Robbie Blake

[roverstillidie91]

interview with The Star

http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/doncaster/doncaster-rovers-new-ground-for-robbie-blake-1-4691938


NEW Doncaster Rovers signing Robbie Blake will be breaking new ground next season.

“I started off in what is now League Two and I’ve played in the Championship and the Premier League but I’ve never played in League One before,” he told The Star.

“I’ve got a few friends who play in League One so I’ve watched it a few times and it looks quite a tough league - but they are all tough to get out of.

“There are some quality teams in the league and some quality players. But we’ve got a good set of players and hopefully we’ll do well.”

Blake, whose previous clubs include Burnley, Birmingham and Leeds United, is pleased to be involved again with Saunders - one of his football heroes when growing up in the Middlesbrough area.

“I used to support Liverpool who at the time they were winning everything so Dean was a big hero of mine,” he said. “To actually play with him at Bradford was one of the highlights of my career.

“I was only about 21 at the time and he tried to encourage me and pass his experience on and it was vital at that stage of my career that I got that sort of information and over the years it has helped me along the way.”

He added: “Having played with him at the start of my career it is nice to be working with him again towards the back end of my career.

“He has been involved in the game a long time. and his enthusiasm and work ethic rub off on other people around him and I’m sure that will be beneficial this season.”

Blake spent the last two seasons with Bolton Wanderers, who paid Burnley £250,000 for his services in 2010.

“I didn’t play a lot of games but I was always in the squad,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to playing more games but first of all I’ve got to play well. I’m excited about the challenge and the start of pre-season training next Friday. I’ve been away on holiday but I’ve been ticking over since I’ve been back.”

Having played in the top flight at the age that Blake is now, Saunders says he has no worries about him being in his mid-30s.

“He’s only signed a one-year contract but if he proves himself I’ll give him another 12 month contract,” said Saunders. “Fitness coach Mal Purchase is renowned for his work with players in their 30s.”

Blake, who arrived on Wednesday along with David Cotterill, feels that he’s good for a couple of more years

“When Dean played at 37 it was probably regarded as being old at the time but that’s not the case now,” he said. “If you keep yourself in good shape you can play into your late 30s.”

Although he’s scored his fair share of goals over the years, particularly during his two spells at Burnley, Blake is keen to distance himself from the likes of Billy Sharp - Rovers’ top scorer for the last three seasons.

“I’m a totally different player to Billy,” he said. “Billy is an out and out goal-scorer - his goal-scoring record is fantastic He scored a lot of goals here and he scored a lot of goals for Southampton and helped them get promoted to the Premier League last season.

“I class myself as a different player.

“I can score goals but I also hold the ball up and bring people into the game.”

Looking ahead to the start of the club’s League One campaign, Blake said: “Walsall will be a tough start but I think every game is going to be tough; you are not going to get any easy games.

“I think every season it is vitally important to get off to a good start.”

[Norfolk N Chance]

How many goals will he score?

[Red wizard]

I will be happy if he can chip in with 10 or so.

[MachoMadness]

Sounds to me like as he's gotten older he's adjusted his game to keep playing to his strengths. Sounds here like a Neil Roberts type of player, although hopefully with a few more goals in him!

[mushRTID]

What do we think Hayter would have got next year for us? 10? 15?

If Blake can get that and is on a much less wage then it's a win win surely?

[Norfolk N Chance]

Hayter lost he way totally.

You cant live on one goal forever!

Yes, given his contract extension would be been in top 5 wage earners IMO

[Mr1Croft]

Hayter scored 10 in our promotion season, Price scored what 7? Mcammon? I don't think Blake will be better than them in 07/08. Blake will struggle to get 10.
I am guessing he will play 32 games tops, with a goal scoring rate of 1/4 at his best, which is about 8 goals if he plays extremely well. I think 10 is well out of his reach, if he has a good start maybe, but hell be lucky to have 5 by Xmas.
I'm trying not to be negative but if someone at his age can reach double figures in League One then it doesn't say much about other strikers.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Hayter lost he way totally.

You cant live on one goal forever!

Yes, given his contract extension would be been in top 5 wage earners IMO

Nobby.

Silly comment.

Hayter was excellent for 2.5 years in the Championship. He struggled to adapt to the pace in the first half season, but after that, he was quite superb. Penalties ignored, he scored at almost as good a rate as Sharp throughout 09/10 and 10/11, even though he didn't play as an out and out striker.

I have no problem with him leaving, but to say that he lived on the Wembley goal is just daft and an unfair slur on a player who deserves to be considered one of the all-time Rovers greats. We should do better than that in our discussions on here.

[Red wizard]

Agreed Billy. Will always be a Rovers legend and talked about for many moons.

[dickos1]

His game is not all about goals, he creates goals and is very good at set pieces. His age has nothing to do with it, look at Phillips,

[DearneValleyRover]

It appears as though Deano wants an attacking midfield and Blake will hold the ball up and play them in. Adaptable to a counter attacking style. If he does that and contributes 8+ we won't be far away from the top.

[The Beast]

Hayter scored 34 goals in 5 seasons, to be fair to him one of those was the most important in our history.
  I'm quite excited about seeing Blake, if his legs haven't completely gone could see him coming on from the bench and creating a few goals.

[Derby Viking]

I would think Sir Francis Tierney's goal was more important, getting us back in the league. Though Hayter's goal was a great moment!

[Dutch Uncle]

Agreed Billy. Will always be a Rovers legend and talked about for many moons.

Hayter lost he way totally.

You cant live on one goal forever!

Yes, given his contract extension would be been in top 5 wage earners IMO

Nobby.

Silly comment.

Hayter was excellent for 2.5 years in the Championship. He struggled to adapt to the pace in the first half season, but after that, he was quite superb. Penalties ignored, he scored at almost as good a rate as Sharp throughout 09/10 and 10/11, even though he didn't play as an out and out striker.

I have no problem with him leaving, but to say that he lived on the Wembley goal is just daft and an unfair slur on a player who deserves to be considered one of the all-time Rovers greats. We should do better than that in our discussions on here.

Totally agree BST. Also Sharp and Hayter formed a terrific partnership for a couple of years - long enough for Hayter to be classed as a great when you remember that Alick Jeffrey and Laurie Sheffield only had 1 season and a couple of games together and they are rightly regarded as greats when at two league levels lower 

[Mr1Croft]

I would think Sir Francis Tierney's goal was more important, getting us back in the league. Though Hayter's goal was a great moment!

Tierneys goal was important because we desperately needed to become a Football League Club. Hayters goal and that day was momentous and full of joy because we were considered the underdogs by many. Because of the different scenarios and feelings I think it would be unfair to judge the more important. For me personally they are both equally the two points in the New Drfc era (98-present) that represented what we are in only a matter of seconds.