My favourite 'pairing' of intros (back when it was Raw on a Fri night, Smackdown on Sat morning) was Across the Nation for Raw, and Beautiful People for Smackdown. Really got you fired up for the show! Thorn in your Eye was good, but it was on its way out as I started watching WWE a week after WMX7 (yes, what bad timing). There are 3 unpopular opinions that stem from the timing of my fandom. Firstly, I completely bought Stone Cold as the suck-up bad guy. Secondly, Biker Taker was better than it's given credit for. Third, the Invasion angle was legit AWESOME at the time (though clearly it could've been booked better in hindsight). *Dons tin hat*

Those 3 are also established internationals, one of whom is McNair's international teammate (and came through the same youth setup) who could have a word.

Rothwell, Palmer, Davenport were out of the blue too. No links to any if I remember rightly, not even from Pete O'Rourke! Only ones we knew about were Armstrong, and Rodwell. The Brereton signing had a slight 'saga' to it of about 2 weeks, but Freeman was another bid out of the blue.

Personally would only have had Lindsay out of them all. Powell possibly, at a stretch.

Anything to do with the above scenario of giving credit to fans who now can't get it?

I had it in my head he was a good u21 coach before Derby but can't find any trace. At least that would've added some logic to the Chelsea interest beyond 'club legend'.

I enjoyed the final GoT season but there were too many gaps and arcs left unexplored for the story to really make sense. Dany was portrayed as snapping, even though you could tell it was 'meant' to be a gradual decline. But that's what happens when the story leaps 3 months in one episode. Jaime and Brienne needed more exploring too. More definitive explanation that Jaime couldn't allow himself to be redeemed because he was so ashamed of what he'd been doing to appease Cersei. Also Bronn randomly threatening Jaime and Tyrion halfway through at Cersei's behest? Nah, there's more to his story than that. And Dorne basically doesn't exist! Need GRRM to finish the books so I can read them and get the story proper in my head. It's no coincidence that the show has struggled for great dialogue since the end of S5. They should've waited for GRRM to finish the books before beginning filming imo.

Would also argue Samba and Nzonzi were from the definitions of obscurity. One from Hertha Berlin B's reserves, the other a kid from Ligue 3.

*cough* Samba *cough*

Not the fella spotted at Brockhall is it?

Tbf, if that was a case of one CM to tackle and give the ball to the other CM 'possession recycler' that's fine. As long as (like Tugay) they can recycle it straight up either wing or into the path of a running strike. In our case, recycling straight to Dack, Rothwell, Chapman, or Graham (I'd even include Armstrong and Brereton if they were already running at the box) would be superb. Just need to be sure this recycling player has a bloody good pass on them 80% of the time.

Doesn't strike me as a happy world.

Peter Whittingham had no England career nor much (if any) PL experience though.

Was Dack not a brave move? I'm not saying TM is brave by nature or anything, but that was a brave gamble to build the team around a guy who loves his nights out and had community sentences to carry out.

Cautiously optimistic. Welcome Stewart

That's what happens when you turn SD into Raw Recaps. They need to commit to the brand split and have both shows run at 2 hours.

For those saying Hanley is a 'hoof' player, I don't remember that at all! I remember a defender who (within his ability) would maraud forward from defence quite regularly, but knew when to get rid or play wide to Conway. He's not a 'baller' by any means but better than hit n hope imo. By far the best option for a brute CB that's realistic imo.

I'll give this a mention at the Trust AGM tomorrow, see if they can do any prodding for next season.

Nowt wrong wi thi! Get thisel up an mop yer brow.

My preferred theory is we were keeping him sweet all this time just in case, but now the budget is agreed, we're after bigger, more proven, more expensive fish. Maybe we went cold on him over the season due to performances for Charlton (many on here less than impressed on viewing). Maybe we were pursuing him for the squad because he was free, to replace Downing rather than go into the X1. Could've been a breaking point in January if Bauer/agent had asked for more money before committing to a loan, because they saw we'd let go of a CB so 'more desperate', but we were holding out for the original wages agreed? Maybe we offered 10k as a squad player, while PNE offered 12k as a regular starter? Even reversing the amounts, any player worth their salt will pick games. As far as transfers in general are concerned, we've been good at keeping them quiet until a day or two before signing. For that reason I still feel reasonably confident of a good window. Frustrating that there's not much news, for sure, but I have faith we'll be after better than Bauer.

I think I remember the article re: paper hit rates that AAK was referring to, and the Mail hit rate for Rovers (while astonishingly good compared to average) was still around 35-40%, so less than half. Unless someone manages to find it and makes me look a complete arse.

My take on it too. Bauer was only an option if he was willing to come and sit on the bench or work hard to compete. The free players have to be significantly better than our young players to be worth spending on, or want low wages. Was Bauer any better than what we have currently? Based on the games I watched, no. I was more impressed by our own Magloire. Personally think we'd moved on after January unless he seriously dropped his demands.

If that’s not the away kit (assuming I won’t like whatever it ends up being), I’d just buy that. And the home version, frankly.

If we used Mulgrew in midfield (money saver), and brought in Hanley and Bidwell, I’d genuinely be thrilled. Mulgrew and Travis in a midfield should have enough about it to support an attacking 3 of Armstrong, Dack, and Rothwell behind a striker. Whoever the striker is (DG, Ben, or new guy) would have to be confident holding their position though.

I’ve only seen my Dad cry at football twice. 1. The 27,000 crowd vs Oxford in L1. He never thought we’d get so full again in his lifetime. 2. Matt Jansen applauding the Blackburn End while in a Bolton kit. ‘That boy saved us from a long time in the second division’.