Parsonblue

So, perhaps you could enlighten us as to what you perceive to be Filan's strengths and weaknesses as a coach and why he hasn't brought anything to the Under-21 squad this season?

Wouldn't be a bad appointment Stuart. He's done a decent job thus far this season.

Couldn't agree more Aggy. If they are representing Blackburn Rovers and they get to a final then it's an achievement to be welcomed. These lads have played some decent stuff at times this season and are to be congratulated on their achievement.

Sadly, that has been the case since the lifting of the maximum wage in 1960.

The problem with waiting for owners with money is that they don't come along all that often. Laurence Cotton in the years before the First World War and then Jack. In between those years we were the poor relations. Since the lifting of the maximum wage small town clubs have struggled to compete with the big city clubs - it's nothing new. Ipswich won the title in 1961-62 and then we did in 1994-95 and in between it was dominated by City clubs. Since 1995 it has continued to be dominated by the clubs from Manchester and London. The history of football is about those with money and those without. We have chosen to support a club that is not one of the fashionable clubs that will attract sponsorship, large crowds or wealthy foreign ownership. FFP is about preventing clubs going out of existence and surely that has to be a good thing for those small communities for whom the football club is important. FFP may well have prevented Portsmouth falling through the Leagues and Coventry might well be playing in their own city rather than in Northampton.

FFP has worked very well in the lower Leagues and the issues you raise also applied to them. Last season Yeovil were promoted with very small gates whilst the likes of Sheffield United, with huge gates by comparison missed out on promotion. Since the abolition of the maximum and until Jack came along, the Rovers struggled to compete with the big city clubs. It is a fact of life. The fact is that the Rovers, even when we won the League, couldn't fill the ground week in and week out. Suppose Venky's build up the debt over the next two years and we don't get promoted. They decide to pull out and leave the Rovers with a debt they can't repay. The future of the club is then, as it may well be already, under threat. FFP is working in the lower Leagues and will work in the Championship as club's will have to live within their means. You will never get an even playing field. Some clubs will always be disadvantaged but FFP should ensure that clubs are not driven to the wall by poor financial management.

Taking the brake off clubs spending beyond their means is not good news. FFP will force clubs to live within their means and not gamble their future on trying to get into the Premiership. Venky's are the perfect example of why FFP will be a good thing in the long run.

Where is the evidence that he is a very good coach? His coaching career seems third rate at best.

Morten still has twelve months on his contract Tyrone. Are Venkys going to pay him up in full? I don't think so. So if Morten decides to stay we are going to be paying him for another twelve months. On Saturday he made a difference. Contracts can't just be discarded because a player falls out of favour with a section of the crowd. If you are paying him you have to find a way of getting the best out of him. Murphy still has twelve months to go, so does Nuno Gomes. The likes of Rochina, Formica, Paulo Jorge, Nuno Henrique, Etuhu, Edinho, and Best all have contracts of varying lengths. We will have to pay these players unless they move. If they decide to stay you either use them or allow them to sit in the stands picking up their money. If they decide to stay we can't afford to replace them anyway. At the end of the day nobody forced the club to give these guys the contracts they did and you can't blame the players for taking what is offered to them.

Couldn't agree more jim. We looked far better balanced in the second-half with Pedersen on the pitch. He linked up well with King and Morris on the left and gets through an awful lot of work which goes unnoticed by many. Gary seems to value him as part of the senior squad and hopefully he will be with us next season. As you say, there are any number of players you would be happy to see leave before Pedersen.

Who is this philip? As someone who watches the Under-21s and Under-18s the only players I heard being released are those who have really failed to make the grade. Is there a surprise name that we don't know about?

Very sad news. We exchanged pms from time to time and he always struck me as one of the good guys and someone who really knew his football. Condolences to his family.

