Playing Devil's Advocate on this comparison of today's squad and that of The Don in the 80s. While I don't disagree that perhaps only 2 or 3 of this squad would get into Don's late 80s group (Dack and maybe Lenihan and Travis), let us not forget that there were regular accusations from Rovers fans that "we didn't want promotion as we couldn't afford it". And when I say regular I mean every season!
Rose tinted specs and all that? Had there been a BRFCS message board back then it would have been chock-full of conspiracy theories that would have grown arms and legs in this environment and I don't know which is worse; 'not quite getting there' as we are at the moment or 'collapsing like Devon Loch' in the last quarter of the season when in a seemingly brilliant position, which we seemed to do on a regular basis back then.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I thank God for the Uncle Jack years, because being a Rovers fan has been bloody hard work at times over the other 50 or so of them!