Hard to believe he is 37 now. He was 17 when he had a stormer of a debut at Old Trafford. It looked like we had a player, but sadly it didn't work out. LMA Manager though. What a game. I played them all up until 2005. Didn't play the last couple in the series, but spent many hours on the earlier ones.

Paul Gallagher is still 18 years old and waiting for his chance to break into the Rovers first team.

Just went on to the Rovers website and saw the headline: "Fenton set to reach Rovers milestone" My eyes lit up for a second as I thought "Eh, Graham?". Then the image loaded up. It was about a Rovers Ladies player making her 200th appearance tomorrow. It gave me an excuse to find the highlights (12 minute clip) of that famous game. I think this was taken from MOTD that evening in April 1996.

The only time the Champions League was special was when games were shown live on ITV 1 and commentary was provided by Clive Tyldesley. The competition lost all meaning when BT Sport took over the rights.

It was only yesterday that I mentioned visiting the Preston forum and the posts looking very familiar. Similar arguments and characters as can be found on here. Certain fans saying "enough of this shit, person x has to go" followed by others defending person x and saying person y is to blame. Arguments back and forth about ambition, mediocrity and entitlement. A few on there who communicate with Ridsdale via text, email or in person were being accused of backing anything he says or does without question. Some who were defending club policy or Hemmings' statement were being accused of being Ridsdale himself posting on the forum. It's not just on here that all of the above are found.

I remember the shouts of "skin him" from the Riverside whenever Gillespie was on the ball and facing the full back. More often than not, he would attempt to do exactly that, by trying to beat the defender on the outside and getting a cross in. We're lucky we saw some of the best wingers. Ripley, Wilcox, Duff, Gillespie, Bentley. The latter didn't need much space to whip a quality ball in. Exciting times and proper football. Ryan Giles on the right wing cutting in like Mahrez, anybody? Gally on the right wing? Not the fault of either of those two players, but some people in football today have lost the plot.

Ben Foster is a Youtuber who was lucky enough to be invited to film behind the scenes content at Watford. He was not allowed to play in any of the games. However, he was permitted to travel on the team bus every week, to sit in on team meetings and to have apple crumble whenever he wanted.

Niko Kranjcar has only played under one manager throughout his whole career. Harry Redknapp.

Seen this thread on another Football forum and decided to start it on here, just for fun. What are some weird feelings of football that you have, that aren't necessarily 100 percent true, but they seem that way? They can be Rovers related if you want, but can also extend to world football in general and apply to any era. The only rule is they can't be 100 percent true. Disclaimer: None of these statements are to be taken as facts. They are not factually true. Humour is the underlying theme of this thread. I'll start us off with some examples: 1) Brad Friedel never conceded a goal against Man United when playing for Rovers. 2) Matches at the Nou Camp can only be played at night. 3) Villarreal have had the same home kit for the past 18 years and have never had an away kit. 4) The Nigerian Men's football team ceased to exist after World Cup '98. Nobody knows what happened, but their last ever game on the International stage was the 4-1 defeat against Denmark in the last 16, in June 1998. 5) Edinson Cavani has never scored a goal, yet is viewed as being a lethal striker. I'm sure you'll be able to add a few more.

Just had a wander over on to the PNE forum and it's bedlam on there. It seems a large portion of their forum members have reached their tipping point and want Craig Hemmings (owner) and Peter Ridsdale out. Some are even calling for Ryan Lowe to leave. Below is the Hemmings Out thread if anybody wants entertaining. I've noticed a lot of familiar comments on there about their hierarchy. Things we have said on here about our lot. https://www.pne-online.net/forum/index.php?threads/hemmings-family-time-to-go.3436779/ I was quite surprised and was wondering what tipped them over the edge. Reading some of their comments, it appears that they feel conned by the early bird season ticket offering, the buzz around the place and the talk of an exciting season, only to be let down in the transfer market. They didn't get a RWB and a striker that they were all wanting and so far, they can't score a goal to save their lives. Anyway, the unrest must go beyond their forum as Hemmings has got wind of it and released a statement addressing their concerns. Link below: https://www.pnefc.net/news/2022/september/club-update-from-craig-hemmings/ I don't know anything about him, but at least they have somebody who communicates with them. It's also interesting how he says he will step aside if prospective new owners show that they have the funds and are willing to push the club forward. I wish we had such a thought to hold onto! Their thread reacting to the statement: https://www.pne-online.net/forum/index.php?threads/club-update-from-craig-hemmings.3436894/ A bit of entertainment during a boring International break. I was going to say, I understand how they feel when they talk about owners not giving a crap and showing no ambition, therefore I won't mention getting the popcorn out. Forget that though, get the Butterkist Toffee Popcorn ready, the good stuff, as we could do with a good laugh 😁.

