a fraud by the end of the season and they can obviously see something in him that we have missed.

Or know he has intentions of moving on ... Savage coming out and asking him not to go anywhere would suggest they do.

Still can't see anybody else bar Chelski coming in for him unless Owen leaves Newcastle or the Hammers relight their interest or their is another clause in some form or another , especially at the amount I would expect us to be looking for

Just makes me laugh, that for those who got lambasted for questioning his attitude all season now see the ones doing the lambasting showing discontent now.

OK Tris. I am one of those that have been on his case as you put it. BUT, I have never criticised his play at all. I acknowledge that he is a top class striker and we are lucky to have him. My only beef with Benni has been about what I saw as a poor attitude, nothing to do with his performance on the pitch, and now he has said he will only leave if .Rovers want to sell him, that will do for me.

I am both confused and worried though by the latest developments i.e. the alleged interview in the Sun. I still think MH needs to get that clarified in no uncertain terms and there should be a full and unambiguous statement from the club to make crystal clear what the real situation is.

Tris (took your time ), I stand corrected on the conversion stats bit and I have no qualms with his goals but this then this raises another point. Why is he fairly far behind in the number of attempts? Lack of service - possibly but I feel enough service has been coming from Messrs Bentley and Pedesrsen to alleviate the fact.

As mentioned, I welcome the goals but I'm in agreement with Fife here re the attitude. I just feel he should be doing that little bit more for the team - I don't mean running about the field like a headless chicken as so many people seem to have read (don't think anybody has actuall mentioned that) but I do expect a little more conribution in the way of effort to the team ie jumping for an header instead of standing there and falling over waving his arms etc.

Personally I feel more confident that he will stay at Rovers on the very basis that I feel the top clubs have stayed away from him due to the reasons I have tried to highlight, unless Chelski show a proper interest.

I am not denying his quality , and I don't want him to leave, but as I have mentioned previously just because of the goals should not mean he is absolved from criticism. It has been mentioned he does go missing after scoring which I feel is a very valid point to raise, which even you cannot defend.

This is the whole annoying thing - just a little bit more application and I feel he could achieve so much more and score more goals, however saying that this would probably lead to him being tapped up by one of the so calle bigger clubs.

Top Top Striker, his record says it all but the only thing he's letting me down is on him not assisting goals, i think thats why Berbatov gets more recognised than him.

Indee Roar, this was something mentioned on the radio last night and what I have been on about as I am sure if he had applied himself just a little bit more there would be no question of him winning the golden boot.

As Wolverine posted above 'Yes, Benni can be lazy, or inconsistent, but if at the beginning of the season someone had offered us a striker for less than £3m and told us he would be in the top 3 prem scorers by the end of the season, you would have been thicker than a dingle to turn it down ' this is probably puts a lid on it especially to myself who has also been critical of him.

Maybe as MB states some of us may just be setting ridiculously high standards - but as I said before and in agreement with HASTA he can't be above criticism for disappearing in games, much the same as anybody else regardless of who they are or what they have done.

Fair play to Benni for his goals and I for one hope he does bag the necessary to finsh top scorer on Sunday.

How about to the tune of "Wild Rover"

I've followed the Rover's for many a year

And the Jack Walker era holds memories so dear

Though those great days under big Jack are gone

He may be no more but his memory lives on

And there's one Jack Walker etc.

Just a slight variation on your usual chant.

Bump - just wanted to bring this back to the thro

Think its excellent

Cletus mi beauty - that's the one that I can remember last being raised in Lyon. Mentioned it on here before but couldn't remember most of it due to my fondness for the alcoholic water.

Been around for a while from the Eighties might have even been earlier, obviously the words have changed but at last a title to it.

Think the point people are also missing he has not had a proper pre season - and was away from the Premier for a while due to his injuries so needs that little bit of time to get to speed.

I for one don't think he has done that bad, the incident on Saturday was as what has already been said and the obvious lack of option ( he looked up twice looking for a pass and nobody was available) so the tackle was inevitable.

IMO - We'll see the better of Dunn next season if he can remain fit

Villa played well and looked hungry for the win even though we probably made them look better than they actually were, however interestingly barring Portsmouth most teams to me seem to have looked confident when they have come to Ewood this season even West Ham -are we looked at as an easy option of a win do you reckon?

dip in form?

Which as a striker would say he would not be scoring at a good rate ratio of goals - which he is not but what about the rest of his game - as people say he is more a laid back player , acceptable, but he is not really doing anything - and as I have said before that does not count as a dip in form in my book.

