Allardyce unsure of best Rovers XI

Last updated : 08 January 2010 By Team Talk

Allardyce's squad has had an enforced break from first-team action over the last few days after the postponement of Tuesday night's Carling Cup semi-final first leg against Aston Villa, but prior to that the manager made nine changes to his first XI for Rovers' trip to Villa Park in the FA Cup third round.

Blackburn lost that match 3-1 and go into Monday night's Premier League fixture at Manchester City without a win in their last eight league games.

With the club only three points above the relegation zone in 13th place, Rovers need to start picking up points quickly and the team's lack of goals has been a key concern.

Nikola Kalinic and Franco Di Santo were the strike pairing for the FA Cup tie but have only one league goal between them this campaign, while uncertainty continues to surround the futures of fellow strikers Benni McCarthy and Jason Roberts.

Blackburn's forward line is anything but settled and Allardyce wants to see his players start cementing their place up front - as well as throughout the rest of the team.

"I think we're still waiting for our first (forward) pairing to form the partnership that doesn't allow me to change it," Allardyce said.

"I think that a lot of players - not just the centre-forwards - have been far too inconsistent with their form this year.

"That has been one of our problems in terms of the stability of the side and the consistency and the results.

"That lack of consistently good performances from some of the players has just led to us not getting some of the key wins that we should have done.

"That has then caused me to say 'do I hang on and wait until he comes back to form or do I change it?'

"That has been one of the problems that we have had to overcome this year, as well as a few injury problems like everybody else.

"I'm not really 100% sure in my mind just yet what is my best XI, because the lads haven't grasped it often enough to force it upon me and say 'you can't change this side because it's playing consistently well every week and consistently getting wins and draws and not too many defeats'."

Both McCarthy and Roberts are rumoured to be on the move in the January transfer window but Allardyce confirmed that no bids had been forthcoming for any of his players yet and insisted that sales would only be made if replacements could be guaranteed.

"We have had no bids for any of our players at the moment at any position in the club - it is only January 7 though," Allardyce said.

"But like anything else, the longer you wait, the harder it is to do any business because replacements are always what you want or need.

"If the replacements are not there when the opportunity (comes) for you to move one of your players on because he wants to move and you quite like the fee that they are giving, you simply can't do it."

 

Source: Team Talk

Source: Team Talk