Even an optimistic best case scenario is pretty horrible replacement wise. Downing, Johnson, Mulgrew, Graham plus the loans all won't be here next season. Now for some that's not a great loss but as you say, given TMs record in the transfer market it's rather risky. And as we found with Mulgrew this season letting someone go without a replacement is worse than even a limited player. Of the big signings made not masses have worked out - Dack aside and Downing if you count him as one of our big signings, but Bereton, Gallagher and Whittingham all show that TM isn't great at getting in top quality. Wouldn't like him to have to find the next Dack or Travis say. Also given we replaced Raya with Walton you do wonder as to how well TM can judge players in general. And that's assuming he gets the right players through the door he will play them in their proper positions. We wasted Reid, had strikers shunted to the wing, am not sure how anyone would really feel about our chances of development and progress if we evaluate the current transfer record.

This sums up my thoughts although eventually I think we'll succumb and get relegated. Maybe not this year (although who knows?) but if we are hovering around lower mid table for the duration under TM sooner or later when we do a bit worse than our average (which is pretty unimpressive and explained by Rev's post) or get some bad luck then we'll go down.

Surprisingly so. Let's see how long it lasts, but he has already done better than I expected he would. That said, perhaps Huddersfield aren't as broken as suspected ? Seem to be pulling away nicely.

Not trying to be a killjoy but I think we are still in a relegation battle and one win doesn't change that. That said, in our relegation fight today was a very positive day for us, with some encouraging signs. The big positives are Boro losing again, meaning that there's now a 6 point gap between us and the relegation zone. A bit of room to breath is much appreciated. Perhaps we could do with Boro picking up slightly so they don't pot Woodgate too soon, but overall a 6 point gap is preferable. Equally, Luton and Wigan both lost again, and I think both, especially the former could be in real trouble. Home losses, even to good teams, aren't a good sign and I think both will be struggling, especially Luton as the promotion bounce looks to have worn off quickly. On the flip side, Huddersfield seem to be confirming they're actually an ok team with someone competent at the helm. Another win strongly suggests they'll only be looking upwards. Reading also won again, which surprises me, as they're one of the teams I think are perhaps more likely to go down. Will see how long the new manager bounce lasts, but right now it seems pretty strong. Good win over relegation rivals Millwall too. So overall a positive week for Rovers both in terms of the gap between us and the bottom 3 and other teams not looking mega secure either. A long way to go but a good week for us.

A very good win given the opposition are a good team. I still don't rate TM, but wins like this mean that I can sleep easier at night thinking that there's the potential to avoid relegation as long as we keep picking up the odd win. Great to see another of our youngsters get the goal too. Apparently Walton at fault for the goal - the man is a liability and alongside other core issues has to be one of the first addressed in January. We're getting back to Steele levels of incompetence. Or do we have to play him as part of the loan agreement? All in all a pleasing 3 points which shows that whilst we are down we are not out (metaphorically speaking - obviously we aren't relegated!)

Factor in that we haven't really been that unlucky in that time, or we deserve what we have got, what happen if/when we do get a bit of bad luck, say a couple of unfortunate injuries or a result or two worse than what we deserve? There's no margin for error whatsoever. Oh and btw I don't count our defensive injuries as bad luck but bleeding obvious given no depth and injury prone defenders. Were Dack or Travis to get injured however it doesn't bare thinking about.

So many issues with this. As others have said our failure is because we are doing badly not because of raised expectations. It's not ambitious to expect strikers to score a few goals and not to throw away 2 goal leads. For me when the message is for Pune not fans then it's time to go. No need to mention his family and the whole raised expectations makes things look worse than they are is so disingenuous that it is clearly also aimed at Pune. Also Tony you don't need to worry about bouncing round mid table as we are looking like relegation candidates and a bottom 6 team under your guidance.

Really enjoying these columns, well written and a fun read. Not sure for me this run feels different from last season's mega bad run other than the fact that there's more frustration because of the same blasted mistakes as last season, which is astounding. Both looked like we couldn't buy a win, looked relegation candidates and had deep lying issues that a win or two would only paper over. Worrying times.

Agree. Stoke like Sunderland before them seem to be less than the sum of their parts and massively underperforming. That said given he got Norwich promoted and is doing an excellent job down the road with limited resources it was inevitable someone would become interested in him. Also surprised they potted Jones now after recent results bar Saturday were ok. Figured if he wasn't sacked 3 or 4 games ago, that they would give him a bit longer given most of the last few games have gone ok. Perhaps it was because they have someone lined up/don't want to miss out on a target?

