MANAGER: Sam Allardyce (Dec 2008)

MAJOR INS: Lars Jacobsen (Everton), Elrio van Heerden (Club Brugge), Gael Givet (Marseille, £3.5m), Franco di Santo (Chelsea, loan), Nikola Kalinic (Hajduk Split), Michel Salgado (unattached)

MAJOR OUTS: Matt Derbyshire (Olympiakos, £3m), Roque Santa Cruz (Man City, £17.5m)

KEY MAN: Chris Samba (99 apps, eight gls)
Squad selector: Pick your Blackburn XI

LAST SEASON: 15th

OUR VERDICT: 14th. Big Sam will be content to steer clear of the drop zone.
Watch Lawro's verdict on Blackburn