Who is available, with the cojones and credentials at the right coin to fill the boots of the CB vacancy we so desperately perceive? I see Big Col turned out for the Moorgate a few weeks back, and even though we know he has a deeply dark streak, even the most blue and white tinted bespectacled ones amongst us would wince at that kind of desperation... So, who else can we reasonably go after??

Finally, big Tony makes a sensible substitution!

Ffs - hasn't he heard the old phrase, "if you keep doing the same things you are doing, you will keep getting the same results"?? I can't wait for the 70 minute signal for WBA to step up and Muller us.. if they do, I think Tony should fall on his sword..

Aye, but for all our champagne tastes, we still only have brown ale pockets these days. Has Chris Samba got anything left in the locker? He'd certainly put the fear of gawd into a few front (and back) lines at this level? Any update on the lad from Charlton?

Hmmm, Darren Moore, sitting in his favourite comfy chair somewhere not in the Midlands, thinking about tactics for tomorrow's game... It's going to go something like, "don't break a sweat for 70 minutes, and don't even worry if they've nicked a goal or two.. just wait for their legs to go on 71 mins, signalled by some baffling substitutions from Owd Tone, then just put the foot on the gas and this lot will crumble. We can score five or six in the time it took Norwich to score one, and Sheff U to score three... Simples!" I can't see Rovers on current form doing anything other than reverting to type, which means we are destined to enter 2019 on a looooow. Heart says, "C'mon you Blues' Head says, "Just don't embarras us like the past two lie-me-down and roll me in the hay performances"

Haha - Forest are a club in freefall too, and the last thing they are going to want is a deadweight with his head in the shed coming back into their ranks. It all depends upon the commercial acumen of the folks who put the 'deal' together - if they've structured it so there are get out clauses then fair play, we should probably seek to exercise such an option. If not, then we are stuck with Ben, and heads should roll in our contract negotiating team for constructing such a poor arrangement. I truly hope the situation resolves itself for the best, for the player and both clubs. I'm not sure what that looks like based on the evidence before us though..

Simple for me - I thought we'd signed a fooking striker. Now I know he is somewhat young, and probably not the finished article we'd rather have, but something tells me this lad doesn't know how to hit a barn door with a fooking banjo. Get shut (if we can), and re-invest the cash on some hard nut who knows how to head a ball away from the freeking nets at the OTHER end of the fecking pitch.

Feck it, it seems Sir Anthony of Mowbray has already lost the plot. Give him the heave ho, and get young Sean Dyche in as his replacement. (Typed with tongue in cheek)

Oh dear. I hear on the useless and completely unreliable grapevine that Big Tony has orchestrated the last few games capitulations in order to justify the need for shelling out on a decent kick ye up the arse centre back with come and get me captain credentials. I suppose there are easier ways to make your point that somethings gotta change, but this confirms for me the notion that Sir Tony of Mowbray isn't quite the sharpest knife in the managerial drawer.

Any updates on the game appreciated- am at the theatre so can't follow other than on here..

Fixed that for you

I think that is fair comment. If the manager thinks they have something to contribute, let them do it from the bench if there appears to be a need for their input. Otherwise stiffen up the backbone of the team, work harder in training on fitness and mental stamina over 90 mins, and man up for fecks sake Rovers!

Thanks for the preview, which made me chuckle. I have not so fond memories of Sheff U from the 70s, including a short stay in the police cells in Manchester following an away day train trip that went wrong (3-1 to the Blades I think), and losing a scarf to a mob on Livesey Branch Road after another mauling at home to the Yorkshire hordes. For Saturday, I can't see anything other than another galling defeat snatched from the jaws of victory. Something seems to have snapped in this squad, and despite the obvious shortcomings of a basically League 1 playing staff, I think we've been found out by the opposition at this level. Time to change things up somehow (as per other thread) and look to charge into 2019 with a renewed optimism and realism - we aren't going to challenge for honours this year, or even be close, but I do hope we don't plummet into doom gloom and despondency and a feeling that we can't win anymore. I'm expecting 3 or 4 goals for the Blades to be honest, with at best a late consolation once they'e put the game to bed. I dearly hope the Rovers pull a rabbit from the hat and come away with a point or three, but I shan't lose any sleep if we don't. I think we'd do better if we played in Blue and White, rather than that awful yellow big bird outfit that telegraphs our players' positions on the field much better than GoogleMaps could ever do.. COYB!

https://youtu.be/hKidQq-WZwM?t=46 Err... something better change. It seems there is no natural leader on the pitch, so when things go against them, there is no-one to look to for inspiration. I think a Savage, Nelsen or Flitcroft figure would improve results no end - the team spirit is there, the ability is (largely) there, it is just this annoying 'glass jaw' mentality that literally lets the side down.. Now, if we were to acquire a strong, no-nonsense and vocal centre half in the transfer window - someone coming towards the end of their career at the higher levels, who fancies two or three seasons as the fulcrum in a Rovers renaissance.... that would do me!

