Rovers must keep Roberts

Rovers’ chairman John Williams has come out and rejected talk that Jason Roberts will not be at the club next season.

Williams told The Lancashire Evening Telegraph: ”Jason’s been on a good run of late and, as far as I’m concerned, he will be with us at the start of next season.

“Certainly at the moment, he’s not for sale and we won’t be entertaining any approaches for him.  We are not in the process of wanting to lose our best players and Jason comes into that category.”

I am in firm agreement with Williams.  Roberts gives the side another dimension and can hold the ball up well and also causes problems with his strength.

He also works hard for the team and defends form the front.  If you look at Rovers’ other attacking options to partner Santa Cruz at the moment in McCarthy and Derbyshire, you’d have to say Roberts is certainly worth keeping hold of.

Although he hasn’t scored a great deal of goals, I believe is always looks threatening especially when he plays on the shoulder of the last defender.  To get rid of him without a replacement would be nonsense.

McCarthy agrees new contract

Benni McCarthy has agreed to a new three-year deal according to Sky Sports.

The 30 year-old South African will pen the deal shortly, once a new work permit application is a

pproved. The deal will take McCarthy through till July 2011.

As I mentioned in an earlier post I’m not sure whether offering McCarthy a new-deal makes sense. Although he has hit double figures this season, he

has failed to give enough to the team as a whole, and often looks disinterested.

Regardless of the reasons for this, the simple fact is he, at times, has lacked commitment. But I can understand Hughes reasoning. We are hardly a squad brimming with depth and therefore securing McCarthy’s future makes sure we won’t have to purchase a striker in the summer.

Let’s hope this new-deal can re-energise McCarthy and get him back to the form that made £2.5 million look a bargain.

Bentley to Liverpool, the perfect move?

Rovers’ midfielder and now England international, David Bentley, has given a strong indication he will leave the club in the summer.

The 23 year-old told BBC Sport: “Time will tell over the next few months what will happen. It’s a big decision in my life. “You never know in football. Sometimes you have to make strong decisions”

It would be fair to say it was inevitable. Bentley has been outstanding for Rovers this season and is more than worthy of his England call-up. Even the biggest optimist would struggle to see Bentley being at Rovers come next season.

But crucially for Bentley, he must make the right choice, and that could even be staying at Rovers. You only have to look at the likes of Shaun Wright-Phillips and Peter Crouch to realise that a big move isn’t always the best move.

Bentley has to evaluate his options, and make sure he doesn’t damage his England chances that are clearly so important to him.

Out of the top four you can only realistically see Liverpool making a move. United have enough class on the wings, as do Chelsea, and it would be a push to see Wenger buy-back Bentley. Tottenham are rumoured to be interested but would that be a move up? Perhaps they have more potential but they are some way off top four material.

So we are left with Liverpool as a top-four option, and as much as it pains me to say it, it could be a great move. Liverpool are lacking on the wings, and for me Bentley would be a first-choice ahead of Pennant, Babel and Benayoun.

He would play Champions League football, the only risk would be Bentley’s ability to cope with Rafa’s love for rotation. But if could cope with this, there appears to no other complicating issues.

Oh, I guess there is the price?

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Vogel signs for Rovers

Rovers have signed Johann Vogel on a two-and-a-half year deal, with the option of a further year.  As I said in an earlier post, I think the signing of Vogel is smart business, and I firmly believe Hughes can get the best out of him.

Hughes said: ”In the short time he’s been with us, he’s shown qualities that I like. He’s a determined guy, he’s got good presence and he’ll be an asset to the club.

“He’s a link man in midfield, he works his position in front of the back four, and breaks things up and sets attacks off.

“He has a good level of passing. He is a high-energy player and I think, with the experience and ability he has, he’s going to be a real asset.”

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