Tyrone Shoelaces

Don't know much about Madine but Brererton cost £7 million 18 months ago, does that make him a good signing ?

He was, trouble is we were the ones that got stolen from !

The Dingles were sniffing around Judge also at that time, they seem to have a thing for Brentford players

I liked Judge, he reminded me of Johnny Price. I thought he never got a real chance at Rovers. He was heading for a big move when he broke his leg at Brentford. It was a bad break and I don't think he's ever got back to where he was. I'd have had him back before the injury but not now. That ship has sailed. If we keep signing 3rd division players we'll get 3rd division football.

I took a girlfriend to watch Rochdale at Spotland many years ago. After the usual pre match kick about and shooting in practice that they did then they kicked off. They'd been playing about 15 minutes when she turned to me and said - " Have they started yet ? "

How I remember it was we sold Byrom to part fund the purchase of Gilliver. I saw Gilliver playing for Huddersfield the season before we signed him and before he did his disc. He was going to be a top player. The back injury really handicapped him, especially after he had the operation. I had a similar disc problem and within an hour of playing I would be stiff as a board and walking like an old man. I'd just get pain free in time to do it all over again the following week.

Jason Steele ?

That's a bad do, It's a shame for the player. Chances were he might have been off to Stoke. We've had no luck with injuries this season. That's three first team regulars plus young Butterworth all out with season ending injuries.

It does sound pretty bad but a fractured cheek bone is not a fractured skull. Sean Edwards played 75 minutes of a Rugby League Cup Final with a fractured cheek bone after he'd been stiff armed early on in the game. We're unlikely to see him again this season, I think that much is certain.

John Byrom wasn't the same player when he came back to Rovers. He'd been away for the best part of 10 years. Letting him go to Bolton in the first place was an idiotic decision. We spent loads on the likes of Jim Fryatt, Frank Lord, Don Martin, Bryan Conlon, Barry Endean, John O'Mara, Mike Hickman, Ken Beamish, Gordon Hindson, trying to replace him and only the Don came near in terms of ability. All the while Byrom was banging them in over at Bolton.

I watched them the other night against Arsenal. If they'd have had a goalscorer they would have won that game. Having said that they'd played with just Bamford up front. You couldn't play Rhodes up front on his own and if they'd have played with Bamford and Rhodes up front they might not have dominated the midfield as they did with 5 in midfield.

After 50 odd years of watching Rovers the day Coyle was appointed was the day I gave up. Only temporarily of course. I don't get the Rhodes thing. It's not like we're making loads of chances in games and not taking them.

Serge Trousers ? Yes, a lame joke.

Serge Trouzez ?

Rodriguez knocked a few in also.

Not to mention provide a bit of goal mouth excitement into the bargain.

I've seen plenty of " one hit wonders " in football, especially when they are young players. Danny Cadamartiri anybody ? As for giving Mertsacker the run around ? Did somebody take his Zimmer frame off him ?

Any other walk of life you'd be down the road. You wouldn't be signing Gallagher because you would be gone after the Brererton signing.

When outsiders start dictating who signs for the team you are managing it's time to walk away. I think it was Kevin Keegan who told the story that he was approached by a director who wanted him to sign a foreign player as a favour to an agent. He said " You don't have to play him Kevin, you can just park him in the reserves if you like ". Keegan walked away.

There's intelligence and then there's football intelligence. I remember watching Wayne Rooney as 17 year old player. He wasn't clever in real terms but even then he knew the score out on the pitch. Football brain wise he had it even at that young age. Same with Gazza, daft lad but what a footballer.

Hang on a minute matey, " we " didn't spend the £12 million. Whoever decided to bet the ranch on those two want's to get to " Spec-Savers " right away.

How do you get to be an agent. I could do with a bit more easy money. Will I have to get out of this armchair ?

Was that before the fans lynched him ?

That's the equivalent of Tony's Tombala team selection. Absolutely no continuity. Would you be happy working for a company that went through executives at that rate ? I wouldn't.

It's just you. The lad's finished at serious pro level. He'll need two walking sticks now.