There is something about our first team that screams hope, that screams potential. Maybe it’s youth or team spirit or both. This can overcome a lot of deficiencies in quality. However, we do not have the depth to allow this to translate to the squad having those same attributes. We need the right kind of players on the bench who can influence a game - either to hold on to a lead or to go out and win a game from behind. I still feel that we need a new Danny Graham. Experienced older head and with the right quality but who fits into the squad.

The decision from the club to slap a 17% price hike probably played a part. Anyone mulling over whether to get one or not but ultimately decided not to may have been put off by such a significant increase all at once. If we were going up to the Premier League it probably wouldn't matter at all because people will pay to watch it but going up to the Championship isn't going to get folk flocking down. As strange as it might be there are other clubs where attendances at the bottom half of the Championship are barely any higher than those in League One at the top end. I notice Bolton had 14,000 or so including 1,000+ from Bristol so their crowd was no better than they were getting in League One. Wigan had less than 10,000 home fans on for their game v Sheffield Wed. Preston's crowds hover between 10-13,000 even when pushing for the play-offs. Once again I don't get why the club leave it so late to announce prices and get tickets on sale. Other clubs, even those in promotion contention, have them on sale as early as February in some cases, whilst we heard nothing on the subject until what? June? It might not matter to the vast majority when tickets go on sale but I would ask why other clubs do it so much earlier and would suggest that the earlier the better and the wider the window the better. It certainly wouldn't put people off buying one, whereas leaving it until the summer when people have other things to do with their time and money than think about Rovers may resist buying. If tickets had been on sale since March we would have had 2 months of regular winning football and people in the habit of going to Ewood where they could be bombarded with information about season tickets. The Oxford one was the big opportunity. An extremely rare, almost once a decade level of home support there to tap into, those flags they were handing out should have had a season ticket leaflet attached to them.

You clearly didn’t see many games under Kean and Coyle mate

The situation is as unclear than its ever been since Mowbray came to the club. As much as you’d like to, please don’t bend the rhetoric to fit your argument. You made another point before saying it was the “worst performance” you’d seen including Coyle. Assuming you weren’t here for the Kean era when we went three home games without a shot on target? Or if you remember a time where Akpan and Lowe were our midfield linchpins? Assuming also that you didn’t come to our first two home games in League 1 either? We were off the pace on Saturday for the first 30 minutes and then grew into a game where the 8th best team in the league needed their keeper to make 4 (Dack free kick, 2 x DG one on one & Rothwell rocket) great saves and an mom performance to stop us from trouncing them. No one is happy with the transfer situation and come Sep 1st I’m sure there will be an autopsy. What worries me is that we had money to spend but were unable to spend it. But now is not the time to simply make stuff up.

Why are some people dissing Sam Gallagher so much? Who are people realistically expecting us to sign? He’s no superstar but he’s young and hungry and he did well when he was here under a terrible ‘manager’. I for one think he’ll do even better with the attacking players he’ll have around him this time. Even more so if we get another decent winger in.

If you, or either of the two people that liked this post think the second part is true, you're all off your heads.

If you can't afford a season ticket in League 1 you aren't going to be able to afford one in the Championship. And the casual fan is hardly going to return in a hurry on the back of witnessing Saturday's game. They might have done on the back of the huge turnout for the Oxford game when loads of young lads and lasses turned up. On that note, and in respect of the Notts Forest decision to slash ST prices for their young fans to £100 max, this is what their commercial manager said at the time: “Following consultation with various fan representatives, it also became apparent that making football more accessible for young supporters was crucial. As a result, the club is delighted to offer significant price decreases for 2018/19 Season Cards for fans from the age of four right through to the age of 23" https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/nottingham-forest-reveal-new-season-1262904 They aren't the only club to have done it either. If only our commercial manager or Waggott weren't so out of touch.

People seem to discuss Gallagher like he's the finished article... Lad is 22 years old! Lots of time to develop, loads of potential.

Pilkington would barely be an upgrade on Conway, we should aim a bit higher. Isn't Tomlin just a fatter version of Dack with an attitude problem?

It wasn't even as bad as the Donny and Dons home games of last season.

You had dogs in the stadium?

