decide the fate of Blackburn’s season. Saturday’s crucial home encounter with Stoke is the first of three home games in the next five. Indeed, one glance at those games and it’s clear that Allardyce’s potential honeymoon period at Rovers has been eased considerably by the fixture list. They all look winnable. There’s clear potential for us fantasy managers here.
Santa Cruz is the obvious target. Priced out of many managers shortlists off the back of an outstanding season last time out, the Paraguayan will be hotly tipped to enjoy a renaissance under Big Sam. He’ll undoubtedly be the focus of the Rovers attack – now more than ever.
Allardyce uses a big striker as the focal point of his sides and while Kevin Davies provided the muscle without the goals at Bolton, Santa Cruz has the potential to provide both. Rovers will get the ball forward early but intelligently under Allardyce. It won’t be pretty, but it could bring results. There will be deep crosses from wide positions and set-pieces will be played for and rehearsed. Santa Cruz is surely destined to play a key role then, and Sam’s first task will be to harness his talent, whilst securing his future at the club. With City whispering through the keyhole and shoving a big cheque under the door – that will no easy matter.
With fixtures on Santa’s side and a potential lift in form as a result of arrival of the new boss, the Rovers looks an excellent proposition for the Christmas period. He’ll provide a useful differential for those managers looking to get the edge on Defoe, Robinho and Agbonlahor owners. True enough, he’s a risk but that risk could bring major rewards if Allardyce can successfully provide his centre forward with the ammunition he demands.
That ammunition will likely come from a 4-5-1/4-3-3 formation that could see Gamst-Pedersen on one flank and possibly Derbyshire or Emerton on the other. Tugay could be vital if he has the legs to match his speed of thought, while David Dunn is another who could provide the creativity required to bring goals. His role under Allardyce, having just returned from injury, will be worth monitoring. Sam could easily use him to be his central midfielder to get beyond the striker – the Kevin Nolan of years gone by.
The Rovers centre-backs – buoyed by new-found rigidity and a heightened threat from Allardyce’s organized set-pieces, will also be worth consideration. Once we have evidence that things have tightened up that is. Look no further than Samba who will surely be the chief threat if he can cement his place alongside Nelson at the back.
Sam will wheel-and-deal too. There will be new signings – experienced heads the most likely targets. There’s clear potential at Ewood then – something we just couldn’t say just 24 hours ago.