29 minutes ago, J*B said:

Game over. Buckley bullied in midfield, loses the ball, Joao scores. 

The lad hasn't got it.

Talk about PL £10million - IMO, must be same idiots who scouted / rated Gallagher.

Elliott is 17, Buckley is 21 says it all.  IMO, Buckley not even good enough for Championship.

34 minutes ago, Aqualung said:

So how are we rating Reading? 

Big, strong, athletic, very good technically and very well drilled.

Could go straight up.

Reading look a very good unit - better than I expected.

Think we are a shambles.

Pears - unconvincing, IMO, looks like an expensive four year mistake

Nyambe - MUST come on, far better defender than RC

Lenihan - think he's gone

Douglas - flattered to deceive

Evans - IMO, sh!te, again

Trybull - not offering anything

Elliott - our one shining light

Bottom line - Mowbray, IMO, still tinkering where he shouldn't and after almost 4 years, we still have not got a defence.

Very, very disappointing so far tonight.

50 minutes ago, philipl said:

Really looking forwards to this test.

I know it is very early in the season but even if dreams come true and we smash them tonight, Reading will still have a league position we can only fantasise about.

Don't know what to expect. Surely the league leaders are not going to come to Ewood and try to shut up shop like a team in 24th would?

Think all Rovers' fans are looking forward to this test - are we going to be pretenders or the real deal this season?

I don't think Reading will shut up shop.

I think there will be plenty of goals - we've shown we can create and score plenty but I am not quite sure that there is sufficient familiarity or understanding yet in our 'new' defensive unit to prevent other teams (particularly the good ones like Bournemouth, Watford and perhaps Reading) from notching at least once.

I expect us to edge this by the odd goal tonight and I am sticking with my 3-2 forecast in what I think will turn out to be a bit of a thriller.  

2 hours ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

I think the likes of Ray Pointer, John Angus, John Talbut, Jimmy Robson, Gordon Harris etc were all Geordies. Maybe they were before your time. Brian O'Neill was some player, if he hadn't have been such a bad lad he would have played for England. Bob Lord got fed up with bailing him out in the end and got rid of him.

I did say off the top of my head - we are gong back some 60 years or so now and reaching the periphery of my recollections!

Anyhow, good shouts!

Think I'm right in that Pointer, Angus and Harris were all capped by England at full international level though none of them became regulars in the England team.

Remember also seeing Pointer playing in his thirties for Pompey in his latter career where he was still banging them in but not quite the same force.  Didn't Angus stay at Burnley all his career - a top class full back.  'Bomber' Harris was not to be trifled with (could be nasty even with his own team mates!) and and always got his fair share of goals whether it be from the wing or midfield - recall him going back to the NE to finish his career at Sunderland.  Friend in Blackpool told me Jimmy Robson still lives there and I also remember seeing him play for the Tangerines when he left Burnley.  Talbut not quite in the same league as the others and ended up at WBA - seem to recall reading he died from dementia (perhaps football related, like Jeff Astle, heading all those heavy balls as a centre half).  Yep, spot on about O'Neill and a 'real hard bastard' (if I'd a pound for every time I heard someone call him that).

My best mate at the time was a Burnley fan and his dad also took me along if Rovers weren't at home - what an upbringing!

5 hours ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

The Dingles had a conveyor belt of talent coming down from the North East at that time.  Johnny Price was one of them. What Newcastle and Sunderland were thinking  of I'll never know. I think the guy who took Shearer to Southampton was the guy responsible for all those players but he had a falling out and left them. The conveyor belt stopped right away. A lad I knew was in and around their reserve  and " A " team then and he told me the coach went up to Newcastle for a Saturday afternoon reserve team game with a full compliment and came back nearly empty because the Burnley lads were all Geordies and they were having a weekend at home. Stan Ternent was one of them.

You are right.

The guy in question was a Jack Hixon who Shearer remained friends with until Hixon's passing.  Hixon did work for Newcastle in his latter years but the recruitment game had changed and Newcastle had missed out on all Jack's earlier gems.

Off the top of my head, I think Jack found for Burnley up in the NE the likes of Ralph Coates, Dave Thomas, Stan Ternent, Arthur Bellamy, Brian O'Neill , Dave Merrington and Les Latcham who all excelled in the top flight.  At today's prices you've probably got about £250million of talent there.

A remarkable man.

3 hours ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

I wouldn't want him anywhere near my helmet either !

Regarding Johnny Price I saw him play loads of times when he was at Stockport  County and he was always a handful. He never gave less than gave 100%. They had three really good players who kept Counties head above water at that time. Pricey, Alan Ogley in goal who was ex Man City and Freddie Goodwin who was ex Wolves and who later came to Rovers. They were all outstanding in the old Division 4.

Pricey was a little gem and chipped in with a fair few goals for us - think he was about a 1 in 5 man, pretty good for a winger.  Sadly, I think he passed away in his early fifties.

Remember Freddie quite well (think he'd left us when Pricey joined us) - thought he always gave 100% but felt he should have got a few more goals for us.  Last I heard, he'd followed Bonnie Tyler's lead and got 'Lost in France'!

1 minute ago, simongarnerisgod said:

i expect reading to come here and do a cardiff/forest style defensive set up,depends if we can adapt to it,grab 3 points on tuesday and get set for a really difficult game next saturday against swansea,it`s another test for us to see if we can hang with the better sides in the division,sooner or later we are going to have to put together an unbeaten run if the play offs are to happen,manage to win while playing badly and we`ve cracked it

As the great Bill Shankly said:

"Aim for the sky and you'll reach the ceiling. Aim for the ceiling and you'll stay on the floor".

