Merry Xmas Axe and Paul Mani! Are we really ringing in this festive period in style by bickering with our fellow supporters over some player recruitment from years ago?! Do you realise how crazy that sounds? Instead of running to a mod to referee the situation, can you not just either debate civilly, or agree to disagree and move on please.

There should be a blue plaque on t turf with that on it

I’m going to say that’s very harsh on Watt. Edinho Jr needs to be in there somewhere, genuinely think he was the worst player to ever play for the club in my lifetime.

I think somebody being with us from being 17 is entirely warranted in being described as one of our youth products. Then there's the ones who have moved on, O'Connell and Mahoney. I guess you wont count Mahoney because he came to us when he was 16? You don't have to raise them from infancy. Players move between academies all the time. I'm sure there are a few knocking about elsewhere who spent some years at our academy.

Rovers winning 2-1 at Newcastle half time. Buckley and Chapman with goals.

I'll never forget that one it was Radio Lancs phone in gold. 'If we were in Rovers position we'd.....' - STILL get smaller gates mate ?

Bought from great harwood

I thought he was totally decent. Too many people have their minds made up about him and it would take a run of 20 incredible performances to change that. I thought it was a good return from injury and, hopefully, he can keep improving. Not sure why so many want to see him fail. Will be end up justifying the fee? Don't know. Could we have done something better with the money? Probably. But does he look like he could be a useful player to have a round? Quite possibly.

I would take Raya back without a second thought.

Let's keep it simple. Standard back 4 with Downing back in. Not sure I trust Bell to have another good game. Let's go with the stats and get Evans and Travis back together. Also Evans is in the form of his life, which is rare, so let's capitalise whilst it lasts. Dack, Holtby Armstrong for me . Armstrong is on form and therefore merits a place, Holtby I think may have a bit more nous - although wouldn't be disappointed with Rothwell there and his battling brought to the mix -and Dack because he is essential Graham up front because he is better than Gally, more likely to get a goal and has a better partnership with Dack. Keep a winning team where possible and let's keep the run going.

Well bully for you mate and good luck to the Preston lads mentioned, but I'm not here to argue if Rovers academy is shit or not I'm talking about developing players Rovers players I couldn't really give a shit about Preston to be honest and you have shown you haven't a clue when it comes to Rovers academy players with you spouting they are all shit, it sounds to me like someone nay have an axe to grind, did you or a family member get binned from Rovers academy or something as you seem to have a real downer on it And the players are there if you don't know about them go and watch the 23s for a few weeks you may get to know if these lads are shit or not as I can't see what your basing this part of your comment on (probably nothing) Also no investment, you really are clueless with this comment it cost in the region of £3mill a year to have a Cat 1 academy and to sustain that during the difficult last few years, with City, United, Everton and Liverpool on the doorstep and compete with them is a pretty top achievement for me I won't be responding to you after this as you really havent got a clue and you've never watched the 23s over the last few years I can tell and so for me most of your points are mute

Have I misunderstood this post or have you taken leave of your senses? We have a category A academy (which literally requires expenditure to do), finished what, 5th or 6th in the top flight of u-23 football last season, won the 'regional' Lancashire Senior Trophy or whatever it's called these days, and in recent years have produced Nyambe, Travis, Raya and Lenihan for the first team. We currently have a few youngsters rated as being on the verge of breaking through. If what you mean is solely the pathway, there is room for improvement there sure, but we are still getting players into the first team despite that. I feel like you must have been talking about another club and I've got the wrong end of the stick, because our academy is demonstrably, empirically, not crap, has had players breaking through in the last few years and doesn't lack investment.

Sounds about right for the kind of saddo that apparently screenshots websites for his twitter account. You'd think being a journalist/blogger of some sort he'd be able to generate his own content. It's actually quite hilarious how obsessed he seems to be with trying to paint the site in a particular light while driving web traffic here as a result.

2 goals for Buckley 1 goal and 2 assists for Chapman Good times

Sorry long time lurker not much of a poster. But something’s bugging me... Nyambe by his own account was scouted by Rovers at 13 and signed... That was straight from the horses mouth on one of the recent videos.