The fear of us getting a worse replacement must be weighing heavy on many fans too. Another legacy of Kean and Coyle is all other managers look mega stars in comparison. Thus both expectations of what a manager could do and hope any new man would be better are at rock bottom. For me, I think we're picking up downwards momentum and TM, who was never that good, has completely lost it, and therefore think the risks are minimal in a replacement. I also don't think a club can prosper when the manager choses his own boss and that needs sorting too. (Ideally Venkys bog off too but thinking realistically the first 2 things can and need to happen.) However with Coyle the last but one appointment I can see why fans are wary. For me the rewards outweigh the risks of continuing our free fall under TM but even so, even the most ardent of Tony Out stance fans will be more than a little nervous as to who comes into the hotseat. Not that it matters - he is as safe as houses with this lot in charge.

And who they replace him with too! Think Reading must be candidates for relegation appointing the rookie Bowen. No experience of being a number 1, and having made the change recently then he's likely to be in post for a while. Must make Reading one of the favourites for relegation imo. Who you appoint is just as important as getting rid of the last incumbant.

Utterly appalling. Not sure how they can justify this whatsoever.

Reflecting on it my biggest gripe was the lack of subs. Why? We were clearly struggling and TM has cost us points with needless subs on countless occasions (Holtby Vs Hudds being the most recent) yet when a change is actually - and clearly - needed he doesn't make one. Why? It seems out of character and against common sense, and without going too conspiracy theorist I am curious why in light of these facts we don't see any substitutions.

No and that is a hope. It got us our of jail last time and it might do this time too. Problem is that TM hasn't done well the last 12 months an Gibson generally knows what he is doing. That said it is far from impossible and we can hope for it as it doubly benefits us, weakening a rival and allowing us to get a new broom in.

Right now we are second.. ... In the likely relegation candidates mini-table. Only Millwall are above us. I rate their manager so think they may be safe because of that, but their thin squad and budget could mean they are embroiled. Rookie managers at Reading and Boro is a great thing for us. However should Boro get shut of Woodgate I fear a decent manager would get them climbing out. Reading having made one change already, could be looking very likely for the drop. Huddersfield with a competent manager now at the helm and a decent squad probably should continue to climb and get out of trouble. Wigan and Luton I think could go either way. Teams capable of good performances or getting battered depending on the day. Neither team has huge resources so definitely both will be in the relegation mix. Stoke and Barnsley I feel could be in real trouble, especially Barnsley with their low budget too. Stoke's mini revival stalled today but they may be one of those clubs which are all internally wrong. Their manager is solid but it doesn't seem to be working out there. Both could we be in the mix, although an astute change by Stoke could make a difference. So Hudds and Millwall to sneak out - leaving it 3 from 8. Probably 3 from 7 when Boro finally pot Woodgate. Just under 50% chance from those very simplistic odds of how many teams there are who will be struggling. It's going to be tight.

My big issue is that there isn't progress. Take today's team. Walton- deciding we weren't happy with an inconsistent young keeper, evidently from part way through last season, and the best we can come up with is a worse one, who isn't even ours? Centre back - 5 windows later the best we have is a converted left back who has been average at best, and wasn't even played there until injuries struck, and a kid who hasn't massively played there. Ok injuries are an issue but we have had 2 seasons of that and not compensated accordingly - it's hardly a surprise. Our defensive midfielders were the two we settled on in league 1. 3 windows later they are as good as we have? (Actually they aren't, Travis is streets ahead but doesn't play. Madness.) No right midfielder, just converted strikers. 3 or 4 windows to get that sorted and we haven't. (Again perhaps we have in Rothwell but he doesn't often play.)! An heir to Danny Graham. Ok good game for Gally today but the beat we can do for competition in 5 windows is a striker who has one league goal and one good game at striker since joining. That's the best we've found after a lengthy search and £12 mill of investment? I don't buy the slow progress but even if I did, it isn't happening. We're no further forward than we were before. And results bare this out. Since we got promoted we have utterly stalled and 2019 has just been one mistake after another. Get rid.

