philipl

Davenport debut https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/rovers/news/17608177.davenport-to-be-handed-his-rovers-chance-against-swansea/?ref=ar

Swansea are one of the few clubs I have a 100% record against. Every league match I have seen them play against Rovers, we have lost! This also goes for televised games against them although the FA Cup 3-1 win in Bowyer's time was a welcome change. Thankfully we don't play them very often and both occasions I saw Rovers playing Swansea live and in the flesh were at the Vetch which was a characterful ground full of menacing local characters. The game I particularly remember was in the 1980/ 1981 season when we were challenging for back-to-back promotions under Howard Kendall and were making a very decent fist of it. Come the beginning of April and come an absolutely crunch head-to-head at Swansea who went on to be promoted to the top flight for the first time in their history. Travelled to South Wales with the London Branch Supporters and I remember being squeezed into the enclosure alongside Exiled in Toronto. Leighton James was playing for Swansea and the more we booed him, the more he upped his game. In truth, he totally ripped Rovers apart and we lost 2-0. I think Robbie James was among the scorers and apart from one chance we really should have scored from right in front of us, Rovers were never really in the game. Roll forward 38 years and another Swansea James will probably be playing his last game for the Swans. Daniel James is blessed with phenomenal pace and excellent ball control who is definitely destined for the Premier League and not with Leeds United who were involved in a bizarre non-transfer in the January window. We need to be wary of James putting on a farewell performance to remember. Indeed Sunday's game could be valedictory for the entire Swansea squad, such are the reported financial woes at the Liberty Stadium. The corresponding away fixture was to my mind one of the worst performances we've had this season. An early soft penalty clinically dispatched by Mulgrew was followed by a totally inept and underwhelming display. In contrast to wingers ripping us apart down the sides which have been the more usual cause of our disintegrations, Swansea and James simply came through the middle with a parting of our midfield and defence worthy of the Red Sea. So despite being a game with nothing on it, I expect Swansea to be dangerous opponents on Sunday and if they have professional pride, they will want to put to one side several very poor performances which have resulted in them treading water rather than pressing for promotion. For Rovers, I would like to see Nyambe restored to right back, Travis paired with Davenport and a forward formation including Butterworth, Rothwell, Dack and Graham. Danny Graham to be told to give the first half his all with only the prospect of a hat-trick preventing him from being replaced by Brereton at halftime. More often than not, end of season dead rubbers turn into turgid dull affairs but just occasionally they throw up a classic. If there are season ticket forms on every seat, I sincerely hope it is the latter.

And when did anyone achieve a change of mind or behaviour or effect a considered alteration in policy through a "good roasting"? Good roastings are as effective and pleasurable as a good wank.

Luton and Barnsley now are automatically promoted after defeats for Sunderland and Portsmouth last night- only Sunderland's 4th defeat all season by the way. Despite so many clubs being in contention to avoid relegation on the last day of the season, Sunderland and Portsmouth have points totals which would have got them to runners up spot in about 50% of seasons.

So Bolton's fate depends on the EFL deciding if Bassini's money is credible or not at a meeting tomorrow. Bonkers position to get themselves into- do Bolton's creditors sue the League if they say yes and it goes a over t? Brentford game definitely not happening this week- they have four days after Sunday under League rules to finish their season. Brentford and Forest must be fancying improving their goal differences.....

I hereby give warning I will jinx the Swansea game and do a preview if nothing is posted by Wednesday lunch (dinner) time...

Bolton now reported to League Disciplinary Commission. If only that were their only problem... League want the Brentford game rescheduled for Wednesday but April wages due Tuesday, plus March to pay... OK put the kids out but everybody involved in staging the match (security, ground staff, medics, stewards, bar staff etc etc also need paying plus back pay) Football League now meeting to consider whether the game could be played at all. FFS put Wanderers into administration and get it out of the hands of Tweedledum and Tweedledee.

Bury's game at tranmere called off for a waterlogged pitch on Saturday has already been rescheduled for tomorrow but Bolton v Brentford hasn't been given a date. Bassini says it will be played this week ?

Great!

When you lot travel on a train or a plane, do you go round asking everyone what they paid for their tickets so you can be miserable about people paying different prices from what you are paying?

Bring back the red belt and the Maltese Cross.

Rather fitting that Leeds should send Sheffield United up...

Sorry Kidder Street was the street name. Apparently they had to clear the upper deck of the trams to stop people watching the game for free!

1960/1 after the Cup Final which paid for the new roof; tram lines were in tapestry street behind the Blackburn End and were there until the new Blackburn End was built.

Putting things even more in perspective. Norwich in the summer received £37.5m in transfer fees (Maddison to Leicester for £25m, Murphy to Cardiff £11.5m). Spending was £5.75m of which our very own Ben Marshall was most expensive for £1.75m and Leitner and Buendia were £1.5m each. Pukki and Krul were freebies. Aarons has come through the youth set up. Some regular Championship names are returning to Carrow Road after loans out- Marshall, Oliveira, Naismith, Husband...

All these posts point to the need for real leaders and for signings unambiguously better than we have. I know BB has not produced yet but I would prefer three prem league level signings to six pick ups from League One. For all the moans and groans, the current squad and emerging talents would deliver a solid mid table again next season. We need a spinal injection to progress.

That is the sort of creative marketing needed but for the rules of the competitions preventing it. In the Caribou Cup we enter a round later next season because of our league position.

Wonderful post. Rovers support came over loud and clear on the TV. So much so that on two occasions the commentator talked about Norwich support getting ready to celebrate promotion to a distinctly Lancastrian chorus of up the football league...

Love-in!

I agree. Swansea tickets should be at least £40 and £50 walk-on.

Very obvious from the accounts. Sales of players simply make overall debts smaller than they otherwise would have been.

I have no idea what Venky's would do- they are so unpredictable. Any other owner of Rovers inevitably would do this though.

And you enjoy being miserable the club has reduced prices for the Swansea game. two can play this game...

In Season Ticket thread. Delighted the club has taken the initiative to reduce prices for the Swansea game. Revidge Blue's post on here is the daftest posted by anyone all season by the way.

Precisely, you are posting on the wrong thread.