It's a simple business decision. If you lower the price, you do so in the hope you sell enough extra tickets to 'make it up'. I don't understand how people are struggling with this and are talking about transfer budgets? By that logic we might as well charge £1,000 a season ticket - there's a clear link between uptake and price! Obviously, some will renew anyway, and there needs to be a business decision over the correct price to charge that will maximise revenue. My argument is our current pricing does not maximise revenue. If we discounted season tickets by £100, we'd need to make up £870,000 elsewhere (based on 8,700 season ticket holders). So it would need us to sell 2,500-3,000 more season tickets. If it's £50, that number decreases - so on and so forth. That's a simplification as I know we charged different amounts for renewers vs newbies, so that number may well be lower as it was the non-renewers that were shafted last year. As for the problem PNE have with under 18s buying season tickets, that isn't unique to them. People do it at Rovers too. I take the point on us having cheaper matchday pricing, but we don't seem to get too many walk ons. Ignoring prices, could we do more? We used to scream and shout about our offers, now you see the odd Twitter post. Can we encourage a better atmosphere by directing 'singers' to a certain part of the BBE? Lots of creative thinking needed imo. This could generate revenue whilst also creating a better matchday atmosphere - this in turn can impact performances on the pitch whilst still encouraging sales (I've seen certain sections at grounds grow and grow and increase overall attendances. Even Reading have a singing section that gets bigger by the week.). We are doing a lot right as a club, including securing our long-term assets, but we can certainly do more.

A big issue is the lack of fans after COVID. Other clubs saw a spike in attendance - finally back after empty stadiums etc. We never had that bounce at all. And it was compounded by price rises and being uncompetitive price wise with local rivals who have very similar demographics. Unsurprisingly, they are selling much more than us, despite us actually enjoying more on pitch success than them both (PNE, Bolton). 800 new season ticket holders is nothing to write home about; was a great opportunity to really hammer home the 'fresh start', with a new manager and young prospects to be proud of. Just felt like an opportunity missed.

Saw an interesting Scholes interview recently where he (perhaps modestly) said the left-wing element wasn't an excuse for him as he played there frequently with United. He said he struggled being away from home for long periods etc. You're still right though, Scholes would have improved that centre midfield. Could even have considered a change in formation to encompass all 3. No doubt that Lampard and Gerrard underperformed together for England.

xG is so misunderstood - I don't swear by it, but to suggest it's nonsense is just daft. How many times have we said 'we had 20 shots today and didn't score' or 'their keeper made 10 saves'. This is just an extension of that. It's obviously flawed but so are any other statistics in football. I appreciate it doesn't factor in the 'well if we didn't score then we would have been attacking more and creating more chances' but you can apply that to corners, shots, possession too. One thing that rang true last year is xG was highly predictive of performance and a lot of teams who were performing well/creating chances earlier in the season but perhaps underperforming on points often ended up doing alright. Celtic were 5 or 6 behind but my xG loving (too much in his case) mate swore they'd end up as champions because their performances were statistically much better than Rangers. Obviously it doesn't factor in individual players. Neither does shots, or shots on target. Clearly Diaz is more likely to score a similar chance than Chris Brown. But better players tend to outperform their xG. We saw Kaminski make saves that Walton wouldn't have made - otherwise we'd have lost or drawn on the weekend. If anything, how much a player outperforms their xG is a great sign of how talented they are or how clinical they are. I'm by no means an xG fanboy, and choose instead to see it as a small bit of context alongside all the other statistics and events that occur in a game. But I must disagree that it's pointless - it's usually pretty accurate (if you have a big enough sample size of data, game by game it will fluctuate). Seen a lot of posts decrying statistics recently as pointless - 'only one thing matters' - clearly the score is the most important, but I really really hope and expect JDT and our staff are much more receptive to statistics than some supporters. And I agree there's no substitute for watching the game with your own eyes and drawing conclusions, but anyone watching on the weekend would have said Birmingham were unlucky - a conclusion supported by statistics. Back on point, we are good. We have a great keeper, solid defence, a midfield who are developing and the best striker in the league. Are we top 2 worthy? Who knows, but I'm going to really enjoy finding out.

Don't really know any Leeds fans, but I think a lot mourn the sacking of Bielsa. It was done for the typical 'stay in the Prem at all costs' reasons, but remember a lot saying that his style of football and demeanour (as well as his success) should have afforded him more time. It's a results-based business, but the lack of sentimentality and ruthless way they potted Bielsa really hammered that message home. I even saw some on Twitter say they'd rather have risked going down.

Mowbray barely averaged a point a game at Sunderland. Can't see him lasting long there at all, and seems like he's dishing out the patronising interviews already. They've been unlucky with injuries to strikers I believe but throwing a 2-0 lead had all the hallmarks of TM.

Agreed. Until last week we were constantly overrun in midfield, and every pass into our 2 centre mids was easily telegraphed. An extra body in there really helps us in being less predictable, more compact and prevents the two in there being hung out to dry. And then one of them (Szmodics midweek) has a bit more license to support the strikers. Also, previously when it got into the final third we had no real focal point - we do now.

