In terms of dishing out blame, I'd look off the pitch. Paperwork and January for a start.

Some tosh delivered on here. Diaz not trying? Rubbish. Ran all game. Maybe not effective enough but gave plenty right to the death. Leonard should have scored there? Jeez, the lad looks to have great instincts and had a split second to toe poke it in. Gallagher and others wouldn’t even have been at the races. Leonard looks to have all the right instincts –young lad and time will tell. The ref is an absolute joke. Blaming the ref -the last refuge of the weak. Good teams don’t go down by 2 soft goals and then start to whinge about the ref. And then have to spend the rest of the game tying to play catch up. The clamour for Wharton. Well yes, he did some basics well but looked lethargic after 5 mins. Morton is useless, Morton doesn’t try. Well yes, he has been weak/ineffectual of late. But gives his all. Hit the post today and a great cross for the goal. On another note. Says it all about your team when an average right back is your MOM and main attacking threat (and scores a goal that any top class striker would have been proud of). More generally. First half, the bang average Rovers of nearly men who looked like the cheapskate team they are. Second half, the Rovers who play above their station but struggling with end product. Positive = good reaction 2nd half. Flea in ears and the drive to come back for a draw. Let’s be honest, Huddersfield are bang average but praise due with our second half effort.

miqaayil we will never be promoted or even play play-off games till venkys here...we're just tax laundromat...with premiership opportunity JDT will go... money will always trump football and hearts ...we are fools for believing ... Yep, all else is noise. Curiously, nobody has blamed the ref yet 😉

Cracking game. Thanks lads, really enjoyable. It’s the simple things: · Dolan’s simple pass for the goal. He has learnt to get his head up, think. You have to know when to go and when to keep it simple. Good coaching? · Travis back to his rollicking best after a rest. But he too is thinking of little forward passes as well as the crunch stuff. Good coaching? · Sorba getting good crosses in –not rocket science. Can’t remember many under the gurning one’s regime. Good coaching? I think it was his pull back from the by line that led to Dolan hitting the bar? · Several goal kicks just went long. Good move when you are a goal up, and perhaps need to conserve energy after a hard cup game. Good coaching? · And on a similar note, a general switch to a mixed game –that is, some nice, neat short stuff but also some early balls into the channels as well. Sam may not be a worldbeater in terms of finishing but he offered something we needed today up top as a contrast. Defensive headers too from corners . And that 20 minute spell in the second half when the players and fans were absolutely rocking with the Blades on the ropes. Such a shame that great shot from Sammie hit the woodwork. The players looked as though they were enjoying it. A determination not to concede. It was always going to be long balls/crosses into the box from them for the last 15. Thought we might tire but they kept going and no doubt in my mind we would have conceded late on previously. No doubt there were several head in hands moments and nails bitten but just a cracking win. Hyam was excellent here.

Some may have been mentioned. · Standing over ball at free kicks-instant yellow. Keep the game flowing/exciting. · Head injuries-too many feigned to stop play. Automatic 10 mins off or similar. · Time keeping-completely take it out of the hands of the ref. No problem in rugby. Clock stops for injuries etc. Should stop faking injury. · Diving/feigning injury · Goalies feigning head injury · Fans moaning about refs and the lack of quality. Who on earth would do it if, as many argue, they should get the sack after a bad decision? Ex pros? No chance-they know how poorly paid it is and the grief that refs receive. None coming up from grass roots due to the morons causing GBH/abuse etc at amateur level. · Phones generally. People on them the whole game talking not watching match or filming. · Fans more interested in watching opposition fans than the match · Players constantly messing with their hair · Players with ridiculous long shorts · Waving imaginary yellow –should receive an instant yellow · 5 subs –too many · Sweet Caroline · Ban towels for throw in · Swearing/arguing with refs. Not having this argument that ‘it’s a man’s game, industrial language will be used.’ No need at all. Doesn’t happen in rugby. · Crowding refs. · VAR. Generally a fan but obviously some recent mistakes are odd. But why not show it in the stadium? Happens in rugby. Would quite like to see it simplified maybe. Each side gets 2 calls on VAR. No other VAR decisions. Captain only can decide within 15 seconds or so. Can only be done for a red card, a goal, an offside, a penalty. Would be interesting to see a captain asking a striker who has just dived to get a penalty if he wants a review to happen. · Pass back to keeper –just ban it? · Gary Neville

Bore them rigid until they give in?

