Yes Parker and Shepstone. Two complete non-footballers. This something the old giffers undoubtedly have the edge on the young'uns. Ostenstad would have been the best player on the park in quite a few teams the Rovers put out in the '70s and '80s!

Well done Tris. It is desperately important that this minority should be rooted out immediately. The Rovers have long had a fantastic reputation for excellent behaviour nd it hasto be kept that way.

I shouldn't let rover6 irritate me but he does. From the Radio commentary/statistics, Norwich came out steaming today. And before anyone dismisses the Rovers' achievement in holding them at 0-0, remember Norwich gave Arsenal (when they were flying at the beginning of the season) an almighty fright and pegged Everton back frm 0-2 to 2-2 in a twenty minute spell. In fact after 20 minutes today, the possession stats were Norwich 68% Rovers 32%. The Rovers turned that around so much that just before Norwich scored against therun of play, the possession stats were Norwich 49%, Rovers 51%. In other words, Rovers must have had close to 60% of the play over the following 40 minutes including 15 minutes without Bothroyd. Not condoning Bothroyd who was n absolute idiot but the commentary team were observing that Rob Styles had missed several bad fouls on Rovers players and his linesman had dropped a couple of clangers in flagging Rovers offside. Sadly Bothroyd's moment of madness cost us a win and very nearly caused a wholly avoidable defeat. The good news seems to be Ferguson and Emerton playing to the very considerable best, Tugay doing well (yes rover6) and McEveley, Todd and Nissa operating as a pretty effective unit. Neill seemed to be pretty clueless gainst Huckerby. Anyway, I look forwards to reading the comments of those who were there. Well done for making so much noise.

For once, I will be extremely happy if there are no team changes this Saturday but will be watching the bench to see if Thompson and either MGP or de Pedro are included. Make no mistake, this is a six pointer. For Rovers, it is a huge MUST NOT LOSE game- not losing away is as big a psychological leap for Rovers as winning would be for Norwich. Whatever happens on Saturday, there will be one less 0 on the Premiership League table. I am with jim, I have been impressed by Norwich from what I have seen of them on TV. They scrapped well for their point at Citeh, survived a howler by arguably the best young British keeper around and rode their luck well. It is not only Rovers who do not get given blatant penalties as City found out. Norwich looked to be as toothless away at City as Chelsea were and look how Chelsea discovered how to score goals against us in their next match! In their previous home game against Everton, Norwich built an impressive head of steam and probably gave the Toffees the most uncomfortable twenty minutes of the season so far, scoring twice in the process. If they can do that to David Moyes' well ordered players, they are capable of ripping Rovers apart. McKenzie and Huckerby can go past our defenders for fun and will do so on Saturday at some point. So, I will not be surprised by Norwich 4 Rovers 0.... Just bitterly disappointed. However, it is the result I am predicting if Sparky adopts 4-5-1 containment tactics and a must not lose approach even though a lot of logic would point to that being the best thing to do. I desperately hope that he sees the need to isolate the Norwich speedsters by keeping Norwich on the defensive so they cannot throw several players forwards together. However, if the 4-4-2 team Rovers put out against Liverpool turn up, tightened by another week of intensive fitness and tactical coaching and prozone has been put to good use, there is no reason why Rovers should not win this game and quite comfortably at that. Emerton and Ferguson should enjoy themselves and the Norwich defense is poor enough for Dickov's industry and Bothroyd's strength to yield goals. If Rovers secure more than 50% of the possession, make that Norwich 1 Rovers 3.... Time to sit on the fence. I expect Norwich will score early in the second half yet again meaning that Rovers conceed early in the second half yet again. Even though, man for man, Rovers are the better team for once, a surprisingly entertaining and good natured game will end frustratingly: Norwich 2 Rovers 2

TV viewing figures are down dramatically as well. Football is losing its appeal in every conceivable way. Match of the Day is crud and its only redeeming feature is that its not the vomitorium otherwise known as ITV's Premiership. On Sky, Stelling has become a sanctimonious prat, Marsh is a bad self- parody, the rest of the Sky pundits have been at the juice and the "formulae" are looking as tired as George Best on an iffy day. All I can say is lets pray for Everton and Bolton to finish first and second to rescue the Prem from becoming as boring a non-competition as Formula 1. The only bright spot is that Man U will not qualify for the Champs League which will make everybody a lot happier.

