jim mk2

To be fair pal, I've been watching football for 60 years so I'm well qualified to comment. He's my least favourite player at Ewood because he's a limited player with a heart the size of pea but as previously stated he scored the winner today so I'm thankful to him for that.

Siggy's my least favourite player at Ewood but I'll take that thank you.

Not like you to criticise him

Oxford United will be forever associated with one of the biggest FA Cup shocks of all time and worst results in Rovers history. In 1964 Rovers were riding high in the old First Division when we travelled to the Manor Ground to face fourth division Oxford, captained by one Ron Atkinson, in the fifth round and promptly lost 3-1, a result that seemed unbelievable at the time when we saw the banner headlines in the Evening Telegraph - no local radio or internet in those days remember. That’s why I regard any game against Oxford with trepidation and it’s no different today. This looks like one that is very easy to lose despite some fans thinking it’s an unloseable game.

That’s good to know.

A loss yes, and I don't know how Eustace will take it. It's not difficult to see him quitting soon

Stop them cutting inside and show them the line was how full backs were told to play traditional wingers, then trust their pace to stop them beating you and getting a cross in. It still applies today. I don't know why modern full backs still don't do it. As former flying winger myself, I could cross a good ball and always tried to get to the byline. Defenders always said they were the crosses that were most difficult to defend against.

Can you explain this "recruitment process" of which you speak? You seem to be one of the few Rovers fans who have any faith in it

My words were "there might be a fringe player loan at the last minute". In truth, I hope I lose the bet because I'm genuinely worried about your wellbeing if you lost it

In your imagination maybe but apart from a couple of loan premier league fringe squad teenagers in the last few hours of the window I’m not hopeful of any meaningful activity

To sum up it’s status quo ante, ie nothing happening

I’ll have a friendly wager he is. Together with the Emerald Isle surefire bet that’s 2 nice little earners I can look forward to

And how are the fans going to demonstrate their displeasure except for the usual shrug of the shoulders? And so it goes on

The Japanese lad is the SS replacement

I want many things in life but I know they're not going to happen. I would like however Rovers to make at least 4 signings before the window closes, a new goalkeeper in particular I know also that it's unlikely they're going to happen

If that figure is correct then is the outcome is not virtually done and dusted and there's little point in continuing the debate? Either way, from a transfer point of view it would appear to me that's the end of any more incomings this window. As has been stated, it'll be more high earners leaving the club to reduce the wage bill and battening down the hatches on costs for the season

How's our "friendly bet" going in view of the latest delay to the India court case? I'd say the odds have swung in my favour don't you think?

I'd say it was the first ...... some court cases go on for years

Every player has a price but we should not be selling Travis. He's not a world beater but we'll be significantly weaker without him - and the squad is thin enough as it is, and we all know the money won't be spent on a replacement This all smells of cost cutting and another chance to offload a high earner. I wonder how Eustace feels, because I can't believe he wants Travis to go.

Me too. I regard it as an honour

Steele and Walton are 2 of the worst goalkeepers I've seen in a Rovers shirt, especially the former - and we've had some bad ones in the 60 years I've been watching. Of the 2 scenarios above, you have to say they have gone to become better goalkeepers after they've left - pointing to coaching failures at Ewood Park

For the Indians it’s a troublesome child they’d rather forget about. For the management at Ewood it’s a cash cow for their pension pots

£6m on one player under this regime? It’s not going to happen. Stansfield’s position is hardly a priority anyway The lightning rod for the current funding crisis and the club’s future direction is the goalkeeper dilemma Pears is barely adequate in this division and will continue to cost us points like he did last season. He needs to be replaced, and Eustace knows it. Failure to do so will send a signal that the club is resigned to mere survival this season and also I imagine will make Eustace question his future at the club

I'm sure the Rovers management see the Japanese lad as the Szmodics replacement. To be fair to Mowbray, among the duds he signed some excellent loanees - Elliott, van Hecke, Harwood-Bellis, Reed, Giles - all of whom I'd have loved to seen at the club permanently (pigs in flight etc) Your 2nd par is the one. Prepare for disappointment

Yes I’ll have a “friendly wager” but I’m concerned that you are happy to “bet your life” on it - if you lose are you willing to drive over Beachy Head? Seems a very silly thing to say It’s not implausible and a reasonable bet that no more players will be arriving given the parlours state of the club’s finances. If Venkys lose the impending court case more players could be leaving and all bets on our survival would certainly be off