Bolton at home on Easter Monday is Category A. Not saying it had to be dirt cheap (I'm a ST holder so don't want the value to be undercut) but with people off work, and this being the penultimate home game against local rivals we had a really good opportunity to pull in a larger than usual crowd. But most importantly, with the season petering out with nothing to be excited about, this was the last chance to get bodies through the door to sell the product as well as we can before next season. Do we want to shift any season tickets??? Anybody deciding to walk on on the day will have to fork out £27-£34. On that alone we've wiped out the chance of pulling in a decent pool of folk waking up with a free day who may fancy a mooch down to the football. This is an end of season game in the second tier. Both sides in the bottom half of the table. Category A in my mind used to be playing a top 4 Prem side. On this topic, it's one step forward, two steps back.

IMO, 100% Mowbray has to go. Sentiment shouldn't count. His 'nice guy' image shouldn't count. His constant prattling about his values shouldn't count. His wife's lemon drizzle cake shouldn't count. I think Mowbray is too old school and in reality a muddled tactical dinosaur. Key points for me are: Are we physically and mentally fit. IMO, no and based on what I've seen, other teams are far quicker, fitter and tougher mentally. Are we organised and difficult to beat. Results speak for themselves. We leak goals for fun. Does Mowbray get the most out of his players. IMO, no - think he has too many 'favourites', development of younger players is suppressed and his selections result in far too many square pegs being driven into round holes. Is Mowbray tactically aware: IMO, he's not at the races and how many times do we see him change the set-up within 15/20 minutes minutes. I struggle to see any game management. Do we play attractive football and is there a pattern and style of play developing. IMO, no and no - I am bloody sick of hoofball, hoofball and more hoofball. Is Mowbray astute in player trading. IMO, his record is very poor, other than Dack. I think we've spunked £10million+ on Brereton, Armstrong, Davenport and Rothwell (though Rothwell IMO is by far the most promising of the four and he rarely plays him!). Far too many Harts, Gladwins and bang 'Joe Averages'. Mowbray said at his evening a few weeks ago, he was brought in to keep us up. He failed - full stop. In the pi$$ poor League 1 he got us up BEHIND Wigan. We were the best resourced club in the league and we should have strolled it - I think we rode our luck too many times for comfort last season which didn't augur well for this season. I think we are now virtually in free fall with just 4 points from the last 10 / 11 games. Mowbray has had two windows since we were promoted to address some obvious defensive concerns and I think he's done virtually feck all about it and also allowed a 'real' centre half (Downing to leave on loan). I do not think Mowbray has anything to offer our football club in any capacity. I think it would be a huge mistake to give him the summer as I do not think his record in player trading gives any reassurance. We need a young, hungry and innovative coach. I would be staggered if Damien Johnson could not make a better fist of it than Mowbray. There are a lot of talented coaches out there who would jump at the Ewood manager's job. We owe Mowbray nothing - he's been handsomely paid for his labours.

I’ll be honest the Rothwell thing is just bizarre. I think he’s a fantastic player and impacts the game every time he plays. Can’t get my head around why he doesn’t start.

Every interview Mowbray does with the LET annoys me now. Some of his comments are just weird and show how hes a tactically a muddled mess. The latest of his comments on Rothwell. “Adam has a natural work ethic. He’s like a cross country runner, but also a sprinter, which is why I play Adam on that side as an attacking winger and on the other side a hardworking Conway or Bennett." Why? Why do we need a Bennett or Conway on the other flank? Has it proved to help us keep clean sheets over the season? If hes impressing you and the fans why not play them both? I struggle to listen to him these days witouth getting wound up. Time to go. https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/rovers/news/17542185.tony-mowbray-on-why-joe-rothwell-isnt-starting-for-rovers/

I'd be tempted just to get a proper centre half

Exactly right Don. Make it £15 a ticket anywhere in the ground. Us and Bolton would sell substantially more. A season ticket pack (ha!) with every purchase . But nah, make it £27- £34 in the hope Bolton fetch 3,000 or so to rip off. I hope Bolton do come ‘in a taxi’, it will be a fitting finish to a season of largely poor away followings to Ewood and blows a hole in that nonsense Waggott was coming out with in the summer about moving home fans from the DE due to all those upcoming massive followings.

