Just bought an 8ft x 5ft Japan flag...

Managed to snag one... Just. Basket kept emptying when trying to purchase so think I got one of the last.

Anyone know if the Preston tickets are on sale on the website and if so, when?

I wouldn't be surprised to see Hedges sit this out. He got a kick in the Bristol game and the manager seems very cautious of him. Could be a good opportunity to get ACD in the 11. This is going to come across negative but I'd take a point away from home to keep the unbeaten run going and then get back to Ewood for QPR. Derby games are of course never easy games and hard fought. They will be bang up for it and be a harder opposition under Heckingbottom, proven with a very decent point away at Boro. We can absolutely smash them of course, we have the ability and great options off the bench with Gueye back from suspension aswell. I can see a tight game where he comes off the bench to score.

Well... What a day out today. That's as comfortable a performance I've seen from us for a long time. We looked extremely well organised and well drilled and for that we have to give the manager buckets of credit. I've been saying it for a little while now that I really like the way this guy operates, he's a very astute tactician and seems to know the league extremely well. We should give criticism where it's due and we should also give credit... Aynsley Pears didn't have much to do but kept them out with one brilliant save and another few good blocks aswell. Came off his line a few times and cleared his lines. A really solid performance from him today. Not sure what else I can say about Owen Beck other than he's premier league class. Quick, aggressive, disciplined, everything you want in a full back really. I was in the Riverside and 30 minutes into the game I could see he had already mentally defeated Sykes. I thought Danny Batth looked really good. Very calm, well organised, experienced, tidy and personally should keep his place based on that performance. Still not sold on Hyam, first half he made a few mistakes and I could just generally feel that if they were to get back into the game it would be because of him. That said, a clean sheet and did some positive things in the game aswell so fair play. Carter at right back didn't look out of place at all. He might even be a better shout than Brittain based on that performance because he gets forwards well and is also better defensively. You can't change a back 4 that gets a clean sheet so this should be it for the foreseeable. Name me a better holding mid than Sondre Trosntad in the championship (I'll wait)... I'm a little surprised a German club or some other European side hasn't come in for him but I could definitely see him attracting some attention. So industrious, so tidy, so clever, a player who to me looks capable of higher levels. Lewis Travis has shown us what we were lacking last season. Many of us have given him stick and he's making us eat our words at the moment. He does tend to have good early season form and then taper off, hopefully he can keep these levels up because he and Sonny are dominant in there. Dolan is another that gets his fair share of stick but he needs to be given credit for the sheer amount of graft he gets through. It goes to show how you need to defend from the front to keep clean sheets because that's exactly what he does. His tracking back and high pressing shouldn't go unnoticed. As frustrating as he can be, he turns up every week and earns his place. Hedges and Baker gave similar performances to be honest. Nothing spectacular but disciplined and aggressive when necessary and both steady on the ball without anything in particular standing out. Yuki Ohashi... Words seem pointless to be honest. Earlier in the thread I said it was a big game for him to take the spotlight whilst Big Mac was out and... Wow. Has any other player made an impact for us like this in such a short space of time than this man? Shearer perhaps? 2 absolutely world class finishes. He reminds me of so many other great forwards we've had almost rolled into one. He didn't actually have that much to feed off really but has managed to batter in 2 unreal goals which is the sign of a top class striker. His finishing in both the air and floor really is impressive and comes across like he has buckets of self belief. We signed him for 100k, what's he worth now? Like many of our signings this summer... What an absolute gem! Little bit on the subs, Cantwell didn't really have much to do so not going to judge, probably say the same for Weimann. ACD showed glimpses of what he will have to offer when he decided to skin them a few times in added time, I'm sure he will be an exciting player to come in for when Hedges inevitably needs either a rest or gets injured. Overall, one of the most enjoyable days I've had at Ewood for a long time but I was a little disappointed with the lack of atmosphere and appreciation for the players at the end of the game. The supporters need to do better, I personally stayed and clapped till they walked down the tunnel. The stadium emptied really quickly before the final whistle and the lads had just put in an unbelievable performance... I thought they deserved a lot more from the fans all things considered. Took my 7 year old lad with me today who so far isn't really into football but I keep trying and managed to persuade him to come with me. He wore my shirt and hat from when I was a kid. Just put him to bed and he said "Today was the best" I said "oh yeah, which part was your favourite?" And he said... "When Rovers won". Absolutely made up. RTID! (He didn't drink it)

Fully expecting a draw in this one. They have some very talented players in midfield e.g. Twine, Mehmeti, Bird. The lad up top Mayulu has a couple of goals this season aswell... So they can hurt us but they are a seemingly young and inexperienced side. Eustace has made us a lot more experienced this season so hopefully that can show for something. Winning the midfield battle will be massive in this game because that's where all their creativity is. Their back 4 can be got at and looks like a weak point but the suspension of Gueye will be a big miss for us, had he been starting i'd have expected us to win as he's been involved in so many of our goals. Without him they might find it easier to defend against us. Big game for Ohashi. An opportunity to shine whilst big Mac is out, so he will have all the spotlight. Like many of you, desperate for him to keep scoring form up and keep the excitement about him going. I'm also expecting ACD to start. I think the desperation of the manager to bring in pace will mean he goes straight into the side. Cantwell I imagine will come off the bench in the 2nd half, probably last 20 minutes. A very winnable game but a very tricky opposition and we don't keep clean sheets so... 2-2

On Toth... For those thinking the manager isn't ruthless enough to drop Pears need to think again. After the Oxford game, Eustace was singing JRC's praises about his general play (goal aside I thought he was awful personally), next game against Blackpool, made a shocker of a mistake and was out of the team for Burnley. I can totally see Eustace saying something like... "Listen Aynsley, you've been good but I need clean sheets and I need us to be better defensively so I'm giving the new lad a go, it's nothing personal, I need you to be ready to go straight back in the team if he's not up to your standards". Professional football at this level is cut throat and having played at a decent standard personally, conversations like this are just part and parcel of it and you have to accept the competition like a man else things can turn to shit.

