The best bit of transfer business we could do in Jan would be to sell Mowbray and replace him with Bilic.

Just seen the league table. Astonishing how good our setup is tbh. Commendable from all involved - an academy to be proud of and to be excited by.

If negative comments on social media impact your performances ‘badly’ then you just ain’t going to cut it at a decent level in modern football...

I think if Gallagher was played through the middle over a season he would get you 10-12 goals. He has the attributes in my opinion to play either as a lone striker or in a front two but he has has no real attributes to be a wide right player and even less to be a wide left player. I could understand playing him wide slightly if we played a lot of long Crossfield diagonal balls but we hardly play any long balls let alone diagonal ones. Just looking back at those goals shows you that if you get him in the box and central to the goal then he is a threat. His goals this season against Coventry and Luton showed the same. Thinking back to his goals last season against Swansea, Reading, Stoke, Luton and his first at Preston again it was the same thing balls played into the box and Gallagher scoring when he is in the box a central to the goal. Since he returned to the club we haven't seen anywhere near the best of him and we won't see it until whilst Mowbray persists with playing him wide, play him up front either with or as an alternative to Armstrong then we will see his best. It's not rocket science even Owen Coyle could manage to work it out.

We’d have been better off with Charles Dickens...big things expected of him...

Man Utd are trying to loan out Phil Jones and apparently willing to pay most of his wages. Gotta be worth an enquiry at least?

Thing is, before Mowbray was appointed I defy anybody to say they'd have been happy with him as manager.

Mowbray must be Oliver Twist* when selecting his tactics * Cockney rhyming slang.

Ewood has become a bleak house.

The Sugar Hill Gang - Rappers Delight

Archie Bell & The Drells - The Soul City Walk

And we all literally had hard times with Dickens in goal........

I don't think anyone is blaming him. It's on Mowbray. He is playing him in a position that highlights weaknesses. It's like if Sunderland played Niall Quinn on the wing, instead of upfront with Kevin Phillips!

Best of luck to him. Wasn't he basically ostracized from football management in England for telling the truth?

I was just sat having a brew and sausage sandwich and my wife informed me that tomorrow is the third anniversary of her dad passing away aged 92. He was a 'hybrid' football supporter, following both Rovers and The Dingles when they were at home on alternate weeks from just before the outbreak of WW2 to his last full season in 1975. He claims he was probably the only person inside Turf Moor in 1960 to cheer all six goals as Rovers clawed back a 3 goal deficit in the last 15 minutes to earn a replay at Ewood which we won of course. He went to odd games afterwards with us, most notably at Goodison Park in 1995 sat in The Gladys Street End amongst the scousers (what a fun day that was when my eldest lad took his coat off to reveal a Rovers shirt underneath!) and at Old Trafford when we beat the red rats (I think Pederson scored the winner?). On his 90th birthday in 2015 I managed to arrange a day at Brockhall for us both, which we spent with the First Team squad. Rovers were absolutely brilliant that day and made such a fuss of him. He was a Royal Marine Commando in WW2 and drove a landing craft onto Sword Beach on D-Day, he never ever spoke of his experiences until that day at Rovers. All the players, coaching staff and Gary Bowyer crowded round him for up to an hour whilst he told his captivating story. He and I couldn't thank everybody connected with BRFC enough, it really was a brill. day. Here's a trio of snaps of Ken (RIP) that I took of him on the day; one proudly stood on the touchline ball in hand, one sat in the gaffers chair and finally a couple of a Marine. Anyway, I've just been reminded that I've got 'pots to wash' so toodle pip.

If we are on a journey, I would love to know what the plan is when our best player, Harvey Elliott, goes back to his club at the end of the season. I’d love to know what the plan is for when our best defender, Ryan Nyambe, leaves on a free. I’d love to know what happens when a PL club takes a gamble on Armstrong. Or Dacks 18 month contract runs out. We have the best team we are going to have for a long while right now. If we don’t finish top 6 this season it’s a travesty, we are 18 months away from a full rebuild.

Jaquob Crooke on Twitter: "@chrislord Several delightful touches and first-time passes. Looked as strong at the end of the half as he did at the start, which was reassuring." / Twitter

On the “laddishness” of the podcast... I listen to/watch them all and there was something different about this one... They are usually guys pushing 40 or above, played at a lower level, who are a bit more worldly wise, been through some trouble and are now happy within themselves. But some of the stuff that Marshall was coming out with seemed to be taking the hosts aback... He’s only 29 and a far better, far more recent player than most that they get on - for him to be talking so candidly about how he has pissed it all away with no regrets was a bit jarring. The presenters seemed to be expecting some kind of the usual remorse, humility or self reflection that didn’t really come... so the “laughing along” got a bit wooden. The punchline never came. Like I say, think he’s still got some serious things to work out within himself. Hope he does. I’d like a follow up in ten years. And to see the Marrow video. Come on Corry, do something interesting for once.