It's been like that for a good few years now. I remember standing briefly at the top on Manxman Road whilst a couple of night games were on during the late 90s. It was a good vantage point with no trees blocking the view. Just had a look on Google Maps and the park is right next to where I stood back then. Went to the same spot on Manxman Road about 7 or 8 years ago I think it was, for the nostalgia and to have a look at the ground and was met by the jungle you mention. The City fans were up there in their numbers back in May 2000 for their promotion game, so it was fine then. I don't think it's been close to 20 years of the jungle. Possibly closer to 10 I'd say, as a guess.

There's a world of difference between Bodo Glimt, the league they play in, and Blackburn Rovers, with all due respect to Glimt. Trying to get this club back into the Premier League is a whole new ball game and he has never been a DoF before. He did do well there at Glimt, I admit, so credit to him for that. My point on the Luton situation was that they suffered three relegations whilst he was there, of course that's not all on him. However, he was talking up how he helped to develop x amount of Academy players, how x amount of Academy players became part of the first team during his time there and how he increased player value. What good is all of that when the club suffered three successive relegations? That is focusing on development over results, IMO. That was my point. It's early days for him at Rovers, but it's the early signs that are worrying me. We haven't bought in experience in the centre of the park because of him not wanting to block pathways. We have been battered in games against Sheff Utd, Reading, Bristol City and Luton because the midfield can't put up a fight and can't get a hold of the ball. Is it wrong to suggest this policy to keep pathways open and only bringing in Morton in that area, a lightweight midfielder, is contributing to this? Adam Wharton had a stunning game at Blackpool, I liked what I saw. He then struggled in the next 45 minutes and hasn't featured since. We haven't seen Garrett feature in the league, leaving Morton as the mainstay for now. What happens when he struggles, which he will being a youngster. We only have Bucko, who himself is having to adjust to a deeper role. I'd have Hourihane in there every day of the week, a proper midfielder, with a touch of class about his game. People were saying "we don't need x, y, z, we've got Wharton and Garrett". We're getting overrun in midfield right now, today, getting embarrassed in the last few games (Watford apart) but those two players aren't able to help us. That's not a criticism of them, by the way, just that we needed hardened players in there who can help us now, in the immediate term. Broughton's focus seems to be helping Academy players to get into the first team. Which club in the Championship has ever had success using this strategy and got into the Premier League off the back of it? I'm not against giving youngsters a chance if they are good enough, but as a huge part of our strategy? Not for me. We'll have to agree to disagree on Hirst. The way I see it, an established, top striker coming in would have dented Vale's hopes of getting into the team. He would have little hope of displacing such a forward. Hirst is a youngster himself, unproven at this level and from what I've seen, hasn't impressed so far and doesn't seem to have much about him. Vale still has a chance of being involved and being rotated with Hirst and that's why, in my view, signing Hirst helps to keep the pathway open for Vale.

Not sure where to put this, but this is what we're dealing with. The very same thing he was on about at Bodo Glimt. R numbers, pathways, making sure Academy lads get into the first team and increasing player value. We've already seen it's effect in settling for Morton on loan as he didn't want to block pathways for A. Wharton and Garrett. Hirst on loan so as not to discourage Vale, IMO. Promotion in a couple of years time? Unlikely. It would seem that experts within the game are impressed though, as seen below, so maybe I need to shut up and let him get on with it.

I agree. It sounds like a cliche, but the game had proper characters back then. Players had more freedom to express themselves on the pitch, especially top drawer players like Bergkamp, Zola, Zidane, Nedved, Figo, Del Piero etc. It's all so rigid today, I feel. How exciting was it to see proper wingers back then too? Not just Ripley and Wilcox and then Duff for us, but others too like Ruel Fox, Gillespie (Newcastle), Overmars, Kewell, Guppy, McManaman, Ginola etc. The game has changed so much and not for the better in terms of entertainment, IMO. There aren't as many truly top class players around today. Take forwards for example. I can name Lewandowski, Haaland, Mbappe, Benzema, Kane maybe. The world's best central midfielders today? I'm struggling to name them. The word 'legend' is banded about too easily these days. Divock Origi. Liverpool legend, apparently.

