16 minutes ago, Wing Wizard Windy Miller said:

Absolutely.  Wharton would be on the bench ahead of Downing for me.  Lincoln fans seemed to rate him. 

Wharton needs competitive games under his belt to develop further, he's not going to get that warming the bench.

31 minutes ago, punerover said:

Saw the highlights of the Liverpool game. Although it was a pre-season friendly, we need to improve a LOT. First half was decent very lucky to be 0-0. Second half we were cut open. The gulf in quality is huge considering the amount spent by Liverpool. Hopefully the game against Everton should give us a more realistic test of good quality championship opposition and where our team stands.

I and many others don't need the Everton friendly to gauge a view: without some fire power up top and creativity and pace down the flanks and through midfield in general, we're in the sh1t. That's a fact. How the likes of Caddis, Whittingham, Gladwin and to a lesser degree, Conway and Evans are allowed to seriously deplete our salary budget is totally beyond me.

23 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

Not about last night they werent. And to be honest, most agree that hes improved in general. No need to be moddycoddled, some people rate him, some less so, but we are talking about 1 performance that no one has criticised.

Tomlinson, Whittingham and in particular, Davenport were all outclassed v Keita and Fabinho, hardly shameful. Davenport kept giving it away, once leading to a goal. He was the worst of the 3 but Whittingham hardly did anything to make him stand out for criticism.

Whittingham didn't do anything period and is the stand out candidate for criticism (IMO of course!)

Anybody know when Tony Mowbray and the first team squad are back at Brockhall after Austria?

1 hour ago, Sparks Rover said:

In my opinion gestede has done nowt since leaving rovers so he should get his arse back here.

That's a decent shout. He needs to dispense with the need to wear gloves (can you ever imagine Shearer wearing a pair?). A small thing but if I were a centre half marking him, I'd stick one on him early on because you'd suspect he was a soft touch. It would also be handy to have another French man in the team to keep him company!

1 hour ago, Biz said:

@Stuart

Good or bad omen?  

Personal opinion, Number 10s don’t always need pace, and the way Dack gets his arse in the way, I can see him being useful higher up.

In terms of his likelihood of sale. I’d be happy to admit I’m wrong if it happens, but I don’t see it based on the last 12 months unless the recent direction from India changes. For every agent telling them or him to accept bids/contracts, there will be others telling him he’s likely one good season away from 40/50k a week, why move to a team you might not be first choice?

I agree Biz, a bit like a 'poor man's Dalglish'.

I feel we haven't seen the best of Dack yet by a long chalk. If only we had a central midfielder who could play a bit and a bit of flair and pace down the flanks. Under those circumstances, I think Dack would be deadly playing either in the '10' role or as half of a front 2, if we were to play 442.

2 hours ago, Fraserkirky said:

Panic over. 

Thanks Kamy. 

Back over to you Venkys.

....And get our season tickets bought!!!

Just now, JHRover said:

Venkys' view on 'investment' in the club appears to be:

1) Continue to service debts & the overdraft

2) Pay wages and bills on time

3) Ensure the club remains solvent through honoring liabilities and meeting overheads 

The fourth form of investment comes as cold, hard, cash, millions of pounds of it, which goes above and beyond the bare minimum essential required to keep the doors open. This investment is the money needed to seriously strengthen the team, improve facilities and develop the club longer term. This cash seems much harder to obtain and my understanding is it only materialises when Madame can be persuaded to write a cheque via a face to face meeting or after other players have been sold and a small amount is then allowed to be reinvested. This has always been the case. In the Premier League they had the Jones windfall to use, then the parachute money. Rhodes' huge fee was a one off splurge that subsequently saw Rhodes have special status as a result. Since the parachute cash dried up we've been extremely limited cash wise - Bowyer nothing, Lambert nothing, Coyle a few hundred grand and then Mowbray nearly a million (big money for League One but not for the Championship)>

So on the one hand Venkys have invested by way of maintaining a big wage bill and ensuring the club remains as a going concern. They don't seem to have a problem with adding some names onto the books in wages or absorbing big losses at the end of each month, but when there's a need for some real money to be chucked in for 3 or 4 big signings it is more difficult to get done.

...but twenty to thirty million quid cash per season in making up the working capital defficiency! That's not now the case JHR is it?

Let's see what the close season brings but count no chickens, I agree!

Just now, bob fleming said:

Agreed. They spent a lot for Div 1. A drop in the ocean compared to the Championship.

It might be a year of consolidation. Would you go all out first year back? I’m not sure I would. Too much change (players wise) too soon is never good. But either way, we need more quality. Then again TM might get ten bob and a chicken leg and told to sling his hook.

Time will tell.

 

I agree bob, I wouldn't go all out in the first year either. 

