BlackburnEnd75

I've just seen our penalty again on quest. I thought it was dubious but actually I'm certain it's a penalty now. Raya falls on and impedes him.

I do think we retain possession better with rothwell in the team. Hopefully we will see him against stoke on Wednesday. Overall it's a good point . They had a lot of the ball in and around our area and missed a couple of good chances. That is as deep as I've seen us defend in a while and there was some terrific blocks in there. Our first goal was assisted by the wind but Armstrong took it well. Our penalty was debatable, one angle it looks very harsh the other it looks a foul. I know we conceded 2 but thought we defended well, you cant really moan about throwing away a 2 goal lead when one goal was a screamer and the other was basically a dive and shouldn't have been given.

I think in his last run of games he really struggled at times but not just because of his physique. He wasnt picking the right balls and he missed a sitter against huddersfield where he really snatched at a chance where he had time to pick his spot. He was right to come out then but hes clearly a talented lad and he has worked hard on his game by the sounds of things so good on him for taking his chance saturday. Tony says his physique makes him an easy target but he is obviously aware it's an issue as he plays him in a more advanced position then he does for the under 23's.

I've been critical of Mowbray over the last 18 months but if we can continue to push the playoffs with the amount of injuries we have whilst bringing through some of the younger lads then I don't think anyone can have any complaints. I do stand by some of the criticism from earlier in the season though. It took until December was it? to get Nyambe as a permanent fixture at right back despite him clearly being better than Bennett. Gallagher on the right wing doesn't work. Gallagher and Brereton haven't proven to be good signings as of yet. We needed a better back up keeper earlier in the season. Some weird team selections and substitutions such as dropping Travis for the PNE game and not making any substitutions until we were 3-2 down. I also think he's left himself a lot to do in the summer to get this side to go again.

If it happens soon when Williams is also injured we are down to a frozen out Mulgrew or a young lad like Carter who would be a complete gamble in a play off push.

It's a real shame. The injuries look to have taken away his burst of pace. He was so exciting to watch in our league 1 season albeit briefly. That player would make an impact of the bench in the championship I'm sure of it. Losing his pace alone means the end of his career ambitions, limits how effective he can be, add into that accusations of a bad attitude and he isnt going to cut it at this level. I'd love to be wrong. It was a punt of a signing basically not based on logic but on mowbrays and the fans emotional connection to him.

Brentford theres one at least

On the whole has the football been that turgid ? Compared to say last season weve pressed higher up more, retained possession better with less long punts upfield. Played more attacking players. I don't think weve been that bad to watch.

Walton Nyambe Lenihan Tosin Bell Travis Davenport Downing Armstrong Graham Rankin-Costello Subs: Leutwiler, Williams, Bennett, Johnson, Chapman, Brereton, Gallagher

I thought yesterday highlighted the unbalanced squad that TM has created. Obviously he will point to injuries but look at it: 5 strikers in the squad yet we only ever really start with one up front. Out of those 5 strikers Armstrong is the only one who is competent out on the wing but TM chooses to play Gallagher and Samuel Samuel was naff in league 1 why is he even considered for selection at this point? Gallagher on the right wing is and has been all season embarrassing. It doesn't work yet TM keeps trying it, he's probably tried it about 20 times so far this season. His only good game was preston away when he played through the middle. He's been rubbish has gallagher but TM isn't doing him any favours. Brereton - we don't even need to discuss. I haven't got the energy to detail how spectacularly bad his signing is. It says a hell of a lot that Samuel came on before him. Chapman is the only winger in the squad yet can't get near the team - waste of money Mulgrew and Smallwood taking up wages due to TM overvaluing them. Johnson - isn't suited to playing a passing game. waste of money With 3 of our ideal back five (Walton, Tosin, Cunningham) only on loan, we've got major surgery to do to the squad with little resources to do it. By my count in the summer we need a 2 keepers, a backup right back, a left back, at least 1 maybe 2 centre backs. a wide player and a striker. possibly even another centre mid if age catches up with Downing before August. Worrying stuff.

I agree wholeheartedly with the first part of that. Fulham will have at least 60% of the ball whether we try to control the game or not. They're attack has a lot of threats let's not get too exposed. Disagree on the formation though. We can be solid and play a tad deeper than usual in a 4-4-2, two banks of 4 playing close together helps. Gallagher and Armstrong uptop on the break would be a handful.

His best performance all round this season. A real shame about the injury he picked up let's hope it's not too serious. JRC looks physically ready for the first 11 unlike buckley and probably should've come on for rothwell. In other news Holtby I thought was quiet, and I'm still not a fan of gallagher out wide.

As a number one for next season I'm not sure somehow.

I think as a number 2 who could challenge Walton he would represent a vast improvement on Leutwiler.

Depends who is fit tbh. I'm assuming Evans and nyambe are out. Walton Tosin lenihan Williams JRC travis downing Bell Holtby Graham armstrong

That's a best case scenario here

Tony definitely heard the chants from the blackburn end

Exactly. Want him running in behind not dropping into midfield to link the play

Play him up front as one of the 2 that you suggest.

I don't see Armstrong's strengths as playing between the lines

Armstrong as a 10 is not a good idea for me.

Where has he said this?

I'm disappointed I can only like this once. ???

Pedersen is an odd one but overall he deserves a hero's return. His goals and assist numbers are very strong especially considering how his form dipped in his last few years and he gave us some great memories. What confuses me is when you list what he was good at it makes it out to be better than he actually was, he had: Two great feet Good set piece delivery Good cross Great leap and decent in the air Great technique Covered a lot of ground A massive long throw (in an Allardyce team) I think he had a hamstring injury at the back end of 05/06 and weirdly he never looked quite as sharp after that, always felt like he got caught flat footed or was too slow which made some people, wrongly imo, think he was lazy. Had a very distinctive crossing/dribbling style which I always wondered if it was down to being naturally right footed

As of now Downing. There are a few who if they step up could lay a claim.