Is there any update on Dolan injury ?

I totally get the starting line up….thin squad , big league games coming up but…..what I don’t get is No plan..either A or B A manager who cannot / will not see when “ players “ ( I use that term loosely) are harmful to the club when they are on the pitch..Hirst , Mola, Wharton , Travis Away of playing which will have fans leaving in their droves….Mowbray was on a “journey “ and we all know where that ended but this fella seems totally clueless re systems, formations….he doesn’t “ get “ what we at Ewood Park expect…not wins every week but a team who have some pride in the shirt and a rough idea of what they’re supposed to be doing I know we are third …….I believe more by luck than anything JDT had put together… but this set up lacks thought, balls and respect for the ones of us who remain at Ewood ..yet again I journey home full of embarrassment, anger , frustration…and most of all hopelessness…merry bloody Christmas!

For weeks it’s been obvious that we are a very poor football team…..we’ve managed some wins by the odd goal and these results have masked the painful truth…not technically good enough, not brave enough, not fit enough…..with a manager who has as smile for every question …but an answer for NOTHING ….some very tough days ahead .

If Travis is deemed capable of wearing a Rovers shirt …so am I and I’m 71 years of age…his decision making is nil , his fitness is poor and his technique is …no words

I had no time for Mowbray …but this is worse than any thing under him….JDT ….TOTALLY out of his depth

Utterly appalling…JDT …hang your head in shame…your team ( more importantly OUR team ) ….is an embarrassment..

I was at Wigan…I was livid with the non performance…but today …livid doesn’t come close….It’s taken until now to try to process the utterly appalling performance both on the pitch and in the dug out. The “ selection” was baffling …a midfield of little boys… in age, experience, character and ….balls . Thomason week after week insists on the suicide passing out …when Travis is his receiving midfield player….WHAT is that about ..he’s not good enough mentally, physically, tactically….a VERY poor player …Morton and Garrett looked what they are …kids Ayala is THE reason we fail at the back …far too slow…he invites trouble..then puts some other poor bugger in bother….he was nothing short of appalling today ….to play Mola in a game of this magnitude was unforgivable….to bring on Vale ( to mark Barnes at their corners !!!!!!) was embarrassing….we are in a false league position…and this defeat has been coming ..but what angers me the most is the casual approach , the lack of guts , the lack of pride …JDT is entirely responsible…..

Embarrassing…all responsibility must be at the door of JDT …Back to Mowbray type selection …square pegs, no urgency , appalling standard of passing , a manager unable / unwilling to see the obvious failings after 10 minutes …they will struggle for walk on support following with this pathetic display….LIVID

Not sure what I’d play at the back or up front…. but I do know that we cannot function with a two man midfield….irrespective of personnel..any combo of Travis , Buckley, Wharton, Morton ..as a pair …no chance . They have neither the guile, the experience, the muscle ,nor the legs…..shown perfectly in the back having to bypass the midfield at Luton JDT must address this current weakness….particularly against the Millwalls of the world ..

Poor…..…..but what concerns me more is the fact that JDT continued with a futile line of attack…not working in the 10th minute, the 40th minute, the 80th ..yes, he changed the personnel ..but not the system..it was failed attack after failed attack…and defensively we were so exposed. Travis is NOT a full back.. and there were times today when I questioned whether he was a footballer….shocking first touch, dire positioning , wreck less. Pickering..a decent 45 …then reverted to type..slow, no forward ball , not championship standard Wharton and Morton are obviously footballers and the best is yet to come ..but, currently, without additional steel in there with them , they are exposed..as happened yesterday, time and again . Dack was too deep ( plan or …does he find the game easier there )?? …because of this offered no support to Hirst. …surprised to see him subbed on 45. Hedges had good and bad moments …takes a long time to sort out his feet….opportunities then pass him by. We had some Brereton and we had some Diaz…took his goal well Hirst…had great opportunity in the opening minutes…had that gone in ?? The score line flattered us …they were much better in every area of the park…I believe this season will be one of good and dark days whilst a new philosophy/ system takes shape … but I want more steel, more leadership and a defensive set up which makes us hard to beat…these are prerequisites …and I look for more from JDT ..he cannot continue with a system for 90 mins when it’s obvious it does not work .

I know the squad is thin but 1 …. I’m really concerned that JDT can select JRC for a Championship game having seen him since June…. 2 …he can continue with the myth that is John Buckley … I know he removed them at half time but by then the game had gone ….we need men not boys and certainly not boys with egos ….A big week coming up …I just hope it doesn’t have a line up with Buckley, JRC , Szmodics , Dolan anywhere near it ….there’s thin and there’s bloody hell …..

Beyond a joke now…. .I’m convinced JDT is regretting his decision to come to Ewood….no backing, no confidence in “ the men upstairs “ , no squad depth, no development / confidence in Markanday, no fitness in Dack….no chance to do anything with this threadbare, inexperienced, lightweight squad .. The only thing he has is the support of the fan base…but how those numbers through the turnstiles will dwindle at a rapid rate unless we get players through the door…the bubble has well and truly burst ..boys doing the jobs of men on the pitch….and a collection of incompetent men doing the jobs “ men “ of it ….