Long email from Rovers today in my inbox. Several things seem to jump out –heading trouble off at the pass? 1. Anti-racism – a good thing of course We would like to remind supporters of our shared commitment to tackling discrimination and abuse. Where we recognise discriminatory behaviour, it is important that we take the correct steps to notify the necessary authorities. To confidentially report discrimination or abuse, please contact the club on 07340 294474. 2. Preventing pitch invasion? In addition, encroachment onto the pitch, regardless of age, is a criminal offence, as well as a breach of ground regulations, and will not be tolerated. Individuals identified will be issued with stadium bans and police action may also be taken. These bans could also be extended to accompanying parents or guardians of children who take part in these unlawful activities. 3. . Bigging up the shop We're celebrating togetherness this weekend with this match being dedicated to the #OneRovers initiative. Check out our new range of products in the Roverstore, get a basic health check at the NHS Harri Bus and look out for some special mentions in and around the stadium tomorrow afternoon. The Roverstore, also open from 9am, will be offering 20% off our College Collection. Refresh your wardrobe with our latest hoodies, jumpers and t-shirts or shop online by clicking here. 4. Generally keeping up the idea that lots is happening For our younger supporters, Strikers' Lounge will be open from 1.15pm with plenty of activities to keep you entertained. Enjoy refreshments, arts and crafts and gaming or relax in our sensory room. We'll also be joined by Rover the Dog in the Family Stand where you can take on our inflatable football challenge, have your face painted or pick up some fruit courtesy of McDonald's. If you're looking for some entertainment before our 3pm kick-off, why not enjoy listening to our very own Jacob Reddy? He'll be performing some indie classics as well as his Rovers-inspired charity single Ewood Lights in the Fanzone from 1.30pm! For supporters who arrive on the concourse before 2.30pm, we're offering all draught pints for just £3.50! Please note, this offer does not apply to Blues Bar or in our hospitality lounges.

KHod Thank you. SuperBrFc Good post re Valencia -thanks.

KHod Some things said recently (all minuted anyway, I’m not giving away trade secrets) have concerned me greatly though, I can’t lie. Are you able to elaborate on those concerns?

Watford and Toffees sharing same tune -but not anymore:- https://footballpredictions.net/blog/why-do-everton-and-watford-play-the-same-song

Dross off the pitch/behind the scenes Dross on the pitch. Or perhaps it should be:- Mediocrity/lack of ambition behind the scenes Mediocrity/lack of ambition on the pitch If Rovers made rock, mediocrity or lack of ambition would run through it. And we all know the root cause… It’s the hope that kills you… As Einstein said, the definition of madness….

Genuine questions? 1.Is the club in a better position management/backroom wise than last season? 2.Is the club in a better position team wise a) generally b)to gain promotion? 3. Are you enjoying watching Rovers more/less/the same than last year? PS I have no agendas and certainly don’t want Mowbray back. For what it’s worth, I’m with those who think that the ‘project’ (which ultimately leads back to you know where) is the problem and that essentially it is pointless to get too excited about ‘progress’ as things stand. Go with low expectation so as not to get disappointed. Maybe that kind of mediocrity and lack of ambition is baked in. Naturally, that doesn’t stop us pontificating, “discussing”, letting off steam, wandering down memory lane, theorising, conjecturing on a forum. J Like Mani’s wife, I could be doing something far more profitable with my time but habit, loyalty and the smell of the turf are in the veins. On another note, I notice the usual rant about refs and calls for them to be sacked. LOL. As though there are hundreds of qualified ones waiting to step in. And why indeed would you? Being pilloried by idiot fans or rich prima donnas. Ex-players don’t want to do it and I guarantee that any of the ranters on messageboards and phone-ins would last less than 5 minutes in the job if given the chance.

Just another game for JDT. The agenda is elsewhere. Make young players attractive to higher clubs for money –every team by and large now uses the ubiquitous blueprint of passing out from the back. All starts with the Venkys. We all know this. £1.75m spent on incoming or thereabouts and it shows. The squad is midtable at best imo and frankly I’ve been amazed at our league position. Burnley -2 good wingers (among others) beyond anything we have, £4 mill apiece. Just look at the midfield we had on the pitch. Yes they may develop (well not so sure about Travis) but not ready for a Derby like this yet. So heavily reliant on Diaz for something to happen-better hope that if he goes, we get the cash to spend on player and the choices –for once-are wise. Back room staff still in place, players not hearing anything new. 3 good players leaving for nowt etc etc. Who does the buying and scouting? Not easy but one wonders. We know all this above. And yet, surely, for any given game, we can be adaptable in shape and method, play the right players in the right positions (Whartons/Pickering and so on). Once we went behind, nothing changed really –the same dour, ineffectual passing, hoping Diaz might pull something out of the bag. Even the set pieces (Morton for a player from a top club is woeful here) promised little –and they can be a lifesaver even if you are playing poorly. JDT has little to work with really but could be achieving more (edit -yesterday that is before anyonoe cites league position). Seems the ‘project’ is all about development and doing just enough to placate fans and find one jewel to sell on –just another Mowbray but with a more smiling face. Some more passion yesterday would have helped. I know it’s not easy to contain emotion when we looked so abject but I’m afraid you are not part of the agenda - so long as things are ticking along, nobody is causing a revolution, no bad publicity is laid at the door of the V’s and middle management survive, all is hunky dory. And we unearth a Diaz every so often. J