Getting serious now as it seems even when we play well for a period, the rest of our performance utterly undoes it. Let's be honest, when you can't get anything from the game when you are 2-0 up at half time, you really are struggling. My biggest worry is all the marginal results are going against us. Brum were rubbish but still get the 3 points. Preston give us an entire half and 2 goals and we don't get the points. Play well (ish) Vs Hudds and end with a point. These are relegation type results. At the very least you would expect points Vs Brum and PNE (if not, very reasonably 3 today) yet to come away with bad results Vs average teams suggests it's only going one way. Huddersfield have arrested their decline and I see Millwall have won today. Their manager is one I rate, and even if it's just new manager bounce that's a heck of a lot more impetus than we have. Stoke lost which is positive for us but you feel their board may be quicker than us to sort any problems out. Regardless of opposition- on whom I don't think we can rely to be worse than us - our form and performances are relagation fodder. Last time we went down I believe we were sonewhat unfortunate. It was a bad combination of no investment, some improbable results and all teams doing decently. This time there is no excuse as £15 mill onwards we look weak, scared and mentally fragile, not to mention we leak goals. In some ways our decent start may have masked the problem from the owners, but another month of this and no one will be able to ignore how we are sinking.

Thanks goodness we got rid of Raya and replaced him with a much more experienced keeper. Thank goodness we had Corey Evans and Bennett to protect our defence. Who knew 4 windows later we couldn't find better. Thank goodness defenders are coming adding defensive solidity. Not too sure how 2019 has been anything but a disaster and how TM can still be in the Rovers hotseat at the end of it.

The bar is so low at Ewood that we have to dig it out of the ground! So we are happy for Preston sodding NE to potentially be better than us? A team with no premiership experience , a team that could only dream of spending our outlay on wages and transfer fees, a team that hasn't been in the playoffs in years. And we are ok with them being better than us?!? TM can do one with that kind of attitude. My patience snapped when Bowyer started spouting utter drivel and now TM is no better. Just bog off with your none aspirations, crap transfer record and genius ideas of playing players out of position.

Yes! Aside from being a relatively big club in the overall football pyramid - bigger than league 1 downwards and some championship teams - we have basket case owners which has a plus side of a ready made excuse and no harm to the rep if fails. That makes us attractive as does a competitive transfer budget and wages, no targets or expectations, placid fans, comparisons to the dross beforehand giving them lots of leeway and some very easily fixable issues all of which make Rovers look good to a manager.

Shame nobody told Millwall or Huddersfield there were no better candidates out there...

Great post which I wholeheartedly agree with. The academy in particular is perhaps a pertinent but overlooked black mark on TM. Only thing would add to the no hidden gems thing is that all the players are very, very well known to TM often having played for him before. Forget hidden gems we haven't even taken a punt on anyone. Was Gally the best £5 mill option available - am sure not but he was known. Was Gladwin the best cheap attacking mid punt we could have made - no but TM knew him. His utter over cautiousness extends to transfers as well as how we play. I've said a few times we always struggle to break down the team's we should be beating/are heavy favourites to win at. We've struggled since League 1 with this, it's not a new problem and the stats seem to back this up.

The fact that the main reason for a manager being kept on is that the owners couldn't pick a good replacement speaks volumes for how poor TM is doing. At any other club with even a small degree of confidence in the upper management structures would be calling for TMs head unanimously after another dreadful run of results. The problem is our owners are terrible at picking managers with the current much, and rightly, maligned manager being the best of the bunch! That shows how bad they are at it and have 2 utter disasters and a host of failures under their belt too. So I can see why people might be reluctant to change even if TM is a dud, which he clearly is imo. The question becomes when are the odds in our favour to risk a Venkys hiring session. Given we can't score, we can't stop leaking goals, we can't win and most damningly of all TM can't get a tune out of some talented players suggests we are sinking towards relegation and the rot cannot be stopped under TM. In this case we have to risk a hiring from Venkys because bad though the odds are, the current odds are much worse. I've never really rated TM personally, but I think we're past the point now where there's a way to look at things in a glass half full way. We are sleepwalking towards relegation and our ok start is only hurting us by masking the danger signs.

Genuinely think we will win. TM has a habit of picking up a win just as things are turning / looking dangerous for him and I think this will be it. With the win all critical thinking and questions will be deferred till at least the end of November Brum are in poor form with a weakened team, and with us being pretty poor they'll see this as a winnable game for them.which suits our underdog/counter them mentality. There's hopefully l the added bonus that injuries limit some of TMs more random selections leaving us with some sort of consistency too. Without doing a Mercer I think this is as good a chance of a Rovers win as any, and if we can't win this type of game we are in a lot of trouble.

It's amazing that two players we were perhaps unbothered to lose (I was gutted about Raya going) and somehow TM still gets it wrong. Mulgrew may be pretty finished at this level but he is better than nothing , which is what we have ended up with. Keeper wise we've ended up with a worse replacement we don't own and the money spunked on a non scoring striker. Given fans weren't by and large too sad to see either player go in principle, for us to be missing both shows monumental mismanagement of the squad/transfer window.