den

Massive match and massive preview. Thanks AESF, very well done.

OK, Dunn and Eyal are in the full list. There are now 32 midfielders in that list and we can't find two. I know Colin has two and SG has two, but what about the rest of us. I'm struggling like the rest of you. I suspect some of the Old Giffers know a thing or two about the likes of Eamonn Rogers and Ken Knighton, but they're not telling. . In all honesty, they would [again IMO] walk into today's team, even if, as Theno pointed out, they didn't play in the top division. If Steven Reid is a premiership player there's another 25 on that list. What about "give us a goal, Barry Hole"? Hammered two blinders past PNE at Deepdale in a 5-3 win and made my life sheer bliss. No-ones even mentioned Tony Parkes - life long rover and certainly not a bad player. His mate Meccy? A better player than some that have been touted. Graham Oates, what quality that guy had. Big lad for a medfielder, but again real skillful player. Or there again, maybe my minds playing tricks again.

Col baby, two votes with two seperate winners. It's the only fair way. I think we'll have the first vote next week some time, there's the weekend entertainment to get through first. I wonder how many folk are thinking that our lack of midfield talent, has been the catalyst of our dreadful form through the seventies and eighties?

It's a difficult one but we shouldn't give up. Clayton "should" make it, but you never know. The second midfielder - I can't make my mind up either. The running seems to be between Atkins, Sherwood and Latheron. My take so far: Atkins. Atkins strengths were his physique and his stamina. As a C.M. he was a guy who stood his ground. Defensively he was fairly solid and added a bit of dourness to the side [something we could do with now]. He was also an up and downer and chipped in with a fair amount of goals, for someone not that talented, he did well. The thing with Atko was - he was the right man at the right time. The way rovers played with Shearer, Wilcox and Ripley, Atkins offered the perfect foil, the balance to that team. As for great? Sorry Colin, but not in that class. Sherwood. I still think he was underestimated. He certainly had a lack of pace, that stopped him being a really top class midfielder. What he did have though was vision. He was a leader. Dalglish didn't make him captain for nothing. BUT and it's a big BUT, here's an article written by some Norwich fan that brings back some of the Sherwood baggage: Tim Sherwood That carry on between Sherwood and Hodson leaves a bitter taste in my mouth and tars his reputation for me. Latheron. I really can't say that I would have remembered him if it wasn't for Alan75 mentioning his name. I'm open to persuasion on this one and recall SG 194's testimonial: Edwin Gladstone Latheron was born in Grangetown,North East England and joined Blackburn Rovers in 1906 almost by accident.He was discovered when visiting Blackburn to play for Grangetown against Blackburn Crosshill in an FA amatuer cup tie.Rovers had originally gone to watch another player but it was Latheron who caught their eye and Rovers paid £25 to bring him to Ewood! A skilful inside forward who,despite his lack of height, was good in the air he possessed fantastic ball control coupled with a fine shot on him.... he quickly established himself as a fans favourite with the Blackburn public.A prolific goalscorer himself, he was claimed never to be a selfish player and always prepared to do the 'fetching and carrying' for other team mates. Without question a driving force(alongside Crompton) behind the all conquering pre war Rovers Championship sides of 1912 and 1914 he was capped twice by England and represented the football League. At the height of his powers Eddie played his last game for Rovers on March 17th 1917.Five days later he went to fight for Queen and Country in the trenches of France and tragically just seven months later he was killed by a German shell.He left a widow and a young child.....he was just 28. Played league football for Rovers between 1906-1915, made a total of 282 appearances in all competitions and scored an impressive 104 goals. Apologies for re-posting that thread but maybe I'll go that way. I'm not sure. In the next few days we will have to cut the nominations down. So probably the players not mentioned up to now will go. So if there's someone who wants to come in with any player in danger of losing out, now's the time.

Dr, you'll do well to vote for Dunny, he's not on the list! Strange that you're the first one to mention him.

