If, as reported, the Board are to reach a decision at a meeting to be held before tonight's game, after which (the meeting) Barry will receive their decision in writing it would be strange if Barry were down to play imo. Another consideration is that he is just back from injury and if the Boss is also considering playing Bothroyd (?) just back from injury in the starting eleven I'd be a bit concerned. There aren't going to be any prisoners in this match! Still, Sparky's decision and all that ........

Did not the original offer include the £2.1 million; so in effect you would be paying us less than £1million for Barry. This was the reason for most of the outrage, the sheer cheek of it! I'm disappointed in Barry but would rather he went than stayed at Blackburn unhappy. But it has to be at the right price. Agree about Agents. This one seems a complete (rude word a lady doesn't say......)

I said to Mr Roversmum only a few weeks ago that I thought the Big Screen could do with replacing/overhauling. Someone isn't doing their job properly. Glad you are okay, Den.

Tugay's had his cut Someone keep Nissa away from the barber! I like the players to have a bit of hair This board is getting far too hairist......

Sky are quoting the newspaper reports of the weekend from Birmingham "Robbie Savage needs to see a psychiatrist if he thinks that Blackburn are a bigger club than Birmingham" Maybe not "bigger" but certainly "better" in every way. They are making themselves look so silly (isn't it fun? )

I have nothing but praise for Andy. Following the run-in with Souness (and I have to say I felt at the time he should not be let back in the team) he has gone about his business with professionalism and has kept his cool in difficult situations. He has often stated his love for Rovers and his desire to stay and play for the club. He's the first name on my team sheet and I was delighted to see him made Captain yesterday. He has to be the leading contender so far for Player of the Year. Well done, Andy!

As far as I'm concerned, they are all welcome to each other. No wonder Mark Bowen wanted to get out.

'Twill be good for his match fitness though - presumably some sort of tournament? Any team news yet for this afternoon?

Absolutely, latd. Getting to any part of Birmingham from north of the place is pretty much a nightmare (having said that I've no idea where the BC Training Ground is). Totally fed up with the whining of Bruce and Co though. How can you keep a player who clearly wants to leave?. At least when that has happened to us, Rovers have acted with dignity. Hopefully Robbie's future can be settled sooner rather than later; and should it be that he comes to Rovers I'm sure his nuisance value willl be worth the fee.

Still not happy with Flitcroft I'm afraid. Gets the ball, passes it back to whoever it came from once or twice, then goes awol for a while. Puts in the odd clumsy tackle. Matteo can't cross; when he gets a free kick he dithers about with the ball and then passes it to an opposition player. He's no better with throw-ins. Stead was real class. He's beginning to stand up to defenders and not so easily pushed off the ball, was unlucky not to score. Thought Thommo did well, bit scrappy at first but once he got going didn't allow anyone to settle, good passes and crosses. Todd and Nissa - magnificent as usual. Lucas Neill - back to his best. Dickov - real pest and threat. Emerton - great goal and should have scored a second. Ferguson - no complaints about his game Friedel - safe hands, no worries. Gally - would have left him off today personally, didn't feel he looked very sharp. No-one has mentioned the appalling refereeing. The referee surely was wearing a Charlton shirt under his own. Yellow cards flying about for Rovers and similar Charlton misdemeanours (and worse) ignored for the most part. Fourth Official cosying up with the Charlton Crew and actually asking asst manager how much extra time he should give (was told 4 minutes....). Chased one of our crew (think it was Mark Bowen) who dared to question a decision back to the dugout and had words with him. .

The same applies to both teams in a game does it not? And please forgive me if I've counted wrong (Christmas and all that...) but wasn't the game against Villa the THIRD game? At least the excuses could wait until after the FOURTH. (have to agree there, though, the schedul is ridiculous). They should try my Christmas/New Year Schedule.......... Don't mind me anyway. I find any game in which Matteo and Flitcroft play deeply depressing.

And so badly against Villa? I was very cross about that game. Tired my posterior. They aren't paid to be tired. Not looking forward to this game for the first time in ages. 1-0 to Charlton

ITV take of the subject: clicky states categorically "Blackburn chief executive John Williams told The Sun: "As far as we are concerned we made an official approach that was rejected - and that is as far as it has gone." so I don't see how they can prove otherwise - JW is too canny to fall for that one Everyone knows Mark Bowen's his best mate so no doubt they would possibly have talked about it in an unofficial way. I'm fed up with all this bleating from Birmingham, why don't they just shut up about it as they say they don't want to sell him. I'm more concerned about keeping Bazza and Bert out of Souness's clutches come the transfer window.

