Remaining transfer window plans: see if Preston released a left back this summer and sign him up immediately

I saw someone on the Derby forum said we've copied Leeds and are now playing like Leeds, and I think there is a lot of truth to it. The biggest thing for me is that the new system works very well with the players we have. The front 3 and the midfield works very hard out of possesion and closes down in packs. Neither Newcastle or Derby could get out of their own half. Wycombe tried the direct route but the defence gobbled up everything and kept the pressure up. Johnson is very good at dropping back when the full-backs are attacking, in addition he is great in the air and a physical presence. Attacking wise is such a difference because all 3 front have pace and can go past a player. If the opposition go forward, we can hit them on the break. Rothwell and Holtby has certainly benefited from their new roles. Rothwell has a great engine, and his bursting runs from central creates unbalance in their defensive lines and opens up the forward, e.g first goal Yesterday. Holtby is much fitter and a wonderful footballer who can keep the ball and create chances with his passing. Also very impressed with his defensive contribution, no cheating there. Also special mentioning to Williams, who might've been our best player so far, certainly in defence. Not worried about Dack fitting in. He's just a quality footballer who can easily play in different positions. I think he will come back in a more fit version and fight his way into the team. One thing I'm sure of, we shouldn't adapt the system to fit Dack. What we see now is we are getting the most of the sum of parts, rather than optimizing for the best part.

We shouldn't be considering Gallagher for a wide role again. Dolan and Chapman with maybe JRC should be our go to players on the right wing.

We are seeing what ‘time’ can mean. ’He needs time’ is that oft repeated phrase, but it’s a tricky balance for clubs at our level. Three and a half years for Owen Coyle and we’d be still playing derbies with Bolton. Three and a half years for TM and we are seeing a playing culture transformed, players and styles phased out whilst evolved methods bed in. Yet, many (not just on here) were turning fast less than a year ago as we laboured against Barnsley - why? Because another relegation wasn’t out of the question if we’d had carried on with that trajectory and League 1 for a second time in 3 years could’ve proved terminal for this club (especially now). The very strange set up at Blackburn Rovers has allowed TM the time and freedom that just doesn’t exist elsewhere in this crackpot league and, early days though it is, I‘ve seem nothing else in the division that says we can’t be up there. Dips will come, especially with a young squad, injuries never seem too far away here, but there’s something stirring (and don’t we all deserve to witness it - well ifollow it). All power to you Mogga.

Well the only thing us miserable buggers can moan about tonight is the fact we weren’t all their. Absolutely faultless display from 1-11. I don’t want to repeat to much but holtby was immmense and Brereton, whilst slightly rash with a couple of chances, more than made up for it with his performance . I have nothing to say but we’ll done rovers, well done tony and well done the boys. Just pure pride tonight and nothing else. The first time I’ve felt like this since the Hughes era. Well done lads . You deserve every ounce of credit you get

If the owners or their advisors have watched the first 3 games, two thrashings and an unfortunate defeat against one of the favourites, they would be finding whatever funds Mowbray wants to fill in gaps in the squad. This may be their best chance at promotion in an altogether weak division, especially when 3 of the big spenders and so called big clubs are having nightmares down at the bottom end. No doubt that at least one side going up won't be expected to, that could be us but it requires conviction and a gamble. Would be a shame if we fall short through not adding the depth we need and then this team gets broken up next summer.

It really is winding them up so badly - going to the Preston forums on a Sunday is now my hobby. Love it. "Whether or not it’s an issue you think needs debating, there’s now three threads about him, and he’s being discussed on the youth thread, transfer thread, and most match day threads" "Even Sky sports commentators mentioning they can’t believe he was released on a free from PNE .unbelievable Jeff !" "I‘m sick of people in the main forum saying he wasn’t good enough to get into our first team. Whether he was or not we‘ll never be known but Dolan looks a class act in a decent Rovers team." "We do have another pathway - release them to go to Rovers to get a contract and become an immediate success"

Pump it directly into my veins.

Nobody else spot his big grin when his beauty of a ball made it through to Chapman?

Kaminski's distribution was awesome, a feature of his game. I honestly can't remember when we had a keeper with that accuracy, certainly none with more

???

Tyrhys Dolan, henceforth to be referred to as Dolandinho

Gotta say that away kit looks good and seems to be a talisman for us

You better be out the pub by ten!