I’d class Leigh as local enough as far as bringing through talent goes

Henley yes, Lowe was from Leigh but his family were long standing Rovers' fans.

I think it’s a really good idea and a nice gesture to give bury supporters tickets. who cares what the unwashed think

I have to totally disagree Eddie: First off, I'm certain nobody wants him to fail. You only had to be at Ewood to see the ecstasy when he did actually score (against Bolton I think). He's been here for 18 months and has never demonstrated anything to warrant signing him at all, never mind the multi million pound fee. I once described him as a modern day Myles Anderson in terms of a signing and I've seen absolutely nothing to alter that opinion. I'm not normally a knocker of players but there are better centre forwards up at Blacksnape on Sunday Mornings IMO.

I wouldn't really class 'clueless' as an insult, not much of one anyway. Its like calling someone 'silly' or 'stupid'.

Think this is the right thread - apologies if not and please feel free to move it - but Macclesfield have been docker 6 points for not fulfilling fixtures. I do wonder how those in the football league can actually look in a mirror. A TOTALLY different punishment to Bolton within 6 months of each other. I mean, even for the EFL that seems overly hypocritical and incompetent. Not forgetting the Boro precedent either. It almost seems as depending on their view of the club, your punishment differs. FIFA, UEFA and the leech that is the Premier League are rightly criticised for their avriciousness and corruptness but the EFL is just as appalling it seems.

Could be argued Wagner's real achievement was getting Huddersfield promoted in the first instance and then keeping them up for another twelve months with what he had to work with

Walton Nyambe Lenihan Tosin Downing Evans Travis Holtby Dack Bennett Graham I think Bennett would be well up for this too, so I would give him the nod. I have such a feeling there will be a red in this game

My parents go to every home game. They say he has had a good impact in most games. Back to his omission though, facts are, Mowbray can't pick shite players out of position for the best part of a year, then criticise the attitude of players who he hasn't given anything like the fair crack of the whip to. Rothwell was another obvious choice that was overlooked and treated unfairly in terms of the criticism aimed at him in the press and how quickly he was dropped...yet TM consistently picked unfit players like Johnson and is kinder with his criticism of the experienced pros. Despite very recent results, I for one am not buying into the Mowbray love in just yet. I've ranted about his failings for at least 12months and if anything, he has cost us a shit load of points and a heck of a lot of ground on the automatic spots with his ridiculous selections. I hope I am wrong but history suggests tinkering and a long run of draws and defeats are around the corner.

Surely if Dack is fit he should start. He's our best player and our talisman. Regardless of who the striker is Dack starts.

Agree that this is a game that we have to expect to win, but Wigan haven't been getting battered that often this year. I'd be more than happy with a win of any sort to keep the run going.

Looking forward to this match immensely.... it's a real test of our ambitions going into the new year. There can be no messing about, if we're serious about a top 6 place this has to be an emphatic win with a good performance. Coming over Merceresque here but it has to be a 3-0 or better. A draw or worse would be hard to take after the recent run raising our hopes (yet again)

Rovers win 3-2 tonight

@NUFC. ROVERS: Hilton, Mols (c), Barnes, Magloire, Hart, Smallwood, Paton, Lyons, Buckley, Chapman, Vale. Subs: Eastham, Thompson, Whitehall, Brennan. #Rovers

The Prodigy - Break And Enter

Metallica - Enter Sandman

Seems like you’re the one who’s all angry pal. You’re the warrior, Not me. Edinho was crap, as were most of the rest who turned up, took a wage and skulked back off to Portugal. If I met the guys dad I’d be pretty happy to tell him that too. In fact I could prob get a few of the squad from that time to stand with me in agreeance whilst I told his dad. ??? Gomes was finished too and defo on his last pay day. Crap ??

