This is Kelvins son Ben, struggling to sleep, so i thought i'd read through this to reassure me how proud i am to have had a father like mine. The support from my friends and family can only be backed up by this, but i thank every single one of you for your posts, they mean the world to me, and when the time is right, my mum too.

I want to share with you something that reminds me of my dad... it's a song, but will remind me of him forever.

Sincere condolances to all the family John

People never actually grasp the fact that certain players are often instructed to do that. Give simple short passes to try and retain a bit of possesion, it's bloody frustrating at times but if they tried to sidestep the player in front of them everytime and loose possesion we'd still moan i suppose lol

Hughes told Sav to win it and give it to someone who could play!! IE Tugay.

We now have a bit of balance in midfield, now a striker, player with pace and a defender and we should have a decent squad, the downside is Kean, but is he still the manager other than by name???

As long as he can break up the opposition play and pass ten yards to another Rovers player, then he'll do for me. I'm afraid the team has declined so far that we're in the same position as when Hughes signed Mokoena. We need to tighten up our back line and having someone sitting in front of them with the sole intention of winning the ball back will be crucial. It was bloody well crucial last year too. The results of not addressing that are painfully obvious.

Thats what Savage did, win it and give it Toogs, he did it so well!!

Mickey Speight in our promotion season, enhanced by the majestic Kevin Arnott later in the season - that is if memory isn't playing tricks on me!

Speight is the kind of player we could use now!! forgotten about him!!

We already know that he and Murphy can form a good partnership in central midfield. Very good signing if it comes off.

Partnerships in midfield are most important, like strikers and Central defenders, you work together, over the years, Metcalfe/Parkes, Tugay/Savage, Sherwood/Atko etc were great instances of this!!

Trying to remember who played in centre mid with Kendall, McKenzie was in a more advanced role I think? Help!!

RIP Chris, so sorry and so young!!

This is why I do believe ex players should be fast tracked to ref at proffessional level, at 30 to 35, these players are fit, fitter than most refs, would keep up with the game (which is half the battle)and would be aware of all the tricks of the trade from their experience in the game, as ex players, there would be a mutual respect, not all players would take this route but there would be a few journeyman players who would and this would be to the benefit of the game for at the moment, I am seeing some extremely poor refereeing performances, I know its a difficult job but they are now well paid and should get most decisions correct.

The Platters, Only You

i suffer from depression from time time, sometimes i even think about the S word but i would never do it as i know of the heartache and distress it would cause my family if i did, i also have thoughts that maybe there a happier times around the corner so that keeps me going, i either have real highs or real lows, just something that you cant help, i think boredome plays a big part too.

Rover, and on here I dont mind sharing, many years ago, my marriage broke down and I was divorced, whatever the reason, you feel a failure and become depressed, your sense of humour is not how it was, everyone seems to be looking at you, talking about you and you are really down.

I went into Town one day to take a package from work, I passed a young girl, 20 tops, in a wheelchair, no legs, laughing and joking with friends, she looked vibrant, happy and enjoying her day, that changed my mindset completely, there are always people worse off than yourself, happier times are round the corner, they were for me and will be for you, if you ever need to talk mate, PM me, it will go no further and I am, as are many on this messageboard, here for you should you need me.

The biggest accolade I can give Gary Speed is this, scored loads of goals from midfield and never did I see the guy antagonise opposing supporters, thats why so many people from clubs throughout the UK have posted and sent their condolences and sadness at his passing, a true gentleman and great player, you will be sadly missed throughout football!

PS: Just heard that Sam is absolutely gutted with the news!

What a sad loss to both football and his family and many friends, shocked and very sad, top player and top lad!!

RIP Gary

Just got a longing for fish and chips in a bag, not these trays they have now, can you still get them or have health and safety banned them?

True - he probably needs to go home to realise that he doesn't really want to be there. My kids are glad to be here for a few days but life moves on, me and their dad have got our own way of doing things and things the kids accepted because that's the way we've always done them are not accepted now when they've had a chance to find their own way. Bet, come July, he'll be champing at the bit to get back into training.

I hope he does, he is some player and feel he will be great player for us, his goals against Man U in the reserves Final were outstanding!!

Was posted on one of my lads Rovers Mad boards

Anyone else hear that Rochina is homesick??

One or two Man U staff interested in our Ruben, by far the most talented player on view, including Rafael, Fletcher, Oberton etc. This lad can really play, he for me has a bit of everything and I really think he is going to the very top!

From the very limited view I had, he looked to have good technique. He did tend to waste it by holding onto the ball too long. He needs a good manager to teach him how to use his technique to the best advantage of the team.

Is Kean the man to do that? I don't think so.

Options, he held on as he had no real options, our movement off the ball was poor and he really had no available options, good movement off the ball would have opened Everton up!!

That was down to the usless players we had on the pitch. I literally lost count of the amount of times Rochina played a pass and made a run into enough space to build shopping centre on , only for Emerton, Cruz, Jones or Dunn to screw it up and play the ball backwards.

If those players mentioned had attempted to play the one two Rochina clearly had in mind, it could very well of been a different match.

Rochina has some excelent close ball control and I feel he can be a huge player in the PL with the right players around him.

Rochina is thinking far more quickly than the others, he would play well with Kalinic!

I was on Turf Moor as a kid, Rovers were 3 - 0 down in the FA Cup, remember saying to my dad, we wont lose dad, we drew 3 - 3 won the replay 2 - 0 at Ewood, happy days

Still remember the ball bouncing up onto Alex Elders arm, ref gave a pen and Douglas scored, think Mick Mcgrath got the equaliser, went to Maine Road for the semis and couldnt get a ticket for the final!!!

My lads watched his well taken goal on the big screen at the game and tell me he has a really good touch, lots of quick little flicks etc. If he from Barca we will have a chance with him, as long as Kean doesnt spoil him, we really need to up the ante coaching wise, we are really thin on the ground and if the gameplan is to develop young players, we simply must invest in a couple of top coaches.

Rochina has arrived and according to reports he scored in his first game in a Rovers shirt for the reserves today in a 1-1 draw against Wrexham. Not sure of the full starting line-up, but a good positive boost for Ruben!!

Been trying top find links to this game, team etc and report, cant find anything.

Clapping is retarded and makes the crowd look like a bunch of trained seals. It's a cheap way of covering up a few idiots who might boo and heckle. A solemn, dignified silence is the true way to honour someone's death.

I would in all fairness disagree, indeed many modern Theologists believe that it is not to mourn a death but to celebrate the life of the deceased, I am inclined to agree but that is a personal opinion.

Nah, Theno, they were that good they could get round defences without any problem, they knew the run, the timing and whether they were offside or not.

I think Matthews had the edge on Dougie with his pace, but Dougie could mesmerise defenders with his dribbling; the ball seemed to be tied to his feet. The only way he could be stopped was by a foul.

Dougie was quicker than Matthews until that bugger from Leeds United 'did' him right in front of the tunnel at Ewood, took a full yard of pace out of his game!!

I had the prevelige of seeing him play, could tackle, head, pass and read the game so well, a top bloke, a true Rover who will be missed but never forgotten, the world will be a sadder place without him!

RIP Ronnie