You need to look beyond the stats IMO: Lambert and Coyle both left with 'nowt in the tank' in terms of player value and hope for the future. That can't be applied now in terms of Mowbray in either respect but yet the stats still stack up. I for one was a Mowbray doubter, don't mind holding up my hand and admitting it. I still question his team selections and substitutions on occasions but am eternally grateful for what he has done in turning round the basket case of a club we had become. I love the fact that those donning the blue and white halves are fighting the cause and clearly endorse 'Tony's dream'. We're 'work in progress' but at least it's something we can all identify with, endorse and more importantly get behind. Long may it continue.....

For point of clarity, I don't see the point of 1875 club now either, it just adds to the confusion in what should be a simple exercise of buying a ticket to see a game of football. My idea would be: for away games, season ticket holders have priority for a period, after which (if in demand) a period for those with previous away purchases and then general sale. The price for home games would be set at a price of £? for the season for 'walk ons', with a £3 discount if purchased in advance. (much better incentive than 'surcharge', although the result may be the same!). If this applied, then the club would also be able to offer incentives over the season for 'bring a friend for a fiver', 'adult and a kid for a quid' etc. We need to be innovative to attract and not offer deterrents.

Pretty much explains the envy of Lancashire's 'city' boys! WE ARE The Rovers!!!

What are the 'rules' in terms of pricing? What is 'category pricing' all about? I get the general reasoning based upon the opposition but would it not be better to just have a fixed price for Rovers fans at every game at Ewood, irrespective of the opposition? Charge away fans on the basis of 'a deal' on a reciprocal basis which includes both fixtures between the clubs? (I remember Leeds year before last was £42 for Rovers fans!) Would it not be better to offer a discount for purchasing a ticket earlier, rather than a surcharge?

I would guess at 17/18 years of age it's the parents' heads and their agents' heads that 'get turned' and not the players. For anyone that has watched our U18s and U23s, you only have to look at the young lads' cars in the car park at Brockhall to realise that even at Rovers, they are extremely well remunerated compared with their pears in 'real life'. Good advice would be to keep on learning at a club where you are a part and parcel of 'a dream', rather than move on now and be a bit part player, moved from pillar to post, albeit for a few extra quid now. What has Connor Mahoney, Junior Hoillet or Callum White achieved by moving on? For those that can remember far enough back: Franz Carr? Very few seniors have improved seeking greener grass post Rovers, never mind juniors! Tony had a dream!.........

I trust parsonblues' opinion: he watches both U23s and U18s regularly and has done for years. If he says he's nowhere near ready for the first team squad then that's good enough for me.

Yeh, you're right blueboy but then again you always are. Must be great to be you.... ;)

That said, I'm thrilled to bits with where we are a third of the way through the season: I'd have taken that in a heartbeat at the end of July, so I'm far from unhappy. However, we could be where we could be if we had just been a tad smarter?...

I fully endorse your thoughts JHR because they very much mirror my own. I don't know the answer but hopefully TOMO does but I'm not so sure, otherwise we wouldn't be asking the question! Arguably, so far this season as far as games have panned out, with an additional 10% of 'smartness', we could be top of this league as it stands based on games played........

It's all very well and good quoting average attendances which are either inflated or not by who the opposition is and what their travelling support represents. Surely the debate and issue here revolves around Rovers' support and attendances and how that can be improved? Whatever your viewpoint, if you were a 'Darwen Ender', Upper tier BBE family stander etc., the club have p155ed people off, whatever your point if you were not directly involved. The point now should surely be how to re-engage with fans lost and make everyone feel a part of 'Tony's Dream'. Whether it's liked or not, there are still a good number of fans who will only go to away games. From my personal perspective, I've gone to Rovers home games for 20 plus years on a bus from one of several Darwen pubs who run busses. This season they're parked Blackburn side of Ewood and are lucky to leave before 5.30pm and then have to go through queuing traffic. Why no priority for home fans and with no escort? It's about time WE had priority (Rovers fans in general) were treated accordingly and bugger away fans. A statement of apology and intent wouldn't go amiss from the owners either! Oh and don't forget the 'red button'! (I'd have gone to Swansea and would have been going to Wigan without the option) Finally, the £3 surcharge for 'walk ons' deciding to go to a game at the last minute - ridiculous IMO and another reason to put folk off going. The club should be coming up with innovative ideas to attract fans, not the contrary.

