Stella, I read that article in the Herald too (before seeing your post). Wonder if the journo (Mr Spiers) reads this board? Sentiments are familiar and I agree for the most part. To be realistic, when he moved south, I doubt we were seen by Barry other than as a stepping stone on the path to better things with a 'bigger' club. Nice to see a paper from his homeland saying a return now would be an admission on Barry's part that he's not up to it.

Much the same Modi, but now £22. Hey ho, Riverside here we come. Haven't been over there for a few years.

Who am I to advise on negotiating tactics? Anyway............. Savage has met his side of the bargain by requesting a move. Brum are playing silly buggers. We've made two offers so sod em (might be worth a phone call to Savage - from a non-monitored phone of course - to say he's still wanted and don't read the Sun for the next few days) then get a daft offer in for, say, Joey Barton. One we know'll be rejected but should annoy Brum and give an impression we've got other irons in the fire. Then back to Brum in a week or so with a bid 50 grand better than the last one, maybe structured a bit better in their eyes, and lets see what happens. If they still won't play, bye. Frankly, have doubts he's worth 2.5 mill but if Hughes does, I bow to his greater knowledge . Gives us a bit of time to look around for someone in the same mould (if we really need one) and fair to Savage too - gives him a bit of time to sort things.

Don't waste valuable time Flopsy. Jan will be reminding us about her nemesis till her dying day, maybe later.

Hope you had a few bob on your prediction Clare. Uncanny, is the bookmaker connection just coincidence? Well said Alan. The last half dozen or so games I've seen I really can't remember anyone who has stood out in any one game, and no-one's looked out of their depth. It's looking like a team again. Just to pick out a few and so go against what I've just said ........ Todd and Nisse - excellent, especially the blond bombshell Flitty - looked like back to his ankle biting best of late Stead - opinion seems split. IMHO, working bloody hard. Only a matter of time before he gets back on track and all those who doubted him will get indigestion from the humble pie. Even Matteo (yes, even him) is doing OK but he looks the weak link to me. Touch of the Amorusos about him. I think it was Rommedahl who got him booked today? On about half way, just knocked the ball past him, and he'd have been away but for Matteo hauling him back. But maybe I'm being picky and should just have another beer.

Got the radio on listening to WBA v Newc and they tell me Savage has handed in a transfer request. EDIT - so I see news travels faster to Derbyshire than Yorkshire. To be expected I suppose. The pigeons round here have seen better days

Back at the Dickov v Cole debate........... fair points Tris. And just one further point before Jim diverts the subject entirely - filthy lucre. Weigh up the cost of relegation (that of course wouldn't be a consideration if he was still here) vs the saving we're making by having Dickov here rather than the hands-on-hipster (and his £1m loyalty bonus that he'd have trousered at the end of the season). We won't have the answer on that one for another few months, but I'd say so far so good.

After a lengthy read.............. Scotty, I'm sure jim can put in a word for you - good report again. Thought I'd find a fair bit of slagging off for Brad and glad not to be disappointed. At the time didn't think he could do much about the first and still don't, but thought he should have done a damned sight better with the free kick. But after watching the telly, it has to be said that was one terrific free kick that I doubt any goalie would have got to. For those who remember the game at St James Pk a couple of months ago, he took one from pretty much the same place and it whistled about a foot wide of the other post. Maybe Brad remembered. Fair point about a man on the post BP - there are some free kick takers where it's 99 percent sure it'll be a shot and Robert is one of those. Can see a man on the post doesn't work wonders with offside, but if it's pretty certain there's going to be a direct shot, why not? Have a word in Sparky's shell-like Phil. And there's the great sub debate as usual - why wasn't Gally on about 10 or 15 mins earlier? I thought Stead did OK and when Dickov got a kick and the physio came on with about 15 mins to go, cue Gally. But it wasn't to be. Overall, another decent performance, nobody diabolical. But how come other teams win when that happens?

Careful Clare, or are you making an official move for Jim's best spotting anorak . There was a 'special' from Blackburn station last year but since I doubt there was more than 20 folk on it, I have my doubts whether it'll run this year. I checked on the National Rail website a couple of weeks ago and it was saying the trains were pretty much as I expected but I'll have a look in the next day or so - 28th is Boxing Day bank hol isn't it? Think I remember reading somewhere that there's something like a Sunday service operating.

Meanwhile, Balde and Amoruso could have a competition with the milk for who turns faster. So, that's Celtic out of the way, not many to go now.......

As has been mentioned before (but not for a while), Fergie and Thompson aren't too physically imposing. Horses for courses, maybe it'd be OK for some games, but I would reckon someone with the height and build of say Reid would be needed for some opposition.

