broadsword

This sounds like being back in the playground. "But sir, SIR! It's not fair, 4B are allowed to stand up, why can't we? Oh sir!" Being selfish just because other people are getting away with it and you don't want to miss out is still selfishness. Just because a lot of burglar get away with nicking gear, does that mean you're going to go on the rob as well? The only time I stand up is when there's a moment of genuine excitement (not often with Rovers) and people in front are standing up. That's just natural.

Didn't you hear? It wasn't with them today!

Jay potentially cost us 2 points this weekend. The other Jay definitely cost us two last weekend. Maybe we should sell, or is it only bothroyd who feels our wrath?

Hughes has already said he knew what he was taking on, he knew it would be tough. So if he fails then he is the man to blame, no-one else. If we're going to play the blame game how far back do we go? Do we perceive that it's a domino effect? Should we blame Kidd, Hodgson, Iley, Bob Saxton, Jack Marshall and a few others?

Burnley.

He can kiss the Queen's ass for all I care. Is kissing the club badge really such a betrayal? It's such an empty gesture, it means nothing at all. I doubt it means any more than: "Whooppee, I've just scored, that's another win bonus." What a quaint, old-fashioned (perhaps some would say, naive) view you have of footballers and their morals. I fear one day it will all become too much for you and the latest bird-roastin', drug-sniffin', badge-kissin', bling-wearin', money-flauntin', rootle-tootin' footballer misdemeanour will leave you in a state of moral apoplexy.

It's a pretty big "if". It's so frustrating ... and typical Rovers. If that performance level can be coaxed out of the players 75% of the time we'll be OK. We should be OK. But can they now put it out regularly? And will it be enough in a crowded lower half of the division. Rovers ... bad for your health!

I don't think Brad, Jay Mac (although apparently poor for the reserves), Short (although becoming a trundler), Nissa (despite poor form/ confidence when he's played before), Emerton (ditto), Ferguson (no rider there), Reid (despite taking a long time to find his feet), Tugay (now losing it), Dickov or Boothroyd are poor players. The problem is that the side does have potential. But there are way too many qualifiers in the above. There's a number of players who simply have to be replaced by close season: Tugay and Short (and that's just from the team that started), then some players need to maintain the improvement shown against Liverpool (no comments about who this is), additionally Jonny Stead needs his confidence rebuilding. In summary, for me at least, it's clear that the squad has some dreadful players in it (mainly defenders), some good players in the twilight of their careers, some pretty good players and some enigmas (Jansen/ Emerton). What we're painfully lacking is players proven at the highest level, and this needs to be remedied ASAP.

Dont think we've heard anything about Harry Healess yet. Thought he was a defender! Captain of the 1928 Cup winners, he has a blue plaque put up at Higher Croft I think.

Yes, I think we'd all do well to follow Jan's example and not be obsessional about Souness!

OK, who's voted for Atko!

I'd suspect that that is the likely hypothesis. Souness does get the hump a little bit if he doesn't have enough funds to play with, no doubt he'll get plenty up at Newcastle, all on credit. More power to JW's arm, as far as I'm concerned.

Can't agree. For all its faults, the squad is better than the one he inherited. We are also a division higher than we were when he arrived. He's already left us, not 9 months hence when the squad may be poorer as the result of a *possible* relegation, and that that is the squad he's left us with is just ballacks. To say: "Oh yeah but we *might* be relegated, and if so its all GS's fault, and I never liked his facial hair plus he's Scottish." smacks of an irrational hatred of all things Souness. His last 18 months were a right cock-up, but I doubt his reign will be remembered with the same criticism as will be reserved for Kidd and co.

Oh come on, get things in proportion. He's left us in a bit of a state, but never a decent manager wouldn't have a good chance of getting us out of. He certainly left us in a better position than he found us. If you want an example of a manager destroying a club, look o further than Johnny Bond! :-)

The tale of the lucky pound ... I went out the door yesterday morning, to be greeted by a pound on my doorstep ... I saved the pound ... I put it on a correct score prediction for Rovers (it must be a lucky pound) ... ... Liverpool scored first ... ... I wasn't worried ... .. we equalised ... this was OK ... ... we went in front ... can handle this ... ... they scored again ... ... tossing t*ts, I had it on 2-1 at 14-1! Balls!

What does "over-produce" mean?

"For those about to rock ... we will lose to you"

Defence will probably rock (and creak ... and groan!)

Well said that man!

Wow, he could cross the ball! Mind you, he was better than Batty, that lad could only pass the ball backwards or sideways. Super Atko was better than Batty as well. "Where did you come from, where did you go? Where did you come from SuperAtko?!"

Spot the bloke who's pally with Tim! Good one Mr Colin, will hopefully split the Sherwood vote and get Latheron in. Brownie you make the 95 side seem like Brazil 70 incarnate. Not being funny, but we were the artisans to Man Utd's artists. That's not to deride in any way the joy of winning the title, or the contribution that the individual players made, but it does counterbalance your fawning praise for anyone who played in the side!

We are going to get hammered. I think it's time we played with three centre backs (have we got three that are any good?) Introducing the 3-6-1 formation Todd, Short, Johannson at the back Emerton and Gray down the flanks. Tugay in front of the back four. Ferguson in the middle with Djorkaeff just in front. Gamst Pederson trying to make himself useful, and Boothroyd up front.

If it's greatest-ever players to represent Rovers, rather than players who had their greatest-ever moments with us, then surely you'd have to pick Ardiles? He was in the winter of his career when he came to us, but how many World Cup winners have played for us? Other than that, I'd have to say Clayton and Latheron, if only because they didn't play for the 95 side! You'd have thought that Sherwood (great player though he was) was Zico or something.

OK, let's keep Ferguson, not bring in enough to buy any decent players (since no-one wants our duds) and sail into the Nationwide with Fergie at the helm!

Dunn's hardly played a game for Brum, the last thing we need in a sdogfight is a player who spends 75% of his time on the treatment table, and the other 25% swanning around the pitch losing the ball. We're in such deep doodoo that I don't care who we sign as long as it helps, I'm even prepared to see Savage don the blue and white if it gets us out of the muck. "Dunn for Rovers" sounds like more of an emotional response that a considered one.