I reckon that's a pretty good preview rover6. Well done and thank you.

That left flank looks suspect.

Team; Friedel Neill Amo Matteo gray Emerton Flitty Fergy Jansen Stead Dickov

Apologies. In that case, former England captain and wing half Ronnie Clayton, legendary winger Bryan Douglas and great inside forwards such as Roy Vernon, Peter Dobing and Andy McEvoy have no chance. I give in. Douglas right wing, Clayton midfield, McEvoy striker, what's the problem Jim? They've as much chance as anyone else. As the positions are announced, if you want any player included, just say so. Arrgghh! You're talking about a different era. Douglas was a beautiful winger who could beat any full back in the world: can you imagine him "tracking back" (in modern parlance) to defend on the right side of a 4-4-2? Clayton was a classic wing half who linked up with the inside right and right winger and probably wouldn't know what midfield means. McEvoy, Vernon and Dobing, like all good inside forwards, were made in heaven. Striker is too ugly a word for players like them. OK Jim, I've been thinking about what you're saying. Although the original formation was intended to be 4-4-2, I'm prepared to go to 3-5-2. That shouldn't be a problem, it's still a very modern formation, and could give us chance to select from some of rovers undoubted midfield talent from the past and present. That would mean us electing just one more defender - central defender. I'm putting myself up for the high jump here. , but at the expense of a centre half, we are going to be able to fit in far more of the crowd pleasers - players that fans admire. Any objections anyone?

Apologies. In that case, former England captain and wing half Ronnie Clayton, legendary winger Bryan Douglas and great inside forwards such as Roy Vernon, Peter Dobing and Andy McEvoy have no chance. I give in. Douglas right wing, Clayton midfield, McEvoy striker, what's the problem Jim? They've as much chance as anyone else. As the positions are announced, if you want any player included, just say so.

Great idea. I actually emailed radio rovers and asked them if that could be done on the big screen, before each home game. Everton do it. Unsurprisingly, I didn't recieve a reply.

Jim, I said in the first post on this topic that the formation would be 4-4-2. That goes even more against Le Saux, then!

Interesting points Dave. The era that Bill played in could also restrict his appeal. In those days, as someone else pointed out earlier, full backs tended to stay back. Because the winger waited on the half way line, the full back couldn't get froward. [you might tell me differently with Bill, I don't know, I didn't see him]. So there's an argument for Le Saux? An all-round player who has far more to his game - or would 'eck have been better given the opportunity of modern coaching.

Before we started with this poll, some of us discussed the possible problems. The obvious one was the fact that a lot of the younger members hadn't seen some of the older players, in fact some had never heard of them. That was going to be difficult for us and indeed them. The only way around this was to ask members that HAD seen them play, to give a short breakdown of those players. Now, up to press, I think it's worked well. Indeed FLB, if it hadn't been for your post on Crompton, he wouldn't have been voted in. If Newton, Eckersley don't get selected, it's probably down as much to the failing of those that did see them as to anything else. Crompton being selected shows that the majority of people on here, are indeed open minded. There are quite a few who have voted for Bill Eckersley who have never seen him play and I suspect he wont be the last. Jim - I think the main problem with getting Keith Newton selected, is the fact that he was primarily a right back. That hampered his selection from day one. So no - it's not a kick in the teeth, Most folks are very open minded, it's only a few who struggle to accept anyone who they personally have never seen.

gerald Hitman and Brockhall Village

I remember there being a few raised eyebrows recently, at the results of a poll, run by Man U, for the best ever Man United player. Eric Cantona won It. Now that is a result of the majority of fans never having seen Charlton, Law and Best. Graeme Le Saux beating Keith Newton for a full back position wont alter any of Jim's, or anyone else's memories. At the end of this best ever team poll, we will have something to put onto record, the views of the majority of fans, on this site, at this time. It's worth giving the votes a bit of consideration, because we can't run a poll like this for many, many years.

Just so everyone else knows, I can't do that Tchocky - I don't have the capability.

A lot of folks reckon Gally did well when he came on. Does anyone else think he was terrible, apart from his goal? I don't think he found another blue and white shirt all night. More than once hughes turned away shaking his head at Gally's poor passing.