Artists & Soldiers. Artists & Soldiers, that's what you said Tony. Well, the artists you put on the field are more like Painters & Decorators and as for the soldiers, the ones I dip in my egg put up more of a fight!

That's not a good enough reason to keep employing someone who (at the moment at least) looks nailed on to lead us to a second relegation. Yes, he's a nicer bloke and better manager than the jokers we've had in recent history but it's not about that, it's about if he's simply good enough to take us forwards. Based on our last 30 points return, how anyone can conclude that he is almost borders on delusional, or just blind faithful at least. I don't think you will find any of us that won't agree that he's a nice fella and has done a good job getting us promoted but football is about the nowand he's very much demonstrating that he's not up to the job, much like the favourites he's been picking week in week out for most of the season.

The best managerial move this club has made since King Kenny was in 2000. Even though Tony Parks was doing his usual classy treading water job and the season was going nowhere, there was no pressing need to get the next manager in. Graeme Souness was brought in around Easter and you cannot underestimate how crucial it was due to those 6-10 games finsihing 11th why we were able to get promoted the next season. Jansen and Dunn were nowhere near the starting 11 and our GK and CB options were poor. Souness brought in Berg, Bjornebye, Curtis and Friedel and built the team around Jansen, Duff and Dunn. Mowbray would have continued with Carsley, Ward, Dailly, Fettis and Peacock. Tony Mowbray is 2019 Tony Parks... very likeable guy and we owe him a lot but.... Out.

Nonsense. Bowyer not only stopped us getting relegated (something Mowbray failed to do) but he also finished in the top 10 twice after building his own team on a lot less than Mowbray spunked on BB.

Apologies if all this has been mentioned above but I find the second half of this season extremely odd. In January we had a theoretical chance of the play offs so any manager worth his salt should have been hammering the owners' door down demanding a couple of impressive additions to freshen things up and try to sneak into the top six. Instead TM declared himself largely satisfied with the tools at his disposal and as a result we predictably fell away immediately the window was over. Thereafter it was soon obvious the remainder of the season was a dead rubber so it should have been all about planning for next season yet there is little or no sense that this is the case. What is the point of playing Mulgrew, Williams, Evans, Smallwood Conway and Bennett? We know they're not good enough going forward already. At the front we also need to develop a style of play that involves passing the ball along the ground and which brings Dack into play and doesn't simply consist of hoofing the ball long and high to Graham. It wouldn't particularly have mattered if we'd brought in a load of youngsters and never won another point all season. That has more or less happened with the old guard anyway and we're learning absolutely nothing. whereas at least we might have seen if various players might be useful going forward and make a start on implementing a new style of play. Get as many youngsters in as possible use our best central midfielder Reed in his correct position alongside Travis whilst we still have him and up front get Rothwell Dack and Chapman in behind Brereton, play to feet and stick with it until the end of the season. The likeliehood is that BB may not be ready or good enough yet, but at least we'll find out. Alternatively he might surprise us. But let's not limp on losing week after week with players who need the big heave ho in summer. Let's use the remainder of this season productively. The worst thing that could happen is we carry on as we are and have to try and change things around having lost the first four or five games of next season.

