probably

Bit of a shame, that. I would have thought a Rover like John would have loved that flag going over, I know I wouldn't want it not to, if you see what I mean.

my pics Strange. Works ok on my pc... try this: There's even a pint of beer for him. So sad.

Went down to Ewood this afternoon. Just felt I had to be there. There are shirts, flowers and scarves around Jack's statue, I saw a Liverpool/Celtic scarf, a Burnley scarf, an Arsenal scarf as well as various Rovers scarves. Sat on the bench opposite the statue for a bit, thinking of poor John and his family and of Jack. RIP.

There was a problem with standing yesterday at the match. The disabled supporters could not see and our steward was very upset that the head steward was not sending personnel over to deal with it. There were also other supporters, elderly and children who wanted to sit and had others standing in front of them and impeding their view. As has been said, it is illegal to stand, when will people get this into their heads? However, it got worse. Shocked when we were told that someone was badly injured, even more so when we found out what had happened. The poor man, who like the rest of us had gone to support his beloved club and ended up losing his life. God rest his soul, prayers and thoughts for all who knew him and were close to him. Those who attend football matches with the sole intention of getting completely drunk should take a long hard look at themselves. Greco, can you not send this person a text? If not, send them a card. There is not much you can say when a loved person dies, but to know you are supported and people are thinking of you is some help. Let them know you are there for them, and if they need to talk you are there. The words will come. No person can truly understand the suffering of another as we are all different, but you can try. Mike, so sorry about your nephew. ((((hugs))). So sad for you. Thanks to Stoke fans for their posts. We are all football fans after all. To Rovers fans - please don't let this stop your away support. We need to stick together and show everyone that we are good people and not let the idiots take over.

doubtless followed by him scoring a goal...

I've been complaining about this for years. A person paying to attend a football match is a customer and in my view should be treated as such, particularly given some of the inflated prices that are charged for some matches. I strongly object to people being dragged out of matches for little or no reason - a young friend of mine was dragged out by several policemen because he wanted to stand and sing. I understand the rules about standing but that is out of order and over the top. I'm sure we could write reams about the mis-treatment of football fans by police and stewards, it has to be said some of whom are jobsworths and bullies. Granted there are those so-called fans who are only out to cause trouble and those who sing obnoxious chants but the majority of fans are decent law abiding folks who want to watch their team without interference and pay good money to do so. Treatment of all fans, home and away, should be equal and I still stand by my view that away fans should be forced to sit if the home fans are, whatever it takes - and vice versa.

Not a chance. We're far too soft for that. I'd turn a water cannon on them myself...

Oh, WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH! Caught a lot of you out there, didn't I? My daft sense of humour, just tic my friends...

I've thought about the situation long and hard and it's definitely most unfair. The squad should jolly well all be in early as far as I'm concerned.

Not happy. Don't want Benni to go (although I realise he is on high wages) and don't want Heskey (good news that he is unlikely to be coming - there is a God). Fed up

Such a situation would make me VERY cross...

He is very charming, though, when not playing football

Was mentioned a couple of weeks ago - he had an injury which I believe would take a few weeks to clear.

A lovely, lovely man. RIP x

With the amount of money she has to spend on herself she should be!!!! Obviously doesn't have much common sense though - and truthfully with the way her career is going she doesn't need Mr A Cole, she is making all the money she will ever need on her own account.

I was quite amused at the description of his feelings when he thought there might be penalties!

McCarthy and Pedersen used to link up well on the left. I saw signs of that link coming back and I'm sure Sam will have noticed it.

I hold my hand up here, I was one of those who slated Sam on that thread. I do not consider myself too old to be unable to learn a lesson from it. I felt the same about Robbie Savage and Craig Bellamy, and whilst only a mother could love Craig, once he and Robbie were Rovers I stood squarely behind them and supported them. I have always believed there is no shame in admitting you were wrong. I will do so if Sam proves to be wrong for Rovers and I will do so if Paul Ince takes over at Newcastle and is a resounding success there.

