gumboots

Actually there are plenty on here who have but equally plenty who are questioning his style and tactics, so it's not a universal yes. Most approve of the results but have yet to warm to him in the way they warmed to previous managers

Whatever Allardyce is i didn't have him down as a man to repeat his mistakes. Yes he resigned Diouf but most don't consider that a mistake. Barton would, I suspect, be thought by too many, at this club and in football in general, to be a mistake.

I don't claim infallibility, Gordon. I leave that to others. And I still don't like the fact that we have Allardyce as manager although I accept the necessity and I still don't think Diouf should be at Rovers and can't understand what others are seeing in this guy that I can't see. However, I accept that there are loads of people here with far more knowledge ad understanding of football than I would have if I studied it for the next 20 years (Can't go beyond that as I'd be too old to imagine) There can be few however, who would not feel that taking a risk on Barton with his temperament problems would be a bridge too far for many fans. That's not to say we should get up a petition or boycott the club, but we should understand that some might feel that to put any of their hard earned cash into his pocket would be more than they can stomach.

Whoops, no it's me and if I said it i must have done it but I honestly had no recollection of it. I really do have facebook to stay in touch with my absent kids who post their pictures on there and usually avoid like the plague anything that smacks of a group on there, Wasn't telling a deliberate lie as you've just proved there's no point - someone will always catch you out.

Not guilty. I didn't do anything on facebook. I have it to communicate with a son and daughter who live abroad and want to show me photos of what they are up to - that's all.

Birmingham then according to the press who think us and Bolton have too much sense.

Wouldn't do that but can you honestly say you think Barton would be a good signing for us. He's never going to sort himself out if he hasn't done so already, at least not while he's playing football. perhaps away from football he might become a respectable citizen but even then i wouldn't hold my breath.

I think there might be a lot of people boycotting matches if this one happens. I'm still not happy that we tood Diouf, but so far, apart from having a bit of an over the top go at the ref, he hasn't done anything to show us up. Barton is a permanent accident waiting to happen.

Really nice pics of him on the official board gallery in the dugout and with allardyce. He looks like he's just loving being the King of the Castle again.

Did he have any to start with?

LET didn't say.

got an assist according to LET

Entirely understandable that he did not play. The fairly short term ex-girlfriend I couldn't understand but his dad .... that's completely different. Even the fact that he'd not been well for some time doesn't take away the shock and sadness of the actual death as those who have lost a parent will know. Best wishes to Benni.

Perhaps it's improved. It's certainly been pretty good the last few times we've been

La Scala A59 between 6 and 7 pm does 3 courses for £9.95. Went last week. decor nice. Kids welcome. Service a bit slow (leisurely rather than useless) but last time we went we told them we were pressed for time and they did do things quicker. Thoroughly enjoyed by all our family.

Why did his problems start when Ince walked in? He didn't do anything much last season when Hughes was here either. Did Ince tell him to sort himself out and he didn't like it?

I wasn't fed up but I'd lost a bit of the excitement of going down to Ewood that Hughes had given us. The Newcastle job coming up and our dip in form showed that Hughes had lost focus and wasn't showing the drive and determination to get our team motivated again. Hughes had begun to look harrassed and seemed to have no real answers. I was gutted when he went but that's just attachment to what you know like abused wives sticking with husbands who beat them - we're all scared that change will be worse, and forget that sometimes it can be better. Mark Hughes was the right man at the time but that time was coming to an end, if not then then by the end of this season. I'm looking froward not back. It might be a bumpy ride but it could just be great.

Not if you'd just taken the job the day before and wanted nice bucket loads of cash to spend you wouldn't. You'd smile nicely for the cameras and do what you were told. It's alright hoping you'd have stood up for what you knew was right but very few people do, particularly in the situation where you have to persuade yourself you've made a correct decision even when you suspect you haven't.

If you were going to work for a nutter wouldn't you toe the party line?

I think it's because we see things one way and football managers and players see it another. Like you I felt that there was a bond between Hughes and the fans and I think it suited him to let us feel that. I don't think his leaving is because all the time he's been lying to us. I think there really was something there but not as much as we wanted there to be. There never will be unless, like shearer at Newcastle, you're at the club you support. Hughes was not a rovers fan, but a rovers' employee and, whilst you have to buy into the club ethos a bit to be able to work for them properly, you are not one of the fans.

If he were on his way out of West Ham it would presumably be because they couldn't pay his wages nad not that many other teams would be prepared to match them so he's probably going to have to take a cut wherever he goes.

Was just about to post something very similar. Duff should not be brought back. There's no room for sentiment if you want to progress in today's game. He was brilliant for us but we eventually got over losing him and to bring him back now would be a mistake.

Personally I'd rather have mark Hughes than any other manager i can think of who might be likely to come to us. Yes, he makes mistakes, yes his team selections are sometimes odd or appear so to us, yes, he's still learning his trade. However, I think he suits us as he doesn't live in dreamland like some managers and some of our fans seem to. He gets on with his job and doesn't whinge most of the time. He has the respect of the players and seems to have the sometimes oversized egos largely under control. He's brought through 2 players to England call ups who were nowhere near England quality at the time they joined us and his transfer dealings have been amazing in terms of the quality of player we have seen at ewood for the amount we have spent. don't suppose eddie will agree though!

One could equally ask with some of the rubbish West Ham have been playing recently why was he drinking at all? We need him playing better than ever if they are going to stop Villa.

Agreed and much nicer looking for your money too. It used to be good enough for Rovers players a few years back.