The Derby goal was Coyle funnily enough! I don't mind passing from the back, but eventually there has to be a bit of purpose to it (which the goal evidenced). Too often this season it has been slow, predictable and purposeless, allowing the opposition to take advantage.

They aren't half dragging it out. I appreciate it's our appeal that has lengthened the saga (or their unnecessary requests for additional documentation), but that's another week away, meaning he misses 2 more games. If we win, there's all sorts of questions raised - do we pay pro-rata wages/fees, is anything compensated by EFL? I'd assume not but there's no precedent for it either.

I'm absolutely delighted with how things are going. I feared the worst after Christmas when we started slowly, but we just keep grinding out points. A tepid, passive first half performance vs Swansea was improved upon considerably in the 2nd half, and whilst I didn't make last night's game, it sounded encouraging. I still think our lack of striker will cost us, how many times in that second half vs Swansea did good crosses come in only for Gally to make himself look 5 foot 2? Sorba Thomas is a difference maker for me. A touchline-hugging, chalk on your boots winger who isn't afraid to put the ball in rather than slowly cutting in and passing it backwards. How we've longed for that. JDT deserves credit. Through some of the miserable performances this season I've criticised him and felt extremely negative, so only right I give him credit now. It is so often all or nothing with Rovers - when we lose the performances offer no glimmer of encouragement, but we just seem to bounce back and win afterwards. Good to see and a far cry from the famed death spirals we saw under TM. A win on Saturday and I'll start dreaming.

I think it was poor from Tillman, but I do hate how teams (especially when in the lead in added time) feign injuries, kick the ball out and expect the ball to be played back to them. If you have 2 minutes to equalise, it isn't fair that a team can kill half of that. I'd love to clamp down on it but not sure how. Also hate the faux outrage when a player goes down with an obviously fake/exaggerated injury and the opposition team doesn't kick it out. That being said, that didn't apply in the Rangers game. It was the Rangers player who had gone down, and it was clearly going to be returned.

We don't fully know the issue and where the fault lies, but he has taken responsibility. I actually admire that, good to see the buck stops with someone. JDT was very obviously angry about the lack of striker - that would lie much closer to GB and JDT's very public comments. I would put Szmodics and Morton in the 'alright' category - I think Szmodics was overpriced. Brittain has been good (when fit), Hyam a top buy and I am very optimistic about Thomas. I am cautiously optimistic about GB, and hope the failings in January (wherever the fault lies) are more than rectified in summer. Simple signing a striker will be insufficient as we also need to replace BBD and potentially Thomas if he returns to Huddersfield.

I guess we'll see. There's every chance he's been lied to, mind. The City wrap sheet is massive - maybe he just knows that any consequences will be a few years down the line and he'll be gone anyway? I wouldn't base City's innocence on Pep's press conference, his remit (if like any other manager) is self preservation.

Brereton manages to look absolutely knackered in every game at the moment, which I hoped the Christmas break would help with! He definitely deserves dropping/resting, however you want to put it, although we sadly have a complete lack of options to replace him. Hedges is one shout, but his lack of pace comparatively means we lose the out ball in behind. Dolan maybe? But then we are lumbered with Gally or Vale up top....

One thing I'll say is that JDT at least feels like he'll stand up to the board/powers that be a bit, even if slightly indirectly via interviews. You always sensed Mowbray was happy either way - lower expectations and all that. Don't get me wrong. JDT is also trying to dampen expectations, but it does at least feel like he expects a lot more.

This gave me PTSD. Some of those performances when in such a strong position were absolutely criminal.

You're largely right, but to me we just didn't create enough chances. Diaz should have scored his chance, but it was otherwise a series of half chances - Wigan will also point to a few half chances they had. Fully agree with the subs you suggested. Thomas was probably tired, but Diaz looked tired from the first kick and wasn't offering much. I'd have also personally kept Dack on - wasn't at his best but our best chance came from his pass and he looked more likely than most. The game was screaming out for Dolan last night, a few through balls eluded Gally but Dolan may have benefitted more.

Absolutely dire. Too many performances like that to suggest they are deviating in any way from the manager’s instructions. Slow, ponderous, predictable. Positives - Thomas, JRC, Travis, Pears. Negatives - Diaz absolutely pitiful. Ruined most good attacks and gave away silly free kicks. Vale is anonymous and Gallagher wasn’t much better sadly - we are dying for a striker. Subbing off Dack was absolutely nonsensical and seemed to ire the fans, Morton and Szmodics both had no impact. Killed the game that sub. Wouldn’t have minded seeing Dolan. The fans in the ground seemed restless and bored. This was a poor performance versus an absolutely garbage side who will be a league below us next year.

I was pissed off we hadn't selected a striker. Now I'm apoplectic. Where is the professional pride?

Utter circus. At a normal club you'd expect repercussions, but there'll be a shrug of the shoulders and confusion as to why half the fans can't be arsed with this utter shitshow anymore.

Absolute circus. O'Brien could be the difference between promotion and staying down, the margins are that high. A well rated player who we never thought we could get, yet someone has dropped a clanger. The explanation I keep seeing about the second part of the deal causing issues doesn't tally up with there also being issues with the other lad. It's bloody useless. Best case scenario - he signs but isn't ready for Monday as it won't get done til Friday. JDT must be absolutely seething, no doubt sold a dream by GB etc but the same old pisspoor unprofessionalism still seems to reign supreme at circus Ewood.

Marketing 101 down at Ewood

Wasn't sure where to post this, but £25 for a midweek vs Blackpool. Wasn't there a plan to cap prices at £20 for midweek games? Or was it £25? Been a few similar broken promises this year so just wondering.

The worst thing is - when I went to bed last night I'd have been disappointed with just O'Brien. Now we are staring down the barrel of nobody. Feel for JDT if we don't strengthen, he'll feel he's had the piss taken.

True, I just hoped that this much lauded new recruitment strategy led by Gregg would yield something a bit better.

O'Brien will be a good signing if it goes through, but the lack of striker is criminal. We look so toothless up top. If we've failed with O'Brien then we need a full explanation. Would be another disastrous window from Gregg - sending back our 'top target' and failing to strengthen despite our glaring deficiencies. If we don't have strengthen when 6th, then we never will.

I think you're being far too generous there mate!

Apologies, clarified above. Saw the one post out of context, but now understand why it has a knock-on effect. Back on topic - O'Brien would be a superb signing. We desperately need a striker too though, so hope something is going on behind the scenes.

Apologies, I realised after my latest post and edited my reply - but not in time it seems! Just saw the one picture out of context and made an arse of myself 😆 Been a bit late to the transfer rumour party and didn't know Sheffield United were in the hunt as well. Makes total sense though! *removes egg from face*

I just think we have no chance of Berge - he's being sought after by clubs far bigger than ourselves and any loan fee would be absolutely eye watering relative to our budget. Wanting him is one thing, but the main blocker for Newcastle getting him is the fact they want a loan deal (rather than a £20m permanent deal). There's no way we can compete with them or any other Premier League club. EDIT - apologies if the Berge post was referenced as it increases our chance of getting O'Brien. Can see why him staying there would increase the chances of us signing O'Brien!

Guessing this is a wind up! A centre midfielder would be lovely, but please Rovers - someone who can put the ball in the net. Or at least lead the line.

Agreed - far too easy to play against, especially when BBD is having a quiet/poor game. It's all a bit slow/pedestrian.