Gav

Just noticed that this afternoons T20 - England v Pakistan is live on BBC1.

How good was Mark Grew? Loaned from Port Vale, we could do with him now.

Kris Kristofferson - Sunday Morning Coming Down

Just driven through Denby Dale and what’s the first thing I see? Rovers shirts, lad and his dad. Thats enough to brighten up anyone’s day on a miserable rainy afternoon.

Aren't the weeds and beer bottles outside of the Ewood Park footprint? They're taken at the back of the houses in between the backyards and the fence, isn't that council land? The point still stands regardless, the place looks shabby.

Superb theatre when its close, I couldn't agree more gumboots. Even with only 4 runs required I was worried, those Pakistani bowlers have mystic powers at times with a ball, tremendous skill. Next test starts Thursday, really looking forward to it.

Dare I say it, the Pakistan bowling attack looks a little ordinary now the balls gotten older, as a posed to earlier when every ball was a tester. Great viewing.

Got to say matt I think its been an enthralling start to the test series, if you're a neutral! Pakistan never fail to deliver, they're always competitive and we've seen that in spades over the past couple of days, some great fast bowling and spin, skilful stuff, great to watch. Then for England we have Ollie Pope, that lad should be a permanent fixture in the test team for me, he has everything to be a top class batsman. But I agree fully with your comments on England, sloppy, poor in the field, they've got a lot of work to do to turn this around.

I was going to have a listen until you said that........

I’ll be honest with you EA, I think you’re taking the piss. Youve offered nothing to support your argument other than to critique mine. Why isn’t Botham one of the greatest cricketers to play the game?

Let’s just you’re right for a minute and Botham is in the top 10 greatest all rounders to have ever played the game, so since 1880, that still qualifies him as one of the greatest cricketers ever to play the game doesn’t it?

He’s in the top 5 greatest all rounders to ever play the game in my opinion.

You’re clutching at straws. Botham also held the world record for the most test wickets from 86-88. I’ve been very clear what I mean, he’s without doubt one of the greatest cricketers to ever play the game.

Let me get this straight, because he didn't have a superb record against arguably one of the best test sides ever, that puts him down the pecking order for you? How about him being the fastest player to reach 100 test wickets? or maybe being the fastest player to reach 1000runs/100 wickets, ever? I could go on..... He's a Jimmy Anderson with runs, undoubtedly one of the greatest cricketers to ever play the game, as the cricketing world quite rightly acknowledges.

Jaques Kallis wasn’t bad either, but I agree on Gary Sobers, no question he was the best all rounder.

Lots to go at in that post, but let’s get straight to the point. Botham is definitely in the top 10 of greatest all rounders of all time, he’s probably in the top 5 which makes him one of the greatest cricketer of all time. Jimmy Anderson bowling figures are great, he’ll end up as one of the greatest bowlers ever, yet he doesn’t have Botham batting figures. Over to you.

Great picture that, its where I started my Rovers obsession. I don't know about anyone else but I still get excited at the sight of a football ground, driving around the country I'll often make detours to see a ground I've never seen before, even driving down M66 and seeing the Breezeblock gives me a buzz! My lad, not so much, he couldn't care less to be honest, whilst me and the Mrs are jumping around like kids at Christmas.........much simpler times years ago I guess.

I've been to Indian Streatery myself, often after one of two 'liveners' in The Old Joint Stock on Temple Row. Two great venues NR.

To be honest tomphil I don't know many managers these days that fit the bill, its a hefty cheque book or bust for many. Yes you can point to 2/3 that have done it, but then you can point to 15/20 that haven't.

We finished 11th this season As BDS says above, giving the manager time may just work to our advantage, the sides got more experience in this league, the manager knows we have a number of weak links that aren't capable of pushing on, look to replace them. Mowbray knows what it takes to get out of this league, we have to hope he can pull it off.

Rovers fans on the Darwen End? it was years after the fences went up? Maybe an early initiative to get the fans behind the team from both ends and stick the away fans in the enclosure? Great atmosphere and superb shirt.

I don't follow your thinking on this Rev. Mowbray already has 1 promotion under his belt at Ewood, he won a Championship league title and gained promotion to the Premiership with West Brom, but you want to replace him with a coach who has never bought a player and never managed a football club, he was running the under 14's a few years ago! Thats just bonkers, with respect. Mowbray needs to bring in a new keeper, a new defender to replace Tosin, potentially Tosin himslef! and do some tinkering around the edges. If after 10 games we don't look like challenging then yes get rid, but not for Damien Johnson, that would be madness and show that we've learnt nothing from appointing cr@p coaches in the past.

This season has seen the emergence of Armstrong, his finishing and all round game has significantly improved under Mowbray, the same can be said about Nyambe. We have Gallagher who will be decent at this level, Dack to come back and Lenihan has all the attributes to play at a higher level, a decent nucleus of a team. The assumption that we're going backwards, when in fact we've finished higher in the league than last season with more points and players are improving, simply isn't correct. Of course I'm not saying everything is perfect, we need to improve several positions starting with a keeper, but the side continues to gain experience at this level, which is extremely important and a few additions gives us a better chance than rolling that dice in my opinion marton.

I can see the bigger picture and it doesn't involve poaching Aston Villas manager

Keeping up the comedy theme I see