Lazy argument. Bilic, Pearson. There's 2. Pay them enough, they will come. One of the owners main problems has been that whilst they don't seem to mind their money being wasted on most things, they have never really with the possible exception of Lambert invested heavily in probably the most important man at the Club, the manager. Hence the reason we're now stuck in permanent no-man's land (at best) with Gary Bowyer Mark 2.

Lot of revisionism here trying to make out that Gallagher would be ok put in the middle. He isn't very good, never has been very good and never will be very good. As I said above when he was here the first time round his main attribute was his willingness and his ability to run the channels all day and make a nuisance of himself but since bulking up seems to have lost that and he has no strikers instinct or anticipation whatsoever. It's utter lunacy to even contemplate shoving a guy who is averaging three goals every four games out wide to accommodate him. Gallagher is a poor player who Mowbray wasted £5m on because he knew him and liked him. End of.

Cannot believe people would say no to Jones after watching William's & Lenihan this season. Even injured he's still better than them 👍

they were" hard times" during that winless streak

Or Pearson

He is a striker who is at best an average Championship striker, at best he will creep into double figures as he did in his best season to date here. He also doesnt have any particularly strong attributes that make him important beyond his goal tally, he is fairly quick but not rapid, he doesnt bring others into play, a random example would be Jutkweicz who again wouldnt get into our team but his use to Birmingham is beyond a not particularly prolific goal record. Gallagher is not a striker that will give you the goals that will get you into the top 6. The key has to be to avoid the temptation that Mowbray struggles to avoid, to try and crow bar him in anyway. I get that there is a big price tag but it is counter productive to play him out of position against the balance of the team. He could maybe grow into a useful player off the bench if we needed a goal or a deputy to Armstrong. Armstrong is our main striker and theres no way that he is anything but first choice. His goal record is competitive with players like Pukki, Toney etc at the top of the league so Gallagher cant grumble at not playing at Armstrongs expense but he could ideally become a competent second choice.

Pink Floyd - Coming Back To Life

Yup. Rocket science it isnt. Has anyone actually asked Mowbray, "This Gallagher on the wing nonsense- wtf?" I wonder what his response would be if challenged directly about this weird blind-soot everyone else seems able to see, but not the bloke picking the team..

They do make some odd choices. Personally i think they should have stuck with Pearson. Had them above the relegation zone, and even if they went down he definitely had changed the mood. Would have got them bouncing straight back up. Good managers are key in this league and this seems like a heck of a gamble.

Probably because we saw his last few performances for us and he was terrible....

I'd guess he's referring to this run of form: Whilst there is one win in there, that is still a horrific set of results no matter which way you slice it. Most managers would not survive such a pathetic two months. It completely ruined our season.

Tony Mowbray was a player of a decent standard and has been a coach, assistant and manager at a high level. The comparison of experience for experience sake is just silly. I’m quite sure the original reference was in respect to being a highly respected manager for several years. Using Kean, should be saved for idioms or metaphors for dodgy or crooked behaviour in my opinion. The two men (never mind management ability) are diametrically opposed, in any way you can think, results, decisions, tactics, motivating, experience, personality, culpability, honesty etc Im not ashamed to say his name presses certain “buttons” when brought up because it was the most soul destroying time as a football fan as I can ever remember.

Very fair points @JBiz Kean is incomparable to Mowbray and all who are sane would agree with that. A stain on the history of this club. I am keen however not to allow Keans era to become a benchmark, in the same way that players being praised merely for trying their hardest even if not up to the job, or the owners not allowing us to cease to exist is not worthy of praise. We can set higher standards than that without fearing being deemed unrealistic. Something you touch upon by suggesting that should we finish mid table that Mowbray should go. I am unconvinced it would be productive to even give him that long to be honest, based on what I have seen I think Mowbray having done a good job may have gone as far as he can but either way there is a standard there that ensures that merely not being Steve Kean is not a good enough standard.

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/18958353.mowbray-set-venkys-talks-defender-deal-considered/ Won’t be a problem getting funds out of the owners, as they usually need ‘slowing down’, don’t they?

His only managerial experience is being the manager of Dinamo Tbilisi from the Georgian league. Looks like he only joined them as manager earlier this year as well. So not an experienced manager by any stretch. Edit: Turns out he was only in charge of his last (and only job) for 11 games. This appointment has not gone down well on the Watford twitter post about his arrival.

Not listened to the podcast, but I said repeatedly at the time he was here Marshall stunk the place out with his attitude and this would seem to confirm it.

