Tyrone Shoelaces

True but as long as Lenihan is in the team we have one guy who likes a headed challenge.

Williams best position is centre half. His lack of real pace isn't as exposed there as it is out wide. I wouldn't have given Conway another year either. The fact that he did well last night only shows what we'd be like with a really good winger playing there.

It's an obvious statement to make but your two centre midfield players are the engine room of any football team. They should see more of the ball and cover the most ground of all the players in the team. They can set the tempo of the play and dictate whereabouts on the pitch most of the game is to be played. The can both support the front two and offer protection to the heart of the defence. Last night we had two lads playing there who had the desire, drive, athleticism and skill to do the job properly. They don't get nosebleeds when they cross the halfway line and they don't play like the goals are at the sides of the pitch instead of at either end. Why it's taken whilst now and last seasons euphoria to have been almost entirely wasted to select the two midfield players on best current form is a mystery to me.

Any win is a good win for me. To win playing well against a good side is a bonus. We can stop looking over our shoulders now I think.

Well I didn't see that coming . It's good to see us playing at a high tempo instead of the usual dull and un-inspiring stuff. Saturday will be more interesting now. I'll bet there'll be changes though.

I can't see beyond another defeat here.

John Robertson " lived out of the chip pan " but when it came to 3.00 on a Saturday afternoon he could do the business. Rovers 0 - Derby as many as they feel like scoring.

But I'll bet you they still put more effort into the game than we do, win lose or draw.

Imagine Caddis and Williams as wing backs, Jesus Christ ! That doesn't bear thinking about. Evans and Smallwood in midfield , Bennett and Whittingham attacking midfield with Dack on the bench. I wasn't at that game, did we actually have a shot on goal ? Like you say, reason to sack the guy on the spot !

What ever other criticisms of the team you can make rightly or wrongly do not let him try to tell me they are working hard. I know when a team is hard working and we aren't that team. A hard working team covers more yards, wins more tackles, wins more second balls, win more contested headers etc than their opponent . You don't need too much skill to do those things well . You just need fitness, desire and a will to win. When was the last time we had a real " hard working team " ?

No wonder we lost, what a shambles !

How the powers that be can think that some input from Johnno regarding coaching wouldn't improve us is beyond me. Somebody will take a punt on him soon, the lad's working miracles with the young players.

In all Mowbray's time at Rovers I've never had the feeling that we were a well coached team.

I'm not knocking our Norwegian fans at all but I wonder wether the further away you live the less impact it all has. They don't get it in the neck from rival fans like we locals do.

That's a good example. They had the same team, same pattern of play, the only change they'd make would be to to 4-4-2 at home and 4-4-1-1 away. Each player knew what to do in any given situation and they knew what any team mate would do also. A team of well drilled and organised average players will beat a team of thrown together stars 9 times out of 10.

Your last sentence could apply to one or two posters on here also. Only a couple of guys are still backing Mowbray and are prepared to come on here and say so. I might not agree with them but I admire their willingness to voice their opinions.

Who was it said in sport - " Nice guys come last " ?

A few of us on here came in for a fair amount of stick at the end of last season. We were the people who whilst thoroughly enjoying having something to shout about regarding Rovers for once in a long time were less than impressed as to the manner promotion was achieved. The way we seemed to only play for 45 minute in nearly every game. The way we seemed to struggle to impose ourselves physically on the opposition and only got through lots of games because of our superior skill level. The way we seemed to start most games in a really casual and laid back style. The lack of real input from most of our new signings. Of course we were told to " Get with the Programme ", " In Tony we trust " and other such waffle. I thought it was pretty obvious that we needed 3 or 4 new players that would go straight into the first team right away and stay there. When these players didn't arrive and the only real reinforcement was a loan player I was really concerned. Some how we managed to get through to January accumulating a fair amount of points albeit having taken some bangings on the way. Since then my fears as to the majority of the squad not being anything like good enough have been realised. We look a rag tag collection of players who've only just met on the car park half an hour before the game. At the moment we are playing like we are the worst team in the league, there's no doubt about that. If we played Ipswich on Tuesday I wouldn't fancy us to win and they are going to be relegated. That tells me all I need to know. Football is a results based game and we aren't getting any. The final responsibility for this state of affairs has to lie at the feet of the manager. It's come to the point were I have to say - " Tony Mowbray, You're fired ! "

There's a reason why they haven't won anything.

A lot of people seem to be relying on us getting 3 points against Bolton. Do you really think they'll come to Ewood and roll over ? I don't.

Where are they coming from ?

Name me a team who wouldn't beat Rovers at the moment ? My first go - Err Bradford.

That tells me all I need to know. Team Spirit ? Don't make laugh.

Very damning report there.

You've been on the Electric Prunes again !