On 22/08/2022 at 23:41, Mike E said:

HOUSE OF THE DRAGON

It's great to be back in Westeros!

What’s your opinion on it so far Mike? I was expecting to hate it but I’ve been surprised at how excellent it has been. Darker and with less humour than thrones, and the narrower focus on one dynasty is a welcome change. my favourite parts of thrones were the tight plotting and the scheming and machinations of the central cast. So far that’s been the focus of HoTD and I’ve loved it.

Also started the lord of the rings prequel but got bored after the first two episodes. Visually stunning but it suffers in comparison to thrones - it’s a bit twee and po-faced, and everyone takes themselves very seriously. 

On 07/07/2022 at 09:07, HolliBrown4 said:

everything everywhere all at once is one of the best movies i have ever seen

Watched it last night. Definitely up there for me as well, amazing film 👍 

4 minutes ago, Wheelton Blue said:

You may think he's worth more, but the reality - based on actual offers made - is that he isn't.

His value to us is far more than £10m given that we had only a few days to replace him, we wouldn’t see any of that money reinvested in the squad, he’s far and away our best player and one of the stars of the championship, and our owners are billionaires that are willing to underwrite the club’s debts to the tune of £100m+ 

No way should we let a content and dedicated player go for a risible amount just because that’s the only offer on the table. I’m glad the Venkys stuck to their guns on this one.

23 minutes ago, Armchair supporter supremo said:

The name of a 80s Scottish rock band with Jim Kerr as the singer springs to mind! 

13 minutes ago, Armchair supporter supremo said:

We where clambebering to sign Bauer 

Indeed. 

1 minute ago, roverandout said:

This is mowbray's mess. Effing about for 5 years. Signing dross. Allowing player contracts to run out. Signing loan after loan.  Even pep couldn't cope with this mess

It’s nothing to do with Mowbray. Move on, he’s gone and a new man is in the dugout. It’s all down to JDT now. 

2 hours ago, Bbrovers2288 said:

Do get amused at rovers fans, one minute we are certs for promotion life is amazing, one bad game and we are getting relegated and life is woeful. I include myself in this btw, I have always assumed we are conditioned this way due to all that we have had to endure in the venkys era, always one bad move from a disaster it seems 

I was expecting a mid table season with a threadbare squad, a new manager and our tar player set to leave. Got a bit excited with our excellent start but last night brought me back to reality. I don’t think anyone thought we were promotion certs but I think some of us got a bit carried away with the JDT love-in. New manager bounce is over!

That was awful. So depressing after a great start, and dispiriting to watch us give the ball away constantly. Reading went at us with desire and aggression, and the result was never in doubt. We were lucky to go in at half time only 1-0 down, and while the changes made at half time gave us a bit more attacking intent, it was nowhere near enough.

The whole performance was worse than anything I saw under Mowbray, and it reminded me of how the team performed for Henning Berg or Appleton. Sideways, backwards passes, losing possession constantly, unable to get the ball out of our own half. Everyone looked knackered which might be part of it but that only highlights how poor our squad outside the first XI is. Buckley was terrible, I don’t know what qualities Vale is supposed to possess, and Dolan was useless. We need to improve this squad.

 Left back, centre back, forward a must for me. Vale is nowhere near the standard required at this level. He was shockingly bad, seemed lazy and lacking in technical ability and pace. We will not get far with him and Gallagher as our choices up front. I’ve seen Pickering a few times and wondered why he got so much criticism. This year I get it. In the last match everything against us came through him. This time it’s the same and his passing was atrocious. He offered nothing. We urgently need a lb. Ayala was class tonight, the only player who can consider himself to have put in a shift. Defensively solid, tidy, committed. Unfortunately, Philips will take a while to establish himself. I thought he was solid last time out but tonight he looked overawed, decision making was poor. Ayala will spend a month or two out this season, when that happens we are screwed if there is not another championship quality CB in there. At least one. 

I’m really deflated tonight, it seemed like a new dawn but now I’m worried that the bubble has burst after only 4 games. When BBD goes we need to reinvest in the squad. Plus we’ll have to replace him! Big couple of weeks incoming, I hope GB and JDT have what it takes. 

😅Pickering 

21 minutes ago, Sweaty Gussets said:

Apparently he's fallen out with JDT...there's been a Hedge(s)row.

