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Bob Crompton…for those who didn’t already know it…

FF members apparently invited to Brockhall to see how good the team spirit is. I hope the visit is this morning.

The Ultimate 150 Rovers List Part Two Turn of the 20th Century and Post World War I 1900-1930 Poll runs from - 22nd October to 29th October. Some additional notes Lawrence Cotton - Wealthy local businessman would bankroll the Rovers to become a major force in domestic football. Invested not just in the team but also the stadium and infrastructure Fred Blackburn - Fred and his brother Arthur both played for Rovers at the turn of the 20th Century, Fred had the more successful career making 206 appearances, mostly from the left wing. Billy Davies - Division 1 Champion 1912 - A title was a fitting end to a fine Rovers career. Davies was a regular goal-scorer in the 19 noughties. He retired in 1913 to go into business in Motor engineering with team-mate Bob Crompton. Walter Anthony - Division 1 Champion 1912 - Tricky left winger with a powerful shot. Eddie Latheron - 2 x Division 1 Champion 1912, 1914 - 2 England Caps - Killed at The Battle of Passchendaele in World War I. Wattie Aikenhead - 2 x Division 1 Champion 1912, 1914 - Scotland Cap - Top scorer in the 1911/12 season. George Chapman - 2 x Division 1 Champion 1912, 1914 - Versatile defender/forward a key piece in both title winning seasons. Bob Crompton - 2 x Division 1 Champion 1912, 1914 - 41 England Caps - Inaugural member of the Blackburn Rovers Hall of Fame. Billy Bradshaw - 2 x Division 1 Champion 1912, 1914 - 4 England Caps - Legendary full back. Arthur Cowell - 2 x Division 1 Champion 1912, 1914 - 1 England Cap - Lower Darwen born left back struck up an excellent partnership with Bob Crompton Albert Walmsley - 2 x Division 1 Champion 1912, 1914 - Blackburn born wing half played 37 of 38 matches in each of the title campaigns. Percy Smith - 2 x Division 1 Champion 1912, 1914 - Double Division 1 champion, would later have success as a manager at Tottenham Hostpur Danny Shea - Division 1 Champion 1914 - 2 England Caps - British record transfer of £2,000 in 1913. Career halted by World War I Jock Simpson - 2 x Division 1 Champion 1912, 1914 - 8 England Caps - Born in Pendleton to Scottish parents who moved the family to Falkirk soon after (hence Jock) the Outside right won Robert Middleton - Manager who was bankrolled by Cotton, Middleton would win back to back Division 1 titles as Rovers boss. Longest serving manager, a record that will never be broken at 605 matches Joe Hodkinson - Division 1 Champion 1914 - 3 England Caps - Talented winger from Lancaster, one of four Rovers players in his England debut vs. Wales in 1913 (Crompton, Bradshaw, Latheron) career stymied by World War I Alfred Robinson - 2 x Division 1 Champion 1912, 1914 - Manchester born keeper picked up two league winners medals before joining the war effort in World War I Percy Dawson - Division 1 Champion 1914 - Signed from Heart of Midlothian and helped Rovers over the line in their title charge. Crucial winners at Ewood against Bolton (3-2) and Oldham Athletic (2-1) in the run in gave Rovers the title. Top scorer the following season as Rovers finished 3rd. Scored four against Burnley on 28th November 1914 in a 6-0 home win. Tom Wylie - Part of the formidable full back duo with partner in crime David Rollo Ronnie Sewell - 1 England Cap - Regular goalie in the inter-war years, played in the 1914 FA Cup Final for Burnley as they defeated Liverpool 1-0 David Rollo - 5 Northern Ireland/Ireland Caps - Had to follow Bob Crompton as Rovers' right back, though also played right half. A speedy, classy player with a terrific temperament. Aussie Campbell - FA Cup Winner 1928 - Half back of the Cup winning team Arthur Rigby - FA Cup Winner 1928 - 5 England Caps - Hard working winger who could supply fine crosses from the left side. Scored for England against Belgium and France. Others who are up for consideration, but are beyond the maximum voting options allowed. Please add your opinions if you think these should be included: Sam McClure, Kelly Houlker, Arnold Whittaker, Jock McKay and John McIntyre.

We won’t climb out, we’ll dig deeper.

Just don't know how tp feel about anything anymore. Numb is how I feel with it all. There's no one steering the ship we are floating off toward oblivion. Captain abandoned ship years ago and we are an empty vessel going wherever the take takes us. Don't even know where to begin thinking about how we can climb out this hole everything just seems impossible.

