I watched it on Sky. I remember because they did the strangest promo/interview I've ever seen. Before the game they wheeled out WWF star Shawn Michaels who professed his love for "the Blackburn Rovers". Did Richard Witschge play that day?

Rovers stumbled upon him after his release from PNE. He has outperformed his initial expectations but his poor days are a greater number than his good days. It was the same last season, and the season before. Overall I agree with you; he's a stable Championship player. He's neither quick nor strong, and although he does have decent dribbling ability, as @Tyrone Shoelacespoints out his decision making is woefully sub-par. If he's on anywhere near the amount of money is has been discussed on here he'll be off to another Championship side this summer with a nice signing on fee and an improved wage packet. Him leaving won't cause many consternations other than with commentators who won't be able to extoll him as a "livewire" and "Rovers biggest attacking threat" anymore but invariably his replacement will be someone of lesser ability, probably brought in on a free.

As far as Rovers current owners and executive staff are concerned it was a good fee. The rest of us know that it wasn't.

Rovers did get a good price for him. £20m+. It was more than the fees received for Shearer, Duff, and Jones. It allowed the admin to "self fund" for a time. The unfortunate part is that all of us could see how special he was and the fee given was a fraction of what it should have been. Cemented by the fact that less than 18 moths later he's being linked with every big club in Europe.

It's been a funny season. I've read lots of articles saying the same; the league is weak etc. etc. However, as @waynerovers posted Liverpool could end up with 90+ points so they have done really well. Aside from Liverpool running away with it and the useless bottom 3 the league has been much more even this season. Man U and Spurs languishing in the bottom half. Forest surprising everyone. Newcastle and Villa have the ability to beat anyone. Boring big spenders Chelesa may miss out on 5th too. If Palace hadn't started so badly they'd be eyeing the top 6.

Rovers won 1-0 thanks to their only shot on target all game. It wasn't a great performance against a team who want the season to end today. It was a throwback to Eustace's early wins this season; grab a goal and keep it tight. Rovers have no pace and no forward threat, but I am happy that Ismael seems to have stopped the rot, albeit too late to make the playoffs though. Sunderland knew their fate weeks ago. They weren't getting an automatic promotion spot nor were they in danger of falling out of the top 6. Neither the manager nor the players want injuries, so they've taken their foot off the gas to keep fit for the playoffs. It may not work but that's what they are doing.

I'm a terrible gambler but tonight's result was an easy prediction. An awful awful performance. again. The game was over 2 minutes in. This Rovers team isn't scoring 2 goals in a game. The first half was pathetic. There was some effort in the second but Boro let off the gas. Gueye was the pick of the bad bunch for me. Lost it every time it came to him. Spent the whole time moaning, then was lucky to stay on after catching the defender with an elbow. He deserved to be hooked at half time. I'm not advocating for a team full of Dan Burn's but Rovers are woefully undersized, which coupled with a lack of pace really makes it hard to score goals. Ismael has lost the players (did he ever have them?). Their body language is all off. The directors need to cut bait now but they won't and on Rovers toil. I feel for those in the ground. People want the team to do well so cheer and get excited. It's much easier for me in front of my TV thousands of miles away to not get emotionally involved.

I watched a couple of games over the past few days. Man U lost again. They had 23 shots on goal yet at the end resorted to bringing on Harry Maguire as an "emergency" striker who had an effort cleared off the line. Rashford scored for Villa. How Tarkowski didn't get sent off for his follow through on MacAllister is a strange one. He could have easily broke his leg. Leicester lost again, albeit away at City. What is van Nistelrooy's record? It has to be terrible. I see why ACD left Arsenal last year. My guess is that he saw Nwaneri coming through and realised that his days were numbered. I'll discount the fact that aside from his debut he's been fruitless for Rovers. One moment in Arsenal's game annoyed me. Gabriel went down injured on the edge of his own box. Arsenal had possession at the time and carried on playing. They had a shot with the ball breaking to a Fulham player and immediately all the Arsenal players are shouting at the Fulham lads to put the ball out. Thankfully they didn't listen and carried on, just as Arsenal did.

I've watched a lot of Rovers this season, including all but 1 of Ismael's games in charge. What I've seen of his team is one devoid of organisation, fluidity, and a plan. He had an international break to get his ideas across and the result of that was a toothless 1-0 defeat to a Portsmouth team scrapping around the bottom 3rd of the division. In order for 6th to occur fans have to hope that with 21 points left to play for Rovers accrue 6 more points than West Brom, Boro, and Bristol City, 1 more than Norwich and Watford, and at least equal Sheff Wednesday's haul. Current form is 4 points from the last 21. It's not happening. It's not defeatist, it's not naysaying, it's looking at current form, the current manager, the current players, and a history of second half season meltdowns. All of it down to Venkys.

Per Wikipedia, here are his overall managerial stats. His Watford tenure is a very Mowbray-like 1 win, 1 draw,1 loss average. His total win record in England is 34%. Overseas it's close to 60%. Why did he get a 3+ year deal?

It will be 10 defeats in 14 after Friday. I fail to see how Ismael can arrest the slide. Saturday was another mind boggling performance. Eustace's teams kept it tight and nicked goals as Rovers strikers are far from prolific. Since he's gone the defensive organisation has disappeared but the lack of goalscoring remains.

There is a lot to be said about Steve Kean and Blackburn Rovers, all of it discussed on here for years. He hasn't managed, or even coached, at any level of the English professional game since he left Rovers almost 15 years ago should tell all you need to know about him. He's also a convicted drink driver who'd defence in court was to imply that Rovers fans spiked his drink.

What a shocking opening 20 minutes, now with the inevitable outcome of conceding a simple goal. It's been like watching a Sunday league game with the amount of aimless hoofs forward, or just straight up in the air. Ismael has had a long time to prepare for this game but it looks like he hasn't done a darn thing. It also looks like it's the last we'll see of Owen Beck.

