First up isn't a good time to play a newly promoted team. They'll have a full squad and confidence will still be high from the previous season. You're better off playing them when they've lost a few through injuries and suspensions plus when they've taken a few bangings !

Yeah, I'm not sure the money would be well spent even if we got it.

Yeah I remember that well, the goal was quite early on in the game. If I remember correctly five minutes later one of our defenders got red carded and Matt had to be sacrificed to bring on another defender. If it wasn't for his bad luck he wouldn't have had any luck at all.

Mm, yes if the curent Hanley is still the Hanley that left us for Newcastle. I see that he can't displace Mulgrew in the Scotland team. it's too late now but Rochdale had a good young centre back on loan from Wolves at the end of last season. He's just signed for Shrewsbury this season. He had more about him than what I saw of Bauer apart from maybe experience.

What also puzzles me is we weren't the only club interested in him. Several scouts/managers must have seen something I couldn't see in him. Of course one game on TV is no way to judge a player but you can usually see something in their game that stands out. Maybe Preston have a specific role for him in their way of playing. Maybe Mowbray is still dreaming about three at the back and want's a more creative type of player. From what I saw Bauer is definitely not a ball player.

We've all said it over and over and over again, as long as these " owners " run the club we're going nowhere in particular. You just can't run a football club on automatic pilot.

Now that wouldn't surprise me at all.

The things is what Mowbray says and what actually happens are two entirely separate issues. Regarding Bauer I saw him play once on TV. Knowing we were interested I watched him pretty closely, to be honest he didn't look to be an improvement on Downing or Williams. He was just a Steady Eddie type tall lad filling a slot in the back four. Nothing special either on or off the ball. And that was at a lower level than we are at. The young Arsenal loanee playing along side him that day is twice the player Bauer will ever be. If I'm wrong I'll hold my hand up next season.

We weren't leaking 3 goals a game then either.

Yeah, top player.

Norwich are looking to sign a young midfield player from Rochdale. He was playing in their first team at 16.

John Byrom and Fred Pickering.

Don't worry I won't be getting bent out of shape, two lads who were playing in Rochdale's division last season ?

Don Martin and Andy Burgin would get in for me as would Johnny Price instead of Bennett on the right wing, at least he could cross a good ball !. You could bring " The Don " on for Graham when he runs out of puff and Burgin was a better full back than the three left backs we have at the moment.

Yeah that's the lad, he looked quick, he sensed danger and reacted accordingly. He was neat and tidy on the ball but he knew when to stick and when to twist. I'd be over the moon if he signed for us. We've got to be a step up from Charlton.

We still had one or two players then that got you out of your seat whenever they got the ball.

I've only seen Bauer play once and that was on TV. I didn't think I was seeing an outstanding centre back that day even at that lower level., Given the number of other clubs interested in him maybe he had an off day. The kid they had on loan from Arsenal looked twice the centre back Bauer was.

I don't think I did. Different types of players.

Mm, Tony Field, what a good signing he was. He played a bit nearer the centre forward than Dack does. Not as strong as Dack but faster with quick feet, he was an excellent finisher. A bit Simon Garner style for those who never saw him play. Good enough to play in the old First Division when he left Rovers.

Lenihan is drawn to the ball too easily for my liking. He needs to learn to hold his position. Phil Jones suffers from the same problem

You first shirt always stays with you. Mine was the 1960 Cup final style, short sleeves and vee neck.

I'm thrilled !

I'd swap places with them if we could ditch the chicken chokers and be owned by a long time fan with a reasonablel amount of dosh.

He was just before my time at Rovers but I saw him play for Everton quite a few times as a pal of mine was an Everton fan.. Great penalty taker, always driven into the bottom corners all along the ground. I never saw him miss one. I remember reading an ex players all time hardman 11, Vernon was in it which surprised me.

I remember Souey sending Noel Blake on for the last ten minutes against Utd when we'd gone down to ten players after a sending off. All he had to do was run his tripes out for ten minutes and make life hard for their back four. As it was he just lounged about upfield whilst they bombarded us. He'd have done as much good sat next to me in the stand. Souey had him on his way shortly after that.