FA Cup third round under Hodgeson I think. We won 4-2 in a comfortable game. Only things I can remember about it being that it was one my late Grandpa took me too and Patrick Valery being unable to turn faster than an oil tanker , slipping in an attempt to do so and letting them score.

We can but hope. Bit early for their usual implosion mind.

Indeed, totally agree. Only thing is not sure he can bring in his own players when there's 37 potential players there already. As you say they need to shift about a dozen out to get to a normal.squad size before you even think of adding players. Horrific mismanagement of the club by the upper management to allow this situation to happen. Edit one last thing there's over 3 players per position! No wonder there is poor moral - some.of them won't get anywhere near a game even with an entire first 11 injured! Hard to be motivated when there is no chance of getting first team football.

Good point had forgotten about Charlton but think they may (just!) have enough to survive. The Stoke fact of 37 players with first team experience speaks of a hugely bloated squad and of a team in bad way. Often the weaker teams use the most players and 37 suggests that there's not been a settled way of playing - much less a team - for a very long time. No wonde they are in such a bad way.

Thinking on it my only worry about this one is its another game where Rovers are heavy favourites and we really don't do well in those situations. Our good run has come against teams who feel they could take something from the game rather than fearing Rovers. This game is a bit different - Wigan are on a horrendous run, we are in super form - I can see them sitting back and trying to hold out for the point. We really struggle with this. Hopefully our good form blows them away. on form and on quality of players we blow them away but still have that slight nagging feeling that this isn't our favourite type of game.

Read an article on BBC about Luton and was really impressed by how they do things. Determined not to get into masses of debt, have a league 2 budget yet are determined to have the highest standards possible. I hope they stay up and show it is possible. Suspect they may go down but think Wigan are in a far worse run than Luton so more likely to be between Luton and Stoke imo.

Agree. The parallels with Sunderland are stark. Both have tried a number of managers and it doesn't seem to be working. It's almost as if they need to get the vast majority of the players out and start again. Even then success is far from.guarenteed. I'd be very worried as a Stoke fan as Boro are a pretty bad team. Not being able.to beat them and you wonder where they will pick points up from.

I'd tend to agree although don't most Spanish clubs recruit only in their region and that breeds a stronger identity in the team and possibly bond with the fans? I'm not too sure but I wonder if we couldn't learn a thing or two about bringing youth through from Spanish clubs. Also on the local front part of me feels it'd be better if they were local - easier to settle/convince to join and perhaps this improves their chance of making it, but then given we are locally competing with a lot of clubs in the north west including some.powerhpusr clubs perhaps further afield is better after all. Sorry bit of a Friday evening brain dump! As long as they are coming through at a decent rate and quality though that's the main thing. Always room to think about how you improve though.

Not sure am way off the mark - although these things are always somewhat subjective - from what I have seen and heard there's been a number of clangers to say the least. The rating also factors in the situation letting a promising young keeper go, Walton being on loan hence no long term benefit and could return leaving us with a terrible keeper. In short the circumstances and performances contributed to that rating. it's hard to say how he would have done. I think he would have done well but plenty of players have started well and done badly and vice versa in my time of watching Rovers that I didn't want to judge too quickly. I'm not sure of so few games though we can say with certainty one way or the other. It's very hypothetical. Every penny counts and given he knew Chapman and he seems to have a host of issues it seems a poor signing regardless of level. might lean to a 5 but considering fee and what we needed I couldn't go any higher. He's certainly not no 1 striker at a mid table club quality as yet. I hope we do too. But that is one game. Even Bell had a good game and am not rating him a good signing! He has promise but it hasn't as yet been fulfilled. And if it isn't going to be we might have well have invested elsewhere. Over the course of the half season he's only done a handful of decent games and I feel the money could be spent better elsewhere where there are more pressing needs. Good to see what other fans think regardless of whether agree or disagree. Hopefully this gives a bit more clarity as to why I rated as I did. ? If we need to be looking at a new keeper than it seems to me Walton isn't doing the job we need him to - and therefore isn't a good signing. Again, part of this is the situation surrounding him being here as well as his performances. Thanks for the input ?

