Mike E

Vaccination status isn't proof you don't have Covid-19. Fyi (for everyone), to save the NHS app crashing for your pass, take a screenshot of it 👍

One of my favourite football films has made it onto Netflix: I Believe In Miracles - The story of Brian Clough's European Cup Winning Team. It's a documentary, told really well through the eyes of the players who (as with every player from the 70s/80s) are all fantastic raconteurs. Very funny and very poignant at times, and a real reminder of just what Clough managed to achieve with a midtable, second division side after ruining his reputation with his Derby exit, Brighton and Leeds.

Tell you what. I'll never be Mowbray In. But I can't be Mowbray Out on this run of superb results.

Re: Ads, it's not a huge issue, but I'm finding that the X to close them is now separate from the advert, kind of making the cross get in the way.

Under Gary Bowyer, probably. Before that, I'd have to say the season Hughesy kept us up.

Yep, my dad always used to go to Burnley if they were at home and Rovers weren't, even still in a Rovers jersey. Couldn't do that now, couldn't even go to the town centre!

Bet he literally simulates FM with the various players and tactics and decides what works after 100 trials.

I think the answer to the Nyambe question in an ideal world would be: Get him to sign a contract. Then bring in an upgrade in the position. This secures him as an asset, and we know he's an adequate right back even on form. Competition (ideally a better player) in his position will force him to sink or swim, and at 24 he can't afford to merely tread water. I don't think he's had ANY proper competition for his spot, I wouldn't even count Bennett in that either as I saw him more as a more general versatile utility player.

Buckley has a talent you can't coach and he's got better through being tougher, not through any coached skill. Dack, Rothwell, Travis, Lenihan are all very good examples of stagnation at 1st team level coaching too.

I once remarked to Roy Keane that I thought he'd be taller. From his icy glare, I've never known such genuine fear in my life.

None whatsoever, never heard of the bloke. Tony Parkes, however...

Legend, my arse! That word is for Crompton, Dalglish, Clayton, Douglas, Shearer, Hendry, Tugay. Mowbray isn't even a David Dunn.

As anyone would and should tbf.

Buckley has always been a talented 'baller', just needed to gain the strength and grit (which he has, seemingly) to become a footballer. Now he's one of the first names on my team sheets!

Of course it is. It always is. Failure to secure your assets is BAD management. Better to sign him up on a deal that breaks the wage structure by, say, another £20k/week (£1m/year) if it puts his value up by another £5m or more.

I'm going to really split hair's here, but I argue that they are better football players, but Buckley is the better footballer.

Bloody softy!

Wharton reminds me of Craig Short. Reads the game well, strong, and plays the safe ball whether that's to the full back, midfield or hoof out. None of these nonsense long balls to nobody in particular.

We want seven!

Agreed, I point the finger at the manager for misusing the players.

I'd take him now tbh

Very tidy preview!

It's been mentioned in jest, but Utd could do a lot worse than Allardyce. Plus he'd be a man with a point to prove re: winning trophies.

Maybe if it rains, but I get too hot wearing them.