Surprised I still have hair left when it comes to this topic. What on earth does the lad have to do to get a run of games? Every time he's played he's arguably been MOM and yet the next game he's straight back on the bench. What does that do to the lad's morale? Especially having to sit there whilst Conway and Bennett comically run around the pitch, not effecting the game. Does it show poor man management skills from our manager? I think so. Why sign him if he's not going to play him? Why critisise him after clearly being our best player against Wednesday? Can he not see that he's clearly the player with the most ability at Rovers? I see it like this, he's put together such a poor defense that he's too sh*t scared of playing more attacking players because they will give his awful back 4 less protection. To sum up, it's a complete waste of talent, not on the players behalf but on the managers because he doesn't have the ability to address our defensive issues. Combine that with blind favouritism and you have a sh*t show of poor team selection, poor performances and poor results. In my opinion the lad is one of the best naturally gifted footballers I've seen at Rovers for some time, the sort of player you should probably build a midfield around. Just goes to show that throwing obscene amounts of money around on players to get quality is not always the way to do it. It helps though, when you realise that you have unearthed a real gem of player that you have manager capable of seeing that talent and getting the best out of him rather than being useless on the bench. I wanted to keep this post on the topic of the player rather than the manager but when he's playing such an integral role in ruining a player of this quality's career it's simply too hard to ignore. Do us all a favour and play the man for christ sake. Your long ball, tepid, methodless football does not work in this league anymore and it won't work next season. Play some players in midfield who we can actually play through rather than miss out. I really don't know how this one is going to turn out but at the moment it's the manager I'd rather see leave than a player like Joe Rothwell. What's your thoughts on this one? I'm frustrated, p*ssed off and mostly confused by the manager.

I made a point a couple of weeks ago, people were up in arms about the ‘knee jerk’ reactions but there isn’t a club in the land where the manager wouldn’t come under scrutiny after the run we’ve been on. Seems the consequences are more real elsewhere

Completely an utterly disagree. Tony should have seen by January they weren't of the quality and made use of the market to make the changes. Instead he continued to pick the awful players and we went downhill. We were completely found out tactically. Mowbray doesn't know his best team still. Watch Brentford away and it's all far too obvious why he shouldn't be manager.

Armstrong offers nothing defensively and is lazy. As for playing Bennett or Conway the big question is why? They offer little in attack and they clearly aren't helping us defensively as we have already leaked 62 goals this season.

This forum is so harsh at times. The manager has been a breath of fresh air in general. He united the fans with the club and got the club feeling good again. I can’t remember a happier atmosphere than last seasons final home game. As Iv said, I see this summer as being Tony’s moment as Blackburn Rovers Manager. His loyalty to the players who worked so hard to get us up last season was fully vindicated until January. But he deserves the chance to put it right in my opinion. He’s earned that surely?

Stuff like that can be dealt with by anyone, or in our case probably by the Community Trust who these days seem to be at the centre of everything that happens at the club. A chief executive is supposed to run the club - budgets, all departments, hire and fire, managing all operations etc. If Waggott can't do those things, or indeed can't even order an extra sack of grass seed without India having to approve it all first then he isn't a chief executive.

Wouldn't be my first choice but you haven't included Karanka - he's free and would be a good choice imo

Hughes, Jokanovic or Wagner are the three outstanding candidates, but they won't come cheap and every Championship club that sacks their manager is going to be keen on those 3. If we don't have the ambition or finance to attract any of those 3 then Cowley at Lincoln.

A good point, along with the old chestnut "they wouldn't employ anybody better" - which may be true, but isn't exactly a rousing endorsement. If the team is regressing at the rate we are at present (we've been in relegation form 4 of the last 5 months!) then it's either roll the dice or prepare to be relegated again. I can't think of many situations where a manager has presided over this kind of slump and ultimately made a success of things. It's certainly never happened in Mowbray's career, which most of his advocates seem to be conveniently ignoring! "He'll get it right this time" - when all evidence points to him not learning from his mistakes and digging his heels in.

The Final, since the Competition was reintroduced, has always been played as a pre-season game. Talking to folk at Leyland the other week they said it was planned for August.

The way we are going at the moment, I can't see us beating Bolton. In theory it would have been incredibly satisfying to do so and potentially relegate them as well.....