I feel that rather than fill the squad out with the likes of Gladwin, Whittingham, Caddis and co. (who should all be gone btw IMO) we should sign a few majors in key positions (centre half, midfield playmaker and a tried and tested pacy, tricky winger (Harry Chapman type) and a younger 'Danny Graham' type centre forward, who are all going to prominently feature in our starting eleven. The remainder of the squad should be made up of members of this season's U23s. I've only seen them play a couple of times but think there are some potential gems amongst their numbers. Next season, some of them should be given the opportunity to develop as part of the first team squad.

I'm absolutely convinced that if early season ticket sales are good, Mowbray will be backed.

Just now, Stuart said:

Promotion will make our club even less able to wash its own face. Player increases, competitive transfer fees. Venkys already picking up £2m deficit as a L1 club. That’s just grown.

It now comes down to their ambition. Do they want to see the club succeed or are they just looking to minimise losses? If it’s the latter, it’s going to be a tough old season.

I can’t see what else has changed over in Pune. Have any of them developed an interest in Rovers? Is there any kudos from being in the Championship? They aren’t welcome at Ewood and I expect they know this so they can’t even share in any success with the fans.

It’s all now on Mowbray selling “his dream”. If they don’t share it we are hoping that momentum will carry us away from the relegation zone but that won’t last forever. Whether they like it or not, they need PL football or they are going to have to prop us up for a while yet. Or sell.

I'm pleased they're being frugal Stuart and cutting our cloth accordingly. It's about time and a shame it didn't happen 7 years ago when they readily handed over the keys to the safe when it was awash with cash!

If I were Venkys, I'd throw a gauntlet down to our supporters, 'potential supporters' and/or boycotters and state that the level of backing would be based on season ticket sales. Stick a disclosed, substantial amount in an escrow account, where incremental withdrawals could be made by the club subject to predetermined targets, starting at say 8,000 season tickets sold, with a massive bonus should 15,000 be achieved. I accept that this could potentially affect summer transfer targets, so hopefully there will be 12 to 15,000 plus 'early birds'!!

Just now, Leonard Venkhater said:

I don't disagree with you either!

Enjoy, mate, it's a compliment..

 

It's their name over the door, so whichever way you'd like to cut it, allowing the parasitical sharks to run riot, is always going to be their fault. (Guilty as charged, no question)

However, retribution is also in their hands and they may have made a start. This close season will speak volumes but we as supporters also have a role to play (as have the missing 'hoards').

10 minutes ago, Leonard Venkhater said:

Henry Fonda, I presume!

They had a very harsh lesson, when we scraped survival at Wolves.Despite all the promises made to loyal fans in Pune, they continued the destruction and down we went.-the first time!

So many more harsh lessons followed with many decent people saying they have learned from their mistakes, then so many more of the same ..er.."mistakes.."

Even after all that mayhem...., Coyle over Warnock...so we must remain wary.

Worst case is that this brilliant promotion merely reduces the pressure and dilutes the resistance.

Obviously, I am hoping and praying for better..this time.

Leopards and spots etc and beware "the rule of optimism"

The next few weeks will speak volumes, I believe.

Rant over.....

 

 

Hey Leonard, I'm as wary as anybody but I'm also a realist and have considered the alternatives or lack of them!

I agree with everything you've said but you know that already.

It's an hour later over here and I've worked my proverbial knackers off for 14 hours a day for the past 3 days after driving 920 miles the day before, so my mind's a tad slower than normal, please do tell, wtf has Henry Fonda got to do with owt?

I really do hope people think about the situation sensibly, 'park the bus' for now and go out and buy a season ticket.

I'm far from a Venky apologist but I'm getting increasingly sick and tired of the debate of 'put us back where they found us' or 'I'm not setting foot in Ewood again'. It's @#/? but I accept everyone is entitled to their opinion.

Yes Venkys name is over the door and yes there has been one monumental feck up after another for 5 years or so BUT they've stuck with it and poured cash into the club to both keep it afloat as the natural revenue streams have significantly reduced. Ah but it's increased 'the debt' was the cry. It's about time folk took a step back and think where the CASH has come from? It's Venkys cash and 'the loan' is merely an accounting function on the balance sheet, it's not a millstone around Blackburn Rovers neck as is frequently bandied about. If we were sold for £200 million, if we were lucky enough to get promoted to the PL, 'the loan' would be repaid as part of the sale consideration and would be offset against any Capital gain as a consequence of the sale, versus the original financial consideration when they bought the club almost 8 years ago. That is a fact. Who's to blame for Stoke going down this season and probably West Brom and one other? It's what happens every season and would inevitably have happened to us sooner or later under The Walker Trust.

I then read about a multitude of people being up in arms about increases in season ticket prices for next season (they're still extremely competitive in The Championship). How the hell are Rovers to become competitive in The Championship next season, Mowbray get a decent transfer budget, pay decent enough wages, without increased income through the turnstiles, season tickets and commercial support or more hand outs from Venkys, which further increases 'the debt'??

It then also begs the question of where does the working capital come from to meet the expectations (see above!)?

