Parsonblue

A draw was probably a fair result in the end. We had the better of the first half and played some excellent football at times. I thought Holtby was different class and Nyambe a constant threat down the right. Downing continues to use the ball with intelligence and we ought to make more of what he brings to the team. I thought there was a period of 20 to 25 minutes in that first half when we played some our best football of the season. The second half was very much in the QPR mould when we looked slow, ponderous in midfield and fragile in defence. It was worrying how slow we looked over the final stages and when Huddersfield equalised our confidence seemed to drain away. At the moment our confidence is very fragile both individually and as a team. There is a lot of work for Mowbray to do and hopefully he can turn it around over the coming weeks.

One of my favourite players in my youth. A man mountain of a defender. It's worrying the number of injuries that Lenihan picks up for one so young.

Like arbitro I've seen every game and totally agree with his comments about the style of play. We can pass all day along our back line and our midfielders passing back to the back four and the opposition know this and simply stand off and watch us go in ever decreasing circles getting nowhere. Possession for the sake of possession is pointless if you aren't threatening the opposition goal. At the moment it's pretty awful to watch.

Dreadful performance yesterday from everyone - players and manager. The passing style simply doesn't work when you have players who struggle to pass with any degree of accuracy going forward. Passing backwards and sideways we're fine but going forward we look hopeless. Defence looked as weak as water, the midfield lacked any spark of creativity and the attack was toothless. Rothwell and Armstrong continue to come inside were there is no room instead of going down the wings and getting behind the defence. Dack drops further and further back because he's frustrated with not getting the ball and then tries to do too much when he finally gets on the ball. Personally, this is where I thought we would be with the players we have - a midtable side. We'll win games but not enough to challenge for the top six but enough to keep us away from the relegation zone. I think Preston away is looking like a key game.

I thought a draw was a fair result. First half was a non-event with neither goalkeeper having anything to do. Second half was better and we improved once Rothwell, Holtby and Samuel came on. Perhaps it's time to give Dack a rest because he really isn't contributing much at present - I thought Holtby did far more in the short time he was on. Likewise Rothwell and Samuel increased the pace at which we were playing. I thought Downing was excellent throughout but Travis went back in his shell tonight and his distribution was poor. Gallagher continues to disappoint and looks no better than Brereton in terms of a goal threat. Fortunately, Armstrong had a better game so we at least had some threat up front. I would hope Rothwell, Holtby and Samuel get a start on Saturday for what promises to be another difficult game. I think tonight showed, like the game at West Brom, that there is very little between teams in this League this season. At the moment there isn't a team who one could say will definitely be in the top two at the end of the season let alone the top six.

Disappointing result after last week's good performance. Basically sums up where we are at the moment. A decent Championship team but not really good enough for top six. Today summed up the beauty of the Championship in that on their day any team is capable of beating any other team in this League. I thought we played some decent stuff at times and at other times we were all over the place. Cunningham has had a couple of difficult afternoons and needs more help at times than Armstrong gives. I was disappointed in Gallagher again who, despite his energy - and you can't fault him for effort - rarely looks likely to score a goal or create something in and around the box. At the moment we look better with the Dack, who was poor today, and Graham combination in terms of posing a threat. Saw the Under-18's lose this morning so it's been a disappointing day.

Very enjoyable game at Leyland tonight and a welcome return to form after last week at Goodison. Tonight was a real team performance with no weak links. Everyone played their part and the football was good to watch. Samuel was impressive and used his pace well - his second goal was extremely well taken and showed a wonderful touch to control the ball and take it forward in one movement. Lyons and Davenport controlled midfield for long spells and young Mols worked his socks off on the right. Tottenham looked decent at the start of the second half but faded after Samuel got the second goal.

