Mercer

In my view, a totally bizarre and mystifying signing. He should have been on instead of Graham after 55 / 60 minutes. If there was anything about him, he would have torn Middlesbrough's defence to pieces.

Said it many a time. Confidence and momentum go a long way in the Championship. Think the two automatic spots will come from the current top 4. My 'dark horse' to go up from play-offs is Villa. Think the managers of those teams pressing at the moment have far more positivity and creativity than Mowbray. Think Mowbray's lack of game management nous cost us two points today and sadly, IMV, it's been a recurring theme with Mowbray since he joined us.

Hugely disappointing after going one up after 20 minutes and playing 10 men for the remainder of the game. Sending off changed the game. Until Middlesbrough deservedly went down to 10 men, could only only see one winner and it wasn't us. Game should have been over at half time. Evans' miss was criminal and thought there and then, we're going to blow this - therefore went for draw at 10/3 at half time. Think it was poor game management from Mowbray. We should have had fresh legs on (thought Graham was shot at) before the A'balonga strike, and really gone for it. A wonder strike but no pressure at all on the lad or ball. Thought Armstrong was dreadful when he came on. Continue to like the look of Rothwell, the lad has a spark and deserves his chance to start a match or two. As for Brereton, what more can you say, brought on with the game almost over - think there's something very, very strange about that signing. Starter was great (brunch in Thirsk), main course (at The Riverside) flattered to deceive and pudding was great (dinner in Ribble Valley). Suppose two out of three aint too bad!

Jim had a pretty good pedigree as a player - I remember him from his Newcastle days. Served his managerial apprenticeship in the lower leagues and I thought Rovers had appointed a decent replacement for Jim Smith. Sadly, turned sour pretty quickly. David Allin at the LT was a young and acidic journalist and he could see things weren't right at Rovers under Iley and he didn't mince his words. Relations between Rovers and LT were at an all time low. When Rovers, under Iley, signed Joe Craig from Celtic for £40k, it was the LEP that broke the news! A decent and honest bloke - sad it didn't work out for him at Rovers.

Palmer wont be a miss. Hassenhuttl has a reputation for developing players. Will be very surprised if he doesn't take Reed back as he'll want to take a good look at him. Will be a shame if he does - this lad should be our number one central midfielder. Would steer clear of Chapman - think he's one of those players who are injury prone. Anyhow, hasn't Mowbray already said he wouldn't start him? We don't want any more 'potential' players. We want signings who can go straight into the first team and improve both our results and performances. Could we ask Forest for our money back on Brereton or failing that, if he's so good, can we flog him for what we paid for him. Pointless keeping him to warm the bench.

I simply don't think we will have the physical strength to cope with a big physical team. We have conceded 9 goals in the last 3 games against 'modest' and 'unfancied' opposition so keeping a clean sheet tomorrow will be very, very difficult - I think we will be particularly vulnerable on set pieces. Tomorrow, I strongly fancy Middlesbrough to win comfortably and hence my bets. If if gets to the last few minutes and we are 3-1 down then I'll be rooting for Middlesbrough to make it 4-1 and give me a £400 win on top of the straight win bet I've placed on them. If my bets go down because Rovers win (or draw) then I will be delighted (as I've said before, my Rovers' match betting is a bit of fun). How can you look forward to a match if you think we will get pummeled? It's a bit of a Christmas day out, however, and I am looking forward to brunch in Thirsk and dinner closer to home. Hope you enjoy your day Chaddy.

Including selling match tickets for the Liverpool FA Cup tie downstairs in the corner house opposite the main entrance to the ground (think the manager's office was upstairs then) - recall the money going into a big plastic box!

You're right. Found this - killer Keeley and brutal Branagan!

An honest and likeable guy who lived in Mellor. Brought Jim Furnell and Tony Long (physio) with him from Plymouth. One of his first signings was Colin Randall (midfielder) for £40,000 from Plymouth. A 'nice' footballer but but think the move came a bit too late for him in his career (think he'd turned 30+) and he really didn't hit the heights for us - remember him being caught 'rabbit punching' an opponent (totally out of character for the lad) on MOD and think it was Jimmy Hill who tore into him.

From memory, we were 4 up at half time - we left a few in the pub who didn't get on the ground until half time !!! Middlesbrough were cr@p that day. Both teams were in the bottom half of the league. Former Claret Cochrane (actually rated that lad) got their consolation - him and Hankin (another ex Burnley) got some real stick that day from Rovers' fans.

Think we will get smashed tomorrow. Middlesbrough are a big side and defensively I just don't think we will be able to handle them - we are conceding far too many goals. Bookies don't fancy us and you can almost get 5/1 on Rovers win. Lumped on Middlesbrough just short of evens and this week's fun bet is a tenner on 4-1 at 40/1. Not really looking forward to the match itself but it's a bit of a 'Christmas' day out.

I HAVE NOT accused Dack of lying. Tell me where I have said Dack is lying? You need to be extremely careful what you say. Neither is it purely set up to get a reaction from Chaddy. What organisation would not put a 'spin' on its PR items?

Come on Chaddy behave. Would you really expect anything different from the club site?

A relative down there who is a huge Reading fan reckons Pearson is in the frame. At 18/1 worth a flutter, stuck £20 on him.

Think it was 2-1 in front of 31,000. Think it was Ford who netted their winner. Owls went on to lose to Everton in final where Trebilcock netted twice (surprise inclusion at expense of Fred Pick). Remember the Everton fan who invaded the pitch and was chased across before being rugby tackled!

Short was another 'golden oldie' who provided great service for Rovers - I think he played his last game for Rovers at 37 !!! What the fans would give for a couple of 'golden oldies' like Moran, Short, Gale, Salgado etc. Committed professionals with a bit of class.

You need to chill pal and show a bit more respect.

A great shout that !!!

No they aren't but Chaddy's inference is that players generally in La Liga wouldn't be able to handle the tempo or physicality. Ramos at 33+ would kick a few (players) over the stands. It's just nonsense from Chaddy.

So the likes of Messi and Griezmann wouldn't be able to handle it then !!!!

Touche. Think it was one of our first matches of the season (maybe 1972 or 1973) and we got hammered 4 or 5. Seem to remember an own goal from our 'great Dane' (Arentoft) opened the floodgates. O'Mara netted at least one and I think Stewart Houston (who moved to United soon after), got another.

Think you and CPBS have been drinking too much Blue Nun - a brand name synonymous with Lada! If I have to pay up on a bet, you'll get some decent stuff!

Poor draw for us. Rafa will have them mid table by the time we play and they will be desperate to go on a cup run. Newcastle to win and it wont be close the way we defend and concede goals.

I hope you are right and he turns out to be a sensation. My beef is we've committed to a huge deal (for Rovers) and Mowbray wont start him and when he does come on as a sub, it's out wide. From what I've seen of Brereton, I think he's just a Joe Average. If he's no better than what we have, those funds should have been used to strengthen other areas where we know we are weak. If you don't look after today, there is no future!

Aye, you are right! Think Britt and Gilliver were crocks when we signed them (bad backs) - goodness knows what the medicals were then!? As far Big John, I think he was a 6 foot 4 plank who struggled to get off the ground (certainly in a Rovers' shirt). Terrorised defences with Brentford - not sure why that changed when he got here, perhaps he too was crocked.