I actually quite enjoyed that, but I'm in the sign Barton camp.
Whoever described Barton as average should have a wee look at our Midfielders right now, this midfield we have almost got us relegated this year if it wasn't for the lunatics up in Newcastle and Boro. Barton would be our best midfielder by a distance, and unfortunatly it doesn't look like we can afford any better this summer.
His off-field antics are appauling but that was in the past, if he were to join us i would view as a clean slate where he could do his talking on the pitch.
The tackle at the weekend was never a sending-off and Shearer got himself a scapegoat. If Shearer had been any sort of manager he would of backed his player by saying "never a sending off, ref's made a poor desision".
I don't know about you guys but I would rather have Rovers be a rough and tumble team punching above there weight than a family club playing in the Championship for the rest of my exisistance.
#1 for us is staying in the Premier League at all costs, even if our team has the most hated players in the planet 1-11, I couldn't care less.