On 26/12/2020 at 19:09, J*B said:

I’m looking for any images of the old seating in the Riverside - not the benches in the wings (see attached) but the central seating. If you’ve got any, let me know!

I have a book called save the riverside stand by Peter White with some excellent old Photographs of Ewood and players.  Since you posted this, I have been looking all over the place for it with a view to sending it to you.  Unfortunately, I can’t find it anywhere including spending some time in the loft, freezing my bollocks off, resulting in Mrs 4000 holes giving said bollocks a good kicking for making the whole house cold.

When the weather improves or gets warmer, I will have another look.

Dear Tony.  Rearrange this well known phrase or saying

”at straws clutching”

Sorry to hear about the passing of George Sharples.

He didn’t score many goals from his position at wing half but one I do remember was against Preston.  I think it was a mid week match.  Rovers went 3 up in first half hour, the Preston defence where terrible but the goal George scored was at the Darwen end from a corner.  The Nob end defence allowed George the longest run to get his head on the ball which bullited into the net.  I swear he started that run in Shadsworth.

RIP George, happy memories.

1 hour ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

The game was much different then. You could get by with a much smaller squad. Having said that, as the earlier poster said,  we were a couple of players short. The attack was brilliant and could score goals for fun. Defensively we were a bit lacking. John Bray at right back was on the way down and Mick McGrath at left half was also coming to the end of a great career. Two replacements there and a better goalkeeper than Fred Else and we would have been bringing silverware back to Ewood.

Losing at Oxford led directly to the loss of Fred Pickering. That was a massive blow in itself but what was worse we blew a chunk of the fee on George Jones from Bury who was a bit of a Brererton type signing, in theory one for the future. That didn't work so well and we already had a ready made replacement for Pickering in John Byrom. We'd have been better off using the Pickering money to strengthen the defence.

Totally forgot about George Jones but just looked up his record and he scored 14 in 39 appearances for us.  That was at a time we where in free fall on our way to 2nd division.  At the moment I would take that from Brereton or Gallagher 

54 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

I dont like the idea of Damien Johnson taking over when Mowbray does go. A rookie from within to take over from a long lasting manager when it is finally decided that things have gotten a little too stagnant doesnt seem particularly logical to me.

I hear what you say, but it didn’t do Liverpool any harm when Dalglish took over.  Just saying.

1 hour ago, Darrenbot said:

There's a lot of love for the team from the early to mid 60s,it was well before my time so i was wondering what was missing from the team that would have had them challenging for the league ? Were they just a player or 2 from being up at the top or was there more to it?

In 1963/64 season we topped the league around Christmas time, no mean feat for a team of our stature.  Minimum wage not long gone and Everton came calling for Pickering offering big money at the time, possibly world record transfer and presumably good significantly better wages than we could afford. We replaced Pickering with a lad (Martin Britt) from West Ham reserves, needless to say it didn’t work out.  Soon after Mike England was put at centre forward, arguably the best centre half in the country, reason being there was no alternative because there was an adequate centre half in the reserves (Dick Mulvaney).  Not long after Spurs came calling for England.  The rest is history.

That is from memory which I admit is not what it used to be, but I am sure some of our other posters on here will put you and me right.

Hope that may be of use?

23 hours ago, Ianrally said:

Any mention of Oxford Utd. always sends a shiver down my spine. It’s been that way since Feb. 15th 1964. They still talk about big cup shocks like Hereford v Newcastle and Wrexham v Arsenal but our defeat at the Manor Ground is up there with those and yet is never mentioned

It was a tragedy we lost that match to Oxford.  In my opinion we would have gone on to win the cup.  We were a far better team than either Preston or West Ham the finalists and if I remember correctly it took Preston umpteen attempts to get past Bolton FFS.

Still?

Since Mowbray arrived, defensive recruitment has been terrible.  Strange for an ex defender.

On 09/12/2020 at 18:28, darrenrover said:

You too, thanks, enjoyed the 'chat'.