I stopped going for a period when Coyle was appointed, I took that as the ultimate insult and where the decision to appoint him came from, I'm fecked if I know. I can only assume it was a final swansong from 'those who can't be named' and I have it on decent authority that they've since departed the scene.

I realised that it was only me that was suffering by not attending for the first time for 51 years and relented after 6 months.

I'll never forget Venkys initial 6 years tenure but I'm prepared to cut them some slack for now and let's see what they do over this summer.

In the meantime, I'd ask those that are 'boycotting' to think about what I've said and perhaps reappraise and rethink their viewpoints. Perhaps at the same time, if they remain steadfast in their view, I would love to know what the realistic, alternative solutions are?

It might have only been the 'third division' but it's been the most enjoyable season for a decade and a half. Tony Mowbray may have his faults but his qualities far outweigh them in my view. The way that he has galvanised the club in the past 18 months, he deserves every Rovers' support and the more the merrier. Get your bloody season tickets bought!

WE ARE The Rovers!!!

38 minutes ago, only2garners said:

I’ve got iFollow here on Mallorca after some painful password antics. Pictures but no commentary - just as well as the sound is 3-4 seconds behind.

I jacked in trying O2G, so we're all now just enjoying the wine and reliant on mates texting updates and keeping tabs on here.

I was more interested in being able to savour the atmosphere tbh, so a radio link would have done but no such luck.

We're just tucking into Saturday tea time's staple diet: Home made spud pie with red cabbage and pickled beetroot!

I'm bloody devastated!! There's no ifollow for tonight's match, not even commentary.

Does anybody have a solution? I'm in France.

I know posting streams isn't permitted but I've a posee of French Rovers that have come round to watch. Please PM me if necessary.

Pleaaassssse!!

I hope TM is thinking, how he'd like us to play next season and what his desired formations would be.

You'd guess he'd then look at what we've got and be totally cold and calculating in getting rid of what's not required because it doesn't fit. NO sentiment. 

Then with a budget in place, recruit accordingly with round pegs that fit snugly into round holes, with a bit of pace as an added bonus.

In Tony we trust.

27 minutes ago, steve_keans_hairbrush said:

I'm sorry but anyone who thinks anyone but Bradley Dack should be our player of the year is out of their mind. We've had some decent performers this year but no one comes close to Dack.

I'm clearly out of my mind then, the lucy in the sky with diamonds don't help admittedly! I accept Dack is a good 'un but he started the season slowly and has dipped in and out of form of late. He will probably be most fans' choice for player of the season but how would Bradley have reacted if he'd been asked to play full back or in defensive midfield for the good of the team?

Bennett for me exudes everything we would wish for in a Rovers player in the current era and shows total empathy for us as fans.

He's been asked to play all over the shop in the cause and yes, he may have scuffed a cross or 2 but in general, his energy, commitment, drive, determination and willingness to play where asked for the good of the team and the fact that he has generally excelled wherever he's been asked to play with vigour, is why he'd be my nomination.

9 minutes ago, bob fleming said:

Yep. You going to arrange it and turn up for once or just critique from afar? 

Any meaningful positive contribution from you would be a welcome surprise. 

Bob:

'Sunrise, wrong side of another day,

Sky high and 6,000 miles away,

Don't know how long I've been awake, Wound up in an amazing state,

Can't get enough and you know it's the righteous stuff,

Dack's value goes up like prices at Christmas

WE're THE Rovers, you can call US THE Rovers, alright!'

Hopefully you'll be cheerleader at Donny and Charlton pal. 

It should be 2 great occasions to be a Rover.

1 hour ago, chaddyrovers said:

feel for the fans

The current owner isn't interested in club one bit. 

feel for the fans. 

the owner is to blame for the current crisis not Coleman

I would normally have sympathy but NO-ONE, I repeat NO-ONE ever had any sympathy or understanding for us and our plight of being raped and pillaged by cockney spivs and their compadres. So Mackems best of luck.

Hopefully we're rid and

Thankfully, WE ARE BLACKBURN ROVERS and WE are on our way back!

4 hours ago, arbitro said:

Three games to resurrect our coffin. ?

Hopefully not 49 to re bury the bugger!!

On 20/04/2018 at 08:33, blueboy3333 said:

Bennett has given a damn from the first whistle of the season. He's played like this promotion is personal. 'Ave it!!!

That photo captures Benno's spirit and strength of feeling for the club perfectly IMO.

10 minutes ago, Oldgregg86 said:

Fair enough 

Let's not forget Spurs also paid 5 million for delete alli.

That Dele Alli was also a bargain!

17 minutes ago, Oldgregg86 said:

I suppose we will have to see the kind of inflation in player prices over the summer and winter . As of now I stand by what I said but in the crazy world of football who knows

You've kind of answered your own question Oldgregg. That was the point I was eluding to regarding Dack.

2 hours ago, Oldgregg86 said:

Let's get real no one is paying 15-20 million for dack. 8 absolute max

But if United paid £100 million for Pogba...............