Compare it on the other hand - if Brad was letting in goals , not catching the ball and not making any saves would people say it was just a'dip' in form - I doubt it

He did very well indeed for our goal on Saturday.

And what else (neither did anybody else really) - one pass does not constitute an improvement.

He has the ability and has played at a higher level - so why the less than convincing performances?

Where has all the get rid , he's rubbish crap come from.

Nobody has said anything of the sort -yet again we have the typical thinking instead of reading what people are posting.

Its nothing to do with his colour (absolute bollux jan), his goals, dip in form etc. - its about what he is actually doing on the pitch.... which imo is not enough and is quite obvious for all to see.

He can't be arsed keeping on side or trying to get back on side.

his control has been nothing short of awful lately.

Doesn't win nor attempt headers

Doesn't offer himself for passes or try to create space

Gives up when tackled.

Now that to me is not good enough which is what the argument is about, not about getting rid of him , and is justification in my book for being dropped to the bench to give him another kick up the arse.

I also think that his work rate is underrated - possibly because - as you point out - it is often his general attitude that seems amiss.

But that's just it - there hasn't been any workrate - all he has really done has been contiually flagged off side most of the time , and bar his goal against Arse (after being dropped) and the 2 penalties against Notlob there has been nothing to write home about except maybe what he did at Reading before Xmas.

Some mighty perplexing handball incidents this week. Penalties given and denied with no apparent consistency. Do the referees read from the same rule book?

I'll answer this again TND - ... its because their minds are already made up ie ball hits hand oh.. it must be a penalty it happens far too many times for it not to be taken as such especially when similar incidents don't even warrant any reaction from the ref/linesman outside of the box.

I wouldn't have Roberts on the bench. I get the injuries, but he's been trogginly useless whenever I've seen him play this season. He was no improvement on Benni yesterday AT ALL. At least Benni, when he gets the balll CAN pass to our own team. If, by some miracle Roberts does, it goes straight to the opposition.

As a team, we have to stop the "waiting in front of the man to slip him when the ball comes" play. Good defenders can read that and simply come in front of the player to get the ball. I lost count of the number of times that happened yesterday.

I went expecting a tonking. We got less of a tonking (performance wise) than I expected.

Christ Jan, for once I actually agree with you - I have said it before about our laboured atttacking style.

As for Roberts, to a degree I concur but personally would just forget about him until next season and see what he is like after some pre-season training. IMO hyghes has to start making use of Gallagher.

As for McCarthy - mystic Kayos told you all at the beginning of the season

It might have been UTD yesterday.... but certain basic football abilities should show themselves more in these type of games, need I say more.

Ended up goping back home with what remained of the teddy that got thrown about and ripped apart stuck on my head.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it

But if its not quite working properly it needs looking at.

He doesn't need to bust a gut - but needs to apply himself more when the ball goes to him by way of challenging for headers and offering an outlet - something he has not done a great deal of over the last couple of months

He has the ability with classs on top - he needs to show it instead of trying to be a show off all the time as Blue Phil posted he could be well capable of adding another 5 - I think it could have been more.

England don't have the creative quality of Ribery, Malouda, Govou, Anelka and Henry, the toughness in midfield of Makelele and Veira, the quality of depth in the keeping department or the finishing power of the strikers.

Maybe not as good but might have a bit more and balance if they played people in their rightful positions, and stopped asking them to adopt something different to the normal style they play every week.

ROONEY - is not an out an out goalscorer so shouldn't be relied upon to

OWEN - has been missed , but we do have what should be adequate back up.

SCHOLES - Also missed -Rooney could fill this Role (brain/thinker) will explain later.

GERRARD - Wasted out wide - as I have posted before he is pinnacle IMO to England doing well and must be the one in the middle.

BECKHAM - Drive and thinking on the pitch - missed

What England need is somebody with a 'brain' in the middle (and a manager to kick arse)ie Beckham/Scholes that is intelligent (football wise) and good enough to take things on and be the leader on the pitch (for me now this would be Gerrard/Rooney). Not into this Gerrard and Lampard can't play together - they are good enough and should be intelligent and disciplined enough to know who goes forward and who stays back - if need either one adopts one position and sticks to it.

As mentioned before, to me the set up is all wrong and it should all have been started a afresh before McClaren was installed - there should be natural progression for the under 21's to slot into the side if need, but the set up with Pearce and his part time position just shows how 'important ' the FA think it is.