Really enjoyable game and easily our best away performance for some time. I thought Downing was outstanding and seems to have boundless energy for getting up and down the pitch. Evans, who usually comes in for criticism was excellent in midfield - he does the things that don't catch the eye but which are vital for a properly functioning team. Travis wasn't at his best and seems to be playing in his shell at times - too many easy backward passes rather than looking for forward runs. Dack was back to his best, particularly in the second half and it was great to see Holtby, Johnson, Graham and Downing kill the game in the closing stages with some excellent passing and keep ball. It's still a work in progress but Mowbray is certainly moving us in the right direction in terms of how we are trying to play.

I probably go to as many games - at all levels - as most on here but I would never say that I expect others to do the same. I know a number of Rovers fans who gave up when we were relegated and found other things to do. They still classify themselves as fans but love what they are now doing more than going to football. They may go to the odd game but no more than that and to be honest none have told me that they actually miss football. That's life. Things change over time and how we spend our leisure time changes. In many ways gates have held up remarkably well all things considered. In the eighties - the last time we had a long period of second tier football - the average gate was often well under 10,000. I suspect we will do well to avoid that happening again. I don't envy those at Ewood trying to balance ticket pricing with the requirements of meeting the Financial Fair Play regulations.

Disappointing performance tonight at Goodison Park by the Under-23's despite the scoreline looking respectable - Everton won their last game 8-2! Everton, who were excellent last season, looked a cut above our lads for long periods of the game in terms of getting the basics right. They play a fast, flowing style which is attractive to watch. Too many of our lads had a real off night. Sam Barnes was badly at fault for the first, getting the wrong side of the player he was marking at a free kick. The second was a well taken chance by Ellis Simms - who scored four in one game against us last season! Joe Rankin-Costello scored with a quick turn and shot which seemed to surprise the Everton 'keeper but apart from that there was little to cheer in front of goal. Jack Vale used his pace well to trouble the home defence at times but nothing came of it. Chapman, in the Dack role, was poor throughout and looks a shadow of the player who excited us when he first arrived on loan. He had a couple of decent chances but failed to make anything of them and struggled to make any impression on the game. Brad Lyons was the pick of the team for me before he succumbed to injury. Davenport looked very rusty after his long lay-off. Worrying that Grayson and Doyle seem to be going backwards - as so often happens with players who play too long at this level. Sadly, seen so many players who look promising but then can't make the breakthrough and then fade and disappear. I thought we missed Louie Annesley at the back - at the moment he's looked a very decent defender. Still early days but it's looking like it might be a tough season in terms of results as younger players try to make their mark.

Fergie started at Plymouth as an amateur and then moved up to Stanley in the summer of 1960.

Couldn't agree more. We were saying on Monday night, watching Graham, that he really is a top professional. Last few minutes and we are 2-0 up and he was still chasing back to win the ball. He is the perfect role model for youngsters on how a professional conducts himself. At the moment Gallagher hasn't got the strength or know-how to play the Graham role. I think there is a player in Gallagher but it's a long way from being fully developed for the task of leading the line.

He had a few trials with other clubs last season and I believe he is now at University.

Totally agree. If your wide players are going to have to defend then surely Bennett and Downing are the two you need rather than Armstrong, Rothwell or Gallagher. It was noticeable that when Bennett got forward in the second half and put in a couple of decent crosses, there was nobody covering the gap behind him and Albion quickly exploited that gap. I thought we lost the game today during a twenty-minute spell in the first-half when we made elementary individual errors. Cunningham was poor for the first, Armstrong went missing on the second and Lenihan was completely done for pace on the third, having got himself in a poor position to begin with. Above all I'd like to see Graham and Dack given a run of games as a twin strike force. Gallagher is a slightly better version of Brereton - but let's be honest that's a pretty low bar.

Interesting that in the last couple of Under-23 games they have played Chapman in the Bradley Dack role, just behind the main striker. This takes the pressure off him to constantly track back - presumably puts less stress on his hamstrings - and allows him to use his pace against central defenders. It will be interesting to see if we continue with this or if it is just a short term measure to cover Jack Vale's absence due to injury.

