Parsonblue

We need both loans and permanent signings. However, loans should be used to cover injured players in the short term, particularly if we see those injured players as part of our long term future.

Couldn't agree more with all of this. I particularly think your last point is hugely relevant. Having blank weekends for internationals is a ridiculous state of affairs. When a club like City is having to fill its bench with kids because of long term injuries there is little hope for the rest of us. It seems internationals and European Competitions have become far more important that the bread and butter of League football. The F.A. Cup has already been ruined by this approach and it seems a number of clubs are paying the price of long term injuries because the league programme is being squeezed due to these blank weekends.

I was encouraged by the way we fought back yesterday. Baradji confirmed my first impressions of him - he looks a really good attacking midfield player. Once again, I thought we struggled without some of the key players who are out with injury. I don't think you can underestimate just what a difference to our season these injuries have made. I can't remember a season when so many senior players have been ruled out with long term injuries. Certainly, the quicker we can get Scott Wharton back into that defence the better. Ryan Hedges is going to be a serious loss as he was having his best season with the club. In the short term we need to pick up some loan players this January to cover the gaps until our injured players return. For me, the loan market is what I would concentrate on this month if we don't have much money to spend. As for relegation, I firmly believe that we have more than enough about us to avoid the drop. The players have some time off now to rest and recuperate and from what Val said yesterday a number of them won't feature in the Cup game at Hull. Personally, I think that's the right decision and will look forward to seeing a few more of the kids given their opportunity at Hull.

It went very well Tom. FA President did the honours.

Disagree on that one. Charlton were very good at their place earlier this season and absolutely overwhelmed us with the high pressure, high intense and physical football. This would be a tough one with a fully fit squad.

I thought today confirmed the opinion I had after Monday night - too many of our players are out on their feet. The injuries have caught up with us and not allowed us to rotate and rest players. Having said that, the first goal was a poor one to give away as McLoughlin and Pears ought to have done better. We badly need strengthening early in this window and certainly can't afford to lose Tronstad. I still believe we have enough about us to avoid the drop but we need to get the injured players back sooner rather than later.

That's the joy and romance of history Rev. But I'm more than happy to add it to my Rovers collection, along with the minutes you mention, the first match report and the biographies of those early players. At the end of the day Rev, we do what makes us happy. Trust you've have a good Christmas Rev, and I wish you and your family a happy New Year.

I must admit that I don't see all the fuss about Tyjon. I've seen him numerous times and come away wondering what other clubs see in him. Clearly, I'm missing something that others obviously see in him. It will be interesting to see how his career develops. Rory Finneran is struggling to get a game for the Under-21's at Newcastle whilst Ash Phillips seems surplus to requirements at Tottenham. Unless you are an Adam Wharton - a really special talent - I suspect it's very difficult to bridge that gap to the Premier League, particularly as those clubs can go out and spend a fortune on the ready made article.

Must admit that I've bought the shirt as a souvenir of the 150th Anniversary season. Personally, I look upon the whole season as part of the Anniversary but, at the end of the day, everyone sees things differently.

All the best Rev for 2026. If Tronstad does move, for whatever reason, at least we've got the rest of this season to enjoy watching both players.

What a thoroughly entertaining game of football for a Boxing Day. Talking to a Middlesbrough fan before the game and he said he was dreading it as we always seem to get a result up there. I thought it was a really good team performance with everyone making a contribution. Pears, in the first half in particular, made some decent saves. Perhaps the competition that Toth brings is making his raise his game. Having two 'keepers fighting for the number one spot can only be a good thing. The defence proved excellent throughout. These sort of games bring out the best in Miller and McLoughlin whilst young Pratt is really growing into the role of being a first team player. Litherland gave another promising performance before he began to tire late in the game and Hedges again proved that wing-back is a position he does really well. The man of the match for me was Tronstad who was outstanding in midfield. I have to say that Baradji gave a superb performance when he came on and these two could be a really impressive midfield partnership. Baradji has all the attributes to become an outstanding midfield players - pace, power, quick feet and a wonderful eye for a pass. Gestede and his team deserve a lot of praise for finding this guy. Morishita put in his usual energetic display until injured - yet another injury that I suspect will keep a player out for some time. I can't remember a season when we've had so many long term injuries to senior players. Cantwell is starting to perform in a way which we haven't seen consistently since he arrived. He seems far more motivated and is leading by example. Up front Yuki was non-stop again. The energy and fitness levels of this guy are amazing. He never gives defenders a any rest. Hendriksson, although not a natural striker, worked hard to keep the pressure on the home defence but with Gudjohnsen out long term, we badly need another partner for Yuki. All in all it was another good day out at the Riverside Stadium - my least favourite away ground and yet one where we always seem to come away with something!

In the sixties, by this time in the season the majority of the pitch was just mud with the only grass tending to be on the wings. Thanks for putting that video up. Remember that season well as we were relegated from the First Division whilst reaching the quarter final of the FA Cup. All season folk said we were far too good to go down - and we really shouldn't have - but we managed to get relegated with a record low points total at the time, just 20 points.

Memories of the 67-68 season. An abandoned game followed by two postponed games - all due to a waterlogged pitch. Clearly work to do in the summer on the pitch.

