Benjani proves money can’t buy you love

By John Myles
Blackburn Rovers fan columnist 

“Money Can’t Buy Me Love” (The Beatles) Next week’s clash at The City of Manchester Stadium can be billed as the Big Spenders versus the Nil Spenders. There could hardly be a greater contrast.

Manchester City’s bench during last week’s surprise defeat by Sunderland cost around £100 million and a more miserable looking collection of footballers gathered together in one place it would be difficult to find.

Rovers, meanwhile, pick up one of the earlier City cast-offs on a free transfer. Benjani may not have sufficient match fitness to feature against his erstwhile employers but he’s nevertheless managed to put the boot in by describing and deriding a far from happy club where clearly he didn’t feel loved.

He’s noticed a friendlier, more inclusive atmosphere already at Ewood. Hopefully, that will enable him to rediscover the form that enticed City to pay good money from Portsmouth for him.

He’s been identified in the media as further evidence of Big Sam’s knack of picking up bargains and reviving them and that’s before he’s even kicked a ball.

Of course it may not work out and he’ll have to wait to earn his place but I can probably guarantee that he’ll be given a great welcome by the Blackburn fans who will show their appreciation if he demonstrates his love and commitment to our club.

The fact that City still have problems despite all their wealth and spending should give us pause for thought about whether or not the proposed takeover will necessarily increase our supporter satisfaction index.

My personal take on it is that it will probably allow us to mix it more comfortably and successfully with the middle men of the Premier League.

I believe it would give us greater security and allow us to compete with the likes of Sunderland and Stoke for players that currently are beyond our reach, and thus make it more likely that we can remain in the top flight. Lancashire Telegraph