Strikes me as the sort of player who won't score for ages but then can bag a hat trick out of nowhere, then not score for a while again. All the while chipping in with assists. What will be really interesting is if ACD comes in with the pace we're all hoping for and is able to beat the full back... His cut backs and crosses will create chances and give him the service he hasn't really had yet. Our attacking mids don't often have the beating of the full backs and Gueye has been feeding off scraps really. So with players around him that can use him properly (which we haven't done yet) and get crosses in the box... He could surprise and bag a few.

Not sure if this has been pointed out but... Makhtar Gueye now has 3 assists in 4 games, that's as many as Sam Gallagher had IN THE WHOLE OF LAST SEASON.

My thoughts... Really proud of the lads to come away with a point with absolutely everything against them. I'm not going to go on like I'm celebrating a draw because we have more pride than that. I predicted a 1-1 draw on here I believe and happy to take it even though we were absolutely robbed. That goal could've changed everything and given us the momentum. That ref was the biggest c*nt I've experienced in a long time. He was absolutely desperate to give them a penalty and was twitching to blow his whistle for them on every occasion. No flow to the game at all, just stop start wanting to hear the sound of his own voice and make decisions instead of just letting tackles be tackles. Absolute dickhead. Really disappointed with Britain, he has to improve defensively and stop allowing crosses into the box. I'm a fan of his but he was poor both defensively and in possession. Could say the same for Carter too, sloppy in possession, got himself booked with an awful first touch. Beck had a rough start but grew into it. I thought he did a solid job in the 2nd half, did require Hedges to double up but it was a fair performance given he was thrown in at the deep end. Centre midfield didn't get hold of the game in the first half and I thought we stood off way too deep and gave them too much respect. Once we pressed higher they panicked and looked vulnerable. Feel it was a missed opportunity to not step on the gas and put them under some sustained pressure. As limited and sometimes frustrating he is, you can tell Travis has been a big miss for us, he was at it all game today, arguing, in people's ear, winding players up, just generally being an absolute w*nker and in games like this you really need that. Dolan worked unbelievably hard, he's frustrating but you can't fault his effort, Hedges exactly the same. Andy Weimann... What a signing & what a finish! Best Derby goal I've seen, shown buckets of experience for us so far, giving us goals from midfield, just a proper classy operator and looks to be a real pickup on a free. Many of you predicted how important he'd be and you've been proven right already. There's been a lot of discussion about the JDT performance and I have to agree with many saying we wouldn't have dug in like we did today under him. We'd have folded and comfortably lost that game no doubt. I'm starting to really like John Eustace, he's proactive on the touch line, gets his subs right at the right time with the right players. With many other of our managers I hardly agreed with when they where and who they were... Often too late. Today he showed plenty of passion, went toe to toe with Parker and put him in his place. We went down to 10, still put a striker on, didn't wave the white flag, kept us organised and threatening on the counter. I really respect his methods, he's happy to mix up the play, play out when there's space and hit the big man when there isn't. After finishing 19th last season, to start with 8 points from a possible 12 going into the international break is superb. It gives him a real chance of bedding in the new lads and pushing everyone to raise expectations. For all their huff and puff we had the better chances and deserved the point. We can have that lot later this season if we can keep it together and keep improving. Last thing, we make fun of their 6 fingers, did any notice the 4 fingers on show at one point? It gave me a bit of childish chuckle. 50 million spent was it? Every bit championship team... John Eustace blue and white army!

Absolutely fuckin robbed. Been 2nd best but but doesn't matter, should be in front. Hedges and Brittain been absolutely awful. Brittain can't stop a cross to save his life and needs dropping on his recent performances and I really rate him aswell. Get cosier Dubbery on for Hedges.

COYB!

Statement signing that... Big job for Eustace to take on and get him to deliver. Fair play to him as he obviously backs himself to do so.

Remember when Eustace said the squad isn't in need of major surgery?? All full team of signings later... 😂

A Germain and Hill away from a 9/10 window. 10/10 would have been Poku.

This is a fair point being overlooked by the fact that we sold Sam Gallagher, Szmodics and have loaned out quite a few... Only about 1.5 million spent and we were told there was a budget before any sales of those 2. The likes of Poku should have been signed given our sales.

What is Baker? CM? Can't say I'd ever even heard about him until we first got linked. Surely if Stoke are getting rid he must be shite? Looking at his career just seems like a journeyman.

Fixed it for you.

I'm not sure who he is and if he's any good but... Yeah, probably. My main concern is that we haven't sorted out the defence and focused way too much on the offensive side. Don't understand why you sign both Fadz and Batth when it would have been better to sign just 1 better CB.

Strikes me of a classic car type situation. Was once worth a fair whack, got knocked about a bit but has potential value if given a bit of TLC. Had a few different owners but they all gave up. What's Saido Berahino up to these days?

So many variables that will stop Cantwell from coming, take your pick and feel free to add more... Offers from other clubs, Swag changing his mind, the owners not answering the phone, us fucking up the application... Strangely, I'm not even that desperate for it to happen, it seems like a weird signing, a forced signing that's doomed to fail but I admire the ambition and determination behind the manager to take it on and make a player out of him again. If anything it's just a welcome distraction so I don't have to obsess over playing those creatures on Saturday.

Burnley in for Morgan Whittaker... Jesus

Who else doesn't believe Cantwell will get done? Once the realisation of how much it will cost in wages, Waggot will piss his pants.

Please don't