mike england is the best centre half ever to play for the rovers beyond any shadow of a doubt. it is well documented and it does not diminish colin hendry's contribution to the rovers one little bit. but the best centre half is mike england. the question of why he left was asked earlier and i am able to shed some light on that matter. i was a big fan of mike's and was the last young lad to get his autograph the day he left ewood...which was devastating. i met him years later in toronto after the welsh team had finished playing an exhibition game and i asked him why he had left. he stated that he was very reluctant to leave as he loved the rovers and the whole set up, however, the money that he would be paid by spurs was outrageous compared to what he could earn at brfc. and so he made what he termed a business decision not a personal decision.one that would help him take care of his family. that made the young lad in me, who had idolized mike, feel a whole lot better. a world class player and a classy man.

jim, you are spot on. never mind formations let's not forget to look at all the technical advancements that have made modern footballers "great". nowadays they play with a ball that is comfortable to kick and head. can't see le saux sticking his noggin in on a cold and wet day in lancashire in the middle of december. those laces hurt. ah, but how would i know that? the answer is i don't. but just imagine what a few of the players that jim mentioned could have done in the modern game. bend it like vernon has a nice ring to it. oops i've got a kick. better limp off so that one of the three subs can come on and i can be better for the next game. what's bryan douglas doing standing out there on the wing when he can hardly walk? on that day, at upton park, he showed what it took, to every lad, to be a professional footballer. not living in the past but if you are going to compare then let's introduce all the factors.

if i were a young striker or forward at rovers, i would be excited to be able to learn from such a consumate professional. he can only help the goal production, the skill level and creativity. good luck to him.

agree with den on this matter. if we get sutton then we have coverage at both ends of the park. recently saw sutton play for celtic in toronto in central defence and he looked solid with pace. but is there any going back?