Martha And The Vandellas - Third Finger Left Hand Mecca memory.

I'm at the point now where I think I'd pot him. His stubbornness or blind stupidity keep playing a failing system is taking the Michael. Even Gallagher himself knows he's about as useful as a willy in a lesbian orgy playing out wide. If he lasts till January, which tbh I fully expect him to, Ben and Dacky may help it look a respectable season, but it will still be another mid table one.

Rolling my eyes and shaking my head through it, but admittedly a pretty entertaining listen! Marshall may be a prat, but he's got a sense of humour at least. For those who can't be bothered (I agree the forced laddishness of that podcast can grate, and it's not a short listen!), here are the general bits re: Rovers: - Bowyer was apparently very 'paranoid', but they don't really elaborate (I suppose fair to Bowyer as he tried to survive under Venky's) - Evans allegedly has a video of Marshall and Marrow naked wrestling outside a pub (lads lads lads!) - Marshall had a side hustle selling knock-off gear, like Yeezys, to players. Mentions selling them to Brown, Taylor, and Guthrie (who wraps it in new packing and gives it to his gf for Christmas - Marshall mocks him for doing so given his PL money haha) - Again confirms everything we already know about Coyle. Funny stories, but that appointment still boggles my mind... - Says Bowyer bought him for just over £1m, he promptly went on the lash with Marrow for 2 weeks before Bowyer had to plead for him to get his head in order. (Makes you again wonder wtf Bowyer was thinking bringing Marrow in) - Liked Lambert, also suggesting he's pretty self-interested (and repeats that he was promised money to spend and then fucked off when Venky's pulled the plug) - Coyle tried to convince him to stay. Was offered the same terms he eventually got at Wolves, but there was a 50% relegation clause and he was convinced Coyle was going to get Rovers relegated, so he refused. Coyle then kicked him off the first team and he went on a 3-week bender before being sold (which apparently showed in his physical at Wolves!) - Says he was sold to Wolves for £2m. I recall there was a lot of debate on here scoffing at the idea of us getting anything more than £500k for him given his contract was running down, but it does sound like we got £1.5-2m in the end (LT reported £1.5m). Cairney and maybe Raya are exceptions, but we generally have gotten quite a good price for the players we have sold under Venky's... (and usually well-timed too. Probably got the best years of Marshall's career anyway) Marshall at least doesn't come off as pretty honest and not a hypocrite... Can also give him some credit for not being one of those misfit players who also blew all their money and fair to him for realising his heart just wasn't in it anymore. Can definitely understand Norwich fans' ire, but it sounds like he voluntarily cancelled a lucrative 4-year contract after 1 year. I was saying earlier how Graham maybe doesn't come off well in that other recent podcast, but there's a balance as he's probably also a great dressing room presence (and while he's floundering at Sunderland and looked past it last year too, he was quite an effective Championship striker a couple years ago at 33!). Sounds like Marshall was one step too far in that regard, particularly with other players being aware he was regularly blowing off training.

Suspect Device - Stiff Little Fingers

The Mowbray brigade on Facebook and Twitter shoot down every single suggestion on those forums, I kid you not, with a million and one reasons as to why we shouldn’t go for them, or they wouldn’t come to little old Rovers. One lad yesterday on Twitter responsed to the suggestion of Howe: ‘not for me, didn’t do well enough with that Bournemouth squad.’ Let’s forget that he took them from the 4th tier to the Premier League and kept them there for 4 seasons then. Honestly, what’s the point in even trying to reason with people like that.