Games like the four coming up including today are the benchmark for the manager, the players and to a certain extent, the fans too. I think if we keep our expectations low, work hard and acknowledge our limitations we might head into 2019 with a lot more optimism than if we harbour unrealistic goals for the team. As someone said further up the page, sod it & let's just go out guns blazing. The worst possible scenario is a vain attempt to 'keep things' tight, because as we have seen at Bristol, Swansea and Nobbend, that just leads to disaster. Oh come all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant Oh come ye, oh come ye to Elland Road Go for it Rovers, Blind them with your brilliance Oh come, let us not bore them Oh come let us run o'er them Oh come let us destroy the-em Migh ighty Blues!

Leeds riding high with their comeback win against Villa to climb back to the top of the table... Rovers heading towards the doldrums, lacking punch, leaking goals for fun and seemingly unable to see a game out from any score... Yep, it has shock win written all over it for me! Going for a scrappy dink by Nyambe deflecting in off Brereton's right bum cheek in the 93rd minute, following a can't hit a barn door with a banjo show from Leeds' over-confident strike force. Get in there Rovers, and spoil the Yorkshire yuletide yelling with a back to basics bashing for the big-club bastards. Merry Christmas, to one and all.

Hell's teeth it's rough out there today. Not so bad if you are a millionaire chasing a bag of wind about, but not very nice for the faint hearted ordinary mortal lounging on pile-inducing cold plastic seats at the mercy of the vile elements. Benni would have been be-gloved and buffeted, Shefki would have been soaring like a soiled battering ram, and Garner puffing on park drive a plenty at every opportunity. As for the current crop, let's just hope they don't freeze in front of goal. Stick it to em, ye mighty blues! 2-0 Either way methinks..

Ok, but other than having a similar name to the fat playboy, who the feck is he?

My goodness, we are up to 8th as things stand.. I know it won't last, but it just highlights how poor this league really is, and how much better we could be doing, had we maintained even a modicum of consistency and avoided our away thumpings. Anyway, C'mon you Blues! PS I hate playing in yellow - I'm sure it makes it easier for opposition players to position our lot (& hence easier to get round)

I can't be bothered to be offended... Back to this afternoon's turgid dirge - uninspiring is the adjective I'd apply to that team selection. I'm glad I can't make it to Ewood this afternoon..

Before the last couple of weeks, it seemed like whenever I found myself in conversation about the Rovers and their start back in the Championship, I'd invariably end up saying something along the lines of, "it is really good to see the players working hard right through each game to get something out." I'd sometimes even remark about the apparent new and revived spirit throughout the way we played, which had taken root in our League 1 adventure. We were now, I'd go on, normally a team that would keep battling and battling until every final whistle... So, now that we are seeing stories in the local rag about players blaming each other for the gutless displays served up at knobend and piesville athletic, I am wondering what has happened for what seemed to be shaping up to be a cohesive and tenacious team, to now have the resolve and confidence of a bunch of 9 year olds versus dads. Any ideas? Has the spirit just drained away? Are we such a bunch of nomark primadonnas that whatever was there before was actually just an illusion? Will we ever get or mojo back? Thoughts??

Aye, but losing games is inevitable if you continue to do what has proven to be your undoing in previous instances...

I remember walking to Deepdale from Revidge in the early 1980s for a night match against the Nobenders. I have a vague recollection that we won, but the gloss was taken off the victory by being set upon by a group of angry yoofs out looking for trouble. Although I emerged relatively unscathed (I got a hefty kick up the arse from a mad haridan after tripping over one of my mates who'd been wrestled to the floor), I had to make the rest of the long trot home alone, past the UK's first KFC, Tickled Trout, 5 bar gate Salmesbury Hall and all, and I vowed never to darken Deepdales despairing doors ever again. The vow remains intact to this day and will continue to do so for the foreseeable. Let footballing prowess and team spirit rule the day. (as long as that means we sneak a win!) C'mon you Blues!

That's a pretty decent bench, and the Graham / Dack combo is due some fortune in front of goal... Cmon you Blues!

That is a solid common sense idea. Sadly it will never catch on whilst the dunderheads are in charge at Ewood. Nice try though.