OK but none of them played at the top level for us. Mick McGrath was part of two great half back lines that played at the top level: Clayton Woods McGrath Clayton England McGrath McGrath was always considered one of the most under rated wing halves in England by the rovers fans. Although it was only the Republic of Ireland, he was a regular for that side for many seasons. [i think]. Barker, Cowans and Kendal played at the top level also, but not, as you said, with rovers. Anyhow, who says they have to have played at the top level, to win a position in this team?

complete midfielder, did he actually ever pass the ball forward Under Dalglish he did. He was used as quite an attacking midfielder. I remember the spurs game that Bob mentioned and must agree Batty was tremendous. One of the best midfield displays I've witnessed at ewood. In fact, the rovers performance that day was as good as it got [iMO]. Batty did start to become negative again though, after Harford took over.

Some really talented players here, who haven't been mentioned: Ken Knighton Stuart Metcalfe Howard Kendal Eamonn Rogers Mickey speight simon barker Mick McGrath Gordon Cowans Graham Oates.

Oh the cheek. Yes I did, sorry Sam. Anyway, it's a long couple of hours.

Liverpool hadn't sold all their tickets this morning. The son in law rang the 'pool ticket office and got two tickets. He hasn't been to Anfield for two years but that didn't matter, they're on open sale.

It's a team of Blackburn Rovers greats. How you define "great" is a matter for the individual. To my mind, to be called great, you must be something better than a good player. There has to be something else to it. Douglas was a great player to me, because he was more than a top player. He was an idol to the fans that saw him and will be remembered long after his death. He wasn't part of the best rovers team ever, but to be great to me, he didn't need to be. That's what stopped me for voting for Le Saux, even though he was possibly the best full back to wear the blue and white halves. He didn't have anything to go with that. Eckersley did. I didn't ever see Eckersley play, but contrast the respect that Eckersley has 'til this day, with the respect that Le Saux has/had. As for Ardiles, he can't be in my team of greats, even though he was world class. He didn't play enough games, was only ever on loan and I can't imagine any rovers fan looking back to him being any kind of idol. Don't know if that helps, but we're looking for players that will live on in the memory long after they're gone. If anyone disagrees with that, fair enough, it's what we as individuals see as great.

Fantastic post Brownie. Seems you have a fantastic memory to go with it. I'm not saying he's the greatest, [not saying he isn't], but he was better than a lot of people gave him credit for.

Like last time, if someone puts in a good case for a player, i.e; gives good reasons why he was the best, I'll highlight it in red. It's this kind of post that makes this topic interesting.

Two of us do. So there. I'll persuade you later. I had a feeling that was coming.

I'm sure, if we could have had first, second and third choices, they would have had.

Interesting Al. I didn't see either Vernon or Dobing, but do know that supporters that did see them, held them in very high regard. I will put them in the striker catageory as well. Thanks. I don't think we'll rush this one. There are far more depressing matters being given full attention on the board.

The time to judge Hughes, is when he has had time to prune and reshape this poor squad of players he has inherited. Criticise his tactics by all means. But whatever formations he chooses, if the players are too old, too slow and generally not good enough, there's very little he can do.

Andy McEvoy was a wing half origianlly, but then moved to striker, where he really made his name. I've got him down as a striker Alan. BTW - no-one REALLY believes Atkins was one of our best ever midfielders, do they?

Thank you chaps. For the moment, I'll put down all the names that I've missed.