How on earth could anyone in their right mind call this summer “worst summer transfer window for some time”.. Do you remember last year when we had to replace 12 players after dropping into the third division? How about the year before when we sold our two best centrebacks? I could go on, but I’m not going to. Try thinking before you speak because anyone with an ounce of sense couldn’t say keeping our best players, extending their deals and adding some potential (Armstrong, Davenport and Rothwell) is one of the “worst” in recent memory. Underwhelming perhaps.

It wouldn't do for us all to have the same opinion. Personally I feel that Palmer has a greater range of skills and it's up to the manager to harness those skills, however over the course of a match there is room for both. Rothwell had an excellent ten minutes and then disappeared. They both need managing.

Graham looks much fitter than he did this time last year. Last year he wouldn't have been able to out muscle and out pace their centre back as he did for his two second half chances yesterday. I actually think he looks in good shape especially considering he missed a couple of the early pre season matches.

I would say Bennett’s work is very noticeable, unlike Lowe he actually makes tackles. I really do think we are missing a trick in not getting him in the middle, his extra pace over Smallwood could make a difference.

I wouldnt play Mulgrew, Dack, Graham and Bennett

Sorry, despite all the smart arse comments about how people dissing Gallagher should be managing in the Prem he just isn't good enough for me no matter how you dress it up. If you're relying on him you're looking at bottom 5 or 6 at best imo.

Because they haven’t got a scooby doo! the amount of negative comments on here makes you laugh and it’s from posters who think they know better and more so some of whom should be managing premiership clubs! this BRFC 2018 get over it we take what we can. Gally is another year wiser fast direct and an upgrade on anything we have upfront at the moment!

Just found out that Deby is showing the match live for free if you sign up. https://www.dcfc.co.uk/fixtures/results/2018/08/13/u23-v-blackburn-rovers I'll take a look at the second half

He's not the answer Chaddy.

Why? We fail to win Saturday and It's two or three points from three games which is a bit "meh". Does the next home game after that not then become a bit "must win"? Fail to win either or those two then you can't really expect to win the next game because it's an away game etc and all of a sudden you're looking at 5 games without a win and struggling. Every game becomes "must win" if you get a bit behind schedule.

Put your foot down with her pal, Rovers isn’t a way of life it’s a religion. (To Mark in the post above the last!)

And was Villa man of the match by some distance by many accounts. In years gone by we would have nabbed him ahead of Villa because of our reputation for being incredibly well run by very decent people... Mowbray is doing a great job rebuilding that sense of decency and competence but a combination of just being promoted and the past seven years' nonsenses probably gave us no chance against a big city club and last season's play-off beaten finalists.

Actually had to do a double take, I thought what the hell are we doing playing in white shirts at home?!

One we can rule out then. ? Who knows? Obviously McGinn not coming, Freeland got he full not over my dead body from McLaren. I have seen a lot about Gallagher on here but I cannot find any serious press linking us with him currently. Brereton seems to be a live link as does Chapman. I'd be delighted to see either and elated to see both. Then a back up defender who will keep Mulgrew and Lenihan under pressure. And that ladies and gentlemen would be a fabulous summer's business.

Think he'd play wide of a 3 no problem to be honest. I think he'd more than hack it in the championship.

Excitement and flair, simple as that, our fans have been starved of it for so long that when they watched him in full flow, however fleeting, it was a joy - bums off seat player. Not sure he'd be reliable for a tough Championship season though and as Mogga likes his 'defensive wingers', not sure he'd want him at this level...

I'm sorry but I really don't get the Chapman one. Mowbray made his views on him quite clear last season when he refused to give him any more than 30 minutes at the end of games, since then he's had a couple of major injuries. He'd offer something different and some much needed pace and would be a better option than we currently have, but I think I'd rather be looking at someone the manager wants to start games if necessary and someone with a bit more experience at Championship level. Not opposed to the signing but find some of the love-in a bit over the top given what happened last season.

You are entitled to you opinion. However it rather weakens it going forward.

