DavidMailsTightPerm

What I found most pleasing (granted from only the highlights) was the apparent togetherness of the team. Dack looks genuinely happy at Rovers - and that will needed if his performances get too much unwanted attention from teams with more money than Rovers.

Is this the same Nixon's that said we had £50m of players lined up when Venkys first took over ?

How much did you think his budget was ?

I am sorry - but what about Armstrong's record in the Championship makes you think he is worth £3m ? Don't get me wrong I would like us to sign him - but IMO it would be too great a risk at that price.

A Sheffield Weds supporting friend was really excited when they bought Rhodes - but has since come to admit that when he isn't scoring it is like playing with 10 men. He also disrupts the team pattern as he doesn''t have any great pace or ability to hold the ball up. Rhodes is one of the best finishers I have seen at Rovers for a while - but IMO the other aspects of his games are distinctly lower league - and as much as many would argue his goals kept us up, I would argue that equally his lack of pace and hold up play meant teams could compress us in our half which impacted our performances. Then again football is all about opinions - and many players seem to divide opinion these days.

The Harper signing is an interesting one. Personally would prefer to see our own talent given a chance - but will wait to see Harper play before decide on the merits of his loan. He may offer something that Tomlinson and Hardcastle don't, or he may just be a lot better player - only time will tell.

At this moment in time when a large number of fans refuse to go to watch the club they support because of the owners - I think we would be churlish to expect some form of loyalty to the club in it's current state. Having said all that - I do think that Mowbray is right - he would be better staying at his home town club and developing his game prior to (hopefully) better things. He is currently a long way from the finished article - and staying at his local club would IMO help his development (especially now we have a proper experienced manager). I won't be devastated if he leaves - he showed some early promise when he came into the team under Mowbray - but faded badly, and poor decision making and defending on his part showed how much he has to learn.

Interesting you pick on Lowe - but didn't go. If you had gone you would have seen that Hoban and Brown had absolute mares. Though I wouldn't say Lowe had a good game - he was far from the worst player on the pitch - and was one of the few busting a gut for the cause. The only bright spot was Mahoney - and he is out of contract soon - which just made it a thoroughly depressing day. I admire your optimism about us staying up - and of course hope you are right - but yesterday we had all the hallmarks of a team destined for the drop. Injuries to key players prior to and during the match, combined with individual mistakes (that no manager can plan for) and finally we lack that bit of the rub of the green. With a little luck we would have scored the one goal that would have made it interesting - but time and time again they blocked got in last minutes challenges etc. Also - though absolutely no excuse - the referee was poor and oblivious to their time wasting which was at times criminal.

I was going to "like" this - though it is spot on - can't in anyway "like" it

And still a fantastic player when at Rovers

I was the original glory hunter - first attending at Ewood the year we got promoted from the old Third Division. He then took us to within goal difference of the First Division. Always came across as a class act - and was absolutely gutted when he left for Everton. His record in his first stint at Everton was unbelievable - and I genuinely believe he is up there with the modern managerial greats. A very sad loss - and far too young.

Good effort lads - they had to play against a large home crowd - while those watching on tv had to suffer a home commentary

Brilliant goal - come on you blues

Didn't realise that Southampton had their own tv channel

I think all those asking why Givet hasn't been in the side need to remember his performance against Blackpool. Also Hanley and Dann have had a fairly good season. Possibly play him at left back - but then it restricts the teams attacking ability - and many have questioned the wisdom of playing jim at left back. Having said all that - full credit to Givet to putting contract issues etc to one side and putting in a performance. Also - do we need to congratulate GB in his man management skills ?

Given the results tonight - we would have been stuffed without these wins.

Be good for free kicks :-) I thought he joined after promotion - though could be getting dates muddled. Also was Parkes not playing - before he broke his leg towards end.of season ?

No - but bare in mind that Kamy has been wrong before - he is only as good as the information that is passed to him.

If true this would be an absolute disgrace. How can the players trust a manager who lets somebody else take the rap for his own short comings ? I hope your information is wrong.

I didn't know John - but as I am sure every true football fan feels - am so sorry at his untimely death. The one thing that has struck me from comments made by people who knew him - he was Rovers 100%. The best tribute that fans can give - isn't to stay away, or fight over the rights or wrongs of the unfortunate circumstances of his death - but to get behind the team that he supported through thick and thin - surely that is what he would have wanted. For his family - nothing will fill the void that this will leave - but lets at least make Wednesday a celebration of his life - hopefully the club will allow a minutes silence - which I am sure would be impeccibly observed.

The only system that Benni needed to follow was weight watchers. Irrespective of whether you like the manager or not - you would have thought he would have ensured he was at the peak of physical fitness this season so he could force his way back into the South Africa squad. This obviously wasn't the case - you can't blame the manager for everything.

Gotta agree - any deal has to be a clear £2.5m +. He may be getting on - but pace was never his main asset - so I can't see how his age has too much of an impact on his fee (other than resale value). Though not his biggest fan £1.25m for an established Premiership goal scorer must be considered a joke.

Must have missed something - everybody is going on about how Benni is the best finisher, changed the game etc etc. It was Roberts who scored two goals and changed the game. For me McCarthy did what he does best - an odd glimpse of skill (setting up the goal) totally under-mined by silly back-flicks that gave the ball away too easily. Against a half decent team we would have been punished by McCarthy's inability to hold up the ball - and ill'advised flicks. Also strange looking back at the game - thought Dunn had his poorest match of the season - but he still had an input into all the goals.

For me the big difference is in how the opposition defence has to play against each of these two players. Against Roberts they have a battle - also knowing they have to be wary of the ball over the top utilising his pace. Against McCarthy - just play a half decent off-side trap and you know you will have a reasonable amount of free kicks every time Rovers attack. In a good side, with plenty of pace he would probably be a good player. In a team devoid of a half decent passing midfield player (excl Dunny), with little pace - he is a luxury that I am afraid we can't afford.

I can't really see why the sudden outburst about McCarthy. Yes - he is a decent finisher - but he is rarely in the right place these days anyway. He is frequently off-side, he has no pace - and IMO isn't suited for the Premiership. For the comparisons with Roberts - I will give you that he isn't a natural finisher - but many of the chances he misses he makes himself with his strength and pace. The truth is that McCarthy wouldn't be in the position to take the chances anyway - so I find the comparison flawed. For all the talk of flair - when ? There have been odd glimpses - but nothing frequent enough to justify all the hype. All because he does back-heels that sometimes come off doesn't make him the player that people are making him out to be. He had one good season at Rovers - the rest of the time he has been distinctly average. If we can get anywhere above £2m I would be happy.