Interesting read that den. One point I would take exception to is the comment "make no mistake, Blackburn are a poor side." I don't know what the people at the ground felt but on TV it looked like Rovers were as classy (or not as the case maybe) as Liverpool. Certainly there was a gulf between this performance and the Rovers at Chelsea and an even bigger gap between Rovers v Liverpool and Leeds v Wigan. The fact that we looked comfortably the equals of if not better than a Champions League team for 85% of the game is I am sure the reason why this MB is so much more perky since Saturday evening. But for McEveley's moment of idiocy, I doubt Liverpool would have fashioned a draw from that game.

Nothing scientific about this post- just a few rambling reminiscences. Someone somewhere in the last eight pages said we have been badly served for central mid-fielders. I disagree. Many of my all-time favourite Rovers players have played there but I own up to being unmoved by most of those operating in that area during the Premiership years- Yes, super Atko is iconic and was an excellent clinical finisher in front of goal (his supporters have over looked that aspect of his game), Batty the ultimate enforcer, Flitcroft has played a lot of games, Fergie looks promising but only Sherwood makes it into the pantheon for me. Back to my younger days, Vernon and Dobing had gone before I sarted watching Rovers but the awe with which they were referred to showed what good players they were. Eamon Rogers (don't even know if I spelt his name correctly) was a star. Scruffy, unshaven, unkempt, he looked like a tramp had got a game but what a brilliant dribbler. One of the best I've seen in the blue and white. Stuart Metcalfe- very nearly a one club man for his native Blackburn. Useless left foot but his right foot was one of the best in the game during the '70s. Had the uncanny knack of making space, he could go past players with dazzling unpredictability despite being so one footed. He could score goals too, brilliant accurate screamers against Chelsea and Palace come to mind not forgeting the juggling og he potted at St James' Park when he returned to Rovers for his final appearance! Micky Speight was really a Sheffield United hero but he was marvellous for us in two seasons at the end of his career. Tough, uncompromising but a reliable passer and could score- how we need one of his ilk this season. Also a hero elsewhere but magnificent for us at the end of his career was Howard Kendall. Great leader, steel and class. He scored a stunning 30 yard drive that almost ripped the net off the Darwen end in a League Cup game gainst Bury and a fabulous header at Bloomfield Road against Blackpool. Mark Patterson was a home grown player who was not as talented as the others mentioned here but was a great favourite. A 35 yard volley to win and enliven a dull game against Boro in front of a sub-5,000 crowd stands out. Simon Barker was a great talent and why he did not go onto really great things at QPR following his £250K transfer to the then First Division glamour team was always a puzzle. Simon was a complete midfielder, good in the tackle, vision, organisation, passing, excellent composure on the ball and able to beat several players on the run; he too scored memorably spectacular goals. A very quiet unassuming lad off the field as well. Tony Parkes- how could we write so much about midfielders and so little about TP. He was Mr Blackburn Rovers even before he hung up his boots after 500 odd games for us. TP never looked an athlete- there was something awkward about how he moved- but he was 100% effective. Scored some cracking goals- a volley at Mansfield comes to mind- but his 100% never give up attitude was summed up by the last minute equaliser against the great Forest 1980 side when he overlapped the forwards to get onto a cross and cooly chip an onrushing Peter Shilton. Suffered a bad broken leg which kept him out for about a year towards the end of his career. I always used to believe that any Rovers' greatest team had to include Duncan McKenzie. What a magician and supremely gifted player he was. For younger supporters, think of Lars Bohinen at his best then imagine that sort of skill and wizardry being produced regularly and sometimes for a full 90 minutes. McKenzie could dribble, dance round a standing ball with two opponents too scared to move, throw outrageous feints, receive a pass with the back of his thigh, hit driven volleys with a back heel flick and jump higher than any player I've seen. His goals were stunning- the 30 yard bender against West Ham, the over head flick from a ridiculously tight angle at Mansfield, the glided volley against Sheff U and so on. His destruction of first division Coventry at Ewood in the FA Cup was one of the best individual performances I have ever seen from a Rover. But along came Uncle Jack and King Kenny and later the good part of the Souness era to remind us that football is about winning things as well as about supreme entertainers. So I will be divided when it comes to voting for the second midfielder between three outstanding candidates: Forrest who more than anyone put five FA Cup trophies into the Ewood Park cabinet- half the number of senior competitions we have won in our entire history. Latheron the lynchpin of the Championship winning sides before the first War. Sherwood, captain of the Premiership winning team and a truly complete midfield player with no small amount of skill (remember the swivelled flick at Elland Road which prompted the trvelling Rovers fans into a mock self-deprecating chant of "Blackburn are boring"?) For the first vote, the winner by a country mile is Ronnie Clayton. I won't add to the praises already heaped on this giant but if you get to be taken round Ewood by this lovely man, just ask him about playing against Pele.