I’ve heard there’s a root and branch review of the first team. Ash still in the squad, I’ll be gutted if he leaves. 

Hedges hasn’t made the cut, looks like he’s been trimmed from the first team. 

2 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Phone automatically correct the word. Meant Cramp now correct for you all

I know Chaddy, just a joke 👍 

10 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

I would be more than comfortable given Phillips a run of games given his very good performance on Sunday where he was comfortable all game until he got crap. 
 

I thought he was good for the whole time he was on? Harsh judgement on a youth in his league debut…

3 hours ago, Mike E said:

But it's not OURS, it's the England team's. Otherwise we might as well nick Blue Moon from City before games.

I'd much rather have something that's ours for victories.

Any of Enter Sandman, The Boys are Back in Town, or Simply the Best all get my votes from the classic rock genre. And everyone knows those as well.

3 hours ago, Danny O.Brien said:

It's not even England's, it's boxing's but I have to agree I hate that we have jumped on the bandwagon. All the tv graphics have changed, new scoreboard and they have had a good clean of the actual stadium. We should have our own song. 

Actually the Northern Ireland fans started singing sweet Caroline a long time before the English adopted it. So it was nicked in the first place. 

8 hours ago, joey_big_nose said:

Absolutely, would sow absolute chaos in the dressing room if a player who has played one professional game is put on Ayala money...

That said offer him the same money as Wharton and first team football. Spurs can offer the money but they can't offer football. No player I've heard of has given up first team Championship football for academy football. If we give him games we are in a very strong position in negotiations. I'm sure he will sign.

100%. A season in and around the first team will do wonders for his development, and in a years time he will be fielding multiple suitors who will all be offering him a massive wage and more chance of game time in the prem. we could offer a reasonable release clause to sweeten the deal, and if we continue as we are we’ll be in the premier league next season guaranteeing him first team football. 

6 hours ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Obviously unbelievable to start off with nine points out of nine (for the first time since 1988 apparently) but don't know if I'm going against the grain by opining we didn't play very well. For me too many players well off the pace and we were really slow and laborious in possession of the ball in the first half. A lot of that can probably be put down to the freak conditions, I'm not all that sure if it's worth playing in such extreme temperatures if both teams are going to take impromptu drinks breaks every seven or eight minutes, the game just can't get going or have any flow to it and no wonder there were three minutes extra at half time and eleven minutes at the end. It seems totally  counterproductive to me to have the teams out there for an extra 15 minutes in those temperatures.

Anyhow as everyone has pointed out Ayala and BBD were excellent and we simply can't afford to lose the latter imo. Buckley, Szmodics and Hedges weren't at it today imo and even Kaminsky looked hesitant and nervous but the will to win we showed when under the cosh was tremendous. There's a sense I think that something really good might be happening and each win almost feels like celebrating winning a Cup Final at the moment.

The downside of course is that it's only taken us 3 games to run into a mini injury crisis. Time for Messrs Waggott and Broughton to do their jobs, and get some players in to what was already an extremely thin squad to start with.

The new manager has vastly exceeded expectations so far. Give him the support and the tools he needs to do the job!

 

Buckley was a bit below his usual standards for me today as well but I thought Hedges was good, industrious without excelling. 

Totally agree on your last point, here’s hoping to a productive end to the transfer window. Defenders are urgently required now. 

4 hours ago, Norbert Rassragr said:

If you want a Danish connection for the music and want Metallica, then it has to be For Whom the Bell Tolls, Anesthesia,or Creeping Death.

What about Wherever I May Roam for away games? Alternatively on the Danish connection we could have Junior Senior - Move Your Feet? Couldn’t get two more different songs 😂 

7 minutes ago, Mattyblue said:

‘Simply the Best’, obviously!

From “Sweet Caroline” to “Simply the Best”???

Might as well call us Blackburn Rangers. 

Callum brittain. That tackle!

1 hour ago, JacknOry said:

Lad has been with us for how many years and some neandathals on here attacking him. Came throuigh the academy. Great look for any futures kids coming through. Leave and Mani labels you as shit. 

I’m sure our youth system will fall apart at the seams now that “mani” on BRFCS.com is gunning for them. Dry your eyes.

