Well a win is a win. When the going gets tough the tough get going.

Scotland have improving for quite a while now. They won't be " easy beats " this season.

Just now, arbitro said:

That is what happens when managers continually blame other things and dance around their handbags instead of facing the truth. Players will use any excuse for mediocrity but when the manager gives them one on a plate they will undoubtedly use it.

Very true. Part of a manager's job is to remove any obstacle to the team playing to the best of it's ability. Leave the players with no excuses.

Coyle has no idea how to do this. That's why he's a serial loser.

I agree about Johnno. How could he be worse ?

Just now, chaddyrovers said:

Travis play at Right back? better position?

I think Doyle is going to be good player in the future.

I think within 2 seasons we will have 7 or 8 players with the first team squad from the academy. I'm not including Lowe or Raya or Lenihan in that. along with Mahoney, Tomlinson, Travis, Wharton, Doyle, Hardcastle, Rankin Costello and Nyambe

Even when we had a top class youth team that actually won the competition we only had 3 players who made it to the first team regularly.  Having said that most of them would have got into the current team !

On 1 February 2017 at 5:37 PM, JAL said:

Had to wait to reply to this post rev and I can only echo what parsons says in that Dean Rittenberg was never ever going to be a professional footballer how on earth did he manage to play for England youths.

What you should be asking rev is how on earth did Rittenberg get a chance at a professional club that plays professional football.

 

That tells you all you need to know about English youth football. One of the worst players on our books technically  played for England Under 21's .

Even when we didn't have a pot to p--s in the directors managed to spend the cash to bring in the likes of Duncan Mackenzie in an attempt to save our skins .

This lot aren't bothered.

Just now, RevidgeBlue said:

Bristol City 2-1 down v Sheffield Wednesday.  Could be 9 straight defeats for them.

2-2 at the moment.

Just now, roverstdt said:

Out of interest what does everyone feel of the summer transfer so far how would you review them after 6 months?

 

Williams: Looks like a decent capture
Gallagher: Good Signing

Graham: Good signing

Feeney: Adequate...Had one or two assists so not totally useless...

Hoban: Excellent

Greer: Okay

Emnes: Decent

Mulgrew: Very Good

Stokes, Byrne, Samuelson, Hendry: All missing in Action so therefore not impressed

 

I can't say because I've only seen a few games on tv. You missed out Brown by the way.

Attacking midfield either number 10 role or wide left in 4-2-3-1. Not a centre midfield.

Has skills and tricky. Deffo come on in the past 2 years in terms of developing. Down to Johnson and Dunny. Plenty of potential now time to develop it more.

The new Josh Morris ?

Clearly, I look at it from a different perspective. I'm interested in watching players develop and some will make it but the overwhelming majority won't and that has always been the case. Just look at the number of players registered with the club at the Football League in the 50's and 60's and look how many actually made the Central League team, let alone the first team. If you have a hang up with folk from Liverpool or Scotland, or indeed, footballers from abroad, that's your issue not mine. I have no problem about where a person comes from. As for Feeney, he certainly wouldn't be in my starting eleven but then neither would Conway.

I used to watch the Central League team and the juniors then. I remember seeing Billy Wilson playing for the " A " team against a pal of mine who played for Rochdale Reserves. I couldn't believe how bad Billy was, he was a little tubby guy and really got the run around off my mate who was a really quick right winger. Talking to my pal later he said " I wish I could play against that lad every week ".

Twelve months later Billy had trimmed down and was playing in the Rovers first team against top First Division sides. He later developed into a tough, pacey, hard tackling full back who could also play football.

Our man of the match in that game, who absolutely ran the show in midfield and who both me and my pal were convinced couldn't fail in the game never made the first team and drifted into non league football shortly after.

You never can tell with young players, ability is only part of the equation.

He certainly had a better game today than last week. I don't know if you are old enough Stuart, but think 'Brian Hill' and you get a picture of Mahoney.

Brian Hill. Mm, that's damning with faint praise Parson. Not the worst left winger we ever had but a million miles from being the best. I take it from that he's predominently left footed. Do we play him on the right as is the fashion these days ? I shudder to think what Hill would have been like on the " wrong " wing.

I think the whole group went bust

Really, I used to visit the ones they had in Hampstead and Manchester. It was a bit expensive but something a bit different. How they expected it to be successful in a shopping mall that shuts at 5-30 at night I'll never know !

I see that " Ed's Easy Diner " didn't last long in the new precinct.

Any Clitheroe area restaurant recommendations?

I didn't hear all the programme. I believe it was repeated this afternoon.

That is just the totally indisputable visible bit.

Are we talking facts here Phillip or " alternative " facts ?

I would never back against us although I thought relegation was a certainty in August and I was severely tempted as the winning dosh would soften the blow a little bit.

I can't see Leicester going down, too many really bad sides in the Prem - Hull, Sunderland, Boro etc. It was a great time for the Dingles to get promoted !

I just caught part of " The Food Programme " on BBC radio 4 this dinner time. It was mostly about Lancashire restaurants and food suppliers. It mentioned some of the places I've read about on here. The presenter " Sheila Dillon" revealed herself has being a mad keen Rovers fan in the past !

I am 99% certain that Rovers have to be relegated this season.

Me too but it still doesn't have to be that way. It's survivable if changes are made soon.

You forgot the " Letter of complaint to be sent to the Meteorological Office regarding misinformation of wind direction at Barnsley ".

I see " Basil " Rathbone's son, 19 year old Olly, is getting rave reviews in Rochdale's midfield at the moment. From all accounts he's a box to box grafting ball winner. Rochdale picked him up after Man U released him at the end of last season. One to keep an eye on ?

I'm not a defeatist and I'd kick my granny to win a game but with this lot at Ewood we're as good as dead. This league is far from over and a team in our position could easily pull clear. It won't be us though. We haven't got any of the ingredients required to pull clear unfortunately.

It we're talking about those that have played regularly, it has to be Jason Lowe. He's been an ever present in the team going from being a midtable Premier League side to a relegation fodder in the Championship. He's the worst player in the worst side in my lifetime.

It tells you all you need to know about modern football when you realise he was selected for England at junior level.

Santa Cruz in his first spell?

Yeah, Santa Cruz was up there with the really good headers of a ball we've had.

Martin Britt was an awesome player as a youth player at West Ham. He either came injured or he was injured soon after he arrived. We never saw him at his best.