The Gull

Everything but the Girl - Missing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U56Ns66Qrb8&ab_channel=EverythingButTheGirl

I can only apologise, due to travelling and other commitments since the successful debut of the shirt I haven’t worn it since as wasn’t able to watch the games. That will be corrected this evening as I’m home and the shirt is with me so will be at Ewood, specifically my old stomping ground of the Blackburn End, this evening to help get us back to winning ways.

The shirt stays! Played one won one.

Top arrived this week in the Netherlands so wearing it for the first time for tonight’s game, hopefully brings some good luck and an upturn in our performances. Happy with the fit and quality, love it.

Happy Mondays - Step On

Ordered!

Football really is a magical thing, and people believe in different types of magic as well as having differing views. We win 3 games and all is good, still needs some additions but those who said we wouldn't get a point before Sept 1st couldn't wait for the first defeat to throw the players and club under the bus. Last night was poor, Mowbrayesque if you like, toothless, energyless, feckless, but I will still give it some time to judge the new management team and the impact they will have. Under Mowbray that would be the start of 4 or 5 games without a win, if we get 4 points from the next two games I'd say we are in a fantastic position, 3 very good, 2 decent first 5 league games of the season, 0 disaster. All of those scenarios would be slightly better if we get 3 or 4 first team players in, by the same token, if we get 6 points and no signings I would extremely concerned for what is to come. Pickering obviously has a target on his back for many, I don't think he was the worst player on the pitch last night, that for me was Buckley, who I am a big fan of, he offerred nothing in that position last night, gave the ball away, wasn't incisive, didn't control the game as he needs to. Travis, Ayala and Phillips were all left exposed and looked like it was them 3 against the reading 11 at times as most other players didn't turn up. That is my opinion on what I watched and where we are right now, not celebrating and not throwing myself off a cliff, I have watched Rovers for best part of 40 years and know we have good times and we have bad times, I'm hopefull we are transitioning from a bad time but will need to have patience for the "project" as JDT has said many times. I do wish we had different owners, but it is what it is and quite frankly the Walker Trust are to blame for that IMO, it is not healthy to get so wound up, swinging from ecstatic to depressed on 1 result.

This is a massive game due to the start we’ve had, people will have to take notice and surely helps any recruitment if we get a positive result against the Baggies. It’s very early in the new JDT era, but let’s not forget that even Mowbray had us unbeatable for a period last season, imagine what a decent manager and support staff could do! Everyone in the media loves Bruce, all tipping them him and then to do well this season, I hope we are in that conversation after Sunday.

I also remember the promotion team under Souness having Duff, Dunn and Johnson who had come through and were shining, Jansen was signed from Palace as a young man the year or so before and ripping it up in that league, think we had Tiny Taylor at the back too. Added to that was the experience of Hignett, Short, Bjornbye, Hughes and Flitcroft. That was an awesome team for that division, only betterred by a very good Fulham side. That team would walk this division today, great mixture of very talented youths from the system and very good, experienced players.

Neither Dalglish or Souness had managed in this division before, they did okay. I could quote plenty of managers that hadn't worked in the Premier League before but won trophies and were regarded as some of the best. The better coaches will see the obvious, Mowbray has a lifetime's experience in this league and really never learnt some very simple requirements, like playing players in the right positions, not making subs just for the sake of it, and buying squad players rather than fiorst team players. JDTs assistant has worked in the division, and the rest of the back room team is pretty much as was, I don't think it is really an issue, if they have the right squad to work with and I think we are a couple of players short still at this point, but let's see what happens.

I didn't realise Wharton and Garret had played first team football in the Champions League and Premiership, week in, week out, surrounded by world class players and represented England at Under 20's level. It may only be a small amount of games but not quite sure how you can state they have more experience.