Not sure am way off the mark - although these things are always somewhat subjective - from what I have seen and heard there's been a number of clangers to say the least. The rating also factors in the situation letting a promising young keeper go, Walton being on loan hence no long term benefit and could return leaving us with a terrible keeper. In short the circumstances and performances contributed to that rating. it's hard to say how he would have done. I think he would have done well but plenty of players have started well and done badly and vice versa in my time of watching Rovers that I didn't want to judge too quickly. I'm not sure of so few games though we can say with certainty one way or the other. It's very hypothetical. Every penny counts and given he knew Chapman and he seems to have a host of issues it seems a poor signing regardless of level. might lean to a 5 but considering fee and what we needed I couldn't go any higher. He's certainly not no 1 striker at a mid table club quality as yet. I hope we do too. But that is one game. Even Bell had a good game and am not rating him a good signing! He has promise but it hasn't as yet been fulfilled. And if it isn't going to be we might have well have invested elsewhere. Over the course of the half season he's only done a handful of decent games and I feel the money could be spent better elsewhere where there are more pressing needs. Good to see what other fans think regardless of whether agree or disagree. Hopefully this gives a bit more clarity as to why I rated as I did. ? If we need to be looking at a new keeper than it seems to me Walton isn't doing the job we need him to - and therefore isn't a good signing. Again, part of this is the situation surrounding him being here as well as his performances. Thanks for the input ?

You are way off the mark with Walton. Pure case of something been said here and then others treating it as gospel and being unwilling to ever change their mind, contrary to the new evidence that is available Cunningham should get a rating and a good one Chapman was signed for the under 23s and why do people go on about the wage bill like they are paying it from their own pocket? I doubt he is even on that much. 4 for Gallagher harsh too, should be at least a 6. Johnson has quality, we haven't had a midfielder in years who could have came in for a game against Bristol and pretty much bossed the midfield. Hopefully we continue to see the best of him. I would pretty much agree with the others.

I don't think you can give Holtby 8, he's hardly played and not made many important contributions. I thought he looked very off the pace when he came on at Swansea (I think it was them),

So did Tony Finnigan (his name mentioned earlier) and it was a cracker, maybe his first game for us ,at the time remember saying to my mate he looks a good un

Doesn’t matter who is picked. Everything is in place: in great form no injuries or suspensions at home close to play off places opposition are poor opposition we love to hate fans full of hope and optimism. Can only mean one thing - an away win. We are Rovers after all.

7th March 1987, Burnley v Exeter City at t'Turf, attendance 1,792.

And you're totally missing the point.... Without that Cat1 status none of the scholars that are singed from the bigger clubs would have gone to Rovers, they would have taken their chances at Burnley who until recently were a Cat3 academy playing games against Carlisle. Chester. Wrexham, etc etc so yeah Cat1 is worth it even if you haven't brought a player through from u9 Which by the way not many clubs do, there are a few but most clubs bring in their best or future top players via other academies by poaching the lower cat academies better players because the can do that, why? Because they are cat 1 academy Not bad reasons to have a Cat1 academy I think

Can't believe that comment from TM. That's what worries me about him. He is discounting the possibility of Lenihan not getting injured when he has a known injury record. He's recently come back from a fair lay-off and our record in defence at the time was dire. In a nutshell, comments like that remind me why I have no faith in him long-term.