Souness's poor reception was due in part to the fact that he mis-timed his appearance by turning up just as the referee was being booed for not red-carding Elliott for tipping up Jon Stead when he was through on goal! He couldn't have come out at a worse time!

Oi, the cheek of it! You need two flasks. One, a hip flask, containing something alcoholic and strong; the other containing hot chocolate (tea if you must). The lady in front of us brings a seat warmer but an extra pair of er, underclothes will suffice I find.

Get your point, SG! Perhaps we should start a topic along the lines of "Council of the Year and Blackburn Rovers" - as a resident of a different borough I've never been too sure exactly where the council stands regarding Rovers and would be interested to know.

I'm only saying if you live near a football stadium you must expect disruption on match days. We have some difficulty in that Mr Roversmum isn't able to walk (I should say move - he doesn't have a wheelchair) very far and we can't afford to park at Ewood. Luckily a nearby business kindly lets us park there or we wouldn't be able to go to matches. Saturday's attendance was a bit of a disappointment but given the time of year not surprising really. Miss Roversmum went for an extra ticket for the Newcastle match and has to sit in the family stand with her friend rather than the Blackburn End Lower so hopefully that means there will be a good Boxing Day turnout.

If the residents are griping I don't know what for. I've lived on one road where 15,000 factory workers passed four times a day in car and on bicycle; and another where you couldn't even get on to the road during the peak holiday season. You live with it and adjust accordingly. It's not as if it's something new. And they're quite happy for their kids to use Ewood Car Park as a playground at any other times. (Apologies for off topic but it's statements like that which make me cross -'local parking for local people' indeed; bet the stadium has been there longer than them). Match-wise; would have liked to seen Gally on earlier together with either Stead or MGP (his pace would have given them a thing or two to think about) and that was definitely a penalty...

I meant the 'he'll go to another club and prove himself and you'll be sorry' type of thing. Actually I would be sorry. I want Morten to stay at Rovers. I want him to get his chance - and I'd be delighted if he did. And I'd be more than pleased for all you Norwegian fans. It's just that every week when the team is announced there's all this ranting about it and it doesn't help. Friends?

I think you will find, Rainmaker, that we were merely pointing out that others were also waiting a chance to play but had to wait their turn. Myself and Miss Roversmum are great fans of Gresko, but it doesn't make us blind to the fact that he wasn't up to scratch before his injury. Why the need for the fuss? Morten will either play or he won't. There is no need to keep threatening us. Whether he is British/English or not doesn't even come into it. Are you sure your name isn't Troublemaker? Please also see Paul's post above.

Oh well, it'll be nice to be at Ewood anyway......... The lads have had their Christmas 'do' by the look of it. Having looked at the pictures posted in other threads. Let's hope they've recovered by Saturday. Not really expecting a win, just hoping our goal difference doesn't get much worse. Tho' if Hughes has done his homework and managed to get the lads fired up you never know.

Well, we've a lot of matches coming up over the next few weeks, so anything could happen really.

I heard Mark Hughes being interviewed on radio saying that whilst Emerton was playing so well he would keep the position but MGP and De Pedro were still very much Rovers players.

And it wasn't Hughes fault that someone leaked the decision about Tony before he had had a chance to speak to him. (though the new Reserve Team coach has some making up to do after they lost to bottom of the league Sunderland ) Anyway, Bluebird, should be a good match. Don't think I'll be able to make it though. Strange how we'd have played Cardiff in the Carling Cup if .............

Very disappointed. I'd been given some comps which I gave to a father and son, the little lad had always wanted to go and see Rovers but due to family circumstances had been unable to do so before. I'm very sad that he had to see a match like this one. And there was a spurs fan sitting next to me - granted he wasn't any trouble, but still........ To lose a soft goal to a team playing in yellow pyjamas - and much as I have respect for Robinson, why does he have to keep hoofing the ball to the moon and back? I hope our lot are pleased with themselves. Extra training for them next week. I'm cross and fed up, in case you didn't guess. Pah!