We don’t owe Nyambe anything. He was here for a long time, played a lot of games, but his game didn’t develop as planned and he turned down a contract offer to try his luck elsewhere. Early signs are that it hasn’t worked out for him as well as it has for us. That’s good for Rovers and shite for Nyambe. Football sucks sometimes. Don’t lose your cool because someone on a message board has a different opinion to you. 

1 hour ago, JacknOry said:

50 quid per gurn

That would destroy our wage bill 🥴

53 minutes ago, Russ said:

Told she'll be a fringe player so will want to mullet over

Will she gel with the rest of the lads?

35 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

If there any actual evidence he's sulking though or is it just some nonsense posted on social media?

Not that I’m aware of tbf, good point. I was just responding to OP criticising Dack. Rumour and hearsay are such an important part of being a football fan these days!

2 hours ago, Exiled_Rover said:

Imagine getting paid handsomely to sit on your arse for two years doing nothing and then throwing a hissy fit because you weren't subbed on.

Imagine your career only lasts 15 years and every time you perform well at work you get cheered and praised to the high heavens, but due to tragic misfortune you’ve not been able to perform for two of those years as you approach your peak. You have a new boss who you think might not trust you to perform any more, and you’re likely looking at the premature end of your career as a high performer in your role. You think you’re back and raring to go, eager to show everyone that wrote you off what you’re really all about, and yet your boss doesn’t give you the chance to show what you can do.

From being the main man to an also ran, it’s heartbreaking in my opinion. I’m sure JDT has good reasons for not playing him, but I don’t blame Dack for being pissed off. I think anyone else in his shoes would be the same. I hate when players sulk but he’s given us hope and joy in a very dark period, some amazing performances, and has stood by us throughout his time at Rovers, so I’m willing to give him a bye ball on sulking on this occasion. 

1 hour ago, CoconutGrove said:

Troy Parrott has gone to Preston.  I'm sure he would have come here had there been interest

34 minutes ago, glen9mullan said:

As promised, I said I would report back on my meeting today with Steve Waggott, which lasted just under a couple of hours.

Firstly the important bit, I chose to not have the coffee and biscuits and explained I did not want to leave the room as Mowgli after his encounter with Karr!!!

I went to the meeting as an individual  and not as a supporter representative, of any group(s), I made it very clear that I was not representative of anyone.

Steve was very welcoming when introducing himself and offered me a seat.

Steve began the meeting explaining how he liked to meet supporters, and that he has previously met with various groups including the Action Group, Ewood WMC Group, The Rovers Trust, The Fans Forum, QEGS Group and individual supporters,

At this point I stopped him before he got into full flow to ask him if he knew why I had come and if he knew anything about me, my history surrounding my involvement in previous supporter groups.

At this point we was joined by Lyndsay Talbot.

I told him I was most disappointed that I have found the need to even ask for a meeting, as I felt my work was done 5 years ago, but was very appreciative that he had given his time at a busy time for the club to meet with me, and listen  to my concerns

I gave him a brief overview of my involvement in three of the groups he had previously mentioned, my role within those groups and also the protest movement. At this point he looked at Lyndsay as it was very evident he had not done any research or asked any questions about me, so was caught a little off guard.

I said to him that no doubt in most of the meetings, he has been asked the same questions which he acknowledged was usually the case. I pointed out that my line of questioning would in many respects form a different line, given the direct contact I have with the Rao's and associates, showing him the owners telephone numbers to support what I was saying.

I was getting quite a warm vibe from Steve who was very welcoming, very passionate, very humble and obviously very focused on the job he had.

My first question was the following -

1. How does someone get a role as the CEO of Blackburn Rovers, when even the Queen waited 6 weeks for a response from India regarding her appearance/meeting with the Rao's, how did his name get thrown in the ring?

He explained that within the game their is an agency who communicate quite regular with individuals who work at board level at possible opportunities and he asked to be considered for the Rovers role as it seemed a good project, at a big club and he felt he could potentially bring something to the party. He was one of four candidates and was interviewed in India by the Rao Family. They sold their vision to him, and and asked what his previous working relationship was with our Manager Tony Mowbray? He said he had a great working relationship with him, and this was certainly something the Rao's wanted, a CEO Who could work hand in hand with the Manager for the betterment of the club.