At the end of a week when Circus Venky's, once again, grabbed national headlines for all the wrong reasons the Rovers slipped into the dreaded relegation places for the first time. Although it was a far more spirited display, particularly in the second half, than the one at Cardiff on Easter Monday, the end result was still the same — nil points. Sheffield Wednesday (2) 3 – 2 (1) Blackburn Rovers Jermaine Johnson 20, 78,Lita (pen) 35 Rhodes (pen) 12, Dann 71 Referee: R. East Attendance: 24,660 At the end of a week when Circus Venky's, once again, grabbed national headlines for all the wrong reasons the Rovers slipped into the dreaded relegation places for the first time. Although it was a far more spirited display, particularly in the second half, than the one at Cardiff on Easter Monday, the end result was still the same nil points. Watching the tortured figure of Gary Bowyer on the touchline trying to inspire, cajole and encourage his troops throughout the ninety minutes, one couldn't help but contrast the raw emotion of a genuine football man with the mob who sit in Pune and their acolytes in the boardroom. Whilst Shebby, Shaw, Agnew, Madam Desai and the Brothers Grimm argue over contracts and continually rearrange the deckchairs, the good ship Blackburn Rovers steams relentlessly forward towards the impending iceberg that is relegation. The dynasty that Jack Walker envisaged and that was so jealously guarded by the likes of John Williams and Tom Finn has long since been sacrificed on the altar of mammon. It is days like this and games like this that makes one realise just how far we have fallen in such a short space of time. Sadly, one suspects that the damage being wrought by the "rich kids" from Pune is likely to be irrevocable. Of course, one could argue that the present demise of the club has not been intentional and is simply the result of poor decisions by those sitting in Pune. However, that would be to forget that the "rich kids" in Pune wanted to be pro-active. It was their decision to replace Allardyce with Kean. It was their decisions which led to the departures of John Williams, Tom Finn, Martin Goodman, Andrew Pincher and others. Indeed, when the very people who they appointed to succeed these guys told them things they didn't want to hear, it was their decision to make more changes. In a little less than two and a half years they have taken an established, well-run and well-respected Premier League club and turned it into a national laughing stock that stands on the brink of a second successive relegation. The "rich kids" of Pune have become the accepted model of how not to run a football club. The players, of course, must take their share of the blame for what has occurred this season. However, a quick look at the teamsheet today compared with the eleven who lined up when the Brothers Grimm were first paraded around Ewood Park a couple of years ago merely underlines the folly of the owners. Michel Salgado, Chris Samba, Ryan Nelsen, Brett Emerton, Phil Jones, and El Hadji Diouf have all gone. Paul Robinson has seemingly played his last game for the club, whilst Dunny waits to see if he the one player who shows real commitment to the cause will be offered a new contract in the summer. Then there is the mysterious case of Gael Givet the eternal bench-warmer who it would seem is never to be actually called into the action. To replace this array of talent we have scoured the bargain basement for the likes of Lee Williamson, Cameron Stewart, Josh King and David Jones, amongst others, all good journeymen every one, but nowhere near the same calibre as those we have lost. The sad fact is that Dunny apart, until he tired in the second half, the Rovers had nobody who could provide that spark of magic to undo a very ordinary Wednesday defence. However, in Jermaine Johnson the home side had a player who had little trouble in destroying the Rovers back-line time and time again. After the debacle at Cardiff, Gary Bowyer made six changes to his starting line-up with Grzegorz Sandomierski, Jason Lowe, Lee Williamson, Cameron Stewart, David Dunn and Jordan Rhodes all coming in to the starting eleven. Sheffield started positively and straight from the kick-off drove into the Rovers area and won a corner within the first minute of the game. However, after a few minutes of early pressure from Wednesday, the game settled down and the Rovers started to enjoy a little more possession. On 12 minutes the Rovers got a major boost when Chris Kirkland felled Dunn in the area and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. The move had started with a ball played forward by Lowe which enabled Rhodes to get the better of Miguel Llera before he was thwarted by Kirkland. However, the ball broke for Dunn who was brought down as he attempted to round Kirkland, who was anxiously trying to regain his ground after the initial save. Rhodes picked up the ball and calmly sent Kirkland the wrong way as he slotted home the spot-kick. The Rovers enjoyed a spell of possession as the home side seemed rattled by the early goal. However, it was clear that Wednesday carried a threat down both flanks with Jermaine Johnson looking particularly impressive. Sadly, the Rovers were, once again, masters of their own downfall when a shockingly inept piece of play by Williamson, after 20 minutes, allowed the whippet-like Johnson to pick up the ball, race into the area and then beat Sandomierski with a perfectly placed low shot which found the net. The goal provided the spark that Wednesday and the large home crowd required and only excellent work by Sandomierski prevented Jeremy Helan from giving Wednesday the lead. The corner that followed brought more mayhem in the Rovers ranks until an agricultural hack from Scott Dann cleared the lines and allowed the Rovers to regroup. The home side were now enjoying