That's a relief. Suppose the other obvious candidate is Nuttall. Wouldn't mind that quite so much, more important that he's playing somewhere.

More away from home in fairness, but I can remember a couple in the 'almost got in the play offs year'. Birmingham away, when Rudy got 3. I genuinely think that was as dominant a performance from a Rovers attacking player that I've seen in years, probably should have put it in the best performances thread actually. They were dire, but he absolutely tore them a new one. Not to the same extent, but he did well against Charlton away later in that run. There were plenty of other games when he would torture the opposition full back but with no end product, no disputing that, but I think it retrospect, persevering with King would have probably paid more dividends than persevering with Marshall, even if his final ball was light-years ahead.

Water under the bridge now, but on the wing. The only time we ever really looked in any danger of going up under GB was when we played: Conway Cairney Evans/Lowe King Rhodes Rudy

Top player a few years ago, not sure about where he's at now. We've already plenty central midfielders. If we're to sign a 33 year old, I'd want him to be easily better than we already have. If he is, why are Middlesbrough letting him go?

Probably right, although the gap isn't insurmountable. Wouldn't totally write us off, but I'd expect us to finish about 7th-10th if I'm being truthful, even if that happens to be above 'Boro. Think the GB comparison is about right too. The only difference for me is that then, the squad was good enough, just that GB probably was't the man to take us to the next level in retrospect. I think this time the roles are reversed; Mowbray is that bit cannier and more ruthless, but the squad as things stand probably falls a little short. Next season is more likely to be the big one for this squad.

Conflicted. A little bit to those who have revelled in our struggles in previous years, but then again I never really got the impression that was more than a few idiots on the internet. It's looking like the damage has probably been done in terms of getting them relegated and skinting them, bar extreme fortune with new owners. I'll take that as my schadenfreude and hope it doesn't go much further. Wouldn't wish losing a football club on anyone. Except MK Dons.

Looking at Sunderland, Rovers and Rodwell, I think some of this shows how when the culture and environment of a club is on it's backside, it's really hard for any individual to cut through and not seem like they're part of the problem. You get the odd one like Bennett, but by and large perceptions of individual players are viewed through a lens of the whole set-up being toxic. Throw in a big contract, injury problems and maybe some half true stories about wanting to play, and it's not hard to see where the animosity comes from. All of a sudden, in a club no longer on a downward spiral, with a proper manager and a healthy culture in the dressing room, Rodwell looks as good as gold. I expect a large majority of players would behave no differently in his position, at either club. Cultures are set by managers, maybe a handful of players and the club going in the right direction. Most players would just get their head down and fit in, be that good or bad.

Loan til the end of the season will do him good. Unless he shows him training that he's streets ahead of all of them, he's not getting ahead of Evans, Smallwood, Reed and now Travis. Quickest way he can force his way in will be through going to a league 1 side and stand out.

That was my first thought too. One way of gettinga couple of hundred grand in the summer, maybe free with a sell on clause. Doesn't look like he'll ever cut the mustard for a championship club with aspirations, but the boy will be on buttons. Could be a way of turning a small profit.

Not got round to watching this one yet, but if it's as good as Premier Passions, Sunderland's last documentary in the mid 90s, then I'm in for a treat. A particular highlight was one of their coaches, I believe Bobby Saxton, describing at length how he hates short passing. Not aged well that one.

Late entry for top five, Oxford at home is worth mentioning, if just to remind us of the potential we have. Ewood full in the third tier. Sun out. Rovers win. More of a party than a football match. A modern classic.

