bluebruce

I think him reverting to 4-2-3-1 might be the wishful thinking.

You're right that Tosin was fairly decent defensively but we weren't spoilt. However, he did bring a lot of height and pace. Ayala is 2 inches shorter, but still 6 ft 3 and meant to be very good in the air, so could still be an upgrade in that sense. He isn't as quick though and I still have concerns that our passing game high up the pitch already leaves us vulnerable to counter attacks. I think we need to modify our overall game. Not just for defensive reasons. If we won't though, I hope the backup CB we aim to bring is a quick one. That's obviously Magloire's main attribute though.

Scintillating again tonight. Beginning to relax the guard I put over my early optimism, because the boy definitely has talent and can show it against decent senior players. We will have to see how capable he proves as a 90 minute player over time, but I've not seen that kind of footwork here in a while, and he has pace and tenacity to go with it. With him only being 18 as well, I just get more amazed that Preston let him go each time I see him. Would be a nightmare to play against because he can have you chasing your tail and looking daft. Looks like a player for who the crux is going to be how much end product he can deliver - like Rothwell. But my money is on 'a lot more of it'.

Travis' injury may actually help us get a loan like Garner, as it now means whoever we bring in is more likely to play.

Was that the one around the 70 minute mark, where he was down for 5 seconds or so, then got up and carried on? Given his importance, the game's low importance, and that he hasn't looked quite right since his last injury, that moment should have been all TM needed to bring Davenport on tbh. But Trav will play on through more or less anything I imagine, so hard to tell if he really needs to come off. It is what it is now. We are going to need someone to come in, and I really hadn't considered that area a priority until now. I reckon it just leapfrogged backup CB and backup GK in the importance stakes, but still behind LB. Edit - we may have already used our subs at this point, but that's exactly why you don't use all your subs by that point, which TM loves to do and has actually been lucky to get away with so often.

No word yet, but saying it may require surgery this time.

If I had anything to say about it, it would be.

They seem to have forgotten, because we spent a season in League One three seasons back, that we are Blackburn fucking Rovers, not Rotherham. They've also forgotten how we finished well above themselves and the Brummies. 10 and 13 points respectively. Weird.

Lateral knee ligament injury they think.

That's very, very bad news. He hasn't looked entirely on his game, and I was saying a day or so ago that I wondered if he had an underlying recent injury issue of some sort holding him back a little. I wonder if he was getting a bit of wear and tear there and it's just gone tonight. I wanted us to bring Garner in anyway, but especially so now. I was reading earlier today that he scored 9 in I think 12 or 13 for Manure u23s. Some going for a midfielder meant to be in the Carrick mould.

It always, always depends on the legs. Nous can make up for that a fair bit, but given how many goals we seem to ship on counter attacks, I'd be very worried if any of our defenders got slower. There's playing on, and there's being first choice. 15k pw or so for a third choice CB will be a problem...hopefully one we don't have to experience though, certainly could still be top notch by the end of his deal.

And we have.

Looks very strong, at least as much so as Lenihan, and a lot better with the ball at his feet than I was led to believe previously. Especially some of those turns and dribbles! As long as his legs aren't going yet, this should be a good signing. I do wonder if 3 years will prove a year too far as presumably one of our best paid players, but right now we simply need some quality there so I'm happy.

I fancy them to pack men behind the ball, hit us on the counter, and get a win or draw from us.

Think you're going to find yourself surprised we didn't win lots of games this season if we keep playing like this. I won't be though. Our penetrative play is poor. Whenever we dominate possession we lose, was like that all last season. We can't consistently find our way past a packed defence and are a much more effective threat on the counter.

Well, called the first part right, hopefully wrong about the second part...Holtby certainly looked dead on his feet though.

We just signed one tonight mate.

Ball was either snatched from his foot as he struck, or he was fouled. Couldn't tell for sure which.

Sexy with no end result is just cockteasing. If you don't finish you go home frustrated...

If you watch Newcastle's defensive shape when we are tippy tappying around the edge of the area, they barely need to change it. We don't make enough runs to pull their shape apart. Players move a bit, but only to receive a pass and keep it recycling around the edge. Too easy to defend against. (So far of course, could always change especially with subs)

Awful decision from the ref to give handball against Dolan there a minute ago. It was smashed against his upper arm/shoulder from a few yards away whilst momentum was carrying him forward. He would have had to have no arm to not 'handball' that.

That was fucking horrendous from Bell. Got a nosebleed being high up the pitch. Could have shot, could have played Holtby on, played a crap pass to the wing instead. Looked terrified with the ball.

Feel like defensive organisation could be the main benefit we get from Ayala. I dunno if we have a defensive coach but they're either shit or the players aren't listening.

I'm not blaming Mowbray for JRC having sloppy touches and looking sluggish, even if he is in goal. Wouldn't say he is massively out of position anyway, just on the wrong side.

Well they woke up. We have dominated play but shown no penetration. Can't just pass tidily outside the box and expect to score.