Yeah and how well did we play getting there ? I would suggest that those three were the major reason we didn't get any further. It's like any system, you need a system that suits the skill set of the players. It doesn't work the other way around.

How did that work out for England ? And that was with 3 so called mega stars playing that role.

It's time Stevie Wonder gave up designing our shirts and got back to being a musician ! Well that's saved me a few bob.

Bellamy was one of the best strikers I've seen at Ewood. No pass to Bellamy was a bad pass, he'd make a hoof ball his own 9 times out of 10.

Mokoena wasn't the world's best footballer but he had opponents looking over their shoulder when the ball was coming their way.

That was what got my goat. We've had too many players who weren't up for a scrap in the Venky's era. It'll be interesting to see if referees in the Football League start letting more things go as they did in the World Cup.

You need guys who " don't take a backward step " as we say in Rugby League.

If we'd have been fined £20 million it might have finally encouraged the Chicken Chokers to sell up and Kean off.

In our tumble down the leagues we lacked the players who'd rather kick their grandmother than lose. The Mark Hughes, David Speedie, Paul Dickov types. Every team needs a couple of guys who'll put a foot in when needed. We were too easily intimidated in my opinion.

Our best 11 is decent. It's the back up 11 that has been problematic. We all know that certain of the players can't go 90 minutes these days, one or two others have long time injury issues. If either of the centre backs are injured we have Williams and Downing. Ok for a game or two or the last 20 minutes but not top class replacements for a length of time. Same applies to Graham. Dack was a bit of a worry, he finished last season carrying a strain, but if this lad from Chelsea does sign he looks like he could fill his big boots.

The shirt is dreadful. What we were thinking of allowing that to be foisted on us is a mystery. Great performance though.

That's probably his " fighting weight ". If he lost some weight he might not be much quicker and he wouldn't be as strong on the ball. He's not a flier speed wise but he's got a great change of pace, going from jogging to sprinting very quickly. He uses it sparingly and to great effect.

Well wingers like Chapman are pretty rare now and they can be game changers. It's just that he has a history of similar injuries at previous clubs as well as at Rovers. His style of play, with explosive bursts of pace, leads me to think that he'll always be troubled by similar injuries. If he modifies his game to minimise those sorts of injuries he won't be as effective.

If that turns out to be the case I wouldn't be too bent out of shape. I'd like to be completely sure of Chapman's fitness before signing him on a permanent deal and that's not going to happen now. Armstrong is a good player but I'm not sure he's exactly what we want. I would have thought a more conventional central striker along the lines of Graham is what we need.

That's the way I see it also. His best position would appear to be the one Dack plays in but slightly deeper. However I was once told " a good player can play anywhere". So he should be able to play out wide. At least if Dack has a reoccurrence of last season's hamstring trouble we have a good replacement.

You're forgetting Gladwin also.

Our first goal - Belgium v Japan. Dack making 'em look lightweights after that.

From what little I've seen on the Internet the lad could play out wide right and do a job. He's got decent pace, quick feet and a trick or two. He also knows how to pick at pass from a more central position so he should have a decent cross in his game. He'd be a good sub for Dack if needed also.

He looks to be the sort of player I was expecting Harper to be. A bit explosive and with bags of energy. Harper was just a plodder

Just had look on the Internet. He likes to run with the ball from central midfield. Neat control and decent passing vision, a good change of pace. He seems to play in the role that Dack already plays for us. I suppose he could come on for either Evans or Smallwood if we were looking to chase the game. Not exactly what I thought we were looking for, on the right wing could be a possibility though. Jim won't like him, he wears gloves.

Well he had plenty of competition last season. Candidates were - Caddis, Williams, Whittingham, Evans, Samuel, Nuttal, Nyambe, Raya, Gladwin ( if he'd have played more ) . Certain posters on this site had a real downer on all those players at some point last season.

I was playing and watching when your dad was swimming around in his dad's left testicle. I think that entitles me to have an opinion on players. It's my opinion, that's all. If you don't like it put me on ignore.

The thing is Tormund stats don't tell the whole story. Sometimes you have to see the player close up. What I did like about him was that he had a good attitude, he was a trier and he'd run around to the best of his ability. He was good in the six yard box, he had a cool head in front of goal and two good feet. What let him down was a lack of real speed and strength. He was only average pace wise and was easily brushed off the ball , he rarely won the ball in a one on one challenge although he always tried to get involved. As you say - he did his level best but he didn't impose himself enough. I wish the lad well and hope he stars for Malmo. He may thrive in a more technical and less frenetic league.

I want every player who pulls on that blue and white shirt do well. That is a given. That's why we support the club. That doesn't mean to say that I'm prepared to disbelieve what my eyes are telling me. The lad wasn't good enough last season and he certainly won't be good enough for us this season. You think differently, you weren't watching the same player as me. He was ineffectual lots of the time because he lacked real pace and physical strength. This isn't just my view, lots of fans who saw him in the flesh week in week out would agree with me. It didn't take Leeds long to work him out either.

How many man of the match performances did he put in ? I must have missed that one.