The signing of MGP after we had signed de Pedro was one of the strangest pieces of business transacted by Souness. A second international left winger really was a high priority given we had headaches all over the park. I always saw MGP as a risk in the same way as Reid was. Stead was a blind leap of faith which worked magnificently and no doubt will do so again. But the gap from Tippeliga and Div 1 is proving a longer term hurdle for the two midfielders. Reid is finaly coming good and no doubt MGP will do too. My reading of MGP's Prem appearances for Rovers was that he hadn't got his mental approach right. Against Man U he was like a kid running round a giant sweet shop and effectively left us playing 10 against 11 (plus ref) all game. MGP has just got to face it. He was given the opportunities by Souness, Parkes and Hughes and he didn't take them. Yes, they are good excuses as to why he didn't but they are still excuses when the Rovers desperately need performances. Jansen blossomed and faded. Now Emo and Reid are taking the chances given to them and Thompson and de Pedro are pushing hard for their opportunities, not forgetting Gresko and Gray must also fancy the left wing slot if McEveley plays them out of left back contention. Yes, MGP has a good record for Norway but I venture to suggest that Emerton, de Pedro and Gresko's international careers are the more substantial and that MGP would not get as close to England selection as Gray and Thompson have done if he were English. Nor has MGP been nominated for the UEFA team of the season as is the case with Emerton. Even Reid and Douglas have full international caps. I am delighted MGP is impressing in training. I really am- we need all 30 senior pros to be burning up Brockhall in training if we are to move above the relegation battle. When MGP gets his next chance for Rovers (as he surely will) he had better not blow it again or he will be finding himself behind a Souness-inspired unneccessarilly long queue with Jemal Johnson also coming into the reckoning.

I think this piece in the LET explains a lot. Sparky complains that the Rovers plyers are a "quiet lot"- and that coming from one of thequietest men in football. What happens when you have an aggressive bully at the top? All the creative, intelligent, gifted people leave and you are left with a demoralised, heads down bunch of yes men with no self-respect. Thankfully Villa and Liverpool games have shown there is fight and good football in the ones we have got left.

I think this appearance fee thing is a load of cobblers. I saw MGP in two televised games playing for Rovers and he was so far out of it, I would have contributed as much had I played even though I don't wear VO75 or even breath it. That said, MGP looked much more promising against Slovenia for Norway. His big problem is that he is probably third choice equal with Vratty for left wing. Emo seemed comfortable on the left yesterday and with Reid and Thomo now available is perhaps unlikely to go back to the right. De Pedro being fit and playing well has the huge advantage over MGP of eleven seasons' top league experience behind him and more knowledge of many opposition players than most Prem players given the influx of Spaniards this season. I hope MGP breaks through because I think he has promise (statement of faith rather than reason) but to get into the Rovers team he is going to have to displace some well-seasoned internationals which is how it should be at any decent Prem club.

Great report Scotty. Feeling MUCH better after that performance. Was very apprehensive when I saw the team sheet. Quite simply, it is very close to what I would consider is our best XI in current circumstances and I was pretty sure we were going to get rolled over. Then where wouldwe have turned? So which is the real Rovers under sparky? The two 2-2s (Villa and Liverpool) or the two 0-4s? Lets look at yesterday's positives- we were determined and played entertaining football. Emo and Fergie looked very high quality, Bothroyd carries real threat, Nissa concentrated for 90+ minutes and Short did not get injured. Reid continued to show that he might make it at Prem level and McEveley confirmed the more encouraging reports emerging from Reserve team football. Even Tugay whom I felt was finally over the top rolled back some years. Negatives- Lucas Neill needs to dust off the videos marked Premiership Team of the Year Right Back 2001/2- yes that was you Lucas baby, look and learn. - Brad; Amo and Matteo were not playing so why the lack of confidence? - So we've lead 2-1 in second half play three times this season and collected the handsome total of two points from those games, hmmm... - The other results yesterday were not good....Palace certain relegation candidates? I expect Norwich to win at Citeh tomorrow.

