DavidMailsTightPerm

This is exactly the type of signing Rovers should be looking to make. Not only is he a 1/2 decent player - but he would raise our profile beyond our wildest dreams. Beckhams name has managed to raise Real Madrids incoming hugely - and I am sure the same would happen if he joined Rovers. Rovers biggest obstacle - won't be football related - but how his numerous sponsors would view him joining a small club like Rovers.

Even with a full team - this would be difficult match. However - heart ruling head - I think we can do it. Hopefully Bert will be back - boy have we missed him (never thought I'd say that). Even with our depleted resources we still have plenty of match winners - after his poor form this season MGP owes us a hat trick of spectacular goals in this one. I think McCarthy and Nonda will both really be up for it - and on their day Zurab and Ooijer can defend well (concentration permitting). The biggest concern has to be centre midfield - especially as Tugay could be bypassed at times - and the Axe - well lets just hope he gives the back four some protection -as he can do little else. On paper - a sound thrashing - but I am gonna be optmistic - heart ruling head 2 - 1 to Rovers. MGP and McCarthy with two goals totally against the run of play - somewhat similar to when we played Bolton - but in our favour this time - ah I can dream

Pathetic - oh come on, get real. Mid-week night match, and on telly as well - I think it was actually a reasonable attendance given recent history. Does anybody remember Trelleborgs - our first UEFA Cup game - if memory was correct only around 14k to watch Rovers (incl Shearer etc). Put this in perspective UEFA Cup Finalists Middlesborough attendances for last seasons UEFA Cup run :- 14,191 12,953 9,436 24,018 25,358 24,521 34,622 Their attendances only picked up after the group stages - and I believe that their pricing structure was even more attractive than Rovers for the later games. There was also some attractive games amongst those (e.g. Roma) to help push up attendances. Given the relative catchment areas - we do ok - I'd love us to sell out every match - but it aint gonna happen

It does annoy me when fans say we were lucky last night. Having one of the best keepers in the Premiership isn't about luck. All because our star man happened to be the keeper doesn't mean we were lucky. Over the 90 minutes I thought it a fairly even contest - they were the better team in the first half - us in the second. For every missed opportunity they had - I can easily point to one we had. Two things struck me last night :- 1. We don't half miss Bert - Neill seems to move more central when going forward - whereas Bert (unusually for him) seems to stick to the touch line far more as an overlapping right back. 2. Grey looked very poor first half - but improved slightly in the second. Hopefully Bert will be back soon so we can get Neill back to left back.

I think his goals have covered up some average lacklustre performances. Only in flashes has he shown what he is capable of. However - his job is to score goals so can't criticize him too much I think we will see far more from him as the season goes on - but at the moment nothing more than a promising start at the moment.

Surprised nobody has mentioned yet - how one of these teams accused Rovers of being thuggish. Amazing how the post match commentary didn't really centre on what a disgrace some of the antics of these highly paid players was. Been a different matter if Rovers had been involved though

Some of the best football I have seen at Ewood for a long time. Has anyone considered that our poor finishing could be in itself a result of fatigue ? Bolton must be the most "professional" team in the league. They push every rule in the book to the absolute limit, breaking up play with petty files, deliberately leaving in elbows, boots etc, pushing - oh and lets not forget group pressure on referees (one previously adopted by another Greater Manchester based team). Irrespective of the result (which was disappointing) - I must say I was proud of everyone of the players (including MGP, who I thought contributed to an exellent team performance in the 1st half - though faded badly in the 2nd). Time to give a number of players a rest - I know MH wants to fight for every Cup - but I feel we need to give the youngsters and fringe players a chance against Chelsea on Wednesday.

Personally I don't see Dunny in Tugay's role. He is much better in the final third where he can use his dribbling ability to greater affect. My biggest question mark against Dunn is his lack of pace - especially when paried in a two man centre midfield. However I have faith in MH. I can see us losing Neill for a minimal fee in January - but in similar circumstances, signing Dunn for much less than the £2m we offered at the end of the last transfer window. MH has done wonders with players with far less talent than Dunn - so maybe he is the manager to make him into the international star that many tipped him to be following his u21 goal against Holland.

But we can't all take your daughters, fights are bound to break out :-) Seriously I am taking my daughter - lets hope the performance and atmosphere make them want to go again this season.

Did Mokeona not replace Savage ? Even though we scored after changing to this formation - I actually thought our pattern of play deteriotated - and we lost shape and balance. If we are going to drop MGP (which I don't think he will) I would play Peter or Gallagher on the left and keep to the 4-4-2 that has served us so well this season.

PrestonWhite - there are a number of reasons why fans don't go to football matches anymore. I know a lot of people disillusioned with poor referring and the unfair competition in the league (in terms of finances). The finances having a large say in how clubs like ours survive - i.e. by not playing the most attractive football at times (I would qualify that by saying that Rovers now play an attractive passing game - but we did stay up in Hughes first season by playing survival football - similar to the Trotters). For me money is a significant factor - so I'll be there, along with kids and friends etc. Though I can't see it being a thriller unless Rovers score first. From Bolton's perspective it is an ideal time to play us - we have been very poor following Europe - especially in the first half - and would have been beaten if we had been playing decent teams.

I think Rovers already do an excellent job in pricing for youngsters. But I think I would go a step further than they already have. 1. Free Season ticket for under 12's, with each full season ticket (Rovers previously did this for under 8's) 2. Occasional one off ticket deals - child comes free with each full ticket purchased. 3. Junior prices - £5 - irrespective of opposition. Also - rather than reducing match day tickets to £15 - why not buy 1 get one free ? Also if we attempted to extend the membership idea - and only made the offers available to signed up Rovers members - would this mean we could get around Premiership rules and not necessarily have to have the same pricing structure for away fans ?