We had 2 shots on target, 1 of them the goal we scored which once again was a direct result of Mulgrew's set pieces. Despite all our possession and pressure in the last 15 minutes their keeper could have been asleep for most of it as we turn back to the CBs as soon as we get anywhere near their area. People moan about Allardyce football but their keeper would have been bombarded and clattered for 20 minutes in pursuit of an equaliser. I'd much prefer that than inanely passing around in circles on the half way line going nowhere.

He's missed out the big one LEFT-BACK.

He'll live or die by his summer recruitment. He needs to sign 1 first choice centre back (no CM's who can "do a job") and probably 1 for competition. He needs to grow some @#/? and shift out some of his favourites. I can't see him doing either, in fact, I reckon our CB pairing for the first game of the season will be Lenihan and Mulgrew.

Champions again :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xv0HrAcmNlM

The writing is on the wall. If Mowbray is allowed to stay for a large chunk of next season and the squad is largely the same, which is the most likely scenario, we will go down. I think it's that simple.

Firstly, when the payments are made is irrelevant, and purely speculative, point is we have committed that level of money, a very healthy budget to at least somewhat improve the first team. I don't see how his summer recruitment can be defended. We are within a process whereby Mowbray has repeatedly stated that the aim is to challenge for promotion. Following promotion, there is plenty of scope to improve a side, you are far from the point of development at a team that you can put all of your eggs into signing players seen as development players who in turn havent even provided serious competition, when its neglecting areas of the team that are not good enough for a progressive Championship side. You look at the individuals he has brought in, Reed is a successful albeit temporary signing, the Palmer situation on the flip side was handled poorly and has to be deemed as a failure. The Rodwell situation sums up how much of a priority he sees the defence as, reported interest in Bauer but his plan B was a midfielder who may well have proved a bargain in his natural position instead used unsuccessfully as a sticking plaster in our flimsy defence. Davenport may or may not exist and he has signed 2 attacking players in Rothwell and now Chapman who ultimately he has absolutely no trust in, and are quite clearly the polar opposite of what is in the Tony Mowbray manual of being a wide man. And the main bit, we only really have Graham as a central striker, to sign someone for 7m (with over 50 Championship appearances) who hasnt been able to put any pressure at all on an impressive but veteran striker is indefensible. I don't see him moving away from his set way of playing Armstrong one side and Bennett/Conway/Reed while still here on the other, he mentioned that even today and seems insistent on sticking with his favourites even though its quite clearly failing him at the moment. In general, I suspect that it is incredibly naive to expect him to ditch all of his favourites in a summer overhaul. He is far too stubborn and loyal to players who this season have ultimately let him down (quality not effort) numerous times. Also, he managed to combine conservatism (picking wide men for perceived and debatable defensive abilities) and a horrendous defensive record in incredible fashion.

Mowbray and McClaren on similar runs. Mowbray can count himself lucky that we have disinterested owners and a boardroom with his old Coventry pal in it.

You perhaps quite fairly question his numbers but considering a similarly primarily substitute role thus far, havent you defended Brereton and his lack of goals? For me, them quotes suggest that he is not considering a change of approach any time soon. His line about Armstrong is a load of bollocks, he is just as negligent defensively as anyone. But ultimately, he is choosing all 4 midfielders based on their perceived defensive capabilities first and foremost, so surely that is pretty galling considering our defensive record is so poor?! I also dont think Bennett is as reliable defensively as Mowbray seems to think, and hes next to useless going forward. Also, why even bother signing Rothwell and then go and sign Chapman, if he quite clearly has no faith in them whatsoever?

Those are pretty shocking comments a hard worker on one wing doesn’t effect the other, add to that the fact that Nyambe in the right is better than anyone on the left so he’s just making up excuses now

In other words: ‘I’m shit scared of flair players. How dare they drive forward like that?’

