Tyrone Shoelaces

So's the skill level. You have top players today who can only pass and shoot with one foot and they can only tackle on their good side. Lots of them are extremely poor in the air also.

I was only thinking ther other day - what would that forward line be worth today ? Fergie - £45 million Andy Mac - £70 million Big Fred - £100 million Dougie - £125 million Mike Harrison - £35 million

I'm out in Spain at the moment so I can't do it now. I'm a klutz with computers but No 2 son is pretty good. I'll see what he can do when I get back. It really is a great little series of drawings, the caricature is Dougie to a tee.

One thing all those players had in common was their modesty. They weren't great " I am's " like a lot of today's players. I only saw Mac at the end of his career but he was up there with those we've already mentioned. You don't get picked to play for " The Rest Of Europe " for nothing,

What a terrific player he was. Second only to Bryan Douglas in my book on the Rovers right wing. He came from that era when players hadn't had their individuality coached out of them. Equally at home on the right wing and in a more central role. He had decent pace but he was a brilliant dribbler who in his day was unstoppable. His running action left him him slightly stooped over the ball which made him difficult to dispossess when he was running at players. He could make goals and score goals. Part of that fabulous goal scoring Rovers forward line of the early 1960's that were such a pleasure to watch. They had everything, Fergie's trickery out on the right, Andy Mac's goal poaching combined with Big Fred's running power and finishing up front, the incomparable play making of Bryan Douglas in midfield and the other Mike, Harrison's more direct and hard running out on the left. I feel blessed that I saw them at their absolute best. They were an absolute joy of a group who played football with a smile and created mesmerising football at times. Only Bryan left now. I have lots of memories of Fergie but one stands out from his later years. We were played at Preston and they had a highly rated left back called John Ritchie I think. Lots of big clubs were watching him. Fergie ran him ragged that day in a 5-3 Rovers win. One incident stands out. He cut in from the right and ran directly at Ritchie. I was stood right in line with this, looking over Fergies shoulder so to speak. He took the ball right up to Ritchie, dipped his shoulder' dummied right then and then strolled past Ritchie on the left who promptly fell over. I can't be too hard on Ritchie because Fergie sent me the wrong way as well along with the 50 odd blokes stood around me. Thanks for the memories Mike, you were a class act.

3 games in 8 days is probably a game too far for Downing.

Teams that can't score usually end up getting relegated.

I can't think what game it was but I remember Ripley picking the ball up out wide right roughly half way into our own half and setting off on a dribble. He keep coming inside each time he beat an opponent and he must have beat about 6 or 7. He got right up to the opposing keeper and slipped the ball just wide of the post ! It would have been a goal of the season contender if it would have just gone the other side of the posts !

Two good reports solely concerning on field events. Just the job.

Oh yes he can.

Bell's poor but he's still a lot better than Hart. In my opinion of course.

He is for a centre half. I don't know what they make centre halves out of these days. Matt Woods played every game in an era when centre halves and centre forwards kicked lumps out of each other !

We're talking a guy with tons of Premier League experience who was a full international with many caps as against Billy Who ?

Good stuff Herbie.

Whatever 11 play it'll be the same old obvious, labourious, predictable, one dimensional, easy to play against, walking football that we've all become used to.

I'd be saying the same thing. We need to get a few off the pay roll sharpish.

Magloire gave away a goal making his debut for Rochdale last night. He was trying to play nice football and got caught in possession.

That first one was unbelievable - Junior School stuff.

He's the sort of striker that won't score many goals.

Williams is another one who's not a stranger to the treatment table.

Well people keep telling me modern football is better. Really ? Look at that pitch yet the players conjured up more goal mouth incidents than we can today. That would be what 90% of pitches would be like by mid Feb and March.

10/10.

He's not so cheap if he doesn't play.

When you've had as many injuries as Chapman has had it's starts becoming mental as well as physical. You stop trusting your body. I was surprised when we brought him back. I like the lad but I wouldn't have signed him without seeing more from him.

What have at the moment is a collection of players, not a team.