Rovers desperately need a good showing on Thursday - as I beleive that this would put a few more on Sunday's gate. Wouldn't go amiss to get the commentators on channel 5 to mention that tickets for Sundays match are only £15 Irrespective of the gate - I think you have to applaud the board for at least trying to do something positive to address the decline in attendances.

I agree totally with what you are saying - though I wouldn't drop him - we need him playing out of his skin to attract suitable bids for his services in January. However - I would look to start playing Taylor in lower profile games (e.g. Worthy Cup & UEFA Cup if we can get a few wins under our belt quickly) - so he can hopefully slot in. Also, lets not forget Gray - who did a reaonable job last year. Ultimately - Neill has been replaced by Bert - who IMO (at the moment) is actually doing as good, if not better job than Neill did at RB.

I think people under-estimate Tugay's defensive abilities. Yes he doesn't go flying in for tackles - as Reid or Savage do - but how many times do you see him nip the ball off the toes of an opposing player ? His positional play is also excellent - which is half the job. Comparisons with Carrick are jusitified - as neither player really flies into tackles - but their defensive game is more about positioning. For Tugay only becomes a liability when players don't move for him - this is often when he gets caught in possession. As long as we maintain our pass and move - he will continue to shine - and even given his advancing years be one of the best creative central midfield players in the Premiership - especially outside the top 4 teams (we are VERY lucky to have him). The one attribute he has never had is pace - and this is where Reid playing centre-mid helps considerably. Having said that - Savage actually looks like the player that MH paid £3m for - at last so will be hard to displace.

While (rightly) praising Bert - I think we should also recognise MH for his part in this transformation. Also - Bentley has played a part. The pair make an excellent combination down the right hand side - each seeming to make space for the other. Long may it continue.

I agree totally - obviously the first priority is to win matches - but doing that with flair is the only way Rovers will pursuade fans to come down to Ewood. But for a bit of luck - some of the showboating nearly led to a number of goals - wouldn't that have been the icing on the cake Best bit of showboating (if you want to call it that) was Tugay - did u see his pass in the second half to set up Neil - pure class - outside of his foot curving into Neills run. 35 yrs old and still a class act

You were proved right - but I thought just short of 19k was a good effort. Realistically Rovers have rarely sold more than around 22k home supporters - many of the numbers being made up by away fans. The only match that bucked that trend was Charlton (if my memory is correct) when we got promoted and lowered prices to £10 - and the 30k that filled the ground to celebrate the championship win (and that was free )

For the first time for a while I didn't think anyone actually had a bad game. Bentley had a poor game by his recent standards - but his link up play with Emerton is excellent - and of course he scored a tap in. Though there is room for improvement - the general play was at times excellent - and but for a few missed chances, and near things we would have won by an even greater margin. What I currently find amazing - is how the full backs are given apparent license to roam - reminds me a little bit of Man Utd during the 90's. With Nelsen, Reid and Roberts to come back from injury - things are looking up. We just need to keep this little run going with a win against Wigan. For me - just short of 19k home fans was an excellent effort - considering our peak home attendances over the last 10 years probably only rose as high as 23k. I was there when we played Trelleborgs - only about 13k if my memory is correct.

I can see the Axe continuing in midfield - possibly in a five man midfield. Rovers to nick a 1-0 win.

But it does cost £20 to join Still - you do get a few freebies (wallchart etc) that I will be able to pass on to my youngest - plus discounts, ticket priority (may be useful for FA Cup Final ). A good idea - for any that take this up - will attend at least two matches. May not seem many - but is a start.

Well said - for me and my brood - a match day experience can cost up to £100 (incl Petrol etc). Thats a fair chunk of my monthly disposable - and difficult to justify if I can get my fix free via Sky in the local pub. When I first started going to Rovers it was about £1.50 for a junior to get in the BBE - and a whole family could attend for a tenner. Not certain how salaries have risen since the early eighties - but it seemed more in reach of the average man in the street back in those days. I think it is different for different people - but cost is my main driving factor. Having said that - I will take advantage of the Adult Membership scheme that has just dropped through my door - good idea by JW

As Bob took us slightly off topic - no centre half looks good without cover from midfield. Anyone wonder why Terry looked so good for Chelsea - but so average for Engand until we put a defensive midfield player in front of him ? We looked far better when The Axe came on - giving the sort of defensive cover that I believe Reid offers (in part). The way we are playing at the moment is seeing Emerton and Neill virtually playing as wing backs - but without the usual three in the centre to make up for that. The Barton goal was a typical example of a less defensive right back - as it was Emerton that played Barton on-side. Personally I think there are more problems (defensively) than just the centre halves at the moment. As has always been said - teams defend - not just two players.

In either case they should be told to cough up the extra dosh or go away. I can understand the police view on this - but looking at it this is actually fraud.

I agree entirely - for me the only reason that this signing would make sense is that he is an ideal squad player. There aren't many players that can cover all central outfield positions - and do a good job at all of them. When he was at Rovers - he had a spell as an emergency centre half - and I actually thought he was the best centre half that I ever saw in a Rovers shirt (even including Hendry). When he played against us for Celtic he had an unbelievable match in centre midfield. And up front he would provide a better "different option" than Kuqi ever did (even if some way past his best). Overall a good signing (if he is fit) - but I would still think he will end up at Villa