Abro drunk here in Halmstad, Sweden. Great result for Rovers. Keep feet on ground time though. Its a long season as you all know.

I now believe that Mowbray doesn't tell the fans the truth when it comes to transfers. He says something different every time he's asked. I wouldn't be surprised if we stumped up a decent transfer fee over the next couple of weeks. He likes to keep his cards close to his chest and there are very few rumours regarding Rovers. Nicko clearly has no contacts at Rovers. I don't mind being completely oblivious to whats happening behind the scenes if we sign decent players!

There are attacking players like Armstrong who are quite happy to jog along and not get a really significant touch of the ball for 5 even 10 minutes. They've got that inner confidence that even if they haven't contributed much so far they're still worth their place in the side, Then a good ball comes their way and they come alive. Then there are the attacking players who when they don't see the ball for 5 or 10 minutes they start getting anxious, start worrying about their contribution and they can go into their shell and never come out. I think Rothwell was like that when he was played as a winger. In a more central role he's in the game a lot more and he can't switch off as easily.

Don’t think anyone is banking on anything here, just that the team we see before us is much improved. Everything has sped up and we are pressing high up constantly. It’s absolutely fantastic to watch. If you can’t get excited about it, what’s the point?

For me Mowbray simply has to keep this team and this style of play going. It's a million miles ahead of anything we've seen since Venky's darkened Ewood with their presence. Even when we lose games, as will inevitably happen, I want to stick with what we're seeing now. I'm so used to seeing a slow, sluggish Rovers team that run like the pitch is covered in sludge that the past few games have been like watching a brand new club. We've come a long ways from the days of Akpan, Lowe, Guthrie, Williamson, Henley, Feeney, Browny, Koita, etc... long may it continue. I honestly don't see where Gallagher fits into this team. The only role I see for him is as a DG-style battering ram when the ground-game isn't working, but even then he hasn't shown to be particularly good at that either. He can't dribble very well, his ball control is poor and he can't cross so putting him out wide is unacceptable - I don't care how many diagonal headers he supposedly wins. I feel like the team and our playing style has rapidly passed players like Gallagher by, which is unfortunate considering how much we spent on him.

My wife makes similar noises during lovemaking. Well, that's what the Gardener told me.

Dack is the best finisher at the Club and would outscore anyone else over a full season. He is creative, skilful and also a predator. Armstrong will score the more spectacular longer distance ones but close in or in 1 on 1 situations Dack's the Man. Having said that goal scoring will also depend on where Dack is played but I'm on about 'finishing' a chance

Armstrong has scored more goals than all but one of the teams in this division so far.

Absolutely not. In previous seasons we would’ve let the attacker ghost through, to square it and score. Professional by Lenihan. That’s how you see out games.

Tricky one. If they'd gone on to score, we'd be saying he could have stopped him. At 3-0 maybe he should have left him alone. But in most games I'd be happy for that kind of cynical foul to stop a chance. We've lacked that over the last few seasons.

Yes; I was looking forward to quoting those stats when I'd caught up with all the posts from about halfway down page 26. I vividly remember being insufferable to the Blackpool-supporters - and one Burnley supporter! - in my class at Grammar school. A goal difference of 15!!? As it goes, the Burnley supporter emigrated later to New Zealand, where I've visited him a few times. These days, we have a chat on WhatsApp on Sunday mornings [UK time] most weeks. After our result, and Ings' goal last night, I'm rather looking forward to today's chat!?

I'm in real danger of getting carried away on the basis of today's performance, so I'll try not to go overboard in my praise. All I'll say is this. Whilst Rothwell, Johnson and even Holtby have come in for some justified stick over the last 12 months, the three of them together is an extremely well balanced midfield. Watching Holtby today was an absolute joy. Brereton, whilst not scoring, is clearly worth his place in the team on the basis of how hard he is to defend against. He used to be a liability for how easily he gave the ball away, today he was a menace whose performance was only missing a goal. A couple of swallows don't make a summer for Bell, but beyond a horror 15 minutes against Doncaster, his season so far has actually been better than decent.

I agree, at least since Buckley's through ball for Armstrong to score last week!

Think the fitness might be down to the short break this time so the players will peak quicker, mid season it'll really tell but its certainly done the likes of Holtby and Johnson no harm. Then again when you are basing the side on youth the one thing you should always get from young legs is graft, no excuse not to. Credit to the manager for getting it out of them and letting them have a go. We've said it before too many times but that suits what he has far more than containment possession based sitting back stuff that was turgid.

