47er

Safe from the fans though?!!

That manager should be apologising to Harrogate fans for his decision to make 9 changes because they "have an important game on Saturday." Biggest team they've ever played and he puts out a League 2 reserve team! He blew it. They were pitifully bad, we practically walked through their defence. Delighted for the young lads but really, have we ever played a worse side?

We haven't got the hang of this bit of the process yet!

It is very obvious that the youngsters have taken to JDT's coaching like a duck to water. Their style is exactly what he wants and they fit in when they play like they've been there for months. He's the best we've had since we were in the Premier League and if he walks away because the owners haven't supported him with transfers, I think the club will be in serious trouble. JDT and Mowbray are like chalk and cheese yet they allowed us to stagnate under Mowbray for 5 years!

Scott Wharton to start? Hyam can't play every game surely?

There's mud on his legs! You don't see that anymore.

70's were an ugly decade in more ways than one!

He hasn't the skill to be a top striker but he's whole-hearted and always works his socks off. He's the best man to play central striker we have, the only one with any sort of physicality, and we should stop experimenting till or unless we sigh someone better.

He does have a habit of giving the ball away in dangerous positions. Obviously did v Hull and did it again yesterday. Looked up and passed it right into trouble. Clearly doesn't let it affect him but it affects me!

Wharton got spontaneous applause from Watford fans for one piece of back-heel magic. He is special.

They'll do well in the Championship next season!

Dolan's in for a long rest I think. Sub at best.

Didn't think Moran did much except stuff up a good chance. But Gally does bring something to the side, at least he competes, runs the channels etc. We had nothing upfront for most of the game till he came on.

Wow! Didn't see that coming! A gritty and welcome victory! Last 10 minutes seemed to last forever. I hope we don't play like that every week! Weaknesses in the squad clear today. Come on Venkys.

We are hanging on we are hanging on

Summary—-we’ve shown some great approach work, got ourselves into promising positions but have no physicality upfront. Dolan as ineffective as I’ve ever seen him, Hedges ordinary, Leonard anonymous. Travis flirting with a yellow or worse. Where’s a goal going to come from?

Ordinary start to the season. Need a result here. Probably not the game for it.

We're definitely 2nd best in this game. And a pen will seal it! Shame, with all that hype that preceded the game.

And that's where our squad is stretched just on the numbers front. 4 yellows for us first game!

Ditto but Darwen End!

I ca remember times when it wasn't just banter and there were 1 or 2 unpleasant encounters on the halfway line on the Riverside. One that particularly sticks out is Liverpool, very nasty they were.

What Shearer and Pickering had in common was power, in the body, with a shot and in the air. They imposed themselves on centre-halves who often couldn't live with them. In his early years with us, Pickering was every bit as good as Shearer imo. But he won't be remembered that way. Sad.

I seem to remember a chicken not that long ago!

And what a team! Best football ever seen at Rovers.

Never said otherwise. Just putting results in perspective.