Bellamy was fantastic for me. Had that x factor and a huge will to win. Always demanding more from his teammates. Fred before my time but my grandad used to say how he was second to only Shearer in his lifetime up top. Passed away before seeing Bellamy unfortunately as he would have been right up his street. Henchoz was superb in that first season under Hodgson. A good defender who could play too. Nelsen would get the nod for me though.

Im not sure that "world beaters" are required to avoid relegation in the Championship.

Spain women making the men's team proud with their play acting

so the meeting the fans forum 4 or 5 times a year would fulfil this requirement then? given the fans forum is made up with fans from different Rovers supporters groups?

England much better this half. First half was like watching Barcelona tika-taka.

No one mentioned Proven do we? like I said we sign some good quality players and some poor ones over the last 2 years. I don't see Charlton being anymore than bottom 6/relegation candidate. They have signed a few championship experience players granted but no world beaters

hardly, the pitch needed a wrist spinner. I wonder how something like the great Shane Warne would have bowled on the pitch They haven't been allowed for years now Tyrone

Desperately need a winger. Hedges isn’t good enough and always hurt. CM cover would be great since there’s a massive drop off after Travis/trondstat. With carters I just a center half is needed for cover but I guess that could be loaned player. And as you mentioned a center forward, but I’m sure they see the Ohashi/Gueye/Leonard as one that have enough bodies.

Henchoz was a rolls royce

Just because he doesn’t want to leave doesn’t mean we shouldn’t sell him and let him walk for free…if he wants to stay we could sign him to an extension…but allowing him to run down the contract seems like a bad decision too.

I know it’s all opinions, but Henchoz over Nelsen/Samba is quite some take.

This is a touch dramatic. You don't stop a boxing match with one boxer winning by a round or two after 6 rounds. James starting was foolish. Certainly need to get higher up the pitch but there's plenty to be played.

When it comes to beating players nobody comes near Dougie.

Amoroso in and no Nelsen ?

Completely agree with that team. I’m going to go a different way and give my favourite X1 (not best, just my favourites): Friedel Emerton Samba Amoruso Warnock Thompson Tugay Flitcroft Duff McCarthy Jansen Managed by Sparky ofc.

brereton and gallagher,not the wisest investments imo,defenders are coming was tonys phrase🙂

Really hard one to call. I might change my mind now you’ve said that but Fred was another really top player. More skilful than Shearer but not as tough and hard to play against.

When you say compete do you mean towards the top or towards the bottom? I think if we don't get at least 3 players in who can hit the ground running that we're in a bit of trouble. Especially a striker and a winger.

Of course but he was excellent last season given he played for 6 months in Japan before coming here cos this is Championship thread where you discuss championship stories or comments

Haaland doesn't score the goals Shearer did outside the box for us back in the 90's the best Rovers team in my lifetime would be Friedel Berg Hendry Nelsen Le Saux Ripley Sherwood Tugay Duff Shearer Jansen

Under two weeks before season starts. Next week should be busy. Just 3 more and I think we can compete.

If it was a boxing match they’d stop it. They’re playing the game with all ten out field players in our half. When we win the ball we’ve 75 yards to run. When they win it they’re in the last third. They fitter, faster, winning most of the 50/50 balls. We look tired. Playing James was a bollock, she was obviously not fit. The coach will have to earn her corn now.

Paying the bills. When was the last time Vs sent big money that we know about ?

I think it depends on your definition of ‘best’ footballer. Of those I’ve seen live: Most effective? Shearer. Talent on the ball? Tugay. My dad says ‘Douglas wipes the floor with both’.

I've read about 20 posts on here from the last 24hrs debating whether the squad is slightly weaker or slightly stronger than this time last year and it seems to be pretty much a dead heat, very little to choose between, people making arguments either way. How the squad is only marginally stronger (at best) when we have brought in tens of millions over the last couple of seasons is criminal. Where on earth has that money gone?