I don't buy this 'one defensive winger' approach. I mean, why? Either both flanks need that level of defensive cover from the wings, or neither do. Having one attacking winger and one defensive one doesn't somehow average out so that both flanks have some degree of protection and some degree of attacking nous. It doesn't bring 'balance' to the team like he claims, it makes it lopsided!! I can appreciate that in some games, against certain teams with a particularly dangerous winger, putting somebody more defensive there has its merits, absolutely. God knows why it is a standing policy though almost regardless of who we play.

I’m pretty sure we’re heading towards 3 at the back so wouldn’t need wingers.

TM on Rothwell. https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/rovers/news/17542185.tony-mowbray-on-why-joe-rothwell-isnt-starting-for-rovers/ Also known as I’ve backed myself into a corner with this lad even though it is blinding obvious he should be starting.

The only one on that list who might end up getting it is Johnson if we follow the promote from within policy to save money. Since Pasha arrived on the scene the policy has been to go after those unemployed managers who once won promotion to the Premier League on limited budgets in the hope they'll be able to replicate that here. Lambert, Warnock, Coyle, Mowbray. Whilst I agree in principle that experience of similar sized clubs and success is important, there has to be more thought going into it than that. If the above 'policy' is continued moving forwards then it will be cheap, history of promotion, eager to manage, prepared to compromise on money and staff - Pardew, Jewell, McLeish, Mackay, Holloway etc. Likewise if we have a policy of forcing existing coaching staff upon the new bloke or any other attempt at cutting corners then we can forget most of the above. Once again I'd be reluctant to spin this particular roulette wheel unless circumstances between now and May force that to happen e.g. a continuation of our form since January with no improvement. Ideally we'll pick up and Mowbray will turn it around and learn.

Back to watching homes under the hammer with Casper and the fat lass then. All of us could see Steve being a massive failure yet he still gets a job.

I wouldn’t be so sure. Honestly there are so, so many blinkered fools on Facebook, Twitter and the LET. We could lose every game between now and season end (probably won’t be far off in reality) and some folk would still be saying ‘give him the window to sort it out FFS’.

Welcome and what a fantastic first post!! Excellent result, and so good for the Rovers ladies!

It was the same game I watched. We were lucky to only lose 2-1

I think we overachieved at the start of the season but I’m guessing you think a solid start means we should have been in and around the playoff spots? He may have said he’d like us to bounce through the leagues and yes, some teams do have great success after being promoted but that’s very much the exception rather than the rule. The slump is concerning but I think TM has earned the chance to build on this squad and try again next season.

For me he's got to go. Too much loyalty to players that aren't of the quality needed - Smallwood, Williams to name but a few. Just outside the playoffs in December and we do nothing. He signs Brereton and never plays him using £5m + on a player when we could have invested it where the weaknesses are. Signs Rothwell - never plays him. By chance selects Travis out of desperation and then appears to claim he deserves the chance when he tried to ship him out on loan. Berates Raya when the back 4 let him down week in week out. He also can't seem to tactically rectify our awful defending. Also says he wants to play on the front foot. All we do is play long ball to Graham and sit deep. Mowbray has to go.

Indeed. Millwall were 8th last season in their 1st season back after promotion (72 points). They are dogshit this season. We've just got promoted but our 'bounce' only lasted half a season whereas they kept it going for a full season.

The way we're playing at the moment I wouldn't back us to beat Bolton at home.

I spoke to a player yesterday on the way back from Villa (please don't ask who because I'm not saying and frankly couldn't care less if anybody doesn't believe me). Amongst other things I mentioned that there were murmerings amongst some supporters about Mowbray and he genuinely looked surprised. We spoke about how mistakes costing us goals and I said it was the same players making them and they still kept their place. Whilst he didn't verbally agree his facial expression and wry smile told me he agreed. If the players are aware of this then I can't see how this is conducive to a good team spirit and players being "onside".

The 'plan' as I see it is to be a decent bloke and to trade on the apathy of the fanbase for as long as possible. There's sod all else that I can see.

Steve Miller Band - The Joker