Transvision Vamp - Landslide of Love (I'm on a roll!!)

Transvision Vamp - Velveteen

Stevie Winward - Higher Love

That's made my day that has, I had Wendy James all over my bedroom wall as a lad, and they were my first ever gig, Manchester Apollo, remember it well!! Queen - One Vision

Soul Asylum - Runaway Train

Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U

Madonna - True Blue

Alison Moyet - That Ole Devil Called Love

He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother - The Hollies

JDT did as well as the very experienced Mowbray in his first season at this level (compared to TM's 5 seasons with us and 20 odd more at this level elsewhere) with only half a pre season & an exodus of first 11 players to replace. There were so many missed opportunities last season to get into the playoffs, the margin was that narrow. Hirst's missed penalty, Cov's handballing keeper, Hedges' rush of blood, Hyam's knee, Dingles' 1-shot 1 goal, the obvious handball by whatshisuglyface. They're what stopped us achieving playoffs, not JDT. JDT did great overall IMO, I am v looking forward to this season. Individual mistakes happen, like A Wharton's crossfield pass straight to Millwall's goalscorer. Cut those out & score more goals, there's no reason we can't go at least 1 better this season.

Very often one & the same at younger academy level. I agree for 17 years upwards, but again having a good reputation with agents is no bad thing (sadly).

When you factor in that compassionate element to our academy system alongside of a clear & proven route into first team football that is well-established, you'd think that would count for a hell of a lot in the minds of potential players' parents, if not the players themselves.

https://trainingground.guru/articles/premier-league-2-to-switch-to-swiss-style-format-from-next-season This seems to be being reported in a number of places, so guessing it's true, but I can't see any mention of it from Rovers' perspective. It seems like we would've been the only PL2 div 1 side not to have had a say in this, wonder if there is an ulterior motive to it besides those stated? Less games overall, with more games being against middling teams, doesn't sound to me to be as beneficial for our younger players & marks a massive shift in the goalposts I'd say...

Sad day, but inevitable in the circumstances & probably best for all concerned. He was the brightest spark that helped lead us out of some very dark times, and for that I'll always be grateful. To suffer two such horrendous injuries consecutively like he did was so unlucky. He was on the cusp I think of helping us to better things, either as part of a team challenging at the top or as a sold asset, realising some 2000%+ of his purchase price. Easily Mowbray's finest moment for us. Good luck to him in the future wherever he ends up,he deserves some good news.

I'm not disagreeing, those scores are definitely in range. But a D is a failure in old money (I.e. not accepted at college & university) and I think, given the goal on his appointment last summer, JDT and his coaches have done well overall despite the admin cock ups, and in the main the players were left exposed to making physical & mental errors due to the lack of depth in the squad that 2 or 3 more decent players could've brought (O'Brien, one or two experienced strikers & / or Brierley). As for the backroom team it would be a U but for the fact that most young players with promise or who have broken through already are on long term deals. If the stated aim was long term stability & self reliance then that's the main big step achieved IMO. Of course, that has to be realised by their ongoing development, contribution to success on the pitch & / or being very saleable assets (much to prove), and that just cannot mask the shambles that was January which, imo, ultimately is what caused us to miss out..

B+ for me for JDT, coaching staff & players. Didn't expect us to be in contention at all back in summer. But it's an F for the backroom team who let everyone down very badly. Just when we needed them to perform, they failed. So overall it's a C for me. Hurts like hell right now but, being objective, that has to be the score. I've sent another email to SW, hopefully he will reply to this one rather than just have his assistant acknowledge it & say it had been passed on.

Can't argue with any of this.

I do think today will prove to be a bitter lesson for everyone at the club. It's a combination of things that have left us in this position, I'd say in this order of significance. 1. Mistakes in January 2. Invisible / disinterested owners. 3. Individual player errors / decision making 4. Poor substitutions 5. Poor team tactics 6. Bad luck / poor officiating. 4 of those are remediable at dressing room level. The bit in italics above I typed before the game but failed to send as I was out. Couldn't be more true imo after this afternoon. Gutted is not the word. Given the margin of missing out we can point to any number of individual incidents that have proven costly, but the overall issue is mismanagement above JDT (I.e. 1 & 2 above). I hope to God he stays despite that, because I believe he can take us further given the right support. Time for my another email to Steve Waggott; hopefully he actually responds to this one, rather than leave his assistant to acknowledge it & confirm it had been passed on.

Coventry, Luton & Millwall are all punching above their weight granted, much like we did under Souness & Hughes. Those 3 benefit from having solid foundations playing staff wise; JDT inherited a squad bereft of half a dozen first teamers, inc the player of the season. Doesn't mean we can't still be punching above our weight in this div given what we have. W Brom, Norwich, Watford to name 3 should be ahead of us in terms of squad value etc.

Today's likely 11: Pears £300k (or TK, free?) JRC - academy Carter - academy Hyam - £1.6m Pickering - free A Wharton - academy Travis - academy Hedges - free (or Thomas, loan) Dolan - free Dack - £500k (or Szmodics £1.6m?) BBD £5m - £7m (or Leonard, academy) Let's face it, the big fees are outliers, in many people's eyes costly mistakes. Factor in the likes of Buckley (academy), Morton (loan), S Wharton (academy), Ayala (free), Garrett (academy), Phillip's (academy) plus of course Gallagher, and the frugality massively outweighs the splurges. With a new management team w/o Championship experience, hamstrung by a dysfunctional admin team & disinterested owners, and it puts things a little more into perspective IMO.

No, just £12 extra!!

Stop peeing on today's parade, that doesn't fit the narrative, so is irrelevant. Jeez, the negativity on here...!! Blowing my own trumpet, I also donated a small amount to the Trust, but didn't count that either.

So, starting today off on the positive note I intend it to continue, I've just booked my early bird season ticket for 23/24 then I don't forget in the excitement / anguish of post-match mentality. £379 for 19 matches works out at £19.95. That's surely an omen right, 1995?? C'mon boys, don't make me feel instant regret!!

Whoever's name is above the door, whatever incompetence has occurred on & off the pitch in the last 12 years or 12 weeks, this club is OUR club and this is still the best chance we've had of returning to the Prem since we came down. It's in our hands, however we might have struggled to get points on the board these last few games, we'd all have taken this in summer. The players have shown passion IMO, they've shown desire; what they've lacked is killer instinct, experience & no small amount of luck.

No, the ship's still at the quay side waiting for late arrivals, but the captain's revving the engines & about to tell his crew to cast off. I want us to be sprinting now to be on that ship, I presume you do too & if so you need to find some optimism & belief for tomorrow night.