The winner of the greatest ever right winger poll was Bryan Douglas. Douglas claimed 102 votes, the most so far in this series of polls. Stuart Ripley came second with 57 votes. The full result of the poll was: [number of votes, followed by the percentage vote]: Stuart Ripley, ------------------[ 57 ] [32.20%] Mike Ferguson, ----------------[ 1 ] [0.56%] Noel Brotherston, -------------[ 5 ] [2.82%] Ian Miller, -----------------------[ 0 ] [0.00%] Bryan Douglas, ----------------[ 102 ] [57.63%] Johnny Price, -------------------[ 0 ] [0.00%] John Connelly ------------------[ 0 ] [0.00%] Alan Irvine ----------------------[ 0 ] [0.00%] Louis Bimpson, -----------------[ 1 ] [0.56%] Keith Gillespie. -----------------[ 0 ] [0.00%] Brett Emerton ------------------[ 5 ] [2.82%] Gordon Taylor ------------------[ 0 ] [0.00%] Howard Gayle ------------------[ 1 ] [0.56%] George Donis -------------------[ 4 ] [2.26%] David Thomson ----------------[ 1 ] [0.56%] Total Votes: 177 The team so far is, Friedel Crompton Hendry England Le Saux Douglas Now to move onto the two central midfield positions. Lots of candidates, some real quality. This could be much closer than any of the previous polls. These are the names that come to mind, but there are sure to be many names I've missed out. We have another difficulty as well. Because we are going 4-4-2, the old inside forwards are going to struggle to get a look in. Anyway, let me know your feelings on this list - if I've missed anyone out, or included someone wrongly. Somehow, this list has to be pruned to 15 players. Tim Sherwood, Tugay, Barry Hole, David Batty, Ken Knighton, Ronnie Clayton, Mark Atkins, Roy Vernon. Stuart Metcalfe, Duncan McKenzie, Howard Kendal, Tony Parkes, Eddie Quigley, Eamonn Rogers, Harry Healess, Jimmy forrest, Alan Bradshaw, Mickey speight, Simon Barker. Mick McGrath, Gordon Cowans Peter Dobing. Graham Oates Scott Sellars Barry Ferguson Garry Flitcroft Eddie Latheron Paul Warhurst Nicky Marker Nicky Reid David Dunn Eyal Berkovic The right winger thread, I thought, was the best yet. Many of you put forward great testimonials for the players. It would be great if we had the same input again.

right winger final result: The greatest right winger, ever to wear a blue and white shirt? Stuart Ripley, [ 57 ] [32.20%] Mike Ferguson, [ 1 ] [0.56%] Noel Brotherston, [ 5 ] [2.82%] Ian Miller, [ 0 ] [0.00%] Bryan Douglas, [ 102 ] [57.63%] Johnny Price, [ 0 ] [0.00%] John Connelly [ 0 ] [0.00%] Alan Irvine [ 0 ] [0.00%] Louis Bimpson, [ 1 ] [0.56%] Keith Gillespie. [ 0 ] [0.00%] Brett Emerton [ 5 ] [2.82%] Gordon Taylor [ 0 ] [0.00%] Howard Gayle [ 1 ] [0.56%] George Donis [ 4 ] [2.26%] David Thomson [ 1 ] [0.56%] Total Votes: 177

Rover6, two simple questions. 1 Have you seen MGP play? 2 Did he impress you?

No he didn't. Tugay went through the back of the player with both feet. As he was already on a yellow he should have showed a bit more common sense, especially as he was challenging for a nothing ball in the middle of the pitch. The second yellow was fully justified (whatever your opinion of the first) and Tugay knew it. The players on the pitch lost us the match today, not the ref, the fans, lady sodding luck or anyone else, and to say otherwise is scapegoating plain and simple. Franny Jeffers has just deliberately handled the ball, much like Tugay did last week. Hand up in the air and took the ball with him. He followed that up within a couple of minutes, by a reckless challenge on a Liverpool defender. His punishment? a yellow card for the foul.

The best thing Hughes can do, is to write this season off and start on a complete rebuilding programme. This isn't a decent side playing badly, it's a very poor side playing awfully.

Just got back from watching the game on TV. Until they scored, we were actually doing OK. Neither side, us in particular. were creating anything like a chance. Then bang, bang, 2-0. Two goals so simple, it was unreal. The second one in particular was just a long hopeful ball that the back four couldn't deal with. Second half, it could have been seven. Everything fell apart, even the rovers players were niggling with each other. Chelsea played one striker for most of the game and he got a hat trick, where are the centre halves. Better get used to it folks, this team is going down.