Move your cursor to hover to the right of the thumbs up icon, bottom right hand corner and up pops the thumbs up/like button.

Let's get into The Robins from the off, aggressive, on the front foot from the first minute and maintain it.

Do so, the 3 points will be ours, of that I've no doubt whatsoever.

COYB!!

Hi Darren.  Somewhat off topic so apologies.

I was reading an article earlier today and was reminded of something you quoted earlier in the thread, the 1928 cup final.

The article was about Alfred Wainwright who was/is famous for writing books about walks or rambles in the Lake District.  During one of his walks, he was joined by a reporter or colleague and on a beautiful day and as they were taking in the view as they were taking a rest, the reporter asked Wainwright if he was able to which piece of land would he take home with him?  The reporter was expecting the answer striding edge or some such famous place in the lakes but was totally surprised when Wainwright answered the centre spot from Ewood park.

Wainwright also mentioned that the finest team that he had ever seen was the Rovers side of 1928,  hence me thinking about what you had said.

I was wondering if your dad via your grandad could remember or said anything about this?
 

Anyone reading the thread expecting to find out which manager we would have liked to have played under, many apologies.

7 hours ago, jim mk2 said:

Would he ?

Better than Gallagher but neither of them are goalscorers

The way he has been playing recently Jim, it would have been his presence in the box.  He has become a real handful and I think it would have created opportunities nearer the goal.  I accept that he is not a natural goal scorer but that is not the full story.

We missed Brereton last night.  Would have made a hell of a difference.

Thought we played ok but never really looked like scoring.  Defence ok but lost a goal to a bit of ping pong, can happen.  With this defence, a least my heart is not in my mouth every time the opposition attack.

learn and then onward to next match.

20 minutes ago, darrenrover said:

Thanks pal, it's what's important: WE Are The Rovers when all said and done, we'll still be here when Waggots and co. are long gone, it's in our blood.

Both Dad and my mother are both doing fine thanks and it is a mess, as you say. The thing that pisses them both off more than anything, is looking out of the lounge window watching others totally disregarding the rules and regulations, whilst they are virtual prisoners in their own home. That's another story but rest assured they will both be tuned in to Radio Lancs tonight cheering on the boys in Blue and White as they've always religiously done.

As my Dad always says: "Come On You Blues, roll along Blackburn Rovers roll along, get the ball in the net where it belongs....."

Come on Rovers!

 

Let’s hope they can give your dad and me for that matter a cheer when they have sorted Bristol city out later.  From where I live, Bristol is the easiest place to get to, so a little bit disappointed that I can’t go.  However it’s on sky.

I would have given you a thumbs up on your comments but can’t work out how to do it on the new site.  Minor detail however.

keep safe.

15 minutes ago, darrenrover said:

He absolutely does and was thrilled at being asked. He then went on to tell me of stories, told many times before I hasten to add, particularly about the cup semi-finals in '52 and '58!

In this shit Covid-19 situation that we're all having to endure, it made an 85 year old's day to reminisce about days long gone by as opposed to the necessary conversations every other day which are really about ensuring my parents are OK.

My dad wants to relay tomorrow, the story of my Grandad and the 1928 Cup Final, a story I already know extremely well but it's well worth another listen. I've still got the match day programme, ticket for the Royal Box (my Grandad scammed that invite through a reporter friend) and the following days Northern Telegraph, all of which I treasure as family heirlooms.

So you see 4000Holes, you and Jack Marshall have started something!

All this aside, let's all hope the current manager of the moment, ToMo, sets us up right tonight to come away from Ashton Gate with 3 points.

COYB!!

Give your dad my very best regards, he sounds like a very interesting chap.  Hope he is keeping well through all this mess

13 minutes ago, darrenrover said:

My love affair started in 1966, so my first personal memory of Jack was running on with a bucket of water and a sponge to administer the 'miracle cure to all ailments'! I'm sure you're quite correct though but I'll be checking with my Dad!

