Of the current squad: Raya - KEEP, starting keeper. Leutwiler - indifferent. Adequate backup, could have better. Fisher - KEEP, promote to backup keeper, or loan out, or keep in u23s in higher division. Nyambe - KEEP, improved a lot this season, his shirt to lose at RB. Caddis - OUT Lenihan - KEEP, good aggression. Mulgrew - KEEP, Captain fantastic. Downing - Adequate backup or promote youth in his stead. Ward - OUT. Wharton - Unsure. Hart - OUT. Williams - KEEP, adequate backup at CB or LB. Bell - KEEP, his shirt to lose at LB. Feeney - OUT. Payne - Decent backup for Dack or as a passer from deep. Bennett - KEEP, Captain mkII. Smallwood - KEEP, his shirt to lose at CM. Evans - OUT, promote Travis in his stead. Whittingham - OUT. Gladwin - OUT. Dack - KEEP. Conway - I would rather promote a youth player in his stead, but ok as a bench player. Chapman - KEEP if poss, unbelievable potential. Antonsson - Indifferent. Graham - KEEP for one more season. Armstrong - KEEP versatile forward. Samuel - OUT, promote Butterworth in his stead. Nuttall - KEEP but needs to put more muscle on. Promote from u23s: Travis, Tomlinson, Butterworth, one of the cbs. IN (as minimum): A hard nut cb, a target man up front, a passer from deep in midfield. In reality, reckon we'll need 6/7 signings/loans but unsure where to specify some positions.

A few weeks ago, shortly after the nail-biting tension of our narrow away win at Walsall, I was asked by a young supporter, “How did you cope on that final day in 1995?” and my shorthand (but accurate) response was, “I cried...!”. In the course of our dialogue it was quite extraordinary how all those feelings of excitement, nerves, tension, fear, despondency and finally utter elation all came flooding back, simultaneously. It was as if I was transported in time back to May 1995. I could feel exactly what I felt all that time ago, my pulse started racing, sweaty brow, gut-wrenching tension; an eerie sensation to be frank. I didn’t have a ticket for Anfield; for me it was always going to be a long-distance affair. Neither back then did I have Sky. In the week leading up to the game I had pretty much made my mind up that I would go on a walk and ignore it, making sure that I came back home as adjacent to the final whistle as I possibly could, oblivious to the ebbs and flows of the afternoon. A work colleague heard my dilemma and told me that the gym where he was a member had Sky, had multiple screens and he would sign me in on a guest pass to enable me to watch it. I couldn’t resist, this was I suspected, even back then, a once in a lifetime deal, now or never – for me, but more importantly for Rovers. The story of how those two games unfolded has been told thousands of times but the remarkable aspect was when I recalled it, the feelings and emotions of the time just flooded back. The joy of Shearer’s opener, the Liverpool equaliser expertly caressed into the corner by John Barnes. The overwhelming sensation was that it was out of our hands now and that a higher power would decide our fate. There were a number of screens set up around the gym; all but one showing the West Ham Utd v Man Utd match – partly a function of the high number of members claiming to be Man Utd fans, but also a high number of locals claiming to be “ABUs” – “Anyone But United”. The motivation of the latter being that it would be much more satisfying to watch Utd lose it, rather than another team winning it! It’s never enough to see our own team triumph, we also have to see our rivals falter..! The competing “oohs”, “aahs” and loud cheers for a goal rang around the room during the afternoon. As the clocked ticked down, it became abundantly clear that our fate was going to be decided not in Merseyside, but in East London. I too started turning around and craning my neck to assess the situation from Upton Park. I was drawn in fatalistically, unable to take my eyes off Ludek Miklosko in the West Ham goal. Never before had I so wanted a West Ham keeper to turn in the performance of a lifetime and in fairness, never since. I fully expected a Utd winner at any point, almost certainly in the inevitable “Fergie-time”; but I’d made my peace philosophically & so I entered a Zen-like trance. Time is relative apparently, well it certainly slowed down on that afternoon. When Jamie Redknapp scored, we knew categorically that it was now out of our hands and that somehow lifted the pressure. There was no more we could do except wait...tick, tock…ooh, aah…save, block, parry…over and over again. The tears came not at full time, but in the car on the way home. I had the radio on as interviews of all the key protagonists were being transmitted and out of nowhere, I just started blubbing. I was sobbing, massive tears rolling down my cheeks but with a grin as wide as a canyon across my face. My little team had just become the best in all England. Fast forward to this season. A lot of my rekindled joy for football has been watching our youngest fans truly enjoy their matchday experience as did I at the same age. Players that seem to care, a manager that oozes common-sense, pragmatism and ethics and let us not be coy, a significant number in the “W” column of the league table - it all helps. Last season I was genuinely angry at our Venky’s-inflicted plight and couldn’t quite believe another stint in the third division was in store. I was sceptical as to our powers of recovery, fearing that our new level was that which endured in the early 1970’s. Credit then to the powers that be for this immediate return. The scenes at full time at Doncaster Rovers will be etched into memory banks of our young fans in much the same way as 1995 still makes my spine tingle. As an 11 year-old back in 1975, I was ecstatic to see the word “Champions” and “Blackburn Rovers” in the same sentence. I was as proud of them as I was of the class of 95. The moral of the story, if there is one; is that you never know what is round the corner. Enjoy what you can, when you can – big or small, Premier League, League Cup finals, the u23 squad winning their division. Drink it in my friends, life is short, scenes of pure joy at the final whistle at the Keepmoat are stored away. Thinking about the last 8 or 9 minutes of that game now, the explosion of noise when Charlie’s header nestled in the back of the net, my pulse is already racing, I’m typing and chewing my fingernails consecutively…not recommended. It’s no 1995 but it’s still special and for a new generation, it’s their first taste of glory and it tastes quite delicious thank you very much. RED ROSE ROVER View full article