Our aim has to be top 2 - who the feck wants to finish 3rd, 4th, 5th or 6th and still be in the Championship next season.

2 hours ago, chaddyrovers said:

How's was the meal, bottle of red and the hangover? 

I agree on letting them worry about us approach

 

 

TBH, last night was a bit of a blur from ten onwards though certainly good before!  A full English this morning and a ten miler (walk!) cured any remnants of a hangover. 

To me, we've got our two most difficult away games out of the way now (Bournemouth and Watford) and we should go out every game with the intention of mullering the opposition.  We have nothing to fear and we have players who must give opposition managers nightmares.  All Mowbray needs to do is to ensure he doesn't try to ram square pegs in round holes and let the lads off the leash - fear kills more dreams than failure ever will!

Nothing to fear here.

Let Reading worry about us.

Be bold, positive and on the front foot from the first whistle.

If all fit, same team for me except Ayala for Lenihan. 

Rovers to edge it by the odd goal it in a 5 goal thriller (stuck a tenner on @ 36/1).

30 minutes ago, jim mk2 said:

We've lost to 2 decent teams and a poor one. In what parallel universe will we make the top 2?

Firstly, I think this is a bang average league which is wide open.

Defensively, we are better equipped with Kaminski, Douglas, Ayala and almost by accident,  Del Boy at centre back.

In midfield, Holtby is now showing what a real class act he can be.  Throw Rothwell and Travis into the mix and also the steady Trybull.

Up front, Brereton is now really delivering and looking a real player, Armstrong should get 20 goals / season, Elliott will just get better and better and Dolan will prove a big, big plus (if managed correctly).

Dack also to come back.

If Mowbray puts players in their best positions (no more square pegs in round holes) and remains positive and lets other teams do the worrying about us then I think we will blow many teams away and we have the ammunition to put even the 'bigger' teams to the sword like Bournemouth and Watford.

Confidence and momentum are key to going on a roll - it might be surprising where it takes us!

Just now, Hoochie Bloochie Mama said:

I can't keep up with you. Is Mowbray now the new messiah??

To quote @Dolly blue  "Round pegs in round holes, positive approach , front foot .....all we’ve ever wanted"!

1 minute ago, unsall said:

Excellent result, pleased for Mowbray, love the style we are playing.

Wont happen every week, struggle to break down teams who park the bus, like some top premier teams do,  glad Brereton has come good, Holtby on fire and a very astute loan with Elliot.

With Dack, Travis and Rothwell to come into the squad it could be our best chance to get in the top 6. top 2.

Corrected for you.

Just now, bluefred said:

We’re doing ok at the moment need to be more consistent and clinical in front of goal . After ten or so games we will see how we are going to fair 

over the season weather we are going to Nick one of those top two spots or settle for the lottery of the playoffs.
  But today hats of to the lads , they were great , especially BRERETON , long may it continue.

As posted earlier, next 5 games should give us 4 wins and a draw.

After 12 games, we will be soarin' and flyin' (lyrics from Breaking Free).

Keep saying it but confidence and momentum are everything in this league.  Unstoppable, invincible and so powerful (more song lyrics).  The wine is working well! 

13 minutes ago, J*B said:

It’s going to be some bottle of Red in Mercer’s local Italian tonight. 

Indeed!

What an afternoon.

Rovers' romp (could have been 10). Douglas and Elliott big pluses. Holtby and Brereton mega pluses.

In play bet of more than 3.5 goals up (just) and 5 acca up - thanks Rovers, Blackpool, Fleetwood, Reading and Norwich.

Tomorrow might be a long recovery day!

Good stuff!

Let's have two more goals in this game (don't mind if Coventry get one of them) and then I've a good excuse to uncork a Barolo - first bottle of red didn't last long as wife quaffed a few glasses.

Brereton for England! (only joking).

Just now, imy9 said:

Credit to Mowbray for the transformation? I can recall many a message from you saying that he is never going to be a championship footballer!

Better to come to the party late than not at all..................but 2 years is a bloody long time to wait!

2 minutes ago, Exiled_Rover said:

Can you be outstanding if you miss two sitters? A worrying trend for Holtby it seems.

To me, Holtby should be a 10 goal / season man with the positions he gets in.

Think he's only netted 2 or 3 times for Rovers whilst close to 20 with Hamburg if my memory's correct.

2 minutes ago, philipl said:

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Well what an odd half.

Lenihan had a nightmare for twenty minutes.

Apart from the penalty Armstrong having a poor game.

Holtby missed four excellent chances. 

ref given us nothing since the penalty and bonus red card.

Otherwise really encouraged by the play and Brereton is close to unplayable.

Over to Mowbray to avoid a second half horror show and turn it into a rout. 

Think Lenihan's been going backwards for a while.

To me, something's not right with Armstrong - form, body language telling.

3 minutes ago, matt83 said:

Getting good odds there. On sky bet 8/1. 

Odds narrowing a bit but still a couple of 10/1's to be had and 11/1 on Smarkets.

1 minute ago, blue_n_white99 said:

Don't say that I've got a Rovers and Reading double

 

Me too with Blackpool, Fleetwood and Norwich thrown in!

Just now, Stuart said:

I’m not a betting man but if I were I’d be sticking a few quid on 1-1.

Well stick a fiver on at 14/1 if that's what you feel!  That'll be £70 in your back pocket.

Frustrating we aren't capitalising - yet!

We should be out of sight.

Douglas offering what we thought he would and Brereton continuing, IMO,  to morph from donkey to footballer of talent. 

Goals are coming!

Open your bottle of beer or bottle of wine, get your feet up and enjoy the feast.

Stuck £50 on more than 3.5 goals @ 3.0 after opener.

This could / should be a rout!