A great deal of animosity in unwelcome transfer requests/bids occurs when the player has recently signed an improved contract. As theno says, if he hadn't signed then there wouldn't be as much bother.

The memory is a bit distant, but isn't this saga similar to Rangers tapping up Hendry and Newcastle tapping up Shearer?

And me too!

Are we expecting a bit of bother?

They have, tis the Fulham one what is the wrong way round, look further up. Are you sure - have a look at Chelsea?

All this 'nearer to the family' stuff sounds to me like a smokescreen he's thrown up because the fans have turned on him. After the interview, Dave Bassett said Savage was insecure and needed to be loved all the time. Sounds about right.

Sounds reasonable short term (with the exception of Hartson IMO). Longer term I would like to see more use made of th'Academy.

That's that then - he's off to the Racecourse!

But where's the gain, selling Ferguson to buy Savage? (in terms of the wage bill or the quality of player).

We are indeed fortunate.......... .............but that's the point of this thread. Many Rovers fans had written off the club to be relegated, but I believed we could, not only survive, but also finish above the man who abandoned us.

He's making a good job of it now.

Calm down

This is classic chicken & egg. If the board keep selling, no surprise that ticket sales fall!

That's a key difference (as well as fitness). Under Hughes we are beginning to see a settled team. I am expecting to see certain players in certain positions eg Emerton and Reid. It wasn't like this last year. You couldn't hope to guess his selection (or who he'd fall out with next, for that matter)

BBC News 24 reporter has just said: 'Souness's luck has to change sometime' Maybe later rather than sooner.

A couple of Rovers fans started up a 'oh wanky wanky chant' and a couple of bolton fans went over and started something, there wer a couple of druken punches thrown, but the police were very quick to interven, so quick i almost got run over by a horse! Other than that i didnt see anything. Also a question. Bolton said they sold out all of their home seats. Why in that case were there constant gaps all over the place? I know people go out for some food or whatever, but that was riduclus. I think brassed off season ticket holders who don't attend are still counted in the 'attendance' because the seat is still sold. I bet there's plenty of them in Bolton right now.

The Wellhead Tavern is worth a visit. It's on Wellhead Lane just off Witton Lane (closer to Perry Barr) 10 mins walk from the visitor's end.

Didn't see any bother, but the Trotters fans had all gone by the time the ref blew!

philipl The point I was making is that the Board could have pushed Souness before he jumped. Cole said before the Fulham game that he would probably still be at Ewood if Souness had left in the Summer.

I agree - they are way over used. They should be reserved for a club's former players, and not Iraqi hostages etc. People can use churches if they want to pay their respects.

Mark Correction: could have been avoided with better direction. The board should take some responsibility for failing to stop the rot and allowing last season's top scorer to be GIVEN away.

I did - very unusually - a one goal lead and away from home! I am also finding Rovers enjoyable to watch for the first time in 2 years.

Rovers are not only fitter, they are looking more confident generally and more solid defensivly. Seems like Mr Hughes has in fact managed to 'polish a turd'!

There was a girl with black hair and big jugs who used to wear a Rovers shirt on the away travel in the 90's - might have been from Accy. As her coach crawled through a London high street packed with Rovers fans (and West Ham fans I think) she obliged and got 'em out in the back window. I was priveleged to be enjoying a pint on the pavement as she went past.

Football matches on several recent dates have had a minute's silence for Ken Bigley, Emlyn Hughes, and Brian Clough. This week we are seeing one of the world's worst natural tragedies in living memory unfolding. Bolton v Rovers took place as if nowt had happened. Can't help thinking it would be different if the loss of life had happened in the good ol' USA.