2 minutes ago, Exiled_Rover said:

He's not being asked to do as much. It suits his limited game. 

As much as some weren't impressed with his interview the other week, JDT's style of football must've been an absolute nightmare as a centre half. It's not even the passing out from the back as much as it is the positions you have to take up when we have the ball and the lack of protection you get from the midfield. 

It might still be worth it if you get more from other areas of the team, but I don't think any defender in the league would flourish in that system. 

Results elsewhere are showing how important last week was.

We can still see today as a step towards staying up with a point. Had we lost last week, and with other teams at the bottom picking up points, we'd probably be saying that draws against the likes of Southampton and Leeds/Leicester are not enough. 

4 hours ago, Bohinen1983 said:

I think Ayari looks a player too- only small but very aggressive, tenacious, skillful and can carry the ball. Can see why Brighton thought he might be worth a gamble.

Exactly the sort of player who if we signed on a 4 year deal, we'd be absolutely delighted. A 6 month loan when you're in a dog fight, it feels a lot more like he's just making mistakes on your time.

Having said that, he too is winning me round. He looks very, very green in terms of his game awareness I think, but that's understandable. I think it goes to show how tricky it is to bring in good quality loans who from the get-go are only ever likely to be squad players. 

39 minutes ago, Hasta said:

Therefore with players coming back from injury I expected it should have been fairly easy with the fixtures to stay up. I know we needed to tighten up at the back, but the football we were playing went so sharply backwards with little goal threat is was alarming. Add in 0 wins and its no surprise fans were restless. The last few games had shown improvement and then once we went in front at Sunderland we were excellent.

My issue with Eustace has always been he should keep this squad up. Yet people were talking like if we go down it wasn't his fault. Like he needs to be a magician to turn this squad back to even half of the form we showed up until Christmas.  That's where I disagree. Relegation would be a huge failure by him. If he keeps us up by 1 point or by 10 points, that is irrelevant.

Agree with quite a lot of this, but I'd add a couple of caveats.

The first is that when you've had 18 months being so committed a particular style of play like we were under JDT, you can't just unlearn that overnight and start afresh. You have to try as best you can, but it's not a simple transition to from that to a completely different way of playing without a decent amount of time on the training pitch. And that's the second point, we were playing Saturday - Tuesday - Saturday since his arrival until after Plymouth, meaning the last three games were the only genuine chances to see the fruits of his labour in my view. And like you say, there's been an improvement there. 

It would still be a big failure on his part if we were to actually get relegated. He hasn't been dealt *that* bad a hand. But it was a bad one nonetheless. I think we've seen how important playing Wharton and Trondstad together was to our early season form for instance. If he keeps us up, as it looks like he will, he'll start with pretty much a clean slate from me next year and we'll see what he can do with a full pre-season and with any luck a better squad. 

36 minutes ago, Torgeir said:

I actually don't think he'd cost too much. £500-750k?

Doubt it to be honest. I think if they view him as having even the slightest chance of making their first team squad in the next couple of years, then they'll want more money than any club would realistically be willing to pay. Even if they don't see him as a future player for them, they'll probably be looking to loan him out for another 12 months to get more value out of selling him next year. 

1 hour ago, Darwen Rover 007 said:

Agreed looks a good player, I like him 

I'd be amazed if signing him permanently would be an option - prem teams don't give away their kids who don't quite make it as readily as they used to. 

He's really growing on me though. I had a downer on both him and Ayari after their first few appearances. They looked far too green to come into the situation we found ourselves in. Physically he looks great though and he has improved markedly not he's getting used to the Championship. Even another 12 month loan would be worth exploring. 

1 hour ago, arbitro said:

It did and was a big part of that winning run. However Mowbray changed to that after the Fulham debacle when we shipped seven. If I remember correctly the next game was against Sheffield United and despite conceding an early goal we were solid defensively. Van Hecke came back after his suspension and slotted in with Lenihan and Wharton. Hyam seems really uncomfortable in a three.

I think the thing which meant three at the back worked under Mowbray was at least as much about the pace of Khadra, Brereton and Rothwell than it was about the defenders. Eustace doesn't have that to rely on sadly. 

8 minutes ago, Ewood Ace said:

I think one more win should do it. I can't see two of Plymouth, Wednesday and Huddersfield getting to 48 points. And with the later two's goal differences they would probably need 49 points to overtake us

If that one win is alongside a draw or two I think you're right. By itself, I'm still very nervous. Plymouth still have Rotherham, Stoke, QPR and Millwall to play, alongside Hull who have nothing to play for.  Huddersfield have both got several winnable games too, although 49 points is probably beyond Wednesday looking at their fixtures. 

21 hours ago, philipl said:

Effectively with goal difference, Huddersfield have 6 games to make up 6 points on us and Sheffield Wednesday have to make up 7 points.

I will get lynched for this but Sheffield Wednesday home is a MUST NOT LOSE. Draw that and Wednesday only have 5 games to get those 7 points in and that is assuming we lose the other games.