So it's about this time of year that I evaluate our new signings and the manager's nous in the transfer window. Half a season seems a fair crack of the whip for players to bed in and show their ability or lack thereof. The last few years TM has come out very much 50:50 with great signings vs clangers. Perhaps this year may avoid some of the latter. Here goes. Kaminski - 9 Great singing. I mean in comparison to Walton most players would look good but even so he looks very comfortable and fits the style of play well. He's the right age and the fee was reasonable too. Slight reservations he may revisit kicking his team mates genitalia which probably wouldn't do much for team spirit but so far he's done well. Pears - 3 The Middlesbrough welfare fund continues, with this keeper. The plusses, he's not Walton or Leuts, and he's young so will develop. That said paying a fee for a second keeper seems a bit of a waste to me, he is blocking the Greek lad's progress (who on paper looked promising). There's also the minor detail that he didn't look that convincing when he played. Waste of a transfer imo. The Greek ad whose name escapes me - N/A Hasn't played. Shame as on paper looked to have potential. Either he or the Pears signing seems very pointless. Ayala - 6 If it was solely on ability he'd be probably a 7 or 8 as in most games he has looked pretty solid. However, when you have a couple of other injury prone defenders on the books, signing another is not the smartest of news and has led to difficulties. Still it wouldn't be Christmas if Rovers weren't struggling for defenders. Douglas - 2 I think TM makes a lot of clangers in the transfer market but I do feel he has been unlucky with left backs. On paper both Bell and Douglas were astute signings. 2 promotions in 2 years suggests Douglas has something about him. The reality is that he has looked way out of his depth and just as bad as Bell, which is an achievement in a perverse kind of way. Doesn't help that having little cover from his front man at times and the system doesn't suit him, but that makes the transfer ever more of a mistake from TM. Trybull - 5 Really not sure where to call this one and am open to suggestions. Compared to Travis a massive downgrade. Compared to Evans he's streets ahead and not just because he's mostly fit. A tidy player but not one that imposes on games. The most positive thing I can say is that we needed another DM/CM with Travis injured, and he's filled that slot. Downing - 6 Brought in a bit late, and really would have liked to see another defender instead. He has looked decent when he has played though, and so perhaps more of a success than not since re-signing. May well have to revisit his left back role given the other options. Elliott - 9 Only problem is it's a loan. That said we'd never be able to buy him. Been very impressed with ability and attidue - goals, assists and width. Great signing. Dolan - 8 Scoring a bit higher than his impact (which is probably a 6 or 7) as he was got on a free and also is pretty young so will only get better. Very astute signing, regardless of whether it was by error or design. So this year TM to me comes out average, 8 signings with an average score of 6. Again, like most years under TM it seems to be boom or bust, although the notable clangers are fewer than previous years. Again there is the common theme of not enough cover for the defence, and one astute signing per year (Kaminski, Tosin) is not going to be enough in terms of quality or quantity. In fact it seems pretty familiar to last year - some good, some clangers, and not enough work on the defence. Think that may well remain till TM goes. Would be interested in other's thoughts.

Ram Jam - Black Betty

Literary bantz. Love it!

Keith Hill eh, the first overlapping centre half. What do you think our current team would play like on a pitch like that ? Matt Dickens ! He went on loan to Rochdale and is still reckoned to be the keeper in their worst ever loans team.

Sam's confidence has been destroyed with this ridiculous experiment. It's amazing what players can suddenly seem to do when they feel that their gaffer believes in them. What kind of belief is TM showing be sticking him out on the left wing?

I don't know what to think of Sam Gallagher. He has some of the attributes to at least be effective. Basically he is playing garbage. But he is massive and mobile. Surely it wouldn't be that difficult to get him learning how to wrestle for space. Back into a defender. Stop trying to get his head on things. Literally just find a spot, hold his ground and let it hit him. He's got a crap first touch but you don't even need a good touch to let a ball hit you in the stomach. That's the level we are at with him now. He would be more effective as a lump to hit the ball into. But he can't even seem to do that. The bloke also has pace when he gets up to speed. I swear a different manager would be able to turn a poor player into a mildly effective one. But as it is he's being played out of position. And he is completely useless at what he's trying to do. If he could be utilised for 2 things he'd be useful. Getting in the way of long balls for players to pick up the loose ends and knocking it into space in front of him for him to gallop onto. He's also a bloody hard worker so can press well. All we do is play it into his feet. And he has about one of the worst first touches I've ever seen. And watching him trying to beat a man from a standing start is cringeworthy. I know he wasn't prolific before signing but his career has nosedived here dramatically. He needs taking out the side and needs some one on one attention and stop being shoe-horned in because of his price tag. Coach him to use the attributes he does have. Then maybe we will see some return on the pitch for our investment. As it stands Mowbrays use of him is ruining his career. Yes he's not developed on the attributes he has which he is accountable for. But I really think a little guidance for him would go a long, long way. Rant over

Best manager in the last decade. Centre-backs dropping like flies. Still missing (arguably) our two best players. Would be insane to sack Mowbray.

Most gaffers will turn a blind eye to some it but to be fair i reckon Mowbray would reel them in quicker than Bowyer. He had no control just a nice guy trying his best who the players liked but obviously knew they could take the piss. No wonder we went nowhere, i'd love to know how sober Hanley was in some of his appearances because he didn't look it at times.

Anyone including Douglas in the side, playing Armstrong out wide or leaving Brereton out clearly hasn't been watching us play.

If you're reading this then the server migration has finished and (almost) everything went well. Some of the images are AWOL, but they'll be back when they see fit, and the front page still needs a bit of TLC, but by doing this upgrade we've opened up a whole range of possibilities so rather than just do what we had before, we'll leave it as is and just make it better. Forum threads & indexes look much better right from kick off though!