He's absolutely right about the standard of officials in the Championship. They are beyond poor and last night's referee is one of the worst. No doubt he'll get in bother for saying it, but it needed saying by a manager. The officials today seem so robotic in their approach to the game. I remember refs in the sixties who were real characters but who would laugh and joke with players during a game and have a real interaction with them. Yes, you got bad decisions at times but they seemed so much more in tune with the game than today's manufactured refs.

I thought we were excellent last night and I must admit that I'm really warming to this manager. I have no problem with his substitutions. With all the injuries he has at the moment it makes sense to me to try to manage the players in terms of game time. The last thing we need are more players on the injured list. The last two games have shown just how good we can be and deserved the three points in both games. However, once again the standard of the officials was poor to say the least. If a corner had been given at the end, which I have no doubt it should have been, the game would have been over. Another red card that should have been given, and wasn't, and another potential penalty that a ref chose to ignore. I came away last night disappointed about the late equaliser but thoroughly heartened by the performance. That was the kind of performance that we see regularly away from home. If we continue to play like this we'll have a decent season.

I have every confidence of us playing Burnley, Leeds and maybe Stevenage next season.

If you've bought my books you have both my thanks and my sympathy for having to read what I write. But my thanks are genuine. I haven't been ignoring your questions for any other reason other than it's not something I'm prepared to engage in. Health issues over the past two years have made me realise that life for too short to engage in endless debates about things over which I have no control. I love watching Rovers, and hope to do so for a good while longer, God willing, but that's as far as it goes. I'm happy to post about matches and players that I've watched but that's it. I hope you can understand and respect my point of view on this.

I got an afternoon of enjoyment watching my team play well. What's not to be pleased with that?

I thought we were excellent today until the closing stages when fatigue set in for one or two. Even so, we looked comfortable until the most ludicrous free kick was awarded by the linesman. Clearly, the guy had never played the game as it was simply a case of the excellent Hedges being far too strong from the Wrexham lad. As arbitro said earlier, the referee had let so many tackles go and then awards the softest of soft free-kicks. I thought Forshaw was outstanding in midfield and was very much on the front foot. Hedges too, was a real workhorse down the left side. Pratt again, kept it simple and cleared his lines without fuss. The lad is beginning to really grow into first team football. A word of praise too for the often decried Pears. He made some good saves and did well under pressure on corners. It was good to see him coming out and catching the ball. He really did look the part today. Once again, it was another away performance that was a joy to watch and in stark contrast to our home performances. Certainly those of us who travel to away games have seen the best of Rovers this season.

I guess I'm very fortunate, or unfortunate depending on your point of view, as I still get the same buzz going to Rovers - home and away - as I did as a kid at the start of the sixties. I'm well into my seventies now and recent health issues have made me realise that I'm not going to be here forever, so I'll continue to go and enjoy it as long as I can. As Herbie said, meeting up with friends makes it a social occasion and that's all part of the day. However, I agree that for many supporters there comes a point when it's difficult justify the cost of football, particularly if you have a Sky subscription. Also, the TV deal is not really helpful to those who go to away games in particular. Within a matter of days we have Ipswich Town away at 12.30 pm (meaning a 4.30 am start from Ewood), and then Swansea City away as an evening kick-off. Not to mention that these are quickly followed by Norwich City away at 12.30 with another 5.30 am start from Ewood. It's almost as if the EFL want to get rid of away supporters altogether. Around me, the other night, there were a large number of season ticket holders who opted to watch the game on TV rather than travel to Ewood on a cold, wet night in November. Ultimately, everyone makes their own choices for their own reasons with regard to attending football matches.

Cantwell is something of an enigma. Away from home, we look far more solid without him. It's the home games where he really out to shine and have an influence on results. Yet home results are poor, whilst the last three away games have seen good performances and good results without him. Cantwell is a mercurial talent but fitting him into a system that works for the rest of the team is not always easy. Kendall managed to do it with McKenzie, so hopefully Ismael will be able to find a solution. I must admit, that I'm not really bothered one way or the other regarding his future in the January window.

Following Rovers away from home this season, Charlton apart, has been a real joy. We look solid at the back and swift in attack. I thought some of our football last night was a joy to watch. The interplay between Ohashi and Morishita really caused North End no amount of problems. Ohashi's workrate is unbelievable as was that of Tronstad and Hedges. These three players epitomise how Ismael wants to play and it's so enjoyable to watch. I thought young Pratt did ever so well on his debut and looked the part. Prior to the game I heard fans criticising his selection and saying what a state we are in when a kid has to play. Yet I remember other youngsters in the past being thrown in - England, Pickering, Metcalfe, Faz, Barker, Jones etc - and it proved the making of them. There is no point in having an Academy if these youngsters don't get a chance. Yes, they'll make mistakes but that's part of the learning process. The home form remains a conundrum, but if we can get that right we could have a more than decent season. This team is nowhere near as bad as some are making out.

If you read what the Heritage Lottery funds, it's clear that they are there to preserve heritage wherever they may find it. Sadly, they have a limited amount of money and an avalanche of worthy applicants. At the seminar I attended they made it clear that they welcomed bids from any sporting club - amateur or professional.

If memory serves me, it was for a portable Liverpool FC memory bus with various memorabilia inside.

The exhibition at the Museum was a Blackburn Museum event. The club did loan them a number of items which was acknowledged by the Museum at the time. The Museum plan events well in advance and the Rovers exhibition was always due to end when it did as the Museum had another event which directly followed it.