Do we think Nuttall may ever be suited to making the jump into the first team, even after the experiment failed last year?

How about 8 years ago? #Salgado

Another couple of ideas, might be able to attract some NEARLY out of contract options at cb: Derdyk Boyata, 28, Celtic. Timm Klose, 30, Norwich. Unrealistic imo but: Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Vincent Kompany, Gary Cahill, Martin Caceres, Diego Godin, and several other notables are out of contract next summer...

And anyone with a bit of emotional intelligence. It’s clearly typed in such a way to minimise Graham’s contribution (a hat trick and assist) compared to Brereton’s (a few good cameos).

It’s how ANYONE would interpret it.

Conway may have finally learned not to try to beat the full back with his legs, but his head. The key to older players lasting 90mins (fitness dependent) is rationing their running time. Hence why Tugay seemed to just get better and better because he could put a guy on his arse without moving. If that’s the case, Conway could be useful back up for as much as another season after this! However, one swallow doesn’t make a summer etc

1. I wouldn’t presume to say as I didn’t attend. 2. It makes me think Bennett should replace Smallwood, but then it’s whether he or Reed go on the wing or in Smallwood’s place. That’s if he even gets in tbf.

Is it too early for the ‘HOLD!’ meme?

Can we revert to the Trust Tony mantra yet?

What happened chaps?

2 free agent suggestions, which I think are reasonable, but only if alongside another good defensive transfer: Robert Huth, 34 but could be a good short term option (6 months, with offer of another year if does well). Phillip Wollscheid, 29, formerly of Stoke, Metz, and some German teams. Without a club since Jan, but could be a good ‘rescue’. Re: Jonesy, he’s available next summer. Tempting...

The defence is less of a worry if the midfield is choc full of ‘harriers’ like Bennett, Reed, Rothwell, and Conway. That’s also the midfield I’d pick. Not necessarily as ‘our best’ but for this game to get a reaction. Also play Brereton up front alongside Graham (preferably Armstrong) just to give us enough mobility and options when passing forward. This way, any lumps forward would be for Armstrong to run on to, instead of just at Graham’s head.

I view it more as he’d be driving the team forward from midfield, BUT it would require the other midfielder to be prepared to show for him or mop up.

Correct. They need to experiment more with pricing and understand that Blackburn is not an affluent area. £10-15 tickets, £20 for 3 games, ‘Kids for a quid’, those sorts of incentives. And get rid of that fucking surcharge, which relies on 8 out of 9 fans still walking on just to break even.

He IS a consistent manager getting results... it’s only the last 2 games where we’ve looked crap.

I do agree to an extent, but the winning mentality is more important to us over a season than wins. If we come out fighting it’ll be a sign that we can turn it round. A win will be exceptionally welcome though

I don’t mind a draw, I just want to see the gritty Rovers we saw before the break, not the ones that look like they’re giving up.

I don’t know anymore ????

BUT that cover would allow Reed and Rothwell to get forward in support of the attack. Equally, when the wingers bolt forward, Reed and Rothwell are both defensively capable.

I like that but would swap Bennett and Rothwell’s positions. Bennett and Conway on the wing would provide better defensive support for our full backs. Would also prefer Brereton to start, simply to get him on the pitch. I feel he and Rothwell are itching to kick on at this point, as they’ve both shown they can drive at teams and positively influence our general performances.

Rothwell, I agree needs a ‘sitter’ alongside him, but Reed is a good box-to-box. In some ways, you could argue Rodwell sat behind Reed and Rothwell would work very well as a midfield 3. Would require 2 wingers and a mobile striker, however, essentially rendering Dack somewhat redundant.

I’m going to revise my assertion last month that Rodwell would make a good centre back. I was wrong. He makes an adequate makeshift centre back when desperate, or perhaps a solid option for ‘the composed one’ if playing 3 centre backs. But in reality, he’s shown that he is a sitting midfielder.

I’d swap Rodwell and Lenihan to put Rodwell centre. That way he can nudge forward into midfield for an easy transition into 4-3-1-2

I’m not putting too much emphasis on a result on Sat (would be VERY welcome) but I want to see a team play good, hard football. Make me feel like I did at the Ewood Shrewsbury game last season, lads.

Thanks for that Neal. It’s good BUT highlights a key point that he still hasn’t taken responsibility for his own errors. If we don’t win on Sat, it’s ‘fool me thrice’.