I’ve just watched Brad Friedel - PL Stories on Sky, superb stuff. He said Blackburn was a proper run club from grassroots to boardroom, always competitive. Tom Finn and John Williams were brilliant, always sold some of our better players and immediately replaced them, a great time in his career. Nothing we don’t already know, makes you weep what those 3 morons in Pune have reduced us to.

You’re making it up again….

Superb by England today, especially with the sun out for most of the day! Woakes was on fire and just brilliant by Broad to have taken 600 wickets. It’s once again setup nicely for an England onslaught.

Went to see Johnny Marr last night at a very intimate gig, 600 invited guests, he rocked the place. A mixture of his solo stuff, Modest Mouse, The Smiths and Electronic, a superb night, superb setlist from an absolute legend. It was the first night of the tour and seemed so happy to be out on the road again, you don't always get that with artists as long in the tooth as Johnny. I'm regretting selling my tickets to his Peacehall gig in Halifax now, I'd love to do that all over again.

I’m sure everyone read your comments yesterday Matty, why you seem intent to pissing on this thread is beyond me. Haven’t you got a fence to paint or something more productive to do?

Ahh, I now understand what you mean, no direct flights and yes via Frankfurt is the usual route, done it many times watching Rovers and England. European trips aren't designed for fans convenience, thats part of the fun I guess. It was a nightmare trying to get to Ankara for the Gençlerbirliği game midweek for some, same with Sofia in Bulgaria or the games in Germany pre-season under Souness, Bahlingen SC, who? where? But as always Rovers fans made the trip, where there's a will there's a way.

Frequent flyer programme??? I’m not sure what you mean Ossy, but regardless, you’ve plenty of options to get out to Austria if you wish, although a couple of weeks notice by the club isn’t helpful.

Ben will get more opportunity in Europe this season with Villarreal qualifying for Europa league. Certainly beats a wet Wednesday night in Cardiff….

Why would you fly to Vienna when Graz is much closer?

Send a direct message to @Miller11

It wasn’t difficult to get to, the notice given by the club wasn’t great, but it’s a relatively easy trip for a European game. Looked a lovely place, picturesque and I echo the sentiments for those that went.

Agreed sgg and instinct isn't something you can learn at the highest level sadly.

I really hope Gallagher kicks on this season now he's the main man upfront. Nobody can questions his attitude and his work ethic, you don't play approaching 200 games in Blue n White if you've not got something about you.

Going up Going up Going up

We once bought Georgios Donis, known as 'The Train' - We wanted a fast winger to supply Shearer. Sadly Shearer never got the memo and left as Georgios arrived, he spent the rest of the season supplying crosses to Matty Holmes, the rest is history.....

