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Sounds like our sort of signing, 30 years old, history of knee injures, and played just over 40 league games over the past 4 seasons, also out of contract at the end of the season

I agree we need to pick up points, but we've seen enough of Rovers over the last five years to know we are actually more likely to get points from the better resourced teams for reasons it is hard to work out. Id put it more generally that we need around 50 to stay up, but safer at 55. So half way point Id aim for 30 minimum. To get that we need 14 points over the next 10 games... Feels doable. Even if we manage only 10 we are still probably outside the bottom three. The JDT strategy of risking more in our style and going for wins and accepting losses over draws is the better bet imo. Hard-fought draws give the illusion of stability but actually quite corrosive in terms overall points per game.

29 Goals in 106 appearances for England.....

A one club man that never won player of the year at that club

I think that's exactly how we'll play unfortunatly. Can see them coming out with a huge intensity while we look lethargic and just not up for it, and having our lot beat within the first 30 minutes.

If we play like we did against Derby, it could be embarrassing. We need to give 100% plus, to get a result.

I don't mind the PNE derbies. Generally good away followings and a feeling that its a genuine local rivalry, without all the bullshit attached to the Burnley games. I'm annoyed when we lose, but you can go in the pub after and chat to Preston fans about the game as it should be. You just can't do that for the Burnley fixtures, and every defeat grates hugely until the next time we play them. Rivalry-wise I've always considered Preston and Bolton to be very similar, with Blackpool and Wigan being more akin to the likes of Morecambe, Oldham, Stockport etc..

Might have somewhere but couldnt put my hands on it immediately.

Second half of the classic Leicester City (h) 19th March 1988

Do you still have it?

Oxford, Pompey, QPR, Sheff Weds twice. All before the end of 2025. Those matches will define the season l think. We need to take minimum of 12 points from the 15 available in those or we're in gonna be stuffed.

Jim Smith lived near me in a sprawling property (Springfield Cottage)which subsequently became a smallish nursing home next to the big modern one Springfield Clinic on Preston New Rd. As a kid I cheekily wrote to him at the Club suggesting players we could buy. Expecting that to be the end of it. I received back from him a beautiful letter on Club headed notepaper with his home address on thanking me for my interest and explaining why we could or couldnt try for each player. Finished off with Jim's flourishing signature in fountain pen. Can you imagine that these days? Be filed straight in the bin.

Spot on regarding the "rivalry". My feelings as well.

I've never seen them as a big rival, despite the geographic proximity. B*rnley will always be #1 rival I want us to beat, by a wide margin. After that, it's probably Bolton for me. They're a bigger club than North End and in my life time at least, those matches have always had a good atmosphere and a lot more needle when we play each other. While other fixtures apart from those against B*rnley and BWFC might be local derbies by definition, I'm not that interested in bragging rights really, I'm only as keen for us to beat Preston as I am for us to beat Blackpool or Wigan or whoever. PNE fans seem to have loads of names for us and songs about us, I can't remember us ever having a song about them, don't really care. It feels one-sided the animosity. Maybe fans of an older generation than me (in my mid 30s) will have a different take, especially if they saw classic games with North End in 1950s and 60s, etc. Anyway, good to see a good following for the short trip to Deepdale, I will be there as usual. Given we're better away than at home, maybe we can nick something. I probably would take a draw if I'm honest, they've been very strong at home.

Absolutely spot on. I remember Colin Hendry buying a house on a new development at Beardwood, Stuart Ripley, Chris Sutton and Patrick Valery having houses on The Rydings, Langho, Damien Duff living in Hurst Green and cycling to and from the training ground whilst Tronstad lives on the Brockhall development. Northcote / Langho also decent enough for Alan Pace and Owen Coyle! Can remember Jim Smith buying property at the top of Preston New Road and Bobby Saxton buying a house in Mellor. There are many desirable places to live within easy reach of Brockhall. The Carter issue is also very relevant.

All the evidence points to there being two consistent goals across their God-awful rein: cut costs and line the pockets of 'agents'.

Yeah, no problem. But don't repeat it in the press. It probably doesn't happen as much as it used to with the advent of 24 hrs social media but it never used to cease to amaze me how often players used to sound off negatively about their Club or own circumstances when away abroad on international duty presumably thinking the comments would never be read back home.

There's also a very enjoyable documentary about King Kenny just come out. Well worth a watch. (Unsurprisingly his time at Rovers is limited to a couple of lines before the credits) In it Souness and Hansen recount that how as young "Scottish" (for jim's benefit) players in Liverpool they were always round Kenny and Marina's House for dinner etc. Souness recounted that in those days whilst Kenny was a family man with young children, as a single man, he led a very different lifestyle and had the job of talking Kelly for a walk every afternoon. This was incredibly useful as she was the ultimate babe magnet but he could say she wasn't his etc!

Got to love that PKE online forum and their Rovers obsession. On seeing the 5k allocation is likely to sell out they've switched from never sell out and won't even shift 3800 to 'i thought it was our cup final not theirs'. Also a few having an argument who is the bigger club us or Burnley. Funny how Blackpool never seem to get a mention on their forums despite this massive so called rivalry. They always have plenty to say about Rovers and do their fair share of Bumley arse kissing. Yes lads and lasses it's YOUR cup final.

I've always despised Hodgson. Awful manager.

If he plays consistently I bet he scores at least 5 goals this season. His value is playing further forward - if we persist with this 3-5-2 (or whatever you want to call it - the system with 3 CB, 3 midfielders and 2 Wingbacks) he has to be given a free license to roam forward. When he played with Morishita they both went, leaving TGH isolated on his own. You'd have the same problem if he played with Cantwell too - although Cantwell is more capable of sitting in than Morishita is.

No real issue with the quotes. If a 23year old lad was moving to Rovers and asked me where he should live, I'd probably say the same thing.

Got to be some of the worst most desperate squad planning I've seen in years. Feels stretched and not up to it despite multiple international breaks. It'll be in bits defensively by January and I suspect Rudy's transfer arrogance will be well reflected both against Preston on Friday... and by the league table come Jan.

And pirlo wasn't even in the conversation till he was in his late 20s early 30s. He wasn't even talked about till then

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c14p3dmdld1o Dick Advocaat still managing and going to the World Cup at 78 !