Rover6, Just noticed that Cieron Donnally, you remember him don't you, he's the lad from the youth team that you felt should be playing in our first team when you had never seen him play, well he's now on loan at Southport in the Conference.

He was billed as one of our potential stars-captain of the England under 19's. As far as I know, he was the last one to stay with a professional club, and he went to Southport a few weeks ago.

I also noticed that Burnley are still in the FA Youth Cup, whereas we lost heavily a round or two ago. Someone in the Academy needs to be accountable for our lack of success.

It is unusual for Tugay to have a bad game, but, for whatever reason, he was poor yesterday. He showed his honesty by not going to the Blackburn end for his usual adolation.

I think it was on Radio Rovers that there was speculation that because MH did not want to talk about Reid's injury that the news was going to turn out to be bad.

So after a couple of starts by Mokoena (and handsome victories to boot) have peoples' support for Mokoena crystalised?

Or are some a little concerned because it seems that against Everton he was again poor or at best, average?

Also, I note that Den apart, the majority of people playing down Derbyshire's talents on another thread are fans of Mokoena the utility man. Inconsistency? The fact that Hughes signed one got anything to do with it? Of course.

Didn't Hughes sign both?

anyone remember that 50 yard pass he hit for MGP the other year, I think it was against Norwich, MGP chested it past the defender then smacked it in.

A great pass but im sure people will claim it was a shank.

It was superb.

At the time we reduced the prices for the home game their Directors said they would not be reducing their prices.

Kevin Gallagher in today's LT says about MD, ".....He's got the potential to be a big player for Rovers in the future, He looks like he has the hunger and desire and Rovers fans would love to have one of their own banging in the goals at Ewood Park."

Derbyshire has made a decent contribution to matches when he has come on as sub; I really wouldn't like him to be starting them yet, but I think he has done enough to be considered striker number 4 when Roberts comes back. Jeffers has been out injured and has now probably taken a step back.

If we were to sign Eatough, as has been rumoured, Derbyshire would go back to number 5 choice striker and we might be able to unload Jeffers to some unsuspecting Championship club.

I also suspect Nonda could be used as a sub and could possibly have an even bigger effect than Derbyshire.

According to google it's in Pas de Calais

One of the people who sits behind me at home matches and who goes to all the away games says that Gally was woeful at Charlton when he came on for the second half, and was responsible for their goal by jumping out of the way of the free kick. Apparently MH gave him a right rollicking. I was therefore surprised to see him start the next home game but he has not featured since and MH really doesn't seem to rate him. He only has a future away from us.

On Radio Lancs today MH said he was pleased with the quality of EUFA refereeing, in that, unlike in the Premiership, the refs are making decisons based on what is happening rather than the reputation of the club.

MH says that Hackett admitted this might be the case in the Premiership.

I think this is a really tough game and for me it feels rather like our first 2 seasons in EUFA where we went out because of losing at home; at times we were a little gungho and ended up conceding a silly goal. Nancy don't concede many, our goal scoring record is very poor at the moment so I fear we might go chasing a goal and end up conceding.

According to today's Sunday Telegraph, " Manchester City has now revealed it could be the next club to change hands.......Newcastle United is in the middle of a live bid. Industry sources suggest that Blackburn Rovers, Tottenham Hotspur and possible even Arsenal could become swept up in the wave of consolidation.."

Damien Johnson brands Robbie Savage "an idiot".

http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8...1762572,00.html

Maybe Savage is starting to get his come-uppance as we struggle and they start to improve. Will he go back?

Thought Derbyshire did okay, well he looked a lot better than Nonda anyway.

Gray was terrible today, maybe its not his fault he's losing his pace at his tender age. But Milner beat him with ease on numerous occasions, once he even had to run around Mickey and he still got to the ball first.

Ever since Gray came to us, he has struggled when playing against a winger. Yesterday was just another example.

I do think the Walker Trust will loosen the purse strings but what use will an extra £5m be when faced with:

Villa £20m

Sheff U £10m

West Ham £10m

Citeh and Everton doing refinancings?

The article I read said that Sheff U were only putting £5m into the transfer pot.

O'Neill will do well with his transfers, but there is no guarantee with the rest.

I think local now means within an hour or an hour and a half's driving time. Or the kids can be moved as MU etc have done.

If the club were getting the right quality of player but not developing them then presumably they would surface at other, lower clubs and later "rise to the top". This is not happening-the nearest is Danns, who we signed when Liverpool decided not to offer him terms after he had been to Lilleshall.

I haven't seen a youth team play since we beat Coventry a year or two ago and despite winning, we weren't that good.

My questions would be:

are we signing lads who have ability, rather than size, on their side?

is the coaching at the Academy good enough?

why has Mr Downes been able to keep his job despite presiding over such a barren run?

I seem to remember that Ferguson made wholesale changes in their system a couple of years ago as they were not producing enough quality-I don't know if they have subsequently improved.

I want the Academy to be successful but I am a bit sceptical. A supporter who sits behind me and goes to all the Rovers' matches says there is no quality coming through. I also know one lad who we were surprised was ever taken on, is now in his 4th year-and must therefore have been given an extra contract. If he is to have a future as a footballer, it won't be at Premiership level.

every cloud.... FLB.

the benni and nonda partnership is not working. it seems obvious to me that both players need a pacey partner to bring out the best in them.

My friend and I wonder if this will also apply to Roberts. He had a very good season with Wigan but we woner if that was aided by Camara's pace. We fear we have bought the WBA Roberts.

Charlton were bottom of the table but their home form was good.

Now, on to Newcastle. They are on a bad run, so they could do with beating us.

We should all put a bet on Newcastle to win. If they win, we get a pay out.

If they lose, we are delighted.

1-0 to Charlton

Kuqi did his best for us. He became a cult figure but was a very limited player.

We sold him for £2.5 million, which is what we paid for Benni.

I wish him good luck-as I do to Stead, another player who is not obviously a Premiership striker. We got far more for both of them than we could have expected. There are still question marks about Benni-but compared with some other strikers who were recruited for far higher fees, he is scoring a lot more goals.

According to the LT, sources in Liverpool say that LFC are confident of getting their man as he is said to have set his heart on a switch to Anfield.

Williams has confirmed Neill will definitely leave the club as he would like to look at a new challenge. It will be decided nearer the time if the move will be in January or in the summer, depending on what both the club and neill want to do.

According to the LT, half year season tickets will go on sale and will include the Liverpool game. In fact the last 10 home games will be included.

They will cost from less that £15 a game for adults.

Juniors will pay £49.

Seniors and young adults (16-21) will pay from just £95.

yes, but as watford isn't on it goes to the game after. Fulham away i think

Is the Fulham game at home? If everybody thinks it's away, it really will impact on the attendance.

Probably me not doing enough reading-but how come Tugs has only received a one game ban and Ghally three?

Is it because Ghally's was for voilent conduct?

I thought it was because he had scored such a good goal. Without it, he might have got 3.