Butterworth I would assume. Sorry for seeming positive but after the delay and farse to the end of last season, the administration of the club seems to be improving and no more square pegs in round holes in key football positions. The uplift in mood around the team and communications has been obvious to me, yes we would want business done earlier but would you be happy with someone walking in the door and a few weeks later spunking 10m on players he didn't know, for a squad and league he doesn't know? The proof will be in results and the state of the squad at the start of September, but it seems a lot, still bits left, of deadwood has been cleared out, players on stupid contracts that crippled us and made us sail close to the wind that is FFP for too long. Dack and Markandy are like new signings given their input last season, right back has improved, Buckley and Travis another year older and experienced, however I do believe more quality is needed at CB and in midfield. Given we played a front 3ish last season, as things stand BBD, Gallagher, Dack, Markandy, Hedges, Vale, and Dolan seem a decent pot to pick from in this division, Positive signs for me, but I reserve the right to be peed off come 1st September if more doesn't happen, especially in defence and midfield.

Sometimes people just have their own numbers and the traditional numbers don't get filled, however I would hold out hope that Morton wouldn't take 8 so assume they want a big/decent midfield signing. If I allow myself to dream, people don't seem to like that round here, then JPVH can have the 5 shirt and become the new Big Col.

WIth Magliore deal confirmed I hope that's a sign someone may be coming in, dare I dream.....

I'm not happy with the current state of the transfer window but a part of me, the one that has meant I have been following Rovers for +35 years, is optimistic that the imporved coaching setup will get more out of the existing squad and the youngsters breaking through. That gives a little bit of breathing space for the new setup impact, however I still expect 4/5 signings one way or another before the end of the window or we are certainly no better than mid table with such a inexperiences, light weight squad.

1 - Shilton 2 - Neville 3 - Carlos 4 - Viera 5 - Tugay 6 - Adams 7 - Waddle 8 - Gazza 9 - Shearer 10 - Maradonna 11 - Giggs Or for Rovers players only 1 - Friedel 2 - Price 3 - Wright 4 - Sherwood 5 - Tugay 6 - Le Saux 7 - Ripley 8 - Dunn 9 - Shearer 10 - Newell 11 - Wilcox

Liverpool friends telling me Tyler Morton will sign for us on loan shortly. They tell me he’s a tidy player, probably needs to beef up a little but high hopes for him, plays in midfield, holding midfielder rather than attacking.

Pleasantly surprised if he is indeed confirmed, was expecting much worse. One thing I find hard to read is the negativity towards him as he has no Championship experience, who gives a ####! Historically we've done alright with managers in the division that previously had no experience, Souness and Dalglish come to mind....then not so well with those who had experience like Coyle, Lambert and Mowbray. Mark Hughes had not managed at club level and IMO was succesful for us. Sometimes it is more than just about the obvious experience, it is their attitude and whether, and this may be a tough ask at Rovers, they suirround themselves with people they trust to use as sound boards and advisors. I think JDT has potential to be succesful but will need some luck and the right support, including from the Rovers faithful.

Because the Everton model has worked so well, it’s one model nobody should be looking at and thinking “we should do it that way”.

David Unsworth is from Euxton/Chorley, same as me, few years older though. Lots of people I know knew him when he was younger, nobody really had a decent word to say about him, mainly due to his arrogance when he was playing Premier League football for Everton, didn’t stay friends with those he was close to. A friend played with Ferguson at Rangers and said whilst he was an absolute nut case when he had a drink, he was super professional and generally good at everything. Said his public persona very different to the real him, quite an intellectual. There’s a chance Big Dunc could be a very good manager, but I don’t want Unsworth anywhere near our club.

All they seem to do is print and encourage cross words....

Dream world, Farke is appointed and the day after he announces he’s convinced the 3 out of contracts to stay. sorry, just woke up, what’s happening?

I'm in!

Or whoever did the deal at Rovers was laughing their tits off "as if anyone will pay more than 7m for him! Sure, fill ya boots"

IFollow working now, don’t know if that’s a good thing or not