I read what you are saying Waggy. I was with you when we greeted Paul Ince and spoke of our hopes following his appointment as Manager. It all seemed to be going so well at first. Rumours came out of Brockhall but we dismissed them as just rumours, and there was constant denial that anything was wrong. The first result at Everton seemed to seal the matter. An excellent three points. Then doubts began to set in. I baulked at the signing of Robbie Fowler, a man I have little time for. I was willing to give Andrews and Robinson a chance, and I felt that Ince was not to directly blame for Friedel and Bentley leaving - although Friedel's departure nearly broke my heart - there was something about seeing Big Brad between the sticks that seemed to epitomise what Rovers were about and I missed him badly. Players were played in strange positions and the excuse was that injuries left the Guv'nor with no choice. Goals against us began to escalate, but the fans stood steadfastly behind the team and sang their hearts out at matches. However, it began to dawn on some that there was indeed something very wrong happening. Lack lustre performances, still more goals, and Rovers began to slip down to the bottom of the League Table. Eventually enough was enough, and John Williams and the Board had no choice but to act in the hope that our Premier League status might be preserved. In the summer I hoped for Ten Cate, I did NOT want Sam Allardyce for many reasons which were stated on another thread. However, having supported Paul Ince and hoped that the rumours were wrong, despair began to overcome me as the half season approached. We seemed unable to get even a point, there was little leadership from the touchline and substitutions became even more bizarre. Towards the end, as Paul looked close to tears, I did shed a few myself. I feel sorry for Paul as the dream shattered, but it wasn't just his dream, it was the dream of several thousand loyal fans. Paul, I wish you every success in the future, but you have to work and prepare just as much if not more in the Premier League as elsewhere, a squad of Premiership players, talented as they may be, cannot run themselves. Now to Big Sam. He ruled himself out of the running in the summer, fair enough. I was glad. I saw him around on tv, and at Rovers occasionally watching the matches from the stands. There was suddenly a decision to be made. Rovers were managerless at a crucial point in the season. Should it be Souness to return as the Saviour? I wasn't sure. I love the guy and thoroughly enjoyed his tenure at Rovers until things began to go wrong and it was quite a relief when he went to Newcastle. The fitness of the squad was a worry at that time and I didn't want that history to repeat itself. I looked at Sam's record, particularly his years at Bolton and there was no doubt that he had done rather well there. However, there was still the question of brown envelopes - although, I reasoned, nothing had ever been proved. There was the alleged long ball football - well, looking at some of the stuff we had been serving up recently, a long ball with someone on the end of it actually scoring a goalbegan to look rather enticing. And so, Big Sam came to Rovers. The delight of the man as his appointment was announced enthused me. I had seen many smiles from Paul Ince, but this was something different. The Press Conference was refreshing in that the Big Man made it quite clear what he was about and I began to warm to him. I now find myself looking forward to matches once more - and even if we do have the misfortune to go down I feel quite clearly that Sam is the man who will get us back to the Premiership again, a feeling I did not have with Paul Ince. Waggy, most of us were very sorry that things did not pan out for Paul. However, he is young, the experience will be good for him and he will learn from it. Things were happening that could not be allowed to continue and the Board had no choice. Please don't give up on your Rovers because of this. You love the club, and it is the club you support. If that is not the case, and it is Paul Ince that you support, then no doubt you will be able to follow your football at his next club. I don't believe that is the case though and I hope you will reconsider your position and join us as we support our new Manager and enjoy the ride ahead.

We've seen long ball after long ball with no result, so if Sam can get someone on the end of them for a change, fair play to him. It's so long since we had a win, I'm not sure I can remember how to celebrate

whilst I was looking at the Robbie Savage news item I noticed this link... Dean Saunders to manage Wrexham??? Incidentally, has anyone pointed out to Robbie that Brighton is some distance further from Wrexham than Birmingam...

Hook, line and sinker come to mind...

According to a Sky News report recently they've already told him!

Why do folks think they need to criticize the drummer for saying he has arthritis? Many people get it who don't lead lives any different from others. For whatever reason he has decided he will not be drumming any more so that's it. Quit the moaning and get singing. You've no excuse to hide behind any more