I hate Garth Crooks!, nevers says anything good about us, i really do hate they guy, hes' annoying

And boring - how the hell did he get a gong

had too many that day myself also - been on a bender night before at Peps and continued the day after

Indeed due to the building work we where in our BB End seats in the Darwen End and managed to find myself flying past Bob Fleming when Shearer scored.

Don't know if anybody can remember in the Darwen End but one of the lads who used to come on with us ( no idea where he is nowadays) was absolutely blotto'd on wacky baccy and booze and was literally crawling up one set of the steps after Shearer scored as he ran down to the front then his legs just gave way.

Not sure if this is when we played Southampton not so long afterwards as I had bought tickets for the away game and lost them inside the ground -but that could have been another match - found them later but that's another story.

Tevez has scored two goals all season and is nice and busy taking West Ham down.

How about we combine all the topics slagging off the Rovers players we're supposed to be supporting and have a big poll to see exactly which one of them we hate / resent the most?

They where comparing the two forwards to see what they did in the game - which as we all know McCarthy did bugger all (as mentioned on another thread neither did DERBS but at least he tried) and has done for the last two months IMO.

It would appear some are closing their eyes - yes he has scored goals and some cracking ones, but don't be blind to his poor performances which are not one offs - as mentioned he has the talent and the aptitude and should be able to show it on a more consistent basis which is what he hasn't and that is what is so annoying.

I think its what is called as a kick up they arse (remember the Arse (sorry) game and goal)?

I can't believe what this guy is copping on this board "absolute disgrace" what the hell do you guys want in a striker?

You expect him to track back and run 6 miles in a game, be strong in the air, skillful with the ball at his feet, setup goals, score them, take penalties, take on players, lightning speed and all with a constant smile on his face waving to the fans screaming his constant appreciation for them showing up.

He scores goals, and lots of them, build a friggin midfield that can do everything else and let him get on with his job.

Don't think anybody has mentioned anything about them wanting him to track back or run 6 miles , but I think they would like him to look, like he is at least interested by closing players downa and challenging for headers.

News of the World commented upon him at Tevez at the weekend about how Tevez tried to get involved and create things and referred back to Gary Lineker running six miles during matches - what they said about McCarthy was he was lucky if he ran 2 miles and his performance bordered on being absolutely lazy.

So not just some people on here - he has the talent which is why people probably get angry and for the last two months his performance have bordered on on what the NOTW described

Oh I remember it ... questions as to why so few Charlton fans, crap match but atmosphere was excellent especially when they paraded the cup at the end. The difference between one step to another on the terrace especially higher up towards the back and when we scored a number of supporters went literally from top to bottom.

Another one I have the video for somewhere

as OJ comments on - those where the days of Skol.

If £20 is your limit I presume you don't go to many away games?

Not anymore Blakey - used to go to a majority each season.

Went to Portsmouth the opening game (first time been seeing as how many times we have played them) and Everton away in the cup (£20 ticket).

Last Season Wigan and Citeh.

If I didn't have my season ticket - I wouldn't pay it at Ewood either.

Mostly down to principle but some because I simply cannot afford it anymore ie I am now married and have a little boy and don't have the funds to justify spending it on Football.

i paid it last year but 32 is my limit and i wont pay it this time.

More willing than me Abbey - £20 is my limit unless a one off - there are far better away games to go to than MU IMO

.....incredible goal keeping though!

And typically also incredibly bad finishing by the Rovers .. coming back to what I always say about us making opposition keepers look good (has always been a habit of ours) although he did net well that day.

i don't think sparky would wan't to loose Bennie at any price. He has been fantastic for us in his 1st season in the PL, and if we did loose him, we would find it very hard to replace him.

Not if a secret Bellamy deal has been done again ie Sparky - 'quick word in yer ear Craig mate'

Bellamy isn't far better than McCarthy it's arguable that he is even better. However it's daft to even compare as they are so different. McCarthy is a miles better finisher than Bellamy. Bellamy is miles better at setting things up and creating stuff from nothing. I don't know why people are obsessed with trying to compare and I don't know why people seem obsessed with trying to knock Benni. 18 goals at this stage speaks volumes in a team that hasn't performed great all season.

Agree on one respect MB but to me and think they are fairly similar, except that Bellamy used to do alot more running and start and finish a move. McCarthy is a better header but far more lazy yet has what I would call an eye for goal more than Bellamy.

One thing is for sure, yet again though I thought he was very poor again yesterday and does blow far too hot and cold for my liking.