Exiled_Rover

On that goal he was very lackadaisical, which is exactly what JDT has been trying to drill out of him. The talent is there, but the application isn't at the moment.

Check your PMs.

4-2-3-1 with Mola and Carter at CB (JRC at RB)?

Blackpool were missing 14 first team players yesterday (apparently). Even Sheffield United have complained about injuries on commentary last night. The fixture list is insane.

Probably because we've been playing twice a week since August.

Sheffield United currently 1-0 down. Another reason why you won't hear me complaining about the professional performances we've put in of late - we've just consistent won in a league where it's very easy to slip up. I do wish Swansea would stop winning though!

We're nearly halfway through the season and people are still clamoring after a tough tackling, mobile CM. You're simply not going to get much better than Travis at this level for that job... and what he's proven is that we need a CM that can pass the ball.

Why would someone bid £25m for Chris Wood in January? Teams get desperate, especially those trying to stave off relegation. I personally don't think the right offer will come in, but football is a funny old game.

But he is for sale. JDT has been refreshingly honest in his interviews so far. He's said that promotion isn't part of the plan this year - i.e. enjoy riding this wave and he's aware that if the right bid comes in we'll sell Brereton. As good as a player Brereton is, we'd be foolish to turn down £10-15m for him. That money could be re-invested into our threadbare squad. It'll all come down to people meeting our valuation within a certain timeframe i.e. leaving us enough time to get a couple of replacements in. Deadline day transfers will be told to f' off, as they were in the summer. Where we are in the league at the time will be irrelevant I think.

He's not converting chances at the ridiculous rate he was pre-Christmas 2021. That's about the only difference.

You've clearly not been listening to JDT's "Team first" messages. Armstrong is the most selfish player I've ever seen at Blackburn Rovers.

On talent he should be on the bench - albeit he clearly can't turn anymore after those two knee injuries. Obviously something has gone on behind the scenes - we'll find out what eventually.

They're genuinely not good enough to get near him if he's on song.

Ignoring his stellar playing career for a moment, JDT is a guy that has won back-to-back Allsvenskan titles - Malmo finished 7th this year, btw - he knows how to win. He also works with these players every day. He's (and Remy Reijnierse) quickly worked out what they can and can't do. Yes, we're 2nd in the league, but we've got there by putting in professional performances i.e. nicking a goal then shutting up shop. I'm sure he'd love to play a more cavalier style of football and blow teams away... but we simply don't have those players at the moment. Barring an amazing January transfer window, this is how we win games this season - at the moment it's enough to have us in the automatic places, long may it continue. If it doesn't, well we've been told since JDT arrived that this is a project so we shouldn't be too disappointed.

Give over, Lowe couldn't lace Travis' boots. As for the 'without an engine' comment, I think A. Wharton is a vastly superior player to Travis, but I bet Lewis destroys him in any sort of fitness challenge. The problem with Travis is that he had the creativity hammered out of him by Mowbray who wanted him to be another Smallwood - a midfield destroyer. At his best he's a box-to-box CM, i.e. he's a runner who can tackle and support. What he's not, nor will ever be, is a passer - which is what JDT wants his CMs to do. We desperately need another CF, someone with power and pace who can hurt teams on the break / chase balls down in the channels and generally just put the fear of god into teams.

I think the second we drew a PL team away our cup run was over. We've been using the competition as a chance to play our second XI, I don't think he'll change from that plan.

I reckon we'll end up selling him to a L2 team for a decent price. He gets bullied in the Championship, but he'll have more time to play at lower levels.

We're crying out for pace upfront. Neither Vale or Dolan are a threat to run onto a long ball. We're very easy to defend against when they're on in that situation.

I'd play with a back 3 just to get after them on set pieces. That extra height causes havoc.

I suspect their Board and fans won't stand for that. It's why Mowbray had a face like thunder for his last 6 months here when it was clear the Venkys weren't going to re-new his contract. He's never had it so good and he knew it.

Yes, but he can't play 90 minutes twice a week - 60 minutes a match appears to be his limit at the moment. I'm surprised Buckley is so out in the cold, he'd be ideal for this style of football.

I'd probably go with the 3-5-2 formation against Burnley and look to frustrate them in attack and score from set pieces.

Any big, strong, fast and direct PL striker loanees on offer? We'd be a much different proposition if we had someone to bring off the bench (or indeed start in place of Gallagher) that troubled defences on the break.

I don't know if it even is playing 'badly' - by my count Huddersfield had one chance and that was a blocked cross that their winger toe poked back into the box. We looked very, very good in the first half and on another day Brereton could have had a hattrick (how he missed that chance that Hedges put on a plate for him I'll never know). At some point in every second half JDT reverts to a very defensive look to see the game out - it's clearly by design, but it's certainly not enjoyable for the fans.

Ah, now I know why JDT can do no right in your eyes.