Parsonblue

I think recent games have illustrated just how important Dolan is to the way we play. At the time of his injury he was in terrific form and linked so well with Szmodics and Moran. The three of them created chances with their quick interplay. Also Dolan led the press in a way that Leonard isn't able to do because he is a different type of player. In recent games both Moran and Szmodics seem to be dropping deeper and deeper and therefore have less impact on the game in terms of attack. Again, it just illustrates how limited the options are for JDT - especially as two of the summer signings Ennis and Telalovic seems well short of the standard required at the moment.

Sadly, we are paying the price for starting the season with such a small and inexperienced squad. Many of the players are now running on empty - both mentally and physically - after so many games without the chance to rotate players. I fear for us over the Christmas period unless we can get some of our injured players back,. Yesterday we were outplayed from start to finish by a better team with far more resources than ourselves. I think JDT has worked wonders with the limited resources available to him but, sadly, I'm sure he knows that promotion is really a pipedream at the moment. We are what we look - decent Championship team that sits comfortably in mid-table but no more than that.

Tried to buy my usual seat, as a season ticket holder, online. It all went well until the checkout. Ticket master didn't recognise my login details - even though I was already logged onto the Rovers site. It asked me to create a new password. Which I did and then tried to login with the new password and again it wouldn't accept it. Eventually I rang the ticket office and a very helpful lady allowed me to buy the ticket over the phone and then emailed the ticket for me to print out at home. There are so many issues with this system - doesn't cater for anyone without IT facilities or a smartphone. However, even then the technology clearly isn't reliable. I still can't workout how printing paper tickets at home is going digital or helping the environment.

I thought we did well in the first half but looked tired both physically and mentally in the second-half. Understandable really given the lack of options. I thoroughly enjoy the football that JDT has us playing but am realistic enough to know that the play-offs are a non-starter with a squad this small. I always felt that Leeds had another gear they could go to if needed and in the end I thought they played within themselves after the second goal. Looking at their bench compared to ours and it shows just how difficult this League is in terms of trying to compete over a season with the clubs with money and decent squads. Once again, our bench looked very weak in terms of changing a game with none of the subs making any impact when they came on. Having no money to spend in January is a frustration but a fact of life. I've lost count of the seasons I've followed Rovers when we've had to sell before we could buy.

I thought this game illustrated just how important Dolan is to the way that JDT plays. We missed his energy and the high press he brings to the team. Leonard is a totally different type of forward. In the past couple of months Dolan has linked up well with Szmodics and Moran and that was missing today. I thought today illustrated just how thin we are as a squad. The bench was made up of Under-21 players with only Garrett and Markanday having experience at senior level. In many ways it just seemed a game too far for a group of players who looked shattered at times. Today was poor but JDT has worked wonders to get these players into the position we are in. We are crying out for a bit of experience in key positions but, sadly, that costs money which we don't have.

Agree. At the moment he doesn't convince as a player ready for the Championship. He's young and has time to learn but for me looks like another development project rather than a senior 'keeper.

Long day yesterday with a 4am start, but a fantastic performance and result. A real gave of two halves in terms of performance. First half we played some wonderful football and in the second, when we went down to ten men we showed grit and character. Everything you want from a team. I thought Szmodics, Dolan and Moran were superb as an attacking three in terms of their movement and eye for the pass - not to mention the finishing of Szmodics and Dolan. My only concern remains the goalkeeping position. Leo looks a bundle of nerves on crosses and too many of his saves bounce off him into dangerous areas. I think this is going to become an increasingly problematic position for Rovers unless we can bring in a relatively cheap and experienced 'keeper. At the moment, neither of our senior 'keepers looks the part for me.

