arbitro tells it well.

First 10 minutes and thought this was going to be a good match for us. Get the goal, lovely short stuff between Ayari (in particular), Sammie, Buckley, Siggy and things look good. Then it goes pear shaped. They get some belief and for the rest of the game dominate, albeit we look dangerous on the break. Adam Forshaw controls the game for them. Nice open game, totally different to Millwall, they came to play. But the space in midfield was frightening. They could drop it in behind our wingbacks, outpace us on the flanks or outpace us in the middle. Frankly, they were pretty poor in front of goal and just as well, could have had a hatful. On one occasion, their lad (Mumba?) was clean through and had a horrible touch which just gave it back to Leo. Rovers tight at the back? No chance. Time and time again our back three were so stretched (not to mention a horrible out of line) that a simple ball over the top to a runner had them in. And yet Siggy misses a sitter to make it 2-0.

Second half and not much changes until McFadz pointlessly get himself (rightly) sent off. Why do it? Let him go. You’ve got a good chance that a 1 on 1 will go in our favour. And if not, the score goes to 1-1 and you’ve still got 11 men on the pitch to try and make a difference. Down to 10 and you end up firefighting.

Ayari was good throughout the game but couldn’t get in to it enough. Nobody else on the pitch makes the glorious early pass to Sammie for the goal. Sammie lovely, one touch onto his right and curler round their player into the corner. Looked knackered at the end, poor lad.

+ Tranmere, Bury, Swindon and Port Vale.

Very windy. Thinking keeping it short might negate that but who knows.

11 hours ago, lraC said:

It seems that the Adam Wharton money has gone already

That was quick. Didn't know SWAG was on that much.

56 minutes ago, The Mighty Chaffinch said:

After Tuesday I just can’t see how we’re going to win another game this season. The only time we’ve won since Christmas it took a team to basically not turn up for 30 minutes (Stoke)…in other words we can only beat opponents who roll over…and that ain’t happening in our final fixtures. The only bright spark in the recent gloom (apart from the continued scoring exploits of Sammy) is Buckley’s return to the side. I think he’d work well alongside Tronstad but alas (like half the squad) he’s made of glass and out for a few weeks so it’s a pairing with Garrett or Ayari which fills me with as much enthusiasm as a kick in the cojones. Dolan’s had his one good game for the second half of the season so he’ll just spin in endless circles achieving the square root of diddly squat before trotting off on 70 minutes to be replaced by another vertically challenged candyfloss PL2 demon who I’m sure must be legendary in 5-a-side but not for one second in the trenches. Basically we’re fucked. I’ve wasted a lot of words trying to say that. 

Indeed -keeps it brief 😉 And whilst I am fully onboard with slinging shite where we all know it should go, I have a feeling we may win this one. Cue happy clappers, what are you all worrying about. Funny old game and all that.

On Millwall’s goal:-

•    2 soft tackles before the cross (Garrett and Wharton)
•    Where is Hyam on the cross? Hopelessly out of positon –if he was in his shape he could have headed clear
•    Lucky deflection off Buckley
•    Mcfadz done by a simple drop of the shoulder
•    Wahl falls over instead of just standing tall

On our goal:

•    Siggy needs to play a simple pass to Sammie but contrives to give it straight to the defender
•    Another Millwall defender then gives it back to Siggy who this time can’t fail to give it to Sammie
•    Sammie no hesitation, first time aims for far corner, not quite there but enough pace on the shot for Millwall keeper to fail to get to ground quick enough to keep it out

Two sides who couldn’t score in open play but gave each other a goal. 🙂

It was an abject watch first half. Mowbray mk2 but worse. Neither one nor the other and whichever way we tried poorly executed.

Obviously, Millwall made it very difficult with every man behind the ball and in their own half –essentially 5, 3, 2. So time and time again, we play a few balls across the back line, it gets forced to the wingback who has essentially nowhere to go. And again, to be fair to Hyam (someone has to 😉 ) he kept looking up with nothing on because everyone marked and no space. And eventually lumps it forward aimlessly. There were also so many times when Gally and Sammie were bending their runs but the ball just did not get sent and was passed sideways yet again across the backline.

Nobody really wanting it short save Buckley who thinks he is a genius and has plenty of time (or his brain is wired to adagio) who does try to pass and move but is very fond of the world beating chip forward. There were semblances of the short snappy stuff to try and break them down but it was always just off and not enough players believed in it.