Watching Dynamite - a bit confused by Omega and Hangman Page teaming up. They announced a few weeks ago that Hangman was no longer in the Elite, so why is he still tagging with Omega? Also Schaivone on commentary this week said Page and Omega were in the Elite, so I don't know if they've dropped the idea of Page leaving the Elite or if Schiavone just forgot that Hangman had left. Couldn't blame him if he did forget as it hasn't been referenced on Dynamite in any way other than a couple of brief throwaway commentary lines. The Omega/Page dissension would have been more interesting if Page was still a part of the Elite, as it would be a logical storyline for Hangman splitting from the group - but according to AEW canon he already left for reasons that were never really explained, so... just confusing all around. Even at the end of the show the commentary team were asking why Page wasn't out helping the Elite - well, in storyline he isn't a member so that would be why, unless you've retconned that already. The match itself between Page/Omega and the Lucha Bros was good, but Omega eating the pin again is questionable booking IMV. I really don't think they're booking Omega well at all - or Page for that matter. JR seems to have a real problem remembering Jungle Boy's name. It's been the case for a couple of weeks now - he keeps calling him "Jungle Jack" and "Jungle Jack Perry" - but to everybody else on AEW he is and always has just been Jungle Boy. Not sure why he is finding it so hard to remember! He also kept confusing Butcher & Blade, although it's not like they've been spotlighted nor have the fans been given any major reason to care about them so whatever. The match between Cody/Darby & Butcher/Blade was alright but a bit sloppy. The crowd were into it at least. The Jungle Boy sit down interview with JR was good. He comes across as really likable. Between him and Darby Allin AEW have a couple of potential young breakout stars imo. They've both got a ton of natural charisma and are solid in the ring. Jericho/Jungle Boy was really solid. Jungle Boy looked impressive and Jericho played his role of cocky champion perfectly, whilst selling well for the smaller guy. I'm sure Jericho remembers back in WCW when he was the smaller up and coming talent and the older/bigger wrestlers (Goldberg especially) refused to let him get over. Jericho letting Jungle Boy hold out in the Walls of Jericho that long was very generous. The match ending confused me though. I'm not sure if Jericho got the extra five minutes or not. The ref was counting pinfalls after that but when Jericho walked out didn't count him out, so... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ AEW being AEW I guess. I think they did clarify on commentary later in the show that the stuff that happened after the ten minutes were up didn't count - but then why was the ref counting pins and why did the bell ring? I still don't get Kris Statlander's alien gimmick. It's really hokey and stupid to me. Like 1995 WCW/WWF level of ridiculous. The Nightmare Collective and Dark Order are similarly hokey and dumb, although at least the Nightmare Collective gets Brandi on TV which I'm certainly OK with. Regardless they are clearly strapping a rocket to Statlander's back so we'll see how it goes. "Revolution" is an incredibly generic name for a PPV. NWA's "Hard Times" is better. Main event was a solid enough tag team match. Much like with Omega I really do question having the Bucks lose so often, but it is what it is. The Dark Order being involved in the main event scene is just nonsense imo. At best they're a lower-mid card act. I do not see the Dark Order in the main event scene as 'money' in any respect. Dynamite was OK at best this week. Right now the show feels like a weird mix of 1995 WCW/WWF and mid-2000s TNA. I don't think that's what fans want and I fear the ratings will continue to decline as a result. Meltzer said this week that NXT is what people were expecting AEW to be, and he's right. NXT is the sports-orientated wrestling show everybody assumed AEW would be.

Culture Cub - Time Clock of The Heart

You're right it wouldn't happen, Buckley would not benefit in any way from a loan move any lower than league 1, he has been in every match day squad this season and is highly thought of, dropping into non league football and getting kicked to death isn't going to help him develop (even if some on here think he would hmmm) He is a technical player if I was looking after him I would want a loan only to the top half of L1, I wouldn't bother with anything lower, what some seem to forget is not all footballers are the same they have differing strengths and weekness, JRC would cope down in league 2 because he is robust enough to cope with the physical side, Buckley wouldn't, it would be counter productive, he could come back worse than when he went, some players need to develop organically, some need to be Pushed, Buckley is one of the organic types, he will be better served sticking around the 1st team for now as I think it will be an issue placing him sonewhere that's suits all parties

This is all incredibly tedious to read. I really dislike Paul Cook and want to destroy them next week. Merry Christmas.

This is now. That was then and, make no bones about it, my lads and I were pretty peeved that we didn't go for that title!

I think you (and a few others) are being very harsh Joe. No one has seen enough of Buckley to make that type of judgement. The “wow” was because I cannot believe how quickly our supporters are to write off their own. I rarely see that level of criticism for academy stars at other clubs. I said in the summer exactly what the club thought of Buckley. That has stood up as he is the only one close to breaking through in spite of chatter around Magloire, JRC and Butterworth etc... The club 100% see Buckley as the next big thing. He hasn’t got into his stride yet but they believe he will. At 19 or whatever I’m willing to give him another year or two and trust the professionals before I write the poor lads career off ??

I would sign a really top notch Centre Back, GK, Left Back. And if there was money left over Id get another striker. Most important though is CB. An injury to Lenihan could totally derail us. That's where we are most fragile.

I don't think he's City first team standard at the moment to be honest.

He's been injured so after a season 'bedding' him in with 10 min cameos out of position do we really expect the next 6/7 months to be any different to that ? No. There is a monumental amount of arse covering going on with this one imo.