He gets an awful lot of bookings for a player who isn’t particularly physical. Last night being a case in point.

My criticism of him is he’s always on his heels when balls fly into the box but he was first to that header last night to open the scoring. Brererton had two very good headed chances last night. One hit the post and the other skimmed the bar.

I once saw a tribute band called “ The Jamm “ at the Liverpool August bank holiday music festival. They were honestly better than “ The Jam” because all three of them could really sing as well as play. I’m not in the slightest bit interested in “ Queen “ but a mate dragged me to see a “ Queen “ tribute band at the same festival a year or two later. They were bloody fantastic. They were from Argentina and called the Spanish for “ God Save The Queen “ - “ Dios Salve A La Reina “ I think. The funny thing was when they were playing their English was perfect but when they were announcing the songs it was very broken. The two best bands I saw there over the years were “ The Undertakers “ , scouse rockers from the 1960’s with Jackie Lomax and “ The Maximum Who “ . I took a mate who was a real gigger, he went to gigs most weeks, to see them at “ The Pen And Whig “ a pub in the town centre. I could see him pogoing down the front. When we got outside later he looked like he’d just got out of the shower. He said “ Tyrone, that’s the best thing I’ve seen all year “.

You should never give players a reason not to perform. Do that and most of the time they take it.

Nobody played well for Preston, they had a bad night all round. We managed to out enthuse a team for once and we played for more than 45 minutes.

I thought your pal had a game to forget. He was playing too deep with no support. Too many opponents to mark. That’s not his game. You want your playmaker further forward. Frustration crept in at the end.

I don’t think it matters much what sell on clause Forest have. The transfer fee money will go where the Armstrong money went I suspect. You either play Gallagher down the middle or you don’t play him at all. He’ll never be a winger. He’s better running after the ball than running with it.

Nah Jim, it’s Rovers style to crush Bournemouth on Saturday and then lose away at Big Club.

How many would have been happy missing out on the top six at Christmas ……… I’m not joking.

It’s galling that it’s taken whilst now before we get the show on the road but I really enjoyed that game. Play like that on Saturday and we’ll give Bournemouth a game without a doubt. Negatives for me ( the positives take care of themselves ) I’ve already mentioned Hedges, I wasn’t impressed with Pickering. Poor control in the first place then a lack of pace to recover led to the quickest booking I can remember for a long while. Most of the first half Preston threat came down his side. Incidentally the referee made a rod for his own back with that booking. After that every heavy tackle in theory should have seen a card. Obviously that didn’t happen and Rovers weren’t happy with him from then on. I’d be interested to hear Arbitro’s views on the cards. Whiteman could have had 3 in my opinion. Lenihan at right back. He played pretty well overall but in the heat of the moment a couple of times he found himself back playing centre half and leaving the right back area wide open. The incident in the first half were Cunningham got right in un marked on the back post and made a hash of a very dangerous position is one that comes to mind. He made a typical centre halves balls up of a good shooting chance in the second half. Discipline. As a team we do like a soft yellow card, Buckley especially. That has to improve next season. We can’t come bottom of the discipline league again.

I agree, I thought Hedges was our worst player. I can’t see what he brings to the party.

Right.

We played well tonight for a change. Preston looked very ordinary, I wouldn’t be preferring any of their players to ours on tonight’s showing. I’d give everybody a 7/10 bar Pickering and Hedges. I wasn’t impressed with either of those two. Pickering’s not quick enough for fullback and what did Hedges actually do ?

I don’t want him now.

We’ve already got 5. 4 for us and 1 for them.

Me too. My lad will be watching it and I’ve been debating with myself all day wether I should go up to his place to join him. I can’t stand watching half hearted, couldn’t care less, players wearing our shirt. What is wrong with them, Mowbray’s signed some real fair weather players. I wouldn’t want to be in the trenches with any of them.

There used to be a saying in the Lancashire mill towns. “ Clogs to clogs in three generations “. That’s what’s happening with the Chicken Chokers. What it means is the original hard working founders of the company started life wearing clogs ( poor peoples shoes ). The next generation did ok, they worked hard and they still had shoes. Then the third generation came along. They were used to having an easy life, did nothing to progress the company, and before you knew it they were back broke and wearing clogs.

Nobodies going to do that at Ewood. Not one person. Tell me who you think it is that would consider spilling the beans and coming out with some home truths to be in their interest ? It’s better for everyone concerned that we all sing from the same hymn sheet and keep spouting the party line. That way nobody gets their feathers ruffled and the gravy train chugs on for another season.

I’m tired of saying this but there’s nothing beating under the badge for most of them. An old coach of mine had an expression for players like these - “ Spineless bastards “. If we win more tackles, contested headers, interceptions etc , run further etc then we’ll win tonight. The problem is hard graft is two dirty words at Ewood. We like to pretend that’s all beneath us, Mowbray’s told them they’re footballers.

Dead man walking. What as he got to lose ?

Mm, it’s amazing what a couple of wins will do.

I don’t actually know him, or her. I just come past his place and observe the flags. It’s a block of maisonettes with a backyard so I’m not sure who owns the flag pole. Flying the Union Flag upside down is a distress signal apparently.

I’ve never gone into any game, playing or watching, wanting to lose. That’s just crazy in my opinion.

They have no pride.

Anymore than 99% of players never slag the manager off - until one of them has left the club of course.