OsloRover

Head and shoulders above anyone else, and not just literally.. I’ll go out on a limb and predict he will have a really good next season.

Rothwell on for van Hecke. Makes sense.

Three subs at the break would be suicide unless van Hecke and Wharton are two of them, which isn’t possible.

The body language of our players is worrying, looks like their fighting spirit is broken and they would rather be anywhere else than on the pitch

Why Wharton?? Stupid yellow to pick up

Just no quality anywhere, we look a properly appaling side.

So much for our great defense

Possibly the hardest working team we can field, why not. Not missing Giles one bit.

Yes you are.

Not acceptable. Playoffs long gone. Imagine this team in the PL. Joke.

Gallagher MOM I think I heard the speaker say

Keeping us in the game with that defense and an assist you bet he is.

You mean Gallagher our only goal scorer?

No idea why people are on Pickering’s back, Wharton by far our biggest problem today

We can put this rumour to rest thankfully: https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/20049352.blackburn-rovers-pass-academy-audit-remain-committed-category-one/

If the club is as short-sighted as some of you suggest it should be then it’s no wonder we are losing good players for nothing. Hopefully we have someone a little more strategically-minded than that at the club (although based on the evidence we are allowed to doubt it)

Thanks, updated my original post re Carter.

With the loanees going and several first-teamers out of contract in the summer, just how big of a gap will we have to fill in the squad for next season? Loanees: van Hecke, Poveda, Giles, Khadra, Zeefuik (although we have an option on him I don't see us paying 3.5m) Out of contract: Lenihan, Nyambe, Rothwell, Davenport, Johnson, Chapman Contact extended: Magloire, Butterworth, Eastham Sold (anything else would be a big surprise): Brereton Diaz ------- This leaves us with: Goalkeepers: Kaminski, Pears, Eastham Defenders: Brown, JRC*, Ayala, Carter, Wharton, Magloire, Edun*, Pickering *JRC and Edun both prefer playing further forward Midfielders: Travis, Buckley, Dack Wingers/Forwards: Dolan, Gallagher, Hedges, Markanday, Butterworth Plus any promotions from the U23s/academy. I've already counted Brown as he will be too old for the U23s I believe. As it looks now we'll be as strong in the goalkeeping department as this season but that's about it, major strengthening needed in all other areas. Thoughts?

Tony is out blaming the ref for the stoppage time. I must say the added time felt justified to me, so many players lying on the deck.

Yeah what a genius

Not the worst result in isolation but that first half was not acceptable. Even more worrying there have been a lot of first halves like that lately and the manager has to be able to address it. Once again a baffling team selection, the changes at the back probably made sense but the forward line was wrong in every sense. Giles on the right forcing him to turn back where every single cross was poor - terrible tactical decision. Gallagher on the left where we all know he cant’t play. If you absolutely need to play Gally then give him a punch in the nuts - not too hard, just right to piss him off - and play him up front where he can do something. Then Buckley our best forward passer as a false 9 with nobody in front of him to pass to. Is it so hard to see Tony, really? I don’t want to be that guy who demands kicking the manager after every winless match but I think it’s time. Sure he can see out the season but it’s high time to start planning ahead.

Good topic. Although this spring has obviously been a big disappointment I’m sure most of us would have taken a top 10 finish before the season started, with all the usual gloom on here. It is progress, but slower than many of us would like. Overall I think the club is better off now than when he came in. The guy knows what management is about and does his job, he cares for the players (maybe at the expense of the club sometimes), and his transfer record is pretty good overall. It could be much worse, and it has been at times under Venkys as you all know. On the flip side, his media handling and touchline demeanor leaves a lot to be desired. As does some of his much debated tactical choices, so points will have to be deducted there. Like many others I think 6/10 is the right score.

Pathetic performance. Serious lack of quality all over the pitch. Play-offs gone.

Not as bad as the first half v Derby, but close. Decent until Khadra went off, then we just stopped playing. Hard to find any players worth praising bar Kaminski. Giles useless on the right as expected.

Defense all over the place, Kaminski keeping us in it