Great thread. Some are more obvious, so I've tried to think about some of the less obvious ones which have stayed with me. In no particular order: Best 2008 - Everton 2-3 Rovers. Ince's first game, Dunn, Roque and a last minite Ooijer winner. Scenes at the end. 2004 - Fulham 3 - 4 Rovers. Watched the scores come in over Ceefax. Late winner, instrumental in keeping us up. 2008 - Bolton 1 - 2 Rovers. Don't really regard these lot as rivals, really, but Kev Nolan was on record as not liking us. He scores the best goal of his life and celebrated like mad, before a Samba header and a Jason Roberts deflection wiped the smile off his face. bliss. 2007 - Rovers 2 - 0 Man City. FA cup game. Amazing atmosphere at Ewood, they had high expectations and we were a total class above. Collectors item from Mokoena and a jubilant Matt Derbyshire in front of the Blackburn end at the end. One of the great Ewood moments of modern times. 2006 - Rovers 3-2 'Boro. Fairly inconsequential game in the end, but a game for me which signalled that we were back on the way up, after a couple of seasons on the wane. Good 'Boro side, with several UEFA cup finalists in the team. Scabbed their way to 2-2 after Savage's only career red card at club level. Bellamy was still too good for them. Worst 2002 - Celtic - both UEFA cup games, for different reasons but both deserve to be included in the same breath. Horrible feeling. 2007 - Wigan 5 - 3 Rovers. I'm from Wigan, so the indignity of losing to a jumped up non-league team who have only ever had success due to a wealthy Blackburn fan was bad enough. That it should have been a special comeback win, had it not been for a dodgy Emerton red card, made it worse. 2014 - Sheff Wed 3 - 3 Rovers. Looked like Bowyer had timed the play off push to perfection. 3-1 up, last minute equaliser. Gutted. 2009 - Rovers 2 - 2 City. 2-0 up on Sparky's return, with 5 minutes left. Chucked it away. 2007 - Rovers 0 - 0 Leverkusen. That side had a genuine chance of winning a European trophy, and knocking out Leverkusen would've set us well on our way. Still gutted when I think about it now.

Ooijer had a shocking debut too, as I recall. Absolutely roasted by Drogba. Didn't take long for him to show his quality though, what a player. Nice symmetry with Phil Jones a few years later. First league start at home to Chelsea. Difference being he had Drogba in his pocket.

Before my time that one, but the highlights are on youtube

Not in a Rovers shirt, but I remember Nelsen playing against Italy for New Zealand when they drew in the 2010 World Cup. This was at a time when the Sky Sports website used to do individual player ratings, with a 1/2 sentence caption next to each player. 9 ratings were very rare, I literally only ever remember seeing a 10 once, and it was for Nelsen after somehow they kept Italy to one goal from a dodgy penalty. Caption just read, 'Heroic'.

There were a few contenders that day! Personally, I remember Chimbonda being worse, but that could have something to do with him being left on the pitch for the full 90 unlike Goulan, so giving him more opportunity to be awful.

Would need to give this a bit more thought, but some early contenders from recent years are Best: Bellamy against Middlesbrough, King against Stoke, Samba in a 1-1 draw at City. Worst, Pascal Chimbonda in the 7-1 against Man United. Directly responsible for four goals in one game. The only time I ever remember thinking that I could genuinely do less harm to the team if I was plying instead of a professional footballer.

His biggest flaw for me. He's definitely worth persevering with in my view, despite being a bit up or down so far, but if he doesn't get tighter in defending against his man, he'll never make a full back at this level.

Wonder if this could backfire for Norwich. Would be surprised if they get a deduction and the last they need is to give Leeds a siege mentality.

They are. Leyland at 7pm https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/rovers/news/17372067.rovers-u23s-face-must-win-game-against-sheffield-united/

Agree, but then again he's also looked better than Rodwell other than the last 2 games, and Lenihan has been top drawer since the new year. Genuinely have no idea how to best accommodate this without a change of system, could finally be the opportunity for Mowbray to go back to three at the back?

That really was a fabulous bit of skill. Unlucky that he didn't get a goal or assist to mark his contribution, but his introduction definitely gave the whole team a lift. Not really a dig at Palmer at all, as they have totally different styles, but it's made me even more certain that it's no great loss if it means more opportunities for Rothwell.

Reports from the North East that Boro aren't playing Downing as if gets one more appearance, it triggers an improvement in his contract and Boro are looking to reduce the wage bill. Looking at the current top 6, I'd say Boro are looking the one with the most potential to drop out of the pack for us to target.

Great post. Agree with pretty much al of it, only caveat would be BB's being the youngest, as well the most expensive but don't want to turn this into another BB thread when the other is over 100 pages! On Nutall, I'm delighted that he's forced his way into the team, and has got hi goals. Having said that I'm still sceptical about his chances of becoming a long term fixture for a side who wants to get promoted, even as an impact sub, but even if that turns out to be true, I'd say we've already got our money's worth from a very low risk signing. Rothwell's second half yesterday has shown that, when on form, he really does have absolutely everything to be a devestating player. Going to be some challenge to turn his cameo appearences into something a bit more consistent, but when it happens for him, I think it could happen all at once. Potential Dack replacement if he leaves over the next 18 months.

Great to see the progression in recent weeks.Hopefully banishing any suggestion that league one is his level. Scoring goals, setting up goals, but increasingly making the right decisions in general play. He's been pretty unlucky with some finishes at Ewood this season too. Just over a million quid is looking like a great bit of business in today's market.