Having watched the game on Brighton TV, I thought Chapman did better than he had done all season. Clearly Mowbray's message got through to him - just shows what a bit of "old fashioned management" can do. Lets hope he can keep it up and get back in the squad. Dominic Samuel did pretty well too which is another plus.

Very impressive performance in how to play against ten men. Stretched the play and took full advantage of the extra man and extra space. Five really well taken goals. Rather like Rovers v Wolves last week, the game changed with the sending off, but full credit to the lads for taking advantage Hilton; Jackson, Thompson, Lyons, Barnes, Annesley, Mols, White, Sammuel, Chapman, Hart. Subs who came on - Brennan, Whitehall, Burns. Sam Barnes spent much of last season on loan at Marine - where he played with Joe Hilton who was there on loan from Everton. Barnes is a young centre-back who moved up from the Under-18's last season before going out on loan. Another in a long line of promising young defenders.

Perhaps if Chapman upped his game in the Under-23's and made it impossible for the manager to leave him out then I might agree with you. At the moment the likes of Jack Vale and Stefan Mols have shown far more hunger in these games than a very indifferent Chapman. Clearly he is not doing it in training or he would be in and around the squad. Not everything can be blamed on the manager. Chapman is a professional and should be able to motivate himself to fight for a first team place.

Personally Stuart, I can see why they need a number three at the moment. Walton is clearly the number one for this season whilst a long term replacement for Leutwiler will appear in January or the summer. In the meantime Leutwiler will remain the number two - although I agree I don't believe he is anywhere near good enough. If Hilton is loaned out - and there has been talk about that - then we would need someone for the Under-23's. If Walton was injured then Hilton, at present, would be the number two keeper - which is a big jump for a lad who spent the second half of last season on loan at Marine. A short-term contract for Garrett if it happens, whilst Fisher is out on loan, seems a sensible idea under the circumstances.

One of my boyhood heroes. A maverick for sure, but a wonderful footballer who could really excite you. One part of the most exciting forward line that I've ever seen play in 'Blue and White.' Thanks for some wonderful memories. RIP Fergie

Sometimes you have to take what is available at the time rather than what you planned at the start of a transfer window. If he didn't speak to the press about his future plans he would get any amount of flack for not communicating - he really can't win. Sadly, whatever says these days tends to be used as a stick with which to beat him.

One of the great mysteries in football to me is why clubs have so many keepers but they all seem to have a wealth of them. Last season we had Raya, Leutwiler, Fisher, Albinson, Byrne, Winterbottom, Eastham. Most seasons we seem to have half-a-dozen keepers with the Under-23's usually having two or three sharing the job beside the two senior 'keepers. At the moment we have Walton, Leutwiler, Fisher (who's now on loan), Hilton, Eastham and a very young Dowling - who has only just made the Under-18 squad. Obviously, Hilton, Eastham and Dowling are not ready for the senior team so can see the need for a number three with more experience than Hilton.

Totally agree. Ultimately, he was no better than what we already had and didn't really have the impact one would have expected from someone who had been playing senior football.

I don't read it that way myself, although can understand that it could be interpreted like that. Personally, I think he's merely pointing out that supporters will always blame the manager if a particularly player is not in the team who they think should be. However, if that player is not performing - and Chapman certainly hasn't been - then the manager is quite right to point out that the player needs to up his game. Mowbray is certainly not the first manager at Ewood to do so publicly.

Chapman has been very disappointing in pre-season and the early Under-23 games. At times he's looked totally disinterested and is being overshadowed by younger players who seem to have a hunger that Chapman seems to lack at the moment. Perhaps it's the suspect hamstrings that are holding him back but he certainly doesn't look anywhere near the player he was when he first came to the club on loan. With regard to the manager I sometimes think that Tony is too honest for his own good. If he's asked a straight question he will give a straight answer - I think that's simply who he is and he's not going to change. Personally, I don't have a problem with his honesty and integrity but, in a 24/7 media world, there are times when avoiding reporters might not be a bad thing.