2005/2006 Season Preview - Tranmere Rovers

Tranmere: Birkenhead, not remotely connected to Liverpool OKAY?!!!!!!!!!!!! Home: Prenton Park, (NOT IN OR NEAR LIVERPOOL - NOWHERE F NG NEAR OK?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) 16,587 (all seated), Nickname: Rovers. Hate: Liverpool, Everton, Chester, Wrexham, Bolton Wanderers and PEOPLE WHO CALL THEM SCOUSERS OK?!!!!!!!!!!! Last Meeting: 14th Feb 2004 FAC Tranmere Rovers A L 1-2 Tranmere are known to most fans for three things: 1 - Being the 'other' club on Merseyside. 2 - Their exploits in the FA Cup and League Cup. 3 - Being EXTREMELY sensitive to being called scousers. Whilst 1 and 3 are used mercilessly by opposing fans in banter, their Cup exploits are undoubtedly the factor that springs to most people's minds when Tranmere is mentioned. Legendary manager John King started the ball rolling in 1994 when he led them to the League Cup semi-final, losing on penalties to Aston Villa. John Aldridge led them to two consecutive FA Cup quarterfinals in 2000 and 2001 as well as guiding them to the League Cup final in 2000, where they lost to Leicester City. The last time the two clubs met was during one of these cup runs in 2004. The two teams met at Prenton Park in the 5th round of the FA Cup. Former Tranmere player and local boy made bad Andy Robinson put the Swans ahead only for goals from Taylor and Hume to help send Tranmere through. Rovers eventually lost in the quarter-final to Millwall after a replay. It may come as a surprise to some that the club's cup exploits include two consecutive Welsh Cup final appearances in 1934 and 1935. Rovers lost 3-0 to quintessential welsh outfit Bristol City in 1934, but didn't let the devastating loss destroy the club, and, fired by a sense of purpose and welsh national pride, the Wirral lads stormed to the final the following year, beating Wales' finest Chester City in the final to claim their first trophy. Their participation in the Welsh Cup was no doubt fuelled by the inspirational hosting of the Welsh National Eisteddfod in Birkenhead in 1917. Cymru am byth!

Last season ended in disappointment for Rovers, finishing in third place behind runaway leaders Luton and Hull City, with former Liverpool star Jason McAteer leading the midfield. McAteer is widely regarded as the most stupid player in football, well suited to his nickname 'Trigger', but he is certainly an effective footballer at this level even in the twilight of his career. It would be far too original of me to mention McAteer without bringing attention to a couple of his 'Trigger' moments. Apparently Jason was in a Dublin nightclub and saw Jimmy White and decided to say hello by yelling a catchphrase that Jimmy would instantly recognize and so Jason yelled out the cry of - 'One hundred and eighty!' Another story has Alan Thompson, an ex-Bolton team mate of Jason asking him to - 'pass the tomato ketchup' and the answer Alan gets back from Jason is - 'Red or brown' . Bless 'im. Other players to stand out last term include striker Iain Hume and left-back Ryan Taylor. Canadian striker Hume was recently the subject of a £500,000 bid from Sheffield Wednesday, but personal terms were not agreed, and Hume remains at Tranmere for now. Taylor made the PFA divisional team of the year and attracted interest from Premiership clubs after his consistent performances. After weeks of speculation, Taylor recently joined Premiership new boys Wigan for a deal worth up to £1.2 million. Brian Little has been busy trying to bolster his squad before their opening fixture against the mighty Swans. Congolese striker Calvin Zola joined the club from Newcastle last season but had to return to Africa due to work-permit problems. He's since rejoined the club after obtaining a visa and great things are expected of the young striker, and quite frankly, with a name like that he's bound to be a star. Little has further strengthened his strikeforce by landing his No.1 summer target Chris Greenacre after the player was released by Stoke City. Little believes he can get the best out of the striker who has had a lean few years since making his name at League 2 strugglers Moansfailed. Little has also snapped up tricky winger Sam Aiston from Shrewsbury and goalkeeper Steve Wilson from Macclesfield. Whilst an underwhelming signing in many fans eyes, Aiston caused all sorts of problems for the Swans defence during our last league game at the Vetch, so let's hope we're better prepared for him should we come face to face again on August 6th. Great things are expected of 17-year-old striker Steve Davies who has just signed a professional contract with the club. The product of the clubs youth academy, Davies had been attracting interest from both Liverpool and Arsenal, but has decided to turn professional with Tranmere. Veteran players Theo Whitmore, Ian Goodison and Mark Rankine have all penned new contracts at the club, as Little seeks to keep the main body of players at the club who did so well last season. They will no doubt be strong contenders for promotion again this season despite the loss of Talyor to Wigan. With a good mix of experience and youth in all areas of the pitch, Rovers will blah blah blah, hackneyd phrased after hackneyed phrase…I can't be arsed with this anymore…time to log out… They will finish: in the top 3 (again)

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