It's not that simple anymore. The new rules make it difficult to bring players in from abroad that aren't established players.

Yes but we need at least one centre half ASAP. If Lenihan gets injured or red carded again we'll be starting with Magloire and Johnson in our next league match.

I think that's good signing for them. He'll be able to take over Gallagher's role. We're left hoping Buckley becomes in time what Whiteman is now.

I used to do the same in Rochdale at the same age. A pub at the bottom of Blackwater Street that got knocked down in the 70's to make way for a soul less shopping centre. I think you had to be under 18 in there to get served ! The school I went to was slap bang in the centre of town which was handy for lots of things. However for football we had to be bussed out of town.

Maybe Tony's going to get his boots down out of the loft.

I saw what you did there.

I had a pal who played in a similar style to Bell but obviously nothing like as good. His nickname was Arkle.

Anybody who served in Norway and Crete had it rough. Two chaotic evacuations.

Yes.

No, Paul Lake was more of a defender. His career was also blighted by injury. I remember an old time pro who was coaching at City describe him as " Bobby Moore with pace " when he was just starting out in the City team. That was praise indeed.

That's the lad. I thought he was going to be a top player.

Very similar players Jim but I think DeBruyne is just a bit better.

How hard will they be trying ? Nobody will want to miss the big game.

Yes he was outstanding that night, We nearly signed him in the relegation season of 65-66 but he chose City who were on the up at the time. He was one of the first of the modern midfield players, were work rate counted for more than dribbling skills etc. He wasn't a ball player as such but he was a tremendous athlete who could cover every blade of grass. The nearest to Colin playing today is Kevin DeBruyne but I don't think Colin was quite as good as DeBruyne. City had a lad come through the ranks a few years back now who reminded me a lot of Bell in his running style but he just faded from the game. He was very injury prone, I can't think of his name now. Later on we signed " The new Colin Bell " in Jimmy Kerr, also from Bury, but his career was ruined by injury. RIP Colin, thanks for the memories, you were top class.

Yeah, he needs to get off the fence and tell us what he really thinks.

Once in a lifetime is right. England was an unbelievably good player. He'd still be a star in todays football. He didn't have a weakness in his game. He was without doubt the best defender I've seen in 60 years of watching Rovers.

I agree. He gives us something different. I wouldn't want that coached out of him.

Yes, nice and early with just the right amount of pace and weight on it.

I agreed also but it's good to see somebody trying something positive for once.

Tom Finney used to tell a story about the best lesson he ever learned as a young player. He was known as very good dribbler but he was a bit greedy. One day the old trainer stood another apprentice 25 yards away and said to Tom " You reckon you're fast running with the ball Tommy, do you reckon you could beat me at getting the ball to Jack over ? I'll bet you five bob you can't ". Tom said " Yes, you're on ". The trainer said " Ready, steady, Go ". and immediately passed the ball to the other lad before Tom had gone three yards. It was a lesson Tom said he never forgot.

He made his debut at right half and his next game was at inside left, basically centre midfield in todays game . The following season he had a run of a dozen games at right back. After that he filled in in various positions until Matt Woods retired when took over at centre half. The first time I saw him play he was at inside right. I remember him standing in for Mick McGrath at left half and looking absolutely top class. Then he played centre forward for a while when we were struggling for goals in 65-66. So basically he played everywhere apart from on the wing and in goal. A pal of mine played for Bury in the old Central League and played directly up against Mike, he said Mike was the best centre half he ever saw. Only Paul Warhurst comes close in terms of having the ability to play anywhere on the pitch. At least we got half a dozen seasons out of him and a massive fee when he left. Today he would have been gone as soon as he got established in the first team, just like Jones.

I think they'll do everything they reasonably can to keep league football going but this crisis looks like it's getting too big for them.

Maybe he's freeing himself up for when the Rovers job becomes vacant ? Is his agent our chosen one ?

I was at the Rochdale game, it was against Newcastle. Rochdale set up with him on the right side of a three at the back with two wing backs. The wing back on Magloire's side was a young kid who had never played there before and he went AWOL. That meant Newcastle could go two onto one on Magloire and he didn't know wether to stick or twist. As a result he got a bit of a chasing. Before half time they took him off, went to four at the back and looked a lot better for it. I wouldn't condemn him off that one game.

I was on the phone to my ex workmate this morning, He's a hundred. He actually said " How did I get to be this age, what with the war and everything ! " He's still got all his marbles but physically he's not what he was. He was on the health food kick at work in the 1970's ! Plenty of salads, whole meal bread and pots of hot water only. That's when the rest of us were on pie and chips washed down with a can of " Tizer " for dinner.