Brad Friedel - Voted Rovers Greatest Keeper.

Despite the fact that the vast majority of Rovers fans saw Brad Friedel as a superfluous signing when he joined, Brad has managed to become a Rovers legend winning over both the crowd and pundits. This is no mean feat considering the shadow cast by former championship winning keeper Tim Flowers, and the former player of the year John Filan.

With two quality keepers, including Filan, at the club many were wondering what Brad could bring to the team. The first things Brad gave Rovers were consistency and dependability. At the beginning of the promotion season rovers were having no problem scoring but were letting in goals with alarming regularity. Brad slotted in immediately and proved to be the final piece of the defensive jigsaw. Whilst Matt Jansen and David Dunn and the like got most of the credit, Rovers tight defence including Brad played no small part in grinding out the wins and our promotion success.

Friedel carried this consistency into the premiership, rarely if ever making a mistake and never looking out of his depth. Even Flowers would struggle to match Brad in terms of continual reliability. No howlers, few fumbles, and within his first full season Brad had firmly established a well earned reputation amongst the fans for always being on top of his game. It was during this season that Brad showed that he could impersonate superman, pulling off some fantastic saves, especially during the Worthington Cup Final. Brad was deservedly man of the match as Rovers lifted the Worthington Cup. Granted it was a team effort which won it for Rovers, but Brad did that little bit more than everyone else; from an early one on one with Ferdinand to the near point blank header late on Friedel was supurb. Cole's goal might have been the decider but it was Friedel's saves that won Blackburn the cup.

Just like it seemed impossible that Shearer in his hayday bearing down on goal would miss, it seemed impossible that Brad would not save. Time after time Brad demonstrated astounding reflexes which must have added 20 points onto Rovers tally for the season. Once again Friedel proved the difference in Rovers securing European football for the second season running. Recognition came from outside the club being named in the players premiership team of the year, and Arsene Wenger's desire for Brad to replace the departing Arsenal legend Seaman.

Like other Rovers greats Brad also performed well on an international level during his time at Rovers. To play at three world cups shows Brad's international credentials, Arguably his best World Cup came during his time with Rovers again showing his class with some fine performances and several penalty saves.

Since then Friedel has reproduced this near legendary form, but then he has had the challenge of Rovers defence to contend with. And despite this Brad has still remained one of the most consistent performers at the club. His desire and determination for the club to succeed are epitomised by his goal against Charlton, a truely classic Rovers moment.

Like Duff and Shearer before in Brad we have witnessed the best player in the premiership in that position whilst wearing a Rovers shirt, and saw a display of talent which few players possess.

Rovers have today confirmed that they have accepted a bid from an Un-named Premier League club, which is believed to be Aston Villa. Reports suggest that the bid is over £2.5 million. Rovers did confirm that the transfer is subject to their bid for a goalkeeper being accepted.

Sad day for Rovers fans as it appears that Friedel is on the verge of leaving the club, one of the greatest keepers to ever play for the clun and his shoes are going to be hard to fill.

Last night Rovers continued their preparations for the new season with a 3-1 defeat to Bundesliga newcomers TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. The first half was a tight affair with both teams cancelling each other out, with the only major incident being Pedersen picking up a injury and having to come off on 34 minutes.

At half time Ince decided to make a whole host of changes and gave striker Robbie Fowler a chance to impress. However it was TSG who took the lead on 51 minutes through Christoph Janker. Rovers hit back as McCarthy volleyed home on 63 minutes. Parity last only 2 minutes as Jaissle's header squeezed past substitute keeper Jason Brown. As Rovers pushed forward for an equaliser TSG hit them on the break and Janker grabbed his second to secure victory for the Bundesliga side.

Rovers now move onto Portugal where they face Benfica on Friday and Sporting Lisbon on Saturday in a pre-season tournament.

The Lancashire Telegraph is reporting this morning that Rovers Australian international Brett Emerton has signed a new 4 year deal. Emerton is a higly regarded member of the squad due to his versatility and Paul Ince made it a priority to get him tied to a new long term deal.

Rovers fans will wake up this morning to a barrage of news linking players to the club and also away from the club.

First up The Lancashire Telegraph is running three stories:

* Legendary goalkeeper has told the paper that he wants to leave the club, with Aston Villa heavily linked with him.
* Tottenham have had a bid rejected for David Bentley
* Newcastle are on the verge of make a bid for Stephen Warnock.

It is not all doom and gloom though. The Daily Mirror reports that Rovers hope to pull off a £3.5million swoop for Chilean superstar Carlos Villanueva. Villanueva is a very highly rated attacking midfielder and would be a massive coup for the club if they could pull it off.

These and many other topics are being discussed on the messageboard.

Bentley, Brown, Derbyshire, Dunn, Fielding, Friedel, Gallagher, Hodge, Judge, Kane, Khizanishvili, McCarthy, Nelsen, Fowler, Olsson, Pedersen, Peter, Reid, Roberts, Samba, Santa Cruz, Treacy, Vogel, Warnock, Emerton, Tugay, Mokoena and finally Ooijer.

Draw your own conclusions as to the inclusion of David Bentley and Brad Friedel, who are both being heavily linked with moves away from Ewood.

Ooijer, Emerton, Tugay and Mokoena will join up with the tour late due to being given extra leave, whilst Roque Santa Cruz has returned early to fly with the squad.

Rovers face TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in the early afternoon next Monday.

Rovers got Paul Ince's reign as manager of Blackburn off to a winning start last night against Macclesfield Town. Goals from Dunn and Gallagher secured a 2-1 victory. After the game Ince commented that he was happy with the performance and had been delighted with the first week of pre-season training.

Rovers now continue their pre-season preparations with training camps in Germany and Portugal.

Sky Sports News are reporting that Paul Ince has confirmed to them that Aston Villa have made a bid for David Bentley. Earlier speculation suggested that Tottenham had also had a bid accepted but this has not been confirmed by Ince.

Interestingly Bentley was not involved in tonight's friendly.

Paul Ince has continued to add to his backroom team. Rovers have confirmed today that former Arsenal defender Nigel Winterburn. Chairman John Williams has also confirmed that the backroom team is "almost complete".

Various media reports are suggesting that Blackburn and Tottenham have agreed a fee for David Bentley, this fee is believed to be cash plus Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson.

If true this throws open two scenarios. One that Bentley will now become a Tottenham player and if Paul Robinson is coming in the other direction then it most probably means that Rovers legend Brad Friedel is moving onto pastures new.

Interesting times ahead and more on these stories as they develop.