DavidMailstightPerm Oh, no doubt about Travis’s ability as the water carrier and certainly needed. Just that, at least twice on Saturday, receiving the ball with his back to play, he was too slow and conceded possession which could have cost us. Tippy tappy ain’t really his thing. Oslo Read carefully. First fifteen. We were destroyed by pace – at least twice – which they should have scored from. And every knowledgeable fan in the ground around me knew it. Once we got the pen, all us really and certainly after the second, game over. On another note, it was generally, a good natured game with few fouls. Definitely a lot of holding going on from both sides though. Ayala is a master.

We see different games do we not? First fifteen and we could have been 2-0 down. Their electrifying pace and sharp passing destroyed us. Thereafter, they somewhat passed themselves to death and didn’t deal with our quick counter-attacks. First goal penalty against the run of play took the wind out of their sails (why do defenders do that?), second goal ruined them –game over. They look like an exciting young team well coached buy not great defensively. Should have used their big striker more with early diagonals. Travis is too slow and poor on the ball to play JDT’s one touch stuff. Ayala (cracking defender) got away with murder holding their striker. Gally did nothing much –perhaps come into his own when pitches get heavier. On that note, I’m fascinated to see how it goes in winter when pitches get less forgiving – can we keep up the tippy-tappy style preferred? A win is a win. Mogadon was perhaps an even-keel. A JDT team bipolar? Mid table again but with a flush of optimism around as opposed to the gurning one?

Essentially, that team that lined up first half is a relegation team and the squad is worse than last season. Whose fault or a combination? JDT, his backroom staff, a legacy of Mowbray, injuries, recruitment? Buckley should give his wages to charity on that performance. Dreadful. JRC is just not good enough. Dack couldn’t fit into the system. Travis was reduced to kicking the drinks on the touchline in frustration. On the passing around at the back much groaned at by the fans. I get the unease. It’s a manager who has played at a top level trying to get lesser players to play a 2 touch game. Sadly, we don’t have the players. Nothing was sadder than seeing Trav receive a ball from defence with his back to goal, his first touch poor, losing it and having to pull down the opposing player to safe face. (Well, apart from being roasted at right back but to be fair he was far better than JRC.) But also can see it from the manager’s point of view. No Gallagher to run the channels. So no point in lumping it forward –who to Dack? Presumably we all saw the size of the Stoke team. The only option was a quick diagonal to Diaz on the left touchline and it took us the break at half time to get that right. Wharton must have knocked a dozen such excellent passes in the second half. But first half, the 2 touch was not happening, nobody to get down the sides, nobody to go past players with pace, all sub-par tippy/tappy/. And of course, no chance of plan B a la Big Sam because that’s not the philosophy and the personnel to do it not on the pitch. Having said all that, once we had weathered the initial storm of say 20 mins when we were woeful and they could have scored 3, the only difference was that Kaminski committed a howler for the goal and that as much as we huffed and puffed we couldn’t score. So could easily have been a 0-0. So. We all know the form, we all know the score. Are we rebuilding? How long will it take? Are we just at the bottom of the cycle? Is this back to League 1 year? Was Brereton just a freak year with his goals? Is JDT another Berg? Will JDT get big backing? Does his ‘black book’ or that of his DOF run to some quality or rabbit out of hats? It has to be said, whoever was responsible for bringing in JVH, Tosin, Elliot did well. Has the club and systems off field really changed or is it business as usual? Treading water again? Incomings will be crucial. But doesn’t look good at the moment. Looks to me like we are back to the very start or bottom of ‘a journey.’ On the ref. So predictable that he would be a scapegoat for a poor performance. Not going into it but will say generally, 3 things that would make life so much better in the game. 1. Take time keeping out of the hands of the ref all together just like rugby. Someone on the side lines runs the clock –only runs when the ball is in play. Large clock for all to see. Simple. Cut out all aggro. Football is so Neanderthal in comparison to other sports. 2. Yellow card for standing over the ball to stop a free kick. 3. Yellow card for answering back/swearing at ref. (don’t give me the infantile stuff about ‘industrial language is part of a man’s game.’) Answering back, dissent is not tolerated in basketball, rugby and other sports. Incidentally, how refreshing was the women’s football? No stupid aggro off pitch amongst fans, no stupid rolling over feigning injury, no backchat to ref, no kicking the ball away etc etc.

