The fact he says Darwen Cricket Club is only 5 minutes from Ewood Park tells you all you need to know about that post.

I do think Davenport will be fresh blood and hopefully a positive effect on the squad from last year so I disagree with the 2 usual suspects. But rounded on? Lol. Give over. That's a similar overreaction as the bandwagon comment I quoted someone on yesterday. It's comments like that that give the impression that people who are unhappy with Mowbray are unreasonable bullies who aggressively shut down conversation. No. They just voice their opinions which some posters, and the club, probably don't like to hear.

Left back full stop is weak because Bell is also fairly poor defensively. In order of preference for replacement in the defence I would be looking:- Centre Half Left Back Goalkeeper

What bandwagon? Explain?

I don't read every post as, if I've missed a day or so, I just go back a few pages to get on topic with the conversation. However I don't get the two points I've quoted. It's a summer transfer thread. Since as long as I can remember, rumours and speculation have happened. Just because it's just a random rumour, it doesn't mean the merits of that player can't be discussed. If your referring to something else, please just quote me a couple of examples as I really don't know what your talking about other than, what appears to be, you don't agree with some people and therefore you don't want to have to hear other peoples opinions.

I keep repeating myself on this but he was being lauded by Charlton fans most of the season. His wife then gave birth about 4 hours before the play-off 2nd leg and he still played. However he was poor in that game, and not great in the final. If you're judging him purely on the plays offs it's worth noting the charlton fans all said he was poor in those games but excused him because of the circumstances. There's many players wouldn't have played that semi final game.

The problem with Bauer falling through isn't the circumstances around why it fell through. It's the fact we have appeared to need an aerially commanding centre half since we went down 24 months ago, have gone through 4 transfer windows and the only centre half we have been seriously linked with in this time has turned us down. We have conceded way too many headed goals from crosses and set pieces for two years now, and it's still not been addressed. That's what worries me about Mowbray and our lack of action, not the failing of the Bauer deal specifically. We don't seem to be able to upgrade the obvious weak areas. We know we have another problem at left back but I fear that issue will run and run for another half season at least. Plenty of time left yet this window but I've thought that in previous windows and been disappointed.

Agree although we have had VAR around for about 2 years throughout Europe and this happens all the time. It's not a new occurrence, hasn't been addressed yet and I fear it's going to happen time and time again. That ref tonight should be dropped from the tournament immediately. As for VAR in general, dont get me started on the disallowed England goal against Holland !!

Watching the end of the Scotland v Argentina game and another VAR timing masterclass. Penalty given on 88 minutes by VAR. 3 minutes injury time goes up on the board. Had to be retaken as keeper came off her line according to VAR. Was eventually scored and game restarted on 94 minutes. Therefore there should be 2 mins normal time plus 3 mins injury time left. Ref added about 90 seconds on. At the final whistle both teams went to the ref in disbelief. Games should be lasting 100 minutes+ in some instances but it's simply not happening. We are getting 3 or 4 minute delays with only about 40 seconds being added extra.

The problem is I've said for 4 previous transfer windows we need a new centre half. I've waited every windows and it hasn't been adressed. For 3 of those windows it is well known we have been sniffing around Bauer. I didn't know a lot about him other than Charlton fans rated him, and missed him when he was injured. As he was obviously Mowbrays number 1 target, I hoped he would be coming in at some point so am disappointed that we've now lost him to Preston. Theres a lot of people on here decided that he is suddenly shit, who I expect would be saying good move by Mowbray if he had signed. If the strategy is going to be sign cheaper from below, rather than pay more money for proven players from above, it may be one that has slipped through the net.

Dacks biggest problem is his lack of pace. He also looks heavy but that's probably because he looks a bit slow. However I don think his work ethic on the pitch is as bad as this thread makes it believe. I can see a ceiling to Dacks ability which is probably lower Prem. I do think that, injury free, Chapman has more chance of an England call up than Dack if he progresses (and gets a game).

Laughable. Wait for Southgate to say something bolocks like "if we are going to change the way England play you have to expect mistakes like this."

The issue for me is not Downing as such. I have no doubt that he would be a better option than Conway for the role Conway was performing. It's just that replacing Conway like for like was well down my priority list. I'm not even sure if he needs replacing.

What I don't get with Goodwillie was, with his duck-feet running style and general lack of speed, how did anyone scout him and think he might be good enough in the first place?

Most people said top 6 was too early last season and that it was all about consolidation. They said next season was the time to be realistically pushing for top 6. I suspect the same posters will say this season it is still one year too early, a slow build is needed and the following season will be the push for top 6. Then it will be "we can't compete financially so it will take longer" We will never get to the season in those people's eyes when we should be pushing for top 6. Good recruitment and good coaching can get you a long way in this league. Top 6 has to be the aim from the start in the upcoming season.

His wife gave birth to their daughter a few hours before kick off apparently. Charlton fans commented after that he was off his game but to be fair he still played.

His overall midfield reading of the game wasn't as good as Tugay but I thought he had the best final, short through ball I've seen from a Rovers player. If the striker made the run he would find a gap to find him. Admittedly it was against second tier opposition but I thought he was brilliant, clearly a player operating a level below the level he should have been playing at.

I had both this and the Worthy final recorded on VHS. As major triumphant games from our past, Rovers should have the full coverage of both games preserved on iPlayer to view on demand.

Surely then another 'top 6' would occur unless you cut the money floating around in football in general.

I was just thinking the same thing. They got put out of the FA Cup by Wigan last year. They got dumped out of the Champions League by Spurs who had spent no money and who, a few days later, were probably the better side again in the league encounter. Chelsea arguably should have won the league cup. They may have done had Kepa actually been subbed when told to. On a single game they are not unbeatable. The problem in the league is the rest of the pack apart from Liverpool are all in a slump. Since Chelsea won the title, they have atet spend of £220million in 2 season but have regressed. Arsenal regressed under Wenger and are having to be built back up. As for Manu United, net spend of £250 million since Leicester won the league and are still nowhere near. Of course they are all dwarfed by City's spending, but there are 3 clubs (well 2 + Arsenal) that historically have had spells of challenging or winning the title but in the last 2 seasons have been nowhere near good enough against the rest of the field, let alone City or Liverpool. All of those clubs should be able to attract the talent needed to make the league more competitive and put up a stiffer challenge to City but in my view have failed. That's not purely down to Man City. It's also down to their own management.

I've go to feeling Derby will sneak this if they can keep,11 men on the pitch. I think Leeds players will get nervy and their heads will go.

Should get 5% off season ticket cost for every consecutive season you have a ST up up to 15%. Gives you an incentive to keep getting a ticket. Would make you think twice about giving one up.

If you've got Sky Sports, you can watch the midweek games on either TV or mobile/tablet. Despite having a season ticket, I missed both the Wigan game and the Derby game at Ewood as I could finish work at the normal time, get home for about 7.15, make some tea and just watch the game on TV. No rushing around like a lunatic to get to Ewood. The problem is, if that happens 5 times a year, it's 5 games I'm doubting whether I need a season ticket for.

They didnt go fully over but they went towards the fans and applauded. After getting quite a bit of stick second half I wondered if they'd not bother but they did.

Enjoyable game which I never felt we would fail to win at any point, even with their promising start. Bolton looked so punchless and devoid of ideas up front, with 35 year old Clayton Donaldson looking worse than I remembered from when he was at Brum. Thought Butterworth looked decent. Williams and Lenihan seem the best centre back pairing we have found although I'm not convinced it's good enough for a top 6 push.