 

I think Jack was still manager in 1966, not sure.  He then went on to manage Sheffield Wednesday? before he came back as our bucket and sponge man.  I know he took over from Dally Duncan in 1960.  During his time, the team and particularly the players I mentioned where known as Marshall’s misfits.  Maybe your dad can remember.

1 minute ago, darrenrover said:

Aye ok, You really are having a laugh. He was good with a sponge and bucket of water mind!

Lest we forget, Darren.  Jack Marshall converted Fred Pickering from a run of the mill full back to centre forward who went on to play for England.   He converted Andy McEvoy from a rather uninspiring wing half to one of the most prolific poachers and goal scorers that there has been at our club.  There are others, I am sure that Tomphil, or Tyrone can fill you in.

Granted, even Jack would have had his work well and truly cut out with me.

Jack Marshall 

Cannot underestimate that result

Very slowly I am becoming optimistic.  With predominantly right footed players playing on the right and predominantly left footed players playing on the left.  It’s like a whole new world, long may it continue.

4 hours ago, Yoogo said:

Yes, there were a couple of worries, of course, but I'm generally happy.

In the bigger picture, I think Bell is third choice left-back behind Douglas and JRC. Last night, he was dreadful, lethargic, no urgency in trying to block crosses, etc. I noticed at one point that Lenihan gestured to Bell "that's three times". Romeo is a very good player, but he had a field day with Bell. It's par for the course.

Ayala got caught for Millwall's goal, and Nyambe had to cover two positions in his stead while their player ran at the thin defence. Ayala is quite slow, although I don't mind too much if he's a solid defender (which he generally seems to be). I think you're right about his match-fitness, but at the end of the day, we did the ugly stuff and stayed solid, so it's a bonus that Ayala has a game under his belt.

Fair comment

8 minutes ago, Yoogo said:

We might have just had two grotty wins, but I'm delighted that we seem to have that in the locker. I think a lot of it is to do with Kaminski and what seems like a more resilient defence. I suspect the two are related.

I've been impressed with Gallagher as of late. Whenever he's been scoring recently, he doesn't celebrate and just looks downbeat, but I suspect that's down to a frustrating time here so far. He's definitely looked the part this season, seems a lot stronger, pacier, more determined, etc.

Lenihan was superb, and even pulled off a couple of Richie saves! Haven't seen the replays, but I think we got away with at least one there.

Buckley made a difference when he came on. What a talent he is. His passing is sublime.

Toughie against Brentford, next. Games coming thick and fast, but with Dack possibly making an appearance before the year is out, and the squad depth doing its part, things are looking good.

Agree with you about the Keeper, he acts as a sweeper which allows the defence to defend 4 or 5 metres further forward which makes a hell of a difference.  Last night for the Millwall goal, Ayala was pulled out of position and I don’t think he was match fit but he had to cover for the full back which is a position I am still concerned about on both flanks.  Hope Douglas can stay fit because we will need him certainly over the next few weeks.

Preston are a very poor team but they are extremely physical.

I am therefore absolutely delighted that we stood up to them and it was excellent that we kept a clean sheet.  Cannot underestimate that.

Just now, Aqualung said:

What's young Elliot done wrong to be benched? 

For once I think Mowbray has got this decision right.  Nobbers are bully’s and maybe coming  on for last 20 mins or so will suit him.

51 minutes ago, Leonard Venkhater said:

Actually, we watched that bit for a few (cringing) minutes. I thought Mulgrew looked a bit embarrassed?

He certainly did look very embarrassed but not as embarrassed as me when I saw David Dunn on a certain advert.  Still embarrassed to even think about it now.

4 hours ago, Mike E said:

Alternatively, his inclusion may have helped the defence's confidence, particularly his secondary role as the 3rd cb.

Yes I agree.  If TK had been in goal, I believe that it would have pushed the defenders to defend 5 or 6 yards further forward.  That makes a hell of a difference.