Currently we are buggered each time we take the field …… We play a left back who enables the opposition to cut us open and get behind …..we cannot defend his total in capability … We are very lightweight in midfield ( Travis and particularly Buckley) have neither the experience nor guile to offer meaningful challenge to championship teams …overrun , out tackled , out thought .. We have little if any creativity therefore scoring opportunities are rare…. Until we sign an experienced, nasty midfielder , a left back who can defend , and a creative, intelligent forward …we can all forget about anything other than a relegation battle ….and I’ve not even mentioned a threadbare back 4 I know , it is alleged, we have no money but we have to make signings this week or the gates will die after a bright start, JDT will view the choice to come here a mistake , BBD will force through an out, Dack will continue to flounder, the Mowbray lovers will be in heaven and we will continue to be told that the academy is the answer….IT IS NOT in the current situation ….these next few days are crucial in determining this club and its credibility…if only those upstairs cared as much as we do….

When compared to the big boys in this league…we are babies…however I had hoped for greater guts than I saw today. Apart from Kaminski, Ayala and, to a degree Britain we were appalling. We carried Buckley ( and have done all season) …. If Smodiczs is the best we can do …just don’t…..and as for Pickering and Edun….don’t know where to begin …dire, dire, dire. Dack must be finished if he can’t get a game with this level of player. …I expected bumps in the road, a season of adjustment..but we can’t play be playing with what we’ve got….or not got …not angry …just fearful

I really want to believe in Buckley….I don’t doubt his skill, his ability to play a killer ball …but I do doubt his guts, his ability to graft …and sadly, his intelligence. Currently, he is a luxury , one we can’t afford in a 2 man midfield. It reminds me of the Flitcroft / Dunn pairing ..one worked his arse off one waited to be given the ball. I have confidence in JDT …and I believe he will have discovered tonight who “the men “ are..I hope more “ men “ turn up on Saturday.

Great result…good performance…Mowbray and JDT …night and day . ……currently we have a squad small in number… big in confidence and a manager with a can do approach to the game …haven’t felt this pleased in years .Travis without shackles, round pegs in round holes …WHAT !

As a very Anti Mowbray fan who chose not to attend Ewood last season, I’m not too concerned at the lack of transfer activity to date…JDT had to assess his squad…hard pre season , intense fitness work, friendlies …particularly check out Ayala and Dack. In the coming days ....look to offload Magloire , Butterworth, JRC etc….THEN…..Diaz needs to go soon ..I would rather we waited, as we are , than sign more of the likes of Edun, Pickering etc…IF the Diaz money or some of it were to be used to strengthen the team we are looking in a different pool to that of league 1 ….the next few days are crucial…I’m not patient by nature …but I can take what’s happening… To be back ( Mowbray free ) for the QPR game will be wonderful, it’s been too long….…I just hope we will get players through the door …currently, we’re not good enough ..but in JDT I have some trust / hope …never written that about a Rovers manager for 5 years !

…It’s not the size of the dog in the fight it’s the size of the fight in the dog !

Really pleased with this appointment…..he has lots to do and I’m not expecting miracles, I’m just looking forward to hearing positivity, aspiration and optimism before kick off….instead of being told “ It’s not 1995..and Wigan is a big club” I enjoyed my days at Stanley last season , made to feel welcome ..but it’s not my club. Now Mowbray has gone I look forward to climbing the steps to the Jack Walker Upper …welcome JDT !

Steve worked at Chelsea, Leicester and Everton. I know him well…currently doing consultancy in US ..he’s a very knowledgeable bloke , knows a player …..Kante , Mahrez etc . Was worshipped at Leicester , worked closely with the management pre Ranieri and with Ranieri but not too well thought of at Everton ! ! He would bring a wonderful skill set to Ewood , lives locally…..we can only dream .

North End have have shifted 10, 000 plus …reduced pricing , vigorous marketing eg leaflet dropped large areas of the town with new price details….meanwhile …….at Ewood we prepare for the sparse numbers and the morgue- like atmosphere. Is there anyone at the club who has a clue ??

Critchley is my choice ….did an apprenticeship at Liverpool…..developed both himself and young players at Blackpool….worked with a limited budget ….has it all to do ( not a yesterday man ) ….local ….surely we are a more attractive proposition ( no disrespect to B’pool )….. I know compensation would be involved and he would have a release clause …even Venkys can see this a worthwhile appointment as for Unsworth, Ferguson..I despair 😩

Hated him in North End shirt ….uncompromising, lots of gamesmanship, niggly ….but he knows how to win .. Just what we need …

Merry Christmas everyone…and happy birthday …I’ve waited sooo long for this !

Paul….…I certainly did not swap allegiances…that would never happen ! Rovers is all that matters to me…….always has, always will …but it meant I could watch some football on a Saturday, at a club which offered transparency , guts and gratitude to those offering support on the terraces …and a management team whose honesty is light years beyond that at Ewood . I am DESPERATE to be back at Ewood next season…but I cannot and will not suffer fools , or those who “ tamper “ with the truth, or those who drain positivity …when Mowbray had gone I will be back …