Tyrone Shoelaces

We could have had the whole £10 million if we'd have played our cards right with him.

I suspect that could be the league position we end up in next season.

I agree with your comments on Raya. Although he made a couple of serious mistakes I still thought he had enough about him to be persisted with. Especially as we appeared not to have a ready made replacement in the offing. He was capable of draw dropping saves on occasions so obviously the ability was there, I've hardly seen his replacement make one in a full season. Raya's judgement needed working on but that should have been done. He was clearly shown the door by Mowbray's treatment of him, I don't think he had itchy feet before that moment.

Yes, that's the bloke I was thinking of.

Didn't we loan another centre back at that time that looked decent but appeared to be injured most of the time ?

Maybe he's been told you can spend whatever money you make in transfers and wages saved from the released players ?

I thought Stoke were interested in him before he got injured in mid season ?

The money from the 1959-60 FA Cup run paid for it.

Where does he play ?

Different style of player entirely. Regarding Okocha and Le Tissier a pal of mine had been a top youth player and later a scout for City. He had a saying - " A team of Bobby Charlton's wouldn't win anything because they'd never have the ball ". Teams needed ball winners just as much as they need flair players.

I liked David Batty a lot, I thought he was a better player than Sherwood and he had to play second fiddle to him most of the time. Batty and Tugay in central midfield ? That really would have been something to behold.

Sherwood wasn't in the same league as Tugay. Not even nearly.

My favourite memory of him, apart from him going in goal, was the goal he got a Rochdale in the promotion season. He picked up a loose ball in the last third, fed Bennett out wide right, then made a great run into the box to get on the end of a good cross to volley the ball home left footed from about 10 yards out. He made it look easy. Mowbray probably said to him " What were you doing there son ? Hang around on the half way line in future ". He brought some real pride back into the shirt when it was badly needed. I'll always be grateful to him for that.

What a pitch !

Me too. Brunt's been a good player in the past but nothing is forever. I think it's time to go for Downing as well.

I think that's what I said. It's certainly what I meant.

You need at least four centre backs that are all capable of holding down the position given we nearly always have two out on the pitch. Another reason is injuries and suspensions crop up regularly in those positions. Having a couple of kids waiting in the wings is always a plus as well. We have Lenihan for No1, we need a quality replacement for the lad we had from City for No2. Williams if he's staying could possibly be No3. If he's leaving we need another experienced player. Wharton could maybe be No4. We have several kids who could play the odd game in a pinch.

We got the best out of him, that's for sure.

Samba behaved like an arse at the end but it's easy for us who have been brought up in the welfare state to criticise blokes who maybe grew up not knowing where their next meal was coming from. From a playing point of view on his day the guy was a one man defence, a colossus. I'd put him behind Mike England, who is in a league of his own, but in front of Nelsen, Henchoz, Hendrey etc. Matt Woods was a real stalwart for Rovers back in the old days but you've got to be getting on a bit to have seen him play.

I don't get it. Football's full of equally difficult to like managers. I couldn't care less as long as they're successful. They're not marrying my daughter.

Real legends in my time - Freidel, Newton, England, Clayton, Douglas, Shearer, Tugay.

I was thinking Sunderland would be a good fit also.

Anybody think Mowbray might be one of the eight applicants ?

If you're not 100% regarding Downing that should really be enough to tell you maybe it's time to part company.

In our greatest ever side -no, but I agree with what Parkes had to say about his all round game. He was top class, unfortunately we never saw him at his best in a Rovers shirt.