I then re-directed the question, stating that in some quarters it was the belief Mowbray got him the job and when things dropped off this season he had backstabbed the Manager and offered no support in a) getting clarity on his future and b) Negotiating or starting the ball rolling with Raos for a possible contract extension. I stated that many of my questions will be to dispel what's fact and what's fiction, and this will given him an opportunity to state the facts, in which I will share to a wider audience

He was quite taken aback that people would think he backstabbed or did not give the manager his full support or indeed that he only got the job as part of the Coventry jobs for the boys. He categorically stated Mowbray being at rovers was just a coincidence, and the plan was always for TM to have a discussion at the end of the season with the owners as a mutual agreement which was always the case. He stated he has worked with TM now for half his own football career, and has always had a great relationship with him, where each could talk open and frank regarding how the club is taken forward. He stated he was a big supporter of the Academy, as he was at Coventry who had produced players like Maddison etc. He suggested early on in his tenure to TM The need to explore the talent we have coming through, and try and bring these players through, whilst sprinkling some established players through transfers. He explained in depth the funding of the CAT 1 Academy from the Rao's and the grants.

2. I then asked him if it was the owners objective/remit to him to produce our own players instead of funding transfers? Or if this was his view and vision?

Steve said the owners have never once turned the tap off and mutually they had agreed that we need to continue to attract the best young talent and if good enough give them the opportunity within the first team, however that would always have the financial support to buy players should the players not be ready or good enough, he reiterated the owners have never said no to cash investment when a business case is put forwards

I probed further into what he was saying, and asked if it was this seasons intention to replace our outgoing players with academy players and zero cash injection for transfers, I quantified this by stating that there has been suggestions that the Tap has been turned off and we are literally paddling with no money, are penny pinching where we can, and are being totally unrealistic in terms of both fees and wages needed to secure players as good as what have left? I reiterated this was an opportunity for him to dispel the rumours/myth if this was not the case

Steve stated that although the club feels we have a decent crop of young players, they also know they need to spend money to bring in players who can compete and take the club forward and help support the transition of our own academy.

I redirected, and asked are we talking a decent budget or one which will buy very little given the previous couple of seasons where transfer fees seem to have been next to nothing, frees or loans

Although he would not be drawn on numbers he stated a budget has been agreed to buy players to replace those who have gone, whilst special cases which require more and fall under the Brereton style purchase, would be authorised by the Rao's which has occurred already this summer on a player who we missed out on due to wages which would be an over budget spend in terms of forecast and balance sheet.

I asked how the Brereton deal come about

He said the club had a great scouting network, and BBD Had been suggested to the board and management team following some impressive performances against some top clubs during the cups, and other snippets. There was enough data, analysis to suggest BBD Was a bit special, This was suggested as a business case to the Raos, who asked if he could be the one to really become a future star? Steve said based on the data he had no doubt, and the owners sanctioned the special spend, (Like they did with Rhodes) which was above and beyond the budget, but was given as additional funds

I probed further, regarding budgets, and asked if he could confirm that the board and in particular himself and MIke Cheston sit down prior their visits to India and draft the P & L and put a number on the table to the Rao's of how much is needed to plug the gaps in the P & L, Whilst requesting the following seasons transfer budget.

He confirmed that is pretty much what happens, he has a duty to the club and the owners to not be irresponsible with spending or expectations. He said the Rao's are very wealthy, very supportive but understand the FFP Rules which we are governed by and spending more than what FFP Dictates would put us straight into embargo. He stated the parachute payments of others is making the transfer market even trickier and one wrong move could put us under embargo.

I stated that players are like widgets, and do we do an annual valuation report which is used to support additional spending, with the knowledge we'd need to sell an asset to balance the books later down the line?

He stated there has never been the pressure to sell players from the owners, or find additional revenue by selling players, as with Rothwell, they'd rather lose the player for free that hinder on the pitch progress, and this will be the same with BBD. There is a valuation and if this is not met, which to date is nowhere near to being so. Then with the full support of the Rao's BBD Will remain a rovers player. He was a big investment at the time, is happy at Rovers and we wont be bullied in the transfer market. We want to build a team around our better players, and although there is a time when we have to balance the books, this is very much driven by the board and accepted by the Raos.

 

I will write some more later on, when I've a bit more time as there is quite a bit of content

 

 

 Very informative so far, thanks for this 👍