After the performances against Newcastle and Ipswich and the tonic of a 5-1 away win, there is no reason at all that we shouldn't be extremely competitive against Southampton Leeds Coventry and Leicester- play the way we can and by the law of averages we will get something breaking our way in one or more of those games.

We are not safe but our road to safety is now clearly marked.

Agree with all of this.

Not sure if this has been mentioned elsewhere but the Coventry game also comes as their third match in six days after they play Man United in the FA Cup semi. Whereas we have the full week following Shef Weds. Still a game that we need to go out and win, but it takes the edge off a fixture which otherwise would look tricky with their recent form.

2 minutes ago, Hasta said:

Todays dragging at work so....

TEAM.       W / D / L

Burnley       0 / 3 / 6

Preston      4 / 3 / 8

Blackpool.  7 / 5 / 2

Wigan         4 / 6 / 8

Bolton         5 / 1 / 8

 

OVERALL W20 / D18 / L32

Win ratio 25.8%

Having been at most of these, I'm genuinely shocked it's as good as 25%. Grim. 

1 hour ago, arbitro said:

And yet his style and approach was fine when we went on cup runs and were a whisker away from the playoffs. In fact everything seemed good until we went on a horrible run from December onwards. Players look to shift the blame too often for me and that is what Brittain is doing here.

Basically agree with that. I do think that defenders were basically left out to dry by JDT's style of play, but for the most part we could take that because it was worth it in helping us create more (until December, as you say). And Brittain's talking more about being too rigid going forward, which just hasn't been a problem at all until recently. not least because Gally hasn't even been playing because of his injury!

9 minutes ago, Lancaster Rover said:

Agreed, I think we’ve ended up with 3 products of the nice but unrealistic world of u23 football. All nice footballers and I’m sure look great in the pattern heavy world of u23 football, none of them have the guile to cut at at this level yet, and dare I say ever. Ayeri got on the ball a lot on Saturday because QPR let him, he didn’t at any point look like he’d hurt them. 
 

As for Siggy, I just don’t know what he is. He’s not a winger (at this level anyway), I’m not sure he’s a 10, he’s defo not a central striker. He’s a really odd player as he’s not quick, not skilful and doesn’t seem to be particularly good at seeing passes others don’t either. If he was an u23 on loan we’d send him back

I think Moran will end up being a very decent player. I think you can really tell that this is his first year as a first team player though. Physically and/or mentally he has looked shot for a while. He'll be better for the experience, but it'll be another club who benefits. 

1 minute ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

If we got £500 k from Stoke for him it’s a miracle.

It says something about the rest of our business that this may genuinely be the high point of the window!

1 minute ago, windymiller7 said:

No body else seem to think it's quite funny that everything now seems to be 'back on' with McGuire since shortly after that Orlando City guy posted a brief history of Venky's reign?

Venky's being shamed across the US, that won't have gone down too well I imagine.

I thought it was brilliant, but we need to make sure that, even if the transfer is completed, all that stuff just doesn't disappear.

To be honest, I'd be amazed if they ever become aware of it. They've never shown any visible signs of being bothered about negative publicity from owning Rovers, and some of it has been on a much larger scale than a social media post. 

1 hour ago, TheRevAshton said:

Let's put things into perspective here...

Arnor Sigurdsson is an Icelandic international , who has Champions League experience and scored against Real Madrid - he's only 24, probably nowhere near his peak yet and has huge sell-on potential.

We, Blackburn Rovers, play in the Championship. We hardly have a pot to piss in, and have some of the worst owners in the country.

If manage to sign him permanently, for FREE... that is an unbelievable bit of business.

Also worth throwing in his actual performances that he has put in so far, which have in the main been pretty ordinary. 

I'd be pleased if we sign him in fairness, but that's only when taking into account his lack of pre-season and getting to grips with a new league, etc. So far he's shown that he can finish and not that much else, so I wouldn't be calling it unbelievable business at this stage. His ceiling should hopefully be quite a bit higher than he's currently showing. 

2 minutes ago, Gavlar Somerset Rover! said:

I still feel sick when I recall the 0-0 with Yeovil at home. We barely laid a glove on them despite the play-offs being firmly within reach.

The 3-3 at Wednesday the previous game hurts me more. We seemed like we were generating a head of steam at that point, we should've got in the top 6 easily with that squad.

As much as I like Bowyer, he's such a good example of why you can't just rely on the talent of your squad to get you out of this league. Near enough every non-parachute team who has managed to get to the prem has done so off the back of picking a style of play and really committing to it. Whether that's Luton being direct or Huddersfield a few years ago. We were so passive and wishy washy under Bowyer, in retrospect we were never going to succeed with him in charge. 

Give me JDT's suicide ball every day. 

54 minutes ago, wilba23 said:

Moran and Brittain both looked pretty spent Tuesday. I think Moran probably needs a game out to recover as this is likely the most competitive football he's played consistently and it's taking a toll. He looked a little off the pace against Leeds as well so maybe a game off and then back for Watford, so Hill at RB and Brittain in front of him. Tronstad is an absolute colossus for us in the centre, was loving some of his recovery tackles Tuesday. If, and it's fair to say it's a big if, Ennis can stay fit he looks like he could be the focual point we're after. Seems able to use his body well, hold the ball up, link play and run in behind.  

