I just got into chat OK and was able to talk to myself!

Sounds like Amo approves of Sparky.

I have been trying to find the statistics for Bryan Douglas' career with Rovers to do a comparison with Ripley. The youngsters need to be aware that most of Bryan Douglas' career with the Rovers was spent in what is now the Premiership but that both he and Clayton were established England regulars BEFORE Rovers won promotion. In broad terms, Douglas played over 500 Rovers games compared with Ripley's 200. Douglas scored more than twice as many goals as Ripley did. Douglas won 35 England caps and scored 7 England goals (I think) to Ripley's 2 caps and no goals. Don't get me wrong, Super Stu was a fabulous player but those statistics are but the beginning of the story. Imagine a vote between Ripley and Duff, who would win? This is a vote between Ripley and a player who was better than Duff and consistently kept that standard for a dozen seasons. Does this help?

It appears Motherwell have the best academy in Scotland. However, the article suggests that they spend only 10% of what it costs to run the Rovers' Academy.

A few thumb nails: Bryan Douglas. Even though I saw him at the end of his career after he had been clattered many times, he was the consumate silky skilful footballer. The ball did as it was told for Bryan and the rest of the football was in awe of him for more than a decade. Over 500 appearances for his one and only club- his home town. 35 caps for England, 7 of which were won in World Cups. And a thoroughly nice guy. He gets my vote. Mike Ferguson. Signed from Accy Stanley. An extraordinarily skilful and strong player. In many ways a fore-runner of today's professional- he would have been very much at home in the Premiership. Moved onto Aston Villa where he gave many years of excellent service. John Connelly. Signed from Man U for £60K with some of the money from the Mike England transfer. Was in the 66 World Cup winning squad playing one game. A more than useful operator= on his day was unstoppable and could provide slide rule accurate crosses at will. Windy Miller. An absolute flyer. Regularly destroyed second and third division fullbacks. Had a tremendous shot on him. Remember a cracking goal at Craven Cottage where he picked up a ball on the half way line,caught the Fulham rearguard for speed then surprised the keeper with a 25 yard blast- a bit of a trade mark Windy goal. Was a very handy source of supply for Garns and he and Noel Brotherston made for an awesome wing pairing in the early 80s and a lot of hugely entertaining football. Gordon Taylor. Went a very long time without scoring for Rovers but managed to crack the woodwork at regular intervals and leave defenders winded on the ground who had the temerity to get in the way of his thunderbolts. Was past his best when he joined from Brum (where the white fronted Brum shirts made him look like a cuddly toy- never svelt) but he and Waggy made for golden oldies on the wings in the mid eighties. Stuart Ripley. Had enormous misfortune- both with injuries for Rovers and England then a ridiculous long run without scoring. An outstanding member of the team which went 4th 2nd 1st in the first three years of the Premier League, quick and direct and a lot more skill than given credit for. I am sure Kenny told Super Stuart Ripley just to go out and do his tricks running up and down the half way line to terrify the opposition in the warm up. Certainly worked a treat at Swindon where the crowd were spellbound and the Swindon players nervously abandonned their kick around and just stood and watched! Stuart's misfortune to be up against the all time great, Bryan Douglas. Howard Gayle. A huge favourite, one of those players who was everybody's pal even if he missed a penalty. Any other player who missed a penalty as badly as the terrible scuffed effort against Palace would have been demonised for effectively loosing us promotion back to the top division (we would have gone 3-0 up in the play-off final) but not Howard. Not the most gifted and not truly a winger but a thoroughly genuine player. Jimmy Mullen. Was he right or left wing? What a super star- a more complete wing performance I have never seen from a Rovers player and that includes Duff. Got very badly injured after six games and never recovered but deserves his mention here. A word for John Aston, whom we signed from Luton. Aston was a major factor in Man U beating Benfica to lift the European Cup in 68 so was well past his best in his two spells at Ewood but despite lacking the pace, could still pass accurately, cross sublimely and was rarely bettered in close quarters with a full back.

