Where Did It All Go Wrong For Paul Ince at Blackburn Rovers?

Paul Ince was always going to struggle as Blackburn Rovers manager as pointed out in this article http://bleacherreport.com/articles/45867-blackburn-rovers-in-for-a-tough-season, written months ago.

The former English international just clearly wasn't getting the support of his bosses or players. Put it this way, Rovers were either overachieving under Mark Hughes or underachieving with Paul Ince at the reigns.

In all honesty, it is probably a bit of both as Mark Hughes worked wonders with a squad he knew inside out and finished seventh last season.

Ince, on the other hand, took just three wins in 17 league games and left the club second bottom of the league, five points from safety.

It all looked so different after round one of the Barclay's Premier League, with Blackburn celebrating a great 3-2 win over Everton at Goodison Park. Sadly, it was a false dawn as just two more wins in the next 16 games just isn't good enough for a club who could easily follow the likes of Leicester City into oblivion should they go down.

Where exactly did it all go wrong for Ince?

To start off by replacing Brad Friedel (a loyal servant and inspirational keeper) with a man who has never looked the same since that horrible night in Zagreb. Who thought moving out of London would help Paul Robinson regain his form?

Bringing in your captain from your previous club has happened often over the years, but probably not while leaping three divisions. Keith Andrews has performed admirably, but is no David Bentley. Far better players have gone down before and many more will be relegated in the future.

In each of the last two seasons, Blackburn had a striker chasing the top goal scorers golden boot. This year, Benni McCarthy and Roque Santa Cruz have scored just 5 between them in 17 league games. Michael Owen has 7 in 13 and for a team like Blackburn, they aren't exactly on form.

Up front isn't the only place that Blackburn has troubles, having conceded 34 goals so far this term. That tally is significant as it means Rovers have the worst defense in the league.

It is clear that Paul Ince was unable to get the best out of his talented squad, but why didn't he bring in more of his own players? Experienced ones for example (not past it former greats like Robbie Fowler). Did he think he would make it to January? Or were the Blackburn money men just not willing to cough up?

Lastly, if ever there was a player who needs a NEW challenge, it would be Morten Gamst Pederson. He is simply festering at Ewood Park and hasn't done Ince many favors over the last four or five months.

Where to now for Blackburn?

They need a clear out. They have had practically the same squad for years now and players like Pederson, McCarthy, and Tugay need to move on if Blackburn are to have a hope of staying up.

A new manager needs to be appointed straight away so he has time to assess his options before the transfer window opens in January.

No new manager by January and a lack of activity during the transfer window would mean one thing for the Ewood Park side: relegation.

That would be a travesty of justice for the only club outside of Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United to win the Barclay's Premier League.

How they must wish they still had Alan Shearer now.