Looking forward to Rodwell being the subject of a club v country discussion again.

Spurs are constrained by the amount they can pay so they are unlikely to have the resources to prise a star player out of a Premier League club. So I would treat these reports seriously. I would also watch Fulham who have the cash and could be seriously worried about staying up when January comes round. Of course I hope Bradley continues with the Rovers. I don't think we have seen the best of him yet- in fact he might have far more to offer with the right players around him and this doesn't have to mean new signings- Davenport, Rothwell and Rodwell playing to what they are capable of could make a huge difference to the space and quality of balls Dack receives.

Looking forwards to the game. Like the way Leeds were playing at the beginning of the season. Probably a big test for both sides as both need to get the show back on the road after indifferent performances/results. Extremely pleased with the way we have adapted to life back in the Championship. Hoping for a scintillating game.

No way I'd be trying 3 at the back any time soon; I would want to see more of Rothwell, some of Davenport and Travis, Brereton beginning to challenge Graham and have Chapman plus another CB in the squad. But unlike last season when TM talks three at the back, I am no longer finding the nearest sofa to hide behind. Of course this pre-supposes Rodwell indeed comes good- the early signs are promising, extremely promising.

Dingles currently averaging under 20,000 for Premier League games. Stanley crawling away upwards from 1,xxx gates.

9% of 14,000 (say) at £30 each 4 times at home a season is £151,200 vs £1m payment from Sky is the Rovers' calculation. £75,000 vs £1m if you factor in the 4.5% drop for midweek games anyway. No brainer- take the red button IF you look at this decision in isolation this season. If you really want to do anything about attendances, scrap the weekend international breaks.

And going back in history courtesy: https://ewoodpark.jimdo.com/attendances-average-attendances-1888-2013/ 1990's average: 20.337 1999-2000 19.253 Championship/Level 2 1998-1999 25.764 Premier League/Level 1 1997-1998 25.253 Premier League/Level 1 1996-1997 24.947 Premier League/Level 1 1995-1996 27.552 Premier League/Level 1 1994-1995 25.653 Premier League/Level 1 1993-1994 17.319 Premier League/Level 1 1992-1993 16.247 Premier League/Level 1 1991-1992 13.250 Division 2/Level 2 1990-1991 8.100 Division 2/Level 2 1980's average: 9.003 1989-1990 9.607 Division 2/Level 2 1988-1989 8.864 Division 2/Level 2 1987-1988 9.503 Division 2/Level 2 1986-1987 6.773 Division 2/Level 2 1985-1986 5.826 Division 2/Level 2 1984-1985 9.648 Division 2/Level 2 1983-1984 7.623 Division 2/Level 2 1982-1983 7.353 Division 2/Level 2 1981-1982 8.655 Division 2/Level 2 1980-1981 11.688 Division 2/Level 2 1970's average: 10.038 1979-1980 10.311 Division 3/Level 3 1978-1979 8.640 Division 2/Level 2 1977-1978 12.227 Division 2/Level 2 1976-1977 10.130 Division 2/Level 2 1975-1976 10.489 Division 2/Level 2 1974-1975 12.651 Division 3/Level 3 1973-1974 7.432 Division 3/Level 3 1972-1973 9.214 Division 3/Level 3 1971-1972 8.256 Division 3/Level 3 1970-1971 8.334 Division 2/Level 2 1960's average: 15.380 1969-1970 12.523 Division 2/Level 2 1968-1969 10.617 Division 2/Level 2 1967-1968 13.531 Division 2/Level 2 1966-1967 14.721 Division 2/Level 2 1965-1966 13.513 Division 1/Level 1 1964-1965 16.110 Division 1/Level 1 1963-1964 21.543 Division 1/Level 1 1962-1963 16.001 Division 1/Level 1 1961-1962 15.906 Division 1/Level 1 1960-1961 19.343 Division 1/Level 1 1950's average: 25.096 1959-1960 27.299 Division 1/Level 1 1958-1959 30.544 Division 1/Level 1 1957-1958 22.708 Division 2/Level 2 1956-1957 23.091 Division 2/Level 2 1955-1956 23.001 Division 2/Level 2 1954-1955 26.928 Division 2/Level 2 1953-1954 26.123 Division 2/Level 2 1952-1953 23.157 Division 2/Level 2 1951-1952 23.228 Division 2/Level 2 1950-1951 24.830 Division 2/Level 2 1940's average: 25.055 1949-1950 22.651 Division 2/Level 2 1948-1949 22.421 Division 2/Level 2 1947-1948 27.883 Division 1/Level 1 1946-1947 26.367 Division 1/Level 1 WORLD WAR TWO 1939-1945