far more of the ball and their direct running was causing problems for the Rovers down the flanks. With ten minutes to go before half-time the Rovers fell behind to a somewhat controversial penalty decision. A deep cross from Reda Johnson was confidently claimed by Sandomierski. However, the officials deemed that a combination of Josh Morris and Grant Hanley had pushed Leroy Lita as he waited for the cross and a penalty was awarded. Lita, like Rhodes before him, sent the 'keeper the wrong way to convert the spot-kick with ease. Long-range efforts from Dunn and Kane were well held by Kirkland and the Rovers had cause to be grateful to Sandomierski when he did well to thwart Lita when the Wednesday man seemed certain to score. The Rovers started the second half strongly and enjoyed the greater share of possession as they forced Wednesday onto the defensive. Wednesday began to employ a "they shall not pass" mentality which brought an increasing number of free-kicks as Rovers players were hacked down whenever they threatened to get clear. Dunn, in particular, came in for some harsh treatment and got very little in the way of protection from a weak set of officials. On 71 minutes the Rovers' endeavours were finally rewarded with an equaliser. A corner from Jones was only partially cleared and when the ball fell to Josh King, who had replaced the disappointing Williamson, the former Manchester United man swung the ball over to the back post where Scott Dann headed back across goal into the far side of the net. Having got on level terms it seemed as if the Rovers would go on and win the game as they were enjoying the greater share of the attacking play. Unfortunately, it was when one of these attacks broke down that Wednesday were provided with the opportunity to take the lead. Once the ball found its way to the feet of the ever dangerous Jermaine Johnson, the Wednesday man set off in determined fashion towards the Rovers goal. Evading anything that resembled a challenge he got within 25 yards of goal then unleashed a strike which beat the dive of Sandomierski and found the corner of the net. The Rovers tried to get back into the game, but Wednesday settled for what they had and played out time quite successfully deep in the Rovers half. Indeed, they might even have stretched their lead with Helan firing over when clean through and then in the final moments they carved out a wonderful chance when the ball found its way to Kieran Lee in front of goal. Fortunately, Sandomierski was alert and was able to make a save with his legs to prevent Wednesday from scoring a fourth goal. In goal Grzegorz Sandomierski did everything that could be expected of him and but for one or two crucial saves the margin of defeat could have been greater. His handling on crosses was good and he looked positive when he elected to punch the ball clear. However, he looked to be caught somewhat by surprise with the third goal and was possibly a little late in trying to get down to make a save. At right-back, young Todd Kane looked very impressive both defensively and whenever he got forward. He is comfortable on the ball, is prepared to take people on and isn't afraid to have a go at goal. Josh Morris worked hard at left-back but struggled to contain Sheffield down the flank. The pace and quick feet of players like Jermaine Johnson and Leroy Lita caused him problems, but at least he stuck to the task. Grant Hanley and Scott Dann were again impressive in the centre, although Hanley was caught out on a couple of occasions and had to give away needless fouls. Despite the improved form of the centre-back pairing, the fact remains that the Rovers are conceding far too many goals. Once again, David Dunn was the pick of the midfield men and was the one player who looked capable of breaking down the Wednesday defence. Unfortunately, he appeared to be targeted for some rough treatment in the second half and received very little protection from the referee. Lee Williamson, Jason Lowe and David Jones were workmanlike but nothing more. Indeed, Williamson struggled to get into the game and was directly responsible for the opening Wednesday goal. Cameron Stewart made little or no impression on the left wing before being withdrawn along with Williamson early in the second half. Jordan Rhodes again ploughed a lone furrow up front, but at times his link-up play was better than it has been of late. Once again, with limited service he had few chances in front of goal apart from the penalty. Having entered the relegation zone the Rovers now face two crucial home games that will surely decide their ultimate fate. Six points from the games against Derby County and Huddersfield Town and the club have a chance of survival. Anything less and the prospect of trips to the likes of Crawley Town and Stevenage become frighteningly real. Whoever would have thought that one family in India could have wrought so much havoc in such a short space of time? Teams Sheffield Wednesday Chris Kirkland; Lewis Buxton, Anthony Gardner, Miguel Llera, Reda Johnson; Giles Coke, Stuart Holden (Kieran Lee 59), Seyi Olofinjana, Jeremy Helan; Jermaine Johnson (Chris Maguire 84), Leroy Lita (Steve Howard 69) Subs not used: Stephen Bywater (gk), Martin Taylor, Rhys McCabe, David Prutton Manager: Dave Jones Blackburn Rovers Grzegorz Sandomierski; Todd Kane, Scott Dann, Grant Hanley, Josh Morris; David Dunn, Lee Williamson (Joshua King 63), David Jones, Jason Lowe, Cameron Stewart (Colin Kazim-Richards 56); Jordan Rhodes Subs not used: Sebastian Usai (gk), Gael Givet, Morten Gamst Pedersen, Nuno Gomes, Karim Rekik Caretaker Manager: Gary Bowyer Bookings Sheffield Wednesday Chris Kirkland, Seyi Olofinjana, Anthony Gardner, Reda Johnson Blackburn Rovers David Dunn, Lee Williamson, Todd Kane, Josh Morris Join in the discussion on the forum here. View full article