No problem mate. I apologise if my responses came across as being over the top. That's not what I was intending, it's just reading certain things about promotion sets me off. It seems like I might have misread what you were trying to say on the promotion matter though, so maybe I shouldn't have got so wound up and been blunt in response, so apologies for that. As you will know, the frustration of a 10 year wait to make it back to the Premier League, with us not really being close to doing it in all that time makes it an emotive subject. It pains me, as it likely will you and many others, to see what the club has been reduced to by these owners. The thought of potentially waiting 2 to 3 years more now as we see what this project leads to adds to the frustration for me. I guess where our opinion differs is that you believe in the project and are hopeful it will deliver in time, which you are entitled to obviously, whereas I am of the opposite view. I guess I have no choice but to wait and see how it goes. I can't be saying 'Broughton Out' on here every week, it will likely cause a virtual riot on here one day 😁. Oh and can I still have my toys? I would like a Buzz Lightyear action figure and the Little Green Men and you can have the Bowyer shirt in return. We can revisit the deal in January, if you wish.

Ok, so let me get this right. In your last two posts you have said the following: 1) It is sad to see Rovers fans demand or expect a return to the Premier League based on our history. Fans perceive we deserve to be there because of our history, is what you said. That is your assumption. Most of us know we have to earn the right to get back there, but we do need to get back up there for the wellbeing of the club and because a lot of fans want to see Rovers back playing at the highest level. That does not mean toppling Man City for the title, before you assume that. With your assumption that we "think we deserve to be there", you are calling me and others entitled. Tell me, at what point is it ok for forum members to talk about promotion, according to you? Or should we never mention it at all and just accept mid table mediocrity in this League? 2) You clearly said "I don't give a damn about the EPL" and that you prefer the Championship due to it's competitiveness. How have I taken that out of context? 3)You saw the horror shows at Luton and Reading and shrugged them off. On to the next game. That's fine, everybody reacts differently to defeats, but don't then try to tell those of us who are concerned by the manner of those defeats that we are 'crying' and throwing our toys out of the pram. There are valid concerns that I and others have because they weren't one off bad defeats. They have repeated themselves against Sheff Utd, Reading, Bristol City and Luton and are likely to continue against similar opponents unless something changes in our approach to such games. 4) You say I have a 'first or nothing bro' belief and that us being 7th, and me being unhappy, proves that you are correct to think that. Firstly, you have misunderstood what I was saying when I said "they aren't serious about promotion". "They" was referring to the club hierarchy above the manager, not the team on the pitch. They (the hierarchy) have not been serious about promotion at any point in the last 10 years. We were 2nd in January and they still weren't serious. JDT has come in, start of a new era, and look at the signings they have got in for him. JDT wanted quality and experience to come in, he hasn't been given that, even though they spent a bit. Brittain and Hyam are decent, but the rest? They (the hierarchy) still aren't serious about promotion, IMO. That's the point I was making when I said "they have to show us something", not the lads on the pitch as you assumed. This idea of "first or nothing bro" has come from you assuming I am not happy with us in 7th place. 7th place doesn't mean much right now, yes it is better than expected, so that isn't an issue. Do you actually believe we are in the mix now? Because a few weeks ago you said we are far away from promotion, Buckley is our only creative player and that a mid table finish would be a good season. How is 7th in September of any relevance then? I am not pissed off because we aren't top of the table as you suggest. I am pissed off about the project, which I don't believe will take us forward, I believe it takes us further away from promotion and will lead to more years being wasted. I am not happy about the transfer window business we have done and with Broughton being the man tasked with bringing players in. As for me wanting Rovers to win and for a winning mentality to return, that obviously doesn't mean I demand first place and an invincibles season with us winning 46 games. I'm talking about some ambition and a will to win being shown from the top down, including JDT, and for us to make a genuine push for promotion by going out to win games. Being angered by pathetic defeats like the ones we have seen is not a crime. We should be striving to win every game and promotion should be our objective with each season that we remain in this Division. Obviously, we won't win every game, yes the young lads will be inconsistent, but that's what you get when you choose to go with a youth project, and I won't be making excuses for that. The club chose this strategy. 5) Your question about how I know the club is happy with mediocrity and whether I have been in the boardroom or not. I can't believe that I have to answer that question. Aren't the last 10 years proof enough for you? The January window with us in 2nd is proof enough, as is the window just gone, when JDT hasn't got the players he wanted and we're resorting to playing kids because the strategy is all about pathways. This strategy, IMO, will not lead to winning enough games to win promotion. That is my argument, I could be proven wrong still, but you seem to think that even daring to mention promotion is wrong and that it's only based on history that it is being mentioned. There's nothing wrong with having a desire to see Rovers back to how they once were. Even if fans feel we belong there, so what? How is that sad? That's a signal of having high standards for the club and not seeing it as some little car. For me, and it's my opinion only, none of JDT, Broughton or anybody else at the club are bigger or more important than the Football Club and it's success. If any of them are holding the club back or are not helping us to be successful, I will call them out, even if it isn't popular. 6) Finally, you just had to throw in the "it's not the 1990s anymore" in there, didn't you? I mean, why not, eh? I'm already entitled, I've already thrown my toys out of the pram, I'm crying because Rovers aren't playing like the Invincibles and now I need reminding that "it's not the 90s anymore". I tell you what, when you drop them new toys off for me to throw from my pram, and I will need them for the January transfer window, I'll have a shirt waiting for you. A Sunderland shirt with '1 Mogga' on the back of it.