Not sure that there are Scottish players good enough. The Scottish Leagues at all levels are full of non-Scottish players and Scottish- qualified players in the English game are a rarity at all levels, particularly in the Premiership. This article lists 210 Premiership players who reported for international games this week. Only three are Scottish- Ferguson, Dickov and Fletcher. It must be over a year since I last watched any action involving a Scottish club side. But is Caldwell the best right back available?- he is outstandingly bad. This BBC article sums up the sorry state of Scottish football. The old firm come in for some criticism.

daviemac, I am afraid I agree with you. I always saw this as a horrible fixture when the list first came out- a desperate must win at the end of the sandwich between that run of Arsenal, Manu Newcastle games and the Chelsea, Liverpool duo with every prospect the other "easier" games in the sandwich wouldn't yield much. Boro on paper have the most improved squad in the Prem from this summer's transfer activities yet they have not been producing the goods on the pitch. They will see the visit to Ewood as a must win to get their season finally moving and to be honest, this looked a possible home defeat for the Rovers even if we were doing well. The good news is that Boro seem to conceed one goal in every game they play. The bad news is they hardly ever conceed more than one goal. The even worse news is that regardless of recoveries from injuries, our defence will find it impossible to keep Boro to a nil score line. So 1-2 and our home record down the pan. Of great interest will be whether the Rovers continue playing very attractive football and which of the many nearly playing well Rovers players actually start to play well. At the moment, we have a squad of 20 showing promise of better form but not yet delivering anywhere near consistently enough.

A considered review of Mark Hughes' achievements with Wales. There is no doubt that Sparky turned them from a rabble to a team to be respected. Towards the end his luck ran out. I still have a niggling worry about his tactical approach. I suspect introducing 4-5-1 at Ewood means he has the same reservations about the Rovers' limitations as he had about Wales.

Where was MGP playing? Perhaps Hughes will persist with 4411 which would give an opening for him on Saturday.

They have half a team returnng from injury!... and they got a draw against Man U without that lot?

...and yet another encouraging interview with Rovers' and Scotland's skipper. Here's hoping his hamstring is as fit as his larynx.

Tried to post this in the Away Travel Section but I don't have permission! I think they have got this pretty accurate although I rather liked the pre re-development Priestfield because it was so antiquated- even back in 1990 the last time I was there. Glad to see Palace, Pompey and Stamford Bridge make the list.

I don't think anyone else has posted this first. An interesting insight into Ferguson but also life at Ewood under Sparky. Great to read of the emphasis on getting the fitness levels right and that Ferguson feels good about the formation used against Villa. Hughes not communicating with the players could become a problem but I would imagine he is using the strong silent approach to ensure there is distance between himself and the players- many of whom he was playing alongside just over two years ago.

The silence was after the anthems. Must confess the booing of the Welsh Anthem was so bad, I turned to watching the Scotland game. When are the English going to grow up? Some cracking results tonight= Leichenstein coming back to draw 2-2 with a Portuguese side with arguably more big star names than any other nation playing today. Slovenia have beaten Italy 1-0 and the Republic are 0-0 with France in the dying minutes. I read that Gresko played well for Slovenia. Coming back from 0-1 t half time to beat Latvia 4-1 was some result.

Djorkaeff playing for fun. Good to see the Rovers took a pragmatic approach.

I can see MGP becoming one of the most frustrating player at Ewood. When he came on as sub he was doing nothing until a bit of magic, worked himself into a one-on-one on the keeper and blasted miles over. But that was just a sighter, the free kick he took after a very clever dummy routine was a classic. It probably cleared the corner flag at 30,000 ft and climbing! He looked a lot more dangerous than he has yet done for the Rovers but at the end of the game had not added that much to the Norwegian side. Incidentally, Andreasen (remember him from last season's loan spell) looked very good when he came on. Had he stayed at Ewood this season, he would probably have been the tackling midfielder playing behind Ferguson.

Did anybody go and how did Stead perfoorm?

Ferguson talking to a Glasgow rag. Sounds good to me.

This is a wonderfully rambling thread! The charming gentleman who would be the kinng of Old Trafford.

That's great news. Come on and back Steady!

Quite often. Bolton Wanderers Oldham Athletic Derby County Man City Bristol Rovers Chesterfield Sheffield Wednesday Burnley Stoke City Port Vale Aston Villa Liverpool Everton ...are all grounds in addition to Carlisle on which I havee been with more than 6,000 Rovers' supporters. There are probably others I have forgotten about. In recent times, didn't we take 7,000 to OT for the first leg of the League Cup semi against Man U?

An American view on Glazier and Abramovich

Completely agree. It was totally hypothetical based on my assessment of the best balance of the most gifted players at the club all playing at the top of their form. Many are way short of producing what they are capable of.

Chelsea boss Peter Kenyonn has recently announced Chelsea will be moving way from Emirates to a more universal brand as sponsors. As a traditionalist, it is a shame that Highbury will be replaced by the Emirates Stadium. Still for £100m in the Rovers' transfer fund, I am sure we would be happy enough to go to the Holland Pies Bowl rather than Ewood Park = if only!

1864, technically true. But The Sun headlines never lie or mislead