Tony Mowbray
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Blackburn’s #TonyMowbray backs Saints’ #AdamArmstrong deal #SAINTSFC #BLACKBURNFC

August 10, 2021
BLACKBURN Rovers manager Tony Mowbray has offered an update on Adam Armstrong after Saints agreed a fee for his transfer, saying: “I’m not sure there’s not much to prevent that deal going through.” The 24-year-old striker scored 28 in 40 Championship matches for Rovers last season and has seen a bid reportedly worth up to £15m accepted for his services. Mowbray had said after their fixture against Swansea at the weekend that a club would have to match their valuation of the player soon to have any chance of acquiring him. Saints seem to have done that, with reports suggesting he will undergo a medical tomorrow before the deal is officially confirmed. Read more  Blackburn Rovers accept Saints bid for Adam Armstrong Saints closing in on loan deal for Chelsea's Armando Broja Report notes interest in Southampton striker Michael Obafemi Speaking at a press conference, Mowbray said: “Everything’s agreed, I’m not sure there’s not much to prevent that deal going through. “Adam’s fit, he’ll be doing his medical. Things moved in different directions after the last few days, ultimately as I said after the game the other day it’s only right that the club has valuation and it needed to be met. “Southampton are the team that ultimately came up with the deal that was right for this football club. I wish Adam well, he’s been in my office this morning. “As he went round the whole club, the kitmen the cleaners, the kitchen staff, everybody, and said his goodbyes and thank you’s, they all wished him well, he’s been brilliant for this football club.” Blackburn Rovers manager Tony Mowbray Saints are hoping Armstrong can fill the void left by top goalscorer Danny Ings after his shock Aston Villa exit prior to the Levante friendly last week. Armstrong is a former Newcastle academy player and did make several substitute appearances for the Toon in the Premier League, but joined Blackburn following a successful loan spell. Mowbray added: “For the supporters it’s disappointing but there will be someone out there who will step up and fill that void. “That’s the challenge for the players and coaching staff, to develop a way of playing without Adam Armstrong.”
Tony Mowbray
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Blackburn’s #TonyMowbray confirms #MichaelObafemi interest #BLACKBURNFC #SAINTSFC

August 10, 2021
BLACKBURN Rovers boss Tony Mowbray has confirmed the club’s interest in Saints striker Michael Obafemi, admitting: “I have watched him for the last three months." Championship Rovers are set to lose Adam Armstrong to the Premier League side, with a fee agreed between the two sides and the 24-year-old set for a medical. Mowbray says any move for Republic of Ireland international Obafemi would be a permanent move, but is separate to the Armstrong negotiations, and a deal that Rovers will explore with the manager having watched him closely. “It’s something that’s been mooted, those sort of things become personal to the point the boy wants to make that move, his advisors have to see it as an opportunity,” Mowbray said. Read more  Blackburn Rovers accept Saints bid for Adam Armstrong Blackburn's Tony Mowbray says there's 'not much to prevent' Saints' Armstrong deal Saints closing in on loan deal for Chelsea's Armando Broja “If it’s one he sees as a good chance for him to play more regular football at a level he sees himself doing similar things to Adam and build his reputation. “It’s something we’re exploring but I won’t sit here and say that anything is happening, we will see in the next couple of days if anything materialises.” Obafemi only played four Premier League games last season after failing to develop quite how Saints would have hoped, given his 2019-20 breakthrough campaign. He did start in the final pre-season friendly alongside compatriot Shane Long though, and didn’t perform too badly in a difficult challenge against Spanish Super Cup winners. His best moment in a Saints shirt is likely his superb solo goal against Chelsea, during a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge in December 2019. Mowbray added: “I have watched him for the last three months. Saints' Michael Obafemi in Premier League action last season “I was aware of him making his debut, he made quite a bit of noise a couple of years ago. “I have studied him a lot recently and I see similarities with Adam, he’s mobile, fast, can score, he’s a young boy but we use attributes to help the team play in a certain way. “He has the attributes that will help our team but it’s not something we should be saying is a done deal as I’ve not personally spoken to the player so let’s see what the next few days bring. “Until this deal goes through, the men in suits will do the numbers and then I’ll found out what the scope is.”
Elliott Bennett Blackburn Brighton
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #ElliottBennett is disappointed with how his time at Blackburn ended #BHAFC #Rovers

June 20, 2021
Former Brighton winger Elliott Bennett is disappointed with the way his time at Blackburn ended but is looking forward to what the future holds for him at Shrewsbury. The 32-year-old saw his five-and-a-half-year spell at Rovers come to end on Thursday evening and he has now joined League One Shrewsbury Town on a one-year deal. In his time at Blackburn, Bennett made 192 appearances, scoring nine goals and providing 19 assists. However, what proved to be his final season at the Championship side did not go as he would have planned. He made just 11 appearances in all competitions for Rovers, due to having surgery on his ankle which saw him miss 24 games between October and February. But Bennett admits last season was tough. He told The Argus: “It has been tricky, it has been difficult for a lot of people in terms of what has been going on with Covid, no fans and all that kind of stuff. I got my injury and my ankle feels better than it ever has done if I am being honest, I feel like I have got a new ankle now. “But unfortunately, I couldn’t force my way into the team at the back end of the season, I didn’t play as many games as I like and that is obviously disappointing. “At the same time the games are what they are, you get to a certain age and at some point, your influence at a certain place can dwindle. He added: “I have had an absolutely amazing time at Blackburn. “I have had an amazing five-and-a-half years there, which is the longest I have been at a football club since when I was younger at Wolves. “I have got a lot of really good memories, but in football and life things change, life moves on and football moves on. “I didn’t play as much as I wanted to and I didn’t get to say goodbye to the people that matter at the football clubs which are the fans. “But that is just the way life is, everything moves on and I just look forward to what happens next.” The winger believes he still has plenty to offer despite his age. He said: “I am still confident in my own ability; I am still confident in what I bring to any football club and for me now it is all about seeing what the future holds. “I just want to enjoy however many years I have got left in the game because I love playing this game and want to keep playing as long as I possibly can.” Bennett will now link up with his former manager and Steve Cotterill at League One side, Shrewsbury. He played under him at Bristol City when he was on loan there in the 2015-16 season. Prior to Cotterill’s sacking in January 2016, Bennett made 15 appearances, which included starting in their 2-1 defeat to Albion at the Amex in October 2015, with Bobby Zamora scoring the winner. But Cotterill is delighted to have secured the services of Bennett. He told the club’s website: “I’ve know Elliott for a long time, I had him at Bristol City; I know what I am getting with him. It’s five years on since I had him but he’s a good leader and a good lad. “He crosses the ball really well and he’s an excellent professional. He will be able to educate our younger players in the dressing room. “I like to have one or two ‘go to’ experienced boys around my teams. I am hoping he can come in and be a good influence in and around the team. “His best position is out on the wide. He can play wide-right or as a wing-back. His crossing ability is great and he can cross with both feet. “We are delighted to have him on board and it was a pleasure seeing him today (Thursday).”