philipl

This should be pinned prominently. The culpability of the football authorities in not enforcing their own rules is massive. Don't think that the letters written by John Williams and Tom Finn were not also massive wake -up calls which went totally unheeded by the EPL and FA. The Raos themselves probably had just cause for complaints against the EPL and FA. The fact they were made complicit in the deception of the original contracts complicated matters but no doubt they had new lawyers engaged after they had been bought Rovers who were capable of reading FIFA, UEFA, FA and EPL rule books. Perhaps it is not surprising at least three third party companies directly involved in the Rovers acquisition have been wound up. Don't forget there were probably even more explicit contracts which would have handed the club over to the ministrations of Crescendo and Kentaro involving Lawrence Bassini before it was obvious he would not pass fit and proper as the Rovers owner. Which brings us back to Bolton...

IF Rovers solve the Cunningham LB absence adequately AND Continue their game on game performance improvements, Rovers could win surprisingly easily BUT How likely is that? Been watching Cardiff's recent game highlights (and Hoilett did play on Wednesday so apologies about that) and they look like a side which might begin to click explosively and give someone a tonking- threats all over the park. HOWEVER, That is one hugely un-Warnock like defence. If they continue the way they have played in all their games to date, Rovers will get plenty of opportunities but will need to be mentally sharp to exploit the half mistakes Cardiff are currently littering their games with. I would keep Armstrong on the bench because Downing's canny football nous and Rothwell tenacity will pay dividends. Bring Armstrong bon late when the game gets stretched and if Reading is any guide, he should prosper mightily. Two firm predictions- this will be one of the most entertaining games of the season so get down to Ewood and both sides to score looks a very good bet. If we get another clean sheet it will be a major achievement.

Don't know but he and Tosin are rated equal possibilities to be available against Cardiff

Sorry I was feeling mischievous. Hence my post being the meat fed to the piranhas. Very frustrating that Sodemall or whatever they are called have learnt nothing from catering to the masses about the logistics of event catering.

Good to see us in our home kit at Hull.

Especially on merit when he is currently injured

I refer you to CIPD best practice guidance which is applicable in any sector.

Hoilett was out mid week. Will he be fit Saturday?

Great read

This is one of those threads which will get a lot of posts from the not happy unless we are moaning posters. The more posts it gets the more it shows that everything else is basically ok.

My guess we can expect some movement by the end of the L1/2 window; perhaps one or two younger players out on loan but not the four identified as first team squad players now. The player I hope something happens for is Richie Smallwood. Clearly not quick enough of mind to hack it in the Championship but probably the difference between securing promotion or not for a League 1 side. If no higher clubs come in, in the unlikely event either Bolton or Bury emerge from their death spirals, new ownerships could do an awful lot worse than rebuilding around Smallwood.

Going to be all about the respective teams taking their chances. One of the stats crawling past on Tuesday night was Cardiff have created the most chances in the Championship so far this season- don't know if they kept that up v Huddersfield. This is going to be one with quite a few goals. A clean sheet for Rovers on Saturday will mean we really can start believing a corner has been turned by our defence- I cannot see that happening which means we will need at least two to win.

Or Buckley and Davenport

Good to hear Mowbray has his mojo back in press interviews.

Two injuries away from calamity in defence in all fairness.

Watched the PNE game and the Stoke defence was on a different planet. It certainly hadn't turned up at Deepdale. Buckland's confidence in complete free fall.

Will Horwich RMI re-form?

Passion!

Got to defend those long throws- Cardiff play like a Rugby Union side kicking for touch! Need the height of Tosin in there.

Gosh Vegas looks like a superannuated version of any Chinese city. Didn't expect it to appear so shabby.

Pre-season when we had the fixture list I posted that it was a very tough start but if we are 10th on the 1st September we could be in for a very interesting season. Well we are 10th now albeit could fall behind five clubs playing their game in hand this evening... August is shaping up rather interestingly. Started with the newly promoted curse plus an abysmal showing against Charlton. Fulham encouraging at least matching promotion fancies in many aspects yet falling uncomfortably short in the end. Oldham showed character and fitness levels to dig ourselves out of a hole of our own making- Oldham still bottom of L2 by the way.. We beat a Boro side very much at odds with itself- reasonably clinically and a clean sheet Hull away were much tougher opposition but we began to show elements of match control which looked very promising. Another clean sheet. And so we come to three fixtures which will show whether this is all wacky baccy or there are sunlit fields out there. Cardiff should be tough uncompromising but have visibly exploitable weaknesses. Then Sheff U newly promoted to the Prem with a sprinkling of £10m men will show how far away from the promised land we really are and West Brom away probably as tough a fixture this Division has to offer this season. Come 1st September we should have a decent view of what this season holds in promise for us.

Davenport, Buckley

Compelling!

Bit in bold I agree 100% Bit in italics I disagree 100%. We are probably over-stocked in central midfield and we now have three absolutely first class central defenders plus cover from Nyambe and Grayson/Platt while left back has Williams who could play there at a stretch plus Bell and Hart. Yes I would have liked to have seen a further addition at central defence during the window but Mowbray might have called this one right given what was and wasn't available in the market. Very much doubt Bauer could have matched Williams last night.