In 50 years of watching the Rovers I don't think we have ever had a period like the present one. We simply slump from crisis to crisis with no end in sight. I don't know if Jensen left of his own accord or if he was axed but whatever the reason the club ought to explain to the fans - we are, after all, the paying customers. It would appear that Venkys have learnt nothing from the shambles that they have overseen so far and their PR is as bad as ever. If things continue in this manner one can see that not only will be getting cries of 'Kean out' during matches, but before long it will also be 'Venkys out'. The season has hardly begun and we are in the relegation places with two thirds of our League games ending in defeat. We have no assistant manager but have a manager who has little or no support amongst the fans but is propped up by a bunch of clueless owners who spend most of their time on the other side of the world. As a former Prime Minister was once misquoted - "Crisis, what crisis?" and we all know what happened to him!

Moko had a very good game today, particularly in the first half. He sat in front of the back four and did what he did for us - broke up play and protected the back four - something which our midfielders have failed to do so far this season. Like 92er I was pleased to see he got such good reception for the Rovers' fans. Clearly rover6, they appreciate a player who, despite his limitations, always gave 100 per cent for the the team.

I don't know why you don't give this one up rover6. At the end of the day Mokoena will end his career with far more Premiership appearances and international caps than players like Gary Harkins. You may not like it. You may disagree with it. But at the end of the day it will be fact! I've seen countless players pass throught the academy and reserves who possessed enormous talent but lacked that little bit extra that could turn them into top flight players. Mokoena obviously poessess that something that enables him to maximise his ability and harness it into a team situation. I've seen a great deal of both Harkins and Mokoena and in terms of Premier League ability there is no comparison. Mokoena is by far the better player as the career stats of both players will no doubt show at the end of their careers.

And I confidently predict by at the end of their careers, because your predictions are dealing this two players of differing ages, that: Aaron Mokoena will have played more Premier League games than Gary Harkins. Aaron Mokoena will have appeared in more international matches than Gary Harkins. Aaron Mokoena will have enjoyed a far more successful career than Gary Harkins.

I believe that to be the case. Watt joined them last season and Howson signed for them during the summer.

Jerome Watt is now playing with AFC Fylde along with Stuart Howson, another ex-Rover.

A couple of updates for rover6: Andy Reid is now playing with Beith Juniors while Adam Nelson and Kieron Renton both joined Musselburgh Athletic in the summer. With regard to the debate over Black, Harkins and Mokoena - having seen quite a bit of all three I know which I would choose. On this we will have to agree to disagree. When Aaron left the Rovers there were two or three other Premiership clubs interested in him. When Harkins left the Rovers he went to Grimsby and struggled. He then moved to Partick Thistle and has now moved sideways, so to speak, to another club in League One in Scotland in Dundee. Black, on the other hand, has played continually in the Scottish Premier League since leaving the Rovers. His star appears to be on the rise again with an international call up in May and a transfer to Hearts in the summer. As I said before, he has been the most successful of the youngsters who returned to Scotland after their stints at Ewood. What I do find surprising, is how quickly these lads seem to drop through the Leagues in Scotland and into Scottish non-League football. The latest to disappear seems to be Alan Morgan who was not retained by Stenhousemuir at the end of last season. I must say I find that surprising as I always rated Morgan when he was with the Academy and the Reserves.