That's a fair shout, as you will be able to appreciate what they do more by seeing it live for yourself. I've only ever seen them on the telly and they do come across as relentless. I'm still rooting for the invincibles though, (as if this match is happening) maybe nostalgia is playing a part. It would have been a heck of a game to see though. Oh and yes, agree on Haaland, that guy is frighteningly good. As it's Premier League nostalgia and we're on the subject, I'll post a few of my favourite Arsenal goals from back then, just for how good they were, IMO.

There's a nice little highlights video of that game here. Bohinen's goal can be found at 2:30 on the clip below.

The Shearer idea would probably be unlikely, with the road outside being named after him. I get what you mean though. I'm surprised that there has never been a Shearer chant at Ewood since he left (apart from during a testimonial game). I might be wrong and there could well have been, I just can't remember any. I still here the Cantona chants and Thierry Henry chants at their respective grounds. Shearer was the man for us and we should have something for him, IMO.

Hang on a minute. Wanting the club to get back to what it was is sad now, is it? The bit in bold says enough for me. You're not alone, as those at the club seemingly don't give a damn about the Premier League either. There has to be some sort of weird comfort in mediocrity and playing the victim. Poor Rovers, can't compete with the giants in the Championship, poor young lambs, can't put pressure on them, give 'em a chance. These nasty fans wanting to win are just bullies. Remember what Mowbray said upon leaving? He hoped that the next manager wasn't a bully who just wants to win all the time. Since when is wanting to win a form of bullying? Is that what football has become these days? This shit project we have isn't conducive to winning football matches and promotion. It's all about player development, giving minutes to Academy players. That's why there's anger from a few of us on here. This isn't a case of 'first or nothing bro', that's not the demand. They need to show us they are serious about going up, and at the moment they aren't and are about to waste a good few years more of our time. I'm just sick of the attitude of writing seasons off, going on journeys that lead to nowhere and it just being brushed off as "oh well, young lads, they need time".

Whenever I am reminded of him one thing springs to mind. Penalties. It felt like he scored a penalty for us every game during that first season post relegation. I don't know how many he scored, but it felt like a lot. I liked him, good player and was one of very few positives in a dull season.

On the topic of City and Arsenal, I have a couple of questions for the forum: Is this City team under Pep more entertaining to watch than the Arsenal 'Invincibles' team under Wenger? If you had the choice, who would you rather watch between the two? For me, it's the old Arsenal side all day long. City have the cash and can, in theory, buy whoever they want. They have played some excellent football under Pep and still do, but that Arsenal team from around 2002-04 was something else, IMO. I don't ever remember watching Arsenal back then and finding their football boring. I looked forward to watching them whenever they were on. They were swashbuckling in style, superb on the eye and ruthless. I look at the City team today and for all their money, don't find it that exciting player wise. Of course, KDB, Haaland, Foden etc are top class. However, for me, Pires, Ljungberg, Vieira, Bergkamp and the main man, Henry, were far more entertaining to watch. The way they used to cut through teams with Bergkamp usually at the heart of it was a joy to watch as a neutral. Admittedly, it was also a joy due to my ABU-ness. (Anybody but United). Even more joyful is the fact that our Rovers did the double over that Arsenal side in '02/03, which is no small feat looking back! Back to today...if it is a two horse race between City and Arsenal this season, I really hope Arsenal can win it and end 18 or 19 years of frustration.

Exactly. It was the same with Butterworth and McBride too. Butterworth, McBride, Vale, Hirst. The fact that this four were or are being talked about as being good enough for this fantastic Football Club...it's ridiculous, it really is. The standards are gone, Sparks.

Surprisingly, Ostenstad managed to last a good few years at Rovers. I thought it was less than the four years he had here. I remember him looking decent in his first season in this Division, but with Ward and Co around him he would do, I suppose. I don't remember him doing much else apart from playing in a few games in '02/03, his last season here. He scored in a game away at CSKA Sofia and started in the game at Celtic. An ok forward, seen much worse than him at Rovers.

I don't see it as strange. It's what any switched on owner with an ounce of ambition might do after allowing 17 signings to be made in the summer. Unfortunately, the word "ambition" does not exist at Rovers and among large parts of the fan base, so it might well look like a weird move based on what we've had to put up with. Fair play, Vincent Tan. No room for sentiment, no bullshit about journeys. No signs of improvement and Cardiff kicking on this season, so he has acted decisively. That's how it should be.