Like @J*B, I completely forgot I was doing this Preview! Must be an Admin thing. FWIW, I did secure an interview for the Preview with a Robin/Garibalian of significance to us Rovers... My interview with Andy Cryer, formerly of the LET Rovers pages and lifelong Bristol City fan: 1. Let's start simple. When and how did you become a Bristol City fan? AC: My dad was born and bred a City fan - coming from a little village just outside Bristol - and has been a season ticket holder for as long as he can remember. Bristol City was always going to be my club. The first game I remember going to was beating Bolton in the 1986 Freight Rover Trophy Final at Wembley in front of about 60,000, but started going from the age of 5 I think. Been City ever since - although sometimes I wish it wasnt! 2. Hovering in lower midtable with a mixed bag of some great and some poor results, how do you feel about City's fortunes so far this year? AC: It would take the most optimistic City fan to be happy about our fortunes this season. We are not in a great state, with a very small squad, full of young, inexperienced players and no money to improve the squad. Survival has to be the aim and we will probably scrape our way to that with a 16th-placed finish. Offer it now and most of us would snap your arm for it. We have only won once at home since last January (a very lucky win against Barnsley last time out at Ashton Gate) so Rovers should look forward to playing us at our place. 3. Nigel Pearson has had his fair share of controversial moments over the years. How is he doing for the Robins? AC: It's a strange one. Look at the stats and you would think he would be under huge pressure to be sacked - he isn't, not yet anyway. Despite one having one home win to his name, the attendances have stayed around the 20,000 mark, and most City fans realise he isn't to blame for the mess the club appears to be in. Since the start of 2016, City have signed about 70 players (no exaggeration) and the majority of them have now left the club having proved to be pretty dismal signings. We have also sold the likes of Adam Webster, Josh Brownhill, Joe Bryan, Lloyd Kelly, Bobby Reid and Jonathan Kodjia to bigger and better things and replaced with much-lower quality players - or even relying on our youth team. Pearson has inherited a mess and - while he has shown little sign of improving things - most hope he gets time to turn things around, and it will take a lot of time. (Updated addition) Pearson is also unfortunately suffering from long covid - after a second bout of the illness - and has been off work recently. Football takes a back seat when talking about someone’s health and first and foremost my thoughts are with him and his family. But obviously not having a manager is taking its toll. We have also recently seen our two coaches Downing and Simpson leave the club, leaving us with assistant manager Curtis Fleming pretty much on his own. Far from ideal. 4. Would Pearson beat Tony Mowbray in a fist fight? AC: The old Pearson definitely would. But he seems to have mellowed in recent years, so I'd probably go for Mowbray now. 5. Who are City's stand-out players currently? AC: It's tough actually thinking of any.... Our goalkeeper Daniel Bentley is probably one of the best in the league and has often kept us in games this season. Tomas Kalas is also an exceptional no-nonsense centre back - as shown for the Czech Republic at the Euros - but he doesn't get a lot of protection around him. The only other player really worth a mention is our 20-year-old centre midfielder Han-Noah Massengo. We signed him from Monaco - who he had aleady played Champions League football for - and he really is an exceptional footballer. In a good team, he could be something special, and I fully expect him to be playing at the top one day and featuring for France. I doubt he will stay with us for very long. 6. Are there any Rovers players you'd want in your side? AC: Ben-Brereton Diaz of course..... our striking options are awful. Experienced pro Chris Martin, who holds the ball up ok but has no pace and won't score many goals, Andi Weimann, who runs a lot but again won't score many goals and Nakhi Wells, who has been an unmitigated disaster since signing. Dack would also be a massive player for us. To be honest though, I'd take Nyambe, Rothwell, Gallagher and Buckley as well... 7. Home or away, have you a favourite game or goal between Bristol City and Rovers? AC: I don't have many great memories of Rovers v City. I remember Rochina and Rhodes doing us over at Ashton Gate a few seasons back under Kean's guardianship in the Championship. My favourite one probably has to be our 1-0 win at Ewood Park when Pissano headed home to virtually score our safety. Sadly you guys went on to get relegated, which did make me sad. But it was a great atmosphere in the away end that afternoon. 8. You covered Blackburn Rovers for so many years in the LET. Do you still follow (dare I say support) the club at all? AC: I definitely still follow Rovers and - before the pandemic - still went to a few games when I couldn't get City and wasn't working. I still have some good friends at the club and some good friends who are fans of the club and I would love you guys to get back in the Premier League one day - seems a big ask though. One of the first things I do once I know how my lot have got on is check your result and whether Big Ben has got any closer to that 20-goal mark and breaking the bookies hearts. Im not a big fan of people saying they have a 'second team' in football, but Rovers is as close as it gets for me. 9. You moved from the LET to the BBC, what are you up to these days? AC: I am still at the BBC and working as senior producer for BBC Sport online for the football department. I spent a bit of time as social media editor for BBC Sport online as well - before taking the senior role for football. It's a geat job - but I do sometimes miss that feeling of being so involved in one club, although I dont miss being ignored by Steve Kean most press conferences after my latest criticism.... 10. You covered Rovers during one of the most volatile periods in club history. There were regular protests, dodgy goings-on with agents, players actively disrespecting the fanbase, and a blatant liar managed the team. This culminated in the controversial 'Time to go' headline, which many fans took to the game to brandish in protest at Steve K***. How was it from a relative outsider POV to report on the club? AC: I loved covering Rovers, I just wish I could have reported on happier times for the fans - who I grew very fond of (well most of them). I accepted the job when I was covering Swindon Town and when Mark Hughes was boss, by the time I started Ince was appointed and it was all downhill from there - bar a bit of stability under Allardyce and Bowyer. It was/ is a brilliant family club with a real community feel and some of the players I covered were great players and real gentleman as well. The likes of Ryan Nelsen, Morten Gamst Pedersen, Dunny, Warnock, Emerton, Chris Samba, Salgado, Paul Robinson (I could go on), were an absolute joy to cover both on and off the field. While John Williams and Tom Finn were absolute gents, sadly the club lost their way in that regard after the takeover and the enjoyment went a bit. But I never lost the respect for a brilliant fan base who simply loved their club. From what I have seen over the past few seasons, it seems as though that family feel has returned to the club and that is great to see. 11. What will the score be? AC: 2-0 Blackburn Rovers. I'd take a 0-0 draw now though!