Tyrone Shoelaces

I rated Darling. He had it all, he was quick, could beat a man, two good feet, and for a guy with average height he had a good spring. On the downside he was a bit on the slight side, but so was Denis Law. I remember him getting a true hat trick against Portsmouth in the FA Cup. Right foot shot, left foot shot, and a header. I think the crowd got on his back for some reason. He had a long career in the lower leagues after he left Ewood. I saw him playing for Rochdale many times and he was always a threat. Didn’t we swap him for that stump Conlon ? Norwich saw us coming there.

Their first game at Ewood was early in the 62-63. We won that one 1-0 courtesy of a Bryan Douglas goal. The next season, 63-64, it was the opening game and it was chaos all around the ground with lots of shops getting raided and robbed. They won 2-1. Mike Harrison scoring our goal. The game I was referring to was early in the 64-65 season. We won 3-2 after being 2-0 down with goals from Byrom, Harrison pen, McEvoy. Rovers Else Newton, Joyce. Clayton, England, McGrath Ferguson, McEvoy, Byrom, Douglas, Harrison. Att 26, 865.

Tell me about it ! I was behind the goals at the Blackburn End. No segregation then. When the third goal went in a Rovers fan who was celebrating got head butted by a scouse guy right in front of me !

He used to cross the ball like a rocket as well. Straight as an arrow. Get the slightest bit of head on it and it was a goal. He had a skill you never see today, he could cross the ball whilst at full gallop down the wing without breaking his stride.

No, he didn’t take so many. I remember his first against Liverpool at the Blackburn End in a 3-2 win after being 2-0 down ! Those were the days when we did comebacks. I was right behind the goals and he side footed it in like a rocket.

Let their worst passer have the ball and mark up every where else. That’s not exactly a new way of playing is it ?

Real Superstars are showing their quality even at a young age. Look at Shearer for instance. Hirst could still turn out to be a good signing though. Kevin Keegan was a great player and he had to start at Scunthorpe.

I remember Bohinen for his performance against Forest. He looked to be a world beater. Scored two goals and ran the show in a 7-0 thrashing. What went wrong after is a mystery.

It’s not just this season, it’s been going on for ages. If I was an opposing manager I’d be telling my team. “ Score first and it’s game over with these “.

It’s obvious isn’t it. 3 grafters will always overcome a 2 unless the 2 are worldbeaters and our 2 aren’t. It’s things like that that worry me. JDT must know that.

You can’t perform in games when you’re always sat on the bench. Having said that liking tweets isn’t the right way to go about things.

He could side foot the shot, obviously with a more accurate technique, as hard as Shearer putting the laces through it. Ask anybody who saw him take one. I don’t recall him ever missing.

Possibly the best for Rovers in my time.

You’re right about movement being the key to a successful passing team. I can always tell when Rovers are going to play well. We’re passing to players that are on the move. Once we start passing to players that are stood still we’re going nowhere. The trouble with five at the back if the team isn’t on song is that half of the team are not in a great position to get moving forward. Same with my rugby league team. Once they start taking the ball stood still it’s going to be a long afternoon.

Yes you’re right. For a guy built like a light heavyweight boxer he wasn’t fond of the rough stuff. Lots of right backs tried to intimidate him and some succeeded. I remember going over to Ewood in the school holidays for autographs. When me and my pal got there we were invited in to watch a full scale practice match. First team attack plus reserve team defence against first team defence plus reserve team attack. John Bray was marking Mike and he was giving him a bit of stick even in a practice match. Mike was complaining all the time to Jack Marshall who was refereeing ! Mike was devastating against opponents who tried to cut out the rough stuff. Really fast and direct with a tremendous shot in both feet. Like a very quick, taller, Mark Hughes without the aggression.

Were we got beat ! What never ceases to amaze me is that fact that Dougan stayed on at the club for another season after shitting on everybody involved with Blackburn Rover. Can you see that happening now ? Social media would murder him.

All I know is passing it for passings sake isn’t the way.

Until the mentality at the Club changes that’ll always be the case. Changing the mentality at the club demands a change of ownership to a more hands on, visible, proactive ownership. So round and round we go.

When you’ve only two in central midfield “ spraying long balls upfield “ becomes your only option.

I’m going to have him kidnapped that morning !

It sounds like he was there by half time though.

He played today for the U-21’s, just as easy to get injured in that game.

Yes but Jim was telling us the other day that he’s a Jonah were Luton are concerned.

I’m not so sure that he likes it, more that’s how he’s told to play. When you only have two in central midfield it’s hard to move the ball forward centrally. Your opponents only need three in there, two to mark up and one to pick up the pieces.

You shouldn’t have gone Jim.