So as we approach the January window, I figured it was time for a look back at our summer transfer dealings. I've done it the last few seasons now, and it's been fair to say that our transfer policy up till now has been a mixed bag. Below are my thoughts on how we did this summer and am interested in the opinions of others. Please note, this is an evaluation based on our half season so far, not just our current great run, nor our 6 game winless run, but hopefully a balanced look at the 5 months. Also factored in to my thinking is cost and squad balance and needs. Walton - 3 A poor signing as the clangers remain prevalent without the extraordinary saves of Raya to help him out. Poor distribution too. What makes this signing worse is that Walton is only on loan, meaning that even if he does eventually develop (doubtful imo) we won't be the ones who benefit. Add in he can be recalled, albeit that is only a drawback because of the incompetence of our understudy, and the fact it's not really building forward and progressing (new keeper next year) and you really question the sense of this signing. Tosin - 8 A few bits hit and miss but we are much more defensively solid with him in the side. Still think we needed a hard nut centre back of our own, but he's the next best thing. Quality distribution is a real plus, and is a big improvement defensively on Mulgrew and Rodwell. We don't have enough centre backs to take advantage of his versatility, and he is only on loan, but despite these minor gripes Tosin has been a great addition to the team. Cunningham - N/A He looked like he would be a good signing and boost the team but an injury early on means its unfair to rate him one way or another. Shame, as I suspect he would have made a big difference, but don't want to criticise or praise TM on an unknown. Johnson - 4 Started brightly but quickly fades. Seems to be the story of his season and every time he plays (bar the last game). A really promising start but attitude and lack of fitness have meant he's now below Evans, and I'm not sure he's much better in Bennett in that role too. Given his age means he's not a long term signing who will improve, and his overall lack of impact on the first team, this seems like a real waste of a wage. He's ok but given we had a couple of other players who can do a job as well if not better there, it doesn't seem like a step up improving the team. Funds would have been much better used supporting the defence then adding another ageing average centre mid in. Holtby - 8 Not fully hit the ground running due to fitness issues, but then if he didn't have said issues he wouldn't be at Rovers. A quality player on the ball, and fits well into our system. Think as his fitness improves we'll see more from him and a bargain on a free. A very clever signing. Downing - 9 A very clever signing. Not had a bad game yet, and done well in a couple of positions. He gives us balance and width on the left and a good supply of crosses for our strikers. He's also proved a reliable left back which is something we haven't had in the squad of late bar a brief dalliance with Cunningham. All in all, performing above and beyond expectations. Shame he is 35 and won't be around for that long. Had we got the rest of our transfer business right I feel that Downing would have been the final piece of the jigsaw that would push us towards promotion. Chapman - 2 Not sure whether it's attitude or fitness but given TM has worked with him before, this can't have come as a surprise. So just a waste of a wage, which was entirely avoidable. Gallagher - 4 Yes, there have been an improvement of late, and yes there are signs of hope. But we needed a replacement ready to take Graham's place and Gally isn't that (yet). Additionally only 3 goals isn't a great return for half a season. Not that TM helped by putting him on the wing on numerous occasions. There's been a fair number of indifferent and poor performances up front and on the wing and given we spent most our budget on him, this really isn't the sort of return that you need. The money could have been spent better - especially on the defence and keeper position, and he hasn't performed like what we should get for a £5 million striker. That said given we own him and his age, the promising signs mean that he could develop and become a good player. The problem is that wasn't what we wanted/needed this season. Overall imo another season of boom and bust. There are issues of the transfers we didn't do - namely a few more defenders and a back up keeper. It only took the Cunningham injury for us to look very thin on the ground, whilst our current keeper is safe as houses regardless of how he plays as he has no competition/competent back up. The positive is that the successes have been very successful, and there haven't been any absolute expensive flops such as Whittingham and Bereton. Some may think I've been overly harsh on Gally and Johnson but I think when fees are considered and what was needed, then they haven't matched up to what is required. That said neither is the utter flop of previous expensive failures, and aren't liabilities, so perhaps that is a step in the right direction. Overall though another season of 50:50 in the transfer window from TM.