Ian Black has been, by far and away, the most successful of the youngsters who returned to Scotland. He joined Inverness Caledonian Thistle after leaving the Rovers and won a Scottish 'B' cap in 2005. He moved to Hearts this summer after playing for Scotland 'B' against Northern Ireland 'B' in May of this year. I would suggest, rover6, that you keep track of him, he always looked impressive in the Academy. Is he good enough for the Premier League? That's another question. With regard to Harkins, while it's good to see him doing well, there is a huge gulf between the second tier of Scottish football and the Premier League. Certainly, at Ewood he was noted more for his physical approach to the game rather than skilful midfield play. Perhaps the level he is now at means that he can use his physique to provide him with more time and space to play the game.

I think you're getting a little carried away there rover6 to suggest that Harkins is on the verge of the Scottish national team. He failed to make the grade with Grimsby Town and in Scotland is plying his trade in the second tier of Scottish football. I would have thought that he would need to make a move to the Scottish Premier League and prove himself at that level before the international team starts to call. At Ewood, he was never anything more than a workmanlike midfielder-cum-defender. I seem to recall him playing a full-back for the Academy on a few occasions and he caught the eye early in his career. However, he never really looked a possible candidate for the first team. I'm not quite sure on what you base your assumption that he is better than Mokoena or Andrews. There have been any number of youngsters who have left the Rovers and carved out a decent career in the Scottish Leagues - Nelson, Black, Morgan, Renton and Cummings to name a few. However, none would have made it in the Premier League.

They are all playing in the Championship as far as I am aware rover6 - all at the same level. You can't compare Taylor, McEveley and Nolan with Berner and Simpson. The first three were products of the Academy who failed to make the grade. McEveley was undoubtedly the most outstanding prospect until injuries began to set him back. Both Nolan and Taylor looked fairly unimpressive in the reserves and never really threatened to break into the first team. In fairness to Nolan there seemed to be some confusion as to what was his best position. He spent much of his time at right-back in the reserves rather than at centre-back. Berner was brought in to provide experienced cover at left-back and left midfield. He also played at centre-back and centre-midfield with the reserves. With their job dependent on results, managers really can't be faulted for opting to use experienced players as back-up rather than a youngster who has not really impressed in the reserves. Again, Simpson was brought in on loan with a view to becoming the first choice right-back. It was a gamble that didn't work. However, there was no other option as we had nobody in the reserves who looked anywhere near good enough to play right-back. Ultimately, Ooijer did an impressive job for the majority of the season. To answer your question as to why we let them go - it's quite simple. Neither Taylor nor Nolan looked good enough in reserve matches to suggest that they would make the breakthrough. Better that they dropped down the leagues and try to rebuild their careers elsewhere - which both have done and good luck to them.

At Academy and Reserve level Jay was far superior to Andy Taylor. As a youngster, McEveley was a central defender who could also operate at left-back. Andy Taylor now commands a regular place in what is the old Third Division while Jay is operating in the old Second Division. Both players have found their levels. Having watched both develop through the ranks at Ewood Park it is disappointing that neither was able to establish themselves with the Rovers. However, in truth, I don't think anyone who watches reserve football believed that Andy Taylor would ever make the grade in the Premier League. Jay looked the more promising as a youngster and looked a really decent prospect at one point but, sadly, he seemed to lose his way and wasn't helped by injuries.

Mark Hughes has been an excellent manager for the club and I wish him well if he goes to Chelsea or Manchester City. He's ambitious and wants to make the most of his managerial career. It's the same in any walk of life, if you can advance your career you do. We are supporters of Blackburn Rovers and love the club but to Mark Hughes, his staff and players, their time at Ewood Park is just one phase of their careers. It doesn't make it easier for us as supporters but you can't blame them for trying to further their own careers. During his time at the club he has given 100 per cent, he's improved the squad and the League position and turned the club into one that challenges for Europe. For that we should be very thankful to him. The sad fact is that the Rovers are no longer a big club in terms of being able to compete in the transfer market. The hardest task for John Williams will be to find someone as good as Hughes.