Wholeheartedly agree, in fact started posting something similar but resisted. My view would be more of a 4-3-1-2 with Dack as the '1' and full backs with a licence to attack as and when down the flanks. Just an opinion......

There are also one or two other potential 'gems' that aren't just quite ready yet within the 'reserves'. IMO of course.

Stuart Harvey is 'our spotter of talent' or to quote his actual title 'Manager of player recruitment'. I've a bit of personal 'axe to grind' but would have to say, I doff my hat because I like the look of what has generally been brought to the Ewood table in the past few months. Reed and Rothwell particularly and I think Jack Rodwell could really be a real master stroke of a signing in time. I'm unsure about Palmer up to press but Brereton is a no brainer for me. My point is they are all surely positives compared with the past and if we're really still in the mix at the end of December for the top 2, never mind play offs, we need to go for it and I believe Venkys will back it too. All conjecture I know, time for a line in the sand for me. Yeh, back the lads in blue and white blah, blah but in truth, that's what I (and we) have always done. COYB!!

Well he's a dead ringer for Cat Weazle (not the wrestler) for those of us of a certain vintage to remember the tv series! Not what I would want the CEO of BRFC to be seen as tbh but he is what it is. I have to say that coming from the 'corridors within Ewood', there is nothing but praise: fair dos for me.........

Raya was a 'dolloper' too 2 years ago! We know nowt in reality and despite all the platitudes and moans about 'the debt', in reality it's not our brass to really bother about either! £7 million or £7, so what? Brereton's clearly got potential and I'd rather we had him than not. He's 19 and all that goes with it: Get behind him and we may really have a star in the making but get on his back and who knows? Reading thoughts on here, many would prefer him to be a complete flop which I find disgraceful from supposed supporters of the club.

Ha indeed! I've no intention whatsoever of engaging with you further. I've my opinion and you've yours: end of.

Agreed. The glass is very much 'half full' IMO. Some need a reality check!

3 points gained, 1 point off the top 6, played poorly. Brereton won the penalty. Who wouldn't have taken the situation we now find ourselves in at the end of July? It's not all hunky dory admittedly but at long last we've something to look forward to and debate. Long may it continue. COYB!

Me too. Proud to be a Rover again: We've not got it all yet and it's still work in progress but Tony had a dream and make no mistake, Blackburn Rovers are on their way back!

Endorse everything 100% david. IMO Rodriguez was '5 minutes late' on Raya: it was clearly David's ball all day long. As a footnote: The togetherness of us all left me with a lump in my throat at the end. I haven't been as proud to be a "Rover' for a long time!! COYB!!!

I hope Stuart Harvey got this one right Parsonblue!

yeh and no Booth.We all knew we'd invite a rejuvenated Swansea on second half. It's always a case that that's what we'll do when we're in front at half time. We're shit at it. Bloody hell we were 3 up at Stoke and lucky to get out of jail. I up tonight and...................

30 mins, 1 up and comfortable. See it through until half time. Team talk and we all know what's coming second half. When will TM ever learn FFS? We just can't do it. We were generally shit tonight and Swansea deserved winners.

Come on Rovers, up and at 'em from the off. COYB!!!!

I'd be thrilled with a 4 point return from tonight and Saturday, however it came about. Truly ecstatic, orgasmic even, were it to yield all 6! I've a sneaking feeling it might....... COME ON YOU BLUES!!! (decided against it in the 'liberalist' world in which we live)