I don't have no connection to the area. Don't let my accent fool you just because my family moved to the US when I was 1 or the fact that my career has me based in Paris. But, either way, that isn't particularly relevant. We're all from somewhere and there's nothing unique to Blackburn that means a non-local couldn't imagine a similar relationship with an athlete/musician/actor/politican/etc from their local area. We will have to wait and see just how good of a career he goes on to have, but Phil Jones left here with a bigger reputation and higher expectations. He didn't any of the same tracking or fascination that Wharton gets. Why? Because we were a Premier League side and had better things to focus on. He was also probably hurt by the fact that he joined United, but this messageboard was certainly not filled with members talking about local-boy-done-good. There's no two ways about it. This is a reflection of the downfall of this club. That isn't me - or any other poster on here - telling people to not follow his career or to not have a soft spot for him. But it doesn't change the fact that it makes us look small-time.

I used to idolising Alan Shearer and Alessandro Del Piero as young boy growing us. Shearer is the best striker I've ever seen live and seeing him as my idol and what I wanted to become a pro footballer, but never going to make it, not good enough a striker. I used to always watch Football Italia on channel 4 every week and I used to follow Juventus and Del Piero is my idol and one of my all time favourite footballers. I used to loved watching Barcelona as I was growing up and players like Xavi and Iniesta. Over the pass 10/12 years my passion for watching La Liga has gone, and following Italia Football isn't the same as it was growing up.

People telling young kids how they should think about football shirts and club loyalty is very funny. I had a white West Ham away kit when I was 10 cos my mum got it cheap in the sale from a sports shop. I loved that shirt. I also had the Southampton away shirt around the same time. This was the early 80s. Football kits are fascinating to football obsessed young lads. &nbsp Lighten up 😉

Anyone given this a go and if so, was it worth it?

It's almost as exciting as waiting for the fixture list to be announced!

He obviously hasn’t resigned… but guess what a three day old tweet of a quote from weeks ago means bugger all.

I can easily accept him idolising Wharton too. But he has a Rovers shirt with him on, and an England shirt with him on. I don't get what he wants a Palace one for. I can sort of see why people might collect signed memorabilia in glass displays too, maybe I was slightly harsh on that count. But I can't imagine why you'd go to another club's website and give them money to plonk a player's name on it, and then, presumably, wear it. It's always been bizarre to me to see Rovers fans in another team's shirt. And yes idolising players is part of football, but not idolising the teams they play for too, which is what the vast majority of a shirt is about. The main thing about being a football fan, if you're not a neutral, is loyalty to your club. The main reason for buying what are now obscenely overpriced shirts is that loyalty.

Rovers official website 3 days

As soon as they come up with Mannequins that can move these lads will be out of a job!

I often thought when watching those behind the scenes training clips that get released as to who these lads are in the sticks because they look useless. Half the time just stick a hand or foot out or nothing at all and i'm like why the #### aren't you trying to save these shots you are supposed to be training to improve right ? Seems maybe not, just pay some to put the gloves on everyday eh, nice work and i think i'd do better than some of them, genuinely.

Phil's annual summer grenade has been chucked 😉

Those would be brilliant from now on it's THE TONY PARKES STAND

That's a great token mate

I watch every Palace game I can just because of Wharton and the fact they give English players a chance. I think Palace had the most players from one club at the last euros

Going on holiday to Spain and coming home with a Barca shirt is standard 12 year old behaviour (often a knock off one from a market stall 😄). But a Crystal Palace shirt? Hmm…

sportapp Looks like Facebook has taken it down

He's a training keeper, at our level you have to contract lads to do this. Up and down the land clubs from Step 2 through 5 will have keepers who are paid expenses (or contracted) to purely be a body in training, both to support the keepers and lighten the load on keepers for finishing work to give the Pro's a rest. This lad will be no different, Eastham and Hilton have been fulfilling the role for us for years.

might be useful for you to post the link so that we can determine one way or the other 😉

Dusty Springfield - Bad Case Of The Blues

Don't know if it is a fake but just seen a report Ishmael has left

I still don’t get it. Part of loving football is idolising players. I have R9, Ronaldinho, Zidane, and Buffon shirts from when I was a lad. I also have Duff and Friedel international shirts. Don’t see anything odd about it. I sort of get why the Palace Wharton shirt might be odd, but when it’s one of our own, I can easily accept a 12yo idolising them wherever they go in addition to his love of Rovers.

"Find your own way there"

I bloody well hope not. And if it was, I'd hope he was advised that it shouldn't be!

When was the last time we managed to tie down a player with a new contract who was entering there final year? It just doesn't happen here.

Thanks for the update and the reply I would keep Michalski as the third keeper personally deffo, we need New contracts for Batth, Brittain, Tronstad and Travis shortly at least most of them will