Tyrone Shoelaces

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.

I can’t see it Gav, we’re on our holidays now. In fact we’re on our second holiday. We don’t get the importance of derbies, they’re just another 90 minutes to Mowbray and that attitude has fed down to the players.

Jansen was like that when he came at first. As we used to say “ He wanted a ball of his own”. Souey sorted him out pretty sharpish but he was a proper manager.

I try very hard not to listen to anything he says.

No Rochdale. This guy has quite a collection. On Saint David’s he’ll have the Welsh dragon, St Andrews day the Saltaire etc. You name a day , if there’s a flag for it, he’ll fly it. On ordinary days it’s the cross of St George. I was amazed the other day to see him flying the Union Flag up side down. I thought he was an expert.

It’s a real doss down at Ewood. All pals together with no rigour or discipline. We could play like shit bags tonight and tomorrow will just be like another day.

I was looking at some games from the 1970’s the other day, that was noticeable, throw ins were taken almost immediately and from where the ball went out. We spend ages inching up the line just to give the ball away. When did we last score direct from a free kick ? Surely one of them is capable of being a threat. Missing penalties etc. That’s before we get into my main gripe - the lack of running off the ball, taking passes stood still etc.

We’ll be joining Bury and Oldham one day if we don’t get rid.

You only have to watch us trying to do the basics to realise we aren’t a well coached or motivated team. That’s is been my No1 criticism of Mowbray from his first season here. We just don’t do the basics well at all.

Yes that’s a very telling statistic. Anybody know what criterion’s we’re used to arrive at that table.

Just the one ?

Every time I see the title of this thread “ Mowbray’s reign as a whole “ - why does the expression “ Black hole “ come to my mind.

If the youth team manager keeps Burnley up will they make the same mistake as the red rats did with Solksjaer ? Makes you wonder what would have happened if we’d have blown Mowbray out six games ago and appointed Johnno in his place. Could we have honestly done any worse ? Of course it helps if the people making the decisions are actually in the bloody country and actually know we are playing.