Two previews this week. Grizfoot is submitting his Charlton preview shortly. I asked around to see whether anyone on this site had recollections of the famous game at the Valley around 1958 that saw rovers promoted. I'm very grateful to Bazza for giving us an insight of that afternoon. Bazza: I have been asked to submit something that I can remember about the Rovers away game against Charlton Athletic at the Valley in 1958. This was a game that Rovers had to win. The fixture list had decreed that the last game of the season would be Charlton Athletic away. West Ham United were already champions of the (old) second division. Only two clubs were to be promoted. No play-offs in those days. Charlton, in second place, were one point above Rovers who had to win. Charlton needed only a draw. For several previous seasons Rovers (and Liverpool, for that matter) had played well and come very close to winning promotion but had come third best to the likes of Birmingham City, Leicester City, Everton, Sheffield Wednesday, Luton Town, Leeds Utd, and Nottingham Forest. And so it came to pass.................. Where was I on that final Saturday of the 1957-58 season? I had just turned 15 years old! I was at boarding school in Blackpool. This was a school that was dedicated to playing football with an egg-shaped ball. They never won me over because nobody ever explained the rules to me. On THAT Saturday I was somewhere in the school grounds when a fellow Rovers supporter, who came from Whalley or Langho or somewhere near, came up to me and said, “Rovers are winning 3-1 at half time.” I said, “You’re having me on”. He denied it and went on his way. My spirits rose. WOW!! Is he telling me the truth? Communication via the media was almost non existent. Someone must have access to a radio which had second half commentary of one of the league matches of the day,usually a First Division match (always kept secret and never announced in case everyone heard and stayed at home to listen to the commentary, leaving the ground empty!!!) ; that’s all you could get in those days. Later that day, in the early evening, I was kneeling in a pew in St Kentigerns Church, Newton Drive, Blackpool , when another schoolmate came in and whispered in my ear, “Rovers are in the first division”. HALLELUIA.....reverberated many times in my mind. We’re up. We’re up; we’re up we’re up we’re up, Eee Aye Engio, we’re up we’re up we’re up. Complete and utter euphoria, which, translated into modern language, means ROVERS........PROMOTED.......YEEAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH YEEAAAAAHHHH!! Things I’ve heard or read about that day which may or may not be true, but have stayed in my memory ever since are:- 1) BBC radio’s 2nd half commentary was THAT game. The commentator’s opening remarks, at half time,were that the most significant words of the Charlton signature tune, “When the red, red robin comes bob, bob bobbing along”, were “wake up, wake up little sleepy head”. Rovers had outplayed them totally. 2) In the 2nd half we got a penalty early on and Douglas duly converted. But Charlton were not 2nd in the Division for nothing. They got themselves back into the game 4-2 and had Rovers on the back foot. 4-3. All they needed was one last goal to win promotion. Rovers were hanging on. In Blackburn town centre, maybe the market, the commentary was broadcast through loudspeakers. During a late frenzied Charlton attack the shoppers went quiet and one lone voice yelled out “For God’s sake ref, blow thi ruddy whistle!” 3) At The Valley itself the final whistle blew and one large lady Rovers supporter ran onto the field and picked up Bryan Douglas, lifting him clean off the ground. Jack Weddle who was the trainer, the man with the bucket of water and “magic” sponge. had his water tipped all over him. Later that year, in August, I was on Leeds City railway station when I found out the score of Rovers first Div 1 game away at Newcastle. But that’s another story. And so to the present day. Charlton are in many ways similar to ourselves, needing to stay in the premier league yet hoping to qualify for European competition. Alan Curbishley is a much respected manager and is astute in selection, formation, tactics and motivation. However, they have lost their playmaker, Scott Parker, to Chelsea, like we did Duffer, and we all know what a big blow that was. Last season Brad equalised in the last minute only for them to snatch victory with the last kick of the game. I hope we can get a better result this season and gain a victory. I think we will.........2-1 to Rovers. Thanks Bazza and if anyone else has recollections, let us have them on here

I said to the missus during the second half, they're fitter than us. Lo and behold, Hughes comments after the game were about them being "physically stronger than us-and that isn't acceptable." How many times did we concede last minute goals during the last couple of seasons?

Tris, they were Souness's players out there tonight.

I'm sure he played LB in the 1960 cup final, with John Bray at right back. Some of the older members will have to guide me on this.

but Crompton won and nobody has seen him play. FLB put up a great case for him, that's the difference.

Yes, because he was too good to be omitted. That wont convince anyone Jim. I fully understand where you are coming from with Keith Newton. Did no-one see any of the clips from the world cups of the 70's? That man had far more class than Le Saux ever had, he was a superb player. I find it hurts a bit to see Le Saux in front of him in the poll, [it hurts a lot actually]. But he was a right back Jim. It gauls me to see a player like Le Saux being voted in as an Ewood "great" as well. That's what the thread's all about though. Who am I to say everyone's wrong? Even if they are!

and even more so when Souey took Boersma, Saunders and Murray with him. What a saving in compensation there.

What's this us paleface, you buggered off to Paris.

Tris, the reason that gates have dropped dramatically in the last two seasons [iMO], is because of the dross served up at home by Souness' teams. Those fans that have gone wont suddenly re-appear, it will take many good home performances and results. It could take years.

If the last couple of seasons you've found it a chore going to cup games - does that include the run to the semi-final v Man Utd as holders of the league cup ? A chore ?? Season before last ?? Flippin eck I know almost every single thread on this board is turning into a slag-off Souness fest but let's have a reality check. And many posts on this thread WANT Hughes to put out a load of fringe players on Wedesday night - if Souness does that it's called not taking the cup seriously. And - for the record - the day Mark Hughes is asked the direct question "what's the priority, survival in the premier league or a cup run" what the flip do people think he's going to reply ???? Tris, I wasn't the only one finding a trip to ewood a chore [not quite the right word, but you know what I mean]. Just ask the missing 4000 fans from a couple of seasons ago.

OOps, sorry American, I forgot that you think Souey was doing well for us - left us with a top side an' all.

I always used to look forward to any game at ewood park, even the minor cup games - anything. These last couple of seasons, for the first time in my life, it got to be a chore. I know I've been slated on here for this, but all the talk from Souness about survival being the only important thing and that cup competitions can only hamper that survival, really does get to people. It's been repeated over and over again for 2/3 years now and it get's through to people. It get's into the mindset of fans, players and everyone at the club. It becomes very difficult to be positive about anything. How wonderful to hear Hughes saying that we're about to embark on an adventure. It will take a long time but hopefully this kind of approach will push the players that little bit harder and give them and the fans, something to target, something worthwhile to aim for. Even to win a cup. There's been a lot of suggestions as to why attendances have fallen for the past couple of seasons, but the truth is it's because of the complete lack of ambition to do anything but to do the same again. Thank god Souey's gone. I hope he tries to tell the Geordies that cup competitions aren't important, but I don't think he's brave enough to tell them, that. Anyway, I am looking forward to this game. It should be very interesting, in it's own way.