We are both wrong- I should have said 25,000 averages: 2010’s average: 18.484 2014-2015 14.912 Championship/Level 2 2013-2014 14.962 Championship/Level 2 2012-2013 14.997 Championship/Level 2 2011-2012 22.551 Premier League/Level 1 2010-2010 25.000 Premier League/Level 1 2000’s average: 24.019 2009-2010 25.428 Premier League/Level 1 2008-2009 23.479 Premier League/Level 1 2007-2008 23.944 Premier League/Level 1 2006-2007 21.675 Premier League/Level 1 2005-2006 21.015 Premier League/Level 1 2004-2005 22.315 Premier League/Level 1 2003-2004 24.376 Premier League/Level 1 2002-2003 26.225 Premier League/Level 1 2001-2002 25.976 Premier League/Level 1 2000-2001 20.740 Championship/Level 2

Charlton in 2002/3 was an ordinary game. Oxford last season was £10 and a promotion to celebrate. Huddersfield with nearly 30,000 (I think) in 2000 was a closer parallel to Oxford. I keep repeating that it is less than a decade since Rovers' average attendance was over 26,000 repeatedly. Edit- I was mistaken, we had two seasons (2009/10 and 2010/11) running at 25,000- see post with the table below.

If I were TM, I'd be showing Rodwell Tugay videos on permanent loops and getting the master over to Brockhall to have a word. Rodwell's play at Bolton for about 15 minutes was Tugay-esque running the game from a holding-ish midfield slot spraying the passes around. We dare hope.... That said, a back three with two wing backs work if you have the right personnel. We clearly didn't last season. We are screwed this season also if Rodwell, Lenihan and Mulgrew aren't all fit and on top of their game and we need continuous development of the defensive sides of Nyambe and Bell as wing backs to dare playing a back three in the Championship. But if these things came to pass, a back three approach would make Rovers incredibly exciting to watch.

I don't mind reading pieces by people I disagree with. I do object to people who get easily checkable facts wrong and then developing extended arguments. We all make mistakes but the Simon Smith column is just one big mistake.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/8250759e-d17b-11e8-b8d4-d6fb90acb7b1

Well that's a vote of confidence in their promotion campaign- not!

Reading this thread is like seeing Rovers fans trying to flog off our best player!

meatballs

It was a morgue, even for good games. Stop kidding yourself.

I would have given Palmer a big dark red for not getting to the 6 yard line in the first attack of the game. Otherwise agree all the ratings. Great stuff as always. Thanks!

Season average 20,740. Half the gates under 20,000 with lows of 16,... against Grimsby and QPR. Only Huddersfield was a cheap ticket offer and that drew almost 30,000.

Yes tough but the sort of game Mowbray and the lads will be up for. Result depends on who wants it most- we did against Bolton but turned into Blades Appreciation Society v Sheff U. If we go for it, we can certainly win regardless of the away support. Long had an inkling we would win this and lose unluckily at Elland Road. Penalty to be awarded for us as a nice change- Lenihan drawing a foul from a corner.... Gate officially 21,000 and over 22,000 if Leeds find a way of infiltrating...

Function of where we are in the league. If we are challenging top two and give someone a comprehensive going over on TV the 20,000 crowds will be there. Less than ten years since our average crowds were over 26,000.

Shearer was a world record fee or close to it at the time. So I'd agree with you if Brereton had cost £70m. You'd certainly be paying around the £50m mark at least for each of the four players you named. Frankly your comparison has a nought missing from its logic. If Ben becomes only an averagely good Championship striker by the time he's 21, Rovers would get their money back on him.

We have scored direct from one of these rubbish corners.

You are positively wrong!

A Lucas Joao double has given Sheffield Wednesday a 2-1 win at Ashton Gate and we slip to tenth, a point and three goals off 6th.

Nearly eight years on now. Lest we forget (thanks Savio)-