No complaints today as I thought we were beaten by a better side. Swansea moved the ball at pace and with purpose. Their passing was crisp and they got the ball into dangerous areas which caused our defence problems. It might have been different if we had taken the chance in the opening minutes - a perfect ball from Dolan which JRC and Brittain completely missed. After the opening 15 minutes, Swansea took control with Grimes running the game in midfield. Their front men were quick and always looked dangerous. Too many of our players were slow and wanted too many touches which Swansea didn't allow. As on Tuesday, Sigurdsson offered very little and it was no surprise that JDT said Sigurdsson and Brittain were removed for tactical reasons. However, the changes didn't really work either. I think today highlighted just how threadbare our squad is becoming and with no likely reinforcements in January, unless there is a massive turnaround in the financial situation, mid-table looks the best we can hope for.

A long day - horrendous journey down - but worth it in the end. Not the free-flowing football of earlier in the season but a team performance to grind out a result. Particularly impressed with Carter and Scott Wharton in the second-half who were outstanding in clearing the crosses that came into the box. I thought Dolan had another good game and is starting to regain his form. He worked tirelessly last night. Tronstad certainly makes a difference to the team, sitting just in front of the back four - filling spaces, cutting out passes and using the ball to keep us ticking over. I must admit that neither of our senior goalkeepers look good enough at the moment and that is an area I feel we could do with a really experienced 'keeper. Leo looks really frail on crosses and his error last night was every bit as bad as some of the blunders that Pears has made. However, Leo is still young, and has time on his side but the Championship is a steep learning curve. JDT offers us the best chance of promotion since we were relegated but I fear all his good work will be undone by our increasingly problematic financial situation. Coming back last night, talking with fellow supporters, I think most of us think we will be selling in January rather than strengthening. At the moment I've settled for just enjoying what JDT and the players are delivering no matter how grim the immediate financial outlook.

To be honest, a number of our younger lads are still a long way off being ready for the first team. As you say, Stanley thoroughly deserved their win and looked the better team. Although Ennis took his goals well, he still looks some way off being fully match fit. Missing so much of pre-season is bound to tell and they need to get him up to speed as soon as possible. I must admit that Wharton's form is a worry. I wonder if the lad is struggling with the pressure that is being put on him to play every week and be the key playmaker.

To be honest I didn't feel that Leo looked much better on Wednesday night. I suspect we might end up with a goalkeeping issue as the season progresses. Just hope Pears finds the form he showed at the back end of last season or that Leo settles and begins to impress JDT in training.

In fairness, Christina isn't just a PA for Steve, she also works for Mike Cheston and does a number of other roles at the club. Like many who work at the club they seem to have a variety of roles that they fill.

Exactly right. Players have to learn how to win games - that's part of their development. Although we have a number of promising young players, I thought yesterday showed that they are still some way off being ready for the first team.

Whitehall hasn't played for the best part of two seasons now. Doubt he'll come back to be honest. The lad has been desperately unlucky - just like young Baker who missed most of last season and is now out for most of this one.

The next to Gordon Taylor and Chris Sulley is Johnny Byrom who was a great favourite in the early sixities before leaving for Bolton in 1966. Seemed to always give us problems whenever we played Bolton thereafter. Returned to Rovers right at the end of his career for a season. A really great guy. Chris Sims is between Bryan Douglas and Malcolm Darling.

It's Chris Sims, who played for Rovers in the early sixties who was a reserve full-back in the early sixties. Made 13 League appearances but a regular for the reserves in the Central League. Great to see players like Sims, Johnny Byrom, Bryan Douglas and Malcolm Darling on Ewood again - players of my youth.