Thing is I think a lot of players do, and always have. They come up through the ranks, make a few promising cameos but really, just aren't good enough. We had a lad in the promotion season under Souness (called Thomas I think) who played a couple of games, wasn't really up to it, moved elsewhere then I think sunk down through the leagues. And am sure there are a ton more examples (Marlon Brooms spring, s to mind.) The issue is that in most of these cases they don't take an entire transfer budget and cost £7 million. As you say he looks totally lacking in every way, and its baffling how someone can look so out of their depth and be brought, much less how they command such a big fee.

Yeah I totally can see this and think you are quite possibly correct. On paper I would possibly go with this too. Thing is though Arma's recent form necessitates that he is in the team. 2 goals and 2 assists in the last 6 games is a good return and if we are picking the team on performance levels I'd have to have Arma in there. Great we are debating who is best to go in the team rather than least worst!

Ahem, yes. The 4 changes back to the team that did the majority of the winning run. Not sure the changes made for the last game would have been made had we not had 4 games in quick succession. With a decent rest those who have done the majority of our good run should be ready to play.

Let's keep it simple. Standard back 4 with Downing back in. Not sure I trust Bell to have another good game. Let's go with the stats and get Evans and Travis back together. Also Evans is in the form of his life, which is rare, so let's capitalise whilst it lasts. Dack, Holtby Armstrong for me . Armstrong is on form and therefore merits a place, Holtby I think may have a bit more nous - although wouldn't be disappointed with Rothwell there and his battling brought to the mix -and Dack because he is essential Graham up front because he is better than Gally, more likely to get a goal and has a better partnership with Dack. Keep a winning team where possible and let's keep the run going.

Yeah. Lota of managers lose their way at a club and need a change. Souness by the end has lost the plot here but did great work the first 3 years. Wagner did really well getting promoted and staying up. Not too surprising he is doing well elsewhere. Even Coyle had one success on his record - Ince had several! Most managers click at one club and get something right, the good managers do it at numerous places. As for the odeous one - a comparison with Bowyer is interesting. Both promoted vastly beyond what they expected. Neither had any success (Bowyer did show he was nifty in the transfer market at least.) And yet since then after, imo, being overpromoted and with only Rovers on his managerial CV Bowyer has had several jobs. Kean has had no others in English football. This to me.speaks volumes of the regard he is held in. Equally that no one has gone for him even as a coach is huge. (Understandable mind.) Appleton as others have said has done well as assistant manager. To not be valued - or more likely trusted - as a coach even, again speaks volumes. I suppose he is set up for life after his scam with us but if he is the football man he says he is (although you can't trust a word from the snakes mouth), IF he has the love of the game he professes then I wonder if he thinks his betrayal at Rovers was worth it. He's relatively young and could have had a fair few more years in English football as a coach and perhaps even worked his way up (unlikely but possible). All that's been thrown away on a quick buck and betrayal. Being honest, uncharitable as it is, i do hope he misses English football and realises what he has lost. It'd be scant payment for what he cost us.n

This is a very tough topic which speaks volumes about how bad the decade has been. Think we're handicapping ourselves by going a 4-4-2 because as others have said up front we have an embarrassing number of possibilities. Varney, Brown, Stokes, Goodwiilie all deserve a place in the team they're that bad. That we've had at least 4 in a decade, and they all played a number of games for us, really highlights how bad the last decade has been.

Think this is the right thread - apologies if not and please feel free to move it - but Macclesfield have been docker 6 points for not fulfilling fixtures. I do wonder how those in the football league can actually look in a mirror. A TOTALLY different punishment to Bolton within 6 months of each other. I mean, even for the EFL that seems overly hypocritical and incompetent. Not forgetting the Boro precedent either. It almost seems as depending on their view of the club, your punishment differs. FIFA, UEFA and the leech that is the Premier League are rightly criticised for their avriciousness and corruptness but the EFL is just as appalling it seems.