It takes quite a lot for me to get annoyed on here (Jan, congratulations) but I heard about this on the radio as I drove home yesterday evening and couldn't believe my ears. Now had time to sleep on it and read the comments on here, vast majority very sensible. As with the past threads on fans' behaviour, the individuals getting the flak are in the tiny minority. I haven't seen any pictures, apart from about 10 secs of goals, so I can't comment on Sky's pictures or whatever. Posts from the last hour or so seem to confirm that this one (yes one, and that's one too many) plonker was indeed being racist though. So that's one idiot in a crowd of 20000. Just like Madrid eh? Mr Bruce, I have little time for you. Could it be that if your team hadn't conceeded those two 2nd half goals, this wouldn't have made headline news all over the place? As I walked back to town after the game, could have sworn I saw a bandwagon being hijacked by some clown in a BCFC tracksuit . Forgive me for being cynical, but it does seem to take attention from the result of the game doesn't it? Just think if Mr Dickov had taken that last minute chance, this might be in the European Courts by now. Can't really see what more the club can do - from what I understand, we've said we'll throw the book at the idiot once there's been a proper inquiry. Just hope investigations only take a couple of days.

Bothroyd today, Todd vs Brum a couple of seasons ago. Well, it reminded me anyway. Hope we're able to look back and laugh at the end of the season.

rover6: Nov 3 2004, 20:44 And it's only a matter of time before Okoronkwo (sp?) joins the clan. Really doesn't matter that he wasn't good enough to get a game for a relegated team last year. Hmmm, now where's Matteo on that scale?

FLB, a fine post. And I suspect you know your last sentence is only too true (no names mentioned).

Got to agree Bazza. Compare the Rovers squad man-for-man against those of the likes of Palace, WBA, Norwich, Charlton, Portsmouth, Everton, Southampton and we're at least on a par. At the moment, compare the team and we're not far off the worst of that lot (and that's optimistic). Time to earn your money between now and Jan, Mark. If we've 20 points by the end of the year, he'll have worked a minor miracle and well and truly earnt whatever wage he's on.

Don't know about the cheerful bit. Think I'd be tempted by the delights of Platform 3. Better get my reservation off to National Rail pronto.

Strange you should mention that Tris. Back in student days, a group of us were abandoned in Norwich in the early hours (far too complicated to explain). Before hitching back to Leicester in the morning, got about 30 mins kip on the station - can't remember what platform! Who'd have thought it : get on a Rovers mb to find the inside info about Norwich station's facilities.

Fair point Scotty, but contrast to what Brad said the other day about having some allegiance to those who paid his wages. Now fair enough that Fergy is national captain so has to be 'seen' to have his country at heart, but does that mean he doesn't give a flying one about his club?

Here you go MC.......... Mr Samuel's article about MU (might not be accessible to our non-UK readers though)

Does that not just mean Gary Lineker has seen Jordan with his doll?

Paul, we're looking at the same silver lined cloud. After a bit of considering today, I was just about to put a few thoughts in writing but you've stolen most of em! I was brassed off last night but have a bit of optimism now - Hughes has seen most of the squad in match action now. Plus points (only a few, wouldn't want to get carried away ) - Bert Emmerton (copyright Bob F I think), still plenty of room for improvement but he's a damned sight better than end of last season. OK, he wasn't playing at the end of the season, but you know what I mean. Jansen, he wasn't brilliant last night but not bad, add that to the Portsmouth game and signs are promising. MGP had his moments too. And Gally looked lively when he came on. Perhaps I've just got used to Rovers' poor performances over the last year or so, but I really don't think anyone was THAT poor last night. Nissa wasn't too good but the whole defence was v ordinary - o to have a regular centre back pair. I thought Del Pedalo (damn, more royalties owed to Bob F) was OK whilst he was on. Why did we bother playing Toogs though since the tactic for the most part was to belt the ball from defence up to the front runners? We had FAR more of that game, same old story that the defence needs sorting out. Yep, we'll sometimes lose games that we ought to win, it's happened before and it'll happen again. Anyway, that's enough random thoughts.

Cloud? Cloud?????? Flopsy, you're a master of understatement. Hurricane Ivan more like. Meanwhile, back at the thread...........

Sorry to divert the Asian debate gents. Meanwhile, back at this parking lark. I've got a work colleague who has been to a few games at Ewood (even though he follows Everton). He's from Manchester and usually brings along a mate or two. Last time he came here though, it took him almost an hour to get out of Darwen Vale School car park after the game. He's not too keen to attend another game cos of that. Convenient parking might not make a difference of thousands to our gates, but it would help. Come on you locals, get the council sorted out

Morph, , so true, and I admire your restraint.