I think they'll be enjoying not having Eustace (and JDT) calling out the absolute madness every time they meet with him. But as disengaged as Venkys are I cant see them wanting us relegated and destroy even more of their cash, so at some point Pasha will be questioned. I am not of a conspiratorial mindset. Whats happened here imo is Venkys turned off the cash due to the court case and complete loss of interest in the club, Pasha thought he could have a competitive team on a much smaller budget (no doubt looking at teams like Barnsley, Luton, even the quality of squad we have managed to finish 7th with), and took a gamble on making that happen by forcing out more experienced heads who were blocking him (JDT, Eustace, Wagott) and bringing in people who wouldnt oppose him (Gestede, Ismael). That massive gamble has completely come off the rails and that is where we are. It all flows from the ownership - venkys know nothing about football, so have appointed someone who knows nothing about football (Pasha), who is now applying his lack of knowledge to the club without intermediaries. We really need engaged, committed owners with either a good knowledge of football or willing to out their trust in good football people. Everything downstream of that is irrelevant in the longer term.

Nice fireplace

Well there's all that lovely commission for one thing.

Ismael has totally embarrassed himself with his Gueye comments. As bad as Gueye is we needed some physicality up front when we went behind. Ismael out Kargbo up there. Talk about cutting your nose off to spite your face. A manager with a huge ego is not what we need right now.

Why do I get the firm impression that the two stooges will be happier with Ismael and our current position than they will have been this time last year under Eustace?

We are in a place were making a substitution is like asking if you want to be kicked in the balls or the head, we look clueless when changes are made (see 2nd goal). We get plenty of balls into the box, but they don't have a purpose. Crosser has a mentality of if I get it into the box I've done my job and the striker doesn’t make any decent movement, all this can be coached and drilled but game after game, no change. The long throws only bring one positive in my mind, less time for the opponents to have possession of the ball to score against us. Another evening were the away end is all cheers and having fun. I am sick to the back teeth of it, it is embarrassing. I can stand losing, but I cannot stand being set up from the start of the season to lose due to incompetent, arrogant people running the club with a clueless approach to player recruitment and sales.

He will have doubled his wage from what he was on at a 2nd tier Belgium team (he was on loan in Scotland), and will have put himself in the shop window for a move to a well run club paying proper wages by the summer (or possibly even January)

I suspect that all isn’t well between Scott and the stooges. Just a hunch that, but it feels that way.

I'd make an exception for Scott Wharton, but you're right and he's suffering the same malaise as the rest.

Still waiting on that new manager bounce.

I know it's probably unwise to say so in public, as he did with Tavares as well, but once you're given a chance as a substitute then at least put some effort in and play the was you've been instructed. Gueye hasn't played with any intensity at all and Tavares who is more worried about looking dandy-ish than making it as a footballer. Sure it's difficult to come into a team that's disjointed and not looking like it's going to come back into the games, but at least show the fans and the manager that you're trying.

Another one playing way above his skill set.

Well... Always want to give a fair shake to a manager, and hes basically had an entire team sold from under him. That said, seen enough for him to go now. Pros - does seem to be able to setup a team to play well for the first hour or so Cons - cant bring on subs or change the system mid game without everything falling apart, poor defending free kick and set pieces, doesnt seem to care

Woke up in a proper shit mood.

I actually don't think that's our biggest issue, but it's certainly starting to become a factor now as well. I can see that McLoughlin is barking at his teammates, and Tronstad has looked quite unhappy in a few of our earlier matches as well. Kargo got a telling off after he went 10 yards offside on Hedges' flick-on, so this is a real test for the team spirit and Ismael looks more and more deflated for each day. We should've scored more in the first but also almost conceded two from set-pieces right before Ohashi scored, a goal that was more a fluke with de Neve trying to score and not crossing. Then in the second half we looked winded, Henriksson I thought ran out of steam after the first half and should've been replaced a lot earlier after going back to back matches in the Championship. Gardner-Hickman also went AWOL for the second half and everyone panicked as soon as the ball entered their feet - and that's when we have to rely on a bench that isn't up to standards... something that's glaringly obvious that it isn't, and the reason why Ismael is so reluctant to make the substitutions. This squad needs serious investment in January and just wonder if we will try and loan players despite Ismael being against it as a stop-gap solution, or if we'll actually spend some dough.

Awful comments on Gueye and whilst I don't completely disagree as he's not amazing, it's a dickhead trick voicing his opinion like that in public. Gueye probably more than anyone at the club is a confidence player, treating him like that makes an average/poor player even less useful! VI is clearly a stubborn wanker and came up with the ridiculous concept of Hedges and Kargo up top as a result. I can't see many, if any of the players liking VI and I strongly suspect we'd see improvement in certain individuals performances if he went. Of course there's the argument they're well paid and owe it to the fans but ultimately its a job to them and nobody at all performs their best if they think their manager is a twat in any form of employment.

And no wonder Pape is disinterested with that public assessment. Way to motivate your players Val

Good to hear Duncan. I look forward to reading the minutes, if it’s not, what I heard. Any idea when they are being released and will I be a fair reflection of the meeting? I did hear what I posted, from some who attended last time and refused to attend this due to the farce with the minutes.

He isnt wrong on Gueye. He is a shocking player and not only that, when he comes on he displays a terrible attitude and demeanour suggesting that he feels hard done by not to play more despite him being so useless. But again, saying it in public is not the right move. And its not the first time. I dont see any character or resilience in this sorry set of players, but it will only further decrease that when the manager is so public.