I'm not sure that we're in a position to give Moran a week off just at the moment, but I agree that he seems to be flagging more than the rest of them. I think as talented as he looks, you can tell that it's his first season playing men's football. He doesn't respect possession as much as he needs to (understandable at his age) and that can really get highlighted when the team isn't firing. Arguably it cost us the goal against Bristol City, albeit Carter probably takes at least as much of the blame. 

I'm still very happy that we have him, but he'll need managing over the Christmas period, for his sake and ours. 

I remember when JDT came in he spoke about avoiding the Dutch disease - i.e. passing it about for its own sake. I wonder what he would make of Southampton this year?

On the face of it this is a really tough game, but I've got a feeling that we'll cause them a few problems, even with our stretched squad. Whether that will be enough to take the points is another question, but I can see both teams giving the other chances. Optimistically going for 2-2. 

Dolan out for 7-8 weeks! Not as bad as it could be for a knee injury, but still 10+ games. 

6 minutes ago, BigBar said:

Saw a post online after the Brum game after Sammie and Dembele both scored a brace and it was Peterboroughs front 3 from a few years back, Sammie, Dembele and Toney were up front for them. All have come a long way. Found it quite interesting.

They've seemed able to spot good goalscorers for quite a long time now. Dwight Gayle is another that comes to mind, but I'm sure they've had loads at L1 level. Clarke-Harris being one, and maybe Craig Mackail-Smith before then. 

8 minutes ago, roverblue said:

We have to be looking for a comprehensive win given our away form and their overall form, going for a 0-3 rovers win.

On the flip side historically these are the sort of games where we slip up and lose.

I think any sort of win has to be seen as a positive with the players we have out. We're a defender short of being able to put out an Unavailable XI which is arguably better than our first team!

                Pears

  Hyam    Wharton  Barnes

Hedges    Travis JRC   Dolan

        Gallager Ennis

12 hours ago, bluebruce said:

Personally it was his lack of apparent effort most of the time which bothered me.

Personally I never saw the lack of effort thing - thought it was just his style, but plenty of people bring it up so I accept I could be wrong.

Agree with the rest of your post though - I suppose we can't complain about securing the contracts of young players after what has happened over the last few years, but I thought such a long extension for him was really strange with what he had shown on the pitch. With any luck he can show his potential over the rest of the season and he can finally get his career going. A decent scoring run and there's a chance we can get a low-ish fee for him. 

1 hour ago, Hasta said:

I thought 'Big Club' came from the Savage transfer.

I thought an annoyed Bruce said something like "I can't understand why he'd leave a big club like ours to go there", and it stuck.

 

It did indeed. Although I always thought it was David Gold who said that, not Bruce. That could be my memory playing tricks though.

On the whole, Rovers have been very bad a taking the points from the low hanging fruit away games for some time. Add in the fact that their performances have picked up under the new manager, will have their tails up after getting a point from Leicester and that we have a perfectly decent Championship XI sat on the sidelines, I'm not as confident about this one as I should be.

Still really looking forward to it though, their tends to be goals in our trips to Hillsborough and with the way that we're playing at the moment it's odds on to be the same. I just hope it's more like the 5-0 of a few years ago and less like the 3-3 under Bowyer. One of my least favourite games in living memory, that one.

With our squad stretched as it is, the run up to the New Year is not looking kind. Leeds, Southampton away, Hull away and even Watford are not particularly easy games to be having back to back even with a reasonably fit squad. Three points and a clean bill of health here would be a huge bonus. 

35 minutes ago, Tugayisgod said:

Have to say that I think the standard of goalkeeping presently is the worst I have seen in my time watching football. We at Rovers have been blessed over the years/decades with some terrific keepers whose only job was to keep the ball out of the net. The likes of Jones, Bradshaw, Gennoe, Arnold, Flowers , Robinson, and of course Friedel. Kaminski also deserves a mention..

Now you are likely to see a keeper make a mistake or two in every game which ends up costing a goal.

What do people think, has the last 20 years or so seen standards drop ?

I think it's part of a wider change in how the game is played at the top level(s), and you can put the standards of defending in as a part of the same conversation. Basically if you're judging a player on a much wider skill set (i.e. contributing with the ball) then that's going to:

i) promote players who are good at that but not so good at the traditional 'core' skills - see Alexander-Arnold

ii) incentivise players as youngsters to spend more time working on all aspects of their game, and not just the typical aspects of goalkeeping/defending. 

As well as that you've also got teams setting up in ways which (by and large) leave keepers and defensive players much more exposed than times gone by. It would be so interesting to see how Brad would be perceived in the modern game. Obviously he was as good as anyone when he was at Rovers, but there would be plenty of managers who wouldn't even consider him these days, and not just at the top clubs.