The other thing that is really annoying is that on the turnover we rarely then look up for the early ball to capitalise on the advantage. You get a split second of advantage and need to use it –eg long diagonal, (before everyone gets back into shape or shuffles across), early through ball to Sammie and so on. There were so many times we get the tackle in, get the turnover and instead of quickly capitalising, simply start the easy passes across the back line so the opposition get back into shape.

Same with crosses. Brittain and Dolan could have got more in. Brittain favours the cut back (good idea) but often just nobody there. There was one occasion in the second half when Chrisene (I think) got to the byline on the left, Gally moved to far post (fair enough for a deep cross) and Pickering, bless him, saw that nobody making a near post run and so he did his best to run all the way from his right  side to the near. Of course, he didn’t make it (he showed good awareness to try), Chrisene duly pops in quite a good near post cross and nobody there.

It did look a little better as we were trying to get the second but we never really threatened. Cracking shot from Ayari though. Who knew?

So, neither fish nor fowl.

Suspect more of the same first half and hope to nick a goal followed by more attacking as game progresses.

Maybe start with (yep I know, Gally but can see how it goes).

                                Leo
              Hyam     McFadz     Wharton  
Brittain     Buckley   Ayari    Garrett    Pickering
               Gallagher   Szmodics  

Then swop Gally for Siggy?

                                Leo
              Hyam     McFadz     Wharton  
Brittain     Buckley   Ayari    Garrett    Pickering
               Sigurdsson    Szmodics  

Who knows?

JE
6 league games
4 points out of a possible 18

Players available to JE that were not available for the majority of the time to JDT on his bad run:
Gallagher, Dolan, Ayari, McFadz, Pickering, Hyam, Pears (for 5 of 6), Chrisene, Hedges (3 out of 6)

Edit

JDT was juggling:

Wahlstedt, Leonard, Siggy, Telalovic, Moran, Ennis, Markandy, Garrett,

1.      Who at the club is designated by the EFL to sign off on transfers?

2.      Is it really the case, that on 3 occasions, at the last minute, ‘administrative errors’ were responsible for a signing to fail? And if so, (despite being hardly credible not to mention negligent), has anybody taken responsibility for this failure?

3.      Could you provide detail as to the structure of the senior management? For instance, who has the final say on transfers –yourself, Suhail, Balaji or Mrs Desai?

4.      Has anybody been out to the USA to further the Mcguire deal as suggested by the club? If not, is it still the intention to do so?

5.      Do you regard the January transfer window as a success?

6.      Is GB still employed by the club?

7.      What measures are you taking to increase crowds at games? Do you feel that more could be done?

8.      If the court case rules that funds cannot be released, how will the club survive financially? And for how long?

9.      Will any of the funds from the outgoing sales eg. Wharton be used for incoming transfers next season?

10.  Is it the case that funds for the running of the club will be reduced further next season?

11.  Could you provide an update on the state of the ground and facilities for fans?

12.  In your opinion, are the Raos still committed to Blackburn Rovers?

Could be worse 🙂
Greek football match abandoned as club owner storms pitch with gun

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/football-match-abandoned-after-club-owner-storms-pitch-with-gun-lpnjrtdhr

Strongly suspect that Broughton (or someone) is being held back to be the fall guy should we go down. So the narrative would be: "Look, we have been proactive. Bad run after xmas, JDT sacked and new manager installed. We've gone down and poor recruitment hasn't helped -we have sacked GB (or other). We look forward to a new season and must all work hard together to get Rovers back up."

Edit Oh and of course, if we go down it was all JDT's fault.

Several people posted the reasons why this team did well against Newcastle on the cup thread.

Would love to weigh in and give Vs/SWAG a kicking but having expected the worst, got in no probs. JW, digital entry (ie loaded on to season ticket) and machine read it no probs.

Ah saving the ticket stubs from the book....happy days.

Cracking display and a rocking Ewood.

Revisionism?

Pears (in particular), Markandy, Ayari, Moran, Garrett, Chrisene, Siggy, Dolan

Indeed. Only worse. Even less money, more loans, more family silver sold off. And if we have any family silver to sell off (players) will the proceeds come back to find replacements? You all know the score.