Said after the very first game, that, despite praising them for the win, the team badly needed reinforcements. So, just a few points. 1. Is the squad now better than last season? I would say no. Let’s see if we have any decent incomings to rectify this. 2. Years of poor recruitment and losing quality finally catching up? 3. In the past, we did manage to get something of a blend due to some good loans. Eg. Tosin, Elliot, JPH. Let’s see what happens. On the JDT “style” to press and win the ball in midfield and quickly counter. Also to play with great energy and intensity. Great approach similar to many top sides. Sadly, you need the personnel to do this and I don’t think we do. Never good enough to pass out from the back. Not enough pace or strength. Remember thinking after the first game, how long we would be able to sustain such a game plan. Wait til the pitches get more difficult, players get tired with a small squad and teams bully us. JDT will have to alter his tactics to suit his personnel and that may not be pretty. But it still comes down to quality and this squad as it stands will struggle to avoid relegation. As to JDT himself, looks like he may be a lamb to the slaughter. It would only be fair to give him a few transfer windows and see if he can rapidly learn. But perhaps he will just realise the enormity of the situation and walk. Expect the Mowbray apologist muppets to be out in force soon.

A win is a win and all that. Well done. Positives – team appeared to know what they were doing, were energetic, good tippy/tappy and movement, someone has had a think about corners, someone has got into Travis’s head that he can pass in a curler for a goal (needs 5 a season from midfield). Negatives-Brereton not fully at it (going soon?), this team will not win promotion, simply not enough quality and goal threat, Brittain –don’t buy all the praise, Gally, Kaminski kicking, passing in the final third, reinforcements needed for sure. As an aside, has anyone had a go at the ref yet? Always an easy target for the weak or losers. QPR looked quick and tidy but I can’t remember any goal threat apart from the screamer that hit the bar. QPR were poor and totally ineffectual in a slow build up and attempt to go through the middle. Their number 2 on the right was in acres of space for most of the second half but only received the ball early from a diagonal once. He shifted onto his left (didn’t need to even beat Pickering) and crossed. Result, they nearly and should have scored. What on earth was that crap heavy metal just before the game? And what about that silly email prior to the game re large queues due to checks at the gate and transport issues? I told my wife that we better get there early as there would be queues miles down the road. We waltzed in at 2.20 easy. J Anyway, all best everyone for the season ahead.

So brfcs fans on this board “fail to think logically.” I see. So logically, Sam was removed. Logically, Keane was appointed. Logically, Coyle was appointed. And most logically of all, the paradox of all paradoxes, Venky’s brief to Waggott is to save money at all costs, which translates to a cheap ineffective manager (Mowbray plucked from obscurity) with nondescript backroom staff leading to mediocrity at all levels (cost £20 million plus per season) when a decent injection of cash, sensible manager and management could lead to promotion, greater cash rewards and a face-saving withdrawal. (Insert your own conspiracy theory here as to the reason for this paradox –interfering agents, incompetence, ineptitude, a desire to hide uncomfortable truths about the takeover and the blushes of the FA, a permanent way to flush tax losses.) I think logic and this club are not in the same universe.

200 pages closing in fast. New manager, er, closing in slowly and chaotically.

We could have had a few more 'miserable points' had we had a manager able to enthuse, able to have a basic grip on tactics and formations (Johnson false 9?), able to promote belief, able to enforce basic tactics for corners/freekicks/game management, able to man-manage successfully, able stop avoid favourites/sychophants, able to do basic essentials for success irrespective of the hand dealt in January.

LeftWinger This never happened did it. My apologies. It was Blackburn Rovers v Leicester City, 29 October 2001. Same principle applies.

Dunny should be nowhere near in a coaching capacity. Good player obviously, but nowhere near as good as he thought he was. Will never forget an ageing Robbie Savage coming to Ewood (with B/ham) and totally having Dunn in his pocket. On the next manager? Who knows? As someone wisely said, expect this thread to get to 200 pages before we find out. Cracking read though –highly entertaining. On the sea bass, for those red drinkers, a fruity pinot would do it or a Beaujolais. And a Chablis for the white.

“Effort.” Don’t think any player goes out and deliberately doesn’t try. But players can certainly be on the one hand at it 100% or if things are going badly hide or if not wanting to get injured lay off by a few % - ditto if nothing on the game or sometimes prioritising one match over another. But it was unquestioningly the case in the game with Johnson as false 9, that the energy levels of the players in the first half was low, the body language poor and the football hopeless. Second half, without a doubt the players were ‘at it’, snapping into tackles, pressing like demons. Clearly, they then believed in the changed shape and tactics. That second half change of attitude and performance was down to management issues and nothing to do with money. Only a simpleton would deny the importance of cash (and obviously a competent structure off the pitch.) But many here contend that irrespective of that, Mowbray has underachieved, failed badly, and not moved us on in 5 years.

Ewood doesn't have bats does it? Looks a tad Ozzyish. If he opens up the shirt and gets a bit more bling, then Balaji could give him the gig. 😉