DE.

I agree. I don't think the current structure provides the manager anywhere near enough support to ever be successful long term - at least as far as getting us out of this division is concerned. We're currently supported enough financially to keep us in the division (or get us out of a lower division) with a half decent manager - although I do fear what happens when Graham, Mulgrew and Dack inevitably move on, or in the former two's case become ineffectual due to age or retire. It'll take a good eye for talent to replace those lads. Our owners are very wealthy Parson. If they genuinely wanted us to compete they could get serious, lay the right foundations, ensure good signings are made without breaking FFP rules and put us right in the hunt - not too dissimilar to how Tan got Cardiff up last season. But we all know this won't happen because they've never been serious about Blackburn Rovers. We're an albatross around their neck which they seem to feel obliged to support at a basic level, but not enough to ever make us successful long term. And let's not forget the main reason we need such hefty financial support is because of the destruction they themselves have wrought. The supporters don't need to feel thankful towards them for that as it's their own fault the club is in this position. If anything we should all feel extremely angry that they've put this club in such a vulnerable and unenviable position.

The main thing we're lacking (imo) to get into the playoffs are leaders on the pitch. We have a lot of weak, timid personalities. Not enough players in the mold of Todd, Savage, Nelsen, etc. In many ways it's a team built in the image of the manager.

He barely bloody plays, let alone scores!

Yep pretty much, although Rotherham have been poor most of the season. Us and Wigan definitely ended up in a bit of a false position for a while, but I think we're quickly returning to where we should be nearer the bottom of the table. I don't think we're a bottom three team but we're nowhere near a playoff team or even a top half of the table team. The gulf in class between us and the better teams in this division is very obvious.

Apparently the word you're looking for is "competitive" ?

We just have to hope Mowbray figures this out. I can't say I want him to be binned as I seriously doubt we'll get anybody better. Mowbray has some serious flaws as manager, but we're more likely to end up with another Coyle than another... Uh... Bowyer? ?

Nope, just a fluke result, much like the 0-0 against Derby earlier in the season.

So 24 shots to 8, 10 on target versus 2 and 71% to 29% is competitive? Yeah, okay.

Sounds like it could have come from Steve Kean. I mean that as well. Delusional comments considering our current run of form and statistical inability to stop goals from going in towards the end of matches. I used to appreciate Mowbray's honesty, but if he keeps this up then he just joins the long list of bullshitters that spend their interview time talking to India rather than Blackburn.

This is pretty much the aim now, which is sad when you consider where we were a couple of months ago. Our season has totally imploded as of late and we're dropping points in the most soul destroying fashion for both players and fans. I really hope Mowbray's bullshit about positives is just a smokescreen and he understands how serious this situation is. We're free falling dangerously.

With all due respect Tony, take your positives and shove them where the sun doesn't shine.

Mowbray is responsible for the coaching of these players ffs. If they can't see out games it's because they aren't being coached to do so.

Frankly I don't think it would change much. In terms of quality our defence was near the top of League 1 standards, yet we were leaking goals regularly in that wasteland of a division. It's more of a Mowbray/coaching problem than a player problem imo.

I genuinely think we might be in big trouble. Performances and results are poor, but the manner of these defeats and draws - throwing points away every week in the final few minutes - is exactly what you see from teams plummeting downwards. The manager's recent comments - 'this is just where we are' - suggests an unacceptable level of complacency which gives me no confidence he can take this club forward. Very concerned.

If Mowbray left right now I can't say I'd be unhappy. I'm out of patience, this defensive situation has been a problem since the day he arrived and he's done nothing to fix it. Our defence looked shit last season in a league where we had vastly superior players across the pitch. Why does anyone think it'll change even if he's allowed to buy new defenders?

This team deserves no support whatsoever. Spineless cowards.

A dead ball situation was the only way we were going to score so credit to Leeds for giving us the opportunity. Now will we sit back and defend a 1-1 or go for the win?

75% possession to 25%, no shots on target ? we could at least try to remember we're meant to be competing today rather than the usual roll over and die performance.

Happy Christmas everyone, stay safe and have a good one.

Watford are a good example of this working well. They've been constantly derided by the usual suspects for chopping and changing manager on a regular basis, but it hasn't done them any harm, has it? In fact they've been massively successful. It's all down to putting a structure in place which suits the fast-paced style of modern football, where the average manager rarely stays for longer than a couple of seasons. Clubs like us are very far behind the times with a structure so heavily reliant on the manager and his immediate staff (of which I have to include Waggott as Mowbray hired him). It was exactly the same with Kean and Bowyer, our only other longer term managers of the last eight years. Both times it ultimately led us to relegation. Not saying that will necessarily be the case with Mowbray, but once Venky's suddenly decide to turn the taps off again...

They're third highest scorers in the division so they're clearly doing something right. As far as being aggressive I doubt we were being deliberately combative, probably just clumsy.

Hard to disagree? Without Dack we've got nothing as far as creativity is concerned.

Of those we've only beaten Bolton and Hull, I think? Drew with Ipswich, Millwall, Rotherham and Reading... Wigan only have one more point than Hull and they absolutely wrecked us. Preston just below us at the moment but also taught us a lesson recently. Bristol City on the same points as us but also beat us 4-1. Fair to say we're, unfortunately, probably sinking back down to our level. I'd say we probably should be in that group of clubs scrapping it out closer to the bottom, albeit at the top of that mini-league as we're at least able to get draws rather than lose most of the time.

It's always slim margins with Mowbray. We rarely ease to victory, and although we get hammered on occasion we largely only lose by the odd goal as well. A ton of draws are inevitable. The concern with teams like ours is whether we can get ourselves out of a tailspin. Harder to do when you literally never dominate a match regardless of opposition. When those margins start going against you, morale drops and soon it becomes a big problem. Alarm bells should be ringing because our current form is dragging us down towards the relegation zone.

The way Mowbray has been dealing with Brereton is like he's sulking over having a player bought who he never asked for. Keeping him on the bench despite the enormous price tag, only bringing him on to play the last 15 minutes - almost always out of position, and even when our main striker IS injured and a space is available the manager picks midfielders to play there instead. All very odd.