Kidd did sign Ward - but Blake was a Hodgson signing I'm pretty sure. Both signed during the 98/99 season though. Dahlin cost around £2.5m I'm sure. We also ended up in a legal battle with insurers over a back complaint I'm seem to remember.

I did think they had missed quite a bit of the season. That, allied with the fact that Davies was a complete flop, were big contributing factors. Having said that, as per my other post, we did draw away with Lyon without any strikers available. We did have a squad that should have been more than capable of staying up.

I think Perez could play either right back or right midfield. I thought he was pretty decent, but he didn't settle (maybe his wife had issues, or I may have dreamt that). I remember him scoring away at Lyon in a game where we played Wilcox upfront as all out strikers were unavailable. We also had Duff and Johnson coming through on the wings - the main reason for letting Wilcox and Ripley go I think. I remember someone at the time suggesting our struggles were due to Duff and Johnson not being as good defensively as Wilcox and Ripley were previously. Might have been something in that, as they were only kids, but Duff was obviously always going to be a much superior player to Wilcox.

Being pedantic, but pretty sure we finished 6th. We were in top 2 until January in his first season before fading badly, and I think it was a late Chris Sutton free-kick against Newcastle that got us into 6th. As for the question, it's hard to say why we went so badly wrong. As mentioned, I think Sherwood was very anti-Hodgson and I imagine he was a big figure in the dressing room. I remember us playing alright in games in his 2nd season, but then losing. Kevin Davies struggles obviously didn't help, but we did have some poor players as well. I remember getting beaten 4-1 at home by Wednesday and thinking Broomes was way out of his depth. That would have been the same Wednesday side that we beat 7-1 at home the season before in one of Hodgson's first games. I remember him getting the best out of Ripley in particular early on. I think he pushed the full backs further forward, and this helped Ripley.

I was staggered when I saw he was earning that. Ridiculous.

I'd say David Goodwillie, he always reminded me of a Scottish Wayne Rooney. Also Mauro Formica, who was very similar to Gabriel Batistuta in my opinion. ?

My personal favourites:

Loads to choose from. Always a fan of this Bentley one vs Salzburg: Another Bentley one, at Reading: Enjoyed this one from Cole: Shearer in the hammering of Norwich. Lovely football, fantasic finish: This from McCarthy was a top individual effort as well. MCCARRRRRTTTTHHYYYY!!!! Seem to remember David Thompson scoring a few belters as well. I've avoided mentioning the Tugay volley vs Spurs and Reid thunderbolt vs Wigan purely as they've already been covered.

Not only that - but they started with a strike force of Barmby and Campbell. I don't remember him ever being a striker!!

Gordan Cowans?

I did not know David May played for England!!

Andy Marriott? Shane Duffy?

Andy Cole?

Steven Reid?

Paul Robinson?

https://thefishy.co.uk/formtable.php?table=2 Top of the form table for the last 6 games: Rovers Most goals scored in the last 6 games: Rovers (13), Derby (13) - no-one else has more than 10 Least goals conceded in the last 6 games: Rovers (3)

I'm trying to work out if you genuinely meant denim wear or meant demeanour?

9 goals in 20 Premier League starts in his one season at Southampton. Brereton 8 goals in 38 league starts at Forest at the level below. I'd suggest Davies record was far better. More goals, in around half the games at the level above.

They get him to run alongside Charlie Mulgrew.

I've heard the club DO think we will make a signing/signings today.

I reckon it's Sadio Mane. Just to add to the ridiculous list of names being touted about

How can Lenihan not count but Travis does? Wasn't Travis about 17 when he joined from Liverpool?

Think this lad deserves a bit of a mention at the moment. With 8 goals this season - he's only one short of his total goals for last season. Also got 5 goals in the last 10 - of which he's only started 8. 8 goals and 5 assists also puts him level with Dack in terms of goals contributed (10 goals and 3 assists). I wasn't his biggest fan, but he really seems to be improving at the moment and his pace is always a threat. He's realistically the only player that will push Downing for the POTY award, and it wouldn't surprise me if he gets it if he keeps up his recent form. Maybe he's the man to step up and take some of the pressure off in terms of goals in Dack's absence.

I think you'll care when I tell you what the complaint is...

Profit ???