I wouldn’t say it’s that black and white. I like that JB got a start - even if id probably accept Travis has been good this year. New system might rely on a better passer like Buckley, and having Travis’s energy as impact might be also very valuable.

Well done on still finding a problem pre match!

I genuinely feel exasperated when the obvious is missed like this

Looks like a 4231 / 532 to me. Tosin at RB, Bennett out wide, Buckley/Johnson sitting in midfield, Dack ten, Downing out wide. Then to make 532, Tosin comes narrow, Bennett becomes WB, Dack/AA upfront with a midfield of Johnson, Downing (left) and Buckley (right)

I think you’ll be eating humble pie!

Arguably Walton’s first proper hurdle? Expecting an attritional affair, hopefully settled by quality rather than a mistake!

Don’t worry no offence taken, there are definitely some fans who’d say they “support” the owners but I’d be guessing it’s mainly just devils advocate stuff.

Thing is - three of those things I could agree with, 1. They did have poor advice, as seen from attempting to take their own partners to court. 2. They’ve put millions into us. Whether that’s their fault or not is another point, but I was convinced league 1 would mean facilities binned off. 3. Indeed look at Bolton. For all our owners idiocy, they’ve never been in Bassini/Anderson mould. None of that tallies with your other point, people saying we should be “thankful”.. I don’t think that at all. If anything, they should be thankful for those who’ve stuck with it - you as a big part of the attendance debate on the forum, will find no argument from me that says they/ could/should be doing more to re-engage the fans. Finally - Using continued attendance as a “happy enough” or “getting behind the lads” is as pointless as suggesting all non-attendance in the championship/lower league is down to level of opponent and CBA. Myriad of difficulties created by THE RAOS. I’ll personally never forget that either.

It’s only code for that if you want to take the simple fact “they had bad advice” and turn it into a reason for an argument. The last sentence is just perpetuating that phrase as a WUM tactic, since nobody is behind the ownership, even if some (like myself) who also consider some aspects (like continued funding of youth/facilities) aren’t all bad.

It’s never used to absolve their part - I’ve only ever heard it in the context that the bad advice was a symptom of their arrogance and negligence. Really bloody stumps me to see people driving wedges between themselves and other fans, purely down the terminology used to describe their “fuck up”

If you’re going to write off two young lads, at least throw Nyambe under the bus with them since he was so far out of position for the opener he may as well been on the No1 Darwen Circular towards town. Tongue out of cheek though - I can’t believe you’d use the word “terrible”. They’re young lads, they looked inexperienced- but to use “terrible” it’s just way OTT and insanely dismissive. No wonder RF liked the post!

I don’t see why it’s so difficult to think of it as a rich family who knew nothing about football, easily ripped off by “fixers”. Yet plenty of Blackburn folk find that “badly advised” upsetting weirdly. Oh, and regardless of what happens MC, will be behind the lads come rain or shine, and certainly won’t be using the term “boycott” because I simply don’t enjoy a lesser league..!

Maybe save the conspiracy theories for Sunday morning

I think it says more that content that includes some level of praise will be ignored to criticise one word, and bring back old “mushroom” (not you) criticisms personally.

Embarrassed by what the owners and the criminal negligence had done to our club. Ashamed of the lack of culpability from footballing bodies and the support of shysters in the media.

I think you’re creating a strange hill to stand on here MB. Going to Ewood was horrible, stomach churning, heart wrenching, soul wrecking et al. Now it’s not. There is still a feeling of lament, but the horrible stuff has dissipated for me at least.

Maybe that could be reworded as embarrassed. I certainly went through some dark moments visiting Ewood, reading the news etc. Now it’s mainly optimism.

Absolutely spot on - two key things you mention that always make me wince to read criticism; 1. The expectation is this backroom teams doing. We expect, aspire to go upwards. It’s not long since I merely aspired a club. 2. The squad / team looks genuinely exciting, full of talent and potential. Not a top heavy, agent wage burdened mess. We may have wanted more from our 7m signing last year, but it’s only 5 since we likely paid Leon Best more to leave the club. What TM inherited and what he’s got now - Night and Day.

Im sticking to my guns with this one - Nyambe gets more a “wide centre half” every time I see him. For 100 appearances in a rovers shirt, he is no more confident at passing or controlling with both feet than the first time I saw him. We all know he’s fast, strong, brave, can tackle, can read games in moments like a proper defender - but if you’re playing possessive football that requires more technique, more adeptness at overlapping - he ain’t the guy, IMO.

If it gets a response, it’s the player - if it doesn’t, it’s the managers criticism.

Stewart Downing. Elliott Bennett. Two simple subjective, justifiable reasons why Rothwell/Nyambe haven’t started. When they have, they’ve both looked average.

Signs are good. Certainly far more adept at plucking the ball out of the air, and his passing is very accurate and adaptable.

You’re talking about a third choice at worst, second at best keeper - you’re not talking about a new key player. Its basic squad management. You and I may agree that Walton was probably not the signing to improve on Raya that we all wanted - However early signs suggest he’s making us far more robust defensively, particularly on set pieces. If we’d just signed Vorm for third choice on 30k pw, or to challenge Walton, you’re complaint would be more “waste” or “why bother with Walton”..! Theirs nothing weird or strange about this, it’s scratching for a problem at best IMO

I’m guessing that Walton is that for this year. I imagine a freebie with his pedigree or someone higher up would command actual decent wages, whereas an ex Bury/Crewe lad will likely fit into our backup level.

Common sense to me. Fisher ain’t getting better sat on the bench. Our current second choice ain’t good enough. Why not bring in some competition in case something happens to Walton?