How anyone can suggest that he shouldnt have played is incredible too. He was scoring 20 plus goals every season, he was the strength of the team, not the weakness.

12/13 - 27 goals 13/14 - 25 goals 14/15 - 21 goals Aye, bag of shite.

Should probably have a look at his youth team.

The fact it got so bad they've deleted the thread to hide their outrage from the world is actually even better than any moaning they could do ?

That would be a stupid move. He's our aggression, I loved it when he fronted up to Sibley and said, "come on then!, lets fuckin have it you little turd"......or thats what I thought he said to him.

"I’ve seen him plenty of times too and I’d be shocked if he plays in the football league" - Nobber (July 2020) https://www.pne-online.net/forum/index.php?threads/dolan-to-plastics.3431029/

Does anyone else think Lenihan was a complete prat to pick up that yellow card?

They’ve now deleted the Dolan thread. Looks like they’ve had a meltdown on there to rival anything on here.

I’m pretty sure we’ll get a keeper and a LB in before October 5th. Interesting to see how sales of Raya and King, internal sales / loan outs effect our ability to sign better players. The Rovers management team smell blood and they’re not going to want to bring squad fillers in. The next few signings could be the difference between going up and not going up. Go back and ask Tony!!!

Don’t you know pump it up, the blues are going up! (I’ve had 12 Moretti’s and 4 double vodka lemonades) COYB x

I guess everything been said! However (!)----Unsteady start---should have been one down, liked the way we were "into them" rather than standing off and waiting, Kaminski was immense---such a pleasure to see a keeper assured enough to use so much of the pitch, Brereton---part of it all at last and so unlucky not to score, Johnson----that's some shot he has on him, Dolan---how did we get him?

3 games gone, 43 to go. Calm down

That's the level of pettiness i can get behind!

I'm not impressed with Bell on that cross that their guy headed over the bar. On another day that's a goal. After initially tracked the winger closely Bell just gives it up and lets the guy cross the ball unimpeded. A real full back would be throwing themselves into an attempted block there. I was impressed with the way we got bodies forward and flooded the area around the box with players. Derby are obviously brittle mentally and going behind early on really rocked them but to win anywhere away 0-4 is a great result. We also managed to play the game out without too much trouble. Happy days !

If anybody wants grounding, just remember the two sides we destroyed haven't got a point yet, and have lost to the championship titans of Luton, Reading, Swansea and Rotherham in their other games. But we didn't half destroy them ?

I think it’s Rothwell

At the very least I think we need a backup goalie and a first team LB before the window closes. We can make do without another CM, striker or even wide players - but I wouldn't be hugely comfortable relying on an emergency loan if Kaminski gets injured, and even though Bell has looked okay in the past couple of games we've all seen enough of him to know he's realistically not good enough as a first teamer for a team with top six aspirations.

In Lenihans head he’s not taking any risks of giving them a chance on the verge of half time. Conceding just before halftime would’ve been a bit of a mental blow, and obviously would’ve left us only 2 up. Perfectly happy for our players to do things like this to keep momentum going. We know Rovers, think PNE last season, you can really feel the swing after conceding at times. Think we’ve moaned that the side isn’t nasty enough for a while. We’re very streetwise at this level now and it’s going to help us win more points. Plus the likes of Travis and Lenihan are always going to be suspended once or twice a season. That’s their game. They’d be less effective players if they were told to take the edge off.

As an aside, I do think we are benefitting on the pitch from a lack of fans in grounds. It's been poor at Ewood since the promotion season - and that was a one off positive season! If the team is in the top 6, playing this type of football when fans come back. It should lead to a reinvigorated, positive atmosphere in Ewood, which will only benefit the team.

I think thats harsh. Dack has shown before that he is a player very capable on the counter attack. He is not immobile even if he hasnt got the blistering pace of an Armstrong, and he also makes the right decisions, think back to the counter attack at Peterborough away. He isnt a player who can only play in a direct team, its just that it was how we played until very recently. He is technically very good and it should suit him playing as such. I bet players like Armstrong and Holtby will love him back as quality players love playing with more quality players.

I had a nosey in the PNE boards and they claim that Dolan wanted to leave and refused to sign as soon as he heard we were interested. That's made me love him even more ???