I missed Friday's game but watched last night. It was dull, but England won without any fuss. If Bowen and Rashford had a decent final ball it could have been 10. Bellingham was lucky to stay on the pitch. I understand those who decry the lack of quality in qualification. England arguably won't play a team of any significance until game 1 of the World Cup. Diluting the competition with 48 teams ensures qualification is a breeze for the "better" nations. Lower teams now have a chance to participate. Us English are used to it, albeit used to the usual slip ups too. What are other people's take on the rest of the home nations, and Ireland struggling to qualify for major tournaments, and if they do don't last long? Is it the fault of those countries for not investing in youth development? Do Premier League clubs not see kids from those countries as any good so don't bother bringing them in at young ages? Of all the countries Scotland has the most robust League but the pipeline that used to send plenty of players down to England has dried up.

What are you mad at? He's right. I watched the games. England were woeful the whole tournament apart from 20 minutes against the Dutch. Agreed. Nothing else does. Tuchel has the tactical nous everyone pilloried Southgate for, let's give him a chance.

Thanks for this. There are a lot of spurious claims in that statement. It's a tricky spot to be in. Stanley are mad that a large revenue stream has at least temporarily dried up and the council being an easy target gets the blame, but asking them provide the funding to retrofit the venue that the club built without correct planning permission in the name of regeneration and rejuvenation comes up short for me. What community benefit is there for a private function room? it's no different than any other venue that hires itself out for functions. Stanely are using the fact that they are a football club to seek to gain favour for a non-football revenue stream within the overall club. Would the council give money to a cricket or golf club under the same circumstances? I doubt it. There is a different discussion to be had if the club cannot survive without it.

Here's a summary of the situation; LT (formerly LET): Stanley to close function room @chaddyrovers Stanley voluntarily closed it as they didn't like the conditions of operation offered to them by the council. Homeowners in the vicinity, who more than likely lived there before the facility was built (as it's not like the ground sits next to a new estate) probably got fed up with having to listen Sweet Caroline blaring out past midnight every weekend. I assume that Stanely could fix this by refitting the building to accommodate adequate soundproofing so I don't know what Holt will gain by going public complaining about it. I doubt that the council will reconsider.

The Accrington Stanely owner is kicking off again. This time at the local council. They've ordered that Stanley's bar and function room at the ground close immediately due to neighbour complaints of loud noise late night, and they said that it didn't get planning permission initially. It brings in a lot of money for the club so understand why Holt is going mad, but what I don't know is the back and forth that got them to this place. Not good for either party though.

Don't forget his iffy distribution too. I've lost count of the number of times he's had the ball at his feet with no pressure on him at all and he boots it straight out of play.

I'm sure plenty are saying that now. Rovers are only 4 points behind 5th. The fact that Rovers were 5th with a 4 point gap to 7th a few weeks ago will be lost on those who are saying it though. This game isn't on US TV but I doubt I'd be watching even if it was. There is no excitement to it at the moment.

It's being talked about in the Adam Wharton thread but here is the full England Squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers; Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Southampton), James Trafford (Burnley) Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Levi Colwill (Chelsea), Marc Guéhi (Crystal Palace), Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), Jarell Quansah (Liverpool), Kyle Walker (AC Milan, loan from Manchester City) Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Jordan Henderson (Ajax), Curtis Jones (Liverpool), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa) Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Marcus Rashford (Aston Villa, loan from Manchester United), Dominic Solanke (Tottenham Hotspur) As always there will be debates.

Last night's game was utterly bemusing from start to finish. I am still trying to work it all out. Why did Ismael change formation? How is adding a central defender going to create more goals? Rovers have to be the worst team in the division when it comes to crossing the ball. It's utterly woeful to watch crosses and corners go nowhere each and every time. Rovers fans have been here too many times before. Ismael looks more like Coyle, Appleton, Berg than JDT or Eustace. Allegedly one of Eustace's reasons for leaving was that they wouldn't extend his contract an extra year, yet they give the new bloke a 3+ year deal. Madness.

I agree with you. Since returning to the Championship from League 1 (and probably before, I'm not going back that far) Rovers have always fallen short when the stakes are higher which speaks to a flaw in the overall mentality irrespective of players or the manager. Mowbray's teams constantly got beat off those above them in the league. JDT's lot had a near 100% loss record if they went 1-0 down. Eustace took over a team in 17th yet scraped a 19th placed finish thanks to a win against a hungover Leicester team on the last day of the season. Look what Ismael has done; gifted 2 terrible teams in Swansea and Derby extremely comfortable wins. Very few expect anything other than defeat tonight. Does Venkys abysmal ownership bleed all the way down to shying away from opportunity when it presents itself?

I went down a small rabbit hole on this and I'd love to hear an explanation as to why Rovers perform poorly post-Christmas. 2020-21 Rovers were 8th on Christmas day and finished 15th. 2012-22 Rovers were 4th on Christmas day and finished 8th. 2022-23 Rovers were 3rd on Christmas day and finished 7th. 2023-24 Rovers were 9th on Christmas day and finished 19th. 2024-25 Rovers were 8th on Christmas day, and finished ???

On Christmas Day 2024 Rovers sat in 5th spot on 37 points (1.75ppg). 11 points behind Sheff Utd who were top. Today Rovers sit in 8th on 52 points having earned 15 points over the last 15 games and are now 24 points behind first placed Leeds who along with Burnley and Coventry have all gained 30 points (2ppg) or more over the time period. Only the current bottom 3; Derby (8), Luton (6), and Plymouth (12), along with Stoke (14) have accrued less points than Rovers since the day before Rovers drew with Sunderland at Ewood.