Comment by Peter White

TWELVE months ago today, Blackburn Rovers were preparing for a massive Premiership game against Arsenal.

Tomorrow night they visit the tiny Bescot Stadium.

And who would ever have thought that a game against Walsall would be a major watershed in Ewood history?

But it is - because, following Rovers boss Brian Kidd's comments after Saturday's defeat at Manchester City, it's make your mind up time in many respects.

Kidd, not a man to speak simply to satisfy headline writers, made it plain that he feels the attitude of the players is falling short of what is demanded.

And his words clearly came from the heart after watching his team lose to a City side which showed the kind of desire he was talking about.

The men from Maine Road are deservedly top of the table but, without wanting to belittle them in any sense, they are very much a First Division, not Premiership, side.

And that simply emphasises just how far Rovers have fallen - from Arsenal to Walsall in a matter of 12 short months.

But the greatest danger is that, unless they can get their act together, they could fall even further.

It is only a couple of months since many of their fans were talking confidently about bouncing straight back to the Premiership.

Now, after a quarter of a season that has been indifferent to say the least, the talk is of whether they will follow the likes of City and fall even further. The natives, too, are getting restless and, inevitably, the manager's position becomes a focal point.

Kidd's capabilities are already being questioned among supporters. Personally, my own fervent wish is that he can come through this troubled spell and go on to success.

Not only because he is a decent man with many qualities, but also because the club desperately needs a period of stability on which to build strong foundations for the future.

Saturday's conquerors City can tell you all about what happens when you continually change managers.

But, as always, what happens to a football club will depend on the players.

And, in this case, how they respond to their manager's accusations about their lack of determination and the right attitude.

It is my belief that the majority of the players want Brian Kidd as manager. I also feel that the board and Jack Walker desperately want him to prove successful. The directors can have no influence on the next few weeks, starting at Walsall tomorrow night, they are merely called in when things begin to get out of hand.

So the answer to the current Ewood problems is relatively simple.

The manager can do his best by picking what he believes is his first-choice side and sticking with it until forced to make changes.

And the players can make their choice by showing us what they really want.

They should be easily good enough to claim promotion from a division where much of the football is distinctly second rate. But they have to start showing that where it matters, on the pitch.

As the manager said on Saturday, they have to want it enough.

Over to you boys, it's make your mind up time.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.