That’s the only position where Buckley has looked to be a player. Anywhere else the game can pass him by.

Richie Smallwood ?

It’s simple for us- it’s a must win game. As I said in another thread- start like we did in the first half yesterday and we’ll lose comfortably. Start like we did once we went behind and we’ll give ourselves a chance of winning. I’d play Kargbo from the start but I suspect Ismael won’t.

Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.

If we play like we did in the first half yesterday we’ll lose. If we play like we did in the second half it could go either way.

It shows how important he is to the team that we start performing again once he’s achieved match fitness. Like one of two other players this season he was rushed back before he was ready. Him and Baath are the two we missed the most.

It’s his ability to spot an opening coming and deliver the perfectly weighted pass into it that sets him apart from any other player in the Prem at the moment. He sees opportunities before the defenders have realised the opening is coming. Then he plays that instant killer ball. It must be great playing in front of him because you know you’re going to get the ball exactly where you want it and when you want it. That was obvious in his time at Rovers to anyone with eyes that aren’t painted on. Modric is/was a World class player but if anyone can come close to filling his boots it’s Wharton.

Palace have probably taken over from Brighton and Brentford in the “spotting up and coming talent “ league.

In normal circumstances I would expect Buckley to come on for Cantwell when he’s subbed off. Buckley’s been tried in the Travis/Tronstad role and he lacks the necessary diligence to play there.

Hedges did have a shot at goal in the first half but unfortunately it was on his right foot so - as good as a back pass.

He just moved the ball on. Ohashi made the goal with a sublime reverse pass.

I was hoping he’s going to be a nightmare next weekend. He did more for me in 15 minutes than Hedges did in all the game.

First half was a non event. It reminded me of an end of season game between two mid table teams. Lots of huff and puff but absolutely no cutting edge in either team. It took a Watford goal to give us a kick up the arse. Then Watford foolishly decided to play for time with 40 minutes still left on the clock. Big mistake on their part. Rovers got back into the game and began to dominate. Eventually the cracks appeared and Cantwell got on the end of a good move to open our account with a really well taken shot. It was all Rovers at this point and it was no surprise when another sparkling move led to Cantwell crossing low and hard from the right for Dolan to pop up with a crisp finish. After that we shut up shop by bringing Sanderson and Forshaw on. Not exactly what I would have done but it seemed to work. Later on Dennis and Kargbo were brought on. That left enough time for Kargbo to nearly rap the game up on two occasions and for Dennis to get another totally un- necessary booking by fouling somebody on the half way line ! He’s had more bookings than significant touches of the ball. His attitude leaves a lot to be desired. Scores - Toth 6, had next to nothing to do. Made a Pears like balls up of the cross for their goal. Back 4, everyone played their part, 7 each. Baath was unlucky not to score. Travis 6, not in the game first half. Improved in the second half. Tronstad 7, the player we’ve come to expect this season. Dolan 7, worked hard throughout, scored the winner. Hedges 6, hardly in the game. Kargbo needs to play in his place at Sheffield. Ohashi 6, never stopped working and put their back 4 under pressure at times but he’s not a natural No 9. Cantwell 7, blew at bit hot a cold but he scored a really good opening goal and made the second with a clever inside ball. Subs Forshaw and Sanderson 6. Both did ok, Forshaw had a good shooting chance that ended up like a back pass. Dennis 5, did nothing apart from getting a pointless booking - again. Kargbo 7, looked a real threat and he was unlucky with the run of the ball.

8,719 fans at Bury last weekend in the North West Counties league. That’s just 6 years since they were expelled from the football league. They’re obviously on their way back. Just saying.

Ray Charles - Lonely Avenue

The Electric Prunes - I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night

Even that model is becoming more and more difficult to achieve. As we’ve seen the really promising kids are lured away before they’ve had more than a couple of first team games on the bench. Wharton would have been gone long before he was if it wasn’t for the fact he was a fan of the club ! The only way up for a club like ours with a mere pittance to work with is to get a team of seasoned pros and a pragmatic manager like Eustace.

There’s no way we can “ re-build for next season “ when we sell our best players every Summer. It’s like trying to fill a bath with the plug out.

More like Baath and Tronstad’s back on form.

I’m coming over with my grandson. Let’s hope it’s better than last season when Wharton scored a belter only for Wahlstadt to throw two in at the end.

He bet the ranch on BBD coming good when we could have signed a couple of recognised top championship level players that would have been a lot more help in getting promotion. I will never understand that signing. We got 2 years of nothing out of him. If it wasn’t his decision he should have said so.

The Drifters - Up On The Roof

We didn’t, they did.

He lost me in the season after promotion. No ambition at all, just happy to be in a job.

Correct Aug 16th 1975 Score 1-1 Rovers Team that day - Jones Heaton, Hawkins, Fazackerley, Burgin Hird, Waddington, Oates Beamish, Hickman, Martin sub Hoy for Waddington. Beamish scored the Rovers goal in front of 6,054. i remember seeing Orient play at Ewood in their one and only season at the top level. They held the best Rovers team I’ve ever seen to a 1-1 draw. Their keeper, Mike Pinner, who was an England amateur player back in those days put in a 10/10:performance unfortunately.