The long journey home last night gave plenty of time to reflect on the game and where we are as a club. JDT has worked miracles to produce the type of football we are playing with what he has available to him. The need for an experienced centre-back to replace Hyam when he came off, the need for an experienced striker who knows were the net is and the need for a John Buckley type to replace Adam, who had a poor game, were clear for all to see. Sadly, as JDT said after the game he didn't get them. He got more development projects and had to lose two of his first team squad to get them. So no additional numbers to an already thin squad. It seems clear, from JDT's comments, that he and the club are on divergent paths. We have a bright, youngish coach who wants to win, who wants to try to get promotion, who has the highest of standards. On the other hand we have a cash-strapped club for whom survival in the Championship and the development of young players to sell for profit is now the main goal. The fact JDT feels able to come out in public and state that he didn't want to lose Buckley speaks volumes as the where we are as club. Yesterday we saw the same problems that ought to have been addressed in the window. Defensive lapses and the inability to put the ball in the net when in total control of the game. From his comments, I fear JDT does not see the two new arrivals as solving those problems. I suspect it is going to be a long, hard season. I just hope that JDT is prepared to see it out with us.

It was the actual Central League Championship that we won in those years under the guidance of Eric Bell. The Central League Cup is a more recent competition to give Central League clubs some extra games. When we won the League, twice in the sixties, it was a 42 game League with all matches played at Ewood Park - alternate Saturdays with the first team and a few midweek fixtures thrown in. It was a proper competition in those days with international players of some repute taking part if they weren't in the first team. Youngsters came up against experienced pros week in and week out. Totally different from the present system.

When did you last see a player wearing what we would regard as a boot rather than a pair of slippers!

I remember when he signed in the summer of 1967 along with 'keeper Adam Blacklaw from Burnley. They were regarded as 'big' signings at that time. John was coming towards the end of his career and was brought to add some height to the defence. He'd enjoyed a long career with Huddersfield Town and was a proper old-fashioned centre-half. Good in the air, a tough tackler, and a man who cleared the ball without messing about. The missed penalty was on a mudheap of a pitch at Ewood. The first time he took it off a long run the ball barely made it to the goalkeeper, such was the state of the pitch. The ref ordered a retake for some infringement and 'Big John' took an even longer run up to the ball but ended with the same result. John gave good service to the Rovers during his time with the club before embarking on a coaching career. RIP John.

Rovers taken apart by Clitheroe tonight. 4-0 to the home side who looked a very tidy outfit. Young side but second best in every department. Really bad luck for Baker who seemed to get a bad injury within the first couple of minutes - eased into the wall by an opponent which seemed unnecessary in friendly. Powell too was on the receiving end of a bad challenge and we ended up with ten men. Interesting that a number of the Under-21's who haven't gone to Austria but still didn't turn out tonight.

The back page of the Mirror has an exclusive this morning that Slot's agent is in talks with Spurs and Slot is keen on the move. If that move happens JDT will obviously be a favourite for the Feyenoord job. A bit like with Shearer left here to go to Newcastle - Feyenoord is JDT's club.

Totally agree. Mowbray did a decent job but the time was right for a change for both Mowbray and the club. I have no problems with the guy who I thought was genuine. Good luck to him at Sunderland although I suspect they will struggle to beat Luton over two legs - as would we if we had got through to the play-offs. Personally, more concerned with who might be in charge of us next season. I'm not convinced that Tomasson will stick around if offers come in from clubs with better resources.

Despite missing out on the play-offs today was all you could ask from a game of football in terms of emotion. At half-time we looked completely down and out. Two substitutions later - the key being moving JRC to midfield - and we looked a different team. The football in that second-half was some of the best we've played in a long while. Diaz - after months on the missing list - returned to his best in terms of finishing. In midfield JRC drove the team forward and young Wharton looked the class act that he is. If only we had played like this on any one of the recent games that we've let slip away - but what's gone is gone and we can only look to next season. Everything will depend on the right recruitment - whoever the manager/head coach may be - and that, as we've seen this season, is difficult on a shoestring budget. If we couldn't get into the play-offs then I had hoped Sunderland would so am pleased for Tony Mowbray that they got there. However, I think Middlesbrough will be the team to beat as they look a more than decent all round side.

He appeared in a few games on trial and didn't look any better than what we already have. I assumed we'd just allowed him to return to Spurs. Strange that Sam Burns, who looks a far better player is being released while we sign Bloxham. Hopefully he comes good.