I m looking forwards to Tommo's tenacity but his passing was awful in the fleeting glimpses we have seen of him.

LeChuck, have to say you are spot on. We are Wales mark 2. My worry about Hughes was what was happening at Wales. Yes they had very limited players, many of whom were fizzling out (ditto Rovers), but Hughes seemed incapable of motivating them- especially that home defeat against Russia when in the biggest game for their country in two generations, Wales were remarkably under-motivated and easilly defeated by a pretty ordinary side (look at Russia's results since Cardiff). Hughes looked good becausee he walked into the biggest shambles in interntional football. At this point, I wish we had Dowie. Palace do not have better players than us but look where they are standing relative to us today. This is not a Hughes out rant. He is a big improvement over Souness who did supinely lose games 0-4 (Brum and Liverpool). More to the point, Rovers beat Pompey- very unlikely a Souness-led Rovers would have won that one.

I haven't seen a newspaper report this morning which does not assume we will be relegated.

A very good analysis of the decline in Premiership crowds this year. Incidentally, the Norwich v Everton game yesterday was the forst "good old-fashioned" English Premier League game I'd seen this season. A tremendous up and at them encounter with great skill and passion.

For 30 minutes, the Rovers looked well organised, compact and very capable of giving Chelski a frustrating afternoon. We even put some good moves together and had a fair shout for a penalty. Even when Chelsea stepped up a gear, we looked OK to keep it to 0-0 to half time when suddenly Neill and Matteo got lost, Gudjonsson watched our back line disintegrate and Gray didn't and we were 0-2 and out of it. Never mind Short fouled outside the penalty area and Duff scored from a corner that wasn't (Chelski were getting a corner bonus afternoon), we were beaten by the inability of our defence individually and collectively to keep their shape and discipline- again. So we will be bottom after the Saints v Brum game and with that minor irritant of a -15 goal difference already need back-to-back victories to be certain of escaping the bottom three. oh eck

I cannot see our fine record at Stamford Bridge surviving this encounter. However, whether we lose by one or a bag full, I will be looking for: - signs of character and leadership. The lack of these from what I have seen of that abject second half last week was the most worrying aspect. This was what Amo was supposed to provide at the back wasn't it? - signs that there is some more class in the team. I hope Stead and MGP get a chance to perform against one of the best in Europe. If these two guys come good we could have the nucleus of a team which can compete in the Prem this season in terms of player quality - a reduction in cautions/ sending offs. The disciplinary record is horrible yet its not made us any more difficult to play against.

I feel utterly let down by that admission by Souness that he did not take the UEFA Cup seriously at Blackburn. I was unable to get to Sofia, Glasgow or Ankara. I am sure the Rovers supporters who made those trips are nauseated by those comments. Boxing day at Ewood is working up to be a grudge game par excellence. If we don't get 30,000 on for that game, the passion for Rovers football will be seen to have died.

Danns has just scored again for Colchester. Before the bring back Danns campaign gets into full cry, Jimmy Corbett has just scored for Southend as well.

A couple of sympathetic but starkly realistic reports here: The Independent The Guardian The point that our regular crowds are 2,000 less than the lowest gate in our, dare I say it, previous relegation season is a huge worry. One of the reports points to the Boro fans having players they can identify with whereas we have nobody. Fair enough. But surely the key issue is that the Rovers have been playing unentertaining non-winning football at Ewood for over 18 months now and that must be driving people away. I had hoped the entertainment factor in the Villa game was a pointer to the future. Obviously it was all too easy for McLaren to watch the video and snuff that out allied to the self-inflicted blows of playing Emo on the wrong side and Tugay leaving his brain in the dressing room.

i have just about summoned enough good humour to look at the message board and what do I see? Rover6 has been responsible for the last six posts. I am going to lie down in a dark room again.

Other fans' responses It seems that some grounds are beyond their own fans' defendinng them... but not Luton.

Into the bottom three because of the Baggies Norwich draw.

Looks like two through Neill getting skinned, one from an outswinging corner going all the way for a player to shoot and one passed through the middle of the defence. Where do you start?

JFH hattrick