Ultimately, if we continue to not give our own lads a chance we might as well shut down the Academy and save £3m a year. If Harper is played ahead of our own it will help WBA develop their player and in twelve months time he will return to the Hawthorns. In twelve months a number of our lads will be out of contract and I suspect will look for a club where they will get a fair crack of the whip.

I would have thought it obvious and others have heard the same. This is the best crop of youngsters we've had since the likes of Dunny, Johnson, Duff, Taylor, Douglas were all coming through. I suspect that these lads will eventually come through and enjoy good careers but, sadly, not at Ewood Park.

The only way to find out is by playing him. Platt, Grayson and Charley Doyle were excellent tonight against an experienced opposition. I can understand Mowbray wanting Downing for his experience of League One football but young Platt should be on the bench at the very least. We have a crop of really good youngsters at the moment and my fear is that we will lose them if we don't give them an extended chance of first team football.

Cracking game at Leyland with the lads showing Mowbray that they are well worth a place in the first team squad instead of importing other club's youngsters. The midfield trio of Tomlinson, Hardcastle and Rankin-Costello were outstanding against a very strong Wigan outfit. Johnson and Dunny have got these lads playing some really entertaining football - so much more enjoyable than watching the tedious build up that we see at first team level.

You are becoming obsessed with your dislike of certain young players. All young players make mistakes - it's part of the learning curve. Just as the likes of Metcalfe, Faz, Barker, Bailey and so many more who went on to have long and successful careers, made mistakes in their early years with the club, so too will Nyambe, Raya, Tomlinson, Doyle and the rest. However, you don't write them off simply because you disapprove of their agent. Young players are nurtured and develop over a period of time. Sadly, your obsession with agents really does detract from sensible discussion.

Obviously, which is why he is rated highly and given a long contract. An excellent prospect for this club.

He was converted towards the end of last season into a centre-back and looks far better in that role. He's been very impressive in that position up to now.

So you only support the Rovers if they are winning. Walk away when they are not and return when they start winning again?

He's come through the Academy - one of the four that they offered pro contracts to at the end of last season. Can play centre-back or centre midfield. I believe he is from that part of the world that you are none to keen on!

Excellent performance tonight. Totally agree Stuart that Mols was outstanding and Nuttall led the line exceptionally well. Scott Sellars was clearly unhappy with the officials and ended up being sent off. Last season the Under-23's were excellent to watch - certainly more so than the seniors and it looks like it will be the same again this season. Johnson and Dunn are doing a fantastic job with the style of football that they get these lads playing.

So does everyone else on here. If they didn't nobody would be posting.

A much better performance from everyone. We played some very attractive football at times and dominated the game. Smallwood and Evans were very good in the centre of midfield whilst Samuel was much better in the centre. You can only beat what is in front of you and this we did comprehensively. A very enjoyable night for the travelling fans.

I think you'll find Mike that it isn't pointless or funny in Hinduism. Let's not go down the route of attacking our owners, or indeed anyone else because of the faith they follow.

You may not have noticed but first class facilities and a stadium fit for top flight football didn't prevent Wolves, Norwich, Leicester, Sheffield United, Southampton, Leeds and plenty more all falling into the Third Division. If following a Third Division club is beneath you there is always Burnley if you want Premier League football. We aren't the only club to fall on hard times. That's football.

Last time we were in the Third Division we were at the bottom at Christmas - stuck with the manager and ended up being promoted that season. Good job we didn't have you making decisions when Howard Kendall was here.

We've signed some excellent older players over the years who have given brilliant service to the club. Guys like Big Mac and Waggy became cult figures at the club and offered a tremendous amount on the pitch. This lad has always looked impressive whenever he's played against us. A very positive signing for me and the type of experience we will need in League One.

Totally agree that being in League 1 with cat 1 status was not what the Premier League envisaged when this was drawn up. The problem is that there are not enough Premier League clubs who meet the cat 1 requirements. However, with the likes of Burnley improving their youth setup, it may well be that at some point in the not too distant future Burnley take our place at that level. It would be more difficult to do in the Championship due to the number of Championship clubs with cat 1 status. Ultimately, I think that raising the bar, in terms of what is required to meet the cat 1 status with regard to facilities is what will ultimately see our downfall from this level.

Look at the line-ups over the past five or six years of Premier League clubs who have faced Rovers at Under-18 level and then look at how many of those players have graduated to the first team at their respective clubs. Premier League clubs rarely promote from within. A player has to be exceptional. Coming to Ewood offers the chance to make it through to senior level and earn a move to a bigger club. We only have to look at the number of lads we have picked up from Premier League clubs and who have switched to our Academy in the hope of improving their chances to make a career within the game. You only need look at how Crewe have operated over many years and the number of top class players that have developed at that club. Being in the Fourth/Third Divisions didn't prove a handicap to recruitment.

The past two seasons have shown that we can compete on the field with any of those in the Premiership at this level. The problem we face is that every three years, when the inspection takes place to renew category status, the bar is raised in terms of facilities. A number of Premier League clubs have moved in recent years to larger complexes which has enabled them to improve the facilities. Because we developed our facilities in the 1990's, we face a struggle to develop in the same way due to planning restrictions. In many ways, not being a Premier League club provides lads with an incentive as there is a path to first team football. The likes of Lenihan, Nyambe, Wharton, Raya, Tomlinson, Travis and Mahoney have all been around the first team this season which wouldn't have happened at Premier League level. There is a lot of excellent work going on at the Academy and it remains one aspect of the club which continues thrive despite the ownership. However, future success will depend on the level of financial cut-backs to the Academy.

To be honest I can't say I've been impressed with many of our attacking players for some time now. I think I'd go back to the likes of Bell, Walters, Foster, Richards and Beattie to remember any youngsters who actually looked a cut above the rest. I think Butterworth may have a bit about him - reminds me a little of a young Simon Garner in terms of style but it's very early days to make a judgement on him.

I've watched Mahoney for a few years now in the Under-21/Under-23 and he is exactly the same as Treacy and Peter - a lad with potential who may or may not make it. As for the bit about attack-minded players - you really do talk some rubbish Stuart. I was brought up on attacking players - Dougie, McEvoy, Pickering, Fergie etc. At the moment I simply haven't seen anything in Mahoney that would warrant the club paying him £8,000 + grand a week in our present situation. If the lad can get that somewhere then good luck to him, as I said, it will give him a good financial platform for the rest of his life and I'm sure most of us would be happy to take it.

Couldn't agree more. The lad has potential in the same way Keith Treacy and Sergio Peter looked to have potential at one stage but both failed to make the most of it. However, if someone is offering silly money for the next three years I can fully understand why he would want to move. Whilst he might not play much football for the next few years it would certainly give him a solid financial platform for the rest of his life.

Can't say I'm overly upset about losing Mahoney. Having watched him for the past few years it seems to me that he is something of a luxury player at the moment. Lacks the work ethic of someone like Bennett, which is the minimum requirement of someone playing in his position. Like others who have left thinking the grass is greener somewhere else he may well find his career reaching a dead end. If he'd stayed he would certainly have had to have toughened up for League One defenders. At the moment he is a lad with potential which may, or may not be realised at some point in the future.

Take no notice of Jal, chaddy. He clearly has a chip on his shoulder with regard to the club. Put him on ignore.