67: Morten Gamst Pedersen, Blackburn Rovers, Topps Match Attax Trading Card Game, Barclays Premier League 2010/11 Collector Binder

Mat Jolin-Beech is back with another Fantasy Premier League favourite today and a man of many talents.  While Simon Rodger and Neville Southall had to settle for just having pop star good looks and Chris Waddle and Paul McGregor had a tilt at the music charts today’s subject managed to marry both talents when he fronted ‘The Players’ back in 2006. How many Premier League stars can claim to have sung the lead vocals on a Scandinavian hit single? Over to Mat for the answer.

A club sacking their manager as they flounder in the relegation zone approaching Christmas is nothing new. In fact, its par for the course these days, as top tier money is sanctum. Sod trophies.

So, when the news broke that Slaven Bilic had been given the boot, it shouldn’t have come as a surprise. However, off the back of West Bromwich Albion’s 1-1 draw at Manchester City, and that the Baggies were only three points off safety, it seemed a bit harsh. The default move here for chairmen with itchy trigger fingers eager to be seen to be acting to secure top tier cash for the following season is ‘Big’ Sam Allardyce.

Now, Big Sam is back. Back again. He may not be a glamorous manager. Nor play glamorous football. But way back when, he had some decent teams, and some decent players and the name that came to my mind was one Morten Gamst Perdersen.


A solid fantasy football choice, a decent workhorse, and the purveyor of the odd spectacular goal. Also, great budget Beckham hair. That Blackburn Rovers team of the late noughties, featuring the likes of Phil Jones (of many faces) and the loyal Chris Samba, wasn’t half bad.  Key to a lot of the good work that team did was Pedersen, who nailed down the left midfield spot. Decent crosses, willing defensively, and a foot like a traction engine.

Fulham were famously on the end of a Pedersen rocket – so much so that he was awarded August 2005’s goal of the month. Part of his highlights reel also include a 40-yard free kick against Wigan Athletic and a long-range solo stunner against Newcastle United. He also got poked in the eye by Mikel Arteta and punched in the stomach by Joey Barton. Not a bad resumé.

On the international stage, he formed a formidable left-sided partnership with John Arne Riise and scored a free kick to complete a 4-0 humiliation of the Scots. After Blackburn told him to find a new club in 2013, a nomadic existence playing in Turkey ensued before returning to his native Norway. I’m surprised to find out he is still playing professionally at second tier Alta, with 7 goals in 13 games already this season. He’s still got it unlike those from his Blackburn days. Phil Jones is perennially injured (and has his face); Chris Samba had an undignified end at Aston Villa; and even Blackburn are floundering in the Championship under the ownership of Indian poultry giants the Venkys.
 
Blackburn are not back but Big Sam is with the Baggies hoping he can once again find the recipe for survival success. He’s got the likes of Hal Robson-Kanu, Jake Livermore, and Matt Phillips. Bet he’d love to have Pedersen back – even now at 39 years of age.

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