If a player is not for sale or loan, Manager speak is: "X is incredibly happy here and he is very settled locally with his girlfriend/wife/family. He is not for sale under any circumstances and we will not consider offers." They don't mention any specific club unless it is "we have told Rovers that all bids are rejected and we consider the matter closed" That is not what the Forest manager said. I suspect we will either see relatively early loan action effectively completing business on some of the "four or five" from this time last week or it will be 31 August stuff when clubs see where they are in the pecking order. There is no guarantee that the shyness blighting most clubs' transfer window won't also impact the loans window... That is why I rate the Hull game as "must win". Not for the table in May 2019 but Rovers making a bright start in the table this month will to some extent banish the "newly promoted and at risk of relegation" tag when it comes to attracting loanees, particularly as they inevitably will be with a view to permanence.

Maybe it's dead in the water, but how as ever. Over the weekend I was chatting to friend from home who is a Forest fanatic, so I asked him for the lowdown on Brereton. Because I'm a sad case and on a break I'll type out his message in full: So now. Take it with a pinch of salt if you must. Lord knows, if someone heard me going on about Bennett they might assume he was the second coming of Graeme Souness with the social conscience of Nelson Mandela. This part, 'Loves to run with the ball, and has the muscle to upset defenders' had me drooling all over my phone though.

Not been watching for long then.

I don't believe for one second any deal will be loan-to-buy.. The picture is becoming clear now and its pointing to the same old story.

I’ve interpreted that very differently, it sounds like they are very willing to sell Bereton if the deal is right.

I've stopped taking what you say seriousley after dead line day with your there we go eye emoji

What makes you say that? I’m not having a go, I don’t do Twitter so wasn’t sure if there had been any recent rumours linking us with him is all....

because he has excellent ball control, can turn on to either foot, has some pace, I think that centerhalves would be more worried by these attributes, than just a physical presence up front

Wouldn't mind either tbh

BBC reporting that Cardiff are prepared to listen to offers for Tomlin and Pilkington on loan.

Palmer isn't even a striker though, how do you work out he is a target man? I would prefer Nutall or Samuel givent he opportunity, they aren't much smaller than DG, if they even are smaller. They should watch DG and learn how to play the role. Correct that Armstrong isn't or never will be a target man. I would like Wickham as he is 6 foot 3 , well built. It would be great to have a big lad up there With ;Dack, Armstrong, Palmer, Samuel, Bennett and whoever playing off them

Lets not try and shoehorn anyone else in a position that isn't their natural one. We have Armstrong and Nuttall who can play upfront against Carlisle

This. Positive season last year and we've failed to build on it. Firstly the late release of STs, then the price increase of STs, followed by talk of exciting players and good budgets, followed by failure to deliver them. Unable to win either of our first 2 games on the pitch. All of this means we are pretty much back at square one in terms of attracting supporters back. Going to need a lucky cup run or something to get people back though the door now. With regards to Saturday's attendance, a lot of people are on holiday and Millwall may put a few off. Thought 13k plus wasn't bad tbh.

https://www.newsatden.co.uk/68422-millwall-boss-responds-to-boro-bids-for-duo.html Neil Harris isn't a big fan of the changes to the transfer window.

Same as. I honestly can't remember seeing any or reading the fury about it on here. However I do recall a couple of occasions where he was rather green and over-eager in possession in defensive areas of the pitch. Giving it away cheaply or attempting to dribble when a pass or clearance would have been more sensible. Not disagreeing with you as such, more augmenting your point. I haven't seen near enough of Palmer or Rothwell to gauge whether or not they'd be more defensively solid than Harry. Admittedly, the signs are there that they aren't.

It’s covering the exit to the tunnel that us Darren Enders are going to use to sneak back in when no one is looking. ?

In all honesty I couldn't care less either way but imo the ground looked Fuller and better having the darwen end Crew in the darwen end

I use skygo on my laptop a lot. It works fine at home on my normal sky broadband and at the hospital on their free wifi when I'm on dialysis at Accrington Victoria hospital. It must be a problem with your broadband. It works perfectly well for me.

I reckon Shearer was the epitome and nobody really bothered trying to live up to that after him. Kevin Davies maybe.

What's this obsession with Hull Tickets? We'll be lucky to take 1,000. One of the most boring and uninspiring Clubs/places to visit I can think of!

That batting performance by Lancs last night has to rank as probably the worst death overs T20 batting I've ever seen. They wanted 23 off 23 with 5 wickets in hand and blew it, lost 3 wickets in the final over and scored only 1 run. Heads should roll, something sadly a miss behind the scenes.