That story is recounted in the podcast below along with some interesting insights about the Rovers during the Steve Kean era. Worth a listen. https://onestreaminbristol.libsyn.com/a-cider-with-bradley-orr

You're right, Merce. Notes of caution creeping on to this board post-euphoria. I will add mine. We have to make an impression on the league this season or we'll lose some of these players. Holtby's two year deal ends tthis season for starters.

Events this week back that up. From what I heard, Bolton have borrowed one of Fleetwood's keepers this season. Evatt hung the young keeper out to dry after a defeat. Barton went public at Evatt regarding his reaction and man-management. Barton then phoned the keeper and told him he had his full backing and support. No specific links but it's 'out there' to be found if you want to search for it.

We are the England of the Championship - flat track bullies who go missing when the big guys turn up. Let's adopt the England manager appointment approach, swing from one extreme to another. Joey Barton, anyone?

"This lot can't defend for toffee. Get it down field into their centre halves and test them out early doors. Bounce into making a mistake and see what happens." We've been rumbled for the slow-witted and naive defenders we have. That's my view anyway.

My complaint: We scored two goals at home but were sitll beaten. it's the defence, as you say, and it's screamingly obvious. There's no point being nice on the eye and still losing. Every training session should be about sorting the defence out. Oh, and bring Nyambe back.

Same as Watford. No-one on the bench who can make a difference.

Lads, it's Reading...

Slightly related to the virtual match day theme, Times Radio this morning reporting that WBA vs Burnley last week on pay per view managed to attract 74 paying fans.

Gallagher scored on Saturday from a chance even he couldn't miss. Tbf to him, Gally has rarely had regular chances like that since he returned. Central, facing the goal, five yards out. Elliot's cross was perfect, right on Gally's foot. Scored before he realised it. But wIth his back to the goal, more than six yards out, he's a pudding and leaps like one. Elliot is turning into what we hoped Chapman would be imo, and what Dolan might one day turn out like. Holtby and Elliot the keys to five yard tap-ins. Rhino on hand to intimidate the Reading flank and charge down any errors.

True. My one concern is that Tony will have one of his 'Spider in the bath' moments when he sees the league table. And revert to type. I hope not. ??

This season, it has been possible to follow the Rovers from the comfort of your front room with a beer for a measly tenner on iFollow. Plus the quality of our play so far - we are an attacking team - and the hatful of goals we'r currently scoring and chances we are creating. This adds up to a boon for the club. Fans who normally wouldn't attend Ewood maybe because of distance, other commitments or who have simply got out of the habit have seen possbily some of the best football in the last ten years. The club couldn't have timed the situation better if it had tried. Hopefully, Waggott is lining up some interesting deal to get us out of our armchairs and into the ground. Because that day will surely come. And I hope it is before the end of this season. Because, if we keep up our present levels of intensity and key players remain injury-free, (Ayala and Kaminski are recent incumbents on the treatment table as I write) we must have a decent chance of the playoffs. All we have to do is keep this up for the next 39 games. ? Our ground will open up to all fans sooner or later. We could be building up a decent TV following. if we played in front of a paying crowd, what would the attendance be? Has our play warrented a big attendance or has the famous Rovers fan scepticism - in evidence throughout my fifty-plus years, it has to be said - started to give way to genuine enthusiasm and translated into higher attendances? Plaudits from the armchair are one thing, creeping praise on the messageboard is emerging, but the real proof times are a-changing would be in terms of attendances. Rovers vs Reading Tuesday 27 October 2020 Reading are top of the league with some fans saying they are not playing that well. Not a club to get you out of your warm seat on a wet and windy Tuesday evening in Blackburn with doubts after two mediocre home performances still in the air. I'd predict 11,000 hopeful virtual souls scattered around the ground largely expecting a dour draw against a resilient Reading team with Lucas Joao leading line like he did for the occasional brilliant ten minutes in games for us. 250 Reading fans adding nothing at all to the atmosphere. Come On You Blues - We're virtually there. ?

The upcoming PNE game will be the yardstick for me. Those overachievers down the road have had the hex over us for some time now. It's been hard to witness tbh. Beat them playing like we are at the moment and I'll start to truly believe.

Isn't Holtby signed on a two year deal ending this season?

Agreed. The sings are definitely there. I can understand people hesitating. But, I for one enjoyed watching us play. With better players to return and newbies looking the part, we're on the rise, watchable and an attacking mentality at last. Dolan the only forward on the bench? There's a proven striker-shaped hole in our team. Without one, a tilt at promotion is much l ss likely. We are going to see the measure of the V.s ambition in January, I think.

Can't find the Tweet though I can understand if he's deleted it. Pretty incendiary stuff from a renowned journalist with contacts to maintain. 'Jokes' by Germans about the Enabling Act don't slip out very often - for a good reason.

Maybe it's not just about the manager - Mowbray vs Hughton etc. - maybe it's more about the players at their disposal - which also comes down to the upper echelons. You are only as good as your weakest player etc. Then again, rolling the dice with Gallagher, on the wing? Yeah, maybe it is more about the manager. ?

They think it's Ayala. It is now! ?

Hanley annoyed more people off-stage than Lambert managed to do. Beware.

Thanks for this. The posters on The Guardian website know nowt. Carlisle isn't the one. The Lancashire derby vs Morecambe is the match Barrow fans are looking forward to. With a good pair of lenses, from Eric's statue you can almost make out Holker Street across the bay. Good luck, Dunny. A top man.

One thing you can say about the V's - they drive a hard bargain. Never say never with them. They say they have a pair of dueces - but do they really, do they really?

People believe what they want to believe. That's what I believe anyway. And if you believe that...

Serviceable but lacked the most important element of any defender - reliability. Always had a mistake in him, often in terms of positioning. Inconsistent and, uneven performances so just on that basis, he deserves to be let go. You are only as good as your weakest player. Sadly, there's a bullet-shaped hole in his football boot..

Even if you have heard of them... HSV defender linked with Rovers had a 1 year extension in his contract but this was turned down BY THE CLUB! Very poor reputation amongst the Hamburg fans.