With Rovers about to kick another ball on European soil I thought I'd post this from 1998, I was there, we had far more than 1500 in the ground that night. 30th September 1998 UP to 1,500 Blackburn Rovers fans could be in Lyon for tonight's big UEFA Cup clash -- but the reputation of English football supporters preceded them as they travelled to France. Monday night in the country's second largest city was much like a Monday night in Blackburn itself -- it rained heavily. A lot of people on the quiet streets were wearing blue and white scarfs. There was the occasional hotspot such as the Albion pub or the token Irish bar. And there was a strong police presence, the scary French CRS riot squad out in numbers in the charming Bellecour district. Yet Rovers fans, attempting to pack in their celebrations before tonight's game, were still -- almost inevitably -- touched by the long arm of the law. It was, however, on the English side of the Channel. Those 150 supporters travelling by coach had made good time to Dover and arrived early for the 6am ferry, instead of the scheduled 8am sailing. But the fans were rudely awakened, their luggage searched and the crossing delayed. Even the media and VIP coaches had a police escort from the airport. Blackburn police estimates suggest that as many as 1,500 fans, and possibly even more, will be in Lyon tonight for the televised UEFA Cup second leg. Fans have flown to Frankfurt, Geneva, St Etienne and Lyon itself, and from almost every airport in England, under their own steam. For many Blackburn fans Lyon has provided the first affordable opportunity to follow their side in Europe. The serious bargain-hunter has even been able to take advantage of a £24 special offer from Stanstead. The exact number is impossible to gage, one of the over-riding problems for those charged with organising official packages. Meanwhile strikers Martin Dahlin and Kevin Gallacher were on standby to fly out to Lyon this afternoon -- if they passed late fitness tests. Rovers are already without Chris Sutton and Kevin Davies. Match report - LYON 2 ROVERS 2 UEFA CUP THIS time there was no disgrace, no need to slip quietly back into the country with heads bowed and a feeling of shame. True, the result is still the same as it was at Trelleborgs -- or in the Champions' League for that matter -- as Blackburn Rovers made their now-customary early exit from Europe. But, if there was any justice at all, a UEFA Cup tie which was quite simply 'Magnifique' would have had deserving English winners. For the same adjective applies to a Rovers side who should have been devastated at losing their entire strike force, distraught at conceding a goal inside three minutes and downright depressed when Jason Wilcox -- undeservedly -- became their third player sent off in three successive matches. But, instead of feeling sorry for themselves, Rovers responded to the backing of their fans packed into a corner of the impressive Stade de Gerland with English flags all around them. And Olympique Lyonnais, unbeaten in their seven French League games so far, were almost destroyed by Hurricane St George! Rovers can be proud of the way they dragged themselves up by the bootlaces at half time to produce a performance that oozed character, commitment and no little skill. The real measure of it was reflected by the fans who had suffered in Sweden, been rocked in Russia and tormented in Trondheim. They roared them on throughout a gripping second half, cheered them for their efforts at the end and even applauded the players one by one onto the plane back home at Lyon airport. Supporters know when a cause has been truly fought for -- and their players did not let them down. There was to be no European glory but, at last, there was pride and I felt for both fans and players at the end of a dramatic encounter. They deserved more, yet suffered in the end through two set pieces. When manager Roy Hodgson was left without a single senior striker in his squad there were many who feared another debacle. He had to come up with a game plan, not only to cope with Lyon but also to score at least two goals. Two goals without a striker looked to be an order of monstrous proportions. Yet they got them -- and deserved more. Unfortunately, Lyon also got two and we were left to reflect on the fact that the tie was probably decided by that strike in a million back at Ewood. Twice behind on the night, Rovers -- inspired by Tim Sherwood and Garry Flitcroft -- fought back to equalise in an enthralling game which also had more controversial refereeing. The dismissal of Wilcox, handed the unenviable task of playing as a solo front-runner, left Rovers justifiably aggrieved. A player has a right to complain if he is regularly being battered from the back. And he also had a right to go for the ball which led to a tangle in the Lyon box and a second yellow card. Hodgson was also bitter about both Lyon goals, disputing the award of a free kick and then a penalty. His anger was no doubt sustained by the fact that he knows no matter how well his seriously depleted squad rose to the occasion the performance will soon be forgotten while the result stands for ever. With no reprieve for any of the injured strikers, Hodgson caught the French cold with his tactics, yet Lyon still took what looked a disastrous -- for Rovers -- early lead. From around 25 yards, Alain Caveglia joined Gianfranco Zola and Andy Hinchcliffe in curling a superbly-taken free kick just inside Tim Flowers' post. Whether the keeper's position is poor, or he is lining up the wall wrongly, it is a situation that needs to be addressed. Flowers, however, then made a brilliant save from Marco Grassi moments before Rovers levelled. Sebastien Perez soared at the far post to head home Damien Duff's left wing cross for a satisfying goal on his return to France and the Lyon region where his family still live. Before half time, however, Jeff Kenna pushed Bak ever so slightly and a penalty was awarded. There was some debate as to whether it was in the box but it was a hasty challenge and Grassi buried the spot kick. Yet it was Rovers who proved the more Lyon-hearted. After another fine Flowers save, Flitcroft raced through from Christian Dailly's excellent pass to slide in a second equaliser. They took the game to Lyon with style and courage and, as the yellow cards and free kicks flowed, Sherwood was so close to winning it on away goals. One header was cleared off the line, another superb volley at full stretch just cleared the bar and it was clearly not going to be Rovers' night. Even when Wilcox was booked in the 80th minute and sent off two minutes later Rovers wouldn't throw in the towel. Their substitutions were good, especially Damien Johnson's introduction at the interval, yet their heart-warming efforts went unrewarded. They might have conceded a third on the break as they pushed forward in numbers but that would have been too harsh. Another European tie was lost in France, but this team gained respect.

Have we no pictures from Austria yet? Of fans falling out of bars at 2am and walking around Palaces and Castles eating bars of chocolate? They don't make em like they used to.....

Bairstow has more than earned his stripes over the past few years, he's done remarkable to come back so soon from that injury too. Saying all that I wouldn't have been disappointed had he been dropped for this one, but you have to admire the loyalty shown here, same with Crawley, who is technically one of our best batsmen, but has struggled at times. Who is missing Ashes cricket already? Me for sure...

Just tremendous. How’s the ticker Den? Jim are you still with us?

The western terrace to Murphy: ’You're just a shit Harry Potter’ 😂

For the curry aficionado's amongst us, I can highly recommend this place on the outskirts of Bradford: - https://www.prashad.co.uk/ This isn't your 10 pints and a curry type of place, its fine dining and vegetarian, but don't let that put you off! Its very relaxed and being a full carnivore myself, I didn't miss meat a bit. Exquisites food, elevated to a new level, you'll not be disappointed.

I'm not sure that has anything to do with season tickets and matchday prices, but out of interest, when were you last in Leeds?

I stopped listening to TMS after Simon Mann announced he doesn’t leave his hotel when he comes to Manchester as he doesn’t feel safe! WTF is all that about. Agnew also went through a phase where his snobbery overtook his commentary. I used to love TMS too….

He’s got an issue with moving across his stumps den, knowing where his off stump is. But he can work on that.

Everyone form an orderly queue behind OjF please.