philipl

We live in hope that Matty can get back to his best and I rather suspect that Hughes is calculating he will do. I'll happily take a big girl's blowse scoring 16 goals and powering us to a Cup win - which is what he did first season back in the Premiership

...and Bolton who came up, spent little, stayed up, were innovative, qualified for UEFA whilst being generally despised and have just announced a significant drop in club borrowings to under £30m despite spending net more on transfers than Rovers have this summer.

Everton play Spanish opposition (well Latin american in reality) mid-week in the Champs League qualifier. So perhaps just acquainting himself with the way good teams in La liga play.

I hadn't realised the attendance had been so low for those two games. Neil, I guess you know what the evidence points towards. Lowering prices in the last two or three seasons has had almost zero impact in improving the attendances.

Yesterday's attendance was disappointing considering we topped 10,000 for Barcelona, Sporting and even Chievo (I think) in previous pre-season show cases. The risk of local "friendlies" is that they aren't. I know that Espanyol were downright hostile blood thirsty hoodlums but generally playing top flight international opposition is a chance for an excellent test without the passion of a local derby. Besides which, apart from Wigan and Bolton, all the neighbours were opening the coca cola yesterday.

If MH with his Spanish knowledge had an inkling that Espanyol might be a touch "competitive", I'm glad he held Bellamy and Ryan back. Otherwise, the injury situation is a bit concerning ahead of the big kick off.

Thanks for the clarification. Seeing as they have photographers, perhaps they can start looking for writers!

I know its a rival site but some great pictures here. A huge tribute to the powers of digital cameras and an 80% empty ground allowing supporters to be DIY roving press photographers! PS I'm won over by the new kit- think it looks great and even the flash on the bum works.

The Guardian's entry. Makes sense apart from overlooking the astute signings at Charlton. Says nice but realistic things about Rovers in the article. For lazy clickers it reads: 1 Chelsea - Whichever team they choose to put out 2 Arsenal - Won't miss Vieira that much 3 Liverpool - If they can stop depending on Gerrard 4 Man Utd - Plenty of goals, but suspect farther back 5 Tottenham - Davids still a class act 6 Middlesbrough - Little by little.... 7 Aston Villa - O'Leary knows what he wants 8 Birmingham - Second city second again 9 Bolton - No one likes playing them 10 Blackburn - Bellamy player of the year 11 Newcastle - Why did we sell Bellamy again? 12 Everton - Close, but no cigar 13 Charlton - Can't think of anything to say 14 Man City - Stuart Pearce's hair turns white 15 Portsmouth - Fancy relying on Laurent Robert 16 Sunderland - The new Bolton 17 West Ham - Teddy Sheringham knighted 18 Fulham - Down in last-day drama 19 Wigan - Took too long finding their feet 20 West Brom - Should have gone down last season In a very entertaining read, individual fans of clubs give their forecasts. Note the muppet from Brum tipping us for relegation On the basis that six of them have nominated either Rovers or at least one Rovers player as the Premiership hate figure, I'd say we're in for some rousing receptions on our travels this season.

There is a thread on the official kiddies' board complaining about "music" being played when Rovers score. Perhaps it wasn't Sky dubbing it on after all. GET RID!

Very sloppy bowling by England now- Australia are being let off the hook.

That's great news about Matty. So is this: Crewe 2 Burnley 1. Last minute decider for Crewe.

Studs first over the ball into his leg at pace- doesn't sound good for Matty.

That is terrible. What are Espanyol playing at? Two red cards in a friendly and many horror tackles. An absolute sickener for Matty- desperately hope he hasn't suffered a serious injury.

Anyone picking up commentary?- I'm listening to the cricket.

Not letting Australia get off to a flyer is going to be essential- England have got to be tight in the field and accurate with the ball and the pitch will do the rest. Catches win matches.

Nissa handball gave Sheff U their second penalty. Sheff U made some good purchases this summer- especially Ifill. 4-1 Sheff U

49 for last wicket so far!

For my observation that 20-4 at stumps last night equals disaster looming, read 31-4 at eleven o'clock this morning. The Aussies will be really fancying this!

Great preview ozzie. Unfortunately you've set a new high standard by getting it out so early- den is already chasing for my preview and I've forgotten which one I'm down for! I thought the Hammers fans were pretty fair in their responses to your questions- it was 7-1 by the way and the sliced clearance which became an o.g. was one of the most comical sights in football this decade. Too many imponderables to predict a score at this stage but I'd say Rovers have too much for them in every department on the field- West Ham don't look much more than a very useful Championship side even after the signings they've made (at least Sparky and Rovers know about their ex-Cardiff defense). Pardew has said he is looking to sign two new forwards but that he will not forecast having them before the Rovers' match.

The Aussies will be worried about the size of the England lead and short of the pacemen finding line and menace, Warne is the big threat. I remember Derek Randall scoring a brilliant 134 against Pakistan when Abdul Qadir was at his peak. Simply used his feet and eye and slogged him- didn't bother watching the hand/wrist as it was unreadable even when analysed by freeze frame video. Giving Warne that treatment tomorrow is probably England's best hope. Rattling up a few high scoring overs against him might cost a wicket or two but with the game poised as it is, hitting Warne out of the attack has got to be the best option. Playing responsibly is suicide- the Strauss ball was there to be slogged but Strauss did everything the manual says you should- and got bowled!

124 advantage, 9 wickets in hand and Warne turning it at right angles! Exciting day tomorrow in prospect. Here's hoping Trescothick builds a big score and there is more resolution to the batting to so that another Petersen/Flintoff thrash seals an invincible position rather than rescues the innings. Over 250 in the second innings should see England OK, under 200 and 0-2 is on the cards.

Ok, we've had the knock about stuff, let's see England build a second innings worthy of squaring the series. The nightmare scenario would be 20-4 at stumps!

The catch stuck but not backing up the run out attempt against Ponting straight afterwards was criminal. That's really costing England now.

As someone who organisers classical music concerts and runs a summer festival, it helps to know a bit about the subject! Anyway I am delighted the Rovers don't play music after they score a goal at Ewood. I was pretty sure I heard some blast of something execrable before the announcement of the scorer in one of the live televised games last season.