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!

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 we have 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!!

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!

Good idea for a thread this. I'd plump for King Kenny because I like his approach to football in general. He's also one of the lads but also gaffer, in no uncertain terms, when it matters. He has that uncanny knack to be accepted and respected as both and switch from one to the other, dependant on situation and/or circumstance. A true and clever man manager. As a teenager, I played for Rovers youth when Jim Smith was manager. It just illustrates how much times have changed: Back then, after 'O' Levels, the stark choice offered was apprentice professional terms on '£3.50' a week but you had to give up your further education ('A' Levels) in order to be offered those terms. I decided to stay on at school, rather than run the risk of being binned off after 2 years without further education, and parted company with Rovers (no regrets really). My memory of Smith was he had a nice daughter (lived in the close at the top of Buncer Lane) but he was a neanderthal in terms of people management, despite his successes at a variety of clubs. Finally a word for Howard Kendal: he transformed Rovers at the time and cut his management teeth at Ewood. He seemed to be a proper fella and initially of course, he was player manager, fulfilling both roles with absolute distinction. Imagine that these days?! So for me, King Kenny first up, followed by Howard Kendal in close second.

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

Barry Douglas is available tonight. ToMo has revealed he substituted him on Saturday because of the yellow card he picked up and not due to injury. Good news at least. Any news on Twitter or the like regarding Darragh's appeal against the red card?

Me too 47er, only difference being 6 years less. That would be the straw that broke the camel's back for me, there comes a point when enough is enough. I am still only just getting over the appointment of Coyle!

The logic Mowbray applies is absolute lunacy on many fronts. His comments are made in a very blasé tone too, his usual shrug of the shoulders. Pandemic or not, how is it any sense whatsoever to allow multi million pound assets to potentially leave for nothing because we attached no urgency to sitting down and negotiating new deals? Admittedly some of the fringe players who are out of contract probably should be allowed to leave, if it's deemed they're not good enough to cut it at Ewood. The likes of Dack, Nyambe, Holtby etc however, who are key to our future success, are hardly likely to pull their tripe out in a potential promotion run in, if they feel unwanted by The Club. Their minds will be focussed on their next moves to pastures new. It's almost as if as soon as we smell the possibility of a bit of success, the hierarchy can't wait to contrive to kick us all in the nuts. A motivational press release all round Mogga, well done, you dick!

Tw@t!!

Just had a browse on The Bristol Post site and Bristol City forum and picked up a few snippets of information: They've only gained 11 points from 8 home games thus far this season and have an injury list at least comparable to ours. They've Mawson, Williams, Walsh, Smith, Watson, Kalas and Paterson unavailable. It's proposed they line up in a 3-5-2 formation as follows: Bentley Mariappa Vyner Kalas Hunt Bakinson O'Dowda Nagy Dasilva Wells Martin I note Nakki Wells is up top for them, he's been a pain to us in the past. All in all the game is there to be won. Get into 'em, high pressing, from the off and I feel we should come away with the 3 points. COYB!!

I don't Twit Stu!! Facebook's bad enough! Thanks for the advice though.

What, lace up, lace down or both?

Yeh, me too. I obviously wouldn't pay it but missed the whole of the second half as a result. Zero customer service other than generic advice such as reboot your router etc or send an email. I'll be sending an email to ask for a refund today and see what happens.

It is, but you shouldn't be asked to buy another to watch the second half!

Next up is Bristol City at Ashton Gate. Can The Rovers extend their unbeaten streak in another tough encounter? We've played pretty well there in recent seasons and if on the front foot, there's no reason why we can't come away with 3 points. Our defensive line up should prove interesting to say the least. I haven't looked at other teams' fixtures this week but theoretically, if we follow a win here by beating Norwich on Saturday, we could be top on Saturday night! Unlikely I know but time for a nose bleed?!

Great slide down there when wet! Didn't care much for El Greco myself, used to hide round the corner downstairs at Kenyon's Buttery, nursing a potato pie, peas and gravy.

Why don't you offer your services to act as a consultant on our behalf Tony? You're only sat on your arse at home in semi-retirement!

To be fair chaddy, I've watched every game since the onset of the pandemic and yesterday was the first time I've really had an issue. I find the picture quality to be very good and the commentaries ok too. It was annoying yesterday though and the lack of backup/customer service only compounded the fact that I missed the whole second half.

Totally agree. The regulations are just bonkers. Your assumption was exactly the same as mine, I was staggered when the 2k were all in one stand, with no evidence of social distancing whatsoever, with the remaining 3 stands empty. Where's any sense in that? (well there isn't any). I guess it is Laaaaaandon and none of this pandemics' regulations apply to them.

I found their commentary team a touch arrogant today. Talking about how they will get var next year in the prem You don't have to endure 'away' commentators. I've just posted some help in iFollow thread regarding this topic, so I won't repeat on here.

On reading the Matchday Thread, it's evident that many people just put up with the away team commentary and have to suffer the bias as a consequence. There is a 'button' bottom right of the screen (a cog from memory), if you click on that it gives you the option of home or away team commentary. Click on away (when we're away) and you get the same 2 Rovers' commentators as we do at home. Hope this helps with the annoyance of thinking the only option is listening to biased bollocks, as I did until my son put me right.

Ha. I got my gloves out of the loft many times last season Tyrone. In fact they were raring to go most of the time. Never did get a call though for some reason.

In addition to aggravating a niggle, I suspect the additional fact was that he also had a yellow card to his name and this too influenced the substitution. Hopefully it's nothing that's going to make him unavailable for selection midweek.

Yeh, poor isn't it? I'll be doing likewise.

I'm beginning to think something may be amiss too.