Football Insider isn't the most reputable source, and imagine this story has been concocted using Twitter comments. Largely seems to be driven by his partner's Tweets. I don't doubt things are tense and Dack isn't happy though, but don't think this is a 'new' development. I personally would love to see him back to his best here, but if that isn't possible then I hope he goes somewhere else and enjoys his football. He gave us some great times here and deserves to finish his career doing what he does best. Will always get a cheer from me. I think he can offer something, but probably more often than not off the bench. And we can't really knock JDT not playing him when we win - his justification over the last week can simply be 6 points out of 6.

Can't argue with how it's gone. Was really concerned post-Wigan but we bounced back superbly. I'd have snatched your hands off for our league position currently. We seem to be playing well whilst rotating the squad, which bodes well.

I hope not - need a vocal away end behind the players for this one. I must admit at away games I can't remember the last time I sat in my seat, although usually there's ample room and never been asked to leave. Seems to be an almost unspoken truth that those who wish to sit occupy the lower part of the stand, whereas the standers gravitate more towards the back. I'd always move if someone asked, but usually take my seat at 2:55 and find a free one somewhere that me standing won't inconvenience anyone. Feels like the countdown is on for this one now. Hard to know how both teams will be shaping up given the amount of games between now and then, but it is bubbling nicely.

Usually the same - I might just try and squeeze in with my brother - will only be me so not too many in the 'wrong' seat. Not too fussed as long as I'm there!

That 2015/2016 season was a weird one - we actually played well in both derby games, despite the season itself being largely miserable. Tom Lawrence hasn't yet been forgiven for nearly clearing the Darwen End with that sitter.

Dingledome tickets secured! Hope people aren't too precious about sitting in the allocated seat, as will be meeting mates buying in phase 2/3.

If anyone wants to test their memory..... Blackburn Rovers Premier League Players (jetpunk.com) How many Rovers PL players can you name?

Comparing to the Kean issue was me over exaggerating the point, but 'he's not playing so he isn't better' just shuts down any debate. JDT clearly doesn't see him as better (rightly or wrongly). Ultimately, I have no arguments - we won, played well and Szmodics worked his socks off. I'd personally like to keep Dack as he offers something different, but he also deserves to be playing regularly and happy. I don't agree with those decrying Dack's lack of selection as ultimately in the last 2 games we've scored 4 goals and got 6 points - JDT lives and dies by such decisions and our league position would indicate he's getting them right more often than not.

I have no qualms with him not playing last night as we won, but the quoted part is just a nonsense way to close any sort of debate. By that logic you cannot critique any team selection for any team as the manager always picks the best 11. Imagine having that sort of attitude when Kean was playing Bradley Orr whilst Nelsen and other stalwarts rotted and were forced out - 'well they're clearly not better otherwise they'd be playing'. As I said, I'm not disagreeing with the selection, but it's just a nonsensical way of arguing it. Thought Szmodics played well last night - worked his socks off and justified his selection. Well played!

By all accounts, West Brom have statistically (yawn I know!) played quite well and been on top in lots of games. Seems they've been hampered by a combination of poor finishing and a keeper who can't keep them out at the other end. Although apparently performances dipped considerably towards the end of Bruce's reign as well. It's a funny league, but I'd be surprised if you're not in the top 6 by the break. That break will have a lot of newish managers trying to implement their styles after the latest spate in sackings, so a lot of teams could be playing more in their manager's desired way come late December (which might be to their benefit or detriment). Given Burnley's decent form and huge style shift, it's hard not to put them down as a beneficiary of such a break (and we should be the same!). Will be a horrible break for whoever gets beat 🙃

Very pessimistic..... also a good chance you are entrenched within the top 6 and in the top 2 (although I prefer your scenario 🤭)

I can see the gap benefitting them as much as anyone. They're also a team who are adapting to a new style of play, and who might benefit from more time on the training pitch. Then again, it might weirdly derail their momentum at this rate! 11 games unbeaten - the last thing they need is a break (although still a good amount of games between now and then for that to change).

Reading v Rovers, 2015. Dead rubber, 0-0 draw. Half the away end watching the Grand National 2nd half. Awful game.

Buckley has been getting pelters lately, and he has been poor. But he hasn't been helped by playing in a midfield 2. Every pass into the midfield was easily telegraphed as we only ever had 2 options, and the system meant there were a lack of decent options if the CM's managed to beat their press to pick a pass. That midfield 2 (with our 4 strikers feeling miles away) just hung them out to dry and left them overrun.

The Oxford game attendance showed people can be brought back into the fold, albeit that was a one-off game. However, they won't pay north of £400 for a season ticket, especially given we haven't ever made the play offs - those waverers just won't bother.

Burnley look very strong this season; even when they're off their game they seem to get a point or 3. It's a bit frustrating really, with the question marks over their finances this appointment and summer transfer window was absolutely crucial for them, and thus far appears they got it right. A poor appointment could have been a disaster for them. Would fully expect them to be top 2. Just hope that come derby day we turn up; we have to be bang at it and can't repeat some of the other away day disappearances.

Delighted with the win. In the first half we finally did what so many called for - get another body in midfield (much easier to keep possession when there are more than 2 options in there, previously we had 2 options who were both marked and it was all very easily telegraphed). We also finally played with a proper striker, and the results were fantastic. Hopefully puts to bed the Gallagher on the wing/false 9 nonsense, at least for a while. 2nd half was all hands on deck but probably just inexperience. We created more in the first half than we did in the last 3 aways combined.

This. There's never enough options when the team have it at the back, as the 4 'strikers' are miles away and any passes into our 2 man midfield are easily crowded out and telegraphed.