bazza

I can't handle one at my age. It was tongue in cheek. And that's NOT a pun!!! Hey, my one thousandth post. It's taken me 5 and a half years to get here.

I agree, Al. These two full backs would be the best choice we could have. Gray is hopeless.

Pity it's Salzburg. Could be tough. I quite fancied Nancy and Lorraine.

Also at Everton are Alan Irvine and Mick (Basil) Rathbone.

My main concern is that we do not appear to "play for each other" as most other teams do. E.g. watch Man Utd when they get a free kick towards the opponents' pen area. Players are running all over the place. Rovers players seem to just stand there wondering where the ball will go to. Look at how many Everton players were pouring forward when they scored their equaliser; all hungry to get a crack. When Rovers have the ball they seem to stand admiring their colleague instead of helping him and moving.

Yes.These are my opinions which I'm entitled to. It's not the result that makes me dispondent. It was the inept team performance.

We're carrying on where we left off last season. We are not playing together as a team. I've seen more movement in a fitted carpet. Everton are the usual Moyes team; all running and playing together and wanting the ball. Rovers are slow at getting forward, they do not support each other. Often when we have possession we are forced back into our own half. Then the ball goes back to Friedal who has to hoof it upfield, because there is no-one competant to throw it to, and we lose possession again. The second ball is usually won by the opposition. Re individuals; Todd and Zurab played well. Emerton had a very good game at right back. Gray was awful, losing possession regularly. Reid was holding midfielder and therefore didn't get forward enough. Savage is the problem. The man is totally useless as a footballer. He cannot tackle, control the ball,create anything. He would be the first for me to drop, putting Reid in his place and bringing Mokoena in. Bentley on the right and Pedersen on the left were ineffective. Roberts was fouled and beaten in the air most of the time by Yobo but Rennie the ref ignored it all. We'll lose to Chelsea 3-0 and then away at Sheff Utd we'll get kicked off the park and lose 2-1 Played four.......1 point and bottom 3 :-(

Leave Emerton at RB and bring in Lucas to replace the hapless Gray at LB

1. Liverpool 2. Man Utd 3. Chelsea 4. Spurs 5. Arsenal 6. Newcastle 7. Rovers 8. Portsmouth 9. Villa 10. West Ham 11. Everton 12. Reading 13. Middlesbro 14. Bolton 15. Man City 16. Charlton Ath 17. Wigan Ath 18. Fulham 19. Sheff Utd 20. Watford

The first club I remember adopting a 4-4-2 formation was West Ham United in the early 1960s. I don't know who their manager was. It might have been Ron Greenwood. Or was he later? Rovers and a lot of other clubs waited to see how things went and were quite slow to change. I think the change for all took many seasons.

John Bailey I'd love to read all about his life, especially his version of THAT match against Southampton.

3rd row from back of riverside opp Darwen End penalty area. The other end of the riverside to Al. (Oreet, Al?) Three negatives for this position:- 1 Cannot see the big screen 2 Tannoy system is crap 3 Players keep hiding behind one of the support stanchions But we've been here since Dalglish became manager. It's home from home.

If that's the name he wants to be known as, let all of us fans call him that and put "Gamst" in a song such as "All you need is Gamst la la la la la." After all he has replaced Duff.

Was that the away game in Sept 1981? Me and my son were visiting UK from Rhodesia at that time and Steve Clarkson, my mate from Clitheroe, drove us down to Gay Meadow. Noel Brotherston scored a superb goal to give us a 2-1 victory. More great memories from the Bazza archives!

Leeds United used to be known as "The Peacocks" because of their colours of blue and gold (very colourful) until Don Revie changed their strip, copying Swansea Town, to all white.

I'm absolutely delighted that we're in Europe again. For those of you who remember Spenny, he is also over the moon. But in his usual pessimistic way says, " I'm not looking forward to going out on the away goals rule to a team from Estonia made up of postmen and brickies". It's time he realised that our manager is Hughes and not Souness. Unlike Souey, Sparky yearned to qualify for Europe, rejoiced when we did and will give it his best shot. That's good enough for me. Roll on next (European) season.

Excellent preview, Colin. I'm glad to see you spelled correctly the names of Gally and Mr "Chumley" Warner. I enjoyed the history of the latics and the town. Did Dave Whelan only make 87 appearances for us? I know he broke his leg but I thought he would have played more games. The thought of this game gives me the collywobbles. The victory at New Year there was too easy considering their form throughout the season so far. This is the big banana skin that Rovers MUST avoid. Sparky has to wind up the lads and make them believe they are playing Arsenal again. Wigan are snapping at our heels. If we have the right mentality we might just win 3-2. If not , we get beat 2-1. Fingers crossed.

Sparky on radio said Bellamy felt his "back" tighten at half time and it became tighter in the second half. What he means by that god only knows. However, he (Sparky) seemed to think it is something NOT to worry about and Bellers should be fit for the next game. Good three points

If I were on your salary, Stephen, I'd be able to afford to go by chopper to Cheltenham Races and to lose a load of dosh without it smarting.

Our two goals were superb , and hope they bring a few more fans to Ewood next week. 388610[/snapback] Not if it's on TV. Oh dear; 5:15 KO. Must be on TV. Cheaper to go to the pub to watch it.

Two quick points:- 1)Very very proud of the lads today. No-one played badly. Excellent team effort. 2) Re the spuds' third goal if anyone is to blame it must be Brad. OK, Gray was beaten for pace. But a square ball across a virtually empty 6 yard box to a forward on the far side would have been cut out by most other premier league keepers. I'm not having a pop at Brad but, if blame is to be laid, it's him more than Micky.

I know someone who can stop the new Maradona, Messi........... The new Bill Eckersley or the new Mike England or (especially for Jim) the new Keith Newton but we haven't found them yet.

Yes. Gone to Blackpool