Even my wife who isn't a football fan knows Leeds always bottle it! HTap on a clip to paste it in the text box.That said I agree this time barring some spectacular event causing upheval/disturbance I think Leeds will get promoted.

So PNE had a run of 4 defeats and yet still sit in 3rd, whilst Forest, Bristol City and Fulham (I think) have all struggled of late. I think this shows that all teams are going to go on good and bad runs in this division. The challenge is keeping the bad ones short and maximising the good ones. In this respect am not sure the break comes at a good time for Rovers. Millwall being top half is very impressive and they're sneakily climbing the table. At the bottom the bottom teams playing each other all drew and.won't be encouraged to see Barnsley win. This championship is rediculously competitive!

Too many changes and too many players in the wrong position and what do I know... Great 3 points and huge credit to TM. Wasn't the obvious team or tactics and was a really hard place.to come to - only lost 2 at home in a competitive season - so credit to TM I'm one of his biggest critics but this was a fantastic result. Winning games like this is the stuff of promotion. I think most people would have taken a point and getting wins in these situations is what makes a promotion team.different from an also ran. It's only 1 tricky game but coupled with a run of home.wins it looks encouraging. Not going to get too excited by Bell, Bereton or Johnson's performances - still not convinced they are good players. BUT it is a hugely encouraging sign that they can and did put in a decent performance. I'd still strengthen in Jan but even these players not being dead weights would be a huge step forward. Encouraging signs, although not getting too carried away yet. Worries - too hunky dorey that we don't strengthen in Jan and the squad still looks thin in places. But when all players even your weaker ones perform well you know you are heading in the right direction.

Horrible, horrible team. In fairness as I posted in another thread can the previously selected players keep going given age and fitness issues of many? That said even if the answer to that question is no the answer certainly doesn't lie in Bennett at left mid and Bereton in any shape or form, much less out of position. Not happy with Bell in the team either but realistically who else have we got who is fit and can play there. At least Nayambe retains his position and we are playing 2 defensive mids.

Pretty torn about last night. On one hand a point when not playing particularly well is no bad thing and given we've (rightly) played the same team in a hectic schedule tiredness must be setting in. We have 2 mid 30s players in the team, Graham and Downing plus 2 injury prone in Lenihen and Evans so that's a third of the team I would imagine feeling the strain of recent games. On the flip side going ahead and having a numerical advantage yet not taking advantage of either is pretty disappointing. Regardless of the result being good on paper, the circumstances mean that the chances of getting 3 points were a bit more readily available and we didn't take it. A better team would have. If we don't get playoffs then there will be a lot more instances that cost us that chance over the game Vs Swansea - the games Vs Luton and Charlton at home or capitulating at PNE when 2-0 up immediately spring to mind. That said given we are playing catch up and in such circumstances letting go of an advantageous situation is disappointing and more significant. I feel like the result Vs Bristol will also shape how we see things and whether we view it as a positive or negative point. That said a win and loss Vs Bristol and Swansea would see us better off then two hard fought draws. However the fact we're disappointed with a point rather than resigned to not winning or relieved to get a point suggests we are on an upward trajectory. Better than what was, but question marks as to whether it is enough imo.

My way of seeing it although given Luton beat Wigan and have had a couple of wins of late perhaps they are more likely to survive of the two? Don't think Boro or Reading are totally safe either.

Charlton are sinking at a scarily impressive rate. Good win for PNE to stop the rot - a dislikeable team but the manager is doing well there overall. The same perhaps could be said of Millwall especially given their budget. Still don't think Woodgate is the right man for Boro despite a decent point - and Forest are certainly showing they are chokers/bottlers after their last 2 games. Decent team but not ruthless enough for playoffs imo. Overall apart from the top 2 there isn't anything to fear in this division. Bit like this year's premiership really...

Us playing Chelsea and De Gouey (so) their Dutch keeper coming up for a corner and getting caught out and us scoring. Pretty sure that never happened, against us at least, but have a memory of watching said event on match of the day. Strange how the memory plays tricks. I think I also remember Steele having a good game but am much more sceptical on that one.