It comes to something when the debts at Sunderland (less than £100m) are considered to be large but still are much less than BRFC owes to Venkys. Even worse, Sunderland still have a Premier League potential that is a pipedream here. I don't see how the Venkys involvement is going to end in any way that is less than disastrous.

If “Bolton Road/Blackburn Aces” doesn’t slow down then I’m going to pass out at the first away game next season. Getting silly now.

I agree 100% with who we need to sign. We need a few more nasty players in our team for the fight, no doubt about that. Completely disagree about Williams, would be very unnecessary letting him go. He is a decent option at left and centre back. You don't mention a replacement in your potential signings so who covers at left back? I am on the fence about Evans and Samuel. If we got good offers for both I would consider it, but I don't think we will get offered enough that it would actually make sense to release them and then need to find replacements.

If Nicko is as wrong about Rover's transfer budget as he usually is then that gives us cause for optimism!

Only one I disagree with is Gladwin. I've got a feeling with a good pre season, there's a player I'm there somewhere. Last chance saloon though.

Have to agree, firstly, getting rid is not so easy and they are contracted to the club. I would have them around as squad players to give them a chance to earn another contract or see it out. Evans has champs experience as does Samuel (ibelieve though not much?). Evans has put in a few decent performances of late as he has done over the years but due to injuries and whatnot, they have never been consistent. As for Samuel, he seems to have the physical attributes but lacks mentally. i just wouldnt be too hasty with outgoings anyway - dont want to disrupt the core of what brought us up. Strengthen around it and get rid of the more obvious deadwood.

It was at my school. I think, I never wrote it down because the guy sat next to me ate all the chalk

Why would you keep Gladwin?He had one decent season at Swindon a few years ago he has done nothing here or at his previous club.Has Mowbray said he is part of his plans next season or something as I'm really struggling to understand why any rovers fan would want Gladwin to still be at the club next season

I'd agree as far as trying to sell Evans is concerned. Very unlikely any other club will match the wage we're giving him, and at least we can count on a few good performances around the time NI are due to play.

You've never worked in a school then ?

The problem is that Williams and Evans have shown in the past they can't really cut it at Championship level. I'd say both have been at the correct level this season and even then there have been a lot of questionable performances. I'd keep Williams as backup, but I'd get Evans out the door at the first opportunity. Let's be honest, the only players still at the club from the Bowyer era are the ones nobody else wanted. We sold everybody remotely decent (note I'm talking about Bowyer's signings & mainstays, Cairney, Rhodes, King, Gestede, Hanley, Duffy... hell, even Jason Lowe found a Championship team willing to take a punt). I'd also have Samuel out ASAP as he's shown nothing to suggest he will even be worthwhile as backup in the Championship. We might have to make do with loaning him out though as I'm not sure there will be many interested parties as far as a permanent transfer goes.

Exactly! Good post

The level of investment over the summer will determine the sort of level we're competing at next year. If we're going to compete towards the top end of the division I'd say we need ideally: Big nasty centre back experienced at Championship level. Big nasty midfielder experienced at Championship level, Creative midfielder, 2 wingers one of which hopefully Chapman if he can demonstrate his fitness. Proven goal scorer at Championship level. Out: Caddis, Williams, Evans, Conway, Samuel, Whittingham

Bring him home Jordan Rhodes To the place , where he belongs Blackburn rovers We all love ya Bring him home Jordan Rhodes La la la eh eh La la la eh eh

Ive agree with Stuart alot recently and always enjoyed his posts even I might agree with them all of the time.

If Mowbray can’t make Madame fall in love with football then nobody can. (My money’s on nobody).

I have thought this for some time. Its almost as if he is a generation too late. 15 years ago he could well be plying his trade in the PL back when front twos were commonplace. Not too disimilar to a Michael Owen type. With one up top being practically the norm these days, small nippy players like him will find it difficult as they do not have the physicality to play the lone role and need a partner. If I were him, I would do my best to learn and master the inside forward role that he has now as getting a striking berth is going to be tough for him.

Very crafty Andy, I see what you did there! Van Halen - Jump

You did a good job, the programme was excellent then.