Jesus that’s shit about Trav. Throws up all sorts of questions about the season. He’s one of our best players. Maybe we won’t miss him since he was “marginalised and replaced by Holtby” but I think he’s big for us @Stuart

Sorry. I’ve wandered into an alternate dimension. When did any of this happen??

Whaaaat

Anyway hopefully we can learn from this. LOTS of positives. I’d still like a PL standard striker on loan once we’ve sorted out a LB.

Crazy how Marmite he is. He was our best attacking player by a mile. Drop him?? Jesus.

Holtby really hasn’t got 90mins in him at the pace we’ve been playing. Looked shot at.

I’m loving Ben Brereton this game lads, can’t lie.

Tbf Rothwell is getting shown up by a lad from Preston’s u12s. So frustrating. We’ve been good, bossed the ball, quick, lively and passing well. Then we concede. Obvs. Would still back us to win the tie though. Arma for JRC at some point.

We looked like Brazil this half then concede. WE ARE BLACKBURN ROVERS

https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/footballs-best-free-transfers/1r8ha2axvajlb10i5n4uau6foa ok

Very, very pleased with that as I’m sure we all are. Get a LB now!

He’s the same age as Travis, he’s older than Brereton, and he’s a full 3/4 years older than Dolan. That nutmeg in L1 was really nice yeah, but I really don’t think we can blame Chapman’s lack of progression on TM. Cheap gamble, doesn’t look like it will work out. Que sera.

Didnt glean anything like that from the interview that I saw. Care to elaborate?

The fact TM even went after Chapman just to make him available for the stiffs/23s shows the ideological commitment imo. Tough shit for Harry that Dolan has already shown that he can contribute more in 20 mins then he ever had. Get your head down, be humble, work yer arse off. Chapman was just a cheap lesson for us all that a few exciting nutmegs against L1 plodders does not player make. Clever grafters like JRC, Trav etc have an attitude that makes them 10 times the player. Fan pleasing signing, cost peanuts, but the lad just isn’t top half Champ material imo, and he never really was.

Barnsley get beat at home by Luton whist we were unlucky not to get anything away against a promotion hot tip that have with £40m players on the pitch, And apparently we are as likely to get promoted as them??? We are SO underrated and it is exactly what we need. Potentially the hardest game of the season out of the way. Sort the defence this window and top 6 CAN happen. SORT IT

Anyone else love Mundial? Or am I just a massive hipster? Easily the best football mag going right now.

He just isn’t fit enough, and although he likes a battle, he isn’t really a DM. I like his nous, shithousery, and experience in the squad to close out games and get the mentality right... But what I’d give to clone Lewis Travis and to have two players like that in there... It comes to something when I think that Evans would be a better starter, cos I’ve always thought he’s shite too. Where’s Davenport!!!? CM is as responsible for our goals against column as the defenders are. Downing flattered to deceive on that front last year.

Agree with that, we’d be right up there. Sort the defence. Get a Rhian Brewster type on loan, then cash in and replace Evans with a 40 game starter and we’d be absolutely pissing this league. Controversial opinion - but the fact we’ve even got within the potential of that, with a youthful, energetic, academy invested approach to the squad... Means Mowbray deserves a hell of a lot of credit. I just wish he’d sign some proper fucking defenders for once.

JRC has everything to be a modern fullback. Really good in the tackle (oo-er), positionally he’s a natural, runs all day and has decent ability in attack. But if we ask him to be a wide forward and rely on him to create or score it’s a completely different proposition. His engine up and down the flank and a good preseason did justify his start there today - he just didn’t really set the game alight. Put him at LB

I was really bothered. Had to put my “Raya No. 1” Spain shirt in the bin. Everyone needs to remember that Kepa went to Chelsea for £70m. Really not too much between them at all imo.

First up on Quest. Holtby still looks onside. Would’ve won me a ton off a fiver if he’d scored?

The people that weren’t bothered were either daft or resigned to justifying bitterness as means of acceptance. If Kaminski is as good as Raya then I’ll be more than happy. We wouldn’t even be in the Championship without Spanish Dave.

It’s a good point about the midfield. Think BJ had ran his race though and anything good he brings to the side is negated by positional/fitness related mishaps. I can see why we are still linked with CMs tbh Was Davenport injured?

Have to say that the substitutions to introduce Rothwell and Dolan was really great game management. Set us up really well too - game plan of pressuring Bournemouth’s shite play out from the back, which lead to BB and JRC being knackered. But then he brought Evans on when we were chasing a goal?? What’s that about?? Had to be Buckley.

What’s Damien Johnson’s role in the dugout? It is interesting - have noticed too how TM is sitting back now.