5 minutes ago, Tom said:

He looks to have all the tools and potential to be great, at times I’ve thought his decision making to be suspect but that’s to be expected and something that comes in time.

I do wonder if there was an attitude issue that Mowbray wanted to sort out. I seem to recall he was given some time off after the transfer window closed but in fairness him being disappointed not to get a loan move to play football is the attitude you would want imo! 

Part of me wonders if Tony and his slightly old school ways means he doesn’t appreciate some of the ways of today’s youth, it was a throw away comment but I remember being a bit taken aback at the supporters meeting back in June when he said he dismissed a good player as a target when he came to his office wearing ripped jeans, a cap and had tattoos up his arms

Think that was the lad from Walsall who went to Bolton. Outzemer or something like that. Not pulling up many trees there.

Despite the poor run over the last nine games. Ipswich Reading Rotherham and Notlob are no closer than they were nine games ago. When those four are closing the gap then the alarm bells will be reaching a crescendo.

Bobby Svarc was signed by Jim Smith from Colchester United where Jim had been manager he had also signed Bobby from Boston United where Jim was manager before taking the Colchester job. Bobby fitted an alarm for me in the middle eighties and always reckoned Jim Smith had saved his career at Boston. He lived on Revidge for many years. Lovely bloke Bobby always happy to talk football.

1 minute ago, Gavlar Somerset Rover! said:

Whilst that’s not a bad side it really does highlight what pitiful options we have out wide given neither are widemen. How the heck has Tony left us so bereft of wingers?!

Tony doesn't seem to rate wingers full stop.

1 hour ago, Mattyblue said:

LT says Mulgrew was ill, he must have a chance?

He’s been under t’weather a few times - get the lad a flu jab!

Could be the Vegan diet!

Smallwood got the reducer in on Buendia early doors

3 hours ago, Gavlar Somerset Rover! said:

76 pages already. How many will we be on when he starts his first league game? Or dare I say it, bags his first goal? 

Depends how quickly he can develop that upper body strength. If you look at how Nyambe has bulked up in the last two years Ben is still growing at 19 could be a monster in two years time.

1 hour ago, Gavlar Somerset Rover! said:

76 pages already. How many will we be on when he starts his first league game? Or dare I say it, bags his first goal? 

Depends how quickly he can develop that upper body strength.

10 hours ago, Oldgregg86 said:

I will be going to this. Are we in the gods or somewhere you can see the game

Level 7 is in the gods

Got my Newcastle ticket level 7.

Northern on strike all Saturday's in January.

1 hour ago, Stuart said:

Raya was already in the first team when Bowyer was here though. Started several games (probably too early) and was a bit exposed. Not really a youth promotion, a number 2 made number 1.

 In a two year period there has been generally one that has made the step up to the first team the most recent examples being Lenihan, Nyambe and Raya these having come through in say the last four / five years. So on that basis we are perhaps ahead of par. Prior to that would be Handley, Jones Henley and Jake Kean some more successful than others.

19 minutes ago, Stuart said:

This is one of my gripes though. Mowbray doesn’t appear to have have any faith in the youth players. This despite them winning their division last season - so if he doesn’t think they are good enough to for the Championship bench or loan them out then the whole PL2 is a waste of time. Travis is the latest Icarus to get his wings burnt, following Tomlinson and Nuttall.

Mahoney got stick from some quarters saying he should have stayed but Mowbray doesn’t play with wingers - as Simmons will probably find out.

I’m not quite sure why our U23s don’t play the first team system to breed these players for first team action. Mowbray regularly attends U23 matches but doesn’t seem to use it as a deeper squad to pick from. He seems to leave them to it and goes out and recruits. For a club that can’t offer proper ticket offers for cost reasons, it’s strange not to dip into this talent pool more often and grow our own.

There is only Raya who Mowbray has promoted to the first team on a permanent basis in his tenure. 18 months ago seem to recall Mowbray questioning the whole affordability of the academy.

4 hours ago, Leonard Venkhater said:

Quite ...and if we had used the (apparent) £7 million to strengthen other areas of the team, we could have used the momentum...and been more in contention..

Got to say it doesn't feel right to me...

I suspect this isn't the full wack payable in January but is probably structured like the Rhodes deal with 2Million every twelve months over the length of the contract however that  initial figure and subsequent payments should have gone on improving the first eleven. Seem to recall Mowbray saying in the broadcast of the fans forum that the ? was made available and he was encouraged to spend it. Thought at the time this seemed odd in view of previous statement from Mowbray about not spending all the budget because the right players were not available. Seems to have adopted a different approach on this one

With this survey being sent by the club to absentee fans could be Waggott preparing a defence when tasked later in the season on why he has failed to meet his attendance estimate. Not my fault Madame. We did a survey and they won't come back because of you!

Most sane people know why attendance is down without needing a survey.

49 minutes ago, rigger said:

Personally I don't think there are that many people that fit into the criteria. Only a small minority who go away regularly don't go to home games in my experiance.

Waggott said there were 2500 who bought Preston tickets but had not been to a single home game this season how many other away matches attended wasn't disclosed

Supporters dont seem to have been aware of this blokes presence until after the event which is probably the best approach for any future visit by any of the family. At least he saw a good performance might have had different views if turned up at Preston or Wigan

Newcastle charging Fulham fans 30 pounds for game on 22nd December expect our cup match to be less

Ball no5 in tommorow s draw

53 minutes ago, Gav said:

Could this be the Venky hand meddling in team matters? 

I have no idea K-Hod, absolute speculation on my part, but would Mowbray use this sort of money on a player with potential only, when he's crying out for strength in other areas?

 

Agree Gav 7M spent on 2 or 3 players ready for the first team could have significantly improved the side. I suspect this has come from the same place as the Rhodes purchase

Just now, chaddyrovers said:

They should have been goals.

WRONG MATTY!

dont want him here. No dingles thanks

That's as maybe did they work the keeper?

23 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

what about Lenihan and Mulgrew miss chances from corners?

We're they on goal?

2 hours ago, chaddyrovers said:

he is being man marked out games and no effect in our play like yesterday or QPR. Yes he scored against QPR but nothing else. and who won the penalty and cross the ball for Dack equaliser against Rotherham? Brereton. 

I would play Brereton up front with Graham. I stand by my team I picked

 

Despite being man marked yesterday still forced Rudd to make two decent saves. Apart from the Mulgrew free kick don't recall anyone else contributing serious efforts on goal apart from the goal and the disallowed goal. Dack starts for me Everytime when fit.

3 hours ago, Crimpshrine said:

Interesting fact that was quoted by Steve Waggott last night about the 5,500 tickets sold for the PNE game this weekend:

Nearly 2500 of those fans have not bought a single ticket for a home match this season ( and are not ST holders).  

Is it that many folk just prefer the away-day experience or are big numbers still deliberately boycotting Ewood matches?

Didn't cause much discussion last night but I thought it was an amazing stat.

 

Statistics eh. Of those 2500 how many have bought a single ticket for an away match this season prior to Preston is the stat which would give a handle on whether these are away fans only or just single trippers to Preston. Nearly 50% sales for a single day out to Preston is hard to believe suggests numbers of home boycotters may be still a fair number

Hesketh Arms at junction of Blackpool Road and New Hall Lane was mentioned as a possible pre match boozer appears shut with the builders in.

For services to Blackburn Rovers.