Mercer

One swallow doesn't make a summer but Eustace's overall management was excellent last night. Let us just hope this will be replicated every game. It was quite clear the 3 'coaches' calling the shots were Eustace, Gardiner and Downing. Lowe cut a forlorn and peripheral figure and, hopefully, his career at Rovers is now over.

A superb performance I didn't expect. Absolutely heartbreaking. There is hope for the future. Well done to Eustace and the players.

Hope I'm wrong but poor substitutions which will cost us game.

Think it will be embarrassing tonight. Having seen our midfield, have stuck a tenner on a 5-1 Newcastle win at 33/1. Think my joy tonight will be derived from our takeaway and a nice wine. As the great Dave Allen would say "may your God go with you".

Gilsenan should be on the bench at Ewood tonight. It's what makes the FA Cup so magical when a young lad comes on and makes a name for himself. IMO, this lad has a 'X Factor' but needs to be given the stage!

You are correct! Some leeway called for when recalling events of some 55+ years ago! The buzz around that match was amazing - the magic of the cup! I seem to recall 'Big Mal' being interviewed on 'Sportsnight With Coleman' before the match was played saying words to the effect it would be all done and dusted by half time! Like him or loathe him. 'Big Mal' was a personality and the likes of him, Shanks and Cloughie brought real colour to the game.

It is nice to see 20k+ plus in Ewood, however, some perspective called for. If I recall correctly, we averaged 25k+ in 5 or 6 seasons when in PL with a highest average of 27k round about 94/95/96 Also, we had 42k on Ewood for the FA Cup match against City back in 1967 when the ground really rocked particularly when Big Jim Fryatt soared to head an equaliser for Rovers. Biggest Ewood attendance since 1960 was 54k for a cup replay against Burnley in 1960 - unfortunately, my dad thought I was too young for that match. How times have changed.

Resting players!? It's shite. Unless they are carrying an injury, the strongest 11 should be selected. They are professional athletes. Players could quite as easily get injured in the next training session!!! Don't molly coddle the buggers - feckin man-up!

Quoting what Jackson wrote in LT an hour or so ago!!!

That team would get absolutely mullered. Your midfield would get overrun and outclassed and we know Brittain isn't up for a scrap - and the pressure on that defence with Koumetio, had to check my diary to see if it was April 1st! Of course the league is important but this is a huge, huge game for Rovers and a chance to give the fans an occasion to savour. To 'surrender' before a ball is kicked would be a humiliation on national tv and a humiliation we might not recover from. Even if we lose, the team and the fans need to take something from the game even if it's only a little restoration of pride. Over 50 years ago, a Southern League club knocked the mighty Newcastle out of the FA Cup at Edgar Street following a sublime Ronnie Radford strike. The FA Cup has a unique magic and Rovers need to give it their feckin all with the strongest available 11 and let's see what happens!

In those days, generally, goalies in the main weren't that tall! Think Barton was similar height to Fred Else (who he replaced) who played hundreds of games for PNE & Rovers - would think both a couple of inches short of 6 feet. Even Roger Jones wasn't quite 6 feet. Think burly Adam Blacklaw measured in at just about 6 feet. Even the great Banks was only about 6 feet (as was Shilton who replaced him as England's goalie). Seem to recall likes of Bonnetti, Stepney, Lawrence etc all sub 6 feet with international honours. Doesn't matter whether a goalie or outplayer though, the old adage still rings true, a good big 'un always beats a good little 'un !!!

Excellent post. Think the family bit was huge - moving your family even from one town to another town in the same county can be difficult enough with all that entails (friends, schools, relatives etc) but from one country to another!!! Sadly, we will never know how good JDT could have been for Rovers. I salute his refreshing honesty and would trust him far more than, IMO, all the scumbags now associated with our club.

Can't quite remember that but do seem to recall we signed him around transfer deadline day that season and reading about it in the LT on a Saturday! Sir Roger replaced Adam Blacklaw who moved on (to Preston or Blackpool ?) at the end of the season. Blacklaw was ex Burnley and he replaced John Barton (who I think made his league debut for Preston at just 16!!!!!!!!). Remember John was a nice bloke but not the best goalie to wear a Rovers' shirt - think he lost his life to cancer again at a relatively early age. Heard a story that John who worked part time for a firm of funeral directors once dropped a coffin! Not sure whether fact or a 'jest' as John did have a habit of dropping the odd cross / shot!!!

Might be wrong here but think Moseley left Rovers not too long after we signed Sir Roger.

Eustace MUST field his strongest 11 and give it a Bowyer 'right good go'. The last thing we need is a compromised Rovers' team humiliated on national television - that might prove a final nail in the relegation coffin with what it would do to confidence and morale.

RIP Paul and condolences to family and friends. So sad to lose another former Rover at a relatively young age. Had the huge job of replacing Sir Roger and made a good fist of it at the tender age of 18 or so (and Pears and Leo are called young goalies at 24/25!)! An era when Rovers were served well by their goalies with the exception of 'Dracula' Butcher - Sir Roger, Paul and Jim Arnold were all very good with the likes of Pears and Leo mere shadows of those lads.

Think that's the strongest 11 Eustace could put out. In our situation, think you always play your strongest available 11. Trying to be clever can be costly

Difficult to call tomorrow and head and heart are differing. Not a big Buckley fan but streets ahead of Garrett and Ayari (a desperately poor Broughton signing) and he should help. Gilsenan has to at least make the bench - don't think he's had a fair crack but I certainly think there's something about him and he would bring flair and goals. Sadly, I think Norwich will win by 2 or 3 goals to 1 as some of ours will no doubt have one eye on the Newcastle game.

The lad's an absolute class act - I posted on here last season that in 2 to 3 years time, he will be running England's midfield. Friend of mine is a big Liverpool fan and he was surprised and disappointed they didn't make a move for him as he thought his different style to what they already have in midfield would give them an additional edge.

Sadly Chaddy, when Waggott and co know there are more like you, the agony for us all will be prolonged. The club will, IMO, continue to take the fans for fools and dump on them window after window and season after season. If you really think anything other than the loose change from the Raya and Wharton monies will be reinvested then it might be time for you to undertake a huge self analytical review. IMO, the only action that will resonate is a huge boycott by the fans (season tickets, match, attendance, merchandise etc).

Indeed! Our owners and Waggott don't deserve such commitment and loyalty. Often think only an ongoing mass boycott will have any impact.

Will be amazed if that starting 11 makes it to half time without any injury. A fast start neeeded, first goal will be so important though we know from Saturday even a 2 goal lead is no guarantee. Concede early and it will be game over.

If he's still here by then!

It's very sad when illness strikes any individual whether they be young, old, poor, rich, unknown, famous. Good luck Tony, hope you are soon fighting fit for your own, and your family's, sake. An American philosopher called Emerson wrote in the 19th century "The first wealth is health" - one of a number of poignant quotes I have on my office wall. How very, very true.

Agree. Think Cardiff win at 7/4 will be a very good little earner. Our seaon continues to unravel. Will we ever get another consistent run of games out of JRC? Will Fleck ever be fit enough to play more than 20 minutes for Rovers? Can we risk McFad, Hedges and Gallagher for a 4th game in 11 days given age and recent long absences? Should Buckley be thrown in after a lengthy absence and very little game time? What a sad and desperate mess we are in.