Fantastic win with Ewood rocking. Well done to each and every one of the lads. A fantastic performance and a great night.

I see all the new positives that have been mentioned and agree. Pragmatism 😉
But I don’t see this entirely as a new revolution. More a change of emphasis.
I do see some myths emerging.

Two banks of 4? Really. Permanent back 3 which was often a 5. Did change later on.
No passing at the back? Really? I saw plenty of playing out from the back. In fact, we did it really well (apart from Pears).
No tippy tappy? We passed the ball really well last night at times. Lots of short, sharp stuff. Good movement. Those players learnt that under JDT.
Brittain crossing? Well several times, he refused crossing opportunities and came back just as under JDT.

Newcastle allowed us to play and our players could deal with that chess-like game. It particularly suited Moran and Buckley who you would think might get crunched more in the Championship. Ditto Chrisene (really do think there is a player in there) and Ayari. Dolan didn’t go past a man but did keep the ball really well and worked tirelessly. It didn’t suit Gallagher who looked very limited.

And in the new emphasis (which I get is pragmatic and required) there were times when it looked primitive and ineffective. Pears lumping forward when under no pressure with Sammy waving his arms at him in exasperation. Some aimless hoofs up field.

And yet, needs must in the League.

A cracking night.

6 minutes ago, Mercer said:

It is nice to see 20k+ plus in Ewood, however, some perspective called for.

If I recall correctly, we averaged 25k+ in 5 or 6 seasons when in PL with a highest average of 27k round about 94/95/96

Also, we had 42k on Ewood for the FA Cup match against City back in 1967 when the ground really rocked particularly when Big Jim Fryatt soared to head an equaliser for Rovers.

Biggest Ewood attendance since 1960 was 54k for a cup replay against Burnley in 1960 - unfortunately, my dad thought I was too young for that match.

How times have changed.

15 March 1960

Dobing and McLeod in extra time.

In the first game, we came from 3 down to level it for the replay. The first was a dubious pen 😉

I’d hazard to guess many Rovers fans in this forum are close friends with those of burnley, Preston, ManC, Bolton, Liverpool, etc. 

Probably true, but you won't hear it here 😄

Remember it well. Look at the energy, passing and moving -on a muddy pitch. Roy -class -lovely shimmy.

              Mimms

May   Hendry Moran Wright

Atkins  Sherwood Cowans   Wilcox

             Newell Wegerle

Makes you weep.

1 minute ago, Cherry Blue said:

Referee Oliver Langford & his assistant (riverside) were as bad as I've seen at Ewood this season. Why on earth does the EFL continie to employ idiots that are no better than than Sunday league?

Norwich had Langford sust. Fall to the ground & roll about like you've had a kick that may require treatment and he gives you a freekick. One one ocaision when Langford didn't blow, the Norwich defender got up and carried on as if nothing happened, which is correct because on that occaision nothing did happen. Uterly perthahic performance by two inapt officials.

Pears was again MOM & Pickering had a decent game. No passing around at the back was a relief.

Because amateur football and the lower leagues are full of muppet fans on the sidelines and neanderthals on the pitch who see aggression and violence towards refs as a norm. How many ex pros want to do it? Thought so, they aren't stupid.

Can't see SS enjoying or lasting long in this set up.

Court case etc -perfect excuse for we know who to cut costs further in all areas. SWAG will have to work his magic around transfer windows to spin a yarn about possible incomings only to be dashed at the last moment. Administrative error is wearing a little thin. Pehaps, court cases will just cover all broken dreams as we go on.

9 hours ago, Paul Mani said:

A terrible offensive performance but nevertheless a first clean sheet since November and a point on the road are huge positives. As are 5pts in 4 games since the managerial change vs 5pts in the previous 11.

If Dolan pops that chance away and we win  1-0 then it’s a peak Allardyce style win. But the more I watch JE, the more I get Hughes vibes. Hughes focused initially on being hard to beat, creating a togetherness ‘us against the world’ and deploying a pragmatic approach. Then once the base was set, added those attacking patterns and suddenly you have a very capable team.

For as long as the lads are behind him, JE has the chance to turn the ship around. I said a week ago that I didn’t expect to see a Eustace style team until we were safe and most likely not until next season. I stand by that…

I look forward to seeing those patterns, capable team, the ship turned around and a JE syle team next season. The clock is ticking for SWAG and the Rao's.